cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Further studies on genetically mediated differences in monooxygenase activities and spin state of cytochrome P450 iron from rabbit, rat, and mouse liver.

The relative proportions of high spin (having electron paramagnetic resonance signals at g = 8.0, 3.7, and 1.7 when measured below 10°K) and low spin (having signals at g = 2.4, 2.3, and 1.9 when measured at 77°K) cytochrome P450 iron are different when liver microsomes from control rabbits, rats, and mice are compared with those from phenobarbital-treated animals. Treatment of rabbits, rats, or genetically “responsive” mice with 3-methylcholanthrene, however, causes an increase principally in the g = 8.01 signal height and little or no change in the g = 2.27 signal intensity. Contrary to what had been found in the mouse, the 3-methylcholanthrene-inducible aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase, 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase, p-nitroanisole O-demethylase, and 3-methyl-4-methyl-aminoazobenzene N-demethylase activities are not as closely associated with the same genetic region in the rat and with increases in the g = 8.01 signal height in either the rat or rabbit. In rabbit or mouse microsomes treated in vitro with varying amounts of sodium cholate or potassium thiocyanate and dialyzed or not dialyzed, a g = 5.95 signal is always associated with cytochrome P420 concentration, indicating that this signal probably represents the low field g tensor of high spin P420 iron. In the rabbit, an initial rise in the g = 8.01 signal height occurs in the first 2 hours after aromatic hydrocarbon administration, followed by a secondary increase in the g = 8.01 signal height between 6 and 24 hours; in the rat or genetically responsive mouse, only this latter secondary rise is seen. These results suggest that the initial rise represents binding of 3-methylcholanthrene or other substrate to cytochrome P450 and that the secondary rise probably reflects a genetically mediated process, e.g. a new membrane protein or lipid being formed or a membrane configurational change concomitant with the formation of cytochrome P448. Under a variety of experimental conditions including microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated genetically responsive and “nonresponsive” mice, the dithionite reduced minus oxidized difference in absorbance between 645 and 700 nm at room temperature correlates well with the g = 8.01 signal height measured below 10°K.
Benign Orbital Lesions

Benign orbital lesions comprise a wide spectrum of pathologies that greatly differ in their nature, originating from different orbital tissues. In this review paper, we describe the most commonly encountered orbital diseases in children, such as congenital, inflammatory, and infectious disorders. We also describe a variety of vascular lesions, including benign neoplasms, and malformations as well as other various benign neoplastic soft tissue and osseous lesions. We focus on the appropriate choice of imaging modalities for each entity.
Efficient neural network training using curvelet features

Sparse representations for signals and images have been used extensively in various image processing tasks. In this work, we use the curvelet transform as a sparsity inducing tool in neural networks. Nowadays, there is much interest in research and development of efficient algorithms that reduce the computational demands of training neural networks. We demonstrate that the compact directional representation generated by the curvelet transform has the potential of significantly reducing computational time and costs. In our proposed classification framework, curvelet coefficients (amplitude and angle) are mapped into the complex domain. Next, a single-layer Complex-Valued Neural Network (CVNN) is used to represent the complex input parameters. After training the network using a suitable training dataset, computed complex weight vectors are used to classify testing datasets. The developed algorithm was tested on the MNIST dataset. Our results indicate a performance that is comparable with state-of-the-art while offering dramatic computational savings.
A Speed-Sensorless Direct Torque Control Scheme for Matrix Converter Driven Induction Motor

This paper presents a direct torque control (DTC) scheme for matrix converter driven induction motor. The proposed scheme uses the simplified carrier-based PWM scheme of matrix converter for generation of PWM voltages. The proposed DTC scheme is characterized by the advantages of simple structure, unity input power factor operation of matrix converter, minimum torque ripple, and uniform switching as with carrier based modulation. A speed sensorless closed loop speed control of the induction motor is implemented along-with the DTC scheme. The novel carrier based modulation method is used to generate the PWM voltages from the matrix converter.
699. Effective AAV9 Vector Delivery to Nasal Mucosa for Protection Against Airborne Challenge with Influenza A and B

To transition the AAV-mediated passive immunization strategy for protection against influenza A and B from mice to humans, an efficient vector delivery strategy is needed. Here, we demonstrate the ability of AAV9 expressing anti-influenza A and B antibodies (FI6 and CR8033, respectively) coupled with an intranasal mucosal atomization device (IMAD) to effectively protect mice against challenge with pandemic and seasonal influenza. First, we determined that an equimolar combination of AAV9.FI6 and AAV9.CR8033 vectors delivered intranasally at a dose of 5×1010 GC/KG per mouse effectively protected mice against lethal intranasal challenge with influenza A (PR8) or influenza B (B/Lee/40), respectively. In an effort to progress AAV9 into the clinic, we next determined vector compatibility with the IMAD for loss in volume, vector titer and vector potency. Groups of mice were intranasally administered a mixture of AAV9.FI6 and AAV9.CR8033 as well as a mixture of AAV9.FI6 and AAV9.CR8033 that was processed through the IMAD. Seven days later, the mice were challenged with 5LD50 of PR8 or B/Lee/40. No difference in effectiveness of protection against influenza A or B was observed when the vector mixture was processed through the IMAD. We next translated this approach to the nose of macaques, a model more closely related to the human nose that is the target tissue. In this model, we assessed the kinetics of the onset of transgene expression and stability of expression when vector was delivered via the IMAD compared with traditional, direct liquid delivery. At the conclusion of the study, vector biodistribution was also examined. Overall, no significant differences in the kinetics and profile of gene expression or vector biodistribution were observed between the two delivery methods. In conclusion, we demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of AAV-mediated prophylaxis against influenza A and B when vectors are delivered via the IMAD, an easy-to-use device that localizes transduction to the site of influenza infection, the nasal mucosa.
Partners of young breast cancer survivors: A cross-sectional evaluation of psychosocial issues and mental health.

184Background: While evidence of the challenges of cancer caregiving has been growing, scant research addresses the experience of partners of young adults with cancer. These individuals and their r...
Time-Dependent Monitoring and Modeling of I-35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge. I: Analysis of Monitoring Data

AbstractFor the successful implementation of long-term monitoring strategies of prestressed concrete structures, the expected behavior of the structure must be accurately quantified before anomalou...
The Shortcomings of Indeterminacy in Arms Control Regimes: The Case of TheBiological Weapons Convention

States consider many variations in substance, structure, and obligation as tradeoffs in negotiating the design of arms control agreements. Using the Biological Weapons Convention as an example, this article analyzes the dangers of adopting indeterminate language in this process. While it may be useful elsewhere, indeterminacy can frustrate arms control efforts and is particularly damaging to multilateral disarmament regimes shaped by security dilemmas involving complex dual-use technology issues.
Self-deception in and out of illness: are some subjects responsible for their delusions?

This paper raises a slightly uncomfortable question: are some delusional subjects responsible for their delusions? This question is uncomfortable because we typically think that the answer is pretty clearly just ‘no’. However, we also accept that self-deception is paradigmatically intentional behavior for which the self-deceiver is prima facie blameworthy. Thus, if there is overlap between self-deception and delusion, this will put pressure on our initial answer. This paper argues that there is indeed such overlap by offering a novel philosophical account of self-deception. The account offered is independently plausible and avoids the main problems that plague other views. It also yields the result that some delusional subjects are self-deceived. The conclusion is not, however, that those subjects are blameworthy. Rather, a distinction is made between blameworthiness and ‘attributability’. States or actions can be significantly attributable to a subject—in the sense that they are expressions of their wills—without it being the case that the subject is blameworthy, if the subject has an appropriate excuse. Understanding delusions within this framework of responsibility and excuses not only illuminates the ways in which the processes of delusional belief formation and maintenance are continuous with ‘ordinary’ processes of belief formation and maintenance, it also provides a way of understanding the innocence of the delusional subject that does not involve the denial of agency.
Intra-abdominal Hypertension

Intra-abdominal hypertension is potentially fatal if left untreated. Although the imaging features of this entity are nonspecific, knowledge of the typical radiologic manifestations in combination with the appropriate clinical indicators, often enables recognizing the possibility of increased intra-abdominal pressure and expedite lifesaving decompression.
The Impact of Fellowship in Dietetics on Clinical Practice

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) in pediatric cancer treatment is essential. The Nutrition Department and the International Outreach Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN have worked together from 2005 to 2013 to develop and implement a training program for international dietitians working with pediatric oncology patients. During that time, St. Jude hosted 15 dietitians from various countries for this 3-week-long program. The curriculum provided experience in nutrition risk screening, nutrition care process, nutrition for cancer prevention, palliative care, and exposure to nutrition support. Monthly online meetings were established through the Cure4Kids website to continue collaboration and training. Learning outcomes were developed, and the impact of the program was evaluated based on changes made by former fellows in clinical practice, research, management, and food service upon return to their country. In addition, the program was evaluated based on recognition by the medical team, professional growth/networking, and personal growth. The survey return rate was 100%: responses revealed that 80% of participants continued working in pediatric oncology, 67% participated in monthly meetings, 47% collaborated on research, 100% advanced their competency in clinical practice, 93% broadened their competency in research, 67% became increasingly competent in management, 60% implemented changes in food service, 100% were recognized for participating in the program, and 100 and 93% noted that participation in the fellowship program helped their professional and personal growth, respectively. The psychological impact of the training on healthcare providers was as important as the impact of the program on patient care.
Longitudinal Increases in Adiposity Contribute to Worsening Adipokine Profile over Time in Mexican Americans.

OBJECTIVE Limited studies have assessed the relationship between longitudinal changes in adiposity and changes in multiple adipokines over time. This study examined changes in BMI, total body fat, and trunk fat associated with changes in 16 circulating adipokines in Mexican Americans at risk for type 2 diabetes. METHODS Participants included 1,213 individuals with cross-sectional data and a subset of 368 individuals with follow-up measures (mean 4.6 ± 1.5 years from baseline). Joint multivariate associations between 3 adiposity measures and 16 adipokines were assessed by canonical correlation analysis. RESULTS Longitudinal increases in adiposity were most strongly associated with increasing leptin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and decreasing adiponectin and secreted frizzled protein 5 (SFRP5) over time. Participants with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 at baseline had greater increases in leptin, CRP, IL-1Ra, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) and greater decreases in adiponectin and SFRP5, associated with increasing adiposity over follow-up, than those with BMI < 30 kg/m2 . Associations between adiposity and adipokines were most accounted for by leptin; adjustment for leptin greatly reduced the magnitude of all associations between adiposity and remaining adipokines. CONCLUSIONS Increasing adiposity contributes to a worsening imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory adipokines over time, in which leptin may have an important role as a key mediator of metabolic disease risk in Mexican Americans.
Comparison of the Performance of Several Data Mining Techniques for Loan-Granting Decisions

Assessing financial status of customers and their credit worthiness, evaluating loangranting policies, and loan payment prediction are critical to the business of banks and money lending institutions. The paper compares the classification accuracy of three data mining techniques such as decision trees, neural networks, and logit regression for loan payment prediction. The initial simulation results show that the difference in the classification accuracy between the three methods appears to be insignificant. We recommend using the three techniques in tandem and using the majority voting to achieve a more reliable decision. The decision tree approach might be preferable to the other ones because it can produce understandable rules that allow one to explain the rationale behind the decision.
What Can Go Wrong? Troubleshooting Investments

Often we professors are so preoccupied with the pressures of teaching, researching, and publishing that we neglect our financial health. But we must discipline ourselves to plan for our financial future, for the simple reason that no one else will. Whether we house our money in TIAA–CREF or elsewhere, it is important to monitor at least periodically what is going on with your money. Remember, institutions of higher learning will not intervene on our behalf and of course, they pay no pension. Above all else, academics are skilled researchers and learners. It behooves us to harness those talents to protect ourselves from the whims of Wall Street and the financial markets. Economic conditions can deteriorate quickly or go awry. But the more we understand the arcane world of finance and investment, the better off we will be and the more secure we can make our future. In this chapter, we reprise most of the risks we covered in Chap. 2. But our focus is on avoiding pitfalls and distractions as we move toward our goals of preserving capital and increasing income in retirement.
Active Motion and Deformation in Vascular Endothelial Cells Exposed to Flow

In recent years there has been considerable interest in the influence of hemodynamics on vascular wall biology and in particular on the genesis of atherosclerosis, a disease which occurs in the central and larger arteries. This interest has centered on the vascular endotheliem, i.e. the monolayer which forms the inner lining of a blood vessel. As such the vascular endothelial cell (EC) interfaces directly with flowing blood, and if there is an influence of hemodynamics, it is believed that EC must be a mediator of any such effect.
A Case Study Type Homework on Mathematical Modeling, System Identification, and Controller Design

Abstract In this paper we present a case study covering mathematical modeling, system identification, and controller design of a two tank fluid level control system. The case study is presented as a series of questions and answers, which could be used to design a series of homeworks or a term paper in a modular control engineering course. The case study is motivated by a realistic application of a two tank problem, addressing some fundamental control oriented issues such as physical plant identification, transformation from discrete-time to continuous-time, and controller design. All questions are answered in a logical and technically sound manner, thus forming a cohesive case study.
Electrosurgical methods for arthroscopic meniscectomy: A review of the literature.

Abstract Purpose: To outline the development of electrosurgical (radiofrequency) devices, explain the basic principles, and review the current orthopaedic literature regarding the application of electrosurgery to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Materials and Methods: The history and principles of electrosurgery were obtained from various pertinent texts and journal articles. A literature search was performed using MEDLINE; reviewed articles consisted of articles in the English language cataloged between 1966 and January 1999. Results: The history and principles of electrosurgery are reviewed. The articles pertaining to arthroscopic electrosurgical meniscectomy are discussed with a separate discussion on the potential complications of using radiofrequency energy for meniscal ablation, including articular cartilage damage, osteonecrosis, and damage caused by irrigant. Conclusion: Electrosurgery has been shown to be an effective tool in arthroscopic meniscectomy. Further research and refinement is warranted because it may show superiority to other methods in certain situations. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related surgery, Vol 16, No 8 (November-December), 2000: pp 813–821
Sterilization, Privacy, and the Value of Reproduction

In this paper I will discuss some issues associated with the ethics of sterilization. The main issues I shall discuss are whether the capacity to procreate, which of course is destroyed by sterilization, is an important capacity worth preserving, and whether involuntary sterilization violates the right to privacy. Of course, there is some sense in which the capacity to reproduce is worth preserving, otherwise the human race would soon cease to exist; hence the manner in which I shall raise the question is this. Let us assume a person has the option of adopting children as an alternative to producing his or her biologically own children. Then, under these circumstances, is there anything important about preserving the capacity to reproduce? In other words, my question focuses on the matter of preference: is it important that people who prefer to have their biologically own children, rather than adopt, be allowed to do so? I shall argue that it is not.
Investigation of process-structure-property relationships in polymer extrusion based additive manufacturing through in situ high speed imaging and thermal conductivity measurements

Abstract Additive manufacturing has gained significant research attention due to multiple advantages over traditional manufacturing technologies. A fundamental understanding of the relationships between process parameters, microstructure and functional properties of built parts is critical for optimizing the additive manufacturing process and building parts with desired properties. This is also critical for a multi-functional part where the process needs to be optimized with respect to disparate performance requirements such as mechanical strength and thermal conductivity. This paper presents in situ high speed imaging and build-direction thermal conductivity measurements of polymer extrusion based additively manufactured parts in order to understand the effect of process parameters such as raster speed, infill percentage and layer height on build-direction thermal conductivity. Measurements of thermal conductivity using a one-dimensional heat flux method are correlated with in situ process images obtained from a high speed camera as well as cross section images of the built part. Results indicate strong dependence of build-direction thermal conductivity on raster speed, layer thickness and infill percentage, which is corroborated by high speed imaging of the printing process at different values of these process parameters. Key trade-offs between process throughput and thermal properties are also identified. In addition to enhancing our fundamental understanding of polymer extrusion based additive manufacturing and its influence on thermal properties of built parts, results presented here may facilitate process optimization towards parts with desired thermal and multi-functional properties.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: How early can we repair?

Abstract Background The benefits to early repair ( Methods A retrospective review of infants with CDH placed on ECMO (2004–2017; n = 72) was performed. Data collected on the patients repaired while on ECMO within 72 h of cannulation (n = 33) included pre- and postnatal disease severity stratification variables and postnatal outcomes. Comparison groups were those patients repaired within 24 h of cannulation (n = 14) and those repaired between 24 and 72 h postcannulation (n = 19). Results Patients undergoing “super-early” ( Conclusions Repair of patients with CDH patients on ECMO at less than 24 h postcannulation achieves outcomes that are comparable to those of repair between 24 and 72 h. While the present data suggest that there is not a “too early” time point for CDH repair on ECMO, larger multicenter studies are needed to validate our findings and determine the overall benefits. Type of study Retrospective comparative study. Level of evidence Level III.
John Henrik Clarke (1915–1998)

This chapter highlights the accomplishments and historical significance of educator and historian John Henrik Clark, an impressive scholar who advanced in academia before achieving a high school diploma or a Doctorate in Philosophy. The chapter also offers a critical analysis of the role John Henrik Clark had in contributing to the growth and development of education in the African American community, especially as it relates to education policies and practices in twentieth-century America.
Recent advances in Q Theory: Segment strength

Using Q Theory, in which canonical segments are represented as a sequence of three subsegments, this paper develops a scale of vowel quantity, ranging from 'superlight' single v subsegments to 'heavy' or geminate vowels consisting of four subsegments. An Optimality-Theoretic analysis of quantity-sensitive stress assignment is developed, in which stress is preferred on vowels with more subsegments. A case study of the J e language Panara demonstrates that a single language can draw a four-way vowel quantity contrast, to which the stress system is sensitive.
College students’ perceptions of cyberbullying on a nontraditional campus: An assessment of victims and witnesses

Abstract Cyberbullying is a 21st century problem that affects many youths throughout their educational careers, continuing for some even into adulthood. We know that cyberbullying may persist from junior high and high school to college life. Due to this sequential effect, it is imperative to concentrate our efforts on the relationship between cyberbullying and college-level populations; specifically, cyberbullying perceptions among college students. Drawing from a sample of students from a nontraditional university in the southern United States, we compare how prior victims and bystanders of cyberbullying perceive the severity of cyberbullying. We find that females, victims of cyberbullying, and bystanders of cyberbullying are more likely to perceive cyberbullying as a severe problem compared to males, individuals who have not been victimized by cyberbullying, and those who have not witnessed a cyberbullying incident. Our findings have implications for policies and bully-prevention strategies.
Changing Lives and Minds: Progress, Strategy, and Universal Basic Income

This article argues that demands and movements for universal basic income (UBI) are important components of a "transitional program," comprised of transitional demands, suitable for the twenty-firs...
Diurnal rhythms in gene expression in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is associated with disrupted cognitive control and sleep-wake cycles. Here we identify diurnal rhythms in gene expression in the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), in schizophrenia and control subjects. We find significant diurnal (24 h) rhythms in control subjects, however, most of these transcripts are not rhythmic in subjects with schizophrenia. Instead, subjects with schizophrenia have a different set of rhythmic transcripts. The top pathways identified in transcripts rhythmic only in subjects with schizophrenia are associated with mitochondrial function. Importantly, these rhythms drive differential expression patterns of these and several other genes that have long been implicated in schizophrenia (including BDNF and GABAergic-related transcripts). Indeed, differential expression of these transcripts is only seen in subjects that died during the night, with no change in subjects that died during the day. These data provide insights into a potential mechanism that underlies changes in gene expression in the dlPFC with schizophrenia. Sleep disturbance is common in psychiatric disease, and this may contribute to altered circadian rhythm in gene expression. Here the authors show that rhythms in gene expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia are different to that seen in healthy controls.
Coronary Artery Disease

Although there has been a steady decline in the incidence of coronary artery disease over the past two decades, it is still the most common cause of death in this country. Almost one million deaths occurred in 1980 due to heart and blood vessel disease. Of these, 350,000 were sudden deaths. One million patients had a myocardial infarction and 3.4 million suffer from chronic atherosclerotic heart disease. The estimated cost of caring for this disease is 57 billion dollars.
If You Are the One: Love in Public

This chapter examines If You Are the One, a well-known “reality TV” show that focuses on dating and relationships. It analyzes the interaction between the show’s format and its depiction of masculinity and femininity, arguing that this program and others of the same type overemphasize the conjugal family as the path to happiness. Further, it reinforces stereotypical gender roles while portraying male and female contestants as revolutionary and liberal. Consequently, neoliberal views on the free market, individual choice, and self-realization are reaffirmed.
The Long History of Feminist Legal Theory

This chapter challenges the conventional idea that feminist legal theory began in the 1970s. The advent of legal feminism is usually placed in the second wave feminist movement, birthed by the political activism of the women’s liberation movement and nurtured by the intellectual leadership of women scholars newly entering legal academia. However, legal feminism has a much longer history, going back more than a century earlier. While the term “feminist” was not used in the United States until the 1910s, the foundations of feminist legal theory were first conceptualized as early as 1848 and developed over the next one hundred and fifty years. This chapter traces that development. It begins with the establishment of the core theoretical precepts of gender and equality grounded in the surprisingly comprehensive philosophy of the nineteenth-century’s first women’s rights movement ignited at Seneca Falls. It then shows how feminist legal theory was popularized and advanced by the political activism of the women’s suffrage movement, even as suffragists limited the feminist consensus to one based on women’s maternalism. Progressive feminism then expanded the theoretical framework of feminist theory in the early twentieth century, encapsulating ideas of global peace, market work, and sex rights of birth control. In the modern era, legal feminists gravitated back to pragmatic and concrete ideas of formal equality, and the associated legalisms of equal rights and equal protection. Yet through each of these periods, the two common imperatives were to place women at the center of analysis and to recognize law as a fundamental agent of change.
Terminology Issues in Lake Charr Early Development

Accurate and precise terminology is critical for clarity and information transfer. Lake charr Salvelinus namaycush developmental terminology is often incorrectly and inconsistently applied and consists of terms borrowed from other salmonids. Terms currently used may not identify developmental stages, are not synonymous with formal terminology, and are not ecologically relevant. We propose a standard lake charr-specific terminology consisting of: (1) egg: a haploid, unfertilized gamete; (2) pre-hatch embryo: a developing embryo within a chorion; (3) free embryo: post-hatch embryo, used until absorption of the external yolk sac; (4) post-embryo: lake charr with internal or fully absorbed yolk sac, usually with parr marks and inflated gas bladder, and still resident on a spawning area; (5) age-0: lake charr during the period between leaving spawning grounds and December 31 of the first year of life; (6) juvenile: interval between the end of age-0 (January 1) and the onset of maturity; (7) adult: life stage after reproductive maturity; and (8) senescent: stage after growth and reproductive capacity cease. The recommended terminology is specific to lake charr and strikes a balance between accurate life-stage specific terms that reflect development, and the practicality of life-stage terms that can be assigned by field biologists and fishery managers.
Desmoplastic Trichoepithelioma With Pseudocarcinomatous Hyperplasia: A Folliculosebaceous Neoplasm in Young Persons.

ABSTRACT Pseudocarcinomatous desmoplastic trichoepithelioma (PDTE) features verrucous squamous epidermal hyperplasia with a jagged undersurface overlying cords of follicular germinative cells in a fibrotic stroma. To date, only 5 cases have been reported. We identified 7 new PDTEs from 2 institutions and reviewed their clinical manifestations and immunohistochemical profile. The median age was 14 years (range 8-34 years). New findings included vacuolization of the basal layer of the pseudocarcinomatous surface epithelium, and the frequent presence of singly distributed sebocytes within the cords of basaloid cells. The immunohistochemical profile resembles desmoplastic trichoepithelioma, with expression of TDAG51, CK15, and Ber-Ep4. Colonizing CK20+ Merkel cells were present in all cases. PDTE needs to be differentiated from malignant neoplasms such as squamous cell carcinoma, morphoeic basal cell carcinoma, and microcystic adnexal carcinoma. Recognizing the features of this sclerosing folliculosebaceous neoplasm facilitates accurate diagnosis and avoids overtreatment.
Characterization of Strawberry Host Plant Resistance to Powdery Mildew caused by Podosphaera aphanis

Host plant resistance is an essential tool in plant disease management worldwide. Evaluations of strawberry cultivar resistance to powdery mildew were done previously in California, but many new cu...
Cardiorenal Syndromes: Renal Artery Disease and Congestive Heart Failure

Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis commonly co-exists with systolic and/or diastolic heart failure and is an unfavorable prognostic indicator. The morbidity and mortality relates to a complex neurohormonal interplay whereby renal ischemia activates the renin angiotensin aldosterone axis resulting in sodium retention, arterial vasoconstriction, and accelerated end-organ damage. In a subset of patients, particularly with bilateral renal artery stenosis, acute episodes of severe hypertension may lead to “flash” pulmonary edema. Often sharing a common pathophysiology renal artery stenosis is especially common amongst heart failure patients with a 31 % incidence in those who undergo renal artery revascularization. The best course of treatment of renal artery stenosis in the setting of heart failure remains unclear. Although renal artery stenting has no effect on mortality, revascularization may lead to improved control of heart failure as evidenced by a reduction in hospital admissions and improvement in NYHA heart failure class.
Abstract 5539: Therapeutic efficacy of novel selenium-containing HDACi in acute leukemia

Despite tremendous advances in treatment of leukemia that have resulted in increased survival of patients with this disease, therapy for high-risk and relapsed leukemia remains a clinical challenge. This necessitates the development of novel, more potent therapeutic modalities. Epigenetic therapy with various types of inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACi), have demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in a range of malignancies, often with minimal side effects. Dr. Shantu Amin9s group recently reported the development of a potent, novel, selenium-containing HDAC inhibitor (SelSA-1), which showed efficacy against Hodgkin9s lymphoma and chronic myelogenous leukemia cells, as well as against lung cancer and melanoma cell lines. Here we expand efficacy studies of selenium-containing HDAC inhibitors to include a broad range of hematopoietic malignancies and begin to address the drug effects on cellular functions. We tested the therapeutic efficacy of two novel HDAC inhibitors - SelSa-1 and SelSa-2 on acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia and non-Hodgkin9s B cell lymphoma. Cell proliferation assays demonstrated sharp dose-dependent cytotoxic effects in all the above cell lines at 96-hours post-treatment. Quantitative analysis showed that SelSa-1 and SelSa-2 have distinct effects in different types of hematopoietic malignancies. In T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and in non-Hodgkin9s lymphoma, both SelSa-1 and Selsa-2 have similar therapeutic activity with IC50 = 1uM and 1-2uM, respectively. In B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, SelSa-1 has superior therapeutic activity compared to SelSa-2 with IC50 = 0.2 uM vs. 1.25, respectively. In acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML) without the t:15:17 translocation, SelSa-1 was superior to SelSa-2 (IC50= 0.25uM and 1uM respectively), while APML with the t:15:17 translocation showed similar sensitivity to both compounds with an IC50 of 1-2uM. Cell cycle analysis performed by flow cytometry revealed that these agents induce G1-cell cycle arrest in leukemia cells. Preliminary data suggest that both SelSa-1 and SelSa-2 have a synergistic effect with standard chemotherapeutic agents that induce DNA-damage. In summary, these results demonstrate the effectiveness of two selenium-containing analogs of SAHA, SelSA-1 and 2, on leukemia cells from multiple hematopoietic lineages. Additional studies to identify detailed mechanisms of the effects of these drugs on cellular function are underway. Citation Format: Mansi Sachdev, Dhimant Desai, Sunil Muthusami, Chandrika Gowda, Chunhua Song, Shantu G. Amin, Sinisa Dovat. Therapeutic efficacy of novel selenium-containing HDACi in acute leukemia. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 5539. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-5539
Why Do Airline Pilots and Flight Crews Have an Increased Incidence of Melanoma

Because of the unique occupational risk factors of commercial pilots, cabin crew, and flight attendants, numerous studies have investigated their risks for variousdiseases. Ingeneral,mortality from cancer, as well as cardiovascular, respiratory, and cerebrovascular diseases, is significantly lower inpilotsandcabincrewcomparedwith the general population.1 However, despite their overall improved healthoutcomes, pilots and flight crewhavebeen reported tohave an increased incidence and/or mortality frommelanoma.2,3 The report published in JAMADermatology in January by Sanlorenzoetal3 assessed the riskofmelanomaamongairlinepilotsand cabin crew in ameta-analysis that included 19previously published studies.Thestudies reflectdata from1943to2008and includemore than 266 000 pilots and cabin crew. These 19 studies were selected because they reported a standardized incidence ratio (SIR) or a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) or had relevant data to allow for calculation of these established measures of disease incidenceanddeath.Pilots andcabin crewwere found tohaveapproximately twice the incidence ofmelanomawhen comparedwith the generalpopulation (SIR,2.21 [95%CI, 1.76-2.77]), andmortality from melanomaamongpilotswassignificantly increased(SMR, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.27-2.63]). Because of the observational and retrospective nature of the 19 studies, it was not possible to control for certain potentially confounding factors suchas aggregate flight time, Fitzpatrick skin type, and lifestyle.3 Pilots and cabin crew are regularly exposed to higher levels of cosmic radiation during flight,4,5 and it is important to consider whether this additional radiation exposure is associated with their increased risk of melanoma. Cosmic (ionizing) radiation is composedof high-energyparticles (neutrons andgamma rays) that are capable of penetrating theplane’s exterior.4 Lower levels of cosmic radiation reach the earth’s surface and lead to annual background radiation exposure of approximately 2mSv per person (to convert JAMADERMATOLOGY
Host-parasite relationship of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Lymnaea palustris. II. Histopathology.

Abstract Larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis cause histopathologic changes in Lymnaea palustris, being characterized by mechanical damage to cells and nonspecific cellular responses to the larvae. Amoebocytes, fibroblasts, and pigment cells accumulate around larvae, encapsulating them in nodules. The intensity of the response is variable.
An Uncertainty-Type Relation Between Aperture Size and Beam Width

The product of aperture size and beam width for a continuous linear array of isotropic radiators is shown to be bounded below by a positive constant that depends upon the supergain ratio γ and the fraction of the radiated power contained in the main beam. The approach employed is patterned after the usual derivation of the uncertainty relation in quantum mechanics.
Dynamic adaptive disaster simulation: developing a predictive model of emergency behavior using cell phone and GIS data

This paper presents our approach to developing a proof-of-concept Dynamic Adaptive Disaster Simulation (DADS), a system capable of predicting population movements in large-scale disasters by analyzing real-time cell phone data. It has been difficult for existing computer models to accomplish such tasks --- they are often too inflexible to make realistic forecasts in complex scenarios. This has led to reactive, uninformed emergency response tactics with disastrous consequences. DADS resolves these issues by continuously updating simulations with real-time data. It accomplishes this by tracing movements of cell phone users on a GIS space, then using geospatial simulation algorithms to infer regional preferences. Inferences are incorporated into agent-based simulations which model future population movements through fluid dynamics principles. Due to privacy concerns, this research utilized synthetic data that were generated to mimic the cell phone location data associated with a recent disaster. Validation techniques such as Manhattan distance show that the simulation is both internally and predictively valid. DADS can adaptively generate accurate movement predictions in disaster situations, demonstrating a modeling paradigm that is highly applicable to population modeling and to other disciplines of computer simulation.
Atomic force microscopic imaging of seeded fibril formation and fibril branching by the Alzheimer's disease amyloid-β protein

Abstract Background: Amyloid plaques composed of the fibrillar form of the amyloid-β protein (Aβ) are the defining neuropathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A detailed understanding of the time course of amyloid formation could define steps in disease progression and provide targets for therapeutic intervention. Amyloid fibrils, indistinguishable from those derived from an AD brain, can be produced in vitro using a seeded polymerization mechanism. In its simplest form, this mechanism involves a cooperative transition from monomeric Aβ to the amyloid fibril without the buildup of intermediates. Recently, however, a transient species, the Aβ amyloid protofibril, has been identified. Here, we report studies of Aβ amyloid protofibril and its seeded transition into amyloid fibrils using atomic force microscopy. Results: Seeding of the protofibril-to-fibril transition was observed. Preformed fibrils, but not protofibrils, effectively seeded this transition. The assembly state of Aβ influenced the rate of seeded growth, indicating that protofibrils are fibril assembly precursors. The handedness of the helical surface morphology of fibrils depended on the chirality of Aβ. Finally, branched and partially wound fibrils were observed. Conclusions: The temporal evolution of morphologies suggests that the protofibril-to-fibril transition is nucleation-dependent and that protofibril winding is involved in that transition. Fibril unwinding and branching may be essential for the post-nucleation growth process. The protofibrillar assembly intermediate is a potential target for AD therapeutics aimed at inhibiting amyloid formation and AD diagnostics aimed at detecting presymptomatic disease.
Balance characteristics of persons with osteoporosis

Abstract Objective: People affected by osteoporosis are at particular risk for bone fractures caused by falls. Preventive intervention depends on first describing the risk factors for falls present in this population as a group and as individuals. In this preliminary study, balance characteristics of women with and without osteoporosis were measured with computerized dynamic posturography (CDP). Design: A case control design was selected to compare the balance characteristics of each group of patients with osteoporosis. Setting: Testing was performed in the vestibular assessment area of our multispecialty clinic. Subjects: Patient groups were selected from within our case load. Ten women with osteoporosis were compared with six women with osteoporosis and kyphosis (Cobb angle more than 54°) and with five age-matched normal subjects. Interventions: Because this was an observational study, no interventions were used. Main Outcome Measure: Averaged results from all trials of sensory organization tests 5 and 6, with use of sway amplitude and balance strategy scores, were used to compare the performance of each patient group. Results: Both groups with osteoporosis had different balance control strategies than the group without osteoporosis. Specifically, those with osteoporosis had greater use of hip strategies for maintaining balance than did the normal group. Those with kyphosis also had greater postural sway than either of the other two groups. Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that there are differences in balance control strategies and sway amplitude between patients with and those without osteoporosis. Further study is recommended in which CDP is used to clarify and confirm these differences. Individual CDP results can be used to optimize habilitative management of these patients.
Estimation and projections of demand for crude petroleum and refined petroleum products

Abstract The purpose of this article is to estimate the demand and supply relationships of the US petroleum market. By measuring the elasticities and cross-elasticities of demand, the relative responsiveness of changes in prices and income and the possibility of substitution of alternative energy resources for petroleum are determined. The demand for refined products is also estimated. Finally, through projection of the demand for, and the domestic supply and imports of crude petroleum under alternative assumptions, a measure of the magnitude of physical reserves and capital requirements is obtained for policies of self-sufficiency and free trade.
Combining Ability for Yield Characteristics and Earliness of Pink Bollworm‐Resistant Cotton

Some germplasm lines of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., that show resistance to pink bollworm (PBW), Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), also carry agronomic properties that could enhance derived germplasm
CSF-1 expression is upregulated in astrocyte cultures by IL-1 and TNF and affects microglial proliferation and morphology in organotypic cultures

Astrocytes produce factors that control the growth and differentiation of many cell types within the CNS as well as play a role in the generation of the immune response. The extent to which these two functions interact has received less attention. We now report that astrocyte cultures established from rat brain endogenously express mRNA and low levels of secreted biologically active protein for the monocyte growth and differentiation factor colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1). Exposure of astrocytes to interleukin-1 (IL-1) and/or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) upregulated the expression of CSF-1 mRNA and protein. Following treatment with 100 U/ml of TNF, IL-1, or TNF+IL-1, maximum CSF-1 mRNA expression was observed at 3 hr. In the presence of IL-1 an increase in biologically active CSF-1 was detected in the astrocyte conditioned medium at 6 hr. These data indicate that the expression of CSF-1 by astrocytes can be modulated by exposure to the cytokines IL-1 and TNF. To determine whether CSF-1 provides a mitogenic signal for microglia during development, mouse spinal cord organotypic cultures were exposed to recombinant mouse CSF-1 (rmCSF-1), resulting in proliferation of microglia by 7 days and an increase in the number of ramified microglia over ameboid microglia by 14 days.
Filipino and American Student Perceptions of Teacher Effectiveness.

Filipino and American undergraduate students rated college instructor characteristics according to their perceived importance for effective teaching. Items were selected to reflect relevant value orientations in Filipino and American cultures. Factor analysis of the ratings revealed six underlying dimensions. MANOVA results showed that the group ratings on the six corresponding subscales were significantly different. Discriminant function analysis revealed that Filipino students rated items pertaining to authoritarianism and personal appearance of the instructor as significantly more important for effective teaching than did American students. This suggests that cross-cultural differences in perceptions of effective teaching may be predictable from a knowledge of both similar and conflicting value orientations in the specific cultures. Implications for the academic adjustment of students from different cultures were discussed.
Violence Against Women: A Worldwide Problem:

This short overview makes it clear that the problem does exist worldwide. The healthcare community bas not taken a leadership position against this crime. Only slowly is there acknowledgment by the bealthcare community and those in power that a grave problem exists. (excerpt)