cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression and regulation of neuropilins and VEGF receptors byTNF-α in human endothelial cells

Background Recently, neuropilins (NRPs) were identified as new VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) and VEGFR-3 was revealed to be implicated in angiogenesis besides in lymphangiogenesis. However, quantitative expression and regulation of NRPs and VEGFRs remain unclear. The objective of this study was to compare the expression of NRPs and VEGFRs and investigate their regulation by tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in human endothelial cells (ECs) as well as their roles in VEGF 165 -induced EC proliferation. Materials and methods Human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) were treated with TNF-α (2 ng/ml) or PBS for 24 h. The mRNA and protein levels of NRP-1, NRP-2, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3 were semiquantitatively determined by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. Real-time PCR data were presented as the difference of reaction cycle thresholds (Ct) between β-actin and each of the genes of interest (2 -ΔCt ). EC proliferation in response to VEGF 165 (10 ng/ml) with or without anti-VEGFR-2 neutralization antibody pretreatment was analyzed by [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation. Results In PBS-treated HUVECs, mRNA levels of NRPs and VEGFRs were NRP-1 (0.013), NRP-2 (0.007), VEGFR-2 (0.006), VEGFR-1 (0.0024), and VEGFR-3 (0.0009). After TNF-α treatment, mRNA levels of VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, and NRP-1 were significantly reduced by 72, 65, and 53%, respectively ( P 165 by 67%. After blocking VEGFR-2 with neutralization antibody, TNF-α treatment elicited a 30% reduction of EC proliferation in response to VEGF 165 . Conclusions These data demonstrate that HUVECs express higher mRNA levels of NRP-1 and NRP-2 than those of VEGFRs, and TNF-α treatment significantly decreases the expression of VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, and NRP-1, which may be responsible for TNF-α-induced reduction of EC proliferation in response to VEGF 165 .
Contemporaneous VLBA 5 GHz Observations of Large Area Telescope Detected Blazars

The radio properties of blazars detected by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have been observed contemporaneously by the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). In total, 232 sources were observed with the VLBA. Ninety sources that were previously observed as part of the VLBA Imaging and Polarimetry Survey (VIPS) have been included in the sample, as well as 142 sources not found in VIPS. This very large, 5 GHz flux-limited sample of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) provides insights into the mechanism that produces strong γ-ray emission. In particular, we see that γ-ray emission is related to strong, uniform magnetic fields in the cores of the host AGN. Included in this sample are non-blazar AGNs such as 3C84, M82, and NGC 6251. For the blazars, the total VLBA radio flux density at 5 GHz correlates strongly with γ-ray flux. The LAT BL Lac objects tend to be similar to the non-LAT BL Lac objects, but the LAT flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) are significantly different from the non-LAT FSRQs. Strong core polarization is significantly more common among the LAT sources, and core fractional polarization appears to increase during LAT detection.
Neural net approach for constrained state-space realization

Using the neural network approach for determination of the constrained state-space realization from Markov parameters of the transfer function is proposed. The neural network approach is suggested for determining realization A, B, and C in such a manner that there are some constraints on some of the elements of A, B, and C. Such constraint cases cannot be achieved using conventional algorithms. A single-layer neural network and heuristic random optimization algorithm are used for constrained state-space realization. >
Characterization and kinetic parameters of ethylene-forming enzyme from avocado fruit.

Biosynthesis of the phytohormone ethylene in higher plants proceeds via the following pathway: S-adenosylmethionine—-1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC)—-ethylene. Ethylene-forming enzyme (EFE), the enzyme responsible for the oxidation of ACC to ethylene, has been only partially characterized in vitro. We have obtained authentic EFE activity in vitro from extracts of avocado fruit (Persea americana Mill. cv Hass). Ammonium sulfate fractionation revealed the presence of two EFE activities, which we designate as EFE1 and EFE2. EFE1 activity utilizes ACC and O2 as substrates and requires Fe(II) and ascorbate as cofactors. The enzyme has a relatively low Km (32 microM) for ACC, discriminates diastereomers of 1-amino-2-ethyl-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, and is inhibited competitively by 2-aminoisobutyric acid, thus confirming its identity with authentic EFE. Activity is retained in a 100,000 x g supernatant and has a pH optimum of 7.5-8.0, suggesting a cytosolic localization.
Suppression of HIV-1 Expression by Inhibitors of Cyclin-Dependent Kinases Promotes Differentiation of Infected Podocytes

ABSTRACT. The glomerular lesions of HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) are associated with the expression of HIV-1 in podocytes. Infected podocytes proliferate and lose several differentiation markers in vivo and in vitro, which suggests that HIV-1 gene expression induces these changes. Flavopiridol and roscovitine, newly identified inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase-9, markedly decrease HIV-1 promoter activity in cell lines of various lineages. In this study, the inhibitors were used to determine whether suppression of HIV-1 transcription in infected podocytes correlated with an inhibition of proliferation and a return to the differentiated phenotype. Dose-response analysis showed that both flavopiridol and roscovitine reversibly suppressed HIV-1 transcription in podocytes in vitro at an IC 50 of 25 nM and 3 μM, respectively. Despite equivalent suppression of HIV-1 transcription, roscovitine was a more effective inhibitor of podocyte proliferation than flavopiridol. Suppression of HIV-1 transcription by flavopiridol or roscovitine was marked by re-expression of the podocyte differentiation markers, synaptopodin and podocalyxin. These results suggest that inhibition of HIV-1 transcription decreases podocyte proliferation and permits the reexpression of differentiation markers. Thus, suppression of HIV-1 transcription by selective cyclin-dependent kinase-9 inhibitors may be a useful therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HIVAN.
Over-Urbanization and Under-Urbanism: The Case of the Arab World

Speaking of comparative urbanization, Gideon Sjoberg noted that the Near East, the region in which cities first rose, has been understudied by urban sociologists. Few research projects have been realized on contemporary urbanization in the Arab World. This paper purports to examine recent trends of urbanization in the region; and their inter-relationship with the ‘modernization’ process.
Public Sector Professionals: Job Characteristics, Satisfaction, and Aspirations for Intrinsic Fulfillment through Work

Previous research on job satisfaction in government employees has not distinguished professionals from other high status groups such as managers. Professionals and blue-collar workers employed in a state government in the U.S. (N = 252) were compared in order to learn more about the quality of the professional work experience. Data on job satisfaction, task characteristics, and aspirations for intrinsic fulfillment through work were collected via a questionnaire. Results suggested that there was no difference between the two groups in job satisfaction. However, professionals rated their jobs as significantly lower in skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and knowledge of results. Professionals also believed that their jobs should provide less intrinsic fulfillment than did the blue-collar workers. It was speculated that professionals employed in government maintain minimal levels of job satisfaction despite less fulfilling jobs by reducing their aspirations for fulfillment in work.
C-SPECT—A Clinical Cardiac SPECT/Tct Platform: Design Concepts and Performance Potential

Because of scarcity of photons emitted from the heart, clinical cardiac SPECT imaging is mainly limited by photon statistics. The sub-optimal detection efficiency of current SPECT systems not only limits the quality of clinical cardiac SPECT imaging but also makes more advanced potential applications difficult to be realized. We propose a high-performance system platform - C-SPECT, which has its sampling geometry optimized for detection of emitted photons in quality and quantity. The C-SPECT has a stationary C-shaped gantry that surrounds the left-front side of a patient's thorax. The stationary C-shaped collimator and detector systems in the gantry provide effective and efficient detection and sampling of photon emission. For cardiac imaging, the C-SPECT platform could achieve 2 to 4 times the system geometric efficiency of conventional SPECT systems at the same sampling resolution. This platform also includes an integrated transmission CT for attenuation correction. The ability of C-SPECT systems to perform sequential high-quality emission and transmission imaging could bring cost-effective high-performance to clinical imaging. In addition, a C-SPECT system could provide high detection efficiency to accommodate fast acquisition rate for gated and dynamic cardiac imaging. This paper describes the design concepts and performance potential of C-SPECT, and illustrates how these concepts can be implemented in a basic system.
Computer aided electromagnetic field instruction on Project Athena

Project Athena is a campus-wide computing facility at MIT. It consists of roughly 1000 workstations distributed over the campus, in offices, classrooms, labs and clusters, file servers, print servers, communications interfaces, and so forth. The system is laced together by a system of networks, including fiber optic and coaxial cable, using the Internet protocol. The workstations are Digital Equipment VaxStations and IBM RTs. The operating system used by Project Athena is a locally modified version of Berkeley Unix. The X window system, which was developed at MIT by Project Athena, is the principal user interface. All members of the academic community at MIT have free, unlimited access to the resources of Project Athena. It has become a very important part of the teaching environment. A substantial number of subjects now use the system as part of regular instruction. The use of computer-aided instruction in electromagnetic fields and energy and electrodynamics is discussed. >
Kinetics of the catalytic dehydration of primary alcohols

The catalytic dehydrations of n-butanol, n-propanol, and ethanol to produce water and the respective olefins were studied for the temperature range 400° to 700°F. and over the pressure range 1 atm. to 100 lb./sq. in. gauge. Silica-alumina catalyst in bead form was used. Dehydration rates were found to be consistent with a single-site surface reaction-controlled mechanism in which was superimposed a mass transfer effect internal to the catalyst pellets. Rate constants for the three reactions are presented. The significances of their relative values and their temperature and pressure dependencies are discussed.
Radical mediated dissection of oligosaccharides

Abstract Radical chemistry continues to play an increasingly important role in tandem mass spectrometry based experiments on biomolecules. Oligosaccharides represent a very important class of target molecules that require structural characterization in terms of both monosaccharide identity and overall connectivity. Herein, two methods that generate radical oligosaccharides for subsequent activation are described. In one approach, a radical precursor is covalently attached to the oligosaccharide by reductive amination. Radicals can then be generated by homolytic bond cleavage of specific carbon–iodine bonds in protonated systems by either collisional activation or photodissociation. Subsequent activation of the radical species generates information rich spectra including numerous cross-ring fragments. Alternatively, noncovalent complexation with iodophthalic acid can be used to generate radical disaccharides by photoactivation. Subsequent radical transfer, loss of the radical precursor adduct, and collisional activation of the radical disaccharide results in characteristic glycosidic bond cleavage and cross-ring cleavage products that can easily distinguish isomeric species. Radical chemistry is demonstrated to have several advantages for the characterization of oligosaccharides relative to other approaches, including the identification of isomeric molecules of various sizes or analysis of various charge states.
Fully balanced CMOS current-mode circuits

A fully balanced current-mode circuit topology has been developed for analog signal processing applications. The basic building block, a 5-V fully balanced current mirror/amplifier, has been fabricated using a standard 2- mu m n-well CMOS process. With a peak signal to bias current ratio i/I=0.5, the open-loop total harmonic distortion was-70 dB. With the addition of sampling switches, the current mirror/amplifier forms a fully balanced switched-current integrator that exhibits first-order cancellation of clock-feedthrough/charge-injection effects. Fully balanced SI ladder filters have been implemented using a 2- mu m p-well CMOS process. For a sampling frequency of 128 kHz, the five-pole Chebyshev low-pass ladder filters met design specifications of 0.1-dB passband ripple and 5-kHz bandwidth. The dynamic range was 81.5 dB, and the total power dissipation was 14 mW with V/sub dd/ 5 V. >
Quantitative characterization of defective virus emergence by deep sequencing

ABSTRACT Populations of RNA viruses can spontaneously produce variants that differ in genome size, sequence, and biological activity. Defective variants that lack essential genes can nevertheless reproduce by coinfecting cells with viable virus, a process that interferes with virus growth. How such defective interfering particles (DIPs) change in abundance and biological activity within a virus population is not known. Here, a prototype RNA virus, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), was cultured for three passages on BHK host cells, and passages were subjected to Illumina sequencing. Reads from the initial population, when aligned to the full-length viral sequence (11,161 nucleotides [nt]), distributed uniformly across the genome. However, during passages two plateaus in read counts appeared toward the 5′ end of the negative-sense viral genome. Analysis by normalization and a simple sliding-window approach revealed plateau boundaries that suggested the emergence and enrichment of at least two truncated species having medium (∼5,900 nt) and short (∼4,000 nt) genomes. Relative measures of full-length and truncated species based on read counts were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR). Limit-of-detection analysis suggests that deep sequencing can be more sensitive than complementary measures for detecting and quantifying defective particles in a population. Further, particle counts from transmission electron microscopy, coupled with infectivity assays, linked the rise in smaller genomes with an increase in truncated particles and interference activity. In summary, variation in deep sequencing coverage simultaneously shows the size, location, and relative level of truncated-genome variants, revealing a level of population heterogeneity that is masked by other measures of viral genomes and particles. IMPORTANCE We show how deep sequencing can be used to characterize the emergence, diversity, and relative abundance of truncated virus variants in virus populations. Adaptation of this approach to natural isolates may elucidate factors that influence the stability and persistence of virus populations in nature.
Leaky-Wave Steering in a Two-Dimensional Metamaterial Structure Using Wave Interaction Excitation

A two-dimensional composite right/left-handed (CRLH) metamaterial with an orthogonal feeding structure is demonstrated. By varying the magnitude of the input power to two orthogonal edges of the metamaterial, the net power flow direction can be controlled based on wave interaction. The CRLH metamaterial is analyzed and designed in terms of its equivalent circuit model and full-wave verification. The leaky-wave radiation from this metamaterial can be used for two-dimensional scanning without phase-shifters. Azimuth scanning is achieved by varying the magnitude of the input power at the two orthogonal edges of the structure, while elevation scanning is made possible by varying the operational frequency. Experimental radiation patterns of the metamaterial are shown and demonstrate an elevation scanning range of -61deg to +60deg and an azimuth scanning range of 0deg to +90deg with orthogonal two-edge feeding
The differential radiated power of a sinusoidal filament of electric current

The authors consider a sinusoidal filament of current I(z)=u/sub z/I/sub m/ sin(k(H-|z|)), -H/spl les/z/spl les/H along the z-axis. The time dependence e/sup jwt/ is implicit, u/sub z/ is the unit vector in the z-direction, I/sub m/ is a complex constant, and k is the wavenumber in free space. From their analysis the differential radiated power appears to be identical to the differential input power and there seems to be no z-directed time-average power flow along the filament. The differential radiated power is the time-average power radiated per unit length along the filament. The differential input power is the time-average input power per unit length along the filament. The differential input power is negative for some values of z. The sections of the filament at these values of z absorb power radiated by other sections of the filament.
B cells and antibodies in the pathogenesis of myelin injury in Semliki Forest Virus encephalomyelitis.

Abstract To determine the contribution of B cells to brain myelin injury in Semliki Forest Virus (SFV) encephalomyelitis, normal C57BL/6 (B6) and B-cell-deficient (C57BL/6-tm1Cgn) B6 mice were infected with SFV. The peak of clinical disease, i.e., the time at which the greatest proportions of mice had moderate to severe clinical signs, appeared earlier in B6 mice [day 7 postinfection (pi)] than in B-cell-deficient mice (day 21 pi). By flow cytometry, no clear differences were found in the percentages of CD3+CD4+ T cells in the brains of B6 and B-cell-deficient mice. However, by day 21 pi, percentages of CD3+CD8+ T cells were greater in brains of B-cell-deficient than in those of B6 mice. On day 21 pi, percentages of CD19+ B cells were maximal in B6 mice, but B cells were absent in B-cell-deficient mice at all time points. Sera obtained from B6 mice showed antibody responses to SFV, to SFV E2 peptides p137-151 and p115-133, and to peptides of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein p18-32 and myelin basic protein (MBP) p64-75. Sera obtained from B-cell-deficient mice showed minimal or no reactivity to SFV, E2, or myelin peptides. CNS inflammatory and PAS-positive macrophage foci were maximal on days 7–14 pi in all mice. Additionally, B6 mice had brain white matter vacuolation, whereas B-cell-deficient mice did not. These data suggest that brain infiltrating B cells and anti-myelin antibodies contribute to myelin injury in SFV encephalomyelitis.
Customer Base Concentration and Debt Contracting

This paper examines the effect of a firm’s customer base concentration on its loan contract terms and how the effect varies with the strength of its customer relationship. We predict that firms with more concentrated customer bases obtain less favorable loan contract terms due to the increased operating risk associated with a concentrated customer base, and that this effect is mitigated by strong customer relationship. Our empirical evidence is consistent with these predictions. We find that firms with more concentrated customer bases have higher loan spread and shorter loan maturity and are more likely to issue secured loans. These effects, however, become insignificant or even reverse when the supplier firm has a strong relationship with its customers.
Filtered Poisson-Processes

There are numerous physical phenomena that can be modeled as a response to the points of a marked point process. The simplest models occur when the response can be expressed as a superposition of separate responses to each marked point. These models are developed in Sec. 5.2. Later, in Sec. 5.3, we remove the superposition requirement but impose the additional structure of Markov processes.
A Progressive Value Added Tax: Has its Time Finally Come?

Laurence S. Seidman (SeidmanL@Lerner.UDEL.edu) is Chaplin Tyler Professor of Economics at the University of Delaware and the author of three books related to this article (The USA Tax: A Progressive Consumption Tax (MIT Press, 1997); Automatic Fiscal Policies to Combat Recessions (M.E. Sharpe, 2003); and with co-author Saul Hoffman, Helping Working Families: The Earned Income Tax Credit (2003)). He contends that the time has finally come for the United States to enact a progressive value added tax (PVAT), thereby joining the many other nations that use a value added tax (VAT), because preventing large projected budget deficits will require both spending discipline and additional revenue, and a PVAT is preferable to raising the additional revenue solely with the current arsenal of taxes. A PVAT would achieve its progressivity, as others have recommended, through a refundable VAT credit for households delivered through the individual household income tax system. To guarantee progressivity, the VAT credit must be enacted simultaneously with the VAT, and the VAT credit schedule must be automatically adjusted whenever there is a permanent change in the VAT rate. He recommends that an invoice credit VAT be instituted for most business firms (both incorporated and unincorporated), and that the corporate income tax be converted, as others have recommended, to a corporate net sales tax (a subtraction VAT). The invoice credit method is used by most other countries to implement a VAT. Converting the corporate income tax to a corporate net sales tax would simplify the taxation of corporations and promote investment. Using an invoice credit VAT to reduce the budget deficit would raise investment, increase national saving, reduce borrowing from foreigners, and reduce the U.S. trade deficit. An automatically triggered temporary cut in an invoice credit VAT would be an effective policy for combating a future recession.
Estimation of Burn Depth at Burn Centers in the United States: A Survey

Accurate burn depth estimation remains one of the foundations of optimal burn care. The method by which burn depth is determined has traditionally been clinical examination alone. This continues to hold true in the United States, despite a plethora of literature supporting the use of more accurate modalities such as laser Doppler imaging (LDI). LDI has widespread use in burn centers in the United Kingdom and around the world. Thus, the reason for a lack of use in U.S. burn centers remains elusive. A survey of U.S. burn center directors was conducted to assess their current practices and attitudes with regard to burn depth estimation at U.S. burn centers in an effort to answer this question. Surveys were returned from 68 burn center directors (49% response rate). All respondents reported using clinical examination in their current practice for the daily evaluation of acute burns, with a biopsy being the next most commonly used modality. The most preferred modality was also clinical examination (60%), followed by LDI (6%) and biopsy (4%). The top three modalities ranked as "most promising" for daily use were clinical examination, LDI, and noncontact/high-frequency ultrasound. Directors identified the top three limitations to the use of new technology as cost (72%), availability (63%), and lack of support by evidence to date (35%). Future studies may need to focus on overcoming these perceived limitations before the widespread use of LDI or other new modalities will be realized at burn centers in the United States.
Comparative Study on Small Amount of Hemoptysis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Treatment of Diabetes

Objective To compare hemostatic drugs were observed small amount of hemoptysis of pulmonary tuberculosis on diabetes treatment, and explore the feasibility of non-diabetic patients with tuberculosis treatment in hospital outpatient small amount of hemoptysis. Methods General inspection by tuberculosis clinic diabetes cases or small amount of hemoptysis of pulmonary tuberculosis necessary special inspection confirmed, are taking measures to control blood sugar in the normal range, they were randomly divided into combined administration group(security network of blood and Yunnan Baiyao Group) with a single dosage unit(Yunnan Baiyao group), conducted hemostasis clinical observation of two groups to evaluate the efficacy and safety of medication. Results Yunnan Baiyao joint security network of blood and drug administration group,65 cases of clinical observation, the 5th bleeding rate was 78.46%; the 10 th bleeding rate was 92.30%. Yunnan Baiyao single administration group 63 cases of clinical observation, the 5th bleeding rate was 61.90 percent, the 10 th rate is 74.60% effective hemostasis. Comparison of clinical data using tables from method χ2 value significance test, the 5th hemostatic efficiency of the combined administration group than single administration group(P0.05); 10 th hemostasis efficient joint administration group than the single dosage unit(P0.01). Conclusion The small amount of hemoptysis of pulmonary tuberculosis treatment of diabetes between the two groups, in the control of blood glucose in the context of the normal range, the joint administration group on the 5th hemostatic effectiveness, the 10 th hemostatic effective rate than single administration group, namely security network of blood and Yunnan Baiyao small amount of hemoptysis of pulmonary tuberculosis treatment of diabetic efficacy safe, can be used for outpatient treatment.
Study on a Real-time RT-PCR for Detection of DNA/RNA Viruses of Shrimp

To increase the inspection and quarantine efficiency of DNA/RNA viruses of shrimp,a real-time RT-PCR assay was established and optimized for simultaneously detecting four viruses(WSSV、IHHNV、TSV、YHV)of shrimp.The optimized real-time RT-PCR generates typical amplification curves,ideal amplification efficiencies(E=1.06,1.07,0.92,0.92),well linear standard curve(r=1),uniform repeatability(Standard deviation distribution between 0.05 and 0.46,variation coefficient distribution at 0.26%-1.62%),and high sensitivity,with no significant difference compared with the real-time PCR.The total detection time is about 1h.The optimized realtime RT-PCR assay can be used for the rapid detection of 4 kinds of shrimp viruses.
Development of Innovative Accident Tolerant High Thermal Conductivity UO2-Diamond Composite Fuel Pellets

The University of Florida (UF) evaluated a composite fuel consisting of UO2 powder mixed with diamond micro particles as a candidate as an accident-tolerant fuel (ATF). The research group had previous extensive experience researching with diamond micro particles as an addition to reactor coolant for improved plant thermal performance. The purpose of this research work was to utilize diamond micro particles to develop UO2-Diamond composite fuel pellets with significantly enhanced thermal properties, beyond that already being measured in the previous UF research projects of UO2 – SiC and UO2 – Carbon Nanotube fuel pins. UF is proving with the current research results that the addition of diamond micro particles to UO2 may greatly enhanced the thermal conductivity of the UO2 pellets producing an accident-tolerant fuel. The Beginning of life benefits have been proven and fuel samples are being irradiated in the ATR reactor to confirm that the thermal conductivity improvements are still present under irradiation.
Improved lipoprotein surface and core lipid composition following intraperitoneal insulin delivery in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Pour determiner si l'insuline administree dans la circulation portale par une pompe implantable corrige les anomalies de la composition lipoproteiques au cours du diabete insulinodependant, 10 patients normolipemiques bien controles ontete etudies apres insulinotherapie sous-cutanee intensifiee conventionnelle (ISC), puis 3 et 6 mois apres l'implantation intraperitoneale d'une pompe (IP). L'hemoglobine glyquee (ISC : 6,9 ± 1,7% vs. IP-3 mois 6,3 ± 0,7 ; IP-6 mois 6,3 ± 0,8), les triglycerides et le cholesterol plasmatiques, et le contenu en cholesterol des HDL 2 et HDL 3 , etaient normaux et pas significativement modifies par les traitements. Les concentrations a jeun d'insuline libre mesurees avant et apres 6 mois d'IP, chutaient de plus de la moitie (ISC 8,22 ± 6,5 vs IP 2,77 ± 2,4 μU/ml ; p < 0,025). Le rapport cholesterol/lecithine, un nouveau facteur de risque cardio-vasculaire potentiel. augmentait pendant l'ISC, diminuait progressivement apres 3 mois d'IP, et approchait la normale apres 6 mois (ISC 0,96 ± 0,37 mol/mol vs IP - 3 mois 0,91 ± 0,34 ; IP - 6 mois 0,86 ± 0,10 ; groupe temoin 0,83 ± 0,33). Dans toutes les fractions lipoproteiques, les concentrations en sphinglomyeline tendaient a chuter, et les concentrations en lecithine augmentaient progressivement pendant l'IP Le rapport sphinglomyeline/lecithine, index de rigidite de surface des lipoproteiques, diminuait donc. Le fait que certaines modifications de composition associees a l'ISC etaient reversibles lorsque l'insuline etait administree par voie intraperitoneale suggere que ces modifications pourraient etre iatrogenes et resulter des fortes concentrations systemiques en insuline.
Single‐institution experience and learning curve with upper airway stimulation

As upper airway stimulation (UAS) surgical implantation is a new procedure, the authors thought it would be instructive to describe a single-institution's experience with the inception of a UAS program. The description of our experience at the University of Pennsylvania may be useful for planning purposes when surgeons and sleep medicine physicians are considering program development. Laryngoscope, 126:S17-S19, 2016 Laryngoscope, 126:S17-S19, 2016.
The Impacts of Three-Dimensional Surface Characteristics on Urban Heat Islands over the Diurnal Cycle

This study explores the spatial effects of two- and three-dimensional (2-D, 3-D) urban features in the formation of daytime and nighttime surface urban heat islands (SUHIs) with the help of satellite imagery and LiDAR. Spatially rectified statistical models are used to estimate parameters and understand the spatial spillover effects of urban drivers of SUHIs. In addition, nonlinear relationships among surface temperatures and urban features were included to improve the model fit. The empirical evidence from this study of Atlanta, Georgia, suggests that urban drivers of SUHIs exhibit different and contrasting effects depending on the time of day and their 3-D geometries. The study informs SUHI mitigation efforts by demonstrating that land use policies need to consider the differential effects of land use drivers over the diurnal cycle.
Saprophytic and Pathogenic Bacteria Levels in Turkish Soud-jouks Manufactured in Erzurum, Turkey 1.

In Turkey, spicy, typically dry, fermented sausage (soudjouk) is one of the most popular processed meat products. In this study, 42 soudjouk samples were collected from the eight manufacturers in Erzurum, Turkey. These samples were evaluated for aerobic plate count (APC) at 37 and 25°C, psychrotrophic, coliform, Escherichia coli , and coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus counts and presence of Salmonella and Shigella spp. Generally, all the samples had very high counts of most of the bacteria enumerated. In two samples of the 42, Shigella spp. was found and one of them was Shigella boydii . None of the samples yielded Salmonella spp.
Bridging the Gap 10 Years Later: A Tool and Technique to Analyze and Evaluate Advanced Academic Curricular Units.

The need for a shared vision concerning exemplary curricula for academically advanced learners must be a priority in the field of education. With the advent of the Common Core State Standards adopt...
Designing for Socially Interactive Systems

This paper reports on the design and evaluation of LuminAI, a socially interactive art installation in which participants can engage in collaborative movement improvisation with virtual agents and other humans. LuminAI was used as a technical probe to study social interaction within interactive art at a local art gala during which over 100 participants interacted with the system. Video and interview data was gathered during the event and analyzed using thematic analysis to develop a taxonomy to guide the design of socially interactive systems involving humans and artificial agents. This taxonomy helped us identify areas where LuminAI was successful, where it needs improvement, and conceptual spaces we have yet to explore.
Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Dissection, and Blunt Aortic Injuries

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is a minimally invasive approach to treat aneurysms, dissections, or trauma of the thoracic aorta. This chapter describes indications, essential steps, variations, and complications of this procedure. It provides a detailed operative note template for the procedure.
Endangered Forest, Endangered People: Environmentalist Representations of Indigenous Knowledge

Since 1987, Penan foragers in Malaysia have been increasingly affected by the activities of logging companies, and have protested this with blockades. Simultaneously, they have become the focus of a broad-based international environmental campaign. This paper examines the rhetoric of that campaign. In particular, I examine the ways in which Western environmentalists have constructed Penan land rights with reference to Penan knowledge of the landscape and of the biotic elements which exist there. Further, I consider how environmentalists have drawn on ethnographic accounts, and how those accounts are transformed in the process of generating images deployed in the campaign.
Synthesis and kinetics of disassembly for silyl-containing ethoxycarbonyls using fluoride ions

In this study, a series of silyl-containing ethoxycarbonates and ethoxycarbamates on electron poor anilines and phenols were synthesized and their kinetics of disassembly determined in real-time upon exposure to fluoride ion sources at room temperature. The results provide a greater understanding of stability and kinetics for silyl-containing protecting groups that eliminate volatile molecules upon removal, which will allow for simplification of orthogonal protection in complex organic molecules.
The Measurement of Visual Acuity: Comparison of Teller Acuity Cards with Snellen and MBL Results

In the past several years, new methods have been developed to estimate the visual acuity of pre-verbal and non-verbal patients. The newest and least time consuming of these is the Teller acuity car...
Towards nondegenerate polarization entanglement from a waveguide down-conversion source

As optical quantum information processing protocols and experiments become increasingly more complex, integrated optics provide a small and robust alternative to traditional bulk optics. Specifically, waveguide technology allows for the creation of bright single-photon sources based on the fact that photon pairs can be created at any location along the waveguide. For our goals, we are working on the characterization of a highly nondegenerate Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion (SPDC) waveguide source on a periodically poled KTP (PPKTP) crystal. Our current waveguide source uses type-II phase-matching to create collinear signal and idler photons at 1550 nm and 810 nm, respectively, with the promise of generating simultaneous time-bin and polarization entanglement in future iterations. Our intended source application is for use in quantum key distribution and superdense teleportation protocols between a space platform and collection telescopes on Earth.
Higher Spin Fields and Non-Holonomic Constraints

I review theories and problems of inconsistencies in the description of higher spin wave equations.
Increasing Following Headway in a Driving Simulator and Transfer to Real World Driving

The effects of a package intervention including prompts, goal setting, feedback, education, and behavioral self-monitoring to increase following headway (decrease tailgating) of three young drivers...
Effects of Dementia-Specific Education for Nursing Students.

BACKGROUND The numbers of people living with dementia are overwhelming. Dementia education is important to prepare nursing students to care for this population. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a virtual dementia experience on nursing students' attitudes and empathy for people with dementia, dementia knowledge, and self-confidence for dementia care. METHODS The design was a 2-group, pretest-posttest using a convenience sample of undergraduate nursing students (n = 112). The intervention group (n = 56) participated in a virtual dementia experience. RESULTS Both groups experienced improved attitudes toward people with dementia, increased dementia knowledge, improved self-confidence for dementia care, and improved empathy (Perspective Taking). However, the virtual dementia experience did not lead to improved outcomes compared to the standard teaching approaches. CONCLUSIONS Dementia-specific education had a significant influence on students' attitudes, knowledge, self-confidence, and empathy, whereas the type of education did not impact outcomes.
The Neuropsychiatry of Parkinson Disease: A Perfect Storm.

ABSTRACT Affective disorders, cognitive decline, and psychosis have long been recognized as common in Parkinson disease (PD), and other psychiatric disorders include impulse control disorders, anxiety symptoms, disorders of sleep and wakefulness, and apathy. Psychiatric aspects of PD are associated with numerous adverse outcomes, yet in spite of this and their frequent occurrence, there is incomplete understanding of epidemiology, presentation, risk factors, neural substrate, and management strategies. Psychiatric features are typically multimorbid, and there is great intra- and interindividual variability in presentation. The hallmark neuropathophysiological changes that occur in PD, plus the association between exposure to dopaminergic medications and certain psychiatric disorders, suggest a neurobiological basis for many psychiatric symptoms, although psychological factors are involved as well. There is evidence that psychiatric disorders in PD are still under-recognized and undertreated and although psychotropic medication use is common, controlled studies demonstrating efficacy and tolerability are largely lacking. Future research on neuropsychiatric complications in PD should be oriented toward determining modifiable correlates or risk factors and establishing efficacious and well-tolerated treatment strategies.
Cannabinoids: Current and Future Options to Treat Chronic and Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain

Increases in cancer diagnosis have tremendous negative impacts on patients and their families, and major societal and economic costs. The beneficial effect of chemotherapeutic agents on tumor suppression comes with major unwanted side effects such as weight and hair loss, nausea and vomiting, and neuropathic pain. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), which can include both painful and non-painful symptoms, can persist 6 months or longer after the patient’s last chemotherapeutic treatment. These peripheral sensory and motor deficits are poorly treated by our current analgesics with limited effectiveness. Therefore, the development of novel treatment strategies is an important preclinical research focus and an urgent need for patients. Approaches to prevent CIPN have yielded disappointing results since these compounds may interfere with the anti-tumor properties of chemotherapeutic agents. Nevertheless, the first (serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors [SNRIs], anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants) and second (5% lidocaine patches, 8% capsaicin patches and weak opioids such as tramadol) lines of treatment for CIPN have shown some efficacy. The clinical challenge of CIPN management in cancer patients and the need to target novel therapies with long-term efficacy in alleviating CIPN are an ongoing focus of research. The endogenous cannabinoid system has shown great promise and efficacy in alleviating CIPN in preclinical and clinical studies. In this review, we will discuss the mechanisms through which the platinum, taxane, and vinca alkaloid classes of chemotherapeutics may produce CIPN and the potential therapeutic effect of drugs targeting the endocannabinoid system in preclinical and clinical studies, in addition to cannabinoid compounds diffuse mechanisms of action in alleviation of CIPN.
On the spectral characterization of radiochromic films irradiated with clinical proton beams

Radiochromic films have been widely studied for clinical dosimetry in conventional external beam radiation therapy. With an increase in practice of proton therapy, such films are being conveniently used; however, their spectroscopic characterization for this modality is lacking. This work investigated the response of the EBT3 radiochromic films irradiated in a Mevion S250™ clinical proton beam. Dose, dose rate, inter-batch, sensitivity, and linear energy transfer (LET) dependencies of the films were studied. Pieces of the radiochromic films from different batches were irradiated using a spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) proton beam at dose levels between 0.1-15 Gy. Absorption spectra were measured in the wavelength range of 400-800 nm with 2.5 nm resolution. For comparison, the optical density of the films was measured using a flatbed scanner. The net absorbance spectra showed two characteristic absorption bands centered at 636 nm and 585 nm. However, a saturation effect, manifested as broadening/splitting appearance, was observed in the 636 nm band for doses beyond a certain batch-dependent level ~4-10 Gy, in the three different film batches studied. The differences in the spectral shape led to dose-response curves with variable sensitivity. In general a high spectral sensitivity was observed in 0.1-6 Gy range for the three film batches. For a given dose, no significant change in the spectra was observed with change in the dose rate. No significant dependency on the LET was observed for the EBT3 films irradiated with proton beams with dose-averaged LETs ranging from 1.14-6.50 keV µm-1 studied in this work. However, at a given dose, ~5% lower spectral response was observed in the films irradiated with protons compared to their counterparts irradiated with photon beams.
Machine-learning based classification of glioblastoma using delta-radiomic features derived from dynamic susceptibility contrast enhanced magnetic resonance images: Introduction

Background: Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain tumor with poor prognosis. The purpose of this study is to improve the tissue characterization of these highly heterogeneous tumors using delta-radiomic features of images from dynamic susceptibility contrast enhanced (DSC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: Twenty-five patients with histopathologically confirmed to be 13 high-grade (HG) and 12 low-grade (LG) gliomas who underwent the standard brain tumor MRI protocol, including DSC MRI, were included. Tumor regions on all DSC MRI images were registered to and contoured in T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images. These contours and its contralateral regions of the normal tissue were used to extract delta-radiomic features before applying feature selection. The most informative and non-redundant features were selected to train a random forest to differentiate HG and LG gliomas. Then a leave-one-out cross-validation random forest was applied to classify these tumors for grading. Finally, a majority-voting method was applied to reduce binarization bias and to combine the results of various feature lists. Results: Analysis of the predictions showed that the reported method consistently predicted the tumor grade of 24 out of 25 patients correctly (0.96). Finally, the mean prediction accuracy was 0.950±0.091 for HG and 0.850±0.255 for LG. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.94. Conclusions: This study shows that delta-radiomic features derived from DSC MRI data can be used to characterize and determine the tumor grades. The radiomic features from DSC MRI may be used to elucidate the underlying tumor biology and response to therapy.
Longer-Term Survivors of Light Chain Cardiac Amyloidosis

Introduction Heart failure (HF) due to light chain (AL) cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is often considered to have a bleak prognosis with a median untreated survival of less than 6 months. A prognostic staging system has been developed by the Mayo Clinic utilizing NT-proBNP, troponin T, and the difference in free light chains (dFLC). Median survival of the two most advanced stages are 14 months for stage III, and 5.8 months for Stage IV. Advances in anti-plasma cell therapies have improved patient survival, most notably combination therapy using proteasome inhibitors (PI). We describe patients who presented with AL-CA at our institution who have survived for at least 3 years. Methods This is a retrospective review of patients with AL-CA seen between July 1997 and March 2016 at the Cleveland Clinic. Diagnosis of AL-CA was established via endomyocardial biopsy or extracardiac biopsy plus cardiac imaging in addition to evaluation with cardiac biomarkers. Results Of 303 patients with AL-CA, 82 (27%) survived for 3 years or longer. Average age at diagnosis for this cohort was 62 ±11 years and 61% of patients were male. In patients with available testing for Mayo staging (n = 45), 5 were Stage I, 12 were Stage II, 19 were Stage III, and 9 were Stage IV. 22 patients experienced exceptionally remarkable long-term survival (greater than 94 months). These long-term survivors tended to be younger, with an average age of 58 ±11 years, and 68% had multi-organ involvement of AL. Conclusions AL-CA is an aggressive disease that requires early diagnosis and treatment. More than one quarter of our patient population have a survival greater than 3 years. Of the 82-patient cohort who had survival greater than 3 years, two-thirds of patients who had data available for staging (28/45) presented with advanced Stage III or IV disease. 22 patients (7% of the overall cohort) survived nearly 8 years or more. Patients with AL-CA should be promptly treated with the help of an experienced multidisciplinary team using appropriately selected regimens, as this experience demonstrates that long-term survival can be achieved even for patients who present with more advanced disease.
Self-valuation: Attending to the Most Important Instrument in the Practice of Medicine.

Abstract Objective To measure self-valuation, involving constructive prioritization of personal well-being and a growth mindset perspective that seeks to learn and improve as the primary response to errors, in physicians and evaluate its relationship with burnout and sleep-related impairment. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional survey data collected between July 1, 2016, and October 31, 2017, from 5 academic medical centers in the United States. All faculty and medical-staff physicians at participating organizations were invited to participate. The self-valuation scale included 4 items measured on a 5-point (0-4) Likert scale (summative score range, 0-16). The self-valuation scale was developed and pilot tested in a sample of 250 physicians before inclusion in the multisite wellness survey, which also included validated measures of burnout and sleep-related impairment. Results Of the 6189 physicians invited to participate, 3899 responded (response rate, 63.0%). Each 1-point score increase in self-valuation was associated with −1.10 point lower burnout score (95% CI, −1.16 to −1.05; standardized β=−0.53; P Conclusion Low self-valuation among physicians is associated with burnout and sleep-related impairment. Further research is warranted to develop and test interventions that increase self-valuation as a mechanism to improve physician well-being.