cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of cetirizine and prednisolone on cellular infiltration and cytokine mRNA expression during allergen‐induced late cutaneous responses

Background The ability of cetirizine to inhibit eosinophil infiltration into the sites of allergen-induced cutaneous late-phase reactions is controversial. A previous skin biopsy study gave negative results with 15 mg of cetirizine as a single dose. Objective To confirm these findings we have used cetirizine (30 mg daily) for 5 days and compared the results with prednisolone (20 mg daily for 5 days) as a positive control. The effect of these agents on mRNA positive cells for interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-4, interleukin-5 and granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was also evaluated. Methods A double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study (n = 12) was followed. After each treatment 30 biological units (BUs) of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus or Phleum pratense were injected intradermally and the early (15 min) and late-phase response sizes (6 and 24 h) were measured. Skin biopsies were taken at 24 h for immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. Results Cetirizine but not prednisolone inhibited the early-phase response (37%, P = 0.004). In contrast prednisolone, but not cetirizine, significantly inhibited the size of the late-phase reaction at 24 h (70%, P = 0.021). This was associated with significant decreases in total (MBP+) and activated (EG2+) eosinophils (P = 0.019 and 0.014, respectively), as compared with placebo. There were also clear but non-significant reductions in interleukin-3, interleukin-4, interleukin-5 and granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor mRNA+ cells. Conclusion Prednisolone, but not cetirizine, inhibited both the magnitude of the allergen-induced late-phase response and the accompanying local eosinophil infiltration. These corticosteroid effects were associated with a reduction in cells expressing mRNA for 'TH2-type' cytokines.
Local and Global Recency Weighting Approach to Bug Prediction

Finding and fixing software bugs is a challenging maintenance task, and a significant amount of effort is invested by software development companies on this issue. In this paper, we use the Eclipse project's recorded software bug history to predict occurrence of future bugs. The history contains information on when bugs have been reported and subsequently fixed.
The Uneven Distribution of Leisure: The Impact of Economic Growth on “Free Time”

ciety. In advertising parlance, we are moving from the "Fabulous 'Fifties" to the "Soaring 'Sixties," in which the average man will wallow in an abundance of "free time" (and the goods and services to fill it). Sometimes the point of comparison is Reformation Europe, more often some decade of the 19th century. A typical formulation: from 1850 to 1950 we moved from a 70or 72-hour workweek down to a 40-hour week-a 12-hour day, six-day week to an eight-hour day, five-day week, or we have increased our free time-beyond work, eating and miscellaneous nesessities-from about 2.18 hours a day in 1850 to 7.48 hours in 1960.1 It is usually assumed that hours of work will continue to decline. (In 1955 a 20th Century Fund study predicted a 36.5-hour week by 1960; the 40-hour standard still prevails, but union agitation for more leisure continues. ) What ver their judgment of the quality of the new leisure, and whatever their explanation of the main drift, most observers assume that economic growth brings a rather heavy drop in the propensity to work. This idea rests on time series for various societies and industries which show
Solution‐Phase Structures of Gallium‐Containing Pyrogallol[4]arene Scaffolds

The variations in architecture of gallium-seamed (PgC4Ga) and gallium-zinc-seamed (PgC4GaZn) C-butylpyrogallol[4]arene nanoassemblies in solution (SANS/NMR) versus the solid state (XRD) have been investigated. Rearrangement from the solid-state spheroidal to the solution-phase toroidal shape differentiates the gallium-containing pyrogallol[4]arene nanoassemblies from all other PgCnM nanocapsules studied thus far. Different structural arrangements of the metals and arenes of PgC4Ga versus PgC4GaZn have been deduced from the different toroidal dimensions, C–H proton environments and guest encapsulation of the two toroids. PGAA of mixed-metal hexamers reveals a decrease in gallium-to-metal ratio as the second metal varies from cobalt to zinc. Overall, the combined study demonstrates the versatility of gallium in directing the self-assembly of pyrogallol[4]arenes into novel nanoarchitectures.
The Efficiency of the Denver Developmental Screening Test with Rural Disadvantaged Preschool Children

Etude longitudinale sur trois ans de l'efficacite du DDST administre a une population d'enfants d'âge prescolaire en milieu rural
The Nature and Correlates of Senior Center Linkages

I present data on linkages between 250 senior centers and other community organizations. Approximately half of the respondents in the sample indicate that such linkages are involved with most or almost all programming efforts. The most prevalent and preferred linkages are informal as opposed to memos of understanding, contracts, or requirements by sponsors. A number of structural and demographic variables are found to be weakly correlated with overall linkage activity. Center directors indicate linkages are founded for a wide variety of reasons relating to the goals and objectives of the centers. Implications of these findings for practitioners and senior centers in general are discussed.
Bleaching desensitization: background and current challenges

Abstract “Bleaching desensitization” in rod photoreceptors refers to the prolonged depression of phototransduction sensitivity exhibited by rods after their exposure to bright light, i.e., after photolysis (bleaching) of a substantial fraction of rhodopsin in the outer segments. Rod recovery from bleaching desensitization depends critically on operation of the retinoid visual cycle: in particular, on the removal of all-trans retinal bleaching product from opsin and on the delivery of 11-cis retinal to opsin’s chromophore binding site. The present paper summarizes representative findings that address the mechanism of bleaching desensitization.
Nonlinear time-series analysis with non-singleton fuzzy logic systems

We initiate an investigation of the use of nonsingleton fuzzy logic systems (NSFLSs) in forecasting of financial markets. The abilities of NSFLSs to approximate arbitrary functions, and to effectively deal with noise and uncertainty, are used to analyze several time series. First we show how to construct NSFLSs and train them using recursive least squares, or backpropagation. Then we use them to build predictive models of discrete and continuous chaotic time series corrupted by additive noise. Finally, we present an example of how NSFLSs can be used to produce predicted estimates of future values of commodities, and baseline our results with linear regression. Our NSFLS outperforms the linear regression results.
a Test of Alternatives for Meeting Public Potable Water Requirements

The relative economic costs of meeting projected public potable water demands through increasing the supply, controlling the demand, and increasing the capacity for interagency water transfers are explored. These alternatives and combinations are evaluated with the aid of a linear programming model in northeastern New Jersey, a major metropolitan region of over 4.5 million people, for the years 1975 to 2000. After more than 30 model tests it was found that a combination of increased interagency transfers and added water supplies was the least expensive solution.
2013 Dahl Lecture: American Heart Association council for high blood pressure research clarifying the physiology of endothelin.

The suggestion that the peptide endothelin (ET)-1 contributes to the development of hypertension was clearly evident from the first in vivo characterization of ET-1. In the ganglion-blocked rat, Yanagisawa first reported that a 1 nmol/kg intravenous injection of ET-1 produced a transient decrease in blood pressure lasting <30 seconds followed by a sustained hypertension.1 These findings stimulated an incredible response in new research especially within the pharmaceutical industry including some efforts to target the ET system for the treatment of hypertension. Two receptor subtypes, ETA and ETB, mediate the opposing actions of ET-1. We now know that the slow and sustained hypertensive response is mediated primarily by ETA receptor activation on vascular smooth muscle. Importantly, the hypotension is attributable to endothelial-dependent relaxation mediated by the ETB receptor. The purpose of this review is to highlight some of the more important aspects of the ET system as it relates to the physiological and pathophysiological role in the regulation of blood pressure and development of hypertension. It should be noted that the ETA and ETB receptor systems are important in craniofacial and enteric nerve development, respectively, so the reader is referred elsewhere for more details on these topics.2,3 There are a several unique aspects of the ET system that are worth mentioning because of their unique nature compared with more classical peptide/G-protein–linked receptor systems. Probably the most unusual aspect of this system that has made it difficult to study through the years is the irreversible binding of the endogenous ligand to the receptor.4 This binding is believed to account in large measure for the prolonged vasoconstrictor actions of ET-1 mediated by the ETA receptor. Importantly, the same ligand-binding behavior exists for the ETB receptor such that loss of …
Microarray image segmentation using chan-vese active contour model and level set method

Microarray technology is considered to be one of the major breakthroughs in bioinformatics for profiling gene-expressions of thousands of genes, simultaneously. Analysis of a microarray image plays an important role in the accurate depiction of gene-expression. Segmentation, the process of separating the foreground from the background, of a microarray image, is one of the key issues in microarray image analysis. Level sets have tremendous potential in the segmentation of images. In this paper, a new approach for segmentation of the microarray images is proposed. In this work, Chan-Vese approximation of the Mumford-Shah model and the level set method are employed for image segmentation. Illustrative examples of the proposed method are presented highlighting its effectiveness.
Persons with Parkinson’s disease exhibit decreased neuromuscular complexity during gait

Objective Individual muscle activation patterns may be controlled by motor modules constructed by the central nervous system to simplify motor control. This study compared modular control of gait between persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and neurologically-healthy older adults (HOA) and investigated relationships between modular organization and gait parameters in persons with PD.
The Igf2/H19 imprinting control region exhibits sequence-specific and cell-type-dependent DNA methylation-mediated repression

Methylation of CpGs is generally thought to repress transcription without significant influence from the sequence surrounding the methylated dinucleotides. Using the mouse Igf2/H19 imprinting control region (ICR), Igf2r differentially methylated region 2 (DMR2) and bacterial sequences, we addressed how methylation-dependent repression (MDR) from a distance varies with CpG number, density and surrounding sequence. In stably transfected F9 cells, the methylated ICR repressed expression from a CpG-free reporter plasmid more than 1000-fold compared with its unmethylated control. A segment of pBluescript, with a CpG number equal to the ICR's but with a higher density, repressed expression only 70-fold when methylated. A bacteriophage lambda fragment and the Igf2r DMR2 showed minimal MDR activity, despite having CpG numbers and densities similar to or greater than the ICR. By rearranging or deleting CpGs, we identified CpGs associated with three CTCF sites in the ICR that are necessary and sufficient for sequence-specific MDR. In contrast to F9 cells, the methylated ICR and pBS fragments exhibited only 3-fold reporter repression in Hela cells and none in Cos7. Our results show that the strength of MDR from a distance can vary a 1000-fold between different cell types and depends on the sequence surrounding the methylated CpGs, but does not necessarily increase with CpG number or density.
Technical and dosimetric considerations in IMRT treatment planning for large target volumes

The maximum width of an IMRT treatment field is smaller than the conventional maximum collimator opening because of design limitations inherent in most multileaf collimators (MLCs). To increase the effective field width, IMRT fluences can be split and delivered with multiple carriage positions. Not all treatment planning systems and MLCs, however, support this technique, and even if they do, the maximum field width in multiple carriage position delivery is still significantly less than the maximum collimator opening. For target volumes with dimensions exceeding the field size limit for multiple carriage position delivery, such as liver tumours or other malignancies in the abdominal cavity, IMRT treatment can be accomplished with multiple isocenters or with an extended treatment distance. To study some dosimetric statistics of large field IMRT planning, an elliptical volume was chosen as a target within a cubic phantom centered at a depth of 7.5 cm. Multiple 3-field plans (one AP and 2 oblique beams with 160° between them to avoid parallel opposed geometry) with constraints designed to give 100% dose to the elliptical target were developed. Plans were designed with a single anterior field with dual carriage positions, or with the anterior field split into two fields with separate isocenters 8 cm apart with the beams being forcibly matched at the isocenter or with 1, 2, 3 and 4 cm overlap. The oblique beams were planned with a single carriage position in all cases. All beams had a nominal energy of 6 MV. In the dual isocenter plans, jaws were manually fixed and dose constraints remained unaltered. Dosimetric statistics were studied for plans developed for treatment delivery using both dynamic leaf motion (sliding window) and multiple static segments (step-and-shoot) with the number of segments varying from 5 to 30. All plans were analyzed based on the dose homogeneity in the isocenter plane, 2 cm anterior and 2 cm posterior to it, along with their corresponding dose-volume histograms (DVHs). As expected, all the dual isocenter plans had slight underdosage anterior to the match point and slight overdosage posterior to it, while the dual carriage plan had a nice blending of the dose distribution without the accompanying hot or cold spots. Based on the dose statistics, it was noted that the dual isocenter plans can be clinically acceptable if they have at least a 3 cm overlap. In case of step-and-shoot IMRT, the number of segments used in a dual carriage plan was found to also play an important role in the overall plan dosimetric indices.
Advertising, Patient Decision Making, and Self-referral for Computed Tomographic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Methods: Forty print advertisements from US newspapers around the country and 20 informational brochures were analyzed by 2 independent raters according to 7 major themes: health care technology; emotion, empowerment, and assurance; incentives; limited supporting evidence; popular appeal; statistics; and images. The Fisher exact test was used to identify significant differences in information content.
Unicameralism passes test

Nebraska's one-house legislature, after extended trial, has shown itself a sound instrument in the solution of the state's problems; fears of critics prove unfounded.
Bubble growth by dissolution: Influence of contact angle

The rate of growth of bubbles forming on a wall from a liquid initially uniformly supersaturated with a dissolved gas was investigated. Attention was directed to the effect of the contact angle. Theoretical predictions for the growth rate of a spherical bubble tangent to a wall were carried out with a digital computer. The predictions included the diffusion equation and the continuity equation. The energy equation was neglected; viscosity and surface tension were assumed nil. The results are compared with existing predictions for a 90-deg. contact angle. For extremely slow growth, the theoretical growth coefficient is about 30% smaller for a bubble with zero contact angle compared to one with a 90-deg. contact angle. For fast growth the difference is much less. Experimental growth rates were determined photographically for bubbles of carbon dioxide coming out of solution from water at an artifical nucleation site. Different contact angles from 15 to 89 deg. were obtained by coating the wall with various nonwetting agents. Every bubble showed changes in its contact angle during growth. No effect of contact angle on the growth rate could be detected.
MACF1 regulates the migration of pyramidal neurons via microtubule dynamics and GSK-3 signaling

Neuronal migration and subsequent differentiation play critical roles for establishing functional neural circuitry in the developing brain. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate these processes are poorly understood. Here, we show that microtubule actin crosslinking factor 1 (MACF1) determines neuronal positioning by regulating microtubule dynamics and mediating GSK-3 signaling during brain development. First, using MACF1 floxed allele mice and in utero gene manipulation, we find that MACF1 deletion suppresses migration of cortical pyramidal neurons and results in aberrant neuronal positioning in the developing brain. The cell autonomous deficit in migration is associated with abnormal dynamics of leading processes and centrosomes. Furthermore, microtubule stability is severely damaged in neurons lacking MACF1, resulting in abnormal microtubule dynamics. Finally, MACF1 interacts with and mediates GSK-3 signaling in developing neurons. Our findings establish a cellular mechanism underlying neuronal migration and provide insights into the regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics in developing neurons.
Checklist and ‘‘Pollard Walk’’ Butterfly Survey Methods on Public Lands

Abstract Checklist and “Pollard Walk” butterfly survey methods were contemporaneously applied to seven public sites in North Dakota during the summer of 1995. Results were compared for effect of method and site on total number of butterflies and total number of species detected per hour. Checklist searching produced significantly more butterfly detections per hour than Pollard Walks at all sites. Number of species detected per hour did not differ significantly either among sites or between methods. Many species were detected by only one method, and at most sites generalist and invader species were more likely to be observed during checklist searches than during Pollard Walks. Results indicate that checklist surveys are a more efficient means for initial determination of a species list for a site, whereas for long-term monitoring the Pollard Walk is more practical and statistically manageable. Pollard Walk transects are thus recommended once a prairie butterfly fauna has been defined for a site by checklis...
Selected contribution: mechanical strain increases force production and calcium sensitivity in cultured airway smooth muscle cells.

Cultured airway smooth muscle cells subjected to cyclic deformational strain have increased cell content of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and myosin and increased formation of actin filaments. To determine how these changes may increase cell contractility, we measured isometric force production with changes in cytosolic calcium in individual permeabilized cells. The pCa for 50% maximal force production was 6.6 ± 0.4 in the strain cells compared with 5.9 ± 0.3 in control cells, signifying increased calcium sensitivity in strain cells. Maximal force production was also greater in strain cells (8.6 ± 2.9 vs. 5.7 ± 3.1 μN). The increased maximal force production in strain cells persisted after irreversible thiophosphorylation of myosin light chain, signifying that increased force could not be explained by differences in myosin light chain phosphorylation. Cells strained for brief periods sufficient to increase cytoskeletal organization but insufficient to increase contractile protein content also produced more force, suggesting that strain-induced cytoskeletal reorganization also increases force production.
Democratization During the Third Wave

The initial optimism that greeted the onset of the “Third Wave” of democratization has cooled with the instability of many new democracies and the proliferation of stable competitive authoritarian regimes. These disappointments have produced a return to structural theories emphasizing the constraints posed by underdevelopment, resource endowments, inequality, and ethno-religious cleavages. We argue, however, for a sharper focus on the political mechanisms that link such factors to the emergence of democracy, including the extent of institutionalization in new democracies and the still understudied role of civil society and the capacity for collective action. The international dimensions of democratization also require closer analysis. We also underline a methodological point: The quest for an overarching theory of democracy and democratization may be misguided. Generalizations supported by cross-national statistical work yield numerous anomalies and indicate the need for approaches that emphasize combinat...
Decision making in bovine abdominal surgery.

This article describes the signs, hematologic alterations, and methods of diagnosis of digestive disorders that may be treated surgically. The necessity for surgical intervention is analyzed, based on clinical experience and current knowledge. The prognosis for surgical correction of common digestive problems and prognostic indicators for abomasal volvulus are described. Decision analysis for digestive surgery is reviewed, with examples for abomasal displacement and volvulus. Preoperative preparation for abdominal surgery — including facilities, equipment, supportive therapy, and distinction between elective and emergency surgery — is discussed brieHy. The four most common surgical approaches for abdominal surgery are reviewed, and their indications noted.
Persistence and Degradation of Residues of Ciba C-9491 and Their Control of Fall Armyworms and Corn Earworms

Persistence of Ciba C-9491 ( O- (2,5-dichloro-4-iodo-phenyl) O, O -dimethyl phosphorothioate), its oxygen an-and its phenol, over 16 days, was determined in 3 plant parts of sweet corn treated with ½, 1, and 2 Ib per of an emulsifiable concentrate of C-9491. Highest residues occurred in stalks and leaves treated with 2 Ib per acre. During the 16 days, residues of G-9491 declined from 50.8 to 3.28 ppm, and those of the O-analogue diminished from 0.086 to <0.005 ppm. Residues of the reached their maximum (4.90 ppm) I day post treatment and remained rather constant during the ensuing 15 days. LD50 values for 4-day-old 30-mg larvae of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), treated topically with acetone solutions of C-9491, its oxygen analogue, and its phenol were about 1.2, 0.2, and 200 µ.g, respectively. Feeding trials in the laboratory showed that the C-9491 was as good as or better than p, p’ -DDT in controlling the larvae. Slightly less effective control of fall armyworms and corn earworms, Heliothis zea (Boddie), was obtained in field plots of sweet com treated 6 times (2- to 3-day intervals) with I Ib per acre C-949 I than in similar plots treated with 2 Ib per acre DDT. The accumulation of residues of C-9491 and the 2 metabolites during these treatments was determined. Also, recoveries of the 3 compounds from field samples were compared by using 2 methods of extraction.
Rotating phenyl rings as a guest-dependent switch in two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks.

A semirigid bis(1,2,4-triazole) ligand binds in a syn conformation between copper(I) chains to form a series of two-dimensional metal–organic frameworks that display a topology of fused one-dimensional metal–organic nanotubes. These anisotropic frameworks undergo two different transformations in the solid state as a function of solvation. The 2D sheet layers can expand or contract, or, more remarkably, the phenyl rings can rotate between two distinct positions. Rotation of the phenyl rings allows for the adjustment of the tube size, depending on the guest molecules present. This “gate” effect along the 1D tubes has been characterized through single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The transformations can also be followed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and solid-state 13C cross-polarization magic-angle-spinning (CP-MAS) NMR. Whereas PXRD cannot differentiate between transformations, solid-state 13C CP-MAS NMR can be employed to directly monitor phenyl rotation as a function of solvation, suggesting that this...
Clio Goes to Church: Revisiting and Revitalizing Historical Thinking in the Sociology of Religion*

To be a member of any human community is to situate oneself with regard to one's (its) past, if only by rejecting it. The past is therefore a permanent dimension of the human consciousness, an inevitable component of the institutions, values and other patterns of human society. The problem for historians is to analyse the nature of this "sense of the past" in society and to trace its changes and transformations. -Eric Hobsbawm (1 997a: 10)
Admissions Criteria as Predictors of Academic Performance in a Three-Year Pharmacy Program at a Historically Black Institution

Objective. To determine the ability of University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy’s admissions criteria to predict students’ academic performance in a 3-year pharmacy program and to an...
Comparative Analysis of System Identification Techniques for Nonlinear Modeling of the Neuron-Microelectrode Junction

Applications of non-invasive neuroelectronic interfacing in the fields of whole-cell biosensing, biological computation and neural prosthetic devices depend critically on an efficient decoding and processing of information retrieved from a neuron-electrode junction. This necessitates development of mathematical models of the neuron-electrode interface that realistically represent the extracellular signals recorded at the neuroelectronic junction without being computationally expensive. Extracellular signals recorded using planar microelectrode or field effect transistor arrays have, until now, primarily been represented using linear equivalent circuit models that fail to reproduce the correct amplitude and shape of the signals recorded at the neuron-microelectrode interface. In this paper, to explore viable alternatives for a computationally inexpensive and efficient modeling of the neuron-electrode junction, input-output data from the neuron-electrode junction is modeled using a parametric Wiener model and a Nonlinear Auto-Regressive network with eXogenous input trained using a dynamic Neural Network model (NARX-NN model). Results corresponding to a validation dataset from these models are then employed to compare and contrast the computational complexity and efficiency of the aforementioned modeling techniques with the Lee-Schetzen technique of cross-correlation for estimating a nonlinear dynamic model of the neuroelectronic junction.
On-bicycle exposure to particulate air pollution: Particle number, black carbon, PM2.5, and particle size

Abstract Inhalation of air pollution during transport is an important exposure pathway, especially for certain modes of travel and types of particles. We measured concentrations of particulate air pollution (particle number [PN], black carbon [BC], fine particles [PM 2.5 ], particle size) using a mobile, bicycle-based monitoring platform during morning and afternoon rush-hour to explore patterns of exposure while cycling (34 days between August 14 and October 16, 2012 in Minneapolis, MN). Measurements were geo-located at 1 ​s intervals along 3 prescribed monitoring routes totaling 85 h (1426 km) of monitoring. Mean morning [afternoon] on-road concentrations were 32,500 [16,600] pt cm −3 , 2.5 [0.7] μg m −3 BC, 8.7 [8.3] μg m −3 PM 2.5 , and 42 [39] nm particle diameter. Concentrations were correlated with street functional class and declined within small distances from a major road (e.g., for PN and BC, mean concentration decreased ∼20% by moving 1 block away from major roads to adjacent local roads). We estimate the share of on-bicycle exposure attributable to near-traffic emissions (vs. regional pollution) is ∼50% for PN and BC; ∼25% for PM 2.5 . Regression models of instantaneous traffic volumes, derived from on-bicycle video recordings of nearby traffic, quantify the increase in particle-concentrations associated with each passing vehicle; for example, trucks were associated with acute, high concentration exposure events (average concentration-increase per truck: 31,000 pt cm −3 , 1.0 μg m −3 PM 2.5 , 1.6 μg m −3 BC). Our findings could be used to inform design of low-exposure bicycle networks in urban areas.
Facilitating telemedicine project sustainability in medically underserved areas: a healthcare provider participant perspective.

Background Very few telemedicine projects in medically underserved areas have been sustained over time. This research furthers understanding of telemedicine service sustainability by examining teleconsultation projects from the perspective of healthcare providers. Drivers influencing healthcare providers’ continued participation in teleconsultation projects and how projects can be designed to effectively and efficiently address these drivers is examined.
Abstract 1628: MAFF, a new hypoxia target gene involving tumor invasion and metastasis

Activation of hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF) under hypoxia is significantly correlated with tumor progression and treatment resistance by regulating target genes involved in invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and metabolism. This important role of HIF and hypoxia in promoting tumor progression provides a strong rationale to develop therapies that disrupt or target critical effectors of these pathways. V-Musculoaponeurotic Fibrosarcoma homolog F (MAFF) is a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor that regulates antioxidative responses, hematopoiesis, and inflammation. However, its role in tumor hypoxia has not been well studied. In this study, we demonstrated that hypoxia specifically regulated MAFF in various tumor cell types and it was specifically induced by HIF-1 but not HIF-2. To determine the role of MAFF in tumor progression, we investigated tumor cells by both gain and loss of function studies. Knocking down MAFF in metastatic cancer cell lines, MDAMB-231 and OVCAR-8, resulted in reduced tumor cell invasion and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, overexpressing MAFF in non-metastatic cell lines, MCF7 and A549 increased tumor cell invasion. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of MAFF-mediated tumor progression, we performed RNA sequencing in MDAMB-231 cells, which were exposed to either 20% O2 or 0.5% O2 with or without genetic inhibition of MAFF using siRNA. After performing a functional annotation using DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery) analysis, we observed genes involved in “blood vessel development” and “cell motility” were dysregulated in the absence of MAFF expression. In addition, genes relevant to “apoptosis”, “transcription”, and “inflammatory response” were altered when MAFF was inhibited. These observations suggest novel aspects of MAFF-mediated gene regulation. To further determine genes which were directly regulated by MAFF, we performed ChIP-sequencing with cells treated under normoxia or hypoxia. By combining profiles from RNA-sequencing and ChIP-sequencing, we highlighted 45 genes under normoxia and 44 genes under hypoxia. Among these, eight genes were regulated both under normoxia and hypoxia. Future studies will determine the set of genes that are responsible for tumor invasion and metastasis as well as other aspects of tumor progression. In conclusion, our study identifies MAFF as a novel HIF-1 target gene and also demonstrates its role in cell invasion and metastasis, which has not previously been described in cancer. This work may point towards a new therapeutic strategy to target tumor progression. Citation Format: Eui Jung Moon, Stephano S. Mello, Jen-Tsan Chi, Adam J. Krieg, Amato Giaccia. MAFF, a new hypoxia target gene involving tumor invasion and metastasis. [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 1628.
A comparative analysis of vaccine administration in urban and non-urban skilled nursing facilities

The U.S. population is aging at an unprecedented rate, resulting in an increased demand for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and long-term care. Residents of these facilities are at a high risk for pneumococcal disease or severe influenza-related illnesses and death. For these reasons, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services use influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates as a quality measure in the assessment of SNFs, as complications related to these infections increase morbidity and mortality rates. Disparities have been reported amongst vaccination with increased rates in urban areas as compared to their non-urban counterparts. Statistical analyses were performed to compare influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in urban and non-urban SNFs to determine variables that may influence vaccination status. Of the 15,639 nursing homes included in the study, 10,107 were in urban areas, while 5532 were considered non-urban. We found the percent of eligible and willing residents with up-to-date influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations increased with overall five-star ratings of SNFs. Somewhat paradoxically, although urban SNFs had higher mean overall five-star ratings, they showed lower rates of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination compared to non-urban SNFs. Ordinary least squares regression analysis comparing overall ratings, type of ownership, and geographic location by region yielded statistically significant results in which the overall rating, ownership-type and certificate-type favored urban SNFs (p < 0.001). This is the first systematic and comparative analysis to use the Nursing Home Compare database to assess vaccine administration of urban and non-urban SNFs. The findings of this study may be used to encourage the development of programs to improve vaccination rates and the quality of care in these facilities.
Chapter Two The First Mode of FESF: Epistemology and Plot

In this chapter, Calvin develops the first of four modes of FESF, in which epistemological concerns are raised by means of the plot of the novel or story. In order to critique social, cultural, and political practices, the plots of feminist science fiction frequently foreground questions of epistemology. To illustrate the ways in which the plots of FESF raise epistemological concerns, Calvin examines works by Marge Piercy, Octavia Butler, L. Timmel Duchamp, and Larissa Lai.
Use of PC-based Simulators to Train Basic Control Functions of a Hydraulic Excavator: Audiovisual Instruction Contrasted with Hands-On Exploration

ABSTRACTOperation of heavy construction equipment is a cognitively demanding task, and training of operators is risky and costly. Advances in computer-based virtual training systems have emerged as a solution to limitations associated with use of actual equipment, effectively reducing risk and on-machine training time, and allowing flexibility in learning environments. We report an experiment that compared two training methods for the initial phase of learning to operate a simulated hydraulic excavator: (a) audiovisual instructions for teaching operation of controls, and (b) hands-on operation of the excavator. After receiving one or the other of these training methods, participants performed a Controls Familiarization test that requires execution of appropriate joystick control actions in response to verbal stimuli presented visually that correspond to the desired action (e.g., “Activate the bucket close function”). For both groups, the actions were executed faster and with fewer errors as they practiced...
The Immature Platelet Fraction in HIV Patients with Thrombocytopenia.

Thrombocytopenia is a common clinical feature of HIV infection. Given the number of possible etiologies of thrombocytopenia in a patient with known HIV, a peripheral blood test effective in determining the likely pathophysiologic basis of the thrombocytopenia would be a valuable clinical tool. Immature platelets are released early from the bone marrow in response to increased platelet turnover. These platelets contain residual megakaryocyte mRNA and have been termed reticulated platelets. A new assay, the Immature Platelet Fraction (IPF), measures the reticulated platelet count in peripheral blood. Patients with increased destruction of platelets from such conditions as ITP consistently have a higher IPF percent, while patients with decreased platelet production have a low or normal IPF percent. The goal of our study was to determine the performance characteristics of the IPF assay in HIV patients with thrombocytopenia and to see if the IPF percent could be used to help elucidate the etiology of low platelet counts in this group of patients. All adult patients admitted to the Johns Hopkins Hospital with a diagnosis of HIV and a platelet count less than 150,000 were eligible for enrollment. 62 patients were identified from February 2007 to June 2007. 34 control samples were obtained from inpatients with HIV who were not thrombocytopenic. In addition, 81 samples were available from non-HIV historical controls with normal platelet counts. The mean platelet count in the HIV thrombocytopenic group was 92,000 while the mean platelet count in the HIV control group was 254,000 (p value
Heat Shock Factor-1 Knockout Enhances Cholesterol Metabolism and Attenuates Atherosclerosis

Objective Coronary heart disease and diabetes are highly prevalent among obese populations due to aberrant dietary cholesterol metabolism. Here we investigated the effect of heat shock factor-1 (HSF-1) on atherosclerosis and dietary cholesterol metabolism. Method and Results: Atherogenic western diet-induced weight gain was reduced in HSF-1 and LDLr double knock out mice (HSF-1–/–/LDLr–/–), compared to LDLr–/– mice. Atherosclerotic lesion growth in aortic arch and carotid regions was retarded. Also, repression of PPAR-γ2 and AMPKα expression in adipose tissue, low hepatic steatosis, and lessened plasma adiponectins and lipoproteins were observed. Furthermore, reduced heat shock proteins and their mRNA levels in atherosclerotic lesions correlated with reduction in lesion burden. In HSF-1–/–/LDLr–/– liver, higher cholesterol 7α hydroxylase (CYP7A1, the rate limiting enzyme in the synthesis of bile acid from cholesterol) and MDR1/p-glycoprotein (bile salt transporter across the hepatocyte canalicular membrane) gene expressions were observed, consistent with higher bile acid sequestration and larger hepatic bile ducts. HSF-1 deletion, however, upregulated both CYP7A1 enzyme and MDR1/p-glycoportein expression and activities, due to removal of its repressive binding in the CYP7A1 and MDR1 gene promoters. This increased the conversion of cholesterol into 7-α-hydroxycholesterol and bile acid, and dietary cholesterol metabolism. Conclusion HSF-1 ablation not only eliminates heat shock response to retard atherosclerosis, but it also transcriptionally upregulates CYP7A1 and MDR1/P-gp axis to increase cholesterol metabolism. Therefore, HSF-1 is a metabolic regulator of dietary cholesterol and a major contributor to heart disease among obese population.
DDX6 Represses Aberrant Activation of Interferon-Stimulated Genes.

Summary The innate immune system tightly regulates activation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) to avoid inappropriate expression. Pathological ISG activation resulting from aberrant nucleic acid metabolism has been implicated in autoimmune disease; however, the mechanisms governing ISG suppression are unknown. Through a genome-wide genetic screen, we identified DEAD-box helicase 6 (DDX6) as a suppressor of ISGs. Genetic ablation of DDX6 induced global upregulation of ISGs and other immune genes. ISG upregulation proved cell intrinsic, imposing an antiviral state and making cells refractory to divergent families of RNA viruses. Epistatic analysis revealed that ISG activation could not be overcome by deletion of canonical RNA sensors. However, DDX6 deficiency was suppressed by disrupting LSM1, a core component of mRNA degradation machinery, suggesting that dysregulation of RNA processing underlies ISG activation in the DDX6 mutant. DDX6 is distinct among DExD/H helicases that regulate the antiviral response in its singular ability to negatively regulate immunity.
Exploring Variations of Corporate Social ResponsibilityAcross Business Sectors and Geographic Scope

The paper aims to explore variations of CSR performance/ratings across business sectors and geographic scope. Specifically, the paper examines the strategic importance and implications of CSR for three business sectors: manufacturers, merchandisers and service providers and for firms with different geographic scope. Using a sample of 2,460 firm-year observations, the ANOVA shows significant differences on CSR performance/ratings among firms operating in different business sectors and among those having different geographic scope. There is a significant interaction between business sectors and geographic scope on CSR concerns; however, such significant interaction does not exist on CSR strengths.
Injury, illness, and disability risk in American seafarers.

Background Seafarers are an understudied and essential workforce, isolated from medical care. This study describes injuries, illness, and risk factors for resultant disability in one shipping company with a majority of American seafarers. Methods The study used a telemedicine database of injury and illness incidence in seafarers, and applied descriptive statistical methods and logistic regression modeling. Results Illnesses were more frequently reported than injuries (860 vs 479). The overall injury rate was 113 per 1000 person-years, and the overall illness rate was 211 per 1000 person-years. Seafarer ratings had higher risk for disability compared to officers (OR = 1.60; 95%CI 1.17, 2.18), and incidents on dry cargo ships (OR = 2.70; 95%CI 1.49, 4.91) and articulated tug-barges (ATBs) (OR = 2.21; 95%CI 1.26, 3.86) had higher disability risk compared to container vessels. Conclusion Additional research in this vital American workforce may be useful to confirm these findings forming a basis for preventive interventions.
Hotlog: An IoT-based embedded system for intelligent tracking in shipyards

The need for convergence between technology and shipbuilding processes is identified in the Brazilian shipbuilding industry so that it has a greater competitiveness against the shipyards belonging to the Tiger Cub Economies. In this perspective, wireless sensor networks and identification technologies have gained space regarding industrial solutions. This paper proposes an Internet of Things (IoT) based architecture using RFID and GPS for identification and tracking of blocks in shipyards. A hardware architecture is presented with the objective of identifying, mapping and tracking blocks and consequently the vehicles used in their transport, in a shipyard and offshore.
B-Flow imaging of the placenta: A feasibility study.

B-Flow imaging directly displays the flowing intravascular echoes during real-time gray-scale ultrasound without using Doppler techniques. The objective of our study was to evaluate the feasibility of B-Flow imaging in the placenta and to evaluate the artifacts seen on B-Flow imaging. After IRB approval, 36 women (17 normal and 19 high risk women) were enrolled in our study. B-Flow images were acquired on GE LOGIC E9 machine. Retrospective analysis of the B-Flow and cine capture images was performed for artifacts and for vessels visualized. Pregnant women enrolled in the study ranged from 19 to 43 years of age with an average age of 31.7 years. Gestational age varied from 17 weeks and five days to 36 weeks and three days with an average of 26 weeks and three days. From a total of 161 B-Flow images reviewed by one researcher, 15 images were acceptable with no evidence of artifact. The remainder of the images had some artifact in them. For the 36 women with color Doppler and B-Flow images reviewed by the tw...
Abstract 18851: Trends in Statin Utilization and Expenditures Among US Adult Population: Insight From Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2002-2013)

Objectives: Recent AHA/ACC guideline updates strongly emphasize the role of statins as pharmaceutical agents of choice for atherosclerotic cardiovascular (ASCVD) risk management. In this study we q...
Pacemakers, Synchronization, and Epilepsy

Few words in the vocabulary of neurophysiology have been more misused than “synchronization”. This term originated in the mid-thirties, when it was believed that brain waves were generated by the synchronous discharge and the summation of action potentials produced by cortical neurons. A few years later (Renshaw et al. 1940; Li and Jasper 1953) it was shown that synchronous discharge of neurons could not be found, and could not be related to the development of brain waves. In the mid-fifties (Verzeano and Calma 1954; Verzeano 1955, 1956) it was shown that the neuronal discharge which accompanies the development of periodic gross waves, in the cortex and in the thalamus, is sequential rather than synchronous, i.e., several groups of neurons discharge in a regular sequence in relation to each gross wave. Around the same epoch, new hypotheses were presented involving graded potentials, synaptic and dendritic, which would not have to occur synchronously in order to summate and generate brain waves. From that time on, the term “synchronization” was reserved for the development, in the electroencephalogram or the electrocorticogram, of rhythmic waves such as those which occur in the alpha rhythm or in sleep spindles. It is still used in this sense at the present time, even though there is sufficient evidence to indicate that nothing is truly synchronous in any aspect of brain wave development. However, since, so far, neurophysiologists and electroencephalographers have not agreed on a better term, “synchronization” will be used in this article to denote the development of rhythmic waves, wherever they may occur, in cortical or subcortical structures.
Analysis for Fusarium Toxins in Various Samples Implicated in Biological Warfare in Southeast Asia

Samples of leaves, water, cereal grains, soil, and yellow powder as well as blood, urine, and body tissues from chemical warfare victims were analyzed for Fusarium toxins by using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The leaves, water, and yellow powder samples contained various combinations of T-2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, and zearalenone in concentrations ranging from trace (1.0 ppb) amounts to 143 ppm. These trichothecenes do not occur naturally on the substrates described and were correlated with the so-called "yellow rain" chemical attacks against Hmong people in Southeast Asia. Analysis of leaves, soil, water, and cereals collected in areas adjacent to but apart from the area where chemical attacks had been staged did not contain any Fusarium toxins. Moreover, T-2 and HT-2 toxins were found in human blood, urine, and body tissues (heart, esophagus, kidney, lung, and large intestine) of alleged victims. In addition, diacetoxyscirpenol was found in the kidney of one person who had died.