cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sestrin2 modulates cardiac inflammatory response through maintaining redox homeostasis during ischemia and reperfusion

Ischemia heart disease is the leading cause of death world-widely and has increased prevalence and exacerbated myocardial infarction with aging. Sestrin2, a stress-inducible protein, declines with aging in the heart and the rescue of Sestrin2 in the aged mouse heart improves the resistance to ischemic insults caused by ischemia and reperfusion. Here, through a combination of transcriptomic, physiological, histological, and biochemical strategies, we found that Sestrin2 deficiency shows an aged-like phenotype in the heart with excessive oxidative stress, provoked immune response, and defected myocardium structure under physiological condition. While challenged with ischemia and reperfusion stress, the transcriptomic alterations in Sestrin2 knockout mouse heart resembled aged wild type mouse heart. It suggests that Sestrin2 is an age-related gene in the heart against ischemia reperfusion stress. Sestrin2 plays a crucial role in modulating inflammatory response through maintaining the intracellular redox homeostasis in the heart under ischemia reperfusion stress condition. Together, the results indicate that Sestrin2 is a potential target for treatment of age-related ischemic heart disease.
A framework for the recognition of horse gaits through wearable devices

Abstract The wearable devices market has been growing exponentially in the last few years and it is expected to count up to 930 million devices by the end of 2021. A common application of wearable devices is Human Activity Recognition (HAR), i.e., the ability of using the sensing capabilities of these devices to monitor and infer human activities. However, Animal Activity Recognition (AAR) has received significantly less attention, and most works on AAR are generally based on invasive specialized devices carried by or implanted on animals. Conversely, in this work we exploit the potential of portable and unobtrusive devices, namely smartwatches, for AAR and specifically for horse gaits recognition. This application finds natural use in horse riding, to improve the structure and balance of the horse work and training. We develop a framework that can be used in a fog computing system composed by a smartphone and a smartwatch for the recognition of horse gaits. The framework performs classification by means of a machine learning approach trained on ad-hoc features based on accelerometer data. The framework allows an offline and an online modes of operation. In the offline mode, the smartwatch is used to collect the accelerometer data and transfer it to the smartphone at the end of the riding session. The feature extraction and classification can be processed directly on the smartphone or offloaded to the cloud. Conversely, in the online mode, the smartwatch is responsible to collect and process the data, thus being able to provide real-time feedback to the rider. This modality also allows to reduce computation, storage, and energy burden on the smartwatch through an adaptive setting of the sampling frequency. We implement our approach on a system composed by a Fitbit Ionic smartwatch and a Samsung Galaxy S10. We use two horses to evaluate the performance, versus recently proposed AAR approaches. Results show that our framework achieves significantly higher classification accuracy. Furthermore, the online scheme enables flexible real-time feedback, at the expense of a small loss in the classification accuracy.
Is Plain Anterior-Posterior Radiograph of the Pelvis Adequate for Assessment of Radiographic Implant Migration Evaluation in Total Hip Arthroplasty?

Introduction A commonly utilized method of measuring femoral stem migration in total hip arthroplasty (THA) on plain anteroposterior (AP) pelvis radiograph with referenced image magnification has not been rigorously evaluated. This study aims to validate the reproducibility of the methods used in this technique. Methods A retrospective study of the standardized AP pelvis radiographs of patients who had undergone THA utilizing a Corail® femoral stem was performed from June 2012 through December 2017. Radiological evaluation (head diameter, stem length, and stem seating length) were undertaken at three clinical follow-up times. Each radiographic measurement of each radiograph was repeated five times. Outcomes investigated included inter- and intra-radiograph reproducibility evaluation and radiographic image magnification. The stem length error and stem subsidence were also evaluated. Results Two hundred THA patients met the inclusion/ exclusion criteria. The intra-radiograph reproducibility of the stem length and head diameter measurements have at least "good" reproducibility with repeated measurements falling within 0.5 mm for both measurements. The reliability for femoral stem seating length measurements has "questionable/poor" reproducibility. The inter-radiograph reproducibility was, however, substantially lower. High level of unreliable measurements with values less than 0.0 mm for both femoral stem length errors (55%) and femoral stem subsidence (32%) measurements. Less than 45% accuracy (femoral stem length error: 33%; femoral stem subsidence: 44%) to within 3 mm error. Conclusions This study demonstrates that the assessment of radiographic implant migration after THA made on a sequence of plain AP pelvis radiograph have poor reproducibility.Level of Evidence: III.
A case of leiomyosarcoma of the common femoral artery.

Abstract Leiomyosarcomas are rare malignant tumors of smooth muscle cell origin with those originating from blood vessels accounting for
Observational analysis of decadal and long-term hydroclimate drivers in the Mediterranean region: role of the ocean–atmosphere system and anthropogenic forcing

Using observations and reanalysis, we develop a robust statistical approach based on canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to explore the leading drivers of decadal and longer-term Mediterranean hydroclimate variability during the historical, half-year wet season. Accordingly, a series of CCA analyses are conducted with combined, multi-component large-scale drivers of Mediterranean precipitation and surface air temperatures. The results highlight the decadal-scale North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) as the leading driver of hydroclimate variations across the Mediterranean basin. Markedly, the decadal variability of Atlantic-Mediterranean sea surface temperatures (SST), whose influence on the Mediterranean climate has so far been proposed as limited to the summer months, is found to enhance the NAO-induced hydroclimate response during the winter half-year season. As for the long-term, century scale trends, anthropogenic forcing, expressed in terms of the global SST warming (GW) signal, is robustly associated with basin-wide increase in surface air temperatures. Our analyses provide more detailed information than has heretofore been presented on the sub-seasonal evolution and spatial dependence of the large-scale climate variability in the Mediterranean region, separating the effects of natural variability and anthropogenic forcing, with the latter linked to a long-term drying of the region due to GW-induced local poleward shift of the subtropical dry zone. The physical understanding of these mechanisms is essential in order to improve model simulations and prediction of the decadal and longer hydroclimatic evolution in the Mediterranean area, which can help in developing adaptation strategies to mitigate the effect of climate variability and change on the vulnerable regional population.
Consumer Risk Perception and Trusted Sources of Food Safety Information During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Risk perceptions and trusted sources of information may have influenced consumer food handling practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study used a mixed-method qualitative-quantitative approach to assess consumer risk perception and trusted sources of food safety information during the pandemic. From April to August of 2020, five waves of online surveys (N = 3,584, with a minimum of 700 per month) were distributed to a U.S. consumer panel, which included only primary food preparers and grocery shoppers. The online focus groups recruited participants (N = 43) from the first wave of survey respondents and were conducted via Webex from May to July 2020. Topics covered in both studies focused on food safety risk perceptions and trusted sources of information during the pandemic. Trusted sources of information included government agencies, healthcare professionals, scientists, and social media. Throughout the longitudinal study, survey respondents and focus group participants perceived a higher risk of getting COVID-19 from people than from food. Survey respondents believed that handwashing could protect them more from COVID-19 than from foodborne illnesses. Many focus group participants practiced handwashing to prevent them from contracting COVID-19 from food items. Both survey respondents and focus group participants trusted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and healthcare professionals for COVID-19 and food safety information. Focus group participants trusted these entities because they provide information that is “scientifically proven.” Survey data for all five months reported social media to be the least-trusted source of both COVID-19 and food safety information. Focus group participants agreed that social media has “misinformation.” The findings suggest that increased risk perception may have caused consumers to adopt good hand hygiene. However, consumers may not be connecting such practices to food safety. Food safety educators can use this time of heightened risk perception to connect COVID-19 and food safety practices. Trusted entities of information also need to be aware of their impact on consumer behavior and provide consumers with proper food safety information.
Capsaicin alters human NaV1.5 mechanosensitivity

SCN5A-encoded NaV1.5 is a voltage-gated Na+ channel expressed in cardiac myocytes and human gastrointestinal (GI) smooth muscle cells (SMCs). NaV1.5 contributes to electrical excitability in the heart and slow waves in the gut. NaV1.5 is also mechanosensitive, and mechanical force modulates several modes of NaV1.59s voltage-dependent function. NaV1.5 mutations in patients with cardiac arrhythmias and gastrointestinal diseases lead to abnormal mechano- and voltage-sensitivity. Membrane permeable amphipathic drugs that target NaV1.5 in the heart and GI tract alter NaV1.5 mechanosensitivity (MS), suggesting that amphipaths may be a viable therapeutic option for modulating NaV1.5 function. We therefore searched for membrane permeable amphipathic agents that would modulate NaV1.5 MS with minimal effect on NaV1.5 voltage-gating intact to more selectively target mechanosensitivity. We used two methods to assess NaV1.5 MS: (1) membrane suction in cell-attached macroscopic patches and (2) fluid shear stress on whole cells. We tested the effect of capsaicin on NaV1.5 MS by examining macropatch and whole-cell Na+ current parameters with and without force. The pressure- and shear-mediated peak current increase and acceleration were effectively abolished by capsaicin. Capsaicin abolished the mechanosensitive shifts in the voltage-dependence of activation (shear) and inactivation (pressure and shear). Exploring the recovery from inactivation and use-dependent entry into inactivation, we found divergent stimulus-dependent effects that could potentiate or mitigate the effect of capsaicin, suggesting that mechanical stimuli may differentially modulate NaV1.5 MS. We conclude that selective modulation of MS makes capsaicin is a novel modulator of NaV1.5 MS and a promising therapeutic candidate.
Natural recovery from posttraumatic stress in injured military service members: A commentary on Soumoff et al. (2021).

Soumoff et al. (2021) reported on a sample of 2,217 injured military service members and found that somatic symptom severity was more predictive of the development of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms than injury severity. PTSD has been described as one of the invisible wounds of war, suggesting that many military service members with PTSD may suffer in silence because some symptoms-such as psychological and somatic symptoms-are often not observable by others. In contrast, friends, family, fellow service members, and health care providers often ask military service members with visible, physical wounds what happened, prompting a discussion of their injury and the events that contributed to it. I posit that the findings reported by Soumoff et al. may be an example of the differences that can occur in the course of natural recovery in military service members suffering from visible versus invisible wounds of war and further hypothesize that the repeated conversations that often occur after physical injuries in military service members may foster natural recovery from the co-occurring invisible, psychological wounds of war.
DISTINGUISHING THE SCIENCES: FOR NURSING

Nursing is a practice discipline as are politics and morality. Further, each participates in significant systematic inquiry into the nature, meaning and execution of its activities. However, a question arises about the nature of these investigations. Are they truly scientific inquiries? Does their scope of inquiry encompass a truly universal realm? If they are not sciences, in what way can the knowledge generated be understood to be generalizable and thus useful in a v ariety of situations? If they are sciences, in what is found the ground or source of the universality and certainty of their findings? This article will explore this problem and suggest that, in fact, there are several kinds of nursing science. Following the lead of Jacques Maritain and Yves R. Simon, I will begin with an account of the distinguishing characteristics of theoretical knowledge, to which the term “science” has historically been applied, and distinguish it from practical knowledge or prudence. This discussion offers a guide for our investigation. Next I will review Maritain and Simon’s discussion of two intermediate levels of inquiry that share some characteristics of both science and practical knowledge. Finally, using the writings of several nurse theorists whose seminal ideas in this area have established a basis for nurse theorist’s discussion of these issues, I will distinguish four kinds of nursing inquiry which range from the very theoretical to the very practical. It is hoped that this discussion will lay the groundwork for a more nuanced account of the science and methods necessary to answer the varied kinds of questions that arise in nursing theory and practice. It also suggests a philosophical foundation for these accounts. Yves R. Simon spent much of his career investigating the meaning and kinds of scientific and practical inquiry and applying the results of this
Sexual transmission of beneficial microbes

Beneficial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are an understudied phenomenon with important implications for the evolution of cooperation and host reproductive behavior. Challenging the prevailing expectation that sexual transmission leads to pathogenesis, these symbionts provide new opportunities to examine how STIs might influence sexual selection and the evolution of promiscuity.
On the solution of integral equations with a generalized cauchy kernel

In this paper a certain class of singular integral equations that may arise from the mixed boundary value problems in nonhomogeneous materials is considered. The distinguishing feature of these equations is that in addition to the Cauchy singularity, the kernels contain terms that are singular only at the end points. In the form of the singular integral equations adopted, the density function is a potential or a displacement and consequently the kernel has strong singularities of the form (t-x) sup-2, x sup n-2 (t+x) sup n, (n or = 2, 0x,tb). The complex function theory is used to determine the fundamental function of the problem for the general case and a simple numerical technique is described to solve the integral equation. Two examples from the theory of elasticity are then considered to show the application of the technique.
Helium retention of ion-irradiated and annealed tungsten foils

To understand the helium retention characteristics and helium bubble distribution in tungsten, 3 He(d,p) 4 He nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been performed for two forms of tungsten: single crystal and polycrystalline, implanted up to 1x10 19 3 He/m 2 at 850 °C and annealed at 2000°C. The NRA results indicated that as-implanted single crystal and polycrystalline tungsten exhibited similar helium retention characteristics. In addition, a flash anneal at 2000 °C had no effect on the retention of helium. However, when 10 19 He/m 2 was implanted into single crystal tungsten in 1000 cycles of 10 16 He/m 2 each followed by a 2000°C flash anneal, the observed helium yield dropped by 95% compared to 70 % for polycrystalline tungsten. The microstructure of single crystal tungsten implanted with 1x10 19 He/m 2 and annealed at 2000 °C in a single step showed numerous tiny cavities at a depth of ∼1.6 μm, while no visible cavities were observed in the 1000 step annealed single crystal. However, in the case of polycrystalline tungsten, a single step annealing led to significant cavity growth at grain boundaries. The reduced He retention suggests a preference for inertial fusion energy armor of single crystal over polycrystalline tungsten.
Atresia of the vagina in infancy.

Cystic lower abdominal masses in female infants may be due to enormous distention of the upper vagina, secondary to either atresia of the vaginal canal or to an imperforate hymen. Obstruction of urinary or gastrointestinal systems may result, and may cause the only symptoms. Diagnosis can usually be made preoperatively by careful and adequate roentgenographic studies. Safe treatment of the condition requires open operation for the establishment of an outflow tract.
Solventothermal synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of two nickel complexes with novel alkoxy-substituted phthalocyanine ligands

Solventothermal reactions of nickel acetate tetrahydrate with 1,2-dicyanobenzene in methanol and ethanol yield novel complexes in which nickel atoms are coordinated by modified phthalocyanine ligands with inner rings bearing methoxy and ethoxy substituents, respectively.
Differential Regulation of IL-4Rα Expression by Antigen versus Cytokine Stimulation Characterizes Th2 Progression In Vivo

IL-4 promotes Th2 differentiation and provides immunity to helminth infections but is also associated with allergy and asthma. This suggests that precise adjustment of IL-4 responsiveness is needed to correctly balance immune responses. The IL-4Rα chain is an essential component of the IL-4 receptor and signals via STAT6. In this study, we show that infection with a helminth pathogen elicited broad upregulation of IL-4Rα on bystander CD4+ T cells in the draining lymph node, while simultaneously resulting in the loss of IL-4Rα expression on activated Th2 cells. IL-4Rα upregulation was restricted to the reactive lymph node, occurred within 4 d of infection, and was driven by an IL-4– and STAT6–dependent mechanism. Mice heterozygous for Stat6 exhibited reduced IL-4Rα upregulation and a correspondingly attenuated Th2 response. Indeed, the enhanced IL-4Rα upregulation in BALB/c mice, compared with that in C57BL6 mice, predicted their stronger Th2 response. The selective downregulation of IL-4Rα on highly activated Th cells was triggered by antigenic stimulation, was accompanied by loss of IL-7Rα, and rendered the cells unresponsive to IL-4. Together these data reveal a tightly controlled program of changing IL-4 responsiveness that characterizes the initiation, amplification, and restriction of a Th2 response in vivo.
Effects on free radical generation by ligands of the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor in cultured neural cells.

The effect of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) ligands on free radical production was investigated in primary cultures of rat brain astrocytes and neurons as well as in BV-2 microglial cell lines using the fluorescent dye dichlorofluorescein-diacetate. Free radical production was measured at 2, 30, 60 and 120 min of treatment with the PBR ligands 1-(2-chlorophenyl-N-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinolinecarboxamide (PK11195), 7-chloro-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-1-methyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one (Ro5-4864) and protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) (all at 10 nm). In astrocytes, all ligands showed a significant increase in free radical production at 2 min. The increase was short-lived with PK11195, whereas with Ro5-4864 it persisted for at least 2 h. PpIX caused an increase at 2 and 30 min, but not at 2 h. Similar results were observed in microglial cells. In neurons, PK11195 and PpIX showed an increase in free radical production only at 2 min; Ro5-4864 had no effect. The central-type benzodiazepine receptor ligand, clonazepam, was ineffective in eliciting free radical production in all cell types. As the PBR may be a component of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore, and free radical production may occur following induction of the MPT, we further investigated whether cyclosporin A (CsA), an inhibitor of the MPT, could prevent free radical formation by PBR ligands. CsA (1 µm) completely blocked free radical production following treatment with PK11195 and Ro5-4864 in all cell types. CsA was also effective in blocking free radical production in astrocytes following PpIX treatment, but it failed to do so in neurons and microglia. Our results indicate that exposure of neural cells to PBR ligands generates free radicals, and that the MPT may be involved in this process.
CdZnSe ohmic contacts for II-VI based blue-green emitters

Reports on the fabrication, current-voltage characteristics and compositional profiles for the CdZnSe graded bandgap ohmic contacts for both n-ZnSe and p-ZnSe. This basic technology can be adapted for use in laser diode structures, thus allowing continuous operation of blue-green lasers at higher temperatures than presently achieved. It is also expected that improved ohmic contacts improve the lifetime of blue-green laser devices. >
Applications of soft computing in petroleum engineering

This paper describes several applications of neural networks and fuzzy logic in petroleum engineering that have been, or are being, developed recently at New Mexico Tech. These real-world applications include a fuzzy controller for drilling operation; a neural network model to predict the cement bonding quality in oil well completion; using neural networks and fuzzy logic to rank the importance of input parameters; and using fuzzy reasoning to interpret log curves. We also briefly describe two ongoing, large-scale projects on the development of a fuzzy expert system for prospect risk assessment in oil exploration; and on combining neural networks and fuzzy logic to tackle the large-scale simulation problem of history matching, a long-standing difficult problem in reservoir modeling. Even though our experience of applying advanced computational techniques to petroleum engineering problems also includes results that are less than complete success, the soft computing methods have proved to be cost-effective in solving most of the problems we attempted.
Social Justice in Our Minds, Homes, and Society: The Nature, Causes, and Consequences of Implicit Bias

Social injustice is disruptive both personally and collectively, and the ordinariness of implicit prejudice plays a role in this process. In this report, I discuss the correspondence between implicit and explicit biases, and factors that moderate their association. In addition, I differentiate between declarative and procedural definitions of implicit bias, which have implications for their nonconscious nature. To underscore their conceptual distinction, I also present evidence that points to different origins for implicit and explicit biases. Finally, actions for confronting implicit bias are prescribed.
Modification of polynucleotides by a fragment produced by enzymatic cleavage of S-(1, 2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine.

Abstract Polyribo- and polydeoxyribonucleotides were allowed to react with 35S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC) in presence of a bovine kidney lyase yielding products which were substituted to varying degrees with an alkylating thiovinyl fragment (AF) released from DCVC. Polydeoxyribonucleotides were more extensively substituted than polyribonucleotides. Double stranded homopolymer pairs were much less effective as acceptors of (AF) than single stranded polymers. Nucleotide substitution occurred only at the polymer level. Enzymatic hydrolysis of (AF)-substituted polymers yielded dinucleotides which contained an (AF) fragment apparently covalently linked in unknown fashion. (AF)-substituted polynucleotides had reduced ability to form helical complexes with complementary polynucleotides, as revealed by hypochromicity, melting transition and renaturation.
STUDIES ON AN UNCOMPLICATED CORYZA OF THE DOMESTIC FOWL : I. THE ISOLATION OF A BACILLUS WHICH PRODUCES A NASAL DISCHARGE

By a method combining filtration and cultivation an unidentified Gram-negative bacillus was isolated from the nasal exudate of fowl experimentally infected with an uncomplicated coryza. Isolation was accomplished by cultivation on sealed blood agar plates after unsuccessful attempts to produce colonies on open plates. Injection of the organism into the palatine cleft of normal birds was regularly followed by an inflammation of the nasal mucosa and a discharge from the nares. A para-influenza bacillus which was also recovered from the nasal tract of affected fowl was innocuous. Certain cultural characters of the bacillus, bearing on its classification, are discussed.
Activating MAP KAP Kinase 2

The crystal structures of MAP KAP kinase 2 in complex with ADP and staurosporine suggest a major reorganization of the glycine-rich loop upon ligand binding. The main determinant for the catalytic activity of MAP KAP kinase 2 is phosphorylation by p38 MAP kinase.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism Is Associated With Myocardial Infarction but Not With Development of Coronary Stenosis

Background Although both genetic and nongenetic factors contribute to the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease, the identification of specific genetic lesions has lagged behind the identification of critical environmental risk factors. A reported association between myocardial infarction (MI) and the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene in European men suggests a critical role for this genomic region. However, the generality of this association remains to be determined. It also is not clear at what stage in disease progression the association with the ACE I/D polymorphism becomes important. Methods and Results We evaluated the ACE I/D polymorphism in patients who had undergone coronary angiography (402 men and 295 women) and in 203 representative control subjects. After polymerase chain reaction amplification, genotypes were determined by agarose gel sizing and by hybridization with allele-specific oligonucleotides. After patients were categorized by the...
Recent advances in reduction methods for nonlinear problems

Status and some recent developments in the application of reduction methods to nonlinear structural mechanics problems are summarized. The aspects of reduction methods discussed herein include: (1) selection of basis vectors in nonlinear static and dynamic problems, (2) application of reduction methods in nonlinear static analysis of structures subjected to prescribed edge displacements, and (3) use of reduction methods in conjunction with mixed finite element models. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of reduction methods in nonlinear problems. Also, a number of research areas which have high potential for application of reduction methods are identified.
Host genetics in follicular lymphoma

The role of inherited (host) genetic susceptibility in the pathogenesis of follicular lymphoma (FL) is reviewed. First degree relatives of FL patients are at an increased risk of FL, suggesting a role for inherited factors. While there have been no linkage studies in FL families, candidate gene and genome-wide association studies have identified several risk loci which have been confirmed in independent studies. These include regions on 6p21.32–33 and TNF family members. Host genetics has also been hypothesized to influence treatment response, disease progression and overall survival. Early leads in FL prognosis include pathways that regulate immune function, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, chemotaxis, and one-carbon metabolism, although few of these associations have been independently confirmed. While the use of host genetics to identify individuals at high risk of FL or to predict FL treatment response and prognosis appears to be very promising, it is not yet ready for the clinic.
Taking the U.S. Patent Office Criteria Seriously: A Quantitative Three-Criterion Creativity Definition and Its Implications

Although creativity has recently attracted considerable theoretical and empirical research, researchers have yet to reach a consensus on how best to define the phenomenon. To help establish a consensus, a definition is proposed that is based on the three criteria used by the United States Patent Office to evaluate applications for patent protection. The modified version uses the criteria of novelty, utility, and surprise. Moreover, creativity assessments based on these three criteria are quantitative and multiplicative rather than qualitative or additive. This three-criterion definition then leads to four implications regarding (a) the limitations to domain-specific expertise, (b) the varieties of comparable creativities, (c) the contrast between subjective and objective evaluations, and (d) the place of blind variation and selective retention in the creative process. These implications prove that adding the third criterion has critical consequences for understanding the phenomenon. Creativity is not only...
Intracranial abscesses secondary to nasal, sinus, and orbital infections in adults and children

Nineteen cases of intracranial abscesses secondary to infection of the midface are reported. The most common underlying cause was bacterial sinusitis. Other etiologic factors included mucormycosis following steroid therapy, Wegener's granulomatosis, nasal dermoid cyst and sinus tract, tooth abscesses, aspergillosis following chemotherapy for leukemia, squamous cell carcinoma of the frontal sinus, infected methylmethacrylate plate for a prior skull fracture, and a case of gauze packing left in the sinus following surgery. Anaerobic organisms were the predominant cause of the abscesses. The most dangerous intracranial complication was subdural abscess, which occurred in seven patients in this series. Three of them died. Four cases of frontal and parietal lobe abscesses were treated with systemic antibiotics only. This approach has not been well emphasized in our literature. Steroid therapy should not be used for the treatment of sinus and orbital infections. It can result in dreadful complications. The overall mortality rate in this series was 21% (4 of 19), despite aggressive treatment and close cooperation between the neurosurgeon, otolaryngologist, and other specialists. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment are paramount.
An 11-color flow cytometric assay for identifying, phenotyping, and assessing endocytic ability of peripheral blood dendritic cell subsets in a single platform.

Abstract Human peripheral blood dendritic cells (PBDC) are a rare population comprised of several distinctive subsets. Analysis of these cells has been hindered by their low frequency. In this study, we report a novel direct ex vivo 11-color flow cytometric assay that combines subset identification with analysis of activation status and endocytic ability of three major PBDC subsets (CD1c+CD11c+ “MDC1,” CD141+CD11c+ “MDC2,” and CD303+CD11c− “PDC”) within a single platform. This method eliminates the need for DC enrichment, isolation, or prolonged culture. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors are incubated with FITC-dextran directly ex vivo, prior to cell surface staining with various markers. As expected, PBDC identified by this assay express low levels of CD40 and CD86 directly ex vivo, and significantly upregulate expression of these molecules upon stimulation with toll-like receptor ligands LPS and CpG oligonucleotides. In addition, PDC internalize FITC-labeled dextran poorly in comparison to MDC1 and MDC2 subsets. Specificity of FITC-dextran endocytosis is further verified by imaging flow cytometry. Furthermore, the combination of surface markers used in this assay reveals a previously unreported CD4+CD11c+CD303−CD1c−CD141− cell population. Taken together, this assay is a rapid and cost-effective method that avoids manipulation of PBDC while providing direct ex vivo high-dimensional flow cytometry data for PBDC studies.
Epigenetics: Principles and Practice

Epigenetics is defined as heritable changes in gene expression that are, unlike mutations, not attributable to alterations in the sequence of DNA. The predominant epigenetic mechanisms are DNA methylation, modifications to chromatin, loss of imprinting and non-coding RNA. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression appears to have long-term effects and wide-ranging effects on health. Diet and environmental exposures may potentially alter the level and scope of epigenetic regulation, thus interesting developments in the study of epigenetics might explain correlations that researchers have found between lifestyle and risk of disease. Aberrant epigenetic patterns have been linked to a number of digestive diseases including Barrett's esophagus, cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and numerous gastrointestinal malignancies. In fact, many exciting discoveries about epigenetics in general have been made by studying diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and hepatobiliary tree. Epigenetic modifications of DNA in cancer and precancerous lesions offer hope and the promise of novel biomarkers for early cancer detection, prediction, prognosis, and response to treatment. Furthermore, reversal of epigenetic changes represents a potential target of novel therapeutic strategies and medication design. In the future, it is anticipated that innovative diagnostic tests, treatment regimens, and even lifestyle modifications will be based on epigenetic mechanisms and be incorporated into the practice of medicine.
Capacity and flexibility planning of an economical manufacturing system

This paper presents a simple dynamic model for determining the capacity and the flexibility of a manufacturing system over a finite planning horizon. We consider a problem that arises from the development phase of an investment plan for an economical manufacturing system. The objective is to minimize the total cost associated with the capacity expansion, flexibility expansion and operation. This problem is formulated as an integer program. A Lagrangian heuristic is developed for determining a near optimal solution to this integer program. Finally, we show how to incorporate aggregate production planning into the model.
Teaching and learning civility

Incivility can obstruct constructive public discourse and problem solving. Restoring civility is a task for higher education, but it may require tradeoffs with other democratic values.
Planning and Decision Making Processes

Rational decision making is concerned with the selection of a specific alternative which, within the best available knowledge, is most preferable in terms of some judgment. In this paper we shall model a decision making process which represents how national decision making can be arrived at. The need for planning within the decision making process is then discussed. The remainder of the paper focuses on the planning process and an integrated approach to it is outlined. The approach emphasizes the use of models in facilitating the decision making process. Some issues on organizational planning are also discussed.
Two-beam optical trap in a waveguide

We demonstrate a novel dual-beam particle trap relying on waveguide loss instead of beam divergence. The implementation of this trap on an optofluidic chip opens numerous possibilities for on-chip particle control and manipulation.
Site-Hopping Dynamics of Benzene Adsorbed on Ca-LSX Zeolite Studied by Solid-State Exchange 13C NMR

First-time applications of solid-state exchange 13C NMR techniques to the study of the reorientation dynamics of hydrocarbon molecules adsorbed on zeolites have enabled the geometry and time scales of molecular hopping processes between adjacent adsorption sites to be characterized directly and model free. Two-dimensional exchange 13C NMR on static samples establishes the geometry of the site-hopping dynamics, while one-dimensional magic-angle spinning (MAS) exchange-induced-sidebands (EIS) 13C NMR permits motional correlation times on the order of milliseconds to seconds to be extracted directly from the experimental data. Variable-temperature experiments performed on Ca-LSX zeolite samples with average bulk loadings of 0.5, 1, and 2 benzene molecules per supercage yield apparent Arrhenius activation energies of about 66 ± 6 kJ mol-1 for the discrete, localized reorientation dynamics of benzene molecules among different Ca2+ cation adsorption sites (∼0.5 nm apart). Arrhenius preexponential factors were e...
What's in a change in an industrial bond rating?

Abstract Bond quality rating changes (BQRC) for industrial bonds are analyzed using both univariate statistical methods and discriminant analysis to find significant variables and their relationship with the changes. The single most important explanatory variable is found to be the rate of return on assets (ROA), followed by the trend in the return on assets (ROATREND). The univariate analysis found six of the seven proposed explanatory variables significant beyond the 0.01 level. The two-group discriminant analysis model achieved a correct classification rate of over 77%. The paper shows how the results of the two-group discriminant analysis can be used for a three-way prediction (upgrade, downgrade, or no change of bond ratings). The results of this study show that models based on financial statement data can predict rating changes with good accuracy and therefore may be a useful tool for rating agencies, at least as an initial screening device.
Determining optimal state of charge for a military vehicle microgrid

Military hybrid vehicles possess all the attributes of a microgrid – power generation, consumption, energy storage and the ability to operate in both grid connected and island mode. Therefore, a holistic view of energy use can be realised by considering a military hybrid vehicle as a microgrid and utilising energy optimisation methods from stationary microgrids, namely battery state of charge (SOC) optimisation. This paper describes a methodology to determine the optimal SOC for a given drive cycle to minimise fuel consumption. A two step approach was utilised where the first step used the drive cycle’s speed profile to determine SOC basis functions. The second step used a numerical optimisation approach to determine the function weights that minimised fuel consumption using a dynamic model of the hybrid vehicle. A simulation example is presented using the US Army Urban Assault drive cycle. The approach reduced fuel consumption by 5.7% compared to using a fixed SOC level.
Diffusion in the transient dynamic response regime

Abstract An ensemble Monte Carlo approach is used to calculate the diffusion of a pulse of carriers in GaAs. On short-time scales, comparable to the relaxation times, the non-stationary diffusion process is non-markovian in space and appears not to obey a stationary-state definition of the Einstein relation.
Non-invasive sex identification of juvenile gopher and desert tortoises (genus Gopherus)

Using previously preserved specimens, we attempted to develop multivariate discriminating functions that could accurately identify the sex of hatchling Gopherus agassizii and juvenile G. polyphemus based on external morphometrics. A simple and successful function was determined for G. polyphemus, but not for G. agassizii. The failure in the latter case may have becn due to the use of individuals from morphologically distinct populations.
Tissue engineered muscle implantation for tongue reconstruction: A preliminary report

Objectives/Hypothesis: Because current tongue reconstructive methods introduce adynamic, variably sensate tissue into the mouth, the critical functions of the tongue in articulation and deglutition may be compromised. The objective of this work was to introduce a combination of myoblasts and scaffolding material into rat hemiglossectomy defects and to examine the extent of neomuscle formation in the reconstructed area, under the hypothesis that the presence of myoblasts leads to formation of new muscle. Study Design: Randomized, prospective animal study. Methods: Myoblasts were harvested from neonatal Lewis rats, and a growth factor enriched collagen gel was prepared. Syngeneic adult animals received either hemiglossectomy alone or reconstruction with one of four experimental reconstructive preparations: collagen gel alone, collagen gel with suspended myoblasts, the gel-cell combination in undifferentiated muscle construct form by way of tissue culture for 7 days in a preformed mold, or differentiated constructs, cultured in myoblast fusion medium. After 6 or 16 weeks, animal weight gain was recorded, animals were killed, and the tongues harvested. The tissue was examined histologically, and quality of the muscular regenerate was rated on a scale according to predefined criteria. Results: Animals in all groups gained weight appropriately. In groups receiving hemiglossectomy alone or acellular (gel only) reconstruction, there was significant scarring and lack of neomuscle formation. In groups receiving myoblast transplantation, either by way of gel suspension or in the form of undifferentiated or differentiated constructs, muscle quality was superior to controls. Conclusions: Myoblast transplantation into hemiglossectomy defects appears to lead to new muscle formation and does not inhibit normal weight gain in animals after tongue implantation.
Review of alternatives to chromate for corrosion protection of aluminum aerospace alloys

The advent of chromate replacements for aluminum alloys began in the late 1970s. As regulations became increasingly stricter, commercial, academic and government facilities have relied on a collaborative effort to come up with novel innovations for the corrosion protection of aerospace aluminum alloys. More elaborate coatings formulations have failed to produce the level of protection that chromates provide, therefore researchers have moved to more advanced technologies for improved protection. Some of the newer alternatives include low temperature cationic plasma deposition, sol-gel and ceramer coatings, various inorganic and organic inhibitors and conducting polymers including some based on double helical structures. Although ultimate protection has not been achieved by one single technique, it is believed that a combination of the most promising alternatives will provide the desired protection.
From miscellany to homogeneity in concert programming

Abstract One of the biggest problems in the study of classical music is the prejudice with which those brought up in the tradition view the mores of musical culture prior to around 1800. We have expectations about what we term ‘serious’ music that easily turns us against the manner by which music was presented and appreciated two hundred or more years ago. If we are to understand better what musical culture was all about back then, we have to begin questioning our own presuppositions and looking with a fresh eye at what people did in the pre-modern epoch. I would like to suggest some ways by which we might try that here today in regard to concert programs. In the process I will offer a pair of concepts by which to conceive of the main principles by which programs were formed then and now: Miscellany versus Homogeneity. The change from the one to the other around 1850 constituted a massive, fundamental change in the whole nature of musical experience.
Drain noise in MOSFETs at zero drain bias as a function of temperature

Abstract The noise in MOSFETs at zero drain bias is found to be somewhat larger than the thermal noise of the output conductance gdo at that bias. The effect is most pronounced at 300°K and has practically disappeared at 77°K. The effect is attributed to the large transverse field at the surface of the channel; the temperature dependence of the effect is as yet unexplained.
The oldest ape

This paper recounts the history and significance of Morotopithecus bishopi, an early Miocene East African ape. Morotopithecus differs in intriguing ways from its contemporary Proconsul. While craniodental differences are slight, the known elements of its postcranium suggest that Morotopithecus was capable of modern ape–like positional behaviors, including vertical postures, deliberate climbing, and arm hanging. In contrast, Proconsul and other early and middle Miocene hominoids have been reconstructed as above–branch quadrupeds. Paleoanthropologists are currently divided over whether and which of the anatomical features associated with upright posture and suspension in the modern apes are due to inheritance or independent evolution. This debate has important implications for interpreting the phylogenetic positions of both Morotopithecus and Proconsul, as well as for reconstructing the pattern and timing of the emergence of modern ape adaptations.
Incidence of Pulmonary Edema after Tracheotomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

OBJECTIVE: The phenomenon of postobstructive pulmonary edema (POPE) has been associated with the relief of upper airway obstruction, which itself is fundamental to the pathophysiology of obstructiv...
Racial/ethnic differences in trends in heroin use and heroin-related risk behaviors among nonmedical prescription opioid users

Abstract Background This study examines changing patterns of past-year heroin use and heroin-related risk behaviors among individuals with nonmedical use of prescription opioids (NMUPO) by racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Methods We used data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2002 to 2005 and 2008 to 2011, resulting in a total sample of N = 448,597. Results Past-year heroin use increased among individuals with NMUPO and increases varied by frequency of past year NMUPO and race/ethnicity. Those with NMUPO in the 2008–2011 period had almost twice the odds of heroin use as those with NMUPO in the 2002–2005 period (OR = 1.89, 95%CI: 1.50, 2.39), with higher increases in non-Hispanic (NH) Whites and Hispanics. In 2008–2011, the risk of past year heroin use, ever injecting heroin, past-year heroin abuse or dependence, and the perception of availability of heroin increased as the frequency of NMUPO increased across respondents of all race/ethnicities. Conclusion Individuals with NMUPO, particularly non-Hispanic Whites, are at high risk of heroin use and heroin-related risk behaviors. These results suggest that frequent nonmedical users of prescription opioids, regardless of race/ethnicity, should be the focus of novel public health efforts to prevent and mitigate the harms of heroin use.