cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Behavioral effects of 8-OH-DPAT: studies using the Microtaxic ventricular injector.

This study introduces the Microtaxic Ventricular Injector, a plastic mold that allows for the rapid administration of drugs into the ventricular system of adult rats. The Microtaxic Ventricular Injector was used to destroy serotonin (5-HT) neurons by administering the neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT; 100 μg/10 μl) into the lateral cerebroventricles. Injection of the 5-HT neurotoxin produced a 79% depletion of 5-HT in the cortex and an 86% depletion of 5-HT in the hippocampus. In addition, 5,7-DHT treatment produced a two-fold shift to the left of the dose-response curve of the 5-HT1A agonists 8-hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) or 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT) in producing the 5-HT syndrome indicating the development of denervation supersensitivity following the destruction of 5-HT neurons. In addition, the behavioral effects of 8-OH-DPAT were studied when administered to different CNS sites using the Microtaxic Ventricular Injector. 8-OH-DPAT (10 μg) injected into the fourth ventricle produced the 5-HT syndrome in 100% of the rats tested within a 3 min time period. In contrast, 8-OH-DPAT injected into the lateral ventricle produced the syndrome in only 33% of the rats tested and with a 6–9 min delay until this effect occurred. These results indicate the greater potency of 8-OH-DPAT at producing the 5-HT syndrome when administered in ventricular sites that are close to its locus of action in the brainstem/spinal cord region. These experiments demonstrate the usefulness and reliability of the Microtaxic Ventricular Injector as an instrument for rapidly injecting drugs directly into different cerebroventricular sites.
Arteriovenous shunting in the patient with diabetic neuropathy

The authors present a review of the literature on arteriovenous shunting, which is a relatively new theory. It is described in the patient with diabetes and coexisting neuropathy. The authors present a case report of a patient with arteriovenous shunting and diabetic neuropathic ulcerations.
A note on a conjectured sharpness principle for probabilistic forecasting with calibration

This note proves a weak sharpness principle as conjectured by Gneiting et al. (2007) in connection with probabilistic forecasting subject to calibration constraints.
Inhibition of parathyroid hormone secretion by amino-terminal chromogranin peptides.

The parathyroid gland responds to decreases in levels of extracellular calcium by increasing the secretion of both PTH and chromogranin-A (CGA) in approximately equal molar ratios. Because CGA has been suggested to be a precursor for biologically active peptides, we used primary cultures of bovine parathyroid cells to examine the effects of various peptides from CGA as well as analogous peptides from chromogranin-B (CGB) on PTH secretion. In concentrations from 10(-8)-10(-7) M, amino-terminal peptide CGA-(1-76) effectively inhibited the release of PTH in response to low extracellular calcium. Truncated analogs of this peptide, CGA-(1-40), CGB-(1-41), and CGA-(17-38) were also found to be active in the following order: CGA-(1-76) = CGA-(1-40) = CGB-(1-41) > CGA-(17-38). The biological activity of CGA-(1-40) was markedly reduced after reduction and alkylation, which resulted in disruption of the single disulfide bond between Cys17 and Cys38. Moreover, peptides derived from other regions of CGA and CGB, whic...
Interventions targeting substance abuse among women survivors of intimate partner abuse: A meta-analysis

In this article, meta-analytic techniques are used to examine existing intervention studies (n = 11) to determine their effects on substance abuse among female samples of intimate partner abuse (IPA) survivors. This research serves as a starting point for greater attention in research and practice to the implementation of evidence-based, integrated services to address co-occurring substance abuse and IPA victimization among women as major intersecting public health problems. The results show greater effects in three main areas. First, greater effect sizes exist in studies where larger numbers of women experienced current IPA. Second, studies with a lower mean age also showed greater effect sizes than studies with a higher mean age. Lastly, studies with smaller sample sizes have greater effects. This research helps to facilitate cohesion in the knowledge base on this topic, and the findings of this meta-analysis, in particular, contribute needed information to gaps in the literature on the level of promise of existing interventions to impact substance abuse in this underserved population.
Diaspirin Cross-linked Hemoglobin Does not Alter Isolated Human Umbilical Artery or Vein Tone

Diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin (DCLHbTM; Baxter Healthcare Corp., Round Lake, IL, USA) is undergoing clinical trials as a blood substitute. Administration of DCLHb is associated with an increase of mean arterial pressure in vivo and contraction of selected adult isolated blood vessels of from certain species in vitro. The mechanisms of these pressor effects may be due to scavenging of the endothelium derived relaxing factor, nitric oxide (NO), by hemoglobin. Unlike adult blood vessels, prostacyclin (PGI2) rather than EDNO is the important relaxing agent in human umbilical vessels. In this study, we examined if DCLHb had vasoconstrictor effects on isolated human umbilical vessels. Human umbilical veins and arteries were excised, cut into rings and placed in organ chambers filled with 25 ml Krebs-Ringer solution (37°C). 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, 0.01–10 μM) increased the tension of human umbilical arteries (HUA, from 0.4±0.2g to 2.6±0.4g) and veins (HUV, from 0.8±0.4g to 2.5±0.4g) in a dose-dependent ma...
On Making Progress in Communication Science

This essay advances practices for designing, analyzing, and reporting communication research. The arguments presented center around improving researchers' abilities to cumulate results across studies, but also apply to improving the utility of the individual study. Practices advocated include: (a) sophistication, falsification, and replication as important criteria for evaluating research design; (b) diminishing the importance of the null hypothesis statistical significance test, employing confidence intervals, and correcting correlations for both measurement error and range restriction when analyzing data; and (c) including both descriptive statistics and measures of the strength of bivariate relationships when reporting results.
BCS Mass Matricesa

The Standard Model1,2 has been very successful, but it involves specifying many parameters including six quark and six lepton masses. Information about these masses comes from outside the Standard Model. In the present work, we present a model for the quark and lepton mass matrices which may lead to a better understanding of the systematics of the mass spectra for the charge −1/3 and +2/3 quarks and the charged leptons.
An “Estimate & Score Algorithm” for simultaneous parameter estimation and reconstruction of incomplete data on social networks

Dynamic activity involving social networks often has distinctive temporal patterns that can be exploited in situations involving incomplete information. Gang rivalry networks, in particular, display a high degree of temporal clustering of activity associated with retaliatory behavior. A recent study of a Los Angeles gang network shows that known gang activity between rivals can be modeled as a self-exciting point process on an edge of the rivalry network. In real-life situations, data is incomplete and law-enforcement agencies may not know which gang is involved. However, even when gang activity is highly stochastic, localized excitations in parts of the known dataset can help identify gangs responsible for unsolved crimes. Previous work successfully incorporated the observed clustering in time of the data to identify gangs responsible for unsolved crimes. However, the authors assumed that the parameters of the model are known, when in reality they have to be estimated from the data itself. We propose an iterative method that simultaneously estimates the parameters in the underlying point process and assigns weights to the unknown events with a directly calculable score function. The results of the estimation, weights, error propagation, convergence and runtime are presented.
Collision of irregular continental margins: Implications for foreland deformation of Alpine-type orogens

The collision of irregular continental margins during an Alpine-type orogeny may give rise to a series of deformational events in the forelands, the tectonic style of which may be critically dependent on complete or incomplete suturing of the two colliding continents. Dilatational structures such as mafic dikes, gravity faults, and grabens may form at those points where the continents first meet. Later, as the suture lengthens, large-scale wrench faults develop in the foreland area. When the compression caused by the orogen ceases, these foreland structures become inactive. The large-scale grabens and wrench faults observed in the forelands of the Alpine and northwestern European Variscide belts may be examples of such collision-related foreland structures. If the model presented in this paper is approximately correct, then it may be used to connect some intraplate phenomena to interplate tectonism.
Evaluation of (In,Ga)N Films as Optical Absorption Filters for Application in Integrated Fluorescence Detection Micro-Bioanalytical Systems

Fluorescence detection in integrated micro-bioanalytical systems requires the selective exclusion of light from the excitation source (typically blue or UV) and transmission of the longer wavelength fluorescence signal. In the present research, the application of (In,Ga)N alloy thin films as optical filters for absorption of blue (470 nm) and transmission of green (530 nm) has been evaluated. Absorption spectra, photoluminescence (PL) and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) results are presented for 200-400 nm (In,Ga)N thin films grown by MOCVD on sapphire substrates with 2-4 μm GaN buffer layers. A sigmoidal function was used to model the absorption coefficient of (In,Ga)N as a function of energy, E g , and the broadening (ΔE) associated with the Urbach tail. Experimental data showed that, as expected, the absorption band edge for (In,Ga)N films broadened with increasing InN mole%. An increase in ΔE of 35 meV was observed when the InN mole% was increased from 10 to 16%. The sigmoidal function model provided a good fit to the experimental data, which allowed the experimental data to be extrapolated to higher InN concentrations. Based on this analysis, it is predicted that a 5 μm thick In 0.22 Ga 0.78 N film should transmit 50% of green light (530 nm) and only 3.29 x 1 0 -4 of blue light (470 nm). The (In,Ga)N films that have been evaluated range in InN mole% from ~2-16%. The higher InN mole% samples (10-16%) can successfully filter lower wavelengths (e.g., 400 nm). For a filter application, it is also important that photoluminescence be effectively suppressed. In MQW structures, high PL intensity is often obtained by means of InN segregation (InN-rich nanoclusters). But for our evaluation with 200-400 nm (In,Ga)N films, relaxation of coherency strain results in large densities of dislocations, and correspondingly low PL intensity.
The Economic Status of Areas Surrounding Major U.S. Container Ports: Evidence and Policy Issues

This article examines the current economic status of the areas surrounding major U.S. container ports. We define a "port district" as the geographic area within a 7.5-mile radius of a port. Our sample includes the 10 largest container ports in the U.S.We find that when we compare port districts to their surrounding metropolitan areas, household unemployment and poverty rates are significantly higher in port districts. Thus, the same ports that serve as "economic engines" for the region and nation may be the cause of economic decline and deterioration in the immediate areas that surround them. This presents a challenge for policy makers who want to preserve the benefits of international trade while facing increasing opposition to port expansion by local communities.
Multinational Corporations and Host Governments' Relationships: Comparative Study of Conflict and Conflicting Issues

The main purpose of this study was to examine analytically the conflicting issues and causes of conflict between multinational corporations (MNCs) and host governments and MNCs and other publics in six countries (Brazil, India, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore, and Thailand). Though the nature and intensity of conflict was conceptually the central focus of our study, it was intended to serve as a springboard to examine broader intra-and interorganizational practices and behavior of the multinationals. Data for this study were collected through interviews with senior executives of 124 MNCs and governmental officials and other knowledgeable persons in these six countries. Analysis of the data indicates that the ownership or national origin of MNC, the expectational differences between MNCs and host governments, and prevailing market conditions were related to the nature and intensity of conflict between the MNCs and the host governments. Surprisingly, the relative size, level of technology employed, level of diver...
Molecular Epidemiology of Gram-Negative Bacteremia

We did pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and antibiotic susceptibility testing on 202 gram-negative isolates obtained from blood cultures between 1 January 1989 and 31 December 1993. Seventy-eight patients had at least two gram-negative isolates of the same species recovered from blood drawn one or more days apart and met the other study criteria. Twenty patients had only 1 bloodstream infection, 48 patients had 1 recurrence of bacteremia, and 10 patients had > 1 recurrence of bacteremia. Of 80 recurrences of bacteremia, 52 (65%) were relapses and 28 (35%) were reinfections. Seventy-eight percent of the episodes of bacteremia occurring 300 days apart were reinfections (P < .001). Organisms causing recurrent bacteremia were not more resistant than those causing initial episodes. In conclusion, most episodes of recurrent gram-negative bacteremia were relapses. Relapses and reinfections could not be distinguished only by the length of time between episodes or by antimicrobial susceptibility patterns.
The “Socialist Other”: Cuba in Chinese Ideological Debates since the 1990s

This article offers an analytical introduction to some important Cuba-related discussions in China in the last two-and-a-half decades. No Latin American nation has been treated like Castros' (Fidel and Raul) Cuba in China's ideological development. Cuba's revolutionary experience in the past and the regime's defiance of major global trends – from retreat of socialism to advancement of neo-liberalism – correspond to a wide range of opinions in China and are exploited by them to address their own concerns. To borrow Orientalist analysis, just like the “Other” helps define “Self,” as a “socialist Other,” Cuba in Chinese perception often reflects China's own confusions and contradictions.
Beliefs regarding the Impact of Accent within Speech-Language Pathology Practice Areas.

With the demographic shifts in the United States, it is increasingly the case that speech-language pathologists (SLPs) come from different language backgrounds from those of their clients and have ...
Touring the Biogeochemical Landscape of a Sulfur-Fueled World

Life, as recorded in almost every corner of the oceans and continents, has evolved to take advantage of chemical gradients. Organisms, both big and small, utilize reduction–oxidation (redox) reactions to gain the energy required to live and grow. Although aerobic respiration (using O2) is the most popular form, other modes of respiration use oxygen alternatives and drive additional element cycles (for example, nitrogen, sulfur, and metals such as iron and manganese). These alternative metabolisms, and especially those cycling sulfur, helped shape Earth's long history and much of the world we see today. Sulfur is a fundamental constituent in macroscopic and microscopic worlds alike and is a key oxidant in the anaerobic biosphere. By reconstructing the distribution of sulfur metabolisms throughout the marine realm, we can better understand the role that sulfur plays in marine biogeochemical cycling and Earth-surface processes.
Low temperature synthesis of two-dimensional carbon nanosheets as a field electron emission material

In this abstract we report carbon nanosheet synthesis at substrate temperatures lowered by 100-150 degC when utilizing C2H2, rather than CH4, as a precursor. Typical C2H2 carbon nano-sheets were successfully deposited on silicon substrates at 550-600 degC substrate temperatures, with 80-100% C2H2 in H2 concentrations at a fixed 5 seem total gas flow rate, 30-40 mTorr total gas pressures, and 1000 W input RF power.
Repair of denture base resins with visible light-polymerized reline material: effect on tensile and shear bond strengths.

Abstract Statement of problem. Triad visible light-polymerized (VLP) reline resin has the potential to repair denture bases from other resin systems with the elimination of flasking/deflasking procedures. Purpose. This study measured the tensile and shear bond strengths of Triad VLP, PMMA, and glass-fiber-reinforced PMMA (GF-PMMA) acrylic resins before and after repair with Triad VLP reline material. Material and methods. Fifty-six specimens were fabricated from Triad VLP, PMMA, and GF-PMMA denture base resins. Both Triad VLP reline material and autopolymerizing acrylic resins were used to repair identical laboratory fabricated resin joints. Twenty-eight rectangular specimens (in 4 different groups of 7 each) were prepared to study the shear bond strength of Triad reline material used to repair different denture base resin joints. Results. Statistically significant differences ( P Conclusion. The low tensile and shear bond strengths found after the repair of PMMA and GF-PMMA acrylic resins with Triad VLP reline material were attributed to a lack of cohesion/adhesion between the Triad VLP reline material and the interfaces of the treated sites. The use of Triad VLP reline material to repair Triad VLP denture base resin produced the highest strengths. (J Prosthet Dent 2001;86:143-8.)
Pulling the Plug on Clinical Equipoise: A Critique of Miller and Weijer

As clinicians, researchers, bioethicists, and members of society, we face a number of moral dilemmas concerning randomized clinical trials. How we manage the starting and stopping of such trials--how we conceptualize what evidence is sufficient for these decisions--has implications for both our obligations to trial participants and for the nature and security of the resultant medical knowledge. One view of how this is to be done, "clinical equipoise," recently has been given an extended defense by Paul Miller and Charles Weijer in their article "Rehabilitating Equipoise." The present paper critiques this position and Miller and Weijer's defense of it. I argue that their attempted rehabilitation fails. Their analysis suffers from a number of confusions, as well as a failure to make crucial distinctions, adequately to clarify key concepts, or to think through exactly what needs to be established to justify their claim. We are left with little reason to uphold the clinical equipoise criterion.
Speciation and Sexual Conflict

We review mathematical models that explicitly consider the dynamics of evolutionary change driven by sexual conflict over mating rate when males are selected for increasing mating success whereas females are selected to restrict mating rate. These models focus on a pair of traits each of which is controlled by a separate set of genes expressed in one sex only. The traits control the probability of mating and/or fertilization. Overall, there are at least six different dynamic regimes observed in models of sexual conflict: (1) continuous coevolutionary chase between the sexes (which can result in allopatric speciation as a byproduct), (2) evolution towards an equilibrium, (3) cyclic evolution, (4) evolution towards a line of equilibria with subsequent random drift along this line, (5) Buridan’s Ass regime involving extensive diversification in female alleles without comparable diversification in male alleles, and (6) extensive diversification in both male and female alleles (which can result in sympatric speciation). Mathematical models also show that different dynamic regimes can be observed with the same set of parameter values but under different initial conditions. It is also possible that the same population switches from one regime to another as a result of stochastic perturbations due to, say, random genetic drift. Moreover, different sets of loci controlling mating and fertilization in the same species can follow different dynamic regimes. We attempt to make some generalizations and identify important directions for theoretical and empirical work.
Chitosan/polyethylene glycol-alginate microcapsules for oral delivery of hirudin

A mild chitosan/calcium alginate microencapsulation process, as applied to encapsulation of biological macromolecules such as albumin and hirudin, was investi- gated. The polysaccharide chitosan was reacted with sodium alginate in the presence of calcium chloride to form microcapsules with a polyelectrolyte complex membrane. Hirudin-entrapped alginate beads were further surface coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) via glutaraldehyde functionalities. It was observed that approximately 70% of the content is being released into Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4 within the initial 6 h and about 35% release of hirudin was also observed during treatment with 0.1MHCl, pH 1.2 for 4 h. But acid-treated capsules had released almost all the entrapped hirudin into Tris-HCl, pH 7.4 media within 6 h. From scanning electron microscopic and swelling studies, it appears that the chitosan and PEG have modified the alginate microcapsules and subsequently the protein release. The microcapsules were also prepared by adding dropwise albumin-containing sodium alginate mixture into a PEG- CaCl 2 system. Increasing the PEG concentration resulted in a decrease rate of albumin release. The results indicate the possibility of modifying the formulation to obtain the desired controlled release of bioactive peptides (hirudin), for a convenient gastrointestinal tract delivery system.© 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 70: 2143-2153, 1998
Glaucoma Drainage Devices: A Review of the Past, Present, and Future

Glaucoma drainage devices are more frequently being used for glaucoma filtering surgeries, even those at low risk for failure with trabeculectomy. There are 4 major devices available: the Molteno, Baerveldt, Krupin, and Ahmed. The Molteno and Baerveldt are non-valved implants, while the Krupin and Ahmed are valved. The success rates of the different valves are about equal at approximately 70% with a mean intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering of at least 50% from the pre-operative IOP. Unfortunately, the failure rate is about 10% per year, leading to only 50% functional drainage devices at 5 years. Therefore, research on the biomaterials, shape, and technique of drainage implant surgery is being done in hopes of increasing long term success rates.
On the use of wideband time-varying signaling for multiuser wireless communications

We propose the use of wideband time-varying signaling in frequency-hopped code division multiple access systems. Specifically, linear chirp signals are highly localized along lines that are spread over the whole bandwidth of a time-frequency hop. As such, many chirps representing different users can be simultaneously transmitted in the same hop without collision. We demonstrate an improved performance in reducing multiple access interference for channels under noise, fading and multipath distortion conditions. The chirp's bandwidth efficiency is further exploited by assigning multiple chirp rates to each user. We also propose time-varying processing methods for estimating the different users' chirp rates at the receiver.
Genetic Markers of IgG Influence the Outcome of Infection with Hepatitis C Virus

We examined the role that immunoglobulin GM and KM allotypes-genetic markers of gamma and kappa chains, respectively-play in the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in white Americans. A total of 119 persons who had cleared HCV and 111 with persistent HCV infection were genotyped for the presence of several GM and KM determinants. Persistent HCV infection was more than three times as likely (odds ratio, 3.50; P= .01) in subjects who were carriers of the GM3 allele than in those who were noncarriers. These results show that particular GM alleles may be important determinants of the outcome of HCV infection.
Thoughts on Moving Forward with Racial Resentment

In this essay, we attempt to move beyond the Kinder and Sanders (1996) conceptualization and measurement of racial resentment by focusing more on “resentment.” We address some critical issues with the measurement and current conceptualization of racial resentment, and then ask and answer “what is resentment,” “why does resentment come about,” “what is already known about resentment,” and give some thoughts on how existing theories can help understand the role of resentment in American politics and racial attitudes. While somewhat critical of the existing racial resentment concept, the ultimate goal of this research is to advance the discussion and research on emotional reactions to race (i.e., racial attitudes), in the political sphere.
Change the Course, Neurons!

PA thinking, PA practice, and PA education need a 12-step program, parallel to Alcoholics Anonymous. Lack of extraordinary creativity is an addiction. Lack of extraordinary imagination (I'll use the terms in terchangeably) is harmful to self and others. Individuals and organiza tions should turn to Uncreatives Anonymous, often known as Unimaginatives Anonymous. But I do suggest modifying the 12 steps. "Hi, I'm David and I'm a PA uncreative!" "Hi, I'm the U.S. Depart ment of Justice, and I'm. ..." Participants in the various 12-step pro grams?for example, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-anon?begin by acknowledging that they "have a problem." "Hi, I'm traditional PA, and I have a problem."
A Framework for Entry Deterrence Strategy: The Competitive Environment, Choices, and Consequences:

On the basis of an extensive review of the literature, the authors have developed a framework of entry deterrence strategy. The major aspects of this framework are the interconnected elements of th...
Gender and Spiritual Self-Fashioning: The Master-Disciple Relationship in Classical Sufism

L'A. se propose d'explorer une tradition mystique de l'Islam, le Soufisme. A cette fin, il focalise son attention sur un theme precis : la nature de la relation qui existe entre le maitre et le disciple. Il s'agit de determiner les elements qui conditionnent une spiritualite propre (idiorythmique) dans cette voix. C'est l'occasion de montrer la pertinence du langage sexue employe en la matiere pour exprimer la fecondation spirituelle que le disciple recoit du maitre
Radiofrequency Wire Recanalization of Chronically Thrombosed TIPS

Radiofrequency (RF) guide wires have been applied to cardiac interventions, recanalization of central venous thromboses, and to cross biliary occlusions. Herein, the use of a RF wire technique to revise chronically occluded transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) is described. In both cases, conventional TIPS revision techniques failed to revise the chronically thrombosed TIPS. RF wire recanalization was successfully performed through each of the chronically thrombosed TIPS, demonstrating initial safety and feasibility in this application.
Numerical simulation of one-dimensional thermal field with time-variable heat flux of functionally gradient materials

The one-dimensional thermal field with time-variable heat flux of functionally gradient materials (FGM) was numerical simulated. By using the numerical simulation method , CCAl2O~3, a novel FGM of carbon-ceramic, was compared with CC material. Various CCAl2O3 materials with different composition mass fraction functions were compared . The results show that the heat-resistant performance of CCAl2O3 is better than that of CC, therefore the thermal field of FGM of carton ceramic can be optimized by changing its compositions mass fraction functions.
Abstract 5251: Chemoprevention of cadmium induced prostate carcinogenesis

Cadmium is known carcinogen that causes damages to multiple organs. Cadmium acts as an agonist and activates androgen receptor (AR) in prostate epithelial cells which in turn promotes the carcinogenesis of prostate. Studies have indicated that occupational exposure of cadmium is a risk factor for prostate cancer and hence there is an immediate need to prevent cadmium induced prostate cancer in occupational workers. Various reports have shown that inhibition of AR signaling by AR inhibitors suppressed cadmium induced prostate carcinogenesis. So, the present study focuses to identify dietary agent which can effectively prevent cadmium induced prostate cancer and to dissect the mechanism of action on malignant transformed cells. We have disclosed one such compound, 6-(3, 9-dihydroxy-2-prenylcoumestan (Psoralidin) (Pso) a non-toxic, orally bioavailable compound, which effectively targets only prostate cancer cells and innocuous to healthy cells. Our results have shown cadmium transformed prostate epithelial cells (CTPE) exhibits high proliferative and high colony forming ability in soft agar assays. However, treatment of CTPE cells with Pso resulted in growth inhibition, without causing toxicity to normal prostate epithelial cells (RWPE-1). Finally, in vivo experiments showed that oral administration of Pso (20 mg/kg/BW) effectively suppresses the growth in CTPE xenografts, at physiologically achievable doses without any toxicity. The pathological findings suggest that CTPE tumors exhibits epithelial and mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype and infiltrating margins into the surrounding muscle and adipose tissue. However, Psoralidin treated tumors showed a decrease in tumor size with a significant central necrosis (up to 60% of the tumor size). More specifically, margins of Psoralidin treated tumors are less infiltrative and becoming more well circumscribed. We have also noticed that the mesenchymal component is not present and the only viable tumor is the epithelial one after Pso treatment. Altogether, our results confirm that consumption of natural compounds such as Psoralidin may play an important role in the chemoprevention for cadmium induced prostate carcinogenesis. Citation Format: Suman Suman, Trinath P. Das, Houda Alatassi, Murali K. Ankem, Chendil Damodaran. Chemoprevention of cadmium induced prostate carcinogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 5251.
Isogeometric analysis of laminated composite and functionally graded sandwich plates based on a layerwise displacement theory

Abstract A multi-layered shell formulation is developed based on a layerwise deformation theory (Reddy, 2004) within the framework of isogeometric analysis (IGA). IGA utilizes Non-Uniform Rational B-splines (NURBS) to represent the geometry as well as to describe the field variables (Hughes et al., 2005). The high-order smoothness of NURBS offered the opportunity of capturing the structural deformation efficiently in a rotation-free manner. The derivation also follows a layerwise theory, which assumes a separate displacement field expansion within each layer, and considers transverse displacement component as C 0 -continuous at layer interfaces, thus resulting in a layerwise continuous transverse strain states. Since the in-plane and through-thickness integrations are carried out individually, this approach is capable of capturing the complete three-dimensional stress states in a two-dimensional setting, which improves the computational efficiency. A knot insertion technique is utilized for the discretization in the through-thickness direction, and C 0 -continuity is enforced by means of knot repetition at dissimilar material interfaces. The performance of the proposed model is demonstrated using multiple laminated composites and sandwich plates (including functionally graded material core) as examples. Numerical results prove the accuracy of the proposed formulation and show that the isogeometric layerwise shell is superior to its finite element counterpart.
Putative archaeal viruses from the mesopelagic ocean

Oceanic viruses that infect bacteria, or phages, are known to modulate host diversity, metabolisms, and biogeochemical cycling, while the viruses that infect marine Archaea remain understudied despite the critical ecosystem roles played by their hosts. Here we introduce "MArVD", for Metagenomic Archaeal Virus Detector, an annotation tool designed to identify putative archaeal virus contigs in metagenomic datasets. MArVD is made publicly available through the online iVirus analytical platform. Benchmarking analysis of MArVD showed it to be >99% accurate and 100% sensitive in identifying the 127 known archaeal viruses among the 12,499 viruses in the VirSorter curated dataset. Application of MArVD to 10 viral metagenomes from two depth profiles in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific (ETNP) oxygen minimum zone revealed 43 new putative archaeal virus genomes and large genome fragments ranging in size from 10 to 31 kb. Network-based classifications, which were consistent with marker gene phylogenies where available, suggested that these putative archaeal virus contigs represented six novel candidate genera. Ecological analyses, via fragment recruitment and ordination, revealed that the diversity and relative abundances of these putative archaeal viruses were correlated with oxygen concentration and temperature along two OMZ-spanning depth profiles, presumably due to structuring of the host Archaea community. Peak viral diversity and abundances were found in surface waters, where Thermoplasmata 16S rRNA genes are prevalent, suggesting these archaea as hosts in the surface habitats. Together these findings provide a baseline for identifying archaeal viruses in sequence datasets, and an initial picture of the ecology of such viruses in non-extreme environments.
Educational philosophy and Dunhuang: diversity, synergy, and transformation

Ecology—place, environment, nature, and rich cultures over time—has powerful interaction and interplay with humanity, one species of zillions of organisms on Mother Earth. It is no exception to educational philosophy, which forms and develops in the specific place, time, and culture in history. This chapter focuses on Chinese educational philosophy and its interplay with Dunhuang, a famous and fascinating UNESCO World Heritage site on the Silk Road in the desolated Gobi Desert, in the northwest of China. The chapter will examine the roots, contents, process, and implementation of Chinese educational philosophy in the rich and diverse landscape of Dunhuang throughout history. The collision and fusion of multiculturalism promoted the formation of Dunhuang civilization and its unique culture and thoughts such as Hinduism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The discussion will examine the successful interaction and convergence of multiple cultures in Dunhuang and their manifestations in Dunhuang Grottoes. It will highlight the synergy and transformation of educational philosophy and practices in Dunhuang and China over the course of history and discuss their meaning for contemporary education today.
Colloquium : High pressure and road to room temperature superconductivity

Even after three decades of development, high-temperature superconductivity remains one of the most challenging theoretical and experimental areas in condensed matter physics. In this Colloquium some new discoveries in this area are reviewed and possible routes toward much higher transition temperatures are analyzed.
Left ventricular apical aneurysm in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as a risk factor for sudden death at any age.

In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) aging has proved protective against sudden death (SD) risk and aggressive recommendations for prophylactic ICDs are uncommon in patients ≥60 years. Nevertheless, we present a patient with an unexpected but aborted sudden death event at the advanced age of 71 years due to a left ventricular apical aneurysm (LVAA) which has emerged as a novel SD marker. Subsequent reappraisal of the Tufts HCM database, specifically the 118 LVAA patients, showed that 36% of SD events occurred at ≥60 years. Of HCM patients ≥ 60 years, SD was 8-fold more common with aneurysm than without aneurysms (16% vs 2%; P < 0.001). Risk in HCM with LVAA persists throughout life and senior LVAA patients should also be considered for primary prevention of SD with the ICD.
Species and Organ Differences in the Biotransformation of Chemical Carcinogens

Although numerous species and organ differences in the biotransformation of foreign organic chemicals, including chemical carcinogens, have been reported in the literature (for recent reviews see references 1–8), in most instances the studies were not designed for rigorous comparative analyses. Often the differences were noted only as interesting sidelights of a study that did not focus upon precise comparative aspects. Nevertheless, profound differences are known to exist and research on biotransformation in recent years has provided considerable evidence for the existence of numerous species-specific, organ-specific, and cell-specific isozymic forms of the well-known xenobiotic-biotransforming enzymes.
Different roles of pitch and duration in distinguishing word stress in English.

Our study investigated the pitch and duration properties of word stress in a large speech corpus. We concluded that pitch and duration play different roles in distinguishing word-level stress classes. In the case of pitch, primary-stress vowels were different from secondary-stress and reduced vowels; in the case of duration, reduced vowels were different from the other two types of vowels.
The emerging risk of exposure to air pollution on cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease - Evidence from epidemiological and animal studies.

As incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases rise, there is increasing interest in environmental factors which may contribute to disease onset and progression. Air pollution has been known as a major health hazard for decades. While its effects on cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality have been extensively studied, growing evidence has emerged that exposure to polluted air is associated with impaired cognitive functions at all ages and increased risk of AD and other dementias in later life; this association is particularly notable with traffic related pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, nitrous oxide, black carbon, and small diameter airborne solids and liquids known as particulate matter. The exact mechanisms by which air pollutants mediate neurotoxicity in the central nervous system (CNS) and lead to cognitive decline and AD remain largely unknown. Studies using animal and cell culture models indicate that amyloid-beta processing, anti-oxidant defense, and inflammation are altered following the exposure to constituents of polluted air. In this review, we summarize recent evidence supporting exposure to air pollution as a risk for cognitive decline at all ages and AD at later lifetime. Additionally, we review the current body of work investigating the molecular mechanisms by which air pollutants mediate damage in the CNS. Understanding of the neurotoxic effects of air pollution and its constituents is still limited, and further studies will be essential to better understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms linking air pollution and cognitive decline.
Protecting cultural heritage in war zones

AbstractIn the throes of war, protecting such cultural heritage as the Bamiyan Buddhas, the Mostar Bridge, the Timbuktu libraries and Palmyra supposedly is a priority on the international public po...
What potential is there for LSD1 inhibitors to reach approval for AML

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematological malignancy arising from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. This neoplasm is characterized by the rapid proliferation of tumor cells...
MIXED GEOSPATIAL METHODS BASELINE STUDY TO EVALUATE AND MODEL GENTRIFICATION ALONG THE WESTSIDE ATLANTA BELTLINE, USA

Abstract. There is a need for sustainable infrastructure planning that includes environmental, social, economic, and transportation management consideration. A portion of a former railway corridor around Atlanta, Georgia was converted to a multi-use trail called the Atlanta BeltLine to provide walking and bicycling access to businesses and homes. Although the pedestrian-transit trail brings renewed development and services, it also triggers increases in home values and displaces existing communities. This study uses remote sensing and geospatial analysis to focus on changes in the structural conditions of housing along the Westside segment of the Atlanta BeltLine. The first segment of the Beltline, the Eastside Trail completed in 2007, demonstrated an alarming influx of development. Increases in property values opened the doors for private investors to purchase properties and open new businesses in communities adjacent to the BeltLine. The proposed Westside segment of the BeltLine has raised concerns by community members who fear the impacts of gentrification. An assessment of housing conditions was conducted by researchers ranking the structural conditions of homes adjacent to the Westside BeltLine. To conduct an estimate of green spaces along both segments of BeltLines, Sentinel-2 Earth Observation Satellite was used to calculate the percentage of green spaces in. A preliminary concept agent-based simulation model (ABM) is being developed to forecast human movement and housing condition around the BeltLine. Combined, the housing survey, green space inventory, and ABM model provides a baseline method to record and identify social and the environmental impacts.
“Wiara, którą kocham najbardziej, to nadzieja”. O perspektywie nadziei w ujęciu Charlesa Péguy’ego

Following calls from recent popes to a rediscovery of the theological virtue of hope, this paper examines a poem dealing specifically with that subject, by Charles Peguy, a French poet who died in 1914 in the early fighting of the First World War. He is a key figure of what has been called the French Catholic revival. His dramatic monologue takes the form of a catechism lesson addressed to the young St. Joan of Arc, in which Hope is portrayed as a little girl. Rooted in a rediscovery of the “real” and under the influence of the philosopher Bergson, Peguy’s message seems to be that a childlike Hope could be the key to a renewal of Faith and Love, and perhaps to a re-energizing of the Christian message. Peguy wrote his poem at a time when France was deeply traumatized by the Franco-Prussian war, the Dreyfus scandal and the anti-clerical purge of the early 20th century. It was a society that had lost is bearings. Many themes of his day are strangely current in our own.
Altered Vascular Extracellular Matrix in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis

Cardiovascular disease continues to grow as a massive global health burden, with coronary artery disease being one of its most lethal varieties. The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis induces changes in the blood vessel and its extracellular matrix (ECM) in each vascular layer. The alteration of the ECM homeostasis has significant modulatory effects on the inflammatory response, the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, neointimal formation, and vascular fibrosis seen in atherosclerosis. In this literature review, the role of the ECM, the multitude of components, and alterations to these components in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis are discussed with a focus on versatile cellular phenotypes in the structure of blood vessel. An understanding of the various effects of ECM alterations opens up a plethora of therapeutic options that would mitigate the substantial health toll of atherosclerosis on the global population.
Tuning the Interfacial Properties of Fluorous Colloids Toward Ultrasound Programmable Bioactivity.

Liquid-in-liquid emulsions are kinetically stable colloids that undergo liquid-to-gas phase transitions in response to thermal or acoustic stimuli. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are preferred species as ...
A Comparison of FIML- versus Multiple-imputation-based methods to test measurement invariance with incomplete ordinal variables

To ensure meaningful comparison of test scores across groups or time, measurement invariance (i.e., invariance of the general factor structure and the values of the measurement parameters) across g...
Online Policies for Real-Time Control Using MRAC-RL.

In this paper, we propose the Model Reference Adaptive Control & Reinforcement Learning (MRAC-RL) approach to developing online policies for systems in which modeling errors occur in real-time. Although reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms have been successfully used to develop control policies for dynamical systems, discrepancies between simulated dynamics and the true target dynamics can cause trained policies to fail to generalize and adapt appropriately when deployed in the real-world. The MRAC-RL framework generates online policies by utilizing an inner-loop adaptive controller together with a simulation-trained outer-loop RL policy. This structure allows MRAC-RL to adapt and operate effectively in a target environment, even when parametric uncertainties exists. We propose a set of novel MRAC algorithms, apply them to a class of nonlinear systems, derive the associated control laws, provide stability guarantees for the resulting closed-loop system, and show that the adaptive tracking objective is achieved. Using a simulation study of an automated quadrotor landing task, we demonstrate that the MRAC-RL approach improves upon state-of-the-art RL algorithms and techniques through the generation of online policies.
Broadband optimization of volumetric sound metadiffusers

Broadband volumetric sound metadiffusers are designed by using gradient-based optimization and by means of multiple scattering theory (MST) employed to evaluate the scattered pressure field by a uniform planar configuration of cylindrical scatterers. The method is illustrated by giving numerical examples for planar configurations of rigid cylinders and thin elastic cylindrical shells situated in the air medium. By rearranging the position of each cylinder, a metadiffuser is optimized to have a high diffusion coefficient. Multiple scenarios are evaluated considering a single frequency and broadband optimization. Single frequency optimization is performed to optimize a configuration of cylinders at a specific wavenumber. Broadband optimization is used to optimize a cylinder configuration for a range of wavenumbers by optimizing the root mean square of diffusion coefficient evaluated at discreet values of normalized wavenumber. MATLAB MultiStart solver combined with parallel computing along with global optimization toolboxes is used to enhance the modeling for optimizing for both scenarios due to its ability to evaluate multiple starting points in parallel, hence being able to find the global optimum. A wide array of metadiffusers is optimized using MATLAB MultiStart and fmincon solvers with the sequential quadratic programming and genetic algorithm for a comparison of performance of these algorithms.