cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Altered insulin signaling in retinal tissue in diabetic states.

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to altered retinal microvascular function and diabetic retinopathy. Insulin signaling may also play a role in this process, and mice lacking insulin receptors in endothelial cells are protected from retinal neovascularization. To define the role of diabetes in retinal function, we compared insulin signaling in the retinal vasculature of mouse models of type 1 (streptozotocin) and type 2 diabetes (ob/ob). In streptozotocin mice, in both retina and liver, insulin receptor (IR) and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-2 protein and tyrosine phosphorylation were increased by insulin, while IRS-1 protein and its phosphorylation were maintained. By contrast, in ob/ob mice, there was marked down-regulation of IR, IRS-1, and IRS-2 protein and phosphorylation in liver; these were maintained or increased in retina. In both mice, Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate generation by acute insulin stimulation was enhanced in retinal endothelial cells. On the other hand, protein levels and phosphorylation of PDK1 and Akt were decreased in retina of both mice. Interestingly, phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and ERK1 were responsive to insulin in retina of both mice but were unresponsive in liver. HIF-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor were increased and endothelial nitric-oxide synthase was decreased in retina. These observations indicate that, in both insulin-resistant and insulin-deficient diabetic states, there are alterations in insulin signaling, such as impaired PDK/Akt responses and enhanced mitogen-activated protein kinases responses that could contribute to the retinopathy. Furthermore, insulin signaling in retinal endothelial cells is differentially altered in diabetes and is also differentially regulated from insulin signaling in classical target tissues such as liver.
Dielectric behavior of single crystals near the (1−X) Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-(x) PbTiO3 morphotropic phase boundary

Abstract Single crystals in the lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate-(1−x) Pb(Mg1/3 Nb2/3)O3-(x) PbTiO3 solid solution system were grown using a flux growth technique. Crystals over the compositional range of 0.3 ≤ ′ ≤ 0.4 being near the rhombohedra1 (pseudo-cubic)-tetragonal morphotropic phase boundary were characterized. The dielectric behavior along the pseudo cubic [111] and [100] directions were measured as a function of temperature and frequency. The effect of poling was also examined.
Development of Ability to Process Syntactic Structures in Expanded Discourse.

This study compared the abilities of 30 sixth-grade, competent readers and 30 adult, competent readers to process syntactic structures under conditions of related and unrelated discourse. Eye movements were recorded while subjects silently read right- and left-embedded syntactic structures in conditions presenting unrelated sentences and in conditions with related paragraphs. Results suggest the ability to process syntactic and semantic elements is not fully developed in children in the 11- to 12-yr. range.
Evaluation of Drugs with Specific Organ Toxicities in Organ Specific Cell Lines

Safety attrition of drugs during preclinical development as well as in late-stage clinical trials continues to be a challenge for the pharmaceutical industry for patient welfare and financial reasons. Hepatic, cardiac, and nephrotoxicity remain the main reasons for compound termination. In recent years, efforts have been made to identify such liabilities earlier in the drug development process, through utilization of in silico and cytotoxicity models. Several publications have aimed to predict specific organ toxicities. For example, two large-scale evaluations of hepatotoxic compounds have been conducted. In contrast, only small cardiotoxic and nephrotoxic compound sets have been evaluated. Here, we investigated the utility of hepatic-, cardiac-, and kidney-derived cell lines to (1) accurately predict cytotoxicity and (2) to accurately predict specific organ toxicities. We tested 273 hepatotoxic, 191 cardiotoxic, and 85 nephrotoxic compounds in HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), H9c2 (embryonic myocardium), and NRK-52E (kidney proximal tubule) cells for their cytotoxicity. We found that the majority of compounds, regardless of their designated organ toxicities, had similar effects in all three cell lines. Only approximately 5% of compounds showed differential toxicity responses in the cell lines with no obvious correlation to the known in vivo organ toxicity. Our results suggest that from a general screening perspective, different cell lines have relatively equal value in assessing general cytotoxicity and that specific organ toxicity cannot be accurately predicted using such a simple approach. Select organ toxicity potentially results from compound accumulation in a particular tissue, cell types within organs, metabolism, and off-target effects. Our analysis, however, demonstrates that the prediction can be improved significantly when human C(max) values are incorporated.
Asset Allocation: An Application Of The Analytic Hierarchy Process

The objective of this paper is to develop a theoretically sound approach for determining the appropriateness of an investment allocation for a particular investor. A methodology using an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is suggested as a means of formalizing the process of determining the suitability of a potential investment portfolio to a potential investor. The AHP has been applied to a variety of business decisions and processes requiring high degrees of subjective judgment. The result of this model is an asset allocation scheme tailored to the specific requirements of an individual investor. Although the AHP process is a subjective weighting technique that relies upon the judgment of the decision-maker, it does so in a manner that is more systematic and consistent than traditional subjective decision-making.
Space-Based Voice over IP Networks

In human space exploration missions, there will be a need to provide voice communications services. In this work we focus on the performance of Voice over IP (VoIP) techniques applied to space networks, where long range latencies, simplex links, and significant bit error rates occur. Link layer and network layer overhead issues are examined. We posit that imposing additional speech processing latencies in the form of multiple frames per packet is tolerable in the space regime, and show resulting performance overhead improvements. Furthermore, we find that even with channel bit error rates of 10-5 and 10-4, the frame size does not severely degrade the original speech.
Lifetime risk and persistence of psychiatric disorders across ethnic groups in the United States.

Background Recent research in the United States has demonstrated striking health disparities across ethnic groups. Despite a longstanding interest in ethnic disadvantage in psychiatric epidemiology, patterns of psychiatric morbidity across ethnic groups have never been examined in a nationally representative sample.
Influence of Light Intensity on Ovulation in Turkeys

Abstract THE mature White Leghorn pullet responds to low light intensities (such as 0.5 or 1.0 foot candle) just as well as to more than 30 foot candles (Roberts and Carver, 1941; Nicholas, Callenbach, and Murphy, 1944). Turkey hens, like chickens, will start egg production earlier if artificial light is used to lengthen the day (Albright and Thompson, 1933; Scott and Payne, 1937; Charles Wilcox, Flagg and Tepper, 1938; Wilcke, 1939). Until now, apparently, no one has determined the effect of different light intensities upon the onset of ovulation in turkeys. The present paper reports data on this problem and on the response of genetically early- and late-maturing birds to artificial lengthening of the day. The need for such information became apparent in 1942 and subsequent years, when the enforced use of dim lights resulted in a less positive response (delay in starting to lay and a consequently lower initial rate . . .
Dynamic and Quasi-static Failure Evolution of 3D Woven Cellular Composite Systems:

The effects of porosity on the impact response and perforation resistance of 3D woven carbon-fiber reinforced epoxy panels under impact by projectiles and under quasi-static three-point bending were experimentally investigated. The 3D cellular composite systems were fabricated by a new method, where porosity can be controlled. The porous samples absorbed a greater amount of specific energy than the nonporous samples. This may be due to the deflection of matrix cracks by the pores and the greater flexibility of the fibers to absorb energy through tensile straining. The quasi-static experiments also indicate that porosity may exhibit strength comparable to nonporous systems.
String Similarity Metrics for Ontology Alignment

Ontology alignment is an important part of enabling the semantic web to reach its full potential. The vast majority of ontology alignment systems use one or more string similarity metrics, but often the choice of which metrics to use is not given much attention. In this work we evaluate a wide range of such metrics, along with string pre-processing strategies such as removing stop words and considering synonyms, on different types of ontologies. We also present a set of guidelines on when to use which metric. We furthermore show that if optimal string similarity metrics are chosen, those alone can produce alignments that are competitive with the state of the art in ontology alignment systems. Finally, we examine the improvements possible to an existing ontology alignment system using an automated string metric selection strategy based upon the characteristics of the ontologies to be aligned.
Energy-efficient packet transmission over a wireless link

The paper considers the problem of minimizing the energy used to transmit packets over a wireless link via lazy schedules that judiciously vary packet transmission times. The problem is motivated by the following observation. With many channel coding schemes, the energy required to transmit a packet can be significantly reduced by lowering transmission power and code rate, and therefore transmitting the packet over a longer period of time. However, information is often time-critical or delay-sensitive and transmission times cannot be made arbitrarily long. We therefore consider packet transmission schedules that minimize energy subject to a deadline or a delay constraint. Specifically, we obtain an optimal offline schedule for a node operating under a deadline constraint. An inspection of the form of this schedule naturally leads us to an online schedule which is shown, through simulations, to perform closely to the optimal offline schedule. Taking the deadline to infinity, we provide an exact probabilistic analysis of our offline scheduling algorithm. The results of this analysis enable us to devise a lazy online algorithm that varies transmission times according to backlog. We show that this lazy schedule is significantly more energy-efficient compared to a deterministic (fixed transmission time) schedule that guarantees queue stability for the same range of arrival rates.
The suboccipital approach to removal of acoustic neuromas

This article reviews the author's technique for removing acoustic neuromas by the suboccipital approach. Also discussed are various considerations regarding the selection and use of instruments for this operation. The anatomy of the internal acoustic meatus and the principles involved in facial- and cochlear-nerve preservation are described. A guide is provided for stepwise dissection of the internal acoustic meatus in the laboratory.
Autopsy Findings In Aids Patients With Mycobacterium avium Complex Bacteremia

To study the pathogenesis of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) bacteremia, the extent of organ involvement was determined in a retrospective cohort of 44 AIDS patients with MAC bacteremia and complete autopsies between 1988 and 1992. Clinical and microbiologic histories were reviewed and lymph nodes, spleen, liver, bone marrow, small intestine, and colon from each autopsy were systematically evaluated for the presence of mycobacteria or foamy histiocytes. Of the patients, 30% had no histologic evidence of MAC. In the remaining 70%, reticuloendothelial and gastrointestinal involvement was most common, but the number and distribution of involved sites was highly variable. The risk of developing detectable histologic involvement was related to the duration of bacteremia. In contrast to the prevailing concept, our data suggest that MAC bacteremia may precede widespread tissue disease.
Analysis of a magnetic bearing pair with a permanent magnet excitation

An analysis of the magnetic circuit of magnetic bearings with a permanent magnet excitation is reported. Applicability of analytical, coupled 2D FEM and 3D FEM models for the magnetic field is discussed. The comparison between different methods is given.
Self-Efficacy Differences Among Mildly Handicapped, Gifted, and Nonhandicapped Students

Self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1977) suggests that persons develop a sense of efficacy based primarily upon past performance accomplishments in specific situations and settings in which they function. The present investigation assessed the academic and social self-efficacy beliefs of mainstreamed mildly handicapped, gifted, and nonhandicapped students in regular education classrooms. Mainstreamed mildly handicapped students reported lower academic and social self-efficacy than their nonhandicapped and gifted peers. No differences in academic self-efficacy were reported between gifted and nonhandicapped students; however, gifted students reported lower social self-efficacy beliefs than nonhandicapped students. Implications for mainstreaming practices and future research are discussed.
Real Exchange Rates and Currency Risk Premia

We exploit the link between deviations from uncovered interest rate parity (UIP), long-run relative purchasing power parity (PPP), and deviations from real rate equality, to develop more powerful tests of the predictive power of real exchange rates for excess currency returns. Assuming long-run relative PPP, we obtain much stronger evidence of predictability than if we test UIP in isolation. The real exchange rate is also the main driver of in nite-horizon UIP deviations. Based on a present value representation, we attribute a statistically signi cant 93% of the variability of the real exchange rate to deviations from UIP.
Protein-Ligand Interactions

A few computational methods useful for study of ligand-receptor complexes have been described briefly here. Some of these computational tools provide accurate quantitative results for ligand-receptor complexes in favorable situations, while other methods provide at best only qualitative information and trends. However, it is important to note that computational tools provide much more than numbers. Computational methods can reveal structural and thermodynamic details of ligand-receptor complexes that are often not attainable with experimental techniques alone. As such, computational tools yield detailed, atomic-resolution insight and understanding of ligand-receptor complexes. Coupled with dramatic advances in computer hardware technology and capabilities, these computational and modeling tools play an increasingly important role in the study of ligand-receptor interactions, and in applications areas such as structure-based drug design.
Frontal-Temporal Brain Volumes in Absence Epilepsy

Fronto-temporal brain volumes and their association with clinical and psychological variables in children, aged 7.5-11.8 years, with childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) were compared to age and gender-matched children without epilepsy.
Small molecule tolfenamic acid and dietary spice curcumin treatment enhances antiproliferative effect in pancreatic cancer cells via suppressing Sp1, disrupting NF-kB translocation to nucleus and cell cycle phase distribution

Combination of dietary/herbal spice curcumin (Cur) and COX inhibitors has been tested for improving therapeutic efficacy in pancreatic cancer (PC). The objective of this study was to identify agent with low toxicity and COX-independent mechanism to induce PC cell growth inhibition when used along with Cur. Anticancer NSAID, tolfenamic acid (TA) and Cur combination were evaluated using PC cell lines. L3.6pl and MIA PaCa-2 cells were treated with Cur (5-25μM) or TA (25-100μM) or combination of Cur (7.5μM) and TA (50μM). Cell viability was measured at 24-72h posttreatment using CellTiter-Glo kit. While both agents showed a steady/consistent effect, Cur+TA caused higher growth inhibition. Antiproliferative effect was compared with COX inhibitors, Ibuprofen and Celebrex. Cardiotoxicity was assessed using cordiomyocytes (H9C2). The expression of Sp proteins, survivin and apoptotic markers (western blot), caspase 3/7 (caspase-Glo kit), Annexin-V staining (flow cytometry), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell cycle phase distribution (flow cytometry) was measured. Cells were treated with TNF-α, and NF-kB translocation from cytoplasm to nucleus was evaluated (immunofluorescence). When compared to individual agents, combination of Cur+TA caused significant increase in apoptotic markers, ROS levels and inhibited NF-kB translocation to nucleus. TA caused cell cycle arrest in G0/G1, and the combination treatment showed mostly DNA synthesis phase arrest. These results suggest that combination of Cur+TA is less toxic and effectively enhance the therapeutic efficacy in PC cells via COX-independent mechanisms.
Old Wineskins - Bitter Wine: The Inappropriate Use of the Balancing Metaphor in the Hamdi and Al-Bihani Cases

The Article explores the use of the balancing metaphor/test by Justice O' Connor in the Hamdi case, and posits that the invocation of this metaphor had the effect of altering habeas procedure for Guantanamo detainees. The Article explores the origins of balance in the law, and canvasses how our cognitive processes respond to metaphor. I suggest that the powerful imagery of balance makes any analysis supported by the balancing metaphor more persuasive. I further suggest that the use of the balancing metaphor is particularly inappropriate in the context of habeas corpus, because the Constitution and framers envisioned a process to be followed by the courts in those proceedings. Using balancing as a methodology alters the procedural requirements of habeas.
Rising JCV-Ab index during natalizumab therapy for MS: Inauspicious for a highly efficacious drug

Infection with JC virus (JCV) is not noticeable and is usually inconsequential. Natalizumab therapy, however, blocks the very late antigen-4 adhesion molecule on immune cells, preventing them from attaching to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 on brain endothelial cells and then penetrating into the CNS. The dearth of T cells, and perhaps other factors, allows JCV to infect oligodendroglia and cause progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), at a risk of 1/1,000 per year. In this issue of Neurology ® Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation , Schwab et al.1 find that natalizumab markedly increases levels of the JCV antibodies that may foretell the risk of PML.
Horizontal and vertical estimates of immature survivorship for Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Pakistan.

Larval survivorship and development were studied at a Culex tritaeniorhynchus pond breeding site adjacent to the village of Khano-Harni from June through November. For cohorts isolated in floating cages along the margin of the pond at different densities, overall survivorship from 1st instar through emergence varied from 0.163 during June to 0.752 during October. Increasing density delayed development and decreased survivorship. The immature stage-specific age distribution was estimated from samples of larvae and pupae collected from the same pond at the same times of the year and was used to generate survivorship curves from which stage-specific mortality schedules and life tables were calculated. Early instar mortality was low during the premonsoon and the monsoon season, but increased markedly during the postmonsoon. By substracting survivorship estimates in the floating cages from vertical survivorship estimates, it was possible to estimate grossly the effects of predation, which ranged from a low of 0.017 during the monsoon to a high of 0.752 during the postmonsoon season.
Characterization of Polyquinoline Blends Using Small Angle Scattering

To determine the compatibility between the rigid rod and the flexible chain polyquinolines, both small angle x-ray and neutron scattering measurements were conducted on blends containing deuterated flexible chains. The scattering intensities from both x-ray and neutron were reduced to their absolute scales in order to remove the scattering contribution from microvoids which tended to overshadow the signal of molecular origin. Quantitative information regarding the molecular dispersion in a 50/50 rigid rod and flexible chain blend was obtained. The result indicated that this material was partially segregated but not to the point of single component phases.
Cigarette smoke gas phase and Paramecium survival. A method for intermittent exposure.

The effect of cigarette smoke gas phase on the survival time of Paramecium aurelia was studied with an intermittent method of exposure. This method simulated human smoking and revealed the ability of activated charcoal to reduce the toxic effect of gas phase.
Population densities of Tetranychus spp. (Acari: Tetranychidae) after treatment with insecticides for Amyelois transitella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

In field studies in four California almond orchards, effects of azinphosmethyl, carbaryl, diazinon, permethrin, flucythrinate, and cyfluthrin on abundance of web-spinning spider mites, Tetranychus spp., and their predators were compared. Except for trees treated with azinphosmethyl, those sprayed with each of the insecticides had a significantly greater abundance of spider mites than untreated control trees in the year of treatment. Only the trees treated in May with azinphosmethyl at one test site gave this result. During the year after treatment, population abundance of web-spinning spider mites on trees treated with only pyrethroids was significantly greater than on trees treated with the other insecticides or on untreated controls. Although numbers were low at each site, pyrethroid treatments tended to have greatest impact on predators during the year of application. In the year after treatment, predator populations were significantly greater on permethrin-treated trees in all but one location. Predator abundance was also greatest on trees treated with the two highest flucythrinaterates during the year following treatment. Results of this study suggest that use of pyrethroid foliar sprays on almonds may compromise California’s current spider mite management program.
A Scented Receding Horizon Approach to the Mars Surveyor Competition

The Mars Surveyor Challenge was introduced by MathWorks as a way to challenge the community of algorithm developers by asking them to come up with a solution to explore a set of given maps using five vehicles, called rovers. The challenge at hand is to find an optimal strategy using MATLAB to explore as much of a map as possible in a limited number of instructions, or ‘moves’. This strategy can be used in designing search algorithms for UAVs or other surveillance vehicles in order to perform searches more efficiently. Multiple types of algorithms were studied in order to find their effect on the solution through the Research Experience for Undergraduate Students at the University of Cincinnati. The goal of this project was to develop algorithms that scale well for larger maps and more rovers than those specified for use in the original competition. In particular, this paper explores the use of a rule based algorithm which combines the concepts of stigmergy and receding horizon algorithms to solve the problem. Simulation results show that the algorithm discussed in this document is highly competitive compared to the competition winners and scales to larger maps and number of vehicles maintaining the same level of performance as observed with the original competition conditions.
Factors Linked to Substance Use Disorder Counselors' (Non)Implementation Likelihood of Tobacco Cessation 5 A's, Counseling, and Pharmacotherapy.

Factors Linked to Substance Use Disorder Counselors’ (Non) Implementation Likelihood of Tobacco Cessation 5 A’s, Counseling, and Pharmacotherapy Despite efforts to promote the use of tobacco cessation services (TCS), implementation extensiveness remains limited. This study investigated three factors (cognitive, behavioral, environmental) identified by social cognitive theory as predictors of substance use disorder counselors’ likelihood of use versus non-use of tobacco cessation (TC) 5 A’s (ask patients about tobacco use, advise to quit, assess willingness to quit, assist in quitting, arrange for follow-up contact), counseling, and pharmacotherapy with their patients who smoke cigarettes.
Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Encephalitis in Adults: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management

Herpetic infections have plagued humanity for thousands of years, but only recently have advances in antiviral medications and supportive treatments equipped physicians to combat the most severe manifestations of disease. Prompt recognition and treatment can be life-saving in the care of patients with herpes simplex-1 virus encephalitis, the most commonly identified cause of sporadic encephalitis worldwide. Clinicians should be able to recognize the clinical signs and symptoms of the infection and familiarize themselves with a rational diagnostic approach and therapeutic modalities, as early recognition and treatment are key to improving outcomes. Clinicians should also be vigilant for the development of acute complications, including cerebral edema and status epilepticus, as well as chronic complications, including the development of autoimmune encephalitis associated with antibodies to the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and other neuronal cell surface and synaptic epitopes. Herein, we review the pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and clinical and radiological features of herpes simplex virus-1 encephalitis in adults, including a discussion of the most common complications and their treatment. While great progress has been made in the treatment of this life-threatening infection, a majority of patients will not return to their previous neurologic baseline, indicating the need for further research efforts aimed at improving the long-term sequelae.
Securing MDSplus for the NSTX-U Digital Coil Protection System

NSTX used MDSplus extensively to record data, relay information and control data acquisition hardware. For NSTX-U the same functionality is expected as well as an expansion into the realm of securely maintaining parameters for machine protection. Specifically, we designed the Digital Coil Protection System (DCPS) to use MDSplus to manage our physical and electrical limit values and relay information about the state of our acquisition system to DCPS. Additionally, test and development systems need to use many of the same resources concurrently without causing interference with other critical systems. Further complications include providing access to critical, protected data without risking changes being made to it by unauthorized users or through unsupported or uncontrolled methods either maliciously or unintentionally. To achieve a level of confidence with an existing software system designed with minimal security controls, a number of changes to how MDSplus is used were designed and implemented. Trees would need to be verified and checked for changes before use. Concurrent creation of trees from vastly different use-cases and varying requirements would need to be supported. This paper will further discuss the impetus for developing such designs and the methods used to implement them.
Modulus and Damping of Asphaltic Concrete Using the Resonant Column

A program to determine Young's modulus of asphalt concrete using the resonant column is presented. The equipment is capable of longitudinal and torsional vibrations. The specimens were tested at three temperatures. A copper heating coil mounted inside the apparatus was used to control specimen temperature. The basic properties of the test material are also described. The two major problems of this particular program were the loss of coupling between the test specimen and the apparatus and the failure to effectively reduce spurious machine vibrations at high frequencies. As expected, modulus and damping were functions of temperature.
Case 2: Bilious Emesis in Two Premature Neonates

### Case 1 A 415-g male infant with severe growth restriction is born at 27 weeks’ postmenstrual age by emergency cesarean section for nonreassuring heart tracing. His initial Apgar scores are 1, 2, and 5 at 1, 5, and 10 minutes, respectively. Initially unresponsive to stimulation, he undergoes intubation after 2 attempts, 8 minutes after birth. He receives routine care, including antibiotics, surfactant, and mechanical ventilation. He also receives dexamethasone for his persistent need of inotropic support. On his fourth day after birth, the infant’s status worsens, with decreasing oxygen saturation, abdominal distension, and discoloration. Dilated small bowel loops are seen on radiography without evidence of pneumatosis or free air. The following day, the infant undergoes self-extubation and reintubation. On day 6, the infant’s bowel sounds disappear and he has an episode of bilious emesis. A 6-F Replogle tube is placed for abdominal decompression. The tube is repositioned and blood aspirated. An imaging study is obtained (Figs 1 and 2). Figure 1. Arrow indicating the unusual angle of Replogle (6-F) tube. Figure 2. Arrow indicating contrast in the right chest cavity. ### Case 2 A 601-g male is born by spontaneous vaginal delivery at 24 weeks’ gestation. He receives routine care with prophylactic antibiotics, …
Seeking the Centre

The Pima and Papago tribes of southern Arizona on the North American continent conceptualize life as a road that is difficult, painful, sorrowful, confusing and full of conflicts. They envision the road of life as a labyrinth that is symbolically expressed in the following way: ‘It consists of a circle, in the center of which a small circle represents the earth. Beginning a short distance from the earth in the center, four lines radiate in each direction, but they encircle the center in a fashion that concludes with the ends of these lines enclosed within the pattern formed by the other lines.’1 The objective is to find one’s way safely through the labyrinth and secure the centre, the place to which life is originally directed. The complexity of the road of life depicted by these Native American Indian tribes partially resembles Eliade’s view of life. Although Eliade did not conceive of human life as an intricate labyrinth, the unity of Eliade’s life and work suggests that he spent his creative career searching for the centre of his own existence. And this quest for a meaningful centre of existence is a theme that runs throughout his scholarly and literary publications and is the reason for making it the concluding theme of this work. This final chapter, then, is an attempt to tie together the threads of his quest for a centre. In order to accomplish this task, we need to examine Eliade’s conception of life and to see what he discovers at the centre of human existence.
The Hermetic Current

By 1844, fortune’s slings and arrows had almost rendered the normally affirmative Emerson a skeptic. The death of his little boy Waldo, killed by scarlet fever, two years earlier had thrown Emerson into dark meditation; he began seriously to doubt those vital truths that had buoyed him through the trials of his youth, ranging from his risky break with the church to his scandalous critiques of orthodoxy. He found himself in the middle of life’s way in a dark wood. As he lamented in ‘Experience’, written at the nadir of this crisis, ‘Where do we find ourselves? In a series of which we do not know the extremes, and believe it has none…. Sleep lingers all our lifetime about our eyes, as night hovers all day in the boughs of the fir-tree. All things swim and glitter’ (CW 3: 27). He is lost, lethargic, stupefied, bewildered: what on earth, he asks throughout the essay, can redeem man from the despair of the skeptic?
Role of sepsis in delayed mortality

Sepsis is defined as a clinical syndrome consisting of physiologic, pathologic and biochemical abnormalities due to a dysregulated inflammatory response to an infection (1). Over the last thirty years, sepsis has become one of the leading causes of hospital admissions as well as healthcare expenditure. The rates of sepsis in the US have increased dramatically. As demonstrated by an analysis of discharge records in US hospitals by the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) published in 2011, sepsis accounted for an estimated 1,665,000 hospitalizations in 2009, steadily increasing from the early 1990s (2). In 2011 alone, sepsis was reported to be the most expensive reason for hospitalization, resulting in more than $20 billion (5.2%) of total hospital costs (3).
Investigating the use of non-attenuation corrected PET images for the attenuation correction of PET data in PET/MR systems

MR-based attenuation correction (AC) in PET/MR imaging is currently evaluated by many groups. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using the non-attenuated PET images (PET-NAC) as a means for the AC of PET images in PET/MR systems. A water fillable torso phantom with hollow spheres was scanned on a GE Discovery-RX PET/CT scanner. The activity concentration in the spheres and background was 37.2 and 6.27 kBq/cc respectively. A PET scan was acquired in 3D using 2 FOV with 5min / FOV. CT-AC PET (PET-CTAC), PET-NAC, and CT images were generated. In addition the PET-NAC images were used to create an attenuation map through an iterative segmentation process in three steps. In the first step of the process, the phantom body contour was segmented from the PET-NAC image. Voxels inside the contour were then assigned a value of 0.094 cm−1 to represent the attenuation coefficient of soft tissue at 511 keV. This segmented attenuation map was then used to attenuate correct the raw PET data and the resulting PET images were used as the input to the second step of the process. The lung region was segmented in the second step and voxels were assigned a value of 0.024 cm−1 representing the attenuation coefficients of lung tissue at 511 keV. The updated attenuation map was then used for a second time to attenuate correct the raw PET data, and the resulting PET images were used as the input to the third step. The purpose of the third step is to delineate parts of the heart and liver from the lung contour since these parts were unavoidably included in the lung contour of the second step. These parts were then corrected by using a value of 0.094 cm−1 in the attenuation map. Finally the attenuation coefficients of the scanner couch were included based on the CT images to eliminate the impact of the couch on the accuracy of AC. This final attenuation map was then used to attenuate correct the raw PET data and resulted in a final PET image (PET-IAC). Visual inspection and SUV measurements of the spheres between PET-IAC and the PET-CTAC were performed to assess the accuracy of image quantification. Furthermore, our proposed approach was used on two patients with lung and liver tumors to assess its feasibility in clinical studies. The results show that there is very small difference between the PET-IAC and PET-CTAC from visual inspection. PET-IAC SUVs are on average equal to 94±3% compared to the SUVs from the PET-CTAC in phantom study. For the two patient studies, this value is 111±12%. In conclusion, the use of PET-NAC as a means for the AC of PET images is feasible in the clinic. Such approach can potentially be an alternative method of MR-based AC in PET/MR imaging.
Genotype Calling from Population-Genomic Sequencing Data

Genotype calling plays important roles in population-genomic studies, which have been greatly accelerated by sequencing technologies. To take full advantage of the resultant information, we have developed maximum-likelihood (ML) methods for calling genotypes from high-throughput sequencing data. As the statistical uncertainties associated with sequencing data depend on depths of coverage, we have developed two types of genotype callers. One approach is appropriate for low-coverage sequencing data, and incorporates population-level information on genotype frequencies and error rates pre-estimated by an ML method. Performance evaluation using computer simulations and human data shows that the proposed framework yields less biased estimates of allele frequencies and more accurate genotype calls than current widely used methods. Another type of genotype caller applies to high-coverage sequencing data, requires no prior genotype-frequency estimates, and makes no assumption on the number of alleles at a polymorphic site. Using computer simulations, we determine the depth of coverage necessary to accurately characterize polymorphisms using this second method. We applied the proposed method to high-coverage (mean 18×) sequencing data of 83 clones from a population of Daphnia pulex. The results show that the proposed method enables conservative and reasonably powerful detection of polymorphisms with arbitrary numbers of alleles. We have extended the proposed method to the analysis of genomic data for polyploid organisms, showing that calling accurate polyploid genotypes requires much higher coverage than diploid genotypes.
Coupled ultrafiltration and solid phase extraction approach for the targeted study of semi-labile high molecular weight and refractory low molecular weight dissolved organic matter

Abstract Only a small fraction of dissolved organic matter (DOM) can be characterized at the molecular level by direct seawater analysis. Thus, the study of DOM requires isolation of extremely dilute organics from orders of magnitude greater concentrations of inorganic salts. Traditional isolation approaches have sought to isolate representative DOM fractions, however, currently available isolation methods all have selective chemical or physical biases. Recent work has indicated that DOM exists in a functional continuum of molecular size and 14C age. High molecular weight (HMW) DOM is primarily composed of younger, semi-labile material, while much older, low molecular weight (LMW) DOM dominates the refractory background pool. Here we describe a new large volume DOM isolation approach that selectively isolates HMW and LMW DOM fractions with distinct 14C ages, a proxy for reactivity. The method uses ultrafiltration (UF) to isolate HMW DOM (UDOM), and then solid phase extraction (SPE) to isolate LMW DOM permeating the UF system. We first assess two SPE sorbents (Agilent Bond Elute PPL and Diaion HP-20) for DOM chemical and isotopic selectivity. Second, we evaluate our UF/SPE approach in the context of DOM recovery, elemental (C/N) and isotopic (δ13C, δ15N, Δ14C) composition of 8 HMW and LMW sample pairs, isolated from the North Central Pacific Ocean. Radiocarbon (Δ14C) analysis shows major differences in the Δ14C value of HMW (Δ14C = − 37 to − 380‰) and LMW (Δ14C = − 343 to − 578‰) DOM fractions. We also observe elemental and stable isotopic offsets between HMW and LMW DOM at all depths. HMW UDOM (C/N = 11.5 to 13.1, δ13C = − 22.5 to − 21.1‰, δ15N = 6.2 to 7.1‰) has significantly lower C/N ratios and higher δ13C and δ15N values than LMW SPE-DOM (C/N = 24.2 to 28.5, δ13C = − 23.3 to − 22.2‰, δ15N = 3.1 to 4.0‰), with the exception of surface δ13C, which is equivalent in both size fractions. Together, these results indicate that our combined UF/SPE method successfully isolates separate young (semi-labile, HMW) and old (refractory, LMW) DOM fractions, each with distinct chemical and isotopic composition. Ultimately, by limiting the influence of DOM reactivity mixtures, our method provides an alternative approach for understanding DOM sources and cycling.
Effect of moderate, 30 percent global maternal nutrient reduction on fetal and postnatal baboon phenotype.

Background Most developmental programming studies on maternal nutrient reduction (MNR) are in altricial rodents whose maternal nutritional burden and offspring developmental trajectory differ from precocial non-human primates and humans. Methods Control (CTR) baboon mothers ate ad libitum; MNR mothers ate 70% global control diet in pregnancy and lactation. Results We present offspring morphometry, blood cortisol, and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) during second half of gestation (G) and first three postnatal years. Moderate MNR produced intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). IUGR males (n=43) and females (n=28) were smaller than CTR males (n=50) and females (n=47) in many measurements at many ages. In CTR, fetal ACTH increased 228% and cortisol 48% between 0.65G and 0.9G. IUGR ACTH was elevated at 0.65G and cortisol at 0.9G. 0.9G maternal gestational weight gain, fetal weight, and placenta weight were correlated. Conclusions Moderate IUGR decreased body weight and morphometric measurements at key time points and altered hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal function.
How to Evaluate for and Manage Inflammatory and Infiltrative Cardiomyopathies that Require Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation

Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiomyopathy (CM). This review focuses on ventricular tachycardia (VT) management in uncommon causes of heart disease, such as inflammatory and infiltrative CMs. Integration of advanced cardiac imaging modalities, such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), into diagnostic evaluation of patients with CM may unmask abnormal myocardial substrate in almost half of patients presenting with VAs. Stepwise approach to management of VAs in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) includes use of immunosuppressive therapy during active inflammatory phase and reserves radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for later fibrotic phase of the disease. Recurrences of VT are common, but reduction in VA burden can be achieved in up to 90% of patients after RFCA. VAs in patients with acute nonchagasic myocarditis often resolve with supportive therapy and treatment of heart failure. RFCA in chagasic myocarditis is typically used for patients with sustained monomorphic VT who do not respond to antiarrhythmic medications. Basal inferolateral scar is a common arrhythmia substrate, while at least a third of reentrant circuits are epicardial. Upfront combined epicardial and endocardial approach should be considered in all patients with chagasic myocarditis. VAs in cardiac amyloidosis tend to be focal and respond well to catheter ablation. VT substrate in Fabry disease is similar to other forms of non-ischemic CM with the predilection for perivalvular, basal lateral left ventricle, as well as epicardial location. In patients with inflammatory and infiltrative CM, RFCA is an important treatment modality that reduces recurrent VT episodes and ICD shocks. Initial work-up with cardiac MRI and PET prior to consideration of ablation can be invaluable in diagnosing etiology of non-ischemic CM and to better gear treatment. Neuromodulation, including bilateral cardiac sympathetic denervation can reduce burden of arrhythmias in some patients with refractory VT, though additional studies are needed.
Physical rotor inertia of DFIG wind turbines for short-term frequency regulation in low-inertia grids

This paper investigates DFIG wind turbine rotor inertia and proposes reliance of its use for short term primary frequency regulation in low-inertia power systems. Such systems are more susceptible to frequency deviation, and there is question as to whether DFIG wind turbines contribute sufficient physical inertia to frequency regulation. A laboratory DFIG wind turbine emulator is used to evaluate stator frequency regulation immediately following electrical load change. Linearization is used to estimate torque, speed, and frequency deviation moments after transient onset. Evidence shows that the DFIG assembly does provide sufficient physical inertia for short-term primary regulation by inertia alone, and that large transients pose a challenge to accommodate by coordinated protection or control.
Can next generation sequencing play a role in detecting pathogens in synovial fluid

AimsThe diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection can be difficult due to the high rate of culture-negative infections. The aim of this study was to assess the use of next-generation sequencing for detecting organisms in synovial fluid.Materials and MethodsIn this prospective, single-blinded study, 86 anonymized samples of synovial fluid were obtained from patients undergoing aspiration of the hip or knee as part of the investigation of a periprosthetic infection. A panel of synovial fluid tests, including levels of C-reactive protein, human neutrophil elastase, total neutrophil count, alpha-defensin, and culture were performed prior to next-generation sequencing.ResultsOf these 86 samples, 30 were alpha-defensin-positive and culture-positive (Group I), 24 were alpha-defensin-positive and culture-negative (Group II) and 32 were alpha-defensin-negative and culture-negative (Group III). Next-generation sequencing was concordant with 25 results for Group I. In four of these, it detected antibiotic resistan...
Patients and investigators prefer measures of absolute risk in subgroups for pragmatic randomized trials

Abstract Objectives Pragmatic randomized trials are important tools for shared decision-making, but no guidance exists on patients' preferences for types of causal information. We aimed to assess preferences of patients and investigators toward causal effects in pragmatic randomized trials. Study Design and Setting We (a) held three focus groups with patients ( n = 23) in Boston, MA; (b) surveyed ( n = 12) and interviewed ( n = 5) investigators with experience conducting pragmatic trials; and (c) conducted a systematic literature review of pragmatic trials ( n = 63). Results Patients were distrustful of new-to-market medications unless substantially more effective than existing choices, preferred stratified absolute risks, and valued adherence-adjusted analyses when they expected to adhere. Investigators wanted both intention-to-treat and per-protocol effects but felt methods for estimating per-protocol effects were lacking. When estimating per-protocol effects, many pragmatic trials used inappropriate methods to adjust for adherence and loss to follow-up. Conclusion We made four recommendations for pragmatic trials to improve patient centeredness: (1) focus on superiority in effectiveness or safety, rather than noninferiority; (2) involve patients in specifying a priori subgroups; (3) report absolute measures of risk; and (4) complement intention-to-treat effect estimates with valid per-protocol effect estimates.
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor roles in LPA and serum stimulation of lung fibroblast proliferation

Both LPA and serum stimulate lung fibroblast proliferation and contraction, important components of wound healing and of the pathologic airway remodeling in fibrotic lung diseases. LPA and its LPA1 receptor have been identified as critical mediators of pulmonary fibrosis. We previously showed that the LPA1 agonist NAEPA and the LPA3 agonist OMPT stimulated collagen gel contraction by HFL-1 human lung fibroblasts and that the LPA1+3 antagonist Ki16425 blocked contractions to both LPA and serum (FASEB J 22, A728.9, 2008). The present studies tested these same agents on HFL-1 proliferation. HFL-1 cells were serum-starved, stimulated for 24 hr with various agents, and [3H]thymidine incorporation was assessed. Stimulation by LPA was mimicked by both NAEPA and OMPT and was completely blocked by Ki16425. Thus LPA1 and/or LPA3 receptors mediate LPA stimulation of HFL-1 proliferation. In contrast, Ki16425 inhibited stimulation by serum by only about 40%. Though LPA is the major serum component for fibroblast contr...