cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Frequency extrapolation by nonconvex compressive sensing

Tomographic imaging modalities sample subjects with a discrete, finite set of measurements, while the underlying object function is continuous. Because of this, inversion of the imaging model, even under ideal conditions, necessarily entails approximation. The error incurred by this approximation can be important when there is rapid variation in the object function or when the objects of interest are small. In this work, we investigate this issue with the Fourier transform (FT), which can be taken as the imaging model for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or some forms of wave imaging. Compressive sensing has been successful for inverting this data model when only a sparse set of samples are available. We apply the compressive sensing principle to a somewhat related problem of frequency extrapolation, where the object function is represented by a super-resolution grid with many more pixels than FT measurements. The image on the super-resolution grid is obtained through nonconvex minimization. The method fully utilizes the available FT samples, while controlling aliasing and ringing. The algorithm is demonstrated with continuous FT samples of the Shepp-Logan phantom with additional small, high-contrast objects.
Spectral Properties of Chlorophyll a Monolayers in the Presence of an Exogenous Electron Donor and Acceptor

Chlorophyll a monolayers are studied at a nitrogen-water interface in the presence of a reducing or oxidizing agent: sodium ascorbate and benzyl viologen, respectively. Absorption spectra of the films are measured directly on the aqueous surface. With the aid of a computer, fourth derivative and difference spectra are determined. In the presence of ascorbate, a bathochromic shift of the absorption maximum to 693 nm can be induced as compared to 683 nm for a chlorophyll monolayer without any additives. In the presence of ascorbate, chlorophyll species at 676, 712 and 750 nm (present in a pure chlorophyll monolayer) are decreased or diminished. Illumination causes no change in the position of these absorption maxima; however, there is an increase of the absorbance of the main red absorption band. In the presence of benzyl viologen there is a hypsochromic shift of the red absorption maximum to 679 nm. Chlorophyll species at 670, 694, 712 and 740 nm (present in pure chlorophyll monolayers) are decreased or diminished upon addition of benzyl viologen. Upon illumination, there is a decrease in absorbance at 686 nm. It appears that the redox reagents induce the formation of specific chlorophyll aggregates, in the interfacial system, which might be analogous to the various chlorophyll species observed in green plant photosynthesis.
Blocking Caspase-3-Mediated Proteolysis of IKKβ Suppresses TNF-α-Induced Apoptosis

Abstract The transcription factor NF-κB is essential for survival of many cell types. However, cells can undergo apoptosis despite the concurrent NF-κB activation. It is unknown how the protection conveyed by NF-κB is overridden during apoptosis. We report here that IκB kinase (IKK) β was specifically proteolyzed by Caspase-3-related caspases at aspartic acid residues 78, 242, 373, and 546 during tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced apoptosis. Proteolysis of IKKβ eliminated its enzymatic activity, interfered with IKK activation, and promoted TNF-α killing. Point mutations that abrogate IKKβ proteolysis generated a caspase-resistant IKKβ mutant, which suppressed TNF-α-induced apoptosis. Thus, our study demonstrates that TNF-α-induced apoptosis requires caspase-mediated proteolysis of IKKβ.
High- Q microphotonic electro-optic modulator

Abstract A microphotonic mm-wave modulator using simultaneous RF and optical resonance in an electro-optic medium is presented. Theory and simulation of modulator operation is discussed, and experimental results demonstrating modulation using simultaneous resonance in the mm-wave range are reported.
Cerebral Endothelial Cell Apoptosis after Ischemia—Reperfusion: Role of PARP Activation and AIF Translocation

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion leads to vascular dysfunction characterized by endothelial cell injury or death. In the present study, we used an in vitro model to elucidate mechanisms of human brain microvascular endothelial cell (HBMEC) injury after episodic ischemia-reperfusion. Near-confluent HBMEC cultures were exposed to intermittent hypoxia-reoxygenation (HX/RO) and, at different recovery time points, cell viability was assessed by the MTT assay, apoptotic death by fluorescence microscopy of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells, and nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) by immunoblotting of subcellular fractions. Reductions in HBMEC viability were proportional to the number of HX/RO cycles, and not the total duration of hypoxia. Using four cycles of 1-h HX with 1 h of intervening normoxic RO, cell viability was reduced 30% to 40% between 12 and 48 h. Treatment with the PARP-1 inhibitors 3-aminobenzamide or 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide during the insult improved HBMEC viability at 24 h after insult, and resulted in dose-dependent reductions in TUNEL-positivity at 16 h after insult, but not if these treatments were delayed by 4 h. HX/RO-induced increases in nuclear AIF translocation, as well as PARP-1 cleavage, were also reduced dose-dependently at 4 h after insult by the inhibitors. The caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk blocked PARP-1 cleavage, but did not affect AIF translocation and was only modestly cytoprotective. These findings indicate that PARP-1 activation and a PARP-1-dependent, caspase-independent, nuclear translocation of AIF contribute to apoptotic cerebral endothelial cell death after ischemia-reperfusion, underscoring the potential for ischemic microvascular protection by inhibiting PARP activation or preventing AIF translocation.
Cyclooxygenase-2 gene disruption attenuates the severity of acute pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury

Abstract Background & Aims: Cyclooxygenase (COX) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in prostaglandin production; the inducible isoform, COX-2, has been implicated in a variety of inflammatory processes. The role of COX in acute pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury is not known. Methods: Acute pancreatitis was induced in Swiss Webster mice or mice deficient in the COX-2 ( Ptgs 2) or the COX-1 ( Ptgs 1) genes. Pancreata and lungs were harvested, and histologic sections of these tissues were scored. COX-2 expression, myeloperoxidase activity (a measurement of neutrophil sequestration), and serum amylase levels were determined. Results: Acute pancreatitis was associated with induction of COX-2 expression. Treatment with NS-398 (a COX-2 inhibitor) significantly decreased the severity of pancreatitis. Furthermore, Ptgs 2-deficient mice showed minimal histologic evidence of pancreatitis, a marked attenuation in the severity of lung injury, and a significant reduction in myeloperoxidase activity. In contrast, Ptgs 1-deficient mice had pancreatitis and pulmonary inflammation, which was as severe or, in some instances, more severe than in the wild-type mice. Conclusions: Inhibition of COX-2 by either pharmacologic inhibition or selective genetic deletion markedly attenuated the severity of acute pancreatitis. Our findings identify the COX-2 isoform as an important regulator of the severity of acute pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2002;123:1311-1322
Resonant-structure micromotors

Resonant-structure micromotors operate on the principle of mechanical resonance, so that the armature is driven for maximum displacement and power. The application of resonance in motors is placed in historical perspective and the scaling issues for such resonant systems are identified and quantified. Along with a conventional, tensile-element resonant-structure, an novel, crab-leg flexure system is described, and the stress and flexural spring constant formulas are derived. >
Social and monetary reward learning engage overlapping neural substrates

Learning to make choices that yield rewarding outcomes requires the computation of three distinct signals: stimulus values that are used to guide choices at the time of decision making, experienced utility signals that are used to evaluate the outcomes of those decisions and prediction errors that are used to update the values assigned to stimuli during reward learning. Here we investigated whether monetary and social rewards involve overlapping neural substrates during these computations. Subjects engaged in two probabilistic reward learning tasks that were identical except that rewards were either social (pictures of smiling or angry people) or monetary (gaining or losing money). We found substantial overlap between the two types of rewards for all components of the learning process: a common area of ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) correlated with stimulus value at the time of choice and another common area of vmPFC correlated with reward magnitude and common areas in the striatum correlated with prediction errors. Taken together, the findings support the hypothesis that shared anatomical substrates are involved in the computation of both monetary and social rewards.
Bounds on the Minimum Distance of Goppa Codes

A general upper bound on the minimum distance of Goppa codes is given. It is also shown how to choose divisors so that Goppa codes from fiber products of Kummer covers of the projective line have substantially improved lower bounds for the minimum distance compared to the usual Goppa bound.
Segmental dilatation of the ileum : Diagnostic clarification by prenatal and postnatal imaging

Segmental dilatation of the ileum (SDI), also termed ileal dysgenesis or segmental megaileum, is characterized by a sharply defined and markedly dilated segment of the ileum flanked by normal-caliber afferent and efferent bowel.1 Segmental dilatation of the ileum is a rare condition, with only 125 published cases, 1-16 It commonly presents during the neonatal period or childhood with an abdominal mass and symptoms including abdominal pain, bowel obstruction, anemia, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Segmental dilatation of the ileum is definitively treated by surgical resection. We report a case of SDI in a male neonate whose prenatal and postnatal imaging revealed a cystic abdominal mass. To our knowledge, the prenatal appearance of SDI has not been reported previously.
Preliminary Rate Expressions for Analysis of Radionuclide Migration Resulting from Fluid Flow Through Jointed Media

A theoretical and experimental basis is being developed for analysis of radionuclide transport in jointed geologic media. Batch equilibration and rate experiments involving samples of Eleana argillite and Tertiary silicic tuffs in contact with solutions containing Cs, Sr, or Pm indicated that most radionuclide sorption was associated with the surfaces of very small inter-granular regions and that the rate of sorption was controlled by diffusion of the nuclides into such regions. Based on these experimental results, the continuity equations for radionuclides in the mobile and immobile phases were reduced to a model analogous to Rosen’s equations for packed beds and were solved similarly. Using the model and experimental data, limited radionuclide transport analyses were made which indicated that important parameters controlling transport include the intergranular porosity and nuclide penetration depth, fracture plate spacing and length, fluid velocity and sorption distribution coefficient. Many of these parameters represent physical quantities or processes which can be quantified in the laboratory. However, fluid velocities and fracture plate spacings and lengths must be obtained from the field and methods must be developed to establish reliable bounds for such field-determined parameters.
THE EFFECT OF RIDGE-ICE LOCATION AND THE ROLE OF AIRFOIL GEOMETRY

The findings from a recent University of Illinois investigation on the effect of ridge ice location on airfoil aerodynamics using additional airfoils are presented. Previous studies involving two airfoils (NACA 23012m and NLF 0414) showed that the most severe performance penalties were observed when the simulated ridge ice was located near the adverse pressure recovery region of the clean model. Two more airfoils (a commuter aircraft wing and tail sections) were tested and original findings were confirmed. The results from the commuter airfoils showed that an airfoil's sensitivity to SLD ice accretion (ridge ice that typically form between 10-20% chord) was dependent largely on its load distribution. If the airfoil was more front-loaded, then its performance degradation due to SLD ice accretion tended to be more severe.
Engagement indicators predict health changes in a lifestyle intervention

Objective To evaluate the utility of several participant engagement indicators for predicting health changes in a church-based lifestyle intervention shown effective for improving dietary, physical activity, and clinical outcomes. Methods Descriptive indicators were constructed using 2 participant engagement measures - education session attendance (EDA) and exercise class attendance (EXA) - separately and combined. Relationships of 6 engagement indicators to health outcomes were tested using generalized linear mixed models. Results EDA predicted 5 dietary and 1 clinical outcome, whereas EXA predicted one physical activity and one clinical outcome. The combined indicator predicted the same 7 outcomes. Conclusion Use of single engagement indicators specific to each intervention component is advocated for predicting relevant health outcome.
Influence of hypophysectomy on oxidative enzymes and size of parietal cells in gastric mucosa.

SummaryGastric parietal cells were reduced in size after hypophysectomy of the rat. Treatment with STC enlarged the cells but did not restore their normal size. Histochemical demonstration of cytochrome c oxidase, DPN diaphorase and 5 dehydrogenases did not reveal any one which was affected more than the others in either parietal or chief cells. In both cell types some overall reduction in activity occurred coincident with a reduction in cell size.
Infantile Intracranial Tumors

Patients presenting to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) through the last 34 years with intracranial tumor in the first year of life were reviewed retrospectively for symptoms, management, and functional outcome.
Right Retrobulbar Hemorrhage during Cardiopulmonary Bypass

We experienced a case of retrobular hemorrhage during cardiopulmonary bypass. Following factors are suspected as the cause retrobulbar hemorrhage in this patient; l ) Rupture of preexisting AV malformation or aneurysm. 2) Accidental high flow to innominate artery by Coanda effect or miscannulation, 3) Obstruction of right jugular venous drainage and therefore cerebrofacial flow is increased, 4) Increase bleeding tendency during cardiopulmonary bypass. Fortunetely, patient has no neurologic complication and well recovered from retrobulbar hemorrhage.
Group Coaching on Pre-School Teachers’ Implementation of Pyramid Model Strategies: A Program Description

The purpose of this article was to describe a group coaching model and present preliminary evidence of its impact on teachers’ implementation of Pyramid Model practices. In particular, we described...
Cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease.

Cholinesterase inhibitors produce a small benefit on several cognitive and noncognitive function scales. Although data for patients with severe dementia are sparse, there is no evidence to suggest a difference in effectiveness among patients with mild, moderate, or severe dementia. Compared with placebo, adverse reactions are significantly more common in treatment groups. Limited evidence suggests donepezil (Aricept) is better tolerated than rivastigmine (Exelon). There is no consistent evidence to suggest treatment reduces health care costs or prolongs time until institutionalization.
Regulation of the Cytoskeleton by the Rho Family of GTPases in Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Health and Disease

The Rho family of GTPases is composed of members of the Ras superfamily of proteins. They are GTP-bound molecules with a modest intrinsic GTPase activity that can be accelerated upon activation/localization of specialized guanine nucleotide exchange factors. Members of this family act as molecular switches, and are required for coordinated cytoskeletal rearrangements which are crucial in a set of specialized functions of mammalian stem cells. These functions include self-renewal, adhesion, and migration. Mouse gene-targeting studies have provided convincing evidence of the indispensable and dispensable roles of individual members of the Rho GTPase family, and the putative upstream and downstream mediators in stem cell-specific functions. The role of Rho GTPases and related signaling pathways previously seen in other cell types and organisms have been confirmed in mammalian hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), and new signaling pathways and unexpected functions unique to HSC have been identified and dissected. This review intends to summarize our current understanding of the role of the Rho family of GTPases on HSC and progenitor activity through cytoskeleton-mediated signaling pathways, and to provide insight on relevant signaling pathways that regulate mammalian stem cell self-renewal, adhesion and migration in health and HSC disease.
“A Little Good News”: Development News in Third World Newspapers

(1984). “A Little Good News”: Development News in Third World Newspapers. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 8, Communication Yearbook 8, pp. 628-644.
Path integral molecular dynamics methods

We present the aspects of the path integral molecular dynamics (PIMD) method relative to (a) its theoretical fundamental principles, (b) its applicability to model quantum systems and (c) its implementation as a simulation tool. The PIMD method is based on the discretized path integral representation of quantum mechanics. In this representation, a quantum particle is isomorphic to a closed polymer chain. The problem of the indistinguishability of quantum particles is tackled with a non-local exchange potential. When the exact density matrix of the quantum particles is used, the exchange potential is exact. We use a high temperature approximation to the density matrix leading to an approximate form of the exchange potential. This quantum molecular dynamics method allows the simulation of collections of quantum particles at finite temperature. Our algorithm can be made to scale linearly with the number of quantum states on which the density matrix is projected. Therefore, it can be optimized to run efficiently on parallel computers. We apply the PIMD method to the electron plasma in 3-dimension. The kinetic and potential energies are calculated and compared with results for similar systems simulated with a variational Monte Carlo method. Both results show good agreements with each other at all the densities studied. The method is then use to model the thermodynamic behavior of a simple alkali metal. In these simulations, ions and valence electrons are treated as classical and quantum particles, respectively. The simple metal undergoes a phase transformation upon heating. Furthermore, to demonstrate the richness of behaviors that can be studied with the PIMD method, we also report on the metal to insulator transition in a hydrogenoid lattice. Finally, in previous studies of alkali metals, electrons interacted with ions via local pseudo-potentials, an extension of the method to modeling electrons in non-local pseudo-potentials is also presented with applications.
Double-read of skeletal surveys in suspected non-accidental trauma: what we learned

Missing a fracture in a child on skeletal surveys for suspected non-accidental trauma can have devastating results. Double-read has the potential to improve fracture detection. However the yield of double-read is unknown. To determine the advantage of double-read versus single-read of radiographic skeletal surveys for suspected non-accidental trauma. The study was performed in two phases. In the first phase (April 2013 to September 2013), double-read was performed for all skeletal surveys obtained during weekday working hours. Because we had no new double-read findings in studies initially read as negative, we conducted a second phase (January 2014 to March 2014). In the second phase we limited double-reads to skeletal surveys found positive on the first read. At the end of this period, we retrospectively performed double-read for all initially negative skeletal surveys. We excluded follow-up skeletal surveys. The difference in discrepancy (new fracture or false diagnosis of a fracture) ratio between negative and positive skeletal surveys was evaluated using the Fisher exact test, and change in discrepancy ratio between the first and second study phases was evaluated using the stratified Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. Overall in the two phases, 178 skeletal surveys were performed in 178 children (67 girls) with mean age of 9 months (range 3 days to 3.7 years). Double-read found 16 discrepancies in 8/178 (4.5%) skeletal surveys. Seven of these studies showed additional fractures (n=15). In one study, an initial read of a skull fracture was read as a variant on the second read. There was a significant (P=0.01) difference between rate of disagreement in negative skeletal surveys (1/104, 1.0%) and positive skeletal surveys (7/74, 9.5%). No significant change in disagreement rate was demonstrated between the two phases of the study (P=0.59). Double-read of skeletal survey for suspected non-accidental trauma found false-negative fractures in a few cases and rarely found false-positive diagnosis of a fracture. Double-read uncommonly found discrepancies in an initially normal skeletal survey. Limiting double-read to initially positive studies improves the yield of the double-read.
Long-Term, Open-Label, Safety Study of Edivoxetine Monotherapy in Children and Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term safety and tolerability of edivoxetine, a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, which was being developed as monotherapy in pediatric attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: This was an open-label study of edivoxetine once daily dosing (0.1–0.3 mg/kg) as treatment for ADHD in children (6–11 years) and adolescents (12–17 years) to assess safety for up to 5 years. The safety assessments included the incidence of adverse events, vital signs, electrocardiograms, laboratory tests, percentile changes in weight, height, and body mass index, and Tanner staging. Efficacy of treatment with edivoxetine was also assessed using the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale-Version IV-Parent Reported: Investigator Scored (ADHDRS-IV) and Clinical Global Impressions-ADHD-Severity (CGI-ADHD-S). Results: A total of 267 children and adolescents were enrolled and 20 completed the 5-year study. Most of the participan...
Examining the Influence of Teacher-Constructed and Student-Constructed Assignments on the Achievement Patterns of Gifted and Advanced Sixth-Grade Students.

This study examined the relationship of different assignment structures (i.e., teacher-constructed and student-constructed) on the achievement patterns of 6th-grade gifted and advanced students in ...
Neoadjuvant metronomic chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (NCT00542191): Updated results from a phase II trial.

e12502Background: TNBC lacks effective targeted therapies, limiting treatment to cytotoxic chemotherapy alone. One third of patients with TNBC achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) with standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy (Cortazar Lancet 2014). Carboplatin has been reported to further improve response (von Minckwitz Lancet 2014). It has been reported that patients who attain pCR have improved survival. We sought to determine the benefit of neoadjuvant metronomic chemotherapy utilizing doxorubicin with cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel with carboplatin in women with TNBC. Methods: Patients with TNBC > / = 2 cm were eligible. Treatment consisted of weekly doxorubicin 24 mg/m2 + daily oral cyclophosphamide 60 mg/m2 x 12 weeks followed by weekly paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 + weekly carboplatin AUC 2 x 12 weeks. Patients received standard surgery and radiation therapy as indicated. The primary endpoint was pCR, secondary endpoints were 5 year survival and toxicities. Results: Between July 2006 and March 2014...
Young African American male–male relationships: Experiences, expectations, and condom use

HIV disproportionately impacts young African American men who have sex with men (MSM). In this study, we sought to understand how previous relationship experiences and expectations for romantic rel...
Knock onset, knock intensity, superknock and preignition in spark ignition engines:

Knock is an abnormal and stochastic combustion phenomenon which limits the efficiency of spark ignition engines. It occurs because of autoignition initiated locally in hot spots in the fuel/air mix...
Microbubble signal classification using normalized singular spectrum area based filtering methods

Targeted ultrasound contrast agents, comprising shell stabilized gas filled microbubbles (MBs), can be used to detect molecular markers of disease present on the vascular endothelium. Current MB imaging techniques exploit the nonlinear echo response of microbubbles to provide signal contrast with respect to adjacent tissue signal. However, these methods are hampered by false positive artifacts arising from nonlinear signals from strongly reflecting tissue interfaces. In this study, we demonstrate an image processing method that utilizes normalized singular spectrum area (NSSA) to distinguish adherent and non-adherent MB signals from static tissue signals with high specificity.
My Hour with Lenny

Growing up in a Depression battered family, one tangled by a mortal secret, With Passion tells the improbable story of Michael Meltsner, who thought of himself as a “miscast” lawyer but ended up defending peaceful protesters, representing Mohammad Ali, suing Robert Moses, counseling Lenny Bruce, bringing the case that integrated hundreds of Southern hospitals and named “the principal architect of the death penalty abolition movement in the United States." More than a meditation on often-frustrating legal efforts to fight inequality and racism, Meltsner — also a novelist and playwright - vividly recounts the life of a New York City kid, struggling to make sense of coming of age amidst the tumult of vast demographic and cultural changes in the City. This chapter of With Passion tells the story of Meltsner's "consultation" with comedian Lenny Bruce before a sentencing hearing on obscenity charges.
Inhibitors of Serine/Threonine Protein Phosphatases: Biochemical and Structural Studies Provide Insight for Further Development.

Background The reversible phosphorylation of proteins regulates many key functions in eukaryotic cells. Phosphorylation is catalyzed by protein kinases, with the majority of phosphorylation occurring on side chains of serine and threonine residues. The phosphomonoesters generated by protein kinases are hydrolyzed by protein phosphatases. In the absence of a phosphatase, the half-time for the hydrolysis of alkyl phosphate dianions at 25o C is over 1 trillion years; knon ~2 x 10-20 sec-1. Therefore, ser/thr phosphatases are critical for processes controlled by reversible phosphorylation. Methods This review is based on the literature searched in available databases. We compare the catalytic mechanism of PPP-family phosphatases (PPPases) and the interactions of inhibitors that target these enzymes. Results PPPases are metal-dependent hydrolases that enhance the rate of hydrolysis ([kcat/kM]/knon ) by a factor of ~1021, placing them among the most powerful known catalysts on earth. Biochemical and structural studies indicate that the remarkable catalytic proficiencies of PPPases are achieved by 10 conserved amino acids, DXH(X)~26DXXDR(X)~20- 26NH(X)~50H(X)~25-45R(X)~30-40H. Six act as metal-coordinating residues. Four position and orient the substrate phosphate. Together, two metal ions and the 10 catalytic residues position the phosphoryl group and an activated bridging water/hydroxide nucleophile for an inline attack upon the substrate phosphorous atom. The PPPases are conserved among species, and many structurally diverse natural toxins co-evolved to target these enzymes. Conclusion Although the catalytic site is conserved, opportunities for the development of selective inhibitors of this important group of metalloenzymes exist.
Adaptive immunity and atherosclerosis: mouse tales in the AJP.

Chronic inflammation driven by immune responses to lipid deposition in the arterial wall is now understood to be fundamental to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The frequent presence of T lymphocytes in human atherosclerotic lesions was first described in the 1980s, but experiments to test whether adaptive immunity influences lesion development and phenotype required animal models. The American Journal of Pathology has published many research articles focused on the role of inflammation and adaptive immunity in diet-induced and genetically manipulated murine models of atherosclerosis. Seminal articles in the 1990s were the first to describe the presence of T cells in mouse atherosclerotic lesions; other articles demonstrated the effects of defective adaptive immunity on lesion development in mice.
Differences in basal and hyperoxia-associated HO expression in oxidant-resistant hamster fibroblasts

Heme oxygenase (HO) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the production of bilirubin from heme, and HO-1 is its inducible isoenzyme. In the metabolic pathway of HO a potential oxidant, heme, is degraded, a potential antioxidant, bilirubin, is generated, and a potent sequestering agent of redox active iron, ferritin, is thought to be coinduced. Therefore, the sum of the reactions of HO may be useful in antioxidant defense. To explore the role of HO in protection against oxidative stress, we examined HO-1 expression in Chinese hamster fibroblasts (HA-1) as well as stable hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-resistant (OC-14) and 95% O2-resistant (O2R95) variant cell lines derived from HA-1, after exposure to 72 h of hyperoxia (95% O2-5% CO2). Total HO activity, HO-1 protein, and HO-1 mRNA steady-state levels were assessed before exposure and daily during exposure to hyperoxia. Controls were exposed to 95% air-5% CO2. Confluent monolayers of O2R95 and OC-14 cells had increased basal immunoreactive HO-1 protein levels relative to HA-1 cells when the cells were grown in normoxia, and O2R95 had higher total basal HO activity. When exposed to hyperoxia for up to 3 days, O2R95 cells, which were resistant to oxygen-induced killing, did not show induction of HO-1 mRNA or increased immunoreactive protein, whereas OC-14 and HA-1, which were relatively more sensitive than O2R95 to oxygen-related cytotoxicity, demonstrated significant increases in HO-1 expression during exposure to hyperoxia. Basal ferritin protein levels were highest in the O2R95 cells, intermediate in OC-14, and lowest in HA-1, but ferritin protein did not increase further, with hyperoxic exposure, in any of the cell lines. We conclude that increased constitutive HO-1 expression is associated with resistance to hyperoxia, whereas induction of HO-1 mRNA is an index of oxidative injury, since it only occurs after cells have sustained cytotoxic injury. We also conclude that increased ferritin expression does not necessarily accompany increased HO-1 expression in oxidant stress. We speculate that HO-1 plays a role in protection against hyperoxic damage.
High Efficiency Carbon and Hydrogen Fuel Cells for CO2 Mitigated Power

Publisher Summary Hydrogen fuel cells have been under development for a number of years and are now nearing commercial applications. Direct carbon fuel cells, heretofore, have not reached practical stages ofdevelopment because of problems in fuel reactivity and cell configuration. The carbon/air fuel cell reaction (C + O 2 = CO 2 ) has the advantage of having a nearly zero entropy change. This allows atheoretical efficiency of 100% at 700-800°C. The current approach at LLNL to overcome the historical failures is to employ a low ash, high surface area (turbostratic) elemental carbon fuel produced by pyrolysis of hydrocarbons derived from the processing of fossil fuels and biomass. This carbon particulate fuel, once wetted with molten salt, acts like a rigid anode when in contact with an inert metal screen. The high efficiency direct carbon fuel cell (DCC) and the solid oxide hydrogen fuel cell (SOFC) integrated with fuel processing to carbon and hydrogen in a combined cycle and using a back-end Rankine steam plant, maximizes the power generation efficiently. Based on current and projected costs of fossil fuels and estimates of unit capital investment of fuel cells and conventional power plants, estimates of the cost of power generation for each of the integrated fuel cell plants and for typical current and advanced conventional plants are made including CO 2 emissions. The direct carbon fuel cell provides multiple advantages—a significant increase in thermal efficiency of combined cycle direct carbon fuel cell power plants; a significant decrease in CO 2 emissions, a pure CO 2 stream, which can be directly sequestered or utilized; and a lower production cost than conventional plants.
Adolescent Obesity Is an Independent Risk Factor for Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Results From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005 to 2010.

OBJECTIVE We investigated the hypothesis that childhood obesity is a risk factor for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) independent of other metabolic risk factors. STUDY DESIGN A complex, multistage, stratified geographic area design for collecting representative data from noninstitutionalized US population. METHODS A total of 5,638 adolescents between age 12 and 19 from the NHANES database (2005-2010) were studied. Subjects with body mass index >= 95th percentile were classified as obese. SNHL was defined as average pure-tone greater than 15 dB HL for 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz or 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz in at least 1 ear. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed incident hearing loss odds across obese patients in comparison with normal weight individuals (5th-85th percentile). Multivariable models included age, sex, socioeconomic status, race, smoke exposure, high density lipoprotein level, triglyceride level, elevated blood pressure measurement, hemoglobin A1C level, and C-reactive protein level. RESULTS The rate of SNHL was 21.5% in obese and 13.44% in normal weight adolescents (p < 0.0001). In multivariable analyses, obesity was associated with 1.73-fold increase in the odds of SNHL (95% CI: 1.25-2.40, p value = 0.006). Potentially confounding and mediating factors had minimal effect on the odds of SNHL in obese study participants (OR range of 1.69-1.75, all p values <= 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Obesity is associated with higher prevalence of SNHL in adolescents independent of other potential risk factors. Future longitudinal investigations and mechanistic studies are warranted.
Wie nachhaltig ist die Finanzpolitik der Schweiz und der EU

According to official long-term projections, the ageing population will put an increasing pressure on public finances. The present paper first presents the OECD-method of how to assess financial sustainability. It then compares and critically discusses assumptions and results of the Swiss and EU projections, which cover a timespan until 2060. Without corrective measures, public debt will increase sharply in Switzerland as well as in the EU. Therefore, the actual financial policy is not sustainable.
Son’allah Ibrahim, Fawwaz Haddad & Nawal el-Saadawi

Son’allah Ibrahim’s popularity in Egypt and the Arab world came from his defiance of censorship and his disdain for fame and money, choosing to live as a true ascetic and reject the most prestigious literary prize in his country. Fawwaz Haddad proved to be an astonishing talent in his renditions of the past in his novels with unprecedented, intriguing technique and foresight. Nawal el-Saadawi’s struggle comprised over 38 books and a long career in medicine and social affairs, which internationally established her dignified and distinguished legacy as a true Arab feminist revolutionary.
Population-based meta-analysis of bortezomib exposure–response relationships in multiple myeloma patients

Bortezomib (Velcade®) is a reversible proteasome inhibitor that shows potent antineoplastic activity, by inhibiting the constitutively increased proteasome activity in myeloma cells, and is approved as a first-line therapy for multiple myeloma (MM). Although clinically successful, bortezomib exhibits a relatively narrow therapeutic index and can induce dose-limiting toxicities such as thrombocytopenia. This study aims to develop a quantitative and predictive pharmacodynamic model to investigate bortezomib dosing-regimens in a rational and efficient manner. Mean temporal profiles of bortezomib pharmacokinetics, proteasome activity, M-protein concentrations, and platelet counts following bortezomib monotherapy were extracted from published clinical studies. A population–based meta-analysis of bortezomib anti-myeloma activity and thrombocytopenia was conducted sequentially with a Stochastic Approximation Expectation Maximization algorithm in Monolix. The final pharmacodynamic model integrates drug-target interactions and cell signaling dynamics with temporal biomarkers of clinical efficacy and toxicity. Bortezomib pharmacokinetics, disease progression, and platelet dynamic profiles were well characterized in MM patients, and a local sensitivity analysis of the final model suggests that increased proteasome concentration could ultimately attenuate bortezomib antineoplastic activity in MM patients. In addition, model simulations confirm that a once-weekly dosing schedule represents an optimal therapeutic regimen with comparable antineoplastic activity but significantly reduced risk of thrombocytopenia. In conclusion, a pharmacodynamic model was successfully developed, which provides a quantitative, mechanism-based platform for probing bortezomib dosing-regimens. Further research is needed to determine whether this model could be used to individualize bortezomib regimens to maximize antineoplastic efficacy and minimize thrombocytopenia during MM treatment.
Design Advancement of an Indoor Soil Deposition Chamber: A Road to Standardization

An indoor soil deposition chamber has been designed and constructed at the Arizona State University Photovoltaic Reliability Lab (ASU-PRL) to simulate photovoltaic (PV) module soiling in the field. This paper discusses the next set of revisions to the design, which are organized into three categories: design improvements, cost reduction, and new features. The design process was carried out with the intention of working toward the development of a national or international soiling standard. The improvements made to the chamber are described in detail to provide a guide for other laboratories or research facilities who wish to study photovoltaic (PV) soiling.
Implementation of the 2017 ACC/AHA Guidelines on Hypertension in Clinical Practice

In 2017, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) released guideline recommendations which defined hypertension using lower values and instituted lower treatment thresholds compared to prior guidelines. The new guidelines defined elevated blood pressure (BP) as a
Outcomes in the giant omphalocele population: A single center comprehensive experience.

Abstract Background/Purpose Morbidity and mortality in the giant omphalocele population is complicated by large abdominal wall defects, physiologic aberrancies, and congenital anomalies. We hypothesized different anomalies and treatment types would affect outcomes. Methods A 2009–2018 retrospective chart review of giant omphaloceles was performed. Exclusions included cloacal exstrophy, transfer after 3 weeks, surgery prior to transfer, conjoined twins, or not yet achieving fascial closure. Thirty-five patients met criteria and mortality and operative morbidity categorized them into favorable (n = 20) or unfavorable (n = 15) outcomes. Odds ratios analyzed potential predictors. Survivors were stratified into staged (n = 11), delayed (n = 8), and primary closure (n = 6) for subgroup analysis. Results Unfavorable outcomes were associated with other major congenital anomalies, sac rupture, and major cardiac anomalies, but had significantly lower odds with increasing gestational age (p = 0.03) and birth weight (p Conclusions Predictions of overall outcomes in the giant omphalocele population require analysis of multiple variables. Our findings demonstrated increased odds of unfavorable outcomes in major cardiac anomalies, pulmonary hypertension, genetic diagnosis, other major anomalies, polyhydramnios, postnatal sac rupture, increasing omphalocele sac diameter, lower O/E TLV, lower gestational age at birth, lower birth weight, and repair other than primary. In those surviving to repair, surgical outcomes analyses demonstrated an earlier age of repair and a shorter length of stay for those patients able to be closed primarily; however further research is necessary to determine overall superiority between operative treatment types. Level of Evidence Level III.
[Analysis of capabilities of microscopic examinations of Plasmodium in Dongxihu District, Wuhan City].

OBJECTIVE To investigate and analyze the capabilities of Plasmodium microscopic examinations in medical and health organizations in Dongxihu District, Wuhan City, so as to provide evidences for achieving the standard of malaria elimination and malaria control in the future. METHODS The basic information of the laboratorians and the hardware facilities in 15 microscopic examination stations of Plasmodium were collected and analyzed from 2010 to 2015. Meanwhile, the quality of making, dyeing, cleanliness of all the negatives blood smears were evaluated, and all the positive smears were re-checked in the district during the period above mentioned. RESULTS Totally, there were 28 laboratorians and 9 qualified microscopes in 15 microscopy stations in Dongxihu District. The age of the laboratorians in the first-level and third-level organizations was mainly from 40 to 50 years old, but the age of those in the second-level organizations was from 20 to 30 years old. The years for microscopic examination working of most of the laboratorians in the first-level and third-level organizations were more than 15 years, while the working years of those in the second-level organizations were mainly less than 10 years. The education level of the laboratorians in the first-level organization was mainly (50.00%) junior college, while the education levels of those in the second and third organizations were mainly bachelor. From 2010 to 2015, 8 561 blood smears were produced and 539 of them were reviewed, the coincidence rates of review were all 100%, and the average qualified rates of making, dyeing, and cleanliness of the negative blood smears were 82.08%, 79.92% and 83.33%, respectively. All the rates mentioned above in 2015 were higher than those in 2010 (χ2 = 26.45, 16.85, 13.93, all P ＜ 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The capability of microscopic examinations of Plasmodium has improved obviously in Dongxihu District, but the human resources construction and hardware input in this district should be improved, meanwhile, the check on the quality control of microscopic examinations of Plasmodium should be continued, so as to guarantee the sustainable and healthy development of malaria control work in this district.
Styrene-Based Elastomer Composites with Functionalized Graphene Oxide and Silica Nanofiber Fillers: Mechanical and Thermal Conductivity Properties.

The mechanical and thermal conductivity properties of two composite elastomers were studied. Styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) filled with functionalized graphene oxide (GO) and silica nanofibers, and styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) block copolymers filled with graphene oxide. For the SBR composites, GO fillers with two different surface functionalities were synthesized (cysteamine and dodecylamine) and dispersed in the SBR using mechanical and liquid mixing techniques. The hydrophilic cysteamine-based GO fillers were dispersed in the SBR by mechanical mixing, whereas the hydrophobic dodecylamine-based GO fillers were dispersed in the SBR by liquid mixing. Silica nanofibers (SnFs) were fabricated by electrospinning a sol–gel precursor solution. The surface chemistry of the functionalized fillers was studied in detail. The properties of the composites and the synergistic improvements between the GO and SnFs are presented. For the SBS composites, GO fillers were dispersed in the SBS elastomer at several weight percent loadings using liquid mixing. Characterization of the filler material and the composite elastomers was performed using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, tensile testing, nanoindentation, thermal conductivity and abrasion testing.
Methylarginine metabolites are associated with attenuated muscle protein synthesis in cancer-associated muscle wasting

Cancer cachexia is characterized by reductions in peripheral lean muscle mass. Prior studies have primarily focused on increased protein breakdown as the driver of cancer-associated muscle wasting. Therapeutic interventions targeting catabolic pathways have, however, largely failed to preserve muscle mass in cachexia, suggesting that other mechanisms might be involved. In pursuit of novel pathways, we used untargeted metabolomics to search for metabolite signatures that may be linked with muscle atrophy. We injected 7-week-old C57/BL6 mice with LLC1 tumor cells or vehicle. After 21 days, tumor-bearing mice exhibited reduced body and muscle mass and impaired grip strength compared with controls, which was accompanied by lower synthesis rates of mixed muscle protein and the myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic muscle fractions. Reductions in protein synthesis were accompanied by mitochondrial enlargement and reduced coupling efficiency in tumor-bearing mice. To generate mechanistic insights into impaired protein synthesis, we performed untargeted metabolomic analyses of plasma and muscle and found increased concentrations of two methylarginines, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and NG-monomethyl-l-arginine, in tumor-bearing mice compared with control mice. Compared with healthy controls, human cancer patients were also found to have higher levels of ADMA in the skeletal muscle. Treatment of C2C12 myotubes with ADMA impaired protein synthesis and reduced mitochondrial protein quality. These results suggest that increased levels of ADMA and mitochondrial changes may contribute to impaired muscle protein synthesis in cancer cachexia and could point to novel therapeutic targets by which to mitigate cancer cachexia.
A fast, scalable, MinHash-based k-mer tool to assess Sequence Read Archive next generation sequence submissions

Abstract Sequence Read Archive submissions to the National Center for Biotechnology Information often lack useful metadata, which limits the utility of these submissions. We describe a scalable k-mer based tool for fast assessment of taxonomic diversity intrinsic to submissions, independent of metadata. We show that our MinHash-based k-mer tool is accurate and scalable, offering reliable criteria for efficient selection of data for further analysis by the scientific community, at once validating submissions while also augmenting sample metadata with reliable, searchable, taxonomic terms.
The Rhetorical Impact of the Scopes Trial’s Interconnected Public Memory Places:

In 1925, the Scopes Trial, one of the first legal battles over teaching evolution in public schools, was held in Dayton, Tennessee. Dayton commemorates the trial with a trinity of sites: The Scopes...