cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Basement Membrane Collagens and Cancer

The development of cancer is a complex multistage event that requires tumor cell growth, adhesion, migration, and invasion. Tumor growth is strictly dependent on angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting vasculature, which involves endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tubulogenesis. The steps involved in angiogenesis and tumor cell dissemination include the destruction of basement membranes (BM), specialized extracellular matrix structures that separate epithelia from the surrounding stroma. Collagens represent the major component of all basement membranes. In addition to providing mechanical stability and scaffold for the assembly of other molecules, collagens also directly affect multiple aspects of cell behavior. In the last decades, our understanding of the events involved in tumor progression has increased considerably because of the discovery of a number of collagen cleavage products that strongly affect the behavior of tumor and endothelial cells, and the recognition that endothelial and tumor cells play an active role in the production and degradation of ECM components. In this chapter, we focus on the structure and role of BM collagen molecules in the control of tumor-associated angiogenesis and tumor progression. We describe: (1) the composition of the major types of collagen in basement membranes; (2) the interaction of these components with tumor and endothelial cells; (3) the role of intact collagen molecules and their cleavage products in the control of specific steps of tumor progression (migration, invasion, and recruitment of blood vessels); and (4) how collagen-derived fragments may potentially be used as therapeutic tools for the treatment of cancer.
Mismatched elastic connections

Circular and nearly circular connections between two elastic half-spaces subjected to a uniform mismatch strain are analyzed using three dimensional weight function theory. The solution for a circular connection is obtained by superposing on the weight function solutions derived by Gao [1]. For mismatched connections whose shapes differ slightly from circles we use first order perturbation formulae presented in [2] to calculate the stress intensity factors and develop a solution by Fourier series by considering harmonic wave form perturbations of the crack front position.
Vascularized bone grafts to the upper extremity : indications and technique

Massive autogenous bone grafts with an intact vascular pedicle decrease the time to bony union and immobilization required for treatment of segmental bony defects. These techniques have been shown to be effective in treatment of segmental defects of more than 6 cm after trauma or tumor resection in relatively avascular beds. Additionally, in the upper extremity, the free vascularized bone graft is in the developmental phase for employment in the reconstruction of epiphyseal arrest and congenital radial club hand. There are disadvantages to free vascularized bone transfers compared with conventional techniques. For example, a free vascularized fibular transfer requires a team skilled in microvascular technique, a long operative time (6 to 10 hours), and the sacrifice of a major vessel to the lower extremity. If the anastomosis fails, however, the free vascularized fibula will act as a conventional bone graft, thereby minimizing adverse effects. We think that by proper patient selection, appropriate evaluation and preparation of the bony defect, meticulous microvascular anastomosis, and correct fixation and immobilization of the graft a good outcome can be achieved in those patients with large bony defects that defy the use of conventional methods.
Hylomorphism and Its Two Approaches

Aristotle has established that the study of being, both per se being and potential/actual being, should be investigated through the study of substance. The central books of the Metaphysics, books vii, viii, and ix, are the texts dedicated to the discussion of substance. However, the central books presuppose a position that substance itself is no longer metaphysically simple, but becomes a composite of form and matter, and consequently, the study of substance in these books is reflected in the study of the relation among form, matter, and the composite. Here we face a turning point in Aristotle’s metaphysics. Yet how does this turning point occur? What is the motivation behind it? The Metaphysics itself does not provide answers to these questions. We need to turn to the analysis of the elements of change in Ph. i for enlightenment. This chapter, then, starts with an introductory discussion to show that it is in the analysis of the elements involved in change that Aristotle is driven to the conclusion that a sensible substance is a composite.
The Semiotics of Godot Compared with those of the Russian Icon

Boris Uspensky, in his work, The Semiotics of the Russian Icon, demonstrates that the ancient Russian icon may be deciphered through the language of artistic devices that the artist uses in it to convey meaning. These are devices that simultaneously embody both the viewpoint of the artist and that of the viewer. Uspensky is able to do this by analyzing the icon’s composition, a pictorial construction dictated largely by canon, strict limitations on subjects, and the availability of models in Russian pattern books, but also influenced by changing conventions of perception. Through the study he makes, he uncovers a special system of symbolic representational means specific to the icon which he refers to as “language.” Believing that the system used in the pictorial work may be broken down into levels similar to phonological, semantic and grammatical levels of a natural language, he considers the most important level of analysis to be that of the means the icon artist uses to transmit spatial and temporal relations to the painting. This he compares to the phonological level of language. Another level of analysis he identifies is linked to the means and manner employed to depict certain objects.
Importance of Normalization of CA19-9 Levels Following Neoadjuvant Therapy in Patients With Localized Pancreatic Cancer

OBJECTIVE Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is a prognostic marker for patients with pancreatic cancer (PC), but its value as a treatment biomarker is unclear. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Although CA19-9 is an established prognostic marker for patients with PC, it is unclear how CA19-9 monitoring should be used to guide multimodality treatment and what level of change in CA19-9 constitutes a meaningful treatment response. METHODS CA19-9 measurements at diagnosis (pretx), after completion of all planned neoadjuvant therapy (preop), and after surgery (postop) were analyzed in patients with localized PC who had an elevated CA19-9 (≥35 U/dL) at diagnosis. Patients were classified by: 1) quartiles of pretx CA19-9 (Q1-4); 2) proportional changes in CA19-9 (ΔCA19-9) after the completion of neoadjuvant therapy; 3) normalization (CA19-9 <35 U/dL) of preop CA19-9; and 4) normalization of postop CA19-9. RESULTS Among 131 patients, the median overall survival (OS) was 30 months; 68 months for the 33 patients in Q1 of pretx CA19-9 (<80 U/dL) compared with 25 months for the 98 patients in Q2-4 (P = 0.03). For the 98 patients in Q2-4, preop CA19-9 declined (from pretx) in 86 (88%), but there was no association between the magnitude of ΔCA19-9 and OS (P = 0.77). Median OS of the 98 patients who did (n = 29) or did not (n = 69) normalize their preop CA19-9 were 46 and 23 months, respectively (P = 0.02). Of the 69 patients with an elevated preop CA19-9, 32 (46%) normalized their postop CA19-9. Failure to normalize preop or postop CA19-9 was associated with a 2.77-fold and 4.03-fold increased risk of death, respectively (P < 0.003) as compared with patients with normal preop CA19-9. CONCLUSIONS Following neoadjuvant therapy, normalization of CA19-9, rather than the magnitude of change, is the strongest prognostic marker for long-term survival.
O EFEITO DO TREINAMENTO DE ALTA INTENSIDADE NOS NÍVEIS GLICÊMICOS EM PESSOAS COM DIABETES MELLITUS TIPO 2

Introducao: na atualidade, o diabetes mellitus tipo 2 tem sido considerado um dos principais problemas de saude publica no Brasil. Objetivo: a presente pesquisa teve por objetivo buscar evidencias na literatura cientifica sobre os efeitos do treinamento de alta intensidade (HIT) nos niveis de glicemia no sangue em pessoas com diabetes tipo 2. Metodo: foram consultadas as bases de dados PUBMED e EBSCO, utilizando-se os termos “high intensity training”, “diabetes type 2” e “glycemia ”. Resultados: oito estudos foram selecionados para analise dos resultados. Os estudos abordaram o efeito de diferentes tipos de treinamentos baseados em alta intensidade na glicemia sanguinea. Conclusao: os resultados dos estudos evidenciaram efeitos positivos nos niveis de glicemia no sangue em pessoas com diabetes tipo 2. Embora nao tenha sido objeto de estudo, foram encontradas evidencias de que o HIT trouxe beneficios na aptidao fisica e funcoes fisiologicas dos individuos analisados.
Role of Calcium in the Regulation of Sodium Permeability in the Kidney

Calcium ions have long been known to influence membrane permeability to ions in excitable tissues and erythrocytes. Recent evidence also indicates that calcium plays an important role in regulating epithelial net transport of ions and H2O. Specifically, there is mounting evidence that increases in cytosolic Ca2+ activity reduce sodium permeability of the apical membrane of sodium-absorbing epithelial cells [2,6,11].
Genetic analysis reveals strong phylogeographical divergences within the Scarlet Macaw Ara macao

Scarlet Macaws Ara macao have the largest geographical distribution of any Neotropical psittacine, occupying a variety of lowland forest habitats from Mexico to Brazil. Two subspecies, Ara macao macao and Ara macao cyanoptera, are currently recognized based on wing chord length and plumage coloration, with formal descriptions suggesting genetic introgression in southern Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica. The present study aimed to investigate the extent of genetic diversification within A. macao by analysing mitochondrial sequence data from contemporary and historical samples. Phylogenetic reconstruction and population aggregation analysis confirmed two distinct phylogeographical groups, with a high degree of intraspecific genetic structure and no evidence of a putative hybrid zone. Whole mitochondrial genome sequencing further confirmed substantial divergence (~ 1.8%) between the cyanoptera and macao lineages. These results demonstrate a separation of A. macao into two distinct evolutionary entities and highlight a non‐uniform distribution of intraspecific diversity, suggesting current conservation designations may warrant re‐evaluation.
Passive sub-ambient daytime radiative cooling

Passive daytime radiative cooling approaches primarily rely on spectrally selective surfaces whose performance is limited by heat gain due to solar absorption and parasitic conduction and convection. We propose and experimentally demonstrate a directional approach to perfectly reject direct solar radiation and an optically-selective thermally-insulating emitter cover that minimizes parasitic losses that can lead to low-cost, high-performance daytime radiative coolers.
Environmental Justice in the United States

Despite significant improvements in environmental protection over the past several decades, millions of Americans continue to live in unsafe and unhealthy physical environments. Many economically impoverished and politically powerless individuals are exposed to greater health hazards in their homes, on the jobs, and in their neighborhoods when compared to their more affluent counterparts. A growing body of evidence reveals that people of color and low-income persons have borne greater environmental and health risks than society at large. Over the last two decades, grassroots activists in the United Staes have attempted to change the way government implements environmental, health, and civil rights laws. These groups have also organized, educated, and empowered themselves to make government and industry responsive to their needs.
Non-Volatile Memory utilizing Reconfigurable Ferroelectric Transistors to enable Differential Read and Energy-Efficient In-Memory Computation

We propose a non-volatile memory based on cross-coupled reconfigurable ferroelectric transistors (R-FEFETs) which features differential read along with low power computation-in-memory (CiM). Exploiting the dynamic modulation of hysteresis in R-FEFETs, we achieve the aforementioned functionalities with just 2 access transistors (in addition to 2 R-FEFETs). The differential access of the proposed memory not only enhances the sense margin during read, but also enables natural computation of AND and NOR logic functions between two bits stored in the array, with the assertion of two word-lines. Using this feature, we propose a CiM architecture involving the use of a compact compute module integrated to a sense amplifier which performs Boolean logic as well as arithmetic operations such as addition of two words with a single array access. Unlike existing non-volatile CiM designs, our work features: (i) a self-referenced read operation due to differential access and (ii) a single universal voltage reference for all compute operations. At the array-level, the proposed design (R-FEFET-CiM) achieves 33%, 27% and 12% lower write, read and compute energies respectively, at iso-access time compared to FEFET based CiM (FEFET-CiM). System analysis performed by integrating our R-FEFET-CiM in the Nios II processor shows total system energy savings of 24% and 14% across various benchmarks, compared to near-memory computing and FEFET-CiM, respectively.
Covid-19 and Health Care's Digital Revolution.

Covid-19 and Health Care’s Digital Revolution In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, Americans are waking up to the limitations of their analogue health care system. It seems clear that we need an i...
Quantitation of particles in the freeze-fractured nuclear membrane after renal ischemia

Changes in the number and sizes of membrane-associated particles have been quantitated in the protoplasmic (P) and exoplasmic (E) fracture faces of the outer membrane of nuclei isolated from the inner cortex following renal ischemia and reflow in the rat. No changes were observed in the inner nuclear membrane. After 20-min ischemia, the number of particles in both fracture faces decreased. With reflow, the total number of particles decreased after both 20- and 60-min ischemia. The partition coefficient (K p = CPF/CEF) increased from 10 to 11 and 17 at 20- and 60-min ischemia then fell below control values to aK p of 7 after 120 min. After reflow,K p steadily decreased except after 20-min ischemia followed by 240-min reflow whenK p began to rise. The sizes of particles were predominantly 60 A in theP face of control outer membranes but became larger after ischemia. After 20- and 60-min ischemia with reflow, the size distribution became more normal. The shifts in particle numbers and sizes seem to indicate modifications within the membrane resulting from ischemia.
Quantitatively Modeling Factors that Influence the Therapeutic Doses of Antibodies

Dose selection and confirmation are critical tasks in the development of therapeutic antibodies. These tasks could become particularly challenging in the absence of robust pharmacodynamics biomarkers or at very flat dose-response curves. Although much knowledge has been acquired in the past decade, it remains uncertain which factors are relevant and how to select doses more rationally. In this study, we developed a quantitative metric, Therapeutic Exposure Affinity Ratio (TEAR), to retrospectively evaluate up to 60 approved antibodies and their therapeutic doses (TDs), and systematically assessed the factors that are relevant to antibody TDs and dose selection patterns. This metric supported us to analyze many factors that are beyond antibody pharmacokinetics and target binding affinity. Our results challenged the traditional perceptions about the importance of target turnovers and target anatomical locations in the selection of TDs, highlighted the relevance of an overlooked factor, antibody mechanisms of action. Overall, this study provided insights into antibody dose selection and confirmation in the development of therapeutic antibodies.
Perioperative adverse events after different fusion approaches for single-level lumbar spondylosis

Abstract Background Low back pain from lumbar spondylosis affects a large proportion of the population. In select cases, lumbar fusion may be considered. However, cohort studies have not shown clear differences in long-term outcomes between PSF, TLIF, ALIF, and AP fusion. Thus, differences in perioperative complications might affect choice between these procedures for the given diagnosis. The current study seeks to compare perioperative adverse events for patients with lumbar spondylosis treated with single-level: posterior spinal fusion (PSF), transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), or combined anterior and posterior lumbar fusion (AP fusion). Methods Patients with a diagnosis of lumbar spondylosis who underwent single-level lumbar fusion without decompression were identified in the 2010-2016 National Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Patients were categorized based on their procedure (PSF, TLIF, ALIF, or AP fusion). Unadjusted Fisher's exact and Pearson's chi-squared tests were used to compare demographics and comorbid factors. Analysis was secondarily done with propensity score matching to address potential differences in patient selection between the study cohorts. Results In total, 1816 patients were identified: PSF n=322, TLIF n=800, ALIF n=460, AP fusion n=234. The procedures did not have different thirty-day individual or aggregated (any, serious, minor, or infection) adverse events. Further, propensity score matched analysis also revealed no differences in individual or aggregated thirty-day perioperative events. Conclusion The current study demonstrates a lack of difference in thirty-day perioperative adverse events for different fusion procedures performed for lumbar spondylosis, consistent with prior longer-term outcome studies. These findings suggest that patient/surgeon preference and other factors not captured here should be considered to determine the best surgical technique for the select patients with the given diagnosis who are considered for lumbar fusion. Summary Sentence Using the NSQIP 2010-2016 databases, this study showed that perioperative adverse events were similar for different surgical approaches of single-level fusion for single-level lumbar spondylosis.
Conducting Focused Outreach with Patient Populations

Hospital librarians working with patient populations will be encouraged by a recent publication that supports their involvement with the patient experience. The article, Involvement of information ...
The Critical Role of Pulmonary Artery Wedge Pressure Saturation In The Standardization of Pulmonary Artery Wedge Pressure Measurement

Introduction Inadequate balloon occlusion while measuring pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) during right heart catheterization (RHC) may lead to inaccurate measures and clinically relevant misdiagnosis of disease. Following the 6th World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) recommendations, we instituted a standard of care clinical protocol at the Medical University of South Carolina that required obtaining a PAWP saturation (sat) to confirm complete occlusion whenever initially measured PAWP is >15 mmHg. We sought to determine: 1) The difference between initial and lowest reported PAWP 2) The frequency in which this practice leads to a change in PH classification 3) The overall success rate in obtaining a PAWP sat. Methods After IRB approval, investigators not performing the RHC procedure prospectively collected demographic, echocardiographic and hemodynamic data. Subjects undergoing routine post-transplant RHC were excluded. After the initial PAWP measurement (as determined by the RHC operator), a PAWP sat was drawn to confirm occlusion (defined as >90% or within 5% of the systemic arterial oxygen saturation). If the PAWP sat did not confirm occlusion, the balloon was deflated and up to two additional attempts were made to re-measure the PAWP and confirm with a PAWP sat. PAWP were recorded at the same point in the respiratory cycle with each attempt. Repeated measures were compared using Signed Rank Test. Results We enrolled 75 subjects (age 58.3 +/- 13.3 years, 60% men, 59% with LVEF 15 mmHg. Despite apparent confirmation of PAWP position by fluoroscopy and/or typical hemodynamic waveforms, an occlusive PAWP sat was unable to be confirmed in 39 (52%) of subjects during the first attempt. In these subjects, the mean difference between initial and lowest PAWP was -4.1 +/- 7.7 mmHg (p 5 mmHg. Three of the 4 subjects referred for PH with preserved EF were ultimately reclassified as having pre-capillary PH. Eight of the 16 referred for advanced heart failure evaluation were re-classified as combined post- and pre-capillary PH with PVR > 3 WU, which then required vasodilator testing. With additional attempts, a PAWP sat was confirmed in 83% of subjects. There were no observed complications during additional PAWP attempts. Conclusion The practice of requiring a PAWP sat resulted in significantly lower PAWP, higher PVR and clinically relevant disease reclassification. A PAWP sat is a simple and safe technique to verify an elevated PAWP during RHC.
Considering Loxapine Instead of Clozapine: A Case Series and Literature Review

This case series highlights the importance of loxapine in psychiatric disorders when clozapine is unable to control agitation and psychotic symptoms due to medication noncompliance, intolerable side effects, or inadequate clinical outcomes. Loxapine is classified as a first-generation typical antipsychotic but displays atypical antipsychotic-like characteristics with structural similarity to clozapine. However, since the inception of second-generation antipsychotic medications, the role of loxapine in modern psychiatric practice has become limited. Loxapine has been underutilized due to concerns of side effects and lack of in-depth research about its safety, tolerability, and efficacy. This report revisits loxapine's clinical utility through two well-studied long-term inpatient cases, where it played a crucial role in controlling psychotic symptoms and achieving better medication compliance by eliminating significant barriers, including monitoring regular differential complete blood counts. We aim to add to the current evidence and literature about the advantage of using loxapine for specific clinical scenarios in psychiatric practice.
What Pildes Missed: The Framers, the True Impact of the Voting Rights Act, and the Far Right

I commend Professor Richard Pildes for offering such a creative and cogent discussion of polarization in contemporary American political life. I especially appreciate that he has brought such a calm, dispassionate, and admirably scholarly tone to a discussion that is too often—well, polarized. Yet I do wonder if in the effort to find a stable ground on which to conduct a constructive, nonpartisan discussion, he has avoided, or at least underemphasized, some dimensions of the subject that are notoriously stubborn as well as others that are famously volatile, perhaps even irremediable. Specifically, Professor Pildes appears to have underemphasized the degree to which the Framers confronted this polarization, overemphasized the effect of the Voting Rights Act on polarization, and overlooked a handful of factors that might prove significant in explaining polarization.
Feminist Legal Scholarship: A History through the Lens of the California Law Review

This Essay describes the evolution of feminist legal scholarship, using six articles published by the California Law Review as exemplars. This short history provides a window on the most important contributions of feminist scholarship to understandings about gender and law. It explores alternative formulations of equality, and the competing assumptions, ideals, and implications of these formulations. It describes frameworks of thought intended to compensate for the limitations of equality doctrine, including critical legal feminism, different voice theory, and nonsubordination theory, and the relationships between these frameworks. Finally, it identifies feminist legal scholarship that has crossed the disciplinary boundaries of law. Among its conclusions, the Essay points out that as feminist scholarship has become more mainstream, its assumptions and methods are less distinct. It observes that even as feminist legal scholarship has generated important, insightful critiques of equality doctrine, it remains committed to the concept of equality, as continually revised and refined. The Essay also highlights the importance of feminist activism and practice in sharpening and refining feminist legal scholarship.
The Boltzmann-Poisson System in Weakly Collisional Sheaths

Ion distribution functions in weakly-collisional direct-current (DC) sheaths and collisionless radio-frequency (RF) sheaths are discussed from the viewpoint of kinetic theory. Analytical formulae for the ion distributions in a self-consistent field are obtained for weakly-collisional sheaths, and are shown to be in good agreement with results from Monte Carlo simulations. A detailed knowledge of the angular and energy distribution of the ion flux impinging on a surface is of interest in the plasma-processing of semiconductor materials.
Fingered patterns in electron droplets in nonuniform magnetic fields

A semiclassical analysis of a two-dimensional electron droplet in a high, nonuniform magnetic field predicts that the droplet will form "fingered" patterns upon increasing the number of electrons. We construct explicit examples of these patterns using methods first developed for the flow of two-dimensional viscous fluids. We complement our analytical results with Monte Carlo simulations of the droplet wave function, and find that at the point where the semiclassical analysis predicts a cusp on the interface, the droplet fissions-a type of "quantum breakup" phenomenon.
Fourier transforms of stationary processes

We consider the asymptotic behavior of Fourier transforms of stationary and ergodic sequences. Under sufficiently mild conditions, central limit theorems are established for almost all frequencies as well as for a given frequency. Applications to the widely used linear processes and iterated random functions are discussed. Our results shed new light on the foundation of spectral analysis in that the asymptotic distribution of the periodogram, the fundamental quantity in the frequency-domain analysis, is obtained.
Little Zion: A Church Baptized by Fire

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Shelly O'Foran Year: 2006 Pages: xviii + 266 Publisher: University of North Carolina Press ISBN: 0-8078-3048-8 (hard cover). Prices: $49.95 USD(hard cover).
Developing nanotherapies for neurodegenerative diseases: ORMOSIL and its potential in axonal transport

In neurons, essential components packaged into vesicles are transported down microtubules to the ends of axons (synapses) where they are utilized. Components are also transported from the synapse to the cell body. This transport pathway is crucial for normal development, cell survival and plasticity. Recent work has established that defects in transport can contribute to the initiation of neurodegenerative disease, culminating in cell death and degeneration. Thus, delivering therapeutic treatments to an early defect is critical since many current strategies target pathology that occurs at later stages in the disease. Current treatments also affect the entire organism, causing side-effects that are often more deleterious than the disease. This article discusses how engineered synthetic structures can be used to directly target axonal transport – a pathway that is affected during the early stages of disease. Studies in this area will require the exchange of fundamental knowledge between biologists, chemists...
Bidirectional mode-locked fiber ring laser using self-regenerative, passively controlled, threshold gating

We demonstrate a technique to achieve bidirectional mode locking of a fiber ring laser using two amplitude modulators passively driven by a signal regenerated from the oscillation of the laser itself. The new scheme allows generation of two independent—frequency unlocked—countercirculating pulses and active control of their crossing points. The technique minimizes the effects of the dead band associated with crossing at a scattering media. Results show stable bidirectional pulses at a 5MHz repetition rate with no detectable dead band.
Collective learning for transformational change: a guide to collective learning, by Valerie A. Brown and Judith A. Lambert

London, Routledge, 2012, 296 pp., $135 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-4156-2292-9 I love this concept of celebration of collective learning. (Jackie Ohlin, Foreword, p. v) Collective Learning for Transform...
Polarization and Brewster angle properties of light pillars

Numerical simulation of the nocturnal light pillar, an atmospheric optical phenomenon inadvertently caused by humans, reveals that the pillars are virtually completely polarized at the Brewster angle for ice as a result of the geometry of rays reflected off near-horizontally aligned ice crystals from a nearby light source. It is also shown for plate crystals that the first-order internal reflection contributes importantly to the display and that the depth of the crystal-containing layer and the effects of atmospheric attenuation serve to limit the height above the horizon to which the pillars are visible. The model findings have been verified with experiments involving the generation of artificial pillars from linearly polarized light sources. Both observations and model predictions support the view that the plate ice crystals causing the display have tilt angles that are distributed normally from the horizontal plane.
Connective Tissue Syndromes: Themes and Guidelines for the Spine Deformity Surgeon

Connective tissue disorders affect all of the spinal elements. Accurate diagnosis is important to direct management of related system disorders. Marfan, Beals, Shprintzen-Goldeberg, Loeys-Dietz, Ehlers-Danlos, and Stickler syndromes are reviewed. Special attention should be paid at surgery to selecting proper fusion levels to avoid fixation failure and dural compromise.
Inhibition of allogenic T-cell cytotoxicity by hepatic stellate cell via CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells in vitro.

Abstract Background The liver is considered to be an immune-privileged organ. Several types of liver cells have been implicated in the induction of immunologic tolerance. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) seem to participate in hepatic fibrosis and to display immunological properties. Materials and results In this study, HSCs isolated from C3H mice were highly positive for GFAP (98.4%) and α-SMA (95.4%). After stimulation by interferon-γ (IFN-γ), HSCs were more active in morphology with enhanced expression of H2-K K , I-A K , CD80, and CD54, similar to mature myelogenic dendritic cells (MDCs). Through allogeneic stimulation, C3H HSCs induced proliferation of both CD8 + and CD4 + T cells in B6 mice. However, the T cells activated by allogeneic HSCs produced less INF-γ, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and IL-17, but large amount of transforming growth factor-β. These T cells expressed immunoregulatory rather than effector functions. Naive T cells stimulated by allogeneic HSCs expressed Foxp3 compared with MDCs (8.67% vs 2.14%, P + T cells activated by HSCs lost their allogeneic cytotoxicity, and CD4 + T cells activated in this fashion suppressed the allogeneic cytotoxicity of CD8 + T cells activated by MDCs. Conclusion HSCs seem to act as liver-resident antigen-presenting cells instructing the generation of Foxp3 + regulatory T cells, a property suggestion of induction of immunologic tolerance.
Multilevel sparse approximate inverse preconditioners for adaptive mesh refinement

Abstract We present an efficient and effective preconditioning method for time-dependent simulations with dynamic, adaptive mesh refinement and implicit time integration. Adaptive mesh refinement greatly improves the efficiency of simulations where the solution develops steep gradients in small regions of the computational domain that change over time. Unfortunately, adaptive mesh refinement also introduces a number of problems for preconditioning in (parallel) iterative linear solvers, as the changes in the mesh lead to structural changes in the linear systems we must solve. Hence, we may need to compute a new preconditioner at every time-step. Since this would be expensive, we propose preconditioners that are cheap to adapt for dynamic changes to the mesh; more specifically, we propose preconditioners that require only localized changes to the preconditioner for localized changes in the mesh. Our preconditioners combine sparse approximate inverses and multilevel techniques. We demonstrate significant improvements in convergence rates of Krylov subspace methods and significant reductions of the overall runtime. Furthermore, we demonstrate experimentally level-independent convergence rates for various problems.
Luminescent mixed ligand copper(I) clusters (CuI)n(L)m (L=pyridine, piperidine): thermodynamic control of molecular and supramolecular species

Abstract The photophysical properties of neutral adducts of CuI and the N-bound ligands pyridine (py) and piperidine (pip) of the type Cu n X n L m were studied as a function of the concentrations of the ligand L. For L=py, variation in the UV–Vis absorption and luminescence spectroscopic properties as a function of ligand concentration is rationalized as the result of labile equilibria involving several species, most prominently the dinuclear complex Cu 2 I 2 (py) 2 and the ‘cubane’ cluster Cu 4 I 4 py 4 . The ease of ligand exchange in solution was exploited for the self-assembly of mixed-ligand tetrameric compounds Cu 4 I 4 (py) n (pip) m (where n + m =4), which were identified through their photophysical properties. Factors determining these emission properties are discussed.
Ethnic/Racial Minorities’ Participation in AEJMC How Much and What Type of Progress?

This paper provides an assessment of the diversity of the leadership positions of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) from 2007 to 2011. While numerous studies have analyzed AEJMC’s membership demographics, gender, and scholarship production, there have been few investigations regarding people of color in leadership positions. Findings indicate little progress for people of color has been made in the past five years. Ideally, the educational institutions and academic organizations most responsible for preparing the next generation of media scholars as well as the professionals who produce the content and manage the media catering to the changing population patterns would be at the forefront of diversity in their own leadership. This is especially so for academic organizations, which through journal publications, conference presentations, and various awards, can often have a direct influence on the research emphases and curricular direction of programs nationally.
Design for Disassembly and the Value of Robotic Semi-Destructive Disassembly

This article explores robotic semi-destructive disassembly’s relationship with design for disassembly, and the article investigates its value as a disassembly approach for remanufacture and / or recycling. Specifically, the compatibility of design for disassembly guidelines with semi-destructive disassembly is explored. Regulatory pressures, recovering the value of products’ materials and the long-range environmental importance of cycling material flows motivate the exploration. The article compares general design for disassembly guidelines drawn from the literature with experimental results from the semi-destructive disassembly of a simple consumer product. Additionally, the value of semi-destructive disassembly is investigated. The prevailing view of semi-destructive disassembly’s value is discussed, and the realities of an experimental semi-destructive disassembly study are contrasted with these beliefs.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Extracellular Vesicles Modulate the Glioblastoma Microenvironment via a Tumor Suppression Signaling Network Directed by miR-1

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as important mediators of intercellular communication in cancer, including by conveying tumor-promoting microRNAs between cells, but their regulation is poorly understood. In this study, we report the findings of a comparative microRNA profiling and functional analysis in human glioblastoma (GBM) that identifies miR-1 as an orchestrator of EV function and GBM growth and invasion. Ectopic expression of miR-1 in GBM cells blocked in vivo growth, neovascularization and invasiveness. These effects were associated with a role for miR-1 in intercellular communication in the microenvironment mediated by EVs released by cancer stem-like GBM cells. An EV-dependent phenotype defined by GBM invasion, neurosphere growth and endothelial tube formation was mitigated by loading miR-1 into GBM-derived EVs. Protein cargo in EVs was characterized to learn how miR-1 directed EV function. The mRNA encoding Annexin A2 (ANXA2), one of the most abundant proteins in GBM-derived EVs, was found to be a direct target of miR-1 control. In addition, EV-derived miR-1 along with other ANXA2 EV networking partners targeted multiple pro-oncogenic signals in cells within the GBM microenvironment. Together, our results showed how EV signalling promotes the malignant character of GBM and how ectopic expression of miR-1 can mitigate this character, with possible implications for how to develop a unique miRNA-based therapy for GBM management.
High-density, homogeneous endospore monolayer deposition on test surfaces

Bacillus subtilis spores were deposited in high-density single layers on metal, glass, and polymer substrates using vacuum filtration followed by a wetted filter transfer step. Quantitative analysis of spore transfer was performed using culture-based and germinability assays, and spore distributions were observed with electron microscopy.
The Century of Prose Corpus : a half-million word historical data base

The Century of Prose Corpus is a historical corpus of British English of the period 1680–1780. It has been designed to provide a resource for students of the language of that era. The COPC is diachronic and may be considered a unit in what will eventually become a series of corpora providing access to the whole of the English language from the oldest specimens to the present. This article describes and explains the various features of the COPC.
The role of sensory neurons in cervical ripening: Effects of estrogen and neuropeptides

Central nervous system nuclei and circuits, such as the medial preoptic, ventromedial and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus, play important roles in reproduction and parturition, and are influenced by estrogen. Peripheral autonomic and sensory neurons also play important roles in pregnancy and parturition. Moreover, the steroid hormone estrogen acts directly, not only on the reproductive tract organs (uterus and cervix), but also on the central and peripheral nerves by regulating expression of various neuronal genes. The peripheral primary afferent neurons innervating the uterine cervix relay mechanical and biochemical sensory information induced by local cervical events and by passage of fetuses, to the spinal cord and supraspinal centers. Consequently, the birth process in mammals is influenced by the combined action of neurons and hormones. Peripheral sensory stimuli, induced physiologically by fetal expulsion or mechanically by vaginocervical stimulation, alter behavior, as well as autonomic and neuroendocrine systems. Recent evidence indicates that primary afferent neurons innervating the cervix, in addition to their sensory effects, likely exert local "efferent" actions on the ripening cervix near term. These efferent effects may involve estrogen-regulated production of such neuropeptides as substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide in lumbosacral dorsal root ganglia, and their release in the cervix. Collectively, these findings suggest an interrelationship among estrogen, cervix-related sensory neurons, and local cervical events near term.
Electron beam flourescence measurements in low density free jets of heated nitrogen

Rotational temperatures have been measured in heated free jet expansions of low density nitrogen using the electron beam flourescence technique. Spectroscopic measurements of the (0,0) band of the first negative system of nitrogen revealed the rotational nonequilibrium behavior in the flow field upstream of and through the Mach disk, as well as the flow field farther downstream. These results are compared to free jet expansion data and computations regarding Mach disk location and terminal rotational temperature. Comparisons indicate a rotational relaxation-collision number of about 3. Both measurements and calculations show that these flow fields are generated from stagnation conditions of 240 to 475 Torr-mm and 700 to 1325 K. Results are also presented for shock thickness based on rotational temperature.
Distinctive features of the 5'-terminal sequences of the human mitochondrial mRNAs

The 5′-end proximal sequences of all the putative mRNAs coded for by the heavy strand of HeLa cell mitochondrial DNA have been determined and aligned with the DNA sequence. All these mRNAs start directly at, or very near to, an AUG or AUA triplet, with the exception of one which starts at an AUU. The available evidence indicates that the terminal or subterminal AUGs and AUAs, and possibly also the terminal AUU, are initiator codons for the corresponding polypeptides. In most cases, the individual mRNA coding sequences are flanked on their 5′ side by a tRNA gene, without any intervening nucleotide.
The development of novel materials for medical devices

Healthcare consumers continue to demand ever more complex devices for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. The development of novel medical devices was traditionally left to surgeon-scientists, who encountered patient suffering and developed medical devices using materials that were available in their local communities and that seemed to exhibit properties suitable for the desired function. Today, the medical device industry increasingly relies on knowledge of materials science and engineering to develop sophisticated replacements for natural tissues. For example, the $3.2 billion cardiac stent market has expanded over the past decade due to the development of fl exible polymer balloon catheters that expand obstructed blood vessels; metallic wire meshes that provide structural support to blood vessels; and biodegradable polymers that release antiproliferative pharmacologic agents in order to minimize closure (restenosis) of blood vessels. The medical device industry accounts for nearly $100 billion in revenues, and is expected to increase over the coming decades. Signifi cant strides are being made in the development of novel materials for use in medical devices. Advances in medical devices and prostheses were made during and after World War II. Biologically inert metals, ceramics, The Development of Novel Materials for Medical Devices
Effect of Antibiotics on the Serum Cholesterol Concentration of Patients with Atherosclerosis

Oral neomycin, at the dose level of 0.5 to 2 Gm. daily, produced a significant fall in the level of serum cholesterol in all of 29 periods in 20 patients studied. The effect reached a maximum in approximately 2 weeks and persisted for the duration of the experiments up to 9 months. After the medication was discontinued, the serum cholesterol levels returned to control values within 2 weeks. No significant toxic reaction to oral neomycin was discernible. Neomycin by injection in excess of the amount calculated to be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract failed to lower the serum cholesterol level. The mechanism of action of neomycin was not determined, but it is thought to be a local effect in the gastrointestinal tract or its contents. Oral aureomycin and oral kanamycin had a similar but less marked and less consistent effect on the level of serum cholesterol in a number of patients. In a limited number of patients, oral achromycin, bacitracin, chloromycetin, streptomycin, and mycostatin did not have a...
Postnatal loss of methyl-CpG binding protein 2 in the forebrain is sufficient to mediate behavioral aspects of Rett syndrome in mice.

Background Mutations in the methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) gene cause Rett syndrome (RTT), a neurodevelopmental disorder that is accompanied by a broad array of behavioral phenotypes, mainly affecting females. Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 is a transcriptional repressor that is widely expressed in all tissues. Methods To investigate whether the postnatal loss of MeCP2 in the forebrain is sufficient to produce the behavioral phenotypes observed in RTT, we have generated conditional MeCP2 knockout mice. Results These mice display behavioral abnormalities similar to RTT phenotypes, including hindlimb clasping, impaired motor coordination, increased anxiety, and abnormal social behavior with other mice. These mice, however, have normal locomotor activity and unimpaired context-dependent fear conditioning, suggesting that the behavioral deficits observed are the result of loss of MeCP2 function in postnatal forebrain and not the result of generalized global deficits. Conclusions These data highlight the important role of MeCP2 in the forebrain and suggest that even partial loss of MeCP2 expression in these brain regions is sufficient to recapitulate features of RTT.
Complex structure of a maize Myb gene promoter: functional analysis in transgenic plants

The maize P gene encodes a Myb-like transcription factor that regulates synthesis of red flavonoid pigments in floral organs. To study the transcriptional regulation of the P gene, candidate regulatory sequences of the P1-rr gene promoter were identified by Ac insertional mutagenesis and subjected to functional testing in transgenic maize plants. The results indicate that a 561 bp fragment (Pb) encompassing the transcription start site (-235 to +326) supports weak expression of a GUS reporter gene in floral organs, including husk, silk, kernel pericarp, cob and male inflorescence. Two other fragments, located approximately 1 and 5 kb 5' of the transcription start site, increased the levels of GUS activity in floral tissues and thus appear to contain enhancer elements. All of the tested constructs gave similar patterns of GUS expression, suggesting that the 561 bp Pb fragment that is common among the transgene constructs contains regulatory elements that promote activation in floral organs. The basal promoter and proximal enhancer fragments contain putative binding sites for bZip regulatory factors, and a complex arrangement of palindromes including a large inverted repeat of two tRNA-like genes. Possibly, interconversions between linear and cruciform conformations of the palindromes may affect protein/DNA interactions and thereby modulate P1-rr expression.
The "Ins" and "Outs" of the Depressive Disorders Section of DSM-5

In this article, we review and evaluate changes in the depressive disorders section from DSM-IV to DSM-5. We describe characteristics of three new depressive disorders: disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and persistent depressive disorder. We also discuss the controversial decision in DSM-5 to remove the bereavement exclusion from the criteria for major depressive disorder. Next, we review the decision to replace the diagnosis of depressive disorder not otherwise specified with two new diagnoses: other specified depressive disorder and unspecified depressive disorder. Finally, we discuss the inclusion of two novel specifiers in the DSM-5 depressive disorders section: “with anxious distress” and “with mixed features.” For each of these changes, we examine the relevant research and discuss implications of the changes for research and clinical practice.