cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spectroscopic ellipsometry of lithium/polymer electrolyte interfaces

Abstract Conventional electrochemical techniques and a fast-scan, self-compensating spectroscopic ellipsometer were used to characterize Li/polymer electrolyte interfaces. An electrochemical–ellipsometric test cell employed a grid counter-electrode to allow illumination of the Li/polymer interface, along with a Li-ring reference electrode, which was co-planar with the Li working electrode. Open-circuit cell potentials, current responses to small potential steps, AC impedance data and in situ ellipsometric spectra were recorded after cell assembly and during cell cycle tests, and the optical properties of bare Li metal and candidate reaction products were measured. The ellipsometric spectra of Li/PEO–LiN(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 interfaces were interpreted and were consistent with a compact interfacial structure. The as-formed (before current passage) Li/PEO–LiN(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 interfacial layer was ∼12-nm thick and contained mostly Li and Li 2 O, with >60 vol.% Li. After a single-cell discharge of 0.4 mA h/cm 2 , the interfacial layer became thicker (37 nm) and accumulated >60 vol.% Li 2 O.
Codes, standards, and PV power systems. A 1996 status report

As photovoltaic (PV) power systems gain increasing acceptance for both off-grid and utility-interactive applications, the safety, durability and performance of these systems gains in importance. Local and state jurisdictions in many areas of the USA require that all electrical power systems be installed in compliance with the requirements of the National Electrical Code(R) (NEC(R)). Utilities and governmental agencies are now requiring that PV installations and components also meet a number of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) standards. PV installers are working more closely with licensed electricians and electrical contractors who are familiar with existing local codes and installation practices. PV manufacturers, utilities, balance of systems manufacturers and standards representatives have come together to address safety and code related issues for future PV installations. This paper addresses why compliance with the accepted codes and standards is needed and how it is being achieved.
The Brucella abortus S19 ΔvjbR Live Vaccine Candidate Is Safer than S19 and Confers Protection against Wild-Type Challenge in BALB/c Mice When Delivered in a Sustained-Release Vehicle

Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease of nearly worldwide distribution. Despite the availability of live vaccine strains for bovine (S19, RB51) and small ruminants (Rev-1), these vaccines have several drawbacks, including residual virulence for animals and humans. Safe and efficacious immunization systems are therefore needed to overcome these disadvantages. A vjbR knockout was generated in the S19 vaccine and investigated for its potential use as an improved vaccine candidate. Vaccination with a sustained-release vehicle to enhance vaccination efficacy was evaluated utilizing the live S19 ΔvjbR::Kan in encapsulated alginate microspheres containing a nonimmunogenic eggshell precursor protein of the parasite Fasciola hepatica (vitelline protein B). BALB/c mice were immunized intraperitoneally with either encapsulated or nonencapsulated S19 ΔvjbR::Kan at a dose of 1 × 105 CFU per animal to evaluate immunogenicity, safety, and protective efficacy. Humoral responses postvaccination indicate that the vaccine candidate was able to elicit an anti-Brucella-specific immunoglobulin G response even when the vaccine was administered in an encapsulated format. The safety was revealed by the absence of splenomegaly in mice that were inoculated with the mutant. Finally, a single dose with the encapsulated mutant conferred higher levels of protection compared to the nonencapsulated vaccine. These results suggest that S19 ΔvjbR::Kan is safer than S19, induces protection in mice, and should be considered as a vaccine candidate when administered in a sustained-release manner.
Results from the survey for preservation of adolescent reproduction (SPARE) study: gender disparity in delivery of fertility preservation message to adolescents with cancer.

Purpose Diminished reproductive capacity is a devastating consequence of life-sparing therapies for childhood malignancy. In 2006, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) published fertility preservation recommendations (ASCOR) emphasizing the importance of early discussion and intervention for fertility preservation strategies. Using the Survey for Preservation of Adolescent REproduction (SPARE), we sought to determine fertility preservation attitudes and practice patterns post-ASCOR from pediatric oncology specialists nationwide.
The effects of omeprazole and famotidine on mucin and PGE2 release in the rat stomach

SUMMARY Background: Gastric antisecretory agents may inhibit the synthesis or secretion of gastric mucin during acid suppression, which would interfere with mucosal protection and limit the efficacy of the agents. Methods: Rats were dosed with famotidine, omeprazole, or buffer control for 4 weeks. Mucin synthesis, mucin histochemistry, mucin carbohydrate composition and prostaglandin E, (PGE,) release were measured during and after drug treatment. Results : PGE, release was maximally inhibited after 2 weeks of omeprazole or 4 weeks of famotidine. Total glycoprotein synthesis was inhibited at all times by omeprazole, but only after the cessation of dosing with famotidine. Sulphated glycoprotein synthesis was inhibited by both drugs at 2 weeks. PGE,release and sulphated glycoprotein synthesis were restored to control values or more by the 5th day after the end of dosing, at which time total glycoprotein synthesis was significantly suppressed in both groups. Histologically, a reduction of PAS-positive surface mucus was observed after 2 weeks of dosing in both groups. Both famotidine and omeprazole reduced the sialic acid content during and after treatment. Conclusions : These results suggest that Iong-term antisecretory therapy also affects the production of factors involved in primary gastric mucosal defence, which should be considered in the assessment of response to treatment in clinical trials.
Interplay Between Electronic Transport and Magnetic Order in Ferromagnetic Manganite Thin Films

The transition metal oxides La{sub 1{minus}x}A{sub x}MnO{sub 3} (A = Ba, Ca, or Sr) order ferromagnetically with Curie temperatures ranging from as low as 50 K to well above room temperature. Magnetic order in these compounds results in a concomitant metal-insulator transition. The feature displayed by the manganites that is most important technologically is the extremely large negative magnetoresistance that achieves its largest values near the magnetic ordering temperature. Qualitatively, this colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) phenomenon involves the suppression of the relatively sharp maximum in the resistivity that is centered at T{sub C}. When considered collectively, the anomalous temperature-dependent transport properties, the CMR effect, and the magnetically ordered ground state indicate that a novel interplay between magnetism and electronic transport occurs in the manganites. General features of the magnetic-field and temperature-dependent electrical resistivity and magnetization as displayed by PLD-grown thin films are examined. Particular emphasis is placed on what these measurements tell us about the conduction process both above and below the magnetic ordering temperature.
A Climatological Spectral Study of the 500 mb Geopotential Height of the Northern Hemisphere.

Abstract A 10-year record of the 500 mb geopotential height for the Northern Hemisphere has been expanded into spherical harmonics and filtered in the time domain. Maps of the root-mean-square (rms) height have been constructed corresponding to different spatial scales and frequency bands. The spatial scales and frequency bands were chosen to emphasize blocking and cyclogenesis and to help isolate spurious, high-frequency parts of the field from the physically meaningful parts. We find that low-frequency fields are dominated by planetary-scale waves at high latitudes and by synoptic-scale waves at mid-latitudes. The medium-frequency fields get substantial contributions from the waves of synoptic scale and shorter. Power spectra of the spherical harmonic expansion coefficients are presented, as well as quadrature spectra for each pair of cosine and sine expansion coefficients. We find large-scale waves have a large amount of low-frequency power and a spectrum rapidly decreasing with frequency. Shorter wave...
On the Poisson Kernel for the Neumann Problem of Schrödinger Operators

Soit D un domaine borne dans R d (d≥3) et soit b(t,x,y) le noyau du semigroupe de Feynman-Kac associe au mouvement brownien reflechissant {X t :t≥0} et de potentiel V. On suppose que V est dans la classe de Kato K d . On etudie le noyau de Poisson N v (x,y)=∫ 0 ∞ b(t,x,y)dΓ
Electrical Energy Storage and Intercalation Chemistry

The electrochemical reaction of layered titanium disulfide with lithium giving the intercalation compound lithium titanium disulfide is the basis of a new battery system. This reaction occurs very rapidly and in a highly reversible manner at ambient temperatures as a result of structural retention. Titanium disulfide is one of a new generation of solid cathode materials.
Torque density improvement in a six-phase induction motor with third harmonic current injection

The use of six-phase induction motor for industrial drives presents several advantages over the conventional three-phase drive such as improved reliability, magnetic flux harmonic reduction, torque pulsations minimization and reduction on the power ratings for the static converter. For these reasons, six-phase induction motors are beginning to be a widely acceptable alternative in high power applications. A typical construction of such drives includes an induction machine with a dual three-phase connection, where two three-phase groups are spatially shifted thirty electrical degrees, a six-leg inverter and a control circuit. By controlling the machine's phase currents, harmonic elimination and torque ripple reduction techniques could be implemented. This paper describes a technique of injecting third harmonic zero sequence current components in the phase currents, which greatly improves the machine torque density. Analytical, finite element and experimental results are presented to show the system operation and to demonstrate the improvement on the torque density.
Gamma-ray mutagenesis in bacteriophage T4.

137Cs-gamma irradiation of bacteriophage T4 induces large deletions plus a variety of types of point mutations. All mutations arise with single-hit kinetics, and all by a misrepair process. The estimated point mutation rate is 1.5 x 10-9 per locus per rad.
Statistical Timing Analysis with Extended Pseudo-Canonical Timing Model

State of the art statistical timing analysis (STA) tools often yield less accurate results when timing variables become correlated due to global source of variations and path reconvergence. To the best of our knowledge, no good solution is available for dealing both types of correlations simultaneously. In this paper, we present a novel extended pseudo-canonical timing model to retain and evaluate both types of correlation during statistical timing analysis with minimum computation cost. Also, an intelligent pruning method is introduced to enable trade-off runtime with accuracy. Tested with ISCAS benchmark suites, our method shows both high accuracy and high performance. For example, on the circuit c6288, our distribution estimation error shows 15/spl times/ accuracy improvement compared with previous approaches.
Spike Amplitude of Single-Unit Responses in Antennal Sensillae Is Controlled by the Drosophila Circadian Clock

Summary Circadian changes in membrane potential and spontaneous firing frequency have been observed in microbial systems [1], invertebrates [2–5], and mammals [6]. Oscillators in olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) from Drosophila are both necessary and sufficient to sustain rhythms in electroanntenogram (EAG) responses [7, 8], suggesting that odorant receptors (ORs) and/or OR-dependent processes are under clock control. We measured single-unit responses in different antennal sensillae from wild-type, clock mutant, odorant-receptor mutant, and G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 ( Gprk2 ) mutant flies to examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive rhythms in olfaction. Spontaneous spike amplitude, but not spontaneous or odor-induced firing frequency, is under clock control in ab1 and ab3 basiconic sensillae and T2 trichoid sensillae. Mutants lacking odorant receptors in dendrites display constant low spike amplitudes, and the reduction or increase of levels of GPRK2 in OSNs results in constant low or constant high spontaneous spike amplitudes, respectively. We conclude that spike amplitude is controlled by circadian clocks in basiconic and trichoid sensillae and requires GPRK2 expression and the presence of functional ORs in dendrites. These results argue that rhythms in GPRK2 levels control OR localization and OR-dependent ion channel activity and/or composition to mediate rhythms in spontaneous spike amplitude.
A primitive relative of rodents from the Chinese Paleocene

Abstract A new genus and species of basal gliriform mammal, Sinomylus zhaii, is described from the late Paleocene Tujinshan Formation of southern China. The new species is based on a fragmentary rostrum bearing a possible alveolus for a right P1 (DP1) or C (DC), well-preserved left P3–M2, and broken incisors and other cheek teeth. There is one pair of upper incisors. The incisor enamel has one layer of radial enamel microstructures and lacks Hunter-Schreger bands. P2 is small and conical. Both P3 and P4 consist of two main cusps. The molars are unilaterally hypsodont and have the typical eurymylid tooth pattern. Collectively, these features place the new genus as the sister-taxon to the clade comprising eurymylids and rodents.
Pro: Pretransplant weight loss: yes

The obesity epidemic has not spared the population with renal failure. Obesity impacts prognosis after kidney transplantation, as markers of obesity are associated with worse outcomes (e.g. delayed graft function, graft failure, cardiovascular disease, costs) compared with ideal values in most studies. Obesity is also potentially modifiable. Kidney transplants are a scarce resource and the obligation to steward organs to good outcomes is inherent in transplant practice. Thus, it is appropriate to establish pretransplant weight loss targets and engage obese patients seeking transplantation in shared responsibility agreements to strive to reach goals. Nonetheless, important caveats may qualify the stringency of pretransplant weight loss requirements. Obese patients (who are otherwise healthy enough for transplant) may benefit from transplantation compared with long-term dialysis based on metrics such as improved long-term survival and lower cardiac risk. When optimal weight loss is difficult to achieve, factors in a given program's ability to extend the limits of obesity acceptable for safe and effective transplantation include expertise (e.g. surgical approaches and clinical management), tolerance for risk based on overall performance and tolerance for costs. More research is needed, including formal cost-effectiveness studies of transplantation in obese patients to determine if payers (e.g. Medicare) and society should be compensating programs for clinical and financial risks, and whether the risks are worth taking. To generate evidence to better guide management, prospective evaluations of the impact of intentional weight loss strategies in this population, including studies of dietary change, monitored exercise and bariatric surgery, are also urgently needed.
Liability Under Rules 10b-5(a) & (c)

Some recent decisions have treated the issue of liability under Securities Exchange Act Rule 10b-5(a) or Rule 10b-5(c) as if it were a novel or unsettled question of federal securities law. At this writing, a pending appeal in the Ninth Circuit is considering a standard proposed by the SEC for scheme liability under those subparts of Rule 10b-5 where the defendant neither spoke nor owed a duty to speak but instead engaged in business transactions that were misreported by the issuer. Similar theories of liability have already been rejected by the Second and Eighth Circuits. This article draws on the U.S. Supreme Court's Section 10(b) cases, recent federal appellate decisions, and precedents involving other rules adopted under Section 10(b) to explain that existing precedent already compels the conclusion that liability under any subpart of Rule 10b-5 requires a misrepresentation, a duty to disclose, or a manipulative transaction in the issuer's securities.
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON THE HOLDFAST OF AMOEBIDIUM PARASITICUM

SUMMARY The thallus of Amoebidium parasiticum is attached to its host animal by a basal, acellular holdfast. The holdfast is produced soon after sporangiospore release and may adhere, with varying effectiveness, to a variety of natural and unnatural substrates. Electron micrographs have disclosed a number of electron transparent pits which seem to perforate the cell wall at each end of the thallus. The holdfast material is always associated with one of these "pit fields" and it is assumed that the initial production and continued development of the holdfast occurs by extrusion of the adhesive through the terminal pit field. The cytoplasm adjacent to the holdfast contains a high density of membrane bound vesicles of approximately 0.24 A in diam. The matrix of the vesicle resembles the amorphous holdfast material. In 1948, Duboscq, Leger and Tuzet established a new class of fungi, the Trichomycetes, to receive a variety of fungi that are found in constant association with arthropods. Subsequent studies by Manier (1950), Lichtwardt (1960) and Whisler (1963), suggest that the Trichomycetes include at least three main groups of fungi, the Amoebidiales, the Eccrinales and the Harpellales. Representatives from all three groups may be found as endocommensals in the hindgut of millipeds, insects and crustaceans. Their determinate thallus is secured to the hindgut lining by a basal, acellular holdfast. This attachment device permits the fungus to draw nourishment from the material in the gut without being carried away in the food stream. Although all of the Trichomycetes possess basal holdfasts, considerable variation within the various major taxa is evident. The holdfast of the Amoebidiales is limited to an adhesive pad. The thallus of the Eccrinales may stick with a simple adhesive
Additional evidence for the anti-d; statistical studies.

Additional evidence for the finding of the d agglutinin and antigen are reported. Differential agglutination with key genotype cells, genetic studies in selected families, and statistical analysis of 232 random bloods have confirmed the earlier report on the d antibody and antigen.
An increase in intracellular pH during neural induction in Xenopus.

In this paper, we show that an intracellular alkalinization of the dorsal ectoderm cells is among the earliest responses to neural induction in Xenopus. Planar explants of the dorsal marginal zone were prepared from embryos that had been microinjected during cleavage stages with the fluorescent pH indicator bis-carboxyethyl-carboxyfluorescein-dextran (BCECF-dextran), and intracellular pH (pHi) was monitored continuously by emission ratio microfluorimetry. During stage 10.5, the dorsal ectoderm cells undergo a sustained intracellular alkalinization of approximately 0.1 pH units in response to neural induction; in the absence of the inductive signal, the pH of the dorsal ectoderm cells decreases slightly. Ectoderm cells within planar explants of the ventral marginal zone show little change in pH during a similar period. This increase in intracellular pH is inhibited by 4, 4′-dihydrodiisothiocyanatostilbene-2, 2′-disulfonate (H2DIDS) or a low Na+/high Cl- medium, treatments that presumably affect anion transport. Under these conditions, expression of the anterior neural-specific homeobox gene engrailed is not detected, while the notochord-specific epitope recognized by the Tor-70 antibody is expressed in the presence of H2DIDS. This characteristic alkalinization is not evoked by pharmacological agents that reportedly alter ectodermal developmental pathways in Xenopus embryos, such as NH4Cl, phorbol esters, or cAMP-dependent protein kinase agonists. Our results suggest that an ionic regulatory event may participate in the regulation of gene expression in response to neural induction.
Transplantation of human skin microbiota in models of atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by reduced barrier function, reduced innate immune activation, and susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus. Host susceptibility factors are suggested by monogenic disorders associated with AD-like phenotypes and can be medically modulated. S. aureus contributes to AD pathogenesis and can be mitigated by antibiotics and bleach baths. Recent work has revealed that the skin microbiome differs significantly between healthy controls and patients with AD, including decreased Gram-negative bacteria in AD. However, little is known about the potential therapeutic benefit of microbiome modulation. To evaluate whether parameters of AD pathogenesis are altered after exposure to different culturable Gram-negative bacteria (CGN) collected from human skin, CGN were collected from healthy controls and patients with AD. Then, effects on cellular and culture-based models of immune, epithelial, and bacterial function were evaluated. Representative strains were evaluated in the MC903 mouse model of AD. We found that CGN taken from healthy volunteers but not from patients with AD were associated with enhanced barrier function, innate immunity activation, and control of S. aureus. Treatment with CGN from healthy controls improved outcomes in a mouse model of AD. These findings suggest that a live-biotherapeutic approach may hold promise for treatment of patients with AD.
CONCLUSION: NEW SOCIAL PACTS IN CONTEMPORARY EUROPE

In recent years “social pacts,” or tripartite agreements between governments, unions, and employers, have reemerged as a crucial political institution for the formulation of economic and social policy reforms (Fejertag and Pochet 1997, 2000; Regini 2000; Traxler 2000; Hassel 1999; Ebbinghaus and Hassel 2000; Berger and Compston 2002). In many economies these new social pacts continue the existing tradition of corporatist consultation and negotiation. In The Netherlands, a recent agreement signed by the government and unions entitled “the New Course” follows the reform trajectory initiated by the pathbreaking Wassenaar Accord of 1982 (Hemerjick, Van der Meer, and Visser 2000; Visser and Hemerjick 1997). In both Denmark and Norway, policy makers have initiated a series of negotiations with their social partners explicitly linking changes in social policies to guarantees of wage restraint by the labor movement (Lind 1997). Following the electoral victory of the Social Democratic Party in March 1995, Finnish social partners accepted the terms of a centralized agreement involving the moderation of wage demands in exchange for tax reforms (Kiander 1997: 139). And immediately after assuming power, the Red-Green coalition government in Germany reinitiated tripartite discussions with unions and employers as part of the “Alliance for Jobs” (Bispinck 1997; Bispinck and Schulten 2000). Social pacts are playing a prominent role even in economies whose governments have a weak history of cooperation and consultation with trade unions. In these cases, a series of far-reaching reforms of wage bargaining institutions has attempted to create the necessary preconditions for new political exchanges.
Use of Immunosuppressive Medications for Treatment of Pediatric Intermediate Uveitis

ABSTRACTPurpose: To describe the treatment and outcomes of a cohort of pediatric intermediate uveitis (IU) patients, with a particular focus on the use of immunomodulatory therapy (IMT).Methods: The disease course, treatment, and outcomes of 39 pediatric IU patients treated in the Uveitis Clinic at the University of Utah from 1999 to 2012 were reviewed, retrospectively.Results: Mean age at presentation was 7.7 years (SD 3.1). In total, 95% had bilateral involvement. Out of 77 total eyes involved, the most frequent disease complications were ocular hypertension (0.71 events per person year, PPY), cataracts (events PPY = 0.39), and cystoid macular edema (events PPY = 0.33). A total of 20 patients received IMT; 19/20 were tapered off systemic corticosteroids without a uveitis recurrence; 75% of eyes had inactive disease at final follow-up (mean 37 months).Conclusions: The use of IMT, including biologic therapies, may effectively manage disease inflammation and reduce steroid dosages in pediatric IU patients.
Procedural Justice and Policing: A Rush to Judgment?

Within policing research there is currently little research examining the role of procedural justice in shaping legitimacy and considering their joint role in shaping compliance. However, large literatures in social psychology and management make a plausible case for the value of applying this model to policing. These literatures suggest that it is likely that (a) the practices of the police can be crafted to raise perceptions of procedural justice, (b) police training can alter officer behavior, and (c) redesigning police organizations internally can motivate their members to treat community members more fairly. A focus on legitimacy highlights the virtues of consensual models of policing. Consensual models are found to motivate public cooperation in fighting crime and to heighten identification with and engagement in communities. Consequently, legitimacy is the most promising framework for discussing changing the goals of policing and moving from a police force model to a police service model.
Myocardial Infarct Evolution and Cardiac Remodeling in Mice

P62 A mouse model of myocardial infarction (MI) has been widely used since genetically engineered mice became available, which allows us to study gene regulation of cardiac phenotype, function, and pathophysiology of heart failure. However, some basic information, such as the healing process, infarct expansion and LV remodeling after MI in mice, is lacking. To clarify this process, 42 male C57B1/6J mice underwent coronary artery ligation and were killed at 1, 2, 4, or 7 days, or 2, 3, or 4 weeks after MI. Left ventricular (LV) morphology and function were evaluated by histopathology and echocardiography. We found that at the margin of the necrotic myocardium, infiltration by neutrophils was noticeable at 1 and 2 days. Marked infiltration by mononuclear cells occurred at day 4. Lymphocyte infiltration was apparent at 7 and 14 days. Massive proliferation of fibroblasts and fibrocytes and accumulation of collagen began at day 14 and scar formation was completed by day 21. The infarct expansion index increased gradually from 0.62 ± 0.12 at day 1 to 1.66 ± 0.35 at day 14, which reached a maximum, then decreased slightly to 1.51 ± 0.26 at day 28. In non-infarcted areas of the heart, myocyte cross-sectional area and collagen content increased from 161 ± 17 μm 2 and 5.7 ± 0.3% at day 1 to 252 ± 8 μm 2 and 10.8 ± 0.8% at day 21, respectively, and remained similar at day 28. Infarct size was 47%, 52% and 47% at day 1, 14 and 28 respectively. Increased LV diastolic chamber dimension and mass and decreased shortening fraction (SF) appeared as early as 2 weeks after MI and continued for 4 weeks (table). Thus this study provides important qualitative and quantitative information on the natural history of MI and validation of the mouse model.
The SWI/SNF ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeler promotes resection initiation at a DNA double-strand break in yeast.

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are repaired by either the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR) pathway. Pathway choice is determined by the generation of 3΄ single-strand DNA overhangs at the break that are initiated by the action of the Mre11–Rad50–Xrs2 (MRX) complex to direct repair toward HR. DSB repair occurs in the context of chromatin, and multiple chromatin regulators have been shown to play important roles in the repair process. We have investigated the role of the SWI/SNF ATP-dependent nucleosome-remodeling complex in the repair of a defined DNA DSB. SWI/SNF was previously shown to regulate presynaptic events in HR, but its function in these events is unknown. We find that in the absence of functional SWI/SNF, the initiation of DNA end resection is significantly delayed. The delay in resection initiation is accompanied by impaired recruitment of MRX to the DSB, and other functions of MRX in HR including the recruitment of long-range resection factors and activation of the DNA damage response are also diminished. These phenotypes are correlated with a delay in the eviction of nucleosomes surrounding the DSB. We propose that SWI/SNF orchestrates the recruitment of a pool of MRX that is specifically dedicated to HR.
Vulnerability of Caribbean Island Cemeteries to Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge

ABSTRACTThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that rising seas by the end of this century will increase the severity of coastal flooding and erosion. The Caribbean region is home to many small islands that are vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surge. Much of the literature examining impacts of sea level rise in the Caribbean focuses on ecosystems, infrastructure, and recreation. Few studies have examined how sea level rise will impact historic and culturally important places. In an effort to address this research gap, geographic information systems and crowd-sourced, georeferenced photographs were used to build a first-of-its-kind database of 542 Caribbean small island cemeteries. Vulnerable cemeteries were then identified based upon elevation, proximity to the ocean, and the coastal profile. Over one-fifth of the cemeteries surveyed are within 100 m of the coast. The highest concentrations of vulnerable cemeteries are on flat islands such as the Cayman Islands. Yet, some mountainous ...
Thermal-aware task assignments in high performance computing clusters

Summary Cluster-level thermal management has gained much attention over the past decade due to rising cooling costs associated with data centers. In this research, we propose and implement a static scheduler called SSched and a dynamic one named DSched. These 2 algorithms schedule jobs based on CPU and disk temperatures of a Hadoop cluster's nodes. Our schedulers rely on a monitoring mechanism to keep track of CPU and disk utilization, maintaining CPU and disk temperatures below a threshold through thermal-aware scheduling decisions. To facilitate the design of SSched and DSched, we classify jobs into the CPU-intensive and disk-intensive categories. When a job arrives, SSched retrieves the utilization stats from a profiled log, estimates the thermal behavior, and places the job on NodeManager to minimize thermal impacts. Unlike SSched, DSched improves thermal efficiency of Hadoop clusters through dynamic load balancing. DSched keeps track of the coolest and hottest nodes in the cluster; tasks are migrated from hot nodes into cool ones if any hot spot is detected. To evaluate the effectiveness of our schedulers, we keep track of average CPU and disk temperatures in a node, managing an optimal outlet temperature across a cluster. We demonstrate that compared with the traditional Hadoop scheduler, SSched and DSched achieve approximately 15% savings in terms of cooling cost with little performance overhead.
TLE1 inhibits anoikis and promotes tumorigenicity in human lung cancer cells through ZEB1-mediated E-cadherin repression.

// Xin Yao 1 , Tri Pham 1 , Brandi Temple 1 , Selena Gray 1 , Cornita Cannon 1 , Camry Hardy 1 , Kamari Fletcher 1 , Shubha Kale Ireland 1 , Ahamed Hossain 1 , Renwei Chen 2 , Asim B. Abdel-Mageed 3 and Hector Biliran 1 1 Department of Biological and Public Health Sciences, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA 70125, USA 2 Center for Bioengineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA 3 Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA Correspondence to: Hector Biliran, email: hbiliran@xula.edu Keywords: TLE1, anoikis, E-cadherin, tumorigenecity, ZEB1 Received: April 27, 2017 Accepted: June 26, 2017 Published: July 31, 2017 ABSTRACT The Transducin-like enhancer of split 1 (TLE1) corepressor protein is overexpressed in human lung tumors and is a putative lung-specific oncogene. However, the molecular mechanism underlying its oncogenic function remains to be delineated. Here, we report an important role of TLE1 in promoting lung tumorigenesis by a mechanism involving induction of anoikis resistance. Using the human lung adenocarcinoma A549 and immortalized bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cell lines, we observed that TLE1 inhibits anoikis through transcriptional repression of E-cadherin gene. In support of E-cadherin as a downstream target of TLE1 to block anoikis, forced expression of E-cadherin attenuated TLE1-induced anoikis resistance while E-cadherin downregulation decreased the anoikis sensitivity of TLE1 knockdown cells. Furthermore, we determined that E-cadherin expression is transcriptionally induced upon loss of cell attachment and functions as an effector of anoikis. Loss of E-cadherin via the siRNA strategy or exogenous TLE1 expression was sufficient to attenuate anoikis in A549 and BEAS-2B cells. Importantly, we demonstrated that the ZEB1 transcriptional factor is required for TLE1-mediated E-cadherin repression and anoikis resistance. ZEB1 interacted with and recruited the TLE1 to the E-cadherin promoter to impose histone deacetylation and gene silencing. In vivo , TLE1 strongly promoted tumorigenicity of A549 cells in a ZEB1-dependent manner. Underscoring its role in anoikis insensitivity of lung cancer cells, the TLE1-mediated E-cadherin repression was negatively regulated by the tumor suppressor Bcl-2 inhibitor of transcription 1 (Bit1) to effect anoikis. These findings identify the ZEB1/TLE1/E-cadherin transcriptional mechanism as a novel pathway that promotes anoikis resistance and oncogenicity of lung cancer cells.
Ovarian Cancer Prevention, Screening, and Early Detection: Report From the 11th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium.

Objective The aim of this study is to provide a summary report on recent research advances in ovarian cancer prevention, screening, and early detection that were presented at the 11th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium in Seattle, Wash. Methods At the symposium, researchers from around the world participated in the poster, invited oral presentation and keynote presentation, and discussed the latest advances in the areas of cancer prevention, screening, and early detection. Results In the Scientific Session for Prevention, Screening, and Early Detection, Usha Menon, PhD (University of College London), presented exploratory studies from the ongoing UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening trial. Karen Lu, MD, presented her studies on BRCA testing and salpingectomies as prevention strategies. Eight speakers were selected from the abstracts for short oral presentations, and the topic ranges from Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Program by Saul Rivkin, MD, to the ultra-deep sequencing of somatic mutations in TP53 in normal and cancer patients by Rosana Risques, PhD. Fourteen additional poster presentations, ranging from the potential role of cancer stem cells in recurrence to retrotransposons in ovarian cancer development, round up the session. Conclusions Although progress is being made in the areas of prevention, screening, and early detection, these advances have not yet translated into tangible clinical benefits for patients with ovarian cancer. A wide array of research topics presented in the session provides a glimmer of hope that better understanding of genetic risk factors, refining screening strategies, and developing new methods for early detection will eventually lead to improved outcome for patients with ovarian cancer.
A User-Centered Glucose-Insulin Data Display for the Inpatient Setting.

Inpatient management of insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD) is a complex task that requires clinicians to cognitively process information across distinct domains in different locations of the electronic medical record (EMR). Current data displays are not optimized to support insulin management by end users. We sought to develop a set of user-centered displays of capillary glucose data and insulin dose to improve inpatient management of IDD. Our proposed conceptual data display prototype is designed to simplify the presentation and visualization of key information needed for treatment decisions. The goal is also to enhance clinician’s ability to identify opportunities to optimize insulin dosing and decrease end users’ cognitive load and error rates.
Ovarian tissue cryopreservation in young females through the Oncofertility Consortium's National Physicians Cooperative.

AIM To characterize the clinical indications of females (<15 years old) undergoing ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) through the Oncofertility Consortium's National Physicians Cooperative (OC-NPC). PATIENTS & METHODS The clinical indications of 114 females who underwent OTC were classified, and their incidence was compared with childhood cancer databases. RESULTS Leukemias/myeloproliferative diseases/myelodysplastic diseases and hemoglobinopathies were the most prevalent oncologic and nononcologic indications for OTC, respectively. The frequencies of malignant bone tumors and soft tissue and other extraosseous sarcomas were higher in the OC-NPC cohort relative to the general population, while CNS/intracranial/intraspinal neoplasms, retinoblastoma and hepatic tumors were lower. CONCLUSION Those opting for OTC through the OC-NPC are at highest fertility risk, indicating that the appropriate patient populations are being identified. [Formula: see text].
Methionyl-Lysyl-Bradykinin: The Kinin Released by Pepsin from Human Kininogens

Since Croxatto and coworkers (1, 2). first described and named the hypotensive, leiomyokinetic peptide released from mammalian serum by pepsin, the identity of pepsitocin has been in question. Habermann and coworkers (3, 4) reported the isolation of two related peptides from pepsin digests of highly purified bovine kininogen: MLBK-Ser-Val-Gln1 (90%) and MLBK-Ser-Val-Gln-Val-Met (10%). In contrast, Hochstrasser and Werle (5) found Gly (or Ser)-Arg-MLBK in pepsin digests of bovine plasma Fraction IV-6. Inasmuch as we had in hand appreciable amounts of highly purified human plasma kininogens (6), we undertook this study of the identity of pepsitocin.
Exploring the Electrostatic Landscape of Proteins with Tryptophan Fluorescence

The objective of this review is to present information gained during the last decade that has transformed tryptophan (Trp) into a well-understood fluorescent probe—a probe with no more complications than most non-intrinsic probes, which are usually large dyes with incompletely explored complexity. An overview highlights and summarizes key advancements during the last decade that have increased our understanding of Trp and its fluorescence in proteins. This is followed by sections devoted to (1) the understanding of quenching (mostly caused by electron transfer for which there has been considerable progress), (2) the prediction of steady state fluorescence wavelengths in proteins, (3) nonexponential decay (which remains challenging), and (4) a section that catalogs a number of fundamental experiments and computations on the isolated Trp chromophore that have provided much of the infrastructure for the preceding sections. There is continual emphasis in this chapter on the simple—yet accurate—concept that the extremes of electrostatic fields in proteins are mirrored in the variability and sensitivity of Trp fluorescence quantum yields, lifetimes, and wavelengths.
A PC-SAFT model for hydrocarbons I: Mapping aromatic π-π interactions onto a dipolar free energy

Abstract Aromaticity is an important property of many petroleum derived streams. Traditional thermodynamics tools (e.g., cubic equations of state) do not provide any special treatment to these aromatic hydrocarbons. A feature which discriminates aromatics from paraffins is that aromatic rings exhibit anisotropic π-π interactions. Accounting for this key difference between aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons in an equation of state will allow for a level of predictability which is not possible with our current tools. By mapping the anisotropy of π-π attractions onto a dipolar free energy, we develop a simple and powerful treatment of aromatic hydrocarbons within the PC-SAFT equation state. We demonstrate that this approach provides a substantial increase in performance over the standard non-polar treatment of aromatic molecules. The methodology developed is used to develop a generalized hydrocarbon model in instalment II of this series.
Phenibut (β-Phenyl-γ-Aminobutyric Acid): an Easily Obtainable "Dietary Supplement" With Propensities for Physical Dependence and Addiction.

Phenibut (β-phenyl-γ-aminobutyric acid) is a psychoactive GABA analogue currently being marketed online as an anxiolytic and nootropic dietary supplement. Its use is growing in popularity, but its pharmacological activity is well beyond that of a conventional nutritional supplement, and similar to that of a prescription strength sedative. This review will focus on the potential adversities of phenibut use and will discuss what treatment options may be beneficial to afflicted patients. Over the last several years, multiple case reports have highlighted phenibut’s potential to produce the conditions of physical dependence, withdrawal, and addiction. In cases involving intoxication, patients have presented with a varying degree of mental status changes, from being minimally responsive to manifesting symptoms of an agitated delirium. Phenibut is a potent psychoactive substance with GABAB agonist properties, which is emerging as a drug of misuse through growing internet sales. Its marketing as a “dietary supplement” is inaccurate and misleading, given its pharmacological profile and ability to induce the physiological changes associated with withdrawal and physical dependence.
Deep Learning Model to Assess Cancer Risk on the Basis of a Breast MR Image Alone.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to develop an image-based deep learning (DL) model to predict the 5-year risk of breast cancer on the basis of a single breast MR image from a screening exam...
A Distinct Gut Microbiota Exists Within Crohn's Disease-Related Perianal Fistulae.

Abstract Background Gut bacteria are strongly suspected to play a key role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). Studies have demonstrated alterations in the gut microbiota in this patient population. The purpose of this study was to characterize the gut microbiota of fistulizing perianal CD. Materials and Methods Stool and fistula samples were obtained from patients undergoing surgery for CD-related anorectal fistulae. Microbial compositions of matched stool and fistula samples were characterized using 16S rRNA gene profiling. The effect of sample type, patient gender, disease classification (Montreal A/B), disease activity (Harvey Bradshaw Index), antibiotic use, and presence of active proctitis on microbial composition was assessed. Results Samples were obtained from 18 patients. Bacteroides was the most abundant genera across all samples collected, followed by Streptococcus and Bifidobacterium. Bifidobacterium was present at significantly higher levels in fecal samples than fistula samples, whereas Achromobacter and Corynebacterium were present at significantly higher levels in fistula samples. Antibiotic, but not thiopurine or antitumor necrosis factor medication, exposure affected the gut microbial composition. Patient gender, disease classification, disease activity, and presence of active proctitis did not alter stool or fistula microbiota. Conclusions Our data show that the gut microbiota within CD-related anorectal fistulae is distinct from that in stool samples obtained from the same patients. We also observe a dysbiosis in patients treated with antibiotics compared with those not treated with antibiotics.
Histoplasma Responses to Nutritional Immunity Imposed by Macrophage Activation

The fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum resides within the phagosome of host phagocytic cells. Within this intracellular compartment, Histoplasma yeast replication requires the acquisition of several essential nutrients, including metal ions. Recent work has shown that while iron, zinc, and copper are sufficiently abundant in resting macrophages, cytokine activation of these host cells causes restriction of these metals from intracellular yeasts as a form of nutritional immunity. Faced with limited iron availability in the phagosome following macrophage activation by IFN-γ, Histoplasma yeasts secrete iron-scavenging siderophores and employ multiple strategies for reduction of ferric iron to the more physiologically useful ferrous form. IFN-γ activation of macrophages also limits availability of copper in the phagosome, forcing Histoplasma reliance on the high affinity Ctr3 copper importer for copper acquisition. GM-CSF activation stimulates macrophage production of zinc-chelating metallothioneins and zinc transporters to sequester zinc from Histoplasma yeasts. In response, Histoplasma yeasts express the Zrt2 zinc importer. These findings highlight the dynamics of phagosomal metal ion concentrations in host-pathogen interactions and explain one mechanism by which macrophages become a less permissive environment for Histoplasma replication with the onset of adaptive immunity.
Doing Right and Feeling Good: Ethical Food and the Shopping Experience:

Does engaging in ethical consumption make shopping more enjoyable? Or does contending with social and environmental impacts in the supermarket add stress and worry to the practice of buying food? I...
Shelter-housed versus re-homed dogs: Adjustment, behavior, and adoption outcomes

The study aimed to determine whether re-homing dogs decreased the expression of unwanted behaviors and thereby increasing adoption success. The study looked at adoptions’ outcome regarding house training, prevalence of behaviors indicative of separation anxiety, and the dogs’ adjustment to their new homes. Owners of 27 dogs that were adopted directly from their previous family into a new home and owners of 25 dogs adopted from a shelter completed a questionnaire through a telephone interview. Owners were asked to report the dog’s behavior as they recalled it, about a week from adoption and at the time of the interview. A significant difference between the two groups was apparent only in the house-training parameter during the interview. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the prevalence of behaviors associated with separation anxiety. Re-homed dogs seemed less likely to exhibit behaviors indicative of separation anxiety and at a lower frequency level, but these differences were not significant. A dog’s behavior did not necessarily predict the owner’s perception of the dog’s adjustment to its new home. Receiving information about the dog, being an experienced owner, and counseling with professional help, did not affect the owners’ rating of their dogs’ adjustment as well. The difference between the two groups in the house-training parameter during the interview was expected, since the re-homed group had lived in homes with people and the shelter group had lived in a shelter prior to adoption. The causation and manifestation of separation anxiety are complex and could be affected by many variables, such as age, gender, the dog’s history, owner’s behavior, environment, owner’s lifestyle, the dog-owner relationship, and advice during adoption. This complexity might account for the lack of differences between the two groups. Perhaps, the best explanation for the results regarding adjustment to the new home variable is that this factor is subjective and is associated with owner expectation and perception of the ideal dog versus the actual behavior of the dog.