cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glycemic Control, Mealtime Glucose Excursions, and Diabetic Complications in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by 2 pathogenic defects, impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance. The resultant hyperglycemia causes microvascular and macrovascular complications that increase morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus. Optimum glycemic control in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus prevents the development of microvascular disease and, to a lesser extent, macrovascular disease. Prandial hyperglycemia may be an independent risk factor for the development of diabetic complications. This article reviews the pathophysiologic mechanisms of glucose metabolism and describes the results of epidemiological and interventional studies that have demonstrated the association of acute and chronic hyperglycemia with the development of diabetic complications. The American Diabetes Association has defined diagnostic and treatment goals for diabetes mellitus, striving to achieve near-normal glycemic control to delay or prevent the development of diabetic complications. A number of oral antidiabetic agents and insulins are currently available for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the United States. These agents target fasting and postmeal plasma glucose levels to improve glycemic control. Alone or in combination, these agents have enhanced the clinical approaches to treating diabetes mellitus.
Cell rearrangement during gastrulation of Xenopus: direct observation of cultured explants

We have analyzed cell behavior in the organizer region of the Xenopus laevis gastrula by making high resolution time-lapse recordings of cultured explants. The dorsal marginal zone, comprising among other tissues prospective notochord and somitic mesoderm, was cut from early gastrulae and cultured in a way that permits high resolution microscopy of the deep mesodermal cells, whose organized intercalation produces the dramatic movements of convergent extension. At first, the explants extend without much convergence. This initial expansion results from rapid radial intercalation, or exchange of cells between layers. During the second half of gastrulation, the explants begin to converge strongly toward the midline while continuing to extend vigorously. This second phase of extension is driven by mediolateral cell intercalation, the rearrangement of cells within each layer to lengthen and narrow the array. Toward the end of gastrulation, fissures separate the central notochord from the somitic mesoderm on each side, and cells in both tissues elongate mediolaterally as they intercalate. A detailed analysis of the spatial and temporal pattern of these behaviors shows that both radial and mediolateral intercalation begin first in anterior tissue, demonstrating that the anterior-posterior timing gradient so evident in the mesoderm of the neurula is already forming in the gastrula. Finally, time-lapse recordings of intact embryos reveal that radial intercalation takes places primarily before involution, while mediolateral intercalation begins as the mesoderm goes around the lip. We discuss the significance of these findings to our understanding of both the mechanics of gastrulation and the patterning of the dorsal axis.
Falsetto voice and observational logic: Motivated meanings

Examples of falsetto and higher pitched modal voice are presented in which the meanings are linked iconically and/or indexically to the signs, and therefore nonarbitrarily. Nine such meaning types are identified and discussed as inferences about falsetto derivable from observations that are minimally informed by cultural traditions. Observational knowledge and the logic by which it is utilized are seen as central concepts mediating universals and relativist approaches to the social meanings of voice qualities, including falsetto, and it is proposed that most falsetto use can be placed within the nine functional meaning categories identified. (Voice quality, falsetto, iconicity, indexicality, observational logic, universals, relativity)*
Fourth-generation fluoroquinolone-resistant bacterial keratitis after refractive surgery

We report the first 2 cases of bacterial keratitis resistant to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). The first patient had Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis after PRK despite treatment with moxifloxacin. The second patient was on gatifloxacin post-LASIK when she had methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) keratitis diagnosed. In both cases, culture susceptibilities showed isolates resistant to moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin, and treatment with topical aminoglycosides and surgical intervention was necessary to effect a cure. These cases show the potential limitations in the coverage of these antibiotics.
The mechanical function of linked muscles in the guinea fowl hind limb

SUMMARY Although mechanical linkages between the proximal and distal limb are present in a range of species, their functional significance is unknown. We have investigated the mechanical function of the flexor cruris lateralis pars pelvica (FCLP), flexor cruris lateralis pars accessoria (FCLA) and gastrocnemius intermedia (GI), a system of linked muscles spanning proximal and distal limb segments in the guinea fowl ( Numida meleagris ) hind limb. The FCLP, which is in the anatomical position of a hamstring muscle, is the primary component of the linkage. It is connected to the distal femur via the FCLA, the tarsometatarsus via the tendon of insertion of the GI and the common Achilles tendon, and the tibiotarsus via a distal tendon of insertion. The FCLP may, therefore, potentially exert moments at the hip, knee and ankle joints depending on the joint angles and the relative states of activation in the three muscles. Evidence presented here suggests that the GI and FCLA act as actively controlled links that alter distal action of the FCLP. The FCLP and GI are coactive in the late swing and early stance phases of the stride, forming a triarticular complex, and likely act together to resist and control ankle flexion immediately after foot-down in addition to providing hip extension and knee flexion moments. The FCLP and FCLA are coactive from mid-through to late stance, acting together as a uniarticular hip extensor. Available evidence suggests that this role of the FCLP and FCLA is of increased importance in inclined running and accelerations. This linkage between a proximal muscle and alternate distal connections allows for functional flexibility, both in terms of the site at which the muscle exerts force and the nature of the muscle9s mechanical function. The interactions generated between the proximal and distal limb by linkages of this type suggest that less emphasis should be placed on the distinct functional roles of specific anatomical classes of muscle within proximal and distal limb segments.
Perplexing lesions of the sinonasal cavity and skull base: IgG4-related and similar inflammatory diseases.

ObjectiveIgG4-related disease (IgG4RD) causing sinonasal and skull base pathology is uncommonly described. We present a series of suspected IgG4RD patients, with a pertinent review of the literatur...
Control of nonlinear dynamical systems using neural networks: controllability and stabilization

An attempt is made to indicate how practically viable controllers can be designed using neural networks, based on results in nonlinear control theory. The problem of stabilization of a dynamical system around an equilibrium point when the state of the system is accessible is considered. Simulation results are included to complement the theoretical discussions. >
Predictive models for regional hepatic function based on 99mTc-IDA SPECT and local radiation dose for physiologic adaptive radiation therapy

Purpose High-dose radiation therapy (RT) for intrahepatic cancer is limited by the development of liver injury. This study investigated whether regional hepatic function assessed before and during the course of RT using 99mTc-labeled iminodiacetic acid (IDA) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) could predict regional liver function reserve after RT. Methods and Materials Fourteen patients treated with RT for intrahepatic cancers underwent dynamic 99mTc-IDA SPECT scans before RT, during, and 1 month after completion of RT. Indocyanine green (ICG) tests, a measure of overall liver function, were performed within 1 day of each scan. Three-dimensional volumetric hepatic extraction fraction (HEF) images of the liver were estimated by deconvolution analysis. After coregistration of the CT/SPECT and the treatment planning CT, HEF dose–response functions during and after RT were generated. The volumetric mean of the HEFs in the whole liver was correlated with ICG clearance time. Three models, dose, priori, and adaptive models, were developed using multivariate linear regression to assess whether the regional HEFs measured before and during RT helped predict regional hepatic function after RT. Results The mean of the volumetric liver HEFs was significantly correlated with ICG clearance half-life time ( r =−0.80, P R =0.71, P R =0.83, P Conclusions 99mTc-IDA SPECT obtained during RT could be used to assess regional hepatic function and helped predict post-RT regional liver function reserve. This could support individualized adaptive radiation treatment strategies to maximize tumor control and minimize the risk of liver damage.
Using genetic algorithm trained perceptrons with adaptive structure for the detection of premature ventricular contraction

Neural networks, typically multilayer perceptrons, have been widely used for the detection of heart arrhythmia based on electrocardiogram recordings. However, most state-of-the-art neural networks have a static preset structure, which tends to be over-massive and contributes to the problem of overfitting. In this study, we use genetic algorithm to adaptively decide the optimal model structure of a multilayer perceptron. The number of hidden layers and the number of nodes in each layer are dynamically obtained together with the synaptic connecting weights. Searching and cleanup stages are used in training to decide the optimal number of neurons in each layer based on crossover and mutation operators as well as cloning. Cooperative populations are chosen during evaluation. It works layer-by-layer until no more layer is required. The algorithm is applied to the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database to distinguish premature ventricular beats from normal beats. The experiment is conducted on all available records with at least 50 premature ventricular beats: records 106, 119, 200, 201, 203, 208, 210, 213, 215, 217, 219. The training starts from 500 initial neurons. As a result of adaptive structure searching, 10 out of 11 records needs only one layer except record 106 which needs 2 layers. The number of nodes on each layer is at most 3. The average recognition rate of all records is 96.96%. Results show that top performances can be obtained by multilayer perceptrons with simpler model structure than commonly reported in literature.
The budding yeast endocytic pathway

Recent live-cell imaging studies, coupled with powerful genetic, biochemical and pharmacological tests of function, have expanded our understanding of the molecular events that underlie clathrin/actin mediated-endocytosis in budding yeast. Many features of this pathway are evolutionarily conserved (Engqvist-Goldstein and Drubin, 2003; Kaksonen et al, 2006). Therefore, insights into the intricate molecular choreography of endocytic events in budding yeast will provide a basis for elucidating such mechanisms in more complex organisms. This poster depicts our current understanding of the dynamics of endocytosis in budding yeast.
Anatomical Profiling of Nuclear Receptor Expression Reveals a Hierarchical Transcriptional Network

In multicellular organisms, the ability to regulate reproduction, development, and nutrient utilization coincided with the evolution of nuclear receptors (NRs), transcription factors that utilize lipophilic ligands to mediate their function. Studying the expression profile of NRs offers a simple, powerful way to obtain highly relational information about their physiologic functions as individual proteins and as a superfamily. We surveyed the expression of all 49 mouse NR mRNAs in 39 tissues, representing diverse anatomical systems. The resulting data set uncovers several NR clades whose patterns of expression indicate their ability to coordinate the transcriptional programs necessary to affect distinct physiologic pathways. Remarkably, this regulatory network divides along the following two physiologic paradigms: (1) reproduction, development, and growth and (2) nutrient uptake, metabolism, and excretion. These data reveal a hierarchical transcriptional circuitry that extends beyond individual tissues to form a meganetwork governing physiology on an organismal scale.
Strategies of Dismissal: Ways and Means of Avoiding Personal Abuse

This paper describes the mechanisms by which individuals "dismiss" or render ineffective the symbolic attacks to which they are subjected. Among the strategies useful to this protection of the self are those which focus on the situation of the attack, the nature of the self, and the nature of the attacker. Characteristic of many of these individual approaches to defense is an underlying concept of the "real self, " a symbolic identity, the manifestation of which the individual can influence, if not control. The implications of this discussion of "dismissal strategies" are threefold: (1) structures of dismissal are differentiated by use and consequence with reference to the characteristic features of social organization; (2) contemporary social problems and the "legitimation crisis" of social welfare institutions can be seen as one expression of dismissal strategies; and (3) the importance of strategies of dismissals to ongoing social life suggests that social order is made possible by selective disengagem...
Understanding Symbolic Boundaries and Improving Quantitative Analysis of Social Exclusion by Improving the Operationalization of Boundary Work

In survey research, how can we measure actors' judgments concerning who is a member of a particular social group and who is not? How can we measure changes in this process over time? Within the sociology of culture, the operationalization of boundary work, or decisions of group membership, has been relatively overlooked. Similarly, measurement of changes in boundaries has been relatively overlooked as well. An important first step is to better match the operationalization of boundary work with theory. To do so, I argue that survey items concerning decisions of social exclusion measured in the Likert scale can be used. In addition to allowing scholars to compare those who exclude with those who include (often measured as Strongly Agree/Agree vs. Disagree/Strongly Disagree), the Likert scale offers a measurement of boundary strength: how strongly respondents are committed to their exclusionary judgments (Agree vs. Strongly Agree, Disagree vs. Strongly Disagree). A novel element of boundary change can then be measured as variation over time in commitment to exclusionary judgment in time series data. A boundary that has increased in strength would be one for which respondents increase in their emotional commitment to their exclusionary judgment over time.
Reward processing deficits and impulsivity in high-risk offspring of alcoholics: A study of event-related potentials during a monetary gambling task

Background Individuals at high risk to develop alcoholism often manifest neurocognitive deficits as well as increased impulsivity. The goal of the present study is to elucidate reward processing deficits, externalizing disorders, and impulsivity as elicited by electrophysiological, clinical and behavioral measures in subjects at high risk for alcoholism from families densely affected by alcoholism in the context of brain maturation across age groups and gender.
Simulation-Reality: A Feedback Loop

Simulation can be regarded as an extension of the experimental method to the macro-social sphere. In repeated or varied ‘experiments’, the frequently used operationalized concepts acquire an ‘aura of reality’. Unlike physical reality, social reality often tends to become what it is thought to be. In some contexts, this feedback from conceptualization to actuality may defeat the original aim of the simulation.
I Will If You Will: Leveraged Enhancements and Distributive Justice

The maintenance of economic equality can easily seem to depend on participants caring more for impartial values such as distributive justice than they are morally required to do. A liberal morality in which partial concerns for the interests of oneself or one's loved ones are given some scope might seem to permit people to refrain from doing what is impartially best unless they are compensated, even though compensation would produce inequality. This tension between liberal morality and egalitarianism is often exaggerated by a failure to consider the limits of permissible partiality even in a liberal, or partiality-friendly, morality. The option of partiality has limits; it cannot be exercised no matter what. I argue that partial concerns will often be overruled morally if some burdensome work would be good enough from an impartial standpoint. This idea of leveraged enhancement - intentionally enhancing the agent-neutral value of work that would otherwise be optional - has important normative consequences both for personal morality and for the design of social institutions with an eye to distributive justice.
Large Eddy Simulation of Emulsified Canola Oil Sprays in Swirl-Promoted Combustion Chamber

A study has been undertaken to understand the effects of swirl-promoted turbulent flow on the spatial distribution of emulsified canola oil droplets. To fully understand the effects of swirling flow on fuel droplets, the discrete phase model (DPM) has been adopted to simulate straight vegetable oils (SVO) blend droplets. The stochastic break-up model has been used to simulate the aggregated dynamic behavior of fuel droplets in the combustion chamber. A robust and stable numerical algorithm has been selected and validated using experimental data in terms of mean flow velocity profiles and fuel droplet spray distribution using known fuel characteristics. The interaction between the swirling air flow and fuel droplets have been simulated using LES by considering two swirl numbers. The effects of swirl number on droplet spatial distributions in the combustion chamber have been considered and evaluated correspondingly. Specifically, the effects of air flow structure on fuel droplet distributions have been evaluated via numerical simulation. Results reveal that fuel droplet distribution is affected by the vortices generated by the swirler. Moreover, the results also indicate that swirl number (SN) has a distinct effect on the distribution of droplets and the evolution of vortices in the combustion chamber.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
One-Step Synthesis of Amine-Functionalized Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as Efficient Antibacterial and Anticancer Materials

In this study, amine-functionalized hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles with an average diameter of ∼100 nm and shell thickness of ∼20 nm were prepared by an one-step process. This new nanoparticulate system exhibited excellent killing efficiency against mycobacterial (M. smegmatis strain mc2 651) and cancer cells (A549).
Rapid Dissection of Insects to Determine Ovarial Development

The beginning of oviposition (Ritcher 1939), the time of ovarial development at different geographical locations (Weaver and King 1954), the rate of egg development during the preoviposition period (Cram 1958), and the determination of whether females are in reproductive diapause (Beards and Strong 1966) have all been determined by dissection of insect ovaries. Moreover, it is often possible to determine whether the female of some insects has mated by removing the bursa to search for the spermatophore (Johnson and Hays 1969). Also, the ovaries reflect the effects of chemosterilants (Wilson and Hays 1969), gonadotropic hormones (Sahota 1969), and irradiation (Strong et al. 1970).
Manuscript-Makers in Mid-Thirteenth Century Paris

Mediaeval tax and rent-lists often provide important and novel information about the arts. The taille or royal levy of 1292 in Paris,1 for instance, contains dozens of names and addresses of artists; on this list, among the manuscript illuminators clustered on the Rue Erembourg-de-Brie, appears the name of Master Honor6, now unquestionably the most famous Gothic painter before Jean Pucelle. Similar information is contained in two hitherto unnoticed rent-lists or censiers for the burg of Sainte-Genevieve in Paris, covering the years 1239-1243 (Paris, Bibl. Ste.-Genevieve, MS 351) and 1247-1259 (Paris, Bibl. Ste.-Genevieve, MS 579).2 The following transcription includes the first and last mention of each craftsman, the rents paid for a single term, and certain other pertinent data. Bookseller: Nicholaus venditor librorum iiii s. pro domo que fuit Hamelini ollearii.
Concordance trees, concordance factors, and the exploration of reticulate genealogy

Reticulate evolution, whether due to lateral gene transfer, introgression, incomplete lineage sorting, or hybrid speciation, is a ubiquitous phenomenon, yet systematists have few tools for analyzing and summarizing the resulting genealogical discordance. Here I argue that a primary concordance tree, a tree built from clades that are true of a plurality of the genome, provides a useful summary of the dominant phylogenetic history for a group of organisms. Residual historical signals can also be extracted in the form of secondary, tertiary, etc. concordance trees, which are built from clades that are present in the genome but contradict clades on the primary concordance tree. Clades on concordance trees can be annotated with their concordance factor (CF), the proportion of the genome for which the clade is true. Concordance trees can potentially be estimated either from population histories or from multilocus molecular datasets. In the latter case one can use the recently developed Bayesian concordance analysis to obtain point estimates and credibility intervals on CF's. I argue that the concepts of concordance trees and concordance factors inform the debate on how to integrate information from multiple independent datasets and help clarify the nature of the boundary between reticulate and divergent genealogy.
174 P53-DEPENDENT REGULATION OF APOPTOSIS-INDUCING FACTOR IN NEONATAL HYPOXIA-ISCHEMIA.

Background Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury is mediated by both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways. Prior studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that p53 increases 6 to 12 hours after neonatal HI and that deficiency of p53 decreases neonatal HI by 50%, suggesting that p53 is involved in neuronal death following neonatal HI. Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is an important mediator of caspase-independent apoptosis, and recent evidence from other investigators has shown that AIF may be regulated by p53. However, the mechanistic relationship between p53 and AIF in neonatal HI remains unclear. Purpose To determine whether AIF immunoreactivity is influenced by neonatal HI and if deficiency of p53 affects this process. Methods Postnatal day 7 mice underwent left carotid ligation followed by a 1-hour exposure to 8% oxygen and then were sacrificed 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours later. These samples were processed for immunohistochemistry and for Western blotting using antibodies against p53 and AIF. Results Robust increases in p53 and AIF immunoreactivity were seen 6 to 12 hours after neonatal HI in the CA-1 hippocampal region. This was noted in the same distribution as that observed for nuclear pyknosis. Mice deficient in p53 demonstrated both smaller infarct size and decreased AIF immunoreactivity. Conclusions These studies demonstrate that p53 and AIF are increased after neonatal HI and that this increase in AIF may be p53 dependent.
Regional Anesthesia in Patients With Preexisting Neurologic Disease.

What’s New Since publication of initial recommendations in 2008, there is limited new information regarding the performance of regional anesthesia in patients with preexisting neurologic diseases. However, the strength of evidence has increased since 2008 regarding (1) the concern that diabetic nerves are more sensitive to local anesthetics and perhaps more susceptible to injury and (2) the concern that performing neuraxial anesthesia and analgesia in patients with preexisting spinal canal pathology may increase the risk of new or worsening neurologic symptoms. This increased evidence reinforces our initial recommendations. In addition, since the initial recommendations in 2008, the concept of postsurgical inflammatory neuropathy has been described and is potentially a contributor to postoperative neurologic dysfunction.
Velopharyngeal videofluoroscopy: Providing useful clinical information in the era of reduced dose radiation and safety.

Abstract Background The state of the art for correcting velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is a surgical procedure which is customized according to findings on imaging procedures: multiplanar videofluoroscopy (MPVF) and flexible videonasopharyngoscopy (FVNP). Recently, the use of MPVF has been challenged because of the potential risk of using ionizing radiation, especially in children. Objective To study whether using a protocol for performing MPVF can effectively decrease radiation dose in patients with VPI while providing useful information for planning surgical correction of VPI in combination with FVNP. The methodology used for performing the imaging procedures is described as well as the effectiveness of the surgical procedure. Material and methods Eighty - nine patients (Age range = 3–17 years; median = 5.5 years) with VPI resulting from multiple etiologies were studied. All patients underwent MPVF and FVNP for planning surgical correction of VPI. Radiation dosage data in each case was recorded. Forty of the 89 patients also completed a postoperative evaluation. Eleven out of the remaining 49 patients have not completed a postoperative evaluation and 38 patients are still pending surgical correction. Results Radiation dosage ranged from 1.00 to 8.75 miliSieverts (mSv); Mean = 2.88 mSv; SD = 1.575 mSv. Preoperative nasometry demonstrated mean nasalance ranging from 41%–95%; Mean = 72.30; SD = 4.54. Postoperatively mean nasalance was within normal limits in 36 (90%) out of 40 cases, ranging from 21% to 35%; Mean = 28.10; SD = 5.40. Nasal emission was eliminated postoperatively in all cases. Conclusion MPVF provides useful information for planning the surgical procedure aimed at correcting VPI. The combination of MPVF and FVNP is a reliable procedure for assessing velopharyngeal closure and to surgically correcting VPI with a highly successful outcome.
Structural Changes in Acetophenone Fluid Films as a Function of Nanoscale Thickness.

We report experimental observations of a developing fluid/solid interface by examining acetophenone films of varying thicknesses, supported on solid silver substrates. A dynamic wetting technique provides experimental control of fluid film thickness, as a function of rotational velocity. Ellipsometry and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy data are analyzed to provide absolute film thickness and details of the changing chemical environment for varying film thickness. These data are compared to theoretical models that predict fluid film thicknesses, based on physical-chemical properties of the acetophenone/silver pair. As the velocity of the substrate is varied from 0.003 cm s–1 to 1.872 cm s–1, the fluid film’s thickness changes from a ca. 200 nm to 2 μm. This increase in film thickness with increasing velocity follows a Landau trend, which is linear with respect to velocity2/3. Our data also show clear evidence of molecular orientation changes, as a function of film thickness, which occur as the ...
Strategies for Zero Sum Challenges

People love to talk about the glossy world of “Win-Win Scenarios.” Battling climate change will also grow the renewables sector and create thousands of green jobs. Catch shares programs will increase the fishing community’s incomes and also conserve fisheries. There surely are plenty of examples of win-win scenarios in the environmental field, but it’s wishful thinking to assume that many, much less most, environmental conflicts can be solved with all parties better off. It is often the case that one or more parties feel trapped in a zero-sum game. This short essay, part of the Environmental Law Collaborative's project on Zero-Sum Environmentalism, sets out the three basic strategies that environmental law has developed to manage zero-sum challenges.
Consistent Nonlinear Solver for Solute Transport in Variably Saturated Porous Media

We propose a new Jacobian-free solver for the system of nonlinear equations describing transport of a nonreactive solute in porous media. Maximum principles (MPs) are important properties of the solution and impose severe requirements on the discretization and nonlinear solver. Exact local water balance is needed to show the MP for the solute concentration. The proposed solver guarantees the discrete MPs for the solute with the tolerance of linear solvers (typically \(10^{-10}\)) even when the tolerance of the nonlinear solver is not tight (typically \(10^{-5}\)). The proposed technique combines the stable discretization of the Frechet derivative of the continuous functional describing the system with the slope-limiting algorithm for water retention models.
Performance of PVDF flat membranes and hollow fibers in desalination by direct contact membrane distillation at high temperatures

Abstract Numerous studies have been conducted on desalination by direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) through microporous hydrophobic membranes. The hot brine temperature in such studies is usually in the range of 40–90 °C. In steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process, the brine obtained as the produced water however comes out at a high temperature of as much as 160 °C + . Reverse osmosis desalination can be employed only after such a brine is cooled down substantially. Two studies were conducted on DCMD-based desalination of such brines at a brine temperature up to 130 °C using flat sheet and hollow fiber membranes of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This investigation is focused on similar desalination studies with high temperature brines using much less expensive microporous hydrophobic membranes of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). One flat sheet membrane and two different hollow fiber membranes of PVDF were employed with 1% salt-containing solution as the feed over a temperature range of 80–125 °C. The flat sheet membrane and one hollow fiber membrane-based module achieved desalination without any salt leakage. The value of the water vapor flux achieved through the flat sheet membrane of 0.1 μm pore size was very high around 270 kg/m2-h at 124 °C. Since the brine is at above-atmospheric pressure (2–3 atm), much larger pore sizes or any defects in the membrane will lead to salt leakage.
Professional Responsibility, Consensus, and Conflict: A Survey of Physician Decisions for the Chronically Critically Ill in Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units.

OBJECTIVE To describe neonatologist and pediatric intensivist attitudes and practices relevant to high-stakes decisions for children with chronic critical illness, with particular attention to physician perception of professional duty to seek treatment team consensus and to disclose team conflict. DESIGN Self-administered online survey. SETTING U.S. neonatal ICUs and PICUs. SUBJECTS Neonatologists and pediatric intensivists. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS We received 652 responses (333 neonatologists, denominator unknown; 319 of 1,290 pediatric intensivists). When asked about guiding a decision for tracheostomy in a chronically critically ill infant, only 41.7% of physicians indicated professional responsibility to seek a consensus decision, but 73.3% reported, in practice, that they would seek consensus and make a consensus-based recommendation; the second most common practice (15.5%) was to defer to families without making recommendations. When presented with conflict among the treatment team, 63% of physicians indicated a responsibility to be transparent about the decision-making process and reported matching practices. Neonatologists more frequently reported a responsibility to give decision making fully over to families; intensivists were more likely to seek out consensus among the treatment team. CONCLUSIONS ICU physicians do not agree about their responsibilities when approaching difficult decisions for chronically critically ill children. Although most physicians feel a professional responsibility to provide personal recommendations or defer to families, most physicians report offering consensus recommendations. Nearly all physicians embrace a sense of responsibility to disclose disagreement to families. More research is needed to understand physician responsibilities for making recommendations in the care of chronically critically ill children.
Interfacial Antioxidants: A Review of Natural and Synthetic Emulsifiers and Coemulsifiers That Can Inhibit Lipid Oxidation.

There has been strong interest in developing effective strategies to inhibit lipid oxidation in emulsified food products due to the need to incorporate oxidatively labile bioactive lipids, such as w-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acids, or carotenoids. Emulsifiers or co-emulsifiers can be utilized to inhibit lipid oxidation in emulsions. Both of these molecular types can adsorb to droplet surfaces and inhibit lipid oxidation, but emulsifiers can also stabilize droplets against aggregation whereas co-emulsifiers cannot. There are a host of existing emulsifiers, covalent conjugates, or physical complexes that have the potential to inhibit lipid oxidation by a variety of mechanisms. Existing emulsifiers with antioxidant potential consist of surfactants, phospholipids, proteins, polysaccharides and colloidal particles. Conjugates and complexes are typically formed by covalently or physically linking together a surface-active molecule with an antioxidant molecule. This article, reviews the molecular and ph...
Loop equation in Lattice gauge theories and bootstrap methods

In principle the loop equation provides a complete formulation of a gauge theory purely in terms ofWilson loops. In the case of lattice gauge theories the loop equation is a well defined equation for a discrete set of quantities and can be easily solved at strong coupling either numerically or by series expansion. At weak coupling, however, we argue that the equations are not well defined unless a certain set of positivity constraints is imposed. Using semi-definite programming we show numerically that, for a pure Yang Mills theory in two, three and four dimensions, these constraints lead to good results for the mean value of the energy at weak coupling. Further, the positivity constraints imply the existence of a positive definite matrix whose entries are expectation values of Wilson loops. This matrix allows us to define a certain entropy associated with theWilson loops. We compute this entropy numerically and describe some of its properties. Finally we discuss some preliminary ideas for extending the results to supersymmetric N = 4 SYM.
Seeing Beyond the Margins: Challenges to Informed Inclusion of Vulnerable Populations in Research.

Although the importance of including vulnerable populations in medical research is widely accepted, identifying how to achieve such inclusion remains a challenge. Ensuring that the language of info...
Clientilism and clientification : Impediments to strengths based social work practice

A strengths-based practice perspective is, at best, weak and, perhaps, irrelevant in social service structures that are powered by social control values, driven by the market economy, and protected by professional self interests. This paper proposes that the relationship between the patron and the client, as expressed by the metaphor clientelism in the development literature, and clientification, as described by J. Habermas, are informative as significant obstacles to the implementation of strengths-based social work practice and social service delivery. The paper argues that for strengths-based practice to be viable, it and its advocates must confront more fundamental change by becoming more policy focused and implementing action strategies to overcome fundamental barriers while generating empirical evidence of its efficacy
Game Theoretic Models of Voting in Multidimensional Issue Spaces

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews game theoretic models of policy formation in multidimensional choice spaces. It discusses specifying conditions for a core and the structure of the social order in the absence of a core. The chapter discusses the symmetry conditions for a core for majority rule, which can be extended to give core symmetry conditions for arbitrary choice functions. It summarizes the implications of these symmetry conditions for generic existence or nonexistence of core points. Recent research has attempted to bring in institutional details and to define the solution concept more carefully, in conjunction with rules and communication allowed by the institution, so that equilibria exist and are well behaved. The general flavor of the conclusions of political processes depends heavily on the institutions, but it is not the case that anything can happen. Most institutional procedures that allow for any kind of endogeneity of access to the agenda result in outcomes that are centrally located, in some sense. However, even though many institutions have a centralizing tendency, there is still substantial room for the institutional details to have an effect on the policy chosen.
The Adventure of the Shrinking Public Domain

Several scholars have explored the boundaries of intellectual property protection for literary characters. Using as a case study the history of intellectual property treatment of Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional character Sherlock Holmes, this Article builds on that scholarship, with special attention to characters that appear in multiple works over time, and to the influences of formal and informal law on the entry of literary characters into the public domain. While copyright protects works of authorship only for a limited time, copyright holders have sought to slow the entry of characters into the public domain, relying on trademark law, risk aversion, uncertainty aversion, legal ambiguity, and other formal and informal mechanisms to control the use of such characters long after copyright protection has arguably expired. This raises questions regarding the true boundaries of the public domain and the effects of non-copyright influences in restricting cultural expression. This Article addresses these questions and suggests an examination and reinterpretation of current copyright and trademark doctrine to protect the public domain from formal and informal encroachment.
Are Family Practice Residents able to Interpret Electrocardiograms

Background: Teaching electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation is a recommended component of the family practice residency curriculum. Published information concerning the ECG interpretation ability of residents is sparse. This study sought to ascertain the base line knowledge of family practice residents' ECG interpretation skills and extent of improvement after one year of training.
A phase II trial of bryostatin-1 in patients with metastatic or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Bryostatin-1 is a macrocyclic lactone thathas been shown to modulate Protein Kinase Cactivity and has demonstrated antitumoractivity in vitro and in vivo. Fifteen patients with metastatic orrecurrent squamous cell carcinoma of thehead and neck were treated withbryostatin-1 at a dose of 25 mcg/m2 bycontinuous intravenous infusion over 24hours once weekly for three weeks followedby a break week to complete a four-weekcycle. There were no major objectiveresponses in the 14 evaluable patients. One patient with nasopharynx cancer haddisease stabilization for 4 months prior tobeing removed from the study due to medicalissues. This clinical benefit correspondedto a radiographic decrease in metabolicactivity on positron emission tomograpy(PET) scan as well as molecular evidence oftumor apoptosis in a poly[ADP-ribose]polymerase (PARP) cleavage assay. Bryostatin-1 is not recommended for use asa single agent for the treatment ofsquamous cell head and neck cancer. Further investigation is warranted todetermine the strength of the correlationbetween bryostatin-1 activity and PARPcleavage as a surrogate molecular marker ofapoptosis.
PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF BASALT REBAR REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS

ABSTRACT This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation that was carried out to evaluate the strength of the bond between basalt rebars (plain and modified) and concrete, and to compare the experimentally determined ultimate moment capacity of basalt rebar reinforced concrete beams and their calculated ultimate moment capacities according to ACI-318 Building Code recommended design procedures. It was found that the actual ultimate moments of beams reinforced with plain basalt bars were much less than the calculated ultimate moments due to bar pullout failure. The modified basalt rebars, which were provided with slots, corrugations and anchors, did not slip and the actual ultimate moments matched or exceeded the calculated moments. This paper also presents the results of the bond tests (ASTM C 234) performed on modified basalt rebars (4 slot and 8 slot), plain basalt rebars, single, double and triple cables.
The system integration architecture: a framework for extended enterprise information systems

Manufacturing and enterprise formation is changing dramatically with speed and response time key parameters in competitive success. Companies are forming extended or virtual enterprises to tap core competencies and speed up their response times. Unfortunately, current information systems are a major hindrance to the rapid formation of such organizations and often to the rapid response of a single company wanting to change the way it does business. The Systems Integration Architecture (SIA) project is a research project to identify and resolve issues in the rapid integration of dynamic heterogeneous hardware, software and typical in this agile world. SIA is an integration framework based on a new basis model and definition of integration which are briefly described. The background to SIA, some of the issues involved and the approach taken to address them within SIA are presented. Specifically, some of the critical issues in the design of an information infrastructures such as SIA are discussed
Modulation of aquaporin-4 water transport in a model of TBI.

Our Laboratory has pursued the hypothesis that traumatic brain edema is predominantly cellular and recent supportive evidence has been obtained indicating a non-extracellular route for sodium and water entering brain. The aim of this study was to investigate if astrocytic endfeet are involved in this passage, using a potent activator of Protein Kinase C (phorbol ester) to modify and closing the Aquaporin 4 (AQP4), a water channel specific for astrocytic endfoot.
Movement Abnormalities: A Putative Biomarker of Risk for Psychosis

The link between movement abnormalities and psychotic disorders is presumed to reflect common neural mechanisms that influence both motor functions and vulnerability to psychosis. The high-risk or prodromal period preceding psychotic disorders represents both a viable point for intervention and a developmental period with high potential to shed light on etiology. In this chapter, we provide a background for understanding subtypes of movement abnormalities and underlying neurological mechanisms within the context of a neurodevelopmental conceptualization of psychosis and schizophrenia. We use these sections to provide a framework for reviewing and integrating studies of movement abnormalities in high-risk populations. These data are then evaluated to determine the viability of movement abnormalities as a biomarker. Potential directions for movement and biomarker research are evaluated and discussed.
Abstract 5470: IKK-epsilon supports anchorage independent growth via alternative NF-kB signaling in triple-negative breast cancer

Metastatic breast cancer carries a poor prognosis despite the success of newly targeted therapies and treatment options remain especially limited for the subtype of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Several signaling pathways, including NF-κB, are altered in TNBC. Given that ΙΚΚϵ behaves as an oncogene in breast cancer we hypothesized that IKKϵ regulates classical or alternative NF-κB signaling to control diverse oncogenic functions in TNBC. Vector expression and RNA interference were used to investigate the functional role of IKKϵ in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Viability, protein expression, NF-κB binding activity, invasion, anoikis, and spheroid formation were examined in cells expressing high or low levels of IKKϵ in conjunction with alternative NF-κB p52 RNA interference or MEK inhibition. Our data show that p52 protein levels and binding activity are inversely proportional to ΙΚΚϵ. Moreover, knockdown of IKKϵ leads to increased expression of p52 and the p52-regulated gene CXCL1. This interaction was confirmed by CHiP-PCR experiments showing increased binding of p52 in the CXCL1 promoter of cells with IKKϵ knockdown relative to control. We further found that IKKϵ and MEK were required for growth in anchorage supportive conditions whereas p52 was required in anchorage resistant conditions. Western blots confirm diminished IKKϵ expression and enhanced p52 processing in anchorage resistant conditions relative to anchorage supportive conditions. In this model, IKKϵ and MEK cooperate to support growth of cancer cells in the attached, anchored environment, whereas p52 is required for growth in unattached 3-D environment. These studies reveal novel information about the role of IKKϵ in TNBC and highlight the adaptability of NF-κB signaling in maintaining cancer cell survival under different growth conditions. Current studies are underway to clarify the mechanism of IKKϵ regulation of p52. A better understanding of the diversity of NF-κB signaling may ultimately improve the development of novel therapeutic regimens for TNBC. Citation Format: Carrie D. House, Valentina Grajales, Michelle Ozaki, Elizabeth Jordan, Helmae Wubneh, Danielle Kimble, Marianne Kim, Christina M. Annunziata. IKK-epsilon supports anchorage independent growth via alternative NF-kB signaling in triple-negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5470.
Evaluation of disease-free survival as an intermediate metric for overall survival in localized renal cell carcinoma: A trial-level meta-analysis.

4585Background: Adjuvant trials aim to integrate systemic therapy earlier to increase cure rates over surgery alone. Overall survival (OS) is a critical endpoint for these studies but requires long...
Scaling-up phase selection

A method to selectively grow pure metallic-phase monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides marks an important step towards industrially viable nano-(opto)electronic technologies based on two-dimensional materials and their hierarchical assemblies.
Management of Dry Cows for the Prevention of Milk Fever and Other Mineral Disorders

Mineral disorders in dairy cattle typically occur soon after calving and are often specifically related to nutritional management during he late dry period. The incidence of hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and hypomagnesemia can be minimized by proper diet formulation and good overall nutritional management in the dry period. The addition of anions to the diet during the late dry period may be of particular benefit for preventing hypocalcemia; however, supplementation with anions will reduce dry matter intake if feeding management is not excellent.