cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TNF modulates endothelial properties by decreasing cAMP

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a monokine that contributes to vascular dysfunction accompanying the host response to gram-negative sepsis, has been shown to increase vascular permeability in vivo and to diminish the barrier function of cultured endothelial cell (EC) monolayers. The studies reported here indicate that a mechanism through which TNF alters EC barrier function involves a reduction in intracellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) content, due in part to increased cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (CNPDE) activities. TNF increased the diffusional transit of [3H]sorbitol, [3H]inulin, and 125I-labeled albumin across confluent bovine aortic EC monolayers. This effect of TNF was both time and dose dependent and occurred in parallel with a fall in EC cAMP. cAMP analogues, such as dibutyryl cAMP (DBcAMP), prevented TNF-induced perturbation of EC barrier function. TNF also mediated another important alteration in the EC phenotype, in that both mRNA and activity of the anticoagulant cofactor thrombomodulin were reduced after exposure of EC to TNF and were normalized by the addition of DBcAMP. EC monolayers exposed to TNF-alpha showed increased cAMP levels when exposed to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, a nonspecific CNPDE inhibitor. Ion exchange chromatography of cytosol derived from TNF-treated EC consistently showed an approximately 245% increase in phosphodiesterase (PDE) IV (high-affinity, cAMP-specific PDE) activity as identified by rolipram inhibition. PDE II activity was increased by 150% after TNF-alpha treatment of early passage EC, which was identified by cGMP-activated hydrolysis of cAMP. Western and Northern analyses, as well as activity studies, revealed that TNF treatment did not change the amount of PDE IV protein or mRNA but rather increased the specific activity of the isozyme, suggesting that a posttranslational modification had occurred. These data indicate that activation of EC CNPDE activity and decreased intracellular cAMP may represent a mechanism by which TNF increases EC permeability and promotes a procoagulant EC phenotype.
Gestational effects on volume-sensitive cardiopulmonary receptor reflexes in the rat

We tested the hypothesis that augmented reflex sympathoinhibition mediated by volume-sensitive cardiopulmonary (CP) receptors contributes to the vasodilation of pregnancy by comparing responses to acute volume expansion in 21-day-pregnant and age-matched virgin rats (n = 7) that were anesthetized (pentobarbital sodium, 50 mg/kg ip), paralyzed (gallamine triethiodide, 25 mg/kg iv), ventilated, and had undergone bilateral sinoaortic denervation. CP receptors were stimulated with intra-atrial injections of saline (50, 100, 200, and 300 microliter), and the following variables were recorded: 1) mean right atrial pressure (MRAP) to index the afferent stimulus intensity; 2) cell discharge in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), the primary central terminus for CP afferents; and 3) mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) to assess efferent reflex effects. Basal MAP was significantly lower in pregnant (71.5 +/- 3.8 mmHg) than in virgin rats (86.6 +/- 3.1 mmHg), and plasma volume was expanded in the pregnant group (17.6 +/- 1.1 vs. 10.0 +/- 0.7 ml, P < 0.05). Baseline MRAP was similar between groups. Saline injections evoked graded increases in MRAP, which were larger in gravid animals (P < 0.05). Volume injections evoked similar changes in NTS cell discharge between groups, but the responses were nongraded. Despite larger changes in MRAP in gravid rats, reflex effects on RSNA and HR were similar to those in control animals, and effects on MAP were attenuated in the pregnant group. We conclude that larger changes in MRAP in pregnant rats during stimulation of CP receptors are not associated with larger changes in central or efferent components of this reflex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Chemical intervention strategies for substantial suppression of acrylamide formation in fried potato products.

Prototype processes were developed for the substantial suppression of acrylamide formation (40–95% compared to untreated controls) in cut surface fried potato products using potato chips (crisps) as the primary model. The most efficacious procedures employed sequentially both surface preparation and subsequent acrylamide precursor complexation and/or competitive inhibition processing steps. Surface preparation processing involved either various low-temperature (50–75°C) aqueous (5–30 min) or ca. 80% ethanol blanch solutions for various times (1–5 min) combined with aqueous leaching steps (1–10 min) to reduce concentration of acrylamide precursors in the critical frying zone of cut potato surfaces. Acrylamide precursor complexation and/or competitive inhibition processing strategies included immersion exposure of prepared cut potato surfaces to solutions or dispersions of various combinations of either calcium chloride, phytic acid, chitosan, sodium acid pyrophosphate, or N-acetylcysteine.
Alterations in Thyroid Function Parameters Following Administration of Fatty Acids

Recent studies suggest that a thyroid hormone binding inhibitor (THBI) is detected frequently in sera of patients with systemic non-thyroidal illness (NTI) (1–3). There is at present a paucity of information concerning the role of THBI in thyroid hormone abnormalities observed commonly in NTI. THBI appears to be a lipid moiety and unsaturated fatty acids are promising candidate THBIs (1). Serum concentrations of some unsaturated fatty acids (e.g., oleic acid) are markedly increased in NTI (4). In this study, we have examined the effect of the parenteral administration of unsaturated fatty acids on serum thyroid hormone and TSH concentrations in the rat.
Acute pediatric cerebellitis and mutism. Case report and review of the literature

Acute cerebellitis (AC) is a rare syndrome characterized by an inflammatory involvement of the cerebellum which can com-plicate infections or vaccinations. AC can be a life-threatening condition, presenting with speech disorders including long-lasting mutism, usually followed by dysarthria. Clinical examination, laboratory findings and Magnetic Resonance Imaging are essential for establishing an early diagnosis and initiating prompt and adequate treatment, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality. We report a case of a child with AC complicated by mutism and we present a review of the literature of pediatric cases with this condition.
Chicano/a Challenges to Nineteenth-Century History

This article explores the usefulness of Chicano/a history to teaching and representing the nineteenth-century history of northern Mexico, U.S. imperial expansion, and the constructed nature of borders. Typically considered a twentieth-century discipline, Chicano/a historians have a long history of engaging the subject in the nineteenth century. This focus dovetails with recent critical works on race and gender in the U.S. West as well as transnational approaches to history. This article makes the case that the perspective on the nineteenth century provided by Chicano/a historians forces readers to reframe their understanding of the sweep of U.S. history.
AMINO ACID TRANSPORT AND PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN MUSCLE. ACTION OF INSULIN.

SummaryIntact hemidiaphragms from normal female rats (60-75 g) were utilized to study the effect of insulin on C14 L-proline transport as well as its incorporation into protein as a function of protein synthesis. Bovine insulin (0.1 unit/ml) significantly increased the intracellular accumulation of pro-line when protein synthesis was maximally reduced by addition of puromycin to the tissue. It is concluded that the stimulation of amino acid transport into muscle cells by insulin is independent of the increase in protein synthesis effected by the hormone.We are indebted to Dr. M. A. Root, Eli Lilly & Co., for the gift of insulin.
Residential Rain Garden Performance in the Climate Zones of the Contiguous United States

AbstractRain gardens are one of the technologies often recommended for residential stormwater management. It is not difficult to find rain garden design recommendations, but more difficult to find quantitative assessments of how effective these gardens are at reducing runoff. Analysis is presented to illustrate how well a common rain garden design would work when subjected to the hydrological and meteorological extremes experienced across the contiguous United States. Results of 3-year hourly continuous simulations indicate that, because of variations in the amount and pattern of precipitation, the effectiveness of comparable rain gardens would vary from about 51.3 to 99.8% across the contiguous United States. Identical gardens would be least effective in Atlantic and Gulf Coast states and most effective in northern Midwest and Mountain states. Results also indicate garden evapotranspiration and evaporation have a negligible impact (<1%) on runoff reductions. This is true even for the warm, sunny climates...
Race/ethnic disparity in hypertension-related hospitalization in Florida.

OBJECTIVES: While racial disparity in the treatment of hypertension has been documented, disparity among hospitalized patients is relatively understudied. Our objective was to compare the characteristics among Black, White, and Hispanic patients hospitalized for hypertension. METHODS: The de-identified, public use hospital discharge file of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) in 2001 was utilized. Discharge records with primary diagnosis of essential hypertension using the International Classification of Diseases code were included. The differences between three groups were tested using the chi-square tests and the multiple regression models. RESULTS: Discharge records that belonged to White, Black or Hispanic in-patients (N=7102) were included. Average age (years) and standard error (SE) of patients were 53.1 +/- 0.4 (Blacks), 63.6 +/- 0.5 (Hispanics), and 66.7 +/- 0.3 (Whites). Most patients were discharged home, but more Whites (15.9%) were discharged to another facility followed by Hispanics (11.3%) and Blacks (9.6%). More Blacks and Hispanics were underinsured or uninsured compared with Whites. The adjusted length of stay was 3.2 (Blacks), 3.1 (Hispanics), and 2.9 (Whites) days (P < .01). The adjusted total hospital charges were not different. CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence of hypertension was the highest among Blacks followed by Whites and Hispanics in Florida, more Whites (57.1%) were hospitalized followed by Blacks (28.6%) and Hispanics (14.3%). Further, the discharge status, insurance type and adjusted length of stay varied by race/ethnicity. Future studies should examine potential causes (severity of hypertension, comorbidity, and access to preventive care) of disparity between race/ethnic groups of Florida.
Scalable Auto-Tuning of Synthesis Parameters for Optimizing High-Performance Processors

Modern logic and physical synthesis tools provide numerous options and parameters that can drastically impact design quality; however, the large number of options leads to a complex design space difficult for human designers to navigate. By employing intelligent search strategies and parallel computing we can tackle this parameter tuning problem, thus automating one of the key design tasks conventionally performed by a human designer. In this paper we present a novel learning-based algorithm for synthesis parameter optimization. This new algorithm has been integrated into our existing autonomous parameter-tuning system, which was used to design multiple 22nm industrial chips and is currently being used for 14nm chips. These techniques show, on average, over 40% reduction in total negative slack and over 10% power reduction across hundreds of 14nm industrial processor macros while reducing overall human design effort. We also present a new higher-level system that manages parameter tuning of multiple designs in a scalable way. This new system addresses the needs of large design teams by prioritizing the tuning effort to maximize returns given the available compute resources.
Informativeness of Discretionary Disclosures of Goodwill Slack

Recently, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance (CorpFin) has added an additional guidance to its Financial Reporting Manual (FRM) with respect to the disclosure for goodwill. For firms at a risk of failing the step one of goodwill impairment test, this guidance recommends that firms consider reporting the percentage by which the fair value exceeds carrying values of the reporting unit — slack — when the fair value is not substantially in excess of carrying value. This CorpFin guidance does not specifically identify what is meant by substantially in excess. We examine the consequences of this disclosure guidance and find evidence consistent with the FRM’s perceived goal: investors and analysts seem to be able to better predict future goodwill impairments for firms disclosing lower slack levels. These results suggest that information conveyed through slack disclosures has led to an increase in the quality of information available to investors regarding future impairment of goodwill.
Electronic Dynamics in Highly Excited States of Acetone and Methyl Azide Studied with Ultrafast PEPICO Spectroscopy

Excited electronic states near 8.0 eV are studied using femtosecond PEPICO spectroscopy, accessing dense manifolds of strongly coupled states. Ionization to multiple cation states is crucial for navigating the mixed states of this energy regime.
Animating Mechanisms: A Pipeline for Authoring Robot Gestures

Designing and authoring gestures for socially expressive robots has been an increasingly important problem in recent years. In this demo we present a new pipeline that enables animators to create gestures for robots in a 3D animation authoring environment, without knowledge in computer programming. The pipeline consists of an exporter for a 3D animation software and an interpreter running on a System-on-Module translating the exported animation into motor control commands.
Graduating Pediatric Residents Entering the Hospital Medicine Workforce, 2006–2015

Abstract Objective In October 2016, the American Board of Medical Specialties approved the petition for pediatric hospital medicine (PHM) to become the newest pediatric subspecialty. Knowledge about residents entering the PHM workforce is needed to inform certification and fellowship accreditation. This study describes the characteristics of graduating pediatric residents with PHM positions and identifies factors associated with postresidency position choices. Methods We analyzed data from the American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Survey of Graduating Residents, 2006–2015. Chi-square tests were used to compare responses between residents entering PHM to those entering subspecialty fellowships, and to compare residents entering PHM at community and tertiary-care hospitals. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify associations between resident and training characteristics and position choices. Results A total of 5969 respondents completed the survey (60.6% response rate); 593 (10.3%) reported that they were entering PHM and 1954 (33.9%) reported subspecialty fellowships. Of residents entering PHM, 345 (60.7%) reported positions at tertiary-care hospitals and 194 (34.2%) reported positions at community hospitals. Seventy percent of residents entering PHM envisioned long-term PHM careers, with PHM career goals more frequently reported among residents entering community hospitalist positions ( P Conclusions Factors associated with postresidency PHM positions, including substantial educational debt and sociodemographic characteristics, may influence the development of the field as the specialty pursues fellowship accreditation.
Effect of Striate Cortex Removal on Wavelength Discrimination in Rats

Albino rats that were first trained to perform a light-dark discrimination and then a wavelength discrimination showed a loss of both habits following removal of striate cortex. Over the course of postoperative testing they relearned the light-dark discrimination, but showed no evidence of relearning the wavelength discrimination. These findings suggest that in rat, as in monkey, striate cortex is critically involved in hue discrimination.
Draft Genome Sequences of Alloscardovia macacae UMA81211 and UMA81212, Isolated from the Feces of a Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta).

ABSTRACT Here, we provide the draft genome sequences of two isolates identified as Alloscardovia macacae. These bacteria originated from the feces of a rhesus macaque. The draft genomes of both Alloscardovia macacae isolates are ~1.8 Mb in length, with a G+C content of 56.1%.
John F. Kennedy’s back: chronic pain, failed surgeries, and the story of its effects on his life and death

The 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy (JFK), experienced chronic back pain beginning in his early 20s. He underwent a total of 4 back operations, including a discectomy, an instrumentation and fusion, and 2 relatively minor surgeries that failed to significantly improve his pain. The authors examined the nature and etiology of JFK's back pain and performed a detailed investigation into the former president's numerous medical evaluations and treatment modalities. This information may lead to a better understanding of the profound effects that JFK's chronic back pain and its treatment had on his life and presidency, and even his death.
Cephalic Vein Outflow Relocation

This chapter discusses the case of a patient who had recurrent cephalic arch stenosis for the past 18 months and has been treated with angioplasty on the average of every 2 months. At this point there were several possible alternatives that could be applied. One of these - cephalic vein outflow relacation was used.
Multiplexed immunohistochemistry image analysis using sparse coding

Multiplexed immunohistochemical (IHC) methods have been developed to evaluate multiple protein biomarkers in a single formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue section. Since distinct populations of resident and recruited immune cells in tissues (and tumors) not only regulate progression of malignant disease, these also represent targets for novel immune-based therapies; thus, improved tissue biomarker assessment evaluating immune responses in situ are needed. To objectively identify distinct cell subsets in tissues and tumors, we adopted sparse coding approaches enabling modeling of data vectors as sparse linear combinations of basis elements, to audit cellular presence and phenotypes using image cytometry datasets with unbiased assessments. By doing comparative analyses between manual gating (ground truth) and sparse coding, we report that results are comparable as obtained by manual gating strategies, and demonstrate robustness and objectivity of this novel bioinformatics approach.
Measuring Emergency Department Acuity

Background Emergency department (ED) acuity is the general level of patient illness, urgency for clinical intervention, and intensity of resource use in an ED environment. The relative strength of commonly used measures of ED acuity is not well understood. Methods We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of ED-level data to evaluate the relative strength of association between commonly used proxy measures with a full spectrum measure of ED acuity. Common measures included the percentage of patients with Emergency Severity Index (ESI) scores of 1 or 2, case mix index (CMI), academic status, annual ED volume, inpatient admission rate, percentage of Medicare patients, and patients-seen-per-attending-hour. Our reference standard for acuity is the percentage of high acuity charts (PHAC) coded and billed according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service's Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) system. High acuity charts included those APC 4, 5 or critical care. PHAC was represented as a fractional response variable. We examined the strength of associations between common acuity measures and PHAC using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (rs) and regression models including a quasi-binomial generalized linear model and linear regression. Results In our univariate analysis, the percentage of patients ESI 1or 2, CMI, academic status and annual ED volume had statistically significant associations with PHAC. None explained more than 16% of PHAC variation. For regression models including all common acuity measures, academic status was the only variable significantly associated with PHAC. Conclusion ESI had the strongest association with PHAC followed by CMI and annual ED volume. Academic status captures variability outside of that explained by ESI, CMI, annual ED volume, percentage Medicare patients, or patients-per-attending-per-hour. All measures combined only explained only 42.6% of PHAC variation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC Uniform Rules of the Road: Provide for Application of Uniform Rules of the Road to Vehicles Operated Within Privately Owned Residential Areas

The Act provides that counties or municipalities shall enforce the Uniform Rules of the Road in private subdivisions, and that notice of enforcement shall be given at least thirty days before enforcement begins.
Prediction of fertility from calfhood traits of Angus and Simmental heifers.

The objectives of this study were to quantify the relationships between traits observed before the first breeding season and fertility of 946 Angus and 351 Simmental heifers and to use those traits to develop prediction equations for heifer fertility. Logistic regression methodology was used. Traits investigated were Julian birth date, age of the heifer's dam, birth weight, actual weaning and yearling weights, weaning and yearling weight ratios, 205-d weight, 365-d weight, and birth-weaning, weaning-yearling, and birth-yearling ADG and relative growth rate (RGR). In both breeds heifers that were younger at the start of the breeding season were less likely to conceive, but this effect was more important for Angus (logistic regression coefficient, b = -.032; P less than .01) than for Simmentals (b = -.015; P = .06). Weaning weight ratio was positively associated with heifer fertility (b = .025; P = .01 and b = .028, P = .04, respectively, for Angus and Simmental), whereas actual weaning weight was related curvilinearly to fertility of Angus heifers. The likelihood of conception was highest for Angus heifers weighing greater than or equal to 240 kg at weaning. The only postweaning trait associated with heifer fertility was weaning-yearling RGR. The likelihood of conception was highest for Angus heifers growing between .15 and .30% per day (P = .01), whereas fertility increased continuously (P = .04) for Simmental heifers as weaning-yearling RGR decreased. The maximum variations in fertility explained by models including all possible explanatory variables were 11.5 and 9.2% for Angus and Simmental, respectively. Results suggested that growth-related traits were relatively more important as a predictor of fertility for Simmental heifers and that age at the start of the breeding season was more important for Angus heifers. The combination of Julian birth date and weaning-yearling RGR produced the best models to predict heifer fertility for both breeds.
R&D, Firm Fundamentals, and Diminishing Returns For The Stock Market

There has been considerable controversy whether the FASB2 requirement of immediate R&D expensing is more appropriate than the capitalization of R&D. The uncertainty of future payoffs is a key issue. This study's empirical evidence indicates that stock market investors base their assessment of the value of R&D money within the context of firm fundamental variables in predictable ways. This analysis shows a positive association of the stock market response to R&D with firm fundamental characteristics such as Tobin's Q, Return on Equity, and Return on Assets. Size and Earnings History also have a more complex but interesting association with the R&D response which can be explained with prior literature. Findings indicate that market response to R&D is subject to diminishing returns. The results imply that investors are able to assess R&D uncertainty.
A Reproducible, Multimodal, Triple-Network Neurobiology of Depressive Rumination

Functional brain networks including Default Mode, Salience, and Executive Control (DMN; SN; ECN), collectively called the 'triple-network', are associated with Depressive Rumination (DR) severity in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The underlying white-matter (WM) microstructure supporting these networks and its precise role in DR remains unknown, however. Using diffusion MRI and resting-state BOLD fMRI, we explored multimodal relationships between DR, WM microstructure, and triple-network functional connectivity in adults with MDD (N = 39), and then replicated our analyses in an independent dataset of adults with MDD (N = 39). Results showed that higher DR severity was negatively associated with: (a) microstructure of primary and secondary WM fibers spanning the right Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus and surrounding clusters, (b) functional network connectivity of the Cingulo-Opercular SN (coSN), Precuneal DMN (pDMN), and frontal ECN (fECN), (c) inverse correlations between the pDMN and each of the coSN and fECN, and (d) a direct correlation between the fECN and coSN. Ultimately, thirty-one findings replicated fully or partially, lending support to the conclusion that individual differences in WM microstructure, resting-state functional connectivity of the triple-network, and their multivariate, microstructural-functional intersection, provide a neurobiological basis for depressive rumination.
Modified Kunlin's Technique for Microsurgical End-to-End Anastomoses: A Series of 100 Flaps

Background In 1949, a French vascular surgeon, Jean Kunlin, first described a venous end-to-side anastomotic technique to address large vessel size mismatches. It was later modified by Dr. Robert Linton for end-to-end (ETE) anastomoses on the “macrovascular” scale. While multiple procedures exist for addressing moderate caliber discrepancies, few safely and reliably compensate for marked diameter differences at the microvascular level. In this study, we present the first large series adapting a modified geometric Kunlin's technique for arterial and venous ETE anastomoses in reconstructive microsurgery. Methods We reviewed 100 consecutive cases of free flap reconstructions from 2006 to 2015 utilizing a modified geometric Kunlin's technique for arterial and venous ETE anastomoses. Patient demographics and flap outcomes were analyzed. Overall flap survival rates and postoperative complications were analyzed and compared with standard values in the microsurgical literature. Results A total of 146 ETE anastomoses from 100 free flaps were analyzed. The average patient age was 51 ± 3.1 years (range: 10–84 years). Free flaps in this study were used for gender confirmation phalloplasties (20%) and reconstructing defects of the head and neck (63%), extremities (16%), and trunk (1%). There was a total of 17 takebacks including 5 for hematoma, 8 for anastomotic thromboses (6 venous), and 4 without any identifiable complication. Of these takebacks, two partial and two complete flap losses occurred. There was an 88% salvage rate for flaps requiring takebacks during the postoperative period. Overall, flap survival rate was 98% including those with complications or takebacks. Conclusion The modified Kunlin's technique is a reliable, facile, and versatile method of performing ETE anastomoses for arterial and venous vessels, especially with vessel diameter mismatches of 3:1 or greater, as well as for challenging orientations. Notably, it provides equivalent flap survival and complication rates as compared with other techniques in the microsurgical literature.
Ensuring electronic medical record simulation through better training, modeling, and evaluation.

Objective Electronic medical records (EMRs) can support medical research and discovery, but privacy risks limit the sharing of such data on a wide scale. Various approaches have been developed to mitigate risk, including record simulation via generative adversarial networks (GANs). While showing promise in certain application domains, GANs lack a principled approach for EMR data that induces subpar simulation. In this article, we improve EMR simulation through a novel pipeline that (1) enhances the learning model, (2) incorporates evaluation criteria for data utility that informs learning, and (3) refines the training process. Materials and methods We propose a new electronic health record generator using a GAN with a Wasserstein divergence and layer normalization techniques. We designed 2 utility measures to characterize similarity in the structural properties of real and simulated EMRs in the original and latent space, respectively. We applied a filtering strategy to enhance GAN training for low-prevalence clinical concepts. We evaluated the new and existing GANs with utility and privacy measures (membership and disclosure attacks) using billing codes from over 1 million EMRs at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Results The proposed model outperformed the state-of-the-art approaches with significant improvement in retaining the nature of real records, including prediction performance and structural properties, without sacrificing privacy. Additionally, the filtering strategy achieved higher utility when the EMR training dataset was small. Conclusions These findings illustrate that EMR simulation through GANs can be substantially improved through more appropriate training, modeling, and evaluation criteria.
Surface Chemistry of Lipids1

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses surface chemistry and biochemical implications of lipids. It has long been recognized that lipids, proteins, and metal ions are major components of biological membranes. The monolayer provides a suitable system for the study of lipid–lipid, lipid–protein, and lipid–metal ion interactions, employing surface pressure, potential, viscosity, and radioactivity techniques. The increasing unsaturation of fatty acyl chains increases the intermolecular spacing and the rate of hydrolysis by phospholipase A, while it decreases the binding of metal ions and influences the ionic structure of lecithin monolayers. The molar ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids in erythrocyte or myelin membrane has been reported to be close to unity. Although electron microscopy has contributed much in revealing the ultrastructural organization of cells, there remains a considerable need to study the effect of heavy metals and fixatives on biological structures.
Advances in Diffusion and Perfusion MRI for Quantitative Cancer Imaging

This article is to review recent technical developments and their clinical applications in cancer imaging quantitative measurement of cellular and vascular properties of the tumors. Rapid development of fast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies over the last decade brought new opportunities in quantitative MRI methods to measure both cellular and vascular properties of tumors simultaneously. Diffusion MRI (dMRI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI have become widely used to assess the tissue structural and vascular properties, respectively. However, the ultimate potential of these advanced imaging modalities has not been fully exploited. The dependency of dMRI on the diffusion weighting gradient strength and diffusion time can be utilized to measure tumor perfusion, cellular structure, and cellular membrane permeability. Similarly, DCE-MRI can be used to measure vascular and cellular membrane permeability along with cellular compartment volume fractions. To facilitate the understanding of these potentially important methods for quantitative cancer imaging, we discuss the basic concepts and recent developments, as well as future directions for further development.
Effects of the CIGS/Buffer Region on Device Performance

Device simulation is employed to investigate how the electronic properties of the Cu-poor region at the CIGS/buffer interface affect the performance of CIGS devices. Features including the thickness, band gap, band off-sets, doping, and defect concentration are considered. Single versus double band gap grading of the absorber is also studied. Although, practically, the Cu-poor region reduces interface defects and shunting, its direct electronic properties do not serve to improve efficiency. Strategies that avoid Cu-poor fabrication while still realizing its secondary benefits may be warranted. Power conversion efficiency could also be improved by using an optimized single graded CIGS band gap.
Neonatal Autopsy and Parental Grief

Background: Details surrounding the death of child leave a lasting impression on families. The decision to have an autopsy is one aspect of end-of-life care that can be particularly troublesome. The medical benefits of autopsy have been well documented, but the autopsy’s impact on parental grief and bereavement is less clear. No study has compared grief between parents who chose to have an autopsy examination and those who did …
A Review of Technologies for Welding Magnesium Alloys to Steels

We survey various state-of-the-art methods for welding magnesium alloys and steels using different joint configurations. Microstructural characterizations indicate that four microstructures may form at the Mg/steel interface after welding: unwelded gap, metal oxides, solid solutions, or intermetallic compounds. Reaction products at the Mg/steel interface vary with different welding methods, alloying elements in base materials, interlayers or coatings applied, and preparations of base material before welding. Mechanical property characterizations, (a) lap tensile shear testing for lap-welded and spot-welded joints, (b) tensile testing for butt-welded joints and (c) fatigue properties of lap-welded and spot-welded joints are summarized and compared, separately. Reaction products at the Mg/steel interface are correlated with mechanical properties. Finally, ways to enhance Mg/steel joint strength, such as introducing interlocking features during friction stir lap and butt welding, are discussed.
Effects of initial spacing and species mix on stand developmental patterns in two field trials in central Oregon

Abstract Productivity, stand dynamics, and ecosystem processes characterizing mixed-species forests have been inferred from a mix of inventory data, observational studies, and designed experiments. Designed experiments are expensive to implement and maintain for a sufficiently long time in most temperate species, but associated treatment replication and randomization lower the risk of confounding from spatial correlations among species composition, environmental conditions, and productivity. Results from replicated mixed-species spacing trials in 45-yr-old Pinus ponderosa/Abies grandis plots and 53-yr-old P. ponderosa/P. contorta plots demonstrated main and interaction effects of spacing and species composition on growth and stand structure, as well as the change in these effects over time. Initial spacing ranged from 1.8 m to 5.5 m on a square grid. Mixtures of P. ponderosa and A. grandis at wide spacings offered A. grandis the opportunity to achieve cumulative height growth nearly equal to P. ponderosa and thereby form a uniform mixed canopy but lower cumulative stem volume growth. The same initial species mixture at closer spacing resulted in increasingly stratified mixtures with P. ponderosa dominating the overstory due largely to its more rapid juvenile height growth and wider crown, relegating shade tolerant A. grandis to the understory. A similar pattern emerged in the mixtures of P. ponderosa and P. contorta, but with more subtle gradients in vertical structure attributable to less extreme differences in juvenile height growth and shade tolerance. By the end of 2019 (plantation age 53), no significant overyielding or underyielding occurred in the mixed-species plots of P. ponderosa/P. contorta. In contrast, by the end of 2018 the mixed-species plots of P. ponderosa/A. grandis (plantation age 45 years) achieved some overyielding that was marginally significant (net volume production) or very significant (gross volume production) only at the narrowest (1.8-m) spacing. The timing and intensity of mortality shifted mixing effects on periodic annual increment slightly over time. Evidence for consistent overyielding among spacings was weak in these P. ponderosa/P. contorta and P. ponderosa/A. grandis spacing trials at total plantation age of 53 and 45 years, respectively. However, statistical power for detecting mixing effects was limited by the relatively small number of replications, and size differentiation continues to emerge at successively wider spacings on mixed-species plots.
The effects of BRD in Holstein dairy calves during the first 120 days of life on subsequent production, longevity, and reproductive performance as cows

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a complex and common disease that results in considerable economic loss for dairy calves. However, studies to determine the long-term effects associated with BRD in dairy calves on subsequent production, longevity, and reproduction as adults are lacking. The objectives of this retrospective observational study of Holstein heifers were to describe the prevalence of BRD in dairy calves during the first 120 days of life and to evaluate the association of BRD during the first 120 days of life on production, longevity, and reproduction as adult cows.
mTORC1 is a mechanosensor that regulates surfactant function and lung compliance during ventilator-induced lung injury

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a highly lethal condition that impairs lung function and causes respiratory failure. Mechanical ventilation maintains gas exchange in patients with ARDS, but exposes lung cells to physical forces that exacerbate lung injury. Our data demonstrate that mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) is a mechanosensor in lung epithelial cells and that activation of this pathway during mechanical ventilation impairs lung function. We found that mTORC1 is activated in lung epithelial cells following volutrauma and atelectrauma in mice and humanized in vitro models of the lung microenvironment. mTORC1 is also activated in lung tissue of mechanically ventilated patients with ARDS. Deletion of Tsc2, a negative regulator of mTORC1, in epithelial cells impairs lung compliance during mechanical ventilation. Conversely, treatment with rapamycin at the time mechanical ventilation is initiated improves lung compliance without altering lung inflammation or barrier permeability. mTORC1 inhibition mitigates physiologic lung injury by preventing surfactant dysfunction during mechanical ventilation. Our data demonstrate that in contrast to canonical mTORC1 activation under favorable growth conditions, activation of mTORC1 during mechanical ventilation exacerbates lung injury and inhibition of this pathway may be a novel therapeutic target to mitigate ventilator-induced lung injury during ARDS.
Efficient sorption of perfluoroalkyl acids by ionic liquid-modified natural clay

Abstract Contamination caused by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), is a big concern worldwide due to their persistence in the environment. Removal of PFAS represents a special challenge for water/wastewater treatment because of their diverse structures and unique physicochemical properties such as high water solubility and high stability of the C-F bond. In this study, we primarily investigated the removal of PFOA and PFOS from water through sorption with ionic liquid (IL)-modified natural clay. A series of ILs with varied alkyl chain lengths were applied for clay modification, and the successful intercalation of ILs was verified with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), zeta potential measurement, and elemental analysis. The structure and properties of IL-modified clays were strongly affected by the IL chain lengths. Specifically, long-chain IL not only changed the surface potential of clay, but also expanded the interlayers of clay, both of which greatly facilitated PFOA and PFOS sorption. Clay modified with the long-chain IL exhibited both fast kinetics for PFOA and PFOS sorption and high PFOA and PFOS removal efficiency under various water chemistry conditions. Furthermore, long-chain IL-modified clay was very effective for the removal of a suite of perfluorinated carboxylic and sulfonic acids with various chain lengths of the perfluoroalkyl moiety. IL-modified natural clay may be potentially applied for PFAS pollution control.
'No-Barriers' tobacco product? Selling smokeless tobacco to women, people of colour and the LGBTQ+ community in the USA

Background In both Sweden and the USA, smokeless tobacco (ST) is legal and used predominantly by men. Starting in the 1970s, US tobacco companies attempted to expand the ST market to women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other sexual orientation (LGBTQ+) people. Design We analysed industry documents from the Truth Tobacco Industry Documents Library triangulating findings with recent ST advertising and publicly available literature. Findings We found tobacco companies used design innovations such as pouched moist snuff, snus and dissolvable products to expand the market. In addition, diverse advertising campaigns targeted women, people of colour (Hispanic, African American) and LGBTQ+ communities with identity-targeted messages emphasising novelty, convenience, cleanliness and use in smoke-free environments. However, stereotypes of ST users as rural white males endured, perpetuated by continued marketing aimed at this customer base, which created cognitive dissonance and stymied marketer's hopes that pouch products would 'democratize' ST. Conclusion These failed campaigns suggest novel products such as nicotine pouch products may provide a 'clean slate' to similarly target women and other low-ST-using groups. Based on this history, the risk of new tobacco and nicotine products to increase health disparities should be closely monitored.
COVID-19-associated psychosis: A systematic review of case reports.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the comorbidities, presentations, and outcomes of adults with incident psychosis and a history of COVID-19. METHODS: We completed a descriptive systematic review of case reports according to PRISMA guidelines, including cases of adult patients with incident psychosis and antecedent or concurrent COVID-19. We extracted patient demographics, comorbidities, clinical course, and outcomes, and assessed cases for quality using a standardized tool. RESULTS: Of 2396 articles, we included 40 reports from 17 countries, comprising 48 patients. The mean age of patients was 43.9 years and 29 (60%) were males. A total of 7 (15%) had a documented psychiatric history, 6 (13%) had a substance use history and 11 (23%) had a comorbid medical condition. Delusions were the most common (44 [92%]) psychiatric sign and psychosis lasted between 2 and 90 days. A total of 33 (69%) patients required hospitalization to a medical service and 16 (33%) required inpatient psychiatric admission. The majority (26 [54%]) of cases did not assess for delirium and 15 (31%) cases were judged to be of high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the growing awareness of COVID-19's association with incident psychosis at a population level, cases of COVID-19-associated psychosis often lacked clinically relevant details and delirium was frequently not excluded. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021256746.
Catecholamine release and uptake in the mouse prefrontal cortex

Monitoring the release and uptake of catecholamines from terminals in weakly innervated brain regions is an important step in understanding their importance in normal brain function. To that end, we have labeled brain slices from transgenic mice that synthesize placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) on neurons containing tyrosine hydroxylase with antibody-fluorochrome conjugate, PLAP-Cy5. Excitation of the fluorochrome enables catecholamine neurons to be visualized in living tissue. Immunohistochemical fluorescence with antibodies to tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine beta-hydroxylase revealed that the PLAP labeling was specific to catecholamine neurons. In the prefrontal cortex (PFC), immunohistochemical fluorescence of the PLAP along with staining for dopamine transporter (DAT) and norepinephrine transporter (NET) revealed that all three exhibit remarkable spatial overlap. Fluorescence from the PLAP antibody was used to position carbon-fiber microelectrodes adjacent to catecholamine neurons in the PFC. Following incubation with L-DOPA, catecholamine release and subsequent uptake was measured and the effect of uptake inhibitors examined. Release and uptake in NET and DAT knockout mice were also monitored. Uptake rates in the cingulate and prelimbic cortex are so slow that catecholamines can exist in the extracellular fluid for sufficient time to travel approximately 100 microm. The results support heterologous uptake of catecholamines and volume transmission in the PFC of mice.
Recent nucleic acid research in China.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the recent nucleic acid research in china. It demonstrates originality, direct experimental approach with proper controls, the precision and accuracy of operations, and extensive results that give convincing, direct answers or sound conclusions. Research has been reported by the scientists at Shanghai on the primary and secondary structures of tRNA. The techniques of base composition analysis and oligonucleotide mapping that they perfected and the new procedure they developed for determining the molecular weight of tRNA preparations indicate complete command of most modern scientific procedures. Similarly, the perfection of analytical procedure and development of sophisticated techniques are demonstrated by Liang and his associates at Peking; this is evident in their work on tRNA of E. coli . Reviews addressed in the chapter presents the impression that nucleic acid research in China is not yet as thoroughly organized as some other phases of biological study. The scope of nucleic acid research in China is limited. However, it is interesting to see the development of a research program from basic explorations of the gross properties of nucleic acids to sophisticated analyses of oligonucleotide sequences.
Neutron activation analysis in archaeological chemistry

There is a long history of the application of chemical analysis to archaeological problems, extending to the last years of the 18th century. The nuclear-age technique of neutron activation analysis, permitting the simultaneous, sensitive, non-destructive estimation of many elements in an archaeological specimen, has found wide application. Important advances have been made, using this technique, in locating the origins of archaeological artifacts such as ceramics, metals, obsidian and semiprecious stones, among other articles of ancient ritual and commerce. In addition, the technique of neutron activation analysis has proved to be almost ideal in studies tracing the development of ancient technologies such as glass-making and smelting. In the future, the development of data banks of analyses of archaeological materials should provide an excellent new tool in studies of prehistory.