cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A tumor necrosis factor receptor 1-dependent conversation between central nervous system-specific T cells and the central nervous system is required for inflammatory infiltration of the spinal cord.

We examined the role of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) in inflammation initiated by the adoptive transfer of central nervous system (CNS)-specific Th1 cells in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a murine model of multiple sclerosis. This adoptive transfer paradigm eliminates the confounding effects of bacterial adjuvants in the analysis of inflammation. We found that although T cells could reach the meninges and perivascular space in the absence of TNFR1, recruitment of other inflammatory cells from the blood was dramatically reduced. The reduction in the recruitment of CD11bhi cells correlated with a dramatic reduction in the production of the chemokines CCL2 (MCP-1) and CXLC2 (MIP-2) in TNFR1-deficient hosts. Bone marrow chimera experiments demonstrated that TNF can be effectively supplied by either the hematopoietic system or the CNS, but the essential TNFR1-responsive cells reside in the CNS. Previous work has demonstrated that microglia produce CCL2, and here we demonstrate that astrocytes and endothelial cells produced CXCL2 in the early stages of inflammation. Therefore, productive inflammation results from a conversation, or mutually responding signals, between the initiating T cells and cells in the parenchyma of the spinal cord.
Multi-junction polymer solar cells

Efficiency of organic solar cells is limited by their poor match to the solar spectrum, particularly in the near-infrared region. The development of devices which can absorb light of lower energy than the active polymer layer could result in dramatic improvement in polymer solar cells efficiencies. Towards this end, near-infrared dyes were investigated for use as components in multi-junction polymer solar cells. Dyes with appropriately positioned energy levels to promote exciton dissociation and charge transport were selected, and their electronic properties were probed using cyclic voltammetry. Specifically, Zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and Aluminum 1,8,15,22-tetrakis(phenylthio)-29H,31H-phthalocyanine chloride (AlPc) were chosen. Single junction devices were fabricated using each of these different candidates. The donor:acceptor ratio was found to be of critical importance for improved efficiency. The simultaneous use of both dyes was found to be possible due to adequate energy alignment which further increases the performance of the devices, in particular by increasing the open circuit voltage.
Biological psychiatry: A practice in search of a science

The rise of the biological causation model in the past thirty years is traced to psychiatry's efforts to regain lost status and to protect itself from intrusions by non-medical practioners, as well as to the pharmaceutical industry's drive for profits. Evidence in support of the model, including studies of identical twins and of brain structure and function, are less revealing than was earlier thought, due to problems in methodology and interpretation. Organized psychiatry, when challenged in 2003, was unable to provide compelling evidence for biological causation of most mental and behavioral disorders. A paradigm shift away from biological causation and toward environmental causation is called for. Keywords: biological causation; pharmaceutical industry; organized psychiatry; efficacy of psychotropic medications; identical twins; brain imaging.
Making Sure What You See is What You Get: Digital Video Technology and the Pre-Service Preparation of Teachers of Elementary Science

Advances in digital video technology create opportunities for more detailed qualitative analyses of actual teaching practice in science and other subject areas. User-friendly digital cameras and highly developed, flexible video-analysis software programs have made the tasks of video capture, editing, transcription, and subsequent data analysis more convenient, accurate, and reliable than ever before. Although such technological developments offer a myriad of opportunities for advancements in research and training, especially in the area of preservice science teacher education, a number of technical challenges and unforeseen difficulties may arise when relying on video-based methodologies. If unanticipated, these challenges can compromise the overall integrity of research data and detract from training effectiveness. The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges and opportunities specific to incorporating video technology into the research on preservice science teacher education within the context of relevant literature. Lessons learned from an ongoing longitudinal study of preservice elementary science teachers are discussed, including practical guidelines for use of digital video for research and professional development.
Cardiovascular PET/MRI: Challenges and Opportunities

Recently, systems combining PET and MRI have appeared on the market. The 2 main advantages of these systems over PET/computed tomography are the improved soft tissue contrast with MRI obtained without ionizing radiation and the potential for simultaneous acquisition of the PET and magnetic resonance images. However, its clinical acceptance has been slow for several reasons. Moreover, there are significant technical challenges that must be overcome from an image acquisition, processing, display, and laboratory workflow perspective for implementing cardiovascular PET/MRI on a routine clinical basis. The potential is high for PET/MRI to become a critical tool in the management of disease.
Modulation of natural killer cell function after exposure to 60 Hz magnetic fields: confirmation of the effect in mature B6C3F1 mice.

Abstract House, R. V. and McCormick, D. L. Modulation of Natural Killer Cell Function after Exposure to 60 Hz Magnetic Fields: Confirmation of the Effect in Mature B6C3F1 Mice. In a previous study, we demonstrated that subchronic exposure to pure, linearly polarized 60 Hz magnetic fields (MFs) at flux densities ranging from 0.002 to 1.0 mT induced a modest but statistically significant and reproducible suppression of NK cell activity in young adult B6C3F1 mice. NK cell activity in mice declines with age and is known to be suboptimal in older animals. The present study was designed to determine if the same MF exposure regimens will suppress NK cell activity in mature (i.e. more than 1 year old) animals. Extending our previous findings, a modest suppressive effect of MFs on NK cell activity in B6C3F1 mice was found when subchronic exposure was initiated in animals held in quarantine for 1 year prior to exposure. These data demonstrate that MF exposure suppresses NK cell activity in both young and mature adu...
Consumers' behaviors and concerns on fresh vegetable purchase and safety in Beijing urban areas, China

Abstract Many studies have measured the perceptions of consumers on different aspects of food safety but only a limited number of studies focused on consumer's perception of vegetable safety risks in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate consumers' behaviors and concerns on vegetable purchase and safety in Beijing urban areas. It identified the factors influencing consumers' behaviors on vegetable purchase, safety and information channel with different demographic groups of consumers. A total 590 of valid questionnaires were collected in this study in January, 2015. The participants of 352 female and 238 male were consumers shopping at the supermarkets in Beijing urban areas. Results indicated that consumers intended to choose their trusted purchasing places to purchase vegetables, and their perceptions of “freshness” (m = 4.61, sd. = 0.78) and “pesticide residues” (m = 4.57, sd. = 0.95) were the top concerns. Female and senior consumers were more concerned about vegetable safety. Consumers who purchase vegetables frequently were more likely to pay attention to food safety and quality than the ones who have never brought vegetables. Consumers used different information channels to get vegetable knowledge. Most consumers used traditional information channels such as TV and broadcasting, while young and well-educated consumers relied more on internet. The findings suggested that some safety control measures need to be taken through the vegetable supply chain to reduce the hazards and ensure vegetable safety, which would help to establish or rebuild consumers' trusts on vegetable safety.
Wall Effect on a Sphere in a Rotating Viscous Fluid

Experiments were carried out to study the wall effect on the slow motion of a sphere along the axis of a rotating cylinder of viscous liquid. In comparison to Stokes flow of a sphere along the axis of a cylinder of viscous liquid for which it has been well established by previous researchers that the wall effect is a function of the geometry of the sphere and cylinder only, the wall effect on the sphere motion when the cylinder is rotated is a function of rotational speed and kinematic viscosity of the liquid as well as the geometry of the sphere and cylinder. For values of the Taylor number less than unity, rotation may either increase or decrease the wall effect depending upon the magnitude of the rotational speed and the viscosity and density of the liquid.
Education and Geopolitics in a Changing Europe: Forty Years of Scholarship in "European Education".

This article chronicles the history of the journal European Education since its establishment in 1969 by placing it within the larger context of geopolitical changes of the twentieth century and the historical debates on theory and method in the field of comparative education. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative content analysis of 40 journal volumes (158 journal issues and 1,176 articles), the article explains how the journal attempted to return comparative education in the United States perspective to its original geographic epicenter, Western Europe, and provided a space for cross-national comparisons on pedagogical issues like curriculum. The article also demonstrates the various geopolitical pressures on the journal within a cold war and later a postsocialist framework. It concludes by looking at the future of journal by understanding its original purpose and the contemporary debates within comparative education.
Abstract 158: Magnetic Resonance Digital Subtraction Angiography Identifies Impaired Drainage in Arteriovenous Malformations With History of Rupture

BACKGROUND: Cerebral digital subtraction angiography (DSA) has established impaired hemodynamic drainage of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (iAVM) as a risk factor for iAVM hemorrhage. Unlike conventional DSA, MR-DSA offers a noninvasive means of characterizing iAVM hemodynamics. We hypothesize that MR-DSA will demonstrate impaired drainage in iAVMs with history of rupture when compared to iAVMs without history of rupture. METHODS: Consecutive patients with untreated, DSA-confirmed iAVM underwent MR-DSA on a 3T Whole-body MR-scanner. For each iAVM, regions of interest (ROI) were drawn on all feeder arteries and draining veins. Time-density curves were constructed for each ROI. The arteriovenous malformation transit time (ATT) was defined for each ROI as the time between contrast arrival and peak intravascular contrast density on the MR time-density curve. The drainage of each iAVM was characterized by the ratio of the draining vein ATT to the mean feeder artery ATT. The ATT ratio was compared between iAVMs with history of hemorrhage and those without. Statistical analysis was performed using a Student’s unpaired t-test with p <0.05 defined as statistically significant. RESULTS: From May 2011 to April 2012, 13 patients (7M:6F, 40.6±13.8 years old) were enrolled in our study, with 3 patients presenting with history of hemorrhage and the remainder presenting with history of seizure, focal neurological deficit, headache, or as an incidental finding. The ATT ratio was significantly higher in iAVMs with history of hemorrhage than in those without (1.17±0.06 vs 0.95±0.02, p <2.9E-7). CONCLUSION: MR-DSA identifies impaired drainage in iAVMs with history of rupture without exposing patients to the procedural risks and ionizing radiation associated with cerebral DSA. FIGURE A: MR-DSA with feeder artery (red) and draining vein (yellow) labeled. FIGURE B: Time-density curves of the artery (red) and vein (yellow) from which vessel ATTs were derived. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Bayesian Language Model Interpolation for Mobile Speech Input

This paper explores various static interpolation methods for approximating a single dynamically-interpolated language model used for a variety of recognition tasks on the Google Android platform. The goal is to find the statically-interpolated firstpass LM that best reduces search errors in a two-pass system or that even allows eliminating the more complex dynamic second pass entirely. Static interpolation weights that are uniform, prior-weighted, and the maximum likelihood, maximum a posteriori, and Bayesian solutions are considered. Analysis argues and recognition experiments on Android test data show that a Bayesian interpolation approach performs best.
Seafood Selenium in Relation to Assessments of Methylmercury Exposure Risks

Selenium, an important nutrient present in many foods and especially abundant in ocean fish, is known to counteract mercury toxicity. This effect has been attributed to the high-binding affinities between mercury and selenium, whereby selenium was assumed to sequester mercury and thus prevent its harmful effects. However, recent research indicates that methylmercury is a highly specific irreversible inhibitor of selenium-dependent enzymes (selenoenzymes). Therefore, selenium may not act as a “tonic” that sequesters mercury, but may instead be the “target” of mercury binding which inhibits essential selenoenzyme functions. Since methylmercury readily crosses the placental and blood–brain barriers, its affinity for selenium enables it to impair synthesis and activities of selenoenzymes that are required for healthy fetal brain development. Effects of high methylmercury exposures depend on dietary selenium intakes and selenium status.
Positive and Negative Wall Shear Stress Gradients Have Different Effects on Endothelial Phenotype Under High Wall Shear Stress

In both human and animal models, cerebral aneurysms tend to develop at the apices of bifurcations in the cerebral vasculature where the blood vessel wall experiences complex hemodynamics. In vivo studies have recently revealed that the initiation of cerebral aneurysms is confined to a well-defined hemodynamic microenvironment [1,2]. Metaxa et al. [2] found that early aneurysm remodeling initiates where the vessel wall experiences high wall shear stress (WSS) and flow is accelerating, thus creating a positive spatial gradient in WSS (WSSG). Closer examination of such in vivo studies reveals that exposure of the vessel wall to equally high WSS in the presence of decelerating flow, that is, negative WSSG, does not result in aneurysm-like destruction.© 2011 ASME
The Weight Function Lemma for graph pebbling

Graph pebbling is a network model for studying whether or not a given supply of discrete pebbles can satisfy a given demand via pebbling moves. A pebbling move across an edge of a graph takes two pebbles from one endpoint and places one pebble at the other endpoint; the other pebble is lost in transit as a toll. It has been shown that deciding whether a supply can meet a demand on a graph is NP-complete. The pebbling number of a graph is the smallest t such that every supply of t pebbles can satisfy every demand of one pebble byt a vertex. Deciding if the pebbling number is at most k is $$\Pi _2^\mathsf{P}$$ -complete. In this paper we develop a tool, called the Weight Function Lemma, for computing upper bounds and sometimes exact values for pebbling numbers with the assistance of linear optimization. With this tool we are able to calculate the pebbling numbers of much larger graphs than in previous algorithms, and much more quickly as well. We also obtain results for many families of graphs, in many cases by hand, with much simpler and remarkably shorter proofs than given in previously existing arguments (certificates typically of size at most the number of vertices times the maximum degree), especially for highly symmetric graphs. Here we apply the Weight Function Lemma to several specific graphs, including the Petersen, Lemke, $$4\mathrm{th}$$ weak Bruhat, and Lemke squared, as well as to a number of infinite families of graphs, such as trees, cycles, graph powers of cycles, cubes, and some generalized Petersen and Coxeter graphs. In doing so we partly answer a question of Pachter, et al., by computing the pebbling exponent of cycles to within an asymptotically small range. It is conceivable that this method yields an approximation algorithm for graph pebbling.
Affect Analysis and Discussion for Mount System Natural and Decoupling at Different Mount Elasticity Center Location

Comparing the mount natural frequence and decoupling datas between two different confirming mount elasticity center methods,in order to evaluate the affect at different location.
Predictors of wound dehiscence and its impact on mortality after abdominoperineal resection: data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

Wound dehiscence is a known complication following abdominoperineal resection (APR) and can have a negative impact on recovery and outcome. The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of post-APR 30-day abdominal and/or perineal wound dehiscence, readmission, and reoperation, and to assess the impact of wound dehiscence on 30-day mortality. All patients undergoing APR between 2005 and 2012 were analyzed using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. There were 5161 patients [male = 3076 (59.6 %)] with a mean age of 61.9 ± 14.3 years. Mean body mass index was 27.4 ± 6.6 kg/m2. The most common indication for surgery was rectal cancer (79.1 %), followed by inflammatory bowel disease (8.2 %). The overall rate of wound dehiscence was 2.7 % (n = 141). Older age (p = 0.013), baseline dyspnea (p = 0.043), smoking history (p = 0.009), and muscle flap creation (p ≤ 0.001) were independently associated with the risk of dehiscence. No association was observed between omental flap creation and dehiscence risk (p = 0.47). The 30-day readmission rate (15.6 vs. 5.6 %, p ≤ 0.001) and need for reoperation (39 vs. 6.6 %, p ≤ 0.001) were significantly higher in patients who experienced dehiscence. Dehiscence was an independent risk factor for 30-day mortality [OR = 2.69 (1.02–7.08), p = 0.045)]. Older age, baseline dyspnea, smoking, and the use of muscle flap were associated with higher risk of wound dehiscence following APR. Patients with wound dehiscence had a higher rate of readmission and need for reoperation, and an increased risk of 30-day mortality.
Invited Editorial on “Gadolinium prevents high airway pressure-induced permeability increases in isolated rat lungs”

the structure of the pulmonary blood to alveolar gas barrier represents a compromise between conflicting functional requirements: thin enough for adequate oxygen exchange, yet strong enough to resist the mechanical stress imposed as vascular volume and/or alveolar volume is expanded. The thinness of
Future frequencies of extreme weather events in the National Wildlife Refuges of the conterminous U.S.

Abstract Climate change is a major challenge for managers of protected areas world-wide, and managers need information about future climate conditions within protected areas. Prior studies of climate change effects in protected areas have largely focused on average climatic conditions. However, extreme weather may have stronger effects on wildlife populations and habitats than changes in averages. Our goal was to quantify future changes in the frequency of extreme heat, drought, and false springs, during the avian breeding season, in 415 National Wildlife Refuges in the conterminous United States. We analyzed spatially detailed data on extreme weather frequencies during the historical period (1950–2005) and under different scenarios of future climate change by mid- and late-21st century. We found that all wildlife refuges will likely experience substantial changes in the frequencies of extreme weather, but the types of projected changes differed among refuges. Extreme heat is projected to increase dramatically in all wildlife refuges, whereas changes in droughts and false springs are projected to increase or decrease on a regional basis. Half of all wildlife refuges are projected to see increases in frequency (> 20% higher than the current rate) in at least two types of weather extremes by mid-century. Wildlife refuges in the Southwest and Pacific Southwest are projected to exhibit the fastest rates of change, and may deserve extra attention. Climate change adaptation strategies in protected areas, such as the U.S. wildlife refuges, may need to seriously consider future changes in extreme weather, including the considerable spatial variation of these changes.
Advance in rehabilitative intuitive robotics

This article presents a systematic review of up-to-date progress on upper limb and lower extremity exoskeletons and prosthetic devices intuitively controlled by electromyography (EMG) or electroencephalography (EEG) signals for paraplegic patients and amputees. Bio-electrical signal processing methods are introduced, including waveform recognition and template matching (WRTM), wavelet analysis, fast Fourier transform (FFT), static status evoked visual potential (SSEVP) methods. Progress in electrodes used as human machine interface (HMI) is introduced, including carbon nanotube multi-electrode array (CNT-MEA).
Brain Stimulation Reward Supports More Consistent and Accurate Rodent Decision-Making than Food Reward

Animal models of decision-making rely on an animal’s motivation to decide and its ability to detect differences among various alternatives. Food reinforcement, although commonly used, is associated with problematic confounds, especially satiety. Here, we examined the use of brain stimulation reward (BSR) as an alternative reinforcer in rodent models of decision-making and compared it with the effectiveness of sugar pellets. The discriminability of various BSR frequencies was compared to differing numbers of sugar pellets in separate free-choice tasks. We found that BSR was more discriminable and motivated greater task engagement and more consistent preference for the larger reward. We then investigated whether rats prefer BSR of varying frequencies over sugar pellets. We found that animals showed either a clear preference for sugar reward or no preference between reward modalities, depending on the frequency of the BSR alternative and the size of the sugar reward. Overall, these results suggest that BSR is an effective reinforcer in rodent decision-making tasks, removing food-related confounds and resulting in more accurate, consistent, and reliable metrics of choice.
Intraplaque and Cellular Distribution of Dextran-Coated Iron Oxide Fluorescently Labeled Nanoparticles: Insights Into Atherothrombosis and Plaque Rupture

The past 10 to 15 years have witnessed a tremendous interest in developing and validating noninvasive imaging techniques aimed at quantifying features of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability in humans, most notably plaque inflammation. Among these, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with iron oxide nanoparticles has been widely investigated over the years as a mean to detect this feature of high-risk plaques.1 See Article by Stein-Merlob et al Iron oxide nanoparticles are particles containing an iron oxide core. Based on their size, they are subdivided into several types, better suited for different applications (eg, intravascular versus tissue imaging).2 Their tissue accumulation causes local magnetic field inhomogeneities that can be measured by MRI.2 Alternatively, iron oxides (such as, the dextran-coated cross-linked iron oxide nanoparticles [CLIO], used in this work)3 can be labeled with radioisotopes or fluorophores and functionalized as multimodality imaging agents detectable by positron emission tomography or near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging, alone or in combination.4 Iron oxides can be used as non-targeted agents, avidly phagocytized by inflammatory cells and cells of the reticuloendothelial system,2 or can be labeled to target and image specific molecules involved in disease processes (some examples in atherosclerosis are iron oxides targeted to oxidation-specific epitopes or to adhesion molecules on endothelial cells).5 Although targeted and functionalized nanoparticles are typically used in animal models, some nontargeted iron oxides are commercially available. Ferumoxtran-10 and ferumoxytol, an agent currently approved only for the treatment of iron-deficient anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease, are ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxides that are currently or have been previously clinically approved and whose use has been investigated to track plaque inflammation.6 The use of these and other iron oxides for pre clinical and clinical imaging of cardiovascular disease has been described in hundreds of publications, of which we …
Development of a Novel Maternal-Fetal Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model I: Insights into Factors that Determine Fetal Drug Exposure through Simulations and Sensitivity Analyses

Determining fetal drug exposure (except at the time of birth) is not possible for both logistical and ethical reasons. Therefore, we developed a novel maternal-fetal physiologically based pharmacokinetic (m-f-PBPK) model to predict fetal exposure to drugs and populated this model with gestational age–dependent changes in maternal-fetal physiology. Then, we used this m-f-PBPK to: 1) perform a series of sensitivity analyses to quantitatively demonstrate the impact of fetoplacental metabolism and placental transport on fetal drug exposure for various drug-dosing regimens administered to the mother; 2) predict the impact of gestational age on fetal drug exposure; and 3) demonstrate that a single umbilical venous (UV)/maternal plasma (MP) ratio (even after multiple-dose oral administration to steady state) does not necessarily reflect fetal drug exposure. In addition, we verified the implementation of this m-f-PBPK model by comparing the predicted UV/MP and fetal/MP AUC ratios with those predicted at steady state after an intravenous infusion. Our simulations yielded novel insights into the quantitative contribution of fetoplacental metabolism and/or placental transport on gestational age–dependent fetal drug exposure. Through sensitivity analyses, we demonstrated that the UV/MP ratio does not measure the extent of fetal drug exposure unless obtained at steady state after an intravenous infusion or when there is little or no fluctuation in MP drug concentrations after multiple-dose oral administration. The proposed m-f-PBPK model can be used to predict fetal exposure to drugs across gestational ages and therefore provide the necessary information to assess the risk of drug toxicity to the fetus.
Application of passive sorbent tube and canister samplers for volatile organic compounds at refinery fenceline locations in Whiting, Indiana.

Select volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ambient air were measured at four fenceline sites at a petroleum refinery in Whiting, IN, using modified EPA Method 325 A/B with passive tubes and EPA Co...
Power electronics for subsea systems: Challenges and opportunities

The subsea industry has become more significant in recent years because a large amount of new oil fields are located in deep water, a term often used to describe offshore projects located in water depths greater than about 600 feet. In order to extract the subsea oil and gas, a number of electrical systems are deployed. Many of these electrical systems need high-reliability power grid and power control units located on the seabed. Power electronics plays a major role in providing the required power to the various electrical systems. But there are many challenges for deploying power converters under the seabed. This paper presents the requirements and challenges of power electronics systems operating in subsea environment, use of power electronics for efficient transmission of power from the offshore platform or from the shore to the subsea electrical loads; variable speed drive systems; and research areas related to power electronics for subsea electrical systems.
Neurophysiology underlying influence of stimulus reliability on audiovisual integration.

We tested the predictions of the dynamic reweighting model (DRM) of audiovisual (AV) speech integration, which posits that spectrotemporally reliable (informative) AV speech stimuli induce a reweighting of processing from low-level to high-level auditory networks. This reweighting decreases sensitivity to acoustic onsets and in turn increases tolerance to AV onset asynchronies (AVOA). EEG was recorded while subjects watched videos of a speaker uttering trisyllabic nonwords that varied in spectrotemporal reliability and asynchrony of the visual and auditory inputs. Subjects judged the stimuli as in-sync or out-of-sync. Results showed that subjects exhibited greater AVOA tolerance for non-blurred than blurred visual speech and for less than more degraded acoustic speech. Increased AVOA tolerance was reflected in reduced amplitude of the P1-P2 auditory evoked potentials, a neurophysiological indication of reduced sensitivity to acoustic onsets and successful AV integration. There was also sustained visual alpha band (8-14 Hz) suppression (desynchronization) following acoustic speech onsets for non-blurred vs. blurred visual speech, consistent with continuous engagement of the visual system as the speech unfolds. The current findings suggest that increased spectrotemporal reliability of acoustic and visual speech promotes robust AV integration, partly by suppressing sensitivity to acoustic onsets, in support of the DRM's reweighting mechanism. Increased visual signal reliability also sustains the engagement of the visual system with the auditory system to maintain alignment of information across modalities.
A multi-criteria vehicle routing approach to improve the compliance audit schedule for food banks

Abstract According to the US Department of Agriculture, more than 49 million Americans do not have access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. To address the issue of food insecurity, non-profit food banks service a number of regional agencies that provide emergency food relief. To maintain regulatory compliance, each agency serviced by a food bank must receive an on-site audit once every 12–18 months. All audits are made by a member of the food bank’s staff. In collaboration with our community partner, we develop a multi-criteria capacitated vehicle routing with multiple time windows approach to improve the efficiency of the auditing schedule. Using real data from The Foodbank Inc., in Dayton, OH, we evaluate our model using both exact and heuristic methods and analyze the trade-offs between three competing objectives which correspond to our system’s three key stakeholders. Our computational results demonstrate an ability to quickly find solutions which improve upon the current operations at The Foodbank Inc. thereby benefiting all stakeholders and ultimately the community.
microRNA Regulation of Symbiotic Nodule Development in Legumes

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legume root nodules alleviates the use of chemical fertilizers and provides economic and environmental benefits. Cellular signaling involved in the development of this intricate plant organ is only being discovered. Posttranscriptional regulation by microRNAs, a group of small regulatory RNAs, is one of the major mechanisms involved in fine tuning precise spatial and temporal expression of genes encoding signaling elements such as transcription factors. Recent studies have identified the regulation and role of miRNAs during nodule development. This chapter summarizes these discoveries and presents an overview of current knowledge and future perspectives in this fascinating research area.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer: Scientific Rationale and Patient Care

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe the history of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), review the current scientific literature comparing the benefits and shortcomings of SLNB with traditional axillary lymph node dissection, and describe the nursing role that should be employed when instructing patients who are considering SLNB. DATA SOURCES Journal articles, published research data, and clinical experience. DATA SYNTHESIS Traditional axillary lymph node dissection has the potential to cause serious complications such as lymphedema, scarring, numbness, pain, and psychological distress. Given that approximately 70% of women with early-stage breast cancer will have no evidence of regional lymph node involvement at the time of surgery, determining who is likely to have negative nodes will spare women these potential complications. SLNB can significantly minimize the morbidity associated with axillary lymph node dissection while providing accurate diagnostic and prognostic information. CONCLUSION SLNB has been well documented in the scientific literature from multiple phase III clinical trials as an accurate, safe, and fiscally conservative alternative to traditional axillary lymph node dissection for women who present with early-stage breast cancer. Furthermore, future results from multicenter, randomized clinical trials now under way ultimately will determine the role for SLNB in the years to come. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Nurses in the outpatient setting can help to minimize the anxiety and fear that patients have when they are considering SLNB versus the more traditional axillary lymph node dissection. Oncology nurses also serve as resources to other nurses, healthcare professionals, and the public as more information is learned concerning the role of SLNB in early-stage breast cancer.
Abstract 2895: Verteporfin targets p62 in prostate cancer therapeutics

To test the hypothesis that p62 is an optimal target for autophagy inhibition and Verteporfin, a clinically available drug approved by FDA to treat macular degeneration that inhibits autophagy by targeting p62 protein, can be developed clinically to improve therapy for advanced prostate cancer. Results showed that Verteporfin inhibited cell growth and colony formation in PC-3 cells. Verteporfin generated crosslinked p62 oligomers, resulting in inhibition of autophagy and constitutive activation of Nrf2 as well as its target proteins, Bcl-2 and TNF-α. In normal prostate epithelial cells, forced expression of p62 caused constitutive Nrf2 activation and development of apoptosis resistance and Verteporfin treatment exhibited inhibitory effects. Verteporfin treatments also inhibited starvation-induced autophagic influx of these cells. Verteporfin inhibited tumorigenesis of both normal prostate epithelial cells with p62 expression and prostate cancer cells and decreased p62, constitutive Nrf2, and Bcl-xL in xenograft tumor tissues, indicating that p62 can be developed as a drug target against prostate cancer. So p62 has a high potential to be developed as a therapeutic target. Verteporfin represents a prototypical agent with therapeutic potential against prostate cancer through inhibition of autophagy by a novel mechanism of p62 inhibition. Citation Format: Lei Wang, Donghern Kim, James Wise, Xianglin Shi, Zhuo Zhang, Robert S. DiPaola. Verteporfin targets p62 in prostate cancer therapeutics [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2895.
Genomic alterations in the homologous recombination pathway in soft-tissue sarcomas.

11549Background: Soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) describe a heterogeneous group of tumors with limited treatment options available to patients. Targeted therapy exists for tumors with alterations in BRC...
Internet micromobility

This paper presents results from the Cellular IP Project at Columbia University on Internet micromobility. Cellular IP complement Mobile IP with support for fast, seamless and local handoff control, and IP paging. We discuss the design, implementation and evaluation of the Cellular IP protocol using simulation, analysis and experimentation. We report on the ability of Cellular IP to offer seamless mobility for TCP and UDP applications operating in highly mobile environments. We present a comparison of a number of IP micromobility protocols using the Columbia IP Micromobility Software (CIMS) ns-2 extension that supports separate programming models for Cellular IP, Hawaii and Hierarchical Mobile IP. We discuss simulation results to illustrate the performance of these micromobility protocols. The source code for CIMS and the Cellular IP experimental testbed are freely available from the Web (comet.columbia.edu/cellularip).
Progression of Substance Use to Substance Use Disorder

This chapter aims to characterize and explain pathological substance use from a developmental perspective. We first review key definitions (e.g., substance use disorder) and epidemiologic findings (e.g., age patterns). We then discuss etiology of problematic substance use with an organizational framework that distinguishes three key risk pathways emphasizing (1) deviance proneness, (2) stress and negative affect, and (3) pharmacological effects, respectively. We highlight components of these pathways that represent promising modifiable targets for prevention and treatment interventions. In addition to etiology, we also consider the normative trend toward “maturing out” of problematic substance use beginning in young adulthood. While most past literature on maturing out has emphasized young adult adoption of new roles and responsibilities, we also consider recent evidence for effects of young adult personality maturation. As possible mechanisms of naturally occurring desistance, these role- and personality-related processes could inform interventions aimed at goading similar changes in substance involvement. We also note that the normative trend toward maturing out in fact extends well beyond young adulthood, and we discuss factors that may be particularly salient to midlife and older adult desistance within a lifespan developmental framework (e.g., problem recognition, substance-related health concerns).
Management of Asthma in the Preschool Child

The management of asthma in the preschool population is challenging because disease phenotypes are heterogeneous and evolving. Available therapies aimed at preventing persistent symptoms and recurrent exacerbations include inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene receptor antagonists; episodic use of inhaled corticosteroids and azithromycin may result in a decrease in exacerbations among children with intermittent disease. This article reviews an approach using patient characteristics for selecting initial treatment approaches based on disease phenotype, such as symptom patterns or evidence of atopic markers. Evidence for and against the use of oral corticosteroids during acute episodes and barriers to adherence and effective treatment are discussed.
Mixed Flood Distributions in Wisconsin

Traditional flood frequency analysis is predicted on the assumption that the annual flood series can be considered to be a sample from a single population. In Wisconsin this is not a valid assumption. Wisconsin floods are of two types, which are hydrologically and statistically distinct.
Quantum field theory from a quantum cellular automaton in one spatial dimension and a no-go theorem in higher dimensions

It has been shown that certain quantum walks give rise to relativistic wave equations, such as the Dirac and Weyl equations, in their long-wavelength limits. This intriguing result raises the question of whether something similar can happen in the multiparticle case. We construct a one-dimensional quantum cellular automaton (QCA) model, which matches the quantum walk in the single particle case and which approaches the quantum field theory of free fermions in the long-wavelength limit. However, we show that this class of constructions does not generalize to higher spatial dimensions in any straightforward way and that no construction with similar properties is possible in two or more spatial dimensions. This rules out the most common approaches based on QCAs. We suggest possible methods to overcome this barrier while retaining locality.
CD8+ T Cell Functional Exhaustion Overrides Pregnancy-Induced Fetal Antigen Alloimmunization

Summary Pregnancy necessitates physiological exposure, and often re-exposure, to foreign fetal alloantigens. The consequences after pregnancy are highly varied, with evidence of both alloimmunization and expanded tolerance phenotypes. We show that pregnancy primes the accumulation of fetal-specific maternal CD8+ T cells and their persistence as an activated memory pool after parturition. Cytolysis and the potential for robust secondary expansion occurs with antigen re-encounter in non-reproductive contexts. Comparatively, CD8+ T cell functional exhaustion associated with increased PD-1 and LAG-3 expression occurs with fetal antigen re-stimulation during subsequent pregnancy. PD-L1/LAG-3 neutralization unleashes the activation of fetal-specific CD8+ T cells, causing fetal wastage selectively during secondary but not primary pregnancy. Thus, CD8+ T cells with fetal alloantigen specificity persist in mothers after pregnancy, and protection against fetal wastage in subsequent pregnancies is maintained by their unique susceptibility to functional exhaustion. Together, distinct mechanisms whereby fetal tolerance is maintained during primary compared with subsequent pregnancies are demonstrated.
Bilayer-Structured Polymer Nanocomposites Exhibiting High Breakdown Strength and Energy Density via Interfacial Barrier Design

The development of advanced dielectric materials with high breakdown strength, high dischargeable energy densities, and great efficiencies is imperative to meet the ever-increasing demand of modern...
Lower Urinary Pathogens: Do More Pathogenic Bacteria Increase the Risk of Pyelonephritis?

Objective Outside of pregnancy, urinary pathogens such as Proteus and Klebsiella are considered more pathogenic than E. coli. During pregnancy, the implications of lower urinary tract infection (LUTI) with more pathogenic bacteria are unclear. Thus, we sought to compare the risk of progression from LUTI to pyelonephritis among women infected with these more pathogenic urinary bacteria to those infected with E. coli. Study Design Retrospective cohort of pregnant women with LUTI at single tertiary center from July 2013 to May 2019. Pathogenic infections (PI) were defined as asymptomatic bacteriuria or acute cystitis urinary cultures positive for Proteus, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Acinetobacter, Staphylococcus, or Raoultella species. Demographic, infectious, antepartum, and postpartum data abstracted. Pregnant women with PI compared with those with E. coli. Primary outcome was progression to pyelonephritis. Secondary outcomes included pyelonephritis length of stay (LOS) >6 days, preterm birth (PTB), low birthweight (LBW), and measures of pyelonephritis-related morbidity. Results Of 686 pregnant women with LUTIs, 313 had urine culture growing out either PI or E. coli, with 59 (12%) growing PI and 254 (54%) growing E. coli. Women with PI were more likely to be African American, have chronic hypertension, and have history of preeclampsia. The primary species causing PI were Klebsiella (n = 29) and Proteus (n = 11). PI were not more likely to progress to pyelonephritis than E. coli LUTIs (10.9 vs. 14.5%; p = 0.67). Median LOS for pyelonephritis and other measures of pyelonephritis-related morbidity did not differ nor did PTB or LBW rates. After controlling for race, body mass index, history of preeclampsia, and history of pyelonephritis, PI were not associated with increased odds of progression to pyelonephritis (adjusted odds ratio: 0.69, 95% confidence interval: 0.27–1.80). Conclusion Bacteria traditionally considered to be more pathogenic outside of pregnancy do not progress to pyelonephritis at higher rates than E. coli in pregnancy, and are associated with similar pyelonephritis-related morbidity. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings. Key Points
Hitting the Road: Exploring Human-Robot Trust for Self-Driving Vehicles

With self-driving cars making their way on to our roads, we ask not what it would take for them to gain acceptance among consumers, but what impact they may have on other drivers. How they will be perceived and whether they will be trusted will likely have a major effect on traffic flow and vehicular safety. This work first undertakes an exploratory factor analysis to validate a trust scale for human-robot interaction and shows how previously validated metrics and general trust theory support a more complete model of trust that has increased applicability in the driving domain. We experimentally test this expanded model in the context of human-automation interaction during simulated driving, revealing how using these dimensions uncovers significant biases within human-robot trust that may have particularly deleterious effects when it comes to sharing our future roads with automated vehicles.
Improving Algebra Teachers’ Ability to Factor in Language: Complementary Expertise in Action

This chapter describes how the practices of an algebra teacher evolved during her participation in a professional development program as she collaboratively developed, implemented, and reflectively assessed a series of three algebra lessons with a specialist in second language acquisition. Teachers’ observations, collaborations, and reflections were coded, categorized, and are here presented. Three main themes were apparent in our analysis of how the professional development program impacted teacher’s practices: (re)structuring classroom activity, small group work, and increased attention to language. A case is made for the use of complementary expertise as a form of professional development. Further, it is argued that effectively teaching algebra to ELLs requires understanding what it means to “speak algebra,” and recognition that even the most abstract algebraic concept can be taken up as talk and thereby learned.
SOFIA/FORCAST and Spitzer/IRAC imaging of the ultracompact H II region W3(OH) and associated protostars in W3

We present infrared observations of the ultracompact H II region W3(OH) made by the FORCAST instrument aboard the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) and by the Spitzer/Infrared Array Camera. We contribute new wavelength data to the spectral energy distribution (SED), which constrains the optical depth, grain size distribution, and temperature gradient of the dusty shell surrounding the H II region. We model the dust component as a spherical shell containing an inner cavity with radius ~600 AU, irradiated by a central star of type O9 and temperature ~31, 000 K. The total luminosity of this system is 7.1 ? 104 L ?. An observed excess of 2.2-4.5 ?m emission in the SED can be explained by our viewing a cavity opening or clumpiness in the shell structure whereby radiation from the warm interior of the shell can escape. We claim to detect the nearby water maser source W3 (H2O) at 31.4 and 37.1 ?m using beam deconvolution of the FORCAST images. We constrain the flux densities of this object at 19.7-37.1 ?m. Additionally, we present in situ observations of four young stellar and protostellar objects in the SOFIA field, presumably associated with the W3 molecular cloud. Results from the model SED fitting tool of Robitaille et?al. suggest that two objects (2MASS J02270352+6152357 and 2MASS J02270824+6152281) are intermediate-luminosity (~236-432 L ?) protostars; one object (2MASS J02270887+6152344) is either a high-mass protostar with luminosity 3 ? 103 L ? or a less massive young star with a substantial circumstellar disk but depleted envelope; and the other (2MASS J02270743+6152281) is an intermediate-luminosity (~768 L ?) protostar nearing the end of its envelope accretion phase or a young star surrounded by a circumstellar disk with no appreciable circumstellar envelope.