cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intumescent Thermoplastic Elastomer Fire Shield Material

The intumescent material described in this paper expands under high heat or fire conditions to form an insulating sponge. Its composition is based on a blend of high-density polyethylene and chlorinated polyethylene. The material is processed using normal plastic techniques. Tensile properties, heat aging, fluid aging, and thermal properties have been evaluated and are presented. Fire testing using a 1000 °C Bunsen burner as a source, showed that the material does not drip or burn through, even after 30 minutes of exposure. Prototype fire shields made of the intumescent material have been tested on fuel tanks, bulkheads, and wheel well covers. In all cases the intumescent material provided excellent protection. Similar applications are identified for airplanes, motorcycles, industrial and residential buildings. The material is recyclable and can be made from recycled polymers.
Resilient control systems: Next generation design research

Since digital control systems were introduced to the market more than 30 years ago, the operational efficiency and stability gained through their use have fueled our migration and ultimate dependence on them for the monitoring and control of critical infrastructure. While these systems have been designed for functionality and reliability, a hostile cyber environment and uncertainties in complex networks and human interactions have placed additional parameters on the design expectations for control systems.
PARTICULATE MATTER PHYSICOCHEMISTRY AND TOXICOLOGY: In Search of Causality-A Critical Perspective

Results from epidemiology studies have shown statistical associations between ambient air particulate matter (PM) concentrations and mortality/morbidity, particularly among susceptible subpopulations. Although the epidemiology of ambient air PM is compelling, there remains considerable uncertainty in PM risk assessment, particularly with regard to identification of PM properties and mechanisms that are responsible for its observed adverse health effects. In addition, the biological mechanisms by which specific PM properties mediate their adverse health effects are currently not known. In vivo and in vitro toxicological studies have examined particles derived from a number of sources such as ambient air, combustion, and natural sources, as well as laboratory-derived surrogate particles, in order to identify the characteristics of particles that are responsible for their adverse health effects. These studies have identified a number of potential causal biogenic, physical, and chemical properties of PM. A nu...
A Numerical Parametric Investigation of Localization and Forming Limits

The ability of a theoretical model to accurately predict localization and failure strains, which characterize the formability of materials, has been a controversial subject as researchers have tried various analytical methods over the years to predict forming limit diagrams. In this work, we analyze various aspects of finite element modeling in which large deformation plasticity is coupled with continuum damage evolution. In the context of the Bammann-Chiesa-Johnson (BCJ) internal state variable model, we examine different finite element codes (DYNA3D, PRONTO3D, and JAC3D), sheet thicknesses (1.0 cm and 0.1 cm), types of instabilities (geometric perturbation and various initial void volume fraction mismatches), element types [solid continuum, Hughes and Liu (1980), and Belytschko and Tsay (1983)], mesh refinement, and two-stage nonproportional straining conditions. By varying these parameters in finite element calculations for determining forming limits, we ascertain not only the forming limit diagrams in...
Facial Affect and Race Influence Threat Perception

The Guns and Tools task (Payne, 2001) was modified in the current research so that the Black and White face primes displayed emotional expressions. A 2 (race) × 3 (facial affect) × 2 (target) within-subjects design was utilized. Formal predictions were that prime race and facial affect would have separate and combined effects on the misperception of threat. Predictions were partially supported. These findings replicate Payne (2001) and illustrate the separable and significant impact of both racial cues and facial affect in the misperception of threat.
A biomechanical evaluation of anterior and posterior tibialis tendons as suitable single-loop anterior cruciate ligament grafts.

Purpose: Because allograft tendons used to replace a torn anterior cruciate ligament are in short supply, it is useful to explore other possible graft sources. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a graft formed from a loop of either an anterior or posterior tibialis tendon has structural, material, and viscoelastic properties similar to those of a double-looped semitendinosus and gracilis (DLSTG) graft. Type of Study: Completely randomized design. Methods: Four structural and 3 material properties were determined for each type of graft (n 10) by measuring the cross-sectional area, looping the tendon(s) over a post, gripping the free ends of the tendon(s) with a freeze clamp, and pulling the graft to failure by using a materials testing system. Two viscoelastic properties were determined for each type of graft (n 10) by measuring the decrease in load under a constant displacement (i.e., stress relaxation test) and the increase in displacement under a constant load (i.e., creep test). Results: For grafts 95 mm in length, the ultimate load and ultimate displacement of a loop of anterior (4,122 N, 12.0 mm) and posterior tibialis (3,594 N, 12.5 mm) tendon were either similar to or significantly greater than those of the DLSTG graft (2,913 N, 8.4 mm) (P .204 for the posterior tibialis ultimate load and P .007 for the remaining quantities). The stiffness and cross-sectional area of the anterior (460 N/mm, 48.2 mm 2 ) and posterior tibialis (379 N/mm, 41.9 mm 2 ) grafts were similar to those of the DLSTG graft (418 N/mm, 44.4 mm 2 )( P .283). The tensile modulus, stress at ultimate load, and strain at ultimate load of the anterior tibialis and posterior tibialis grafts were either similar to or significantly greater than those of the DLSTG graft. The decrease in load of the anterior tibialis and posterior tibialis grafts was either greater than or similar to that of the DLSTG graft for the relaxation test (P .066). The increase in displacement of the anterior tibialis (0.3 mm) and posterior tibialis (0.4 mm) grafts was minimally but significantly greater than that of the DLSTG graft (0.2 mm) for the creep test (P .004). Conclusions: The structural, material, and viscoelastic properties of a single loop of anterior tibialis and posterior tibialis tendon are either better than or similar to those of a DLSTG graft. Consequently, single-loop grafts formed from tibialis tendons should function well as a replacement for a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Key Words: Anterior cruciate ligament—Tendon graft—Structural properties—Mechanical properties—Viscoelastic.
Beyond hacking: an SOS!

Cyber-security today is focused largely on defending against known attacks. We learn about the latest attack and find a hack to defend against it. So our defenses improve only after they have been successfully penetrated. This is a recipe to ensure some attackers succeed---not a recipe for achieving system trustworthiness. We must move beyond reacting to yesterday's attacks and instead start building systems whose trustworthiness derives from first principles. Yet today we lack the understanding to adopt that proactive approach; it's not only a matter of engineering, but we lack a science of security (SOS). The SOS landscape would includes attacks, defense mechanisms, and security properties; the science would characterize how these relate. What security properties can be preserved by a given defense mechanism? What attacks are resisted by a given mechanism? How can enforcement mechanisms be viewed as "trust relocators"? Some challenges are reminiscent of problems that software engineering researchers confront; others resemble problems addressed in the fault-tolerance community. In fact, there are significant technical differences for an SOS, deriving from the very different assumptions about requirements and the environment. This talk will attempt clarify the differences. We will also survey recent and promising avenues toward building a SOS and creating a principled basis for the engineering of trustworthy systems.
Event history graphs for censored survival data.

A compact graphical device for combining survival and time-varying covariate information is proposed. The proposed graph contains the Kaplan–Meier estimator for right-censored data and a simultaneous display of the behaviour of time-dependent covariate(s) and the lifetime for each subject in the sample. The observed levels of time-dependent covariates are possibly subjected to an initial dimension reduction or smoothing step to produce a continuous covariate function. Values of this function are plotted on a horizontal bar for the length of the lifetime of the subject. Covariate information for censored data is also incorporated. The union of the horizontal bars forms the Kaplan–Meier estimator of the survival function. Our graphical method is implemented with a new S-plus function and demonstrated in several applications. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Representation of human vision in the brain: How does human perception recognize images?

The repetitive scanpath eye movement, EM, sequence enabled an approach to the representation of visual images in the human brain. We supposed that there were several levels of binding—semantic or symbolic binding; structural binding for the spatial locations of the regions-of-interest; and sequential binding for the dynamic execution program that yields the sequence of EMs. The scanpath sequences enable experimental evaluation of these various bindings that appear to play independent roles and are likely located in different parts of the modular cortex. EMs play an essen- tial role in top-down control of the flow of visual information. The scanpath theory proposes that an internal spatial-cognitive model controls perception and the active looking EMs. Evidence support- ing the scanpath theory includes experiments with ambiguous fig- ures, visual imagery, and dynamic scenes. It is further explicated in a top-down computer vision tracking scheme for telerobots using design elements from the scanpath procedures. We also introduce procedures—calibration of EMs, identification of regions-of-interest, and analysis and comparison programs—for studying scanpaths. Although philosophers have long speculated that we see in our mind's eye, yet until the scanpath theory, no strong scientific evi- dence was available to support these conjectures. © 2001 SPIE and IS&T. (DOI: 10.1117/1.1329895)
Venus mesosphere and thermosphere temperature structure: II. Day-night variations

Abstract A two-dimensional nonlinear hydrodynamic model has been developed for studying the global scale winds, temperature, and compositional structure of the mesosphere and thermosphere of Venus. The model is driven by absorption of solar radiation. Ultraviolet radiation produces both heating and photodissociation. Infrared solar heating and thermal cooling are also included with an accurate NLTE treatment. The most crucial uncertainty in determining the solar drive is the efficiency by which λ A solar radiation is converted to heat. This question was analyzed in Part I, where it was concluded that essentially all hot atom and O( 1 D) energy may be transferred to vibrational-rotational energy of CO 2 molecules. If this is so, the minimum possible euv heating occurs and is determined by the quenching of the resulting excess rotational energy. The hydrodynamic model is integrated with this minimum heating and neglecting any small-scale vertical eddy mixing. The results are compared with predictions of another model with the same physics except that it assumes that 30% of λ A radiation goes into heat and that the heating from longer-wavelength radiation includes the O( 1 D) energy. For the low-efficiency model, exospheric temperatures are ≅300°K on the dayside and drop to
Phosphorus Sorption in Organic Soils in South Florida

The Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), downstream of Lake Okeechobee in South Florida, was initially drained in the early 20th century for agriculture and flood protection. Drainage water from the EAA, enriched with P, has impacted the downstream Everglades ecosystem. The organic soils in the EAA have become shallower as a result of continuing oxidation. Mixing of the organic soils with the underlying limestone bedrock may have resulted in increased CaCO 3 . Our objectives were to determine the P sorption capacity of selected Histosols in the EAA with various soil depths and its relationships with selected physicochemical properties of the soils. Sorption experiments were performed on field-moist soils representing three series. These soils are taxonomically similar and differ in O horizon depth to bedrock. Both Langmuir and Freundlich sorption models fit the data well. Langmuir P sorption maxima (S max ) on a mass basis ranged from 733 to 6767 mg kg ―1 and are comparable to mineral soils on a volume basis. In general, P sorption variables were not different among the soils investigated except for the Freundlich sorption coefficient K F , which was lowest in the Pahokee soil, indicating lower P sorption capacity. Langmuir S max was positively correlated with pH and oxalate-extractable Fe and Al, but not with CaCO 3 content. The S max was inversely correlated with organic matter and water-extractable P. Phosphorus sorption in these organic soils is affected by an increased mineral content, mainly poorly crystalline Fe and Al oxides, but we found no evidence that shallower soils had higher sorption capacities due to increased CaCO 3 as hypothesized.
Discrediting the Late Eocene Microspherule Layer at Cynthia, Mississippi

— Glassy microspherules recently reported from the late Eocene of central Mississippi are physically and chemically similar to impact-produced microspherules, especially those from Molino de Cobo, Spain, leading several investigators to conclude that these samples document another late Eocene impact event. A careful evaluation of the sample site and spherule compositions, however, suggests that these glasses are modern contaminants. Similar contaminants could be widespread throughout industrialized countries.
Quantum tunneling of the magnetic moment in the S/F/S Josephson φ 0 junction

We show that the S/F/S Josephson ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{0}$ junction permits detection of macroscopic quantum tunneling and quantum oscillation of the magnetic moment by measuring the ac voltage across the junction. Exact expression for the tunnel splitting renormalized by the interaction with the superconducting order parameter is obtained. It is demonstrated that magnetic tunneling may become frozen at a sufficiently large ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{0}$. The quality factor of quantum oscillations of the magnetic moment due to finite ohmic resistance of the junction is computed. It is shown that magnetic tunneling rate in the ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{0}$ junction can be controlled by the bias current, with no need for the magnetic field.
[The Hospital Real de Todos-os-Santos and its healing agents].

The article explores the actions of king Dom Joao II (1481-1495), who spearheaded a major assistance reform in Portugal during the late fifteenth century, when charitable institutions were grappling with a serious crisis. The king and his queen, Dona Leonor, ordered two large, modern hospitals to be built, centralizing assistance work and cementing a new assistance model. Relying on chronicles and royal decrees from the period, the article focuses on the main hospital that was built then: Hospital Real de Todos-os-Santos, located in Lisbon. The king and queen also intervened heavily in the practice of health agents by regulating, overseeing, and inspecting the work of doctors and apothecaries.
Fauna in decline: extinct pigeon's tale.

E. Stokstad's news article about the ecological consequences of elimination of megafauna resulting from overhunting (“The empty forest,” special section on Vanishing Fauna, 25 July, p. [397][1]) is especially poignant, given that 2014 marks 100 years since the extinction of the passenger pigeon
Addendum to “Measurement of 23 Mg ( p , γ ) 24 Al resonance energies”

Using recent data we reduce the systematic uncertainty in our measurement [Phys. Rev. C 76, 065803 (2007)] of the excitation energy of the second level above the proton threshold in $^{24}\mathrm{Al}$ and find it to be 2523(3) keV, a factor of two improvement over our previously reported value of 2524(6) keV.
Ambient pressure effects on the near burner structure of gas jet flames in crossflow

Flame structure and geometry of natural gas and propane diftusion flames in cross flow are presented to delineate the effects of buoyancy and ambient pressure. The fuel was injected horizontally into a vertically Imoving air stream. The buoyancy acted along the direction of the cross-flow. The combustion chamber pressure was varied from 1 bar to 1.45 bar and the cross-flow to jet velocity ratio from 0.1 to 1.45. Quantitative Rainbow Schlieren Deflectometry (RSD) was used to visualize flame and to measure the geometrical parameters. It was found that the centerline flame trajectory showed three distinct regions and the dimensionless coordinate of the jet centerline in the jet direction varied with 0.45. 0.25, 0 power of the coordinate in the cross-flow direction and -0.5 power of the Froude number based on the jet velocity. The flame trajectories did not change significantly with pressure. Flame chord length varied with 0.45 power of the cross-flow/jet velocity ratio. Flame length and soot formation characteristics changed notably with pressure. Propane flame was more susceptible to the ambient pressure. The flame luminosity due to soot in the propane flame changed only slightly with velocity ratio. However, natural gas flame became nonsooty at high velocity ratios.
A low Wells score and a negative D-dimer was not safe in patients with cancer for ruling out DVT.

In combination with a D-dimer serum test, the Wells rule has long been used and recommended to help clinicians discern the likelihood of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT).1 The safety and efficacy of these tools have been challenged in their applications to populations with distinct incidences of DVT.2 Specifically, patients with a prior DVT and those with malignancy have a high rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) which may foreseeably decrease the negative predictive value of prediction rules. These specific populations have not been well represented in individual studies. For the current study, Geersing et al 3 performed a patient-level meta-analysis by combining data extracted from 13 studies published after 2006. The inclusion criteria were restricted to those studies with data on all the predictors of the Wells rule, and D-dimer before the reference test. The accepted reference tests for proximal DVT were compression ultrasound or venography, but if these were absent an uneventful follow-up for 3 months was an acceptable reference for a negative study. When generating …
Marginal Anderson localization and many body delocalization

We consider $d$-dimensional systems which are localized in the absence of interactions, but whose single-particle localization length diverges near a discrete set of (single-particle) energies, with critical exponent $\ensuremath{\nu}$. This class includes disordered systems with intrinsic or symmetry protected topological bands, such as disordered integer quantum Hall insulators. We show that such marginally localized systems exhibit anomalous properties intermediate between localized and extended, including vanishing dc conductivity but subdiffusive dynamics, and fractal entanglement (an entanglement entropy with a scaling intermediate between area and volume law). We investigate the stability of marginal localization in the presence of interactions, and argue that arbitrarily weak short-range interactions trigger delocalization for partially filled bands at nonzero energy density if $\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\ge}1/d$. We use the Harris-Chayes bound $\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\ge}2/d$ to conclude that marginal localization is generically unstable in the presence of interactions. Our results suggest the impossibility of stabilizing quantized Hall conductance at nonzero energy density.
In vitro transformation of hamster embryo cells by a guinea pig herpes-like virus.

SummaryHamster embryo cells infected with GPHLV showed morphological cellular transformation. Virus strains isolated from leukemic guinea pigs showed somewhat higher transforming capacity than the isolates from “normal” Hartley guinea pigs. Virus specific antigen was detected in the cytoplasm of 7-20% of the transformed hamster cells. Infectious virus could be recovered from the transformed cells by co-cultivation with guinea pig kidney cells. Quantitative analysis showed that in these cell lines 12-47/100,000 transformed hamster cells yielded infectious virus.The authors are grateful to Dr. R. H. Green for his valuable suggestions during the preparation of this manuscript. The excellent technical assistance of JoEllyn Bradley and Judy Wnek is appreciated.
Initial biopsy procedure for breast cancer diagnosis influences number of surgical procedures and cost of care

598 Background: Excisional biopsy (ExB) and percutaneous needle biopsy (PB) are both accurate methods for diagnosing breast cancer. However, comprehensive breast cancer staging requires surgical as...
Multimode High-Density Link Design Methodology and Implementation

As higher density of interconnects and packages is demanded, crosstalk noise is becoming more important. Multimode or modal signaling offers the ability to improve wiring density with significantly reduced crosstalk by coding the signals using fundamental modes of propagation only. Past work has demonstrated this on uniform channels. This paper presents a design methodology for designing practical nonuniform high density links using multimode signaling. A channel that consists of printed circuit board (PCB) and package routing, and vertical interconnects is designed to achieve highest density and low crosstalk-induced jitter. Compared to the baseline benchmark channel, the optimized channel demonstrates $4\times $ , $4\times $ , and $2\times $ density improvement of PCB and package vertical and package horizontal routing, respectively, and at the same time achieves a 42% RMS jitter reduction. This new approach significantly improves the ability to design high-density low-crosstalk interconnect subsystems in practical scenarios.
Abstract 4999: Cellular mechanism of action of bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE®) antibody constructs targeting Folate Receptor 1

Bispecific T-cell engaging (BiTE®) antibody constructs connect T cells to target-positive cells to induce cytotoxicity. Clinical proof of concept was achieved in B cell malignancies with the anti-CD19 BiTE® Blincyto®, and several BiTE® antibody constructs are currently in development for solid tumor indications. With the goal of developing a BiTE® for ovarian cancer, we focused on targeting the Folate Receptor (FOLR1). FOLR1 mRNA and protein are highly expressed in >80% of ovarian tumor samples. The FOLR1 protein localizes to the cell membrane of ovarian tumor epithelial cells, whereas in normal tissues such as kidney tubules expression is restricted to the apical cell layer. We generated human FOLR1-BITE® antibody constructs that cross react to cynomolgus monkey and here present the preclinical characterization of these molecules. FOLR1-BiTE® antibody constructs had low nanomolar binding affinity for FOLR1 but did not bind to other FOLR family members. The FOLR1-BiTE® antibody constructs recognized diverse epitopes of the FOLR1 protein. In vitro, binding of FOLR1-BiTE® to CD3 on T cells and FOLR1 on tumor cells led to upregulation of CD25, CD69 and GITR on T cells, as well as release of cytokines including TNF, IFNγ, IL-6 and MCP-1. T cell activation by FOLR1-BiTE® was strictly target cell-dependent. Using time lapse imaging, we demonstrated that T cells were recruited to cancer cells expressing FOLR1 to form a cytolytic synapse and induce target cell lysis. Cytotoxicity mediated by FOLR1-BiTE® antibody constructs occurred even at very low target expression levels (1000 receptors per cell), and was not impacted by the presence of soluble receptor at levels found in ovarian cancer patients. FOLR1-BiTE® antibody constructs also mediated redirected lysis of cell lines that were resistant to standard of care chemotherapy. The in vivo activity of the FOLR1-BiTE® was explored in mouse xenograft studies where immunocompromised mice were implanted with mixtures of human T cells and human cancer cell lines. Daily intraperitoneal administration of the BiTE® inhibited tumor growth, even though the serum half-life of the BiTE® was just a few hours. Citation Format: Julie M. Bailis, Jessica N. Orf, Alexander Sternjak, Brian Belmontes, Ryan Case, Natalia Grinberg, Wesley Chang, Beth Hinkle, Matthias Friedrich. Cellular mechanism of action of bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE®) antibody constructs targeting Folate Receptor 1. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4999.
Critical Care of Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injuries: Preventing Secondary Injury.

The incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) has not changed much over the years due to an aging population suffering falls, yet advances have been made in quality of life and survival time. In addition to initial medical and surgical stabilization, modern intensive care unit (ICU) care throughout the critical early period following SCI is essential to avoid continued secondary injury to the spinal cord. Cervical SCI patients are particularly prone and sensitive to periods of cardiovascular instability and respiratory failure directly resulting from their injuries. Preclinical and class III clinical data suggest improved outcomes by maintaining the mean arterial pressure > 85 mm Hg and avoiding hypoxemia at least for 7 days following cervical SCI, and this level of monitoring and support should occur in the ICU.
Concise Review: The Deleterious Effects of Cigarette Smoking and Nicotine Usage and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Function and Implications for Cell-Based Therapies

Stem cell sources for cell-based therapeutics are often screened for infectious agents and genetic diseases prior to implantation; however, there are other risk factors that are often overlooked, which may ultimately lead to less efficacious clinical outcomes. One such risk factor is exposure of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to cigarette smoke or nicotine. Recent data have shown that exposure to cigarette smoke or nicotine leads to decreased regenerative potential, namely decreased proliferation, decreased migration, and decreased differentiation potential of exposed MSCs. This review provides a brief introduction into MSCs and their respective niches and a summary regarding the interactions of cigarettes and nicotine with MSCs populations. Specifically, the effects of cigarette smoke and nicotine on the regenerative potential of MSCs (i.e., proliferation, migration, and differentiation) will be covered with an emphasis on considerations for the development of future cell-based clinical trials and therapies. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:1815-1821.
Modulation of aflatoxin biomarkers by natural lycopene in rats

5498 Lycopene is a strong dietary antioxidant and many studies have shown its chemoprotective effect against a variety of toxic effects and oxidative damages. To study the modulation of lycopene in aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced carcinogenic effect, young F344 rats were pretreated orally with either corn oil (control group) or lycopene (100 mg/kg body weight, intervention group) 5 days a week for 2 weeks. Control animals were then treated daily with 250 μg/kg AFB1 alone. Intervention animals were continually administered lycopene (100 mg/kg) one hour after treatment with AFB1 (250 μg/kg). Animals in both groups were then randomly divided into 6 subgroups for assessing time-course effect of modulation. Urine samples were collected daily through metabolic cages. Blood samples were collected before sacrificing animals at day 1, days 3, 5, 9, 12, and 15 after the treatment. Major organs were collected for both biomarker and histopathological analysis. Treatment with lycopene significantly reduced formation of serum AFB1-albumin adducts in intervention animals as compared with the level in control animals. The rate of reduction was from approximate 30% at day 1 to 67.7% (p
cTag-PAPERCLIP Reveals Alternative Polyadenylation Promotes Cell-Type Specific Protein Diversity and Shifts Araf Isoforms with Microglia Activation

Summary Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is increasingly recognized to regulate gene expression across different cell types, but obtaining APA maps from individual cell types typically requires prior purification, a stressful procedure that can itself alter cellular states. Here, we describe a new platform, cTag-PAPERCLIP, that generates APA profiles from single cell populations in intact tissues; cTag-PAPERCLIP requires no tissue dissociation and preserves transcripts in native states. Applying cTag-PAPERCLIP to profile four major cell types in the mouse brain revealed common APA preferences between excitatory and inhibitory neurons distinct from astrocytes and microglia, regulated in part by neuron-specific RNA-binding proteins NOVA2 and PTBP2. We further identified a role of APA in switching Araf protein isoforms during microglia activation, impacting production of downstream inflammatory cytokines. Our results demonstrate the broad applicability of cTag-PAPERCLIP and a previously undiscovered role of APA in contributing to protein diversity between different cell types and cellular states within the brain.
Kinetic study on photostability of retinyl palmitate entrapped in policosanol oleogels

Abstract Photostability of all-trans retinyl palmitate (RP) (100% bioactivity) was studied in policosanol oleogels (PCOs) (7–12% w/w policosanol in soybean oil) after UVA irradiation. RP was incorporated into PCOs at levels of 0.04%, 0.1% and 1% (w/w). PCOs efficiently protected RP from UVA-mediated degradation. Over 75% RP-activity remained in PCOs after 4 days of UVA irradiation, while 12% RP-activity remained in soybean oil. HPLC analysis showed that cis-RP was formed in liquid soybean oil after 2 days of UVA irradiation while it was absent in PCOs matrices. PCOs blocked the energy absorption from UVA and further dampened the UVA-mediated ionic photodissociation and free radical reaction due to matrix immobilization. For all samples, RP photodegradation followed a 2nd order reaction. From the reaction kinetics, it would be possible to predict the RP photodegradation rate in PCO matrices. PCOs were shown to be a promising matrix to protect RP from photodegradation.
A Dual-Mesh Monte Carlo Algorithm Using a Coarse Tetrahedral Mesh and Voxel Output

We report a new technique to accelerate mesh-based Monte Carlo (MMC) photon transport simulations by using a coarsely tessellated tetrahedral mesh to represent tissue boundaries and a voxelated space to store output fluence.
Transcytosis of TrkA leads to diversification of dendritic signaling endosomes

The development of the peripheral nervous system relies on long-distance signaling from target organs back to the soma. In sympathetic neurons, this long-distance signaling is mediated by target derived Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) interacting with its axonal receptor, TrkA. This ligand receptor complex internalizes into what is commonly referred to as the signaling endosome which is transported retrogradely to the soma and dendrites to mediate survival signaling and synapse formation, respectively. The molecular identity of signaling endosomes in dendrites has not yet been determined. Here, we perform a detailed analysis of TrkA endosomal compartments and trafficking patterns. We find that signaling endosomes are not uniform but molecularly diversified into Rab7 (late endosome) and Rab11 (recycling endosome) populations in axons and dendrites in vitro and in the soma in vivo. Surprisingly, TrkA-NGF signaling endosomes in dendrites undergo dynamic trafficking events, including putative fusion and fission. Overall, we find that signaling endosomes do not remain as a singular endosomal subtype but instead exist in multiple populations that undergo dynamic endosomal trafficking events. These dynamic events might drive functional diversification of the signaling endosome.
Extradural Ependymoma: Diagnosis Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Extradural ependymomas are a non-­homogeneous group of tumors located mainly in lumbosacral region, both intraspinally and extraspinally; in the latter case they can extend presacrally in the retrorectal space or retrosacrally in subcutaneous tissue. More rare cases of thoracic intraspinal or of ectopic location (mediastinum, abdomen, pelvis) have been described. Extradural ependymomas are thought to arise from ependymal remnants, mainly from coccygeal medullary vestige. Neuroimaging, particularly MRI, can help in diagnosis and surgical planning; radiological features are however non-specific and a variety of differential diagnoses can be done. Therapy is mainly surgical; a complete excision is the goal, because of the high risk of recurrence. Adjuvant therapies are generally performed but are of doubtful efficacy. Prognosis is good if radical surgery has been achieved. Recurrent or metastatic tumors carry a worse prognosis.
Maturation of a single λ phage particle from a dimeric circular λ DNA

Abstract An Escherichia coli phage λ tandem dilysogen containing prophages defective in phage DNA replication and genetic recombination, and separated by a defective attachment site, was used to study the maturation process of phage λ. In such a lysogen, normal prophage excision proceeds very slowly compared to maturational cutting. By a simple variation of the induction protocol, normal excision can be made to precede maturational cutting, resulting in the excision of a dimeric circular λ DNA. Singleburst analysis of cells carried through this protocol shows that only one monomer unit of such a dimer can be packaged.
Carbohydrate variant of the recombinant beta-subunit of human choriogonadotropin expressed in baculovirus expression system.

The β-subunit of human choriogonadotropin (hCG) has two complex type N-linked and four O-linked carbohydrate chains. To further evaluate the specificity of the carbohydrate moiety on the hCG function, we have expressed hCG β subunit in the baculovirus insect cell system to modify its carbohydrate structures. The recombinant hCG β (rhCG β) was efficiently secreted in the medium and was purified to homogeneity by immunoaffinity chromatography using a highly specific monoclonal antibody against hCG β. The homogeneity of the recombinant subunit was established by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis performed under reducing and nonreducing conditions and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. rhCG β had molecular weights of 22,500 and 33,000 under reducing and nonreducing conditions, respectively. Digestion with N-glycanase cleaved the Mr = 22,500 protein to 18,000, while digestion with Endo H or Endo F yielded an additional protein band of 20,500 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The carbohydrate analysis by pulse amperometry yielded the relative number of 2.5, 2.4, 3.7, and 11.3 residues of fucose, N-acetylgalactosamine, galactose, and mannose, respectively, based on a value of 4 residues for N-acetylglucosamine. Lectin binding studies showed rhCG β to bind with concanavalin A with a high affinity and not with wheat germ agglutinin. In the studies with endoglycosidases together with the carbohydrate analysis and lectin binding properties, rhCG β appears to have two high mannose-type N-linked and three to four O-linked carbohydrate simple disaccharide chains. The carbohydrate modification of the β-subunit did not alter its immunopotency and its ability to combine with hCG α. The reconstituted hormone made up of rhCG β and hCG α was found to be similar to hCG in biological properties such as receptor binding and in its ability to stimulate cAMP and steroidogenesis.
Rapid warming and salinity changes in the Gulf of Maine alter surface ocean carbonate parameters and hide ocean acidification

A profound warming event in the Gulf of Maine during the last decade has caused sea surface temperatures to rise to levels exceeding any earlier observations recorded in the region over the last 150 years. This event dramatically affected CO2 solubility and, in turn, the status of the sea surface carbonate system. When combined with the concomitant increase in sea surface salinity and assumed rapid equilibration of carbon dioxide across the air sea interface, thermodynamic forcing partially mitigated the effects of ocean acidification for pH, while raising the saturation index of aragonite ( $$\varOmega_{AR}$$ ) by an average of 0.14 U. Although the recent event is categorically extreme, we find that carbonate system parameters also respond to interannual and decadal variability in temperature and salinity, and that such phenomena can mask the expression of ocean acidification caused by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. An analysis of a 34-year salinity and SST time series (1981–2014) shows instances of 5–10 years anomalies in temperature and salinity that perturb the carbonate system to an extent greater than that expected from ocean acidification. Because such conditions are not uncommon in our time series, it is critical to understand processes controlling the carbonate system and how ecosystems with calcifying organisms respond to its rapidly changing conditions. It is also imperative that regional and global models used to estimate carbonate system trends carefully resolve variations in the physical processes that control CO2 concentrations in the surface ocean on timescales from episodic events to decades and longer.
Muscle-derived stem cells: important players in peripheral nerve repair.

INTRODUCTION Stem cell therapy for peripheral nerve repair is a rapidly evolving field in regenerative medicine. Although most studies to date have investigated stem cells originating from bone marrow or adipose, skeletal muscle has recently been recognized as an abundant and easily accessible source of stem cells. Muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) are a diverse population of multipotent cells with pronounced antioxidant and regenerative capacity. Areas covered: The current literature on the various roles MDSCs serve within the micro- and macro-environment of nerve injury. Furthermore, the exciting new research that is establishing MDSC-cellular therapy as an important therapeutic modality to improve peripheral nerve regeneration. Expert opinion: MDSCs are a promising therapeutic agent for the repair of peripheral nerves; MDSCs not only undergo gliogenesis and angiogenesis, but they also orchestrate larger pro-regenerative host responses. However, the isolation, transformation, and in-vivo behavior of MDSCs require further evaluation prior to clinical application.
Crowdfunding As a Vehicle for Raising Capital and for Price Discrimination

Abstract Crowdfunding campaigns are traditionally used as a means for entrepreneurs to raise capital to fund the development of new products. We show that reward-based crowdfunding may serve an additional purpose of allowing entrepreneurs to successfully implement price discrimination. The entrepreneurs' ability to implement such price discrimination depends on the extent to which they are eager to raise capital through the crowdfunding campaign in comparison to the eagerness of contributors in the campaign to ensure that the product becomes a reality. Specifically, we show that enhanced consumer surplus extraction through price discrimination is feasible when the total surplus that the project generates is relatively small, when the pool of potential contributors in the campaign is relatively small, and when the extent of heterogeneity in the consumer population is relatively high. In contrast, when both the development and the financing costs from traditional funding sources are relatively high the capacity of crowdfunding to serve as a price discrimination device is hampered. We also provide insights regarding the entrepreneur's choice of the funder reward and campaign goal, two decision variables that entrepreneurs traditionally set in reward based crowdfunding campaigns.
Noble Metal Composite Porous Silk Fibroin Aerogel Fibers

Nobel metal composite aerogel fibers made from flexible and porous biopolymers offer a wide range of applications, such as in catalysis and sensing, by functionalizing the nanostructure. However, producing these composite aerogels in a defined shape is challenging for many protein-based biopolymers, especially ones that are not fibrous proteins. Here, we present the synthesis of silk fibroin composite aerogel fibers up to 2 cm in length and a diameter of ~300 μm decorated with noble metal nanoparticles. Lyophilized silk fibroin dissolved in hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) was cast in silicon tubes and physically crosslinked with ethanol to produce porous silk gels. Composite silk aerogel fibers with noble metals were created by equilibrating the gels in noble metal salt solutions reduced with sodium borohydride, followed by supercritical drying. These porous aerogel fibers provide a platform for incorporating noble metals into silk fibroin materials, while also providing a new method to produce porous silk fibers. Noble metal silk aerogel fibers can be used for biological sensing and energy storage applications.
Structure of a VHH isolated from a naïve phage display library.

To determine the X-ray structure and biophysical properties of a Camelid VHH isolated from a naive phage display library. Single domain antibodies (VHH) derived from the unique immune system of the Camelidae family have gained traction as useful tools for biotechnology as well as a source of potentially novel therapeutics. Here we report the structure and biophysical characterization of a VHH originally isolated from a naive camelid phage display library. VHH R419 has a melting temperate of 66 °C and was found to be a monomer in solution. The protein crystallized in space group P6522 and the structure was solved by molecular replacement to a resolution of 1.5 A. The structure revealed a flat paratope with CDR loops that could be classified into existing canonical loop structures. A combination of high expression yield, stability and rapid crystallization might make R419 into a candidate scaffold for CDR grafting and homology modeling.
Comparison of State Hospital Visits With Housing and Urban Development Estimates of Homeless: Illinois, 2011-2018.

Objectives. To assess the value of hospital records in augmenting information on homelessness counts at a state level.Methods. We used data from the Illinois Hospital Discharge Database (2011–2018)...
ESD and Pit Pattern Diagnosis: Lessons from a Japanese Endoscopist Working in the United States

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was developed in 2000s to overcome the limitations of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), especially to accomplish en-bloc resection, and it has been accepted worldwide in the past decades. Many ESD devices and diagnosis modalities are currently available, which include pit pattern and narrow band imaging (NBI) diagnoses to evaluate the depth of the tumor preoperatively with sensitivities of 70 to 90%. Depending on the Japanese colorectal guideline, the intramucosal cancer and shallow invasion of the submucosal layer are the main good indications of ESD; however, the ESD practices between Japan and Western countries still vary, including pathologic definition of cancer, tumor/node/metastasis classification, and handling of ESD specimen. In the United States, despite the large demand for treatment of colorectal neoplasm, pit pattern and magnified NBI diagnoses are not widely accepted yet, and piecemeal EMR is still the major method in most of the institutions. Moreover, the specific guideline of ESD is also not available yet. More new technologies are being developed other than conventional ESD methods in Eastern and Western countries, and ESD is now expected to change in the next generation. It is recommended that not only gastroenterologists but also colorectal surgeons have appropriate knowledge of colorectal lesions and their management to ensure current treatments is applied to patients.
High Frequency 1.75D array using a 3D printed pitch-changing interposer backing

High frequency arrays (>10 MHz) have potential utility in clinical settings for ophthalmology, breast cancer, and skin cancer diagnosis, and have been used extensively for small animal imaging and would benefit from the use of 1.75D electronic focus in elevation to improve contrast resolution for cyst differentiation in cancer detection. Here we report a 1.75D array that utilizes a novel high frequency pitch-changing interposer backing that maps from a $70\ \mu\mathrm{m}\times 150\ \mu \mathrm{m}$ transducer element grid to a $150\ \mu\mathrm{m}\times 150\ \mu \mathrm{m}$ ASIC assembly grid to facilitate access to the 2D array of elements. A 1.75D array of PIN-PMN-PT material with 2 matching layers was fabricated on top of the interposer. The completed array had a grid of $10\times 8$ elements with a measured center frequency of 16 MHz. The next step is assembly to an ASIC and then interface to a high frequency ultrasound system for imaging.
Engagement in online health communities: Channel expansion and social exchanges

Abstract This paper contributes to the discussion on patient engagement in online health communities (OHCs) by integrating channel expansion and social exchange theories. Using survey data from 348 users of OHC, we examine the impacts of perceived channel richness, social support, and willingness to exchange information on OHC engagement. Results show that the perceived channel richness positively influences OHC engagement. The effect of patients’ willingness to share and seek information on engagement is moderated by health status. Finally, engagement in OHCs enhances self-care efficacy and perceived health outcomes. We propose several theoretical implications for researchers and practical contributions for OHC administrators.
Study of the corrosion behavior of LiFSI based electrolyte for Li-ion cells

Abstract The corrosion/passivation phenomenon of Al and stainless steel with 1.25 M LiFSI in ethylene carbonate / ethyl methyl carbonate 30/70 wt% electrolyte was studied in coin cell and pouch cell settings. Our results showed that the LiFSI electrolyte can passivate Al foil in the normal cell operation voltage window 2.8 to 4.3 V. In contrast, no passivation behavior was observed for stainless steel with ever growing current response in cyclic voltammetry test. Corrosion produced Fe/Cr ions were detected on the anode side, which accelerated the electrolyte decomposition reaction. The LiFSI electrolyte was tested in 1.5 Ah pouch cell for long term cycling performance and fast charging capabilities. The capacity retentions after 1000 cycles were 88.5% and 80% for ± 1C and extreme fast charging rates, which demonstrated the suitability of using LiFSI in Li-ion cells without stainless steel components.