cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular Mechanisms of Green Tea Polyphenols

Tea, next to water, is the most popular beverage in the world. It has been suggested that tea consumption has the cancer-preventive effects. Epidemiological studies have indicated decreased cancer occurrence in people who regularly drink green tea. Research has also discovered numerous mechanisms of action to explain the biological effects of tea. The most abundant and popular compound studied in tea research is (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate or (-)-EGCG, which is a powerful antioxidant and can inhibit a number of tumor cell proliferation and survival pathways. Tea polyphenols are known to inhibit metaloproteonases, various protein kinases, and proteins that regulate DNA replication and transformation. We also reported that ester bond-containing tea polyphenols, for example, (-)-EGCG, potently and specifically inhibited the tumor proteasomal activity. We further demonstrated that methylation on green tea polyphenols under physiological conditions decreased their proteasome-inhibitory activity, contributing to decreased cancer-preventive effects of tea consumption. Since (-)-EGCG is unstable under physiological conditions, we also developed the peracetate-protected or prodrug form of (-)-EGCG, Pro-EGCG (1), and showed that Pro-EGCG (1) increases the bioavailability, stability, and proteasome-inhibitory and anticancer activities of (-)-EGCG in human breast cancer cells and tumors, demonstrating its potential use for cancer prevention and treatment.
Effects of Respiratory Depression on Cytoprotective Effect of the Competitive NMDA Antagonist, D-CPPene

Numerous experimental data suggest that the excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter glutamate is involved in the pathophysiology of ischaemic neuronal injury [8] as well as traumatic brain injury [3], and that the glutamate subtype receptor, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists have cytoprotective effect against ischaemic neuronal damage [6]. Since secondary ischaemia is one of the major contributing factors in the pathology of traumatic injury of the brain and patients with head injury can arrive at a hospital at a time before the development of secondary ischaemia, it can be a promising therapeutic area for NMDA antagonists. However, many patients with severe head injury suffer from respiratory problems such as apnea, atelectasis and aspiration in acute stage, while in animal experiment an optimal physiological state has been emphasized. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of systemic acidosis induced by respiratory depression under halothane anesthesia upon the extent of ischaemic brain damage as well as upon the cytoprotective efficacy of the competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, (E)-4-(3-phosphonoprop-2-enyl)-piperazine-2-carboxylic acid(D-CPPene) in the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of rats.
90 nm 32 $\times$ 32 bit Tunneling SRAM Memory Array With 0.5 ns Write Access Time, 1 ns Read Access Time and 0.5 V Operation

Functional robustness is one of the primary challenges for embedded memories as voltage levels are scaled below 1 V. A low-power high-speed tunneling SRAM (TSRAM) memory array including sense amplifiers and pre-charge circuit blocks operating at 0.5 V is designed and simulated using available MOSIS CMOS 90 nm product design kit coupled with VerilogA models developed from this group's Si/SiGe resonant interband tunnel diode experimental data. 1 T and 3 T- 2 tunnel diode memory cell configurations were evaluated. The memory array assigns 0.5 V as a logic “1” and 0 V as a logic “0”. Dual supply voltages of 1 and 0.5 V and dual threshold voltage design are used to ensure high sensing speed concurrently with low operating and standby power. Read access time of 1 ns and write access time of 2 ns is achieved for the 3 T memory cell. Write access time can be reduced to 0.5 ns for 32 bit write operations not requiring a preceding read operation. Standby power dissipation of 6×10-5 mW per cell and dynamic power dissipation of 1.8×10-7 mW/MHz per cell is obtained from the TSRAM memory array. This is the first report of TSRAM performance at the array level.
Aminoborohydrides. 2. Regiospecific reductions of α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with lithium pyrrolidinoborohydride. A facile conversion of α, β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones to the corresponding allylic alcohols in high purity

Lithium aminoborohydrides (LiABH3), obtained by the reaction of n-BuLi with amine-boranes, are powerful reducing agents for the reduction α, β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones to the corresponding allylic alcohols. Thus, lithium pyrrolidinoborohydride (LiPyrrBH3) and reduces cinnamaldehyde and cyclohexenone to give exclusively cinnamyl alcohol and 2-cyclohexen-1-ol respectively. This 1, 2-reduction appears to be general and ester groups are tolerated. The yield of allylic alcohols from this procedure is essentially quantitative.
Ultra-low dielectric constant porous silica thick films for high-speed IC packaging

Interconnect systems which are required in high-speed GaAs digital ICs use stripline techniques for signal traces which must be deposited over very low dielectric constant substrates. Materials with relative dielectric constant k less than 3 and having low-loss tangent up to microwave frequencies are required for ceramic materials. Such values are impossible to achieve in single-phase ceramic monoliths; composite approaches are necessary. A technique for preparing porous silica films 1-10- mu m thick is presented. The dielectric constant of these films is in the range of 2.4 to 2.8 with a loss tangent less than 0.005 at 1 kHz. >
Preservice Education: Essential Knowledge for the Effective Special Education Teacher:

A-BSTRACT: How to conceptualize and derive the essential knowledge and skills needed by special education teachers is a current concern among professionals. The purpose of this paper is to examine ...
Analysis of natural flavonoids by microchip-micellar electrokinetic chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection

Catechins (catechin and other derivatives) are naturally occurring flavonoids present in a number of plants and foods. They are also part of numerous nutraceutical formulations because they are believed to have antioxidant, cancer chemo-preventative, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The determination of catechins has traditionally been performed by HPLC. However, this methodology is both time and sample intensive and generates large amounts of organic solvent waste. In the current report, an application of MEKC using a PDMS microchip is presented for the analysis of catechins. The system uses pulsed amperometric detection for direct analysis of important naturally occurring catechins. The effect of pH, surfactant concentration, detection potential and signal stability were analyzed. Linear relationships were found between the concentration and peak current, with good stability and limits of detection of 8 µM for catechin, epigallocatechin gallate and epicatechin, and 14 µM for epicatechin gallate. Optimum conditions were applied to the detection of selected catechins in a commercially available green tea extract nutraceutical and the results were compared to HPLC analysis. The analysis using microchip micellar electrokinetic chromatography and pulsed amperometric detection was completed in 4.5 min, 10 times faster than the HPLC analysis.
Efficiency and Equity Aspects of Nonpoint Source Pollution Controls

Achieving water quality goals will necessitate adoption of best management practices (BMP's) by some or all farmers. Water quality is expected to improve as farmers adopt BMP's such as conservation cropping systems, structural measures, and conservation tillage methods. Currently, there is an absence of pollution abatement incentives strong enough to induce farmers to abate sediment, nutrients, and pesticides to desirable social levels. Although a specific socially optimal level of pollutants may be difficult (or impossible) to quantify, the U.S. Congress, by passing the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (P. L. 92-500), has demonstrated the need for improvements in water quality.
Long-term follow-up study of uncertainty and psychosocial adjustment among implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients.

Abstract Background Sudden cardiac death is an international health issue. Implantable defibrillators have been effective in the secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death and are increasingly being utilized for primary prevention in individuals without a prior history of cardiac arrest or sustained ventricular tachycardia. Although it has been well documented that some recipients experience psychological distress and have difficulty in adjusting to the device, long-term data on psychological outcomes are limited. Objectives The aims of this study were to determine: (a) if there is a long-term relationship between uncertainty and psychosocial adjustment among implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) recipients; and (b) if changes in uncertainty and/or adjustment occur over time. Design A longitudinal, descriptive, correlational design was used for this long-term follow-up study ( M =9.4 years, SD=.23). Setting and participants Ninety-four patients from 4 major teaching hospitals in New England who had participated in an investigation of uncertainty and adjustment at 1 and 8 weeks following an initial ICD implant between 1996 and 1997 were solicited. From the original sample, 41 patients had expired (44%) and 5 had heart transplants (5%). Two individuals chose not to participate. Twenty-five persons (27%) were not found despite numerous attempts to locate them. The final sample included 21 subjects (22%). Methods Following university institutional review board approval, a mail survey was administered using the Dillman method. Instruments included a demographic data questionnaire, the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale-Self-Report and the 2-factor version of the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale. Results The final sample primarily included educated, married, white males. Uncertainty and adjustment levels did not change significantly over time. Early adjustment explained 40% of the variance in overall adjustment at long-term follow-up ( P =.010). Men experienced significantly more uncertainty overall [ t (19)=2.925, P =.009] and complexity related to living with the device [ t (19)=3.62, P =.002]. Conclusions Patients should be screened for psychological distress prior to device implantation so early intervention can be provided. Qualitative research is recommended to determine whether gender specific needs related to living with an ICD exist. More quantitative, long-term longitudinal data are also needed.
The evolutionary origin and elaboration of sociality in the aculeate Hymenoptera: maternal effects, sib-social effects, and heterochrony.

ABSTRACT We discuss the evolutionary origin and elaboration of sociality using an indirect genetic effects perspective. Indirect genetic effects models simultaneously consider zygotic genes, genes expressed in social partners (especially mothers and siblings), and the interactions between them. Incorporation of these diverse genetic effects should lead to more realistic models of social evolution. We first review haplodiploidy as a factor that promotes the evolution of eusociality. Social insect biologists have doubted the importance of relatedness asymmetry caused by haplodiploidy and focused on other predisposing factors such as maternal care. However, indirect effects theory shows that maternal care evolves more readily in haplodiploids, especially with inbreeding and despite multiple mating. Because extended maternal care is believed to be a precondition for the evolution of eusociality, the evolutionary bias towards maternal care in haplodiploids may result in a further bias towards eusociality in th...
The development of objective video quality measures that emulate human perception

A method for deriving an objective video quality metric that emulates the human video quality metric is described. The objective metric comprises a family of measurements that quantify spatial, temporal, luminance, and chrominance distortions, followed by a prediction algorithm. The intent is that the derived metric will work well over a wide range of digital and analog video transmission and storage technologies. After describing the need for these measures, a detailed description of the derivation process and some preliminary results are given. >
Massive hemoptysis after aspiration of a toothpick

A 42-year-old man presented with massive hemoptysis. His past medical history was significant for a bayonet injury to the left chest several years ago. A chest computed tomographic scan showed a radio-opaque foreign body in the left lower lobe. A left thoracotomy was performed because of unrelenting hemoptysis in association with a foreign body that could not be retrieved by bronchoscopy. At surgery, a toothpick covered with blood was retrieved from the left lower lobe bronchus. A left lower lobectomy was performed because a lung abscess was present. Postoperatively, the patient confirmed that 1 year prior he had fallen asleep with a toothpick in his mouth while intoxicated.
Barrier coverage for underwater sensor networks

Using sonar to detect submarines was an effective method. Current technologies, however, have made it possible for submarines to thwart standard (active or passive) sonar mechanisms [1]. Thus, finding alternatives to detect submarines becomes important and timely. One viable alternative is to use magnetic or acoustic sensors in close proximity of possible underwater pathways a submarine may pass through. This approach may require deploying large-scale underwater sensor networks to form strong barriers for coastline protection. In this paper we first derive the notion of 3-dimensional stealth distance to measure how far a submarine can travel in a sensor network before being detected by a sensor. Next we prove that there is no strong barrier coverage in a large 3-dimensional fixed emplacement sensor field where sensor locations follow a Poisson point process, i.e., there always exists a path by which an adversary informed of the locations of the sensors can move without being detected. Finally, we describe an energy conserving approach to constructing a strong 3-dimensional barrier using mobile nodes so that intruding submarines cannot pass through without being detected.
The Politics of Evaluation Research: The Peace Corps:

This paper analyzes the major political problems evaluation research must solve if it is to be effective in an innovative agency. Peace Corps annals supply the illustrations. In solving these probl...
Neural Basis of Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is defined as a chronically relapsing disorder, characterized by the compulsion to seek and take drugs, a loss of inhibition in the ability to control amount of intake, and the development of a negative hedonic state when access to drug is prohibited. According to Koob and Le Moal, there is a spiraling distress cycle of addiction that is comprised of social, psychiatric, and neurobiological mechanisms. The underlying neurobiological systems involved in the addiction cycle are quite complex, and no single mechanism mediates this process. Although there is a constellation of underlying neural pathways and processes involved in the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse, the scope of this chapter will be limited to the mesocorticolimbic reward circuit.
The SIMEST: an EST structure without parasitic thyristor achieved using SIMOX technology

A new emitter switched thyristor (EST) structure, in which the lateral N-channel MOSFET is isolated from the thyristor by using SIMOX technology to eliminate the parasitic thyristor, is presented. This structure is experimentally demonstrated to exhibit high voltage current saturation at large gate biases beyond the breakdown voltage of the lateral N-channel MOSFET and a lower on-state voltage drop than the dual channel EST.
Rates of Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits in Patients with Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Taking β-Blockers

Study objective To determine the rates of hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits during cardioselective and nonselective beta-blocker therapy in patients with asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Design Retrospective, observational cohort study. Data source Electronic medical records database. Patients A total of 11,592 adult patients with asthma and/or COPD, identified from August 1, 1997-December 31, 2005, who were taking beta-blockers for at least 30 days or had never received a beta-blocker (controls). Measurements and main results Of these patients, 3062 were taking cardioselective and 690 nonselective beta-blockers; 7840 were controls. The primary end point for the beta-blocker groups was the rate of hospitalizations and ED visits/patient-year of beta-blocker therapy relative to the control group. In patients with asthma with or without concomitant COPD, cardioselective beta-blockers were associated with a relative risk of 0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53-1.50) for hospitalizations and 1.40 (95% CI 1.20-1.62) for ED visits compared with controls. Nonselective beta-blockers were associated with a relative risk of 2.47 (95% CI 1.37-4.48) for hospitalizations and 1.21 (95% CI 0.91-1.62) for ED visits. In patients with COPD only, cardioselective beta-blockers were associated with a relative risk of 0.64 (95% CI 0.43-0.96) for hospitalizations and 1.19 (95% CI 1.02-1.39) for ED visits. Nonselective beta-blockers were associated with a relative risk of 1.02 (95% CI 0.52-2.02) for hospitalizations and 0.51 (95% CI 0.33-0.80) for ED visits. Conclusion In patients with asthma with or without COPD, both cardioselective and nonselective beta-blocker use increased hospitalizations and ED visits compared with controls. Thus, these patients should receive beta-blocker therapy only if their cardiac risk exceeds their pulmonary risk and if they have concomitant cardiac disease for which beta-blockers decrease mortality, such as previous acute myocardial infarction or chronic heart failure. In patients with COPD only, cardioselective beta-blockers slightly increased the risk of ED visits but reduced the risk of hospitalizations. Nonselective beta-blocker therapy in these patients reduced the rate of ED visits and total visits. These findings suggest a larger safety margin with beta-blocker therapy in patients with COPD only than in those with asthma with or without COPD.
Maternal behavior in transgenic mice with reduced fibroblast growth factor receptor function in gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons

Background: Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) are necessary for the proper development of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, which are key activators of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis. Transgenic mice that have the targeted expression of a dominant negative FGFR (dnFGFR) in GnRH neurons (dnFGFR mice) have a 30% decrease of GnRH neurons. Additionally, only 30–40% of the pups born to the transgenic dams survive to weaning age. These data raised the possibility that FGFR defects in GnRH neurons could adversely affect maternal behavior via novel mechanisms. Methods: We first determined if defective maternal behavior in dnFGFR mothers may contribute to poor pup survival by measuring pup retrieval and a battery of maternal behaviors in primiparous control (n=10–12) and dnFGFR (n=13–14) mothers. Other endocrine correlates of maternal behaviors, including plasma estradiol levels and hypothalamic pro-oxyphysin and GnRH transcript levels were also determined using enzyme-linked immunoassay and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Results: Maternal behaviors (% time crouching with pups, time off pups but not feeding, time feeding, and total number of nesting bouts) were not significantly different in dnFGFR mice. However, dnFGFR dams were more likely to leave their pups scattered and took significantly longer to retrieve each pup compared to control dams. Further, dnFGFR mothers had significantly lower GnRH transcripts and circulating E2, but normal pro-oxyphysin transcript levels. Conclusions: Overall, this study suggests a complex scenario in which a GnRH system compromised by reduced FGF signaling leads to not only suboptimal reproductive physiology, but also suboptimal maternal behavior.
Dispersion polymerization of styrene in carbon dioxide stabilized by copolymers of poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate and 2‐(perfluorooctyl)ethyl methacrylate

The dispersion polymerization of styrene in carbon dioxide with a series of copolymers of poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate (PPGMA) and 2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl methacrylate (FOEMA) as the polymerization dispersants was examined. It was demonstrated that PPGMA and FOEMA copolymers and polymers containing 52-100% FOEMA could be used as effective dispersants for the polymerization, and the composition of the copolymeric dispersant had a dramatic effect on both the polymerization yield and the morphology of the resulting polystyrene. The effects of the concentrations of the copolymeric dispersants, the concentrations of the monomer, and the reaction pressure were also investigated.
Alpha2-adrenergic agonists in cardiovascular anesthesia

At this time, the unique attributes of alpha 2-agonists in anesthesia lie in their ability to blunt the adrenergic response to the stresses of major surgery, in patients in whom this response is especially undesirable, without incurring the penalty of respiratory depression that attends the use of opioids. It has become more and more apparent that sympathetic/adrenergic activation often has adverse consequences for patient morbidity and mortality, and modification of such activation by drugs may be a valuable option for the anesthesiologist. However, at present, the evidence supporting this statement is "soft," such as improved hemodynamic and metabolic stability. What must be done is to generate solid support in the form of well-designed outcome studies. The potential value of alpha 2-agonists is greatest in major surgery in brittle patients involving the risk of significant adverse outcome. There are plenty of adequate anesthesia regimens to cover lesser surgical interventions. In these cases, it is not the choice of a specific anesthetic agent or technique, but rather the competence and diligence of the anesthesiologist that is most important for outcome. In contrast, in major cardiovascular surgery in high-risk patients, the optimal anesthetic approach attains more importance, and is still undecided. The final consensus as to whether or not this optimal approach will include the use of alpha 2-adrenergic agonists will depend on the results of more extensive clinical investigations.
Increased Intraretinal PO2 in Short-Term Diabetic Rats

In diabetic retinopathy, neovascularization is hypothesized to develop due to hypoxia in the retina. However, evidence for retinal hypoxia is limited, and the progressive changes in oxygenation are unknown. The objective of this study was to determine if retinal hypoxia occurs early in the development of diabetes. Intraretinal oxygen (PO2) profiles were recorded with oxygen-sensitive microelectrodes in control and diabetic Long-Evans rats at 4 and 12 weeks after induction of diabetes. Diabetes did not affect oxygen consumption in the photoreceptors in either dark or light adaptation. Oxygenation of the inner retina was not affected after 4 weeks of diabetes, although vascular endothelial growth factor levels increased. At 12 weeks, average inner retinal PO2, normalized to choriocapillaris PO2, was higher in diabetic rats than in age-matched controls, which was opposite to what was expected. Thus retinal hypoxia is not a condition of early diabetes in rat retina. Increased inner retinal PO2 may occur because oxygen consumption decreases in the inner retina.
Predictive Modeling of Supersaturation-Dependent Crystal Shapes

Several molecular organic crystals are known to exhibit significant changes to their steady-state growth shapes when grown in solutions with different supersaturations. In this article, we describe a first-principles model for the prediction of supersaturation-dependent growth shapes that is capable of capturing this phenomenon. The model begins with the prediction of the growth shape at an arbitrarily low supersaturation, for which all faces present on the steady-state shape grow by spirals. The dominant growth mechanisms (spiral or two-dimensional nucleation) are then determined over a specified range of supersaturations, based on the surface energies of edges present on the faces of the low-supersaturation (spiral growth) shape. These energies are estimated from the set of strong intermolecular interactions contained within each face and solubility parameter data. Steady-state growth shapes are then predicted as a function of supersaturation. A case-study performed on naphthalene grown in ethanol is pr...
Two New Species of Physoderma from India

The present paper concerns two species of Physoderma parasitic on higher plants which were found at Banaras, India. One is a very destructive and economically important parasite of jute plants, Corchorus olitorius Linn., and the other attacks species of Commelina, Cyanotis and Aneilema. Both species differ in the characters of rhizomycelium, resting sporangia, zoospores, host reactions and host range from known species of Physoderma. Both are therefore regarded as new species and given names.
Energy and nutrient calculations using an Optical Character Reader system

When the factors of reproducibility, time, and cost were considered, this study found that the Optical Character Reader system was as acceptable as either hand calculation or on-line computer methods for calculating energy and nutrient composition.
Death Row, Calls for Indifference, and Redemption of the Soul

In response to Marah Stith McLeod, Does the Death Penalty Require Death Row? The Harm of Legislative Silence, 77 Ohio St. L.J. 525 (2016).
Mouse Models of Campylobacter jejuni Infection

Campylobacter jejuni, is one of the most frequent bacterial causes of enteritis and a less frequent cause of extraintestinal disease in humans. Contamination of food is thought to be a main source of human infections. This chapter focuses on mouse models of Campylobacter jejuni infection. Various direct evidence demonstrate that the C. jejuni-mouse parasitism is a robust platform for studies of mechanisms of colonization, distribution, and clearance of C. jejuni, pathology; host defenses against C. jejuni, including non-specific and immunologic mediator and effector systems; antibiotic treatment; and bacterial factors. Direct evidence obtained by using BALB/c, and NMRI strains of mice shows an age dependence of the parasitism, where newborn mice respond to challenge differently from adults. Infection of mice with Cryptosporidium parvum or colonization with normal intestinal microbial flora changes the consequences of concurrent or subsequent C. jejuni infection. The treatment of mice with selected antibiotics before C. jejuni challenge, presumably by reducing gut colonization with non-Campylobacter microbes, exacerbates the consequences of subsequent C. jejuni infection. Direct evidence also shows that C. jejuni isolates differ in their virulence for mice and that the organism may change in virulence with in-vitro passage. Thus, when isolates from clinical materials are collected, steps should be taken to insure that they are processed similarly and frozen within five or fewer in-vitro passages. Oral introduction of C. jejuni does not result in any grossly observable signs of infection as there is no loss in body weight nor other signs of illness. Although, nasal introduction of sufficient numbers of C. jejuni causes mice to appear ill and to lose weight.
Introduction: Beginnings: Foraging and Neuroscience

The study of the brain is tied to self-reflective sensibilities (e.g. “who am I?”). Humans have been cogitating on the brain for a long time, perhaps beginning in North Africa. In the broader ambiance of the ancient Near East (e.g. the Sumerians), where some of the first examples of writing and complex civilizations seem to have emerged, the Egyptians focused some study on the brain. We know this because of the use of the papyrus plant, which grows near the Nile region (Gross, 1990) and which the Egyptians used to make writing materials.
Human Natural Killer Cells Achieve Tolerance by Preferentially Endowing Functional Competence to Inhibitory Killer Ig-Like Receptors Specific for Self-HLA Class I.

Natural killer (NK) cells are capable of cytotoxic targeting of virally infected cells and some tumor cells. It has been well-demonstrated that NK cells recognize target cells that have down-regulated MHC class I antigen expression (i.e. “missing self recognition”), and that it is the lack of class I engagement of inhibitory receptors such as the killer Ig-like receptors (KIR) that thereby allows NK activation and effector function. How these same inhibitory receptors achieve self-tolerance and simultaneously avoid autoimmunity in humans has not been clear, as more than 60% of individuals have inhibitory KIR for which they lack the HLA ligand. We demonstrate that mature NK cells achieve self-tolerance by preferentially endowing functional competence to the inhibitory KIRs for which they exhibit the cognate HLA ligands. To allow evaluation of inhibitory KIR and avoid interference from potentially class-I recognizing activating KIR, we analyzed NK cells from 10 individuals with various HLA backgrounds, but who were all homozygous for KIR haplotype-A. KIR haplotype-A contains the inhibitory KIR receptors 2DL3, 2DL1, and 3DL1, specific for HLA-Cw3, -Cw4, and -Bw4 ligands respectively, in addition to at most one other activating KIR whose ligand is unknown. Using 6-color staining and flow cytometric analysis of intracellular IFN-γ production, we evaluated the responsiveness of 30 inhibitory KIR-expressing NK subsets following activation with 721.221, a target cell line deficient in class I expression, with 721.221 transfectants expressing HLA-Cw3, -Cw4, or -Bw4 ligands, and with B-lymphocyte cell lines with diverse HLA phenotypes. NK cells exclusively expressing an inhibitory KIR for self-HLA demonstrated increased IFN-γ when coincubated with target cells lacking the cognate HLA ligand, whereas NK cells exclusively expressing an inhibitory KIR for non-self HLA were hyporesponsive to all targets. In all individuals, NK cells expressing inhibitory KIR specific for self-HLA were significantly more responsive than NK cells expressing inhibitory KIR for non-self HLA (p<0.001). All 3 inhibitory KIR (KIR2DL3, 2DL1, and 3DL1) demonstrated capacity for tolerance, with predictable response patterns based on the HLA background of the individual. NK cells lacking all inhibitory NK receptors (KIR−CD94/NKG2A−ILT2−) were identifiable and were markedly hyporesponsive. KIR−CD94/NKG2A+ILT2+ NK cells were also minimally responsive, comparable to the NK subset expressing inhibitory KIR for non-self HLA. These results demonstrate NK tolerance in humans, consistent with the licensing model proposed in mice: NK cells expressing inhibitory KIR to self-HLA are significantly more responsive than NK cells expressing inhibitory KIR for non-self HLA, and are rendered tolerant to self through inhibition upon binding to self-HLA ligands. NK cells expressing inhibitory KIR for non-self HLA are hyporesponsive and therefore rendered tolerant and incapable of autoreactivity when ligand is not engaged.
Quantification of liver stiffness and viscosity with SDUV: In vivo animal study

Measurement of liver elasticity (i.e., stiffness) can be used as a noninvasive alternative to liver biopsy to stage liver fibrosis, a condition afflicting hundreds of millions of patients worldwide. Quantitative measurement of stiffness (in unit of Pascal) is required because liver fibrosis is a diffuse disease where abnormality is not confined to a local region and there is no normal background tissue to provide contrast. Shearwave Dispersion Ultrasound Vibrometry (SDUV) uses shear wave propagation speed measured in tissue at multiple frequencies (typically in the range of hundreds of Hertz) to solve quantitatively for both tissue elasticity and viscosity. A shear wave is stimulated within the tissue by an ultrasound push beam and monitored by a separate ultrasound detect beam. The phase difference of the shear wave between two locations along its propagation path is used to calculate shear wave speed within the tissue. An intermittent pulse sequence is developed to facilitate one array transducer for both push and detect function. Feasibility of this pulse sequence is demonstrated by SDUV measurements in porcine liver using both a dual transducer prototype and a modified commercial ultrasound scanner.
The Psychophysiology of Lucid Dreaming

Although we are usually unaware of the fact that we are dreaming while we are dreaming, at times a remarkable exception occurs, and our consciousness becomes lucid enough for us to realize that we are dreaming. Lucid dreamers report being able to freely remember the circumstances of waking life, to think clearly, and to act deliberately upon reflection, all the while experiencing a dream world that seems vividly real (Green, 1968; LaBerge, 1985a). This is all in contrast to the usual characterization of dreams as typically lacking any reflective awareness or true volition (Rechtschaffen, 1978).
A meta-analysis of endoscopic ultrasound-fine-needle aspiration compared to endoscopic ultrasound-fine-needle biopsy: diagnostic yield and the value of onsite cytopathological assessment.

Background The diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is variable, and partly dependent upon rapid onsite evaluation (ROSE) by a cytopathologist. Second generation fine-needle biopsy (FNB) needles are being increasingly used to obtain core histological tissue samples. Aims Studies comparing the diagnostic yield of EUS guided FNA versus FNB have reached conflicting conclusions. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the diagnostic yield of FNA with FNB, and specifically evaluating the diagnostic value of ROSE while comparing the two types of needles. Methods We searched several databases from inception to 10 April 2016 to identify studies comparing diagnostic yield of second generation FNB needles with standard FNA needles. Risk ratios (RR) were calculated for categorical outcomes of interest (diagnostic adequacy, diagnostic accuracy, and optimal quality histological cores obtained). Standard mean difference (SMD) was calculated for continuous variables (number of passes required for diagnosis). These were pooled using random effects model of meta-analysis to account for heterogeneity. Meta-regression was conducted to evaluate the effect of ROSE on various outcomes of interest. Results Fifteen studies with a total of 1024 patients were included in the analysis. We found no significant difference in diagnostic adequacy [RR 0.98 (0.91, 1.06), (I 2 = 51 %)]. Although not statistically significant (P = 0.06), by meta-regression, in the absence of ROSE, FNB showed a relatively better diagnostic adequacy. For solid pancreatic lesions only, there was no difference in diagnostic adequacy [RR 0.96 (0.86, 1.09), (I 2 = 66 %)]. By meta-regression, in the absence of ROSE, FNB was associated with better diagnostic adequacy (P = 0.02). There was no difference in diagnostic accuracy [RR 0.99 (0.95, 1.03), (I 2 = 27 %)] or optimal quality core histological sample procurement [RR 0.97 (0.89, 1.05), (I 2 = 9.6 %)]. However, FNB established diagnosis with fewer passes [SMD 0.93 (0.45, 1.42), (I 2 = 84 %)]. The absence of ROSE was associated with a higher SMD, i. e., in the presence of an onsite pathologist, FNA required relatively fewer passes to establish the diagnosis than in the absence of an onsite pathologist. Conclusions There is no significant difference in the diagnostic yield between FNA and FNB, when FNA is accompanied by ROSE. However, in the absence of ROSE, FNB is associated with a relatively better diagnostic adequacy in solid pancreatic lesions. Also, FNB requires fewer passes to establish the diagnosis.
Mastery Goal Orientation and Performance Affect the Development of Leader Efficacy During Leader Development

Leader efficacy is a key outcome of leader development, but little is known about if and when developmental leader experiences, such as engaging in training, relate to gains in leader efficacy. We ...
Pathways and variability at intermediate depths in the tropical Atlantic

Abstract Oceanographie and meteorological data as well as model results are analyzed to study the pathways and the temporal variability of the intermediate depth (800-1100 m) flow in the tropical Atlantic (9°S to 7°N). The mean flow is dominated by zonal currents which interact with the western boundary current. These currents frequently experience reversals of the zonal and meridional flow. The primary focus in the analysis of the variability is on the region around 6°S. The observations reveal temporal variability on mesoscale, annual and interannual time scales. Several westward propagating signals can be identified, with propagation velocities between 5 and 7 cm s 1 . Two zonal length scales (500-700 km and more than 2000 km) are observed. It is hypothesized that these are due to planetary waves. A comparative analysis of observations and model velocities reveals striking similarities in their time and length scales. Sample spectra of the model velocities show a dominant peak of the spectral energy density at a wave length between 500 km and 1100 km. Additionally, a longer wave with a zonal wave length of about 5000 km is present, which can not be resolved by the spectral analysis. In the time space the spectral analysis for the zonal and meridional velocity reveals coinciding peaks at periods of 45 days, 66 days and one year. For the latter two periods the energy for the two velocity components are quite similar. An analytical planetary wave solution shows that a superposition of a mesoscale and an annual planetary wave is sufficient to reproduce a large part of the variability found in the observations and the model. The wave with an annual period is most likely due to the annual cycle of the wind field.
Home Environment to Culture Shock

Recent studies are concerned with how to get more low-income students onto America’s elite campuses, yet there is little discussion about what life is like for these students after they gain admission. This chapter addresses the culture shock that high-achieving, low-income students experience on an elite campus. It reports on the student’s descriptions of their home and school experiences before college, and after they arrive and acclimate to their new elite environment. This sharp contrast is described as students struggle to learn to live within this new culture, becoming in a sense “bi-cultural,” while at the same time class-conscious.
Optimal inspector satellite guidance to quasi-hover via relative teardrop trajectories

Abstract Metaheuristic methods and direct methods are used to find minimum time and minimum fuel solutions to inject an inspector satellite into and maintain a relative teardrop trajectory with respect to a resident space object in geosynchronous orbit. The optimal control problem is transcribed to a parameter optimization problem and solved with a particle swarm optimization algorithm, which is then fed as an initial guess for two different nonlinear programming problem solvers, one of which is the Radau pseudospectral method. Two angles are used to represent the direction of the finite thrust for the two burns in three dimensions for both the minimum time and minimum fuel formulations, and an analytic expression for the final six Hill-Clohessy-Wiltshire states after the two finite burns is employed to find the optimal burn directions and burn times. Thus, multiple optimization methods are used to find both minimum time and minimum fuel solutions, providing mission planners with multiple tools to enable optimal quasi-hovering in a prescribed three-dimensional teardrop in order to inspect and characterize a resident space object.
A Retrospective Assessment of a Failed Collaborative Process in Conservation

Collaboration provides one tool for managing the complicated and often the contentious natural resource issues. Successful collaborative arrangements involve a mix of actors bringing key attributes to the table: power, capacity, motivation, mandate, and synergy. These attributes, if missing or if one overshadows the rest, can derail the collaborative process and/or the conservation outcomes. We offer a case study of natural gas field development impacts on America's only endemic ungulate-pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)-winter range in the Upper Green River Basin (UGRB), Wyoming, USA. We illustrate how a collaborative process can go awry, given asymmetries between the relative strengths and the associated attributes of actors, and the subsequent extent to which this imbalance created an unfavorable situation for continued collaboration. The case study reveals disagreements on technical data and potential insight on agency capture operating at a local scale. Despite these process challenges, some conservation outcomes resulted from work generated by the collaboration. Our experience underscores the importance of defining a clear purpose for collaborative processes at the outset, articulating specific roles, ensuring transparency among actors, and flexibility for long-term management as possible ways, in which the groups involved in collaborations to manage natural resources can complement each other's strengths and strive for better conservation outcomes.
Effects of Livestock Grazing and Cultural Treatments on Regeneration of Green Ash Woodlands on the Northern Great Plains: An Update

Many green ash woodlands (Fraxinus pennsylvanica ) have become decadent with broken stems and limited regeneration of both trees and shrubs on the northern Great Plains. The purpose of this study was to determine the response of woodland regeneration of shrubs, trees and planting woody species over 25 post-treatment years (1) to livestock grazing with thinning low vigor trees, (40% reduction) in woodlands with transplanting woody plants, (2) livestock grazing with un-thinned woodlands-no transplanting of woody plants, (3) no livestock grazing with thinning low vigor trees, (40% reduction) in woodlands with transplanting woody plants, and (4) no livestock grazing with un-thinned woodlands-no transplanting of woody plants. Initial treatment response for trees and shrubs occurred during the first 6 years of post-treatment. After 25 years of post-treatment, trees and shrubs were not different between livestock grazing and no grazing treatments. American elm (Ulmus americana ) decreased in stem density and may have been influenced by disease. Stem density of snowberry ( Symphoricarpos occidentalis ) decreased in the unthinned treatment. Common chokecherry (Prunus virginiana ) stem densities remained relatively constant over 25 years of post-treatments. Planted shrub and tree species had greater than 50% survival in ungrazed versus grazed treatments. Survival of bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa ), Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ) and American plum (Prunus americana ) was greater when livestock grazing was excluded. Herbaceous standing crop of the grasses, forbs, and total was variable throughout all years among treatments.
School C and Mainstream Schooling: An Ambivalent Positioning

Chapter 7 seeks to offer a comprehensive operationalisation of supplementary school positioning by exploring the manifestation of positioning within micro-level classroom discourse. This part therefore marks a transition from the panoramic view of a diverse cohort of schools (featured in Chaps. 4– 6) to a more focused micro-level perspective. This chapter presents the first part of an in-depth case study of an African-Caribbean supplementary school (African-Caribbean school C), which explores the micro-level discursive encoding of school positioning within everyday school processes and classroom interactions. This chapter discusses the positioning of school C in relation to mainstream schooling, revealing the complex manifestation of the ‘transformation’ discourse in both the perpetuation and rejection of mainstream schooling practices.
Laparoscopic Excision of Urachal Cyst

AbstractThe treatment of choice for persistent urachal anomaly is radical surgical excision intended to prevent complications, notably malignancy in a retained remnant. We report a case of the radical laparoscopic excision of an infected urachal cyst. This effective alternative to an open technique has the advantages inherent in minimally invasive surgery.
A History of Research in Anesthesia

Research in anesthesia has taken several forms. Other essays in this book supply detailed histories of those specific researches, including the discovery of new anesthetics and anesthetic adjuvant drugs, advances in anesthetic delivery and monitoring, measurement and codification of anesthetic pharmacodynamics and kinetics, and the development of vehicles for the exchange of information on research (societies, books and journals). We refer the reader to these chapters for details of the histories of specific researches. The present chapter supplies an overview, a summary of the progress in anesthesia research.
Ground Glass Lesions on Chest Imaging: Evaluation of Reported Incidence in Cancer Patients Using Natural Language Processing.

Background Ground glass opacities (GGOs) on computed tomography (CT) have gained significant recent attention, with unclear incidence and epidemiologic patterns. Natural language processing (NLP) is a powerful computing tool that collects variables from unstructured data fields. Our objective was to characterize trends of GGO detection using NLP. Methods Patients were identified at a large quaternary referral center who underwent chest CT from 2000 to 2016 via query of institutional databases. NLP was used to identify imaging reports with GGOs and to obtain additional demographic data. Incidence of reported GGOs was tracked over time. Multivariate regression was used to identify predictors of GGOs identified on chest CT. Results A total of 244,391 chest CTs were included, with 35,386 (14.5%) revealing GGOs. There was a significant relationship between advancing year of chest CT and likelihood of reported GGOs (p Conclusions NLP explored a large cohort of patients who underwent chest CT over the study period. Demographic features predicting reported GGOs include age, sex, race, and occupation. GGO recognition continues to increase with time, and further studies investigating etiology and prognostic implications are necessary.
Effects of obesity and smoking on survival in non-small cell lung cancer.

1586 Background: Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the US and is linked to many cancers most notably lung cancer. It is established that smoking not only causes lung cancer but i...
Integration of a palliative care specialist in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinic: Observations from one center

Palliative care specialists can aid in the care of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this article, we describe our 1-year experience incorporating a palliative care specialist into the ALS multidisciplinary team. We describe our integration model, patient selection, and visit content. Of 500 total clinic patients, 74 (14.8%) were seen by the palliative care specialist in 1 year. Referral was most often triggered by advance care planning needs (91%). In the initial visit with the palliative care specialist, topics most frequently covered included goals of care (84%), anxiety/depression (35%), and medical decision-making about feeding tubes (27%) or tracheostomy (31%). Symptom management comprised a relatively small number of the visits, and duration of visits was limited by patient fatigue. Patients with complex goals of care may benefit from the input of a palliative care specialist, and unique integration models may help to facilitate care delivery. Muscle Nerve 60: 137-140, 2019.