cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Arterial Pulsations Are Unrelated to the Throbbing Quality of Acute Pain (P04.244)

Objective: We recently reported that the heart rate and subjective throbbing rate in patients with migraine do not correspond, but were unable to establish the generality of this finding, nor were we able to rigorously test the possibility of a more subtle relationship between throbbing percepts and the peripheral arterial stimulus.Thus, in order to establish an independent neurobiological basis for this percept, we recorded subject reports of the throbbing rhythm while simultaneously recording the arterial pulse in subjects with acute dental pain, a pulsatile pain condition of indisputable peripheral origin. Background When severe and disabling, pain is often throbbing or pulsatile. The prevailing scientific view holds that this throbbing quality, such as in migraine, is a primary percept, arising directly from the mechanical activation of pain-sensory neurons closely apposed to blood vessels. Design/Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of the throbbing percept in a dental clinic. Results: We found that throbbing and arterial pulse rates had no correlation, and that the two rhythms showed no synchrony. Moreover, arterial and throbbing rate variability displayed distinct fractal scaling properties, implying that the mechanisms underlying these complex rhythms are unrelated. Conclusions: The present refutation of the “vascular theory” of throbbing percepts suggests an alternative possibility, that a CNS “pacemaker” underlies throbbing percepts, and could lead to novel treatment strategies for pain. Disclosure: Dr. Ahn has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mirza has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Holt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kairalla has nothing to disclose. Dr. Heft has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ding has nothing to disclose.
Causes and Treatment of Hoarseness Postoperative in Infant and Young Children

Objective To explore the causes and treatment of hoarseness postoperative in infant and young children.Methods Clinical data of 42 children were retrospectively reviewed in Surgical Intensive Care Unit of Wuhan Children's Hospital.There were 17 female and 25 male,averaged 1.6 years old(from 1 month to 2 years and 3 months),including 37 cases of congenital heart disease,3 cases of hydronephrosis,2 cases of choledochal cyst.There were some difficulties with intubation in 32 cases(76.19%),smoothly in 10 cases(23.81%).All children had lasting hoarsenes after endotracheal intubation,some of them with deglutition failure(3 cases),sialorrhea(3 cases)or bucking(5 cases).Poor activity with left vocal was found in 18 cases and 11 cases with right vocal,cricoarytenoid joint of 3 cases having poor activites(laryngeal nerve injuried).Congestion could be seen in epiglottis,plica and mucosa between scoop in 10 cases,among of them,4 cases showed granuloma above the arytenoids.Neurotrophy drugs were taken as early as possible when cases showed laryngeal nerve injury,some children were ready for repositing operation,at the same time,some corticosteroids,atomization and physical therapy(ultrashort wave)were given.Results Among the 42 children,29 cases(69.05%)taken arytenoid reduction,10 cases(23.81%)larynx injuried with mucosa congestion,including granuloma in 4 cases were ablated with laryngeal endoscope,3 cases(7.14%)showed laryngeal nerve injuried.All children had been cured.Conclusions Many factors have caused hoarseness,and the most important factor is intubation except operation.Decurtated the time of intubation and decreased the injury of larynx are important precaution.
Autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation for severe autoimmune diseases

Based on data from preclinical studies and anecdotal case reports in patients with co-existent autoimmune diseases, stem cell transplantation, mainly autologous transplantation, has been performed for patients with severs autoimmune diseases since the past decade. Initial results are encouraging despite controversies. In diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma, phase III trails are being designed. Careful selection of patients, mobilization regimens, graft manipulations, and conditioning regimens is the key in order to improve the outcome and avoid the toxicity. Allogeneic transplantation, on the other hand, is still in the initial stage of clinical study, but may be more effective in some diseases that are refractory to immunosuppressive therapies. Ongoing and future trials will prove the value of these approaches.
An alpha edge

One would hope that survival data from at least one more phase III or phase IV clinical trial will convincingly show a prolongation of survival due to treatment with Alpharadin. This will not be inexpensive therapy.
Targeting metabolism in cellular senescence, a role for intervention

Cellular senescence has gained much attention as a contributor to aging and susceptibility to disease. Senescent cells undergo a stable cell cycle arrest and produce pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, an additional feature of the senescence phenotype is an altered metabolic state. Despite maintaining a non-dividing state, senescent cells display a high metabolic rate. Metabolic changes characteristic of replicative senescence include altered mitochondrial function and perturbations in growth signaling pathways, such as the mTORC1-signaling pathway. Recent evidence has raised the possibility that these metabolic changes may be essential for the induction and maintenance of the senescent state. Interventions such as rapamycin treatment and methionine restriction impact key aspects of metabolism and delay cellular senescence to extend cellular lifespan. Here, we review the metabolic changes and potential metabolic regulators of the senescence program. In addition, we will discuss how lifespan-extending regimens prevent metabolic stress that accompanies and potentially regulates the senescence program.
Acute Intrauterine Asphyxial Encephalopathy

A clinical-imaging syndrome of acute near-total intrauterine asphyxia is described in 11 term infants followed at Evanston Hospital, and Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL.
Normal Skeletal Findings Not to Be Confused with Abuse

Normal radiographic findings not to be confused with child abuse fractures include the step-off between the metaphyseal collar, a 1–3 mm longitudinal zone at pediatric long bone metaphyses, and the gently curved main shaft of those bones. The distal end of the ulna may normally be somewhat concave in the absence of rickets. One should recognize bone bark at the edge of mature physis in infancy, pathways of intraosseous needles, Mach bands, and sternebral centers as simulators of abuse fractures, among other discussed findings.
Association of airway abnormalities with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

Introduction 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) presents with complex but variable symptoms, including cardiac, immune, palatal, endocrine, cognitive, and psychiatric issues. However, an association of 22q11.2DS with structural airway abnormalities has not been formally described. The aim of this study was to document the frequency of this association. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with 22q11.2DS evaluated in the 22q and You Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia between 1999 and 2015 referred to otolaryngology for an airway assessment. Type of airway abnormality and presence of comorbidities, such as congenital heart disease, tracheostomy, and association with prenatal symptomatology such as polyhydramnios, were noted. Results Of the 104 patients who underwent an otolaryngology procedure (microlaryngoscopy or bronchoscopy), 71% (n = 74) had airway abnormalities. Patients with airway abnormalities ranged in age from 5 months to 37 years, with similar prevalence among males and females. Observed airway abnormalities included tracheomalacia (36%), subglottic stenosis (28%), laryngomalacia (26%), glottic web (21%), and bronchomalacia (16%). Most patients with airway abnormalities (91%) had an associated congenital heart defect, with ventricular septal defect and Tetralogy of Fallot being the most prevalent. Importantly, 30% of patients required a tracheostomy, and overall polyhydramnios was noted in 16% of pregnancies. Conclusion Airway abnormalities are a common feature of 22q11.2DS, leading to substantial morbidity, particularly when combined with complex cardiac disease. Polyhydramnios may be an important prenatal clue to both the diagnosis of 22q11.2DS and airway anomalies. Postnatal assessment of airway structure and function among patients with 22q11.2DS is an important component of overall evaluation and will help guide long-term management.
Age-related changes in thoracic skeletal geometry of elderly females

ABSTRACTObjective: Both females and the elderly have been identified as vulnerable populations with increased injury and mortality risk in multiple crash scenarios. Particularly in frontal impacts, older females show higher risk to the chest and thorax than their younger or male counterparts. Thoracic geometry plays a role in this increase, and this study aims to quantify key parts of that geometry in a way that can directly inform human body models that incorporate the concept of person age.Methods: Computed tomography scans from 2 female subject groups aged 20–35 and 65–99 were selected from the International Center for Automotive Medicine scan database representing young and old female populations. A model of thoracic skeletal anatomy was built for each subject from independent parametric models of the spine, ribs, and sternum, along with further parametric models of those components’ spatial relationships. Parameter values between the 2 groups are directly compared, and average parameter values within...
Peripherally Induced Regulatory T Cells: Recruited Protectors of the Central Nervous System against Autoimmune Neuroinflammation.

Defects in regulatory T cells (Treg cells) aggravate multiple sclerosis (MS) after its onset and the absence of Treg cell functions can also exacerbate the course of disease in an animal model of MS. However, autoimmune neuroinflammation in many MS models can be acutely provoked in healthy animals leading to an activation of encephalitogenic T cells despite the normal induction of immune tolerance in the thymus including thymically-produced (t)Treg cells. In contrast, neuroinflammation can be ameliorated or even completely prevented by the antigen-specific Treg cells formed extrathymically in the peripheral immune system (pTreg cells) during tolerogenic responses to relevant neuronal antigens. This review discusses the specific roles of regulatory T cells in blocking neuroinflammation, examines the impact of peripheral tolerance and dendritic cells on a relevant regulation of neuroinflammation and explores some of the most recent advances in elucidation of specific mechanisms of the conversion and function of pTreg cells including the roles of CD5 and Hopx in these processes
Microbial Vertical Transmission During Human Pregnancy

Congenital infections with pathogens such as Zika virus, Toxoplasma gondii, Listeria monocytogenes, Treponema pallidium, parvovirus, HIV, varicella zoster virus, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpesviruses are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the devastating impact of microbial infections on the developing fetus, relatively little is known about how pathogens associated with congenital disease breach the placental barrier to transit vertically during human pregnancy. In this Review, we focus on transplacental transmission of pathogens during human gestation. We introduce the structure of the human placenta and describe the innate mechanisms by which the placenta restricts microbial access to the intrauterine compartment. Based on current knowledge, we also discuss the potential pathways employed by microorganisms to overcome the placental barrier and prospects for the future.
Electrical Stimulation Increases Random Migration of Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Exogenous electrical stimulation (ES) has been investigated as a therapy for chronic wounds, as the skin produces currents and electrical fields (EFs) during wound healing. ES therapies operate by applying small EFs to the skin to mimic the transepithelial potentials that occur during the granulation phase of wound healing. Here, we investigated the effect of short duration (10 min) ES on the migration of HDFs using various magnitudes of physiologically relevant EFs. We modeled cutaneous injury by culturing HDFs in custom chambers that allowed the application of ES and then performed timelapse microscopy on a standard wound model. Using MATLAB to process cell coordinate data, we determined that the cells were migrating randomly and fit mean squared displacement data to the persistent random walk equation using nonlinear least squares regression analysis. Results indicated that application of 25–100 mV/mm DC EFs to HDFs on either uncoated or FN-coated surfaces demonstrated no significant changes in viability or proliferation. Of significance is that the HDFs increased random migration behavior under some ES conditions even after 10 min, providing a mechanism to enhance wound healing.
Cognitive Analytics of Smart Cities: A case of Málaga City

In the new era of Cognitive Computing we have the possibility and obligation to use in a better way the large amount of information available. Thanks to the powerful Cloud architecture and supporting cutting-edge technologies, we look for ways to improve our environment, and consequently the cities, the most natural social environment.According to the United Nations, it is estimated that two-thirds of the population will live in cities by 2050. This significant increase in urbanization in these recent years has become a major workload for many city systems, among others the system of mobility.Thanks to the use of cognitive computing and analytical tools, we will find new strategies of economic development that promote the growth, reduce the poverty and protect the environment at the same time.
The ICPS Application in a New Distributed Approach to EMS Implementation

Abstract This paper introduces a possible distributed processing implementation of EMS functions. The approach discussed is based on two major developments. One is the development of Integrated Control and Protection Systems (ICPS) for substation applications. The other development is related to the distributed algorithms for power system data acquisition, control and protection. Both developments are utilized to define a new implementation approach where the ICPS equipment is used in place of the conventional remote terminal units. The paper illustrates this approach by providing examples of protective relaying, state estimation, and stabilizing control functions.
Preservation Education for the Next Generation

ABSTRACTStudents participate in historic preservation projects that fall along a continuum of student participation. Adults and students need to work to push more projects to be student led rather than students working for adults. A variety of example projects are presented and show how they fall on the continuum. In addition, an example of projects that resulted in being demolished is provided to show what happens when students and adults do not work effectively together.
Preseason Aerobic Fitness Predicts In-Season Injury and Illness in Female Youth Athletes

Background:Although preseason aerobic fitness has been suggested as a modifiable risk factor for injury in adult athletes, the relationship between aerobic fitness, injury, and illness in youth ath...
An intelligent design interface for dancers to teach robots

Dancers are human Expressive Motion experts and could theoretically help robots communicate their state to people, e.g., rushed, confused, curious. The problem is twofold: first, dancers are trained in human-motion whereas many robots are non-anthropomorphic, and second, most dancers are not programmers. This is where the present interface is useful: the robot demos a batch of motions, in person, and the dancer, who knows expressive motion when she sees it, rates each path's success at communicating a particular state. Using an evolutionary algorithm, the interface — where feedback is recorded on the robot's screen and motion is demonstrated via the robot — calculates a new batch of motions that explore variations of the top-rated paths from the previous generation. This approach addresses the challenges of visualizing the expressive potential of non-anthropomorphic robots, while also ensuring path characteristics are reproducible via the robot's motion controller. The purpose of the interface is to help a non-expert negotiate a high-dimensional space of robot motion expression. Thus, it also has interactive functionality enabling users to freeze a feature value they like, or reset all features to begin again. To illustrate the system, this paper includes the results of two dancers designing motions for an omni-directional mobile robot, showing convergence with every generation. In reality, motion designers may have many authoring styles — exploring multiple solutions before honing in, or being satisfied easily versus getting each detail exactly right. By combining human-in-the-loop machine learning with direct authoring, we create a kinetic conversation between the robot and the dancer, and gain the ability to model knowledge from complementary fields.
Foundations of Developmental Psychopathology

Research and interest in child psychopathology have burgeoned in the last two decades, resulting in a research base has led to greater understanding of the development and treatment of childhood disorders (Achenbach, 1982; Lewis, 2000; Sroufe, 1997). Views of childhood psychological problems have changed over time from early Greek and Roman perspectives when disorders were viewed as being due to organic imbalances or other inherent problems. Children with psychological or physical disabilities were viewed as burdens on society and often were scorned, abandoned, or put to death. Other conceptualizations about children with mental and psychological problems viewed them as being inherently evil or possessed by demons. Until the mid-1800s, it was not uncommon for children with disabilities to be kept in cages and cellars (Silk, Nath, Siegel, & Kendall, 2000), and they did not receive help or education. Fortunately, attitudes toward children with psychological and developmental problems have changed significantly, and they are more likely to be given help and to be protected under various federal and state laws that govern neglect and abuse, mental health services, public education, and others.
A Comment on Mark Weiner’s “Neutrality Between Church and State: Mission Impossible”

Much that Professor Mark Weiner has said about the role of religion in the United States, the role of the Supreme Court in attempting to enforce an ideal of neutrality in matters between church and state, and how those two forces greatly influence American society resonates well in the American populace and psyche. Church-state issues are among the most important, and divisive, in American society, a pivotal matter over what it means to be an American. Professor Weiner has offered a nice portrait of this part of Americana. I want to offer some perspectives on Professor Weiner’s comments.
Risk: Empirical Studies on Decision and Choice

Risk is a concept that defies precise definition. Some uncertainty about the outcome of a decision or action seems to be necessary to make it appear risky. This article describes three paradigms that define risk in different ways and that identify different types of variables that have been shown to affect people's perception of risk. Studies within the axiomatic measurement paradigm have focused on the way people combine objective risk information, that is, possible consequences of risky choice options such as mortality rates or financial losses and their likelihood of occurrence. Research within the psychometric paradigm has identified people's emotional reactions to risky situations that affect judgments of the riskiness of physical, environmental, and material risks in ways that go beyond their objective consequences. Studies within the sociocultural paradigm have examined the effect of group- and culture-level variables on risk perception. Risk is also a latent variable in theories of risk preference, for example, in risk-value models of risky choice. Empirical studies of risk perception within the three paradigms and across a range of content domains show that risk perceptions are shaped by three classes of variables: possible decision outcomes and their likelihood; affective reactions such as dread or fear of the unknown; and social and cultural variables that influence perception and interpretation of the consequences of risky choice options.
Simulated impacts and potential cost effectiveness of Communities Putting Prevention to Work: Tobacco control interventions in 21 U.S. communities, 2010–2020

In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded communities to implement policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes under the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) program to make it easier for people to make healthier choices to prevent chronic disease. Twenty-one of 50 funded communities implemented interventions intended to reduce tobacco use. To examine the potential cost-effectiveness of tobacco control changes implemented under CPPW from a healthcare system perspective, we compared program cost estimates with estimates of potential impacts. We used an existing simulation model, the Prevention Impacts Simulation Model (PRISM), to estimate the potential cumulative impact of CPPW tobacco interventions on deaths and medical costs averted through 2020. We collected data on the costs to implement CPPW tobacco interventions from 2010 to 2013. We adjusted all costs to 2010 dollars. CPPW tobacco interventions cost $130.5 million across all communities, with an average community cost of $6.2 million. We found $735 million in potentially averted medical costs cumulatively from 2010 through 2020 because of the CPPW-supported interventions. If the CPPW tobacco control PSE changes are sustained through 2020 without additional funding after 2013, we find that medical costs averted will likely exceed program costs by $604 million. Our results suggest that the medical costs averted through 2020 may more than offset the initial investment in CPPW tobacco control interventions, implying that such interventions may be cost saving, especially over the long term.
Modeling air quality impact of pollutants emitted by an oil/gas plant in complex terrain in view of a health impact assessment

The present study focuses on the estimation of the air quality impact of an oil/gas pre-treatment plant, the Centro Olio Val d’Agri (COVA), in view of a more comprehensive epidemiological study regarding the inhabitants of two small towns settled in close proximity of the plant. We used the RMS (RAMS/MIRS/SPRAY) modeling system to estimate the ground level concentration of SO2, NOx, and CO as a result of the incineration of residues and electric and thermic power generation. Simulations were run for 1 meteorological year. The spatial interpolation of measured H2S, proxy of the other types of emission, allowed for a more detailed picture of the plant impact. The spatial correlation between estimated NOx and SO2 and measured H2S strengthens the hypothesis of exploiting NOx maps as a proxy for the population exposure to the mixture of industry-emitted pollutants. Overall results suggest that the plant affects the inhabitants of the two towns differently. Furthermore, the simulations show that the area impacted by the plumes is much larger than that of the two municipalities within range of the plant, suggesting both the need to extend the monitoring area and to include the population living in that area in the health study.
Semisynthesis of the Neuroprotective Metabolite, Serofendic Acid

Serofendic acid is a natural neuroprotective molecule found in fetal calf serum. It is able to protect neurons against mechanisms of cell death associated with neurodegenerative disease. Because only trace quantities are present in fetal calf serum and complete chemical syntheses are long and inefficient, its development as a therapeutic agent has been slow. We engineered a heterologous metabolic pathway in Streptomyces to produce a late-stage synthetic intermediate, ent-atiserenoic acid, at high titers. We completed the total synthesis of serofendic acid from this intermediate in four steps.
Dynamic and Equilibrium Swelling Characteristics of Hydrophilic Copolymers with Carboxylic Functional Groups

SUMMARY The equlibrium and dynamic swelling behavior of lightly crosslinked copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and acidic monomers have been studied as a function of pH at a constant ionic strength of 0.1 M at 37°C. These gels showed pH-dependent equilibrium swelling behavior. Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-acrylic acid) networks swelled as a function of time with rates dependent on pH.
A Shift in Myeloid Cell Phenotype via Down Regulation of Siglec-1 in Island Macrophages of Bone Marrow Is Associated With Decreased Late Erythroblasts Seen in Anemia of Critical Illness.

Burn injury has been shown to significantly dampen erythropoiesis in both burn patients and in murine models. Our previous findings elucidated the erythropoietin independent defects in red cell development stages involving erythroid progenitor production and late stage erythroblast enucleation processes. We hypothesized that macrophages (MO) in erythroblast islands (EBI) could be yet another roadblock impeding erythropoiesis following burn injury. Here we highlight that the methodology to study EBI can be achieved with single cell suspensions using a simple technique such as flow cytometry, as obtaining the central erythroblast island macrophages (EBIMOs) of interest is a delicate process. We elucidated the requisite of EBIMO from the erythroblast as well as the MO perspective. In addition to the primary erythropoiesis organ, the bone marrow (BM), spleens were also examined for extra-medullary erythropoiesis. Femurs and spleens were harvested from adult mice (B6D2F1) subjected to 15% total body surface area (TBSA) scald burn (B) or sham burn (S). Total bone marrow cells (TBM) and splenocytes were probed for total erythrons, early and late erythroblasts and EBIMO by flow cytometry. There was only a marginal increase in the number of EBIMO after burn, but, between the signatures of EBIMO, Siglec-1 expression (MFI) was reduced by 40% in B with and a parallel 44% decrease in TBM erythrons in the BM. There were more (2.5-fold) EEBs and less LEBs (2.4-fold) per million TBM cells in B; with a corresponding decrease in Siglec-1 and Ly6G expressions in EBIMO associated with EEB. Conversely, extra-medullary erythropoiesis was robust in spleens from B. Not only were the numbers of EBIMOs increased in B (p < 0.002), both EEBs and LEBs associated with EBIMO were higher by 30 and 75%, respectively. Importantly, an increase in Siglec-1 and Vcam1 expressing F480+ splenic macrophages was observed after burn injury. Therefore, stagnant EEBs in the BM after burn injury could be due to low Siglec1 expressing EBIMO, which perhaps impede their maturation into LEBs and reticulocytes. Repercussion of myeloid cell phenotype specific to BM after burn injury could plausibly account for a defective late stage RBC maturation resulting in anemia of critical illness. Summary Sentence: Characterization of erythroblast island macrophages (EBIMO) in the bone marrow and spleen at different stages of erythropoiesis after burn injury.
The combination of FLT3 and SYK kinase inhibitors is toxic to leukaemia cells with CBL mutations

Mutations in the E3 ubiquitin ligase CBL, found in several myeloid neoplasms, lead to decreased ubiquitin ligase activity. In murine systems, these mutations are associated with cytokine-independent proliferation, thought to result from the activation of hematopoietic growth receptors, including FLT3 and KIT. Using cell lines and primary patient cells, we compared the activity of a panel of FLT3 inhibitors currently being used or tested in AML patients and also evaluated the effects of inhibition of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase, SYK. We show that FLT3 inhibitors ranging from promiscuous to highly targeted are potent inhibitors of growth of leukaemia cells expressing mutant CBL in vitro, and we demonstrate in vivo efficacy of midostaurin using mouse models of mutant CBL. Potentiation of effects of targeted FLT3 inhibition by SYK inhibition has been demonstrated in models of mutant FLT3-positive AML and AML characterized by hyperactivated SYK. Here, we show that targeted SYK inhibition similarly enhances the effects of midostaurin and other FLT3 inhibitors against mutant CBL-positive leukaemia. Taken together, our results support the notion that mutant CBL-expressing myeloid leukaemias are highly sensitive to available FLT3 inhibitors and that this effect can be significantly augmented by optimum inhibition of SYK kinase.
Why We Need a National Investment Authority

This brief memorandum lays out the case for a National Investment Authority (NIA): a permanent federal instrumentality tasked with devising and implementing a long-term national strategy of economic and infrastructural development. The memorandum emphasizes the proposed NIA’s potential to provide an indispensable—and presently lacking—institutional platform for effective coordination of the nation’s response to systemic crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. It outlines how the NIA would: (1) coordinate nationwide production mobilization efforts, (2) execute emergency financial relief and corporate bailout measures, and (3) manage public stakes in bailed-out private firms (through a novel “golden share” regime)—and do so in a transparent, democratically accountable, and distributionally just manner.
Three Birds One Stone: A Solution to Maximize Renewable Generation, Incentivize Battery Deployment, and Promote Green Transportation

This work develops a novel concept of combined stationary and mobile applications of battery energy storage systems attached to renewable energy farms to increase renewable energy resource utilization, incentivize large-scale energy storage deployment, and promote green electrical transportation. A data-driven, simulation-based optimization framework is established to obtain optimal design parameters (e.g., storage capacity, charger power ratings by solving a multi-objective optimization problem that aims to maximize the profitability, the absorbed renewable energy, and other performance indices. The two conventional, stationary applications are end-consumer arbitrage and frequency regulation. The mobile application is a future scenario in which a network of grid-independent battery-powered electric vehicle charging stations receives supplies from the battery energy storage system, creating a continuous DC demand that helps to generate more revenues. Results based on two operation modes (DC and AC priorities) and different sets of weights assigned to objectives are presented. This work will pave the road for real-world implementations in the future.
Esophageal contractile segment impedance from high-resolution impedance manometry correlates with mean nocturnal baseline impedance and acid exposure time from 24-hour pH-impedance monitoring.

Esophageal baseline impedance (BI) acquired during esophageal contraction (contractile segment impedance [CSI]) is proposed to improve BI accuracy in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We evaluated associations between CSI and conventional and novel GERD metrics. We analyzed high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) and ambulatory pH-impedance studies from 51 patients (58.6 ± 1.5 years; 26% F) with GERD symptoms studied off antisecretory therapy. Patients with achalasia or absent contractility were excluded. CSI (averaged across 10 swallows) and BI-HRIM (from the resting landmark phase) were acquired from the distal impedance sensors (distal sensor and 5 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter). Acid exposure time (AET) and mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) were calculated. Associations between CSI, BI-HRIM, MNBI, and AET were evaluated using correlation (Pearson) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Presenting symptoms included heartburn (67%), regurgitation (12%), cough (12%), and chest pain (10%). CSI-distal and CSI-5 each correlated with BI-HRIM, AET, and distal MNBI. Associations with AET were numerically stronger for CSI-distal (r = -0.46) and BI-HRIM-distal (r = -0.44) than CSI-5 (r = -0.33), BI-HRIM-5 (r = -0.28), or distal MNBI (r 6% had significantly lower CSI-distal and BI-HRIM-distal values but not CSI-5, BI-HRIM-5, or MNBI. ROC areas under the curve for AET >6% were numerically higher for CSI-distal (0.81) than BI-HRIM-distal (0.77), distal MNBI (0.68-0.75), CSI-5 (0.68), or BI-HRIM-5 (0.68). CSI from HRIM studies inversely correlates with pathologic AET and has potential to augment the evaluation of GERD.
Recent Developments in the Study of Hormone Effects and Metabolism in Prostate Tissue

I should like to express my thanks to the German Endocrine Society for the invitation to participate in this Symposium and my appreciation of the timely choice of topics for this morning’s discussion. Recent developments in the study of hormone effects and metabolism in prostate tissue hold the promise of bridging the large gap in biochemical knowledge between the developmental, histologic and clinical contributions of Lacassagne (1933 a, b), Huggins (1941, 1948), Moore (1947, 1952), Price (1957, 1963) and Woodruff (1960, 1962) and current concepts of the molecular mode of hormone action so admirably stated by Karlson (1963).
Red Light and the Dormancy–Germination Decision in Arabidopsis Seeds

The Arabidopsis dormancy-germination transition is known to be environmentally cued and controlled by the competing hormones abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA) produced by the seed. Recently, new molecular details have emerged concerning the propagation of red light through a complex gene regulatory network involving PhyB, PIF1, and RVE1. This network influences the formation of the PIF1-RVE1 complex [1,2]. The PIF1-RVE1 complex is a transcription factor that regulates the production of ABA and GA and helps shift the balance to high concentration of ABA and low concentration of GA, which corresponds to a dormant seed state. This newly discovered gene regulatory network has not been analyzed mathematically. Our analysis shows that this gene regulatory network exhibits switch-like bistability as a function of the red light input and makes a suite of biologically testable predictions concerning seed dormancy and germination in response to the amplitude and periodicity of an oscillatory red light input.
Preparative production of an enantiomeric pair by engineered polyketide synthases

Using the updated module boundary of polyketide assembly lines, modules from the pikromycin synthase were recombined into engineered synthases that furnish an enantiomeric pair of 2-stereocenter triketide lactones at >99% ee with yields up to 0.39 g per liter of E. coli K207-3 in shake flasks.
Why Quality and Outcomes Measures Are So Challenging

NEJM Catalyst Insights Council members say their organizations work hard on quality and outcomes measures but are challenged to show improvements.
Analysis of Prejumping

When confronted by a break in the slope on the track they wish to ski, skiers may reduce the time they spend airborne by prejumping the break. The following calculations quantitatively demonstrate the effect of such prejumping. Refer to Fig. 5.5, p. 121, which illustrates the slope break we will take for our example.
Avoiding common-mode feedback in continuous-time g/sub m/-C filters by use of lossy integrators

A method of continuous-time fully-differential signal processing is proposed which avoids the use of common-mode feedback (CMF) circuitry. Instead, the DC output voltage of the transconductor (G/sub M/) is defined by a 1/g/sub m/ resistor load and by implementing a precise biasing scheme to control the DC output voltage with accuracy similar to that of a good CMF circuit. The approach results in single-ended cascade filters built around a single-ended double-input CMOS triode-region G/sub M/. Fully differential filters are obtained by connecting two such single-ended structures in parallel and driving them with differential signals. The advantages of the discussed method result in systems with improved stability, and reduced noise, distortion, power consumption and the area. >
The Identification of White Dwarf Suspects in the Lowell Proper Motion Program

During the course of the Lowell proper motion survey that has been in progress since 1957, an effort has been made to identify the very blue stars and more recently the extremely red ones. The proper motions are detected and measured directly by projection on the calibrated grid of the blink microscope. The regular program catalogs all motions found > 0 . ″ 26/year and fainter than the eighth magnitude. From this portion of the program, we have identified 179 white dwarf suspects, 48 of color class − 1 and 131 of color class 0, which have been published in the Lowell Bulletins under the title of ‘Lowell Proper Motions II through XV’. These lists cover the entire northern hemisphere, and a few regions down as far as −10° South, and contain 10382 different individual stars. Finding charts are provided for each object.
Antiphospholipid Antibodies Activate Vascular Endothelial Cells

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are associated with a syndrome of arterial and venous thrombosis and recurrent fetal loss. We have shown that IgG purified from patients with aPL activate vascular endothelial cells (EC), converting the steady-state, non-thrombotic endothelial surface to a pro-thrombotic state. The aPL-activated EC are characterized by the expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules, including ICAM-1, VCAM, and E-selectin. EC activation is dependent upon the presence of beta 2-GP-I, a cofactor necessary for anticardiolipin reactivity. In addition, EC activation is not attributable to endotoxin contamination, Fc receptor interactions, or immune complexes, but rather is the result of the specific anticardiolipin reactivity of the IgG. Endothelial activation by aPL may be an important mechanism by which these antibodies cause a hypercoagulable state.
Abstract 1929: Tyrosine kinase inhibition with sorafenib but not pazopanib enriches for sarcoma cancer stem cells in diverse models of soft tissue sarcoma

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Purpose: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a putative source of resistance and relapse following conventional anti-proliferative therapies. We hypothesized that anti-proliferative, but not anti-angiogenic, tyrosine kinase inhibitors would enrich for CSCs in models of soft tissue sarcoma. Experimental Design: We exposed multiple human sarcoma cell lines to sorafenib and pazopanib and assessed cell viability and expression of CSC markers. We exposed mice harboring lung/liver Ewing's sarcoma metastases to daily sorafenib and evaluated survival and CSC expression. We exposed dissociated primary sarcoma tumors to overnight sorafenib and pazopanib. We used tissue microarray (TMA) to evaluate the frequency and intensity of CSC markers in clinical sarcoma samples after neoadjuvant therapy with sorafenib. Results: Viability following sorafenib exposure in vitro ranged from 1 - 20% with a corresponding 2 - 8.2 fold increase in ALDHbright cells from baseline (P<0.05), while negligible effects from pazopanib were observed. In vivo, sorafenib treatment improved median survival by 10 days (P<0.05), but increased the population of ALDHbright cells 2.5 - 2.8 fold (P<0.05). Analysis of primary human sarcoma samples revealed direct cytotoxicity following exposure to sorafenib with a corresponding increase in ALDHbright cells (P<0.05). Again, negligible effects from pazopanib were observed. TMA analysis of clinical sarcoma specimens demonstrated significant enrichment for ALDHbright cells in the post-treatment resection specimen following neoadjuvant therapy including sorafenib (P<0.05). Conclusions: Sorafenib, but not pazopanib, exerts a direct anti-proliferative effect on sarcoma cells with a corresponding enrichment in sarcoma CSCs. Sustained anti-sarcoma therapeutic effects may require targeting of the CSC population in combination with cytotoxic treatments. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Robert J. Canter, Erik Ames, Stephanie Mac, Steve K. Grossenbacher, Mingyi Chen, Joe Tellez, Arta M. Monjazeb, William J. Murphy. Tyrosine kinase inhibition with sorafenib but not pazopanib enriches for sarcoma cancer stem cells in diverse models of soft tissue sarcoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1929. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1929
Selective Depletion of Nonspecific T Cells During the Early Stage of Immune Responses to Infection

Transient T cell depletion occurs before the development of an effective immune response to infection. In this study we show that most T cells, regardless of specificity, are induced to express early activation markers soon after infection with Listeria monocytogenes or lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Ag-specific T cells are further activated to display late activation markers and undergo extensive proliferation. As Ag-specific T cells begin to expand, nonspecific T cells are depleted en masse and exhibit no sign of further activation or proliferation before their depletion. This selective depletion of nonspecific T cells is due to in situ death via apoptosis, as visualized by confocal microscopy. Thus, early activation and subsequent depletion of nonspecific T cells are integral parts of the immune response to proinflammatory infections. These results have important implications for our understanding of early events in the development of a robust T cell response.
Dynamic aspects of apparent attenuation and wave localization in layered media

We present a theory for multiply-scattered waves in layered media which takes into account wave interference. The inclusion of interference in the theory leads to a new description of the phenomenon of wave localization and its impact on the apparent attenuation of seismic waves. We use the theory to estimate the localization length at a CO2 sequestration site in New Mexico at sonic frequencies (2 kHz) by performing numerical simulations with a model taken from well logs. Near this frequency, we find a localization length of roughly 180 m, leading to a localization-induced quality factor Q of 360.
Wnt5a can both activate and repress Wnt/β-catenin signaling during mouse embryonic development

Embryonic development is controlled by a small set of signal transduction pathways, with vastly different phenotypic outcomes depending on the time and place of their recruitment. How the same molecular machinery can elicit such specific and distinct responses, remains one of the outstanding questions in developmental biology. Part of the answer may lie in the high inherent genetic complexity of these signaling cascades, as observed for the Wnt-pathway. The mammalian genome encodes multiple Wnt proteins and receptors, each of which show dynamic and tightly controlled expression patterns in the embryo. Yet how these components interact in the context of the whole organism remains unknown. Here we report the generation of a novel, inducible transgenic mouse model that allows spatiotemporal control over the expression of Wnt5a, a protein implicated in many developmental processes and multiple Wnt-signaling responses. We show that ectopic Wnt5a expression from E10.5 onwards results in a variety of developmental defects, including loss of hair follicles and reduced bone formation in the skull. Moreover, we find that Wnt5a can have dual signaling activities during mouse embryonic development. Specifically, Wnt5a is capable of both inducing and repressing β-catenin/TCF signaling in vivo, depending on the time and site of expression and the receptors expressed by receiving cells. These experiments show for the first time that a single mammalian Wnt protein can have multiple signaling activities in vivo, thereby furthering our understanding of how signaling specificity is achieved in a complex developmental context.
Optimal stochastic control for parking systems: occupancy-driven parking pricing

Efficient parking management can mitigate both traffic and parking congestion, and reduce the social costs and environmental impact. Parking pricing and information provision relying on parking sensors jointly serve as a dynamic stabilized controller for traffic demand management. Optimal parking pricing is formulated as a stochastic control problem. We obtain measurements of parking occupancy in real time and are used to update the optimal parking prices considering stochasticity on demand and travelers' parking choice. The stochastic control formulation is solved using dynamic programming. There exists a critical occupancy for each time period, beyond which the parking prices should be set effective (namely, not free of charge). The numerical experiments show that the optimal parking policies based on stochastic control models can deal with different demand levels and generally outperforms the deterministic pricing schemes.
Uniform stabilization of a nonlinear beam by nonlinear boundary feedback

We consider the planar motion of a uniform prismatic beam of length L. We want to derive a model that reflects the effect of stretching on bending, which necessarily leads to nonlinear partial differential equations for the motion of the beam. We will, however, assume that the constitutive equations for bending are linear. This is in agreement with existing engineering literature (see, for example [S] and the bibliography therein). It should be remarked that the effect of stretching on bending becomes significant if, in particular, a rigid rotation is superimposed on the motion. We do not consider such a rotation here, even though it could be handled within the present framework. We assume that the beam, in its reference state, occupies the region described in rectangular coordinates by
CP-violation phase hierarchy and minimal left-right models.

We discuss /ital CP/ violation in a class of minimal left-right models. It is shown that an interesting phase hierarchy arises if, in an appropriate basis, the quark masses have a nontrivial relative sign. With such a phase hierarchy, we find that, even in the small-phase approximation, /epsilon//prime///epsilon/ and the neutron electric dipole moment /ital d//sub /ital n// can, respectively, be of the order 3/times/10/sup /minus/3/ and 10/sup /minus/25/ /ital e/ cm with either sign.
Longitudinal impact of cylindrical shells

The transient response due to longitudinal impact of three aluminum cylindrical shells of different thickness-to-radius ratios is studied both analytically and experimentally. The analyses were obtained from method of characteristics' solutions of two sets of equations: one which includes the transverse shear, radial inertia, and rotary inertial effects; and the other set is from a modified membrane theory. Experimentally, longitudinal and circumferential strains are monitored along the length of each of the shells; the velocity of the impacter ring is also measured. The experimental results of this study indicate that the wave front, after traveling three diameters from the impacted end, propagates at essentially the plate velocity, in agreement with the theory. In addition, the longitudinal and circumferential strain calculated from the two theories are in good agreement with the experimental results.