cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endogenous serum insulin concentration in dogs with diabetic ketoacidosis

Objective: To determine endogenous serum insulin concentration in dogs with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and to compare it to endogenous serum insulin concentration in diabetic dogs with ketonuria but no acidosis (KDM), diabetic dogs with uncomplicated diabetes mellitus (DM) that did not have ketonuria or acidosis, and dogs with non-pancreatic disease (NP). Design: Prospective study. Setting: Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Animals: Forty-four client-owned dogs; 20 dogs with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus (7 dogs with DKA, 6 dogs with KDM, and 7 dogs with DM) and 24 dogs with non-pancreatic disease. Interventions: Blood and urine samples were obtained at the time of admission to the hospital. Measurements and main results: Signalment, clinical signs, physical examination findings, and concurrent disease were recorded for all dogs. Blood glucose concentration, venous blood pH, venous blood HCO3− concentration, urinalysis, and endogenous serum insulin concentration were determined in all dogs. Dogs with DKA have significantly decreased endogenous serum insulin concentrations compared to dogs with DM (P = 0.03) and dogs with non-pancreatic disease (P = 0.0002), but not compared to dogs with KDM (P = 0.2). Five of 7 dogs with DKA had detectable endogenous serum insulin concentrations, and 2 of these dogs had endogenous serum insulin concentration within the normal range. Conclusions: Diabetic dogs with ketoacidosis have significantly decreased endogenous serum insulin concentration compared to dogs with uncomplicated diabetes mellitus. However, most dogs with DKA have detectable endogenous serum insulin concentrations, and some dogs with DKA have endogenous serum insulin concentrations within the normal range.
Flame‐retardant mechanism of silica: Effects of resin molecular weight

The effects of resin molecular weight on the flame-retardant mechanism of silica were studied with two different molecular weights of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), 122,000 and 996,000 g/mol, and two silicas, fused silica with a small surface area and silica gel with a large surface area. A total of six different samples were studied, with a mass fraction of 10% silica. The mass loss rate of the six samples in nitrogen and the heat release rate from burn- ing in air were measured at an external radiant flux of 40 kW/m 2 . The addition of silica gel to the low-molecular- weight PMMA significantly reduced the mass loss rate and heat release rate; addition to the high-molecular-weight PMMA provided the largest reductions of these quantities in this study. For fused silica, some reduction in mass loss rate and heat release rate was observed when it was added to the high-molecular-weight PMMA; addition to the low-molec- ular-weight PMMA did not reduce either loss rate. Chemical analysis of the collected residues and observation of the sample surface during gasification reveal the accumulation of silica near the surface; the larger its coverage over the sample surface was, less the mass loss rate and heat release rate were. Both the level of accumulation and its surface coverage depended strongly not only on the silica charac- teristics but also on the melt viscosity of the PMMA. © 2002
Expression of pro-Muclin in pancreatic AR42J cells induces functional regulated secretory granules.

It is not clear how protein cargo is sorted to and retained in forming regulated secretory granules (RSG). Here, the sulfated mucin-type glycoprotein pro-Muclin was tested for its ability to induce RSG in the poorly differentiated rat pancreatic cell line AR42J. AR42J cells express RSG content proteins, but they fail to make granules. Adenovirus-pro-Muclin-infected AR42J cells store amylase, accumulate RSG, and respond to hormonal stimulation by secreting the stored protein. Expression of pro-Muclin combined with the inducing effect of dexamethasone resulted in a significant enhancement of the efficiency of regulated secretion. The effect of pro-Muclin was a strong decrease in constitutive secretion compared with dexamethasone-induction alone. A pro-Muclin construct missing the cytosolic tail domain was less effective at improving the efficiency of regulated secretion compared with the full-length construct. Increased expression of cargo (using adenovirus amylase) also modestly enhanced regulated secretio...
Piteşti: a project in reeducation and its post-1989 interpretation in Romania

The purpose of this article is twofold: to provide a critical account of the Pitesti experiment and its significance within the history of Romanian Communism and to examine current public disputes relative to memorializing the Pitesi experiment that concern issues of legitimacy, collective memory, and identity construction. The main argument pursued here is that within the recent postcommunist politics of memory, one major prevailing trend is to reincorporate a nationalist ideology within a postcommunist rhetoric. This leads to the conclusion that such mnemonic practices indicate a strong relationship between collective memory and political culture.
Multi-attribute lexicon generation by hyperlinked embedded access structure

Providing a lexicon for all possible postal addresses can support decision making for handwritten address interpretation. The possibility of uncertainty can be reduced by choosing the highest confident record in the provided lexicon as the target postal address. For a large database with multi-attribute records, traditional access methods are not efficient enough to generate the lexicon. This paper proposes a hyperlinked embedded access structure (HEAS) which combines the features of inverted file structure and doubly-chained tree structure with unique data compression schemes. The raw United State Postal Service (USPS) database is organized according to the proposed access structure, and the organized database serves as a knowledge base for interpreting handwritten addresses. The organization cost, storage requirement, and query cost are analyzed and compared to conventional inverted file and doubly-chained tree structures.
The role of bacterial infections in asthma.

Bacteria are well-known causative organisms in the exacerbation of asthma, and pose significant problems for patients and their clinicians. Bacterial organisms can increase airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation in the patient with known asthma, but now the question arises whether these same mechanisms may be responsible for the development of asthma. This latter observation is controversial, and not conclusively proven. The data appear most compelling with regard to specific organisms such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae. The following is a review that begins with a discussion of the microbiology of an acute asthma exacerbation, which is followed by a presentation of existing data regarding specific bacterial organisms and their potential involvement in asthma pathogenesis.
Pulpal effects of electrosurgery involving based and unbased cervical amalgam restorations

The pulpal effects of electrosurgery involving unrestored enamel, cementum, calcium hydroxide-copal varnish-based restorations and unbased restorations were evaluated in extracted human teeth and posterior teeth of cynomolgus monkeys. Electrosurgery for all studies was performed with a fully rectified filtered unit under conditions of normal clinical usage. Studies in extracted human teeth measured the voltage potential generated between a reference probe in apical pulp tissue and an activated electrosurgery electrode placed on enamel, cementum, based restorations, and unbased restorations. Placement of a base reduced but did not prevent passage of electrosurgical current, and no measurable potential was associated with activated electrode contact on cementum or enamel. Studies in three cynomolgus monkeys included electrosurgery of based and unbased cervical silver amalgam restorations, electrosurgery of unrestored enamel, restored teeth not subjected to electrosurgery and teeth that were neither restored nor subjected to electrosurgery. Electrosurgery of restored teeth, regardless of the presence of a base, consistently resulted in pulpal damage characterized by an altered dentin matrix, necrosis adjacent to the cavity preparation, and a transition zone between necrotic and apparently vital pulp tissue. By 8 weeks following electrosurgery, the majority of specimens showed replacement of the odontoblastic layer and adjacent pulp tissue by dense connective tissue with areas of irregular calcification.
Proximal humeral epiphyseal plate fracture in a collegiate track and field decathlete: a case study.

Objective: To present the case of an 18-year-old collegiate decathlete with a SalterHarris type I epiphyseal plate fracture of the proximal humerus. Background: A collegiate decathlete was playing flag football and fell on an outstretched arm. He was taken to the emergency room and diagnosed with a type I epiphyseal plate fracture. Differential Diagnosis: AC sprain, dislocation or subluxation, rotator cuff tear, labral tear. Treatment: Active and passive range of motion exercises were completed after two days of immobilization. He then started strengthening exercises and returned to competitive activity in 10 weeks. Uniqueness: Proximal humeral epiphyseal plate fractures are uncommon injuries, especially in athletes over the age of 15. Conclusions: If an accurate diagnosis is made, an appropriate conservative rehabilitation program can be implemented to safely return an athlete to participation without permanent deformity following a type I Salter-Harris fracture. Keywords: Salter-Harris, epiphyseal plate injury
Iron-dependent regulation of frataxin expression: implications for treatment of Friedreich ataxia

Friedreich ataxia (FA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by expansion of a trinucleotide repeat within the first intron of the gene that encodes frataxin. In our study, we investigated the regulation of frataxin expression by iron and demonstrated that frataxin mRNA levels decrease significantly in multiple human cell lines treated with the iron chelator, desferal (DFO). In addition, frataxin mRNA and protein levels decrease in fibroblast and lymphoblast cells derived from both normal controls and from patients with FA when treated with DFO. Lymphoblasts and fibroblasts of FA patients have evidence of cytosolic iron depletion, as indicated by increased levels of iron regulatory protein 2 (IRP2) and/or increased IRE-binding activity of IRP1. We postulate that this inferred cytosolic iron depletion occurs as frataxin-deficient cells overload their mitochondria with iron, a downstream regulatory effect that has been observed previously when mitochondrial iron-sulfur cluster assembly is disrupted. The mitochondrial iron overload and presumed cytosolic iron depletion potentially further compromise function in frataxin-deficient cells by decreasing frataxin expression. Thus, our results imply that therapeutic efforts should focus on an approach that combines iron removal from mitochondria with a treatment that increases cytosolic iron levels to maximize residual frataxin expression in FA patients.
Ionic currents that contribute to a sexually dimorphic communication signal in weakly electric fish

Weakly electric fish produce a communication signal, the electric organ discharge, that is species specific, and in many species, sexually dimorphic. Because the neural circuit that controls the electric organ discharge is relatively simple, it is an excellent model in which to study both the biophysical mechanisms underlying a rhythmic behavior and the neuroendocrine control of a sexually dimorphic behavior. By studying the effects of ion channel blockers on neurons in the medullary pacemaker nucleus, I pharmacologically characterized three ionic currents that influence the pacemaker rhythm, and thus electric organ discharge frequency, in the gymnotiform fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus. These currents included a tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium current; a potassium current that was sensitive to 4-aminopyridine; and a calcium current that was sensitive to nickel and cadmium, but resistant to specific blockers of L-, N-, P-, and Q-type calcium currents. The pharmacological profiles of the ionic currents in the pacemaker nucleus are similar to those of ionic currents involved in pacemaking in other neuronal oscillators. Because these ionic currents dramatically influence pacemaker firing frequency, which is directly related to electric organ discharge frequency, these ionic currents are likely targets of steroid hormone action in producing sexual dimorphisms in electric organ discharge frequency. Additional studies are needed to determine how these ionic currents interact to generate the electric organ discharge rhythm and to investigate the possibility that sexual dimorphism in the electric organ discharge results from the actions of gonadal steroids on these ionic currents.
Pigeons (Columba livia) as Trainable Observers of Pathology and Radiology Breast Cancer Images.

Pathologists and radiologists spend years acquiring and refining their medically essential visual skills, so it is of considerable interest to understand how this process actually unfolds and what image features and properties are critical for accurate diagnostic performance. Key insights into human behavioral tasks can often be obtained by using appropriate animal models. We report here that pigeons (Columba livia)—which share many visual system properties with humans—can serve as promising surrogate observers of medical images, a capability not previously documented. The birds proved to have a remarkable ability to distinguish benign from malignant human breast histopathology after training with differential food reinforcement; even more importantly, the pigeons were able to generalize what they had learned when confronted with novel image sets. The birds’ histological accuracy, like that of humans, was modestly affected by the presence or absence of color as well as by degrees of image compression, but these impacts could be ameliorated with further training. Turning to radiology, the birds proved to be similarly capable of detecting cancer-relevant microcalcifications on mammogram images. However, when given a different (and for humans quite difficult) task—namely, classification of suspicious mammographic densities (masses)—the pigeons proved to be capable only of image memorization and were unable to successfully generalize when shown novel examples. The birds’ successes and difficulties suggest that pigeons are well-suited to help us better understand human medical image perception, and may also prove useful in performance assessment and development of medical imaging hardware, image processing, and image analysis tools.
Charley's Family Steak House (B)

Charley Turner, the owner of four Charley's Family Steak Houses located in a rapidly growing cosmopolitan city in eastern Texas, is about to meet with Alex Pearson, the new manager of Charley's Family Steak House No. 2, in mid-December 2002. The primary purpose of this meeting is to finalize the 2003 operating plan for the restaurant, and similar meetings are scheduled with the other restaurant managers. Turner has decided that, due to the growth of his business, he can no longer continue to manage the operation as he did when there were only one or two restaurants. Therefore, he is in the process of implementing a more formal and vigorous planning and budgeting process. The case describes the process through which Charley Turner and Alex Pearson reach agreement regarding the final operating plan for the restaurant for 2003. The description contained in the case is both detailed and thorough, as it includes the basis on which annual revenues are projected as well as the basis on which each expense is forecasted for the year. Students are asked to verify all of the amounts shown in the 2003 operating plan and then to prepare a revised operating plan based on a more pessimistic sales forecast.
Unpowered Wireless Ultrasound Sensor

This paper presents a wireless ultrasound sensor that uses frequency conversion to convert the ultrasound signal to a microwave signal and transmit it directly without digitization. Constructed from a few passive microwave components, the sensor is able to sense, modulate, and transmit the full waveform of ultrasound signals wirelessly without requiring any local power source. The principle of operation of the unpowered wireless ultrasound sensor is described first. Implementation of the sensor and the sensor interrogation unit using commercially-available antennas and microwave components is described in detail. Validation of the sensing system using an ultrasound pitch-catch system and the power analysis model of the system are also presented.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Arthritis Associated With Crystals Containing Calcium

Varying combinations of acute inflammatory and/or chronic degenerative arthritis have been found to be associated with crystals of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) and/or basic calcium phosphates (BCPs). Since the arthropathies associated with CPPDs and/or BCPs occur in older individuals, while diagnosis and treatment for monosodium urate monohydrate crystal deposition disease (gout) have become extremely precise and effective, joint problems associated with calcium crystals have become more common than those associated with monosodium urate monohydrate crystals. The classification, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and treatment of CPPD and BCP crystal deposition are discussed.
Movements of Black-browed and Grey-headed Albatrosses in the South Atlantic

(1967). Movements of Black-browed and Grey-headed Albatrosses in the South Atlantic. Emu - Austral Ornithology: Vol. 66, No. 4, pp. 357-367.
INTERMACS PROFILES AND MORTALITY AMONG AMBULATORY PATIENTS WITH SYSTOLIC HEART FAILURE

The Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) profiles classify patients with heart failure (HF) considered for mechanical circulatory support (MCS). Limited data exist on the value of these profiles in the general HF population. We evaluated 3-yr mortality in a
Bacteriophages of Bacteroides

Sixty-eight bacteriophages specific for nine species (DNA homology groups) of Bacteroides were isolated from sewage. Four distinct morphological types were isolated, three of which had not previously been described. Attempts to use these phages to transduce Bacteroides fragilis were unsuccessful. A total of 91 phage-susceptible strains of Bacteroides were used with these phages in a study of the feasibility of developing a scheme for identification of Bacteroides species. Blind trials were performed with 10 B. fragilis-specific phages and a collection of over 200 bacterial strains, including 144 strains of B. fragilis. Of the strains of B. fragilis, 78% were identified correctly within 24 hr. A phage-carrier state, or pseudolysogeny, was observed with most of the phage-host systems, and this state was studied in detail with B. fragilis phage Bf-1. The presence of a thick capsule around some cells in a pure culture of a host strain appears to render these cells resistant to phage infection, thus perpetuating the carrier state. It is suggested that such capsules may play a role in the virulence of strains of Bacteroides.
Sons of the Father: George Washington and His Protégés. Edited by Robert M. S. McDonald. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2013. 285 pp.

Sons of the Father: George Washington and His Proteges. Edited by Robert M. S. McDonald. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2013. 285 pp. In this excellent collection of essays, Robert M. S. McDonald has assembled profiles of ten men who were drawn, in one way or another, into George Washington's orbit. McDonald also includes an introduction by Theodore Crackel, a chapter on Washington's mentors by Fred Anderson, and a brief concluding essay by Jack P. Greene. Washington's relationships were not all created equal. He knew how to use men as the situation demanded. The rough-hewn former wagoner Dan Morgan, Scott Philyaw explains, was a logical choice to command the occupation of Pittsburgh, then a frontier settlement, after the Whiskey Rebellion. Henry Knox, profiled by Mark Thompson, and Nathanael Greene, about whom John W. Wall writes, were both senior commanders in the Continental Army who could approach Washington as contemporaries. At the other extreme, the Marquis de Lafayette perhaps came closest to being a real son to Washington, although Stuart Leibiger warns us against romanticizing their relationship. Initially a "marriage of convenience," it only "gradually grew and developed into an intimate friendship" (p. 211). One of Washington's more effective generals, "Mad Anthony" Wayne, revered his commander, but Mary Stockwell argues that Washington rarely showed Wayne the respect he deserved; she suggests that Washington could never quite get past Wayne's demonstrative personality. Most of Washington's admirers, of course, had no personal relationship with him. Thomas Rider's Robert Kirkwood stands in for them. An intrepid captain in a highly regarded Delaware regiment, Kirkwood survived the Revolution, only to die fighting Native Americans in the old Northwest Territory. Unlike many anthologies, the quality of the essays in Sons of the Father is uniformly high, and some are especially compelling. Mary Jo Kline deftly explores Washington's unlikely friendship with the rakish Gouverneur Morris: despite stark differences in temperament, Washington seemed genuinely fond of Morris, and he appreciated Morris's nationalism and his support for the military and a strong presidency. Brian Steele, in his essay on Thomas Jefferson, tackles an intriguing question: how did Washington remain an unimpeachable national icon despite his association in the 1790s with an allegedly elitist Federalist Party that would soon fall from favor? Steele argues that Jefferson worked deliberately to appropriate Washington's legacy for his own Democratic-Republican faction. …
Adapting computerized treatments into traditional psychotherapy for depression.

UNLABELLED Recent developments in technology have helped to improve the process of psychotherapy. Unfortunately, many therapists lack the computer skills or financial resources needed for the newest technology. Nonetheless, even basic advances in technology may help to improve the treatment of depression. METHOD The literature is reviewed for journal articles on the treatment of depression published during the past seven years in which treatments have been guided by technology. RESULTS Six novel findings are summarized that may be helpful even when the therapist lacks skill or resources for advanced technology. 1) The efficient assessment of depression can be facilitated by technology, whether using standardized measures or simple daily ratings of mood. 2) Technology tools can be used to send semi-automated daily reminders to help clients develop more adaptive habits in thoughts or actions. 3) Depressed clients can begin to confront their negative view of self, often triggered by some form of loss, failure, or rejection, whether real, imagined, or anticipated. 4) Clients can confront their problems through therapeutic dialogue, whether conducted in person, over the telephone, or via video conference. 5) Clients can use writing assignments to identify, label, explore and express their thoughts and feelings. These writing assignments can be conducted via paper, email, or internet forms. 6) Clients value rapport with a therapist, and this bond seems important to ensure participation and adherence with treatment. CONCLUSION Even low-tech therapists can strengthen the treatment of depression using basic technology tools to replace, extend, or supplement traditional sessions. However, it is important to protect the rapport needed for sustained participation in therapy.
Modulation of Ergot Alkaloids in a Grass–Endophyte Symbiosis by Alteration of mRNA Concentrations of an Ergot Alkaloid Synthesis Gene

The profile of ergot alkaloids in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) containing the endophytic fungus Epichloe typhina × festucae includes high concentrations of the early pathway metabolites ergotryptamine and chanoclavine-I in addition to the pathway end-product ergovaline. Because these alkaloids differ in activity, we investigated strategies to alter their relative concentrations. An RNAi-based approach reduced the concentration of mRNA from the gene easA, which encodes an enzyme required for a ring closure that separates ergotryptamine and chanoclavine-I from ergovaline. Lower easA mRNA concentrations correlated with lower concentrations of ergovaline and higher concentrations of ergotryptamine and chanoclavine-I. Overexpression of easA led to higher concentrations of ergovaline in leaf blades but not in pseudostems; concentrations of the early pathway metabolites were not altered in overexpression strains. The data indicate that altering the concentration of mRNA from a single gene can change alkal...
Because they were there: Access, deliberation, and the mobilization of networks for support

Abstract When people need help, what is the process through which they decide whom in their network to turn to? Research on social support has described a process that is deliberative in nature: people determine their needs, assess who in their network has the needed attributes—such as skill, trustworthiness, intimacy, and accessibility—and then activate that tie. Nevertheless, research in behavioral economics and other fields has shown that people make many decisions not deliberatively but intuitively. We examine this possibility in the context of social support by focusing on one factor: accessibility. Although researchers have argued that people weigh the accessibility of potential helpers as they do any other attribute, accessibility may be not only an attribute of the helper but also a condition of the situation. We develop a framework to make this question tractable for survey research and evaluate competing hypotheses using original data on an analytically strategic sample of ∼2000 college students, probing concrete instances of social support. We identify and document not one but three decision processes, reflective, incidental, and spontaneous activation, which differ in the extent to which actors had deliberated on whether to seek help and on whom to approach before activating the tie. We find that while the process was reflective (consistent with existing theory) when skill or trustworthiness played a role, it was significantly less so (consistent with the alternative) when accessibility did. Findings suggest that actors decide whom in their network to mobilize through at least three systematically different processes, two of which are consistent less with either active “mobilization” or explicit “help seeking” than with responsiveness to opportunity and context.
Experimental study of compiler techniques for NUMA machines

The article explores the applicability of fully automatic parallelizing techniques for parallel computers. We capitalize on a variety of traditional compiling techniques as well as new techniques developed specifically for distributed memory architectures. Combining these traditional and new techniques, we conducted experiments with several benchmark programs on the Cray T3D.
No Way Out: Severely Abused Latina Women, Patriarchal Terrorism, and Self-Help Homicide:

This article explores the diminished occurrence of intimate partner homicide (IPH)—referred to as self-help homicide—perpetrated by Latinas when compared with Black and White women. Self-help homic...
Substance Use, Intoxication, and Withdrawal in the Critical Care Setting

Substance use is common among individuals admitted to the critical care setting and may complicate treatment of underlying disorders. Management issues include the effects of intoxication as well as the risk posed by substance-withdrawal syndromes in patients being treated for critical illness. This article reviews the epidemiology of substance use in this population and the identification and treatment of common intoxication and withdrawal syndromes. The authors stress the importance of long-term planning as part of the overall treatment protocol beyond the acute presentation.
NF-κBp50 and HDAC1 Interaction Is Implicated in the Host Tolerance to Infection Mediated by the Bacterial Quorum Sensing Signal 2-Aminoacetophenone

Some bacterial quorum sensing (QS) small molecules are important mediators of inter-kingdom signaling and impact host immunity. The QS regulated small volatile molecule 2-aminoacetophenone (2-AA), which has been proposed as a biomarker of Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization in chronically infected human tissues, is critically involved in “host tolerance training” that involves a distinct molecular mechanism of host chromatin regulation through histone deacetylase (HDAC)1. 2-AA’s epigenetic reprogramming action enables host tolerance to high bacterial burden and permits long-term presence of P. aeruginosa without compromising host survival. Here, to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms of 2-AA-mediated host tolerance/resilience (HT/R) we investigated the connection between histone acetylation status and NF-B signaling components that together coordinate 2-AA-mediated control of transcriptional activity. We found increased NF-Bp65 acetylation levels in 2-AA stimulated cells that are preceded by association of CBP/p300 and increased histone acetyl transferase (HAT) activity. In contrast, in 2-AA tolerized cells the protein-protein interaction between p65 and CBP/p300 is disrupted and conversely, the interaction between p50 and co-repressor HDAC1 is enhanced, leading to repression of the pro-inflammatory response. These results highlight how a bacterial QS signaling molecule can establish a link between intracellular signaling and epigenetic reprogramming of pro-inflammatory mediators that may contribute to host tolerance training. These new insights might contribute to the development of novel therapeutic interventions against bacterial infections.
By CyTOF: Heterogeneity of Human Monocytes.

Human monocyte subsets have traditionally been defined based on expression of CD14 and CD16 into classical, nonclassical, and intermediate monocytes. Using CyTOF, Thomas et al1 identified CCR2, CD36, HLA-DR, and CD11c as additional cell surface markers that provide better resolution of intermediate and nonclassical monocyte subsets. These markers can be used in traditional flow cytometry to identify alterations in subset frequencies during clinical studies. See accompanying article on page 1548 Monocytes are a heterogeneous population of blood cells derived from the bone marrow that can be recruited to inflamed tissues and differentiate into macrophages and dendritic cells.2 In mice, monocytes have been separated into vessel-patrolling monocytes that are Ly6Clow CCR2low CX3CR1hi and tissue-infiltrating monocytes that are Ly6Chi CCR2hi CX3CR1low. Although the Ly6Chi CCR2hi CX3CR1low monocytes are often regarded as inflammatory because they are the primary source of inflammatory M1 macrophages,2 they are also the predominant source of reparative alternatively activated M2 macrophages,3 and hence their differentiation and activation properties are driven primarily by the tissue environment they encounter. In humans, there is an …
Exploring the Spatial Ability of Undergraduate Students: Association With Gender, STEM Majors, and Gifted Program Membership:

Spatial ability has been valued as a talent domain and as an assessment form that reduces cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic status biases, yet little is known of the spatial ability of studen...
A LIGHTWEIGHT CONTROL METHODOLOGY FOR FORMATION CONTROL OF VEHICLE SWARMS

Abstract Multi-vehicle swarms offer the potential for increased performance and robustness in several key robotic and autonomous applications. Emergent swarm behavior demonstrated in biological systems shows performance that far outstrips the abilities of the individual members. We demonstrate a lightweight formation control methodology that uses conservative potential functions to ensure group cohesion, and yet has very modest communication and control requirements for the individual nodes. Any arbitrary formation can be formed and held, even while navigating through an unstructured obstacle environment. Simulation studies demonstrate that the formation control is robust, stable, and easily implemented in a distributed fashion.
Targeting Virulence in Staphylococcus aureus by Chemical Inhibition of the Accessory Gene Regulator System In Vivo.

ABSTRACT Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents one of the most serious health concerns worldwide. The WHO labeled it as a “high-priority” pathogen in 2017, also citing the more recently emerged vancomycin-intermediate and -resistant strains. With the spread of antibiotic resistance due in large part to the selective pressure exerted by conventional antibiotics, the use of antivirulence strategies has been recurrently proposed as a promising therapeutic approach. In MRSA, virulence is chiefly controlled by quorum sensing (QS); inhibitors of QS are called quorum quenchers (QQ). In S. aureus, the majority of QS components are coded for by the accessory gene regulator (Agr) system. Although much work has been done to develop QQs against MRSA, only a few studies have progressed to in vivo models. Those studies include both prophylactic and curative models of infection as well as combination treatments with antibiotic. For most, high efficacy is seen at attenuating MRSA virulence and pathogenicity, with some studies showing effects such as synergy with antibiotics and antibiotic resensitization. This minireview aims to summarize and derive conclusions from the literature on the in vivo efficacy of QQ agents in MRSA infection models. In vitro data are also summarized to provide sufficient background on the hits discussed. On the whole, the reported in vivo effects of the reviewed QQs against MRSA represent positive progress at this early stage in drug development. Follow-up studies that thoroughly examine in vitro and in vivo activity are needed to propel the field forward and set the stage for lead optimization.
Endoglin interacts with VEGFR2 to promote angiogenesis

Endoglin, a TGF-β coreceptor predominantly expressed in endothelial cells, plays an important role in vascular development and tumor-associated angiogenesis. However, the mechanism by which endoglin regulates angiogenesis, especially during tip cell formation, remains largely unknown. In this study, we report that endoglin promoted VEGF-induced tip cell formation. Mechanistically, endoglin interacted with VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-2 in a VEGF-dependent manner, which sustained VEGFR2 on the cell surface and prevented its degradation. Endoglin mutants deficient in the ability to interact with VEGFR2 failed to sustain VEGFR2 on the cell surface and to promote VEGF-induced tip cell formation. Further, an endoglin-targeting monoclonal antibody (mAb), TRC105, cooperated with a VEGF-A targeting mAb, bevacizumab, to inhibit VEGF signaling and tip cell formation in vitro and to inhibit tumor growth, metastasis, and tumor-associated angiogenesis in a murine tumor model. This study demonstrate a novel mechanism by which endoglin initiates and regulates VEGF-driven angiogenesis while providing a rationale for combining anti-VEGF and anti-endoglin therapy in patients with cancer.-Tian, H., Huang, J. J., Golzio, C., Gao, X., Hector-Greene, M., Katsanis, N., Blobe, G. C. Endoglin interacts with VEGFR2 to promote angiogenesis.
Deformation and Failure of Angle-Ply Composite Laminates

Angle-ply carbon/epoxy composite laminates were tested under uniaxial compression at two strain rates (10−4 and 1 s−1). In this study, failure is defined as maximum ply damage. This is determined by noting where the stress–strain curve of the laminate reaches a characteristic damage state and the stress–strain behavior reaches a terminal modulus. The characteristic damage state stress is compared to predictions from the recently introduced Northwestern (NU) theory at each strain rate. Residual and interlaminar stresses were considered in the analysis and experiment design. Most classical theories fail to predict the exact failure behavior of the laminates. The NU theory is in good agreement in most cases with the exception of cases where the state of stress includes a non negligible stress component in the fiber direction. However, for determining lamina failure due to matrix dominated failure modes, the NU theory is in excellent agreement with experimental results.
Perioperative nutrition problems. Nursing management.

During the past several years, insight into how surgery alters metabolism during a critical illness has led practitioners to pay closer attention to nutritional status of the patient. Advances in research and technology have improved the ability of nurses to meet the needs of these patients. Nurses play a key role in providing specialized nutrition support through assessment, monitoring, prevention, collaboration, and intervention. Based on a review of the scientific literature, this article reviews the metabolic response to surgical stress and discusses nursing implications of nutrition support.
Mappings Between Metric Spaces

We recall the definition of continuity, for a function f:I → ℝ, where I is an interval in ℝ. Let x0 ∈ I, and suppose that for every e > 0 there is a \({\delta _{{x_o},\;\varepsilon }}\; > \;0\) such that $$x\; \in \,I\;and\;\left| {x\, - \,{x_o}} \right|\; < \;{\delta _{{x_o},\;\varepsilon }}\; \Rightarrow \;\left| {f\left( x \right)\, - \,f\left( {{x_o}} \right)} \right|\; < \;\varepsilon.$$
Epidemiology of Renal Tumors

Renal parenchymal cancer is the third most common genitourinary malignancy, and over 36,000 Americans are diagnosed with this disease yearly. This chapter discusses the United States and worldwide incidences and mortality rates for renal tumors, presents the specific details for classification of both benign and malignant renal neoplasms, and discusses the adult renal neoplasia syndromes. Data regarding specific risk factors for renal cancer, including family history, tobacco, diet, obesity, physical activity, urinary tract pathology, general medical conditions, occupational exposures, analgesic use, and reproductive factors, are included.
Anti-JC virus antibody index changes in rituximab-treated multiple sclerosis patients

Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody to CD20, is an effective treatment for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) reducing relapse rate by at least 50% over time. Although the mechanism for this clinical benefit is unclear, rituximab depletes circulating B cells, which can perform antigen presentation and stimulation of T cells. Another anti-CD20 drug, ocrelizumab, has recently been FDA approved to treat both relapsing remitting and progressive forms of MS. While long-term effects of ocrelizumab use are essentially unknown, long-term use of rituximab has been associated with the development of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) at an incidence of approximately 1/25,000 in non-MS conditions. Serostatus for JC virus (JCV), the causative agent for PML, is an important risk stratification tool for natalizumab, but its utility in other MS treatments is uncertain. We found that rituximab use was associated with a reduction in JCV antibody index values in MS patients. Reductions in immunoglobulins, IgM in particular, are seen in concert with JCV antibody reductions. Physicians should exercise caution when using JCV antibody indices to assess any risk of PML for patients on rituximab.
Variance-based Regularization with Convex Objectives

We develop an approach to risk minimization and stochastic optimization that provides a convex surrogate for variance, allowing near-optimal and computationally efficient trading between approximation and estimation error. Our approach builds off of techniques for distributionally robust optimization and Owen's empirical likelihood, and we provide a number of finite-sample and asymptotic results characterizing the theoretical performance of the estimator. In particular, we show that our procedure comes with certificates of optimality, achieving (in some scenarios) faster rates of convergence than empirical risk minimization by virtue of automatically balancing bias and variance. We give corroborating empirical evidence showing that in practice, the estimator indeed trades between variance and absolute performance on a training sample, improving out-of-sample (test) performance over standard empirical risk minimization for a number of classification problems.
Effect of Grain Size on the Thermal Properties of Nickel-Titanium Shape Memory Alloys Across the Martensite-Austenite Phase Transition

In this work, the thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity of 50–50 NiTi shape memory alloys (SMA) with varying grain size are investigated as a function of temperature. SMAs, and NiTi in particular, have a critical role to play in next-generation solid-state refrigeration systems and long-term thermal storage applications. However, their performance in these applications is predicated on their latent heat, thermal conductivity and heat capacity. Complicating the prediction of their performance is the wide variability in reported results for each of these properties within the scientific literature and a lack of information regarding their temperature-dependence, particularly as SMAs experience a martensitic-austenitic phase transition. We use Frequency-Domain Thermoreflectance (FDTR) to probe the thermal transport properties of NiTi as a function of average grain size and temperature and report our results here. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) are used to characterize the phase transitions and microstructure of the NiTi, respectively. Collectively, these measurements provide a better understanding of the impact of grain size and phase transition on thermal transport and storage within NiTi as it changes phase, permitting improved predictions of their behavior in a host of important applications.
An Overview of Structure, Function and Regulation of Pyruvate Kinases

In the last step of glycolysis Pyruvate kinase catalyzes the irreversible conversion of ADP and phosphoenolpyruvate to ATP and pyruvic acid, both crucial for cellular metabolism. Thus pyruvate kinase plays a key role in controlling the metabolic flux and ATP production. The hallmark of the activity of different pyruvate kinases is their tight modulation by a variety of mechanisms including the use of a large number of physiological allosteric effectors in addition to their homotropic regulation by phosphoenolpyruvate. Binding of effectors signals precise and orchestrated movements in selected areas of the protein structure that alter the catalytic action of these evolutionarily conserved enzymes with remarkably conserved architecture and sequences. While the diverse nature of the allosteric effectors has been discussed in the literature, the structural basis of their regulatory effects is still not well understood because of the lack of data representing conformations in various activation states. Results of recent studies on pyruvate kinases of different families suggest that members of evolutionarily related families follow somewhat conserved allosteric strategies but evolutionarily distant members adopt different strategies. Here we review the structure and allosteric properties of pyruvate kinases of different families for which structural data are available.
Prolonged tracheal extubation time after glioma surgery was associated with lack of familiarity between the anesthesia provider and the operating neurosurgeon. A retrospective, observational study.

Abstract Study objective We consider the effect of the number of previous interactions between the anesthesia provider and a single neurosurgeon during neurosurgical procedures (“familiarity”) and occurrence of an interval ≥15 min from the end of surgery (i.e., dressings applied) to tracheal extubation (“prolonged extubation”) during subsequent glioma procedures by that neurosurgeon. The value of 15min is a threshold at which post-case activity by non-anesthesia personnel in the operating room ends. Design Historical observational study. Setting Neurosurgical operating room suite in an academic teaching hospital. Patients 294 patients undergoing elective supratentorial glioma surgery between 2012 and 2017 by a single neurosurgeon. Measurements 1) Time from end of surgery (“dressings applied”) to extubation; 2) number of previous cases where the anesthesia provider had been present at the end of a neurosurgical procedure performed by the neurosurgeon; 3) case duration. Main results Anesthesia providers (nurse anesthetists or anesthesia residents) were considered “unfamiliar” with the neurosurgeon if they had been present at the time of extubation for Conclusions Lack of familiarity between the anesthesia provider and neurosurgeon during previous anesthetics is associated with prolonged tracheal extubation following intracranial glioblastoma surgery.
Functional common genetic polymorphisms interact to predict breast cancer risk

4494 The proportion of breast cancer in the general population attributable to germline mutations in highly penetrant genes (e.g., BRCA1/2) is small because of the low frequency of these mutations. Common, but weakly penetrant, functional genetic polymorphisms are likely to account for most of the genetic risk for breast cancer in the general population. Current polygenic risk models assume, perhaps erroneously, that the effects of the component genes act independently. Potential gene-gene interactions among ten genes, with known or predicted functional consequences in development of breast carcinoma, were examined in a case-control study of more than 1000 Caucasian women with breast cancer and more than 2000 controls. Association of breast cancer risk with variation in single genes and two- and three- gene combinations was analyzed for two age groups: 53 years and under, and over 53 years. The OR for a genotype was calculated and compared to a null distribution of ORs generated for this genotype by randomizing (10,000 times in these analyses) the case-control status of the individuals in the sample to give an empirical estimate for the p-value for the observed OR. Re-sampling was performed to give an empirical estimate of the 95% confidence interval and a likely more stable estimate of the OR for the genotype, particularly for the less common genotypes. In these analyses the population of individuals was resampled 10,000 times with each repetition composed of 80% of the controls and 80% of the cases selected at random from the whole sample. Over 100 genotypes met stringent criteria for significance (α=1/10,000) with ORs ranging from 0.20 to 5.2. The majority of the significant ORs were two- and three-gene combinations. Comparing observed ORs to ORs predicted by an independent gene model showed that about 25% of the significant multigenic combinations differed markedly from the predicted value. Thus, combinations of genes interact to affect risk for breast cancer in a manner that is not predictable by combining the effects of the individual component genes. While independent genes are a valid starting point in a polygenic model, identifying and incorporating modification of risks associated with gene-gene interactions will improve accuracy of the model and should be taken into consideration when building polygenic models for breast cancer risk. In addition, further exploration of the biologic basis for these multigenic interactions might reveal etiologic or therapeutic insights into breast cancer and other cancers.