cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Desmoglein 2 modulates extracellular vesicle release from squamous cell carcinoma keratinocytes

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale membrane-derived vesicles that serve as intercellular messengers carrying lipids, proteins, and genetic material. Substantial evidence has shown that cancer-derived EVs, secreted by tumor cells into the blood and other bodily fluids, play a critical role in modulating the tumor microenvironment and affecting the pathogenesis of cancer. Here we demonstrate for the first time that squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) EVs were enriched with the C-terminal fragment of desmoglein 2 (Dsg2), a desmosomal cadherin often overexpressed in malignancies. Overexpression of Dsg2 increased EV release and mitogenic content including epidermal growth factor receptor and c-Src. Inhibiting ectodomain shedding of Dsg2 with the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor GM6001 resulted in accumulation of full-length Dsg2 in EVs and reduced EV release. When cocultured with Dsg2/green fluorescence protein-expressing SCC cells, green fluorescence protein signal was detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis in the CD90+ fibroblasts. Furthermore, SCC EVs activated Erk1/2 and Akt signaling and enhanced fibroblast cell proliferation. In vivo, Dsg2 was highly up-regulated in the head and neck SCCs, and EVs isolated from sera of patients with SCC were enriched in Dsg2 C-terminal fragment and epidermal growth factor receptor. This study defines a mechanism by which Dsg2 expression in cancer cells can modulate the tumor microenvironment, a step critical for tumor progression.-Overmiller, A. M., Pierluissi, J. A., Wermuth, P. J., Sauma, S., Martinez-Outschoorn, U., Tuluc, M., Luginbuhl, A., Curry, J., Harshyne, L. A., Wahl, J. K. III, South, A. P., Mahoney, M. G. Desmoglein 2 modulates extracellular vesicle release from squamous cell carcinoma keratinocytes.
A pH-dependent switch promotes β-synuclein fibril formation via glutamate residues

α-Synuclein (αS) is the primary protein associated with Parkinson's disease, and it undergoes aggregation from its intrinsically disordered monomeric form to a cross-β fibrillar form. The closely related homolog β-synuclein (βS) is essentially fibril-resistant under cytoplasmic physiological conditions. Toxic gain-of-function by βS has been linked to dysfunction, but the aggregation behavior of βS under altered pH is not well-understood. In this work, we compare fibril formation of αS and βS at pH 7.3 and mildly acidic pH 5.8, and we demonstrate that pH serves as an on/off switch for βS fibrillation. Using αS/βS domain-swapped chimera constructs and single residue substitutions in βS, we localized the switch to acidic residues in the N-terminal and non-amyloid component domains of βS. Computational models of βS fibril structures indicate that key glutamate residues (Glu-31 and Glu-61) in these domains may be sites of pH-sensitive interactions, and variants E31A and E61A show dramatically altered pH sensitivity for fibril formation supporting the importance of these charged side chains in fibril formation of βS. Our results demonstrate that relatively small changes in pH, which occur frequently in the cytoplasm and in secretory pathways, may induce the formation of βS fibrils and suggest a complex role for βS in synuclein cellular homeostasis and Parkinson's disease.
Explanation implies causation

Most researchers do not deliberately claim causal results in an observational study. But do we lead our readers to draw a causal conclusion unintentionally by explaining why significant correlations and relationships may exist? Here we perform a randomized study in a data analysis massive online open course to test the hypothesis that explaining an analysis will lead readers to interpret an inferential analysis as causal. We show that adding an explanation to the description of an inferential analysis leads to a 15.2% increase in readers interpreting the analysis as causal (95% CI 12.8% - 17.5%). We then replicate this finding in a second large scale massive online open course. Nearly every scientific study, regardless of the study design, includes explanation for observed effects. Our results suggest that these explanations may be misleading to the audience of these data analyses.
Robust astronomical imaging under coexistence with wireless communications

Astronomical signals are extremely weak and vulnerable to radio frequency interference. To meet the increasing demand for spectrum resources, development of spectrum-sharing and interference-immune radio astronomical technologies become very important and emerging. In this paper, we develop a robust astronomical imaging technique in the presence of wireless communication interference signals. The proposed technique effectively mitigates interference signals through robust adaptive beamforming which accounts for steering vector mismatching. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Commentary on “On the Nature of Bankruptcy”: Bankruptcy and Bargaining

A T a conference on bargaining, it should not be surprising that there is more than one perspective on the relationship between bankruptcy and bargaining. Dean Jackson and Professor Scott's article emphasizes a hypothetical bargain to be struck by idealized participants in a firm. It explores the relationship between bankruptcy and that bargain. By imagining what that bargain would look like, Jackson and Scott construct new justifications for bankruptcy law's distributional rules. Such a theory, however, is subject to reservations about the depth of insight that can be gained from examination of purely theoretical bargains. Stripped of real-world characteristics, hypothetical bargains struck by hypothetical actors cannot hope to capture the full range of human interaction. Nevertheless, Jackson and Scott's discussion is valuable because it provides a fresh outlook on difficult questions of bankruptcy theory. But another equally fruitful relationship between bankruptcy and bargaining exists. This relationship is not between bankruptcy and the hypothetical bargain to which creditors might agree ex ante; rather, it is between bankruptcy and the real-world bargaining that attends most commercial disputes. As this relationship has not been examined extensively, I wish to introduce it here. After analyzing the relationship between bankruptcy and real-world bargaining, this Comment offers a limited critique of Jackson and Scott's theory.
Raman Spectroscopy of Bone and Cartilage

This chapter will reviews the Raman spectroscopy of the subject tissues. After a brief introduction to the structure, biology, and function of these tissues, we will describe the spectra and band assignments of the tissues and then summarize applications to studies of tissue development, mechanical function and competence, and pathology. Both metabolic diseases and genetic disorders will be covered.
Boundary element methods for highly convective unsteady flows

Publisher Summary Higher-order boundary element methods (BEM) are presented for time-dependent convective diffusion in two dimensions. To facilitate accurate evaluation of the discrete integral equation coefficients over both singular and nonsingular boundary elements because of complex behavior of the time-dependent convective kernels, the chapter develops and implements a semianalytical algorithm. The time-dependent convective-diffusion-free-space fundamental solutions originally proposed by Carslaw and Jaeger are used to obtain the boundary integral formulation. In this chapter, BEM solutions up to the Peclet number 106 are obtained for a problem of unsteady convection-diffusion that possesses an exact solution. An extremely high accuracy of the BEM solutions for highly convective flows is demonstrated. Moreover, it is shown that the use of time-dependent convective kernels provide an automatic upwinding for the entire range of Peclet numbers and also lead to very efficient algorithms as the Peclet number increases. Higher-order boundary element methods for time-dependent convective diffusion problems are also presented. Linear, quadratic, and quartic interpolation functions are utilized for temporal and spatial discretizations of the boundary integral equation.
Cell-Nonautonomous ER Stress-Mediated Dysregulation of Immunity by Cancer Cells

The immune surveillance hypothesis posits that neoantigens presented by tumor cells are detected by the immune system and eliminated, keeping tumor formation and growth at bay. Operationally this requires that tumor cells be taken up by local sentinels of the immune system, myeloid antigen presenting cells, which then proceed to present tumor associated antigens to T cells, resulting in specific rejection of tumor cells. Yet, one of the central unsolved paradoxes of tumor immunology is how the tumor escapes immune control which is reflected in the lack of effective autochthonous or vaccine-induced anti-tumor T cell responses.
The End-to-Side Anastomosis: A Comparative Analysis of Arterial Models in the Rat.

Background The end-to-side anastomosis is 1 of the most common anastomosis configurations used in cerebrovascular surgery. Although several living practice models have been proposed for this technique, few involve purely arterial vessels. The purpose of the present study was to compare 2 arterial models using common carotid arteries (CCAs) and common iliac arteries (CIAs) in rats. Methods The CIAs and CCAs were exposed in 10 anesthetized rats, and their lengths and diameters were measured. Also, the mobilization extent of each vessel along its contralateral counterpart was measured after each artery had been transected at its proximal exposure point. We also studied the technical advantages and disadvantages of each model for practicing end-to-side anastomosis. Results The average diameters of the CCA and CIA were 1.1 and 1.3 mm, respectively. The average extent of mobilization along the contralateral vessel was 13.9 mm and 10.3 mm for CCA and CIA, respectively. The CCA model had the advantages of greater arterial redundancy (allowing completion of both suture lines extraluminally) and a minimal risk of venous injury. The main disadvantage of the CCA model was the risk of cerebral ischemia. The CIA model was not limited by the ischemic time and provided the technical challenge of microsurgical dissection of the common iliac vein from the CIA, although it had limited CIA redundancy. Conclusions Both CCA and CIA models could be efficiently used for practicing the end-to-side anastomosis technique. Each model provides the trainee with a specific set of advantages and disadvantages that could help with the optimal selection of the practice model according to trainee's skill level.
Estimating Voluntary Activation Of The Elbow And Wrist Muscles In Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke Using Twitch Interpolation Methodology

One of the cardinal motor deficits that occurs after stroke is paresis, a decrease in the voluntary activation of muscles. Paresis leads to a decrease in voluntary joint strength, impacting stroke survivors' ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). Quantifying this decrease in voluntary activation is important when designing rehabilitation interventions to address movement impairments and restore the ability to perform ADLs. Twitch interpolation is an experimental technique developed to quantify muscle voluntary activation [1]. This method has been used widely across pathologies but often limited to assessment of the voluntary activation of the plantar flexors, given the ease of activating these muscles through stimulation of the tibial nerve [2]. The complex innervation of elbow and wrist musculature imposes practical difficulties when applying the twitch interpolation technique to these joints [1]. Therefore, only a few studies have used this technique to examine the pathological [3]–[5] upper extremity, with little quantitative data documenting the degree of paresis present in the upper limb after stroke. The goal of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of applying twitch interpolation to quantify voluntary activation of the elbow and wrist flexors and extensors in chronic stroke survivors.
Cryptic diversity in the southern Appalachian Mountains: genetic data reveal that the red centipede, Scolopocryptops sexspinosus , is a species complex

Invertebrates can often persist in habitat patches too small to support larger, more mobile taxa, and as such, they may be strong predictors of conservation priorities for vertebrates. In the southeastern United States, the southern Appalachian Mountains are a well-known center of endemism for amphibians, and recent work has also uncovered extensive cryptic diversity in dispersal-limited forest invertebrate species. Here, intensive geographic and genetic sampling of a widely distributed centipede, Scolopocryptops sexspinosus [84 individuals from 42 sites across seven states, assayed for DNA sequence variation at a mitochondrial (632-bp) and nuclear (879-bp) locus] revealed two deeply divergent well-supported major clades (lineages A and B). Notably, the spatial distribution of each genetic lineage was largely geographically cohesive and broadly parapatric but with large areas of allopatry, and levels of mitochondrial divergence between lineages are comparable to that seen between named species within the genus. Indeed, no nuclear alleles are shared despite opportunities for interbreeding at locations where these lineages occur in close proximity. This study provides a foundation for follow-up work focusing on the description of species within the S. sexspinosus complex, and importantly, contributes to a growing body of research that identifies a high incidence of cryptic diversity in the southern Appalachian Mountains.
White Squares to Black Boxes: Grindr, Queerness, Rhetorical Silence

This essay draws our attention to the rhetorics of everyday queer people by routing queer notions of embodiment through queer and feminist work on rhetorical silence. I argue that the queer body en...
A Quality Improvement Approach to Increasing Smoking Cessation Counseling in Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Background: While there is a large body of evidence detailing the effects of secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe) in the general pediatric population, little was known until recently of the effects of SHSe in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Recent data from our large pediatric academic institution have shown associations with decreased growth, increased bacterial infections, poorer performance on pulmonary function tests, altered prostaglandin signaling, and more frequent hospitalizations in patients with CF and SHSe. However, only 10% of CF patients with SHSe …
Abstract #1989: Down-regulation of Neuropilin-2 suppresses in vivo growth of gastric cancer and sensitizes cells to 5FU-induced apoptosis

Introduction. The overall survival of patients with gastric cancer (GC) remains poor. Better understanding of the molecular events in GC growth may contribute toward identifying novel therapeutic targets. Neuropilin-2 (NRP-2) is traditionally known function as a non-signaling co-receptor for class 3 semaphorins and members of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family. However, our laboratory and others have shown that tumor cell derived NRP-2 plays a role in tumor growth. We hypothesized that NRP-2 expression may contribute to growth of GC. Methods. NRP-2 expression in surgically resected GCs was assessed by immunohistochemistry. TMK-1 human GC cells were stably transfected with shRNA targeting NRP-2 and expression of NRP-2 and other signaling intermediates were analyzed by immunoblotting. Migration and invasion were determined using modified Boyden chamber assay. Metastasis gene expression profile was studied by cDNA microarray analysis. Apoptosis was determined by Annexin V/PI staining followed by flow cytometry. Tumor growth was analyzed in mice (groups of 10) injected in the liver with control and shRNA-NRP-2 expressing TMK cells. Results. In clinical GC specimens, NRP-2 expression was higher in tumor tissue than in adjacent normal mucosa. shRNA to NRP-2 effectively decreased expression of NRP-2 in TMK-1 cells without effecting NRP-1 or VEGFR-1 levels. Knock-down of NRP-2 expression led to decreased migration and invasion in vitro (p Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 1989.
Prefrontal parvalbumin cells are sensitive to stress and mediate anxiety-related behaviors in female mice

Reduced activity of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is seen in mood disorders including depression and anxiety. The mechanisms of this hypofrontality remain unclear. Because of their specific physiological properties, parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) inhibitory interneurons contribute to the overall activity of the PFC. Our recent work using a chronic stress mouse model showed that stress-induced increases in prefrontal PV expression correlates with increased anxiety-like behaviors in female mice. Our goal is now to provide a causal relationship between changes in prefrontal PV+ cells and changes in emotional behaviors in mice. We first show that, in addition to increasing overall level of PV expression, chronic stress increases the activity of prefrontal PV+ cells. We then used a chemogenetic approach to mimic the effects of chronic stress and specifically increase the activity of prefrontal PV+ cells. We observed that chemogenetic activation of PV+ cells caused an overall reduction in prefrontal activity, and that chronic activation of PV+ cells lead to increased anxiety-related behaviors in female mice only. These results demonstrate that activity of prefrontal PV+ cells could represent a novel sex-specific modulator of anxiety-related behaviors, potentially through changes in overall prefrontal activity. The findings also support the idea that prefrontal PV+ cells are worth further investigation to better understand mood disorders that are more prevalent in female populations.
Effects of Poly(ethylene glycol) Doping on the Behavior of Pyrene, Rhodamine 6G, and Acrylodan-Labeled Bovine Serum Albumin Sequestered within Tetramethylorthosilane-Derived Sol-Gel-Processed Composites

We investigate the effects of controlled poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) doping on the behavior of pyrene, rhodamine 6G (R6G), and acrylodan-labeled bovine serum albumin (BSA-Ac) sequestered within tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS)-derived sol-gel-processed materials. To probe the dipolarity of the local environment within the composite we performed static fluorescence measurements on pyrene as the composites aged. We found that small levels of PEG loading effected significant enhancements in the local dipolarity surrounding the average pyrene molecule. Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy measurements were used to follow the rotational reorientation dynamics of R6G as the composites aged. As the PEG loading increased, the R6G reorientational mobility increased. Nitrogen adsorption techniques were used to quantify the effects of PEG doping level on the surface area and final xerogel pore features. A large reduction in surface area was observed with PEG doping, but no detectable change in pore size was noted. The effects of PEG doping on a biomolecule were probed by following the time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy decay of BSA-Ac. These results showed that PEG doping resulted in increased biomolecule dynamics relative to that found for a neat, undoped TMOS-derived composites. Together these results show that PEG doping can be used to tune the sol-gel-processed composite dipolarity, alter the mobility of dopants sequestered within the composite, control analyte acessibility to the sensing chemistry, and modulate the internal dynamics within a biodopant.
Mapping depth to the argillic horizon on historically farmed soil currently under forests

Abstract The Piedmont region of the southeastern United States experienced a period of accelerated erosion in the 1800s. Clear-cutting of the forests coupled with soil tilling and inadequate erosion control practices led to substantial soil redistribution and loss. This redistribution exposed the subsoil clay (argillic) horizon in many locations and altered hydrologic processes (i.e., infiltration or interflow) across the landscape. Describing the current hydrologic and biogeochemical processes in this landscape requires a spatially explicit mapping of soil re-distribution and the current depth to the argillic horizon. To achieve this mapping, we measured the depth to the argillic horizon in highly eroded (historically farmed) and undisturbed hillslopes (reference areas) by direct measures—soil augur and tile push probe—and by electromagnetic induction (EMI) combined with ancillary data (i.e., terrain features). Direct measures indicated that the depth to the argillic horizon in the historically farmed watersheds ranged from 26 ± 2 to 87 ± 12 cm in ridge-top and toe-slope, respectively, while in the reference hillslopes depths from ridge-top to toe-slope only ranged from 30 ± 3 to 48 ± 12 cm. Using remotely-sensed data, the best predictive models of the depth to the argillic horizon were based on measurements of the site topographic characteristics (percent slope and hillslope position), along with the following EMI data products: the 2 m horizontal coplanar (HCP) EMI measurement and some of its derivatives (i.e., 2 m HCP – 2 m perpendicular, 2 m HCP – 1 m HCP). Our data suggest that in this previously farmed and reforested landscape, geophysical sensing is an efficient means of predicting depth-to-clay when combined with landscape feature characteristics (R2 = 0.69).
Assessment of forage brassica species for dairy and beef-cattle fall grazing systems

ABSTRACT Objectives In temperate environments of the United States, winter forage management has traditionally necessitated either (a) feeding conserved forages or (b) stockpiling grazeable perennial forage. Forage brassicas might offer a low-cost alternative to these strategies. This project evaluated different annual forage brassicas in a temperate forage fall production system. Materials and Methods Three brassicas, Barsica forage rape (Brassica napus L.), Inspiration canola (B. napus L.), and Appin turnip (B. rapa L.) were compared against KB Supreme annual ryegrass [(Lolium multiflorum Lam.) ARG] for DM yield and nutritive value over 2 fall seasons. Plot sizes were 5.5 × 9.1 m and seeded in August of 2015 and 2016 in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Harvests occurred at 2-wk intervals in 2015 and 2016. Results and Discussion Brassica DM yields (734 to 861 kg of DM/ha) were greater (P Implications and Applications Brassicas had greater DM and nutrient yields, allowing for twice as many potential grazing days as ARG, thereby conceivably extending the grazing season with high-quality forage and reducing feeding costs.
Placement of Surgical Feeding Tubes Among Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Requiring Exploratory Abdominal Surgery : Better Early Than Late.

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to identify trauma patients who would benefit from surgical placement of an enteral feeding tube during their index abdominal trauma operation.MethodsWe perf...
Biomarkers in renal cancer

Abstract Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the ninth most common malignancy worldwide and classically presents with a triad of flank pain, palpable abdominal mass, and gross hematuria. However, in clinical practice, the diagnosis of RCC is often discovered incidentally on imaging evaluation for nongenitourinary-related symptoms with the majority of cases not identified until advanced stages in the disease due to the asymptomatic presentation. There are numerous biomarkers that have emerged which may aid in the management of patients with RCC which will present in this chapter.
Deep Ice Layer Tracking and Thickness Estimation using Fully Convolutional Networks

Global warming is rapidly reducing glaciers and ice sheets across the world. Real time assessment of this reduction is required so as to monitor its global climatic impact. In this paper, we introduce a novel way of estimating the thickness of each internal ice layer using Snow Radar images and Fully Convolutional Networks. The estimated thickness can be used to understand snow accumulation each year. To understand the depth and structure of each internal ice layer, we perform multiclass semantic segmentation on radar images, which hasn’t been performed before. As the radar images lack good training labels, we carry out a pre-processing technique to get a clean set of labels. After detecting each ice layer uniquely, we calculate its thickness and compare it with the processed ground truth. This is the first time that each ice layer is detected separately and its thickness calculated through automated techniques. Through this procedure we were able to estimate the ice-layer thicknesses within a Mean Absolute Error of approximately 3.6 pixels. Such a Deep Learning based method can be used with ever-increasing datasets to make accurate assessments for cryospheric studies.
Field-deployable, cost-effective holographic slide microscope: a 3D-printed prototype

Here we design a compact, portable and cost-effective holographic microscope based on the concept of holographic microscope slide. We developed a wavefront division holographic interferometer deployable for in-situ environmental monitoring and point-of care diagnostics.
PML is involved in DNA-damage response and maintaining genome stability.

2286 The tumor suppressor gene PML is consistently disrupted by the t(15;17) in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Disruption of PML function in APL is believed to involve in the pathogenesis of the disease. A role of PML in regulation of gene expression and apoptosis has been well documented. Recent studies demonstrated that PML colocalizes in vivo with several enzymes involve in DNA repair in response to DNA damage. Our study shows that stable overexpression of PML significantly increased survival of cells exposed to ionizing radiation (IR). Inducible expression of PML reduces the number of cells positive for IR-induced BrdU ssDNA foci. Higher number of ssDNA foci was found in PML deficient cells. These results suggest that PML may play a role in mediating DNA strand break repair in response to IR. The ability of PML-deficient cells in repairing damaged DNA after IR exposure was determined by pulse-field gel electrophoresis. This study demonstrates a reduced DNA repair efficiency in the absence of PML. Our study further shows that inducible expression of PML significantly increased the expression of TopBP1 and Rad51. Pulse-chase labeling experiments demonstrated that PML overexpression substantially increases the stability of these proteins. Adenovirus mediated re-expression of PML in PML−/− MEF substantially increased TopBP1 and Rad51 expression, demonstrated a mechanism of PML-dependent expression of these two DNA-damage response proteins. Inhibition of PML expression by small interference (si)RNA significantly reduced the expression of TopBP1, Rad51, BLM and Rad9 proteins. In PML-deficient NB4 cells, Rad51, BLM, Rad9, and other DNA-damage response proteins are unable to form IR-induced foci. ATRA-induced reorganization of PML nuclear bodies (NBs) is associated with the reappearance of IR-induced foci. This study supports a role of PML in IR-induced DNA-damage response. We hypothesize that PML plays a role in organizing and stabilizing the DNA repair enzymes complex and increase the efficiency of DNA repair by homologous recombination. Our study further shows a substantial increased in the incidence of tetraploid chromosomes in PML−/− MEF and in 293T cells treated with PML specific siRNA. This study supports a role of PML in maintaining genome stability. Furthermore, a significant increase in centrosome amplification was found in PML deficient cells supporting a role of PML in genome stability.
Design and synthesis of metabolic chemical reporters for the visualization and identification of glycoproteins

Glycosylation events play an invaluable role in regulating cellular processes including enzymatic activity, immune recognition, protein stability, and cell-cell interactions. However, researchers have yet to realize the full range of glycan mediated biological functions due to a lack of appropriate chemical tools. Fortunately, the past 25 years has seen the emergence of modified sugar analogs, termed metabolic chemical reporters (MCRs), which are metabolized by endogenous enzymes to label complex glycan structures. Here, we review the major reporters for each class of glycosylation and highlight recent applications that have made a tremendous impact on the field of glycobiology.
Tinjauan teologis terhadap pandemi Coronavirus Disease 2019 dalam prinsip pembalasan: a theological review of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic in the principle of retaliation

Many people expect a good, healthy, prosperous life, do not experience suffering. People who have a prosperous, healthy life, without suffering are usually identified with people who are obedient and fear God, where the concept of fearing God gets blessings and does not get curses, suffering, or other bad things that are often referred to as the principle of retaliation. This principle of retaliation is a common and believed principle from time to time. In wisdom literature, the principle of retaliation is one of the points that need attention. But in fact, there are many who are pious, fearing God, whether they experience suffering that is not appropriate. This research approach is qualitative using a theological approach that can be used to understand the gaps that occur, collect data from various literary sources that can be used to collect the material needed, such as books in libraries, journals, the web, electronic mass media, etc. . the concept of the principle of retribution cannot be established in general terms and can be stated inaccurately if it is addressed to righteous people, pious people, good people, and suffering children, because the theory stated by the facts that occurs is incompatible and very contradictory.
Relationship between level of response to alcohol and acute tolerance

Author(s): Anthenelli, Robert M; McKenna, Benjamin S; Smith, Tom L; Schuckit, Marc A | Abstract: BackgroundA low level of response (low LR) to alcohol correlates with the later development of alcohol-related problems. Although some of the underpinnings of LR are understood, little is known about the potential relationship between LR and acute tolerance. The current analyses tested the hypothesis that a low LR will be explained in part by more intense acute tolerance to alcohol during a drinking session.MethodsData were generated through a reanalysis of data from 120 individuals who were 18- to 25-year-old, sex-matched pairs of low and high LR drinkers who at baseline did not meet criteria for an alcohol use disorder. Each subject participated in an oral alcohol challenge in which they consumed about 0.7nml ethanol per kg and acute tolerance was measured as the differences in alcohol's effects at similar breath alcohol levels (BrACs) during the rising and falling breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) curve. Measures included aspects of the Subjective High Assessment Scale (SHAS) and body sway.ResultsContrary to our hypothesis, but similar to results with other alcohol measures, acute tolerance was significantly attenuated in low LR compared with high LR individuals on most SHAS scores. Neither LR group demonstrated acute tolerance to alcohol for sleepiness or body sway. Men and women did not differ on any of these measures.ConclusionThese data do not support a role of acute tolerance in the low LR to alcohol as measured by subjective feelings of intoxication or body sway in these subjects, findings that were similar across males and females. In addition, consistent with the literature, the analyses demonstrated differences across measures such that acute tolerance was observed for most measures of subjective effects but not for body sway. Among the subjective effects, acute tolerance was observed for alcohol's intoxicating effect but not for feeling sleepy.
Low frequency mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy SNPs in blood, retina, and [RPE+choroid] of age-related macular degeneration subjects

Purpose Mitochondrial (mt) DNA damage is associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other human aging diseases. This study was designed to quantify and characterize mtDNA low-frequency heteroplasmy single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of three different tissues isolated from AMD subjects using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology. Methods DNA was extracted from neural retina, [RPE+choroid] and blood from three deceased age-related macular degeneration (AMD) subjects. Entire mitochondrial genomes were analyzed for low-frequency heteroplasmy SNPs using NGS technology that independently sequenced both mtDNA strands. This deep sequencing method (average sequencing depth of 30,000; range 1,000–100,000) can accurately differentiate low-frequency heteroplasmy SNPs from DNA modification artifacts. Twenty-three ‘hot-spot’ heteroplasmy mtDNA SNPs were analyzed in 222 additional blood samples. Results Germline homoplasmy SNPs that defined mtDNA haplogroups were consistent in the three tissues of each subject. Analyses of SNPs with T, m.1284T>C, m.1556C>T, m.7256C>T) were found in additional samples (n = 222). Five heteroplasmy SNPs (m.4104A>G, m.5320C>T, m.5471G>A, m.5474A>G, m.5498A>G) declined with age. Two heteroplasmy SNPs (m.13095T>C, m.13105A>G) increased in AMD compared to Normal samples. In the heteroplasmy SNPs, very few transversion mutations (purine to pyrimidine or vice versa, associated with oxidative damage) were found and the majority were transition changes (purine to purine or pyrimidine to pyrimidine, associated with replication errors). Conclusion Within an individual, the blood, retina and [RPE+choroid] contained identical homoplasmy SNPs representing inherited germline mtDNA haplogroup. NGS methodology showed significantly more mtDNA heteroplasmy SNPs in blood compared to retina and [RPE+choroid], suggesting the latter tissues have substantial protection. Significantly higher heteroplasmy levels of m.13095T>C and m.13105A>G may represent potential AMD biomarkers. Finally, high levels of transition mutations suggest that accumulation of heteroplasmic SNPs may occur through replication errors rather than oxidative damage.
WAC in FYW: Building Bridges and Teachers as Architects

Students entering the first-year writing classroom directly out of high school often tell me that they had to ‘write differently for each teacher and class.’ Imagine their confusion and apprehension when they are told that one of the objectives of FYW is to prepare them for academic writing across all disciplines ! How can teachers incorporate cross-curricular skills into their lessons? More importantly, amongst the already-complex demands on the purposes and goals of FYW courses, how do students learn these techniques that teachers deem ‘easily-transferrable’? I argue, first, that the FYW classroom is an ideal location to present students with the individual tools for writing in any discipline. We discuss elements of writing like organization, idea development, thesis statements, citation, and the writing process within our courses as part of the standard curriculum. Therefore, I argue that the multi-faceted roles of FYW teachers include the characteristic of architect, and assert that transforming our lessons into WAC lessons involves the incorporation of examples, standards, and formats from outside disciplines. Mentioning how thesis statements tie together English and Religion papers or how dividing a paper into sections enhances the organization of Biology lab reports and Business reports establishes connections for students. With some simple additions to teachers’ lessons, students will find that the writing techniques they learn are just as crucial and useful in both core and major classes. Building these bridges reinforces the lifelong importance of writing and helps students continue to develop their writing skills across and through the college curriculum.
Data-intensive Life Cycle Assessment (DILCA) for Deteriorating Products

Abstract In the current age of big data and sustainability, accuracy and effectiveness of life-cycle assessment (LCA) are becoming more important for strategic decision-making. This paper describes a data-intensive approach to life-cycle assessment, with the use phase of a lithium-ion mobile phone battery as a case study. LCA datasets involving a temporal dependence can be created for the use phase of products and to improve the accuracy of the analysis. In order to demonstrate the procedure, energy density data over the life-cycle of a lithium-ion battery and the evolution of its technology are analyzed to synthesize a more accurate methodology to perform the life cycle analysis of the product. In the case study, DILCA estimates an impact 47.8% to 42.9% higher than traditional LCA.
CHAPTER 14 – Photoluminescence

Photoluminescence (PL) is the solid-state analog of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). After the absorption of a photon induces a transition to an excited electronic state, the material relaxes radiatively (spontaneous emission), nonradiatively (thermal relaxation), or through both routes. This radiative decay is called photoluminescence. In some solid-state, and also gas-phase, systems, optical emission (OE) is further characterized as either fluorescence or phosphorescence. Fluorescence is the rapid emission that occurs when the transition between the higher and lower states is allowed. Phosphorescence is the relatively slow emission that occurs when the transition between the two states is "forbidden," as is that between spin triplet and singlet states. Photoluminescence in solids can be the result of transitions between electronic states that are localized to dopants, impurities, etc., or transitions between (delocalized) band states. In phosphors (or fluorophors), which are of the former type of material, atomic ions, such as rare-earth ions, dope insulating hosts. The electronic transitions due to these dopants are localized at the ion, but are still influenced by the host crystal via crystal field splittings, strain, etc. Also, the luminescence decay rate and efficiency of the material depend in part on the rate of energy transfer from the ion to the host crystal, which is a function of the material and of temperature. The emitted light can have a sharp or broad spectrum, depending on these dopant-host interactions.
Monoclonal antibodies with a high degree of specificity for Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b

Strains of Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b account for a large fraction of sporadic listeriosis cases, as well as all major food-borne epidemics attributed to this pathogen. We have identified a set of three monoclonal antibodies which showed a high degree of specificity for strains of L. monocytogenes serotype 4b. Two of these antibodies (c74.33 and c74.180, isotypes immunoglobulin M [IgM] and IgG3, respectively) recognized all serotype 4b strains, whereas antibody c74.22 (isotype IgG1) failed to recognize certain epidemic-associated strains. The corresponding antigens were located on the surface of the bacteria and were expressed following bacterial growth in different media and over a wide range of temperatures (4, 22, and 37 degrees C). Heating L. monocytogenes cells at 80,90, or 100 degrees C abolished reactivity for c74.22 but not for c74.33 MAb. These MAbs were negative for all of the non-Listeria strains tested, including representatives of several gram-negative and gram-positive species. The surface antigen recognized by c74.22 appeared to be associated with the ability of the bacteria to enter (invade) mammalian cells in culture.
Measurements of intrinsic properties of high power CW single quantum well GaInNAsSb/GaAs lasers at 1.5 /spl mu/m

We present measurements of relative intensity noise (RIN) and non-radiative recombination of 1.5 /spl mu/m GaInNAsSb edge-emitting lasers. Differential gain of 4/spl times/10/sup -18/cm/sup 2/, K-factor of 0.75 ns and RIN below -150 dB/Hz at 7 mW were measured.
Evaluating team performance in a maturity model framework

This paper discusses the issue of team responsibilities and performance evaluation in software development environments that have adopted the capability maturity model as a process improvement model. The team performance criteria discussed in this paper provide a basis for an evaluation and reward system that reinforces the principles of a process-focused environment.
Epidural cord compression in association with genitourinary neoplasms

The epidural compression secondary to genitourinary malignancies is relatively uncommon. Of 2118 patients who were diagnosed as having a genitourinary malignancy at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center from 1970-1979, 21 are known to have developed an epidural cord compression by June 30, 1985 (16 from prostate, 1 from urinary bladder, and 4 from renal origin). The following items were reviewed in these 21 patients: age of the patient at diagnosis of the primary tumor; primary site of the genitourinary primary; time in months from the date of diagnosis of the genitourinary primary to the data of diagnosis of the spinal cord compression; methods of diagnosis; presenting symptoms and signs; treatment methods; and survival following the date of diagnosis of the compression. The distribution of location of the epidural metastasis in the current series is as follows: cervical-thoracic, 7%; thoracic, 73%; and lumbosacral, 20%. Skip metastases to the epidural space was the initial sign of malignancy in six patients (31.5%). Five patients (26%) with epidural cord compression survived at least 24 months following the date of diagnosis of their compression. Only two patients in this series with paraplegia (secondary to their compression) had improvement in ambulation following treatment of their compression: of these two patients, one had a prostate primary and the other a renal primary. The indications and techniques for surgery and radiotherapy are briefly described and early diagnosis and treatment are stressed.
METHODS FOR JOINT INFERENCE FROM MULTIPLE DATA SOURCES FOR IMPROVED ESTIMATES OF POPULATION SIZE AND SURVIVAL RATES

Critical conservation decisions often hinge on estimates of population size, population growth rate, and survival rates, but as a practical matter it is difficult to obtain enough data to provide precise estimates. Here we discuss Bayesian methods for simultaneously drawing on the information content from multiple sorts of data to get as much precision as possible for the estimates. The basic idea is that an underlying population model can connect the various sorts of observations, so this can be elaborated into a joint likelihood function for joint estimation of the respective parameters. The potential for improved estimates derives from the potentially greater effective sample size of the aggregate of data, even though some of the data types may only bear directly on a subset of the parameters. The achieved improvement depends on specifics of the interactions among parameters in the underlying model, and on the actual content of the data. Assuming the respective data sets are unbiased, notwithstanding the fact that they may be noisy, we may gauge the average improvement in the estimates of the parameters of interest from the reduction, if any, in the standard deviations of their posterior marginal distributions. Prospective designs may be evaluated from analysis of simulated data. Here this approach is illustrated with an assessment of the potential value in various ways of merging mark-resight and carcass-survey data for the Florida manatee, as could be made possible by various modifications in the data collection protocols in both programs.
PRIME AND RADICAL SUBMODULES OF MODULES OVER COMMUTATIVE RINGS

ABSTRACT In this paper, unless otherwise stated, all rings are commutative with identity and all modules are unital. We give sufficient conditions to ensure that a submodule has a module-reduced primary decomposition. In general, the radical of a primary submodule is not prime and the radical does not split intersections of submodules, as is valid in the ideal case. We study sufficient conditions for which these properties hold in the module setting. These conditions involve dimension arguments, consideration of finitely generated modules, and the spectrum of a given prime ideal. Further, we consider the computational problem of finding a Grobner basis of both the colon and the radical of a submodule. A characterization of the elements of the colon is given, along with a method of computing the radical of a submodule in certain cases.
Enhancement of the dipole antenna using a capcitively loaded loop (CLL) structure

Recently, metamaterials have become a research topic of considerable interest, because these artificially constructed materials allow for the realization of exotic electromagnetic properties not found in conventional materials. This paper introduces a novel antenna enhancing structure consisting of capacitively loaded loop (CLL) metamaterial elements placed radially around a standard dipole antenna at an electrically small distance. As a result of this novel arrangement, the dipole antenna is easily transformed into a directive mechanically scanned antenna with high realized gain. The desired directivity and gain can be tuned based on the number of radial CLL fins placed around the dipole. Interactions between the antenna and metamaterial elements result in significant enhancement of the maximum radiated field amplitude and front-to-back ratio. The structures presented are modeled using full-wave simulation and one is experimentally verified as a proof-of-concept.
Anemia After Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device (CF-LVAD) Implantation Is Associated With Morbidity and Mortality

28 (66.7%) 70 (76.1%) 0.18 Serum Creatinine (mg/dL) 1.3 ± 0.5 1.3 ± 0.5 0.78 Serum Albumin (g/dL) 3.0 ± 0.6 2.9 ± .06 0.46 Total Bilirubin (mg/dL) 1.5 ± 1.2 0.9 ± 0.9 0.01 INR 0.9 ± 0.9 1.1 ± 0.3 0.04 Ischemic Etiology 27 (64.3%) 42 (46.2%) 0.04 Re-exploration After Closure 6 (14.3%) 7 (7.6%) 0.18 LVAD Exchange for Infection or Thrombus 4 (9.5%) 5 (5.4%) 0.07 Expiration at 90 days 5 (11.9%) 4 (4.3%) 0.11 Driveline Infection 8 (8.8%) 3 (7.1%) 0.52 Pocket Infection 2 (2.2%) 1 (2.4%) 0.68 Bacteremia 9 (21.4%) 11 (12.1%) 0.13 Purpose: Anemia is common in patients with heart failure and is indepen- dently associated with morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to analyze the incidence of persistent anemia after CF-LVAD, the association between anemia, morbidity and mortality after CF-LVAD Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from 120 patients implanted with a HMII CF-LVAD whom had hemoglobin values reported at 6 months (group 1, n= 1 07) and 12 months (group 2, n= 7 3). ROC curves were used to determine the optimal cut-off for hemoglobin (Hgb) based on mortality. Patients were divided as not anemic or anemic based on the cut-off. Kaplan- Meier curves were constructed for overall survival and for freedom from heart failure readmissions. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of mortality. Results: Hgb less than 12 gm/dl was the cut-off value for anemia with an AUC of 0.72 (95% CI 0.58-0.87; p= 0.005 Sensiti vity 83% Specificity 54%) to predict mortality at 1 year. 60% (n= 65 ) and 53% (n= 39 ) of the patients were anemic at 6 months and 12 months respectively. BUN (p 0.03) and creatinine (p= 0.01) were higher; albumin (p= 0.0001), was signifi- cantly lower in anemic patients, though LDH (p= 0.3) and plasma free Hgb (p= 0.09) were not dif ferent between groups. NYHA class was worse at 6 months in the anemic group and there was trend towards worse functional status at 1 year. Heart failure readmissions one year after 6 months follow up were higher in the anemic group, 9.5% vs 30.7% (p= 0.0001) (Figure 1.A). Survival analysis showed that patients with anemia had a significant increase in overall mortality, 33.3% vs.13.3% (p= 0.05) (Figure 1.B) and multivariate analysis demonstrated that anemia was an independent predic- tor of mortality regardless of BUN, creatinine, albumin, gender and age (OR 4.52, 95% CI 1.1 - 18.3 p= 0.03) (Figure 1C). The average follow-up was 2.8±1 years. Conclusion: Anemic patients have significantly increased morbidity and mortality after CF-LVAD implant.