cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethical hacking: the security justification redux

The state of security on the Internet is bad and becoming worse. One reaction to this state of affairs is a behavior termed "Ethical Hacking" which attempts to proactively increase security protection by identifying and patching known security vulnerabilities on systems owned by other parties. Ethical hackers may beta test unreleased software, stress test released software, and scan networks of computers for vulnerabilities. Previous work has emphasized ethical hacking as an altruistic behavior but we find ethical hackers act rationally, in self-interest, to secure systems that are within their own community (sometimes for pay)-networked systems are only as secure as the weakest system within perimeter defenses.
Case study of ANSI standard delta-wye distribution transformer

An over current relay (51N) of a distribution feeder that feeds a branchy overhead line failed to eliminate a fault, which resulted from a fallen conductor at the primary side of the delta-wye distribution transformer. This was linked to the earth's high resistance. In the first part of this paper, the aforementioned reason will be proven to be not credible and that the load-side fallen conductor resulted in a very small return current that cannot be detected. In the second part of this paper, the fact that the voltage will build up at the distribution transformer primary side in case the transformer has a primary single phase blown fuse and unbalance loads will be presented.
A 10-Gb/s Inductorless Transimpedance Amplifier

A new technique to design an inductorless transimpedance amplifier (TIA) is introduced. This technique uses N similar TIAs in parallel configuration to boost the overall bandwidth while keeping the transimpedance gain constant. Using this method, we design and implement a 10-Gb/s inductorless TIA with an active area of only 0.06 mm2 and a differential transimpedance gain of 62 dBΩ in a digital 0.13-μm CMOS process. There is good agreement among the theory, simulation, and experimental results.
ACTH Regulates Steroidogenic Gene Expression and Cortisol Biosynthesis in the Human Adrenal Cortex via Sphingolipid Metabolism

Sphingolipids are a diverse family of phospholipids and glycolipids that mediate cell‐cell interactions, participate in signal transduction pathways and modulate the activity of various cellular proteins and receptors. The objective of the present studies was to characterize the role of the sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway in adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)‐dependent steroidogenic gene expression and cortisol production. H295R human adrenocortical cells were treated with ACTH or dibutyryl cAMP (Bt2cAMP) for various time periods and the content of sphingolipids was quantified by mass spectrometry. Treatment of H295R cells with ACTH and Bt2cAMP activated sphingolipid metabolism within five minutes. Decreases were found in the cellular levels of several sphingolipids, including sphingomyelin (SM) and glucosylceramide. ACTH/cAMP rapidly decreased levels of the signaling molecules ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P). The effect of these bioactive sphingolipids on steroidogenic gene expression ...
Bayesian Inference for Zodiac and Other Homophonic Ciphers

We introduce a novel Bayesian approach for deciphering complex substitution ciphers. Our method uses a decipherment model which combines information from letter n-gram language models as well as word dictionaries. Bayesian inference is performed on our model using an efficient sampling technique. We evaluate the quality of the Bayesian decipherment output on simple and homophonic letter substitution ciphers and show that unlike a previous approach, our method consistently produces almost 100% accurate decipherments. The new method can be applied on more complex substitution ciphers and we demonstrate its utility by cracking the famous Zodiac-408 cipher in a fully automated fashion, which has never been done before.
Renal Hemodynamics in Acute Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction: Contribution of Endothelium-Derived Relaxing Factor

AbstractThe increase in ureteral pressure after acute unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) is associated with an initial increase in renal blood flow (RBF). The present study examines the role of nitric oxide, a major endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), in UUO-induced renal hyperemia in anesthetized dogs. In Group 1, vehicle solution was infused into the left renal artery. In Group 2, nitric oxide formation from L-arginine was competitively inhibited by intrarenal infusion of Nomega-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) (50 microgram/kg./min.) before UUO. In Group 3, L-arginine (2 mg./kg./min.) was infused together with L-NMMA (50 microgram/kg./min.) into the renal artery. After UUO, ureteral pressure increased in all groups, averaging 69 mm.Hg. In Group 1, RBF at 10 and 20 minutes after UUO increased 7.9 plus/minus 1.6 percent and 16.5 plus/minus 5.2 percent, respectively, significantly greater than in Group 2 (1.2 plus/minus 1.6 percent and 2.4 plus/minus 1.5 percent). After L-NMMA was discontinued in...
Electromagnetic interfacing of semiconductor devices and circuits

This paper discusses the interactions between semiconductor devices and electromagnetic waves and the possible ways to interface modern devices and circuits in the mm-wave range. This topic is very important for advancing current MMIC designs and for developing futuristic devices and applications. The electromagnetic wave propagation through semiconductor devices is modeled by coupling a physical electron-transport model, or a circuit approach, with Maxwell's equations. The solution is developed in time-domain using Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) technique. Examples of device and circuit simulations are presented.
Local control and visual acuity following treatment of medium-sized ocular melanoma using a contact eye plaque: a single surgeon experience.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the outcomes of choroidal melanoma in (CM) patients treated with 125 I episcleral plaque brachytherapy and to compare our single surgeon results with the multi-institutional Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS). Methods and Materials A review was performed of all CM patients treated with 125 I episcleral plaque brachytherapy by ophthalmologist in accordance with established COMS guidelines. Results The records of 35 patients were reviewed. The median longest basal tumor diameter and apical tumor height was 13.5 and 7.8 mm, respectively. Median dose to the apex was 8609 cGy at a median dose rate of 92 cGy/h. At a median followup of 45 months, 35 patients had local control and 33 had successful organ preservation. At 5 years, the local control rate was 100%, and the eye preservation rate was 94%. Five patients developed hepatic metastasis at a median of 58 months, and 2 succumbed from disease. The 5-year survival rate was 84%, and the 5-year rate of death with histopathologically confirmed metastasis was 15%. Of the 22 patients with at least 3 years of followup, 68% had a visual acuity in the treated eye of 20/200 or worse. Conclusion Excellent local control, eye preservation rates, and survival outcomes following 125 I episcleral plaque application for CM can be optimized by having an experienced ophthalmologist place the plaques. Additionally, hepatic metastasis can occur more than 5 years postimplant regardless of local control; therefore, longer systemic staging should be considered.
Hybrid Vigor and Transgenerational Epigenetic Effects on Early Mouse Embryo Phenotype

Mouse embryos display a strain-dependent propensity for blastomere cytofragmentation at the two-cell stage. The maternal pronucleus exerts a predominant, transcription-dependent effect on this phenotype, with lesser effects of the ooplasm and the paternal pronucleus. A parental origin effect has been observed as an inequality in the cytofragmentation rate of embryos produced through genetic crosses of reciprocal F1 hybrid females. To understand the basis for this, we conducted an extensive series of pronuclear transfer studies employing different combinations of inbred and F1 hybrid maternal and paternal genotypes. We find that the parental origin effect is the result of a transgenerational epigenetic modification, whereby the inherited maternal grandpaternal contribution interacts with the fertilizing paternal genome and the ooplasm. This result indicates that some epigenetic information related to grandparental origins of chromosomes (i.e., imprinting of chromosomes in the mother) is retained through oogenesis and transmitted to progeny, where it affects gene expression from the maternal pronucleus and subsequent embryo phenotype. These results reveal for the first time that mammalian embryonic development can be affected by the epigenotype of at least three individuals. Additionally, we observe a significant suppression of fragmentation by F1 hybrid ooplasm when it is separated from the F1 hybrid maternal pronucleus. This latter effect is a striking example of heterosis in the early mammalian embryo, and it provides a new opportunity for examining the molecular mechanisms of heterosis. These results are relevant to our understanding of the mechanisms of epigenetic effects on development and the possible fertility effects of genetic and epigenetic interactions in reproductive medicine.
Temperature effects on the hydrodynamic radius of the intrinsically disordered N‐terminal region of the p53 protein

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are often characterized in terms of the hydrodynamic radius, Rh . The Rh of IDPs are known to depend on fractional proline content and net charge, where increased numbers of proline residues and increased net charge cause larger Rh . Though sequence and charge effects on the Rh of IDPs have been studied, the temperature sensitivity has been noted only briefly. Reported here are Rh measurements in the temperature range of 5-75°C for the intrinsically disordered N-terminal region of the p53 protein, p53(1-93). Of note, the Rh of this protein fragment was highly sensitive to temperature, decreasing from 35 A at 5°C to 26 A at 75°C. Computer generated simulations of conformationally dynamic and disordered polypeptide chains were performed to provide a hypothesis for the heat-induced compaction of p53(1-93) structure, which was opposite to the heat-induced increase in Rh observed for a model folded protein. The simulations demonstrated that heat caused Rh to trend toward statistical coil values for both proteins, indicating that the effects of heat on p53(1-93) structure could be interpreted as thermal denaturation. The simulation data also predicted that proline content contributed minimally to the native Rh of p53(1-93), which was confirmed by measuring Rh for a substitution variant that had all 22 proline residues changed for glycine.
Right Ventricle to Pulmonary Artery Conduit Augmentation Compared With Replacement in Young Children

Background. Targeted outcome data for young children undergoing right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit reoperation are sparse, as are data on the use of conduit augmentation as an alternative to conduit replacement at the time of first conduit reoperation (conduit 2). Methods. We conducted a retrospective chart review including baseline data, operative data, and cross-sectional follow-up on children younger than 10 years of age undergoing a first conduit reoperation (n 180), comparing conduit replacement (n 147, 82%) with conduit augmentation (n 33, 18%). Results. There were no differences between the two groups with respect to age, size, or hemodynamic variables. Augmentation was less often performed in patients with an aortic homograft and by one surgeon. At conduit 2, cardiopulmonary bypass time was longer in replacement patients (101 35 versus 71 34 minutes; p < 0.001); cardiac intensive care unit stay was not different. Early mortality was 0.5%, and overall 10-year survival was 95%. Freedom from reoperation was 80% at 5 years and 39% at 10 years, whereas freedom from reintervention (reoperation or catheter intervention) was 55% at 5 years and 26% at 10 years, with no differences between groups. Aortic homograft as a first conduit was associated with shorter freedom from reoperation. Limiting analysis to conduits that were replaced at conduit 2, undersized conduits were associated with shorter freedom from reoperation and smaller body surface area, and undersized conduits were associated with shorter freedom from reintervention. Conclusions. Freedom from a second conduit reoperation after a first conduit replacement was shorter in smaller children and undersized conduits. Conduit augmentation offers similar clinical outcomes in selected patients. (Ann Thorac Surg 2009;88:574‐80) © 2009 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Flow structure in near-nozzle region of gas jet flames

A flow visualization study of the near-nozzle regions of a cold jet, an attached flame, and a lifted flame of propane jet exiting a contoured nozzle with uniform velocity profile in quiescent air is presented. The observed flowfields and celerities of the coherent structures in the three cases are compared. The results show that com- bustion reactions occur away from both jet boundary and cores of coherent structures. The presence of flame retards the growth of the coherent structures and increases their celerity substantially. HE interaction of flames and flow structure in combus- tion systems has been the subject of several investiagations in the past. Many of these studies were concerned with pre- mixed flames. In recent years, however, considerable effort has been devoted to understand the flame/flow interaction in reacting plane shear layers1"3 and axisymmetric gas jets.4"7 Such studies are motivated by the necessity to understand the roles of coherent structures in the mixing rates.8"9 This infor- mation is needed to improve the burning characteristics of dif- fusion flames and to develop theoretical models for their prediction. A review of the uses of coherent structures was presented recently by Coles.10 An understanding of the detailed flow structure and its interaction with reaction zones is also crucial to unfold the stability mechanism of diffusion flames, including liftoff and blowout phenomena, which has been a topic of controversy in recent years.11'12 Here, we present some results from a flow visualization study in the near-nozzle region of propane gas jet flames where the flowfield is essen- tially an axisymmetric shear layer. The results not only con- firm the presence of large-scale structures in the flames but also reveal some characteristic features of their behavior in the presence of combustion. We focused our attention on the near-nozzle region in order to understand 1) the changes in flow structure of cold jets caused by the presence of a surrounding burner-attached flame, and 2) the liftoff and reattachment processes of flames.
Performance evaluation of direct-sequence systems in lineal microcells

The performance of an asynchronous multi-cell direct-sequence code division multiple-access (DS/CDMA) system is evaluated in lineal microcells with shadowed Rician fading. The average bit error rate (BER) and the outage probability of the system are the performance measures of interest. Both binary phase shift keying (BPSK) and differential phase shift keying (DPSK) modulation schemes are considered. The effect of using macro-selection diversity to reduce the other-cell interference is studied. The impact of the Rician factor on the performance is also addressed. >
The utility of ‘tree-generating’ statistics in applied social work research

Abstract Because of the complex nature of phenomena examined in applied research, there continues to be a need to identify multivariate analytic techniques which are sensitive to interaction effects and which minimize resource and technical demands. One solution to this dilemma involves the use of a family of statistical techniques sometimes referred to as ‘tree-generating’ statistics. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the utility of such statistics for public sector service planning. Specifically, an example using an early version of ‘tree-generating’ statistics, Automatic Interaction Detection, is presented to provide a model for the data analysis needed to plan substance abuse programs on a local level, targeting poor, culturally diverse, adult women.
Recent developments in thermophotovoltaic conversion

Recent developments in silicon photovoltaic cells for use in a thermophotovoltaic energy converter have yielded conversion efficiencies of 29 percent with a 2300 K blackbody source. The structure and fabrication of these cells will be presented.
Examining the Association Between Comorbidity Indexes and Functional Status in Hospitalized Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries

Background Medicare data from acute hospitals do not contain information on functional status. This lack of information limits the ability to conduct rehabilitation-related health services research. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between 5 comorbidity indexes derived from acute care claims data and functional status assessed at admission to an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF). Comorbidity indexes included tier comorbidity, Functional Comorbidity Index (FCI), Charlson Comorbidity Index, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index, and Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC). Design This was a retrospective cohort study. Methods Medicare beneficiaries with stroke, lower extremity joint replacement, and lower extremity fracture discharged to an IRF in 2011 were studied (N=105,441). Data from the beneficiary summary file, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) file, and Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility–Patient Assessment Instrument (IRF-PAI) file were linked. Inpatient rehabilitation facility admission functional status was used as a proxy for acute hospital discharge functional status. Separate linear regression models for each impairment group were developed to assess the relationships between the comorbidity indexes and functional status. Base models included age, sex, race/ethnicity, disability, dual eligibility, and length of stay. Subsequent models included individual comorbidity indexes. Values of variance explained ( R 2) with each comorbidity index were compared. Results Base models explained 7.7% of the variance in motor function ratings for stroke, 3.8% for joint replacement, and 7.3% for fracture. The R 2 increased marginally when comorbidity indexes were added to base models for stroke, joint replacement, and fracture: Charlson Comorbidity Index (0.4%, 0.5%, 0.3%), tier comorbidity (0.2%, 0.6%, 0.5%), FCI (0.4%, 1.2%, 1.6%), Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (1.2%, 1.9%, 3.5%), and HCC (2.2%, 2.1%, 2.8%). Limitation Patients from 3 impairment categories were included in the sample. Conclusions The 5 comorbidity indexes contributed little to predicting functional status. The indexes examined were not useful as proxies for functional status in the acute settings studied.
Run don't walk: locomotor performance of geckos on wet substrates

The gecko adhesive system has been under particular scrutiny for over a decade, as the field has recently attracted attention for its application to bio-inspired design. However, little is known about how the adhesive system behaves in ecologically relevant conditions. Geckos inhabit a variety of environments, many of which are characterized by high temperature, humidity and rain. The van der Waals-based gecko adhesive system should be particularly challenged by wet substrates because water can disrupt the intimate contact necessary for adhesion. While a few previous studies have focused on the clinging ability of geckos on wet substrates, we tested a dynamic performance characteristic, sprint velocity. To better understand how substrate wettability and running orientation affect locomotor performance of multiple species on wet substrates, we measured average sprint velocity of five species of gecko on substrates that were either hydrophilic or intermediately wetting and oriented either vertically or horizontally. Surprisingly, we found no indication that wet substrates impact average sprint velocity over 1 m, and rather, in some species, sprint velocity was increased on wet substrates rather than reduced. When investigating physical characteristics and behavior that may be associated with running on wet substrates, such as total number of stops, slips and wet toes at the completion of a race, we found that there may be habitat-related differences between some species. Our results show that in general, unlike clinging and walking, geckos running along wet substrates suffer no significant loss in locomotor performance over short distances.
Plasma Membrane Dependent Reduction of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Abstract A plasma membrane redox system of Phanerochaete chrysosporium was found to reduce 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). Reduction required intact, live mycelia. No reduction was observed with either supplemented (NADPH, NADH or ATP) or unsupplemented extracellular or intracellular fractions, either under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Reduction was inhibited by potassium ferricyanide, 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium, carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl hydrazone, 2,4-dinitrophenol, sodium azide, and tetranitroblue tetrazolium but not by nitroblue tetrazolium, 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium and blue tetrazolium. At higher pH, the rate of reduction as well as proton pumping was enhanced.
Efficient MAC strategies for the IEEE 802.11n wireless LANs: Research Articles

Current IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN) standard products can provide up to 54 Mbps raw transmission rate, while non-standard WLAN products with 108 Mbps have already appeared in the market, and the next generation WLAN will provide much higher transmission rates. However, the medium access control (MAC) was designed for lower data rates, such as 1–2 Mbps, and it is not an efficient MAC. Furthermore, a theoretical throughput limit exists due to overhead and limitations of physical implementations, and therefore increasing transmission rate cannot help a lot. Designing efficient MAC strategies becomes critical and important. In this paper, we introduce and propose a series of efficient MAC strategies to overcome the fundamental overhead, and to improve performance. The protocols and mechanisms include Direct Link Protocol, Without Acknowledgement, Without Retransmissions, Block Acknowledgement Protocol, Concatenation, Packing, Multiple Frame Transmission (versions 1 and 2) and Piggyback. The aim of this paper is to introduce and propose these efficient new MACs not only for current IEEE 802.11 standards (.11a/.11b/.11g), but also for the next generation WLAN with higher speed and higher throughput, especially for IEEE 802.11n. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
BROADBAND NOISE FROM THE UNSTEADY FLOW IN A SLAT COVE

Noise from high-lift devices such as slats and aps can contribute signicantly to the overall aircraft sound pressure levels, particularly during approach. The acoustic spectrum of the noise radiated from slats exhibits two distinct features. There is a high-frequency tonal noise component, and a high-energy broadband component ranging from low to mid-frequencies. The objective of the present paper is to predict the broadband slat noise. The broadband noise is predicted using a two-step process. First the noise sources are modeled based on the local turbulence information. Then, the sound from these sources is propagated by assuming that the ow past the wing is uniform. A Boundary Element Method is used to nd the Green’s function for wave propagation in a moving medium in the presence of the wing. The noise in the far eld is then predicted by forming a convolution of the Green’s function with the modeled sources. The attractive feature of this prediction scheme is the relatively quick computational time, which makes it suitable for new design and control strategies.
The China-Pakistan-US Strategic Triangle: From Cold War to the War on Terrorism an Objection to Paul J. Smith’s Article

The China-Pakistan-US Strategic Triangle: From Cold War to the War on Terrorism an Objection to Paul J. Smith’s Article The concept of strategic triangles was developed by Lowell Dittmer and Gerald Segal in the early eighties, describing the triangular relationship between the United States, the Soviet Union, and China during the Cold War.
Association of DiaRem Score With Cure of Type 2 Diabetes Following Bariatric Surgery.

There is great anticipation for the predicted impact that the Precision Medicine Initiative will have on health outcomes.1 However, we do not need to wait to sequence the DNA of the proposed 1 million–person cohort for this initiative; we can make significant strides in improving the precision of care delivery now. There are sufficient data in existing electronic health record systems that can be used to facilitate tailored treatment decisions. For example, the DiaRem score, a validated score generated from data readily available in the medical record, can be used for patients with type 2 diabetes to predict whether bariatric surgery will lead to short-term remission of diabetes.2–4 Herein, we examine whether this score can be used to predict patients for whom bariatric surgery will result in cure of type 2 diabetes.5
The Dilemma of Planning in Large-Scale Public Organizations: The Case of the United States Navy

Planning enables organizations to coordinate their activities. Yet planning can have dysfunctional consequences, especially as organizations increase in size. If the requirements of the planning cycle exceed an organization's ability to respond in a timely fashion to its external environment, then the organization is forced to use alternative planning approaches. We first outline some alternatives developed in business and then illustrate how similar approaches have been used in the United States Navy. We conclude with recommendations for planning in other large-scale public organizations that need to compensate for size as they engage in organizational planning.
Funding the Faiths: Toward a Theory of Religious Finance

Of all the things that sustain formal religious institutions, none is more essential than material support. Without adequate income, congregations fold, denominations fail, and the faithful flock to greener pastures. Nor is any facet of religious commitment more concrete and quantifiable. People may say all sorts of things about their faith, but there is no substitute for putting your money where your mouth is (and even Jesus observed that “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” ). Faced with skepticism about the accuracy and consistency of attendance and membership rates reported by individuals or institutions, the obvious alternative is to follow the money. Strange as it may seem, the economics of religion has yet to pay much attention to financial matters. In fact, one learns much more about the financial activities of religious institutions from historians, sociologists, and religious leaders, than from economists. There is no good reason for this imbalance to persist. Hence, this essay suggests some first steps toward a general theory of religious finance. We cannot hope to summarize all the ways in which religious goods and services are marketed in modern America, much less around the world and over time. Nor can we enumerate the countless factors that shape the marketing of any particular religion in any particular time and place. Rather, we seek merely to identify some key aspects of religions and their environments that help us to understand why methods of finance vary so dramatically over time, place, and type of religion. We begin with general claims and follow with specific examples.
Analysis of Detumescence Ointment plus acupuncture curative effect in the treatment of soft tissue injury

Objective To explore the effect of detumescence:external application plus acupuncture for treating soft tissue injury.Methods From 2011 September to 2013 year in March,I the out-patient department soft tissue injury of 137 cases patients,randomly divided into treatment group and control group,68 cases in treatment group,69 cases in the control group.The control group used the traditional treatment,the treatment group using self-made detumescence plaster with acupuncture treatment,4～10 days,effects were observed and analyzed.Results The treatment group 45 cases were cured,effective in 16 cases,the total efficiency was 97.05%,control group 21 cases were cured,effective in 19 cases,the total efficiency of 68.12%,the difference was statistically significant (P 0.05).Conclusion Detumescence Ointment plus acupuncture has a significant effect on the treatment of soft tissue injury,worthy of further clinical application and research.
Abstract 243: Profilin-1 Phosphorylation Regulates Post-ischemic Cardiac Repair By Induction Of Vascular Stem Cell Homing

Neovascularization, the formation of new blood vessels, is fundamental to cardiac repair and regeneration in ischemic heart disease. After myocardial infarction (MI), vascular stem cells (VSC) are mobilized from bone marrow and recruited to the ischemic site, de novo generating new blood vessels to promote cardiac recovery. Our previous studies have revealed that phosphorylation of profilin-1 (Pfn-1) induces endothelial cell migration and sprouting angiogenesis. Here, we show that Pfn-1 phosphorylation regulates VSC homing to ischemic site and cardiac repair after MI through protease expression. Vascular lineage-specific knock-in of phosphorylation-dead Pfn-1(Y129F) mutant in mice show that Pfn-1 phosphorylation is critical for ischemia-induced neovascularization and cardiac function recovery after MI. Deficiency in Pfn-1 phosphorylation inhibits VSC homing to the ischemic hindlimb, suggesting a critical role of Pfn-1 phosphorylation in VSC recruitment. Mechanistic studies show that Pfn-1 phosphorylation is required for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A-induced expression of metalloproteinase (MMP) −2 and −9 and cell migration in VSC. Therefore, these studies identify a critical role of Pfn-1 phosphorylation in VSC homing and neovascularization after MI, and suggest that Pfn-1 phosphorylation may represent as a therapeutic target for treating ischemic heart disease.
Alteration of chloride secretion across canine tracheal epithelium by lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid

We examined whether the leukotrienes (LT) B4, C4, D4, and E4, and 5-, 12-, and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic (HETE) acids alter the electrical properties of canine tracheal epithelium. Short-circuit current (ISC) increased by 20.3 +/- 4.3 and 25.9 +/- 6.5 microA/cm2 after LTC4 and LTD4 addition, was unchanged following LTB4, LTE4, 5-, or 15-HETE addition, and was decreased by 10 +/- 3% after 12-HETE addition. LTC4- and LTD4-induced increases in ISC were dependent on the presence of Cl and were equal to the increases in net 36Cl flux toward the mucosa. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (10(-5) M) or the phospholipase inhibitor mepacrine (10(-5) M) diminished increases in ISC. The release rate of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha and thromboxane B2 rose from 8.2 +/- 2.3, 2.3 +/- 0.5, and 1.1 +/- 0.5 to 15.5 +/- 3.3, 6.0 +/- 1.4, and 4.0 +/- 0.8 ng . cm-2 . h-1, respectively, after LTC4 addition, and from 6.9 +/- 1.4, 2.5 +/- 1.1, and 1.7 +/- 1.3 to 20.2 +/- 3.1, 10.5 +/- 3.1, and 5.2 +/- 2.4 ng . cm-2 . h-1, respectively, after LTD4 addition. The release rates of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha were unchanged. A thromboxane A2 mimetic, U46619, failed to increase ISC and thromboxane synthetase inhibitors OKY-046 and dazmegrel failed to inhibit the induced increases in ISC, suggesting that thromboxane has little effect on ISC. Thus lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid can modulate Cl secretion by the canine tracheal epithelium and do so through the release of cyclooxygenase products, including prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha.
Prostate Biopsy in Patients after Proctectomy

AbstractUntil the discovery of prostate specific antigen as a tool to detect prostate carcinoma, the rectum has always been necessary to allow the best evaluation and biopsy of the prostate, whether by digital examination or transrectai ultrasound. We describe a simple, accurate, computerized tomography-guided method to biopsy the prostate in men who have undergone proctectomy.
Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide Monitoring with Reduced-Temperature Probes in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Background Obtaining blood gases in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is an invasive procedure. Studies using transcutaneous carbon dioxide (tcPCO2) have reported variable skin complications with high-temperature probes. No enough data available on tcPCO2 monitoring using reduced-temperature probes (41°C). Objective The objective of this study was to assess reliability and safety of tcPCO2 monitoring at reduced-temperature probe in VLBW infants. Design and Methods A prospective study was conducted on VLBW infants. tcPCO2 was monitored for 12 hours. Default skin probe temperature was adjusted at 41°C. Blood gases were done as clinically indicated. Arterial partial pressure of CO2 (PaCO2) as well as capillary CO2 were compared with simultaneous tcPCO2. Results A total of 124 data points were identified from 50 patients (gestational age [GA] = 28.1 ± 2.4 weeks and birth weight [BW] = 1,035 ± 291 g). Patients were supported with continuous positive airway pressure (40%), noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (16%), mechanical ventilation (18%), and high-frequency oscillation ventilation (24%). PaCO2 was measured using either capillary (58%) or arterial (42%) samples. Mean CO2 did not differ between tcPCO2 (51.3 ± 16) and PaCO2 (49.1 ± 13.7) mm Hg. tcPCO2 showed positive correlation with partial pressure of CO2 (r = 0.6, p Conclusion tcPCO2 monitoring using a temperature of 41°C is feasible and reliable in VLBW infants.
High Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Identifies Patients with Myeloproliferative Neoplasms with a More Aggressive Natural History

Abstract 1992 The myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) can have a variable natural history. Polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia, in particular, are conditions that can extend over decades, but some patients have clinical progression to myelofibrosis or acute myeloid leukemia. As first articulated by Warburg, cancers are metabolically distinguished from normal tissues by the use of glycolysis under aerobic conditions. To metabolically characterize the blood cells of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, we measured the mitochondrial membrane potential using the cyanine dye, JC-1. In examining cells derived from the blood and/or marrow of 159 patients with primary myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia, we found that the mitochondrial membrane potential (FL2/FL1=electrochemical potential/mitochondrial mass) was elevated compared to the blood cells of normal individuals. Thirty five percent of patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia had normal MMP. In contrast, 97% of patients with primary myelofibrosis, post-polycythemia myelofibrosis, post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis and acute myeloid leukemia following an MPN had evidence of cell populations with higher mitochondrial membrane potential. Cells with distinctly higher mitochondrial membrane potential could be indentified in platelets and polymorphonuclear leukocytes; however the MMP of lymphocytes was normal, indicating that the alteration in metabolic state likely occurred in a multipotential myeloid stem cell. Cell populations were confirmed by co-staining with anti-CD19, -CD45, -GlycophorinA and -β3-integrin antibodies. Sequential analysis of patient samples found that the acquisition of higher mitochondrial membrane potential was stable and persistent over 2 years or more of follow up and that elevated membrane potential predisposed patients to disease progression. The balance of patients (65%) with ET had evidence of increased MMP suggesting the possibility of disease in an early state of evolution to a more aggressive condition. The increased MMP did not correlate with the presence of mutation in JAK2. These results indicate that clinically advanced MPN can be characterized by changes in mitochondrial physiology that might be identified non-invasively by flow cytometric staining with JC-1. In addition, the early nature of these changes may help to identify therapeutic targets. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Send Me: Racial Selection in Deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan

Exploiting a database of administrative records for 300,000 members of the US Armed Forces, we find evidence of severe bias in the selection of personnel deployed to serve in Afghanistan and Iraq. Of most concern, we find that African American were far less likely than other service members to have been deployed to serve in combat zones, and were less likely to face intense combat if deployed.
Characterization of hydroxyl tagging velocimetry for low-speed flows

Hydroxyl tagging velocimetry (HTV) is characterized for the first time at extended pressures (1 and 3 atm) and temperatures (295 K to 673 K) in an attempt to improve measurement precision for low speed flows. While previous investigations have focused on ambient and flame temperatures (1400 K), the present study investigates between these two extreme conditions, wherein both the local chemistry and thermodynamic state of the gas may hinder or aid the functionality of the technique. Effects of temperature and pressure on the hydroxyl (OH) excitation spectrum are assessed and compared to simulations to determine the optimal laser frequency, and OH species lifetime and tracer line diffusion are examined to determine the relative efficiency of the photo-dissociation process and the quality of the resulting signal. A two-fold increase in the photo-dissociation efficiency is observed at elevated temperatures. Tag line spread was found to be dominated by shear rather than molecular diffusion. Velocity measurement precision was characterized for time delays ranging from 5 μs to 3.2 ms and was found to be inversely proportional to the time delay selected, supporting the need for the extended tracer lifetimes observed at higher temperatures when used for low-velocity applications. Velocity profiles measured in heated jets of nitrogen and air indicate measurement uncertainties as low as 0.1 m (at confidence level), while comparison with particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements showed peak deviations in the observed velocity profiles to be less than . The results suggest the high utility of HTV at making measurements in low-velocity flows at moderate temperatures.
Trait Narcissism and Contemporary Religious Trends

In a large sample of adult Americans, we examined trait narcissism among those who identify as nonreligious, traditionally religious, or “spiritual but not religious” (SBNR). Our study reveals that...
A Patient with a Novel Gene Mutation Leading to Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

A 28-year-old man diagnosed with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) was referred for further management. The patient was diagnosed at the age of 4, when he presented with gross hematuria. Computed tomographic scan of the abdomen showed a septated cyst in the left kidney measuring 3
Nonlocal enrichment of a micromechanical damage model with tensile softening: Advantages and limitations

Abstract Upon crack propagation, brittle geomaterials such as concrete and rock exhibit a nonlinear stress/strain behavior, damage induced stiffness anisotropy, loading path dependent strain softening and hardening, unilateral effects due to crack closure and a brittle-ductile transition, which depends on the confining pressure. Challenges in theoretical and numerical modeling include the distinction between tensile and compressive fracture propagation modes, mesh dependency during softening, and lack of convergence when several critical points are expected on the stress/strain curve. To overcome these issues, we formulate a nonlocal micromechanics based anisotropic damage model. A dilute homogenization scheme is adopted for calculating the deformation energy of the Representative Elementary Volume due to the displacement jumps at open and closed micro-cracks. Tension (respectively compression) damage criteria are expressed in terms of non-local equivalent strains defined in terms of positive principal strains (respectively deviatoric strains). Constitutive parameters are calibrated against published experimental data for concrete and shale. We employ the arc-length control method to solve boundary-value problems with the finite element package OOFEM: the algorithm allows capturing softening, snap back and snap through. We simulate the development of the compression damage zone around a cavity under various stress levels at the wall and far field, and the softening behavior consequent to tensile fracture propagation during a three-point bending test. No mesh dependency is noted during softening as long as micro-cracks do not interact.
Cross-unit coordination: A multilevel quasi-experimental investigation of patient handoffs

Coordination refers to a temporally unfolding and contextualized process of organizational work integration. Despite a well-established literature on coordination there has been extremely limited c...
Transformation Toughening in the Al2O3-Cr2O3/ZrO2-HfO2 System: the Effect of ZrO2-HfO2 Content

The fracture toughness, strength, and modulus of Al2O3-Cr2O3(matrix)/ZrO2-HfO2(dispersed phase) composites were measured. The fracture tougnness increased with increasing volume fraction dispersed phase whereas the strength and modulus remained nearly constant up to 10v/o dispersed phase and then decreased for larger volume fractions. Multiple toughening mechanisms are apparently active in this system, with microcrack nucleation/growth dominating at high monoclinic contents.
Developing an opioid use disorder treatment cascade: A review of quality measures.

Abstract Background Despite increasing opioid overdose mortality, problems persist in the availability and quality of treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Three FDA-approved medications (methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone) have high quality evidence supporting their use, but most individuals with OUD do not receive them and many experience relapse following care episodes. Developing and organizing quality measures under a unified framework such as a Cascade of Care could improve system level practice and treatment outcomes. In this context, a review was performed of existing quality measures relevant to the treatment of OUD and the literature assessing the utility of these measures in community practice. Methods Systematic searches of two national quality measure clearinghouses (National Quality Forum and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) were performed for measures that can be applied to the treatment of OUD. Measures were categorized as structural, process, or outcome measures. Second stage searches were then performed within Ovid/Medline focused on published studies investigating the feasibility, reliability, and validity of identified measures, predictors of their satisfaction, and related clinical outcomes. Results Seven quality measures were identified that are applicable to the treatment of OUD. All seven were process measures that assess patterns of service delivery. One recently approved measure addresses retention in medication-assisted treatment for patients with OUD. Twenty-nine published studies were identified that evaluate the quality measures, primarily focused on initiation and engagement in care for addiction treatment generally. Most measures and related studies do not specifically incorporate the evidence base for the treatment of OUD or assess patient level outcomes such as overdose. Conclusion Despite considerable progress, gaps exist in quality measures for OUD treatment. Development of a unified quality measurement framework such as an OUD Treatment Cascade will require further elaboration and refinement of existing measures across populations and settings. Such a framework could form the basis for applying strategies at clinical, organizational, and policy levels to expand access to quality care and reduce opioid-related mortality.
Medical Implant Corrosion: Electrochemistry at Metallic Biomaterial Surfaces

Metallic biomaterials represent the class of materials with the largest use in medical devices in humans today. This fact will likely continue for decades to come because of the unique combination of strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. However, metallic biomaterials also pose unique and specific concerns related to electrochemical behavior in the body. This chapter will focus on the elements of most importance in understanding the complex interactions present in the human body during corrosion of metallic implants. The concepts associated with oxide films and their interaction with the biological, mechanical, and electrochemical environments are discussed to provide insight into why corrosion is a critically important factor in the long-term performance of devices. Mechanically assisted corrosion in the biological system is discussed in terms of the structural, electrochemical, and biological interactions, and the idea of electrochemical history is presented to explain why such severe evidence of corrosion is observed in vivo. Finally, specific examples of mechanically assisted corrosion in vivo (or biotribocorrosion) are presented, and recent observations concerning the important role the reduction half-cell plays in the biological response to corrosion are discussed.
Mechanisms and Evolution of Communal Sexual Displays in Arthropods and Anurans

Advertisement signals of sexually displaying males are among the most widely and thoroughly studied phenomena in animal behavior. Many of our current advances in understanding sexual selection, signal evolution and species recognition, biomechanics, sensory and cognitive ecology, and neuro‐ethology derive from studies that focus on male signaling activities. Communal sexual displays are a subset of these signaling phenomena, and they merit special attention on two grounds: First, communal displays of acoustically and visually signaling animals are acknowledged to include some of the ‘‘great spectacles of the living world’’ (Wilson, 1975). Anyone who has borne witness to the chorusing of periodical cicadas in central and eastern North America or the collective flashing of fireflies in the Indo‐ Malayan region cannot help but marvel at the sheer numbers of individuals involved and the intensity of their collective signaling output. But, communal sexual displays are noteworthy for more than just masses of participants and their volume of sound or brilliance of light. In many cases, the signals of individual participants are precisely choreographed in space and time, often giving rise to striking alternation or synchrony between neighbors (Alexander, 1975). Here, underlying aesthetic sensibilities may account for much of our interest: Perhaps related to a concern with orderliness and pattern in the natural world, we remain fascinatedwith synchronous phenomena of all forms (Pikovsky et al., 2002; Strogatz, 2003; see Neda et al., 2000 for an intriguing example from human behavior), particularly when these events defy obvious explanation. And it is this latter point that brings us to our second reason for focusing attention on communal sexual displays: The mechanisms and evolution of an individual’s signaling are often concealed from casual view, and it is only when signaling is interactive that these