cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human Fetal Membranes Generate Distinct Cytokine Profiles in Response to Bacterial Toll-like Receptor and Nod-like Receptor Agonists

Bacterial infection-associated inflammation is thought to be a major cause of preterm premature rupture of membranes. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 1B (IL1B), can weaken fetal membranes (FM) by upregulating matrix metalloproteinases and inducing apoptosis. The mechanism by which infection leads to inflammation at the maternal–fetal interface and subsequent preterm birth is thought to involve innate immune pattern recognition receptors (PRR), such as the Toll-like receptors (TLR) and Nod-like receptors (NLR), which recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). The objective of this study was to determine the cytokine profile generated by FMs in response to the bacterial TLR and NLR agonists peptidoglycan (PDG; TLR2), lipopolysaccharide (LPS; TLR4), flagellin (TLR5), CpG ODN (TLR9), iE-DAP (Nod1), and MDP (Nod2). PDG, LPS, flagellin, iE-DAP, and MDP triggered FMs to generate an inflammatory response, but the cytokine profiles were distinct for each TLR and NLR agonist, and only IL1B and RANTES were commonly upregulated in response to all five PAMPs. CpG ODN, in contrast, had a mild stimulatory effect only on MCP-1 and primarily downregulated basal FM cytokine production. IL1B secretion induced by PDG, LPS, flagellin, iE-DAP, and MDP was associated with its processing. Furthermore, FM IL1B secretion in response to TLR2, TLR4, and TLR5 activation was caspase 1-dependent, whereas Nod1 and Nod2 induced IL1B secretion independent of caspase 1. These findings demonstrate that FMs respond to different bacterial TLR and NLR PAMPs by generating distinct inflammatory cytokine profiles through distinct mechanisms that are specific to the innate immune PRR activated.
Levofloxacin and Sparfloxacin: New Quinolone Antibiotics

OBJECTIVE:To discuss the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, spectrum of activity, clinical trials, and adverse effects of levofloxacin and sparfloxacin, two new fluoroquinolone antibiotics.DATA SOURCES:Literature was identified by a MEDLINE search from January 1985 to September 1997. Abstracts and presentations were identified by review of program abstracts from the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy from 1988 to 1996.STUDY SELECTION:Randomized, controlled clinical studies were selected for evaluation; however, uncontrolled studies were included when data were limited for indications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In vitro data were selected from comparison trials whenever available. Only in vitro trials that provided data on the minimum inhibitory concentrations required to inhibit 90% of isolates were used. Data from North American studies were selected whenever available.DATA EXTRACTION:Data were evaluated with respect to in vitro activity, study design, ...
Phase I/II Study of the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Inhibitor Everolimus (RAD001) in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Hematologic Malignancies

Purpose: Everolimus (RAD001, Novartis), an oral derivative of rapamycin, inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which regulates many aspects of cell growth and division. A phase I/II study was done to determine safety and efficacy of everolimus in patients with relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies. Experimental Design: Two dose levels (5 and 10 mg orally once daily continuously) were evaluated in the phase I portion of this study to determine the maximum tolerated dose of everolimus to be used in the phase II study. Results: Twenty-seven patients (9 acute myelogenous leukemia, 5 myelodysplastic syndrome, 6 B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 4 mantle cell lymphoma, 1 myelofibrosis, 1 natural killer cell/T-cell leukemia, and 1 T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia) received everolimus. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. Grade 3 potentially drug-related toxicities included hyperglycemia (22%), hypophosphatemia (7%), fatigue (7%), anorexia (4%), and diarrhea (4%). One patient developed a cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis requiring a skin graft. One patient with refractory anemia with excess blasts achieved a major platelet response of over 3-month duration. A second patient with refractory anemia with excess blasts showed a minor platelet response of 25-day duration. Phosphorylation of downstream targets of mTOR, eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1, and/or, p70 S6 kinase, was inhibited in six of nine patient samples, including those from the patient with a major platelet response. Conclusions: Everolimus is well tolerated at a daily dose of 10 mg daily and may have activity in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. Studies of everolimus in combination with therapeutic agents directed against other components of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/mTOR pathway are warranted.
Methanol exposure during gastrulation causes holoprosencephaly, facial dysgenesis, and cervical vertebral malformations in C57BL/6J mice.

BACKGROUND: Exposure of pregnant outbred CD-1 mice to methanol during the period of gastrulation results in exencephaly, cleft palate, and cervical vertebra malformations [Rogers and Mole, Teratology 55: 364, 1997], while inbred C57BL/6J mice are sensitive to the teratogenicity of ethanol. C57BL/6J fetuses exhibit the holoprosencephaly spectrum of malformations after maternal exposure to ethanol during gastrulation, but the sensitivity of C57BL/6J mice to methanolinduced teratogenesis has not been previously described. METHODS: Pregnant C57BL/6J mice were administered two i.p. injections totaling 3.4 or 4.9 g/kg methanol or distilled water four hrs apart on gestation day (GD) 7. On GD 17, litters were examined for numbers of live, dead and resorbed conceptuses, fetuses were weighed as a litter and examined externally, and all fetuses were double stained for skeletal analysis. RESULTS: No maternal intoxication was apparent, but the high dosage level caused a transient deficit in maternal weight gain. The number of live fetuses per litter was reduced at both dosages of methanol, and fetal weight was lower in the high dosage group. Craniofacial defects were observed in 55.8% of fetuses in the low dosage group and 91.0% of fetuses in the high dosage group, including micro/ anophthalmia, holoprosencephaly, facial clefts and gross facial angenesis. Skeletal malformations, particularly of the cervical vertebrae, were observed at both dosages of methanol, and were similar to those previously reported in the CD-1 mouse following methanol exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The types of craniofacial malformations induced in the C57BL/ 6J mouse by methanol indicate that methanol and ethanol have common targets and may have common modes of action. Birth Defects Res B 71:80–88, 2004. Published 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. w
Behind the ape's appearance: escaping anthropocentrism in the study of other minds

Daniel John Povinelli is Louisiana Board of Re gents Endowed Professor of Science at the Univer sity of Louisiana at Lafayette, and director of the Cognitive Evolution Group and the Center for Child Studies. His latest book is "Folk Physics for Apes: The Chimpanzee's Theory of How the World Works" (2000). JL/ook at Megan. Not just at her distinc tively chimpanzee features her accen tuated brow ridge, her prognathic face, her coarse black hair but at the totality of her being: her darting eyes, her slow, studied movements, the gestures she makes as her companion, Jadine, passes nearby. Can there be any doubt that be hind certain obvious differences in her
Inelastic Finite Element Analysis Using Tresca Yield Condition

A derivation of elastic-plastic stress rate-strain rate relations for strain-hardening materials in plane stress condition is presented in this paper for materials that obey Tresca yield condition. The development is similar to that for von Mises yield condition but differs significantly due to the special considerations necessary in dealing with the corners of the yield surface. These relationships are employed to obtain an elastic-plastic solution for a notched plate of strain-hardening material subjected to a monotonically increasing tensile load. The results are compared to those previously available in the literature. It is shown that the stress-strain relations developed for Tresca yield condition can be used as easily as those of von Mises yield condition which have commonly been employed. The resulting solution is more conservative and leads to safe results.
Process Analysis and Design Using Business Process Management Systems

This teaching case is designed as part of a MBA/Graduate or Undergraduate elective course in the area of System Analysis and Design. A key barrier in teaching System Analysis and Design courses is the lack of good hands-on and interactive cases in the classroom. As most businesses begin to put increasing emphasis on the formal modeling of business processes and their underlying information processing systems, the process oriented system design emerges as a prevailing model in enterprise practice. Process-based approaches have therefore become an important component in the system design and analysis curriculum. Through this hands-on lab exercise, we aim to help business students to understand the fundamental knowledge of a company’s business processes, and to develop the ability to define, execute, manage and refine processes that involve human interaction, such as placing orders, and handle dynamic process rules and changes, not just simple, static flows.
PARADIGM: Paraphrase Diagnostics through Grammar Matching

Paraphrase evaluation is typically done either manually or through indirect, taskbased evaluation. We introduce an intrinsic evaluation PARADIGM which measures the goodness of paraphrase collections that are represented using synchronous grammars. We formulate two measures that evaluate these paraphrase grammars using gold standard sentential paraphrases drawn from a monolingual parallel corpus. The first measure calculates how often a paraphrase grammar is able to synchronously parse the sentence pairs in the corpus. The second measure enumerates paraphrase rules from the monolingual parallel corpus and calculates the overlap between this reference paraphrase collection and the paraphrase resource being evaluated. We demonstrate the use of these evaluation metrics on paraphrase collections derived from three different data types: multiple translations of classic French novels, comparable sentence pairs drawn from different newspapers, and bilingual parallel corpora. We show that PARADIGM correlates with human judgments more strongly than BLEU on a task-based evaluation of paraphrase quality.
Synthesis of wide bandgap Ga2O3 (Eg - 4.6-4.7 eV) thin films on sapphire by low pressure chemical vapor deposition

This paper presents the synthesis of wide bandgap Ga2O3 thin films on differently oriented sapphire substrates by using low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) technique. The effects of substrate orientation on the Ga2O3 thin film surface morphology, crystal orientation, growth rate, and optical properties were studied. The Ga2O3 thin films were synthesized on the c-plane (0001), a-plane (11−20), and r-plane (1−102) sapphire substrates using high purity metallic Ga and oxygen (O2) as source materials and argon (Ar) as carrier gas. The Ga2O3 thin films grown on the c-plane and a-plane sapphire substrates are composed of pure β-Ga2O3. A mixture of β-Ga2O3 and α-Ga2O3 phases is observed for the films grown on r-plane sapphire substrate. Well-distinct transmission, absorption, and reflectance edge at Eg ∼ 4.6–4.7 eV are visible for all the films in the optical spectra measured in the spectral range from 200 to 800 nm.
Sample Calibration in Likert-Metric Survey Data

Likert scales are a widely used approach to scaling responses in survey research, such that the term is often used interchangeably with rating scale. The current research develops a Fisher Information metric for Likert scales, and explores the effect of particular survey design decisions or results on the information content and loss of Likert data. A Fisher Information metric outperforms earlier metrics by converging reliably to values that are intuitive in the sense that they suggest that information captured from subjects is fairly stable. The results of the analysis suggest that, varying bias and response dispersion inherent in specific surveys may require increases of sample size by several orders of magnitude to compensate for information loss and in order to derive valid conclusions at a given significance and power of tests. A prioritization of quality of design, and the factors relevant to quality of Likert scaled survey design is presented in the conclusions, and illustrative examples provide insight and guidance to the assessment of information content in a survey.
Clocking and synchronization within a fault-tolerant multiprocessor

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1972.
Food Selectivity in Obese Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: Food selectivity has been documented in children and is more prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This can create feeding difficulties that may present as restricted food intake, texture based food selectivity, food refusal, and/or repetitive food choices. Objective: To describe food selectivity in obese adolescent with ASD and suggests directions for future research. Methods: Previous research assessed the effects of video game playing on obese adolescents with ASD utilizing a single subject multiple baseline design. Over 12 weeks, the participant played inactive (6 weeks) and active video games (6 weeks) on the Wii console. Physiological data (weight, height, waist-to-hip ratio, tricep skinfold) were evaluated weekly at home. Participants logged food intake each week during all phases (baseline, inactive video gaming, and active video gaming). Foods were grouped into the following categories: fruits, vegetables, proteins, starches, juices and other sweetened non-dairy drinks, and dairy. Results: Similar to previous research, participants preferred starches to other categories of food (50-75% of food intake). Proteins were the second most chosen food group. Fruits and vegetables were comprised less than 5% of the participants’ diet. Conclusions: Although numerous studies have examined food selectivity, none have assessed it in adolescents exclusively. This study describes food selectivity in obese adolescents and provides direction for future research.
Nanoscale Infrared, Thermal, and Mechanical Characterization of Telaprevir–Polymer Miscibility in Amorphous Solid Dispersions Prepared by Solvent Evaporation

Miscibility is of great interest for pharmaceutical systems, in particular, for amorphous solid dispersions, as phase separation can lead to a higher tendency to crystallize, resulting in a loss in solubility, decreased dissolution rate, and compromised bioavailability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the miscibility behavior of a model poorly water-soluble drug, telaprevir (TPV), with three different polymers using atomic force microscopy-based infrared, thermal, and mechanical analysis. Standard atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging together with nanoscale infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR), nanoscale thermal analysis (nanoTA), and Lorentz contact resonance (LCR) measurements were used to evaluate the miscibility behavior of TPV with three polymers, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), HPMC acetate succinate (HPMCAS), and poly(vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) (PVPVA), at different drug to polymer ratios. Phase separation was observed with HPMC and PVPVA at drug loadings above 10%. For HPMCAS...
Building Sustainable Community Partnerships Into the Structure of New Academic Public Health Schools and Programs

We describe and assess how the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia, established in 2005, has developed formal institutional mechanisms to facilitate community-university partnerships that serve the needs of communities and the university. The College developed these partnerships as part of its founding; therefore, the University of Georgia model may serve as an important model for other new public health programs. One important lesson is the need to develop financial and organizational mechanisms that ensure stability over time. Equally important is attention to how community needs can be addressed by faculty and students in academically appropriate ways. The integration of these 2 lessons ensures that the academic mission is fulfilled at the same time that community needs are addressed. Together, these lessons suggest that multiple formal strategies are warranted in the development of academically appropriate and sustainable university-community partnerships.
Recent Progress and Future Prospects in Quantum Cascade Lasers

The Quantum Cascade lasers’ strengths are their wavelength tailorability, high performance and fascinating design potential. We will discuss recent highlights, such as high efficiency and single-mode operation, artificially broadened gain, and novel unconventional laser schemes. Article not available.
Using Photovoice to explore patients' experiences with mental health medication: A pilot study

Abstract Introduction: The objective of this research is to explore and share the medication experience of those with a mental illness in order to gain understanding of the patient's medication per...
Attribute Reduction in Interval Valued Decision System

Through the real rough set model based on consistent relation, the conceptions of the lower and upper approximation, boundary, B-positive region, B-negative, and B-borderline region were analyzed. Then attribute reduction in real value rough set was presented, and the steps of attribute reduction were given. Successive search generalized important degree of subset, to see whether the generalized important degree is equal to that of the set.The feasibility is proved by the following example.
On the properties of single-mode optical resonators

We study the quality factor of single-mode optical whispering gallery mode resonators using finite element method simulations, with a particular focus on the photonic belt resonator geometry. We experimentally observe a large difference between the quality factors of TM and TE modes in such resonators. Examining radiative losses, we conclude that the TM fundamental mode of single-mode resonators can have geometry related radiative losses caused by mode hybridization and coupling that limits their achievable quality factor. However, TE modes are free from mode hybridization radiative losses. This leads to much higher achievable Q factors for TE modes, only limited by fabrication and material quality. We experimentally observed photonic belt resonator quality factors on the order of one billion for TE modes, higher than in any other single mode optical resonator of similar dimensions.
Determination of methyl propyl ketone in air of workplace by capillary gas chromatography

Objective To establish a gas chromatography method for determination of methyl propyl ketone in the air of workplace.Methods Methyl propyl ketone in the air of workplace was collected with activated carbon tubes and desorbed with carbon disulfide before sample loading.The target toxicant was separated with the capillary column and detected with a hydrogen flame ionization detector,identified by retention time,and quantified by peak area.Results The linear range of methyl propyl ketone in the air of workplace was 202.5～4 860.0 μg/ml,with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 98.The limit of detection was 1.5 μg/ml.The lower limit of quantification was 5.0 μg/ml.The minimum detectable concentration was 1.0 mg/m3 under 1.5 L sampling volume and 1.0 ml desorption solution volume.The relative standard deviation of different methyl propyl ketone concentrations was 1.42％～1.65％,and the recovery rate was 94.9％～97.9％.Conclusion This method has high sensitivity,precision,and accuracy,and it is applicable for determination of methyl propyl ketone in the air of workplace. Key words: Air of workplace; Methyl propyl ketone; Gas chromatography
Role of Hydrogen Transfer during Catalytic Copyrolysis of Lignin and Tetralin over HZSM-5 and HY Zeolite Catalysts

In the present study, catalytic pyrolysis of lignin and tetralin was explored in a tandem micropyrolyzer using HY and HZSM-5 as the catalysts. Tetralin is an effective hydrogen donor at atmospheric pressure and its molecular size is bigger than the static pore size of HZSM-5 but smaller than that of HY zeolite. Therefore, copyrolysis of lignin and tetralin is also useful in understanding the role of hydrogen transfer in the zeolites related to shape selectivity. A strong synergistic effect between lignin and tetralin was found with HY zeolite as catalytic coke decreased from an additive yield of 12.72 C% to an experimental yield of 3.8 C%, whereas the aromatic hydrocarbon yield increased from 48.79 C% to 66.23 C% at catalyst temperature of 600 °C. Carbon balance of the measurable pyrolysis products was high because lignin-derived phenols were effectively deoxygenated by HY zeolite in the presence of tetralin. Hydrogen transfer from tetralin to phenols within HY zeolite pores changed the mode of oxygen rem...
Outcomes of hospitalizations for common illnesses associated with a comorbid heat-related illness in the United States, 2001–2010

This research examines whether inpatients with common illnesses and comorbid heat-related illness (HRI) suffer worse health outcomes and use more hospital resources than similar patients without a diagnosed HRI. We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2001–2010 to compare outcomes, including inpatient length of stay, number of procedures, total charges, discharge status and death, for hospitalization of common illnesses with and without HRI. We used bivariate and multivariable regressions to identify risk factors for health outcomes among inpatients with common illnesses and comorbid HRI. Stratified analyses examined outcomes according to sociodemographics and hospital characteristics to further identify specific risk factors. Among inpatients with respiratory illnesses, negative outcomes were more frequent when a comorbid HRI was present. Additionally, inpatients with cardiac diseases showed increased mortality when a comorbid HRI was present. Overall, comorbid HRI was not associated with worse outcomes among the other common illnesses analyzed. While heat may precipitate hospital admissions for renal and diabetic conditions, these conditions have similar outcomes whether or not a HRI is present. However, comorbid HRI is associated with worse outcomes for respiratory illness hospitalizations and higher risk of death among cardiac disease hospitalizations.
The freedom of the will: psychological dimensions

Hegel's idea is that freedom does not involve being the center of causal agency, nor in merely being free from external constraints in satisfying what we happen to want, nor in conforming to or realizing the essence of human being as a distinct species, nor in being the vehicle for the self-realization of Cosmic spirit. This raises the stakes for him in coming up with a clear positive answer to the question because he certainly also thinks that everything of value in human life depends on actualizing freedom adequately. He thinks this because he believes that any value that gives my life meaning, secures a guiding commitment that can be sustained over time, makes possible genuinely “leading a life,” presupposes a Rousseauian point that Hegel fully accepts: that nothing can be a genuine value for me unless it can be a value to me; in his terms, unless I can recognize myself in what is proposed as a good for me, and that means: unless I am free. And he accepts a Kantian point that such identification or non-alienation requires a certain sort of responsiveness to reason; what sort being the central question. Being able to “stand behind” a deed with justificatory reasons is how I can claim the deed as my own or “own up to it.”
Aggregate driver model to enable predictable behaviour

The categorization of driving styles, particularly in terms of aggressiveness and skill is an emerging area of interest under the broader theme of intelligent transportation. There are two possible discriminatory techniques that can be applied for such categorization; a microscale (event based) model and a macro-scale (aggregate) model. It is believed that an aggregate model will reveal many interesting aspects of human-machine interaction; for example, we may be able to understand the propensities of individuals to carry out a given task over longer periods of time. A useful driver model may include the adaptive capability of the human driver, aggregated as the individual propensity to control speed/acceleration. Towards that objective, we carried out experiments by deploying smartphone based application to be used for data collection by a group of drivers. Data is primarily being collected from GPS measurements including position & speed on a second-by-second basis, for a number of trips over a two months period. Analysing the data set, aggregate models for individual drivers were created and their natural aggressiveness were deduced. In this paper, we present the initial results for 12 drivers. It is shown that the higher order moments of the acceleration profile is an important parameter and identifier of journey quality. It is also observed that the Kurtosis of the acceleration profiles stores major information about the driving styles. Such an observation leads to two different ranking systems based on acceleration data. Such driving behaviour models can be integrated with vehicle and road model and used to generate behavioural model for real traffic scenario.
Semantics-preserving dissection of Javascript exploits via dynamic JS-binary analysis

JavaScript exploits impose a severe threat to computer security. Once a zero-day exploit is captured, it is critical to quickly pinpoint the JavaScript statements that uniquely characterize the exploit and the payload location in the exploit. However, the current diagnosis techniques are inadequate because they approach the problem either from a JavaScript perspective and fail to account for “implicit” data flow invisible at JavaScript level, or from a binary execution perspective and fail to present the JavaScript level view of exploit. In this paper, we propose JScalpel, a framework to automatically bridge the semantic gap between the JavaScript level and binary level for dynamic JS-binary analysis. With this new technique, JScalpel can automatically pinpoint exploitation or payload injection component of JavaScript exploits and generate minimized exploit code and a Proof-of-Vulnerability (PoV). Using JScalpel, we analyze 15 JavaScript exploits, 9 memory corruption exploits from Metasploit, 4 exploits from 3 different exploit kits and 2 wild exploits and successfully recover the payload and a minimized exploit for each of the exploits.
Ant Colony Optimization, Genetic Programming and a hybrid approach for credit scoring: A comparative study

Credit scoring is a commonly used method for evaluating the risk involved in granting credits. Both Genetic Programming (GP) and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) have been investigated in the past as possible tools for credit scoring. This paper reports an investigation into the relative performances of GP, ACO and a new hybrid GP-ACO approach, which relies on the ACO technique to produce the initial populations for the GP technique. Performance of the hybrid approach has been compared with both the GP and ACO approaches using two well-known benchmark data sets. Experimental results demonstrate the dependence of GP and ACO classification accuracies on the input data set. For any given data set, the hybrid approach performs better than the worse of the other two methods. Results also show that use of ACO in the hybrid approach has only a limited impact in improving GP performance.
Almond Consumption during Energy Restriction Lowers Truncal Fat and Blood Pressure in Compliant Overweight or Obese Adults

BACKGROUND: The inclusion of almonds in an energy-restricted diet has been reported both to enhance or to have no effect on weight loss. Their effects specifically on visceral body fat stores during energy restriction have not been widely examined. In addition, almond consumption has been associated with reduced blood pressure (BP), but whether this is linked to or independent of changes in body composition has to our knowledge not been examined. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effects of consuming almonds as part of an energy-restricted diet on body composition, specifically visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and BP, compared to a nut-free energy-restricted diet. METHODS: A randomized controlled 12-wk clinical trial of 86 healthy adults [body mass index (in kg/m2): 25-40] was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 energy-restricted (500-kcal deficit/d) diets: an almond-enriched diet (AED) (15% energy from almonds) or a nut-free diet (NFD). A linear mixed-model analysis on primary outcomes such as body weight, body fat, VAT, and BP was performed on all participants [intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis] and compliant participants (complier analysis). RESULTS: Body weight, truncal and total fat percentage, VAT, and systolic BP decreased after 12 wk of energy restriction in both the ITT and complier analyses (P < 0.05). The complier analysis (but not the ITT analysis) indicated a greater mean ± SEM reduction in truncal fat (AED: -1.21% ± 0.26%; NFD: -0.48% ± 0.24%; P = 0.025), total fat (AED: -1.79% ± 0.36%; NFD: -0.74% ± 0.33%; P = 0.035), and diastolic BP (AED: -2.71 ± 1.2 mm Hg; NFD: 0.815 ± 1.1 mm Hg; P = 0.029), and a greater tendency for VAT loss (AED: -8.19 ± 1.8 cm2; NFD: -3.99 ± 1.7 cm2; P = 0.09) over time in the AED group than the NFD group. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate almond consumption by compliant overweight and obese individuals during energy restriction results in greater proportional reductions of truncal and total body fat as well as diastolic BP and hence may help to reduce metabolic disease risk in obesity.
A threshold of transmembrane potential is required for mitochondrial dynamic balance mediated by DRP1 and OMA1

As an organellar network, mitochondria dynamically regulate their organization via opposing fusion and fission pathways to maintain bioenergetic homeostasis and contribute to key cellular pathways. This dynamic balance is directly linked to bioenergetic function: loss of transmembrane potential across the inner membrane (Δψ m) disrupts mitochondrial fission/fusion balance, causing fragmentation of the network. However, the level of Δψ m required for mitochondrial dynamic balance, as well as the relative contributions of fission and fusion pathways, have remained unclear. To explore this, mitochondrial morphology and Δψ m were examined via confocal imaging and tetramethyl rhodamine ester (TMRE) flow cytometry, respectively, in cultured 143B osteosarcoma cells. When normalized to the TMRE value of untreated 143B cells as 100%, both genetic (mtDNA-depleted ρ0) and pharmacological [carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP)-treated] cell models below 34% TMRE fluorescence were unable to maintain mitochondrial interconnection, correlating with loss of fusion-active long OPA1 isoforms (L-OPA1). Mechanistically, this threshold is maintained by mechanistic coordination of DRP1-mediated fission and OPA1-mediated fusion: cells lacking either DRP1 or the OMA1 metalloprotease were insensitive to loss of Δψ m, instead maintaining an obligately fused morphology. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a mitochondrial 'tipping point' threshold mediated by the interaction of Δψ m with both DRP1 and OMA1; moreover, DRP1 appears to be required for effective OPA1 maintenance and processing, consistent with growing evidence for direct interaction of fission and fusion pathways. These results suggest that Δψ m below threshold coordinately activates both DRP1-mediated fission and OMA1 cleavage of OPA1, collapsing mitochondrial dynamic balance, with major implications for a range of signaling pathways and cellular life/death events.
Organic Agricultural Production: Plants

Organic farming relies on the integration of a diversity of farm components, the cycling of nutrients and other resources, and stewardship of soil and environment. This article discusses the global history of the organic movement and its international origins, the role of organic certification, global trends in sales and production of organic foods, the underlying principles and practices of organic farming, and current research on the production, economic, environmental, and social sustainability of organic farming. Organic farming is one of a number of innovative farming systems that can play a significant role in future global food and ecosystem security.
Lead Aprons Are a Lead Exposure Hazard.

Abstract Purpose To determine whether lead-containing shields have lead dust on the external surface. Methods Institutional review board approval was obtained for this descriptive study of a convenience sample of 172 shields. Each shield was tested for external lead dust via a qualitative rapid on-site test and a laboratory-based quantitative dust wipe analysis, flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The χ 2 test was used to test the association with age, type of shield, lead sheet thickness, storage method, and visual and radiographic appearance. Results Sixty-three percent (95% confidence interval [CI]: 56%-70%) of the shields had detectable surface lead by FAAS and 50% (95% CI: 43%-57%) by the qualitative method. Lead dust by FAAS ranged from undetectable to 998 μg/ft 2 . The quantitative detection of lead was significantly associated with the following: (1) visual appearance of the shield (1 = best, 3 = worst): 88% of shields that scored 3 had detectable dust lead; (2) type of shield: a greater proportion of the pediatric patient, full-body, and thyroid shields were positive than vests and skirts; (3) use of a hanger for storage: 27% of shields on a hanger were positive versus 67% not on hangers. Radiographic determination of shield intactness, thickness of interior lead sheets, and age of shield were unrelated to presence of surface dust lead. Conclusions Sixty-three percent of shields had detectable surface lead that was associated with visual appearance, type of shield, and storage method. Lead-containing shields are a newly identified, potentially widespread source of lead exposure in the health industry.
Estimation of Measurement Uncertainty: Simplified Methods

This paper covers the basics of preparing uncertainty estimates for typical uncomplicated measurements. It presents a simple step-by-step process that applies to all fields of testing and calibrati...
The Role of Fungus in Diseases of the Frontal Sinus

Fungal disease of the nose and sinuses is classified based on clinical, radiologic and histologic findings. Most commonly accepted classification schema divides fungal rhinosinusitis into invasive and non-invasive diseases based on histopathologic evidence of fungus invading the host tissue. Acute fulminant invasive fungal sinusitis (AFIFS) is almost always seen in immunocompromised patients. Accordingly, treatment of AFIFS involves reversal of any underlying immunosuppression, if possible, concurrently with timely and aggressive medical and surgical therapy. Chronic invasive fungal sinusitis (CIFS) involves tissue invasion by fungi, though it has a slower clinical course compared to AFIFS. Treatment involves debridement of involved tissue coupled with antifungal therapy. Paranasal sinus fungal ball results from accumulation of dense fungal elements in a sinus cavity in the absence of mucosal invasion. Single sinus involvement is most common and the sinus CT will frequently demonstrate areas of hyperdensity. Endoscopic removal of the fungal ball is typically curative. Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) involves atopy against fungal antigens with resultant intense eosinophilic inflammation perpetuated through sinus ostial obstruction. Surgery represents an integral component to treatment of AFRS, combined with systemic and topical steroid therapy.
A Cooperative Approach to Virtual Machine Based Fault Injection

Resilience investigations often employ fault injection (FI) tools to study the effects of simulated errors on a target system. It is important to keep the target system under test (SUT) isolated from the controlling environment in order to maintain control of the experiement. Virtual machines (VMs) have been used to aid these investigations due to the strong isolation properties of system-level virtualization. A key challenge in fault injection tools is to gain proper insight and context about the SUT. In VM-based FI tools, this challenge of target context is increased due to the separation between host and guest (VM). We discuss an approach to VM-based FI that leverages virtual machine introspection (VMI) methods to gain insight into the target’s context running within the VM. The key to this environment is the ability to provide basic information to the FI system that can be used to create a map of the target environment. We describe a proof-of-concept implementation and a demonstration of its use to introduce simulated soft errors into an iterative solver benchmark running in user-space of a guest VM.
Poincare Return Maps

The Poincare return map is a model for measuring changes in trajectories and for evaluating the effects of forces that facilitate or present barriers to the pathways. It is important to measure the stability of a trajectory or its deviation. With either situation, one seeks to understand the variables that maintain stability or that generate the deviation. Then, we can experiment with manipulation of the variables to return a deviated pathway to stability or to jump an aberrant stable pathway to an altered stable trajectory that is closer to better health.
Variation in interoperability across clinical laboratories nationwide.

Abstract Objective To characterize nationwide variation and factors associated with clinical laboratories’: (1) capabilities to send structured test results electronically to ordering practitioners’ EHR systems; and (2) their levels of exchange activity, as measured by whether they sent more than three-quarters of their test results as structured data to ordering practitioners’ EHR systems. Materials and methods A national survey of all independent and hospital laboratories was conducted in 2013. Using an analytic weighted sample of 9382 clinical laboratories, a series of logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify organizational and area characteristics associated with clinical laboratories’ exchange capability and activity. Results Hospital-based clinical laboratories (71%) and larger clinical laboratories (80%) had significantly higher levels of capability compared to independent (58%) and smaller laboratories (48%), respectively; though all had similar levels of exchange activity, with 30% of clinical laboratories sending 75% or more of their test results electronically. In multivariate analyses, hospital and the largest laboratories had 1.87 and 4.40 higher odds, respectively, of possessing the capability to send results electronically compared to independent laboratories (p Conclusion Clinical laboratories’ capability to exchange varied by size and type; however, all clinical laboratories had relatively low levels of exchange activity. The role of exchange partners potentially played a small but significant role in driving exchange capability and activity.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MECHANISM OF FAT ABSORPTION.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the recent developments in the mechanism of fat absorption. Triglyceride, from a quantitative standpoint, is by far the most important lipid in diet. Of the enzymes concerned with the digestion of triglycerides, the most thoroughly studied and probably the most important is pancreatic lipase. This enzyme demonstrates a preferential hydrolysis of 1 and 3 positions of the triglyceride molecule forming the intermediate 1, 2-diglyceride, which is further hydrolyzed to give the final products of 2-monoglyceride and fatty acids. Bile salts have long been considered to be activators of the lipolysis induced by pancreatic lipase. In addition to their role of aiding in the emulsification of fats, bile salts have other specific functions. Pancreatic lipase has been studied with regard to the hydrolysis of monoglycerides in micellar solutions. It has been reported that the 1-monoolein is almost completely hydrolyzed by pancreatic lipase. The chapter presents a systematic study of fat absorption employing electron microscopy.
Targeting the Hemopexin-like Domain of Latent Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (proMMP-9) with a Small Molecule Inhibitor Prevents the Formation of Focal Adhesion Junctions

A lack of target specificity has greatly hindered the success of inhibitor development against matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) for the treatment of various cancers. The MMP catalytic domains are highly conserved, whereas the hemopexin-like domains of MMPs are unique to each family member. The hemopexin-like domain of MMP-9 enhances cancer cell migration through self-interaction and heterointeractions with cell surface proteins including CD44 and α4β1 integrin. These interactions activate EGFR-MAP kinase dependent signaling that leads to cell migration. In this work, we generated a library of compounds, based on hit molecule N-[4-(difluoromethoxy)phenyl]-2-[(4-oxo-6-propyl-1H-pyrimidin-2-yl)sulfanyl]-acetamide, that target the hemopexin-like domain of MMP-9. We identify N-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-(4-oxo-3,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydroquinazolin-2-ylthio)butanamide, 3c, as a potent lead (Kd = 320 nM) that is specific for binding to the proMMP-9 hemopexin-like domain. We demonstrate that 3c disruption of MMP-9 homodimerization prevents association of proMMP-9 with both α4β1 integrin and CD44 and results in the dissociation of EGFR. This disruption results in decreased phosphorylation of Src and its downstream target proteins focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin (PAX), which are implicated in promoting tumor cell growth, migration, and invasion. Using a chicken chorioallantoic membrane in vivo assay, we demonstrate that 500 nM 3c blocks cancer cell invasion of the basement membrane and reduces angiogenesis. In conclusion, we present a mechanism of action for 3c whereby targeting the hemopexin domain results in decreased cancer cell migration through simultaneous disruption of α4β1 integrin and EGFR signaling pathways, thereby preventing signaling bypass. Targeting through the hemopexin-like domain is a powerful approach to antimetastatic drug development.
A second contender for "world's smallest fly" (Diptera: Phoridae).

Background Flies of the family Phoridae (Insecta: Diptera) are amongst the most diverse insects in the world, with an incredible array of species, structures and life histories. Wiithin their structural diversity is the world's smallest fly, Euryplatea nanaknihali Brown, 2012. New information A second minute, limuloid female phorid parasitoid fly (Diptera: Phoridae) is described. Known from a single specimen from a site near Manaus, Brazil, Megapropodiphora arnoldigen. n., sp. n. is only 0.395 mm in body length, slightly smaller than the currently recognised smallest fly, Euryplatea nanaknihali from Thailand. The distinctive body shape of M. arnoldi, particularly the relatively enormous head, mesothorax and scutellum, the latter of which covers most of the abdomen, easily separates it from other described phorids. Most remarkably, the forelegs are extremely enlarged, whereas mid- and hind legs are reduced to small, possibly vestigial remnants. A possible male specimen, unfortunately destroyed during processing, is briefly described.
Suicide in Schizophrenia: Clinical Approaches

As part of the current trend in suicide research to focus on specific high-risk groups (1), we have been studying suicide in schizophrenia (2–7). In addition to reviewing the literature (2), we have identified risk factors (3–5), considered the influence of depression and hopelessness (6), and examined the differences between attempters and completed suicides (7). This work, along with that of Roy (8) and others (9–15), enables us to identify high-risk patients rather than to predict specific suicides (16).
Health, Healing, and Plato's Ethics

Soulevant la question que devons-nous faire? dans le domaine de la philosophie morale grecque, l'A. mesure le role du caractere et du desir dans l'ethique platonicienne orientee vers le bien de l'agent. Soulignant la primaute de l'analogie medicale avec la sante, l'A. met en avant la pertinence de la psychologie morale de Platon pour la theorie moderne de l'action.
Inward and Outward Currents and Cardiac Discontinuous Conduction

In the normal heart, most of the individual cardiac cells are well coupled to adjacent cells through gap junctions. Because of this, the myocardium is referred to as an electrical syncytium such that excitation occurring at any location is able to spread throughout all parts of the heart which are not refractory to stimulation. The process of action potential propagation in the heart has generally been considered as a multi-dimensional analog of the continuous one-dimensional propagation observed in unmyelinated nerve fibers.
Topological and non-Hermitian effects in photonic structures (Conference Presentation)

We discuss some of our recent works in exploring topological and non-Hermitian effects in photonic structures. Specifically, we discuss the existence of topological structures in scattering matrix. We also show that the band structure of a photonic crystal slab can be designed to achieve optical differentiation.
Associations Among Sleep Latency, Subjective Pain, and Thermal Pain Sensitivity in Gynecologic Cancer

Objective Pain is common among women with gynecologic cancer and contributes to depressed mood, sleep disturbances, and likelihood of future chronic pain. Little is known about how psychosocial factors are associated with central sensitization of pain in gynecologic cancer. This study examined relations among depressive symptoms, sleep, subjective pain, and aftersensation pain (a proxy for central sensitization of pain) in gynecologic cancer. Methods Participants were 42 women (mean age [SD] = 59.60 [10.11] years) enrolled in a randomized clinical trial examining psychological intervention effects on sleep, pain, mood, and stress hormones/cytokines in gynecologic cancer. Six to eight weeks after surgery, participants completed an assessment of depressive symptoms, sleep, and subjective pain and a temporal summation of pain protocol via quantitative sensory testing (QST). Results Controlling for recent chemotherapy, history of chronic pain, and analgesic medication use, regression analyses revealed that longer sleep onset latency (SOL; B = 3.112, P = 0.039, bias-corrected and accelerated (BCa) 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.371 to 6.014) and greater sensory pain (B = 0.695, P = 0.023, BCa 95% CI = 0.085 to 1.210) were associated with greater aftersensation pain at 15 seconds. Greater sensory pain scores were associated with greater aftersensation pain at 30 seconds (B = 0.286, P = 0.045, BCa 95% CI = 0.008 to 0.513). Depression was not associated with aftersensation pain. The overall models accounted for 44.5% and 40.4% of the variance in aftersensation pain at 15 and 30 seconds, respectively. Conclusions. Longer SOL and higher subjective sensory pain were related to greater aftersensation of experimentally induced pain in women postsurgery for gynecologic cancers. Interventions that improve sleep and subjective sensory pain during the perisurgical period may reduce risk for central sensitization of pain.
Metric Measurement and Instructional Television.

Located in the corner of a dimly lit room, television suffers from none of the distracting influences that usually pervade the classroom. All eyes are focused on the set where the screen image is carefully structured and controlled. With distractions removed and the television camera focused precisely on what the student is to learn, the impact of the televised presentation is limited only by production design, creativity, and budget.