cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression by Phosphatidate Phosphohydrolase in Human Amnionic WISH Cells

Prostaglandins are known to play a key role in the initiation of labor in humans, but the mechanisms governing their synthesis in amnion are largely unknown. In this study, we have examined the regulatory pathways for prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production during protein kinase C-dependent activation of human WISH cells. In these cells, PGE(2) synthesis appears to be limited not by free arachidonic acid availability but by the expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Concomitant with the cells being able to synthesize and secrete PGE(2), we detected significant elevations of both COX-2 protein and mRNA levels. Specific inhibition of COX-2 by NS-398 totally ablated PGE(2) synthesis. All of these responses were found to be strikingly dependent on an active phosphatidate phosphohydrolase 1 (PAP-1). Inhibition of PAP-1 activity by three different strategies (i.e. use of bromoenol lactone, propranolol, and ethanol) resulted in inhibition of COX-2 expression and hence of PGE(2) production. These data unveil a novel signaling mechanism for the regulation of PGE(2) production via regulation of COX-2 expression and implicate phosphatidate phosphohydrolase 1 as a key regulatory component of eicosanoid metabolic pathways in the amnion.
The sound of silence: Power, secrecy, and international audiences in US military basing negotiations

Why do leaders draw attention to some cooperative security negotiations but shroud others in secrecy? Previous scholarship focuses on leaders’ efforts to gain better terms of agreement either by playing their cards close to the vest at the bargaining table or by leveraging/avoiding aroused public opinion at home. Yet, in many cases, it is neither dyadic nor domestic political pressures that motivate leaders’ decisions to publicly acknowledge or conceal the occurrence of talks. This article suggests, instead, that third-party states often constitute the primary targets of official secrecy and that a state’s international power position shapes its decision to conceal or acknowledge military cooperation by affecting the size and attentiveness of international audiences, the types of assets it brings to the relationship and the benefits it seeks from cooperation. I test five hypotheses about leaders’ use of secrecy and acknowledgment through a statistical analysis of an original dataset on US overseas militar...
Hemocompatibility evaluation of poly(glycerol-sebacate) in vitro for vascular tissue engineering

Poly(glycerol-sebacate) (PGS) is an elastomeric biodegradable polyester that could potentially be used to engineer blood vessels in vivo. However, its blood-material interactions are unknown. The objectives of this study were to: (a) fabricate PGS-based biphasic tubular scaffolds and (b) assess the blood compatibility of PGS in vitro in order to get some insight into its potential use in vivo. PGS was incorporated into biphasic scaffolds by dip-coating glass rods with PGS pre-polymer. The thrombogenicity (platelet adhesion and aggregation) and inflammatory potential (IL-1β and TNFα expression) of PGS were evaluated using fresh human blood and a human monocyte cell line (THP-1). The activation of the clotting system was assessed via measurement of tissue factor expression on THP-1 cells, plasma recalcification times, and whole blood clotting times. Glass, tissue culture plastic (TCP), poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), and expanded polytetrafluorethylene (ePTFE) were used as reference materials. Biphasic scaffolds with PGS as the blood-contacting surface were successfully fabricated. Relative to glass (100%), platelet attachment on ePTFE, PLGA and PGS was 61%, 100%, and 28%, respectively. PGS elicited a significantly lower release of IL-1β and TNFα from THP-1 cells than ePTFE and PLGA. Similarly, relative to all reference materials, tissue factor expression by THP-1 cells was decreased when exposed to PGS. Plasma recalcification and whole blood clotting profiles of PGS were comparable to or better than those of the reference polymers tested.
The Validation of the Evaluation Involvement Scale for Use in Multisite Settings

Evaluation researchers and practitioners acknowledge that involving stakeholders in the planning and implementation of an evaluation increases buy-in, understanding, and use. With the recent increase in multi-site evaluations of large federal programs, evaluators must think differently about how to encourage meaningful collaboration by stakeholders. To date, there has been no published measure of such involvement, despite recent calls for more systematic, replicable research. The purpose of this study was to validate the Evaluation Involvement Scale for use in multi-site evaluations. Between the fall of 2006 and spring of 2007 data were collected from an electronic survey and phone interviews of evaluators and principal investigators of four National Science Foundation program evaluations. Using Messick’s unitary concept of validity as a framework, theoretical, statistical, and rational evidence is provided to support the use of the Evaluation Involvement Scale to measure stakeholder involvement in multi-...
A suggested approach for design of oak (Quercus L.) regeneration research considering regional differences

Research on oak (Quercus L.) regeneration has generally consisted of small- scale studies of treatments designed to favor oak, including consideration of site quality and topographic effects on oak regeneration. However, these experiments have not con- sistently factored in broader-scale ecological differences found in the eastern United States. Oak regeneration experiments should be replicated at appropriate ecological scales to address the similarities and differences in regeneration following prescribed silvicultural treatments among ecological units. Patterns in oak regeneration can be better understood in an ecological context by considering how oak species interact in the differing physical environments and are able to maintain dominance in changing complexes of competing vegetation among the selected eco-units. Our understanding of oak regeneration response to specific silvicultural practices and our ability to model regeneration is improved when we use replication, blocking, or factorial deployment of relatively small-scale (0.5-1.0 ha) treatment plots within an ecological classification system. We present an example of this approach to understanding oak regeneration dynamics in a synthesis of research to regenerate northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) by underplanting shelterwoods in Arkansas, Missouri and Indiana. We summarize important considerations to guide the design of future research in oak regeneration.
First-Principles-Based Kinetic Monte Carlo Simulation of Nitric Oxide Reduction over Platinum Nanoparticles under Lean-Burn Conditions

The kinetics for NO reduction over supported platinum under lean condition were investigated by first-principles-based kinetic Monte Carlo simulation over three-dimensional Pt nanoparticles. Model platinum nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 2.3 to 4.6 nm were constructed using a truncated octahedral cluster consisting of a two (100) facets and eight (111) facets. First-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to calculate the intrinsic kinetic parameters including the binding energies for all of the surface intermediates as well as the activation barriers and reaction energies that comprise the reaction mechanism over the (100) and (111) facets, as well as the (111)/(100) edge sites on the three-dimensional nanoparticle. Both intra- and inter-facet diffusion of adsorbates were included to model surface diffusion effects over the particle surface. The simulation results show that under lean conditions where there is excess oxygen, NO reduction to N2 occurs solely on the (100...
Streptococcus salivarius Meningitis Case Strain Traced to Oral Flora of Anesthesiologist

Two women in labor received intrapartum spinal anesthesia from the same anesthesiologist approximately 1 h apart. Within 15 h, both patients developed Streptococcus salivarius meningitis and one patient died. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from both patients and tongue swab specimens from the anesthesiologist yielded isolates of an indistinguishable S. salivarius strain.
Acinetobacter baumannii increases tolerance to antibiotics in response to monovalent cations

Acinetobacter baumannii is well adapted to the hospital environment, where infections caused by this organism are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Genetic determinants of antimicrobial resistance have been described extensively, yet the mechanisms by which A. baumannii regulates antibiotic resistance have not been defined. We sought to identify signals encountered within the hospital setting or human host that alter the resistance phenotype of A. baumannii. In this regard, we have identified NaCl as being an important signal that induces significant tolerance to aminoglycosides, carbapenems, quinolones, and colistin upon the culturing of A. baumannii cells in physiological NaCl concentrations. Proteomic analyses of A. baumannii culture supernatants revealed the release of outer membrane proteins in high NaCl, including two porins (CarO and a 33- to 36-kDa protein) whose loss or inactivation is associated with antibiotic resistance. To determine if NaCl affected expression at the transcriptional level, the transcriptional response to NaCl was determined by microarray analyses. These analyses highlighted 18 genes encoding putative efflux transporters that are significantly upregulated in response to NaCl. Consistent with this, the effect of NaCl on the tolerance to levofloxacin and amikacin was significantly reduced upon the treatment of A. baumannii with an efflux pump inhibitor. The effect of physiological concentrations of NaCl on colistin resistance was conserved in a panel of multidrug-resistant isolates of A. baumannii, underscoring the clinical significance of these observations. Taken together, these data demonstrate that A. baumannii sets in motion a global regulatory cascade in response to physiological NaCl concentrations, resulting in broad-spectrum tolerance to antibiotics.
VEGF Induces More Severe Cerebrovascular Dysplasia in Eng+/− than in Alk1+/− Mice

Brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVMs) are an important cause of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in young adults. A small percent of BAVMs is due to hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia 1 and 2 (HHT1 and 2), which are caused by mutations in two genes involved in transforming growth factor-β signaling: endoglin (Eng), and activin-like kinase 1 (Alk1). The BAVM phenotype has incomplete penetrance in HHT patients, and the mechanism is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that a “response-to-injury” triggers abnormal vascular (dysplasia) development, using Eng and Alk1 haploinsufficient mice. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was used to mimic the injury conditions. VEGF overexpression caused a similar degree of angiogenesis in the brain of all groups, except that the cortex of Alk1+/− mice had a 33% higher capillary density than other groups. There were different levels of cerebrovascular dysplasia observed in haploinsufficient mice (Eng+/− > Alk1+/−), which simulates the relative penetrance of BAVM in HHT patients (HHT1 > HHT2). Few dysplastic capillaries were observed in AAV-LacZ-injected mice. Our data indicate that both angiogenic stimulation and genetic alteration are necessary for the development of vascular dysplasia, suggesting that anti-angiogenic therapies might be adapted to slow the progression of the disease and decrease the risk of spontaneous ICH.
Muscle mechanics and sensory feedback control

It is shown that the intrinsic mechanical properties of muscles are important components for sensory feedback control. The results are obtained through a computer simulation of small perturbation responses of a three joints musculoskeletal control system using either a hypothetical muscle model having constant force-length and force-velocity relations or a muscle model having complex, nonlinear properties as known today. The optimal feedback control matrix is also generated for both cases. It is shown that while it is possible to obtain comparable closed-loop responses, the feedback gains for the simple linear muscle model are much larger than that for the complex nonlinear muscle model. >
The Mirage of Immigration Reform: The Devastating Consequences of Obama's Immigration Policy

In the summer of 2014, tens of thousands of Central American women and children arrived at the United States border. 1 The numbers were unprecedented and their arrival was quickly characterized as a crisis. 2 However, many immigrants’ rights activists also saw it as an opportunity. 3 They hoped the border crisis would force the government to pass sweeping immigration reform. It did. Unfortunately, many immigrants would have been better off without these changes. On November 20, 2014, President Obama announced that he would take executive action to protect millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation. 4 As a result of this decision, certain groups of immigrants became eligible for deferred action. Those who qualify are
A flexible barium strontium titanate photodetector array

Abstract The development of methods for implementing solid state imaging electronics on flexible substrates could impact areas including conformable infrared detection, night vision, and medical imaging. Various unconventional mechanisms for solid state imaging have been demonstrated. However, solid state imaging electronics have rarely been developed in a flexible form factor, which is a critical format for next-generation devices such as wearable displays, conformable imaging arrays, and electronic paper. Among various potential mechanisms for solid state imaging, smart materials are particularly attractive due to their inherent ability for converting external stimuli into electrical signals directly. Here, we introduce a flexible photodetector array that is enabled by growing a barium strontium titanate (BST) film on a flexible substrate. A pixelated array is then patterned on the film. When a spatially resolved laser beam is rastered over the film, pixels are individually illuminated. By recording the signals from all pixels, the laser trace can be successfully reconstructed, thereby realizing a flexible photodetector array.
Bf561-based video surveillance system design and optimization

Introduced the video surveillance equipment design based on Blackfin561,first introduced the system of the hardware module,and then introduced the software implementation process.After the system for optimization of hardware and software features a detailed explanation of the system and the completion of the simulation optimization,given the key to the final test results.The system is widely used,can be used for security,industrial control can occasion.
Diagnostic Radiography and Ultrasound in the Perinatal Intensive Care Unit

A range of possible solutions to common problems associated with radiographic examination of the newborn is presented. The various modes in which ultrasound is currently used as a diagnostic modality are reviewed together with recent innovations that have greatly increased the clinical utility of the technique.
An Eye on Trafficking Genes: Identification of Four Eye Color Mutations in Drosophila.

Genes that code for proteins involved in organelle biogenesis and intracellular trafficking produce products that are critical in normal cell function . Conserved orthologs of these are present in most or all eukaryotes, including Drosophila melanogaster. Some of these genes were originally identified as eye color mutants with decreases in both types of pigments found in the fly eye. These criteria were used for identification of such genes, four eye color mutations that are not annotated in the genome sequence: chocolate, maroon, mahogany, and red Malpighian tubules were molecularly mapped and their genome sequences have been evaluated. Mapping was performed using deletion analysis and complementation tests. chocolate is an allele of the VhaAC39-1 gene, which is an ortholog of the Vacuolar H+ ATPase AC39 subunit 1. maroon corresponds to the Vps16A gene and its product is part of the HOPS complex, which participates in transport and organelle fusion. red Malpighian tubule is the CG12207 gene, which encodes a protein of unknown function that includes a LysM domain. mahogany is the CG13646 gene, which is predicted to be an amino acid transporter. The strategy of identifying eye color genes based on perturbations in quantities of both types of eye color pigments has proven useful in identifying proteins involved in trafficking and biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles. Mutants of these genes can form the basis of valuable in vivo models to understand these processes.
Carcinogenic activity of anthanthrene on mouse skin.

Dibenzo [cd, jk] pyrene (anthanthrene), considered to be noncarcinogenic, was examined for carcinogenicity in a comparative study with other polycyclic hydrocarbons. Anthanthrene induced benign and malignant epidermal neoplasms in female Swiss mice after repeated skin application. The incidence of these tumors (47%) was lower and the latency longer than those found after benzo[a]pyrene or dibenzo[a,h]pyrene treatment. Since the proportion of malignant neoplasms was similar (60%) in these three groups, the results indicate that anthanthrene is a relatively strong carcinogen. A rationale accounting for previous negative results in percutaneous experiments with this compound is suggested.
A concept for canceling the leakage field inside the stored beam chamber of a septum magnet

Abstract The Advanced Photon Source (APS) is planning to upgrade its storage ring from a double-bend achromat to a multi-bend achromat lattice as part of the APS Upgrade Project (APS-U). A swap-out injection scheme is planned for the APS-U in order to keep the beam current constant and to reduce the dynamic aperture requirements. The injection scheme, combined with the constraints in the booster to storage ring transfer region of the APS-U, results in requiring a septum magnet which deflects the injected 6 GeV electron beam by 89 mrad, while not appreciably disturbing the stored beam. The proposed magnet is straight; however, it is rotated in yaw, roll, and pitch from the stored beam chamber to meet the on-axis swap-out injection requirements for the APS-U lattice. The concept utilizes cancellation of the leakage field inside the 8 mm x 6 mm super-ellipsoidal stored beam chamber. As a result, the horizontal deflection angle of the 6 GeV stored beam is reduced to less than 1 μ rad with only a 2-mm-thick septum separating the stored beam and the 1.06 T field seen by the injected beam. This design also helps to minimize the integrated skew quadrupole and normal sextupole fields inside the stored beam chamber.
Role of Histone H3K27 Trimethylation Loss as a Marker for Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor in Fine-Needle Aspiration and Small Biopsy Specimens.

Objectives Accurate diagnosis of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is often challenging on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or core needle biopsy. Recurrent mutations in EED and SUZ12, which encode subunits of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), have been identified in 70% to 92% of MPNSTs; PRC2 inactivation leads to loss of trimethylation of lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27me3). We evaluated the utility of H3K27me3 immunohistochemistry for distinguishing MPNST from its cytomorphologic mimics. Methods H3K27me3 immunohistochemistry was performed on 180 cases of spindle cell neoplasms sampled by FNA (n = 66) and needle biopsy (n = 114), and loss of nuclear staining was scored. Tumor types included MPNST, dedifferentiated liposarcoma, schwannoma, solitary fibrous tumor, leiomyosarcoma, melanoma, synovial sarcoma, sarcomatoid carcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, desmoid fibromatosis, low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma, and unclassified spindle cell sarcoma/undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Results Complete loss of H3K27me3 was observed in 54% (13/24) of MPNSTs. In contrast, only two (of 156) histologic mimics showed complete loss of H3K27me3. Partial loss of H3K27me3 was present in a subset of cases (26/180), including both MPNST and non-MPNSTs. Conclusions Complete loss of H3K27me3 is a highly specific (98.7%) marker of MPNST that can distinguish MPNST from cytomorphologic mimics in FNA cell block and small biopsy specimens.
Going Concern Disclosure for Local Governments

Going concern opinions (GCOs) indicate that auditors have significant doubt about an entity’s ability to continue operation one year after the financial statement date. This study addresses the following research questions: What are the factors that motivate auditors to issue GCOs to governmental entities? Does a governmental entity disclose going concern uncertainty in the footnotes or the MD&A section of annual financial reports (AFRs) either the year before or the year when the entity receives a GCO? To what extent does the entity disclose the GCO factors used by auditors? We find that auditors most often cited two reasons, “Deficiency in Funds” and “Losses or Revenue Declines,” accounting for the majority of reasons given for a going concern opinion. Further, the disclosure is most likely to be in the notes to the AFRs. In addition, we find that going concern reporting varies by auditor type (state auditors vs. public accounting firms), government size, and government type. We also find some evidence that going concern disclosures improve after the enactment of GASB No. 56. The results of our study should be of interest to stakeholders’ interested in lead indicators of fiscal distress.
Implementation of Additive Manufacturing Into Engineering and Engineering Technology Curriculum

Public universities have a responsibility to continuously improve instruction and maintain currency with new technological advances. Simultaneously many public universities are under budget constraints seeking to maintain or reduce costs. One recent technological advance is the adoption of additive manufacturing by an increasing number of manufacturing industries. While machine costs of additive manufacturing have dropped in recent years, machine and consumable material costs remain significant. Hence, there is a need in the manufacturing, engineering and technology education community for methods to introduce additive manufacturing concepts into the curriculum while doing so with a minimum required investment.In this paper we discuss the methods used to implement additive manufacturing theory and applications into the Engineering and Engineering Technology curriculum at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Applications of the additive manufacturing technologies have been successfully included in traditional courses covering sophomore level research and development, upper level computer-aided design, upper-level research and development, capstone courses, and the introduction of a new course focused on additive manufacturing. The implementation of commercial, low cost open-source hobbyist kits and new hybrid student designs of AM machinery is discussed, along with the process used to develop additive manufacturing equipment in the Advanced Manufacturing Lab.Copyright © 2017 by ASME
Securing mmWave Vehicular Communication Links with Multiple Transmit Antennas

This paper presents a low-complexity physical layer security technique for millimeter wave (mmWave) vehicular communication systems. The proposed technique exploits the large dimensional antenna arrays available in mmWave systems and the road reflected path to generate location dependent transmission. This results in coherent transmission to the legitimate receiver and interference that jams eavesdroppers with sensitive receivers along the same lane of travel. Theoretical and simulation results demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed technique and show that high secrecy throughput can be achieved when compared to directional array transmission techniques.
Numerical Continuation of Periodic Orbits for Harmonically Forced Nonlinear Systems

A nonlinear structure will often respond periodically when it is excited with a sinusoidal force. Several methods are available that can compute the periodic response for various drive frequencies, which is analogous to the frequency response function for a linear system. The simplest approach would be to compute a sequence of simulations where the equations of motion are integrated until damping drives the system to steady state, but that approach suffers from a number of drawbacks. Recently, numerical methods have been proposed that use a solution branch continuation technique to find the free response of unforced, undamped nonlinear systems for different values of a control parameter. These are attractive because they are built around broadly applicable time-integration routines, so they are applicable to a wide range of systems. However, the continuation approach is not typically used to calculate the periodic response of a structural dynamic system to a harmonic force. This work adapts the numerical continuation approach to find the periodic, forced steady-state response of a nonlinear system. The method uses an adaptive procedure with a prediction step and a mode switching correction step based on Newton-Raphson methods. Once a branch of solutions has been computed, it explains how a full spectrum of harmonic forcing conditions affect the dynamic response of the nonlinear system. The approach is developed and applied to calculate nonlinear frequency response curves for a Duffing oscillator and a low order nonlinear cantilever beam.
Student-pull instead of instructor-push: in preparation for a student learning dashboard

A typical model of blending in-class learning with technology-enabled student experiences outside class makes use of a course management system (CMS), such as Blackboard. In this model, all the course management work is exclusively performed by the course instructor. Some attempts have been made to steer away from having the online content and activities be created, maintained, and monitored solely by the instructor. Discussion boards, student breakout groups, and student portfolios are examples of shifting some responsibilities to the students. However, the instructor continues to be the main arbiter of these activities, and tools that support student contributions are entirely under the control of the same, monopolistic CMS.
Judgments of Taste

In the “Analytic of the Beautiful,” Kant claims that judgments of taste are universally valid judgments whose determining ground is a feeling of pleasure. We assess an object based on our feeling, but still demand that others agree with that assessment. Kant further asks how such judgments are possible. How can a feeling be a source of universally valid judgments? In answering this question, Kant provides a deduction of judgments of taste. In this chapter, I examine Kant’s exposition and deduction of judgments of taste, the judgments that I claim are central in Kant’s overall system of the mind. Kant’s exposition of taste is preceded by a discussion of taste in the Introductions in which he links judgments of taste to judgments of purposiveness. The exposition and subsequent deduction are also followed by a discussion of taste as common sense and the antinomy of taste. We shall see that both what precedes and what follows Kant’s exposition and deduction of judgments of taste are important for their understanding. Kant’s exposition and deduction, while not providing a complete picture of taste, does provide us with a starting point for uncovering the significance of beauty.
The influence of neighborhood socioeconomic status and ethnic enclave on endometrial cancer mortality among Hispanics and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in California

We investigated the role of neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) and residence in ethnic enclaves on mortality following endometrial cancer (EC) diagnosis among Hispanics and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders (AAPI). Using California Cancer Registry data, enhanced with census block group information on ethnic enclave and nSES, we examined 9,367 Hispanics and 5,878 AAPIs diagnosed with EC from 1988 to 2011. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate associations between all-cause and EC-specific mortality with nSES and ethnic enclaves, adjusting for subject sociodemographic and tumor characteristics. Hispanics in the lowest SES neighborhoods had a 39% and 36% increased risk of all-cause and EC-specific mortality, respectively, compared to Hispanics in the highest SES neighborhoods. AAPIs in the lowest SES neighborhoods had a 37% increased risk of all-cause mortality compared to AAPIs in the highest SES neighborhoods. Living in an ethnic enclave was associated with lower all-cause mortality risk for AAPIs. Mortality risk varied by nSES and ethnic enclave among Hispanics and AAPIs. Women living in lower SES communities experienced significantly higher risk, highlighting the need to identify the specific neighborhood factors underlying these associations so that community-based interventions may be properly targeted.
Abstract CT137: Biomarkers of response to leukemia stem cell targeted therapy with low dose daunorubicin in relapsed/refractory acute leukemia

Patients with acute leukemia harbor chemotherapy-resistant leukemia stem cells (LSC) which ultimately lead to disease relapse in many patients. Clinical trial design of LSC targeted therapy is a challenge. The majority of leukemia cells are differentiated leukemia cells, with LSC comprising Citation Format: Tara L. Lin, John M. Perry, Xi He, Gregory Reed, Na Zhang, Scott Weir, Joseph P. McGuirk, Linheng Li. Biomarkers of response to leukemia stem cell targeted therapy with low dose daunorubicin in relapsed/refractory acute leukemia [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 CT137.
Ethics Expertise: What It Is, How to Get It, and What to Do with It

In this chapter I argue that ethics expertise unquestionably exists. We see it, in fact, in persons all around us, including in many clinical ethicists. Having such expertise, I suggest, means that it is more likely that one will be better than the average person at analyzing and providing solutions to tough ethical problems. In defending this position, I focus mainly on the practice of ethics, arguing that expertise resides in reasoning skills and discernment, just as it exists with reasoning in decision-making contexts other than ethics. I then switch to what it means to be an expert ethics consultant – the specialized skills and character traits needed to do that work in a manner that is more likely to successfully effectuate reasoned ethical judgments from within politically complex health care institutions. Throughout, I hold to the view that expertise, like wisdom, admits of degrees – some persons have more expertise than others and even the same persons have more, or less, throughout a lifetime and on different subjects. I also stress that expertise in ethics consulting is almost certainly enhanced by a team approach, in which each member brings their relevant skills.
Revamping the IT Curriculum with Agile and DevOps Methodology

Information technology students need to learn the concepts and tools for Agile and DevOps methodology. What are the principles of Agile and DevOps? How is Agile different from DevOps? What set of Agile and DevOps skills should student learn and how? What kinds of case-based projects should be designed to promote learning of Agile and DevOps skills? This enlightening talk discusses these and other questions. The presentation provides scripts for automating the setup of DevOps tools.
Weighted Low Rank Approximation for Background Estimation Problems

Classical principal component analysis (PCA) is not robust when the data contain sparse outliers. The use of the l1 norm in the Robust PCA (RPCA) method successfully eliminates this weakness of PCA in separating the sparse outliers. Here we propose a weighted low rank (WLR) method, where a simple weight is inserted inside the Frobenius norm. We demonstrate how this method tackles often computationally expensive algorithms that rely on the l1 norm. As a proof of concept, we present a background estimation model based on WLR, and we compare the model with RPCA method and with other state-of-the-art algorithms used for background estimation. Our empirical validation shows that the weighted low-rank approximation we propose here can perform as well as or better than that of RPCA and other state-of-the-art algorithms.
PHOTODISSOCIATION SPECTROSCOPY OF COLD MOLECULAR IONS AND CLUSTER IONS

Publisher Summary Mass filtering techniques are requires for separating photofragment ions from initially formed fragment ions; however, the cluster ion experiments also require a method for distinguishing the parentage of the photofragments. This chapter describes a simple technique that is adaptable to conventional single time-of-flight (TTOF) mass spectrometer systems and its two applications—(1) cold ion photodissociation spectroscopy for CH 3 I + produced by electron-impact ionization in a molecular beam and (2) the resonant photodissociation of size-specific (CH 3 I) + n cluster ions . The discrimination of photofragment ions from primary fragment ions formed in the ionization step can be achieved by two methods. In the first method, the photodissociation laser pulse is delayed with respect to the electron-impact pulse. The second method is based on a new concept, whereby the traditional three-grid TOF ion optics assembly is operated as a low mass. In recent years, investigators have turned to molecular beam resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) techniques to produce rovibrationally cold ions for use as precursors for recording high-resolution ion photodissociation spectra. These techniques require two independently tunable lasers, one for ionization and the other for ion photodissociation.
Fermi Degenerate Antineutrino Star Model of Dark Energy

When the Large Hadron Collider resumes operations in 2021, several experiments will directly measure the motion of antihydrogen in free fall for the first time. Our current understanding of the universe is not yet fully prepared for the possibility that antimatter has negative gravitational mass. This paper proposes a model of cosmology, where the state of high energy density of the big bang is created by the collapse of an antineutrino star that has exceeded its Chandrasekhar limit. To allow the first neutrino stars and antineutrino stars to form naturally from an initial quantum vacuum state, it helps to assume that antimatter has negative gravitational mass. This assumption may also be helpful to identify dark energy. The degenerate remnant of an antineutrino star can today have an average mass density that is similar to the dark energy density of the ΛCDM model. When in hydrostatic equilibrium, this antineutrino star remnant can emit isothermal cosmic microwave background radiation and accelerate matter radially. This model and the ΛCDM model are in similar quantitative agreement with supernova distance measurements. Therefore, this model is useful as a purely academic exercise and as preparation for possible future discoveries.
Protection of graphite from salt and gas permeation in molten salt reactors

Abstract The reactor core, moderator and reflectors of a thermal spectrum advanced molten salt reactor will constitute multi-tons of graphite. Porous reactor-grade graphite, if unprotected, can be permeated by molten salt depending on the infiltrating pressure differential and entrance diameters of accessible graphite pores. Salt and gas permeation of graphite can affect microstructural properties and radiation behavior but also facilitate diffusion, deposition and retention of fission products and tritium. Because of the significant void volume of nuclear graphite, fission products and tritium retention due to salt permeation necessitates seal coatings or pore impregnation to reduce open porosity. Alternatively, very fine-grained graphite grades with low Xe permeability are being developed. Here, we survey the current technologies for mitigating salt and gas transport into graphite.
Experiments in anomalous change detection with the Viareggio 2013 trial dataset

The "Viareggio 2013 Trial" is a hyperspectral dataset obtained from multiple overflights of the Italian city of Viareggio. Careful management of panels and vehicles in the scene enabled the development of valuable ground truth information. One pair of overflights occurred at different times on the same day, and another pair took place over different days. These data were used to compare and evaluate a variety of automated approaches for discovering anomalous changes. Co-registration of the images is acknowledged to be imprecise, so part of the challenge is to identify anomalous changes in a way that is robust to this misregistration. In particular, we employed a local co-registration adjustment (LCRA) algorithm to ameliorate the effects of misregistration; we employed non-maximal suppression (NMS) to take advantage of the discrete nature of the changes; and we used canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to reduce the dimension of our data. We found that, taken together, these improved the performance of the detectors in the low false alarm rate regime of operation.
AB0730 ASSOCIATION OF SPONDYLOARTHRITIS AND FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER AND IMPACT ON DISEASE PHENOTYPE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Background: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) and Familial Meditaerranean fever (FMF) may co-exist in certain populations, and have some overlapping manifestations (oligo-arthritis, hip involvement). Their association may impact disease phenotype and may affect disease management. Objectives: To evaluate the association of SpA and FMF and its impact on disease phenotype and management. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted with the keywords spondyloarthritis and familial mediterranean fever from Janurary 1990 to January 2020 in PubMed and using manual cross-reference methods. Results: The search retrieved 74 articles, out of which 37 articles were relevant to the study question; most of the articles were case reports, with some large cohort studies of FMF and SpA (Flowchart in Figure 1). In large FMF cohorts, the prevalence of SpA was higher compared to the general population (7.5-13%, OR around 10). M694V was a risk factor for SpA. These FMF-SpA patients were older at diagnosis, had lower fever attacks, and higher disease duration, inflammatory back pain, chronic arthritis, enthesopathy, persistent inflammation and higher resistance to Colchicine. In case series, they were responsive to anti-TNF therapy. In large SpA cohorts, MEFV mutation, particularly M694V, was found in 15-35% (even without associated FMF). In most cohorts, MEFV mutation carriers didn’t have any distinct disease phenotype, except for some reports of higher ESR, more hip involvement, higher BASFI and higher BASDAI. Genome-wide association studies and case reports suggest an implication for IL-1 and thus a role for Anakinra therapy in these patients. Conclusion: In FMF or SpA patients with resistance to conventional therapy, the evaluation of disease association should be performed as it may have significant impact on disease management. References: [1]Li et al, Plos Genetics 2019. Watad et al, Frontiers Immunol 2019. Atas et al, Rheumatol Int 2019. Cherqaoui et al, JBS 2017. Zhong et al. Plos One 2017. Ornek et al, Arch Rheumatol 2016. Cinar et al, Rheumatol Int 2008. Durmur et al, JBS 2007. Disclosure of Interests: Nelly Ziade Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Aref Nassar: None declared
Bone morphogenetic protein-2 delivery from polyelectrolyte multilayers enhances osteogenic activity on nanostructured titania

Incomplete osseointegration is primary cause of failure for orthopedic implants. New biomaterials that present stable signals promoting osteogenesis could reduce failure rates of orthopedic implants. In this study bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) was delivered from titania nanotubes (Nt) modified with chitosan/heparin polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs). The surfaces were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. BMP-2 release from the surfaces was measured in vitro for up to 28 days. After an initial burst release of BMP-2 during the first 2 days, most of the BMP-2 remained on the surface. To determine the osteogenic properties of these surfaces, they were seeded with rat bone marrow cells; alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, total protein, calcium deposition, and osteocalcin were measured up to 4 weeks in vitro. When compared to Nt surfaces, the surfaces with BMP-2 induce greater osteocalcin and calcium deposition. PEMs provide sustained presentation of BMP-2, from a biomimetic surface. This enhances the osteogenic properties of the surface without requiring supraphysiologic growth factor dose. This growth factor delivery strategy could be used to improve bone healing outcomes and reduce complications for recipients of orthopedic implants.
Evolution and adaptation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the paranasal sinuses of people with cystic fibrosis

People with the genetic disorder cystic fibrosis (CF) harbor lifelong respiratory infections, with morbidity and mortality frequently linked to chronic lung infections dominated by the opportunistically pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. During chronic CF lung infections, a single clone of P. aeruginosa can persist for decades and dominate end-stage CF lung disease due to its propensity to adaptively evolve to the respiratory environment, a process termed pathoadaptation. Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), chronic inflammation and infection of the sinonasal space, is highly prevalent in CF and the sinuses may serve as the first site in the respiratory tract to become colonized by bacteria that then proceed to seed lung infections. We identified three evolutionary genetic routes by which P. aeruginosa evolves in the sinuses of people with CF, including through the evolution of mutator lineages and proliferative insertion sequences and culminating in early genomic signatures of host-restriction. Our findings raise the question of whether a significant portion of the pathoadaptive phenotypes previously thought to have evolved in response to selective pressures in the CF lungs may have first arisen in the sinuses and underscore the link between sinonasal and lung disease in CF.
Electronic demography decision making system

The article suggests an approach to the development of an electronic demographic decision support system using data warehouse and interactive analytical processing OLAP. This makes it possible to conduct research on demographic processes at a high level and to support decision makers in the field of demography. Due to the presence of many types of demography and a large number of indicators, proposed in the article, a Data Mart Bus Architecture with Linked Dimensional Data Marts is proposed as a Data Warehouse architecture. The article also shows the practical application of this approach using two Data Marts as an example. Based on these Data Marts, OLAP-cubes are built. OLAP operations provide the ability to view cubes in various slices, as well as provide aggregate data. Problems in programming 2020; 2-3: 228-236
Spatial variation in soil microbial processes as a result of woody encroachment depends on shrub size in tallgrass prairie

As woody plants encroach into grassland ecosystems, we expect altered plant-soil interactions to change the microbial processes that affect soil carbon storage and nutrient cycling. Specifically, this research aimed to address how (1) soil chemistry, (2) microbial nutrient demand, and (3) the rate and source of potential soil C mineralization vary spatially under clonal woody shrubs of varying size within a mesic grassland. We collected soil samples from the center, the midpoint between the center and edge, the edge, and the shrub-grass ecotone of multiple Cornus drummondii shrubs across a shrub-size gradient in infrequently burned tallgrass prairie. Total soil carbon and nitrogen increased with shrub size at every sampling location but the edge. Microbial demand for nitrogen also increased as shrubs increased in size. Across all shrub sizes and sampling locations, potential soil carbon mineralization rates were higher when microbes broke down proportionally more shrub-derived (C3) organic matter than grass-derived (C4) organic matter. Our results suggest that the spatio-temporal context of woody encroachment is critical for understanding its impact on belowground microbial processes. In this ecosystem, a longer period of occupancy by woody plants increases potentially mineralizable soil carbon.
STING suppresses cancer pain via immune and neuronal modulation

Abstract Agonists of the innate immune regulator stimulator of interferon genes (STING) have shown great efficacy in promoting antitumor immunity in preclinical models, leading to their exploration in cancer immunotherapy trials. Patients with advanced stage cancers frequently suffer from severe pain as a result of bone metastasis and bone destruction, for which there is no efficacious treatment. Here, using multiple mouse models of metastatic bone cancer, we report that STING agonists confer remarkable protection against cancer pain, bone destruction, and local tumor burden. Repeated systemic administration of STING agonists robustly attenuated bone cancer-induced pain symptoms and improved locomotor function. Interestingly, STING agonists provided acute pain relief through direct neuronal modulation, as ex vivo incubation of STING agonists reduced excitability of pain-sensing nociceptive neurons from tumor-bearing mice. In addition, STING agonists protected local bone destruction and reduced local tumor burden through modulation of osteoclast and immune cell function in the tumor microenvironment, providing long-term cancer pain relief. Finally, these in vivo effects were dependent on host-intrinsic STING and Ifnar1. Overall, STING activation provides unique advantages in controlling metastatic bone cancer pain through distinct and synergistic actions on nociceptors, immune cells, and osteoclasts.