cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cloning and potential utility of porcine Fas ligand: overexpression in porcine endothelial cells protects them from attack by human cytolytic cells.

Tsuyuki S, Kono M, Bloom ET. Cloning and potential utility of porcine Fas ligand: overexpression in porcine endothelial cells protects them from attack by human cytolytic cells. Xenotransplantation 2002; 9:410–421. © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2002 Endothelial cells (EC) are primary targets of the recipient's immune response to transplanted organs and constitutively express Fas (CD95) ligand (FasL) on their surface. We investigated the role of porcine FasL in the generation of the human anti-pig response in vitro. Porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC) lysed a Fas+ human T-cell line, Jurkat. Anti-human Fas monoclonal antibody (mAb) specifically inhibited this killing in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that porcine FasL recognizes and binds human Fas to induce apoptosis of human Fas+ cells. We next cloned porcine FasL, identifying an open reading frame of 849 base pairs predicting a protein of 282 amino acids. The predicted amino acid sequence was 85, 76, and 75% homologous to the predicted amino acid sequences of human, mouse, and rat, respectively, and found that PAEC expressed both FasL mRNA and protein. Transient transfection was used to increase or induce porcine FasL expression in PAEC or COS-7 cells. Transfection of PAEC with a plasmid encoding porcine FasL increased their ability to induce apoptosis in Jurkat cells, fresh human T cells activated with IL-2 and anti-CD3, and fresh IL-2-activated human (natural killer) NK cells. Moreover, porcine Fas L-transfected COS-7 cells induced significant apoptosis in Jurkat cells compared with that induced by mock-transfected COS-7 cells. Finally, the overexpression of porcine FasL in PAEC reduced their susceptibility as target cells to lysis by activated human NK or T cells. These findings suggest that porcine FasL overexpression in EC of vascularized xenografts may provide protection from cellular xenograft rejection.
Factors Affecting Price Differences Within Sales of Registered Holstein Cattle

Abstract Data from 9524 Holstein females sold in 167 cattle sales from 1973 to 1977 were examined for relative importance of production and type for predicting differences in prices within sales. One in ten available sales was chosen randomly except that seven sales were included in all years. Most animals were sold in state and dispersal sales, but data from national, regional, and club sales were also available. Measures of production and type included actual milk yield and fat percentage and maximum final score for cows sold, Cow Indexes for milk yield and fat percentage, and maximum final score for dams of cows and heifers sold, and Predicted Differences for milk yield, fat percentage, and type for sires and service sires of cows and heifers sold. Performance data were restricted to those available prior to the date of sale. Multiple regression models for price included, separately and in combination, performance for cows sold and for dams, sires and service sires of cows and heifers sold. Sales were absorbed in all models. Milk yield was relatively more important than fat percentage or type in determining sale prices of cows. For heifers sold, the relative importance of type increased. Alternative breeding programs may differ in their contributions to profitability through effects on animal value, but selection for increased milk yield should result in higher value of animals sold for dairy purposes.
Pneumothorax following ultrasound-guided jugular vein puncture for central venous access in interventional radiology: 4 years of experience.

Purpose:The purpose of our study was to review the rate of pneumothorax following central venous access, using real-time ultrasound guidance.Materials and methods:Data related to ultrasound-guided venous puncture, for central venous access, performed between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2008 was retrospectively and prospectively collected. Access route, needle gauge, catheter type, and diagnosis of pneumothorax on the intraprocedure spot radiographs and or the postprocedure chest radiographs, were recorded.Results:A total of 1262 ultrasound-guided jugular venous puncture for central venous access were performed on a total of 1066 patients between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2008. Access vessels included 983 right internal jugular veins, 275 left internal jugular veins, and 4 right external jugular veins. No pneumothorax (0%) was identified.Conclusion: Due to an extremely low rate of pneumothorax following ultrasound-guided central venous access, 0% in our study and other published studies, we suggest that rout...
Boiling at sub-atmospheric conditions with enhanced structures

Liquid cooling with phase change is a very attractive option for thermal management of electronics because it achieves very high heat transfer coefficients compared to single phase liquid cooling. Phase change liquid cooling can be implemented in a thermosyphon loop, where heat is transferred from the heated surface to the evaporator and rejected to the ambient from the condenser. Optimized design of the evaporator requires a fundamental understanding of boiling in the evaporator. Past studies with dielectric working fluids have shown the importance of using boiling enhancement structures in lowering incipience overshoot, increasing heat flux and reducing evaporator volume. Water possesses superior thermal properties than dielectric liquids, but there is a lack in the understanding of boiling of water from enhancement structures. Since in silicon devices, a maximum surface temperature of 85/spl deg/C is typically allowed, boiling of water at sub-atmospheric pressures for lowering the saturation temperature and thus aiding in early initiation of nucleate boiling is required. The present study aims to provide a detailed understanding of the effects of boiling enhancement structure and sub-atmospheric pressures on the boiling of water and investigate their effectiveness in electronics cooling applications. The effects of system pressures and enhancement structure geometry on the boiling heat transfer are investigated. Experiments were performed at three different pressures, 9.7, 15 and 21 kPa using a stacked enhancement structure with four different geometries (1, 2, 4 and 6 layers). The results are compared with sub-atmospheric pressure boiling from a plain surface.
Purification of the α Subunit of Avian Myeloblastosis Virus DNA Polymerase by Polyuridylic Acid-Sepharose

The alpha subunit of the avian myeloblastosis virus DNA polymerase could be readily purified to near homogeneity using a polyuridylic acid-Sepharose column chromatography step.
The Altered Structure of Renal Papillary Outflow Tracts in Obesity

Weight gain is associated with an expanded renal medullary interstitium in humans and in animal models of obesity. In this study, the consequence of obesity and this expanded matrix on renal papillary structure was examined in 15 obese rabbits fed a high fat diet for 8-12 weeks compared to 21 rabbits fed a standard diet. When examined under a dissecting microscope, the tips of the renal papillae from formalin-fixed, methylene blue-stained kidneys showed patent ducts of Bellini in 5 of 5 instances from 2 lean rabbits, but in only 2 out of 12 ducts from 3 obese rabbits. The ostia of the remaining ducts were significantly distended (205+/- 42 mum versus 56+/- 8 mum) and occupied by lightly staining granular material. When examined with scanning electron microscopy, all ducts were patent in lean rabbits (6 ducts in 4 rabbits, averaging 104+/- 12 mum across), whereas only 6 of 11 ducts were patent in papillae from 4 obese rabbits. Renal medullary parenchymal tissue appeared at the openings of the remaining 5 d...
Effects of carbon monoxide on one-carbon enzymes and energetics of Clostridium thermoaceticum

Clostridium thermoaceticum was cultivated heterotrophically under CO2, carbon monoxide (CO), and H2 gas phases. Formate dehydrogenase (FDH) levels increased 4-fold in CO cultures; formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (FTS) levels were not influenced by the cultivation gas phases tested. While CO dehydrogenase (CODH) was slightly stimulated in CO cultures, CO-dependent acetyl phosphate-synthesizing system (APSS) activity increased sharply in both CO and H2 cultures. Yglucose values increased, whereas doubling times and acetate to biomass ratios decreased significantly in CO cultures, suggesting that CO cultures were energetically dissimilar to non-CO cultures. This finding, together with the absence of CO-dependent ATP-independent synthesis of formyltetrahydrofolate (formyl-THF), supports the hypothesis that conservation of CO-derived energy involves electron transport phosphorylation.
Subjective assessments, participatory methods and poverty dynamics: The Stages-of-Progress method

The Stages-of-Progress methodology helps examine households’ movements out of poverty and into poverty. More important, it helps uncover the reasons responsible for these movements, thereby feeding directly into policy formulation. I present the steps in this methodology, discussing briefly some results from applications carried out with colleagues in 236 diverse communities of India, Kenya, Uganda, Peru and North Carolina, USA, examining the pathways traversed by a total of more than 25,000 households. Next, I discuss how reliably this recall-based, participatory and community-driven methodology works in practice. Strengths and weaknesses of the method are examined in conclusion.
An inexpensive programmable illumination microscope with active feedback.

We have developed a programmable illumination system capable of tracking and illuminating numerous objects simultaneously using only low-cost and reused optical components. The active feedback control software allows for a closed-loop system that tracks and perturbs objects of interest automatically. Our system uses a static stage where the objects of interest are tracked computationally as they move across the field of view allowing for a large number of simultaneous experiments. An algorithmically determined illumination pattern can be applied anywhere in the field of view with simultaneous imaging and perturbation using different colors of light to enable spatially and temporally structured illumination. Our system consists of a consumer projector, camera, 35-mm camera lens, and a small number of other optical and scaffolding components. The entire apparatus can be assembled for under $4,000. Supplemental matlab code is available to assist in the setup of the active feedback software.
Improved understanding of peripheral T-cell lymphomas

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are rare and heterogeneous non-Hodgkin lymphomas that have been separated by clinical presentation, histology, immunohistochemistry markers, infectious agents, and genetic abnormalities. They may have extranodal dissemination and are often aggressive, especially when they express cytotoxic markers. The international T-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Study Group collaboration has highlighted differences in the frequency of these entities in different geographic areas.[1,2] For example, HTLV-1+ adult T-cell lymphomas are found in Japan and nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma occurs predominantly in Asian countries. The most common PTCLs are unique and not able to be classified by a specific marker or tumor antigen, and are known as peripheral T-cell lymphomas, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS).
Using Response Interruption and Redirection to Reduce Vocal Stereotypy

Response interruption and redirection, commonly referred to as RIR, is an evidence-based intervention that has been demonstrated to quickly reduce moderate to high levels of vocal stereotypy in chi...
Abstract 4403: SMYD2-mediated lysine methylation regulates nuclear transport of beta-catenin in human cancer cells

The canonical Wnt-signal pathway is a major signaling system in cancer cells as well as stem/progenitor cells. It is well-known that binding of Wnt molecules to cell surface receptors, including a Frizzled (Fz) protein and LDL receptor-related protein 6, initiates a transduction cascade leading to stabilization of the transcription coactivator β-catenin, which then enters the nucleus to form a transcriptional complex with T cell factor (TCF) or lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF) to activate the expression of TCF/LEF downstream genes, such as cyclin D1 (CCND1) and c-Myc. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate nuclear localization of β-catenin and its transcriptional activation are not fully understood. Here we demonstrate that the protein lysine methyltransferase SMYD2 methylates β-catenin at lysine 133, which is located in an amino-terminal domain (NTD), and regulates nuclear transport of β-catenin. After treatment with SMYD2-specific siRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma SNU475 and SNU449 cells, we fractionated cell components and conducted western blot analysis and found that nuclear localization of β-catenin was significantly decreased after knockdown of SMYD2; we also confirmed this result by immunocytochemistry. In addition, we prepared a lysine 133-substituted β-catenin mutant expression vector and transfected it into 293T cells with a SMYD2 expression vector. We observed that protein amount of lysine 133-substituted β-catenin in the nucleus is significantly lower than that of wild-type β-catenin by western-blot and immunocytochemical analyses. These results indicate that SMYD2-mediated methylation plays a critical role in the nuclear transport of β-catenin in cancer cells. This is a novel mechanism of the canonical Wnt-signal pathway regulated by lysine methylation. Citation Format: Xiaolan Deng, Yusuke Nakamura, Ryuji Hamamoto. SMYD2-mediated lysine methylation regulates nuclear transport of beta-catenin in human cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4403.
Knowledge and Planning

Introduction In the first half of the twentieth century, a series of economists led by Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek discovered and demonstrated a problem facing socialist economic planning that became known as the “knowledge problem.” A socialist economy by hypothesis allows little or no private decision making about how to use capital, and it restricts, perhaps all the way to zero, the operations of economic markets. It may do this either by owning the means of production outright or, as is more common today, by a policy of dirigisme that centrally controls the use and activity of nominally private property. Whatever good—moral or otherwise—that the socialist economy is designed to achieve, its lack of decentralized decisions about how to use property in markets leads to the absence of proper prices —and this fact has surprisingly far-reaching consequences. Prices Real and Artificial Prices arise when people make localized bids for exchange: person A says to person B, “I will give you my x for your y. ” Person C says to B, “I will give you x + w for your y. ” Person A will not top that offer so B and C strike a deal and a price precedent of x + w for y is established. There is nothing intrinsic, inherent, or transcendent about a price; it is merely what someone in a particular circumstance is willing to sacrifice for something. A person weighs the proffered good or service against his schedule of value and the other opportunities available to him and thence makes a decision. One person’s decision is not necessarily determinative of—or even relevant to—anyone else’s because each person has his own schedule of value, opportunity costs, and so on. Yet when this process is repeated hundreds or thousands of times, patterns emerge from the decisions people make and these patterns come to reflect facts and information—i.e., knowledge—that they have but that others do not.
Arbitrating Traffic Contention for Power Saving with Multiple PSM Clients

Data transmission over WiFi quickly drains the batteries of mobile devices. Although the IEEE 802.11 standards provide power save mode (PSM) to help mobile devices conserve energy, PSM fails to bring expected benefits in many real scenarios. In particular, when multiple PSM mobile devices associate to a single access point (AP), PSM does not work well under transmission contention. Optimizing power saving of multiple PSM clients is a challenging task, because each PSM client expects to complete data transmission early so that it can turn to low power mode. In this paper, we define an energy conserving model to describe the general PSM traffic contention problem. We prove that the optimization of energy saving for multiple PSM clients under constraint is an NP-complete problem. Following this direction, we propose a solution called harmonious power saving mechanism (HPSM) to address one specific case, in which multiple PSM clients associate to a single AP. In HPSM, we first use a basic sociological concept to define the richness of a PSM client based on the link resource it consumes. Then, we separate these $poor$ PSM clients from $rich$ PSM clients in terms of link resource consumption and favor the former to save power when they face PSM transmission contention. We implement prototypes of HPSM based on the open source projects Mad-wifi and NS-2. Our evaluations show that HPSM can help the $poor$ PSM clients effectively save power while only slightly degrading the rich PSM clients’ performance in comparison with the existing PSM solutions.
Qualitative research methodologies for occupational science and therapy

Former associate editor Shoba Nayar and current associate editor Mandy Stanley of the Journal of Occupational Science recognize the necessity for occupational therapists and occupational scientists...
3D-printed soft-tissue physical models of renal malignancies for individualized surgical simulation: a feasibility study

To construct patient-specific physical three-dimensional (3D) models of renal units with materials that approximates the properties of renal tissue to allow pre-operative and robotic training surgical simulation, 3D physical kidney models were created (3DSystems, Rock Hill, SC) using computerized tomography to segment structures of interest (parenchyma, vasculature, collection system, and tumor). Images were converted to a 3D surface mesh file for fabrication using a multi-jet 3D printer. A novel construction technique was employed to approximate normal renal tissue texture, printers selectively deposited photopolymer material forming the outer shell of the kidney, and subsequently, an agarose gel solution was injected into the inner cavity recreating the spongier renal parenchyma. We constructed seven models of renal units with suspected malignancies. Partial nephrectomy and renorrhaphy were performed on each of the replicas. Subsequently all patients successfully underwent robotic partial nephrectomy. Average tumor diameter was 4.4 cm, warm ischemia time was 25 min, RENAL nephrometry score was 7.4, and surgical margins were negative. A comparison was made between the seven cases and the Tulane Urology prospectively maintained robotic partial nephrectomy database. Patients with surgical models had larger tumors, higher nephrometry score, longer warm ischemic time, fewer positive surgical margins, shorter hospitalization, and fewer post-operative complications; however, the only significant finding was lower estimated blood loss (186 cc vs 236; p = 0.01). In this feasibility study, pre-operative resectable physical 3D models can be constructed and used as patient-specific surgical simulation tools; further study will need to demonstrate if this results in improvement of surgical outcomes and robotic simulation education.
VALVE THROMBOSIS FOLLOWING TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT: IMPLICATIONS OF REDUCED CARDIAC OUTPUT

Background: Leaflet thrombosis following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been increasingly recognized. Recent studies have suggested that reduced cardiac output (CO) may be associated with increased risk of thrombosis. The present study aims to quantify the effects of cardiac
Discovery of Nuclei at and Beyond the Proton Dripline

In contrast to the neutron dripline the proton dripline has been reached almost across the whole nuclear chart. However, because of the Coulomb barrier relatively long-lived isotopes can exist beyond the proton dripline. It is estimated that about 200 new isotopes at and beyond the proton dripline should be able to be discovered in the future. A brief review of the discovery of proton-rich nuclides as well as an outlook for the discovery potential in the future is presented.
Three-Dimensional pH Mapping within Model Hybrid Xerogel Thin Films.

When xerogel films derived from carboxyethylsilanetriol (COE) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) or 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), n-octyltriethoxysilane (C8), and TEOS are formed on Al2O3 they exhibit chemically segregated domains with unique chemistries and topographies. These characteristics are important for marine antifouling. By using the ratiometric fluorescent probe 5 (and 6)-carboxy SNARF-1 (C.SNARF-1) in concert with confocal fluorescence microscopy, we determine the pH in three dimensions within these hybrid films. For the COE/TEOS film, 4–5 μm diameter dendritically shaped features form, and they extend ∼100 nm above the film base. These dendritic features are acidic (pH < 7) in comparison to the film base. Their average diameter decreases as we progress from the solution–film interface toward the film-Al2O3 interface. Planes located at the solution–film interface, film center, and film–Al2O3 interface exhibit acidic surface areas that are 20% below, 50% above, and 70% below the average COE m...
Passive polarimetric reconstruction of extended dipole target

We present a novel method for passive radar that simultaneously reconstructs the scene reflectivity and polarimetric states of stationary targets. Our method uses a spatially sparse distribution of polarimetrically diverse receivers to measure the backscattered signal of a scene illuminated by a source of opportunity. Our data model explicitly accounts for polarization and anisotropy of the target which is inherent in the multistatic configuration. We assume that each receiver is equipped with a pair of orthogonally polarized antennas, and form data as the pairwise correlation of the signal measured at different receivers. This results in the data being a linear mapping of the tensor product between two three-dimensional vector valued functions which represent the reflectivity and polarmetric states of the target. This tensor product can be represented as an unknown rank-1 operator with matrix-valued kernel. After discretization, this unknown operator can be modeled as an 4th order tensor. We approach recovery of this unknown tensor from an optimization framework, exploiting its known structure. We demonstrate the performance of our approach with numerical simulations, and observe improved performance over the generalized likelihood ratio test approach.
Reinventing doxa: public opinion polling as deliberative discourse

ABSTRACTMost analyses of public opinion polling focus on questions of bias or accuracy. In contrast, this study assumes the validity of polling and instead investigates polling data as a form of rh...
Filtrations and the Artin-Rees Lemma

In this chapter we shall describe two constructions—the associated graded ring and the blowup algebra—that are made from a descending multiplicative filtration of a ring R; that is, from a sequence of ideals $R = I_0\supset I_1\supset I_2\supset ...\ {\rm satisfying}\ I_iJ_j\supset I_{i+j}\quad {\rm for\ all}\ i,j.$ A third such construction, the Rees algebra, is treated at the end of the next chapter, and sheds some light on the results we shall prove about the associated graded ring. Chapter 7 will be devoted to a fourth example, the completion. Each is used to get information about R by comparing it with a closely related ring that is simpler in some way.
Post-operative radiotherapy is associated with improved survival in esophageal cancer with positive surgical margins

Background The optimal treatment for early-stage esophageal cancer with positive surgical margins after an upfront esophagectomy is not well-defined. This study investigates the effect of post-operative radiotherapy (PORT) on overall survival (OS) in clinical stage I-II patients with positive margins. Methods We identified patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2012 with clinical stage I-II esophageal carcinoma from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) who underwent an upfront esophagectomy. For those patients with positive margins, administration of PORT was recorded, and OS was compared by the Kaplan-Meier estimator and log-rank test. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with improved survival. Results Among the 3,490 patients identified, 209 (5.8%) had positive margins. One hundred forty-two (67.9%) patients did not receive PORT while 67 (32.1%) did receive PORT. Compared to those receiving PORT, patients who did not receive PORT were significantly older (68.5 vs. 64.0 years, P=0.003), more likely to have pN0 disease (50.7% vs. 35.4%, P=0.026), and less likely to receive postoperative chemotherapy (21.1% vs. 86.6%, P<0.001). On multivariable logistic regression, only receipt of chemotherapy predicted for receipt of PORT (OR: 25.6, 95% CI: 9.9-65.8, P<0.001). OS was significantly higher for patients receiving PORT compared to those who did not (median OS: 32.2 vs. 16.9 months, log-rank P=0.008). Multivariable analysis confirmed an association with PORT and improved OS (HR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.27-0.60, P<0.001). Subset analysis demonstrated that the OS benefit of PORT persisted in those patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy (HR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.19-0.57, P<0.001). Conclusions PORT is associated with improved OS in clinical stage I-II esophageal cancer patients after an upfront esophagectomy with positive margins. In the absence of prospective randomized data, our findings suggest that PORT should be strongly considered in the setting of early-stage esophageal cancer resected with positive margins.
Long-term management and outcomes after repair of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea related to idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To identify long-term management strategies and outcomes for the treatment of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea related to idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). RECENT FINDINGS Adjuvant treatments following surgical repair of spontaneous CSF leaks are aimed at normalizing intracranial pressure (ICP) to minimize the risk of recurrence. IIH is closely linked to obesity, and growing evidence suggests that weight loss, both through conservative and surgical approaches, is effective at addressing the root cause of this disorder. Recent data also support the use of acetazolamide and dural venous sinus stenting as adjuncts for reducing ICP. SUMMARY Spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea associated with IIH represents a challenging clinical entity, with an increased risk of recurrence compared to CSF leaks because of other causes. Adjunct therapies intended to reduce ICP likely improve outcomes after surgical repair, but further research is necessary to better characterize the effects of these treatment modalities.
Hemolysis in In-Date RBC Concentrates.

Objectives Hemolysis is one of the most prominent changes that occur during the liquid storage of RBCs in additive solution (AS), but most studies have measured hemolysis only on day 42. Methods Prestorage leukoreduced RBCs in AS-1 and AS-3 were studied, one group on day 42 and a second group between day 0 and day 40. Each product was sampled for direct measurement of supernatant hemoglobin and hematocrit. Results Ninety day 42 and 218 day 7 to day 39 RBCs showed a mean ± SD supernatant hemoglobin of 75 ± 100 vs 25.5 ± 16 mg/dL respectively (P < .01). Supernatant hemoglobin correlated weakly with storage age (r = 0.2, P < .01) but more strongly with hematocrit (r = 0.4, P < .01). Conclusions There are minimal differences in supernatant hemoglobin until the final days of liquid storage when some high hematocrit RBCs show excessive hemolysis.
Carpometacarpal Joint Injuries

Injuries to the carpometacarpal joints can be pure dislocations or fracture dislocations. The injuries can be specific to a single joint or in combination with other joints. Some dislocations are successfully treated nonoperatively but many benefit from some sort of stabilization, commonly percutaneous Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation.
Strategies to Circumvent Resistance to Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells by Targeted Necrosis

Cancer cells escape apoptosis by intrinsic or acquired mechanisms of drug resistance. One alternative strategy to circumvent resistance to apoptosis could be through re-direction into other death pathways, such as necrosis. However, necrosis is a non-specific, non-targeted process resulting in cell lysis and inflammation of both cancer and normal cells and therefore, not a viable alternative. However, if the necrosis could be targeted only to cancer cells which are undergoing an aborted apoptosis, then it may be possible to achieve a targeted and successful cell death. We termed this process “targeted necrosis”. We reported that a C-terminal peptide of p53, called p53p-Ant, induced high levels of targeted necrosis only in multiple mutant p53 human prostate cancer cells and not normal cells, because the mechanism of cytotoxicity by p53p-Ant is dependent on the presence of high levels of mutant p53. Other non-prostate cancer lines (breast, lung, colon, mesothelioma, glioma, bladder) were induced by p53p-Ant into apoptosis and not into targeted necrosis as the prostate cancer cell lines. Topotecan and paclitaxel resistant prostate cancer lines were as sensitive to p53p-Ant-induced targeted necrosis as parental lines. Intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species was involved in the mechanism of targeted necrosis, which was inhibited by O2 -. scavengers. We hypothesized that targeted necrosis by p53p-Ant is dependent on mutant p53, mediated by O2 -. and can circumvent chemotherapy resistance to apoptosis. Targeted necrosis, as an alternative pathway for selective killing of cancer cells, may overcome the problems of non-specificity in utilizing the necrotic pathway.
Collegiate Football Players' Ankle Range of Motion and Dynamic Balance in Braced and Self-Adherent–Taped Conditions

Context: Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in the physically active population. Previous researchers have shown that supporting the ankle with taping or bracing is effective in pre...
Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX and IMRT concurrent with FDR-gemcitabine in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC).

381Background: Preoperative therapy in BRPC is intended to increase the likelihood of R0 resection although an optimal regimen is yet to be defined. Methods: Patients (pts) with BRPC (NCCNv.2.2010 ...
Technology and the future of language teaching

We are living in a time with unprecedented opportunities to communicate with others in authentic and compelling linguistically and culturally contextualized domains. In fact, language teachers today are faced with so many fascinating options for using technology to enhance language learning that it can be overwhelming. Even for those who are inclined to experiment with emerging technologies, it can be challenging to identify which resources, tools, or Web sites may best fit a particular lesson, activity, or goal. Many of the most compelling opportunities are situated within the same global social and technology trends that have become commonplace in our daily lives, including social media, artificial intelligence, big data, and augmented reality. This article addresses the extent to which technology-mediated social interactions dominate our daily lives, how we can leverage those interactions to the benefit of our learners, and how we can engage them in learning experiences in ways that will encourage them to practice language extensively.
Permutation Polynomials, Tuscan-K Arrays and Costas Sequences

In this paper, we talk about permutation polynomials over finite fields and their applications in study of circular Tuscan-k arrays and Costas sequences. In the first part, some general characterizations and special families of permutation polynomials over finite fields are discussed. Then we show how permutation polynomials are used to construct circular Tuscan-k arrays. We also present a unified approach to construct Costas sequences, and explore other possible ways to understand and study Costas sequences.
Paging Dr. Lauben! Dr. Gustav Lauben!: Some questions about individualism and competence

In several works, Frege argues that content is objective (i.e., thethoughts we entertain and communicate, and the senses of which theyare composed, are public, not private, property). There are, however,some remarks in the Fregean corpus that are in tension with this view.This paper is centered on an investigation of the most notorious andextreme such passage: the `Dr. Lauben’ example, from Frege (1918). Aprincipal aim is to attain more clarity on the evident tension withinFrege’s views on content, between this dominant objectivism and someelements that seem to run counter to it, via developing an understandingof the `Dr. Lauben’ example. Then I will argue that this interpretation goes some way toward undermining some prevalent contemporary viewsabout language. Based on the advice of Dr. Lauben, I will argue againsta certain understanding of the causal-historical theory of reference –more specifically, of the phenomenon of deferential uses of linguisticexpressions – upon which these views are premised, and I will drawout some morals that pertain to individualism and competence.
Sparse Labeling and Neural Tracing in Brain Circuits by STARS Strategy: Revealing Morphological Development of Type II Spiral Ganglion Neurons

Elucidating axonal and dendritic projection patterns of individual neurons is a key for understanding the cytoarchitecture of neural circuits in the brain. This requires genetic approaches to achieve Golgi-like sparse labeling of desired types of neurons. Here, we explored a novel strategy of stochastic gene activation with regulated sparseness (STARS), in which the stochastic choice between 2 competing Cre-lox recombination events is controlled by varying the lox efficiency and cassette length. In a created STARS transgenic mouse crossed with various Cre driver lines, sparse neuronal labeling with a relatively uniform level of sparseness was achieved across different brain regions and cell types in both central and peripheral nervous systems. Tracing of individual type II peripheral auditory fibers revealed for the first time that they undergo experience-dependent developmental refinement, which is impaired by attenuating external sound input. Our results suggest that STARS strategy can be applied for circuit mapping and sparse gene manipulation.
An Introduction to UMLPDSV for Real-Time Dynamic Signature Verification

Signatures are one of the most important behavioral biometric feature which are used to recognize an individual identity. These handwritten signatures are captured as actual input signals that are written on some electronic gadgets by the user. The divergent writing patterns of individuals primarily due to variation in style, shape and steadiness create real time challenges in differentiating real signatures from the fake ones. In order to overcome the said challenge of signature recognition, this article introduces model driven approach for dynamic signature verification. Particularly, a UMLPDSV (Unified Modeling Language Profile for Dynamic Signature Verification) has been proposed to specify the signature verification requirements at high abstraction level. This provides the basis to automatically generate target models of different machine learning tools (e.g. RapidMiner process, Matlab code etc.) to perform dynamic signature verification. The applicability of UMLPDSV has been validated through internet banking case study.
Robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic left pancreatectomy at a high-volume, minimally invasive center

While minimally invasive left pancreatectomy has become more widespread and generally accepted over the last decade, opinions on modality of minimally invasive approach (robotic or laparoscopic) remain mixed with few institutions performing a significant portion of both operative approaches simultaneously. 247 minimally invasive left pancreatectomies were retrospectively identified in a prospectively maintained institutional REDCap™ database, 135 laparoscopic left pancreatectomy (LLP) and 108 robotic-assisted left pancreatectomy (RLP). Demographics, intraoperative variables, postoperative outcomes, and OR costs were compared between LLP and RLP with an additional subgroup analysis for procedures performed specifically for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (35 LLP and 23 RLP) focusing on pathologic outcomes and 2-year actuarial survival. There were no significant differences in preoperative demographics or indications between LLP and RLP with 34% performed for chronic pancreatitis and 23% performed for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. While laparoscopic cases were faster (p < 0.001) robotic cases had a higher rate of splenic preservation (p < 0.001). Median length of stay was 5 days for RLP and LLP, and rate of clinically significant grade B/C pancreatic fistula was approximately 20% for both groups. Conversion rates to laparotomy were 4.3% and 1.8% for LLP and RLP approaches respectively. RLP had a higher rate of readmission (p = 0.035). Pathologic outcomes and 2-year actuarial survival were similar between LLP and RLP. LLP on average saved $206.67 in OR costs over RLP. This study demonstrates that at a high-volume center with significant minimally invasive experience, both LLP and RLP can be equally effective when used at the discretion of the operating surgeon. We view the laparoscopic and robotic platforms as tools for the modern surgeon, and at our institution, given the technical success of both operative approaches, we will continue to encourage our surgeons to approach a difficult operation with their tool of choice.
Providing Context: Commentary on the Debate Over the Critique of Salafi-Jihadism from a Mainstream Sunni Perspective

This article contests assertions in Alain Gabon’s response to Adis Duderija’s article “The Salafi Worldview and the Hermeneutical Limits of Mainstream Sunni Critique of Salafi-Jihadism.”1 I demonst...
Restless Legs and PLMD

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurologic condition that involves an urge to move legs typically accompanied by symptoms of “creeping,” “crawling,” “tingling,” or “aching”. Symptoms can occasionally involve the arms or torso as well. One of the central aspects of the condition is that these dysesthesias occur more often at rest and in the evening, and are temporarily improved with movement. The relief with movement is often immediate. This can cause initiation and maintenance insomnia resulting in excessive daytime sleepiness.
Adapting TeamSTEPPS for school mental health teams: a pilot study.

School mental health care often is provided by teams contracted from community mental health agencies. The team members that provide this care, however, do not typically receive training in how to work effectively in a team-based context. Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) provides a promising, evidence-based strategy for improving communication and climate in school-based teams. In collaboration with stakeholders, we adapted and piloted TeamSTEPPS for use with school mental health teams. Teams in six schools were randomized to receive the adapted TeamSTEPPS approach or usual supports. The main outcomes of interest were feasibility and acceptability of the adapted TeamSTEPPS strategy. Results indicated that team member burnout was significantly higher at follow-up than pretreatment for both control and intervention teams. TeamSTEPPS was feasible and acceptable to implement, and leadership emerged as an important facilitator. Barriers to implementation success included staff turnover, lack of resources, and challenges in the school mental health team relationship. Additional supports to implement TeamSTEPPS were suggested, including ongoing consultation and booster training to address high staff turnover. Results suggest that TeamSTEPPS is promising for school mental health teams but additional modifications are likely needed.
Sulphide addition favours respiratory ammonification (DNRA) over complete denitrification and alters the active microbial community in salt marsh sediments

The balance between nitrate respiration pathways, denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate (NO3 - ) reduction to ammonium (DNRA), determines whether bioavailable nitrogen is removed as N2 gas or recycled as ammonium. Saltwater intrusion and organic matter enrichment may increase sulphate reduction leading to sulphide accumulation. We investigated the effects of sulphide on the partitioning of NO3 - between complete denitrification and DNRA and the microbial communities in salt marsh sediments. Complete denitrification significantly decreased with increasing sulphide, resulting in an increase in the contribution of DNRA to NO3 - respiration. Alternative fates of NO3 - became increasingly important at higher sulphide treatments, which could include N2 O production and/or transport into intracellular vacuoles. Higher 16S transcript diversity was observed in the high sulphide treatment, with clear shifts in composition. Generally, low and no sulphide, coupled with high NO3 - , favoured the activity of Campylobacterales, Oceanospirillales and Altermonadales, all of which include opportunistic denitrifiers. High ∑sulphide conditions promoted the activity of potential sulphide oxidizing nitrate reducers (Desulfobulbaceae, Acidiferrobacteraceae and Xanthomonadales) and sulphate reducers (Desulfomonadaceae, Desulfobacteraceae). Our study highlights the tight coupling between N and S cycling, and the implications of these dynamics on the fate of bioavailable N in coastal environments susceptible to intermittent saltwater inundation and organic matter enrichment.
Everything is (not so) Terrible!: Heuretic Glitchicism as Method for Electrate (Re)composing

Abstract Drawing from the rhetorical and aesthetic model of the art collective Everything Is Terrible! (EIT!), this article introduces heuretic glitchicism as electrate methodology for video-composition remix and remediation. The appropriation and application of EIT!’s glitch and edit method (i.e., heuretic glitchicism) thus provides a model for digital rhetoric and composition that dovetails rhetorical analysis (i.e., hermeneutics) and invention (i.e., heuretics), which in turn provides several generative lessons (i.e., heuretic glitchicism). First, EIT!’s digital glitching and editing of pop culture VHS tapes constitute the practice of remix and remediation, often by way of absurdist humor, which are key to the proper development of electrate rhetoric and writing in general, videocy in particular. Second, glitch and edit remix and remediation renders both kairos and ideology as more transparent, which clears the way for what Gregory Ulmer considers the electrate konsult of theopraxesis. Third, EIT!’s glitch and edit methods encourage a participatory and circulatory rhetorical exchange.
Using patterns in prey DNA digestion rates to quantify predator diets

Dietary metabarcoding - the process of taxonomic identification of food species from DNA in consumer guts or feces - has been rapidly adopted by ecologists to gain insights into biocontrol, invasive species, and the structure of food webs. However, an outstanding issue with metabarcoding is the semi-quantitative nature of the data it provides: because metabarcoding is likely to produce false negatives for some prey more often than for other prey, we cannot infer relative frequencies of prey in the diet. To correct for this, we can adjust detected prey frequencies using DNA detectability half-lives unique to each predator-prey combination. Because the feeding experiments required to deduce these half-lives are time- and resource-intensive, our ability to weight the frequency of observations using their detectability has thus far been limited to systems with just a few prey. Here, we present a meta-analysis of 24 spider prey DNA half-lives and show that these half-lives are predictable given predator and prey mass, predator family, digestion temperature, and DNA amplicon length. We further provide a new technique for weighting observations with half-lives, which allows not just for the ranking of prey in the diet, but reveals the proportion of the diet each prey comprises. Lastly, we apply this method to published dietary metabarcoding data to calculate half-lives and proportion of the predator's diet for 35 prey families, demonstrating that this technique can generate improved understanding of diets in real, diverse systems.
The underappreciated role of auriculotemporal nerve involvement in local failure following parotidectomy for cancer.

BACKGROUND Locoregional recurrence rates following parotidectomy for cancer remain as high as 20-30%. The auriculotemporal nerve (ATN) may allow parotid cancers to spread from the facial nerve (FN) toward the skull base, causing local recurrence. METHODS Retrospective review of 173 parotidectomies for malignancy. Preoperative and post-recurrence imaging were reviewed by a neuroradiologist for signs of tumor adjacent to the ATN. RESULTS Clinical and imaging signs of possible ATN involvement correlated with FN weakness and sacrifice. Eight patients had pathologically confirmed tumor from the ATN or V3. Forty-four percent of local recurrences had post-recurrence imaging showing tumor along the course of the ATN. Locoregional failure along the ATN was also associated with preoperative FN weakness, intraoperative FN sacrifice, and failure to complete recommended adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSIONS Parotid cancers may invade the FN and spread to the skull base via the ATN. If not appropriately managed, this may lead to local recurrence.
Study of UltraHigh Performance Supercritical Fluid Chromatography to measure free fatty acids with out fatty acid ester preparation.

Abstract Most lipids are best characterized by their fatty acids which may differ in (a) chain length, (b) degree of unsaturation, (c) configuration and position of the double bonds, and (d) the presence of other functionalities. Thus, a fast, simple, and quantitative analytical technique to determine naturally occurring free fatty acids (FFA) in different samples is very important. Just as for saponified acylglycerols, the determination of FFA’s has generally been carried out by high resolution gas chromatography (HRGC). The use of an open tubular capillary column coupled with a flame ionization or mass spectrometric detector provides for both high resolution and quantification of FFA’s but only after conversion of all free fatty acids to fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or pentafluorobenzyl esters. Unfortunately, volatilization of labile ester derivatives of mono- and poly-unsaturated FFA’s can cause both thermal degradation and isomerization of the fatty acid during HRGC. The employment of a second generation instrument (here referred to as UltraHigh Performance Supercritical Fluid Chromatograph, UHPSFC) with high precision for modified flow and repeated back pressure adjustment in conjunction with sub-2 μm various bonded silica particles (coupled with evaporative light scattering, ELSD, and mass spectrometric, MS, detection) for separation and detection of the following mixtures is described: (a) 31 free fatty acids, (b) isomeric FFA’s, and (c) lipophilic materials in two real world fish oil samples. Limits of detection for FFA’s via UHPSFC/MS and UHPSFC/ELSD versus detection of FAME’s via HRGC/MS are quantitatively compared.