cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hydrogels - A Broad Class of Biomaterials

The term “hydrogel” refers to a broad class of polymeric materials which are swollen extensively in water (30–90%) but which do not dissolve in water. They have been used in a wide variety and growing number of biomedical applications since they often exhibit good biocompatibility. They may be applied in bulk forms which vary from clear solids to opaque sponges; sometimes these forms are reinforced by woven fabrics since the highly water-swollen gels are mechanically weak. For this same reason, they are also useful as coatings, especially when the biomedical application involves the contact of a preformed device or implant with body fluids. Table I summarizes a number of applications of hydrogels which have been mentioned in the literature (see references also).
Uterine Tubulin Production During Early Pregnancy in the Rabbit

Rabbit uterine tubulin levels rise rapidly in the preimplantation period to peak values of about 10-fold in the endometrium and about 4–5 fold in the myometrium on days 3–5 of pregnancy. Endometrial tubulin falls to non-pregnancy levels by mid-pregnancy while myomerrial tubulin declines much more slowly. The rise in tubulin exceeds the early rate of increase in total uterine protein and DNA. Following implantation, tubulin content of the decidual basal plate area increases rapidly to peak about day 12 then declines. Production of uterine tubulin appears capable of a major, short term response to gonadal hdrmone stimulation.
Phase II pilot study of neoadjuvant docetaxel and cisplatin followed by adjuvant erlotinib in patients with stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

7566 Background: Pts with early stage NSCLC, especially with nodal disease, have a poor prognosis despite curative intent therapy. It is unclear which pts may derive the benefit of chemotherapy. Th...
Understanding anemia of chronic disease

The anemia of chronic disease is an old disease concept, but contemporary research in the role of proinflammatory cytokines and iron biology has shed new light on the pathophysiology of the condition. Recent epidemiologic studies have connected the anemia of chronic disease with critical illness, obesity, aging, and kidney failure, as well as with the well-established associations of cancer, chronic infection, and autoimmune disease. Functional iron deficiency, mediated principally by the interaction of interleukin-6, the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin, and the iron exporter ferroportin, is a major contributor to the anemia of chronic disease. Although anemia is associated with adverse outcomes, experimental models suggest that iron sequestration is desirable in the setting of severe infection. Experimental therapeutic approaches targeting interleukin-6 or the ferroportin-hepcidin axis have shown efficacy in reversing anemia in either animal models or human patients, although these agents have not yet been approved for the treatment of the anemia of chronic disease.
Targeting Minority Groups: Assessing Students’ Needs in Selecting a University

As competition among universities intensifies, there is a need for better understanding the student market. In order to survive, administrators need to understand how various student segments differ in their decisionmaking behavior. The focus of this paper is to identify factors influencing the selection of a university within various demographic groups, with a special emphasis on students in colleges of business administration.
Legal Developments Regarding North Carolina's Swine Farms

North Carolina went from being a leader in free range hog-raising in the Eighteenth Century to being a leader in CAFO swine production in the Twentieth Century. The swine CAFO building boom of the 1980s and early 1990s led to a series of environmental disasters. In turn the General Assembly enacted restrictions on swine farm expansion while regulators and enforcement attorneys in the NC Department of Justice pursued enforcement actions against violators. Eventually, the N.C. Department of Justice entered into agreements funding technology development to replace swine waste lagoons.
Nada Dada: Apophatic traces in the art and sound poetry of Dada Zurich

This essay explores Hugo Ball’s claim that he coined Dada as the appellation for the subversive artistic movement he founded in Zurich based on the initials of pseudo-Denys the Areopagite, a sixth-century Christian mystic. In imagining an encounter between Ball and pseudo-Denys I propose that Ball’s quasi-theological quest for ‘the innermost alchemy of the word’ may in fact be rooted in his earlier academic interest in the works of Friedrich Nietzsche. Regardless, the negative theology (apophaticism) that pseudo-Denys’s writings embody offers an insightful framework against which to compare the Dadaists’ aspiration to encapsulate the logos, or pure and unadulterated meaning, which manifests itself not only in Ball’s sound poetry performances but also in the visual works of his comrades, including the so-called chance collages of Hans Arp.
Project Manager 'Management Competency' vs. 'Technical Competency'. Which is more important to overall project management success?

Project managers apply multiple skills and competencies in the course of successfully delivering projects. Management and technical competencies represent two major competency categories associated with project management. In this study, the relationship between management and technical competency was investigated and a weak, yet positive correlation was observed as an outcome of this quantitative study.
Targeting Protein:Protein Interaction Sites for Drug Development against Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels

Fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14) is a functionally relevant accessory protein of the neuronal Nav channel. Through a monomeric interaction with the intracellular C-terminus of neuronal Nav channels, FGF14 modulates Na+ currents in a Nav isoform-specific manner serving as a fine-tuning regulator of excitability. In previous studies we have reconstituted the PPI interaction of FGF14 and Nav1.6 in live cells using the split-luciferase complementation assay (LCA) and through site-direct mutagenesis identified “hot-spots” at the FGF14 surface critical for binding to Nav1.6. Based on the FGF14 monomer structure generated in silico, we have designed short peptide fragments that align with pockets defined by the FGF14 β12-strand and β8-β9 loop and validated their in-cell activity as inhibitors of the FGF14:Nav1.6 complex. We then applied patch-clamp electrophysiology and show exciting preliminary data indicating that two peptides, Fpep1 and Epep1, exhibit either a negative allosteric modulators (NAM)-like or a positive allosteric modulators (PAM)-like activity against Nav1.6-encoded currents. For one peptide, Fpep1, we have begun medicinal chemistry efforts to generate novel peptidomimetics that are currently being evaluated. These breakthrough results identify the FGF14 β8-β9 and β12 as part of potential druggable pockets against the FGF14-Nav1.6 complex and indicate that small molecule inhibitors (SMI) and/or peptidomimetics targeting these pockets might give rise to a new class of unconventional PPI-based allosteric modulators of Nav channels that could restore dysfunction of neuronal excitability and plasticity in brain disorders. These results provide fundamental new knowledge for the design of new leads targeting the Nav channel macromolecular complex. We expect our studies to have a broad impact in the drug design against a wide range of still untreatable brain disorders
The Pharmacist and the Ostomate

Abstract This article discusses points that the pharmacist should be aware of when serving the ostomate. These points are covered in four sections: terminology, pharmacological response to drugs, pharmacological response to foods and skin care. The section on pharmacological response to drugs reviews the current literature with regard to effectiveness and adverse reactions to therapy. Pharmacological response to foods reviews the general subject of nutrition along with a syllabus of foods that may affect the quantity of elimination, flatulence and odor. The discussion on skin care includes the therapeutic classifications of supplies including appliances, ancillary medicaments and curative agents along with a brief explanation of possible uses.
Survey on Health Knowledge,Attitude and Behavior Among Rural Residents of Four Villages in Jiulong District in Guangzhou

OBJECTIVE To understand the current situation of the health knowledge,attitude and behavior among rural residents of Jiulong District in Guangzhou,to provide evidence for intervention strategy.METHODS Multi-stage sampling was used to get the study subject and face to face interview was used to collect information.About 200 persons of 14～65 years old in every village of Jiulong District were investigated.RESULT The average rate of health knowledge in Datan,Jiulou,Yantang,Fengxia Village was 55.06%,45.21%,52.77% and 56.73%.The having rate of health behavior was 59.1% 、 49.8% 、 59.7% and 63.2%.The rate of health knowledge and behavior in Jiulou Village was significantly less than the other villages.CONCLUSIONS The mean and coverage for the health education of rural resident need to improved.Adopt various forms of publicity,to improve the health level of rural residents.
Biopsy of the testis

Biopsy of the testis has been considered for a long time and continues to be an acknowledged method of examination in the framework of investigation of male infertility. A classical indication for this is the repeated statement of azoospermia with normal size of the testes. On part of the spermogram, the indication for testicular biopsy is however not limited just to azoospermia. On the other hand, one can do without a biopsy when the size of the testes is less than 2.5 cm, as almost certainly a pronounced testicular atrophy which cannot be influenced will be present. Diagnosis of testicular precancerous conditions represents a more recent indication for biopsy of the testis which will probably gain more importance in the future. Anamnestic and clinical informations and above all the correct fixation and treatment of the specimen are an absolute prerequisite for the perfect interpretation of the bioptic picture.
A 5µW fractional CMOS bandgap voltage and current reference

Design of a sub-1V, low power, fractional bandgap voltage reference (Vr ~ 0.6V) conjoined with a current reference (Ir ~ 1μA) in standard 90 nm digital CMOS is proposed, utilizing standard parasitic substrate PNPs. A positive temperature coefficient (TC) voltage is generated across a feed-back resistor, Rf, via a negative TC emitter-base voltage (VEB) on one side of Rf and the looped-back Vr output on the other side, which has a near zero TC. The resulting current, Ix = (Vr - VEB) /Rf, has a zero current crossing point that can be set roughly around the mid-point of minimum and maximum operating temperatures. As such, Ix supplies the needed positive TC current to the bandgap's proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current loop that facilitates generating the residual zero TC current, Ir, which is concurrently fed to Ro to produce Vr. Simulations show Vr of about 0.6V at TC of about ±10ppm/°C (with trim) can be achieved over span of -50°C VDD > +5V, indicates that IDD of about 5μA, and voltage coefficient (VC) of about ±50 ppm/V are achievable.
Exosomes: What Do We Love So Much About Them?

Exosomes, once thought to be biomarkers of a diseased state, are now thought to be biologically active and some of the paracrine effects of stem cell therapy. Although there is much excitement around their actions, there is also a growing need to better understand the role of cell source, exosome content, and exosome targeting in a quantitative manner. Better understanding of these variables and others, in a reproducible and comprehensive approach, could better inform future therapy. In recent years, exosomes have been thrust into the spotlight for their ability to deliver a therapeutic payload to injured cells or regions of the cardiovascular system. As I sit here and try to come up with an analogy to showcase some of the important issues, I felt that using the upcoming American Heart Association Scientific Sessions destination may have some impact. For those who have traveled to New Orleans and have been lucky enough to sample the amazing cuisine, there is one thing that springs to my mind when thinking about Cajun and Creole foods. With apologies to the vegetarians reading this, one major ingredient of many of these dishes is sausage. So yes, I am comparing sausages to exosomes, but please bear with me. Thinking out loud, they both are loved by diverse groups, the source is both contentious and also a defining factor of what we love, and they both contain lots of things in them that could be the source of the great flavor…or activity. Now that the analogy is out of the way, let us expand a bit on all the points. Originally considered cell debris, small, membrane-derived vesicles were more appropriately characterized in 1987 and termed exosomes.1 Exosomes are a specific subtype of secreted membrane-bound vesicles, with diameters ranging from 30 to 130 nm. They are actively …
Labour Market Limbo: The Uneven Integration of Co-Ethnic Argentine Immigrants in Spain

Immigration and citizenship laws that discriminate by race, ethnicity, and national origins are increasingly illegitimate in contemporary democracies, yet laws that grant privileged access and membership to immigrants who share natives' ethnicity persist. This enduring positive selection rests upon the assumption that co-ethnicity fosters integration. Countering this logic, this article centers on co-ethnics' insertion into local labour markets. It draws from a case study of Aguaviva, Spain, a depopulating village in which both co-ethnic Argentines and Romanian immigrants reside. The analysis qualifies the trend of deracialization in immigration and citizenship policy and shows that positive preferences do not uniformly foster integration. In dual labour market systems, co-ethnics struggle because they are not different enough for secondary sector jobs reserved for immigrant “others,” yet in the primary sector they enter into direct competition with natives.
Heating Effects During Tensile Tests of Aisi 304L Stainless Steel At 4 K

In structural alloy tensile specimens undergoing mechanical work in a liquid-helium bath, internal temperature increases are favored by their low specific heat and thermal conductivity at this temperature (4 K). The well-known phenomenon of discontinuous yielding is commonly attributed to adiabatic heating of the specimen [1,2]. The possible occurrence of such heating must be considered in testing structural materials for liquid-helium-temperature applications. Therefore, temperatures of small tensile specimens of AISI 304L stainless steel were measured during straining at 4 K at several strain rates. The number and magnitudes of the temperature rises and the number of load drops were used to calculate a specimen temperature profile during load drops. Examination of a specimen after one load drop occurred showed that only a small portion of the specimen deformed. The observed temperature rises and load drops were compared with calculated values. The possible effect of a latent heat of martensitic transformation on the specimen temperature was considered.
Effects of Environmental Factors on DNA: Damage and Mutations

Chemicals in the environment pose myriad challenges to organisms, principally via toxicity or mutagenesis. Mutations are the result of changes in the DNA base sequence or the chemical addition of adducts onto the bases, which prevent correct DNA replication and/or transcription of the DNA into RNA. Additionally, spontaneous mutation of DNA bases can also occur by tautomerization, base deletions or additions, deamination, etc. Every human cell experiences about 10,000 “insults” every day, most of which are repaired by one of the multiple DNA repair systems of the cell. DNA replication itself results in a few base changes every cycle. Io protect itself from accumulating mutations, cells typically divide (mitosis) between 40 and 70 times (the so-called Hayflick number) before they undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis). Hence, it is the accumulation of mutations in the DNA due to chemicals in the environment that seems to be a causative agent of maladies, including cancer. (It is currently hypothesized that multiple DNA base changes, DNA rearrangements, etc., are necessary for the induction of cancer, which is uncontrolled and unregulated cell growth and division). Environmental chemicals that are linked to DNA damage include (but are not limited to) alkylating agents, Agent Orange, intercalating agents, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, triclosan, and plasticizers (including polyvinyl chloride, phthalates, and bisphenol A and its derivatives). Some of the environmental chemicals may not cause DNA damage directly; they can cause epigenetic changes. This means that the DNA base sequence is not altered but the base is chemically modified so that the genetic information is expressed in a manner abnormal to correct cellular function. Moreover, it has become evident that posttranslational modifications of proteins associated with DNA (e.g., histones) can also lead to mutation via incorrect regulation of gene expression. Results of contemporary studies on animals (including human) have also indicated that epigenetic changes can occur in response to environmental distress (e.g., famine, toxic chemicals) and cause an ailment(s) in the individual due to altered gene expression, and that these epigenetic changes, altered gene expression, and ailment(s) are passed on to at least two and maybe three generations of offspring. The gene sequence, however, remains unchanged! This is referred to as transgenerational inheritance.
Phylogenetic Analysis of Methanogenic Bacteria

The most recent extensive phylogenetic tree of the methanogenic bacteria presented the relationship of twenty two species and was derived from the comparison of 16S ribosomal RNA oligonucleotide catalogs (Whitman, W. B., 1985, Methanogenic bacteria, in The Bacteria, vol. 8, Archaebacteria, C. R. Woese and R.S. Wolfe ed., Academic Press, Inc., New York). This work has been expanded here. The complete sequence of the 16S ribosomal RNA was obtained for twenty nine species and a new tree was derived. The overall structure of the tree is conserved. However since the comparison of complete sequences distinguishes between fast and slow evolving organisms, additional information can be obtained. The hierarchy of branching shows that the Methanococcaceae family has the deepest branching, followed by the Methanobacteriaceae, the Methanomicrobiaceae and the Methanosarcinaceae. It appears that the groups branching more recently (Methanomicrobiaceae and Methanosarcinaceae) have evolved relatively faster than the Methanococcaceae and Methanobacteriaceae This observation matches the increase in structural and metabolic diversity observed from the Methanococcaceae to the Methanosarcinaceae. Also, extreme thermophilicity, a characteristic assumed to be ancestral and shared with all the sulfur-dependent Archaebacteria, is only found among the Methanococcaceae and the Methanobacteriaceae.
The Leading Edge of Ethics Leadership and Management: Recent Books

Perhaps more than at any time in recent memory, there has been a crisis of ethics in public life. In a setting where public sentiment could seemingly not be more divided—the citizenry more distrust...
Salivary Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is a useful diagnostic tool in the management of salivary gland pathology. FNA cytology for salivary disease can influence management decisions and inform counseling on therapeutic options. Compared to other forms of biopsy, FNA is simple, cost-effective, and safe while providing rapid information (Majewski et al. J Med Genet 48:580–589, 2011; Service Science 311:1544–1546, 2006). However, the large number of benign and malignant salivary tumors and inflammatory diseases with potential overlapping morphologies makes salivary cytology particularly challenging. There is a relative paucity of specific immunohistochemical stains and readily available molecular markers to accurately subtype salivary gland neoplasms. These factors can confound even experienced cytopathologists. Thus, both the imperfect accuracy of cytologic analysis and the confidence level of the pathologist need to be considered in the context of the clinical and imaging findings prior to any surgical intervention. This chapter explores the technique, utility, and limitations associated with FNA of salivary glands.
Legal Geographies of the American “Right-of-Way”

Prytherch explores the legislative frameworks that create and define streets, and how particular assumptions about mobility give shape to street spaces. The chapter traces changing legal and design assumptions about what roadways are for and whom they should serve, set in context of the historical evolution of the American street as physical and legal space for cars. It provides a critical review of the Uniform Vehicle Code, which defines the nature and purpose of the public roadway, legitimate users, and the allocation of street spaces for particular modes of travel. He analyzes diverse state statutes modeled on the Uniform Vehicle Code. Critical analysis of traffic codes in relation to mobility justice reveals how such statutes codify the asymmetrical and unjust power geometries of automobility. Mobility injustice on the American roadway is, Prytherch suggests, built upon a very firm statutory foundation.
A method to estimate the energy consumption of deep neural networks

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have enabled state-of-the-art accuracy on many challenging artificial intelligence tasks. While most of the computation currently resides in the cloud, it is desirable to embed DNN processing locally near the sensor due to privacy, security, and latency concerns or limitations in communication bandwidth. Accordingly, there has been increasing interest in the research community to design energy-efficient DNNs. However, estimating energy consumption from the DNN model is much more difficult than other metrics such as storage cost (model size) and throughput (number of operations). This is due to the fact that a significant portion of the energy is consumed by data movement, which is difficult to extract directly from the DNN model. This work proposes an energy estimation methodology that can estimate the energy consumption of a DNN based on its architecture, sparsity, and bitwidth. This methodology can be used to evaluate the various DNN architectures and energy-efficient techniques that are currently being proposed in the field and guide the design of energy-efficient DNNs. We have released an online version of the energy estimation tool at energyestimation.mit.edu. We believe that this method will play a critical role in bridging the gap between algorithm and hardware design and provide useful insights for the development of energy-efficient DNNs.
Non-linear large deformation FE analysis of orthodontic springs

Large deformation non-linear finite element models of T, V, L and B (Baldwin) orthodontic springs were developed and experimentally validated. Spring stiffnesses and moment/force ratios were computed. Compared to the T loop, under horizontal activation, the V loop was half as stiff, the L loop was equal, and the B spring was 10% as stiff, The moment/force ratio was 30% higher in the V configuration, while the B spring was less by 95%. The asymmetric L loop exerted a moment/force ratio that was 30% on the one side, but 180% in the opposite direction on the other side. With vertical activation, also compared to the T spring, the horizontal stiffnesses were 500% (V), 150% (L), and 30% (B). The concomitant vertical stiffnesses were 100%, 50% and 25%. The vertically activated moment/force ratios were nearly equal in the four springs. Experiments validated these FEM calculations.
Predictive Statistical Mechanics

This workshop is concerned with two topics, foundations of quantum theory and of irreversible statistical mechanics, which might appear quite different. Yet the current problems in both fields are basically the same, two different aspects of a deep conceptual hang up that permeates not only physics, but all fields that use probability theory.
Working distance passive stability in laser directed energy deposition additive manufacturing

Abstract In Laser Directed Energy Deposition (L-DED), closed loop control systems can be used to enhance system reliability; however, modulating controlled parameters can have unintended secondary morphological and microstructural effects. To enable development of control systems more sensitive to the complicated interplay between powder flow, thermal transfer, and long-term stability in the machine, the L-DED process, in an open loop configuration, was studied both experimentally and theoretically. A fully physics based semi-analytical model was created that incorporates descriptions of the powder spray pattern, laser attenuation through the powder cloud, and a thermal equilibrium model to predict melt dimensions. The model was validated against an experimental matrix of 258 single track deposition experiments with stainless steel 316 L. It was found that the powder flow field causes working distance (WD) to converge to an equilibrium value, and that this equilibrium position is strongly influenced by many effects, such as thermal energy accumulation in the part and powder flow dispersion. Several metrics to quantify the stability of this equilibrium working distance are proposed and discussed.
Young adult marijuana use: the influence of individual differences and legalization

Abstract In 2014, recreational marijuana use became legal for adults over 21 in Colorado. When this law was implemented, the potential health risks related to legal recreational marijuana use were unknown. Certain populations, including high-risk adolescents (i.e., adolescents schematic for personality traits predicting substance misuse, such as sensation seeking), and individuals identifying as sexual minorities, may be especially vulnerable to negative health outcomes associated with marijuana use. Based on previous research, two hypotheses were tested. First, facets of sensation seeking (i.e., risk and experience seeking) would moderate marijuana use before and after legalization and in underage and of-age participants. Second, sexual orientation would have a quadratic relation with marijuana use. Data collected from undergraduate students (N = 5241) at a Colorado university were used to test study hypotheses. Results indicated experience seeking negatively predicted past 30-day use while risk seeking positively predicted use for underage individuals. Morever, a significant interaction was found whereby being underage and high in risk seeking predicted increased use. As hypothesized, a quadratic relation was found between sexual orientation and past month use. Findings reported herein provide clarification of the relevance of individual risk factors on marijuana use in a state where recreational marijuana use is legal.
"Think it. Mix it. Vape it.": A Content Analysis on E-Cigarette Radio Advertisements.

Background: E-cigarette (EC) use is increasing rapidly across the United States, especially among youth. EC advertisements are one likely contributor to this increase, as they currently have few ma...
Comparison of distribution selection methods

Many methods have been suggested to choose between distributions. There has been relatively less study to examine whether these methods accurately recover the distributions being studied. Hence, th...
Creating SWF and PDF animated learning objects from powerpoint presentations

Many faculty have developed an arsenal of PowerPoint presentations for their classrooms through their years of teaching. Most of these PowerPoint presentations are designed for the class which can take up to an hour or more to present in the classroom. These PowerPoint files might have good and complete content but are missing the added value which is the audio faculty explanations and comments which happens during the presentation in the classroom.
Sources and severity of stress in a Southwestern police department

Background Policing is a stressful occupation. Most research examining police stress focuses solely on patrol officers, and often focuses on black and white officers only. Further, organizational sources of stress tend to be more important for police officers generally. Aims To explore sources and severity of stress in a predominately Hispanic, mid-sized, Southwestern police department. Methods A cross-sectional study of 147 police officers of all ranks was conducted. A modified version of the Police Stress Survey (PSS) was administered during daily briefings. Logistical regression models were utilized to examine predictors of stress based on gender, race/ethnicity, rank and tenure. Results Overall, occupational stressors proved more prominent than organizational stressors, contrary to previous research. Additionally, race/ethnicity was predictive of both total stress and occupational stress; rank was predictive of organizational stress; and tenure in law enforcement was predictive of occupational stress. Conclusions The sources of stress that impact police officers may be shifting as the climate surrounding law enforcement changes. What is stressful for officers depends on the race/ethnicity, rank and tenure of the officer within the organizational structure. Potential interventions designed to alleviate stress should be mindful of the variety of needs within any given department.
APICAL VARIANT HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY PRESENTS AS MID-CAVITARY HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY WITH OBSTRUCTION 10 YEARS LATER

Apical variant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHCM) is a rare genetic disease with variable phenotypic expression, typically associated with a benign prognosis. A 71-year-old female with AHCM presented with 3 days of exertional chest pain and was found to have NSTEMI. EKG showed deep T-wave
Conjugated linoleic acid improves endothelial Ca2+ signaling by blocking growth factor and cytokine-mediated Cx43 phosphorylation.

Abstract Sustained Ca2+ burst signaling is crucial for endothelial vasodilator production and is disrupted by growth factors and cytokines. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a Src inhibitor in certain preparations, is generally regarded as safe during pregnancy by the FDA. Multiple CLA preparations; t10, c12 or c9, t11 CLA, or a 1:1 mixture of the two were administered before growth factor or cytokine treatment. Growth factors and cytokines caused a significant decrease in Ca2+ burst numbers in response to ATP stimulation. Both t10, c12 CLA and the 1:1 mixture rescued VEGF165 or TNFα inhibited Ca2+ bursts and correlated with Src-specific phosphorylation of connexin 43. VEGF165, TNFα, and IL-6 in combination at physiologic concentrations revealed IL-6 amplified the inhibitory effects of lower dose of VEGF165 and TNFα. Again, the 1:1 CLA mixture was most effective at rescue of function. Therefore, CLA formulations may be a promising treatment for endothelial dysfunction in diseases such as preeclampsia.
Transcutaneous drug administration

Abstract The first part of this chapter focuses on the benefits and limitations of transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDSs). Advantages include convenience, avoidance of presystemic metabolism (first-pass effect) and painlessness. Other benefits include noninvasiveness (or minimal invasiveness in the case of microneedles), the absence of gastric irritation, a more uniform absorption, as well as a faster onset of action. One of the limitations of the transdermal route is that externally introduced chemicals (including medications) have to overcome the stratum corneum before entering into systemic circulation. All drugs currently marketed in the form of TDDSs are very potent and typically, their molecular weights are lower than 500 Daltons. Proteins, peptides, and genes are hydrophilic, electrically charged macromolecules and therefore cannot cross the human skin in therapeutic quantities. The second part of this chapter examines the classification of transdermal patches. Passive transdermal systems belong to three major categories: the reservoir (membrane-controlled), matrix without a rate-controlling membrane, and matrix systems with a rate-controlling membrane. In reservoir transdermal systems, drug flux depends on the diffusion rate across a polymer membrane. In a matrix transdermal system, the medication is incorporated into an adhesive polymer, from which the medication diffuses through the skin into the bloodstream.
Aluminum(III) porphyrin: A unique building block for artificial photosynthetic systems

Abstract Despite being the most abundant metal on the Earth, aluminum(III) metal ion centered porphyrin (AlPor, where Por = Porphyrin) derivatives have received much less attention compared to the transition metal porphyrin derivatives. The exceptional dual bonding features, (i) the axial hydroxide readily reacts with carboxylic acid or alcohol and (ii) the Lewis acid Al center forms an adduct with a Lewis base such as pyridine or imidazole, make the AlPor a unique building block for the construction of ‘axial-bonding’ type multicomponent donor–acceptor systems for a variety of applications. Additionally, due to the rich redox chemistry and optical properties, the AlPor can act as either a photosensitizing electron acceptor or electron donor in donor–acceptor systems. Unlike the zinc(II) porphyrin (ZnPor), the AlPor based donor–acceptor provides an axial topology to investigate the sequential photoinduced energy transfer (EnT) and/or electron transfer (ET) processes in perpendicular to the porphyrin ring. This review surveys AlPor based multicomponent donor–acceptor systems designed to mimic the various components of natural photosynthesis to develop an artificial photosynthetic system for tapping solar energy. Additionally, the review examines the photocatalytic behavior of AlPor towards solar fuel production. Finally, we will discuss the similarities and differences between the ‘axial-bonding’ type AlPor and ZnPor systems.
Infrastructures as colonial beachheads: The Central Arizona Project and the taking of Navajo resources:

Colonial difference is a story of national infrastructures. To understand how colonialism works across Indigenous lands, we need to appreciate the physical, legal, and political factors involved in...
Partnering With Patients in a Quality Improvement Curriculum for Internal Medicine Residents.

Patient experience is a core component of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Triple Aim for health care improvement. Although resident physicians must meet quality improvement (QI) competenci...
Thyroid Hormone and Estrogen Promote Endocrine Resistance, Proliferation, Dedifferentiation, and Cancer Stem Cells in Steroid Receptor-Positive Breast Cancers

Background: Breast cancer (BC) and thyroid disease are well-recognized comorbidities. Hyperthyroidism and supraphysiologic thyroid hormone (TH) have been shown to promote BC incidence. We recently reported that thyroid hormone replacement therapy (THRT) was significantly and independently associated with shortened disease-free and overall survival, as well as endocrine resistance only in patients with steroid receptor-positive (SR+) BC (1). TH markedly upregulated estrogen and cell cycle signaling in vivo and in vitro and promoted dedifferentiation to basaloid and pre-stem phenotypes. Metformin (Met) attenuated this shift. Mechanisms of TH-mediated endocrine therapy resistance in ER+ BC are the focus of this report. Design: Two clinical cohorts of early-stage lymph node-negative (LN-) SR+ BC patients (n=820 and n=160) were used to determine the effect of THRT on overall survival using Kaplan-Meier methods. Bi-directional cross-talk between TH and E2 was tested using different BC cell lines, ER+ PDX in vivo models, in vitro methods, and publically available in silico data for modeling. Results: Our results show that E2+TH increases cell proliferation, enhances cell cycle, and hormone-associated oncogenic signaling in SR+/ER+ BC. Given that high expression of THRA is associated with poor prognosis in SR+ BC, knockdown of THRA and ESR1 reduced cell proliferation in ER+ BC cells. ER+ PDX tumors were implanted into NSG mice containing E2 pellet and subsequently treated with TH, Tamoxifen (Tam), Fulvestrant (ICI) or Met. Our data show that TH-mediated endocrine resistance only in the E2+TH+Tam treated tumors (P<0.0001 vs E2+Tam alone). Both ICI and Met provided significant attenuation of tumor growth in vivo. RNAseq analysis of E2+TH+Tam tumors show an increase in pro-oncogenic signaling (Wnt/Fizzled, MMPs, and TCL/LEFT). Our data suggest that the use of Tam did not dampen tumor growth whereas a full ER-antagonist (ICI) or Met attenuated E2-TH mediated cross-talk and tumor growth. Conclusions: These findings suggest that TH+Tam may enhance oncogenic signaling and is associated with a significantly increase in mortality risk in ER+/SR+ BC tumors. Exogenous TH adversely affects SR+ BC and not SR- BC. Understanding the mechanism of cross-talk between TH and E2 allows us to define novel therapeutic strategies that will facilitate rapid clinical application for ER+ BC patients currently taking THRT and anti-estrogen treatments. Reference: (1) Wahdan-Alaswad et. al. Clin Cancer Res October 23 2020 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-264.
Transitioning Focus Group Research to a Videoconferencing Environment: A Descriptive Analysis of Interactivity

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted face-to-face interactions in healthcare research, with many studies shifting to video-based data collection for qualitative research. This study describes the interactivity achieved in a videoconferencing focus group of seven primary care providers discussing deprescribing opioids and benzodiazepines. Researchers reviewed video footage of a focus group conducted via Zoom and assessed interactivity using Morgan's framework for focus group communication processes. Two reviewers categorized the type of exchanges as sharing information, comparing experiences, organizing, and conceptualizing the content, as well as validating each other or galvanizing the discussion with "lightning strike" ideas. The conversation dynamics in this focus group included clear examples of interactivity in each of the categories proposed by Morgan (validating, sharing, comparing, organizing, conceptualizing, and lightning strikes) that were observed by two different reviewers with demonstrated high interrater reliability. Conducting focus groups with a skilled moderator using videoconferencing platforms with primary care providers is a viable option that produces sufficient levels of interaction.
Economists and Public Opinion: Expert Consensus and Economic Policy Judgments

How do citizens view economists, and how do they respond to consensus in the profession? We examine the responsiveness of the American public to information regarding the distribution of opinion among economists on five economic policy issues. We also examine the extent and role of citizens’ trust in economists. We find that trust is tepid and find correspondingly small-to-moderate changes in public opinion when citizens are given information about expert opinion. Indeed, we provide evidence that responsiveness is larger when the consensus is attributed to a generic sample of people than when it is attributed to economists. We also find heterogeneity in responsiveness across issues, such that opinion change is smaller on symbolic policy issues than technical ones. Further, on the former, but not the latter, we find that citizens use judgments of trust in economists in a motivated fashion, to reinforce prior opinions.
Closed-loop wavefront sensing and correction in the mouse brain with computed optical coherence microscopy.

Optical coherence microscopy (OCM) uses interferometric detection to capture the complex optical field with high sensitivity, which enables computational wavefront retrieval using back-scattered light from the sample. Compared to a conventional wavefront sensor, aberration sensing with OCM via computational adaptive optics (CAO) leverages coherence and confocal gating to obtain signals from the focus with less cross-talk from other depths or transverse locations within the field-of-view. Here, we present an investigation of the performance of CAO-based aberration sensing in simulation, bead phantoms, and ex vivo mouse brain tissue. We demonstrate that, due to the influence of the double-pass confocal OCM imaging geometry on the shape of computed pupil functions, computational sensing of high-order aberrations can suffer from signal attenuation in certain spatial-frequency bands and shape similarity with lower order counterparts. However, by sensing and correcting only low-order aberrations (astigmatism, coma, and trefoil), we still successfully corrected tissue-induced aberrations, leading to 3× increase in OCM signal intensity at a depth of ∼0.9 mm in a freshly dissected ex vivo mouse brain.
TREM2 Sensing of Tumor Cell Efferocytosis Promotes a Macrophage Molecular State that Limits NK Cell Antitumor Immunity

Macrophages (MΦ) form a highly heterogenous compartment within tumor lesions. Using lineage tracing, we recently established that advanced NSCLC lesions in both mice and humans are depleted of tissue-resident macrophages (TRM) and are mainly populated by monocyte-derived MΦ (MoMΦ). Here, we show that TREM2+ MoMΦ dominate murine and human NSCLC lesions. Importantly, using mice reconstituted with mixed TREM2-deficient and -proficient bone marrow cells, we identified a cell-intrinsic ability for TREM2 to drive an efferocytosis-associated molecular program that profoundly reduced the expression of immunogenic molecules in tumor-infiltrating MoMΦ. Trem2 deletion significantly dampened this program, reversed MoMΦ immunosuppression, and significantly enhanced the accumulation of activated NK cells and cDC1 in tumor lesions. Notably, Trem2 deletion reduced lung cancer progression in an NK cell-dependent manner. Taken together, our results underscore the potential for therapeutic inhibition of TREM2 to mount a potent anti-tumor immune response by unleashing cooperative NK/cDC1 cell function.
The Economic History of Canada

Canada is one of the richest countries in the world today. It stands above most countries in the Americas. It is also noticeably poorer than its American neighbour in spite of considerable geographic similarities. These two facts were true as early as the 17th century. Why? An understanding of Canada's historical path of economic growth can be acquired by focusing on three important gaps in living standards within Canada: First Nations versus the Rest of Canada; French-Canadians versus English-Canadians; Atlantic Canada versus the Rest of Canada. These three gaps allow us to understand the crucial role of institutions in determining why Canada is rich in a global perspective and why it is poorer than America. However, explanations as to why Canada grew richer than the rest of Latin America are more speculative.
Immunotherapies in Genitourinary Oncology: Where Are We Now? Where Are We Going?

For decades, limited options existed to treat metastatic genitourinary cancers, including treatment options that could be classified as immunotherapy. Historically, immunotherapy centered on systemic cytokines for the treatment of metastatic kidney cancer, which had several adverse effects, as well as the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine for non-metastatic bladder cancer. Within the past decade, advances in immunotherapy have led to several approvals from the United States Food and Drug Administration, particularly in the field of immune checkpoint inhibition. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are now being used extensively to treat multiple solid tumors, including kidney and bladder cancers, and they are also being tested in many other cancers. Despite encouraging data from phase 2/3 clinical trials, less is known about biomarkers that may predict better response to ICIs. The effect of ICIs in genitourinary cancers is heterogeneous, with some tumor types having little clinical data available, or ICIs having limited activity in other tumors. In this review, we briefly discuss approved immunotherapy agents prior to the time of ICIs. Then, given the emergence of this class of agents, we summarize the several important ICIs and the clinical trials that led to their approval. Finally, we mention ongoing and future clinical trials.
The Business Canvas

Many entrepreneurs are moving away from creating traditional written business plans as they are too expensive and time-consuming to create, and they are instead using the streamlined visual invention tool known as the business canvas to articulate the details of their business. This article describes what business canvases are, covering the two main types of canvases and their characteristics. Then, the article provides a case study which illustrates how canvases can be used. I argue that this important visual genre is under researched and could have important pedagogical uses in professional and technical writing.
1950–1970s: Where We Came From

The history of the Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Laboratory grew out of the background of scientific investigations begun in the early 1940s built around the creativity of EH Wood who surrounded himself with a unique multidisciplinary group of physiologists combined with pathologists, clinicians, surgeons, and engineers. Initially devoted to assessing the physiology of g-forces in dive bombers during World War II with a human centrifuge, the technology for the precise measurement of pressures and flow in the cardiovascular system was developed. This group, working in close geographic proximity on an everyday basis on unmet current and future needs, contributed the fundamental basis for the success of the cardiac laboratory. The precursor opened in 1951 in a Medical Sciences building. From that beginning, they developed technology and approaches for accurate measurement of cardiac output, intracardiac shunts, advances in imaging which included the world’s first CT cardiac scanner, and the creation and implementation of new approaches to surgical treatment of congenital heart disease and an early heart-lung machine. It then moved along to the development of invasive clinical cardiovascular approaches with coronary angiography, the initial hemodynamic description of HFpEF, and the use of videodensitometry to assess cardiac and structural valve physiology and function. From this unique group also came the professional development of a network of multiple generations of thought leaders throughout the world as well as a specific strasse named after EH Wood in Germany. The journey had just begun.
Measuring the Quality of Service Oriented Design

Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) has gained popularity as a design paradigm for realizing enterprise software systems through abstract units of functionality called services. While the key design principles of SOA have been discussed at length in the literature, much of the work is prescriptive in nature and do not explain how adherence to these principles can be quantitatively measured in practice. In some cases, metrics for a limited subset of SOA quality attributes have been proposed, but many of these measures have not been empirically validated on real-life SOA designs. In this paper, we take a deeper look at how the key SOA quality attributes of service cohesion, coupling, reusability, composability and granularity may be evaluated, based only on service design level information. We survey related work, adapt some of the well-known software design metrics to the SOA context and propose new measures where needed. These measures adhere to mathematical properties that characterize the quality attributes. We study their applicability on two real-life SOA design models from the insurance industry using a metrics computation tool integrated with an Eclipse-based service design environment. We believe that availability of these measures during SOA design will aid early detection of design flaws, allow different design options and trade-offs to be considered and support planning for development, testing and governance of the services.