cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate-Dependent Protein Kinase in Human Uterine Tissues During the Menstrual Cycle

Contractility of uterine smooth muscle is essential for the cyclic shedding of the endometrial lining and also for expulsion of the fetus during parturition. The nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP signaling pathway is involved in smooth muscle relaxation. The downstream target of this pathway essential for decreasing cytoplasmic calcium and muscle tone is the cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). The present study was undertaken to localize expression of PKG in tissues of the female reproductive tract and to test the hypothesis that uterine smooth muscle PKG levels vary with the human menstrual cycle. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize PKG in myometrium, cervix, and endometrium obtained during proliferative and secretory phases. The PKG was localized to uterine and vascular smooth muscle cells in myometrium, stromal cells in endometrium, and a small percentage of cervical stromal cells. Using Western blot analysis and protein kinase activity assays, the expression of PKG was reduced significantly in progesterone-dominated uteri compared with myometrium from postmenopausal women or women in the proliferative phase. These findings support a role for PKG in the control of uterine and vascular smooth muscle contractility during the menstrual cycle.
An Optimal Three-Class Linear Observer Derived From Decision Theory

Many attempts have been made to develop an optimal linear observer for classifying multiclass data. Most approaches either do not have a definite description of optimality or have regions of ambiguity in decision making. In this paper, we derive a three-class Hotelling observer (3-HO), inspired by the ideal observer that results from a decision theoretic solution to the three-class classification problem. Assuming the data vectors follow multivariate Gaussian distributions with equal covariance matrices for the three classes, it is shown that two two-class Hotelling templates construct a 3-HO which has the same performance as the three-class ideal observer (3-IO). We show that, without the Gaussian and equal covariance assumptions, the 3-HO is still applicable when the two-class Hotelling templates of each pair of the classes satisfy a certain linear relationship. In this case, the 3-HO simultaneously maximizes the signal-to-noise (SNR) of the test statistics between each pair of the classes. In conclusion, we developed a three-class linear mathematical observer that uses first- and second-order ensemble data statistics. This mathematical observer, which has clearly defined optimality for several data statistics conditions and has decision rules that have no ambiguous decision regions, is potentially useful in the optimization and evaluation of imaging techniques for performing three-class diagnostic tasks
Interaction of γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase with Ibuprofen-S-Acyl-Glutathione In Vitro and In Vivo in Human

Ibuprofen is metabolized to chemically reactive acyl glucuronide and S-acyl-CoA metabolites that are proposed to transacylate glutathione (GSH) forming ibuprofen-S-acyl-GSH (I-SG) in vivo. Herein, we report the detection of novel metabolites of ibuprofen, namely ibuprofen-N-acyl-cysteinylglycine (I-N-CG), ibuprofen-N-acyl-cysteine (I-N-C), and the mercapturic acid conjugate, ibuprofen-S-acyl-N-acetylcysteine (I-S-NAC), in urine from an ibuprofen-dosed volunteer. Thus, analysis of ibuprofen-dosed (Advil, 800 mg, Pfizer, Madison, NJ) human urine extracts by sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric detection resulted in the identification of I-N-CG, I-N-C, and I-S-NAC derivatives as minor metabolites (6.0, 1.7, and 0.2 µg excreted 10-hours postadministration, respectively). I-N-CG is proposed to be formed from the degradation of I-SG by γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GT)-mediated cleavage of the γ-glutamyl group, leading to an unstable ibuprofen-S-acyl-cysteinylglycine (I-S-CG) intermediate that undergoes spontaneous S to N intramolecular rearrangement. Then, dipeptidase-mediated cleavage of glycine from I-N-CG leads to the formation of I-N-C. Treatment of racemic I-SG (100 µM) in vitro with commercially available bovine kidney γ-GT (0.1 units/ml) in buffer at pH 7.4 and 37°C resulted in its complete degradation, yielding (R)- and (S)-I-N-CG after 15 minutes of incubation. In vitro enzyme kinetic studies with bovine kidney γ-GT incubated separately with (R)- and (S)-I-SG isomers revealed no enantioselective degradation. Results from these studies provided evidence that ibuprofen is metabolized in human to reactive transacylating-type intermediates that react with GSH, forming I-SG thioester that, following degradation by γ-GT and dipeptidase enzymes and following S to N intramolecular rearrangement, leads to the urinary excretion of the I-N-CG and I-N-C amide-linked conjugates, respectively.
Preferential Interaction of a Novel Tumor Surface Protein (p38.5) with Naive Natural Killer Cells

A receptor–ligand interaction exclusive to natural killer (NK) cell–mediated recognition and triggering of tumor cell destruction has not yet been identified. In contrast, molecules that are involved in cellular adhesion and regulation of NK cytolysis have been well studied. In this report, a novel tumor surface protein is identified that exhibits characteristics of a recognition structure for naive NK cells. A tagged ligand–cell adsorption technique revealed a 38.5-kD plasma membrane protein (p38.5) from a prototypical NK-susceptible cell line (K562) that preferentially bound to NK cells (CD3−CD5−CD16+) relative to T lymphocytes (CD3+CD5+ CD16−). The molecule was purified to apparent homogeneity for further characterization. An amino acid sequence of an 11-mer internal peptide of p38.5 did not exhibit homology to known proteins. Affinity-purified antibody generated against this peptide (anti-p38.5) reacted with a single protein of 38.5 kD on Western blots of whole cell extracts of K562. Flow cytometry and immunoprecipitation studies of surface-labeled tumor cells demonstrated expression of p38.5 on NK-susceptible tumor cell lines (K562, MOLT-4, Jurkat), whereas p38.5 was not detected on NK-resistant tumor cell lines (A549, Raji, MDA-MB-231). Significantly, p38.5 loss variants derived from wild-type Jurkat and Molt-4 cell lines exhibited decreased susceptibility to NK cell–mediated lysis demonstrating a strong association between cell surface expression of p38.5 and cytotoxicity. Purified p38.5 retained preferential binding to NK cells and inhibited NK activity in a dose-dependent manner, thereby providing direct evidence of a role in the lytic process. Binding studies identified a 70-kD membrane protein from NK cells as a possible receptor for the p38.5 tumor ligand. Consistent with cellular adsorption studies, the 70-kD, p38.5 binding protein was not detected on T lymphocytes. Based on studies demonstrating selective binding of p38.5 to NK cells, lack of expression on NK-resistant tumor cell lines and ability of the purified molecule to block cytolysis, we conclude that p38.5 may serve as a recognition/triggering ligand for naive human NK cells.
Use of solar energy for biodiesel production and use of biodiesel waste as a green reaction solvent

Due to the depletion of fossil fuel energy sources, new alternative energy sources are becoming prevalent in our society. Biodiesel has been recognized as an attractive replacement for depleting energy sources since it is produced mainly from vegetable oils and animal fats, is a renewable resource, and is non-toxic. The synthesis of biodiesel involves heating a triglyceride with methanol (or ethanol) under strongly basic conditions. Since fossil fuels are used for electrical energy in the United States, the amount of electricity required to heat this reaction requires the use of non-renewable resources. An effective means for minimizing the amount of electricity needed to drive chemical reactions to completion is proposed through the use of solar parabolic reflectors. In this study, a technique was developed to incorporate recently proposed solar reflectors developed from satellite dishes into the synthetic procedure for biodiesel. Through the use of our technique, the generation of carbon dioxide waste during biodiesel production has been eliminated. Another area of environmental concern in biodiesel production is the generation of waste by-products (glycerol). A technique has been developed that incorporates the use of recovered biodiesel waste glycerol as the solvent system for Wolff-Kishner reduction reactions. The reduction of isobutyryl chloride has been performed successfully using biodiesel waste glycerol as the solvent system and solar irradiation as the heat source for the chemical reaction.
Correlation Techniques of Image Registration

An extension to the basic concept of correlation detection as a means of image registration is developed. The technique involves linear spatial preprocessing of the inages to be registered prior to the application of a correlation measure. This preprocessing operation utilizes the spatial correlation within each image and greatly improves the detectability of image misregistration. An analysis of the computational aspects of the algorithm is given. Also, results of a computer simulation to evaluate the technique are given.
Chromoendoscopy Is More Effective Than Standard Colonoscopy in Detecting Dysplasia During Long-term Surveillance of Patients With Colitis.

Background & Aims Patients with colitis have an increased risk of colorectal cancer, compared with persons without colitis. Many studies have shown chromoendoscopy (CE) to be superior to standard methods of detecting dysplasia in patients with colitis at index examination. We performed a prospective, longitudinal study to compare standard colonoscopy vs CE in detecting dysplasia in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases in a surveillance program. Methods We analyzed data from 68 patients (44 men, 24 women) diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (n = 55) or Crohn's disease (n = 13) at Mount Sinai Medical Center from September 2005 through October 2011. The patients were followed from June 2006 through October 2011 (median, 27.8 months); each patient was analyzed by random biopsy, targeted white light examination (WLE), and CE. Specimens were reviewed by a single blinded pathologist. The 3 methods were compared by using the generalized estimating equations method, and the odds ratios (ORs) for detection of dysplasia were calculated (primary outcome). Time to colectomy was analyzed by using the Cox model. Results In the 208 examinations conducted, 44 dysplastic lesions were identified in 24 patients; 6 were detected by random biopsy, 11 by WLE, and 27 by CE. Ten patients were referred for colectomy, and no carcinomas were found. At any time during the study period, CE (OR, 5.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9–9.9) and targeted WLE (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.0–5.3) were more likely than random biopsy analysis to detect dysplasia. CE was superior to WLE (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.4–4.0). Patients identified as positive for dysplasia were more likely to need colectomy (hazard ratio, 12.1; 95% CI, 3.2–46.2). Conclusions In a prospective study of 68 patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, CE was superior to random biopsy or WLE analyses in detecting dysplasia in patients with colitis during an almost 28-month period. A negative result from CE examination was the best indicator of a dysplasia-free outcome, whereas a positive result was associated with earlier referral for colectomy.
88 Supplement use and perceptions: A survey of US horse owners

Abstract Although difficult to accurately assess, the equine supplement market is substantial and continues to grow, yet little research has examined horse owner use of supplements or beliefs regarding safety and efficacy. It was hypothesized that perceptions of use, safety, and efficacy of supplements would differ by rider discipline and competitive versus recreational riders. An online survey including demographics, rider discipline, and six-point Likert scale questions examined beliefs regarding supplements. Two thousand eighty-seven responses were collected over 30 days. Perceived horse health issues were positively correlated (P 0.10) with the use of supplements to treat or prevent those issues, while 84% of respondents reported giving supplements to at least one horse under their care. There was no difference by discipline or competitive status concerning perceptions on using supplements to treat or prevent issues, or the safety or efficacy of supplements. Most horse owners, regardless of discipline or competitive status, report giving supplements and indicate belief in their safety and efficacy.
Blockade of CCR2 reduces macrophage influx and development of chronic renal damage in murine renovascular hypertension

Renovascular hypertension (RVH) is a common cause of both cardiovascular and renal morbidity and mortality. In renal artery stenosis (RAS), atrophy in the stenotic kidney is associated with an influx of macrophages and other mononuclear cells. We tested the hypothesis that chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) inhibition would reduce chronic renal injury by reducing macrophage influx in the stenotic kidney of mice with RAS. We employed a well-established murine model of RVH to define the relationship between macrophage infiltration and development of renal atrophy in the stenotic kidney. To determine the role of chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2)/CCR2 signaling in the development of renal atrophy, mice were treated with the CCR2 inhibitor RS-102895 at the time of RAS surgery and followed for 4 wk. Renal tubular epithelial cells expressed CCL2 by 3 days following surgery, a time at which no significant light microscopic alterations, including interstitial inflammation, were identified. Macrophage influx increased with time following surgery. At 4 wk, the development of severe renal atrophy was accompanied by an influx of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)+ and CD206+ macrophages that coexpressed F4/80, with a modest increase in macrophages coexpressing arginase 1 and F4/80. The CCR2 inhibitor RS-102895 attenuated renal atrophy and significantly reduced the number of dual-stained F4/80+ iNOS+ and F4/80+ CD206+ but not F4/80+ arginase 1+ macrophages. CCR2 inhibition reduces iNOS+ and CD206+ macrophage accumulation that coexpress F4/80 and renal atrophy in experimental renal artery stenosis. CCR2 blockade may provide a novel therapeutic approach to humans with RVH.
Risk factors for death in chronic critical illness

As early recognition, resuscitation and technological advancement in the treatment of critically ill patients have improved, efforts to understand patient outcomes after an acute period of illness are being undertaken. While it has been noted that one-year mortality among survivors of critical illness is extremely high, awareness is increasing regarding patients who, despite survival, remain “chronically critically ill”. This is important considering that patients who have short-term survival after ICU discharge have poor quality of life leading to death.
Who's In, Who's Out? Policy to Address Job Rationing During Recession

This paper offers recommendations for how the design of labor income taxes should change during recessions, based on a simple model of a recessionary economy in which jobs are rationed and some employees value working more than others do. The paper draws two counter-intuitive conclusions for maximizing social welfare. First, subsidize non-employment. This draws marginal workers out of the labor force, creating “space” for those who really need jobs. Second, subsidize employers for hiring, not the employees themselves. The problem during recessions is having too few jobs; subsidizing employers creates more jobs, while subsidizing employees confers benefits on those who already won the job lottery. Tax policy in the recent recession has done a poor job of following these recommendations.
Attraction of male Prionoxystus robiniae (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) to (Z,E)-3,5-tetradecadienyl acetate with different dispensers and trap designs

Traps with wick dispensers treated with ( Z, E )-3,5-tetradecadienyl acetate initially caught significantly more adult male carpenterworms, Prionoxystus robiniae (Peck), than traps with septum dispensers. However, septum dispensers attracted males for at least 1.5-fold longer than did wick dispensers, or for the duration of the carpenterworm flight. With small moth populations, mean catches in traps with septa and wicks usually did not vary significantly. With large moth populations, however, septa baited with 350, 500, and 1,000 μg of attractant were more effective than wicks with comparable charges. Catches of male P. robiniae in paper-cylinder, metal-cylinder, or diamond-carton traps were similar. Paper-cylinder traps have the advantage of being inexpensive, easy to construct, convenient to store, and less sticky to handle.
Abstract A34: The stress response transcription factor ATF4 mediates cytoprotective pathways in c-Myc overexpressing cells

The proto-oncogene c-Myc is often deregulated in human tumors and its overexpression associates with poor prognosis in patients. While c-Myc is a potent activator of pro-tumorigenic pathways, it can also induce anti-tumorgenic pathways such as apoptosis. However, in c-Myc driven cancers the anti-tumorigenic state is evaded via a yet poorly understood pro-survival mechanism. We previously reported that activation of the PERK arm of the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is one such pro-survival mechanism induced by c-Myc to bypass c-Myc induced apoptosis. We also demonstrated enhanced activation of the PERK/p-eIF2α arm of the UPR in a mouse model of lymphoma and in B-cells from human lymphoma patients compared to normal tissues. ATF4, one of the main downstream effectors of PERK, regulates amino acid metabolism, antioxidant response and autophagy. Using the CRISPR/CAS9 genome-editing tool we were able to ablate portions of the ATF4 gene in DLD-1, human colon carcinoma cell line, preventing ATF4 protein expression. Here, we show ATF4 expression is induced in Myc overexpressing ATF4-WT DLD-1 cells. Activation of c-Myc in ATF4-deficient DLD-1 cells resulted in decreased clonogenic survival and reduced autophagy. Addition of Trolox, an antioxidant, conferred protection in ATF4 deficient cells. These findings indicate that the transcription factor ATF4 activates pro-survival pathways such as antioxidant response and autophagy during c-Myc overexpression to promote survival. Therefore, therapeutically targeting these pathways would switch the balance towards cell death in c-Myc dependent tumors. Citation Format: Feven Tameire Tameire, Costas Koumenis. The stress response transcription factor ATF4 mediates cytoprotective pathways in c-Myc overexpressing cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Myc: From Biology to Therapy; Jan 7-10, 2015; La Jolla, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2015;13(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A34.
A fully integrated low noise CMOS instrumentation amplifier design for low-power biosensors

This paper presents the design of a monolithic low power CMOS low-noise instrumentation amplifier (INA) for low-power biosensor applications. To achieve high-fidelity cardiac signal acquisition, the INA circuit and system design requirements are discussed. Design strategies for mitigating the in-band flicker noise and thermal noise using chopperstabilization and current scaling techniques are investigated. Sub-threshold operation is also utilized to reduce power. The INA achieves a simulated noise spectral density of 39.9 nV/√Hz from dc to 300Hz in 4.6μW, with an outstanding noise efficiency factor (NEF) of 2.47.
Label-free hyperspectral microscopy for scatter imaging of biological processes in cells(Conference Presentation)

We will present unique applications of a label-free, hyperspectral scatter imaging technique in different microscopy platforms including conventional wide-field, dark-field, and confocal. In different platforms, we conducted label-free imaging of cells undergoing biological processes such as nanoparticle uptake, apoptosis, and metabolic flux change in response to the variation of the osmotic pressure. Hyperspectral image analyses resolved spectral endmembers corresponding to unique scattering and absorption characteristics as a result of such processes at the single particle, single organelle, and single cell level, delineating the details of nanomaterial-cell interactions in a 2D cell culture, cell apoptotic characteristics in a 3D culture, and volumetric changes of single cells under the variation of osmotic pressure. Our label-free scatter imaging has the potential for a broad range of biological and biomedical applications such as the development of scatter-based imaging contrast agents and the measurement of scatter parameters of subcellular organelles to identify the sub-micron scale origins of scattering signals in tissue scattering measurements.
Extreme cosmopolitanisms defended

Some theorists hold that there is no serious, significant issue concerning cosmopolitanism. They hold that cosmopolitanism is either the anodyne doctrine that we have some duties to distant strangers merely on the ground of shared humanity or the absurd doctrine that we have no special moral duties based on special-ties such as those of friendship, family, and national community. This essay argues against this deflationary position by defending (1) a very extreme cosmopolitan doctrine that denies special-tie moral duties altogether and (2) a slightly milder but still extreme form of cosmopolitanism that allows that there might be special-tie moral duties to intimate associates such as friends and family members but denies that broader social group associations such as those of subjection to a national state or national or ethnic community memberships ever constitute special ties that ground special moral duties. The defense proceeds by rebutting bad arguments leveled against extreme cosmopolitanisms.
Post-modern Scenarios for Organization Concept

The first light of new century for organization concepts on organizational theory in research has risen on the horizon. Post-modern scenarios for organizational concepts emphasize on the process evolution systems, which means an organization evolves into a sequential organizational structure in space, time or function. All new scenarios explore new features, new contradictions and theoretical trends for organizational evolution in contemporary enterprises, which reflects the fissions of organizational management theories in western countries. The new scenarios also demonstrate different ways of solving contradictions in the development of organizational theories from different perspectives.
Responsive Shape Change of Sub-5 nm Thin, Janus Polymer Nanoplates

Responsive shape changes in soft materials have attracted significant attention in recent years. Despite extensive studies, it is still challenging to prepare nanoscale assemblies with responsive behaviors. Herein we report on the fabrication and pH-responsive properties of sub-5 nm thin, Janus polymer nanoplates prepared via crystallization-driven self-assembly of poly(e-caprolactone)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PCL-b-PAA) followed by cross-linking and disassembly. The resultant Janus nanoplate is comprised of partially cross-linked PAA and tethered PCL brush layers with an overall thickness of ∼4 nm. We show that pronounced and reversible shape changes from nanoplates to nanobowls can be realized in such a thin free-standing film. This shape change is achieved by exceptionally small stress—a few orders of magnitude smaller than conventional hydrogel bilayers. These three-dimensional ultrathin nanobowls are also mechanically stable, which is attributed to the tortoise-shell-like crystalline domains formed in t...
Utility of graded prognostic assessment in evaluation of patients with brainstem metastases treated with radiosurgery

Abstract Objectives Prospective data regarding the safety and efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for patients with metastatic disease involving the brainstem are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of SRS for patients with brainstem metastases treated at our institution. Patients and methods From September 2007 to October 2015, patients treated with SRS for brain metastases were prospectively entered into an institutional database. Forty eight patients with 51 lesions involving the brainstem with clinical follow-up were identified. Local control (LC), elsewhere brain failure (EBF) and overall survival (OS) were assessed from the date of radiosurgery using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses of factors related to OS were performed using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results Median clinical follow-up was 4.8 months. Median patient age was 62 (range: 28–87); non-small cell lung and breast cancer were the most common primaries at 54% and 21% respectively. Median brainstem lesion volume was 0.12 cm3 (range: 0.01–3.67 cm3). Whole brain radiotherapy was previously utilized in 19 patients (40%). The median OS was 7.6 months and the 12 month LC rate was 89%. Only 2 patients (4%) experienced grade 3 motor toxicity secondary to SRS. 11 of the 16 patients (69%) initially presenting with symptoms related to brainstem metastases had symptom improvement or resolution following SRS. On multivariate analysis, graded prognostic assessment (GPA) score > 2 was predictive of improved survival (p Conclusions SRS is associated with high LC rates and low toxicity for brainstem metastases. Improved OS was seen for patients with GPA score > 2. GPA appears to be a useful tool for assessing prognosis in patients with brainstem metastases. Small volume lesions were safely treated with or without prior whole brain radiotherapy.
Operative considerations in the obese pregnant patient.

Obesity is one of the most common nutritional problems complicating pregnancy. There is general agreement that during the antepartum period medical complications such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus are significantly increased in overweight mothers. Many clinicians also believe that obese patients have increased complications during the intrapartum period. This article reviews the risks of operative delivery and management of cesarean section in the massively obese patient.
Provision of Non-breast Milk Supplements to Healthy Breastfed Newborns in U.S. Hospitals, 2009 to 2013.

Introduction Breastfed newborns are often given non-breast milk supplements in the hospital, which can negatively impact breastfeeding outcomes. Efforts to improve maternity care practices include reducing supplementation of breastfed newborns. Methods The Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey is administered every 2 years to all hospitals in the United States and territories with registered maternity beds. We examined provision of non-breast milk supplements to healthy, full-term breastfed newborns from 2009 to 2013. Results Hospitals that provided non-breast milk supplements to at least 50 % of breastfed newborns decreased from 31.5 % in 2009 to 23.3 % in 2013. Among hospitals providing any supplements, there was no change in the percent that supplemented with infant formula; whereas, supplementing with water declined from 8.8 % in 2009 to 4.2 % in 2013 and with glucose water from 23.4 % to 12.5 %, respectively. In 2013, 64.9 % of breastfed infants were supplemented with formula for “mother’s choice,” 25.0 % for “doctor’s orders,” and 8.7 % for “nurse’s recommendation.” Discussion Despite improvements in maternity care practices, nearly one-fourth of hospitals are still providing at least 50 % of healthy, full-term breastfed newborns with non-breast milk supplements. While there has been no change in the proportion of hospitals providing infant formula supplements, the proportion supplementing with water and glucose water have declined. Additional education and support of mothers during the early post-partum period and training of physicians may address reasons breastfed infants are supplemented.
Anticoagulation Drugs: Indications, Therapeutic Monitoring, and Antidotes

Anticoagulants are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs. Parenteral anticoagulants such as unfractionated heparin (UFH), low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), and fondaparinux are principally used as bridging agents until therapeutic anticoagulation with an oral anticoagulant is instituted. Since the 1950s the default oral anticoagulant has been warfarin. The development and recent regulatory approval of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is transforming the approach to anticoagulation for a majority of patients. This chapter explores the common indications for anticoagulation therapy, selection of anticoagulants, and the complexities of monitoring and treatment of hemorrhage in patients receiving anticoagulants.
The Existence of Fiber Functors

This paper contains a short proof of Deligne’s theorem on inner characterization of Tannakian categories. The proof was given at Kazhdan’s lecture course on topological and conformai field theories at Harvard during the 1990/1991 academic year.
Improved molecular level identification of organic compounds using comprehensive two-dimensional chromatography, dual ionization energies and high resolution mass spectrometry

A new analytical methodology combining comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC), dual ionization energies and high resolution time of flight mass spectrometry has been developed that improves molecular level identification of organic compounds in complex environmental samples. GC×GC maximizes compound separation providing cleaner mass spectra by minimizing erroneous fragments from interferences and co-eluting peaks. Traditional electron ionization (EI, 70 eV) provides MS fragmentation patterns that can be matched to published EI MS libraries while vacuum ultraviolet photoionization (VUV, 10.5 eV) yields MS with reduced fragmentation enhancing the abundance of the molecular ion providing molecular formulas when combined with high resolution mass spectrometry. We demonstrate this new approach by applying it to a sample of organic aerosol. In this sample, 238 peaks were matched to EI MS library data with FM ≥ 800 but a fifth (42 compounds) were determined to be incorrectly identified because the molecular formula was not confirmed by the VUV MS data. This highlights the importance of using a complementary technique to confirm compound identifications even for peaks with very good matching statistics. In total, 171 compounds were identified by EI MS matching to library spectra with confirmation of the molecular formula from the high resolution VUV MS data and were not dependent on the matching statistics being above a threshold value. A large number of unidentified peaks were still observed with FM < 800, which in routine analysis would typically be neglected. Where possible, these peaks were assigned molecular formulas from the VUV MS data (211 in total). In total, the combination of EI and VUV MS data provides more than twice as much molecular level peak information than traditional approaches and improves confidence in the identification of individual organic compounds. The molecular formula data from the VUV MS data was used, in conjunction with GC×GC retention times and the observed EI MS, to generate a new, searchable EI MS library compatible with the standard NIST MS search program. This library is deliberately dynamic and editable so that other end users can add new entries and update existing entries as new information becomes available.
Patterned surface anchoring of nematic droplets at miscible liquid-liquid interfaces.

We report on the internal configurations of droplets of nematic liquid crystals (LCs; 10–50 μm-in-diameter; comprised of 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl and 4-(3-acryloyloxypropyloxy)benzoic acid 2-methyl-1,4-phenylene ester) sedimented from aqueous solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) onto interfaces formed with pure glycerol. We observed a family of internal LC droplet configurations and topological defects consistent with a remarkably abrupt transition from homeotropic (perpendicular) to tangential anchoring on the surface of the LC droplets in the interfacial environment. Calculations of the interdiffusion of water and glycerol at the aqueous–glycerol interface revealed the thickness of the diffuse interfacial region of the two miscible liquids to be small (0.2–0.5 μm) compared to the diameters of the LC droplets on the experimental time-scale (15–120 minutes), leading us to hypothesize that the patterned surface anchoring was induced by gradients in concentration of SDS and glycerol across the diameter of the LC droplets in the interfacial region. This hypothesis received additional support from experiments in which the time of sedimentation of the LC droplets onto the interface was systematically increased and the droplets were photo-polymerized to preserve their configurations: the configurations of the LC droplets were consistent with a time-dependent decrease in the fraction of the surface area of each droplet exhibiting homeotropic anchoring. Specifically, LC droplets with 10% surface area with tangential anchoring exhibited a boojum defect within the tangential region and a disclination loop separated the regions with tangential and homeotropic anchoring. The topological charge of these LC droplet configurations was found to be consistent with the geometrical theorems of Poincare and Gauss and also well-described by computer simulations performed by minimization of a Landau–de Gennes free energy. Additional experimental observations (e.g., formation of “Janus-like” particles with one hemisphere exhibiting tangential anchoring and the other perpendicular anchoring) and simulations (e.g., a size-dependent set of LC droplet configurations with <10% surface area exhibiting tangential anchoring) support our general conclusion that placement of LC droplets into miscible liquid–liquid interfacial environments with compositional gradients can lead to a rich set of LC droplet configurations with symmetries and optical characteristics that are not encountered in LC droplet systems in homogeneous, bulk environments. Our results also reveal that translocation of LC droplets across liquid–liquid interfaces can define new transition pathways that connect distinct configurations of LC droplets.
Digging text viz: an archaeological review of ACM digital library text visualizations publications (1991 -- 2003)

Text visualization is a rapidly growing area of research and practice in the design of communication [1]. But, as text analysis and particularly big data techniques, become more useful across knowledge domains, text visualization will become less of a specialty area and more of a crucial aspect of everyday work. This paper offers an integrated review of 42 text visualization projects published by an Association for Computing Machinery organization and hosted in the Association for Computing Machinery Digital Library from 1991--2003. This survey will trace trends in text visualizations projects that specifically apply to the work of designers, user experience researchers, technical communicators and provide a view of the current state of text visualization to better approach evolving frameworks and methods to conduct analysis.
Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy: A qualitative approach to exploring the decision making process

The proportion of women with unilateral breast cancer and no familial or genetic risk factors who elect contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) has grown dramatically, even in the absence of clear data demonstrating improved outcomes. To further extend the literature that addresses treatment decision-making, qualitative interviews were conducted with eleven women who considered CPM. A social ecological model of breast cancer treatment decision-making provided the conceptual framework, and grounded theory was used to identify the cognitive, psychosocial, and emotional influences motivating treatment choice. This research identified five themes that give context to women's decision-making experience: (1) variability in physician communication, (2) immediacy of the decision, (3) meaning of being proactive about treatment, (4) meaning of risk, and (5) women's relationship with their breasts. The results suggest that greater emphasis should be placed on a more nuanced understanding of patients' emotional reaction to breast cancer and managing the decision-making environment.
Genotyping strategy matters when analyzing hypervariable major histocompatibility complex-Experience from a passerine bird

Genotyping of classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes is challenging when they are hypervariable and occur in multiple copies. In this study, we used several different approaches to genotype the moderately variable MHC class I exon 3 (MHCIe3) and the highly polymorphic MHC class II exon 2 (MHCIIβe2) in the bluethroat (Luscinia svecica). Two family groups (eight individuals) were sequenced in replicates at both markers using Ion Torrent technology with both a single- and a dual-indexed primer structure. Additionally, MHCIIβe2 was sequenced on Illumina MiSeq. Allele calling was conducted by modifications of the pipeline developed by Sommer et al. (BMC Genomics, 14, 2013, 542) and the software AmpliSAS. While the different genotyping strategies gave largely consistent results for MHCIe3, with a maximum of eight alleles per individual, MHCIIβe2 was remarkably complex with a maximum of 56 MHCIIβe2 alleles called for one individual. Each genotyping strategy detected on average 50%-82% of all MHCIIβe2 alleles per individual, but dropouts were largely allele-specific and consistent within families for each strategy. The discrepancies among approaches indicate PCR biases caused by the platform-specific primer tails. Further, AmpliSAS called fewer alleles than the modified Sommer pipeline. Our results demonstrate that allelic dropout is a significant problem when genotyping the hypervariable MHCIIβe2. As these genotyping errors are largely nonrandom and method-specific, we caution against comparing genotypes across different genotyping strategies. Nevertheless, we conclude that high-throughput approaches provide a major advance in the challenging task of genotyping hypervariable MHC loci, even though they may not reveal the complete allelic repertoire.
Library Worker Retirement Plans: A Large Survey Reveals New Findings

This article examines the retirement plans of current library workers. A national survey of more than 4,400 library professionals reveals more than one fourth of respondents aged fifty to fiftynine expect to retire in the next five years, and nearly three fourths of those in their sixties and seventies expect to retire in five years. However, nearly half of respondents indicate that the latest economic downturn would lead them to retire later and/or stay in their current job. Adequate benefits and pay were the most important factors leading people to stay in their current jobs, but nearly two thirds of them have had negative incidents in their current positions, such as frozen benefits/pay and staff cuts. Three fourths of all respondents indicated that pay and benefits were “very important” or “critical” to their decision to keep working. The most important conclusion is that while many library workers approaching traditional retirement years do plan to retire, nearly half indicate that the latest economic downturn would lead them to retire later and/or stay in their current job.
Life in the Global Public Domain: Response to Commentaries on the UN Guiding Principles and the Proposed Treaty on Business and Human Rights

This paper addresses the foundational logics of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and comments on the recent decision by the UN Human Rights Council to commence treaty negotiations on this subject. As the author of the Guiding Principles, the paper reiterates the important contributions of Amartya Sen to my understanding of human rights. Sen insists that human rights are much more than laws’ antecedents or progeny. Indeed, he states, such a view threatens to “incarcerate” the social logics and processes other than law that drive public recognition of rights. My work, including the Guiding Principles, has sought to contribute to the freeing of human rights discourse and practice from these conceptual shackles, by drawing on the interests, capacities and engagement of states, market actors, civil society, and the intrinsic power of ideational and normative factors. Moreover, now that negotiations on an international legal instrument are about to commence, my sole concerns are that they build on what has already been achieved, not undermine it; and that the effort be meaningful and actionable where it matters most: not in legal treatises, journals of ethics, or the mesmerizing effects that the word “binding” has on the critical faculties of many committed activists, but in the daily lives of people — and not in some far-off promised future that may or may not ever materialize, but starting in the here and now.
The Transferrin-Receptor Hypothesis: Mechanism of Tumor Uptake of Carrier-Free Gallium-67

Gallium-67 (67Ga) citrate, after injection into the blood stream, is deposited in high concentration in some types of human and animal tumors [1,2]. At present, the biochemical basis for the tumor affinity of radiogallium is not known. Several mechanisms have been proposed, including diffusion of ionic radiogallium through porous tumor membranes [3,4]; a transport mechanism similar to that of calcium ion [5–7]; pinocytosis of transferrin-labeled gallium [8]; 67Ga transport to the tumor cell by transferrin or other transport proteins, with subsequent removal of 67Ga by binding to a more gallium-avid tumor protein of unknown type [9] or to lactoferrin [10]. So far, none of these proposed mechanisms has been well substantiated by experimental evidence. The possible role of transferrin in 67Ga tumor uptake has been studied using tumor cells growing in vitro [11–13]. The results are conflicting. Sephton and Harris [11,12] reported enhancement of 67Ga uptake by transferrin, whereas Gams and associates [13] reported that transferrin inhibited 67Ga tumor uptake.
Photoluminescence of Cyclometalated Iridium Complexes in Poly(methyl methacrylate) Films

In this work, we describe the emission properties of 12 heteroleptic bis-cyclometalated iridium complexes immobilized in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) thin films. The compounds chosen for this study span a range of emission colors covering the visible spectrum and fall into three categories with electronically diverse ancillary ligands—four cationic bis(aryl isocyanide) complexes, four with chelating bis(acyclic diaminocarbene) (bis-ADC) ancillary ligands which can exist in two protonation states, and four neutral compounds with monoanionic, strongly π donating β-ketoiminate (acNac) and β-diketiminate (NacNac) ancillary ligands. Included in this suite of compounds are five new compounds, one with two aryl isocyanide ancillary ligands, two with bis-ADC ancillary ligands, and one each with acNac and NacNac; their syntheses are described, and crystal structures of three are presented. The bulk of the work presented here describes the emission spectra of all 12 compounds, comparing spectral features in sol...
Early Detection of Atrial Fibrillation-Atrial Flutter Using Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote patient monitoring (RPM), patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and biochemical biomarker monitoring (Mitra® devices) may be useful for early detection of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). This case report presents a patient enrolled in a precision medicine study in which RPM detected the presence of atrial fibrillation-atrial flutter (AFib-Flutter), facilitating prompt treatment. A 64-year-old male with a history of ischemic heart disease (IHD) initiated his AliveCor Kardia after noting angina which reported “possible atrial fibrillation”. Upon evaluation, AFib-Flutter was confirmed by 12-lead ECG and successfully treated. RPM was recorded continuously through (Fitbit Charge 2), weekly single-channel electrocardiogram rhythm stripe (AliveCor Kardia), PROs through weekly questionnaires, and Mitra® devices through monthly fingerpricks. The case report highlights a successful case of detecting AFib-Flutter, expediting treatment and preventing MACE. Precision medicine using RPM may be useful for detecting AFib-Flutter and improving IHD outcomes. Further research is needed. J Med Cases. 2019;10(2):31-36 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3151w
Comparison of intrauterine and subcutaneous sites of estrogen injection for luteal maintenance in swine.

Intrauterine and subcutaneous sites for estradiol benzoate (EB) injection were compared in 30 gilts to test their relative effectiveness for estrogen-induced maintenance of corpora lutea. Vehicle or EB was injected on d 10 through 14 of the estrous cycle and corpora lutea that were maintained through d 24 were regressed subsequently by exogenous prostaglandin F2 alpha (10 mg). Cycle length (days) was not altered in either subcutaneous (18.6 +/- .5) or intrauterine (19.8 +/- .8) control groups. Gilts receiving 10 mg EB/d sc had longer (P less than .05) cycles (28.6 +/- 2 d) than gilts treated with 100 micrograms EB at either the sc (24.2 +/- 1 d) or intrauterine sites (23.3 +/- 1.3 d). The latter two cycle lengths were longer (P less than .05) than control cycles, but not different from each other. Before d 24, progesterone concentrations (ng/ml serum) were greater (P less than .01) in EB-treated gilts (25.1 +/- 2.0) than in controls (13.0 +/- 2.7). Progesterone concentration patterns were similar between gilts treated at intrauterine or sc sites. Thus, EB-induced maintenance of corpora lutea was not enhanced by direct injection into the uterine lumen.
Fast and space-efficient spin sensing.

Gate-based reflectometry enables single-shot spin readout in double quantum dots. This can help to reduce the number of gates necessary to operate a spin qubit and the per qubit device footprint, while allowing fast measurement — important characteristics for scalable quantum computing architectures.
A Bull in a Pill Shop: Alpha-Gal Allergy Complicating Treatment Options for Postprocedural Hypothyroidism

ABSTRACT Objective The galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) allergy, an IgE-mediated response to nonprimate meat, has a singular pathogenesis linked to tick bites and a delayed allergic presentation, which makes it especially cumbersome to diagnose and manage. As a large array of enteral medications contain ingredients derived from meat byproducts, this can affect the care of alpha-gal patients across multiple medical disciplines. Our objective is to present a patient with an alpha-gal allergy, which can complicate hypothyroidism treatment selection. Methods In this case of difficulty tailoring thyroid replacement therapy secondary to the alpha-gal allergy, the diagnostic studies included IgE immunoassays for alpha-gal as well as thyroid function tests. Results A 45-year-old woman with postoperative hypothyroidism and a history of an alpha-gal allergy (diagnosed after an anaphylactic reaction to beef) could not be immediately started on any common thyroid hormone replacement formulation because of our concern regarding the possible presence of nonprimate mammalian meat byproduct components in the thyroid hormone medication. After consulting allergy and immunology specialists and compounding pharmacists and contacting multiple drug companies in an effort to confirm the nature of the inactive ingredients in their thyroid hormone products, she was prescribed a plant-based compounded levothyroxine preparation with good clinical results. Conclusion This case emphasizes the importance of recognizing various risk factors and common drugs which may be associated with the alpha-gal allergy. It is not known how to best tailor enteral medications for patients with an alpha-gal allergy. Further research and pharmaceutical attention to this allergy are needed.