cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scattering losses from dielectric apertures in vertical-cavity lasers

In vertical-cavity lasers (VCLs) employing oxide or airgap apertures, the lasing mode typically travels unguided throughout most of the structure. For the aperture to exactly compensate for the diffraction of the mode in these regions, it would need to have a parabolic lateral index profile (i.e. that of an ideal thin lens). Although nonparabolic aperture shapes will partially compensate diffraction losses, some light will be scattered out of the mode. These scattering losses increase as the aperture size is reduced and will limit the performance of the smallest devices. We analyze these losses first using a semianalytic approach which allows us to frame the problem in terms of two parameters of the structure: the Fresnel number and the effective optical path length across the aperture. We compare the estimate with experimental results and with an iterative numerical calculation of the actual mode and losses. Lastly, we compare the loss reduction with different amounts of tapering that provide a better approximation to the ideal parabolic lens.
Adjuvant Drug Treatment for Resectable Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common life-threatening malignancy in Western women and the second most common cause of cancer-related death. A paradox in the care of patients with breast cancer is the observation that the majority appear to be curable at the time of initial surgery, yet a large number later experience relapse followed by death from disease. To combat this problem, systemic drug therapy in conjunction with surgery and radiation therapy is now standard for many patient subgroups. Standard medical treatment options include up to five years of tamoxifen for receptor positive amenorrheic patients, approximately six months of combination chemotherapy for younger patients and those who are receptor negative, and both in some patient subgroups. These interventions have a profound public health impact even though the majority of patients destined to recur do so even following "optimal" treatment. Further improvements are hoped for as a result of ongoing research involving the use of high-dose chemotherapy, dose-dense chemotherapy, and newer agents. Clinical trials testing these approaches offer the best chance to continue our progress and help to better define appropriate and standard treatment strategies for the future.
Methods of Testing Urethral Resistance in the Female Rat

Development of an animal model of stress urinary incontinence is dependent on a measure of urethral resistance, such as leak point pressure (LPP). However, animals will not cough or perform Valsalva maneuvers upon request. The aim of this study was to use urodynamics to compare bladder pressures during spontaneous voids (SV), anesthetized LPP measurement, and induced sneezing in female rats.
The Evolution of Sexual Pleasure

Abstract Sexual pleasure is an innate component of human sexuality. Although disdained throughout history by religious groups and variably explained by theories, philosophers, and societies, sexual pleasure permeates human experience. Traditional evolutionists explain this preoccupation via the development of sexual mating strategies and the human desire to propagate one's genes; however, here I will argue that the saturation of sexual pleasure suggests that sexual activity is no longer pursued solely to ensure reproductive success. Rather, humans engage in sexual behavior to achieve sexual pleasure—a proposition supported by widespread non-procreative sex in mammals, divergent cultural norms, and humans' evolved capacity to experience heightened sexual pleasure. I will address the nature and evolution of sexual pleasure with a cross-cultural findings culled from ethology, anthropology, primatology, and evolutionary theories.
The Path to Economically Viable Foreign Protein Co-Products of Oilseeds

Publisher Summary Biotechnology would play a fundamental role in implementing societal objectives, such as supplementing the U.S. and world energy supplies with soybean oil as a primary feedstock for biodiesel fuel. However, engineering soybean to produce more oil might not be sustainable unless value also is added to soybean co-products like soybean meal. A successful strategy for adding more value to soybean meal must consider the impact that more specialized high-value industrial protein products might exert upon critical applications such as commodity scale uses of soybean for feed and food. While the natural intrinsic characteristics of soybean protein already have significant value as a co-product, the strength of those advantages may be amplified through precise changes in the composition of soybean seed protein. This chapter discusses the need to understand the fundamental aspects of soybean molecular biology in efforts to reconstruct the protein composition in soybean seed and to translate this biology into useful tools for genetic engineering of novel beneficial traits in seeds.
Abstract 324: The Apolipoprotein A-IV T347S Polymorphism is Associated with Severe Hepatic Steatosis in Obese Subjects Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

Background: We recently reported that hepatic apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) gene expression is increased in mouse models of steatosis and is positively correlated with liver triglyceride (TG) content. The most common human apoA-IV polymorphism T347S (rs675) decreases its lipid affinity and is associated with increased adiposity in population studies. Hypothesis: 347S allele carriers will exhibit increased hepatic TG content in conditions predisposing to hepatic steatosis. Methods: We examined the impact of the 347S allele on liver TG content in a cohort of very obese humans. Total hepatic mRNA was extracted from snap frozen tissue obtained from 40 obese subjects (11 male, 29 female) at the time of bariatric surgery. ApoA-IV abundance was quantitated by RT-PCR; copy numbers were normalized to GAPDH. Presence of the T347S polymorphism and the next most common apoA-IV allele, S127N (rs5104), was determined by cDNA sequencing. Liver total TG was measured in solvent extracts by GLC and normalized as mg TG/g protein. Results: Mean BMI in the cohort was 43.8 ± 1.5 kg/m2; T347S allele frequency was 0.38 and S127N allele frequency was 0.23; 16/40 (40%) had severe steatosis (hepatic TG content > 400 mg TG/g protein). There was no difference in total hepatic apoA-IV mRNA abundance among carriers of the wild type and variant alleles; mean liver TG content was highest in subjects carrying a 347S allele; a significantly higher percentage of subjects carrying a 347S allele, but not a 127N allele, had severe steatosis (P=0.024). Conclusions: These data establish that the apoA-IV 347S allele is associated with severe hepatic steatosis in a cohort of obese subjects, and suggest that apoA-IV genotype plays a role in hepatic lipid metabolism. As apoA-IV facilitates hepatic TG export by enabling secretion of larger VLDL particles, the impact of the 347S allele on hepatic TG content in the absence of altered gene expression suggests that its reduced lipid affinity may impair VLDL particle expansion. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Introduction to Streaming Data Analytics and Applications Minitrack

Both academia and organizations show great interest in streaming big data analytics - the process of extracting knowledge structures from continuous, high volume and high velocity continuous flow of data in a myriad of formats from a variety of real-time data sources. The challenge for organizations lies in being able to transform this deluge of data into instantaneous intelligence that can enable faster and better decisions. This mini-track contains three papers relevant to streaming data analytics and applications.
The Influence of External Temperature on the Hive Temperatures During the Summer

The purpose of this experiment was to study the variations in temperature occurring within different regions of a hive during summer and to explain if possible to what the variation is due.
Where is herod's tomb at herodium?

Although scholars accept Josephus's testimony that Herod the Great was buried at Herodium, his tomb has never been found. The absence of fine wares dating to the first century C. E. indicates that Upper Herodium ceased to function as a palace after Herod's death and supports the view that he was buried inside the mountain.
MicroRNA 211 Functions as a Metabolic Switch in Human Melanoma Cells

MicroRNA 211 (miR-211) negatively regulates genes that drive invasion of metastatic melanoma. Compared to normal human melanocytes, miR-211 expression is significantly reduced or absent in nonpigmented melanoma cells and lost during human melanoma progression. To investigate the molecular mechanism of its tumor suppressor function, miR-211 was ectopically expressed in nonpigmented melanoma cells. Ectopic expression of miR-211 reduced hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) protein levels and decreased cell growth during hypoxia. HIF-1α protein loss was correlated with the downregulation of a miR-211 target gene, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4). We present evidence that resumption of miR-211-mediated downregulation of PDK4 in melanoma cells causes inhibition of invasion by nonpigmented melanomas via HIF-1α protein destabilization. Thus, the tumor suppressor miR-211 acts as a metabolic switch, and its loss is expected to promote cancer hallmarks in human melanomas. Melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer, kills nearly 10,000 people in the United States per year. We had previously shown that a small noncoding RNA, termed miR-211, suppresses invasion and the growth of aggressive melanoma cells. The results presented here support the hypothesis that miR-211 loss in melanoma cells causes abnormal regulation of energy metabolism, which in turn allows cancer cells to survive under low oxygen concentrations-a condition that generally kills normal cells. These findings highlight a novel mechanism of melanoma formation: miR-211 is a molecular switch that is turned off in melanoma cells, raising the hope that in the future we might be able to turn the switch back on, thus providing a better treatment option for melanoma.
Influences of control modes of variable-speed and constant-frequency doubly-fed generators in wind farms on voltage stability of power gird and its solutions

According to the parameters from a real grid,the voltage stability of the grid affected by connected wind farms which are composed of variable-speed constant-frequent(VSCF) wind power generators was analyzed,and voltage stability levels in different control modes were compared.Simulation results show that VSCF control modes in constant-voltage has a great advantage over that in constant-frequent ones in maintaining voltage stability of the grid,because it is able to control the voltage of wind power generators.Besides,static var compensation(SVC) can rapidly provide a reactive power support,so wind power generators in constant-power control mode are equipped with SVC in order to raise the transient voltage level.
Detection and analysis of CK-MB level in serum of children with congenital heart disease

Objective To observe change in CK-MB level in serum of children with congenital heart disease.Methods The CK-MB level in serum of children with congenital heart disease and healthy children was detected and analyzed by statistics.Results ①Compared with the control group,CK-MB level was higher in the congenital heart disease group(48.05±15.83 vs 27.56±21.34);②Compared with non-heart failure group,CK-MB level was higher in the heart failure subgroup(57.55±13.35 vs 39.83±15.74);③Compared with non-cyanosis subgroup,CK-MB level was higher in the cyanosis subgroup(62.28±16.36 vs 41.28±12.78).All the differences were significant.Conclusion The cardiac muscle damages may exist in children with congenital heart disease,and heart failure and hypoxia can aggravate the damages.
Based on the System Changes from the Perspective of China's Agricultural Modernization(Year1912-1937)

In 1912-1937,in order to address the decline of agriculture in modern times the previous government,slow economic growth in the grim situation,from the legislative and agricultural affairs,agriculture survey,village governance,rural taxation,agriculture and finance to actively promote the agricultural system reform,there is establishment of an attempt to promote the growth of modern agricultural production system,but because of specific historical reasons,the apparent lack of effectiveness.
On farm monitoring of the impact of water system sanitation on microbial levels in broiler house water supplies

SUMMARY An evaluation of poultry farm water supplies was conducted to determine the impact of broiler farm daily water system sanitation practices on microbial levels. The water systems of 4 commercial poultry barns were sanitized daily with 0.5 to one ppm of free chlorine (Cl) residual, which resulted in an Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) value of ≥ 600 mV at the beginning of the waterlines. Prior to the trial, waterlines were cleaned between flocks with a concentrated chlorine based disinfectant with greater than 1,000 ppm of free Cl. Waterline drip samples were collected from the nipple drinkers throughout the bird grow-out period in order to determine the microbial levels including the aerobic plate counts (APC), yeast, and mold in the water from all 4 barns for 3 consecutive flocks. This evaluation showed that water systems are vulnerable to microbial contamination regardless of consistent water sanitation. Microbial growths (> 4 log10 cfu/mL APC) were detected in water samples at different periods throughout the flock grow-out period. However, daily water sanitation practices helped to control the persistence of occasional microbial growth in water and kept the drinking water at a microbiologically safe level (
Construction with physical version of quad-edge data structures

In this work, we demonstrate that quad-edge mesh data structure can efficiently be used to construct large shapes. We have developed a system to unfold any polygonal mesh based on quad-edge structure. Using our system, any shape can be constructed by using laser-cut developable panels. This approach is particularly suitable to construct complicated sculptural and architectural shapes from anisotropic materials that can only be bent in one direction. Graphical abstractDisplay Omitted HighlightsWe have classified multi-panel unfolding and construction methods.For classification, we employed widely used polygonal mesh data structures.We have implemented each one of these multi-panel unfolding methods for comparison.We have identified quad-edge based construction is best for our purposes.We have constructed physical shapes to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach.Our software is used in a Freshman Architecture studio.
DeSTIN: A Scalable Deep Learning Architecture with Application to High-Dimensional Robust Pattern Recognition

The topic of deep learning systems has received significant attention during the past few years, particularly as a biologically-inspired approach to processing highdimensional signals. The latter often involve spatiotemporal information that may span large scales, rendering its representation in the general case highly challenging. Deep learning networks attempt to overcome this challenge by means of a hierarchical architecture that is comprised of common circuits with similar (and often cortically influenced) functionality. The goal of such systems is to represent sensory observations in a manner that will later facilitate robust pattern classification, mimicking a key attribute of the mammal brain. This stands in contrast with the mainstream approach of pre-processing the data so as to reduce its dimensionality — a paradigm that often results in sub-optimal performance. This paper presents a Deep SpatioTemporal Inference Network (DeSTIN) — a scalable deep learning architecture that relies on a combination of unsupervised learning and Bayesian inference. Dynamic pattern learning forms an inherent way of capturing complex spatiotemporal dependencies. Simulation results demonstrate the core capabilities of the proposed framework, particularly in the context of high-dimensional signal classification.
Stress and Addiction

This chapter focuses on the accumulating evidence from preclinical, clinical and population studies that highly stressful situations and chronic stress increases addiction vulnerability, facilitating continued drug use and abuse and ultimately chronicity of addiction severity and relapse risk. Humans have long been known to use drugs and rewarding behaviors to modulate distress and emotions. Stress, trauma and negative emotional states challenge the individual to modulate and regulate these states. Stress can be mild/moderate in duration, or severe and extreme and these gradations in intensity contribute to the type of adaptation or coping behaviors that an individual may select to reduce the stress state. There is growing evidence that high uncontrollable stress alters activity of the prefrontal and other cortical brain regions that coordinate higher cognitive or executive control functions. Both early life stress and chronic stress are also known to significantly affect the mesolimbic dopamine pathways and play a role in drug self-administration.
Heavy Metal-Regulated Gene Expression

Toxic heavy metals (e.g., lead) are an important category of carcinogens as well as environmental neurotoxicants showing a significant developmental neurotoxicity in pediatric populations. Evidence from numerous epidemiologic studies, animal studies, and cell culture studies demonstrates that heavy metal lead can alter cell signaling by direct regulation of gene expression through transcription factors (e.g., Sp1) or indirect regulation of gene expression through protein kinase C (PKC), copper homeostasis, and molecular chaperone (e.g., 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78)), leading to alteration (e.g., delayed or precocious) of developmental progress in the nervous system. The alteration contributes to decline of neurophysiological performance in children and onset of neurologic disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, in the late life. Since different brain cells including neurons, oligodendroglia, and astroglia have differential expression patterns of lead molecular targets, they have cell type-specific responses to heavy metal lead. Meanwhile, based on development of blood–brain barrier and cytoarchitecture of the nervous system, lead exerts its neurotoxicity by targeting different brain cells during different stages of development. Although lead-induced gene expression plays an important role in alterations of the nervous system development, which is highly linked to impaired neurophysiological performance and neurologic disorders, mechanisms need to be finely defined. It is extremely important to accurately determine the intracellular concentration of free lead ions in cell cultures and cell type-specific lead levels in animals when lead-induced gene expression is correlated to dosage.
Panniculectomy: Tips and Tricks to Maximize Outcomes

Obese patients with the presence of a large abdominal pannus often suffer from wound healing complications after undergoing ventral hernia repair. However, concomitant panniculectomy can result in fewer major wound complications and improve surgical exposure during repair when performed in the appropriate patient and with proper technique. [1, 2] After reading this chapter, the readers should be able to select appropriate patients for concomitant panniculectomy, understand the benefits of simultaneous panniculectomy, and understand how to perform the panniculectomy safely to optimize surgical outcomes.
Cyber-physical flexible wing for aeroelastic investigations of stall and classical flutter

Abstract The fluid–structure interactions of a finite aspect ratio, cantilevered, flexible wing were investigated using a cyber-physical system to virtually augment the torsional dynamics of the wing. Cyber-physical systems (CPS), which have recently been pursued by a small number of research groups, have proven to be a very useful mechanism to interrogate the fluid–structure interaction parameter space. The premise of a CPS is to use dynamic feedback control to make a system behave according to desired equations of motion. Systems are composed of embedded hardware and software coupled with real-time computing to give the user the flexibility to quickly explore a range of structural parameters. With the advancement of modern control theory, robotics and embedded systems, CPSs integrate both simulation and physical properties into a smart structure which can be used to push the boundaries of research investigations. The CPS in this work allows for the investigation of dynamic aeroelastic instabilities of a three-dimensional, flexible, rectangular planform wing. Two dynamic instability regimes are observed: first, stall flutter, in which the torsional or pitch mode is excited through the dynamic stall process, and second, coupled (or classical) flutter, in which the pitch mode couples with the bending mode. By varying the torsional stiffness and therefore the frequency of torsional versus bending oscillations of the wing, both of these regimes can be attained at the same aerodynamic conditions using the CPS.
Abstract 178: Byvalson Fixed-Dose Combination for the Treatment of Hypertension: A Comprehensive Review

Purpose: Byvalson (nebivolol and valsartan), FDA approved in June 2016 for the treatment of hypertension, is the first combination beta blocker and ARB fixed-dose combination medication available. ...
Dimensionality reduction using superpixel segmentation for hyperspectral unmixing using the cNMF

This paper presents an approach to reduce dimensionality for hyperspectral unmixing using superpixel segmentation. The dimensionality reduction is achieved by over-segmenting the hyperspectral image using superpixels that are used as a reduced subset of representative pixels for the full hyperspectral image. Once superpixel are extracted, endmember extraction methods are applied to the reduced spectral data set with clear computational advantages. The proposed method is illustrated on the AVIRIS image captured over Fort AP Hill, Virginia. A comparison of the method with standard unmixing techniques is also included.
Calcium Imaging in the Emergency Department: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

The triage of patients with acute chest pain is a clinical challenge encountered by physicians on a daily basis. It is also a logistic challenge, associated with long periods of observation and monitoring, contributes to overcrowding of emergency rooms, and is associated with substantial cost. Coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography has long been considered a means to improve diagnostic uncertainty and alleviate the logistic burden in the triage of acute chest pain. During the past decade, a series of randomized clinical trials have tested the value of cardiac CT for patients with low–intermediate risk chest complaints and demonstrated that in comparison with standard care or specific other diagnostic tests, CT angiography is equally safe but can permit substantially earlier hospital discharge.1–7 Although CT angiography has an excellent negative predictive value, there is a reciprocal tendency to overestimate the angiographic and hemodynamic severity of coronary artery disease, particularly in patients with high calcium scores. Consequently, CT is associated with more diagnostic and therapeutic invasive procedures,8 blunting the potential for cost saving. Based on these observations, the question emerges whether CT angiography is equally effective in patients with a high atherosclerotic burden and whether the test should perhaps be avoided in patients with extensive coronary calcification. See Article by Bittner et al In this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging , Bittner et al9 combined data from the ACRIN-PA-4005 (American College of Radiology Imaging Network, Pennsylvania Department of Health-4005) and the ROMICAT-II (Rule Out Myocardial Ischemia/Infarction Using Computer Assisted Tomography-II) trials,2,3 to investigate the association between the …
Rates and Risk Factors for Opioid Dependence and Overdose after Urological Surgery

Purpose: Effective pain management is a critical component of the perioperative process with opioids representing a mainstay of therapy. The opioid epidemic is a growing concern in the United States. The goal of this study was to quantify the risk of opioid dependence or overdose among patients undergoing urological surgery and to identify risk factors of opioid dependence or overdose.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data on urological surgery from 2007 to 2011. Data sources included the HCUP (Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project) inpatient, ambulatory surgery and emergency department data sets. Outcomes of postoperative opioid dependence and overdose were identified by previously validated ICD-9 codes. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for surgical procedure was performed to identify predictors of opioid dependence or overdose following urological surgery.Results: Overall 675,527 patients underwent urological surgery, of whom 0.09% were diagnosed with opioid dependence or ov...
Integrating Disability: Boomerang Effects when using Positive Media Exemplars to Reduce Disability Prejudice

AbstractIndividuals with disabilities comprise the largest minority group in the world, yet they are the most underrepresented minority group in higher education, the job market and entertainment media such as literature. This population is often underrepresented because of the overlapping physical, attitudinal and policy barriers that prevent them from participating fully in society. Despite their large numbers, individuals with disabilities not only encounter personalised prejudice, but also experience institutionalised prejudice. In an effort to reduce negative attitudes toward individuals with disabilities, this study examined the effects of positive disability exemplars on people’s attitudes. A comparison between implicit and explicit measures of prejudice found that implicit bias of able-bodied students was more entrenched than explicit biases.
Do they, don't they, or why haven't they?. Contraceptive use patterns among inner-city sexually active female adolescents

Background: Female adolescents frequently practice unprotected vaginal intercourse leading to nearly 1 million unintended pregnancies and 3 million sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) a year. Qualitative reasons for three contraceptive use patterns were explored. Contraceptive use patterns were quantified and correlated with gynecologic history.Methods: A total of 146 predominantly non-white (81%) sexually active female adolescents with a mean age of 17.2 +/- 1.9 years (13-21 years), completed a 45-minute self-administered, computerized questionnaire as part of a larger project. The questionnaire assessed sexual, contraceptive, gynecologic and obstetric history. Nearly a third (32%) had ever been pregnant and 32% had ever had a STD. Subjects were asked to describe their contraceptive use patterns for condoms, pills, and Depo-Provera as either "never used," "have used, but stopped," or "used before and am still using." Adolescents typed in their qualitative reasons for never using, stopping, or still using each of the three methods of contraception.Results:None of the three condom use patterns were significantly correlated with ever having a STD or being pregnant. Of those who had ever been pregnant, 70% had stopped using Depo-Provera as compared to 38% who were still using Depo-Provera, p < 0.02; 47% had stopped using pills as compared to 25% who were still using pills, p = 0.04; 47% had stopped using pills as compared to 22% who had never used pills, p < 0.01. "Using another contraceptive" was the reason why one-third of subjects never used condoms. The most common reasons for never using pills were "on Depo-Provera," "would forget," and not liking to take pills. Reasons for never using Depo-Provera included using another contraceptive, not liking shots and "might make me fat." The top four reasons for discontinuing condom use were being in a trusting, monogamous relationship, using another form of contraception, abstinence, and "don't like the way condoms feel." Two of the main reasons for stopping pills and Depo-Provera were weight gain and altered menses. However, those subjects who stopped taking the pill reported "kept forgetting" and "they made me sick" as other reasons for stopping. "Prevent pregnancy" was by far the most common reason for still using pills and Depo-Provera, while for condoms "prevent STDs" was cited with equal frequency to "prevent pregnancy." Having regular or no periods were frequent reasons for ongoing use of pills and Depo-Provera, respectively. Depo-Provera users also reported "don't have to worry about missing a pill" as a major reason for continuing use.Conclusions: Understanding the reasons why adolescents never use, stop using, or continue to use a particular method of contraception may provide a focus for more effective counseling.
Standards and methods of power control for variable power bidirectional wireless power transfer

Unmanned and autonomous systems are used extensively for Navy missions. While most of these systems are able to operate without human interaction, limitations in power capacity place a fundamental limit on overall system autonomy. Inductive wireless power transfer provides an effective way to enhance unmanned systems (vehicles, sensors, etc.). This report examines different methods for efficiently controlling power modulation and determining which side, transmitter or receiver, commands power needs. The need for charging a wide array of systems and bidirectional power capabilities are considered, which point toward a need of underwater wireless power standards, a framework of which is proposed.
Neurotrophins promote bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) to express neural proteins in vitro

103 We tested the hypothesis that MSCs cultured in an environment containing neurotrophins promotes the expression of neural proteins. The effect of neurotrophins (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF; nerve growth factor, NGF) and the detection of corresponding receptors (TrkA-NGF, TrkB-BDNF) on the MSCs were investigated. MSCs were cultured in regular medium, i.e. Iscove s Modified Dulbecco s medium (IMDM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), and then isolated by their adherence to the plastic dishes from non-adherent hematopoietic cells at 72 h of incubation. Subsequently, the cells were cultured for 2 weeks under the following conditions: (A) regular medium, (B) regular medium + BDNF (100ng/ml), (C) regular medium + BDNF (100ng/ml) + NGF (100ng/ml ), or (D) regular medium + BDNF (100ng/ml ) + NFG (100ng/ml) + bFGF (10ng/ml). Using immunoflurescence staining, MSCs widely expressed TrkA and TrkB (the receptors of NGF and BDNF) in the medium (A). Medium (B) and (C) induced an increase of total number of cells (116%) derived from MSCs at 12 days, however, this did not reach statistical significance (P>0.05). Medium (D) significantly promoted the proliferation of MSCs (P
Stimulation of diuresis and natriuresis by renomedullary infusion of a dual inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase and monoacylglycerol lipase.

The renal medulla, considered critical for the regulation of salt and water balance and long-term blood pressure control, is enriched in anandamide and two of its major metabolizing enzymes, cycloo...
Chief Concern: "I'm Worried I Have Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy".

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy has recently been the focus of extensive attention. This commentary addresses diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and financial compensation for patients with a histo...
Potentials for Photoelectric Grading Equipment

During the 1971–72 season, certified citrus shipments from Florida totaled 30 million boxes 1/ of fresh fruit and 162 million boxes of fruit in processed form (2)*. Grading of citrus in Florida packinghouses and processing plants requires a large amount of hand labor, at a cost estimated to be in excess of 4. 6 million dollars annually.Paper published with permission.Compilation Copyright © 2018 ASME
Bringing Biophotonics to Dermatology Patients: Experiences of a New Cutaneous Imaging Clinic

We explore challenges and opportunities for clinical implementation of optical technologies in dermatology. Examples include a confocal diagnostic service and cross-polarized 3D photography to train neural networks for assessments following stem cell transplantation.
Early Cytoplasmic Signals and Cytoskeletal Responses Initiated by Growth Factors in Cultured Cells

Growth factors activate quiescent cells in a stimulus-response coupling process that is initiated by binding the growth factor to its receptor on the cell surface (see Carpenter, 1984). The ultimate result of such activation is DNA synthesis and cell division (mitogenesis). However, such activated cells exhibit a host of earlier responses, some of which begin seconds poststimulation. These “early” cellular responses to growth factors include endocytosis, changes in the cytoskeleton, cell motility, phospholipid turnover, Na+/H+ exchanger activation, fluxes of a variety of ions, calcium transients, protein synthesis, changes in cyclic nucleotide levels, phosphorylation of specific proteins, and gene transcription. The connection, if any, of these early cellular responses with the later DNA synthetic response is obscure at present.
Understanding Hepatitis C

There are at least 4 million cases of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the United States (overall prevalence 1.8%, with many of these patients unaware of their infection) and 170 million worldwide. The consequences of this virus account for 10,000 deaths every year in the United States. HCV is the primary reason for liver transplantation in this country. Most new cases are now acquired through the use of illegal injection drugs (68%) or potentially sexual transmission (18%). Although the incidence of HCV infection has dropped sharply since the early 1990s because of improved blood-supply screening, the infections that were acquired from the 1960s to the 1980s are likely to dramatically increase the morbidity, mortality, and costs of HCV disease over the next 2 decades. A proportion of these individuals with long-term HCV infection will develop cirrhosis, decompensated liver disease, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These increases in HCV-related end-stage liver disease and HCC will have significant implications for clinicians and pharmacists in managed care settings. This article reviews the virology, serology, epidemiology, natural history, and the current and projected future disease burden of HCV in the United States.
Sequence, Expression and Function of an mRNA Encoding a Soluble Form of the Human Interleukin-6 Receptor (sIL-6R)

Hematopoietic growth factor receptors, in general, are integral membrane proteins composed of an extracellular ligand-binding domain, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular signal-transducing domain. Soluble receptors that lack the transmembrane domain have been shown to be potent immunomodulators of their respective ligands [1–6]. Since IL-6 has been shown to be a central growth factor for myeloma cells [7], an sIL-6R may modulate myeloma cell growth. A novel IL-6R mRNA was isolated from human myeloma cells that exhibits a deletion of the entire transmembrane domain [8]. The corresponding cDNA was sequenced, expressed in fibroblasts, and the functional activity of the protein product was determined using an IL-6 dependent cell line.
Overview: rational basis for development of fluoropyrimidine/5-formyltetrahydrofolate combination chemotherapy.

Fluorodeoxyuridylate (FdUMP) and thymidylate synthase (TS) are one of the better understood systems of drug-target interaction in cancer chemotherapy. Isolation and characterization of TS (initially from Lactobacillus casei and later from a variety of other sources), cloning and sequencing of the gene, determination of the 3-D structure of the enzyme by X-ray diffraction, and elucidation of the structure of both the catalytic intermediate and the enzyme-inhibitor complex have revealed critical parameters of the target at the molecular level. Potentiation of FdUMP binding by 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (CH2-FH4), discovered at the enzymatic level, has been exploited to increase the clinical effectiveness of fluoropyrimidines. CH2-FH4 can be generated from folate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, or 5-formyltetrahydrofolate (citrovorum factor, CF); the latter is the compound of choice for therapeutic regimens. Transformation of CF to CH2-FH4 can occur via two pathways: (a) CF → 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate → CH2-FH4; or (b) CF → tetrahydrofolate → CH2-FH4. The relative importance of these pathways in various cells is not yet clear. The role of CH2-FH4 in FdUMP toxicity, and its central position in folate coenzyme-dependent C1 metabolism, emphasize the need for development of methods to quantitate intracellular levels of this compound.
Rising like a glorious turkey from the ashes of burnout

One day likely I will write a column full of energetic joy and bursting with optimism. This is not that day, not that column. The adrenaline-fueled nonstop pace of the past year is behind me, and i...
Analysis and evaluation of a distributed optimal load coordination algorithm for frequency control

Abstract The Distributed Gradient Projection (DGP) algorithm was proposed in prior work to allow loads to provide contingency service to the grid using local noisy frequency measurements by varying their demand. Convergence of DGP was established in prior work for a decaying step size. In this paper we modify the algorithm to using a constant step size—constant step size being much more useful for practical implementation. We provide a convergence analysis of the modified algorithm, which we call DGP-C (DGP with Constant step size) and perform extensive simulations in the IEEE 39-bus test system. These studies (i) demonstrate that the DGP-C algorithm is robust to several assumptions made in the analysis and (ii) reveal which factors among the many tested (measurement noise, loads’ response time, etc.) have significant effect on the algorithm's performance.
Abstract #LB-87: Determinants of 15-F2t-IsoP and its metabolite 15-F2t-IsoP-M in middle age women: Results from the Shanghai Women Health Study

Objective: Evidence suggests urinary F 2 -isoprostanes (mainly 15-F 2t -Isop), secondary end products of lipid peroxidation, are more accurate markers of oxidative stress than other available biomarkers. However, unmetabolized 15-F 2t -Isop may be affected by the local renal isoprostane production. After \#946;-oxidation, 15-F 2t -Isop converts to 2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-15-F 2t -Isop (15-F 2t -IsopM), a metabolite not subject to autoxidation and renal production. Previous studies have seldom considered 15-F 2t -IsopM, and most have used immunoassays to measure 15-F 2t -Isop. We recently found that the correlation between urinary 15-F 2t -Isop and 15-F 2t -IsopM was moderate, and that 15-F 2t -IsopM was a more sensitive biomarker than 15-F 2t -Isop in association with breast cancer. No study has yet investigated the determinants of urinary concentrations of 15-F 2t -IsopM. Methodology: Urinary levels of 15-F 2t -Isop and 15-F 2t -IsopM were measured by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for 845 healthy women, participants of a population-based cohort study of 74,942 Chinese women between 40 and 70 years of age. By comparing the multivariate adjusted geometric means, we evaluated the associations of 15-F 2t -IsopM and 15-F 2t -Isop levels with potential oxidative stress-related lifestyle, reproductive and dietary factors. Results: Both 15-F 2t -Isop and 15-F 2t -IsopM were elevated among smokers. The level of 15-F 2t -IsopM increased with increasing age and body mass index (BMI) (P trend 2t -Isop increased with age (P trend 0.02), but not with BMI. Compared with premenopausal women, postmenopausal women had higher levels of both 15-F 2t -IsopM and 15-F 2t -Isop (P st live birth were associated with a decreased level of 15-F 2t -IsopM. Plasma levels of most antioxidants were inversely associated with levels of 15-F 2t -Isop (i.e., retinol and c is \#946;-carotene) or 15-F 2t -IsopM (i.e., carotenoids, especially cis \#946;-carotene, lycopene other than trans, 5-cis and 7-cis and cis \#946;-cryptoxanthin). However, levels of tocopherols ( \#946;- \#947; , \#948; ) were positively associated with 15-F 2t -IsopM (P trend \#8804;0.01 for both) regardless of menopausal status. Urinary excretion of polyphenol flavonols (quercetin and kaempferol) had strong positive associations with 15-F 2t -IsopM level, particularly among women who were postmenopausal, over-weight/obese or with history of chronic diseases (P for trend, Conclusion: Our results suggest that age, smoking, body size, reproductive factors, plasma antioxidants and urinary excretion of polyphenols are significant determinants of urinary excretion of the oxidative stress biomarkers, 15-F 2t -Isop and 15-F 2t -IsopM. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr LB-87.
Novel Immune Therapies in the Management of Streptococcal Sepsis and Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections.

Abstract Background: Group A streptococcal infections are a major cause of benign and deadly human infections with their most destructive manifestation taking the form of necrotizing soft tissue in...
Local Calibration of Antenna Arrays

We consider a local calibration method which does not assume any specific model for the mismatch between the true and assumed array manifolds. The method is based on updating an initial array manifold locally, in the neighborhood of directions in which signals have been observed. The algorithm can handle direction-dependent mismatch and makes use of signals of opportunity whose directions are either known or unknown. These signals are observed over multiple data collection periods.
The Ass I Kick Today May Be the Ass I’ll Have to Kiss Tomorrow: What’s Up with the Sacrifice of Women in the Films of Lars von Trier?

Should we refrain from watching the films of Lars von Trier as some critics, philosophers, feminists, and cultural theorists have suggested? Trier’s films and his public antics have certainly given his critics ground upon which to defend the claim that we should stop watching him. However, there are multiple depths that may be plumbed in order to understand that which his films have to offer. For instance, he may be sacrificing women for some sort of cheap thrill that may be experienced by himself and his audience; he may be deploying a kind of irony that seeks to make explicit the sacrificial treatment of woman as something written into Western cultural practices—a sordid practice that he believes ought to be stopped; he may be exorcising some of his own psychosexual demons; and he may be exploring the relationship between all these possibilities. This chapter seeks to clarify these possibilities through an examination of his trilogies and through an examination of his own public and private commentary about the issue.
Concomitant parasagittal meningioma and adjacent intracranial abscess of occult etiology.

Abstract Introduction Abscesses associated with tumors are a rare entity. Imaging to differentiate abscess from other entities is often non-diagnostic, and often the source of infection is unknown. We present an unusual case of peritumoral abscess infected with both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Methods A 70-year-old, previously healthy male presented with a 1-day history of right-sided facial weakness sparing the forehead, as well as concomitant right upper and lower extremity numbness. A homogenously enhancing mass with adjacent rim-enhancing lesion with diffusion restricting cavity seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) raised the possibility of abscess. Results Separate biopsy specimens of both the tumor and adjacent fluid collection during drainage of the collection confirmed World Health Organization (WHO) grade I meningioma and bacterial abscess containing Streptococcus constellatus, Fusobacterium species, Prevotella dentalis, and Parvimonas micra. The histologic diagnosis therefore confirmed the preoperative radiologic findings of two different but associated lesions. Investigations to determine a definitive source of infection were inconclusive, including urinalysis, blood cultures, respiratory cultures, endoscopy, and an orthopantomogram. Conclusions Gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria can both be culprits in the formation of peritumoral abscess. Although the source of infection is unconfirmed, the presence of oropharyngeal flora in the abscess suggests a subclinical odontogenic infection with hematogenous spread to the tumor and adjacent brain.
Far-field superresolution imaging using shaped acoustic vortices

The limitations on resolution due to the effects of diffraction have presented a significant barrier to generating and observing small features with acoustic or electromagnetic waves. Previously proposed methods to overcome this limit, and therefore achieve superresolution, have largely been restricted to operating within the near-field region of the aperture. In this work, we will describe how acoustic helicoidal waves generated using a phased acoustic aperture (such as a traditional phased array or acoustic metasurface) can create acoustic vortices that are well below the resolution limit, and how this can enable far-field superresolution acoustic imaging. The acoustic vortices generated in this manner propagate from the near-field into the far-field through an arrangement of stable integer mode vortices, thereby enabling the generation of far-field superresolved features in the acoustic pressure field. Through the use of non-axisymmetric vortex beam distributions, splitting of the on-axis vortex occurs. This leads to arbitrary off-axis arrangements of vortices, enabling more complicated superresolved structures to be created such as squares, triangles and multi-point stars. In this paper, theoretical and numerical results will be presented for an acoustic aperture which is capable of generating superresolved far-field features in the radiated acoustic pressure, and results will be shown illustrating the superresolution capability of this novel technique.
Some Remarks on the Geometry of a Class of Locally Conformally Flat Metrics

We prove that conformal metrics on domains of the round sphere, with non-negative constant Q-curvature, and non-negative scalar curvature, has positive mean curvature on the boundary of embedded balls (in the round metric). As a result, such metrics have certain reflection symmetries if the complement of the domain is contained in a lower-dimensional round sphere. We also prove that the development map of a locally conformally flat metric with non-positive Schouten tensor is an embedding.