cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Airway epithelia regulate expression of human β-defensin 2 through toll-like receptor 2

The goal of this study is to investigate whether TLR2 mediates hBD2 induction through NF-kappaB in response to bacterial components in the human airway epithelia. We showed that hTLR2 is expressed in the airway epithelial cells by immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR. The biology of hTLR2 in this context was studied initially in 293 cells transfected with a plasmid expressing hTLR2 together with an hBD2 promoter-driven luciferase reporter (hBD2-promoter-LUC). Upon incubation with lipoteichoic acid (LTA), the major cell wall component of gram-positive bacteria, luciferase activity was greatly increased compared with mock stimulation. Analysis of mutation constructs of the hBD2 promoter revealed that NF-kappaB sites are important for hTLR2-mediated hBD2 up-regulation upon LTA stimulation. When hBD2-promoter-LUC was transfected into primary human airway epithelia cells (EC), the luciferase activity was greatly increased upon LTA stimulation compared with mock stimulation. The hBD2 promoter mutation constructs were also tested in EC, which confirmed the studies in 293 cells. When a plasmid expressing a dominant-negative mutant of hTLR2 was co-transfected with hBD2-promoter-LUC into EC, LTA could not stimulate hBD2 expression. These data provide convincing evidence that up-regulation of hBD2 can be induced through hTLR2-mediated NFkappaB/IkappaB pathway in the human airway epithelial cells.
The changing nature of disk controllers

The evolution of the disk controllers that interface disk drive storage devices and subsystems with their hosts is reviewed. With magnetic disk storage density increasing by over five orders of magnitude in 37 years, the nature of the controller and its functions has undergone a significant change. In the 1960s, introduction of the IBM 360 and 370 systems led to architectures oriented to mainframe systems. In the 1980s, the personal computer brought into being the single-board controller most frequently attached to a single hard disk drive. In the 1990s, the functions that are being included within the drive are radically changing the attachment of a drive to a system. >
Robust Object Tracking based on Detection with Soft Decision

This paper presents a detection based object tracking method that forms object trajectories by associating detection responses. Discriminative classifiers of objects of a known class are learned and applied to the video sequence frame by frame. The output of the detection module is a "soft decision", which consists of a set of detection responses of different confidence levels. Responses of different confidence levels are generated by classifiers with different complexities. The cheap classifiers are applied to the whole image first, while the expensive classifiers are only applied to the region accepted as object by the cheap classifiers. Object trajectories are initialized from the responses of higher confidence; hypothesized objects are tracked by associating with all the responses in the order of their confidence levels. The proposed approach is applied to the problems of human tracking in indoor meeting videos and outdoor surveillance videos. The system is evaluated on two public video corpora and compared with some previous methods.
Antidepressant-like effects of physical activity versus imipramine: Neonatal clomipramine model

The clomipramine (CLI) model of depression was used to examine whether exercise has antidepressant-like effects. Male Sprague-Dawley pups were injected with CLI-HCl (40 mg/kg/day) from age 8 to 21 days. At age 4 weeks, rats were assigned to one of five conditions: (1) sedentary; (2) 24-h access to an activity wheel; (3) sedentary + imipramine-HCl (10 mg/kg/twice daily) during the last 10 days of the experiment; (4) wheel running + imipramine; (5) daily treadmill running. At age 16 weeks, rats underwent sex behavior testing. The rate of copulation was lower in the sedentary CLI-treated group than in the saline controls. Reductions in measures of sexual arousal and levels of monoamines were consistent with the CLI model of depression but were smaller than expected. Wheel runners had more frequent mounts, intromissions, and ejaculations relative to the other groups. Norepinephrine levels in brain frontal cortex were higher in all running groups and the imipramine group relative to the sedentary CLI and saline groups. Radioligand [125I] binding density (BMax) of β-adrenoceptors in frontal cortex was lower for the wheel running, imipramine, and wheel running + imipramine groups. Activity wheel running equaled imipramine treatment for increasing norepinephrine and decreasing BMax, and it exceeded imipramine treatment for increasing male copulatory performance. We conclude that activity wheel running favorably influences several hallmark pharmaco-physiological and behavioral measures of an antidepressant effect but did not alter sexual arousal, a surrogate measure of anhedonia. The weaker than expected effects of CLI treatment indicate that the generalizability of the CLI model requires further elucidation using convergent behavioral, biochemical, and pharmacological measures.
Minireview: Transcriptional Regulation in Development of Bone

Regulation of gene expression by transcription factors is one of the major mechanisms for controlling cellular functions. Recent advances in genetic manipulation of model animals has allowed the study of the roles of various genes and their products in physiological settings and has demonstrated the importance of specific transcription factors in bone development. Three lineages of bone cells, chondrocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts, develop and differentiate according to their distinct developmental programs. These cells go through multiple differentiation stages, which are often regulated by specific transcription factors. In this minireview, we will discuss selected transcription factors that have been demonstrated to critically affect bone cell development. Further study of these molecules will lead to deeper understanding in mechanisms that govern development of bone.
Core loss in buried magnet permanent magnet synchronous motors

The steady-state core-loss characteristics of buried-magnet synchronous motors operating from a sinusoidal constant frequency voltage supply are investigated. Measured and calculated core loss, with constant shaft load, is shown to increase with decreasing terminal voltage due to an increase in armature reaction-induced stator flux-density time harmonics. Finite-element modeling is used to show that the additional loss due to the time-harmonic fields can increase core loss by a factor of six over the loss associated with only the fundamental component field at low motor flux levels. A simple air-gap model of motor flux components shows that this increased loss is due to localized rotor saturation. Thus, stator-core harmonic fields should be expected for all buried-magnet rotor synchronous motors (with or without a cage) operating at low flux levels. This factor becomes increasingly important when the motors are operated in the high-speed low-flux mode in conjunction with a variable-speed drive. >
Explanatory Factors For Overall Instructor And Course Ratings

Eight items explain 96% and 94% of variance in instructor and course ratings. Effectiveness of teaching methods and degree of learning have the greatest impact on instructor and course ratings. Instructor evaluations are influenced mainly by instructor items and course evaluations are impacted primarily by course items, but instructor items also influence course evaluations. Small classes have a significantly higher overall instructor performance rating than large classes and there are some differences between the explanatory factors for overall instructor performance and course evaluation in small and large classes.
Joseph A. McCartin, Labor's Great War: The Struggle for Industrial Democracy and the Origins of Modern American Labor Relations, 1912–1921. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1997. xvi + 303 pp. $49.95 cloth.

Joe McCartin is to be congratulated for achieving his goal of establishing the idea of industrial democracy as the central organizing concept in US labor relations during and immediately after World War One. His rightly praised work, Labor's Great War , traces industrial democracy from its flowering under Frank Walsh's 1913 US Commission on Industrial Relations through the disputes over its many contested meanings during World War One, to its sad result in 1920s company unions and welfare capitalism. He does a masterful job of sorting out the competing groups of employers, labor, government, and public, as well as the contests within those groups. Along the way we are treated to fine character sketches of Walsh, William Howard Taft, President Woodrow Wilson, Secretary of Labor William Wilson, Louis Brandeis, Samuel Gompers, and the International Association of Machinists president William Johnson. However, the book's successful strategy, its tight focus on American wartime industrial democracy, is also its weakness since it too severely limits itself in time and space.
Molecular Insights for the Role of Key Residues of Calreticulin in its Binding Activities

Calreticulin (CRT) is localized to and has functions in multiple cellular compartments, including cell surface, endoplasmic reticulum, and extracellular matrix (FASEB J. 24: 665- 683, 2010). Mutagenesis studies have identified several residues on a concave β-sheet surface of CRT critical for CRT binding to carbohydrate and other proteins/peptides (J. Biol. Chem. 285: 38612-20, 2010). How the mutations of these key residues in CRT affect the conformation and dynamical motion of CRT, further influencing CRT binding activities remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of several key point mutations on the conformational and dynamical motion changes of CRT via atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. The CRT structure is obtained based on the crystal structure of the globular lectin domain and partial P-domain of CRT, and the NMR structure of P-domain (flexible arm domain). Results from this study show that the mutations of the key residues of CRT result in the changes in the protein's local backbone flexibility and some of the point mutations cause significant changes of the relatively position and orientation between the CRT lectin and P-domains. Within the β-strands in CRT's lection domain, mutant-induced secondary structural changes, including the changes in the residues of β-strand occupancy, number of H-bonds and hydrophobic contacts, are observed. The mutations of the key residues on the concave β-sheet surface of CRT also result in the changes of the solvent accessible surface area, side-chain relative positions and dynamical correlated motions, which could directly affect CRT binding activities. Results from this study provided molecular insight into the effect of the mutations of key residues of CRT on CRT conformational and dynamical motion changes, further influencing CRT binding to carbohydrates and other proteins to signal the important cellular activities.
Formulating Measure Differential Inclusions in Infinite Dimensions

Measure differential inclusions were introduced by J. J. Moreau to study sweeping processes, and have since been used to study rigid body dynamics and impulsive control problems. The basic formulation of an MDI is “d μ / d ν(t) ∈ K(t)” where μ is a vector measure, ν an unsigned measure, and K(⋅) is a set-valued map with closed, convex values and is hemicontinuous. Note that μ need not be absolutely continuous with respect to ν. Stewart extended Moreau's original concept (which applied only to cone-valued K(⋅)) to general convex sets, and gave strong and weak formulations of “d μ / d ν(t) ∈ K(t)” where K(t) ⊂ Rn. Here the strong and weak formulations of Stewart are extended to infinite-dimensional problems where K(t) ⊂ X where X is a separable reflexive Banach space; they are shown to be equivalent under mild assumptions on K(⋅).
A table of exact sample sizes for use with Fisher's exact test for 2 x 2 tables

We studied systematically the problem of sample size for Fisher's exact test of independence in 2 x 2 tables, assuming that neither of the two margins is fixed. In this case, we present tables to calculate sample sizes necessary to achieve 50% and 90% power with the significance level equal to 1% or 5%. These tables can be used to determine the sample size necessary to detect gametic-phase disequilibrium between two genetic loci in a population genetics survey. A one-sided test and two double-sided tests are considered corresponding to the two most commonly used interpretations of observed significance.
Use of exotic saltcedar (Tamarix chinensis) by birds in arid riparian systems

Avian use of saltcedar (Tamarix chinensis) along the middle Pecos River was compared with similarly collected data along the lower Colorado River and Rio Grande. Use of saltcedar ranked high among all bird groups in all seasons on the middle Pecos River. In contrast, many species do not occur in saltcedar on the lower Colorado River, while few species winter in saltcedar on the lower Rio Grande. Occurrence of granivores and insectivores during winter in saltcedar on the Pecos River may be explained by seed-producing shrubs and annuals within or adjacent to these habitats. Most breeding birds on the Pecos River are summer visitors. These breeding species, though present, do not occur in saltcedar on the Colorado River despite abundant food resources and occur in intermediate abundances on the Rio Grande. Densities of several summer-visiting insectivores have declined markedly on the Colorado River since the proliferation of saltcedar, whereas they have remained relatively stable in other river valleys to the east. Biogeographical considerations, specifically elevational (climatic) gradients, are suggested reasons for this phenomenon.
Abstract 4984: Association ofPTENandp16mutational status withMITFexpression may provide a novel context for a phenotype switch in melanoma

For the last decade, array-based genomic screening has significantly advanced our understanding of genes involved in cancer development and progression. Moreover, genes identified in those screenings have subsequently been the focus of drug development efforts, ultimately leading to clinical trials. However, the efficient translation of cancer genomics results into the development of more effective therapeutics has been limited in part by the need for robust, high-throughput, functional validation of genes and pathways of interest in well-defined model systems. In order to identify new therapeutic targets in melanoma genomes, we have applied high-throughput RNA interference (RNAi) screening to well-characterized melanoma cell lines. We characterized a panel of 65 melanoma cell lines for genome-wide copy number changes and gene expression, as well as the mutation status of known melanoma genes (BRAF, HRAS, NRAS, KRAS, PTEN, CDKN2A, and TP53). From this panel, 18 cell lines were screened against some 1,250 genes (696 kinases, 550 supplemental; 4 siRNAs per gene) to identify modifiers of melanoma cell survival. A striking finding from our data is that MITF expression appears to be a determinant of invasive context and, furthermore, is associated with changes in both p16 and PTEN status. In the cell lines we examined, high MITF expression correlated with wild-type PTEN status, whereas PTEN was deleted or mutated in 30-35% of cell lines having low MITF expression. Similarly, p16 was unaltered in 40-45% of the cell lines that had high MITF expression but remained unaltered in only 20-25% of low MITF-expressing cell lines. The loss of p16 and PTEN are correlated with an aggressive phenotype in melanoma, and we confirmed by Western analysis that in cell lines with high MITF, p16 is present, but in cell lines with low MITF, p16 expression is absent. In agreement with the current literature, no association could be found with BRAF mutational status. Moreover, these data confirm that MITF is associated with the switch in phenotype from a proliferative to an invasive state in melanoma in a BRAF-independent manner, which in turn is associated with an increase in WNT5A expression, a change we previously have suggested is a critical determinant of melanoma metastasis. Results to be presented, aligned with new studies of sequence variants of MITF (Brown et al., unpublished), may help define a novel context for invasive potential of the important disease. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4984. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4984
An Overview of Tung Yuan Fang Catholic Development

Tung Yuan Fang Catholicism is the Catholic center in Shaanxi Provinceand poses an important position in spreading Catholicism in Guanzhong area.The paper is mainly to introduce the current development of Catholicism in local areas,including its overall development,the cathedral building,the position setting,its affiliated organizations and its general management.In addition,its main financial sources and local impacts are also introduced.
Characteristics of distribution and drug resistance of multidrug-resistant bacteria in children′s hospital

OBJECTIVE To investigate the distribution and various drug resistance of multidrug-resistant organism(MDRO) in children′s hospital,to provide the basis for clinically reasonable application of antibiotics.METHODS The distribution,composition,and drug resistance of MDRO isolated from various clinical specimens from Jan 2010 to Dec 2010 were retrospectively analyzed,the drug susceptibility testing was performed with K-B method.RESULTS A total of 1906 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated,among which there were 309(16.2%) strains of MDRO.The top 3 MDRO isolates were MDROAB,MDROPA,and MRSA,the top 2 departments with the highest positive rates were the emergency medicine department with 94 strains isolated and neonatology department with 90 strains;the detection rates of MDROPA and MDORAB isolated from sputum were the highest,accounting for 76.8% and 96.2%,MRSA isolates were mostly isolated from pus,accounting for 43.6%;the drug resistance rates of MDROPA to amikacin and ciprofloxacin were the lowest with 23.2% and 26.1%,respectively;MDORAB was resistant to most antibiotics with resistance rates above 50.0%;the resistance rate of MRSA to vancomycin was 0 and relatively low to gentamicin,cotrimoxazole,and chloramphenicol,but chloramphenicol was not suitable for children.CONCLUSION Multidrug-resistant organism is widely distributed in children's hospital and is with a high percentage in key departments.Therefore it is necessary to strengthen the management of MDRO.
MORPHOLOGY OF THE HEAD AND NECK OF THE MACAQUE MONKEY: THE MUSCLES OF MASTICATION AND THE MANDIBULAR DIVISION OF THE TRIGEMINAL NERVE.

Today young Rhesus monkeys, especially Macaca mulatta, are widely used for dental and medical research, and there is no doubt that they will be used even more in the future. Certain regions or systems of this animal-brain, spinal cord, extremity musculafture-have been adequately described, whereas only a meager amount of information has been written about the detailed anatomy of the head, neck, torso, and most of the neurovascular systems of the extremities. In the head and neck, experimental procedures have been carried out, with little being said about the "normal" anatomy of the animal. However, the most concise work on the Rhesus monkey, by Hartman and Strauss,' has been used as the standard reference text by many. Most reports on the anatomy of laboratory animals lack morphologic detail, are superficial in their coverage, sketchy in their descriptions, or even incorrect. Many of the descriptions appear to have been based on only a few specimens. Since anatomical details on the Macaque are noticeably lacking, it is our intent to review its morphology in detail, beginning with the craniofacial area.
Hyperbaric oxygen for treatment of problem wounds

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment has seen a resurgence of interest in recent years, with more academic medical centers building facilities and more physicians becoming board-certified in undersea and hyperbaric medicine.The reason for the growing interest is better understanding of the role of hypoxia in wound healing and an appreciation for the role of HBOT in reversing tissue hypoxia and enhancing the healing process.This has resulted in a number of new evidence-based indications for HBOT. This article describes the role of HBOT in wound healing and how it specifically applies to treatment of delayed radiation injury, one of the conditions for which it is commonly used.
Rational Wedge Construction for Polycons and Polypols

Each polycon wedge is of the form \(\mathrm{W}_{\mathrm{i}}(\mathrm{x,y}) =\mathrm{ k}_{\mathrm{i}}\mathrm{P}^{\mathrm{i}}\mathrm{R}^{\mathrm{i}}/\mathrm{Q}\), where ki normalizes the polycon wedge to unity at node (xi, yi) and the three polynomials are determined so that the properties enumerated in Sect. 1.5 are achieved. We first elaborate on the construction mentioned in Sect.3.1 and then prove that this construction yields the required properties. Polynomial Pi in the numerator is called the opposite factor. It is the product of the linear and quadratic forms which vanish on the sides opposite node i. Polynomial Ri, the other factor in the numerator, is called the adjacent factor. It is unity for all side nodes and for all vertex nodes at the intersection of two linear sides. For these nodes, Pi is of degree m − 2 when the polycon is of order m. A vertex node at the intersection of a linear and a conic side has an opposite factor of degree m − 3. The adjacent factor is the linear form that vanishes on (A;B) in Fig. 5.1. If the EIP of the sides adjacent to node i is at infinity (that is, if point B is on the absolute line in the projective plane), then line (A;B) is parallel to the linear side at vertex i.
Beyond Borders: Pantheistic Confusion and Monotheistic Orthodoxy in Tieck's Der Runenberg

This article suggests that the confusing nature of Tieck's Der Runenberg sets the text within the contemporaneous atheism and pantheism debates. The story can be read as a fictionalized exploration of the monotheistic Judeo-Christian view of reality and of a pantheistic alternative. Confusion functions as a textual example of the literal fusing together (con-fusio) of a pantheistic spirituality and simultaneously obfuscates the subject matter to avoid accusations of open blasphemy. However, the theme of confusion also calls into question the validity of pursuing this spiritual exploration and whether a pantheistic alternative is truly desirable over monotheistic orthodoxy. Ultimately, the text addresses the positive and negative aspects of both spiritual realms but does not make a clear judgment concerning either.
Radiation from an antenna near an arbitrarily shaped resistive sheet

The radiation characteristics of a wire antenna located near an arbitrarily shaped resistive sheet are investigated, A triangular surface patch model is used for both the resistive sheet and the wire antenna. The investigation focusses primarily on the suitability of the resistive sheet model for representing thick, lossy dielectrics.
Effects of nitrogenous wastes on survival of the Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum)

The objective of our study was to determine the acute toxicity of 3 common aquatic nitrogenous toxicants to the federally endangered Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum). Based on our findings, the 96-h median lethal concentrations (96-h LC50) for un-ionized ammonia-N, nitrite-N, and nitrate-N to E. sosorum are 2.0 ± 0.32, 31.7 ± 4.02, and 968.5 ± 150.6 mg/L, respectively. These results establish a benchmark for the tolerance of plethodontid salamanders to these toxicants and indicate that current water quality criteria are adequate for their protection. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:3003-3007. © 2017 SETAC.
The Order–Disorder Transition in Graft Block Copolymers

The order–disorder transitions of diblock copolymers grafted to a common backbone were examined by oscillatory shear rheology and small-angle X-ray scattering. The effect of grafting density, graft molecular weight, number of grafts, and backbone dispersity were studied using poly[(styrene-alt-N-hydroxyethylmaleimide)-random-(styrene-alt-N-ethylmaleimide)]-graft-poly(4-methylcaprolactone-block-d,l-lactide) [PSHE-g-(P4MCL-PLA)] as a model graft block copolymer. At high grafting densities (25–50%), the order–disorder temperature (TODT) of the graft polymers was nearly identical to the analogous linear diblock. At lower grafting densities (<25%), the TODT was found to systematically decrease. The number of grafts did not significantly change the value of the TODT; however, increasing the number of grafts resulted in broad, ill-defined transitions. Backbone dispersity was found to have little impact on the TODT. Ordered morphologies were imaged by transmission electron microscopy. Long-range order was observe...
Evaluating the adaptive evolutionary convergence of carnivorous plant taxa through functional genomics

Carnivorous plants are striking examples of evolutionary convergence, displaying complex and often highly similar adaptations despite lack of shared ancestry. Using available carnivorous plant genomes along with non-carnivorous reference taxa, this study examines the convergence of functional overrepresentation of genes previously implicated in plant carnivory. Gene Ontology (GO) coding was used to quantitatively score functional representation in these taxa, in terms of proportion of carnivory-associated functions relative to all functional sequence. Statistical analysis revealed that, in carnivorous plants as a group, only two of the 24 functions tested showed a signal of substantial overrepresentation. However, when the four carnivorous taxa were analyzed individually, 11 functions were found to be significant in at least one taxon. Though carnivorous plants collectively may show overrepresentation in functions from the predicted set, the specific functions that are overrepresented vary substantially from taxon to taxon. While it is possible that some functions serve a similar practical purpose such that one taxon does not need to utilize both to achieve the same result, it appears that there are multiple approaches for the evolution of carnivorous function in plant genomes. Our approach could be applied to tests of functional convergence in other systems provided on the availability of genomes and annotation data for a group.
Trait Sources of Spirituality Scale: Assessing Trait Spirituality More Inclusively.

We develop the Trait Sources of Spirituality Scale (TSSS), which assesses experiences of closeness to the sacred, within and outside a religious tradition. After using factor analysis to finalize t...
These Findings Are Not Consistent With National Data.

I found this paper1 interesting because this is an important issue. However, I have concerns that the findings in this paper are not consistent with national trends. The authors found that children in Oregon have hovered in the mid-30% range for influenza vaccination over the last 5 years and that this rate did not … E-mail: ravi.jhaveri{at}unc.edu
Management of Ectopic Pregnancy

A reproductive age female presenting with pelvic pain, a positive urine pregnancy test, and an inconclusive pelvic ultrasound provokes diagnostic uncertainty and anxiety for the practicing physician. The spectrum of diagnostic possibilities ranges from a symptomatic but normally implanted pregnancy to an ectopic pregnancy implanted in the uterine tube or elsewhere outside of the uterus. While management of the patient with acute symptoms clearly calls for urgent surgical intervention, management of the asymptomatic patient whose implantation site is indeterminate requires patient follow-up with serial serum HCG levels, periodic ultrasound imaging, and repeat physical examinations. The clinician must cope with the risk of possible rupture of an ectopic pregnancy and its associated morbidities. Pregnancy of unknown location accounts for 1–2% of all gestations and 4–6% of pregnancy-related deaths worldwide [1]. This chapter will describe a current approach to the diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy.
Reinforcing effects of opioid/cannabinoid mixtures in rhesus monkeys responding under a food/drug choice procedure

Cannabinoid receptor agonists such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) enhance the antinociceptive potency of mu opioid receptor agonists such as morphine, indicating that opioid/cannabinoid mixtures might be effective for treating pain. However, such enhancement will be beneficial only if cannabinoids do not also enhance adverse effects of opioids, including those related to abuse. In rhesus monkeys, cannabinoids fail to enhance and often decrease self-administration of the mu opioid receptor agonist heroin, suggesting that opioid/cannabinoid mixtures do not have greater reinforcing effects (abuse potential) compared with opioids alone. Previous studies on the self-administration of opioid/cannabinoid mixtures used single-response procedures, which do not easily differentiate changes in reinforcing effects from other effects (e.g., rate decreasing). In this study, rhesus monkeys (n = 4) responded under a choice procedure wherein responding on one lever delivered sucrose pellets and responding on the other lever delivered intravenous infusions of the mu opioid receptor agonist remifentanil (0.032–1.0 μg/kg/infusion) alone or in combination with either Δ9-THC (10–100 μg/kg/infusion) or the synthetically derived cannabinoid receptor agonist CP55940 (3.2–10 μg/kg/infusion). Remifentanil dose-dependently increased choice of drug over food, whether available alone or in combination with a cannabinoid, and the potency of remifentanil was not significantly altered by coadministration with a cannabinoid. Mixtures containing the largest doses of cannabinoids decreased response rates in most subjects, confirming that behaviorally active doses were studied. Overall, these results extend previous studies to include choice behavior and show that cannabinoids do not substantially enhance the reinforcing effects of mu opioid receptor agonists.
Not Always in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

In the world of galaxies, Chicken Little is not necessarily an extreme personality, because the sky is always falling. We will examine the “always” part of this statement in the next chapter when we consider the role of galaxy collisions through cosmic history. In this chapter we consider our own “sky”, that is, the Milky Way (MW in this chapter) and its immediate environs.
Non-pharmacologic Erectile Dysfunction Treatments After Prostate Cancer Therapy

Erectile dysfunction (ED) after treatment for prostate cancer (radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy, or androgen deprivation therapy) is common. Systemic therapy with the PDE5 inhibitors is successful in a lower percentage of these patients than it is in men with ED of other etiologies. Penile injection therapy often results in usable erections in these men but its acceptability may be limited because of pain which is more common in this subset of patients. Vacuum erection device therapy and penile prosthesis implantation are non-pharmacologic options available for the treatment of ED after prostate cancer therapy.
Growth and Development as Indicators of Nutritional Status

This chapter reviews growth and development as the indicators of nutritional status, and discusses how growth and development reflect the nutritional status achieved by an individual. Each person is the total of his life's nutrition. Deficits of certain nutrients at specific times affect developmental success within the genetic potential of a person such as the specific developmental sequence of tooth formation. A close alliance between nutrient need and physical development needs to be understood and stressed in nutrition education. Much confusion has been evident in an effort to balance the supply of dietary nutrients with signs of nutritional status. Nutritional aberrations do not give prompt outward signs of malfunction, so they often are not recognized even by skilled medical diagnosticians. Constantly, the technics of identification of subclinical symptoms are being refined to help to assure diagnosis and early treatment. In the past, the practice has been either to give massive dosage of some nutrient for no specific symptom or to disregard the need for therapy of any kind. The chapter highlights the growth patterns of man, the growth and nutrition of a young child, and the ecology of human nutrition and malnutrition. A study of the ecological aspects of either nutritional status or malnutrition emphasizes the fact that malnutrition is not a single concept but a syndrome, which is a group of symptoms that occur together to characterize a disease. The trend has been to treat one symptom of malnutrition alone, the treatment depending on the specialist's viewpoint.
The Last Stages of Gentrification: The 2014 Washington, DC Mayoral Election

The Washington, DC, Democratic Party mayoral primary in April 2014 was completely unspectacular in terms of political rivalry, candidate competition, issue-intensity or voter mobilization. As usual an incumbent mayor was running for reelection while under threat of indictment and encumbered by multiple accusations of financial impropriety. As often happens, he faced a collection of relatively unknowns or well-known habitual losers. As usual the incumbent would rely on the heavily black wards of the city in his effort to overcome the normally hostile voters in the wealthier white wards of the city. Then came the only real surprise of the election series, the previously little opponent would defeat the sitting mayor in a stunning tide of voter abstention. The disenchanted black voters stayed away from the polls secure, perhaps, in the fact the expected winner, a black woman, would have link to them. Still, no one could with certainty where constituent strength was lodged, nor from where the strongest influence on her campaign or administration might come. The general election in November only added to this uncertainty when she defeated to well-known white independent candidates of Republican extraction. Perhaps, all that was certain about her campaign is that she was retracting most of the steps of your mentor, the mayor that preceded the current one. He had gone down in electoral flames stoked by the ire of a black electorate that felt neglected and betrayed. This research seeks to resolve the uncertainty about the new major’s primary constituency and campaign influences. More importantly, it examines voting, campaigning and lobbying patterns in order to demonstrate a consistent pattern of declining black voter influence in the city for more than a decade.
A composite measure of sleep health predicts concurrent mental and physical health outcomes in adolescents prone to eveningness.

Abstract Background Sleep health can be characterized using multiple dimensions, including regularity, satisfaction, alertness, timing, efficiency, and duration. This study provides a preliminary derivation of a Sleep Health Composite score in adolescents with eveningness chronotype and examined its associations with mental and physical health outcomes. Methods Participants were 176 adolescents (mean age 14.77 years, 58% female) who participated in a randomized controlled trial examining the Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian intervention. At study entry, the sample was characterized by evening circadian preference, later bedtime, and increased risk in 1 of 5 health domains (emotional, cognitive, behavioral, social, and physical). The Sleep Health Composite was derived using 7-day sleep diary and self-report rating scales. Each dimension was categorized as “good” or “poor” using cut-offs informed by prior studies and expert consensus. Mental and physical health outcomes were assessed using self-report rating scales, semistructured clinical interviews, parent report, or biometric measurement. Results Sleep duration and satisfaction dimensions were most commonly rated as poor. Greater sleep health, as indexed by greater Sleep Health Composite score, was concurrently associated with lower risk in emotional, cognitive, and social domains, as well as fewer physical symptoms and reduced odds for obesity and current mood or anxiety disorders. Conclusions Sleep health is an important correlate of mental and physical health outcomes in adolescents. The Sleep Health Composite has potential application as an outcome measure in treatment studies of sleep and circadian problems.
Position Paper From the Association of Pathology Chairs: Assessing Autopsy Competency in Pathology Residency Training:

Declining numbers of hospital autopsies performed in US pathology residency training programs and perceived declining practice of autopsy by many pathologists has caused stakeholder organizations t...
Real-world Merkel cell carcinoma outcomes from a tertiary care center.

e14098Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin that is highly immunogenic. Checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) have recently revolutionized the ...
Consistently Inconsistent: The Supreme Court and The Confusion Surrounding Proportionality in Non-Capital Sentencing

(Adapted by permission from 84 Ky. L. J. 107 (1995)) This article examines the Supreme Court's treatment of the Eighth Amendment with respect to claims of excessiveness regarding prison sentences. Specifically, it addresses the issue of whether and to what degree the Eighth Amendment requires that a punishment not be disproportional to the crime punished. In analyzing all of the modern holdings of the Court in this area, one finds significant fault with each. The result of this series of flawed opinions from the Supreme Court is that the state of the law with respect to proportionality in sentencing is confused, and what law can be discerned rests on weak foundations.
Children's Philosophical Inquiry into Defining Art: A Quasi-experimental Study of Aesthetics in the Elementary Classroom

A 14-item rating scale designed to determine if children can improve their verbal reasoning about defining art was administered on a pre, posttest basis to two groups of fifth and sixth grade subjects. Treatment focused on teaching the experimental subjects rules of logic pertaining to “perfect,” intensive definitions. An ANCOVA, MANOVA design was employed to infer if subjects would as a result of treatment make significant improvement in the reasoning tasks. Results were positive. As defining art is historically a part of inquiry in aesthetics, this study gives evidence suggesting that fifth and sixth grade children have the intellectual potential to improve significantly in at least one aspect of philosophical discourse about art.
β-Catenin stabilization in NOD dendritic cells increases IL-12 production and subsequent induction of IFN-γ-producing T cells.

Dendritic cells (DC) from diabetes-prone NOD mice and patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) produce excess IL-12 that drives development of β-cell-destroying IFN-γ-producing T cells. The molecular mechanisms that control IL-12 production in T1D are unclear. In this study, we report that β-catenin, a multifunctional protein involved in inflammation, is dramatically increased in DC from NOD mice. We further investigated the mechanisms leading to accumulation of β-catenin in NOD DC and its role in the inflammatory pathogenic responses associated with T1D. Hyperphosphorylation of β-catenin at a stabilizing residue, serine 552, mediated by activation of Akt, appears to lead to β-catenin accumulation in NOD DC. Elevated β-catenin in DC correlated with IL-12 production and induction of IFN-γ-producing CD4 cells. On the one hand, knockdown/inhibition of β-catenin significantly reduced NOD DC production of IL-12 and their ability to induce IFN-γ-producing CD4 cells. On the other hand, overexpression of β-catenin in control DC resulted in increased IL-12 production and induction of IFN-γ-production in T cells. Additionally, we found that β-catenin inhibitors decreased NF-κB activation in NOD DC and IFN-γ production by NOD T cells in vivo. These data strongly suggest that accumulation of β-catenin in DC from NOD mice drives IL-12 production, and consequently, development of pathogenic IFN-γ-producing T cells. Targeting the defect responsible for β-catenin accumulation and subsequent overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines by NOD DC could be an effective therapeutic strategy for the prevention and/or treatment of T1D.
On White Noise Space and Levy's Brownian Motion on the Circle

In this article, we show that the Brownian motion on the circle constructed in Levy (1959) is a regular Euclidean Brownian motion on the half-circle with its own mirror image on the other half-circle, and is degenerated in the sense of Minlos (1959). This raises the question of what the white noise is on the circle. We then formally define the white noise space and its associated Brownian bridge.
Numerical methods every atomic and molecular theorist should know

This Technical Review encapsulates the methods and numerical techniques that have been so successfully used over the years to study the electron scattering of atoms and molecules. In the past few decades, these approaches have also proven effective in treating the time-dependent interaction of strong electromagnetic fields with atoms and molecules. There are clear synergies between the two that can be exploited computationally. The ideas discussed in this Technical Review have played an important role in shaping modern atomic and molecular physics, and we expect that future developments will build heavily on these foundations. Numerical methods such as the close-coupling, R-matrix and Kohn variational methods have been around for decades, but more recently they have been applied to the treatment of the time-dependent interaction of strong electromagnetic fields with atoms and molecules.
High-resolution 3D tractography of fibrous tissue based on polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography:

Fibrous tissues play important roles in many parts of the body. Their highly organized directional structure is essential in achieving their normal biomechanical and physiological functions. Disrup...
The Asian Immigrant Cancer Survivor Experience in the United States: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

Background Cancer is the leading cause of death for Asian Americans, a growing population in the United States. While cancer survivors often experience complex issues after diagnosis, being an immigrant and having cancer pose additional challenges. Objective This scoping review analyzed research about immigrant cancer survivors of Asian ethnicity in the United States and provided a structured method to understand an area of research and evidence. Aims focused on immigrants' experiences and how findings could tailor evidence-based interventions, programs, and resources. Methods The PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus databases were searched to identify studies in English (2009-2018) targeting Asian immigrant cancer survivors in the United States. While 385 records were initially identified, 32 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results Thematic analysis of charted study elements revealed 4 themes with subthemes: (1) survival patterns, (2) barriers, (3) culturally informed care, and (4) quality of life (QOL). While qualitative studies provided insight about the cancer experience from immigrants' perspectives, quantitative designs posed descriptions and associations among QOL concepts. Conclusions Study results illustrate the need for survival research that explores outcomes by Asian ethnic subgroups and tracks the influence of acculturation. Future research should test culturally informed interventions that minimize barriers and foster QOL across the cancer continuum. Culturally tailored instruments can expedite larger-scaled studies that allow generalization. Implications for practice Asian immigrants comprise an underserved, vulnerable, and growing group with various cancers. Nurses who care for immigrants and their families should be cognizant of cultural beliefs, values, practices, and issues related to communication, care access, and socioeconomics.
CHAPTER 6 – Digital Filters

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the basic features all digital filters—linear filter in discrete time—share and presents the rationale for a variety of standard filter construction techniques. Digital filters are used for the purposeful modification of discrete-time data. Consequently, it is not only important to understand the operation of these filters but also to know the way to select the parameters of the filters to achieve specific objectives of data modification. This selection of parameters is called filter design. Because of the many kinds of filtering operations investigators have found necessary or useful, the literature on digital filtering is extensive and diverse. In economics, for example, much attention is given to isolating or removing seasonal trends to detect weaker features of the spectrum. Geophysicists are concerned with removing tidal effects and other low-frequency power to improve the characteristics of spectral estimates. In many fields, the suppression of extraneous noise to better define a weak signal is a problem of importance.
A LOCALISED BOUNDARY OBJECT: SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY WESTERN MUSIC THEORY IN CHINA

In 1685, the Portuguese Jesuit Thomas Pereira was ordered by the Qing Kangxi emperor to write books on Western music theory in Chinese. Presented in the books were seventeenth-century practical and speculative music theories, including the coincidence theory of consonance. Invoking the concept of ‘boundary object’, this article shows that the cultural exchange, which gave rise to new knowledge by means of selection, synthesis and reinterpretation, was characterised by a lack of consensus between the transmitter and the receivers over the functions of the imported theories. Although the coincidence theory of consonance could potentially effect the transition from a pure numerical to a physical understanding of pitch, as in the European scientific revolution, it failed to flourish in China not only because of different theoretical concerns between European and Chinese musical traditions, but also because of its limited dissemination caused by Chinese print culture.
Identifying the differentiation practices of virtual school teachers.

Despite a large increase in enrollments of students in online courses at the K-12 level, there is very little research on the use of differentiation in fully online (called “virtual”) schools. This study asked virtual teachers from two different types of schools to discuss their differentiation practices, and compared differentiation practices of teachers across these schools. Nineteen focus groups consisting of 92 teachers were conducted. Data were analyzed using Tomlinson’s differentiation framework. Results showed that the large majority of teacher comments about differentiation definitions, assessments, curriculum, grouping and strategies fell in the novice category, and that newer virtual school teachers may struggle in developing skills in differentiation in an online environment.