cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Particulate Matter (PM) research centers (1999-2005) and the role of interdisciplinary center-based research.

OBJECTIVE: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded five academic centers in 1999 to address the uncertainties in exposure, toxicity, and health effects of airborne particulate matter (PM) identified in the "Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter" of the National Research Council (NRC). The centers were structured to promote interdisciplinary approaches to address research priorities of the NRC. In this report, we present selected accomplishments from the first 6 years of the PM Centers, with a focus on the advantages afforded by the interdisciplinary, center-based research approach. The review highlights advances in the area of ultrafine particles and traffic-related health effects as well as cardiovascular and respiratory effects, mechanisms, susceptibility, and PM exposure and characterization issues. DATA SOURCES AND SYNTHESIS: The collective publications of the centers served as the data source. To provide a concise synthesis of overall findings, authors representing each of the five centers identified a limited number of topic areas that serve to illustrate the key accomplishments of the PM Centers program, and a consensus statement was developed. CONCLUSIONS: The PM Centers program has effectively applied interdisciplinary research approaches to advance PM science.
Microstructural and microchemical mechanisms controlling intergranular stress corrosion cracking in light-water-reactor systems

This review paper examines mechanisms controlling IGSCC in selected LWR components. Emphasis is placed on identifying material microstructures and microchemistries which promote susceptibility to premature failure. Two important examples are evaluated in some detail: stainless steel pipe cracking and primary-side SCC of alloy 600 steam generator tubing. In each case, grain boundary segregation and precipitation phenomena in these materials are reviewed and assessed relative to the mechanisms of IGSCC. This paper summarizes materials presented at the 1993 International Summer School on the Fundamentals of Radiation Damage held at the University of Illinois. A more comprehensive overview of SCC mechanisms and LWR examples was provided at the school, but will not be included in this article. Microstructural and microchemical aspects controlling IGSCC described here serve as a lead-in to the following paper focussing on how irradiation influences SCC resistance of reactor core components.
Enhanced inhibition of adipogenesis and induction of apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes with combinations of resveratrol and quercetin

ARTICLE I NFO Certain flavonoids have been shown to have specific effects on biochemical and metabolic functions of adipocytes. In this study, we investigated the effects of combinations of resveratrol and quercetin on adipogenesis and apoptosis in 3T3-L1 cells. In maturing preadipocytes resveratrol and quercetin at 25 μM individually suppressed intracellular lipid accumulation by 9.4±3.9% (pb0.01) and 15.9±2.5%, respectively, (pb0.001). The combination of resveratrol and quercetin at the same dose, however, decreased lipid accumulation by 68.6±0.7% (pb0.001). In addition, combinations of resveratrol and quercetin at 25 μM significantly decreased the expression of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)α, both of which act as key transcription factors. In mature adipocytes resveratrol and quercetin at 100 μM individually decreased viability by 18.1±0.6% (pb0.001) and 15.8±1% (pb0.001) and increased apoptosis (100 μM) by 120.5±8.3% (pb0.001) and 85.3±10% (pb0.001) at 48 h, respectively. Combinations of resveratrol and quercetin further decreased viability (73.5±0.9%, pb0.001) and increased apoptosis (310.3±9.6%, pb0.001) more than single compounds alone. The combination of resveratrol and quercetin at 100 μM increased release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol and decreased ERK 1/2 phosphorylation. Taken together, our data indicate that combinations of resveratrol and quercetin can exert potential anti-obesity effects by inhibiting differentiation of preadipocytes and inducing apoptosis of mature adipocytes.
Managing seismic performance of highway bridges – evolution in experimental research

The utilisation of experimental testing data to understand and improve the seismic performance of bridge structures is relatively new. Fifty-two years ago at a meeting of world experts and researchers of earthquake engineering, field observation was the only assessment technique that was discussed with respect to verification of design in physical structures, and laboratory tests were not included in the article. This article shows the evolution in seismic experimental studies and how it was triggered by the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake. Different aspects and examples of component, subsystem, and system testing are discussed. An overview of the seismic retrofit methods and a few examples of seismic repair methods are presented. A discussion of the utilisation of innovative materials such as shape memory alloys to improve the seismic performance and serviceability of bridges after strong earthquakes is also presented.
Pancreatoduodenectomy with pylorus preservation for adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas

For many years, the classical Whipple procedure has been the standard operative treatment for resectable periampullary cancer. Recently, the pylorus preservation operation has also been applied to periampullary tumours. This newer procedure has potential advantages in terms of ease of performance and postoperative physiology, but has yet to be proved as an adequate cancer operation. We, therefore, undertook the present retrospective analysis to compare the outcome following the pylorus preservation operation (n = 13) with that of the classical Whipple resection (n = 13) in 26 patients with histologically proved adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas. The two groups of patients were comparable for age, sex, pre-operative laboratory data, and resected margins free from tumour. More patients undergoing the classical Whipple resection had Stage I disease (10 versus 4, P less than 0.05). However, this difference would not be significant if the two patients in the pylorus preservation group with carcinomas in situ were considered to have stage I disease. Mean tumour diameter in the pylorus preservation patient group (3.2 +/- 0.6 cm) was smaller (P less than 0.05) than in the classical Whipple group (4.1 +/- 1.0 cm) but more patients in the pylorus preservation group also had metastases to the regional lymph nodes (54 versus 23 per cent). Overall operative morbidity (31 per cent) and mortality (4 per cent) was acceptable and did not differ between the two groups. Five year actuarial survival for pylorus preservation (25 per cent) was comparable to that observed for the Whipple procedure in this and other series.
An investigation of the compatibility and morphology of semicrystalline poly(ε‐caprolactone)–poly(vinyl chloride) blends

Blends of poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) were investigated at concentrations of PCL greater than 50 wt % using purified materials. For these concentrations, PCL partially crystallizes with degrees of crystallinity ranging from 50% for pure PCL to < 10% for the 50% mixture. Small-angle x-ray scattering was used to characterize the resultant morphologies. Model calculations for the interference functions and for the integrated scattering indicate that PVC is incorporated between the PCL lamellae and that the two polymers form a homogeneous mixture in the amorphous phase. These results were compared to previous results on the same system using the identical technique. Purification of the two homopolymers proved to play a critical role in the overall mixing characteristics of PVC and PCL
Copolyester: the Fuel Resistant Thermoplastic Elastomer

Copolyester, under the trade name HYTREL® polyester elastomer, is a unique polymer which has many of the advantages of vulcanized rubber plus the ease of processing in conventional plastics equipme...
Decoding algorithm and architecture for BCH codes under the Lee Metric

The Lee metric measures the circular distance between two elements in a cyclic group and is particularly appropriate as a measure of distance for data transmission under phase-shift-keying modulation over a white noise channel. In this paper, using newly derived properties on Newton's identities, we initially investigate the Lee distance properties of a class of BCH codes and show that (for an appropriate range of parameters) their minimum Lee distance is at least twice their designed Hamming distance. We then make use of properties of these codes to devise an efficient algebraic decoding algorithm that successfully decodes within the above lower bound of the Lee error-correction capability. Finally, we propose an attractive design for the corresponding VLSI architecture that is only mildly more complex than popular decoder architectures under the Hamming metric; since the proposed architecture can also be used for decoding under the Hamming metric without extra hardware, one can use the proposed architecture to decode under both distance metrics (Lee and Hamming).
Physiological changes in yoga meditation.

A group of 11 meditators using Ananda Marga Yoga techniques were matched individually with non-meditating controls. Controls were instructed to remain “wakefully relaxed” for 40 min, while the others meditated for the same amount of time. Six of the 11 controls fell asleep during the 40 min (defined by K-complexes and spindles in the EEG), while none of the meditators fell asleep. Rather, meditators remained in a relatively stable state of alpha and theta EEG activity. Meditation was also characterized by a marked increase in basal skin resistance and by a decrease in respiratory rate, changes which were not observed in the controls. Some physiological changes observed during meditation continued into the post-meditation resting periods. These findings suggest that Ananda Marga meditation produces a physiological effect different from that observed in controls who try to relax with their eyes closed.
Spa2p Interacts with Cell Polarity Proteins and Signaling Components Involved in Yeast Cell Morphogenesis

The yeast protein Spa2p localizes to growth sites and is important for polarized morphogenesis during budding, mating, and pseudohyphal growth. To better understand the role of Spa2p in polarized growth, we analyzed regions of the protein important for its function and proteins that interact with Spa2p. Spa2p interacts with Pea2p and Bud6p (Aip3p) as determined by the two-hybrid system; all of these proteins exhibit similar localization patterns, and spa2D, pea2D, and bud6D mutants display similar phenotypes, suggesting that these three proteins are involved in the same biological processes. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate that Spa2p and Pea2p are tightly associated with each other in vivo. Velocity sedimentation experiments suggest that a significant portion of Spa2p, Pea2p, and Bud6p cosediment, raising the possibility that these proteins form a large, 12S multiprotein complex. Bud6p has been shown previously to interact with actin, suggesting that the 12S complex functions to regulate the actin cytoskeleton. Deletion analysis revealed that multiple regions of Spa2p are involved in its localization to growth sites. One of the regions involved in Spa2p stability and localization interacts with Pea2p; this region contains a conserved domain, SHD-II. Although a portion of Spa2p is sufficient for localization of itself and Pea2p to growth sites, only the full-length protein is capable of complementing spa2 mutant defects, suggesting that other regions are required for Spa2p function. By using the two-hybrid system, Spa2p and Bud6p were also found to interact with components of two mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways important for polarized cell growth. Spa2p interacts with Ste11p (MAPK kinase [MEK] kinase) and Ste7p (MEK) of the mating signaling pathway as well as with the MEKs Mkk1p and Mkk2p of the Slt2p (Mpk1p) MAPK pathway; for both Mkk1p and Ste7p, the Spa2pinteracting region was mapped to the N-terminal putative regulatory domain. Bud6p interacts with Ste11p. The MEK-interacting region of Spa2p corresponds to the highly conserved SHD-I domain, which is shown to be important for mating and MAPK signaling. spa2 mutants exhibit reduced levels of pheromone signaling and an elevated level of Slt2p kinase activity. We thus propose that Spa2p, Pea2p, and Bud6p function together, perhaps as a complex, to promote polarized morphogenesis through regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and signaling pathways.
Recovering Quasi-Active Properties of Dendritic Neurons from Dual Potential Recordings

We develop the theory and accompanying algorithm for the recovery of a dendritic neuron's cytoplasmic resistivity, membrane capacitance, leakage conductance, and two maximal channel conductances from weighted averages of simultaneous recordings of somatic and dendritic potential following a somatic current stimulus. We test our results on two model systems with distinct, though prescribed, channel kinetics and branching patterns.
Special Section Guest Editorial: Ultrashort Pulsed Laser and Applications Engineering

Forty years after the publication from Shank and Ippen on the generation of subpicosecond laser pulses we are witnessing an explosion in the number of applications for ultrashort pulsed lasers (USPL).1 While some technologies are invented and applied in industry without delay, there has been a significant delay in the deployment of femtosecond lasers. Ultrashort pulsed lasers used to require a laboratory environment and in many cases included flowing laser dye solutions that made them extremely impractical. The development of chirped pulse amplification for solid state and fiber lasers2,3 has changed the landscape and has made available intense USPL sources that can be operated outside the laboratory. This in turn has opened numerous applications in the materials processing and medical devices markets. In this special section we present a collection of papers that is representative of some of the advancements and applications in USPL design and applications.
Organizational Architecture and Success in the Information Technology Industry

This paper studies an organizational architecture that I callinformation-age architecture. I define a measure oforganizational IQ and test whether it is related to financial and market success using data from the fast-moving information technology industry. Higher organizational IQ is associated with higher profitability and growth. This relationship is stronger in business environments that are characterized by faster clockspeeds.
The Limits of Narrative: Truth Aspiring Discourse in the Bible

raditionally, rabbis gained rhetorical power through the force of their interpretive performance. The rabbis of the Talmud and those who followed them were not known for their great oratory. It was rather their hermeneutical skUl that marked them as worth listening to. Their "eloquence" was grounded in the strength of their interpretations of the legal and narrative portions of the Torah. FoUowing this heuristic eue, we might speculate as to whether the Bible itself also achieves some measure of its eloquence through the acuity of its interpretive insights. That is, might not the rhetorical power of the Bible also Ue, at least in some part, in the force of its hermeneutical performance as displayed in the text? This relationship between rhetoric and hermeneutics, of course, is explidtly featured in philosophical discourse. We find a philosophical text compeUing in large part because we are im-
Cluster Analysis of Multimodel Ensemble Data over New England

An ensemble of 48-h forecasts from 23 cases during the months of July and August 2002, which was created as part of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration pilot program on temperature and air quality forecasting, is evaluated using a clustering method. The ensemble forecasting system consists of 23 total forecasts from four different models: the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Eta Model (ETA), the NCEP Regional Spectral Model (RSM), the Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) model, and the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University‐National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU‐NCAR) Mesoscale Model (MM5). Forecasts of 2-m temperature, 850-hPa u-component wind speed, 500-hPa temperature, and 250-hPa u-component wind speed are bilinearly interpolated to a common grid, and a cluster analysis is conducted at each of the 17 output times for each of the case days using a hierarchical clustering approach. Results from the clustering indicate that the forecasts largely cluster by model, with these intramodel clusters occurring quite often near the surface and less often at higher levels in the atmosphere. Results also indicate that model physics diversity plays a relatively larger role than initial condition diversity in producing distinct groupings of the forecasts. If the goal of ensemble forecasting is to have each model forecast represent an equally likely solution, then this goal remains distant as the model forecasts too often cluster based upon the model that produces the forecasts. Ensembles that contain both initial condition and model dynamics and physics uncertainty are recommended.
Overuse of Acid-Suppression Therapy at an Urban Tertiary Hospital.

OBJECTIVES Acid-suppressive therapy (AST) is widely used for gastrointestinal prophylaxis in hospitalized patients, particularly to prevent stress-related mucosal bleeding in critically ill individuals. Previous reports suggest gross overutilization and continuation of unnecessary therapy, which have been linked to several adverse effects. METHODS Retrospective chart review at a large tertiary care hospital, evaluating the use of AST for ulcer prophylaxis in accordance with American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' guidelines and the less commonly studied nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-related ulcer prophylaxis guidelines. RESULTS A total of 119 (39.3%) patients who received AST met either American Society of Health-System Pharmacists guidelines or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-related prophylaxis guidelines. Subjects whose AST was appropriate were older, had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (P < 0.001), and were more often men (P = 0.005). The rate of discontinuation at discharge was 70.7%; subjects whose prescriptions were not discontinued were older, had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index, and longer hospital and intensive care unit lengths of stay (P < 0.001). Family medicine physicians, hospitalists, and surgeons prescribed AST similarly; internal medicine physicians demonstrated higher adherence with guidelines than all others (P = 0.02). Adherence varied by etiology; cardiology patients were treated with the highest level of appropriateness (53.6%), whereas those admitted for gastrointestinal diagnoses demonstrated the lowest (17.6%, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Inappropriate prescribing of AST for ulcer prophylaxis remains problematic. There may be differences in prescribing habits of physicians of different specialties. Age and comorbidity scores were associated with inappropriate prescribing and continuation of medication at discharge. Interventions to raise prescribers' awareness of ulcer risk factors in hospitalized patients, both in the intensive care unit and those who are noncritically ill, are needed.
Microscopic Aspects of the Initial Stages of Epitaxial Growth: A Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Study of Si on Si(001)

Scanning tunneling microscopy offers the opportunity to investigate growth and ordering processes at the atomic level and hence to identify and distinguish different kinetic and energetic mechanisms that may be operative. A review of the fundamental mechanisms of growth is given. Scanning tunneling microscopy measurements of the ordering and growth of Si on Si(001) are used to illustrate these mechanisms. Diffusion coefficients, growth anisotropy and lateral accommodation coefficients, equilibrium island shapes and free energies, edge desorption energies, and diffusional anisotropy are discussed.
The Transcendental Deduction: Its Structure, Goals, and Opening Claims

We have now seen Kant’s basic picture of knowledge, with its idea that we know single, individuated objects via intuitions and concepts and with its transcendental idealism — its claim that the objects that we know are mere mind-dependent, spatiotemporal things, either objects as those objects appear via our intuitions or else appearances identical to those (synthesized) intuitions themselves. We have also seen, and have just been summing up, Kant’s position about the manifold of intuition. In the case of an intuition that represents a spatiotemporal object like a tree, Kant holds that that intuition is given to us in the form of a manifold that puts before our mind (or is identical to) properties and spatial parts of the object; and that object first occurs before our mind in the form of a manifold of such properties and spatial parts. However, we have observed that, to avoid question-begging, the Transcendental Deduction should at its start make only the minimum assumption that via an arbitrary sensible intuition an object is known, but not an object that is assumed to be subject to the categories.
Use of Rapid Influenza Testing to Reduce Antibiotic Prescriptions Among Outpatients with Influenza-Like Illness in Southern Sri Lanka

Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are a common reason for unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions worldwide. Our objective was to determine if providing access to rapid influenza test results could reduce antibiotic prescriptions for ARTIs in a resource-limited setting. We conducted a prospective, pre-post study from March 2013 to October 2014. Outpatients presenting to a hospital in Sri Lanka were surveyed for influenza-like illness-onset of fever ≥ 38.0°C and cough in prior 7 days. Enrolled patients were administered a structured questionnaire, physical examination, and nasal/nasopharyngeal sampling for rapid influenza A/B testing. Influenza test results were released only during phase 2 (January-October 2014). We enrolled 571 patients with ILI-316 in phase 1 and 241 in phase 2. The proportion positive for influenza was 46.5% in phase 1 and 28.6% in phase 2, P < 0.001. Between phases, antibiotic prescriptions decreased from 81.3% to 69.3% (P = 0.001) among all patients and from 83.7% to 62.3% (P = 0.001) among influenza-positive patients. On multivariable analysis, a positive influenza result during phase 2 was associated with lower odds of antibiotic prescriptions (OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.26-0.95). This prospective study suggests that providing access to rapid influenza testing may reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions in resource-limited settings.
Current situation of disinfection effect and monitoring in Wufeng minority basic medical institutions

Objective To understand the current status of disinfection work in Wufeng County minorities grassroots medical institutions. Methods According to the "disinfection technical specifications" by ministry of health for 2009 and 2013 sterilization effect of medical and health institutions was monitored. Results 6668 samples were seized in 5-year, the average pass rate was 86.25 percent, the pass rates from 2009 to 2013 were 67.55%, 81.10%, 87.03%, 92.18%, 94.34%, statistically, the difference was significant(x2=82.88,P 0.05); pass rate of rural county were 96.46%, 87.93%, 80.51%. Disinfection monitoring results of various samples as: pass rate of indoor air was 79.49%; pass rate of disinfectant already used was 99.02%; pass rate of object surface was 76.60%; pass rate of medical personnel hands 76.18%; pass rate of medical equipment sterilization quality was 98.08%; pass rate of pressure steam was 97.84%; pass rate of radiation intensity UV lamp was 77.56%. Conclusion The results showed that minority areas of primary health care overall level of disinfection quality has improved year by year, a lower pass rate of village medical institutions.
Effect of prolactin on 2-deoxyglucose uptake in mouse mammary gland explants

These studies were carried out to explore the possible effect of prolactin (PRL) on glucose uptake into culture mammary gland explants derived from 12- to 14-day pregnant mice. PRL was found to stimulate an increased rate of uptake of a nonmetabolized glucose analogue, 2-[3H]deoxyglucose, into cultured mammary tissues. The onset of this response was 16 h after the addition of PRL, and the response persisted for at least 24 h. A similar temporal response was observed when the PRL stimulation of [14C]glucose oxidation to 14CO2 was determined. The lowest PRL concentration that elicited a stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose uptake was 20 ng/ml, and a maximum response occurred with PRL at a concentration of 250 ng/ml. Ongoing protein synthesis appears to be essential for PRL to express its effect on 2-deoxyglucose transport since cyclohexamide, puromycin, and actinomycin D abolished the PRL response. It is also apparent that the PRL stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose involves activation of a specific carrier-mediated uptake transport system, since the rate of uptake of L-glucose into mouse mammary gland explants was unaffected by PRL.
Reducing SUV of the bladder in 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging using furosemide

2602 Objectives To compare the effects of furosemide administration on SUV values of the bladder during 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT imaging. Methods This is a retrospective review of 35 PET/CT scans performed at Stanford. One group (n=15) received furosemide 40 mg intravenous 30 minutes after injection of 18F-FDG followed by a 45 minute wait before imaging. The other group (n=20) did not receive furosemide. Bladder standard uptake values (SUVavg and SUVmax) were collected. Results Relative to the non-furosemide group, the furosemide group showed significantly lower average SUV and maximum SUV bladder activities. The non-furosemide group had an SUVavg :45.15±10.09, SUVmax: 55.50±12.41. The furosemide group had an SUVavg :5.95±1.54, SUVmax: 6.96±1.80. Comparing SUVavg results in a p=0.00004. Comparing SUVmax results in a p=0.00002. Conclusions The use of furosemide is effective in significantly reducing the SUV of the bladder in PET/CT scans. This has significant potential for improving the ability to identify and interpret abnormal lesions within and around the urinary bladder.
Regional cerebral blood flow imaging with SPECT in psychiatric disease: focus on schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse.

The subtypes of major depression are reviewed, and a decision tree for the acute somatic treatment of major depression, including delusional and nondelusional depression, is presented. Considerations in clinicians' decisions about initiation and selection of acute somatic treatment for patients with major depression are then discussed. Current somatic therapies for nondelusional depression are described, with emphasis on the mechanisms of action of the drugs employed, the relationship between mechanism of action and side effect profile, and the selection of a drug on the basis of its side effect profile. The three current strategies for the treatment of delusional depression--electroconvulsive therapy, the combination of an antidepressant and an antipsychotic agent, and amoxapine alone--are then reviewed.
Abstract 3338: Pacritinib reduces human myeloid leukemia stem cell maintance in a defined niche

Introduction Pacritinib, a potent clinical small molecule inhibitor of JAK2, it also suppresses signaling through wild-type and mutant FLT3, IRAK1, and CSF1R. Pacritinib does not cause marrow suppression and has demonstrated single agent activity preclinically in myelofibrosis and other myeloid neoplasms including AML and CMML. Stromal protection was not observed. However, the capacity of pacritinib to eradicate therapy resistant leukemia stem cells (LSC), residing in the bone marrow niche, had not been examined. Thus, we investigated the impact of pacritinib alone or in combination with standard of care therapy on primary blast crisis chronic myeloid leukemia (BC CML), myelofibrosis (MF) and AML LSC survival and self-renewal in a stem cell supportive niche. Methods Genetically engineered mouse bone marrow fibroblasts producing human SCF, IL3 and G-CSF were used as stromal monolayers to support LSC survival and self-renewal. Human primary CD34+ cells were selected from BC CML (n = 5), MF (n = 5) and relapsed AML (n = 4) before and after clinical treatment with azacitidine. As a control, CD34+ cells from age matched normal bone marrow (a-NBM, n = 4) were used for the co-culture. Survival and self-renewal of the cells were investigated by colony forming and replating assays. Pacritinib was used at concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 nM alone and in combination with 1 nM dasatinib. Results Pacritinib alone induced dose-dependent inhibition of self-renewal in a-NBM, AML, MF and CML-BC, with the optimal concentration of 20nM leading to IC50 diversity in the response between normal and leukemia progenitors. AML and MF responded uniformly and inhibition reached 50% at 10nM concentration. BC CML cells were more divergent: 40% demonstrated >50% inhibition, in another 40% it was 20-50% and in 20% inhibition was Conclusions Together these data indicate that possibly through inhibition of CSF1 and IRAK1 signaling in addition to suppression of JAK2, even in the presence of a LSC supportive niche, readily clinically achievable low nM concentrations of pacritinib alone are effective in reducing self-renewal of MF and relapsed AML. However, a combination of dasatinib and pacritinib is required to eliminate self-renewing LSC in BC CML with minimal toxicity toward normal progenitors. Targeting niche-dependent signaling could represent a robust avenue for treatment of refractory myeloid leukemia. Citation Format: Larisa Balaian, Anna Kulijian, Edward D. Ball, Catriona H.M Jamieson. Pacritinib reduces human myeloid leukemia stem cell maintance in a defined niche. [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 3338.
Metabolic characterization of overweight and obese adults.

ABSTRACTObjectives: Traditional evaluations of metabolic health may overlook underlying dysfunction in individuals who show no signs of insulin resistance or dyslipidemia. The purpose of this study was to characterize metabolic health in overweight and obese adults using traditional and non-traditional cardiometabolic variables. A secondary purpose was to evaluate differences between overweight/obese and male/female cohorts, respectively.Methods: Forty-nine overweight and obese adults (Mean ± SD; Age = 35.0 ± 8.9 yrs; Body mass index = 33.6 ± 5.2 kg·m−2; Percent body fat [%fat] = 36.7 ± 7.9%) were characterized. Body composition (fat mass [FM], lean mass [LM], %fat) was calculated using a 4-compartment model; visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was quantified using B-mode ultrasound. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were evaluated using indirect calorimetry. Fasted blood and saliva samples were analyzed for total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lip...
AIGA design educators conference 2016: Nuts+Bolts: Tightening Up Classroom Fundamentals, Reinforcing Careers, +Constructing the Future of the Discipline

During the 2015 AIGA national conference, Revival, there was an affinity session titled, ‘Thinking About Teaching? How to Trade Clients for Curriculum’.1 The session was targeted to non-academics, ...
Preface: The Anthropocene and the Challenge of Cultural Difference

Over the last decade, the concept of the Anthropocene has imposed itself as a new framework for thinking and writing about environmental issues. The idea that humans have so pervasively reshaped global ecological systems that their impact will be visible in the geological strata to future observers, and that this transformation has ushered in a new geological epoch, has influenced environmental debates about ecological science, policies, and environmental narratives and cultures. Regardless of whether geologists will end up accepting or rejecting the term, the Anthropocene has turned humankind at large into the protagonist of a new deep-time narrative, generated heated debates over the merits of such a species narrative as opposed to an emphasis on economic and geopolitical inequality, and given rise to controversies over what kind of nature environmentalism should aim to conserve in this new framework.
Distribution of the North American Porcupine in Kansas

North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) have historically occurred at low densities in parts of western Kansas. As areas of suitable habitat for porcupines may change over time due to factors such as shifting land-use patterns, climate change, and woody invasion it is important to periodically reevaluate the distribution of this species. To determine the current distribution of porcupines in Kansas, we surveyed veterinarians from across the state to document instances where domestic animals encountered porcupines. We found that porcupines are still relatively uncommon in Kansas and their overall distribution has not notably shifted. Porcupine encounters most commonly occurred in fall months. This knowledge adds to the current understanding of porcupine ecology in the Great Plains and should be useful for future studies aimed at understanding how climate and land-use change impacts porcupine distribution.
STING-associated vasculopathy develops independently of IRF3 in mice

Patients with stimulator of interferon genes (STING)-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI) develop systemic inflammation characterized by vasculopathy, interstitial lung disease, ulcerative skin lesions, and premature death. Autosomal dominant mutations in STING are thought to trigger activation of IRF3 and subsequent up-regulation of interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs) in patients with SAVI. We generated heterozygous STING N153S knock-in mice as a model of SAVI. These mice spontaneously developed inflammation within the lung, hypercytokinemia, T cell cytopenia, skin ulcerations, and premature death. Cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) analysis revealed that the STING N153S mutation caused myeloid cell expansion, T cell cytopenia, and dysregulation of immune cell signaling. Unexpectedly, we observed only mild up-regulation of ISGs in STING N153S fibroblasts and splenocytes and STING N154S SAVI patient fibroblasts. STING N153S mice lacking IRF3 also developed lung disease, myeloid cell expansion, and T cell cytopenia. Thus, the SAVI-associated STING N153S mutation triggers IRF3-independent immune cell dysregulation and lung disease in mice.
Effects of white-tailed deer and invasive plants on the herb layer of suburban forests

Lack of hunting and predators and proximity to human communities make suburban forests prone to high deer abundance and non-native plant invasions. I investigated these likely drivers of community structure in the herb layers of six suburban forests in one region of New Jersey, USA. In 223 plots I assessed the herb layer response to 2.5 years with or without deer fencing and the early stage of invasion from seed additions of Microstegium vimineum, an invasive, annual grass. Non-native plants and herbaceous native plants were affected very little by fencing or M. vimineum invasion. In contrast, across all forests the combination of deer access and M. vimineum addition had a strongly negative effect on woody native percent cover. Forests differed in overall fencing effects on woody natives; their cover was greater in fenced plots in just three forests, suggesting greater deer pressure in those forests during the experiment. The early invasion by M. vimineum was greatest in two of these same forests, but was not influenced by fencing. Multi-group structural equation modelling compared two groups of forests that differed in vegetation abundance and other characteristics. It paralleled the results above and also showed no negative influence of non-native cover on native cover, even in the forests where non-native cover was greater. It identified a positive effect of light level on herb layer plants in the forests with less vegetation, and also revealed a positive effect of soil water potential (SWP) on non-native plants in the forests with more vegetation, which had higher SWP. These suburban forests within a common region varied widely in native and non-native herb layer abundance, the early success of M. vimineum invasion and the herb layer’s response to early invasion and protection from deer.
“Feeling Warmth and Close to Her”: Communication and Resilience Reflected in Turning Points in Positive Adult Stepchild–Stepparent Relationships

ABSTRACTWith the goal of understanding the development of positive stepchild–stepparent relationships, the researchers focused on turning points characterizing the interaction of adult stepchildren who have a positive bond with a stepparent. Engaging a relational turning points perspective, 38 stepchildren (males and females, ages 25 to 52 years old) who reported a positive stepparent relationship were interviewed, generating 269 turning points which were categorized into 15 turning point types and coded by valence. Turning points occurring most frequently were: prosocial actions, quality time, conflict/disagreement, changes in household/family composition, and rituals. Findings are discussed, including implications for developing and enacting resilient and positive stepchild–stepparent relationships and future directions for researchers wanting to focus on positive family interaction.
Band-Edge Exciton in CdSe and Other II–VI and III–V Compound Semiconductor Nanocrystals − Revisited

In this Mini Review, we summarize major corrections to the dark–bright exciton theory [Efros et al. Phys. Rev B 1996, 54, 4843−4856], which should be used for quantitative description of the band edge exciton in II–VI and III–V compound quantum-dot nanocrystals (NCs). The theory previously did not take into account the long-range exchange interaction, resulting in the under-estimation of the splitting between the upper bright and lower dark or quasi-dark exciton, as reported by several experimental groups. Another type of correction originates from the closeness in energy of the ground, 1S3/2, and the first excited, 1P3/2, hole levels in a spherical NC, resulting in significant energetic overlap of the levels from the 1S3/21Se and 1P3/21Se exciton manifolds connected with the ground 1Se electron level. The thermal occupation of the optically forbidden 1P3/21Se exciton levels changes the radiative decay time of the NCs at both helium and room temperatures. We demonstrate the role of both effects in CdSe NC...
Freedom to Explore: Using the Eleventh Amendment to Liberate Researchers at State Universities from Liability for Intellectual Property Infringements

In its 1999 decision in Florida Prepaid Postsecondary Education Expense Board v. College Savings Bank, the Supreme Court held that the Eleventh Amendment protected states from suit for patent infringement, effectively making state universities immune from intellectual property suits. This Article analyzes how the Florida Prepaid decision affects researchers at state universities, and how those researchers may avoid liability under existing law. It first concludes that researchers at state universities might still be subject to injunctions against future infringement. The Article next observes that individual researchers at state universities might also face personal liability for damages, but then suggests that researchers at state universities should be entitled to assert qualified immunity when they are accused of patent or copyright infringement, and thereby potentially avoid liability. It then provides a framework for applying this qualified immunity, proposing that courts should grant researchers at state universities qualified immunity when their conduct does not violate a clearly established right of the patentee or copyright holder. Whether such a violation has occurred should be analyzed in much the same way that willful infringement is analyzed. Going beyond existing law, this article proposes legislation granting researchers at state universities absolute immunity from liability for patent and copyright infringement. Such a grant of immunity would create in state universities a space for exploring and developing new innovations that would otherwise be blocked by the presence of intellectual property protection - a particularly acute problem in some areas, where a veritable "patent thicket" would necessitate that any researcher desiring to work in those areas license a prohibitive number of patents from a variety of patentees. Thus freed from concerns over patent infringement, researchers at state universities could continue their work for the benefit of the citizens of their states and other states, in keeping with the mission of state universities.
Privacy-Preserving Boosting with Random Linear Classifiers

We propose SecureBoost, a privacy-preserving predictive modeling framework, that allows service providers (SPs) to build powerful boosting models over encrypted or randomly masked user submitted data. SecureBoost uses random linear classifiers (RLCs) as the base classifiers. A Cryptographic Service Provider (CSP) manages keys and assists the SP's processing to reduce the complexity of the protocol constructions. The SP learns only the base models (i.e., RLCs) and the CSP learns only the weights of the base models and a limited leakage function. This separated parameter holding avoids any party from abusing the final model or conducting model-based attacks. We evaluate two constructions of SecureBoost: HE+GC and SecSh+GC using combinations of primitives - homomorphic encryption, garbled circuits, and random masking. We show that SecureBoost efficiently learns high-quality boosting models from protected user-generated data with practical costs.
Correlates of Object Exploration and Recognition Memory in Mouse Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Abstract Detecting novel stimuli and events is essential for navigating dynamic environments. Tests of object and location recognition memory are ethologically valid assays of this ability that are easily modified to examine how change influences activity in different regions in the brain. In this chapter, two studies are described that examined how mouse caudal anterior cingulate cortex neurons responded during object exploration as well as to object novelty, location novelty and object removal. In contrast to conventional protocols involving single sample and test phases, mice in these two studies were extensively familiarized to objects prior to testing. Familiarization engendered correlates consistent with anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) involvement in remote recall and error detection. Other correlates were consistent with visual information processing, motor control, salience detection and attention. The data provide valuable insights into ACC function in the context of simple, self-directed behaviours.
Understanding the Crime Gap: Violence and Inequality in an American City

The United States has experienced an unprecedented decline in violent crime over the last two decades. Throughout this decline, however, violent crime continued to concentrate in socially and econo...
The use of open source GIS algorithms, big geographic data, and cluster computing techniques to compile a geospatial database that can be used to evaluate upstream bathing and sanitation behaviours on downstream health outcomes in Indonesia, 2000-2008.

Waterborne diseases are one of the leading causes of mortality in developing countries, and diarrhea alone is responsible for over 1.5 million deaths annually. Such waterborne illnesses most often affect those in impoverished rural communities who rely on rivers for their supply of drinking water. Deaths are most common among infants and the elderly. Without knowledge of which communities are upstream of a community, upstream sanitary and bathing behaviors can never be directly linked to downstream health outcomes including disease outbreaks. Although current GIS technologies can answer the upstream question for a limited number of downstream communities, no systematic way existed of labeling each downstream village with all its upstream contributing villages along river networks or within basins at the large national scale, such as in Indonesia. This limitation prohibits macro analyses of waterborne illness across developing world communities globally. This novel method approach combines parallel computing, big data, community data, and open source GIS to create a database of upstream communities for 50,000–70,0000 villages in Indonesia across four differing periods. The resultant village database provides information that can be tied to the Indonesian PODES health and behavior surveys in each village to connect upstream sanitary behaviors to downstream health outcomes. We find that the approximately 250,000 communities analyzed across the four periods in Indonesia have a combined total of 13.7 million upstream villages. The average number of upstream villages per village was almost 55, the maximum number of upstream villages for any single village was over 5300. Advances in big-data availability, particularly high-resolution elevation data, the lowering of the cost of parallel computing options, mass survey data, and open source GIS algorithms that can utilize parallel processing and big-data, open new opportunities for the study of human health at micro granularities but across entire nations. The database generated has already been used by health researchers to compute the influence of upstream behaviors on downstream diarrhea outbreaks and to monitor avoidance behaviors to upstream water behaviors across all downstream 250,000 Indonesian villages over 4 years, and further waterborne health analyses are underway.
Methanogens: pushing the boundaries of biology

Methanogens are anaerobic archaea that grow by producing methane gas. These microbes and their exotic metabolism have inspired decades of microbial physiology research that continues to push the boundary of what we know about how microbes conserve energy to grow. The study of methanogens has helped to elucidate the thermodynamic and bioenergetics basis of life, contributed our understanding of evolution and biodiversity, and has garnered an appreciation for the societal utility of studying trophic interactions between environmental microbes, as methanogens are important in microbial conversion of biogenic carbon into methane, a high-energy fuel. This review discusses the theoretical basis for energy conservation by methanogens and identifies gaps in methanogen biology that may be filled by undiscovered or yet-to-be engineered organisms.