cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Androgen receptor signals regulate UDP‐glucuronosyltransferases in the urinary bladder: A potential mechanism of androgen‐induced bladder carcinogenesis

UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), major phase II drug metabolism enzymes, play an important role in urinary bladder cancer initiation by detoxifying carcinogens. We aimed to determine if androgens regulate UGT expression via the androgen receptor (AR) pathway in the bladder. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses were used to assess UGT1A levels in the normal urothelium SVHUC cell line stably expressed with AR and in bladder tissues from AR knockout (ARKO) and castrated male mice. Immunohistochemistry was also performed in radical cystectomy specimens. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) treatment in SVHUC-AR reduced mRNA expression of all the UGT1A subtypes (19-75% decrease), and hydroxyflutamide antagonized the DHT effects. In contrast, DHT showed only marginal effects on UGT1A expression in SVHUC-Vector. Of note were higher expression levels of UGT1As in SVHUC-Vector than in SVHUC-AR. In ARKO mice, all the Ugt1a subtypes were up-regulated, compared to wild-type littermates. In wild-type male mice, castration increased the expression of Ugt1a8, Ugt1a9, and Ugt1a10. Additionally, wild-type female mice had higher levels of Ugt1a than wild-type males. Immunohistochemical studies showed strong (3+) UGT1A staining in 11/24 (46%) cancer tissues, which was significantly lower than in corresponding benign tissues [17/18 (94%) cases (P = 0.0009)]. These results suggest that androgen-mediated AR signals promote bladder carcinogenesis by down-regulating the expression of UGTs in the bladder.
Contingency counseling by school personnel: an economical model of intervention.

An Attendance Counselor contacted adults (mediators) who controlled reinforcers for six chronic nonattenders (targets); agreements (deals) were made between mediators and targets that reinforcers would be provided, contingent on school attendance. Absence of the Attendance Counselor from school for a two-week period constituted a reversal condition, after which the “deals” were reinstituted. Results showed a significant increase over baseline in school attendance during the time in which deals were in effect. A second study involved 20 chronic nonattenders for whom deals were arranged as in Study One (contingency counseling), and 15 nonattenders provided more traditional attendance counseling (contact counseling). Contingency Counselors achieved results with the 20 nonattenders similar to those achieved in Study One. An experienced Contact Counselor did not achieve improved school attendance among her group of 15 nonattenders.
THINKING ABOUT BACTERIAL POPULATIONS AS MULTICELLULAR ORGANISMS

It has been a decade since multicellularity was proposed as a general bacterial trait. Intercellular communication and multicellular coordination are now known to be widespread among prokaryotes and to affect multiple phenotypes. Many different classes of signaling molecules have been identified in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative species. Bacteria have sophisticated signal transduction networks for integrating intercellular signals with other information to make decisions about gene expression and cellular differentiation. Coordinated multicellular behavior can be observed in a variety of situations, including development of E. coli and B. subtilis colonies, swarming by Proteus and Serratia, and spatially organized interspecific metabolic cooperation in anaerobic bioreactor granules. Bacteria benefit from multicellular cooperation by using cellular division of labor, accessing resources that cannot effectively be utilized by single cells, collectively defending against antagonists, and optimizing population survival by differentiating into distinct cell types.
Quality of Canned mandarin as affected by preservation liquid

This study is integrated within a research line dedicated to evaluate different options to introduce mandarin in Spanish agro-food industries and in both national and international markets. The effects of different preservation liquids (sucrose solution, sucrose and ascorbic acid solution, grape, and grapefruit juices), soluble solids (10, 12, 14 oBrix), and thermal processing (30 seconds at 98 oC) on vitamin C, color, carotenoids and sensory quality of canned Satsuma mandarin segments were studied. The liquid preservation that presented the best results was grapefruit juice, which provided the highest vitamin C (323 mg.L-1) and total carotenoids (16.4 mg.L-1) contents (the main carotenoid found was β-cryptoxanthin), intense orange color, high thermal stability, and very good sensory quality (e.g. intense floral and fresh-mandarin aromas and low levels of off-flavors).
Cytokine-mediated differential induction of hepatic activator protein-1 genes

Abstract Background: Tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) increase the synthesis of hepatic acute-phase proteins; these effects appear mediated by activation of transcription factors. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of TNF-α and IL-6 on expression of the jun family of activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factors with the human hepatoma cell line HepG2, a well-characterized model of the hepatic acute-phase response. Methods: HepG2 cells, treated with either TNF-α (100 ng/ml) or IL-6 (10 ng/ml), were extracted for RNA and protein (total and nuclear) and analyzed. Results: TNF-α increased c-jun and junD mRNA and c-Jun and JunD protein levels, as well as AP-1 binding activity. IL-6 increased c-jun mRNA, c-Jun protein, and AP-1 binding activity but did not affect either junD or junB expression. Conclusions: TNF-α and IL-6 induce a differential pattern of AP-1 expression in HepG2 cells; TNF-α increases both c-Jun and JunD, whereas IL-6 stimulates only c-Jun. Neither TNF-α nor IL-6 stimulates JunB. Multiple cytokines, released during stress, may act in concert to stimulate the AP-1 proteins, which ultimately culminate in the downstream synthesis of a variety of acute-phase proteins. (Surgery 1998;123:191-8.)
Advanced Helicopter Electromagnetics: industry, government and university

The Advanced Helicopter Electromagnetics (AHE) was initiated at Arizona State University on January 1, 1990, to address research needs on developing analytical and measurement methods for helicopter EM applications. The AHE program is a coalition of research and education efforts supported by aerospace industry, federal government agencies and state government. The objective of the AHE program was to develop analytical methods and modelings of antennas on metallic and non-metallic bodies for advanced helicopter applications and to facilitate technology transfer through industry, government and university. Under the support of the AHE members and the joint effort of the research team, significant progress has been achieved. The research effort has focused on practical helicopter electromagnetic problems, such as antenna pattern modeling and prediction, composite materials, HF antennas, conformal antennas for UHF and possibly VHF, and scale model measurements. The paper provides a brief review of the AHE program through representative examples of some of the problems that were investigated. >
He-CD lasers using recirculation geometry

The construction and performance of He-Cd lasers having a diffusion return path for cadmium recirculation are described. Operating conditions are reported for which the radiation noise is comparable to that of He-Ne lasers.
Variations among family physicians' management strategies for lower urinary tract infection in women: a report from the Washington Family Physicians Collaborative Research Network.

Background and Methods: This study surveyed a random sample of Washington State family physicians regarding their attitudes toward and usual practices in providing care to women with lower urinary tract infection. Results: Based on a 70 percent response rate, wide variations in diagnostic testing, treatment, and follow-up strategies were identified. For example, a patient vignette presenting an uncomplicated infection prompted 82 separate management strategies among the 137 replies. Attitude questions also showed wide variations in spite of stated physician confidence and comfort in evaluating and managing urinary tract infection. Associated estimated costs ranged from negligible to more than $250 per case. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate significant physician variability in managing women’s lower urinary tract infections.
The role of bile salt export pump gene repression in drug-induced cholestatic liver toxicity.

The bile salt export pump (BSEP, ABCB11) is predominantly responsible for the efflux of bile salts, and disruption of BSEP function is often associated with altered hepatic homeostasis of bile acids and cholestatic liver injury. Accumulating evidence suggests that many drugs can cause cholestasis through interaction with hepatic transporters. To date, a relatively strong association between drug-induced cholestasis and attenuated BSEP activity has been proposed. However, whether repression of BSEP transcription would contribute to drug-induced cholestasis is largely unknown. In this study, we selected 30 drugs previously reported as BSEP inhibitors to evaluate their effects on BSEP expression, farnesoid X receptor (FXR) activation, and correlations to clinically reported liver toxicity. Our results indicate that of the 30 BSEP inhibitors, five exhibited potent repression of BSEP expression (≥60% repression), ten were moderate repressors (20–60% repression), whereas others had negligible effects (≤20% repression). Of importance, two drugs (troglitazone and benzbromarone), previously withdrawn from the market because of liver injury, are among the potent repressors. Further investigation of the five potent repressors revealed that transcriptional repression of BSEP by lopinavir and troglitazone may occur through their interaction with FXR, whereas others are via FXR-independent yet unidentified pathways. Our data suggest that in addition to functional inhibition, repression of BSEP expression may play an important role in drug-induced cholestatic liver toxicity. Thus, a combination of the two would reveal a more accurate prediction of drug-induced cholestasis than does either repression or inhibition alone.
Therapists’ Perspectives of the Cotherapy Experience in a Training Setting

The experience of cotherapy has been sparsely addressed in the literature. This qualitative study’s goals were to explore (a) the usefulness of cotherapy as a training model (b) the impact of cotherapy on services provided; (c) the impact of being trained in a cotherapy model; and (d) factors that both facilitated and hindered the process of cotherapy. The authors conducted a focus group interview with seven participants who graduated from a COAMFTE accredited MFT master’s program. Participants unanimously reported they believed cotherapy impacted client outcomes and training. They also expressed that cotherapists’ unwillingness to address issues within the cotherapy team negatively impacted the cotherapy relationship and client outcomes. Data analysis yielded four main themes, including cotherapy as a vehicle for personal growth, accountability in the cotherapy relationship, need for safety in the cotherapy relationship, and cotherapy team’s need for supervision.
The effect of osteogenin (a bone morphogenetic protein) on the formation of bone in orthotopic segmental defects in rats.

We studied the effects of partially purified, natural osteogenin, a bone morphogenetic protein, on the formation of bone in rats. An osteoperiosteal segmental defect, eight millimeters wide, in the middle of the femoral diaphysis was created bilaterally in thirty-six adult male Fischer rats and stabilized with a polyacetyl plate and threaded Kirschner wires. One defect was filled with a cylinder of 60 per cent hydroxyapatite and 40 per cent tricalcium phosphate ceramic (pore diameter, 250 to 400 micrometers) containing 100 micrograms of partially purified bovine osteogenin, and the contralateral defect was filled with a hydroxyapatite-tricalcium ceramic cylinder without osteogenin. Eighteen animals (six animals each at one, two, and four months after the operation) were studied histologically and histomorphometrically. The implants from eighteen additional animals (six animals each at one, two, and four months after the operation) were subjected to biomechanical testing. Histomorphometry revealed that the total area of bone, the area of bone outside of the implant, and the amount of bone within the pores of the implant were all significantly (p <= 0.05) greater in the femora that had an implant with osteogenin than in those that had an implant without osteogenin at most time-periods. The presence of osteogenin had no significant effect on the biomechanical parameters measured in this study. Bone loss due to trauma, excision of a tumor, or loosening and subsidence of a joint prosthesis is a major clinical problem. Although bone has a remarkable potential for regeneration, predictable augmentation of the natural repair process would be useful in certain orthopaedic situations. Particularly attractive would be the augmentation of bone repair without the need for a cancellous autogenous bone graft, which necessitates a second operative procedure. In this study, an osteogenin-containing ceramic cylinder significantly (p <= 0.005) enhanced the formation of bone in and around a large segmental defect. This enhanced repair occurred without the addition of cancellous autogenous bone graft or marrow cells and suggests that osteogenin may be useful in the repair of skeletal defects and that this ceramic configuration may be a useful carrier of osteogenin.
What are Americans Getting from the GIVE Act

This short white paper discusses the “Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act” (H.R. 1388) or “Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act” (“GIVE Act”).
Space Shuttle Foam Debris Monte Carlo Risk Analysis

After the STS-107 Columbia accident, caused by a large piece of Space Shuttle foam debris impacting the reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) wing leading edge (WLE) of the Orbiter, NASA embarked to “determine critical debris sources, transport mechanisms, and resulting impact areas [and] based on the results of this assessment...recommend changes or redesigns that would reduce the debris risk.” The Aerospace Corporation and NASA developed a Monte Carlo analysis to study the debris impact phenomena in an end-to-end manner. The Aerospace Corporation integrated extensive testing, modeling, and observational data provided by Space Shuttle team members from NASA-JSC, NASA-MSFC, NASA-KSC, NASA-NESC, NASA-Ames, Lockheed Martin, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), Boeing and The Aerospace Corporation into a simulation-based probabilistic risk assessment of ascent foam debris. This analysis predicts the answers to three questions: what can go wrong (debris release), what and how severe are the potential consequences (debris impact and damage), and what are the probabilities of occurrence for those consequences (resultant risk)? 2
What we have learned about intrapartum fetal monitoring trials in the MFMU Network

The vast majority of pregnant women are subjected to electronic fetal heart monitoring during labor. There is limited evidence to support its benefit compared with intermittent auscultation. In addition, there is significant variability in interpretation and its false-positive rate is high. The latter may have contributed to the rise in operative deliveries. In order to address the critical need for better approaches to intrapartum monitoring, the MFMU Network has completed two large multisite randomized trials, one to evaluate fetal pulse oximetry and the other to evaluate fetal ECG ST segment analysis (STAN). Both of these technologies had been approved for clinical use in the United States based on prior smaller trials. These technologies were evaluated in laboring women near term and their primary outcomes were overall cesarean delivery for the oximetry trial and a composite adverse neonatal outcome for STAN. Both the trials failed to show a benefit of the technology, neither in the rates of operative deliveries nor in the rates of adverse neonatal outcomes. The experience with these trials, summarized in this report, highlights the need for rigorous evidence before introduction of new technology into clinical practice and provides a blueprint for future trials to address the need for better intrapartum monitoring approaches.
Determination of acrylamide in instant coffee by high performance liquid chromatography

Objective:A novel method for determination of acrylamide in instant coffee by high performance liquid chromatography was developed.Methods: The acrylamide in the sample was extracted by water,purified with solid phase extraction,then detected by high performance liquid chromatography.Results: Under the optimal chromatography conditions,acrylmide was easily separated from other impurities.The linearity range of the method was 0.11 μg/ml~100 μg/ml with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999.The detection limit of the method was 0.06 μg/ml.The recoveries were 97.60%~104.50% with a RSD of 0.29%~0.50%.Conclusion: The method has advantage of simplicity,fast and sensitivity.And it was suitable for determining acrylamide in the instant coffee.
Relationship of blood flow effects of adenosine during reperfusion to recovery of ventricular function after hypothermic ischemia in neonatal lambs

Background Previous experiments have shown that infusion of either adenosine (ADO) or an adenosine receptor agonist during reperfusion after hypothermic ischemia improved the recovery of ventricular function in neonatal lamb hearts. Adenosine has multiple actions that might be beneficial during postischemic reperfusion, and the A 2 effects include both coronary vasodilator and leukocyte inhibitory effects. In the current experiment we investigated the relationship between the coronary blood flow (CBF) effects of A 2 stimulation and the recovery of postischemic ventricular function. Methods and Results Two hours of 10°C cardioplegic ischemia was induced in 40 isolated, blood-perfused, neonatal lamb hearts (n=8 in each group). Group I had ischemia followed by unmodified reperfusion for 90 minutes. During the first 20 minutes of reperfusion, Group II received 350 μmol/L ADO, Group III received ADO and 100 nmol/L DPCPX (A 1 antagonist) to achieve an A 2 effect, Group IV received 0.25 μmol/L CPCA (A 2 agonist), and Group V received ADO and DPCPX but CBF was limited to that of Group I levels. At 30 and 90 minutes of reperfusion, LV maximum developed pressure (DP), dP/dt, CBF, and oxygen consumption (MVo 2 ) were measured. At 30 minutes of reperfusion Groups II, III, and IV showed better functional recovery than Group I or Group V (DP: G-I=75.7±7.3%, G-II=97.6±9.5%, G-III=88.1±4.8%, G-IV=86.7±9.0%, G-V=75.5±6.9%, P<.05; dP/dt: G-I=69.1±9.6%, G-II=94.2±10.7%, G-III=95.7±13.1%, G-IV=80.1±11.1%, G-V=75.2±8.2%, P<.05). Coronary blood flow was higher in Groups II, III, and IV compared with Group I or V (G-1=129±32%, G-II=183±36%, G-III=266±72%, G-IV= 259±70%, G-V=132±5%, P<.05). MVO 2 /beat was higher in Group II than in Groups I and IV (G-I=98.3±21.3%, G-II=135.5±28.0%, G-III=126.2±21.9%, G-IV= 102.5±16.7%, G-V=107.5±29.3%, P<.05). At 90 minutes of reperfusion, Groups II, III, and IV, as well as V, showed better recovery of DP and dP/dt compared with Group I (DP: G-I=50.6±11.4%, G-II=63.0±8.7%, G-III=69.0±10.8%, G-IV=72.5±12.7%, G-V =66.2±10.0%, P<.05; dP/dt: G-I=38.9±7.1%, G-II=53.5 ±3,8%, G-III=61.5±10.8%, G-IV=59.8±16.3%), G-V=58.2 ±9.8%, P<.05) although only in Groups III and IV was CBF higher than in Group I (G-1=116±54%, G-II= 116±27%, G-III=210±67%, G-IV=239±85%, G-V=130±8%, P<.05). Conclusions Reperfusion under conditions of A 2 stimulation by ADO, by an A 2 agonist, or by ADO plus A 1 blockade was associated with improved recovery of LV function. The early A 2 effect seems to be related to coronary vasodilation because reduced CBF (equal to Group I) in Group V reduced early recovery of LV function. However, there seems to be a second effect observed at 90 minutes that is not related to CBF inasmuch as Groups II and V had CBF equal to Group I but had significantly higher DP and dP/dt. These findings suggest that mechanisms in addition to vasodilation are involved in the beneficial effects of A 2 stimulation during postischemic reperfusion.
Ensemble recordings of human subcortical neurons as a source of motor control signals for a brain-machine interface.

Objective Patients with severe neurological injury, such as quadriplegics, might benefit greatly from a brain-machine interface that uses neuronal activity from motor centers to control a neuroprosthetic device. Here, we report an implementation of this strategy in the human intraoperative setting to assess the feasibility of using neurons in subcortical motor areas to drive a human brain-machine interface. Methods Acute ensemble recordings from subthalamic nucleus and thalamic motor areas (ventralis oralis posterior [VOP]/ventralis intermediate nucleus [VIM]) were obtained in 11 awake patients during deep brain stimulator surgery by use of a 32-microwire array. During extracellular neuronal recordings, patients simultaneously performed a visual feedback hand-gripping force task. Offline analysis was then used to explore the relationship between neuronal modulation and gripping force. Results Individual neurons (n = 28 VOP/VIM, n = 119 subthalamic nucleus) demonstrated a variety of modulation responses both before and after onset of changes in gripping force of the contralateral hand. Overall, 61% of subthalamic nucleus neurons and 81% of VOP/VIM neurons modulated with gripping force. Remarkably, ensembles of 3 to 55 simultaneously recorded neurons were sufficiently information-rich to predict gripping force during 30-second test periods with considerable accuracy (up to R = 0.82, R(2) = 0.68) after short training periods. Longer training periods and larger neuronal ensembles were associated with improved predictive accuracy. Conclusion This initial feasibility study bridges the gap between the nonhuman primate laboratory and the human intraoperative setting to suggest that neuronal ensembles from human subcortical motor regions may be able to provide informative control signals to a future brain-machine interface.
Orchiopexy: planned 2-stage technique.

AbstractPlanned unilateral 2-stage orchiopexy was undertaken in 14 of 919 primary inguinal explorations for an undescended or nonpalpable testis. In 9 of the 14 cases a silicone sheath was placed around the spermatic cord to protect the cord structures from injury at the time of the second stage. An adequate-sized scrotal testis resulted in 83 per cent of these planned 2-stage orchiopexies. Our impression is that the silicone sheath greatly facilitates the second stage.
Using an extension of Rasmussen's abstraction hierarchy as a framework for design of a supervisory control system of a complex dynamic system

Technology has had a profound effect on manufacturing over the last several decades. The technologies affecting manufacturing have changed the role of the human operator from that of performer of a manual task to supervisor of a control system. Ammons et al. (1988) proposed a supervisory control paradigm for real time control of flexible manufacturing systems. One of the key elements of this paradigm is the notion that the human operator is an integral part of the control system and should be considered as such during its design. Human supervisory controllers can effectively deal with uncertainties that arise during the operation of a manufacturing system. These uncertainties are caused by changing priorities, equipment breakdowns, material shortages and other unforeseen occurrences. As supervisory controllers, the human can reset scheduler decisions and reconfigure equipment to eliminate bottlenecks as well as coordinate the complementary tasks of problem determination, diagnosis and resolution. Effective integration of the human as an element of the supervisory control system for the factory requires the development of interface technology to allow the operator to effectively monitor and control the manufacturing system. The goal of this research is to develop a methodology for the design of a supervisory control system for a complex system such as an FMS that fits the supervisory control paradigm discussed above. First, we propose a conceptual and modeling extension to Rasmussen's abstraction hierarchy from the point of view of design. We then use the modified abstraction hierarchy as the framework for the design of the controls and human-machine interface of complex dynamic systems. Finally, we apply this methodology to a simulation of a flexible manufacturing system to evaluate the effectiveness of the resulting supervisory control system.
Barbary's slow death: European attempts to eradicate North African piracy in the early nineteenth century

ABSTRACTIn many works on the late Barbary period, Stephen Decatur’s 1815 attack and Lord Exmouth's 1816 bombardment on Algiers are frequently seen as the end of the Barbary corsairs. This article challenges that idea by examining the 15-year period from Napoleon’s Hundred Days through French colonisation when Western powers repeatedly attacked the Barbary States. Despite the attention received by Decatur or Exmouth's attacks, neither eliminated the corsairs nor did any attack that followed. The end of the Napoleonic wars changed European power relations making the Barbary corsairs intolerable; Britain’s responsibility for and protection of small Italian states (the bulk of the corsairs prey) continued after the war. Britain’s new position as ‘protector’ of the Mediterranean and the Congress of Vienna’s denouncement of piracy eliminated European tolerance for the corsairs as demonstrated by the 10 different attacks on Barbary between 1815 and 1830. Post-war instability and repeated environmental crises acr...
Relational Enhancement: A Framework for Evaluating and Designing Human-Robot Relationships

Much existing work examining the ethical behaviors of robots does not consider the impact and effects of long- term human-robot interactions. A robot teammate, col- laborator or helper is often expected to increase task performance, individually or of the team, but little dis- cussion is usually devoted to how such a robot should balance the task requirements with building and main- taining a “working relationship” with a human partner, much less appropriate social relations outside that team. We propose the “Relational Enhancement” framework for the design and evaluation of long-term interactions, which composed of interrelated concepts of efficiency, solidarity, and prosocial concern. We discuss how this framework can be used to evaluate common existing ap- proaches in cognitive architectures for robots and then examine how social norms and mental simulation may contribute to each of the components of the framework.
Computational ECG reconstruction and validation from high-resolution optical mapping

Here we present a series of improvements to the optical mapping electrocardiogram (OM-ECG), a reconstruction of the ECG based on transmembrane voltages measured on the surface of the heart. We compare our predicted OM-ECG with a pseudo-ECG concurrently measured with platinum leads surrounding the heart in-vitro. We find that the surface optical mapping of transmembrane voltages is sufficient for capturing important morphology in the ECG and moreover intramural propagation waves due to the specific transmembrane voltage sensitive dye used. Methods concerning OM-ECG reconstruction are detailed and discussed in comparison to the pseudo-ECG.
Phonetic and phonological patterns of nasality in Lakota vowels

Lakota (Siouan) has both contrastive and coarticulatory vowel nasality, and both nasal and oral vowels can occur before or after a nasal consonant. This study examines the timing and degree patterns of acoustic vowel nasality across contrastive and coarticulatory contexts in Lakota, based on data from six Lakota native speakers. There is clear evidence of both anticipatory and carryover nasal coarticulation across oral and nasal vowels, with a greater degree of carryover than anticipatory nasalization. Nasality in carryover contexts is nonetheless restricted: the oral–nasal contrast is neutralized for high back vowels in this context and realized for three of the six speakers in low vowels. In the absence of nasal consonant context, contrastive vowel nasalization is generally greatest late in the vowel. Low nasal vowels in carryover contexts parallel this pattern (despite the location of the nasal consonant before the vowel), and low nasal vowels in anticipatory contexts are most nasal at the start of the vowel. We relate the synchronic patterns of coarticulation in Lakota to both its system of contrast and diachronic processes in the evolution of nasality in Lakota. These data reflect that coarticulatory patterns, as well as contrastive patterns, are grammatical and controlled by speakers.
Expression and Characterization of Hyperthermostable Exopolygalacturonase RmGH28 from Rhodothermus marinus.

The gene RmGH28 from the organism Rhodothermus marinus, a putative glycosyl hydrolase family 28 polygalacturonase, was expressed in Escherichia coli and biochemically characterized. The gene was found to encode an exopolygalacturonase termed RmGH28, with galacturonic acid monomer and the polymer substrate (n-1) as the products released when acting on de-esterified polygalacturonic acid from citrus pectin. The enzyme at 25 °C had k cat ∼6 s−1 when acting on polygalacturonic acid, with K m ∼0.7 μM and a substrate inhibition constant K si ∼70 μM. The enzyme was hyperthermophilic, with one half initial enzyme activity remaining after 1-h incubation at 93.9 °C. Since the enzyme can function at high temperatures where reaction rates are increased and the risk of bacterial contamination is decreased, this indicates that RmGH28 can be useful in industry for generating galacturonic acid from pectin. The amino acid sequence of RmGH28 is highly homologous to the known hyperthermophilic exopolygalacturonases TtGH28 and Tm0437, which together can serve as starting points for structure-function studies and molecular breeding enzyme engineering approaches.
Automatic detection and counting of cattle in UAV imagery based on machine vision technology (Conference Presentation)

Beef production is the main agricultural industry in Texas, and livestock are managed in pasture and rangeland which are usually huge in size, and are not easily accessible by vehicles. The current research method for livestock location identification and counting is visual observation which is very time consuming and costly. For animals on large tracts of land, manned aircraft may be necessary to count animals which is noisy and disturbs the animals, and may introduce a source of error in counts. Such manual approaches are expensive, slow and labor intensive. In this paper we study the combination of small unmanned aerial vehicle (sUAV) and machine vision technology as a valuable solution to manual animal surveying. A fixed-wing UAV fitted with GPS and digital RGB camera for photogrammetry was flown at the Welder Wildlife Foundation in Sinton, TX. Over 600 acres were flown with four UAS flights and individual photographs used to develop orthomosaic imagery. To detect animals in UAV imagery, a fully automatic technique was developed based on spatial and spectral characteristics of objects. This automatic technique can even detect small animals that are partially occluded by bushes. Experimental results in comparison to ground-truth show the effectiveness of our algorithm.
Prognostic impact of trisomy 8 cytogenetic abnormality in acute myelogenous leukemia: Analysis of a large cohort (N=2187) of newly diagnosed patients.

7089 Background: Trisomy 8 is grouped as intermediate risk in cytogenetic (CG) classifications of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). In a multi-variate analysis of MRC data, trisomy 8 was associated...
PD-1 Inhibitor Therapy: Consensus Statement From the Faculty of the Melanoma Nursing Initiative on Managing Adverse Events .

Background Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor therapies are now a standard treatment for advanced melanoma and other tumor types. The immune-related adverse events (irAEs) associated with PD-1 inhibitor therapy are drastically different from the AEs associated with chemotherapy. Because these irAEs reflect immune system activation rather than side effects of therapy, nurses should be cognizant of the range of organ systems potentially affected as well as likely clinical presentations. . Objectives This article presents consensus statements to guide nurses in the recognition and management of irAEs associated with PD-1 inhibitor monotherapy for advanced melanoma. . Methods Members of the Melanoma Nursing Initiative discussed the current literature and clinical experience regarding nursing interventions related to irAEs associated with PD-1 inhibitor therapy. . Findings The care step pathways provided for select irAEs represent a proactive, comprehensive nursing care plan to support optimal outcomes for patients receiving PD-1 inhibitor therapy.
Scarring in Patients With PIK3CA-Related Overgrowth Syndromes.

Importance Patients with somatic overgrowth commonly require surgical intervention to preserve function and improve cosmesis. To our knowledge no observation of scarring outcomes in this population has been published to date. Objective To observe the frequency of abnormal scarring in patients with somatic overgrowth and sequencing-verified mutations in thePIK3CAgene. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective study evaluated scarring outcomes in patients withPIK3CA-related overgrowth. Samples of affected tissue were sequenced between July 2015 and October 2016. Medical records from multiple large academic tertiary care centers were reviewed for surgical history and scar descriptions, and clinical photographs were assessed by 2 surgeons (J.N.J. and D.M.K.) to confirm abnormal scarring. Analysis of medical records and photographs was performed between April 2017 and June 2017 by a multidisciplinary team from dermatology, plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, radiology, and genetics departments. All patients considered for the study were diagnosed with somatic overgrowth and previously had affected tissue sent for next-generation sequencing. Those with pathogenicPIK3CAvariants and 1 or more prior surgical procedures were reviewed. Main Outcomes and Measures Presence of excessive scarring in patients withPIK3CAovergrowth. Results A total of 57 patients with segmental overgrowth syndromes were sequenced. Of the 57 patients, 25 (44%) had pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in PIK3CA. Of those with pathogenic PIK3CA variants, 6 (24%) had past surgical procedures, all with preoperative and postoperative photographs. Of 6 patients withPIK3CA-related overgrowth and a history of 1 or more surgical procedure, 4 (67%) developed excessive scarring. The cohort with abnormal scarring comprised 3 females and 1 male, with a median age of 8.5 years. All abnormal scarring occurred in affected overgrowth tissue. Three of the 4 patients developed the excessive scarring after debulking procedures for overgrowth and/or vascular malformations of the upper or lower extremity. Conclusions and Relevance Excessive scarring occurred frequently in patients withPIK3CA-related overgrowth syndromes. The risk of abnormal scarring should therefore be discussed preoperatively. Given the activating nature of thesePIK3CAvariants, we suggest that the excessive scarring may be owing in part to up-regulation of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway. Additional studies are needed to assess scarring outcomes in patients with other types of overgrowth.
Melanomas without Adjacent Intraepidermal Component

Melanomas characterized by a bulky invasive component and limited or absent adjacent intraepidermal component that have been previously termed nodular melanoma may account for about 10–15% of melanomas in white individuals (9–11,18,21,22,32) (Table 12). In all likelihood, this group of melanomas includes an assortment of melanomas either originating from the rapid clonal progression of a limited or short-lived intraepidermal component no longer recognizable or originating from the de novo development of an invasive component of intraepidermal, adnexal, or dermal origin.
The Taxation of Telecommunications in California in the Information Age

The authors analyze the taxation of telecommunications in California and say that it is out of date. The existing tax structure is difficult to justify in terms of economic efficiency or equity, the authors write.
Arachidonic acid and leukotriene C4: role in transient cerebral ischemia of gerbils.

Accumulation of arachidonic acid (AA) is greatest in brain regions most sensitive to transient ischemia. Free AA released after ischemia is either: 1) reincorporated into the membrane phospholipids, or 2) oxidized during reperfusion by lipoxygenases and cyclooxygenases, producing leukotrienes (LT), prostaglandins, thromboxanes and oxygen radicals. AA, its metabolite LTC4 and lipid peroxides (generated during AA metabolism) have been implicated in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, edema and neuronal death after ischemia/reperfusion. This report describes the time course of AA release, LTC4 accumulation and association with the physiological outcome during transient cerebral ischemia of gerbils. Significant amount of AA was detected immediately after 10 min ischemia (0 min reperfusion) which returned to sham levels within 30 min reperfusion. A later release of AA occurred after 1 d. LTC4 levels were elevated at 0–6 h and 1 d after ischemia. Increased lipid peroxidation due to AA metabolism was observed between 2–6 h. BBB dysfunction occurred at 6 h. Significant edema developed at 1 and 2 d after ischemia and reached maximum at 3 d. Ischemia resulted in ~80% neuronal death in the CA1 hippocampal region. Pretreatment with a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, AA861 resulted in significant attenuation of LTC4 levels (Baskaya et al. 1996. J. Neurosurg. 85:112–116) and CA1 neuronal death. Accumulation of AA and LTC4, together with highly reactive oxygen radicals and lipid peroxides, may alter membrane permeability, resulting in BBB dysfunction, edema and ultimately to neuronal death.
A rationale for policy intervention in reducing obesity.

From a behavioral-economics perspective, there is sufficient reason for policy interventions to curb the obesity rate in the U.S. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Monomeric and Polymeric Fluoroalkyl Sulfonyl Fluorides, Sulfonate Salts and Sulfonic Acids for Use as Electrolytes and Coatings

An abstract of the dissertation of Nicolas Noel Hamel for the Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Sciences and Resources: Chemistry presented on January 20, 1995. Title: Monomeric and Polymeric Fluoroalkyl Sulfonyl Fluorides, Sulfonate Salts and Sulfonic Acids for Use as Electrolytes and coatings Monomeric and pOlymeric fluoroalkyl sulfonyl fluorides, sulfonate salts and sulfonic acids have qualities desirable for use as electrolytes in alternative energy sources such as fuel cells and solid polymer electrolyte lithium batteries. Since the nature of the fluoroalkyl group affects the properties of these compounds, new monomeric and polymeric fluoroalkyl sUlfonyl fluorides, sulfonate salts and sulfonic acids were prepared in this work. Simple compounds prepared in this work were: the fluoroalkyl sUlfonyl fluorides, sulfonate salts and sulfonic acid CHF (OCF2CF2S02F) 2' CF2(OCF2CF2S02F) 2' CH2(OCF2CF2S03Na) 2' CF2(OCF2CF2S03 ) 2Ca , CF2(OCF2CF2S03H) 2' prepared by means of electrochemical fluorination; FC (CF3 ) 20CH2CH20CF2CF2S02F prepared using the adduct of hexafluoroacetone and silver fluoride; CH30CF2CF2S02F prepared
Scheduling mobile exploration tasks for environment learning

Autonomous mobile service robots navigate in their environments in order to perform tasks requested by users. We envision service robots learning about their environment by scheduling exploration tasks in which they seek out new knowledge and using this knowledge to improve the services they offer. We present the Task Graph algorithm, which chooses times for user requests based on the robot's knowledge so as to increase the chance of success, and schedules exploration tasks in between user requests by reducing the problem to a graph search.
Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) array biosensors for biothreat agents for food safety and food defense

Abstract Array biosensors utilizing total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) coupled with planar waveguides are versatile platforms whose benefits lie in the unique combination of surface-selective interrogation and multitarget, multisample analysis. This chapter first describes the physical and optical phenomena resulting in this platform's exceptional surface selectivity. Descriptions of this technology's use for food analysis and its potential for food defense follow. As TIRF-based sensing has not yet found a permanent home in food safety testing, the authors elaborate on some directions that might prove fruitful for successful commercial transition of this technology for food applications.
Interference of manganese removal by biologically-mediated reductive release of manganese from MnOx(s) coated filtration media

Abstract Discontinuing application of pre-filter chlorine is a common water treatment plant practice to permit a bioactive filtration process for the removal of soluble Mn. However, soluble Mn desorption has sometimes been observed following cessation of chlorine addition, where filter effluent Mn concentration exceeds the influent Mn concentration. In this paper it is hypothesized that Mn-reducing bacteria present in a biofilm on the filter media may be a factor in this Mn-release phenomenon. The primary objective of this research was to assess the role of Mn-reducing microorganisms in the release of soluble Mn from MnOx(s)-coated filter media following interruption of pre-filtration chlorination. Bench-scale filter column studies were inoculated with Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 to investigate the impacts of a known Mn-reducing bacterium on release of soluble Mn from MnOx(s) coatings. In situ vial assays were developed to gain insight into the impacts of MnOx(s) age on bioavailability to Mn-reducing microorganisms and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method was developed to quantify gene copies of the mtrB gene, which is involved in Mn-reduction. Results demonstrated that microbially-mediated Mn release was possible above a threshold equivalent of 2 × 102 S. oneidensis MR-1 CFU per gram of MnOx(s) coated media and that those organisms contributed to Mn desorption and release. Further, detectable mtrB gene copies were associated with observed Mn desorption. Lastly, MnOx(s) age appeared to play a role in Mn reduction and subsequent release, where MnOx(s) solids of greater age indicated lower bioavailability. These findings can help inform means of preventing soluble Mn release from drinking water treatment plant filters.
On the Construction of Composite Finite Fields for Hardware Obfuscation

Hardware obfuscation is a technique that modifies the circuit to hide the functionality. Obfuscations through algorithmic modifications add protection in addition to circuit-level techniques, and their effects on the data paths can be analyzed and controlled at the architectural level. Many error-correcting coding and cryptography algorithms are based on finite field arithmetic. For the first time, this paper proposes a hardware obfuscation scheme achieved through varying finite field constructions and primitive element representations. Also the variations are effectively transformed to bit permuters controlled by obfuscation keys to achieve high level of security with very small complexity overheads. To illustrate the effectiveness, the proposed scheme is applied to obfuscate Reed-Solomon decoders, which are broadly used in communication and storage systems. For a (255, 239) RS decoder over finite field $GF(256)$GF(256), the proposed scheme achieves 1239 bits of independent obfuscation key with 4.4 percent area overhead, while yielding no penalty on the throughput and only one extra clock cycle of latency.
Using Approximation Algorithms to Build Evidence Factors and Related Designs for Observational Studies

Observational or nonrandomized studies of treatment effects are often constructed with the aid of polynomial-time algorithms that optimally form matched treatment-control pairs or matched sets. Bec...
The polyploid origins of crop genomes and their implications: A case study in legumes

Abstract Gene duplication and polyploidy are some of the most important, yet underappreciated, evolutionary forces that have shaped all flowering plants on earth, and the crop plants that enable human economic activity are prime exemplars of duplication in action. Polyploidy involves an immediate doubling, tripling, or more of a genome, often followed by drastic chromosomal reorganization or a reduction back to diploidy, and has occurred many times in the history of most characterized plant genomes. Understanding how duplication shapes plant genomes is critical for understanding how to feed a growing and hungry global human population. Of particular importance are legumes, one of the largest plant families on earth, often noted for their nitrogen fixation abilities and high nutritional value due to their protein content. Among these Papilionoid (Faboideae) legume crops are alfalfa, soybean, peanut, and common bean. All of these have experienced polyploidy events somewhere in their history, some ancient (60 My or more) and some very recent (e.g., ~ 10,000 years ago in peanut). The modes by which these polyploidies arose, whether from divergent genomes coming together (allopolyploidy), or identical or similar genomes duplicating (autopolyploidy), can affect their evolution, domestication, and improvement considerably, whether by generating new functional diversity or driving speciation. Appreciating the indelible mark polyploidy and duplication leave on these legume genomes will enable a better understanding of the molecular biology, breeding, and agronomy of these critical crops.
Recent Advances in the Systemic Treatment of Gastrointestinal Malignancy

In the following article, practice changing updates on gastrointestinal cancers management have been discussed. For metastatic colorectal cancer with RAS wild-type, fluoropyrimidine plus panitumumab combination has been the preferred maintenance option for patients who have stopped oxaliplatin. The cytoreductive surgery alone showed satisfactory survival outcomes in colorectal cancer patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. Dose escalation of regorafenib showed better clinical outcomes than the standard dosing regimen. Adjuvant FOLFIRINOX is the new treatment option for selected resected pancreatic cancer patients. Neoadjuvant treatment is the new paradigm for borderline and resectable pancreatic cancer patients. Several options for advanced hepatocellular cancers now available and more clinical studies are required for optimal treatment sequencing. Trifluridine/tipiracil showed improved overall survival in esophageal cancers beyond the second line.