cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
2D and 3D in vitro culture methods to investigate endothelial-cell enhanced tumor angiogenesis

The reciprocal interactions between endothelial cells and tumor cells to regulate angiogenesis is an important area of cancer research. However, understanding the influential role of endothelial cells on tumorigenesis is highly dependent on the culture systems utilized to study this dynamic and complex process. In contrast to 2D culture systems or the complex host environment of in vivo models, 3D in vitro cancer models have the potential to provide important insights into cellular differentiation, migration, and gene expression in a controlled and well-defined manner. Our preliminary results demonstrating increased cancer cell expression of pro-angiogenic growth factors (VEGF and ANG2) in response to 2D co-culture with endothelial cells motivated the development of a 3D co-culture system to further investigate this phenomena. Assessment of important morphological changes such as cell proliferation, migration, and vessel permeability in response to increased angiogenic activity will be better accommodated in a more physiologically relevant culture environment, therefore permitting the development of more accurate experimental conclusions.
Tissue-engineered vascular grafts for use in the treatment of congenital heart disease: from the bench to the clinic and back again

Since the first tissue-engineered vascular graft (TEVG) was implanted in a child over a decade ago, growth in the field of vascular tissue engineering has been driven by clinical demand for improved vascular prostheses with performance and durability similar to an autologous blood vessel. Great strides were made in pediatric congenital heart surgery using the classical tissue engineering paradigm, and cell seeding of scaffolds in vitro remained the cornerstone of neotissue formation. Our second-generation bone marrow cell-seeded TEVG diverged from tissue engineering dogma with a design that induces the recipient to regenerate vascular tissue in situ. New insights suggest that neovessel development is guided by cell signals derived from both seeded cells and host inflammatory cells that infiltrate the graft. The identification of these signals and the regulatory interactions that influence cell migration, phenotype and extracellular matrix deposition during TEVG remodeling are yielding a next-generation TE...
SYNTHESIZING AND CHARACTERIZING A WATERBORNE POLYANILINE FOR CORROSION PROTECTION OF STEELS

This study explores the idea of synthesizing and characterizing a new intrinsically conducting polyaniline that at the molecular level carries a hydrophilic component, making the polymer highly waterborne and thereby applicable to massive production for corrosion protection of steels. The waterborne polyaniline was mixed in a water-based epoxy and then coated on SAE 1008/1010 steel samples for evaluating its anti-corrosion capacity using a powerful surface-analysis tool, Scanning Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (SKPFM). The high resolution surface topography and corrosion potential of steel samples coated with the Polyaniline-based primer, as studied by SKPFM, show significantly lower corrosion activities than two control groups: uncoated steel samples and epoxy-only coated samples that were also subjected to SKPFM analyses under the same corrosive condition. The surface analysis results indicate that this new waterborne polyaniline is capable of protecting steels from corrosion when mixed in conventional water-based epoxies, opening the door to the development of an economical and long-life coating for corrosion protection of steel structures.
Capacity Analysis of MIMO Systems Using Limited Feedback Transmit Precoding Schemes

This paper employs a high resolution quantization framework to study the effects of finite-rate feedback of the channel state information (CSI) on the performance of multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems over independently and identically distributed (i.i.d.) Rayleigh flat fading channels. The contributions of this paper are twofold. First, we extend the general distortion analysis of vector quantizers to deal with complex source variables. Necessary and sufficient conditions that guarantee a concise high-resolution distortion analysis in the complex domain is presented. Second, as an application of the proposed complex distortion analysis, tight lower bounds on the capacity loss due to the finite-rate channel quantization are provided for MIMO systems employing a fixed number of equal power spatial beams. Based on the obtained closed-form analytical results, it is shown that the system capacity loss decreases exponentially as the ratio of the quantization rate to the total degrees of freedom of the channel state information to be quantized. Moreover, MIMO CSI-quantizers using mismatched codebooks that are only optimized for high-signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and low-SNR regimes are also investigated to quantify the penalties incurred by the use of mismatched codebooks. In addition, the analysis is extended to deal with MIMO systems using multi-mode spatial multiplexing transmission schemes with finite-rate CSI feedback. Finally, numerical and simulation results are presented which confirm the tightness of the derived theoretical distortion bounds.
Adverse Effects of Meperidine, Promethazine, and Chlorpromazine for Sedation in Pediatric Patients

A combination of meperidine (M) 25 mg/ml, promethazine (P) 6.5 mg/ml, and chlorpromazine (C) 6.5 mg/ml is widely used to produce sedation in pediatric patients. A dose of MPC 0.1 ml/kg is recommended for cardiac catheterization, but no specific guidelines for dosing or frequency of monitoring have been established for patients undergoing other types of procedures. The adverse effects of MPC were studied prospectively in 95 patients undergoing various procedures. MPC was given parenterally at a dose of 0.07-0.11 ml/kg. Four patients developed respiratory depression. In these patients, the lowest respiratory rate ranged from 12 to 20 per minute. The lowest pulse rate ranged from 92 to 102 per minute. Three patients had received recommended or lower than recommended doses of MPC. One who received MPC 0.07 ml/kg developed respiratory arrest within 30 minutes; another required naloxone, and all recovered within 10 hours. These cases suggest the need for frequent monitoring and specific dosing guidelines for MPC use in pediatric patients.
Web-scale extraction of structured data

A long-standing goal of Web research has been to construct a unified Web knowledge base. Information extraction techniques have shown good results on Web inputs, but even most domain-independent ones are not appropriate for Web-scale operation. In this paper we describe three recent extraction systems that can be operated on the entire Web (two of which come from Google Research). The TextRunner system focuses on raw natural language text, the WebTables system focuses on HTML-embedded tables, and the deep-web surfacing system focuses on "hidden" databases. The domain, expressiveness, and accuracy of extracted data can depend strongly on its source extractor; we describe differences in the characteristics of data produced by the three extractors. Finally, we discuss a series of unique data applications (some of which have already been prototyped) that are enabled by aggregating extractedWeb information.
Coherent radiation measurements at the NSLS Source Development Lab

The far-infrared coherent emission from short electron bunches has been detected and partially characterized for two source locations at the NSLS Source Development Lab (SDL) accelerator system. One location is designed to extract dipole edge radiation while the other extracts transition radiation produced a short distance downstream of the SDL linac. The coherently radiated energy per pulse is 10's of nJ, and depends quadratically on bunch charge. The spectral content agrees with the longitudinal bunch density as determined from other measurements.
Racism in Baseball Card Collecting: Fact or Fiction?

The focus of this paper is on the impact (if any) of a player's race/ethnicity on the value of his rookie baseball card. Data on the race/ethnicity of 29 (17 white and 12 nonwhite) members of the Baseball Hall of Fame and the value of their rookie baseball card were obtained from three sources. The principal finding of the study is that race/ethnicity and the value of a player's rookie baseball card are not related. The paper concludes with an explanation for the finding and recommendations for future research.
Mechanistic Insights into the Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to CO on Nanostructured Ag Surfaces

Electroreduction of CO2 in a highly selective and efficient manner is a crucial step toward CO2 utilization. Nanostructured Ag catalysts have been found to be effective candidates for CO2 to CO conversion. In this report, we combine experimental and computational efforts to explore the electrocatalytic reaction mechanism of CO2 reduction on nanostructured Ag catalyst surfaces in an aqueous electrolyte. In contrast to bulk Ag catalysts, both nanoparticle and nanoporous Ag catalysts show enhanced ability to reduce the activation energy of the CO2 to COOHads intermediate step through the low-coordinated Ag surface atoms, resulting in a reaction mechanism involving a fast first electron and proton transfer followed by a slow second proton transfer as the rate-limiting step.
Abstract A106: Optimal strategies for selecting samples for sequencing families with a common cancer: The Genetic Epidemiology of Lung Cancer Consortium.

In order to select samples that are optimally informative for sequence analysis, studies for the Genetic Epidemiology Consortium, we implemented three strategies for analysis, taking into account the known family histories of lung cancer. Susceptibility for lung cancer arises from a complex interplay between largely unknown genetic factors and smoking behavior. In order to optimize our ability to identify genetic factors for lung cancer we have recruited individuals with extensive family histories of lung cancer and also collected information about their smoking behaviors. For this study, we have modeled family history to identify individuals to select for sequencing using three approaches. First, we used an expert opinion approach in which multiple investigators evaluated pedigree structures with family history to reach a consensus priority in selecting individuals. Second we developed an approximation that assumes a low penetrance among noncarriers and uses known cancer status in first degree relatives. Third, we used the cancer, smoking behaviors and family information along with a likelihood that models penetrance according to genetic susceptibility and an interaction with smoking to estimate the probabilities individuals carry susceptibility factors. In this analysis we compare results among these methods. We evaluate effectiveness of these methods using simulation-based approaches. Citation Format: Christopher Amos, Joan Bailey-Wilson, Susan Pinney, Maria de Andrada, Colette Gaba, Diptasri Mandal, Ming You, Margaret Spitz, Marshall Anderson. Optimal strategies for selecting samples for sequencing families with a common cancer: The Genetic Epidemiology of Lung Cancer Consortium. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A106.
Zeeman Effect of No-Phonon A 2 g 4 − T 2 g 4 Transition of Cr 3 + in Ti O 2

The site symmetry of ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{3+}$ in Ti${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ is ${D}_{2h}$ which splits the cubic $({O}_{h})^{4}T_{2g}$ state into $^{4}B_{1g}$, $^{4}B_{2g}$, and $^{4}B_{3g}$. Spin-orbit interaction further splits these states into six Kramers doublets all of symmetry ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{5}^{+}$. Previous optical work on Ti${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$: ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{3+}$ established the lowest-lying sharp lines at 12 685 and 12 732 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ as no-phonon lines of magnetic dipole character. It proposed these lines as due to transitions between the $^{4}A_{2g}$ ground state and two of the above six states. The present report extends this work by a Zeeman study, in emission, at 4 K of the line at 12 685 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The results are: The Zeeman splitting of this line identifies the excited state of this transition as the ${M}_{s}=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}\frac{3}{2}$ spin-orbit component of an orbital state consisting of $77%^{4}B_{2g}$, $17%^{4}B_{1g}$, and $6%^{4}B_{3g}$ with an effective $g=1.73$. Furthermore, the line at 12 732 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ is identified as the ${M}_{s}=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}\frac{1}{2}$ spin-orbit component by its effect in second order in the magnetic field on the Zeeman pattern of the line at 12 685 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. For the excited state the spin is quantized along the $x$ direction of the magnetic axes while for the ground state it is quantized along the $z$ direction. The reason for spin quantization along the $x$ axis is discussed.
Tractor beams in the Rayleigh limit

A tractor beam is a traveling wave that transports illuminated objects back to its source, opposite to the wave's direction of propagation, along its entire length. The requisite retrograde force arises when an object scatters the wave's momentum density downstream into the direction of propagation and then recoils upstream by conservation of momentum. Achieving this condition imposes constraints on the structure of the wave, which we elucidate in the Rayleigh limit, when the wavelength exceeds the size of the object. Continuously propagation-invariant modes such as Bessel beams do not satisfy these conditions at dipole order in the multipole expansion and so cannot serve as general-purpose long-ranged tractor beams. Modes with discrete propagation invariance, however, can act as first-order tractor beams. We demonstrate this by introducing a class of minimal solenoidal waves together with a set of design criteria that distinguish tractor beams that pull objects from repulsor beams that push them.
Research on the Field Test Method for the Capacity of Energy Storage Lithium Battery Cluster

Energy storage lithium battery cluster is made up by a large number of batteries in series or in parallel. Due to its high voltage,large current and high capacity, the energy storage lithium battery cluster cannot be tested for capacity by EV battery module. This paper introduces the definition of energy storage lithium battery cluster capacity, discusses the influences of the charge-discharge rate, ambient temperature, charging and discharging cut-off voltage on the capacity test of the lithium battery cluster, and compares the test standards for lithium battery capacity. Finally, a novel universal field capacity testing method is proposed for energy storage lithium battery cluster according tothe field capacity testing methods of several manufacturers, which will be helpful for the maintenance of energy storage batteries.
Interpretation of Full Sorption-Desorption Isotherms as a Tool for Understanding Concrete Pore Structure

Sorption isotherms are frequently used to characterize the structure of porous materials such as cement. Their interpretation has been somewhat hindered by the large hysteresis observed between the adsorption and desorption processes. Here, we model the hysteresis due to pore blocking, whereby water condensed in small pores prevents propagation of a vapour interface into the pore structure, trapping water condensed in larger pores in a metastable state. The model identifies the adsorption isotherm as more useful in determining the pore size distribution. Additionally, and of particular interest, it provides a way of calculating an additional structural parameter, quantifying the exposure of mesopores (gel pores) to the surrounding atmosphere. This exposure is higher for samples with higher water-to-cement ratio, suggesting that it is mediated by capillary pores. The model also allows calculation of the connectivity of the pore structure, although the intertwined influences of exposure and connectivity make the latter difficult to interpret.
Analytic Modeling of Neural Tissue: I. A Spherical Bidomain

Presented here is a model of neural tissue in a conductive medium stimulated by externally injected currents. The tissue is described as a conductively isotropic bidomain, i.e. comprised of intra and extracellular regions that occupy the same space, as well as the membrane that divides them, and the injection currents are described as a pair of source and sink points. The problem is solved in three spatial dimensions and defined in spherical coordinates $(r,\theta,\phi )$ . The system of coupled partial differential equations is solved by recasting the problem to be in terms of the membrane and a monodomain, interpreted as a weighted average of the intra and extracellular domains. The membrane and monodomain are defined by the scalar Helmholtz and Laplace equations, respectively, which are both separable in spherical coordinates. Product solutions are thus assumed and given through certain transcendental functions. From these electrical potentials, analytic expressions for current density are derived and from those fields the magnetic flux density is calculated. Numerical examples are considered wherein the interstitial conductivity is varied, as well as the limiting case of the problem simplifying to two dimensions due to azimuthal independence. Finally, future modeling work is discussed.
Peripheral Nerve Blocks for the Treatment of Headache in Older Adults: A Retrospective Study.

Objective The objective of this study is to provide demographical and clinical descriptions of patients age 65 years old and older who were treated with peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) at our institution and evaluate the safety and efficacy of this treatment. Background Headache disorders are common, disabling chronic neurological diseases that often persist with advancing age. Geriatric headache management poses unique therapeutic challenges because of considerations of comorbidity, drug interactions, and adverse effects. Peripheral nerve blocks are commonly used for acute and short-term prophylactic treatment for headache disorders and may be a safer alternative to standard pharmacotherapy in this demographic. Design We performed a single center, retrospective chart review of patients at least 65 years of age who received peripheral nerve blocks for headache management over a 6 year period. Results Sixty-four patients were mostly female (78%) with an average age of 71 years (range 65-94). Representative headache diagnoses were chronic migraine 50%, episodic migraine 12.5%, trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia 9.4%, and occipital neuralgia 7.8%. Average number of headache days/month was 23. Common comorbidities were hypertension 48%, hyperlipidemia 42%, arthritis 27%, depression 47%, and anxiety 33%. Eight-nine percent were prescribed at least 1 medication fulfilling the Beers criteria. The average number of peripheral nerve blocks per patient was 4. Peripheral nerve blocks were felt to be effective in 73% for all headaches, 81% for chronic migraine, 75% for episodic migraine, 67% for chronic tension type headache, 67% for new daily persistent headache, and 60% for occipital neuralgia. There were no adverse events related to PNBs reported. Conclusions PNBs might be a safe and effective alternative headache management strategy for older adults. Medical and psychiatric comorbidities, medication overuse, and Beers list medication rates were extraordinarily high, giving credence to the use of peripherally administered therapies in the geriatric population that may be better tolerated and safer.
On the relationship between the cloud-to-ground lightning characteristics and th air quality over Guangzhou megacity, South China

The relationship between the cloud-to-ground lightning characteristics and the air quality data over Guangzhou megacity, South China was investigated in this report. A simple method was proposed to cluster lightning location data into two types of thunderstorms: the traverse thunderstorms and the local ones. It was found that the AQI (air quality index), PM10 concentration, PM2.5 concentration, NO 2 concentration and O 3 concentration were positively correlated to the number of cloud-to-ground lightning flashes for the local thunderstorms. It was also found that the ratio of the positive cloud-to-ground flashes showed decreasing trend and the duration of the local thunderstorm showed increasing trend as the PM10 concentration increased. No obvious correlation was observed for the cloud-to-ground lightning count and the SO2 concentration.
Effect of biochanin A on corn grain (Zea mays) fermentation by bovine rumen amylolytic bacteria.

Aims The objective was to determine the effect of biochanin A (BCA), an isoflavone produced by red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), on corn fermentation by rumen micro-organisms. Methods and Results When bovine rumen bacterial cell suspensions (n = 3) were incubated (24 h, 39°C) with ground corn, amylolytic bacteria including group D Gram-positive cocci (GPC; Streptococcus bovis; enterococci) proliferated, cellulolytic bacteria were inhibited, lactate accumulated and pH declined. Addition of BCA (30 μg ml−1) inhibited lactate production, and pH decline. BCA had no effect on total amylolytics, but increased lactobacilli and decreased GPC. The initial rate and total starch disappearance was decreased by BCA addition. BCA with added Strep. bovis HC5 supernatant (containing bacteriocins) inhibited the amylolytic bacteria tested (Strep. bovis JB1; Strep. bovis HC5; Lactobacillus reuteri, Selenemonas ruminatium) to a greater extent than either addition alone. BCA increased cellulolytics and dry matter digestibility of hay with corn starch. Conclusions These results indicate that BCA mitigates changes associated with corn fermentation by bovine rumen bacteria ex vivo. Significance and Impact of the Study BCA could serve as an effective mitigation strategy for rumen acidosis. Future research is needed to evaluate the effect of BCA on mitigating rumen acidosis in vivo.
Alternate Pathways for Inorganic Phosphate Uptake into Mitochondria

The mitochondrial phosphate carrier (PiC), encoded by the nuclear gene SLC25A3, was purified more than 30 years ago. It is widely believed that PiC serves as the primary means of inorganic phosphate (Pi) uptake into mitochondria for oxidative phosphorylation (oxphos) and for buffering the vast amount of calcium that mitochondria can take up. Yet, the recent discovery of mutations in human PiC, and the development of a PiC floxed mouse only now allow PiC function to be directly studied in vivo. Human SLC25A3 mutations produce a severe clinical phenotype at birth and with striated muscle as a key affected tissue, and mice with cardiac-specific PiC loss eventually develop abnormal cardiac function. Yet, evidence of ample ATP and near normal function despite PiC depletion in humans and mice with PiC depletion suggest that PiC expression far exceeds Pi needs and/or that functional compensation can be substantial. Here we test the hypothesis that Pi enters mitochondria by alternate route(s), allowing substantial mitochondrial ATP production despite near absence of PiC. We generated mice with Tamoxifen(Tam)-inducible skeletal muscle (Skm) PiC knockdown (Tam+Cre+); 3 weeks after Tam, PiC protein was 95% PiC loss; maximal oxphos was ∼35% of control with pyruvate+malate as substrate and rose to ∼50% of control with fatty acid+malate. In contrast, maximal oxphos in Tam+Cre+ mitochondria was abolished with succinate as substrate. Together these observations suggest that, in the context of PiC loss, compensatory Pi uptake may be occur via the dicarboxylate carrier, which exchanges succinate or malate for Pi. Whether this occurs in vivo requires investigation.
INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE ON CONTACT AND VOLATILE TOXICITIES OF APHICIDES AGAINST THE GREEN PEACH APHID, MYZUS PERSICAE (SULZER) (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE)

Laboratory studies indicated positive temperature coefficients for 6 aphicides when applied directly to the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) on spinach, Spinacia cleracea L., leaves, at 32, 24, 16, or 8°C. At 32°C order of toxicity was RH7988 > pirimicarb > mevinphos > phosphamidon > acephate > dimethoate. Although the relative order of contact toxicity did not change as temperature was reduced, temperature coefficients varied from +5.15 for dimethoate to +1.47 for RH7988. Thus low temperature adversely affected contact activity of dimethoate more than RH7988. Mevinphos and pirimicarb were the only tested compounds that produced substantial GPA mortality through volatile activities. Furthermore, their effectiveness was reduced at low temperatures as indicated by positive temperature coefficients. Data from this study demonstrate the necessity of applying presently registered spinach aphicides, i.e., dimethoate and mevinphos, at warm temperatures. As additional aphicides become available for cool...
Productivity in the non-oil sector in Nigeria : firm-level evidence

This paper examines the determinants of the productivity of Nigerian firms, using three waves of Enterprise Surveys from 2007, 2009, and 2014 and 7,670 firms. The paper uses three alternative measures of productivity, which are found to be highly correlated: labor productivity, value added per worker, and total factor productivity. The more notable trends in the data show: a rise in productivity, with the output of exporting firms decreasing; increasing concentration of production, reflected in the rise of the Herfindahl-Hirschman index by a factor of three; increasing costs of crime, power outages, lack of security, and bribery; significant heterogeneity of these costs along several dimensions, such as firm size, age, location, and the exporting or domestic nature of the market it serves. These costs are inversely related with investment. Regardless of the measure of productivity, its main determinants are the education of the worker, size of the firm, availability of credit, and business climate variables. When labor productivity is used, the stock of capital is also a major determinant of productivity. Within the investment climate variables, power outages and the corruption index are the more significant ones. Power outages are negatively associated with productivity. Bribery is positively related, supporting the "greasing the wheels" hypothesis of bribery as a factor that reduces transaction costs. The impact is nonlinear, as it decreases with firm size. The results also show a positive association between productivity and exporting, but the causality is reversed when the analysis controls for endogeneity: productivity is a weak determinant of the likelihood of a firm becoming an exporter.
Interactions Between Transfemoral Amputees and a Powered Knee Prosthesis During Load Carriage

Machines and humans become mechanically coupled when lower limb amputees walk with powered prostheses, but these two control systems differ in adaptability. We know little about how they interact when faced with real-world physical demands (e.g. carrying loads). Here, we investigated how each system (i.e. amputee and powered prosthesis) responds to changes in the prosthesis mechanics and gravitational load. Five transfemoral amputees walked with and without load (i.e. weighted backpack) and a powered knee prosthesis with two pre-programmed controller settings (i.e. for load and no load). We recorded subjects' kinematics, kinetics, and perceived exertion. Compared to the no load setting, the load setting reduced subjects' perceived exertion and intact-limb stance time when they carried load. When subjects did not carry load, their perceived exertion and gait performance did not significantly change with controller settings. Our results suggest transfemoral amputees could benefit from load-adaptive powered knee controllers, and controller adjustments affect amputees more when they walk with (versus without) load. Further understanding of the interaction between powered prostheses, amputee users, and various environments may allow researchers to expand the utility of prostheses beyond simple environments (e.g. firm level ground without load) that represent only a subset of real-world environments.
17β-Estradiol Directly Lowers Mitochondrial Membrane Microviscosity and Improves Bioenergetic Function in Skeletal Muscle

Summary Menopause results in a progressive decline in 17β-estradiol (E2) levels, increased adiposity, decreased insulin sensitivity, and a higher risk for type 2 diabetes. Estrogen therapies can help reverse these effects, but the mechanism(s) by which E2 modulates susceptibility to metabolic disease is not well understood. In young C57BL/6N mice, short-term ovariectomy decreased—whereas E2 therapy restored—mitochondrial respiratory function, cellular redox state (GSH/GSSG), and insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle. E2 was detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in mitochondrial membranes and varied according to whole-body E2 status independently of ERα. Loss of E2 increased mitochondrial membrane microviscosity and H 2 O 2 emitting potential, whereas E2 administration in vivo and in vitro restored membrane E2 content, microviscosity, complex I and I + III activities, H 2 O 2 emitting potential, and submaximal OXPHOS responsiveness. These findings demonstrate that E2 directly modulates membrane biophysical properties and bioenergetic function in mitochondria, offering a direct mechanism by which E2 status broadly influences energy homeostasis.
Genes That Influence Susceptibility to Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

The ability to detect sound is a genetic trait essential for survival and subject to evolutionary selection. With industrial operations and the use of power tools and equipment, noise impinges on many aspects of our daily life and we are subject to frequent bouts of excessive noise. Although exposure to less intense noise can lead to temporary loss of auditory response, the cumulative effect of such noise exposures over time may also cause permanent hearing loss.
Effects of intermittent calorie restriction on weight, fat mass, lean mass, visceral adipose tissue: Results from a pilot controlled-feeding study in multiple sclerosis patients (P3.390)

Objective: To quantify the effects of different calorie restriction diets on body weight, fat mass, lean mass and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Background: MS patients often express interest in whether dietary changes could ameliorate symptoms or disease course. Intermittent fasting diets may provide additional anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective advantages beyond benefits obtained from weight loss alone. Design/Methods: We conducted a controlled feeding study of different types of calorie restriction diets in 36 MS patients for an 8 week period. Energy expenditure was determined using indirect calorimetry, and patients were randomized to receive 1 of 3 diets: a continuous calorie restriction diet (22% daily reduction of calorie needs), an intermittent fasting diet (2 days/week: 75% reduction of calorie needs; 100% otherwise), and a weight-stable diet (100% of daily calorie needs). At baseline and at week 8, patients underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, which was used to determine body composition. Results: Of the 36 patients enrolled, 31 (86%) completed the trial. Participants randomized to calorie restriction diets lost an average of 3.4 kg (SD: 4.6 kg; P=0.02); different types of calorie restriction diets did not differ in weight loss amounts (P=0.12). On average, those assigned to calorie restriction diets lost 0.1 kg (0.2 kg) VAT mass (P=0.0475), with no significant difference in rates of VAT mass loss between either type of calorie restriction diet. We did not observe significant changes in total fat mass (P=0.43) or lean mass (P=0.52) over the 8-week period between the three groups. Conclusions: In this pilot controlled feeding study of MS patients, both types of calorie restriction diets were associated with a changes in body weight and VAT mass relative to a weight-stable diets. Further studies will examine effects of different types of calorie restriction diets on more detailed markers of systemic inflammation. Study Supported by: This study was supported by a Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholar Award to Ellen Mowry Disclosure: Dr. Fitzgerald has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vizthum has nothing to disclose. Dr. Henry-Barron has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cassard has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sullivan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Baer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mowry has received royalty payments from UpToDate. Dr. Mowry has received research support from Teva Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, and Sun Pharma.
Deformation of Metals

Deformation of metals is one of the key manufacturing processes for adding value in secondary operations. Deformation as a process evolved soon after metal refinement in ancient times to shape tools and other functional parts. With the dawn of the second Industrial Age, the availability of localized power sources allowed for the development of more standardized automated processes for metal deformation, such as forging, stamping, drawing, and extrusion. These processes gave rise to high-value, standardized components for construction, vehicles, and consumer goods.
Photobiological Dosimetry of Environmental Ultraviolet Radiation

The physics and photochemistry underlying light absorption and UV-induced alteration of macromolecules are understood well enough to establish clearly the basic dosimetric quantities which govern the biological effects of an irradiation. However, practical considerations, stemming both from the characteristics of the biological systems themselves (including their often inconvenient optical properties), and the lack of control over many parameters in natural situations, may prevent an investigator from dealing with environmental ultraviolet radiation in simple, direct terms. Questions about what quantities one ought to be trying to measure, and their relation to the process under investigation, can be answered only by experience, coordinated with deliberate inquiry. These answers will determine the measuring devices and dosage units appropriate for describing the biological effects of solar UV-B.
Practicing Cost-Conscious Shoulder Surgery

Second only to the knee, the shoulder is the most commonly reported area of chronic joint pain. By practicing evidence-based methods for improved outcomes at lower costs, providers can increase both efficiency and margin, while patients experience better care and higher satisfaction. Current cost studies on shoulder care provide a base for improving evidence-based care and improving value.
Effect of sand dust accumulation on photovoltaic performance in the Saharan environment: southern Algeria (Adrar)

Many climatic conditions have a negative impact on production of photovoltaic (PV) systems, and sand dust could be one of the main reasons of degradation of PV panels. The objective of this study is to investigate the reduction in the electrical performance caused by sandstorm and the accumulation of sand dust on the photovoltaic module surface installed in the Saharan area of south Algeria (Adrar). For this purpose, four PV modules (ISO-100/24) were selected and their current-voltage characteristics were measured to evaluate the sand dust effect on their performances. Our results show that sandstorm and dust accumulation on the surface of the module reduce the performance in terms of energy and power, due to a decrease of the transmittance. Obtained outcomes show that in sandstorm periods, the particle deposition density is much higher. This study reveals that leaving PV module without any cleaning in the Saharan environmental conditions significantly reduces PV power output, in addition to the presence of the shading mismatch effects in case of partial cleaning.
Perceived racial discrimination on the change of suicide risk among ethnic minorities in the United States.

Objective: Suicide ideation and attempts are serious public health concerns in the U.S. Previous studies focus mainly on individual factors that cause suicide and therefore, it is imperative to exa...
Electrospun Nanofibers for Drug Delivery

Abstract Electrospinning, a high-voltage-driven spinning technique, has the ability to fabricate multiscale fibers from a variety of materials. Its relatively high production rate, low setup cost, and easy operation receive great attention in material sciences and biomedical applications, especially in tissue regeneration and drug delivery. It is predominantly applied to polymeric materials, including synthetic, natural, or blended polymers. The possibility of temporospatially incorporating and releasing various bioactive molecules from electrospun fibers and yielding anisotropic fiber organization enables the recapitulation of the major features of native extracellular matrix and supports the adhesion and growth of various cells. Increasing evidence has proved their utility as biomimetic substrates for regenerating a variety of tissues, such as skin, bone, cardiovascular tissue, cornea, nerve, and many more. In this regard, this chapter first summarizes how various approaches have been taken to incorporate drugs (hydrophobic, hydrophilic, small-molecule, large-molecule, etc.) onto/into electrospun fibers, then discusses the drug release from the functionalized fibrous systems, and, at the end, highlights the utility of such multifunctional fibrous matrices for neural, vascular, cardiac, skin, and bone tissue engineering.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Patients: Collegiate Athletic Trainers' Perceptions.

Context Research suggests that patients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) are at risk for certain conditions and denied equal access to health care in physician ...
Trauma Recovery Is Cultural: Understanding Shared and Different Healing Themes in Irish and American Survivors of Gender-based Violence.

Little research has focused on the trauma healing processes of survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) worldwide. Even less research has utilized cross-cultural comparison to understand shared or ...
Analytic and Arithmetic Properties of $$\mathrm{GSp}_4 \times \mathrm{G L}_2$$ L-Functions

In this chapter, we will start from the integral representation for \(L(s, \pi _F \times \tau )\) obtained in the previous chapter. We will use this integral representation to obtain analytic and arithmetic properties of the L-functions. We will also present several applications.
Phlpp1 is associated with human intervertebral disc degeneration and its deficiency promotes healing after needle puncture injury in mice

Back pain is a leading cause of global disability and is strongly associated with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD). Hallmarks of IDD include progressive cell loss and matrix degradation. The Akt signaling pathway regulates cellularity and matrix production in IVDs and its inactivation is known to contribute to a catabolic shift and increased cell loss via apoptosis. The PH domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase (Phlpp1) directly regulates Akt signaling and therefore may play a role in regulating IDD, yet this has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate if Phlpp1 has a role in Akt dysregulation during IDD. In human IVDs, Phlpp1 expression was positively correlated with IDD and the apoptosis marker cleaved Caspase-3, suggesting a key role of Phlpp1 in the progression of IDD. In mice, 3 days after IVD needle puncture injury, Phlpp1 knockout (KO) promoted Akt phosphorylation and cell proliferation, with less apoptosis. At 2 and 8 months after injury, Phlpp1 deficiency also had protective effects on IVD cellularity, matrix production, and collagen structure as measured with histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Specifically, Phlpp1-deletion resulted in enhanced nucleus pulposus matrix production and more chondrocytic cells at 2 months, and increased IVD height, nucleus pulposus cellularity, and extracellular matrix deposition 8 months after injury. In conclusion, Phlpp1 has a role in limiting cell survival and matrix degradation in IDD and research targeting its suppression could identify a potential therapeutic target for IDD.
Concordance of PD‐1 and PD‐L1 (B7‐H1) in paired primary and metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES Previous studies noted discordance of programmed death-1 (PD-1) and one of its ligands (PD-L1) across patient-matched primary and metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). There are inconsistencies if the primary or metastatic tumor has higher expression, and whether metastatic tumor expression is associated with patient outcome. Thus, we examined PD-1 and PD-L1 in patient-matched tumors using a large number of ccRCC patients with long follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed PD-1 and PD-L1 using immunohistochemistry in patient-matched primary and metastatic tumors from 110 ccRCC patients. Concordance was assessed among longitudinal metastatic tumors, as well as across patient-matched primary and metastatic tumors. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the associations of metastatic tumor expression with cancer-specific survival. RESULTS We observed inter-metastatic tumor heterogeneity of PD-1 in 25 (69%) of the 36 patients and of PD-L1 in seven (19%) patients. Concordance between patient-matched primary and metastatic tumors was 73% (Kappa = 0.16, 95% CI: -0.003-0.32). Similarly, concordance of PD-L1 between metastatic and patient-matched primary tumors was 78% (Kappa = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.09-0.46). Both markers demonstrated higher expression in primary vs metastatic tumors. Metastatic tumor expression of PD-1 was significantly associated with metastatic location (P < .0001) and ccRCC-specific survival (HR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.06-4.36, P = .035). CONCLUSIONS The expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 is discordant across patient-matched ccRCC tumors, with higher expression in primary tumors. Higher PD-1 expression was associated with metastatic location and lower cancer-specific survival. If validated, these results highlight the importance of evaluating these biomarkers in metastatic tissue specifically.
Cyclic di-GMP and the Regulation of Biofilm Dispersion

In nature, bacteria are primarily found as residents of surface-associated communities called biofilms. The formation of biofilms is a cyclical process that is initiated by single planktonic cells attaching to a surface, and comes full cycle when cells disperse from the mature biofilm to resume a planktonic lifestyle. Dispersion occurs in response to various signals and environmental cues, and results in surface-attached organisms liberating themselves from matrix-encased biofilms, apparent by single cells actively escaping from the biofilm, leaving behind eroded biofilms and microcolonies having central voids. Given the cyclic process of biofilm formation, it is not surprising that dispersion, like biofilm formation, is coincident with significant changes in the levels of the second messenger cyclic di-GMP. However, dispersion is not simply a reversion from the biofilm lifestyle to the planktonic mode of growth, as dispersed cells have been described as having a phenotype that is distinct from planktonic and biofilm cells. Using primarily the pathogen P. aeruginosa as example, this chapter provides an up-to-date compendium of cyclic di-GMP pathways connected to biofilm dispersion, including how sensing a diverse array of dispersion cues leads to the destruction of cyclic di-GMP, the escape from the biofilm matrix, and the appropriate phenotypic responses associated with dispersed cells.
Standards for Socially-and Achievement-Oriented Roles in Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

People with major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have elevated trait perfectionism. We tested whether they hold perfectionistic standards for specific life roles and examined the extent to which they met their own expectations for, gained satisfaction from, and expended effort in these roles. Seventy-four women with MDD, GAD, both disorders, or no mental disorders (CTL) described their standards for a socially-and achievement-oriented roles, coded for perfectionism. Using ecological momentary assessment, participants reported the extent to which they met, how much satisfaction they gained from, and how much effort they expended in each role. Although the clinical groups endorsed elevated trait perfectionism, they did not differ from CTLs in their role-specific standards. Compared to CTLs, the clinical groups reported meeting their standards to a lesser extent and receiving less satisfaction from both roles. The two MDD groups reported expending less effort in achievement-oriented, but not socially-oriented, roles than the other two groups. Despite similar standards for socially- and achievement-oriented roles, people with MDD and/or GAD are less likely to meet their standards and gain satisfaction from these roles. Having MDD, independent of GAD, is associated with putting less effort into achievement-oriented roles.
Abstract 13513: Serial CT Surveillance of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Diameter Demonstrates Predominantly Linear Growth (N-TA3CT)

Objective: Small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) have a low risk of rupture. Intervention is indicated when diameters exceed established thresholds. This study assessed the growth rates and patte...
Large Mitochondrial DNA Deletions in HIV Sensory Neuropathy

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation of large mitochondrial DNA deletions in skin samples of people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) with measures of neuropathy and prior exposure to therapy. We hypothesized that deletions would be associated with neuropathy. As secondary objectives we determined the correlation of deletion burden with demographic data and neuropathy measures. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study we measured the accumulation of large mtDNA deletions in skin biopsies from PWH recruited as part of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG). Our cohort includes individuals with and without sensory neuropathy, as well as individuals with normal or abnormal skin biopsies. Skin biopsies, sural and peroneal nerve conduction studies, Total Neuropathy Score and deletion burden scores were measured along with baseline demographic data such as age, CD+4 cell count, viral counts and prior dNRTI exposures. Results: Sixty-seven PWH were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the cohort (n=67) was 44 years (SD 6.8, range 32-65 years) and 9 were female. The mean CD4+ T-cell count was 168 cells/mm3 (SD 97, range 1 – 416) and mean viral load was 51129 copies/mL (SD 114586, range 147 – 657775). We determined that there was a correlation between the total mtDNA deletion and intra-epidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) (r=-0.344, p=0.04) and sural nerve amplitude (r=-0.359, p=0.004). Conclusions: IENFD and sural nerve amplitude both statistically correlate with mitochondrial mutation burden in PWH, specifically in those with HIV-associated sensory neuropathy (HIV-SN) as assessed by skin biopsy.
Forming the Hematology-Oncology Collaborative Videoconferencing (CO-VID) Learning Initiative: Experiential Lessons Learned From a Novel Trainee-Led Multidisciplinary Virtual Learning Platform.

PURPOSE:COVID-19 challenged medical practice and graduate medical education. Building on previous initiatives, we describe and reflect on the formative process and goals of the Hematology-Oncology ...
Implications of a Mortgage Interest Credit for the United States

The US mortgage interest deduction (MID) allows homeowners to deduct the interest paid on their mortgages from their federal tax returns, provided that they itemize deductions. Since the benefit de...
The Business License Rejecter

The name of a certain city in North America shall not be given, in order to save its inhabitants from embarrassment in their leadership. A ladies’ wear retailer sought a license to do business. He was denied. The embattled storekeeper vowed to fight city hall. He applied to do business selling bankruptcy stock on a discount basis. But he wanted to remain in operation only for a limited time, and then move on.