cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Secreted factors from equine mesenchymal stromal cells diminish the effects of TGF‐β1 on equine dermal fibroblasts and alter the phenotype of dermal fibroblasts isolated from cutaneous fibroproliferative wounds

The prevalence of cutaneous fibroproliferative disorders (CFPDs) is high and almost exclusively occurs in humans (keloids and hypertrophic scars) and horses (exuberant granulation tissue), making the horse a valuable translational model for studies on prevention and treatment of human CFPDs. CFPDs arise as a result of dysregulated wound healing characterized by persistently high levels of cytokines, such as transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), that contribute to excessive extracellular matrix deposition, and the physical disorganization of dermal fibroblasts (DF). The mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) secretome, consisting of all factors secreted by MSC, has been shown to promote normal wound healing in both humans and horses, but its potential to treat CFPDs remains largely unexplored. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of the equine MSC secretome on equine DF influenced by cytokines that contribute to the development of CFPDs. First, primary equine DF were treated with TGF-β1 in vitro in the presence or absence of MSC secreted products. We found that MSC secreted products could block TGF-β1-induced changes in DF morphology, proliferation rate, gene expression, and contractile-capacity. We then isolated primary DF from equine exuberant granulation tissue, to evaluate the potential of the MSC secretome to alter the phenotype of cells derived from a complex CFPD environment. These results showed that MSC secreted factors did not change proliferation or migration of these cells, but did lead to changes in expression of genes and proteins involved in extracellular matrix remodeling and did affect contractile capacity. These results warrant future studies designed to evaluate the potential of the MSC secretome to minimize the pathologies associated with CFPD in vivo.
Discharge Planning and Teaching

: This article is the fifth in a series, Supporting Family Caregivers: No Longer Home Alone, published in collaboration with the AARP Public Policy Institute. Results of focus groups conducted as part of the AARP Public Policy Institute's No Longer Home Alone video project supported evidence that family caregivers aren't being given the information they need to manage the complex care regimens of their family members. This series of articles and accompanying videos aims to help nurses provide caregivers with the tools they need to manage their family member's medications. Each article explains the principles nurses should consider and reinforce with caregivers and is accompanied by a video for the caregiver to watch. The fifth video can be accessed at http://links.lww.com/AJN/A79.
Superparamagnetic microbead transport induced by a magnetic field on large-area magnetic antidot arrays

Abstract A method is presented for directed transport of superparamagnetic microbeads (SPBs) on magnetic antidot patterned substrates by applying a rotating elliptical magnetic field. We find a critical frequency for transport, beyond which the bead dynamics transitions from stepwise locomotion to local oscillation. We also find that the out-of-plane (HOOP) and in-plane (HIP) field magnitudes play crucial roles in triggering bead motion. Namely, we find threshold values in HOOP and HIP that depend on bead size, which can be used to independently and remotely address specific bead populations in a multi-bead mixture. These behaviors are explained in terms of the dynamic potential energy lansdscapes computed from micromagnetic simulations of the substrate magnetization configuration. Finally, we show that large-area magnetic patterns suitable for particle transport and sorting can be fabricated through a self-assembly lithography technique, which provides a simple, cost-effective means to integrate magnetic actuation into microfluidic systems.
Moving Beyond Linear Formulas for Left Ventricular Mass in Aortic Valve Replacement

In the well-performed study of Kadkhodayan and colleagues, the investigators suggest the use of the Devereux formula, which relies on linear measurements of left ventricular (LV) dimensions, leads ...
Privacy and consent: the trouble with the label of “revenge porn”

The distribution of sexually private images without the consent of the subject, more commonly referred to as “revenge porn,” has become such a significant issue that politicians and legal scholars ...
Substrain- and sex-dependent differences in stroke vulnerability in C57BL/6 mice.

The C57BL/6 mouse strain is represented by distinct substrains, increasingly recognized to differ genetically and phenotypically. The current study compared stroke vulnerability among C57BL/6 J (J)...
Optimized pupil-plane phase masks for high-contrast imaging

A differential evolution algorithm (DEA) is shown to improve the design of phase-only pupil plane masks for imaging in the presence of a high-intensity point source. Strehl and suppression ratio metrics for various phase basis functions were experimentally and numerically calculated. Experiments performed with a spatial light modulator demonstrated 100 times suppression of the peak intensity. The Strehl ratio was found to be higher for the DEA masks compared to the individual phase basis function.
Amadoriase Isoenzymes (Fructosyl Amine: Oxygen Oxidoreductase EC 1.5.3) from Aspergillus Fumigatus

Summary Four ‘amadoriase’ enzyme fractions that oxidatively degrade glycated low molecular weight amines and amino acids forming hydrogen peroxide and glucosone were isolated from an Aspergillus fumigatus soil strain selected using fructosyl adamantanamine as sole carbon source. The enzymes were purified to homogeneity using a combination of ion exchange, hydroxyapatite, gel filtration and Mono Q column chromatography. Molecular masses of amadoriase enzymes Ia, Ib and Ic were 51 kDa; amadoriase II was 49 kDa. FAD was identified in all enzymes based on its typical absorption spectrum. The N-terminal sequence was identical for enzymes Ia and Ib and Ic except that the first 5 amino acids were truncated. The sequence of enzyme II was different. These data show the presence of two distinct Amadoriase enzymes in the Aspergillus fumigatus soil strain selected on fructosyl adamantanamine and induced by fructosyl propylamine. In contrast to previously described enzymes, these novel Amadoriase enzymes can deglycate both glycated amines and amino acids. To identify primary structure of the enzymes, we isolated a cDNA clone from a cDNA library of Aspergillus fumigatus induced with fructosyl propylamine. Northern blotting analysis revealed that amadoriase II was induced by fructosyl propylamine in a dose-dependent manner.
Abstract 2181: Functionalizing intratumoral signaling heterogeneity in triple negative breast cancer

Tumors are highly heterogeneous populations of cells, and measures of intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) and diversity correlate with worse prognosis in many cancers, including breast cancer. Emerging studies are highlighting functional interactions between subclones, as well as among subclones and components of the tumor microenvironment. However, these studies have largely focused on soluble factors without interrogating the spatial distribution of subclones defined by activated signaling pathways. Previous work in this area has been severely limited by technical restrictions – existing techniques allowing measurement of many biomarkers simultaneously lose all information about the tissue architecture, while those that do retain spatial information can only assay a handful of markers at once. We will circumvent these limitations by undertaking imaging mass cytometry (IMC), which allows for simultaneous measurement of 30-40 antigens while retaining the spatial organization of the sample. Our objective is to dissect the signaling heterogeneity in tumors from patients and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), through two main approaches: (1) characterization of signaling heterogeneity in human tumors and PDX models of TNBC through the use of imaging mass cytometry (IMC) and (2) modeling cell signaling heterogeneity in cell line-based models to determine mechanisms of cell-cell interaction and communication. We have constructed an IMC panel of antibodies that combines markers for tissue architecture, cell phenotyping, and signaling pathway activation. Profiling of a panel of TNBC PDX models, including matched sets of pre- and post-chemotherapy treatment, indicates emerging patterns of pathway activation. We will utilize these results to inform functional studies in our isogenic cell line models. As it is becoming more clear that tumors are composed of heterogeneous subclones, it is crucial that we understand the communication between subclones and with components of the microenvironment. Ultimately, we plan to use these results to identify novel vulnerabilities in subclonal interactions that can be targeted therapeutically in TNBC. Citation Format: Amanda L. Rinkenbaugh, Vidya C. Sinha, Xiaomei Zhang, Helen Piwnica-Worms. Functionalizing intratumoral signaling heterogeneity in triple negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2181.
Assessment of Upper Extremity Function

Assessment of upper extremity function either before or after surgical treatment has been a rapidly evolving field. A reproducible, accurate, and valid assessment tool provides the ability to compare surgical interventions, evaluate physical therapy regimens, and assess novel assistive and restorative technologies. The purpose of this article is to detail the various upper extremity assessment tools and introduce the concept of real-world data acquisition of upper extremity function.
Resilient distributed optimal generation dispatch for lossy AC microgrids

Abstract In this paper, we consider the problem of designing a distributed algorithm, resilient against communication delays and packet drops, for coordinating the response of distributed energy resources (DERs) in AC microgrids so as to minimize electrical line losses and generation cost, and to ensure that the microgrid network constraints are satisfied. The proposed algorithm can be utilized as a secondary or tertiary controller for frequency regulation in islanded microgrids, or to coordinate DERs for providing frequency regulation services to the bulk grid when microgrid is in grid-connected mode. We validate the practical usefulness of the theoretical results through numerical simulations involving the IEEE 39-bus system.
Triple versus dual inhaler therapy in moderate-to-severe COPD: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION Treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is evolving specially with triple inhaler therapy. OBJECTIVES To perform a meta-analysis to ascertain the safety and efficacy of triple inhaler therapy consisting of an inhaled-glucocorticoid (ICS), long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) when compared with dual therapy (ICS-LABA or LAMA-LABA). METHODS We performed an electronic database search to include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing between triple and dual inhalers. Pooled rate-ratio (RR) or odds-ratio (OR) for dichotomous data and weighted mean difference (MD) for continuous data were calculated with their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS Our study included 12 RCTs totaling 19,322 patients, mean age of 65 ± 8.2 years and 68.2% were male. Pooled analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in moderate-to-severe COPD exacerbations with triple therapy (RR 0.75; 95% CI 0.69-0.83; P < 0.01). Additionally, triple therapy caused significant increase in trough FEV1 (MD 0.09 L; 95% CI 0.07-0.12; P < 0.01), significant reduction in the mean St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score (MD -1.67; 95% CI -2.02- -1.31; P < 0.01), and more patients experienced ≥ 4 points reduction of SGRQ score (OR 1.27; 95% CI 1.19-1.35; P < 0.01). Triple therapy was associated with an increased risk of pneumonia when compared to LABA/LAMA (OR 1.25; 95% 1.03-1.97; P = 0.03) but there were no significant differences in other adverse events between triple and dual inhalers. CONCLUSIONS Among patients with moderate-to-severe COPD, triple inhaler therapy was associated with a reduction of moderate-to-severe COPD exacerbations, improved lung function and improved quality of life when compared to dual inhaler therapy but with an increased pneumonia risk.
Linear d-Polychromatic $$Q_{d-1}$$ Q d - 1 -Colorings of the Hypercube

Let $$n \ge d \ge \ell \ge 1$$ be integers, and denote the n-dimensional hypercube by $$Q_n$$ . A coloring of the $$\ell $$ -dimensional subcubes $$Q_\ell $$ in $$Q_n$$ is called a $$Q_\ell $$ -coloring. Such a coloring is d-polychromatic if every $$Q_d$$ in the $$Q_n$$ contains a $$Q_\ell $$ of every color. In this paper we consider a specific class of $$Q_\ell $$ -colorings that are called linear. Given $$\ell $$ and d, let $$p_{lin}^\ell (d)$$ be the largest number of colors such that there is a d-polychromatic linear $$Q_\ell $$ -coloring of $$Q_n$$ for all $$n \ge d$$ . We prove that for all $$d \ge 3$$ , $$p_{lin}^{d-1}(d) = 2$$ . In addition, using a computer search, we determine $$p_{lin}^\ell (d)$$ for some specific values of $$\ell $$ and d, in some cases improving on previously known lower bounds.
Investigating the Marketization of the Nonprofit Sector: A Comparative Case Study of Two Nonprofit Organizations

It has been well documented in recent years that nonprofits are becoming increasingly marketized. What is less well understood from this body of research is the variation of marketization in the nonprofit sector and how it is made manifest in nonprofit organizations. This article aims to fill this gap in knowledge by recounting the results of a comparative case study of two nonprofits. We examine their marketization through a multifaceted theoretical framework that allows us to document the marketization comprehensively and to posit some preliminary explanations as to why this variation is occurring. Our findings indicate that one organization is adopting a strong entrepreneurial orientation while the other is integrating its traditional community orientation with more professionalization. The differentiation witnessed in the case organizations suggests that marketization is best understood as a situated process that may in part be explained by varying strategic responses to institutional pressures.
Spatiotemporal variability in Allee effects of invading gypsy moth populations

The Allee threshold, the critical population density separating growth from decline in populations experiencing strong Allee effects, can vary over space and time but few empirical studies have examined this variation. A lack of geographically extensive, long-term studies on low density population dynamics makes studying variability in Allee effects difficult. We used North American gypsy moth population data from 1996 to 2016 to quantify Allee thresholds in 11 regions of the invasion front. Allee thresholds spanned a continuum from being undetectable due to strong population growth at all densities, to being unmeasurable because populations declined across all densities. The lag-1 temporal autocorrelation in Allee thresholds tended to be negative and spatial synchrony in Allee thresholds extended no further than adjacent regions. This work furthers understanding of spatiotemporal variation in Allee effects using extensive empirical data at the range edge of an invasive insect.
Genomic and phenotypic analyses of six offspring of a genome-edited hornless bull.

Genome editing followed by reproductive cloning was previously used to produce two hornless dairy bulls. We crossed one genome-edited dairy bull, homozygous for the dominant PC Celtic POLLED allele, with horned cows (pp) and obtained six heterozygous (PCp) polled calves. The calves had no horns and were otherwise healthy and phenotypically unremarkable. We conducted whole-genome sequencing of all animals using an Illumina HiSeq4000 to achieve ~20× coverage. Bioinformatics analyses revealed the bull was a compound heterozygote, carrying one naturally occurring PC Celtic POLLED allele and an allele containing an additional introgression of the homology-directed repair donor plasmid along with the PC Celtic allele. These alleles segregated in the offspring of this bull, and inheritance of either allele produced polled calves. No other unintended genomic alterations were observed. These data can be used to inform conversations in the scientific community, with regulatory authorities and with the public around ‘intentional genomic alterations’ and future regulatory actions regarding genome-edited animals. A genome-edited hornless compound heterozygous dairy bull transmitted this trait to his offspring.
Prologue: The Paradox of Punishment

This chapter sets the stage for the remainder of the book by first describing the “punishment-as-price paradigm,” which underlies the economic approach to criminal justice. This concept is based on the idea that a crime is essentially a form of exchange, albeit involuntary, and criminal punishment is the price of that exchange, which an offender, once apprehended and convicted, must pay. The chapter emphasizes, by means of a simple law enforcement “game,” the sequential nature of crime and punishment, which necessarily raises questions about the credibility on the part of law enforcers regarding the imposition of punishment. This issue establishes a theme, referred to as the “paradox of punishment,” that runs throughout the book.
Pityriasis rubra pilaris‐like graft‐vs‐host disease following allogeneic stem cell transplant in two patients

Chronic cutaneous graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) has several atypical variants. We describe two cases of GVHD with clinical and histopathologic features of pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP), which responded to additional immunosuppression. Recognition of this newly described PRP-like clinical presentation of GVHD may prompt early consideration of additional steroid-sparing therapies.
Successful Percutaneous Treatment of an Arteriovenous Malformation of the Toe

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the toe are a rare entity. To the author's knowledge, there are only 2 published case reports, and both patients underwent amputation of the affected digits. Little is known about the optimal treatment of AVMs involving the toe. The authors present the case of a 20-year-old male with a large AVM of the second toe, which was successfully treated with intra-arterial sodium tetradecyl sulfate. Percutaneous treatment of these lesions is possible and should be considered before amputation.
Jakob, Lina, Echoes of Trauma and Shame in German Families: The Post–World War II Generations: Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 248 pp., $35.00, ISBN 9780253048257, Publication Date: May 2020

The fighting ended more than seventy-five years ago, yet the Second World War undeniably continues to have an influence, even on people who were born well after its conclusion. This is the central ...
Rethinking Management Information Systems for Scaling up Employment Outcomes

People with intellectual disability, autism, and other developmental disabilities have successfully demonstrated their ability to work in the general labor market. Yet, their employment rate remain...
The relationship of Airbnb to neighborhood calls for service in three cities

Abstract Short-term rentals have grown rapidly in cities since the founding of Airbnb in 2008. As a result, many homeowners have voiced concerns about the impact of Airbnbs on the character of their neighborhoods and city councils have begun constraining their growth. Though there is a substantial literature exploring the connection between tourism and criminal activity, there is scant work on the relationship between Airbnbs, disorder, and crime. This paper takes up the issue using data on the growth of Airbnbs and calls for service to the police in Portland, Oregon, Nashville, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana. We find that Airbnbs tend to locate in areas with high calls for service and that an increase in Airbnbs in the previous month is correlated with a small increase in calls related to revelry and property crimes, and a decrease with respect to suspicious individuals.
Blood Mercury in Three Populations of Endangered Whooping Crane (Grus americana).

We investigated concentrations of blood total mercury (THg) in three extant populations of endangered Whooping Crane (Grus americana). Blood THg was greater in cranes reintroduced during 2001–2008 that range in the eastern US (median = 0.31 ug/g ww) than both wild cranes in central North America (median = 0.11 ug/g ww) and from captivity (median = 0.01 ug/g ww). The median THg blood concentrations in the two free-ranging populations of Whooping Cranes were low compared to reproductive toxic thresholds suggested for other large bird species (> 4.3 ug/g ww), but a singular elevated concentration was observed in one crane (1.04 ug/g ww; 6% of samples from the reintroduced population). These results likely reflect variable dietary Hg exposure among these populations, but should prompt additional biomonitoring to discern risk of greater Hg exposure nearer to the time of breeding and potential effects on productivity.
Global Warming Gridlock: Creating More Effective Strategies for Protecting the Planet

Global warming is one of today's greatest challenges. The science of climate change leaves no doubt that policies to cut emissions are overdue. Yet, after twenty years of international talks and treaties, the world is now in gridlock about how best to do this. David G. Victor argues that such gridlock has arisen because international talks have drifted away from the reality of what countries are willing and able to implement at home. Most of the lessons that policy makers have drawn from the history of other international environmental problems won't actually work on the problem of global warming. Victor argues that a radical rethinking of global warming policy is required and shows how to make international law on global warming more effective. This book provides a roadmap to a lower carbon future based on encouraging bottom-up initiatives at national, regional and global levels, leveraging national self-interest rather than wishful thinking.
Theoretical analysis of a 0.25 /spl mu/m gate InAlGaP/GaAs heterojunction field effect transistor using ensemble Monte Carlo simulation

Since its invention, designers of heterojunction field effect transistors (HFETs) have been in continuous pursuit of ways to increase the sheet charge density in the channel. An effective way of achieving higher sheet charge density and at the same time improving other device characteristics of an HFET is to use material system with larger conduction band discontinuity. Larger conduction band discontinuity in a double heterostructure HFET also results in a lower output conductance and reduced real space transfer, hence improving the device performance. The fact that the In/sub 0.5/(Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/)/sub 0.5/P/GaAs material system has the largest bandgap difference among all III-V semiconductor heterojunctions lattice matched to GaAs makes it extremely attractive for high performance HFET device structures. In this paper a comparison of electron transport properties in a 0.25 /spl mu/m gate length In/sub 0.5/(Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/)/sub 0.5/P/GaAs HFET and a 0.25 /spl mu/m gate length Al/sub 0.3/Ga/sub 0.7/As/GaAs HFET is presented based on a two-dimensional ensemble Monte Carlo simulation couple with a Poisson equation solver. In the simulation, realistic conduction band structures are used and major scattering mechanisms are included. The results show that the InAlGaP/GaAs HFET has high drain current density and higher breakdown voltage than the conventional AlGaAs/GaAs HFET, and thus is a potential candidate for high power applications.
Blended Learning Environments

In recent decades, rapid technological innovation has facilitated a convergence between traditional face-toface and distributed (or technology-mediated) learning environments. These blended learning environments try to take advantage of the strengths of both archetypal learning environments (Graham, 2006). The emergence of blended learning is highlighted in higher education and in industry training literature. The Chronicle of Charles R. Graham and Charles Dziuban 270 Higher Education reports that the President of Pennsylvania State University regards the convergence between online and residential instruction as the “single greatest unrecognized trend in higher education today” (Young, 2002, p. A33). Similarly, the American Society for Training and Development identifies blended learning as one of the top ten emergent trends in the knowledge delivery industry (Finn, 2002). Yet, surprisingly, we understand little about the nature of blended learning systems. This chapter identifies core issues and research about blended learning using the Sloan Consortium’s five pillars (learning effectiveness, student satisfaction, faculty satisfaction, cost effectiveness, and access) as an organizing framework (Lorenzo and Moore, 2002). The authors also discuss future directions in blended learning research.
THE REBIRTH OF FIELDS CORNER: VIETNAMESE IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEURS AND THE REVITALIZATION OF A BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD

* This Article is based on a presentation given by Paul Watanabe at the Third Annual Conference on Entrepreneurship and Community Economic Development on October 17, 2008. This conference is hosted by Western New England College Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship. The theme for the 2008 conference was "Entrepreneurship in a Global Economy." The presentation and this Article are substantially derived from a study conducted by Paul Watanabe, Ram6n Borges­ Mendez, and Michael Liu for the Immigrant Learning Center, Inc., a nonprofit adult learning center that "provide[s] free English classes to immigrant and refugee adults to give them sufficient knowledge of English to lead productive lives in the United States." See ILC Mission, http://www.ilctr.org/aboutlmission.asp (last visited May 15, 2009). The full text of the study can be found on the Immigrant Learning Center's website. See RAM6N BORGES-MENDEZ, MICHAEL LIU, & PAUL WATANABE, IMMIGRANT LEARNING CTR., INC., IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEURS AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION: STUDIES OF THE ALLSTON VILLAGE, EAST BOSTON AND FIELDS CORNER NEIGHBORHOODS IN BOSTON (2005), available at http://www.ilctr.org/news/pdf/ ImmigrancEntrepreneurs.pdf. ** Paul Watanabe is Director of the Institute for Asian American Studies and Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. He is the author of Ethnic Groups, Congress, and American Foreign Policy and principal author of A Dream Deferred: Changing Demographics, New Opportunities, and Challenges for Bos­ ton. See PAUL Y. WATANABE, ETHNIC GROUPS, CONGRESS, AND AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY: THE POLITICS OF THE TURKISH ARMS EMBARGO (1984); PAUL WATANABE ET AL., A DREAM DEFERRED: CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS, NEW OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHALLENGES FOR BOSTON (1996). Watanabe received his PhD in Political Science from Harvard University. 1. CHARLES JONES, UNIV. OF MASS., MAURICIO GAST6N INST. FOR LATINO CMTY. DEV. & PUB. POL'y, LATINOS IN BOSTON 1 (2003), available at http:// www.gaston.umb.edularticles/Latinos_Bos.pdf.
Response of Buried Cylinders Encased in Foam

An analytic method is developed to treat the dynamic response of flexible tunnels encased in crushable foams. An approximate soil-structure interaction law is used to account for the inertial coupling between the free field and the tunnel. The method is then used to investigate the response of tunnel-foam ring structures subjected to shock loadings. A series of dynamic experiments were conducted using 5 in. diam steel tunnel models encased in polyurethane foam and the results were compared with the predictions of the analytic method. On the basis of the results generated, the approximate analysis adequately predicts the gross structural response. For tunnels buried in high strength foam linings, a ringing effect will develop if the foam does not crush under load, and this ringing will persist for substantial times, adversely affecting systems housed within the tunnel.
Epoxy metabolites of docosahexaenoic acid inhibit angiogenesis and tumorigenesis (644.13)

Lipid mediators, which are signaling molecules produced from fatty acids by the actions of cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, regulate numerous biological processes including angiogenesis and tumorigenesis. Unlike the signaling lipids derived from COX and LOX enzymes, the effects of the CYP-derived lipid mediators on cancer are largely unknown. Here we show that epoxydocosapentaenoic acids (EDPs), which are the CYP epoxygenase metabolites of omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), inhibit angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis; while the corresponding metabolites from omega-6 arachidonic acid (ARA), epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), increase tumor progression. EDPs inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)- and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2)-induced angiogenesis in vivo, and suppress endothelial cell migration and protease production in vitro via a VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-dependent mechanism. When EDPs are co-administered with a low-dose soluble epoxide...
Some results on random circulant matrices

This paper considers random (non-Hermitian) circulant matrices, and proves several results analogous to recent theorems on non-Hermitian random matrices with independent entries. In particular, the limiting spectral distribution of a random circulant matrix is shown to be complex normal, and bounds are given for the probability that a circulant sign matrix is singular.
Health and Safety Issues of Older Workers Surveyed in the Construction Industry

The study aimed to gain a better understanding of age-related construction worker's health and safety issues and discuss practical solutions to improve safety and health of the older workers in the construction industry. A two-page survey questionnaire was developed and sent out to the safety managers, directors, or coordinators in the construction firms. The participants were employed in 27 companies that employed 12,452 employees and have been in business for an average of 75 years. All of the companies had a written safety program, but only 50% of the companies represented in the survey had the Health and Wellness programs. The findings suggested that the construction industry was in fact well aware of the worker health concerns that the aging construction workforce has been facing. The survey also revealed that there was an overwhelming agreement that older workers were still very valuable to the industry. The occupational ergonomic, health and safety professionals should pay more attend to develop creative and effective health/wellness programs that any size organization can use, with the ultimate goal being to have a sustainable and healthier aging workforce in the industry. The results of other findings are also discussed in detail.
An examination of hypermutation and random immigrant variants of mrCGA for dynamic environments

Our results show that for the single-leg locomotion problem, hypermutation increases the quality of the mrCGA’s solution in a dynamic environment, whereas the random immigrant variant produces slightly lower scores. Both of these variants can be easily added to the existing mrCGA hardware implementation without significantly increasing its complexity. In the future we plan to categorize the effects of the hypermutation and random immigrant strategies on the mrCGA for a variety of generalized benchmarks. This categorization will be useful to help determine which dynamic optimization strategy should be employed for a given problem.
Variation in microhabitat use of the threatened spotfin chub (Erimonax monachus) among stream sites and seasons

– The spotfin chub Erimonax monachus is a rare cyprinid fish endemic to the Tennessee River drainage, and it is federally listed as threatened in the USA. Microhabitat use of spotfin chubs was studied via stream snorkelling in the Emory River watershed, Tennessee, one of the last remaining populations of this species. We used a Bayesian generalised linear mixed model to evaluate microhabitat covariates related to the presence/absence of spotfin chubs among eight stream sites across three seasons (early summer, late summer and fall). In general, spotfin chubs were more likely to be present in microhabitats characterised by boulder/bedrock substrates, medium to high velocity, and medium depth (typical of the run habitat). However, the patterns were not necessarily consistent among seasons or stream sites, due partly to interactions between microhabitat and macrohabitat covariates. Specifically, spotfin chubs were more selective of bedrock and boulder substrate at smaller stream sites where they were less abundant, and they were more selective of higher velocity at warmer stream temperatures (early and late summer). Our data indicate that spotfin chubs may exhibit flexible microhabitat use to some extent, and their microhabitat use may differ by macrohabitat characteristics such as stream size and water temperature. This study provided a refined understanding of microhabitat use of spotfin chubs and suggests that effective conservation of this declining species should identify and protect available suitable habitat across space and time.
Internet of You: Data Big and Small

Humans are at a great divide. Where our ancestors left behind few records, we're creating and preserving increasingly complete digital traces and models of almost every aspect of our lives. This special issue of IEEE Internet Computing explores technologies and challenges, from small user-centric models of individuals to real-time analytics on large aggregations of user data.
Exudative epidermitis. Pathogenesis and pathology.

Twenty-six hysterectomy-derived, colostrum-deprived, 3-week-old pigs were inoculated subcutaneously with coccoid bacteria. Starting 48 hours after inoculation, 2 pigs were killed daily, cultured, a...
Spontaneous separation of charged grains.

In 1867, Lord Kelvin described an experiment in which two streams of water droplets were connected so that each stream amplified the charge on the second stream [W. Thomson, Proc. R. Soc. London 16, 67 (1867).]. We present here a complementary effect in flowing grains that spontaneously separates similar and well-mixed grains into two charged streams of demixed grains. This effect has important consequences for industrial and natural processes.
Comparative study of gel-based separated arcdischarge, HiPCO, and CoMoCAT carbon nanotubes for macroelectronic applications

Due to their excellent electrical properties and compatibility with room-temperature deposition/printing processing, high-purity single-walled semiconducting carbon nanotubes hold great potential for macroelectronic applications such as in thin-film transistors and display back-panel electronics. However, the relative advantages and disadvantages of various nanotubes for macroelectronics remains an open issue, despite the great significance. Here in this paper, we report a comparative and systematic study of three kinds of mainstream carbon nanotubes (arc-discharge, HiPCO, CoMoCAT) separated using low-cost gel-based column chromatography for thin-film transistor applications, and high performance transistors-which satisfy the requirements for transistors used in active matrix organic light-emitting diode displays-have been achieved. We observe a trade-off between transistor mobility and on/off ratio depending on the nanotube diameter. While arc-discharge nanotubes with larger diameters lead to high device mobility, HiPCO and CoMoCAT nanotubes with smaller diameters can provide high on/off ratios (> 106) for transistors with comparable dimensions. Furthermore, we have also compared gel-based separated nanotubes with nanotubes separated using the density gradient ultracentrifuge (DGU) method, and find that gel-separated nanotubes can offer purity and thin-film transistor performance as good as DGU-separated nanotubes. Our approach can serve as the critical foundation for future carbon nanotube-based thin-film macroelectronics. Open image in new window
On the average internal path length of many search trees

Consider an m-ary tree constructed from a random permutation of size n. When all permutations are equally likely, the average internal path length, which may be considered as a cost measure for searching the tree, is shown to be (n+1)H n /(H m −1)+cn+O(nβ),β<1, with $$c = c(m) = - m/(m - 1) - (H_m - 1)^{ - 1} + A_1^{(m)} $$ , where Hkis the kth harmonic number and A 1 (m) is a coefficient obtained by solving a linear system of equations. This result tells us that the average cost of searching unbalanced m-ary trees is essentially the same as that of searching other popular variants of m-ary trees like B-trees and B+-trees where sophisticated methods are used for balancing.
Molecular keys unlock the mysteries of variable survival responses of blue crabs to hypoxia

Hypoxia is a major stressor in coastal ecosystems, yet generalizing its impacts on fish and shellfish populations across hypoxic events is difficult due to variability among individuals in their history of exposure to hypoxia and related abiotic variables, and subsequent behavioral and survival responses. Although aquatic animals have diverse physiological responses to cope with hypoxia, we know little about how inter-individual variation in physiological state affects survival and behavioral decisions under hypoxic conditions. Laboratory experiments coupled with molecular techniques determined how extrinsic factors (e.g., water body and temperature) and respiratory physiology (hemocyanin concentration and structure) affected survival and behavior of adult blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) exposed to different levels of hypoxia over a 30-h time period. Nearly 100% of crabs survived the 1.3 mg dissolved oxygen (DO) l−1 treatment (18.4% air saturation), suggesting that adult blue crabs are tolerant of severe hypoxia. Probability of survival decreased with increasing hypoxic exposure time, lower DO, and increasing temperature. Individual-level differences in survival correlated with water body and crab size. Crabs collected from the oligo/mesohaline and hypoxic Neuse River Estuary (NRE), North Carolina, USA survived hypoxic exposures longer than crabs from the euhaline and normoxic Bogue and Back Sounds, North Carolina. Furthermore, small NRE crabs survived longer than large NRE crabs. Hemocyanin (Hcy) concentration did not explain these individual-level differences, however, hypoxia-tolerant crabs had Hcy structures indicative of a high-O2-affinity form of Hcy, suggesting Hcy “quality” (i.e., structure) may be more important for hypoxia survival than Hcy “quantity” (i.e., concentration). The geographic differences in survival we observed also highlight the importance of carefully selecting experimental animals when planning to extrapolate results to the population level.
Regulation of antimicrobial peptide gene expression by nutrients and by-products of microbial metabolism

Background Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are synthesized and secreted by immune and epithelial cells that are constantly exposed to environmental microbes. AMPs are essential for barrier defense, and deficiencies lead to increased susceptibility to infection. In addition to their ability to disrupt the integrity of bacterial, viral and fungal membranes, AMPs bind lipopolysaccharides, act as chemoattractants for immune cells and bind to cellular receptors and modulate the expression of cytokines and chemokines. These additional biological activities may explain the role of AMPs in inflammatory diseases and cancer. Modulating the endogenous expression of AMPs offers potential therapeutic treatments for infection and disease.
Evaporative Power in the Tropical Forest of the Panama Canal Zone

Abstract The physical processes that affect evapotranspiration and the technique of measuring the drying influence of the air in the tropical forest of the Panama Canal Zone during the rainy season were examined. The time rate of evaporation from the surfaces of white spherical porcelain atmometers was the measurement used to determine the evapotranspiration power of this environment. Evaporation, temperature, vapor pressure deficit and relative humidity profiles are shown from the forest floor through 28.5 m to the top of the canopy. The mean hourly rate of evaporation at the top of the canopy is 4 times that near the forest floor but may vary from as little as 2.8 times to as much as 12 times the rate of evaporation near the forest floor. Mean hourly rates of evaporation at the top of the canopy and near the forest floor change dramatically from day to night. The average daytime rate near the surface was about 2.5 times the nighttime rate, while at the top of the canopy it was about 4 times the nighttim...
Estimation of exchangeable graph models by stochastic blockmodel approximation

We consider a non-parametric perspective of analyzing network data. Our goal is to seek a limiting object of a sequence of exchangeable random arrays called the graphon. We propose a numerically efficient algorithm for estimating graphons and we show that the proposed algorithm yields a consistent estimate as the size of the graph grows. Preliminary experiments show that the algorithm is effective in estimating stochastic block-models and continuous graphons.
Phase-field theory for martensitic phase transformations at large strains

Abstract General phase-field theory for multivariant martensitic phase transformations and explicit models are formulated at large strains. Each order parameter is unambiguously related to the transformation strain of the corresponding variant. Thermodynamic potential includes energy related to the gradient of the order parameters that mimics the interface energy. Application of the global form of the second law of thermodynamics resulted in the determination of the driving force for change of the order parameters and the boundary conditions for the order parameters. Kinetic relationships between the rate of change of the order parameters and the conjugate driving force lead to the Ginzburg–Landau equations. For homogeneous fields, conditions for instabilities of the equilibrium states (which represent criteria for the phase transformation between austenite and martensitic variants and between martensitic variants) are found for the prescribed Piola–Kirchoff stress tensor. It was proved that these criteria are invariant with respect to change in the prescribed stresses. The expression for the rigid-body rotation tensor is derived for the prescribed Piola–Kirchoff stress. The explicit expressions for the Helmholtz free energy and for transformation strain in terms of order parameters are derived for the most general case of large elastic and transformational strains, rotations, as well as nonlinear, anisotropic, and different elastic properties of phases. For negligible elastic strains, explicit expression for the Gibbs potential is formulated. Results are obtained for fifth- and sixth-degree potentials in Cartesian order parameters and for similar potentials in hyperspherical order parameters. Geometric interpretation of transformation conditions in the stress space and similarity with plasticity theory are discussed. All material parameters are obtained for cubic to tetragonal transformation in NiAl. Phase transformations in NiAl, boron nitride, and graphite to diamond under uniaxial loading are described explicitly, and the importance of geometrically nonlinear terms is demonstrated. A similar approach can be applied for twinning, dislocations, reconstructive transformations, and fracture.
Forty-eight hours hypothermic storage of whole canine pancreas allografts. Improved preservation with a colloid hyperosmolar solution.

Abstract This study indicates that crystalloid (Sacks') and colloid (modified silica gel fraction of plasma, MSGF) hyperosmolar solutions are edequate means to preserve whole pancreas allografts under hypothermia (4 to 7 °C) for 24 hr. These groups of preserved canine pancreas allografts survived as long as the fresh transplanted pancreas. However, when the preservation was extended to 48 hr, the crystalloid hyperosmolar solution did not protect the pancreas allografts, but the colloid hyperosmolar solution gave similar results to fresh pancreas allografts.
Proton lifetime in orthogonal theories of family unification

Abstract We compute the proton lifetime in recently proposed orthogonal theories of family unification. For Λ MS = 100 MeV , we find a partial lifetime τ(p→e+π0) of 5.9×1031±1 yr, where the error in the exponent comes from uncertainties in the hadronic wave function. Important decay products include electrons, neutrinos and non-strange mesons.
Pinacidil monohydrate—a novel vasodilator: Review of preclinical pharmacology and mechanism of action

Pinacidil dose-dependently decreased blood pressure in normotensive, renal hypertensive, spontaneously hypertensive, and neurogenic hypertensive rats; in anesthetized cats; and in normotensive and renal hypertensive dogs by a mechanism associated with decreased total peripheral resistance and reflex tachycardia. Pinacidil was 2–4-fold more potent as an antihypertensive than hydralazine. Antihypertensive activity of pinacidil was not modified by α, β, cholinergic, or histaminergic receptor antagonists and was not associated with calcium channel blockade, activation of cyclooxygenase, or formation of the vasodilator, adenosine. In vitro, pinacidil relaxed blood vessels contracted with several agonists by a mechanism that was independent of an intact endothelium, did not increase either CAMP or cGMP, and was approximately 700 times more potent than minoxidil or hydralazine. Thus, pinacidil is a direct-acting vasodilator, whereas minoxidil and hydralazine must be metabolized to a vasoactive species or exert some indirect effect for anithypertensive activity in vivo. Pinacidil lowered blood pressure in decerebrated cats, and only trace amounts of radiolabeled pinacidil distributed to the brain, suggesting minimal central effects. Pinacidil was rapidly absorbed after oral administration in rats, dogs, and man, showing a plasma half-life of approximately 30 min in all three species with peak plasma levels within 30 to 60 min. The major biotransformation product of pinacidil in rats, dogs, and man was pinacidil-N-oxide; and renal excretion was the main elimination pathway for both agents. Pinacidil-N-oxide was less potent than pinacidil as an antihypertensive agent and showed approximately 10–100-fold less vasodilation than pinacidil in vitro. In summary, pinacidil is a clinically effective novel antihypertensive agent that nonselectively inhibits contractile responses of arterial and other smooth muscle.
Knowledge-based part correspondence

This paper presents a direct method for finding corresponding pairs of parts between two shapes. Statistical knowledge about a large number of parts from many different objects is used to find a part correspondence between two previously unseen input shapes. No class membership information is required. The knowledge-based approach is shown to produce significantly better results than a classical metric distance approach. The potential role of part correspondence as a complement to geometric and structural comparisons is discussed.