cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of natural organic matter on fate and transport of silver nanoparticles in saturated porous media: laboratory experiments and modeling

Understanding the fate and transport of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is of importance due to their widespread use and potential harmful effects on humans and the environment. The present study investigates the fate and transport of widely used Creighton AgNPs in saturated porous media. Previous investigations of AgNP transport in the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) report contradictory results regarding how the presence of NOM affected the stability and mobility of AgNPs. In this work, a nonreactive tracer, AgNPs and a mixture of AgNPs and NOM were injected into a background solution (0.01 mM of NaNO3) flowing through laboratory columns packed with water-saturated glass beads to obtain concentration versus time breakthrough curves. Transport of AgNPs in the presence of NOM was simulated with a model that accounted for both reversible and irreversible attachment. Based upon an analysis of the AgNP breakthrough curves, it was found that addition of NOM at concentrations ranging from 1 to 40 mg L−1 resulted in significant decreases in both the zeroth and first moments of the breakthrough curves. These observations may be attributed to NOM promoting AgNP aggregation and irreversible attachment. Raman and surface-enhanced Raman scattering analysis of NOM-AgNP mixtures revealed that a possible interaction of NOM with AgNP occurred through the carboxylic moieties (–COO−) located in the immediate vicinity of the metallic surface. At higher concentrations of NOM, both the zeroth and first moments of the breakthrough curves increased. Based on modeling and the literature, we hypothesize that as the NOM concentration increases, it begins to coat both the AgNPs and the glass beads, leading to a situation where AgNP transport may be described in the same way that transport of a sorbing hydrophobic compound partitioning to an immobile organic phase is typically described, assuming reversible, rate-limited sorption.
Ascent Trajectories of Hypersonic Aircraft: Operability Limits Due to Engine Unstart

A generic waverider-type hypersonic aircraft that undergoes an ascent trajectory has been modeled using a first-principles reduced-order model. Two types of operability limits are added that represent boundaries on the aircraft trajectory map (of vehicle altitude versus Mach number). These boundaries are associated with engine unstart and ram–scram transition. The predicted unstart boundary is to be avoided; the ram–scram transition is a condition through which the aircraft must fly, but it is useful for the control system to know when this transition is approached to account for possible sudden changes in thrust and moments. The model shows that unstart occurs if the aircraft flies too high, too slow, or at too great of an acceleration. The unstart limit can be avoided by selecting a trajectory having sufficiently large dynamic pressure or a low vehicle acceleration. Optimizing these factors avoids an excessive value of the fuel–air ratio that is required for trim. The model also identifies an engine inl...
Fat-tree for local area multiprocessors

The local area multiprocessor (LAMP) is a newly-feasible approach for achieving high-performance low-cost parallel computing. LAMP allows a large number of machines distributed over a LAN-size area to operate as a distributed-shared-memory multiprocessor. Latency is kept low by using the scalable coherent interface and by caching remote data. SCI keeps the caches consistent and provides a high performance multiprocessor "bus" using only point-to-point physical connections (links), which can operate at far higher speeds than any bus. Large numbers of links may be used concurrently for extremely high system throughput, interconnected by a packet switch using any of a wide range of topologies and technologies. This paper examines the use of a fat-tree topology for this (possibly distributed) switch. Simulation results are presented to show the latency, throughput, buffer requirements, and the effect of cable length. Link clock speeds assumed are 250 MHz (GaAs or biCMOS chips) and 32 MHz (CMOS). >
Dickinson receives the Revelle Medal

The 1996 Revelle Medal, given by AGU in recognition of sustained and continued superior contributions to the science of climate dynamics and to predictions of expected climate changes, was presented to Robert Dickinson at the AGU Fall Meeting Honor Ceremony December 17, 1996, in San Francisco, Calif. The award citation and Dickinson's response are given here.
Exercise-induced reversal of insulin resistance in obese elderly is associated with reduced visceral fat

Exercise improves glucose metabolism and delays the onset and/or reverses insulin resistance in the elderly by an unknown mechanism. In the present study, we examined the effects of exercise traini...
Enzymatic synthesis and decarboxylation of phosphatidylserine in Tetrahymena pyriformis.

Cell-free extracts of the protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis have been found to catalyze the following reactions: Phosphatidylethanolamine + L-Serine Phosphatidylserine + Ethanolamine. Phosphatidylserine --> Phosphatidylethanolamine + CO(2) divided by Net: L-Serine --> Ethanolamine + CO(2). The biosynthesis of phosphatidylserine in this organism resembles that found in higher animals. In contrast, phosphatidylserine is formed in bacteria in a reaction between CDP-diglyceride and L-serine. A detailed description is presented of the enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of phosphatidylserine in Tetrahymena by the exchange reaction, together with some properties of the phosphatidylserine decarboxylase in this organism.
Highly multiplexed imaging of single cells using a high-throughput cyclic immunofluorescence method

Single-cell analysis reveals aspects of cellular physiology not evident from population-based studies, particularly in the case of highly multiplexed methods such as mass cytometry (CyTOF) able to correlate the levels of multiple signalling, differentiation and cell fate markers. Immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy adds information on cell morphology and the microenvironment that are not obtained using flow-based techniques, but the multiplicity of conventional IF is limited. This has motivated development of imaging methods that require specialized instrumentation, exotic reagents or proprietary protocols that are difficult to reproduce in most laboratories. Here we report a public-domain method for achieving high multiplicity single-cell IF using cyclic immunofluorescence (CycIF), a simple and versatile procedure in which four-colour staining alternates with chemical inactivation of fluorophores to progressively build a multichannel image. Because CycIF uses standard reagents and instrumentation and is no more expensive than conventional IF, it is suitable for high-throughput assays and screening applications.
In vivo effects of recombinant human stem cell factor treatment. A morphologic and immunohistochemical study of bone marrow biopsies.

Bone marrow (BM) aspirate and biopsy specimens from seven female patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer and preserved marrow function treated on a phase I trial of recombinant methionyl human stem cell factor (r-metHuSCF; SCF) were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining before and after treatment with SCF. Doses of SCF included 10 g/kg/day in 2 patients, 25 micrograms/kg/day in 2 patients, and 50 micrograms/kg/day in 3 patients administered as subcutaneous bolus injections for 14 days. Following treatment, bone marrow cellularity increased up to 1.6-fold (P = NS), with an increased frequency of promyelocytes (P < .002), but an unchanged relative frequency of other marrow hematopoietic cells. The mean relative frequency of BM CD34+ progenitor cells increased from 0.9% to 1.8% (P < .001). The mean proportion of BM cells stained by Ki-67/MIB 1 and PCNA/PC10, monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) recognizing proliferation-associated nuclear proteins, increased from 18.6% to 35.4% (P < .003) and from 32.4% to 49.4% (P < .01), respectively. Most of the Ki-67 and PCNA positive cells were represented by promyelocytes, proerythroblasts, and myeloblasts. SCF therapy was not associated with marrow fibrosis or increases in the number of macrophages. Peripheral white blood cell counts increased 1.3- to 3.6-fold following SCF. The mean absolute neutrophil counts increased from 3.9 x 10(9)/L (range 2.6-5.3) to 7.2 x 10(9)/L (range 4.7-12.3), and reticulocyte counts increased by a mean of 1.5 fold (range 1.2-fold to 2.0-fold). No consistent difference in platelet counts was seen. These results suggest that SCF given in vivo is effective in increasing the frequency of CD34+ BM progenitor cells, and has the capacity to increase the proliferation and differentiation rate of hematopoietic precursor cells. These effects indicate that SCF may represent a cytokine capable of affecting multiple hematopoietic lineages.
Health-care Provider Screening and Advice for Smoking Cessation Among Smokers With and Without COPD: 2009-2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey.

Background Cigarette smoking is the predominant cause of COPD. Quitting can prevent development of and complications from COPD. The gold standard in clinician delivery of smoking cessation treatments is the 5As (ask, advise, assess, assist, arrange). This study assessed prevalence and correlates of self-reported receipt of the 5A strategies among adult smokers with and without COPD. Methods Data were analyzed from 20,021 adult past-year cigarette smokers in the 2009-2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey, a nationally representative telephone survey of US adults 18 years of age and older. Past-year receipt of the 5As was self-reported by participants who saw a clinician in the past year. Logistic regression was used to estimate the likelihood of receipt of each of the 5As by COPD status, adjusted for sociodemographic and smoking characteristics. Results Among smokers, those with COPD were more likely than those without COPD to report being asked about tobacco use (95.4% vs 85.8%), advised to quit (87.5% vs 59.4%), assessed for readiness to quit (63.8% vs 37.9%), offered any assistance to quit (58.6% vs 34.0%), and offered follow-up (14.9% vs 5.2%). In adjusted logistic regression models, those with COPD were significantly more likely than those without COPD to receive each of the 5As. Conclusions Health professionals should continue to prioritize tobacco cessation counseling and treatment to smokers with COPD. Increased system-level changes and insurance coverage for cessation treatments could be used to improve the delivery of brief tobacco cessation counseling to all smokers, regardless of COPD status.
Effects of 0.5% Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution on Heart Rate and Selected Echocardiographic Indices in Apparently Healthy Cats

Echocardiographic assessment of diastolic function is challenging in cats, partially because of transmitral flow pattern fusion associated with high heart rates. With heart rate (HR) reduction, transmitral flow waveforms separate, allowing identification of diastolic dysfunction. Timolol, an ophthalmic, nonselective beta-blocker used in glaucoma is safe and transiently decreases HR in clinical trials.Administration of timolol ophthalmic solution decreases HR and facilitates echocardiographic assessment of diastolic function in cats without inducing clinically relevant adverse effects.Twenty-five apparently healthy cats.Electrocardiograms and echocardiograms including transmitral flow patterns were evaluated before and 20 minutes after ocular administration of 1 drop of timolol 0.5% solution. Twenty cats underwent treatment with timolol, and 5 different cats served as untreated controls to evaluate the effects of acclimation to the hospital environment on HR.Acclimation to the hospital had no effect on HR in control cats. After timolol administration, a significant median HR reduction of 25 bpm was observed (P < .0001). Timolol had no effect on E/A ratio in cats without E/A fusion (7/20, P = .44). Of the 13 cats with E and A waves that were fused before timolol application, separation of these waves was identified in 8 cats (62%) after timolol treatment. No bradyarrhythmias were noted after timolol administration, but 2 cats had first-degree atrioventricular block. Timolol resulted in resolution of dynamic outflow tract obstruction in 6 of 6 cats.Ocular administration of timolol safely decreases HR in cats and could facilitate assessment of diastolic function.
Colonization of Trichogramma evanescens and Apanteles rubecula on the Imported Cabbageworm on Cabbage in Southern California

The introduced egg parasite Trichogramma evanescens Westwood and the larval parasite Apanteles rubecula Marshall were colonized on the imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae (L.), on successive cabbage plantings in southern California in 1968, 1969, and 1970. Parasitization of imported cabbageworm eggs increased from 0 on June 25 to 55.7% on August 13, following release of about 43,700 T. evanescens per acre between June 4 and September 10, 1968. The parasite was not recovered after October 1. Attempts to establish T. evanscens and A. rubecula by making either early (June–July) or late (October–November) releases, and by providing optimum overwintering sites (mature cabbage plantings retained through winter) were unsuccessful. Failure of establishment was attributed to lack of host diapause in southern California.
Abstract 2210: Activation of PI3K in Merkel cell carcinoma

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor, often metastatic at presentation, with a median survival time of 6.8 months for stage IV disease. Current chemotherapeutic regimens are largely ineffective. It is still unknown whether established oncogenes or tumor suppressors are major players in the pathogenesis of MCC. Recently, a new polyomavirus has been identified in 50 to 80% of MCC, but a mechanistic role for this virus in the pathogenesis of MCC has not yet been demonstrated. We hypothesized that deregulation of signaling pathways that are commonly activated in cancer may contribute to MCC tumorigenesis and may provide insights into targeted therapy approaches for this malignancy. Design: We retrospectively profiled 60 primary MCC samples diagnosed at the MGH from 1995 to 2010 using a recently developed SNaPshot genotyping assay to screen for the presence of common mutations in 13 cancer genes, many of which are targeted by FDA approved drugs or by targeted agents undergoing clinical trials. In addition, all MCC samples were tested for the presence of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) using PCR. Results: The SnaPshot assay identified mutations in 15% (9/60) of MCC primary tumors. The TP53 tumor suppressor gene was mutated in 3 of 60 cases and activating mutations in the p110 alpha subunit of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PIK3CA) gene were found in 6 of 60 cases. Sanger sequencing of the primary MCC tumors identified one additional PIK3CA mutation (R19K) that has not been previously described in cancer. In primary MCC cell lines, we observed that the presence of a PI3KCA activating mutation was associated with sensitivity to treatment with NVP-BEZ-235, a dual PI3K-mTOR inhibitor currently under active clinical development. Clinical correlations with PIK3CA mutational status and the presence of MCPyV are ongoing. Conclusions: We discovered that a subset of patients with MCC (10%) carry activating mutations in PIK3CA. Furthermore, we found that a MCC cell line harboring a PIK3CA mutation is selectively sensitive to a PI3K inhibitor under clinical development. Our results suggest the relevance of screening patients with MCC for activation of the PI3K pathway, as these cancers may be particularly sensitive to PI3K pathway inhibitors. 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 2210. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2210
Channel-mediated water movement across enclosed or perfused mouse intrahepatic bile duct units

We previously reported the development of reproducible techniques for isolating and perfusing intact intrahepatic bile duct units (IBDUs) from rats. Given the advantages of transgenic and knockout ...
Design Methodology of a Switched Reluctance Machine for Off-Road Vehicle Applications

This paper presents the design of a switched reluctance machine (SRM) for off-road hybrid electric vehicle applications. SRMs are ideally suited for this application for their low cost, fault tolerance, and reliable operations. A multistage fast design methodology for SRM is presented in this paper. The process aims to determine the best speed at which the SRM would start single-pulse mode operation. This ensures the best efficiencies over the specified operating range. The machine is initially designed at that operating point using analytical design tools and then further optimized through finite-element analysis (FEA). The designed machine has been prototyped and then experimentally tested.
Unimodal and Multi-Modal Perception of Cellular Phones: A Multidimensional Scaling Study

Previous studies suggest that subjects gain modality-specific information across vision and tactile (Newell, Ernst, Tjan, & Bulthoff, 2001) and form a coherent percept (Ernst & Bulthoff, 2004). This study explored potential difference in perceiving real-world objects (cellular phones) uni-modally (visual or haptic) and bimodally. In phase 1, subjects provided verbal descriptions of 9 different phones while interacting in a visual, haptic, or cross-modal manner. In phase 2, a new group of subjects performed a card-sorting task using on the descriptions obtained in phase 1, with the instructions to sort descriptions based on similarity. A multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis was applied to similarity matrices produced in phase 2. Stress values for MDS fits of varying dimensionality were similar for haptic, visual, and bimodal conditions, suggesting that different inspection conditions produced mental representations of similar complexity. Inspection of 2D plots of descriptors across the three condition s...
Refeeding syndrome in a vegan patient with stage IV gastric cancer: a novel case

The refeeding syndrome encompasses the complex physiologic state that occurs in malnourished patients who receive nutrition after a period of decreased oral intake. The hallmark of the syndrome is hypophosphatemia, though other electrolyte imbalances and severe fluid shifts are commonly involved. Patients with newly diagnosed malignancies and those undergoing treatment for malignancies are at increased risk for developing the refeeding syndrome, however there are few reported cases or other data in the oncology literature regarding this syndrome in cancer patients.
Analysis of Rear-End Collisions at Roundabout Approaches

Roundabouts are common alternatives to stop- and signal-controlled intersections and have grown in popularity in response to the promise to reduce traffic crash severity at intersections. In Wisconsin, more than 300 roundabouts have been installed. Studies of these intersections have found a 38% reduction in fatal and injury crashes. However, a 12% overall increase also was found, and this finding is not unique to Wisconsin. An increase in less-serious crashes can lead to a negative public perception about roundabout benefits. The causes of rear-end collisions (a common type of low-severity crash) were examined. Four years of crash reports from 55 roundabouts were analyzed along with the geometric conditions of the roundabouts. The 16- to 24-year-old driver age group represented a significantly higher proportion of involvement in rear-end collisions than in total crashes across the state. Negative binomial models were created for roundabout approaches. For combined one-lane and multilane roundabout approa...
Abstract LB-272: Effect of smoking cessation on soluble CD44 levels in head and neck cancer

In the past year, an estimated 55,070 individuals were diagnosed with head and neck cancer and approximately 12,000 related deaths occurred. This disease is devastating to the patients and families it affects due to its significant impact on swallowing, speech and appearance. Tobacco, the single largest risk factor for head and neck cancer, accounts for an estimated 85% of head and neck cancers. Carcinogens found in tobacco smoke induce damage to DNA leading to mutations and DNA strand breaks. When not correctly repaired, overexpression of gene products including CD44, a cancer stem cell marker, occurs. CD44 can be cleaved into a soluble form (solCD44) that is found in body fluids. CD44 levels in oral rinses distinguish head and neck cancer patients from controls with around 62% sensitivity and 88% specificity. CD44 becomes abnormally expressed in dysplasia and elevated levels of solCD44 have been found prior to clinical evidence of disease, in some cases. In this study we investigate changes in solCD44 levels with smoking cessation. 150 smokers from a South Florida community known to be at high-risk for oral cancer were recruited and enrolled in smoking cessation programs. At baseline, questions on smoking status, frequency and history were administered to participants. Oral rinses and saliva samples were also collected to determine levels of solCD44 and cotinine, which was used to confirm quit status, using ELISA assays. One year after enrollment (± 3 weeks), samples and questionnaires were taken again from participants to identify quitters and measure their CD44 levels. Results were then computed and analyzed by paired t-test using SAS University Edition. So far, thirty-seven participants (24.6%) reported quitting smoking but only half of them (n = 13) were confirmed by cotinine ( Based on this data, a larger number of quitters and/or an additional time points post quitting are needed as it might reveal more profound results. Such results would be critical, offering smoking cessation as a means for subjects with high levels of CD44 to decrease their risk of progression. Citation Format: Faisal F. Alotaibi, Turki M. Almuhaimid, Erika Reategui, Elizabeth Franzmann, Jarrard Goodwin. Effect of smoking cessation on soluble CD44 levels in head and neck cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-272. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-LB-272
New Geometric Estimates for Euler Elastica

Elastic curves, whose curvature depends linearly on height, were studied by L. Euler. We generalize an elementary comparison theorem relating pairs of these curves.
Configuration discovery of modular self-reconfigurable robots

We consider the problem of discovering and representing the topology of a modular self-reconfigurable robot (MSR) in which modules do not have a priori information about the locations of and connections with other modules participating in the configuration. To represent the topology of the configuration, we propose to combine two main features; the geometric shape of the module, and the graph that represents connectivity among modules. In order to obtain the graph, it is necessary to discover the modules that are in the current configuration. This process is done by sharing IDs, creating a local configuration structure (LCS) or list of local neighbors, propagating LCSs among the modules, and building up an adjacency matrix based on the LCSs. To increase the autonomy and robustness of the system, we consider a distributed architecture in which each module is able to discover the configuration by itself. This work is based on the combination of Infra-Red and XBee communication protocols, and the limited computational resources available in a module. For testing, demonstration, and validation purposes, we have implemented the approach in a robotic platform called ModRED (Modular Robot for Exploration and Discovery). Configuration Discovery problem in which modules do not have information a priori.The configuration is represented by the modules geometric shape and graphs.Infra-Red and XBee communication protocols are used to exchange data.Distributed architecture increases systems responsiveness to changes in the configuration.Experiments give fast solutions in real-time when working with lattice configurations.
Proof Without Words: Centered Triangular Numbers

SummaryWe wordlessly prove a theorem relating centered triangular numbers to the ordinary triangular numbers.
The effect of exercise intensity and use of an electrolyte supplement on plasma electrolyte concentrations in the Standardbred horse

Eleven Standardbred horses were tested to assess plasma electrolyte fluctuations during different intensities of exercise (at rest, immediately following 20 min of jogging, and immediately following a 2 min race), with and without an orally administered electrolyte supplement 2 h prior to sample collection. Exercise treatments were repeated after horses were given an oral dosage of an electrolyte supplement 2 h prior to sample collection. Data were analyzed using a repeated incomplete 6 × 6 Latin-square design with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (exercise × supplement). Jogging horses had an elevated heart rate as compared with resting horses and plasma potassium concentrations that were higher than those of the other two treatments (P < 0.05). Racing horses had the highest heart rate of the three treatments and plasma sodium concentrations that were higher than those of resting and jogging horses (P < 0.05). Provision of an electrolyte supplement significantly increased heart rate, as well a...
“The dose makes the poison”: Key implications for mode of action (mechanistic) research in a 21st century toxicology paradigm

Abstract The concept of “the dose makes the poison” is a core organizing tenet of toxicology, and associated investigations of mode of action (MoA) are a key means by which toxicity test data are translated to robust evidence-based human health risk assessments. As such, toxicology is responsible for providing the science and leadership assuring that dose considerations are fully integrated into design and interpretation of toxicity testing and MoA datasets. Such considerations are likely to impact MoA research in that many such investigations are not justified, if at all, when toxicity is noted only under conditions of excessively high-dose testing that is not quantitatively relevant to human risk, e.g., test dose(s) above onset of nonlinear ADME behavior; in vitro test concentrations not biologically attainable in vivo . Toxicology must also challenge continued use of the Linear-No-Threshold (LNT) hypothesis as a biologically-valid dose-response model for cancer risk assessment in that decades of modern biology has increasingly exposed its flawed fundamental assumption that biology has no compensatory homeostatic mechanisms protecting against low exposures. Thus, expanded attention to “dose” is essential in order for toxicology to fulfill its promise as a credible 21st century science protecting public health in an increasingly chemical technology-dependent world.
Grand and petty corruption: a cross-national analysis of forest loss in low- and middle-income nations

ABSTRACTCross-national research that examines the impact of corruption on forest loss has yielded contradictory findings. These findings may be due to the use of aggregate measures of corruption. I use newly available data to examine how grand corruption in the executive branch and petty corruption in the public sector impacts the change in forest loss from 2001 to 2014. The specific question of this research concerns whether both petty corruption in the public sector as well as grand corruption in the executive sector yield higher levels of forest loss, as petty corruption consists of small, yet frequent infractions, while the grand corruption encompasses large, though infrequent violations. Therefore, this study considers if both forms of corruption, theoretically and empirically, impact forest loss, or if this disaggregation reveals new information. To accomplish this task, I use ordinary least squares regression for a sample of 87 low- and middle-income nations. The dependent variable, forest loss, us...
Computational investigation of Amyloid-β-induced location- and subunit-specific disturbances of NMDAR at hippocampal dendritic spine in Alzheimer’s disease

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), dysregulation of intracellular Ca2+ signalling has been observed as an early event prior to the presence of clinical symptoms and is believed to be a crucial factor contributing to AD pathogenesis. Amyloid-β oligomers (AβOs) disturb the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated postsynaptic Ca2+ signalling in response to presynaptic stimulation by increasing the availability of extracellular glutamate as well as directly disturbing the NMDARs. The abnormal Ca2+ response can further lead to impairments in long-term potentiation (LTP), an important process in memory formation. In this study, we develop a mathematical model of a CA1 pyramidal dendritic spine and conduct computational experiments. We use this model to mimic alterations by AβOs under AD conditions to investigate how they are involved in the Ca2+ dysregulation in the dendritic spine. The alterations in glutamate availability, as well as NMDAR availability and activity, are studied both individually and globally. The simulation results suggest that alterations in glutamate availability mostly affect the synaptic response and have limited effects on the extrasynaptic receptors. Moreover, overactivation of extrasynaptic NMDARs in AD is unlikely to be induced by presynaptic stimulation, but by upregulation of the resting level of glutamate, possibly resulting from these alterations. Furthermore, internalisation of synaptic NR2A-NMDAR shows greater damage to the postsynaptic Ca2+ response in comparison with the internalisation of NR2B-NMDARs; thus, the suggested neuroprotective role of the latter is very limited during synaptic transmission in AD. We integrate a CaMKII state transition model with the Ca2+ model to further study the effects of alterations of NMDARs in the CaMKII state transition, an important downstream event in the early phase of LTP. The model reveals that cooperation between NR2A- and NR2B-NMDAR is required for LTP induction. Under AD conditions, internalisation of membrane NMDARs is suggested to be the cause of the loss of synapse numbers by disrupting CaMKII-NMDAR formation.
Categories of Conquest and Colonial Control: The French in Tonkin, 1884–1914

This article examines the ways in which the language used in reports of French military operations during the conquest of Tonkin between 1884 and 1914 created categories of inhabitants of the region. These categories, such as “bandits,” “pirates,” or “Chinese,” were used to create discursively the relationships between these groups and their connection to the French. While these terms attempted to marginalize opponents of French rule and locate them outside of the mainstream of Vietnamese society, their instability in practice demonstrated the limits to the ability of the colonial state to project power during and after the conquest of Tonkin.
Comparison of precision and speed in laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgical task performance.

BACKGROUND Robotic platforms have the potential advantage of providing additional dexterity and precision to surgeons while performing complex laparoscopic tasks, especially for those in training. Few quantitative evaluations of surgical task performance comparing laparoscopic and robotic platforms among surgeons of varying experience levels have been done. We compared measures of quality and efficiency of Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery task performance on these platforms in novices and experienced laparoscopic and robotic surgeons. METHODS Fourteen novices, 12 expert laparoscopic surgeons (>100 laparoscopic procedures performed, no robotics experience), and five expert robotic surgeons (>25 robotic procedures performed) performed three Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery tasks on both laparoscopic and robotic platforms: peg transfer (PT), pattern cutting (PC), and intracorporeal suturing. All tasks were repeated three times by each subject on each platform in a randomized order. Mean completion times and mean errors per trial (EPT) were calculated for each task on both platforms. Results were compared using Student's t-test (P < 0.05 considered statistically significant). RESULTS Among novices, greater errors were noted during laparoscopic PC (Lap 2.21 versus Robot 0.88 EPT, P < 0.001). Among expert laparoscopists, greater errors were noted during laparoscopic PT compared with robotic (PT: Lap 0.14 versus Robot 0.00 EPT, P = 0.04). Among expert robotic surgeons, greater errors were noted during laparoscopic PC compared with robotic (Lap 0.80 versus Robot 0.13 EPT, P = 0.02). Among expert laparoscopists, task performance was slower on the robotic platform compared with laparoscopy. In comparisons of expert laparoscopists performing tasks on the laparoscopic platform and expert robotic surgeons performing tasks on the robotic platform, expert robotic surgeons demonstrated fewer errors during the PC task (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS Robotic assistance provided a reduction in errors at all experience levels for some laparoscopic tasks, but no benefit in the speed of task performance. Robotic assistance may provide some benefit in precision of surgical task performance.
Greeks and Romans in Book 12 of Quintilian

It is a common observation that Latin literature of the imperial period is highly rhetorical. Usually this claim is made with reference to the elaborate and overwrought nature of the language (a function of elocutio ) or to the recurrence of certain conventional themes, images, and topoi (a subdivision of inventio ). But to the Romans, rhetoric was something larger and deeper. It involved an approach to any situation, not just the composition of literature, that paid attention to the needs and biases of one's interlocutor, the constraints of tradition and form, and, of course, the aims and purposes of the speaker. ‘The art of rhetoric would be an easy and paltry affair if it could be contained in one brief set of rules,’ writes Quintilian. ‘But with cases and circumstances, opportunity and necessity, all is changed about; and so the crucial qualification for an orator is judgement ( consilium ), because he directs himself in various ways, and in accordance with the circumstances of the situation ( ad rerum momenta )’ ( I.O. 2.13.2). This rhetorical, or situation-oriented approach to literature and to life was seen by the Romans as distinguishing themselves from the Greeks, who had their own obsessions with esoteric truths and hair-splitting sophistry. Alongside the satirist's contrast between the Graeculus esuriens (‘hungry Greekling’) and the upright Roman, there is an equally common, if less frequently observed contrast between the quick-witted Greek, good at dialectic and analysis, and the sensible Roman, concerned with the moral and practical dimensions of any situation. When Fannius and Scaevola ask Laelius at the outset of the Ciceronian dialogue named after him, if he can please discourse on friendship, he replies that he is no Greek, capable of debating pro and contra on the spur of the moment, but a Roman who can and will give them sound and efficacious exhortation on the significance of loyalty in human affairs.
Resident Wellness in US Ophthalmic Graduate Medical Education: The Resident Perspective

Importance Wellness programs have become important strategies to combat burnout and depression among residents. However, the resident perspective on wellness in ophthalmic graduate medical education has not been solicited on a national level. Objectives To report on residents’ views of wellness initiatives in ophthalmic graduate medical education and identify potential strategies for promoting resident wellness. Design, Setting, and Participants In this national survey of ophthalmology residents in the United States, conducted from September 21 to November 3, 2017, all 1048 ophthalmology residents listed on the websites of ophthalmology residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education were emailed an anonymous online survey consisting of 12 multiple-choice questions with options for free-text answers. Residents also received a mailed letter with a survey link and a $1 incentive, as well as 2 reminder emails. Survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the free-text answers were categorized. Main Outcomes and Measures Main outcomes include residents’ reports regarding their personal experiences with wellness during residency, support systems provided by their programs, and opportunities for improving wellness in ophthalmic graduate medical education. Results Of 1048 residents, 241 (23.0%) responded to the survey. Most respondents (121 of 177 [68.4%]) reported that their programs faced an issue involving depression, burnout, or suicide among residents within the past year; 26.3% of respondents (61 of 232) reported being involved in a case when resident fatigue, burnout, or depression adversely affected a medical outcome or judgment. Fewer than half of the respondents (110 of 241 [45.6%]) reported that their residency programs placed moderate or major emphasis on promoting a culture of resident wellness, and only 26.7% (63 of 236) reported that their department had a formal resident wellness program. The most commonly cited barrier to resident wellness (59 of 236 [25.0%]) was a lack of time to attend wellness programs. Conclusions and Relevance These results suggest that there is a substantial burden of burnout and depression among US ophthalmology residents and that there are opportunities to boost wellness in ophthalmic graduate medical education by making wellness curricula more accessible to residents and ensuring that residents have time to attend wellness programs.
Haploidentical Transplants for Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Adults

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains the most common indication for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantations (allo-HCT). Timely availability of donors remains one of the major challenges to the success of allo-HCT. Delays in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant may be associated with disease progression with deterioration in clinical status. Haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation allows eligible first-degree relative to be a donor and permits timely, easy, and cheap access to donor availability. Current haploidentical transplant techniques include the use of post-transplantation cyclophosphamide, T-cell depletion with megadoses of CD34+ cells, intensified GvHD prophylaxis, and selective depletion of T-cells. In North America, PTCy has gained popularity because of its ease, relatively lower cost, and lack of laborious graft manipulation.
Nutrition in the Age of Polypharmacy

Preventive medicine includes nutritional approaches for promoting health and for preventing, delaying, or modifying disease processes. Avoiding poor nutritional status is an aspect that has wide ranging benefits on health outcomes. Recognition of risk factors for poor nutritional status is vital to this goal. Alterations to nutritional status may occur for any number of reasons, including the influence of medication. This chapter will provide a review on the potential changes in nutritional status resulting from medication use.
Taming the Mob: the Early Public Library and the Creation of Good Citizens

The article examines the principles upon which the public library operated in the 19th and early 20th Century. Gilles Deleuze’s philosophic work on the disciplinary and control societies is used as a theoretical framework to highlight the forms of governance that have been used in the last couple centuries. A discourse analysis is conducted of sample articles from the first forty years of the Library Journal. The article documents how librarians played a role in normalizing patron behaviour by associating the concept of the good citizen with a series of practices, including reading, abstention from the consumption of alcohol, homogeneity, order, acceptance of class status, and self-reliance.
Automation of Prototype General Aviation Aircraft Development

Developments in low cost computing and multi-axis automation are making an impact on the development process for prototype composite general aviation aircraft. The integration of design, fabrication, and testing using PC class computers makes possible reductions in the cost and time required. The methods currently used for the prototype process are reviewed and the activities which can be automated are identified. Planned integration of automation equipment into the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory aircraft development projects is outlined. Implications of automation for aerospace engineering education and the general aviation aircraft industry are briefly discussed.
Bayesian Inference: Miscellaneous

Suppose you have obtained a posterior distribution for θ based on data y 1. At a later date you are given data y 2 whose distribution depends on the same parameter and is independent of the previous data. Then we have that $$\displaystyle\begin{array}{rcl} p(\theta \vert y_{1},y_{2})& =& \frac{f(y_{1},y_{2};\theta )g(\theta )} {\int _{\Theta }f(y_{1},y_{2};\theta )g(\theta )d\theta } {}\\ & =& \frac{f(y_{2};\theta )f(y_{1};\theta )g(\theta )} {\int _{\Theta }f(y_{2};\theta )f(y_{1};\theta )g(\theta )d\theta } {}\\ & =& \frac{f(y_{2};\theta )\frac{f(y_{1};\theta )g(\theta )} {f(y_{1}} } {\int _{\Theta }f(y_{2};\theta )\frac{f(y_{1};\theta )g(\theta )} {f(y_{1})} d\theta } {}\\ & =& \frac{f(y_{2};\theta )p(\theta \vert y_{1})} {\int _{\Theta }f(y_{2};\theta )p(\theta \vert y_{1})d\theta )} {}\\ \end{array}$$ i.e., “yesterday’s posterior becomes today’s prior.”
Portal Hypertension in Alcoholic Cirrhosis

Chronic progressive liver disease of various etiologies evolves into a final common pathway of circulatory and metabolic complications that eventually become the dominant aspects of the disease. Although the metabolic complications are themselves extensive, and in many cases life-threatening, the circulatory-related events are the most dramatic and the ones most likely to reflect the severity of the underlying liver disease. In fact, many of the metabolic abnormalities observed in chronic liver disease are initiated by a hemodynamic event: portal blood bypasses the liver through extrahepatic and intrahepatic shunts or through hepatic sinusoids that have decreased permeability both to essential nutrients and to toxins that require metabolism by the hepatocytes.1, 2
Multiple binding partners.

GAPDH interacts with a plethora of diverse cellular proteins. The network of interacting partners, or interactome, is presented for GAPDH with the interacting molecules grouped into specific functional and structural categories. By organizing the binding partners in this way, certain common structural features are beginning to surface, such as acidic dipeptide sequences that are found in several of these binding proteins. Additionally, the consensus sequences for target polynucleotides are being brought to light. The categories, which are presented according to function, offer an opportunity for research into the corresponding structural correlates to these interactions. Recent discoveries of interacting proteins have revealed novel relationships that are generating emerging mechanisms. Proteins that are associated with age-related neurodegenerative diseases appear to be particularly prone to binding GAPDH, suggesting that GAPDH may be playing a role in these diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases that are discussed are the conformational diseases of aging, suggesting that GAPDH may be a global sensor for cellular conformational stress. In addition to GAPDH’s oxidoreductase activity, several other enzymatic functions have been discovered, including peroxidase, nitrosylase, mono-ADP-ribosylase and kinase activities.
Ironing out the Details: Untangling Dietary Iron and Genetic Background in Diabetes

The search for genetic risk factors in type-II diabetes has been hindered by a failure to consider dietary variables. Dietary nutrients impact metabolic disease risk and severity and are essential to maintaining metabolic health. Genetic variation between individuals confers differences in metabolism, which directly impacts response to diet. Most studies attempting to identify genetic risk factors in disease fail to incorporate dietary components, and thus are ill-equipped to capture the breadth of the genome’s impact on metabolism. Understanding how genetic background interacts with nutrients holds the key to predicting and preventing metabolic diseases through the implementation of personalized nutrition. Dysregulation of iron homeostasis is associated with type-II diabetes, but the link between dietary iron and metabolic dysfunction is poorly defined. High iron burden in adipose tissue induces insulin resistance, but the mechanisms underlying adipose iron accumulation remain unknown. Hepcidin controls dietary iron absorption and distribution in metabolic tissues, but it is unknown whether genetic variation influencing hepcidin expression modifies susceptibility to dietary iron-induced insulin resistance. This review highlights discoveries concerning the axis of iron homeostasis and adipose function and suggests that genetic variation underlying dietary iron metabolism is an understudied component of metabolic disease.
An explainable deep-learning algorithm for the detection of acute intracranial haemorrhage from small datasets

Owing to improvements in image recognition via deep learning, machine-learning algorithms could eventually be applied to automated medical diagnoses that can guide clinical decision-making. However, these algorithms remain a 'black box' in terms of how they generate the predictions from the input data. Also, high-performance deep learning requires large, high-quality training datasets. Here, we report the development of an understandable deep-learning system that detects acute intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) and classifies five ICH subtypes from unenhanced head computed-tomography scans. By using a dataset of only 904 cases for algorithm training, the system achieved a performance similar to that of expert radiologists in two independent test datasets containing 200 cases (sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 95%) and 196 cases (sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 95%). The system includes an attention map and a prediction basis retrieved from training data to enhance explainability, and an iterative process that mimics the workflow of radiologists. Our approach to algorithm development can facilitate the development of deep-learning systems for a variety of clinical applications and accelerate their adoption into clinical practice.
Accuracy improvement of virtual pump water flow meters using calibrated characteristics curves at various frequencies

Abstract The water flow rate of a pump can be calculated using other measurable inputs along with calibrated pump characteristic curves. Head-based and power-based virtual pump water flow meters apply the affinity laws to convert the calibrated pump head and power curves at the rated frequency to the curves at measured frequency and then calculate the water flow rate using measured head and power respectively. Due to the mismatched correlation between the motor speed and input frequency, these two flow meters cannot achieve acceptable accuracy. The purpose of this paper is to improve the accuracy of these two flow meters using the calibrated head and power curves at multiple frequencies rather than at the rated frequency only. First the mathematical models of flow measurements and uncertainty analysis are introduced, then two experiments are conducted, one for the virtual meter calibration and uncertainty analysis while another for the accuracy improvement validation. The results show that the uncertainty of water flow measurements decreases from 13 m3/h to 5 m3/h for the head-based flow meter and 17 m3/h to 6 m3/h for the power-based flow meter if the calibrated pump characteristic curves at multiple frequencies replace the curves at the rated frequency.