cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In Vivo Sensitivity of Human Melanoma to Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α Is Determined by Tumor Production of the Novel Cytokine Endothelial-Monocyte Activating Polypeptide II (EMAPII)

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is a potent anticancer agent that seems to selectively target tumor-associated vasculature resulting in hemorrhagic necrosis of tumors without injury to surrounding tissues. The major limitation in the clinical use of TNF has been severe dose-limiting toxicity when administered systemically. However, when administered in isolated organ perfusion it results in regression of advanced bulky tumors. A better understanding of the mechanisms of TNF-induced antitumor effects may provide valuable information into how its clinical use in cancer treatment may be expanded. We describe here that the release of a novel tumor-derived cytokine endothelial-monocyte-activating polypeptide II (EMAPII) renders the tumor-associated vasculature sensitive to TNF. EMAPII has the unique ability to induce tissue factor production by tumor vascular endothelial cells that initiates thrombogenic cascades, which may play a role in determining tumor sensitivity to TNF. We demonstrate here that constituitive overexpression of EMAPII in a TNF-resistant human melanoma line by retroviral-mediated transfer of EMAPII cDNA renders the tumor sensitive to the effects of systemic TNF in vivo , but not in vitro . This interaction between tumors and their associated neovasculature provides an explanation for the focal effects of TNF on tumors and possibly for the variable sensitivity of tumors to bioactive agents.
Structure and expression of differentiation antigens on functional subclasses of primary sensory neurons

Subpopulations of dorsal root ganglion neurons can be distinguished on the basis of their peripheral receptive properties, spinal terminal arbors and neuropeptide content. We have used monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to define antigenic determinants on functional populations of DRG neurons projecting to the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Three MAbs recognize defined carbohydrate epitopes associated with lacto- and globo-series glycolipids that constitute the stage-specific embryonic antigens (SSEAs) 1, 3 and 4. SSEA-3 and SSEA-4 are present in the cytoplasm of about 10% of DRG neurons in adult rat. These neurons are distinct from those that contain substance P, somatostatin or the fluoride-resistant acid phosphatase enzyme, FRAP. SSEA-1 is present in a small percentage of DRG neurons. SSEAs are present on the surface of DRG neurons maintained in dissociated cell culture: 6% are SSEA-1 $^+$ , 7% are SSEA-3 $^+$ and 10-15% are SSEA-4 $^+$ . MAbs LD2, KH10, TC6 and TD10 identify epitopes expressed coincidently in 25% of small DRG neurons that project to lamina II of the dorsal horn. All somatostatin- but less than 1% of substance P-immunoreactive DRG neurons express these antigens. MAb LA4 labels a distinct population of small DRG neurons that also projects to lamina II. There is extensive overlap between LA4 $^+$ neurons and those that contain FRAP. Antigens recognized by these MAbs are expressed on the surface of 10-20% of DRG neurons in culture. Preliminary biochemical studies suggest that these antigens may be glycolipids. Molecules bearing carbohydrate differentiation antigens may be involved in the development and specification of sensory connections in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.
Mutacins from Streptococcus mutans UA159 are active against multiple streptococcal species

Streptococcus mutans UA159, whose genome is completely sequenced, produces two nonlantibiotic mutacins, mutacin IV (encoded by nlmAB) and mutacin V (encoded by nlmC). In this study, we investigated the contribution of nlmA and nlmB to mutacin IV activity and demonstrated by performing genetic studies as well as by using semipurified molecules that, in contrast to a previous report, both of these genes are required for optimum mutacin IV activity. We also showed that mutacin IV is active against multiple Streptococcus species. In contrast, mutacin V displayed a narrower inhibitory range than mutacin IV. Our results suggest that mutacin IV and mutacin V may act synergistically to inhibit various organisms.
Optimization of transmission line planning including security constraints

The authors describe an automatic way of finding the least-cost method of securing a given power system. The objective is to minimize the present cost of building additional lines to make the system secure due to single contingencies, subject to the technical constraints with and without line outages. A second approach to the problem, heuristic in nature, is also illustrated and compared to the results of the first method. All network synthesis is based on the DC power flow model. A six-bus network is used to illustrate the methods, and solutions obtained using a standard mixed-integer linear programming computer package, MIP/370, are given. >
Thermal and mechanical properties of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based hydrogels as a function of porosity and medium change

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) has been a well-known stimuli–responsive material and has been used in multiple novel applications. One of the key attributes to make the hydrogel more attractive is to control the response time and temperature. This work focused on comparing the physical properties, such as response time, transition temperature, heat of fusion, and mechanical strength, of macroporous and microporous PNIPAAm hydrogels, respectively. It was found that the macroporous hydrogels synthesized from a low-temperature polymerization with addition of tetramethyl orthosilicate exhibited a faster response time and superior mechanical strength. Furthermore, to modulate the transition temperature, both the macroporous and microporous hydrogels were subjected to different qualities of media by introducing a cosolvent (methanol) or an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate). Interestingly, addition of a cosolvent demonstrated a more pronounced effect on the macroporous hydrogel, whereas the surfactant resulted in a more pronounced effect on the microporous hydrogel. Such results revealed that based on their porosity; there were appreciable differences when the PNIPAAm hydrogels interacted with media molecules. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42776.
Definitions and Epidemiology of Unexplained Male Infertility

Male factor is a common cause of infertility among couples trying to achieve a successful pregnancy. Half these patients have no identifiable cause for their infertility. Patients are classified as having unexplained male infertility (UMI) when there is no abnormality on history and physical examination, semen analysis, and hormone evaluation. The prevalence of UMI is approximately 15 % (range 6–37 %) in the general population. There are multiple immune, genetic, and environmental factors that may contribute to this condition. The objective of this chapter is to highlight the epidemiology and terms used to define unexplained male infertility.
Psoriasis is characterized by deficient negative immune regulation compared to transient delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions

Diphencyprone (DPCP) is a hapten that causes delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions in human skin, and is used as a topical therapeutic for alopecia areata, warts, and cutaneous melanoma metastases. We examined peak DTH reactions induced by DPCP (3 days post-challenge) by comprehensive gene expression and histological analysis. To better understand how these DTH reactions naturally resolve, we compared our DPCP biopsies to those from patients with psoriasis vulgaris, a chronic inflammatory disease that does not resolve. By both microarray and qRT-PCR, we found that psoriasis lesional skin has significantly lower expression of many negative immune regulators compared to peak DPCP reactions. These regulators include: interleukin-10, cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated 4 (CTLA4), programmed cell death 1 (PD1), programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PDL1), programmed cell death 1 ligand 2 (PDL2), and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1). Their decreased expression was confirmed at the protein level by immunohistochemistry. To more completely determine the balance of positive vs. negative immune regulators in both DPCP reactions and psoriasis, we developed one comprehensive gene list for positive regulatory (inflammatory) genes, and another for negative regulatory (immunosuppressive) genes, through Gene Ontology terms and literature review. With this approach, we found that DPCP reactions have a higher ratio of negative to positive regulatory genes (both in terms of quantity and expression levels) than psoriasis lesional skin. These data suggest that the disease chronicity that distinguishes psoriasis from transient DTH reactions may be related to absence of negative immune regulatory pathways, and induction of these is therefore of therapeutic interest. Further study of these negative regulatory mechanisms that are present in DPCP reactions, but not in psoriasis, could reveal novel players in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation. The DPCP system used here thus provides a tractable model for primary discovery of pathways potentially involved in immune regulation in peripheral tissues.
RFID and Information Security in Supply Chains

Information visibility is of paramount importance for effective and efficient operation of supply chains. Although not the sole enabling technological source for information visibility in supply chains, RFID tags naturally allow for its seamless operationalization. RFID tags are notorious on issues related to security/privacy concerns, and these concerns are magnified in a supply chain context where the ownership of any given tag is passed among disparate organizations throughout its lifetime. We consider this scenario from a cryptographic perspective. We consider the literature in this area, identify vulnerabilities in an existing authentication protocol, and suggest modifications that address these vulnerabilities.
Regulatory regions responsive to oxidative stress in the promoter of the human DNA glycosylase gene NEIL2

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated endogenously or from exogenous sources produce mutagenic DNA lesions. If not repaired, these lesions could lead to genomic instability and, potentially, to cancer development. NEIL2 (EC 4.2.99.18), a mammalian base excision repair (BER) protein and ortholog of the bacterial Fpg/Nei, excises oxidized DNA lesions from bubble or single-stranded structures, suggesting its involvement in transcription-coupled DNA repair. Perturbation in NEIL2 expression may, therefore, significantly impact BER capacity and promote genomic instability. To characterize the genetic and environmental factors regulating NEIL2 gene expression, we mapped the human NEIL2 transcriptional start site and partially characterized the promoter region of the gene using a luciferase reporter assay. We identified a strong positive regulatory region from nucleotide -206 to +90 and found that expression from this region was contingent on its being isolated from an adjacent strong negative regulatory region located downstream (+49 to +710 bp), suggesting that NEIL2 transcription is influenced by both these regions. We also found that oxidative stress, induced by glucose oxidase treatment, reduced the positive regulatory region expression levels, suggesting that ROS may play a significant role in regulating NEIL2 transcription. In an initial attempt to characterize the underlying mechanisms, we used in silico analysis to identify putative cis-acting binding sites for ROS-responsive transcription factors within this region and then used site-directed mutagenesis to investigate their role. A single-base change in the region encompassing nucleotides -206 to +90 abolished the effect of oxidative stress that was observed in the absence of the mutation. Our study is the first to provide an initial partial characterization of the NEIL2 promoter and opens the door for future research aimed at understanding the role of genetic and environmental factors in regulating NEIL2 expression.
Towards verifiable adaptive control for safety critical applications

One of the main obstacles to the implementation of adaptive controllers for safety critical applications is the absence of analytically justified Verification and Validation (V&V) techniques for such systems. This paper seeks to provide the beginnings of a theoretically motivated V&V technique for adaptive controllers in the context of controlling uncertain flight vehicle dynamics. A set of tools for characterizing the transient properties of direct adaptive systems is developed using a combination of Lyapunov theory, asymptotic analysis, and linear system s theory. A Lyapunov approach is used to prove stability and global properties. Asymptotic analysis allows for the behavior of the nonlinear adaptive system to be practically characterized by a Reduce d Linear Asymptotic System (RLAS). Techniques used in linear system s theory then can be applied straightforwardly to the RLAS. The tools are demonstrated on a simulation of the short period mode in aircraft dynamics and on a full nonlinear six degre e of freedom aircraft simulation.
Cellular and genetic diversity in the progression of in situ human breast carcinomas to an invasive phenotype

Intratumor genetic heterogeneity is a key mechanism underlying tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. The prevailing model for explaining intratumor diversity, the clonal evolution model, has recently been challenged by proponents of the cancer stem cell hypothesis. To investigate this issue, we performed combined analyses of markers associated with cellular differentiation states and genotypic alterations in human breast carcinomas and evaluated diversity with ecological and evolutionary methods. Our analyses showed a high degree of genetic heterogeneity both within and between distinct tumor cell populations that were defined based on markers of cellular phenotypes including stem cell-like characteristics. In several tumors, stem cell-like and more-differentiated cancer cell populations were genetically distinct, leading us to question the validity of a simple differentiation hierarchy-based cancer stem cell model. The degree of diversity correlated with clinically relevant breast tumor subtypes and in some tumors was markedly different between the in situ and invasive cell populations. We also found that diversity measures were associated with clinical variables. Our findings highlight the importance of genetic diversity in intratumor heterogeneity and the value of analyzing tumors as distinct populations of cancer cells to more effectively plan treatments.
Latuda®- New dose, new do's and don'ts?

Similar to other second-generation antipsychotics, lurasidone is an antagonist at dopamine D2 and serotonin 5HT2A receptors, and also has a high binding affinity (antagonist) for the serotonin 5HT7 receptor. Over the past several years, the dosing of this agent has changed. This article will discuss such changes and compare the efficacy, side effect rates, and cost of lurasidone dosing regimens.
A Passive-Discrete Water Sampler for Monitoring Seepage

This paper presents the design of the passive-discrete water sampler (PDWS) which has been developed to facilitate investigations of flow partitioning in fractured rocks. The PDWS continuously isolates seeping water into discrete samples while monitoring the seepage rate. The PDWS was used in a flow and transport experiment that investigated fracture-matrix interactions. During the experiment, a mix of conservative tracers with significantly different diffusion coefficients (lithium bromide [LiBr] and pentafluorobenzoic acid [PFBA]) was introduced along a fault located in fractured tuffs, and water seeping through the lower end of the fault was collected by the PDWS and analyzed for tracer concentrations. Preliminary results from this investigation show that samples of effluent captured by the PDWS effectively retained temporal changes in the chemical signature, while providing seepage rates.
Regional variations in spinel compositions: An important key to the Cretaceous/Tertiary event

Spinel found in spherules from Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary sediments exhibits a wide range in composition and is distinguished from typical igneous spinel by high Mg, Al, and Ni, relatively low Ti and Cr, and high Fe2O3/FeO. Solid-solution compositions range from nearly pure magnetite to magnesioferrite to relatively pure MgAl2O4 spinel. The Ni-spinel trevorite is also a common component. A regional variation in composition is also observed: spinel from two North Pacific sites has higher Mg and Al and lower Ni and Fe than spinel from two European sites and one South Atlantic site. The most probable source of the spinel is crystallization from molten silicate droplets produced from a major impact event. The regional variations may provide a key to locating the impact site(s).
Human centered design in the air traffic control system

A review of the current air traffic control system is undertaken from the perspective of human centered design, focusing on the development of today's system, the problems in today's system, and the challenges going forward. Today's system evolved around the operators in the system (mainly air traffic controllers and pilots), rather than being designed based on specific engineering analyses. This human centered focus has helped make air transportation remarkably safe, but has also made the air traffic control system somewhat inscrutable. This opaqueness of how the system operates poses significant problems for current attempts to transform the system into its "next generation" with significantly improved capacity. Research advances in human centered computing research required in order for this transformation work to proceed are discussed, specifically advances in computing the safety of complex human-integrated systems, understanding and measuring situation awareness, and visualizations of complex data.
Adolescents who stutter

Abstract The purpose of this article is to discuss the current knowledge of stuttering therapy for adolescents and the need for a research program that focuses on this population. Examination of the current therapy literature reveals that adolescents are typically grouped with either older children or adults and are rarely considered as a separate group. Discussion focuses on concerns related to the relationship between emotions and stuttering, transfer and maintenance of fluency, service delivery models, and the need for specialty certification.
Then And Now: A Longitudinal Study Of Attitudes Toward Women As Managers

This paper reports the results of a longitudinal study comparing the attitudes of business undergraduate students toward women as managers. Survey results from 1981, 2000, and 2010 are compared. For all three time periods, females report significantly more positive attitudes toward women as managers than males. Comparing the same sex survey groups, the females of 2000 are significantly more positive toward women as managers than their 1981 counterparts. There is no difference in attitudes when the results from 2000 and 2010 are compared. The attitudes of the males in 2000 are not significantly different from their 1981 comparison group. However, a significant difference in attitudes is found when the results from 2000 and 2010 are compared.
Water Reservoir Systems

. Water Reservoir Systems were investigated for urban areas as an alternative or complement to storm water drainage systems for flood control which could provide benefits in water conservation and reduce drainage system costs. The study consisted of: (1) gathering of engineering data on the topographical, hydrological, and precipitation characteristics of the area and urban development and economic statistics
NDT Techniques: Electrical

This section focuses on two special electrical NDE techniques, namely current field measurements and thermoelectric inspection. Current field measurements are based on the analysis of the electric current field distribution in a conducting specimen for the purposes of crack detection and sizing. Thermoelectric NDE methods are based on the well-known Seebeck effect that is commonly used in thermocouples to measure temperature at the junction between two different conductors. Thermoelectric measurements are uniquely sensitive to changes in material properties while being completely insensitive to geometrical properties such as component size and shape.
Post-Pollination Ovule Development in Dendrobium Orchids. II. Fine Structure of the Nucellar and Archesporial Phases

SUMMARYTwo successive stages — nucellar and archesporial — of ovule development in three hybrids of Dendrobium orchids have been studied by electron microscopy. A megaspore mother cell is developed at the tip of each placental outgrowth following a 30-day mitotic period induced by pollination. Except for its terminal position in the nucellar row, the potential megaspore mother cell exhibits no unique morphological properties. It is proposed that the marked multiplication of organelles effecting cytoplasmic growth in the archesporial phase is facilitated through a net absorption of cytoplasm from the surrounding nutritive cells by the developing megaspore mother cell. Evidence for this is presented by the concomitant loss of plasmodesmata and the initiation of rhopheocytosis between the developing cell and the adjacent nucellar and epidermal cells and a marked reduction in the concentration of ribonucleoprotein particles within the developing cell. No evidence can be found that the simple Golgi-apparati of...
Measurement and calculation of absolute single- and double-charge-exchange cross sections for O 6 + ions at 1.17 and 2.33 keV/u impacting He and H 2

Absolute single- and double-charge-exchange cross sections for the astrophysically prominent ${\mathrm{O}}^{6+}$ ion with the atomic and molecular targets He and ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ are reported. These collisions give rise to x-ray emissions in the interplanetary medium, planetary atmospheres, and comets as they approach the sun. Measurements have been carried out using the Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory electron cyclotron resonance ion source with ${\mathrm{O}}^{6+}$ at energies of 1.17 and 2.33 keV/u characteristic of the slow and fast components of the solar wind. Absolute charge-exchange (CE) data are derived from knowledge of the target gas pressure, target path length, incident ion current, and charge-exchanged ion currents. These data are compared with results obtained using the $n$-electron classical trajectory Monte Carlo method. The radiative and Auger evolution of ion populations following one- and two-electron transfers is calculated with the time-dependent collisional-radiative code nomad using atomic data from the flexible atomic code. Calculated CE emission spectra for $100\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\AA{}l\ensuremath{\lambda}l1400\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\AA{}$ are reported as well and compared with experimental sublevel spectra and cross sections.
Diabetes Education, Specialty Care, and Self-Care Advice among Obese African American Women with Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective : Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) includes benchmarks for diabetes management. The objective of our study was to describe diabetes management among African American women, a patient group that carries a disproportionate diabetes burden. Design: Cross-sectional survey study. Participants: African American women with type 2 diabetes enrolled in dietary and weight management interventions. Main Outcome Measures: Self-report assessments of diabetes education, specialty care, self-care behaviors and advice. Associations between diabetes self-care behaviors and diabetes advice using Chi-square tests. Results: Among 96 participants (age = 53 ± 9.4; BMI = 37.9 ± 7.3 kg/m2), reported diabetes education and foot exams were lower than HP2020 benchmarks, 48.9% vs 62.5% and 35.1% vs 74.8%, respectively and higher for dilated eye exams (70.1% vs 58.7%). The most frequently reported dietary advice was to increase fruit/ vegetable intake (58%) and approximately 50% reported physical activity advice. Receiving no exercise advice was associated with greater odds of little or no physical activity (OR = 3.38) and planned exercises (OR = 2.65). Conclusion: Receipt of diabetes education and some specialty care were below national benchmarks while health care provider advice influenced patient self-care behaviors. Increasing diabetes education and specialty care should be included within existing efforts to address the excess diabetes burden experienced by African American women. Longitudinal studies exploring the relationship between health care provider advice and self-care behaviors are needed. Ethn Dis. 2016;26(2):229-234; doi:10.18865/ed.26.2.229
Subscribing to Sex Edutainment: Sex Education, Online Video, and the YouTube Star

Although abstinence-only programs in the United States have historically failed to provide medically accurate information on sexual health, young people in the twenty-first century have turned to Y...
Comprehensive quality evaluation methods and results analysis of HIV screening laboratory

Objective To evaluate HIV screening laboratory working status in Shijiazhuang City,and to further improve HIV testing network construction. Methods 87 screening laboratories in the whole city were assessed through questionnaire survey and examined samples,relevant statistical analysis was collected,each laboratory was evaluated comprehensively. Results After a comprehensive assessment,87 HIV testing screening laboratories were qualified,74.7% of them achieved good results or above. The excellent rate of laboratories of CDC was superior to that of medical institutions,but there was no significant difference(P=0.276). The excellent rate of laboratories in provincial was significantly higher than that in county hospitals(P=0.012). Conclusion On the whole,the test working quality of HIV screening laboratories in Shijiazhuang City is good,but quality control management is relatively weak,especially,there is greater difference in the county laboratories.
The prevalence of onchocerciasis on selected divisions of the Firestone Rubber Plantation, Harbel, Liberia.

Abstract A survey for the prevalence of onchocerciasis was conducted on selected divisions of the Firestone Rubber Plantation, Harbel, Liberia, in November 1980. Divisions 19, 22, 23, and 36 are located in the north-central portion of the plantation, and were selected to complement transmission studies which were performed there in 1979 and 1980. Biopsy of the calf, iliac crest, and shoulder was done on a total of 583 individuals. No lateral difference in microfilarial density was observed. A prevalence of 80.8% was found. Prevalence appeared to be equal between the sexes, and to plateau above 35 years of age. Of those presenting positive skin biopsies, 20.2% had palpable onchocercomata. The geometric mean wet weight microfilarial density/mg of skin for the population sampled was 19. Onchocerciasis is considered hyperendemic in the Harbel area. Further investigations are warranted to define its dimensions in relation to clinical sequelae on the plantation.
Risk analysis of globalized airline supply chains

Infiltration of the global airplane production supply chain could have catastrophic impacts on flight safety. Thousands of suppliers feed specialized components and materials to only a few large airplane manufacturers. One compromised node in the supply chain could significantly damage the world's commercial airline fleets. A methodology and two models are proposed to detect and assess risk points in the global airplane production supply chain in order to increase safety in commercial air travel. Analyzing risk in the supply chain involves (1) examining ubiquity of components; (2) instances in which a component travels through a geopolitically unstable region; and (3) supply chain nodes responsible for a significant proportion of production with respect to an airplane model, an airplane manufacturer's fleet, or an airline's fleet. Finally, components are assigned a risk score based on ubiquity and geopolitical risk, and high-risk supply chain nodes are identified. With the appropriate data, the generalizable design of the methodology and models could be applied to the supply chain of any airplane model, any fleet size or fleet makeup, and other vehicles. A dashboard that allows more specific investigation is also demonstrated.
Modal properties of semiconductor lasers with asymmetric optical feedback

External cavity semiconductor lasers are ideal vehicles for studying complex dynamic effects such as coherence collapse, instabilities, and cha- Understanding nonlinear dynamic effects in semiconductor lasers is essential for applications such as high speed modulation, switching, bistability, pulse generation, linewidth narrowing, and fast reading/writing on reflective optical disks. Recent fundamental experiments demonstrating optical chaos have employed external cavity devices with deliberate tilt asymmetries.2,3 Such asymmetries have not been quantified, and their effects on the temporal and spectral properties of the laser are not well understood.
Reducing Dimensionality in the Search for Gene–Gene Interactions

Gene–gene interactions are a critical component of the genetic architecture of complex, human traits. Unfortunately, the detection and characterization of interactions is a challenge. This is due to a number of factors including the combinatorial explosion of possible interactions in large-scale genomic data, limited power in small sample sizes, and potential difficulty interpreting or validating the resulting interaction models. A number of data mining methods have been developed to deal with one or more of these challenges. In this chapter, we discuss the importance of looking for gene–gene interactions as well as some of the challenges facing this type of analysis. Additionally, we review the alternative analytic approaches being considered to improve our ability to detect and model gene–gene interactions. Finally, we conclude with the future directions of interaction analysis.
Excitotoxicity and Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health problem in the industrialized world where survivors suffer major physical, psychological and economical consequences. Despite numerous clinical trials investigating pharmaceutical compounds with promising pre-clinical efficacy, no pharmacological treatment has been developed with proven clinical efficacy. The present chapter reviews the pathophysiology of TBI with focus on the evidence of and mechanisms for glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity, which is considered to be a major contributor to the secondary injury process following both experimental and clinical TBI. Furthermore, we review the numerous pharmacological approaches targeting excitotoxicity employed in experimental TBI, and address the controversies that exist with regard to the importance of glutamate-mediated mechanisms following TBI. The impressive reductions in functional and structural impairment observed following experimental TBI after administration of compounds designed to attenuate glutamate excitotoxicity raised high expectations for improvement of outcome following clinical TBI, and we summarize the phase III clinical trials conducted thus far with glutamate receptor antagonists following clinical TBI. Finally, we address possible future directions in the search of a clinically useful treatment for human head injury.
Multiple Bilaterally Asymmetric Cortical Sources Account for the Auditory N1m Component

The hypothesis that the N1, the major negative component of the cortical evoked response to auditory stimuli, originates from the primary auditory cortex has been supported by several studies. In a previous study we showed that, when monaural stimulation with pure tones is used, the distribution of the N1 peak over the scalp could be accounted for by successive activation of adjacent sources on the floor of the Sylvian fissure. In an attempt to establish the generality of the phenomenon, in this study we investigated further the generation of the N1 component using a variety of auditory stimuli, including pure tones, complex sounds (musical notes), and words, as well as binaural stimulus presentation. Additionally, we used a new recording system which allows recording of the distribution of the magnetic flux over the entire head simultaneously, thus eliminating the need for multiple recording sessions and the related problems of habituation and of changes in attention level. We found that a series of single dipolar sources could account for the entire duration of the N1m component. The location of the sources fell within the primary auditory cortex and, during the evolution of the component, they followed a posterior-anterior, medial-lateral, superior-inferior trajectory, bilaterally, along the superior surface of the temporal lobes. Additionally, the distribution of N1 sources on the two hemispheres showed a marked asymmetry, with the right hemisphere sources covering a larger area. The established consistency of successive source excitation across subjects, studies, types of stimuli, and recording systems, as well as the newly demonstrated hemispheric asymmetry of source extent, suggest the presence of a reliable phenomenon indicative of the functional organization of the auditory cortex.
Correlates of Triple Negative Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy Patterns in Black and White Women With Breast Cancer

Abstract Background Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) tumors are estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-negative, and human epidermal growth factor-negative. TNBC is responsive to chemotherapy, but chemotherapy might be underused in some patient subgroups. The goal of the present study was to characterize the patterns of chemotherapy use (uptake and completion) in TNBC patients. Patients and Methods Women with primary invasive, nonmetastatic breast cancer were recruited in Washington, DC, and Detroit. Data were collected using a standardized telephone survey that captured sociocultural and health care process factors. Clinical data were abstracted from the medical records. We used χ 2 tests to access the association between the receipt of chemotherapy use (initiation and completion) and categorical variables, and t tests were used for continuous variables. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the factors associated with chemotherapy uptake. Results Women with TNBC (16% of sample) were more likely to be black than white (68% vs. 32%; P P = .01) and in women without (vs. with) healthcare discrimination (35% vs. 25%; P = .04). In multivariable models, only race was associated with the receipt of chemotherapy. Black women were more likely to receive chemotherapy than were white women. The odds ratio of receiving chemotherapy by race was 4.1 (95% confidence interval, 1.3-13.1). Each 1-year increase in age was associated with a lower likelihood of chemotherapy completion (odds ratio, 0.9; 95% confidence interval, 0.826-0.981; P = .02). Women with at least some college were less likely to complete chemotherapy than were those with other education levels ( P = .02). Conclusion A substantial number of TNBC patients failed to receive and/or complete chemotherapy. Differences in chemotherapy uptake by race and sociocultural factors diminished in multivariable models but age and stage remained significant. Suboptimal treatment among women with TNBC could contribute to adverse outcomes. Future investigations are necessary to assess whether the noninitiation and/or noncompletion of chemotherapy is clinically warranted.
Obesity and its implications for morbidity and mortality after cholecystectomy: A matched NSQIP analysis

Abstract Background The risks from super obesity (SO) following cholecystectomy have not been studied. Methods NSQIP analysis of patients undergoing cholecystectomy from 2005 to 2011. Non-obese (NO) patients (BMI 18.5–30) were matched 1:1 by age, sex, race and comorbidities to morbidly obese (MO) (BMI 35–50), and separately to SO (BMI≥50) individuals. Clavien 4 complications and 30-day mortality were compared. Results 13780 MO and 1410 SO patients were matched to NO patients. Obese patients were more likely to present with chronic (CC) rather than acute cholecystitis (AC). Compared to NO patients, Clavien 4 complications were significantly increased among SO patients overall especially with AC where rate of open surgery was significantly higher. Conclusion SO patients have an increased risk of serious morbidity after cholecystectomy especially with AC where rate of open surgery remains high. Aggressive recommendation for cholecystectomy to reduce presentation with AC and increase likelihood for laparoscopic surgery may be beneficial in SO patients.
Transient Stress Wave Boundary Interactions

Impulsive loads such as are produced by explosions and impacts, on introducing transient stresses into the materials against which they act, start a series of events. At first, fractures and highly localized internal stresses may develop ; later, rod, plate, Love, Rayleigh, and other similar waves may appear. The character of these transitory and evolutionary processes is controlled in a large measure by the interactions which take place both among the transient stress waves themselves and between the stress waves and the boundaries or interfaces which they encounter. These interactions can exert a strong attenuating effect on a wave by disorganizing it and splitting its energy up into diverse modes. The attainment of a full appreciation of the attenuation processes requires a complete understanding of the nature of the interactions themselves, an understanding which may be hampered by the fact that the interaction processes are quite complicated, difficult, and extremely tedious to treat in a rigorous manner. However, some of the more important interactions are amenable to relatively simple treatment. The purpose of this paper is to describe a few interactions that have not heretofore been discussed and to present some new experimental data bearing on them.
Effectiveness of Webinars as Educational Tools to Address Horse Industry Issues

A series of six webinars was developed and presented as part of an eXtension HorseQuest/My Horse University online educational program funded by the USA Equestrian Trust. The webinars addressed topics consistent with the goal of improving equine health and management practices through dissemination to horse owners of relevant research findings on current horse industry issues. The webinars were presented and recorded and then archived to both eXtension.org/horses and myhorseuniversity.com....
Functional Fixedness: A Replication Study

Repetition of Birch and Rabinowitz, (1951) experiment partially confirmed their findings of functional fixedness. When van de Geer’s (1957) reversed functions procedure was repeated, the demonstration of a lack of functional fixedness was hot only confirmed, but extended into a finding of positive transfer of training.
Correctly Linking Researchers to Their Journal Articles: An Overview of Unique Author Identifiers

ABSTRACTA number of factors can make it difficult to consistently and accurately identify individual researchers and their scholarly activities. One solution is to use unique author identifiers. Many author identifiers are available from inside and outside the library community. This column will, in lay terms, compare Scopus Author ID, ResearcherID, ORCID identifier, and ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier)—some of the more commonly used author identifiers—and explore the advantages and disadvantages of each. It will examine the differences among the four identifiers and their relationships to one another.
Efficient Cloudlet Deployment: Local Cooperation and Regional Proxy

In this paper, we consider various cloudlet server deployment problems. Our goal is to reduce the cloudlet system’s expected response time for mobile application requests submitted to the cloudlet. We propose two novel cloudlet server deployment strategies to achieve this goal. The first one is called local cooperation strategy, where two or more nearby cloudlet servers can help each other process the application requests. The second one is called regional proxy strategy, where service providers choose to deploy a regional proxy server that can provide service to mobile users from a comparatively larger area, while the communication delay from mobile users to the regional proxy server is kept low. We demonstrate the advantages of the two strategies over the traditional flat deployment strategy and the recently proposed hierarchical deployment strategy. Simulation results also verify that two proposed deployment strategies have great potential in reducing system’s expected response time.
Particles and Space Curves

In this chapter we discuss the differential geometry of space curves (a curve embedded in Euclidean three-space e3). In particular, we introduce the Serret-Frenet basis vectors e t ,e n ,e b . This is followed by the derivation of an elegant set of relations describing the rate of change of the tangent e t , principal normal e n , and binormal e b vectors. Several examples of space curves are then discussed. We end the chapter with some applications to the mechanics of particles. Subsequent chapters will also discuss several examples.
Road kills in tropical ecosystems: a review with recommendations for mitigation and for new research

While roads are indispensable for modern civilization and beneficial for many wildlife species, they have been causing mortality from collisions since high speed chariots were invented 4 000 years ago. Most scientific work about road kill has been done in temperate ecosystems, but some authors have suspected that they have different characteristics in tropical ecosystems. In this review, I summarize publications that focus on road kills in tropical countries from Africa, America, Asia and Oceania. I found 73 studies that focus on tropical road kills. Output increased after 2011 and the most productive countries, in articles per capita , are Costa Rica, Colombia and Brazil. Most studies report that mammals are the main victims, but bird deaths are severely underestimated and amphibians suffer mass mortality in reproductive concentrations. Every road victim is itself a small ecosystem that contains thousands of microscopic species, but “Road Kill Microbiology” is yet to be developed as a new branch of research. No generalization can be made about the role of season or habitat in road kills because pooled data hide individual trends: researchers should keep separate records by age, sex, species, time of day, season and place; otherwise important patterns will be missed. There is not a single study, tropical or temperate, that can completely answer how many animals are killed, where, or when, because many victims are removed by scavengers, end outside the road or are too small to be noticed. Significant contributions from the tropics include emphasis on the ethical use of road kill for research, inclusion of species other than wild vertebrates, study of often overlooked phenomena like hour of day and failed versus successful crossing attempts, and the value of speed control in mitigation. The so-called “citizen science” can identify the most affected species but produces data that are very different from those generated by professional scientists in terms of the proportion of affected groups. Real speed limitation is the simplest effective mitigation measure. Tropical scientists should concentrate on monitoring and experimental studies to fully understand the ecology of road kills and to make a contribution that matches what rich countries do. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(2): 722-738. Epub 2018 June 01.
Anatomy of a Genocide Forum

Let me begin by thanking the four commentators for taking the time to read Anatomy of a Genocide and for their incisive observations and critiques. For an author nothing is more gratifying than to ...
Molecular Diagnosis of Uterine Cancer

Uterine cancer is the most common malignancy of the female reproductive system in the developed world. Over the last few decades the incidence has been increasing, presumably due to an increase in risk factors such as obesity as well as a change in reproductive trends. As such, there is a great need for better prevention, earlier diagnosis and improved treatment options for endometrial cancer. Approximately 3–5% of endometrial cancers are due to genetic DNA mutations such as Lynch Syndrome; thus, an enhanced understanding of the genetic and molecular biology is required. Current diagnosis and treatment are based on surgical stage, tumor differentiation, depth of invasion, and presence of lymphovascular space invasion. Recent discoveries in molecular biology have great implications regarding diagnosis and treatment. New candidate biomarkers for endometrial cancer such as microRNAs may allow earlier detection as well as predict a patient’s ability to tolerate and/or respond to a particular therapy. In an age of personalized medicine, genetics and molecular biology hold the key to breakthroughs in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Seroprevalence and durability of rubella virus antibodies in a highly immunized population.

Abstract Background Although the administration of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has been widespread in the United States for decades, gaps in vaccine coverage still persist for various reasons. The maintenance of herd immunity against rubella virus (RV) is important to controlling the spread and resurgence of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome. Methods In this study, we sought to assess the seroprevalence of RV-specific antibodies in an adult population from a defined geographic area in Olmsted County, MN, and the surrounding municipalities, with relatively high vaccine coverage and no documented evidence of circulating RV in the past 24 years. Rubella-specific IgG antibodies were measured by ELISA in a large set of serum samples (n = 1393) obtained from the Mayo Clinic Biobank. This cohort was 80.2% female and ranged from 20 to 44 years of age. Results In total, 97.8% of subjects were seropositive for rubella-specific IgG antibodies, with a median titer of 40.56 IU/mL, suggesting a high degree of immunization; however, 2.2% of subjects were found to be seronegative. Interestingly, 25.1% of subjects were seropositive but had titers lower than 25 IU/mL, indicating either a population of low responders or individuals that could potentially be at risk of waning immunity. No significant associations or differences were found between RV-specific titers and demographic variables such as age, sex, or body mass index (BMI). Conclusions A high rate of seropositivity for rubella was found among this young adult cohort, but a significant percent of the cohort had lower titers that may indicate poor initial vaccine response and potential risk if their antibody titers decline.
Nest guarding by male bees.

In their recent PNAS article on biparental care in Ceratina nigrolabiata Friese, Mikat et al. (1) demonstrate biparental care and nest guarding by males and present these strategies as previously unknown in bees. However, nest guarding by males has been documented in multiple other bee species, including another species of Ceratina . I am aware of 13 studies that document or suggest nest-guarding behavior in male bees, though I am limited here to the most well-documented examples. The most in-depth descriptions of nest guarding are on macrocephalic males of Lasioglossum erythrurum (Cockerell) by Kukuk and Schwarz … [↵][1]1Email: zportman{at}umn.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1