cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modular expression analysis reveals functional conservation between human Langerhans cells and mouse cross-priming dendritic cells

Characterization of functionally distinct dendritic cell (DC) subsets in mice has fueled interest in whether analogous counterparts exist in humans. Transcriptional modules of coordinately expressed genes were used for defining shared functions between the species. Comparing modules derived from four human skin DC subsets and modules derived from the Immunological Genome Project database for all mouse DC subsets revealed that human Langerhans cells (LCs) and the mouse XCR1+CD8α+CD103+ DCs shared the class I–mediated antigen processing and cross-presentation transcriptional modules that were not seen in mouse LCs. Furthermore, human LCs were enriched in a transcriptional signature specific to the blood cross-presenting CD141/BDCA-3+ DCs, the proposed equivalent to mouse CD8α+ DCs. Consistent with our analysis, LCs were highly adept at inducing primary CTL responses. Thus, our study suggests that the function of LCs may not be conserved between mouse and human and supports human LCs as an especially relevant therapeutic target.
Features of Selective Kinase Inhibitors

Small-molecule inhibitors of protein and lipid kinases have emerged as indispensable tools for studying signal transduction. Despite the widespread use of these reagents, there is little consensus about the biochemical criteria that define their potency and selectivity in cells. We discuss some of the features that determine the cellular activity of kinase inhibitors and propose a framework for interpreting inhibitor selectivity.
Effects of rice panicle age on quantitative and qualitative injury by the rice stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

Abstract Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of panicle age on quantitative and qualitative injury caused by rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax pugnax (Fab.), infestations on rice, Oryza sativa L. The effects were measured at two infestation levels (one and two bugs per panicle) and compared with an undamaged control. Percentage of empty grains and average weight of filled grains (quantitative injury) and percentage of pecky rice (qualitative injury) were evaluated at grain maturity. Regardless of infestation level, insect feeding during anthesis and the early milk stage of grain development (first 8 d after anthesis) caused substantially higher numbers of empty grains than feeding during later grain development and the control. Average grain weights were lower in infestations during anthesis and milk stage and higher in infestations during later grain development and the control. Pecky rice was significantly higher during late milk and soft dough stages, 9-16 d after anthesis, compa...
Electronic Structure of Carbon Fibers based on C60

The electronic structures of some possible carbon fibers nucleated from the hemisphere of a bucky ball are presented. A one-dimensional electronic energy band structure model of such carbon fibers, having not only a principal rotational axis but also fibers with screw axes, can be derived by folding the two-dimensional energy bands of graphite. By considering the variation of the fiber diameter and helicity within a simple tight binding model calculation, we show that 1/3 of the fibers are metallic and 2/3 are semiconducting. The effect of adding multiple tubule layers is considered.
Scalable timers for soft state protocols

Soft state protocols use periodic refresh messages to keep the network state alive while adapting to changing network conditions; this has raised concerns regarding the scalability of protocols that use the soft state approach. In existing soft state protocols, the values of the timers that control the sending of these messages, and the timers for aging out state, are chosen by matching empirical observations with desired recovery and response times. These fixed timer-values fail because they use time as a metric for bandwidth; they adapt neither to (1) the wide range of link speeds that exist in most wide-area internets, nor to (2) fluctuations in the amount of network state over time. We propose and evaluate a new approach in which timer-values adapt dynamically to the volume of control traffic and available bandwidth on the link. The essential mechanisms required to realize this scalable timers approach are: (1) dynamic adjustment of the senders' refresh rate so that the bandwidth allocated for control traffic is not exceeded, and (2) estimation of the senders' refresh rate at the receiver in order to determine when the state can be timed-out and deleted. The refresh messages are sent in a round robin manner not exceeding the bandwidth allocated to the control traffic, and taking into account the message priorities. We evaluate two receiver estimation methods for dynamically adjusting network state timeout values: (1) counting of the rounds and (2) exponential weighted moving average.
Surgical Pearl: The use of petroleum jelly in performing scalp surgery.

formed on areas of moderate hair density, the scissors do not need to be wiped clean of hair during the clipping procedure. However, if excisions of much larger hair-bearing areas are performed, then the scissors can be easily wiped clean with a 43 4 gauze, more petrolatum can be reapplied to the scissors, and the clipping can continue. Frequently, when a defect is being sutured, final planning of the closure occurs only after the wound has been fully undermined and allowed to align along relaxed skin tension lines. In such cases, the need may arise for intraoperative hair removal. By keeping sterile petrolatum and scissors on the surgical tray, this technique can be used intraoperatively in the same way that it is used when the surgical field is being prepared. In both cases, the main advantage to this procedure, in comparison to tape-assisted removal or using an alcohol swab, is that the loose hairs are most efficiently removed with our technique. Therefore both foreign body reactions to clipped hairs and wound infection from nonsterile hairs may be reduced or avoided. In summary, we present an efficient, cost-effective procedure for surgical hair removal, which maintains a tidy, clean surgical field and requires nothing more than the tools on a standard excision tray.
Synthesis of prostaglandins I2 and E2 by the canine gallbladder in vitro: studies using a new incubation chamber.

Using a specially designed incubation chamber, differential synthesis and the response to added arachidonic acid (25 mM) and L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine (LAP; 2 mM) was quantified in gallbladders from male and female dogs. Prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) was the predominant prostanoid synthesized, and tissues from females produced much more PGI2 under basal conditions than did gallbladders harvested from male dogs. Addition of arachidonic acid stimulated PGI2 synthesis by almost 100 per cent. Arachidonate-stimulated mucosal and serosal production of PGI2 were (mean(s.e.m.] comparable, 343(178) and 375(89) pg/cm2/min, respectively. Gallbladders from female animals synthesized significantly more PGI2 than did tissue from males. Indomethacin inhibited PGI2 synthesis in a dose-response manner; at 7 x 10(-5) M, prostanoid synthesis was inhibited by greater than 80 per cent. Arachidonic acid did not stimulate prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production by gallbladder tissue. LAP similarly stimulated PGI2 biosynthesis, but in contrast to the effect of arachidonic acid, the effect was significantly greater in the serosa than the mucosa, 355(107) and 213(59) pg/cm2/min, respectively. LAP also stimulated PGE2 biosynthesis by the canine gallbladder in a pattern very similar to that of PGI2. Based on the differences in response to the two agents added, we conclude that arachidonic acid and L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine stimulate prostaglandin biosynthesis via independent pathways. We advocate the use of the incubation chamber for the assessment of prostanoid biosynthesis by the gallbladder in vitro.
An Innovative Look, a Recalcitrant Reality: The Politics of Principal Preparation Reform.

Concerns about the effectiveness of traditional preparation programs have yielded a wide-ranging debate about new approaches to recruiting and preparing leaders. The resulting policy debate features two general camps: those who wish to refine and bolster the existing system of preparation and licensure and those who advocate a move away from licensure and the attendant notions of leadership that hold sway today. The proponents of conventional preparation have shown a remarkable willingness to compromise, giving rise to modified training programs and blunting the political appetite for rethinking the gate keeping arrangements that regulate who can become, approve, or train future school leaders. Ultimately, both innovative programs and for-profit providers will acclimate themselves to the institutional arrangements in place, so the degree of real change depends more on statutory and regulatory change than the emergence of particular new programs.
De novo design and discovery of cyclic HIV protease inhibitors capable of displacing the active-site structural water molecule.

Combining the Caco-2 cell assay, dog pharmacokinetic assessment on selected compounds, antiviral testing against wild-type and mutant variants, and antiviral testing in the presence of human plasma proteins, we can define the overall quality of a given compound. We can then select compounds for further preclinical evaluation.
Design and fabrication of a MEMS capacitive chemical sensor system

This paper describes the development of a MEMS sensor system to detect volatile compounds. The sensor consists of a MEMS capacitive sensor element monolithically integrated with a sensing circuit. The sensor element is a parallel plate capacitor using a chemically sensitive polymer as the dielectric. In presence of the target analyte, the polymer swells and changes the capacitance of the sensor element. This change in capacitance is sensed and converted to a digital bit stream by a delta-sigma sensing circuit. This paper provides an overview of the design of the sensor element, the sensing circuit and the process integration for their fabrication on a single die.
Analysis of temporal-based program behavior for improved instruction cache performance

In this paper, we examine temporal-based program interaction in order to improve layout by reducing the probability that program units will conflict in an instruction cache. In that context, we present two profile-guided procedure reordering algorithms. Both techniques use cache line coloring to arrive at a final program layout and target the elimination of first generation cache conflicts (i.e., conflicts between caller/callee pairs). The first algorithm builds a call graph that records local temporal interaction between procedures. We will describe how the call graph is used to guide the placement step and present methods that accelerate cache line coloring by exploring aggressive graph pruning techniques. In the second approach, we capture global temporal program interaction by constructing a Conflict Miss Graph (CMG). The CMG estimates the worst-case number of misses two competing procedures can inflict upon one another and reducing higher generation cache conflicts. We use a pruned CMG graph to guide cache line coloring. Using several C and C++ benchmarks, we show the benefits of letting both types of graphs guide procedure reordering to improve instruction cache hit rates. To contrast the differences between these two forms of temporal interaction, we also develop new characterization streams based on the Inter-Reference Gap (IRG) model.
Diffractive phase elements based on two-dimensional artificial dielectrics

We have designed, fabricated, and tested a blazed artificial dielectric transmission grating in fused quartz for use at the 633-nm wavelength. By locally varying the index, using fabricated two-dimensional arrays of dielectric cylinders, we can achieve a desired phase modulation to produce a diffractive phase element in one processing step. The effective index depends on the fill fraction of the cylinders.
Setting mist nets from platforms in the forest canopy

Abstract We describe a technique for setting mist nets horizontally from canopy platforms, detailing materials needed, installation, and use of the net system. Using a control cord, the operator pulls the net outward from the platform along a cable, and rolls it inward around a manually-operated spindle to remove captured birds. Because nets are not raised from the ground, disturbance to vegetation is minimized. Set-up time averaged 5 min/net after climbing to the platform, and we used a maximum of two nets from a platform. High winds (>40 km/h) and light rain closed canopy nets more often than ground nets, and canopy nets were less effective before leaf-out in spring. In 1751 net-hours, 121 birds of 25 species were captured, and 44 birds (27%) were recorded escaping the nets. The method seeks to parallel conventional netting so as to allow comparisons between strata, making this technique useful for studies that require simultaneous mist-netting in forest canopy and understory levels.
International Law and Subnational Intergovernmental Law: Some Relationships

Is it possible that public international law has relevance for the relations among entities other than those endowed with international personality? This matter is explored below with limited attention to normative content, since dealing therewith entails a far-reaching search into reports of national judicial decisions and other legal materials that cannot be compressed into available time and space.
A2 adenosine receptors regulate CFTR through PKA and PLA2

We investigated adenosine (Ado) activation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in vitro and in vivo. A2B Ado receptors were identified in Calu-3, IB-3-1, COS-7, and pr...
Fluorinated poly(arylene ether ketone)s for high temperature dielectrics

Abstract There is a need for polymeric capacitors with improved energy storage density and thermal stability. In this work, the effect of polymer molecular structure and symmetry on Tg, breakdown strength, and relative permittivity were investigated. A systematic series of four amorphous poly(arylene ether ketone)s were compared. Two of the polymers had symmetric bisphenols while the remaining two had asymmetric bisphenols. Two contained trifluoromethyl groups while the other two had methyl groups. The symmetric polymers had Tg's of approximately 160 °C while the asymmetric polymers showed higher Tg's near 180 °C. The symmetric polymers had breakdown strengths near 380 kV/mm at 150 °C. The asymmetric counterparts had breakdown strengths near 520 kV/mm even at 175 °C, with the fluorinated polymers performing slightly better in both cases. The non-fluorinated polymers had higher relative permittivities than the fluorinated materials, with the asymmetric polymers being better in both cases.
Skepticism, contextualism, externalism and modality

In this paper, I argue for the following claims. Contextualist strategies to tame or localize epistemic skepticism are hopeless if contextualist factors are construed internalistically. However, because efforts to contextualize externalism via subjunctive conditional analysis court circularity, it is only on an internalisticinterpretation that contextualist strategies can even be motivated. While these claims do not give us an argument for skepticism, they do give us an argument that contextualism, as such, is not likely to provide us with an argument against skepticism.
Low loss polymer waveguide components for silicon photonic packaging

We developed a low loss polymer waveguide components for near future silicon photonics packaging. We improved the structure of the polymer waveguide connector and realized a low loss single mode polymer waveguide MT compatible connector. This new structure brings a lot of advantages such as the precise core positioning, the easy manipulation of a polymer waveguide while its assembly process, and a physical strength of a polymer waveguide flex after a polymer waveguide MT compatible connector assembly.
That's why we call it BIOmechanics!: commentary on an article by H. John Cooper, MD, et al.: "Adverse local tissue reaction arising from corrosion at the femoral neck-body junction in a dual-taper stem with a cobalt-chromium modular neck".

The introduction of total hip arthroplasty, in its modern form, by Sir John Charnley has been one of the most impactful medical advances of the last century, providing patients with pain relief, improved function, and better quality of life. Since then, surgeons and engineers have sought to improve surgical techniques and prosthetic designs and materials in an attempt to make a great intervention even better. The use of modularity, particularly at the femoral stem-neck junction, was an attempt to reproduce femoral offset and version and to restore limb length apart from stem fixation and appeared attractive in concept. Initial bench testing by Viceconti et al.1 demonstrated minimal fretting and no evidence of corrosion at the taper junctions. These findings, coupled with the long-term success of a predicate modular stem, the S-ROM (DePuy, Warsaw, Indiana)2, seemed to assuage the fears of failure related to these junctions. Despite little data to support any improvement in clinical outcomes, modular hip stems were introduced into the marketplace and their use was embraced by many. This recent disturbing report by Cooper and associates represents a collaborative multicenter effort3 detailing a series of eleven patients (a total of twelve hips) who underwent primary cementless total hip arthroplasty employing a modular femoral stem design (Rejuvenate; Stryker, Mahwah, New Jersey) consisting of a titanium-molybdenum-zirconium-iron alloy body (TMZF; Stryker) mated with a modular cobalt-chromium …
Cuing Hazard Information for Consumer Products

Rice University undergraduates were given cued and non-cued consumer product questionnaires in order to determine the degree to which product cues would elicit user hazard knowledge, as measured by the number of generated accident scenarios. The difference in the number of scenarios generated by the two groups was not found to be statistically significant. However, there did exist a relatively strong, and significant, relationship between the number of generated accident scenarios and reported hazardousness, degree of precaution that would be taken, and the likelihood of reading the warnings associated with the product. The relationship between the production of known accident information in the form of accident scenarios and these dimensions is thought to have implications for the content of product warnings.
Application of Lean Sigma to the Audiology Clinic at a Large Academic Center

ObjectiveTo apply Lean Sigma—a quality improvement strategy to eliminate waste and reduce variation and defects—to improve audiology scheduling and utilization in a large tertiary care referral cen...
Simultaneous determination of 16 kinds of organophosphorous pesticide multiresidues in leafy vegetables by gas chromatography

Objective:To establish a method for the simultaneous determination of 16 kinds of organophosphorous pesticide multiresidues in leafy vegetables by gas chromatography(GC).Methods: The sample was determined by flame photometric detector(FPD) with HP-5 capillary column after acetonitrile extraction,salting-out,dried by nitrogen blowing meter and dissolved to constant volume with acetone.Results: Good linearities were obtained for 16 kinds of organophosphorous pesticide multiresidues.The average recoveries ranged from 62.8% to128.8% at low concentration levels except for dichlorovos from 44.0% to 58.8%,the average recoveries ranged from 69.3%～123.3% at high concentration levels except for dichlorovos from 40.6% to 59.2%.Relative standard deviations are all under 20%.Conclusion:This method is simple,rapid,sensitive and accurate,which can be applied to determine the organophosphorous pesticide multiresidues in leafy vegetables.
Design and Application of Digital Flow Valve

A new digital flow valve was designed and applied.A step motor and a set of thread motion mechanism were added in traditional flow valve which were used to control the opening of valve core of flow valve to adjust speed.The theoretical model was established through the analysis of fluid flow characteristics of the valve core orifice.PLC was used to drive and control the step motor.The feedback of hydraulic system was used to constitute a closed loop control system for the digital flow valve.An actual application was described.
The Evolution of Foreign Language AP Exam Candidates: A 36-Year Descriptive Study.

Using a data set exclusively prepared for and licensed to them by the College Board, the authors examined the growth of the Advanced Placement program in foreign languages and overall trends in regard to the number of candidates who sat for the foreign language exams, their gender, their scores, and their ethnicity over the 36-year period covering 1979 to 2014. Results indicated that while the number of candidates for all exams grew, the Spanish Language and Culture exam demonstrated exponential growth unparalleled by any other exam. While scores have varied based on the iteration of the exam, they have continued to improve overall. Females continued to make up the majority of foreign language test takers in every state and outperformed males on average. Data also revealed that white candidates were losing ground to ethnic and racial minority test takers overall, but particularly in the case of the Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese examinees.
Endangered Right Whales Enhance Primary Productivity in the Bay of Fundy

Marine mammals have recently been documented as important facilitators of rapid and efficient nutrient recycling in coastal and offshore waters. Whales enhance phytoplankton nutrition by releasing fecal plumes near the surface after feeding and by migrating from highly productive, high-latitude feeding areas to low-latitude nutrient-poor calving areas. In this study, we measured NH4+ and PO43- release rates from the feces of North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), a highly endangered baleen whale. Samples for this species were primarily collected by locating aggregations of whales in surface-active groups (SAGs), which typically consist of a central female surrounded by males competing for sexual activity. When freshly collected feces were incubated in seawater, high initial rates of N release were generally observed, which decreased to near zero within 24 hours of sampling, a pattern that is consistent with the active role of gut microflora on fecal particles. We estimate that at least 10% of particulate N in whale feces becomes available as NH4+ within 24 hours of defecation. Phosphorous was also abundant in fecal samples: initial release rates of PO43- were higher than for NH4+, yielding low N/P nutrient ratios over the course of our experiments. The rate of PO43- release was thus more than sufficient to preclude the possibility that nitrogenous nutrients supplied by whales would lead to phytoplankton production limited by P availability. Phytoplankton growth experiments indicated that NH4+ released from whale feces enhance productivity, as would be expected, with no evidence that fecal metabolites suppress growth. Although North Atlantic right whales are currently rare (approximately 450 individuals), they once numbered about 14,000 and likely played a substantial role in recycling nutrients in areas where they gathered to feed and mate. Even though the NH4+ released from fresh whale fecal material is a small fraction of total whale fecal nitrogen, and recognizing the fact that the additional nitrogen released in whale urine would be difficult to measure in a field study, the results of this study support the idea that the distinctive isotopic signature of the released NH4+ could be used to provide a conservative estimate of the contribution of the whale pump to primary productivity in coastal regions where whales congregate.
Relationships of Attitude Toward a Behavior Subjective Norm and Perceived Behavioral Control as Antecedents to Computer Use by Elementary Teachers in a Public School Setting

Despite significant financial investments made in recent years to equip public schools with computers, some observers believe we are not seeing an equivalent return in terms of the percentage of teachers who use computers for instruction and related improvements in teaching and learning. A number of factors, primarily external to teachers, have been suggested as reasons for lower levels of computer use. The purpose of this study was to investigate internal variables related to elementary teacher use of computers for instruction. The predictor variables for this study were derived from Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior, and they included attitude toward the behavior (ATT), subjective norm (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC) and behavioral intention (INT). The criterion variable was levels of computer use as measured by Marcinkiewicz' Levels of Use instrument. The sample consisted of classroom-based elementary teachers (n = 203) in a central Florida school district. A 73-item survey instrument was developed and validated to capture data for this study. The survey captured indirect (belief-based) and direct measures of the variables of interest as well as pertinent demographic data. Construct validity for the instrument was investigated through item analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency estimates for item groups were calculated through the use of Cronbach's alpha (α). Descriptive statistics were also calculated for each item. Relationships among the variables were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r), and multiple linear regressions (R). The findings revealed a positive correlation between attitude toward the behavior (ATT) and intention, between subjective norm (SN) and intention, and between perceived behavioral control (PBC) and intention. The three variables of ATT, SN, and PBC combined accounted for 65% of the effect size on behavioral intention (INT). The attitude variable had the largest influence on intention. A significant correlation was also identified between behavioral intention and levels of computer use reported by teachers. Results of this study seem to validate the Theory of Planned Behavior as a predictive model in this context. The findings show the importance of internal, personological variables on the successful integration of computer technology in a K–12 setting and they suggest that more research is needed in this area.
Attention Deficits, ADHD, and Complex Partial Seizures

The degree of attention deficits in children with complex partial seizures (CPS), with and without ADHD, were compared with that found in children with ADHD but without epilepsy, in a study at the Department of Educational Psychology, University of Texas, Austin.
Educational Reform Processes in a Globalized World

Portnoi establishes the central foundations of public policy, and considers the ideological and political nature of policymaking. Public policies provide governments with the opportunity to publicly declare their priorities, while the absence of a policy indicates lack of commitment to a specific issue. Portnoi outlines theories and models related to the formation of public policies, including the influential policy process model and the four stages of policy borrowing model, which stems from the field of comparative education. Top-down and bottom-up approaches to policymaking are also discussed, as is the role of street-level bureaucrats. Given the influence of global governance organizations, Portnoi considers the question of coercion versus agency in implementing policies, highlighting that both are possible.
Bilateral Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis in a Patient with Tacrolimus-Associated Posttransplant Thrombotic Microangiopathy.

PurposeTo report a case of bilateral cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) in a patient with tacrolimus-associated posttransplant thrombotic microangiopathy.MethodsCase report.ResultsAn 8-year-old boy w...
House broken: homelessness, housing first, and neoliberal poverty governance

ABSTRACTHousing First (HF) is the new orthodoxy when dealing with the small, long-term, visible and recalcitrant fraction of the greater homeless population. Unlike more traditional, “treatment first” models that expect “self-sufficiency” before clients should achieve housing, this markedly cost-effective program/policy rapidly places homeless people who “consume” the most state resources into their own subsidized apartment. Many conclude that such an upending renders HF an exceptionally progressive program that ousts the disciplinary, paternalist traditions of poverty governance. Using evidence from two programs in metropolitan Phoenix, AZ, however, I argue that housing indeed comes first, but paternalism is right there behind it. Further, I argue that the program’s apartment lease – in what remains commodified housing – is no benign social relationship. It is, rather, a lever of market discipline. In HF, the abstract compulsions of the market significantly but incompletely replace the older, more patern...
Empathy and Evil: Drug-Dealing Murderers Are People Too

In this chapter, we argue that Walter White’s status as a fictional character in no way precludes our empathizing with him as another subject. Taking our cue from Edith Stein’s concept of empathy, we demonstrate that acts of memory are different from acts of empathy, and that how it is possible to empathize with fictional characters. This analysis is supplemented by Merleau-Ponty’s concept of a phenomenal body, which defines a body as a locus of possible action rather than a thing constituted of a certain material. We then provide an analysis of the potential conflict between empathic concern for (possibly evil) others and our own ethics; although it seems that great differences exist between individuals with respect to moral judgments, our similarities far exceed these differences.
Cleanroom Wipers: Particle Generation

Cleanroom wipers are essential in precision cleaning processes. Particles are to be removed by these wipers, and testing and quality control are extremely important. This presentation offers results obtained by various methods used to test particle generation from commercially available wipers. This study explores possible mechanisms of particle generation and attempts to identify a realistic testing method that simulates conditions of wiper use.
Graph Neural Networks and Boolean Satisfiability

In this paper we explore whether or not deep neural architectures can learn to classify Boolean satisfiability (SAT). We devote considerable time to discussing the theoretical properties of SAT. Then, we define a graph representation for Boolean formulas in conjunctive normal form, and train neural classifiers over general graph structures called Graph Neural Networks, or GNNs, to recognize features of satisfiability. To the best of our knowledge this has never been tried before. Our preliminary findings are potentially profound. In a weakly-supervised setting, that is, without problem specific feature engineering, Graph Neural Networks can learn features of satisfiability.
Design of a low cost, high-performance, achromatic, two wavelength White Blood Cell imaging system

We designed an achromatic microscope using off-the-shelf singlets and dichroic mirrors. The system chromatic performance was optimized for emission wavelengths of acridine orange. Application includes differential white blood cell (WBC) imaging in point-of-care settings.
Physical Exercise Improves Cognitive Outcomes in 2 Models of Transient Cerebral Ischemia

Background and Purpose— Preclinical studies suggest that exercise can enhance cognition after cerebral ischemia but often use long training regiments and test cognition during or acutely after training. The cognitive changes may result from enhanced physical fitness and may only provide acute benefit. We sought to determine whether a short period of exercise after cerebral ischemia could improve cognitive outcomes when measured days after completion of exercise training in 2 cerebral ischemia models. Methods— Focal or global cerebral ischemia was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats recovered (3–4 days) then were subject to no exercise (0 m/min), mild (6 m/min), moderate (10 m/min), or heavy (15–18 m/min) treadmill exercise (5–6 days). Cognition was tested 8 to 10 days after the last exercise session with hippocampal-dependent contextual fear conditioning. Results— A short training period of moderate exercise enhanced cognitive function for a week after exercise completion in both models of cerebral ischemia. Conclusions— Utilization of this exercise paradigm can further the elucidation of exercise-mediated factors involved in cognitive recovery independent of changes in physical fitness.
Differences in bleeding phenotype and provider interventions in postmenarchal adolescents when compared to adult women with bleeding disorders and heavy menstrual bleeding

Introduction Due to lack of patient/health care provider awareness causing delayed diagnosis, the bleeding phenotype and provider interventions in adolescents with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) and bleeding disorders (BD) may be different when compared to adults. Aim The aim of this study was to compare/characterize bleeding phenotype and provider interventions in postmenarchal adolescents < 18 years and premenopausal adults ≥ 18 years with HMB and BD. Methods Patient demographics, BD, and provider interventions/therapy details for HMB were compared between both age groups enrolled in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Female Universal Data Collection (UDC) surveillance project in United States hemophilia treatment centres. Cross-sectional descriptive analyses including frequency distributions, summary statistics, bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results Of 269 females (79 adolescents; median age 16 years, interquartile range (IQR) = 2; 190 adults; median age 27 years, IQR = 13) evaluated, BD distribution was similar in both groups. Compared to adolescents, adults more often had family history of bleeding (Adjusted odds ratios [AOR] = 2.6, 1.3-5.6), delay in diagnosis (AOR = 2.5, 1.2-4.9), bleeding with dental procedures (AOR = 2.0, 1.0-4.0), gastrointestinal bleeding (AOR = 4.6, 1.0-21.9), anaemia (AOR = 2.7, 1.4-5.2), utilized desmopressin less often (AOR = 0.4, 0.2-0.8) and underwent gynaecologic procedure/surgery more frequently (AOR = 5.9, 1.3-27.3). Conclusion Bleeding phenotypes of adolescents and adults with HMB and BD were different with more frequent bleeding complications, anaemia, gynaecologic procedures/surgeries, less desmopressin use and more delay in diagnosing BD in adults. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether improved patient/provider awareness and education will translate to early diagnosis and timely management of BD/HMB in adolescents that may prevent/reduce future haematologic/gynaecologic complications.
Drug Design, Development, and Delivery: An Interdisciplinary Course on Pharmaceuticals.

We developed a new interdisciplinary course on pharmaceuticals to address needs of undergraduate and graduate students in chemical engineering and other departments. This course introduces drug design, development, and delivery in an integrated fashion that provides scientific depth in context with broader impacts in business, policy, and ethics. Emphasis on case studies of real drug products, combined with in-class student project presentations, employs active learning with direct relevance to industrial practice and daily life.
Monogenic Forms of Hypertension

Monogenic (Mendelian) forms of hypertension provide important insight into mechanisms of blood pressure regulation. Frequently, they are caused by increased salt reabsorption in the kidney via activation of the mineralocorticoid signaling pathway, which includes Liddle syndrome, glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism, apparent mineralocorticoid excess, and salt-sensitive congenital adrenal hyperplasia. In pseudohypoaldosteronism type II, salt-sensitive hypertension is linked with a distinctive decrease in renal potassium excretion leading to hyperkalemia. Other mechanisms in monogenic hypertension are sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity (hereditary forms of pheochromocytoma) and altered vascular resistance (hypertension brachydactyly syndrome). Complementary studies examining monogenic forms of lower blood pressure have identified pathways exclusively linked to renal salt wasting due to altered tubular function in the thick ascending limb (Bartter syndrome) or distal nephron (Gitelman syndrome, EAST syndrome). This chapter delineates the genetic mechanisms underlying rare abnormal blood pressure syndromes, providing important implications on improving diagnosis and treatment of blood pressure disorders.
Trends and Outcomes of Thoracoscopic Lobectomy or Segmentectomy: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Project Analysis

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery may be associated with less morbidity than open lobectomy or segmentectomy, but some studies have questioned the benefit of thoracoscopic surgery. This study aimed to determine trends and factors associated with patient's likelihood of undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy or segmentectomy and to compare outcomes with each approach. This retrospective study included adult patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy or segmentectomy from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project from 2007 to 2015 (n = 14,717). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the association of patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and surgeon specialty with thoracoscopic lobectomy or segmentectomy. Propensity score matching was performed to evaluate outcomes for thoracoscopic and open lobectomy or segmentectomy. Use of thoracoscopic lobectomy or segmentectomy increased from 11.6% in 2007 to 60.6% in 2015 (P
Older Adult and Surrogate Perspectives on Serious, Difficult, and Important Medical Decisions.

Author(s): Petrillo, Laura A; McMahan, Ryan D; Tang, Victoria; Dohan, Daniel; Sudore, Rebecca L | Abstract: ObjectivesTo elicit decisions that diverse older adults and surrogates perceive as serious, difficult, or important and explore what helped them make those decisions.DesignFocus groups (N=13) in which participants were asked to recall serious, difficult, or important medical decisions and what helped them make those decisions.SettingClinics, support groups and senior centers.ParticipantsDiverse English- and Spanish-speaking older adults (age: mean 78, range 64-89) and surrogates (age: mean 57, range 33-76) (29% African American, 26% white, 26% Asian or Pacific Islander, 19% Hispanic) (N=69).MeasurementsWe used thematic analysis to analyze transcripts.ResultsWe identified 168 decisions. Older adults from all racial and ethnic groups frequently recalled cancer treatment decisions and decisions about chronic illness management. Surrogates described decisions about transitions in care and medical crises. Older adults valued self-sufficiency and maximizing survival and relied on personal experiences as often as medical advice. In all racial and ethnic groups, surrogates valued avoiding suffering for loved ones.ConclusionDiverse older adults and surrogates perceive life-threatening illness and day-to-day decisions about chronic disease to be serious, difficult, and important. The surrogates' goal of avoiding suffering of older adults may differ from older adults' priorities of self-sufficiency and maximizing survival. Clinicians should support older adults and surrogates in identifying important and difficult decisions and learn about the values and information sources they bring to decision-making. With this knowledge, clinicians can customize decision support and achieve person-centered care.
Mechanistic Aspects of Fetal Development Relating to Postnatal Health and Metabolism in Pigs

The productivity of the pig ranks high when compared with the other classes of farm mammals. Reproductive potential is the most important factor contributing to total meat production from this species. The high rate of productivity in the pig is dependent upon early sexual maturity, a comparatively high ovulation rate, relatively short periods of gestation and lactation, as well as the capability of repeating the pregnancy cycle soon after weaning a litter. Some important limitations affecting this production potential are ovulation rate, embryonic death, and perinatal and neonatal losses. This review focuses on (1) the roles of maternal nutrition and ovarian function on fetal development, (2) genotype of the dam affecting fetal development and litter size, (3) maternal circulating hormone concentrations during different stages of gestation as related to fetal development and litter size, (4) effects of specific nutrients and hormones for the dam on fetal development, and (5) maternal reproductive diseases affecting fetal development.
Space, Health Risks of

The reduction of gravity in space presents an environmental stress that has profound effects on the structure and function of virtually all human tissues, resulting in physiological responses often seen in conditions of compromised health associated with aging, deconditioning, or inactivity-related diseases. Although the absence of gravity is probably the most significant cause of physiological adaptations in space, the confined environment of space travel with changes in light, ambient gases, ionizing radiation levels, bacterial growth, and diverse personalities living together in confined quarters for long periods of time in the presence of high noise and vibration levels, intense work schedules, and altered sleep and eating patterns can contribute to organ dysfunctions. The space environment presents numerous physical and chemical conditions that can have profound effects on physiological health, the most significant effects of which occur on return to Earth's gravity.
Life in the Interior

Consider, then, the environment of a middle-level official. He/she finds himself in an organization that has many people, together with various capital items, and that has certain tasks. From his standpoint, the tasks can be divided into those that will aid him/her in getting ahead, or at least in keeping his/her present position, and those that will not. There is no ethical difference between the two categories. Indeed, when I was in the Department of State, many people were clearly carrying on agendas of their own rather than attempting to maximize the degree to which the wishes of the higher officials were carried out. These people were mostly well intentioned. They believed that what they were doing was in the best interest of the United States.1
Influence of Ambulatory Triglyceride Levels on Risk of Recurrence in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemic Pancreatitis

To evaluate impact of ambulatory triglyceride levels on risk of recurrent pancreatitis in patients with hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis. We conducted a longitudinal retrospective cohort study of patients with serum triglyceride level ≥ 500 mg/dL during index hospitalization for acute pancreatitis within a regional integrated healthcare system between 2006 and 2013 (follow-up through 2015). Cases were identified based on combination of diagnosis codes and serum amylase/lipase. We used multivariable robust Poisson regression to determine independent effect of baseline (first outpatient) triglyceride measurement on risk of recurrent pancreatitis. Ambulatory triglyceride levels were categorized as normal (0–200 mg/dL), moderately elevated (201–500 mg/dL), and highly elevated (> 500 mg/dL). We further assessed factors related to likelihood of normalization of serum triglycerides (< 200 mg/dL) in the outpatient setting. One hundred and fifty-one patients met study inclusion criteria with median follow-up of 3 years. Overall, 45 (29.8%) patients experienced at least 1 recurrent attack with 25 (16.6%) experiencing multiple episodes. In multivariable analysis, patients that continued to have moderately elevated ((adjusted rate ratio RR 5.47 (95% CL 1.80, 16.65)) as well as highly elevated (RR 8.45 (2.55, 27.96)) triglycerides were at increased risk of disease recurrence compared to patients that achieved normalization. Patients with triglyceride measurement performed within 30 days from discharge were more likely to achieve normalization, 40 versus 26%, p = 0.03. For patients with hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis, even modest elevation in subsequent triglyceride levels was associated with increased risk of recurrence. Future efforts should focus on ensuring timely care in the outpatient setting with a goal of normalizing triglycerides.
Microwave Driven Plasma Ball Generator For Illumination And Rf Applications

The production of glow-discharge plasmas by enhanced electric fields inside a spherical porous cavity resonator (SPCR) was studied using laboratory experiments with support by electromagnetic (EM) theory 1 and plasma production equations. The laboratory experiments showed the generation of a stable plasma clouds with a coax-driven stub inserted in the side of the SPCR. The intensity of the light from the cloud became saturated with increased input power. The frequency for production of the densest and brightest plasma ball shifted with increased pump wave power. These experimental observations were investigated using theoretical investigations of the RF driven plasma. The electromagnetic models of the EM wave interactions with the plasma cloud showed (1) formation of the most intense fields at the critical surface where the plasma frequency equals the pump frequency, (2) up shifting of the SPCR plus plasma cloud resonance frequency with the enhancements in plasma cloud density, and (3) reduction of the internal EM wave amplitude from damping by electron-neutral collisions. Cavity amplification saturation and resonator frequency shifting with increased pump power makes the limits the use of the microwave driven SPCR as an illumination source. The SPCR can provide a plasma cloud that has both microwave scatter and compact antenna applications. The EM wave interaction property of the plasma cloud that extends outside the SPCR has been explored in the laboratory using transmissions at 2.45 GHz 2 and 14.1 GHz.
Inspiring Students to Think Theoretically About International Relations Through the Game of Diplomacy

A growing literature highlights the benefits of playing the classic board game Diplomacy in international relations (IR) courses. But how exactly can it help students to learn not only about differ...
Online Communication Patterns of Chinese and Mexican Adolescents Living in the United States

Research on adolescent Internet use and communication does not often consider immigrants or children of immigrants and thus remains relatively mute on the ways in which these groups use the Internet to engage in transnational communication. This comes despite the growth in immigrants around the world over the past two decades. Therefore, this study seeks to understand the Internet use and online communication behaviors of two large minority populations living in the United States: adolescents of Chinese and Mexican descent. Results from survey data ( N = 292) indicate that the transnational communication of Chinese and Mexican youth with friends and family both within and outside the United States, as well as their perceptions of online social connectedness, varies by ethnicity and length of time spent living in the United States. These results have implications for understanding the ways in which the Internet provides unique benefits for immigrant adolescents and children of immigrants.
The \(L^p\) Spaces

The Lebesgue spaces provide us with a way to quantify integrability properties of functions. We have already seen two particular examples. The space \(L^\infty (E),\) which consists of all essentially bounded functions on the domain E, was introduced in Section 3.3, and \(L^1(E),\) which consists of the Lebesgue integrable functions on E, was defined in Section 4.4. Now we will consider an entire family of spaces \(L^p(E)\) with \(0 < p \le \infty .\)