cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Feasibility of gastric electrical stimulation by percutaneous endoscopic transgastric electrodes

Background Gastric electrical stimulation has been used for the treatment of drug refractory GI motility disorders and for the treatment of obesity. Both these indications have involved surgical placement of gastric electrodes, which adds to the complexity and cost of the procedure. Endoscopic placement is therefore an attractive alternative approach for this therapy. Objective Our purpose was to investigate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic electrodes for gastric electrical stimulation. Design and Setting Experimental animal study in hound dogs. Interventions Percutaneous endoscopic transgastric electrode (PETE) placement was carried out by using a pair of gastric pacing wires attached to a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube. In addition, 4 pairs of gastric serosal electrodes were implanted surgically for comparison. The efficacy of the percutaneous endoscopic electrodes was defined by their ability to entrain gastric slow waves and the induction of dysrhythmia. Results (1) The PETE recorded gastric slow waves comparable to the serosal electrodes. (2) Gastric electrical stimulation with long pulses delivered by the PETE, at a frequency of 10% higher than the intrinsic gastric slow wave frequency, entrained gastric slow waves. (3) Gastric electrical stimulation delivered by the PETE, at a tachygastric frequency, induced gastric dysrhythmia. Limitations This was an animal study; however, its results are expected to be reproducible in humans, with PETE kept in place for even a longer duration than 6 to 8 weeks. Conclusion PETE placement is both feasible and safe. PETEs are effective, having a potential for use in treatment of both gastroparesis and obesity.
Molecular Dynamics Study of the Effect of Polyamine on Microtubule Conformations

Microtubules (MTs) play important roles in cell division, intracellular protein transport, and cell structure and movement in eukaryotic cells. MTs are hollow supramolecular polymers made of alpha and beta tubulin heterodimers. Microtubule assembly in cells require a proper orientation of tubulin molecules to the MTs end. Experiments have shown that polyamines such as spermine can facilitate the diffusion of tubulin dimers in the process of nuclei growth or MT growth. The mechanism of this aggregation is the bridging interaction of polyamines with highly negative C-terminal tail of tubulin surface which helps tubulin together. Recent experiments also show that with a high concentration of spermine, bundles of taxol-stabilized MTs undergo a shape transformation to bundles of inverted tubulin tubules. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the transformation is unclear. We performed all atom molecular dynamics simulation of tubulin clusters in presence of spermine in an explicit water solvent to study the structural dynamics of alpha/beta tubulin and microtubule protofilament. We discuss our results on the interaction between spermine and tubulin proteins and the effect of spermine on conformational dynamics of MT protofilaments.
New opportunities for organ transplantation research: epigenetics is likely to be an important determinant of the host immune response

243 ISSN 1750-1911 10.2217/EPI.13.27 © 2013 Future Medicine Ltd Epigenomics (2013) 5(3), 243–246 “As histone modifications and DNA methylation signatures poise T cells for gene expression, it is possible that comprehensive profiling of these marks in blood samples will allow clinicians to predict the potential gene expression of patients in a way that would indicate their risk of developing rejection.”
Failure of memory (CD44 high) CD4 T cells to recognize their target antigen in retina

Abstract Activated T cells recognize Ag in the retina, an immune privileged tissue, and may mediate autoimmune disease. In contrast, this report asks if resting, Ag-specific CD4 + CD44 + T cells can recognize Ag expressed in the retina. As a probe for Ag, 3E9 T cells specific for an immunodominant epitope of β-galactosidase (β-gal) were transferred to transgenic (Tg) mice expressing β-gal in retinal photoreceptor cells, or to ROSA26 mice which express β-gal widely. The survival, phenotype, and responsiveness of transferred 3E9 T cells were unaffected by the presence of retinal β-gal, but altered by recognition of β-gal in the ROSA26 mice. Inoculation or induction of activated T cells with specificity for this epitope produced autoimmune uveoretinitis, showing that the retinal β-gal is expressed at immunologically significant levels. We conclude that sequestration provides a substantial barrier to recognition of Ag in quiet retina, and that insufficient Ag leaves the retina for detectable immune recognition outside of the retina.
Environment and prednisone interactions in the treatment of recurrent airway obstruction (heaves)

Summary Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) or heaves is a manifestation of a hypersensitivity to dust, moulds, and spores in the environment of a susceptible horse. Although in the majority of RAO-affected horses, clinical remission can be achieved by keeping horses at pasture to reduce their allergen exposure, this often is not practicable. For this reason, we investigated if changing the environment of a single stall in a 4 stall stable was sufficient to improve lung function and reduce inflammation in RAO-affected horses. In addition, we determined if addition of oral prednisone provided additional benefit. Twelve RAO-susceptible horses were stabled, fed hay, and bedded on straw until they developed airway obstruction. At this point, bedding was changed to wood shavings and they were fed a pelleted diet for 2 weeks. Lung function was measured and bronchoalveolar lavage was performed before and 3, 7, and 14 days after environmental modification. In a crossover design, horses were treated for the 14 days with prednisone tablets (2.2 mg/kg bwt, q. 24 h). Horses then returned to pasture for 30 days. Airway obstruction was greatest before environmental modification. Significant improvement in lung function occurred within 3 days of the change in environment and continued to Day 7. Airway function was best after 30 days at pasture. The clinical response achieved by environmental modification was not significantly improved by addition of oral prednisone. The total number of cells, total neutrophils, and percent neutrophils was greatest before environmental modification. In the absence of prednisone, total and percent neutrophils did not decrease until Day 14 and total cell number until 30 days at pasture. In the presence of prednisone, total cells and total and percent neutrophils decreased by Day 3 and again at pasture. The fact that lung function can be improved within 3 days by environmental management alone emphasises the need for allergen reduction as the cornerstone of treatment of RAO. Although prednisone induced a more rapid reduction in airway inflammation, this was not associated with a more rapid improvement in airway function.
Method for registration of 3-D shapes

This paper describes a general purpose, representation independent method for the accurate and computationally efficient registration of 3-D shapes including free-form curves and surfaces. The method handles the full six-degrees of freedom and is based on the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm, which requires only a procedure to find the closest point on a geometric entity to a given point. The ICP algorithm always converges monotonically to the nearest local minimum of a mean-square distance metric, and experience shows that the rate of convergence is rapid during the first few iterations. Therefore, given an adequate set of initial rotations and translations for a particular class of objects with a certain level of 'shape complexity', one can globally minimize the mean-square distance metric over all six degrees of freedom by testing each initial registration. For examples, a given 'model' shape and a sensed 'data' shape that represents a major portion of the model shape can be registered in minutes by testing one initial translation and a relatively small set of rotations to allow for the given level of model complexity. One important application of this method is to register sensed data from unfixtured rigid objects with an ideal geometric model prior to shape inspection. The described method is also useful for deciding fundamental issues such as the congruence (shape equivalence) of different geometric representations as well as for estimating the motion between point sets where the correspondences are not known. Experimental results show the capabilities of the registration algorithm on point sets, curves, and surfaces.
Contain calculations of containment loading of dry PWRs

Abstract The CONTAIN code has been used extensively to calculate pressure and temperature loads for core melt accidents (TMLB′) at two reference plants, subject to standard problem constraints established by the USNRC's Containment Loads Working Group. The following conclusions were reached: 1. (1) For the steam spike cases studied, the effect of heat losses, expressed as a percentage reduction of the pressure rise (compared to the adiabatic pressure rise) is relatively independent of the total mass of water boiled, and depends principally on the boiling time. 2. (2) Simple quenching of debris in water results in peak pressures and temperatures which do not appear to threaten containment integrity for the plants studied. 3. (3) Significant direct heating of the gas can only occur if debris is finely dispersed (possibly by high pressure ejection) and has a sufficient residence time in the containment atmosphere. However, if these conditions are met, consideration must also be given to additional heating due to chemical oxidation of metals in the debris. Adequate chemical energy exists in the gas and metal inventories to severely challenge any containment, so more analysis and experiment is warranted to determine the likelihood of this phenomenon.
Indentation size effect in MgO

Abstract The indentation size effect (ISE) model of Nix and Gao overestimates the hardness of MgO for small indentations. The cause may be associated with a slight expansion of the plastic zone. If the plastic zone has an effective radius fa, experimental data indicate that f increases for small indentations and is 1.66 at zero indentation depth.
1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced neurotoxicity in the rat: characterization and age-dependent effects.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is a potent dopaminergic toxin that has been found to produce Parkinson's disease-like symptoms in humans and monkeys. The neurotoxic effects of MPTP appear to be reduced in rodents where multiple dosing procedures are required to demonstrate long-lasting neuronal deficits. In the present study, the neurotoxic effects of MPTP were further characterized in the rat. Following the repeated administration of MPTP, pronounced (60–80%) and dose-dependent depletions of striatal dopamine and serotonin concentrations were found in the rat brain. Time-course studies revealed that while striatal dopamine concentrations remained consistently reduced for at least 8 weeks following MPTP treatment, striatal serotonin depletions as well as MPTP-induced monoamine depletions in other brain regions were transient in nature. Pretreatment with the MAO-B inhibitor pargyline afforded a selective and complete protection of striatal dopamine levels without significantly affecting MPTP-induced striatal serotonin depletions. Similarly, treatment with ascorbic acid was found to selectively attenuate MPTP-induced dopamine depletions in rats. The neurotoxic effects of MPTP were also found to increase in the developing rat. No significant brain monoamine depletions were observed in neonatal rats following the repeated administration of MPTP. However, MPTP-induced neurotoxicity progressively increased in older rats. The present results indicate that when appropriate treatment procedures are used, a pronounced, selective, age-dependent, and long-lasting MPTP-induced reduction in striatal dopamine concentrations can be observed in the rat brain. The present results are discussed in references to the putative mechanisms and species differences of MPTP-induced neurotoxicity.
Conceptual design of the adaptive optics system for the laser communication relay demonstration ground station at Table Mountain

The Laser Communication Relay Demonstration will feature a geostationary satellite communicating via optical links to multiple ground stations. The first ground station (GS-1) is the 1m OCTL telescope at Table Mountain in California. The optical link will utilize pulse position modulation (PPM) and differential phase shift keying (DPSK) protocols. The DPSK link necessitates that adaptive optics (AO) be used to relay the incoming beam into the single mode fiber that is the input of the modem. The GS-1 AO system will have two MEMS Deformable mirrors to achieve the needed actuator density and stroke limit. The AO system will sense the aberrations with a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor using the light from the communication link’s 1.55 μm laser to close the loop. The system will operate day and night. The system’s software will be based on heritage software from the Palm 3000 AO system, reducing risk and cost. The AO system is being designed to work at r0 greater than 3.3 cm (measured at 500 nm and zenith) and at elevations greater than 20° above the horizon. In our worst case operating conditions we expect to achieve Strehl ratios of over 70% (at 1.55 μm), which should couple 57% of the light into the single mode DPSK fiber. This paper describes the conceptual design of the AO system, predicted performance and discusses some of the trades that were conducted during the design process.
The resuscitation package in sepsis.

Sepsis and its attendant complications are commonly encountered in the intensive care unit. Early recognition of sepsis is critical because it allows for rapid deployment of a multifaceted resuscitation package. The cornerstones of sepsis management are antibiotic therapy, source control, and hemodynamic resuscitation. In select patients, ancillary therapies are indicated, such as activated protein C, corticosteroids, and glycemic control. Given the complexity of sepsis management, optimal care can be delivered as a bundle—a protocol encompassing the above interventions. The evidence behind the various components of sepsis management are reviewed here.
The Recruitment of Women Cabinet Ministers in the Canadian Provinces

Although there have been several studies of women in legislatures in Canada, a cabinet position is a much stronger position from which to wield power in an executive-centered and party-disciplined parliamentary system. In the past decade, the increase of women's share of legislative seats, for majority parties as well as others, has led to more women being appointed to cabinet portfolios. This article utilizes data from the ten Canadian provinces over an 18-year period, from 1976 to 1994, to assess patterns of such appointments by province, party, percentage of women in the governing party, and percentage of women in the legislature. The proportion of women in the governing party far outweighs other variables in its impact on the percentage of women in the cabinet, in contrast to a previous study of West European cabinets which found that more women in the legislature was of greater importance. Although a high level of multicollinearity indicates caution in attempting to distinguish between the impact of these two variables, the differences in these studies may be due to Canadian provinces having single-party majority governments while West European cabinets are often coalitions.
A rational approach to recurrent carotid stenosis.

Abstract To further characterize the incidence and morbidity of recurrent carotid stenosis, we reviewed 184 consecutive carotid endarterectomies performed in a university hospital between August 1983 and January 1988, in patients followed after operation with serial duplex ultrasonography. Recurrent stenosis of greater than 50% diameter reduction developed in eleven arteries (6.0%) at a mean interval of 10.2 ± 7.8 months. Three of the eleven (1.6% of the total) had associated transient ischemic attack, and none had strokes. Restenosis was significantly more frequent in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic patients (13.3% vs 4.5%; p p 80% restenosis. (J VASC SURG 1990;11:511-6.)
Electrical synapses coordinate activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus

In the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the master circadian pacemaker, neurons show circadian variations in firing frequency. There is also considerable synchrony of spiking across SCN neurons on a scale of milliseconds, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Using paired whole-cell recordings, we have found that many neurons in the rat SCN communicate via electrical synapses. Spontaneous spiking was often synchronized in pairs of electrically coupled neurons, and the degree of this synchrony could be predicted from the magnitude of coupling. In wild-type mice, as in rats, the SCN contained electrical synapses, but electrical synapses were absent in connexin36-knockout mice. The knockout mice also showed dampened circadian activity rhythms and a delayed onset of activity during transition to constant darkness. We suggest that electrical synapses in the SCN help to synchronize its spiking activity, and that such synchrony is necessary for normal circadian behavior.
Seismic Design and Analytical Modeling of Posttensioned Hybrid Coupled Wall Subassemblages

This paper uses the experimental results presented in a companion paper to develop a seismic design approach for unbonded posttensioned hybrid coupled wall subassemblages. The test results are also used to verify and refine analytical models for the subassemblages. The proposed design approach includes guidelines for the selection of the coupling beam cross-section and the posttensioning steel area, as well as the design of the top and seat angles, their connections, and the design of the concrete wall contact regions.
CADOnc ⓒ: An integrated toolkit for evaluating radiation therapy related changes in the prostate using multiparametric MRI

The use of multi-parametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (T2-weighted, MR Spectroscopy (MRS), Diffusion-weighted (DWI)) has recently shown great promise for diagnosing and staging prostate cancer (CaP) in vivo. Such imaging has also been utilized for evaluating the early effects of radiotherapy (RT) (e.g. intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), proton beam therapy, brachytherapy) in the prostate with the overarching goal being to successfully predict short- and long-term patient outcome. Qualitative examination of post-RT changes in the prostate using MRI is subject to high inter- and intra-observer variability. Consequently, there is a clear need for quantitative image segmentation, registration, and classification tools for assessing RT changes via multi-parametric MRI to identify (a) residual disease, and (b) new foci of cancer (local recurrence) within the prostate. In this paper, we present a computerized image segmentation, registration, and classification toolkit called CADOnc ⓒ, and leverage it for evaluating (a) spatial extent of disease pre-RT, and (b) post-RT related changes within the prostate. We demonstrate the applicability of CADOnc ⓒ in studying IMRT-related changes using a cohort of 7 multi-parametric (T2w, MRS, DWI) prostate MRI patient datasets. First, the different MRI protocols from pre- and post-IMRT MRI scans are affinely registered (accounting for gland shrinkage), followed by automated segmentation of the prostate capsule using an active shape model. A number of feature extraction schemes are then applied to extract multiple textural, metabolic, and functional MRI attributes on a per-voxel basis. An AUC of 0.7132 was achieved for automated detection of CaP on pre-IMRT MRI (via integration of T2w, DWI, MRS features); evaluated on a per-voxel basis against radiologist-derived annotations. CADOnc ⓒ also successfully identified a total of 40 out of 46 areas where disease-related changes (both absence and recurrence) occurred post-IMRT, based on changes in the expression of quantitative MR imaging biomarkers. CADOnc ⓒ thus provides an integrated platform of quantitative analysis tools to evaluate treatment response in vivo, based on multi-parametric MRI data.
Phosphorylated/Activated HER2 as a Marker of Clinical Resistance to Single Agent Taxane Chemotherapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer

Purpose. To determine the association of phosphorylated/activated HER2 (P-HER2) and response to taxane chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Materials and Methods. Archived tumor specimens of patients with MBC treated on clinical trials with taxane monotherapy were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the presence of phosphorylated HER2 using the PN2A monoclonal antibody. Chi-squared analysis was performed to evaluate the association of P-HER2 status and efficacy of single agent taxane therapy. Results. One hundred twenty-six cases were identified as evaluable for both IHC and clinical outcome. Twelve cases (10 percent) were positive for P-HER2, of which 5 had evidence of clinical progression and 7 had evidence of clinical benefit with taxane therapy. Of the 114 cases that were negative for P-HER2, 20 demonstrated progression and 94 had clinical benefit. Chi-squared analysis revealed a significant correlation between the presence of P-HER2 and resistance to taxane therapy, χ2...
Heavy LIFting: tumor promotion and radioresistance in NPC

The epithelial-derived nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare tumor in most of the world; however, it is common in southern China, northern Africa, and Alaska. NPC is often left undiagnosed and untreated until a late stage of disease. Furthermore, while radiation therapy is effective against this tumor, local recurrence due to radioresistance is an important clinical problem. In this issue, Liu et al. report on their identification of the IL-6 family cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) as a serum predictor of local NPC recurrence following radiation therapy. The authors developed this initial finding to discover a role for the LIF/LIFR/mTORC1 signaling axis in NPC tumor cell growth as well as radioresistance.
Effect of Temperature on Mode I Interlaminar Fracture of IM7/PETI-5 and IM7/977-2 Laminates

The mode I critical strain energy release rates, GIC, of two polymer matrix composites were experimentally measured at temperatures ranging from -196°C to 160°C. The two composite materials investi...
RENAL EPITHELIAL INJURY: A RISK FACTOR IN UROLITHIASIS

In humans, crystalluria is a relatively common event, and is an indicator of a urine’s supersaturation with regard to a given salt1. As long as the movement of these crystals through the urinary system remains free, they do not develop into symptomatic urinary stones. Obviously additional factors, responsible for crystal retention within the renal tubules, are necessary for the initiation of stone formation. What are these factors that can trigger stone formation? Vermeulen et. al2 suggested that massive crystalluria as a result of high supersaturation could succeed in blocking the papillary ducts and thus initiate the process. Finlayson and Reid calculated3 that it was not possible for single crystals of calcium oxalate monohydrate to grow large enough to block the urinary tubules within the time it takes the urine to flow from the glomerulus to the pelvis. Thus crystals must be “fixed” at some point within the renal tubules so that they have enough time to grow and initiate stone formation.
Localized subcritical convective cells in temperature-dependent viscosity fluids

Abstract Numerical simulations of infinite Prandtl number convection in the stagnant lid regime of temperature-dependent viscosity convection demonstrate the existence of spatially localized, stable convective cells below the critical Rayleigh number (subcritical convection). These solutions are in stark contrast to the usual, supercritical, convective planforms, where convective cells form in the entire layer. The isolated cell has a shape of an axisymmetric dome with an upwelling at the center and thus appears as a very weak plume. Formation of these structures requires subcritical conditions and a localized initial temperature perturbation but does not require any spatial heterogeneity in the material properties or the heat flux. When several localized plumes form, they tend to attract to each other and form stable clusters. This type of subcritical convection may play a role in the formation and longevity of localized features on planetary bodies, including the crustal dichotomy and Tharsis region on Mars and the asymmetric pattern of volcanism on Mercury.
Teenaged Mothers on Welfare: Views on Reform and Necessary Supports

Teenaged mothers have been the target of some welfare reforms, many of which are based on the assumption that the availability of welfare encourages teenagers to have babies. This study of 75 teenaged mothers found that welfare was not a motivator to become pregnant. However, the participants generally supported reform proposals with some modifications: time limits with additional time for teenaged mothers to complete school; requiring teenagers to continue their education or training, with provisions for child care and transportation; and flexible residency requirements with assistance to families as needed and residential programs for teenaged mothers who cannot live at home because of abusive families. They identified a wide range of necessary supports: education and/or training opportunities; access to safe and affordable child care; transportation; parenting classes; medical insurance for their children; and good paying jobs.
User-oriented criteria for the selection of DSS software

Both the composition of the selection team and the choice of evaluation criteria should reflect the end-user orientation of DSS software.
Penetrating keratoplasty 1981-1988: clinical indications and pathologic findings.

Abstract We analyzed 740 penetrating keratoplasty specimens received at the Intermountain Ocular Research Center from 1981 through 1988. These corneal specimens were categorized by clinical indications for removal and pathologic confirmation of the clinical findings. Keratoconus was the most common indication for a penetrating keratoplasty (22.8%). This was closely followed by pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (21.8%), regraft (13.2%), scarring (8.9%), aphakic bullous keratopathy (6.4%), and Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy (5.8%). Since 1984, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy has surpassed keratoconus as the most common indication for penetrating keratoplasty (27.3% vs. 20.2%). Pseudophakic bullous keratopathy was found more commonly than keratoconus in each of the last four years of this study. The most common type of intraocular lens associated with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy was an anterior chamber lens (52.8%), with irisfixated (26.7%) and posterior chamber (17.4%) lenses seen less frequently.
Effective Teaching Results in Increased Science Achievement for All Students.

This study of teacher effectiveness and student achievement in science demonstrated that effective teachers positively impact student learning. A general linear mixed model was used to assess change in student scores on the Discovery Inquiry Test as a function of time, race, teacher effectiveness, gender, and impact of teacher effectiveness in prior years, over a 3-year period. Effective teaching was identified through a series of classroom observations using the Local Systemic Change Classroom Observation Protocol (Horizon Research, 1999). This study found that effective teaching increases student achievement and closes achievement gaps for all students. Findings from this study provide evidence that effective teaching each year may be the key to eliminating achievement gaps in science. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed91:371–383, 2007
KPT: a dynamic KNN query processing algorithm for location-aware sensor networks

An important type of spatial queries for sensor networks are K Nearest Neighbor (KNN) queries. Currently, research proposals for KNN query processing is based on index structures, which are typically expensive in terms of energy consumption. In addition, they are vulnerable to node failure and are difficult to maintain in dynamic sensor networks. In this paper, we propose KPT, an algorithm for dynamically processing KNN queries in location-aware sensor networks. KPT shows great potential for energy savings and improved query latency. Since the tree infrastructure is constructed only temporarily, KPT is less vulnerable to sensor node failure.
The Cry of National Liberation: Recent Soviet Attitudes Toward National Self-Determination

“You know,” Khrushchev characteristically proclaimed in a message to the African People's Conference meeting in Accra in December 1958, “that on the national question the Soviet Union is invariably guided by the principle of the right of nations to self-determination, and that it has always supported and still supports the struggle of peoples to obtain or strengthen their national independence and freedom.” The idea of national self-determination, fathered by political theorists like Mazzini and Wilson, is, of course, Western in origin. But in an age of nation-building in the Afro-Asian world, skillful Soviet use of this concept presents Western diplomacy with a formidable and continuing challenge in the East. The purpose of the present inquiry is to examine briefly how Soviet spokesmen have attempted to manipulate this Western idea, particularly in the great assembly halls of the UN where representatives of East and West constantly intermingle.
Lithium treatment of APPSwDI/NOS2-/- mice leads to reduced hyperphosphorylated tau, increased amyloid deposition and altered inflammatory phenotype.

Lithium is an anti-psychotic that has been shown to prevent the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein through the inhibition of glycogen-synthase kinase 3-beta (GSK3β). We recently developed a mouse model that progresses from amyloid pathology to tau pathology and neurodegeneration due to the genetic deletion of NOS2 in an APP transgenic mouse; the APPSwDI/NOS2−/− mouse. Because this mouse develops tau pathology, amyloid pathology and neuronal loss we were interested in the effect anti-tau therapy would have on amyloid pathology, learning and memory. We administered lithium in the diets of APPSwDI/NOS2−/− mice for a period of eight months, followed by water maze testing at 12 months of age, immediately prior to sacrifice. We found that lithium significantly lowered hyperphosphorylated tau levels as measured by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. However, we found no apparent neuroprotection, no effect on spatial memory deficits and an increase in histological amyloid deposition. Aβ levels measured biochemically were unaltered. We also found that lithium significantly altered the neuroinflammatory phenotype of the brain, resulting in enhanced alternative inflammatory response while concurrently lowering the classical inflammatory response. Our data suggest that lithium may be beneficial for the treatment of tauopathies but may not be beneficial for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Leptin synergizes with thyroid hormone signaling in promoting growth plate chondrocyte proliferation and terminal differentiation in vitro

Leptin and thyroid hormone are two hormones that regulate energy balance through central signaling mechanisms. Recent studies in leptin-deficient ob/ob mice indicate that leptin also has peripheral effects in modulating the function of the growth plate, perhaps in terms of proliferation and differentiation enhancement. Thyroid hormone has been well-described as a potent stimulator of growth plate chondrocyte maturation. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the interaction between leptin and thyroid hormone signaling in growth plate chondrocyte proliferation and terminal differentiation. Our in vitro data demonstrate that leptin synergistically functions with thyroid hormone through activation of both IGF-1/IGF1R signaling and Wnt/β-catenin signaling, two pathways that have been previously described as downstream effectors of thyroid hormone action. Leptin increases thyroid hormone receptor-α (TRα) expression and thyroid hormone receptor transcriptional activity. Thyroid hormone also activates leptin signaling in growth plate cells undergoing proliferation and hypertrophy. We conclude that leptin synergically interacts with thyroid hormone in promoting growth plate chondrocyte proliferation and terminal differentiation.
The thirdness of King Hu: Wuxia, Deleuze, and the cinema of paradox

Although an acknowledged influence on the wuxia genre and directors such as Zhang Yimou, King Hu has never enjoyed widespread recognition as a figure of ‘world cinema’. I argue that the reasons for this lack of recognition are several, but that the most salient is that Hu's films paradoxically combine features usually kept separate: high with low in terms of genre, straightforward characterization with complex situations and motivations, and action sequences with visual and temporal stoppages. To appreciate better how these combinations function in Hu's oeuvre, I turn to Gilles Deleuze's distinction between major and minor writers – and implicitly major and minor cinematic auteurs. In his works on cinema, Deleuze grants the medium a certain autonomy of thought that is irreducible to either history or culture. Keeping Deleuze true to his own argument and steering away from the obstacles of Orientalism otherwise present in his writings, I show how a focus on the films themselves rather than on cultural inte...
Factors in Successful Elimination of Elective Tracheotomy in Mandibular Reconstruction With Microvascular Tissue.

Importance Limited data exist on performing major oral cavity resections and reconstructions without elective tracheotomy. Objectives To describe a group of patients who successfully underwent major microvascular mandibular reconstruction without an elective tracheotomy and to perform a literature review to identify commonalities between our group and the available literature to identify potential common factors that might contribute to the success of this approach. Design, Setting, and Participants Case series with retrospective medical chart review of 15 patients who underwent fibula microvascular free flap reconstruction of mandibular defects without tracheotomy between 2000 and 2014 (the most common indication was osteoradionecrosis) conducted at a tertiary referral hospital center. Exposures Mandibular reconstruction with fibula free flap without elective tracheotomy. Main Outcomes and Measures Perioperative morbidity and mortality with a focus on airway management and perioperative complications. Results The median age of 15 patients (11 males and 4 females) at the time of reconstruction was 42 years (range, 10-64 years). The indication for surgery was nonmalignant pathologic abnormalities in 8 patients (53%), osteosarcoma in 4 patients (27%), and oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma in 3 patients (20%). All patients were intubated endonasally and, excepting 1 pediatric case, were extubated the day following surgery. The fibula spanned the parasymphysis and/or symphysis in 2 patients, and was limited to the mandibular body in others (mean length, 7.6 cm [range, 4.0-15.0 cm]). The flap design was osteocutaneous in 3 patients and osseous in the rest. No patient required reintubation or tracheotomy. No complications due to endonasal intubation occurred. The average hospital length of stay was 11 days. Conclusions and Relevance Major oral cavity resection and reconstruction with microvascular free flaps can be performed safely without elective tracheotomy in a select group of patients. Limited data exist on patient selection criteria. Further studies are needed to identify favorable factors and develop protocols for safe patient selection.
Boson fields with the :Φ 4 : Interaction in three dimensions

The :Φ4: interaction for boson fields is considered in three dimensional space time. A space cutoff is included in the interaction term. The main result is that the renormalized HamiltonianHren is a densely defined symmetric operator. In addition to the infinite vacuum energy and infinite mass renormalizations, this theory has an infinite wave function renormalization. Consequently the Hilbert space (of physical particles) in whichHren acts is disjoint from the bare particle Fock Hilbert space in which the unrenormalized Hamiltonian is defined.
Strategies in Regulation of Protein Associations of the Spectrin-Based Membrane Skeleton

The spectrin-based membrane skeleton of nonerythroid cells exhibits an unsuspected variety in protein interactions and regulatory mechanisms. Spectrin has at least two options in linkage to the membrane: ankyrin-mediated interaction with integral membrane proteins and direct linkages with ankyrin-independent sites. Ankyrin includes at least two families of functionally distinct isoforms, a general isoform expressed in many cells and a specialized isoform expressed in a limited number of cells and localized in a highly polarized distribution in these cells. Proteins likely to associate with the specialized isoforms of ankyrin based on association in vitro assays and co-localization in cells include the anion exchanger of erythrocytes and collecting ducts of kidney, the Na/K ATPase in distal tubule cells of kidney, and the voltage-dependent sodium channel in neuron. An additional mechanism for ankyrin diversity is processed variants of ankyrin with deleted regulatory domains that express binding sites unavailable to unprocessed ankyrinc Spectrin also can interact with high affinity with protein sites in synaptosomes and other membranes that are independent of ankyrin. Calmodulin in the presence of submicromolar concentrations of calcium is a competitive inhibitor of direct binding of spectrin to synaptosomal membranes but does not affect spectrin-ankyrin interactions. Thus the potential exists for differential regulation of spectrin-membrane interactions. The assembly state of the spectrin-actin lattice may also vary in certain cells. Adducin, a protein that promotes spectrin-actin interactions, is concentrated at sites of cell-cell contact in certain epithelial cells. These studies provide a low-resolution view of the spectrin skeleton and emphasize the possibilities for participation of this structure in a variety of functions including maintenance of specialized cell domains and participation in dynamic calcium-regulated processes.
George Padmore and Modernity in the Postcolony: Leslie James’s George Padmore and Decolonization from Below

Review of Leslie James, George Padmore and Decolonization from Below: Pan-Africanism, the Cold War, and the End of Empire
Analysis of the Conversion between Dry and Wet Status in Ultra Supercritical Units

Conversion between dry and wet status is the most important technical section for ultra supercritical units in startup and shut down period.According to the main problems met in Yuhuan Power Plant and Beilun III project,the corresponding analysis and solve methods were presented.
New Directions for Agricultural Policy in the Industrial Countries

Previous chapters, especially Chapters 9 and 11, have emphasized that the price-support and subsidy policies of the industrial countries have approached the farm income problem from the wrong end, so to speak. These policies attempt to improve the incomes of farm people by increasing demand for farm products and thus the demand for farm inputs. The critically important element determining the incomes of farm people and the returns on their resources are the conditions of factor supply. Over a period of years, supply conditions dominate demand conditions in determining the returns to farm resources. Demand conditions can have some influence over the quantities of resources engaged in agriculture, but, except for land, have no significant long-run effect on resource returns.
Consent, coercion and cooperativismo: Mining cooperatives and resource regimes in Bolivia:

This paper examines ways in which regional political, economic, and cultural hegemonies maintain “resource regimes” by exploring the emergence of mining cooperatives as central actors in Bolivia’s ...
Immunotherapies in CLL

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most frequently diagnosed leukemia in the Western world, yet remains essentially incurable. Although initial chemotherapy response rates are high, patients invariably relapse and subsequently develop resistance to chemotherapy. For the moment, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) remains the only potentially curative treatment for patients with CLL, but it is associated with high rates of treatment-related mortality. Immune-based treatment strategies to augment the cytotoxic potential of T cells offer exciting new treatment options for patients with CLL, and provide a unique and powerful spectrum of tools distinct from traditional chemotherapy. Among the most novel and promising of these approaches are chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based cell therapies that combine advances in genetic engineering and adoptive immunotherapy.
Eight-Step Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)-Cycloclavine

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-cycloclavine was accomplished in 8 steps and 7.1 % overall yield. Key features include the first catalytic asymmetric cyclopropanation of allene, mediated by the dirhodium catalyst Rh2(S-TBPTTL)4, and the enone 1,2-addition of a new TEMPO carbamate methyl carbanion. An intramolecular strain-promoted Diels–Alder methylenecyclopropane (IMDAMC) reaction provided a pivotal tricyclic enone intermediate with more than 99 % ee after crystallization. The synthesis of (−)-1 was completed by a late-stage intramolecular Diels–Alder furan (IMDAF) cycloaddition to install the indole.
Abdominal Actinomycosis: Evaluation by Computed Tomography

Actinomycosis causes disease in multiple organ systems and involves the abdomen approximately 20% of the time. We report a case of a 48-yr-old woman with a large abdominal mass secondary to actinomycosis. The patient demonstrates the clinical and pathologic features of this disease, as well as the role of evaluation by barium examination and computed tomography (CT). A discussion of abdominal actinomycosis is included.
Forecasting academic success through implementation of an online prerequisite review tutorials program for first year pharmacy students.

Abstract Objective Online prerequisite review (OPR) tutorials were designed and implemented to reinforce foundational scientific material in order to protect in-class time, foster self-directed learning, and ensure all students have similar baseline knowledge. Methods Twenty-one tutorials covering undergraduate prerequisite material were developed by faculty and organized into six core modules, comprising basic biology, chemistry, and physiology topics. A quiz on this material was given on the first day of each course. This score was correlated with the final exam score at course completion. Additional student and faculty feedback was collected through surveys. Results 2372 quiz-exam pairings were collected over three consecutive fall semesters. A one point increase in the quiz score was associated with a 3.6 point (95% confidence interval 3.1–4.0) higher exam score, as well as a greater probability of passing the exam ( P P Conclusions Implementation of OPR tutorials may give faculty more efficient use of class time, and their associated quizzes serve as an early indicator for students at-risk of not passing who are candidates for early interventions. Furthermore, the OPR tutorial design gives it great transferability to biomedical post-graduate programs.
Identifying Latent Structures in Restricted Latent Class Models

ABSTRACTThis article focuses on a family of restricted latent structure models with wide applications in psychological and educational assessment, where the model parameters are restricted via a latent structure matrix to reflect prespecified assumptions on the latent attributes. Such a latent matrix is often provided by experts and assumed to be correct upon construction, yet it may be subjective and misspecified. Recognizing this problem, researchers have been developing methods to estimate the matrix from data. However, the fundamental issue of the identifiability of the latent structure matrix has not been addressed until now. The first goal of this article is to establish identifiability conditions that ensure the estimability of the structure matrix. With the theoretical development, the second part of the article proposes a likelihood-based method to estimate the latent structure from the data. Simulation studies show that the proposed method outperforms the existing approaches. We further illustra...
Modeling of hydraulic fracturing in ultra-low permeability formations: The role of pore fluid cavitation

Abstract Hydraulic Fracturing (HF) refers to the process of nucleation and growth of tensile fractures in a reservoir formation by means of flow-induced pressurization. The processes in the fracture process zone (FPZ) of a fluid-driven fracture involve a non-linear coupling between fracturing-fluid flow, rock deformation and diffusion of pore fluid. Identifying all the key physical processes is critical for reliably modeling and simulating fluid-driven fractures. The role of cavitation and subsequent alteration in pore fluid saturation is often ignored in hydraulic fracturing simulations, i.e., the pore fluid is modeled to be able to sustain arbitrarily large negative pressures without undergoing cavitation. Using multi-physics Finite Element Analyses (FEA), we show that ignoring cavitation may lead to spurious outcomes in FEA simulations of fluid-driven fractures in ultra-low permeability formations. The FEA simulations, in the absence of cavitation, predict an unrealistically large suction (negative pressure) ahead of the crack tip, which grows without bound upon refinement of the FEA mesh. Owing to such a large suction at the crack tip, the breakdown pressure obtained from the FEA simulations is anomalously large and lacks objectivity (i.e., progressively increases upon a continued refinement of the FEA mesh). Mechanistic insights gained from FEA simulations suggest that the negative pressure ahead of the crack tip is likely to cause cavitation of the pore fluid, resulting in creation of a partially-saturated region around the crack tip. This means that irrespective of the initial saturation of the rock, inclusion of cavitation and subsequent alteration in pore fluid saturation in FEA simulations is necessary for objectively modeling the fluid-driven fractures in ultra-low permeability formations. The revised FEA simulations of hydraulic fracturing show that the inclusion of cavitation and subsequent alteration in pore fluid saturation in FEA simulations eliminates the unrealistically large suction at the crack tip, regularizes the breakdown pressure, and removes the noted lack of objectivity.
The “modern” in “modern finance”: A multi-paradigmatic look

Abstract Any adequate understanding of “modern finance” necessarily requires fundamental understanding of what is “modern”. For this purpose, this paper takes the concept of “modern” and discusses it from four different viewpoints, each of which corresponds to one of the four broad worldviews or basic paradigms: functionalist, interpretive, radical humanist, and radical structuralist. The paper emphasizes that the four views expressed are equally scientific and informative; they look at the phenomenon from their certain paradigmatic viewpoint; and together they provide a more balanced understanding of the phenomenon under consideration, i.e., the “modern” in “modern finance”.