cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nanoparticle–lipid bilayer interactions studied with lipid bilayer arrays

The widespread environmental presence and commercial use of nanoparticles have raised significant health concerns as a result of many in vitro and in vivo assays indicating toxicity of a wide range of nanoparticle species. Many of these assays have identified the ability of nanoparticles to damage cell membranes. These interactions can be studied in detail using artificial lipid bilayers, which can provide insight into the nature of the particle–membrane interaction through variation of membrane and solution properties not possible with cell-based assays. However, the scope of these studies can be limited because of the low throughput characteristic of lipid bilayer platforms. We have recently described an easy to use, parallel lipid bilayer platform which we have used to electrically investigate the activity of 60 nm diameter amine and carboxyl modified polystyrene nanoparticles (NH2-NP and COOH-NP) with over 1000 lipid bilayers while varying lipid composition, bilayer charge, ionic strength, pH, voltage, serum, particle concentration, and particle charge. Our results confirm recent studies finding activity of NH2-NP but not COOH-NP. Detailed analysis shows that NH2-NP formed pores 0.3–2.3 nm in radius, dependent on bilayer and solution composition. These interactions appear to be electrostatic, as they are regulated by NH2-NP surface charge, solution ionic strength, and bilayer charge. The ability to rapidly measure a large number of nanoparticle and membrane parameters indicates strong potential of this bilayer array platform for additional nanoparticle bilayer studies.
A prospective study of body size during childhood and early adulthood and the incidence of endometriosis

Background An inverse association between adult body mass index (BMI) and risk of endometriosis has frequently been reported. However, the association between body size during childhood and early adulthood and endometriosis is not as well documented. Methods Using data collected from the Nurses' Health Study II, a prospective cohort study of premenopausal US nurses, that began in 1989, we have attempted to clarify this relationship. Data are updated every 2 years with follow-up for these analyses through 2001. In 1989 women recalled their body size at ages 5, 10 and 20 years using a validated 9-level figure drawing. Results During 831 910 person-years of follow-up, 1817 cases of self-reported laparoscopically-confirmed endometriosis were observed among women with no past infertility. After adjusting for age, birthweight, age at menarche, parity, oral contraceptive use and adult BMI, we observed a significant reduction in the incidence of endometriosis with increasing body size for all time periods. The relative risks (RRs) comparing the smallest and largest figure sizes to the middle category during childhood (ages 5-10) were 1.18 (95% confidence interval 1.02-1.36) and 0.82 (0.66-1.02), P-trend = 0.0002. At age 20, the RRs for the same comparisons were 1.32 (1.06-1.65) and 0.87 (0.74-1.03), P-trend = 0.04. Additional adjustment by menstrual cycle length and regularity yielded similar associations. The associations were stronger among nulliparous women than among parous women, although not all differences were statistically significant. Conclusion In this large cohort of premenopausal women, there was evidence of a persistent inverse association between childhood and early adulthood body size and incidence of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis, independent of adult BMI and menstrual cycle characteristics.
A gestural account of a child-specific neutralisation in strong position

The child-specific phenomenon of preferential neutralisation in initial position, which reverses a positional bias attested across adult grammars, represents a long-standing problem for formal models of developmental phonology. In a phonetically based model of phonology, child-specific phonological patterns may emerge as the consequence of physical differences between child and adult speech. This paper presents new case-study data suggesting that a child-specific pattern of fricative neutralisation in initial position has its roots in children's articulatory limitations. Coarticulated fricative and vowel gestures are shown to require independent control of the tongue and jaw, known to be problematic for developing speakers. Substitution errors affecting fricatives are analysed as a phonologised reflex of this phonetic pressure to avoid overlapping vowel and fricative gestures. The positional asymmetry emerges as the consequence of the differing degrees of gestural overlap permitted in syllable-initial vs. syllable-final position, as encoded in the framework of Articulatory Phonology (Browman & Goldstein 1986).
Evaluation of multidimensional chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/LC-MS/MS) for large-scale protein analysis: the yeast proteome.

Highly complex protein mixtures can be directly analyzed after proteolysis by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC−MS/MS). In this paper, we have utilized the combination of strong cation exchange (SCX) and reversed-phase (RP) chromatography to achieve two-dimensional separation prior to MS/MS. One milligram of whole yeast protein was proteolyzed and separated by SCX chromatography (2.1 mm i.d.) with fraction collection every minute during an 80-min elution. Eighty fractions were reduced in volume and then re-injected via an autosampler in an automated fashion using a vented-column (100 μm i.d.) approach for RP-LC−MS/MS analysis. More than 162 000 MS/MS spectra were collected with 26 815 matched to yeast peptides (7537 unique peptides). A total of 1504 yeast proteins were unambiguously identified in this single analysis. We present a comparison of this experiment with a previously published yeast proteome analysis by Yates and colleagues (Washburn, M. P.; Wolters, D.; Yates, J. ...
Separation of long-chain fatty acid esters of retinol by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Abstract Individual long-chain fatty acid esters of retinol can be resolved by high-performance liquid chromatography using an octyl- or phenyl-substituted reverse-phase column and mixtures of acetonitrile with water as mobile phase. This simple procedure provides good resolution of biologically important retinyl esters including retinyl palmitate and retinyl oleate. Using an isocratic elution system, it is shown that nine synthetic esters of retinol, ranging in fatty acyl chain length from 12 to 20 carbons, each elute with a unique elution volume and produce an absorbance signal at 340 nm proportional to molar concentration. The method is suitable for analysis of various esters of retinol in biological samples including lymph chylomicrons and blood plasma. The octyl-substituted reverse-phase column can also be used to separate more polar neutral retinoids including retinol and retinaldehyde.
Shyness Versus Social Phobia in US Youth

OBJECTIVES: Scholars and the popular press have suggested that the diagnostic entity of social phobia “medicalizes” normal human shyness. In this study we examined the plausibility of this hypothesis by (1) determining the frequency of shyness and its overlap with social phobia in a nationally representative adolescent sample, (2) investigating the degree to which shyness and social phobia differ with regard to sociodemographic characteristics, functional impairment, and psychiatric comorbidity, and (3) examining differences in rates of prescribed medication use among youth with shyness and/or social phobia. METHODS: The National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement is a nationally representative, face-to-face survey of 10 123 adolescents, aged 13 to 18 years, in the continental United States. Lifetime social phobia was assessed by using a modified version of the fully structured World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Adolescents and parents also provided information on youth shyness and prescribed medication use. RESULTS: Only 12% of the youth who identified themselves as shy also met the criteria for lifetime social phobia. Relative to adolescents who were characterized as shy, adolescents affected with social phobia displayed significantly greater role impairment and were more likely to experience a multitude of psychiatric disorders, including disorders of anxiety, mood, behavior, and substance use. However, those adolescents were no more likely than their same-age counterparts to be taking prescribed medications. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide evidence that social phobia is an impairing psychiatric disorder, beyond normal human shyness. Such findings raise questions concerning the “medicalization” hypothesis of social phobia.
Morphological development in Italian: connotation and denotation

Both longitudinal and experimental evidence were used in an examination of the development of adjectives vs. inflections for the expression of size and value concepts in Italian children. The longitudinal speech production records for two Italian children suggest that the concepts of size and value are understood and expressed linguistically by 2 years. One child acquired both adjectival and inflectional expressions for size simultaneously, while the other used adjectives for size and value several months prior to the acquisition of corresponding inflections. However, both children demonstrated productive use of size inflections at around MLU 3·0. A subsequent experiment with 84 children, ranging from 2 to 6 years, suggests that comprehension of size and value inflections is restricted to a narrow, denotative set of meanings based predominately on a strict interpretation in terms of size. This pattern stands in marked contrast to adult patterns on the same experiment, in which size inflections are interpreted connotatively as well, with meanings based on positive and negative affect as well as size. The relative contribution of Connotative vs. denotative factors in the development of reference is discussed.
Role of MD-2 in TLR2- and TLR4-mediated recognition of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and activation of chemokine genes

MD-2 is associated with TLR4 on the cell surface and enables TLR4 to respond to LPS. TLR2 without MD-2 does not respond to pure protein-free endotoxic LPS, ReLPS, and lipid A. MD-2 enables TLR2 to ...
A multiplier-free fast transform with efficient VLSI implementation for polynomial RNS processors

The application of polynomial residue number systems (PRNSs) in complex multiplication offers very low complexity within the digital signal processing area. Isomorphic mappings between complex number and PRNS domains suffer from a nontrivial transform problem which eventually precludes the inherent advantages of the PRNS approach. a significant simplification in the mapping procedure is achieved by a FFT-like scheme and a sequence of primitive shift-then-add operations. These operations originate from an algebraic congruence and a residue reduction of a Fermat prime within finite fields. An efficient custom VLSI implementation of the FFT-type multiplier-free system confirms the advantages of the novel mapping algorithm. The prototype VLSI design of a 5 bit multiplier-free FFT-type PRNS processor has been implemented using the Magic IC layout tool. In terms of speed, cost, and simplicity, the innovative approach of this new design outperforms the conventional systems currently in use. >
Firm Ownership: The Legacy of Grossman and Hart

Grossman and Hart’s prominent 1986 article on “The Costs and Benefits of Ownership: A Theory of Vertical and Lateral Integration” focuses, as its title suggests, on which of a firm’s input suppliers are, or are not, efficiently owned by the firm. This brief essay, prepared for a conference to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that article’s publication, argues that the article’s analysis offers important insight, not just into what a firm owns, but also into who owns the firm.
20 – Online monitoring of mold flow in polymer processing

: Plastics molding processes are multivariate, frequently with complex relationships between multiple processing states and outputs. In developing highly productive manufacturing processes, it is vital to attain sufficient observability and controllability of important process states such that the product quality is achieved, diagnosed, and maintained. On-line process simulations have been implemented to receive information from process sensors, such as pressure, temperature, and flow rate, and predict and control product quality attributes in real time, such as part weight and dimensions. While correlation coefficients between simulation and observations are quite high, above 0.9, the simulation fidelity is currently insufficient for direct in-situ process and quality control. As such, an alternative approach is also described that uses principal components analysis of many sensor streams with a reference model to determine and control product quality.
Exit Strategies: How Low-Performing High Schools Respond to High School Exit Examination Requirements:

BackgroundOver the past several decades, a significant number of states have either adopted or increased high school exit examination requirements. Although these policies are intended to generate ...
Commercial and Industrial Archives in Denmark

title of this essay may cause eyebrows to rise in some quarters, but the term business records, used in the U.S.A. for the materials here considered, is generally too narrow. So is the Danish word erhverv, used as the name of Denmark's unique state-owned institution in Aarhus (Jylland) the subject of this article. Any institution in functional contact with its human environment, even an educational institution, accumulates some of the records kept by any enterprise, whether it manufactures, manipulates, ameliorates, or utilizes in any way raw materials or others' goods to transform them into products of its own making, or whether it acquires such products only to resell them. In many cases the producer sells his own product; certainly in his case one may not speak of business records alone, in the sense of those of a merely distributive trade. The German word Wirtschaft and the Swedish term naringsliv are similarly limited, though they probably have a little more scope than the Danish and English terms mentioned. There is good reason to work towards unequivocal terminology in all areas of scholarship and science; the "idealist" will continue the trend toward such purification for esthetic and ethical reasons, as of old; the rest of us will have to yield to the demands of the computers, who perhaps know not beauty and goodness, but certainly know the truth. There is, of course, always good reason to compare notes with men anywhere doing the same thing; and there are, in our jet age, many more opportunities to do this, almost from day to day. Which explains the sketch presented here to typify a relatively new and rather underdeveloped area industrial and commercial archives. The writer undertook to expose himself, incidental to his attendance at the archival convention in Brussels during August 1964, to some of the institutions in Northern Europe dedicated to ( 1 ) the collection and interpretation of the materials originating as byproducts of human effort in all sorts of individual, corporate, and collective ventures to transform the physical world and ( 2 ) making a living or
The Second Spectrum of Nickel (Ni II).

An analysis of Ni II based on 4300 observed lines is presented. The low structures are 3d9, 3d8 4s and 3d7 4s2 which are now complete except for 3d8(1S)4s2S and 3d7 4s2 2P½ and the higher of the two 2D terms of 3d7 4s2. Long series occur such as 3d84s to 9s, 4d to 8d, 4f to 7f, 5g to 7g. The analysis also includes many terms of the complex structure 3d7 4s 4p but only 55 percent of the levels within reach of the hollow cathode source have been found. The identification of the levels of 3d8 4d and 5d was assisted by the calculations of N. Spector. The 4d7 4s2 levels were calculated by Y. Shadmi, who also provided calculated positions for all the levels of 3d7 4s 4p without which much of the analysis would have been impossible. The 3d8ns and 3d8nd series give a limit of 146532.0 but the 3d8ng series gives 146541.56. The latter has been adopted though no explanation of the discrepancy has been found.
Effect of Certain Crystalline Substances on Physical Properties of Elastomers I. Stress-Strain behavior

Abstract Crystalline organic compounds containing a β-naphthyl group cause pronounced stiffening of rubber vulcanizates under certain conditions. When these materials are removed by extraction, the reinforcing effect vanishes. Reversibility of this effect indicates that the forces involved are not those associated with primary bonds. Reinforcement by at least one of these materials, PBNA, is obtained with vulcanizates made from various elastomers and vulcanizing agents, and is essentially independent of the state of cure. In some instances about five per cent of PBNA, the most effective of these, produces the same stiffness on first extension as 40 phr carbon black. Any PBNA dissolved in the rubber has no effect on stiffness. Thus, less than three per cent crystalline PBNA may produce an isotropic Young's modulus of about 20 kg/cm2 at room temperature. At higher concentrations of PBNA, strain continues to decrease but hardness does not change proportionally. The temperature coefficient of Young's modulus ...
Partitioning of 2-Carboxyethyl Acrylate between Water and Vinyl Monomer Phases Applied to Emulsion Polymerization: Comparisons with Hydroxy Acrylate and Other Vinyl Acid Functional Monomers

In an extension of our recent studies on the distribution of vinyl acid (AA and MAA) and hydroxy (meth)acrylate monomers in emulsion polymerization systems, we report the distribution behavior of 2-carboxyethyl acrylate (CEA) between water and various nonfunctional monomers. Similar to that previously reported for AA and MAA, the distribution of CEA strongly depends upon the hydrogen-bond-acceptor characteristics of the nonfunctional monomer organic phase. The logarithm of the distribution coefficients for CEA correlate linearly with the molar volume of (meth)acrylate monomers. The CEA molecule is a replica of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) with a different functional group. Evaluation of the distribution behaviors of CEA and HEA allows for a direct comparison of the carboxyl and hydroxyl moieties in determining the distributions. The strong dipole moment of the hydroxy group makes HEA significantly more polar than CEA. Also, comparisons of the distribution behaviors of CEA with those for AA and MAA allow ...
Coherent Raman scattering microscopy: an emerging platform for biology and medicine(Conference Presentation)

Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy is a label-free and noninvasive imaging technique using vibration spectroscopy as the contrast mechanism. Recent advances have allowed significant improvements in sensitivity, selectivity, robustness, and cost reduction, opening a wide range of biomedical applications. In particular, it provides instant tissue examination without the need of previous histological staining, and is best suited for imaging small metabolite molecules. An overview will be given to a variety of biomedical applications of SRS microscopy.
SELCO Solar Light Private Limited: A Social Enterprise’s Scaling Up Challenge:

Launched by Dr Harish Hande in 1995, SELCO Solar Light Private Limited was a Bengaluru, India-based social venture whose mission was to bring solar energy to the bottom-of-the-pyramid customers. In...
Subsidence Modeling and Analysis for Sand Shear Strength Parameter Testing

A subsidence simulation system using displacement measurement techniques based on opto-electronic displacement measurement sensors has recently been developed based on literature review and introduced in this chapter. Five different cavity making devices at bottom of a sand box type container with a circular/rectangular opening on the bottom, where a plate that fits the opening is placed. The results of subsidence analysis define subsidence parameters including angle draws, angle of break, subsidence factors, etc. Subsidence profiles are determined in mathematical forms. The outcomes are useful for understanding field subsidence mechanism and simulations and teaching the subsidence concepts to undergraduate class. Results also show feasibility of obtaining soil shear strength parameters from the subsidence testing as well.
Dynamics of spontaneous emission by an atom in a one-dimensional periodic dielectric structure: solvable quantum-electrodynamical model

Spontaneous emission is a fundamental and unavoidable consequence of the quantum nature of the interaction between an atom and an electromagnetic field.1 The presence of a cavity1,2 or of reflecting walls8 affects the process of spontaneous emission itself, namely, they may inhibit or enhance this process.
Post-buckling response of non-uniform cross-section bilaterally constrained beams

Abstract Buckling and post-buckling behaviors of structural elements have been widely used to create multi-stable mechanisms that have shown a great efficiency in many applications such as sensing, actuation and energy harvesting. Under an increasing axial loading, the strain energy stored in a buckled bilaterally constrained elastica is suddenly released, through a snap-through transition. These transitions can be used to convert low-rate and low-frequency excitations into high-rate motions that are converted into electrical signals using piezoelectric transducers. However, for efficient sensing and energy harvesting, these transitions have to be controlled. It has been shown that the spacing between the transitions cannot be controlled just by tuning the geometry properties of a uniform cross-section beam. This paper investigates the effect of different non-uniform cross-sections on the post-buckling response of a bilaterally constrained beam. An energy-based model that takes into account the shape variation is herein presented. The variation of the beam’s cross-section area can either be continuous or piecewise continuous. The total potential energy of the system is minimized under constraints that represent the physical confinement of the beam between the lateral boundaries. Results demonstrate that the spacing ratio between buckling-mode transitions can be efficiently controlled by the beam’s shape and geometry dimensions.
Chapter 11: Informational Privacy Imperiled: Protecting Core Elements of Personal Control while Insuring Public Safety

The Court’s Katz opinion notwithstanding, informational privacy is on life support, not only in everyday life but also in constitutional law. “You have zero privacy anyway,” Scott McNealy, CEO of Sun Microsystems, remarked in 1999, “get used to it.” McNealy overstates the case—but his exaggeration is well worth bearing in mind. In the years following McNealy’s comment, it was revealed that the federal government embarked on a program, code-named Operation Stellarwind, which monitored without warrant millions of messages sent overseas. Even after Congress placed limits on this, the federal government continued to monitor—in most cases, subject to statutory authorization—the phone numbers people dial and the email addresses to which they send messages. Late twentieth-century Supreme Court decisions permitted this (though no decision permitted Stellarwind’s practices). As far as constitutional protection for informational privacy is concerned, then, the central question is whether the Court will build on the foundation established in Katz v. United States to protect individuals from the sophisticated technology the government now employs to monitor behavior. The Court must do so while mindful of the genuine threat posed by terrorist organizations. Recently decided cases indicate that a majority of the Court is aware of the need to strike a balance between the public’s interest in national security and each individual’s interest in informational privacy. The chapter outlines a forbearance model of protection for informational privacy that will make it possible to strike this delicate balance.
LDL Discordance in Pediatric Survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Background : Survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have a four-fold excess risk of mortality secondary to cardiovascular events compared to the general population. While it is well-known that LDL has a role in atherogenesis and subsequent cardiac events, recent studies consistently show that LDL particle number (LDLp) is a stronger, independent predictor of coronary heart disease in adults compared to LDL-cholesterol (LDLc), especially when the values are discordant. There is emerging evidence that LDL discordance also occurs in children. We studied this phenomenon in pediatric ALL survivors and identify associated risk factors. Methods : Complete data were available from 64 patients enrolled in the Phoenix Children’s Hospital pediatric cancer survivorship registry. Patients were 12.9±3.5 years of age (range: 7.7-22.7 years) with a mean time off therapy of 5.5±2.6 years (range 2.3-11.4 years). LDLc and LDLp were assessed by NMR spectroscopy. Patients were assessed by a registered dietician for calcium, fat, and fruit intake as well as physical activity. Ideal LDLc and LDLp were defined as Results : Mean BMI was 22.7±5.7 kg/m 2 (range 14-38 kg/m 2 ); mean BMI percentile was 73.1±26.1% (0.9-99.5%) with 42% of patients considered overweight or obese at the time of evaluation. Mean LDLc and LDLp were 79±25.5 mg/dL (29-164 nmol/L) and 1124±517 nmol/L (411-2837 nmol/L), respectively, with 89% (n=56) of survivors exhibiting ideal LDLc and 47% (n=30) of survivors exhibiting ideal LDLp. In a subgroup of patients with ideal LDLc, 40.6% (n=26) exhibited not-ideal LDLp and were classified as discordant. Regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age and gender, BMI (p 2 vs. 20.6±5.0 kg/m 2 , p=0.003). Conclusion : In this population of pediatric ALL survivors, LDLc measurements may not provide a complete assessment of cardiovascular disease risk. Given that LDLp is an early predictor of cardiovascular outcomes, conventional lipid testing may underestimate the true cardiovascular disease risk in ALL survivors. Survivors may benefit from early, expanded screening and targeted intervention. Further studies should focus on the broader pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease in pediatric ALL survivors. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Social unrest and community oriented policing services

ABSTRACTSince 2014, there have been several, high-profile police-involved shootings that have captured the nation as a whole. The misunderstandings between culture, legal knowledge, and human behavior all come together to create an environment of social unrest that may lead to violence in the United States. Because we have a decentralized structure for policing services in the United States, the need for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) educational initiatives could help close the divide of knowledge in our country. With grant assistance from the COPS office, law enforcement and community members could make an impactful change in our schools to educate children on concepts related to police operations and the perceptions of police misconduct by community members. By having a proper source of information to offset misunderstandings about police and minorities perpetuated by news media and social media, our youth and community members can critically evaluate the best way for communities to be...
Multiscale Modeling and Control Architecture for V2X Enabled Traffic Streams

In this paper, we propose a multiscale modeling framework, which is appropriate for analyzing the heterogeneous traffic streams involving connected vehicles as well as normal vehicles. In this framework connected vehicles are treated as discreet entities, which can be controlled microscopically so that they can then influence and control overall traffic streams in a macroscopic sense. To establish the connection between the individual vehicle behavior (microscopic entities) and overall macroscopic traffic streams, we propose to use Mean Field Games theory. We then highlight the formulation and design of control objectives using the proposed mathematical framework. Following that, we study the effect of varying penetration levels of V2X communication enabled vehicles on the efficiency of traffic flow. We use total entropy of the system as a measure of traffic flow efficiency. We also design control of traffic network via controlling the connected vehicles microscopically. A microscopic simulation is also performed in the end to validate the proposed framework and control algorithm.
Pictorial essay of parathyroid scintigraphy

1024 Learning Objectives We present an overview of parathyroid scintigraphy. Various imaging techniques are discussed. Cases of solitary, multiple and ectopic adenomas and parathyroid hyperplasia are illustrated. Clinical information that is helpful in making the diagnosis is reviewed. Pitfalls of imaging are reviewed including prior surgery and swallowed radiopharmaceutical. By illustrating different pathologies and pitfalls in the interpretation of parathyroid scintigraphy, we hope to help increase the reader9s confidence in interpretation
Immunogenicity of high-dose influenza vaccination in patients with primary central nervous system malignancy.

Background For cancer patients, rates of influenza-associated hospitalization and death are 4 times greater than that of the general population. Previously, we reported reduced immunogenicity to the standard-dose influenza vaccine in patients with central nervous system malignancy. In other poorly responding populations (eg, elderly patients), high-dose vaccination has improved efficacy and immunogenicity. Methods A prospective cohort study was designed to evaluate the immunogenicity of the Fluzone® high-dose influenza vaccine in brain tumor patients. Data on diagnosis, active oncologic treatment, and immunologic status (eg, CD4 count, CD8 count, CD4:CD8 ratio) were collected. All patients received the high-dose vaccine (180 µg). Hemagglutination inhibition titers were measured at baseline, day 28, and 3 months following vaccination to determine seroconversion (≥4-fold rise) and seroprotection (titer ≥1:40), which were compared to our prior results. Results Twenty-seven patients enrolled. Diagnoses included high-grade glioma (85%), CNS lymphoma (11%), and meningioma (4%). Treatment at enrollment included glucocorticoids (n = 8, 30%), radiation (n = 2, 7%), and chemotherapy (n = 9, 33%). Posttreatment lymphopenia (PTL, CD4 ≤ 200) was observed in 4 patients (15%). High-dose vaccination was well tolerated with no grade III-IV toxicity. Overall, seroconversion rates for the A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B vaccine strains were significantly higher than in our prior study: 65% vs 37%, 69% vs 23%, and 50% vs 23%, respectively (all P < .04). Seroconversion was universally poor in patients with PTL. While seroprotection at 3 months declined in our prior study, no drop was observed following high-dose vaccination in this cohort. Conclusions The immunologic response to HD influenza vaccination was higher in this cohort than standard-dose influenza vaccination in our prior report. These findings mirror those in elderly patients where high-dose vaccination is the standard of care and raise the possibility of an immunosenescence phenotype.
Impact of a formal pharmacist-run oral antineoplastic monitoring program: A pilot study in an adult genitourinary oncology clinic.

BackgroundIn recent years, there has been a changing paradigm in the management of oncologic disease states from the use of intravenous therapies, requiring a visit to the infusion center or hospit...
Krüppel like factor 2 - deficient myeloid cells promote skeletal muscle regeneration after injury

Regeneration of adult skeletal muscle after injury is coordinated by complex interactions between the injured muscle and the innate immune system. Myeloid lineage cells predominate in this process. This study examined the role of Kruppel like factor 2 (KLF2), a zinc-finger transcription factor that regulates myeloid cell activation state, in muscle regeneration. Gastrocnemius muscles of wild-type and myeKlf2-/- mice, which lack KLF2 in all myeloid cells, were subjected to cardiotoxin injury and followed for 21 days. Injured muscles of myeKlf2-/- contained more infiltrating, inflammatory Ly6C+ monocytes, with elevated expression of inflammatory mediators. Infiltrating monocytes matured earlier into pro-inflammatory macrophages with phenotype Ly6C+, CD11b+, F4/80+. Inflammation resolved earlier and progressed to myogenesis, marked by an earlier decline of Ly6C+ macrophages and their replacement with anti-inflammatory Ly6C- populations, in association with elevated expression of factors that resolve inflammation and promote myogenesis. Overall, regeneration was completed earlier. These findings identify myeloid KLF2 as a central regulator of the innate immune response to acute skeletal muscle injury. Manipulating myeloid KLF2 levels may be a useful strategy for accelerating regeneration.
Functionalized MCM-41 Type Sorbents for Heavy Metals in Water: Preparation and Characterization

Four novel sorbents were prepared by introducing functional groups as –NH2 -SH and –COOH into MCM-41 in various positions. The sorbents were characterized for BET surface area, pore size distribution, pore volume, surface functionality and surface group density. Multicomponent studies were also conducted. After sorption the metal-coated sorbents were tested to investigate the bonding mechanism of the metal ion using FTIR and XRD. The capacity was tested by batch process for Cadmium, Chromium, Lead and Zinc to study the effects of the different functional groups and their stereo specificity. The data were analyzed using various isotherms, kinetic and thermodynamic equations for the design of adsorption systems.
Syntactically Unexpressed Arguments, Incorporation, and Adjuncts

In the last chapter, we introduced a new theory of linking based on the Isomorphic Linking Hypothesis, repeated from Chapter 3 (6) in (1), which maps designated arguments to the syntax based on the geometry of Conceptual Structure (CS) representations.
The Decomposition of the Cellulose of Cotton Fibers by Fungi of the Genus Aspergillus

The work on which we report describes experiments to determine which members of the genus Aspergillus can cause cellulosic degradation in a cotton fiber. Prior to these studies, it was known that m any fungi, including certain of the Aspergilli, could cause degradation. The evidence consisted of strength losses in cotton fabric when a pure culture of the fungus was incubated on the fabric. However, one of the first observations in the present work suggested that these earlier tests might have failed to detect cellulose-decomposing ability in some of the tested fungi. These earlier tests, which were carried out with the fungus incubated on the cotton fabric in the presence of mineral salts, showed that A. niger van Tieghem was a non-cellulose-decomposer. This was indicated by the fact that there was no strength loss of the fabric. However, when a small amount of glucose was added to the test medium, the same fungus caused quite a substantial strength loss. It appeared then, that in some way, glucose was responsible for the ability of A. niger to decompose cellulose. It seemed possible, therefore, that the addition of glucose and/or other changes of technique might enable other isolates of the Aspergilli, also known as non-cellulose-decomposers, to degrade the cellulose of cotton fiber. Further, a more sensitive measure of cellulosic degradation, other than strength loss, might reveal a cellulose-decomposing potentiality in certain fungi where it had not been detected previously. There was some reason to believe that an alkali-swelling technique might be useful as a sensitive test to detect cellulose decomposition. Such a technique was employed in these experiments.
Markov Network Estimation From Multi-attribute Data

Many real world network problems often concern multivariate nodal attributes such as image, textual, and multi-view feature vectors on nodes, rather than simple univariate nodal attributes. The existing graph estimation methods built on Gaussian graphical models and covariance selection algorithms can not handle such data, neither can the theories developed around such methods be directly applied. In this paper, we propose a new principled framework for estimating multi-attribute graphs. Instead of estimating the partial correlation as in current literature, our method estimates the partial canonical correlations that naturally accommodate complex nodal features. Computationally, we provide an efficient algorithm which utilizes the multi-attribute structure. Theoretically, we provide sufficient conditions which guarantee consistent graph recovery. Extensive simulation studies demonstrate performance of our method under various conditions.
Screening for Breast Cancer: The Role of Supplemental Tests and Breast Density Information

Mammography screening is the gold standard for timely detection of breast cancer, but it has less than perfect accuracy. This has led to increased consideration of supplemental screening tests such as ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in recent medical practice, particularly for women with strong risk factors including those with dense breasts. More than 35 million (about 45%) US women aged 40 or more have dense breasts. Breast density is not only a strong risk factor for developing breast cancer, but it also impairs mammography performance. The net result is that millions of women with dense breasts face disproportionate risk of death from breast cancer. Medical community, however, remains divided and mostly indecisive about when to use supplemental screening, and how its use should be adjusted with breast density. We formulate the optimal breast cancer screening problem using a discrete-time partially observable Markov decision process model and scrutinize the screening recommendations of this optimization model in a detailed simulation model. We find that screening intensity increases with age, breast density, and other risk factors, but use of supplemental tests is not always preferred since accumulated disutility can outweigh their benefits. For the objective of maximizing quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE), supplemental testing is most valued for high-risk patients that carry multiple significant risk factors (e.g., family history, previous biopsy, extremely dense breast), while mammography-only testing is generally sufficiently effective for lower risk patients. Increased breast density is associated with more frequent use of mammography, and when it falls short for high-risk patients, with more frequent use of supplemental tests. For high-risk patients, supplemental ultrasound is used more often than MRI when maximizing QALE and results in significantly fewer false positives, while MRI results in higher cancer detection rates and shorter time to detection. For high-risk patients with extremely dense breasts, optimally using supplemental tests compared to optimally using mammography-only screening detects about 0.9% more cancer cases at the in situ stage, shortens time until detection by 5.7%, and reduces false-positive outcomes by 6.2%. For the objective of maximizing QALE, we also identify thresholds on supplemental test parameters (i.e., specificity, sensitivity, disutility) at which the dominant supplemental screening modality switches from one test to the other, which would help guide the medical community when making screening choices under various parameter settings.
A Study on Hydrogen Peroxide Scavenging Activity and Ferric Reducing Ability of Simple Coumarins

Coumarin compounds are δ-lactones where α-pyrone ring is fused with benzene ring. Coumarins are widely distributed in the plant kingdom as well as they are very important in synthetic organic chemistry. Coumarins have great interest because of their abundance in nature and diverse pharmacological activities including antibacterial, antiviral, antipyretic, and anticoagulant, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer. This study focused on synthesizing different simple Coumarins and studying their antioxidant activity. Four simple Coumarins (Coumarin (C 1 ), 4-hydroxy coumarin (C 2 ), 7-hydroxy coumarin (C 3 ) and 7-hydoxy-4-methyl coumarin (C 4 )) were synthesized by using standard methods and were characterized by using UV, IR, 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra. Antioxidant activity of the simple Coumarins was studied by using standard FRAP assay and Hydrogen peroxide assay and expressed as FRAP value (mmol Fe 2+/ g) and IC 50 value (mg/dm -3 ) respectively. Ascorbic acid was used as standard. All synthesized simple Coumarins showed both antioxidant activities. Hydroxyl Coumarins (C 2 , C 3 and C 4 ) showed higher activities in both cases than C 1 . Among the hydroxyl Coumarins C 3 showed highest hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity and Ferric reducing capacity too. Antioxidant power of the tested simple Coumarins in decreasing order was C 3 , C 2 , C 4 and C 1 in both cases. But the hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity and Ferric reducing capacity of the all synthesized simple Coumarins were lower when compared to standard ascorbic acid.
Predicting the Impact of Red Winemaking Practices Using a Reactor Engineering Model

Red wine fermentations have long eluded accurate simulation because of their inhomogeneous nature. In this work, a three-dimensional, time-dependent, reactor engineering model for jacketed red wine fermentations was utilized to explore the effect of fermentor volume (500; 50,000; and 500,000 L), aspect ratio (height:diameter of 1:1 and 3:1), temperature set point (15, 25, and 35°C), and initial yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN) concentration (100, 225, and 350 mg/L) on fermentation dynamics. The model simulated N-limited, ethanol-inhibited, and temperature-dependent Monod fermentation kinetics; mass transfer of sugar, yeast, N, and ethanol; evaporative, convective, and conductive heat transfer; and the motion of the bulk fluid beneath the cap. Fermentor surface area-to-volume ratio, temperature set point, and initial YAN were all found to significantly affect fermentation performance in simulated fermentations. Heat transfer by conduction into the cap was nondimensionalized and analyzed as well. Finally, the formation of temperature gradients in the cap between cap-management cycles was visualized from simulations using the model.
Surplus Value Production and Realization in Marxian Theory – Applications to the U.S., 1990–2015

Marx's Capital shows that surplus value can be produced in one industry, yet realized as profit (and possibly revenue) by other industries over the course of circulation. This paper highlights the ...
Meditation, Yoga, and Men's Health

Abstract Meditative practices (i.e., meditation, mindfulness, and yoga) have proved to be beneficial in reducing stress-related health issues, including sexual dysfunction, obesity, diabetes, infertility, cardiovascular disease, depression, and anxiety. Society standards of masculinity often discourage and shame men from seeking help for stress management. The meditative practice could be beneficial for men's health by providing ways to manage stress that forms while adhering to our society's masculinity standards. Medical providers are encouraged to collaborate with mental health providers, discuss masculinity and help-seeking barriers that exist for men, and incorporate meditative practices as complementary and alternative medicine into their practice.
Reformulation of Electrolyte for Enhanced Fast-Charge Capability of Li-Ion Battery

Solvent crucially determines ionic conductivity and operating temperature range of liquid electrolytes, which consequently affects the cycling performance of Li-ion batteries. Aimed to enhance fast-charge capability, in this work the effects of 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) and ethyl acetate (EA) on the rate capability and cycle life of Li-ion batteries are studied by selecting a graphite-LiNi0.80Co0.15Al0.05O2 chemistry and replacing 10 wt% of ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) with either DME or EA in a 1.0 m LiPF6 3:7 (wt.) ethylene carbonate (EC)/EMC electrolyte. It is shown that both of DME and EA increase ionic conductivity of the resultant electrolytes whereas their adverse impacts on the electrochemical stability and the formation of solid electrolyte interphase with the graphite anode are negligible. As such, the rate capabilities for both of the discharging and charging processes are enhanced in the order of DME > EA > the baseline electrolyte. Analyses on the Li-ion cell's impedance reveal that enhancements in the rate capability of Li-ion batteries are attributed to a significantly reduced charge-transfer resistance, or in other words, a significantly increased cell reaction kinetics.
Neoadjuvant Cabozantinib in Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Brief Review

Nephrectomy is the reference-standard treatment for renal-cell carcinoma (RCC). For patients with unresectable disease, tumor may be shrunk by using chemotherapy, thereby permitting surgical resection, which can be curative. We provided neoadjuvant cabozantinib, the preferred tyrosine kinase inhibitor for advanced RCC of poor and intermediate risk, to two patients with initially unresectable RCCs. In both patients, this led to tumor shrinkage of > 50% after 4 months of therapy, which permitted surgical resection. Both tumor specimens also showed strong pathologic tumor response. The robust responses observed with cabozantinib, even at reduced doses, suggest it to be an effective neoadjuvant option in RCC. Our novel experience with neoadjuvant cabozantinib, combined with our review of the use of cabozantinib in RCC, indicates that providing preoperative cabozantinib to facilitate potentially curative surgical resection has good results and should be further explored.
[Establishment of mouse lung cancer model induced by benzo[a]pyrene dynamic inhalation exposure].

Objective To establish a mouse lung cancer model induced by benzo[a]pyrene(B[a]P) dynamic inhalation exposure. Methods A total of 96 C57 BL/6 J mice weighing 18 to 20 g were randomly divided into the control group(n=48)and the experimental group(n=48), male and female in half. The experimental group was treated with 10. 0 μg/m~3 BaP for 13 weeks or 25 weeks(6 h per day and 5 days per week) by dynamic inhalation exposure, while the control group was given dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO). The 13 weeks or 25 weeks after B[a]P exposure, 24 mice were sacrificed and their lung tissues dissected and observed for tumor formation. During B[a]P exposure, the gas in the poisoning cabinet was collected by the active carbon tube method regularly, and the concentration of B[a]P in the poisoning cabinet was analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometer, and the(7 R, 8 S)-dihydroxy-(9 S, 10 R)-epoxy-7, 8, 9, 10-tetrahydrobenzo [a] pyrene(BPDE)-DNA adduct content in the whole blood of mice was determined by ELISA. Results Concentration of B[a]P in the dynamic inhalation cabinet was stable at(12. 794±0. 518)μg/m~3. There was no significant difference in the BPDE-DNA content in the experimental objects between 13 weeks and 25 weeks after B[a]P exposure(Pg0. 05). After 25 weeks of B[a]P exposure, the lung cancer formation rate in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group(Pl0. 05), the tumor formation rate of female mice was up to 100%. Conclusion The mice lung cancer model induced by B[a]P dynamic inhalation exposure was established successfully.