cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do inflammation and procoagulation biomarkers contribute to the metabolic syndrome cluster

The metabolic syndrome (MetS), in addition to its lipid, metabolic, and anthropomorphic characteristics, is associated with a prothrombotic and the proinflammatory state. However, the relationship of inflammatory biomarkers to MetS is not clear. To study the association between a group of thrombotic and inflammatory biomarkers and the MetS. Ten conventional MetS risk variables and ten biomarkers were analyzed. Correlations, factor analysis, hexagonal binning, and regression of each biomarker with the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) MetS categories were performed in the Family Heart Study (n = 2,762). Subjects in the top 75% quartile for plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI1) had a 6.9 CI95 [4.2–11.2] greater odds (p < 0.0001) of being classified with the NCEP MetS. Significant associations of the corresponding top 75% quartile to MetS were identified for monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP1, OR = 2.19), C-reactive protein (CRP, OR = 1.89), interleukin-6 (IL6, OR = 2.11), sICAM1 (OR = 1.61), and fibrinogen (OR = 1.86). PAI1 correlated significantly with all obesity and dyslipidemia variables. CRP had a high correlation with serum amyloid A (0.6) and IL6 (0.51), and a significant correlation with fibrinogen (0.46). Ten conventional quantitative risk factors were utilized to perform multivariate factor analysis. Individual inclusion, in this analysis of each biomarker, showed that, PAI1, CRP, IL6, and fibrinogen were the most important biomarkers that clustered with the MetS latent factors. PAI1 is an important risk factor for MetS. It correlates significantly with most of the variables studied, clusters in two latent factors related to obesity and lipids, and demonstrates the greatest relative odds of the 10 biomarkers studied with respect to the MetS. Three other biomarkers, CRP, IL6, and fibrinogen associate also importantly with the MetS cluster. These 4 biomarkers can contribute in the MetS risk assessment.
Bulk magnetic susceptibility shifts in nmr studies of compartmentalized samples: use of paramagnetic reagents

The bulk magnetic susceptibility (BMS) shift of a nuclear resonance frequency caused by a paramagnetic compound is of importance in vivo NMR, both magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging. However, since it is a rather complicated phenomenon, it has been the source of many misinterpretations in the literature. We have reworked and organized the theory of the BMS shift. This includes accounting for the important effects of local susceptibility. We have conducted experiments on phantom samples in order to illustrate the principles involved. Our phantoms consist of capillaries and coaxial cylinders. They simulate the situations of blood vessels oriented parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field and the interstitial spaces surrounding them. In most of our experiments, the paramagnetic compound was one of several different hyperfine shift reagents for cation resonances. These were chosen to cover a range of potencies, in both magnitude and sign, of the shifts they produce. However, we also used a reagent which was incapable of inducing a hyperfine shift and thus could cause only a BMS shift. Although we report only 23Na spectra in this paper, the latter samples simulate the cases where one observes the water 1H resonance in experiments employing hyperfine shift reagents for cations. There have been a number of such investigations recently reported in the literature. The principles considered in this paper allow us to offer new interpretations for the results of several experiments published in the last few years.
Human Capital, Shared Expertise, and the Likelihood of Impasse in Corporate Acquisitions

Human capital often cannot be acquired in efficient labor markets due to poor information or firm-specific skills that develop over time. Since such knowledge may be critical to firms building a strategic capability, it is not surprising that many acquisitions occur in human capital-intensive industries. Yet, the uncertainty associated with human capital increases the risk of overbidding. If the buyer bids conservatively, the target may reject the offer or rival bidders may emerge. In contrast, aggressive bidders may need to back out of the transaction if due diligence reveals unanticipated risks. Either way, impasse is more likely for targets in human capital-intensive industries. This study explores whether a shared expertise mitigates these hazards. Findings suggest that similar expertise is particularly important when acquiring human capital-intensive targets. Transactions involving unrelated buyers of such targets are less likely to close. This has implications for diversification theory and the reso...
Decreased signal in Emit assays of drugs of abuse in urine after ingestion of aspirin: potential for false-negative results.

During routine drug analysis with the Syva d.a.u. Emit immunoassays we observed a high frequency of urines with lower rates of changes in absorbance (delta A R) than the rate for a drug-free urine calibrator. Many of these urines contained salicylates. Among 40 urines with apparent salicylate concentrations between 15 and 420 mg/dL tested for benzoylecgonine (BE), 20 had delta A R < -4 (range +2 to -28 mA/min). The rates decreased with increasing salicylate: delta A R = -0.057 x (salicylate, mg/dL) -0.22 mA/min (r = 0.85, n = 40, P < 0.01). Urines from 100 control subjects (no salicylate) had mean +/- SD delta A R values of -1.05 +/- 2.2 mA/min (range +3 to -7; only two were < -4 mA/min). Although direct addition of salicylic acid (200 mg/dL) to urine specimens did not reproduce the negative bias, ingestion of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) did by -0.09 mA/min per 1 mg/dL (72.4 mumol/L) salicylate. Negative biases observed for other Emit d.a.u. assays after salicylate ingestion lead us to conclude that ingestion of therapeutic doses of aspirin may cause false-negative results for drug screens in urines by this technology.
Kicking the digital dog: a longitudinal investigation of young adults' victimization and cyber-displaced aggression.

Abstract Using the general strain theory as a theoretical framework, the present longitudinal study investigated both face-to-face and cyber victimization in relation to cyber-displaced aggression. Longitudinal data were collected from 130 (70 women) young adults who completed measures assessing their victimization (face-to-face and cyber), cyber aggression, and both face-to-face and cyber-displaced aggression. Findings indicated that victimization in both social contexts (face-to-face and cyber) contributed to cyber-displaced aggression 6 months later (Time 2), after controlling for gender, cyber aggression, face-to-face displaced aggression, and cyber-displaced aggression at Time 1. A significant two-way interaction revealed that Time 1 cyber victimization was more strongly related to Time 2 cyber-displaced aggression when young adults had higher levels of face-to-face victimization at Time 1. Implications of these findings are discussed as well as a call for more research investigating displaced aggres...
Global Warming: The Origin and Nature of the Alleged Scientific Consensus

“Global warming” is perceived in the literate word as both real and dangerous. However many aspects of the catastrophic scenario have already been largely discounted by the scientific community. In this paper I shall review the science associated with global change, including lack of conformance of data from computer models with data taken from the satellite measures.
Phylogeny of Dissimilatory Sulfite Reductases Supports an Early Origin of Sulfate Respiration

Microorganisms that use sulfate as a terminal electron acceptor for anaerobic respiration play a central role in the global sulfur cycle. Here, we report the results of comparative sequence analysis of dissimilatory sulfite reductase (DSR) genes from closely and distantly related sulfate-reducing organisms to infer the evolutionary history of DSR. A 1.9-kb DNA region encoding most of the α and β subunits of DSR could be recovered only from organisms capable of dissimilatory sulfate reduction with a PCR primer set targeting highly conserved regions in these genes. All DNA sequences obtained were highly similar to one another (49 to 89% identity), and their inferred evolutionary relationships were nearly identical to those inferred on the basis of 16S rRNA. We conclude that the high similarity of bacterial and archaeal DSRs reflects their common origin from a conserved DSR. This ancestral DSR was either present before the split between the domains Bacteria, Archaea, and Eucarya or laterally transferred between Bacteria and Archaea soon after domain divergence. Thus, if the physiological role of the DSR was constant over time, then early ancestors of Bacteria and Archaea already possessed a key enzyme of sulfate and sulfite respiration.
Confession and Forgiveness: A Pastoral Reading of A Father's Son by Lionel Dahmer

This paper offers a pastoral reading of the memoir written by Lionel Dahmer, the father of the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. I suggest that the literary genre of the memoir provided Lionel with a means of confession that enabled him to process three particular experiences related to his son—namely, grief, shame, and regret. I also suggest that the writing of this confession enabled Lionel to forgive his son for his son’s various failures and, potentially, to forgive himself for his own failures as a father, though this latter point can only be offered speculatively. This memoir is inherently pastoral and theological because it deals with the themes of confession and forgiveness, and, theologically, the memoir also may be viewed as a work of penance. One theological upshot, based on Lionel’s experience, entails challenging the idea that God the Father abandoned God the Son on the cross: A more divine model of fatherhood would be one in which a father could embrace the shame of standing by his son when the chips are down.
The Culture of Affluence: Psychological Costs of Material Wealth

Children of affluence are generally presumed to be at low risk. However, recent studies have suggested problems in several domains—notably, substance use, anxiety, and depression—and 2 sets of potential causes: pressures to achieve and isolation from parents. Recognizing the limited awareness of these issues, the objectives in this paper are to collate evidence on the nature of problems among the wealthy and their likely causes. The first half of the paper is focused on disturbances among affluent children and the second half is focused on characteristics of their families and neighborhoods. Widespread negative sentiments toward the rich are then discussed, and the paper concludes with suggestions for future work with families at the upper end of the socioeconomic spectrum.
The Influence of Habitat on the Distribution and Abundance of Metacercariae of Macravestibulum obtusicaudum (Pronocephalidae) in a Small Indiana Stream

Snails (Elimia livescens) from a central Indiana stream were examined for encysted metacercariae of Macravestibulum obtusicaudum (Pronocephalide) to determine the distribution and abundance of this parasite on its second intermediate host. Five samples of snails were collected, with 2 samples being restricted to high-flow (riffle) or low-flow (pool) areas of the stream. Snails (n = 386) were measured for shell length; the shell and the inner and outer surfaces of the operculum (in most samples) were examined for metacercariae. Seventy-five percent of snails (overall) had encysted metacercariae (range, 52-97%), primarily on the opercula. A significantly lower proportion of snails from riffles were infected, and these snails had significantly fewer cysts as well. Snails collected from pools showed up to 10 times as many metacercariae than those from riffles, although there was no significant difference in the proportion of snails with intramolluscan infections of M. obtusicaudum. The inner opercular surface appeared to be the preferred site of encystment in both flow regimes. Differences in microhabitats, in terms of both snails in the stream and metacercariae on the snails, clearly must be considered when evaluating the infection patterns of this trematode.
Modern Instrumentation of the Pediatric Occiput and Upper Cervical Spine: Review Article

Background Rigid screw rod techniques for cervical stabilization are widely used in adults. The benefits of rigid internal fixation include increased fusion rates, improvements in deformity correction, and diminished immobilization requirements. Applications of these techniques in children are challenging due to size constraints and the pathologic conditions encountered which require instrumented cervical fusions. Preparation as well as thorough understanding of the anatomy and surgical techniques is paramount to surgical safety in pediatric patients.
Integrated Ground Reaction Force Sensing and Terrain Classification for Small Legged Robots

We present the design and implementation of a miniature tactile sensing array for ground reaction force measurements in small legged robots. Dynamic ground pressure data from the sensors were collected using a small two-legged runner and used to train a support vector machine (SVM) terrain classifier. Results show that tactile sensing data, in combination with information about the motor torque and robot gait, are sufficient to distinguish among hard, slippery, grassy and granular terrain types with>90% accuracy in a single stride. The most useful classifier features include stride frequency, peak motor torque, and peak and average tactile sensor readings.
BEHAVIORAL AND BIOCHEMICAL EVIDENCE FOR SPECIES DISTINCTIVENESS IN THE FIDDLER CRABS, UCA SPECIOSA AND U. SPINIZARPA

The fiddler crabs (Genus Uca) have been widely used as experimental animals in several areas of biological research. Their behavior, especially social communication, has long attracted the attention of ethologists and evolutionary biologists. Recent progress in these fields was summarized by Crane (1975). There are over 60 known species, ranging through the tropics and the temperate zone. They face diverse problems of adaptation to different tidal regimes (Barnwell, 1968, 1976; Powers, 1975), temperature patterns (Vernberg, 1969), salinity and substrate composition (Teal, 1958). The crabs have also been used in endocrinological (Fingerman, 1974), genetic (Selander et al., 1971), and neurophysiological (Hyatt, 1975; Salmon and Horch, 1976) investigations, and as assay organisms for evaluating the long-term effects of pollutants upon behavior and survival in marine habitats (Krebs and Burns, 1977). An important generalization emerging from these studies is that there are many species-typical differences in behavior and physiological processes. It therefore becomes necessary to identify species accurately so that valid correlations and future comparisons can be made. The systematics of the group, based primarily upon morphological characters (e.g., Rathbun, 1918; Crane, 1975), may not be able to provide an accurate assessment of species distinctiveness, at least for those forms
THU0552 Patients with Osteoarthritis have Better Functional Outcomes Compared to Rheumatoid Arthritis After Primary Hip Arthroplasty: A Cohort Study

Background Pain and functional limitation are the main reasons for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty Objectives To assess whether patient-reported outcomes (PROs) differ by underlying diagnosis in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods We used the prospectively collected data from the Mayo Clinic Total Joint Registry to assess the association of diagnosis with index knee functional improvement, moderate-severe pain and moderate-severe activity limitation at 2- and 5-year follow-up after primary THA using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are presented. Results There were 7,139 primary THAs at 2-years and 4,234 at 5-years. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, at 2-year follow-up, compared to RA/inflammatory arthritis, OA were significantly associated with odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] of moderate-severe activity limitation with OR 0.5 [95% CI: 0.3, 0.8] (p=0.01) at 2-years, but not at 5-years, OR of 0.7 (95% CI, 0.4, 1.4). There was no significant association of diagnosis with pain at 2- or 5-years. A diagnosis of avascular necrosis of bone (AVN) was associated with higher odds of moderate-severe pain with OR of 2.8 (95% CI, 0.9, 8.5; p=0.06) and 4.1 [95% CI: 1.2, 14.1] (p=0.02) at 5-years. No significant association of AVN with moderate-severe ADL limitation was noted at 2- or 5-years. Conclusions We found that patients with OA had better ADL outcomes compared to patients with RA/inflammatory arthritis, but similar pain outcomes after primary THA. AVN is associated with worse pain outcomes, but similar ADL outcomes compared to RA/inflammatory arthritis after primary THA. Insights into mediators of these relationships need to be investigated to understand how xxx influences outcomes after TKA. Disclosure of Interest None Declared
VisTrees: fast indexes for interactive data exploration

Visualizations are arguably the most important tool to explore, understand and convey facts about data. As part of interactive data exploration, visualizations might be used to quickly skim through the data and look for patterns. Unfortunately, database systems are not designed to efficiently support these workloads. As a result, visualizations often take very long to produce, creating a significant barrier to interactive data analysis.In this paper, we focus on the interactive computation of histograms for data exploration. To address this issue, we present a novel multi-dimensional index structure called VisTree. As a key contribution, this paper presents several techniques to better align the design of multi-dimensional indexes with the needs of visualization tools for data exploration. Our experiments show that the VisTree achieves a speed increase of up to three orders of magnitude compared to traditional multi-dimensional indexes and enables an interactive speed of below 500ms even on large data sets.
Hybrid control for tracking of invariant manifolds

Abstract This paper presents a hybrid control method that controls to unstable equilibria of nonlinear systems by taking advantage of systems’ free dynamics. The approach uses a stable manifold tracking objective in a computationally efficient, optimization-based switching control design. Resulting nonlinear controllers are closed-loop and can be computed in real-time. Our method is validated for the cart–pendulum and the pendubot inversion problems. Results show the proposed approach conserves control effort compared to tracking the desired equilibrium directly. Moreover, the method avoids parameter tuning and reduces sensitivity to initial conditions. The resulting feedback map for the cart–pendulum has a switching structure similar to existing energy based swing-up strategies. We use the Lyapunov function from these prior works to numerically verify local stability for our feedback map. However, unlike the energy based swing-up strategies, our approach does not rely on pre-derived, system-specific switching controllers. We use hybrid optimization to automate switching control synthesis on-line for nonlinear systems.
Inclusive Games: A Multimodal Experience for Blind Players

Electronic games have an important role in the human development so we can face the world of constantly changing technologies. Considering that the most of games is grounded in the interaction through visual elements and that the most of alternate games for blind is less attractive to non-blind people, we have developed a prototype of a 3D environment with dense sound experience and haptic feedback that would allow to blind and non-blind users orientate and move through it. Designing this environment like a game, we have employed blindfolded and non-blindfolded users to evaluate the major interaction issues in order to refine the software and make it mature to be used for the research with blind subjects.
"Context" from the human perspective: dispositions and practice

As the notion of ubiquitous computing moves from abstract ideal to collective reality, a number of opportunities emerge that have the potential to dramatically change the devices that populate our daily lives and the patterns of interaction that those devices engender. To ensure that ubiquitous technologies enable useful interactions, we need to incorporate a more expressive notion of context, including how it is enacted, how it is identified, and how it is understood and utilized. This paper presents such an approach, highlighting the ways in which context can be defined in practice through the identification of the human dispositions that shape our everyday activities. These dispositions provide a shared vocabulary for technologies and its users to more effectively mediate meaningful interactions.
In search of an inclusive approach: Measuring non-market values for the effects of complex dam, hydroelectric and river system operations

Abstract Hydroelectric dams have social, cultural, and environmental impacts on society through both alterations of riverine effects (both downstream and in reservoirs) and the production and distribution of hydropower in a broader geographical area. Management of complex dam, hydroelectric, and river systems frequently requires tradeoffs between alternative operational profiles, each with its own set of heterogeneous external effects. Substantial evidence suggests that segments of the public hold non-market values, including non-use values, for both riverine environmental effects and a wide array of external effects of hydropower production and distribution. However, non-market non-use valuation exercises related to re-purposing dam operations continue to focus exclusively on downstream external effects, calling into question their usefulness in decision-making processes. Focusing on the Glen Canyon Dam (GCD), a critical source of hydropower and peaking capacity on the Colorado River, US, we measure non-market values, expected to be significantly composed of non-use values, using the contingent valuation (CV) method for two proposed management options inclusive of multiple social, cultural, and environmental effects of both downstream riverine effects and hydropower production and distribution in the broader basin. To provide a defensible basis for inclusion of relevant external effects in the valuation exercise, we undertook a multi-year study of the GCD policy domain. Using a nationally-representative, address-based CV internet survey, results from an advisory referendum voting format suggest that the average US household has a median net willingness to pay (WTP) to continue existing GCD operations of $21.51 per year [95% CI: $2.98, $40.04] after accounting for WTP to change operations under the US Department of Interior's preferred alternative. Net non-market value for continuing operations is $2.9 billion per year, aggregating across US households.
Establishing and Maintaining an Extensive Library of Patient-Derived Xenograft Models

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models have recently emerged as a highly desirable platform in oncology and are expected to substantially broaden the way in vivo studies are designed and executed and to reshape drug discovery programs. However, acquisition of patient-derived samples, and propagation, annotation and distribution of PDXs are complex processes that require a high degree of coordination among clinic, surgery and laboratory personnel, and are fraught with challenges that are administrative, procedural and technical. Here, we examine in detail the major aspects of this complex process and relate our experience in establishing a PDX Core Laboratory within a large academic institution.
Hot water extraction as a pretreatment for reducing syngas inorganics impurities – A parametric investigation on switchgrass and loblolly pine bark

Abstract The effects of hot water extraction on the removal of inorganic impurities (N, S, Na, K, Mg and Ca) in biomass that are detrimental to gasification were investigated on switchgrass and loblolly pine bark. As hot water extraction severity increased from 13 to 141 h °C, the extraction liquor pH decreased from 6.0 to 4.5 for switchgrass and 3.6 to 3.1 for pine bark, thus resulting in 20.7–69.6% of ash reduction for switchgrass and 57.0–73.3% for pine bark, respectively. In addition, the nitrogen content which results in ammonia (NH3) formation was reduced by 9.3–22.9% for switchgrass and 1.0–6.8% for pine bark following increment of severity. Furthermore, sulfur which leads to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) formation was reduced from 48.3 to 62.5% and 5.6 to 17.3% for switchgrass and pine bark, respectively. The range of potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium reductions were 94.9–98.8, 47.9–72.4, 58.7–83.5 and 8.5–13.0 for switchgrass and 50.8–67.5, 29.2–60.1, 9.7–50.8 and 3.3–33.0% for pine bark. Finally, statistical analysis was carried out on the statistical significance of the extraction temperature and time as well as their interaction on the removal of inorganic impurities. The extraction temperature, time, and the interaction differed in their effect on liquor pH, ash reduction, mass loss, and reduction of individual inorganics.
Genetic diversity of dihydrochalcone content in Malus germplasm

Dihydrochalcones, beneficial phenolic compounds, are abundant in Malus Mill. species, particularly in vegetative tissues and seeds. Phloridzin (phloretin 2′-O-glucoside) is the primary dihydrochalcone in most Malus species including cultivated apple, Malus × domestica Borkh. A few species contain sieboldin (3-hydroxyphloretin 4′-O-glucoside) or trilobatin (phloretin 4′-O-glucoside) in place of phloridzin, and interspecific hybrids may contain combinations of phloridzin, sieboldin, and trilobatin. Proposed health benefits of phloridzin include anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic properties, suggesting the potential to breed apples for nutritional improvement. Sieboldin and trilobatin are being investigated for nutritional value and unique chemical properties. Although some of the biosynthetic steps of dihydrochalcones are known, little is known about the extent of variation within Malus germplasm. This research explores the genetic diversity of leaf dihydrochalcone content and composition in Malus germplasm. Dihydrochalcone content was measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) from leaf samples of 377 accessions, representing 50 species and interspecific hybrids from the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) National Plant Germplasm System Malus collection. Within the accessions sampled, 284 accessions contained phloridzin as the primary dihydrochalcone, one had only trilobatin, two had phloridzin and trilobatin, 36 had sieboldin and trilobatin, and 54 had all three. Leaf phloridzin content ranged from 17.3 to 113.7 mg/g with a heritability of 0.76 across all accessions. Beyond the potential of dihydrochalcones for breeding purposes, dihydrochalcone composition may be indicative of hybridization or species misclassification.
Commentary on The inescapable corporeality of occupation: Integrating Merleau-Ponty into the study of occupation (Bailliard, Carroll, & Dallman, 2018)

This invited commentary responds to Bailliard, Carroll, and Dallman’s (2018) article introducing the relevance of key concepts of Merleau-Ponty to occupational science. That work is considered in r...
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents

The past decade has seen a significant increase in our understanding of the unique impact that trauma may have on the developmental trajectory of children and adolescents. We examine the recent clinical and research literature regarding risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in childhood and the various manifestations in which PTSD may present in childhood and adolescence. Case vignettes are presented to elucidate issues that often emerge in the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD in childhood and adolescence.
Myelination and regional domain differentiation of the axon.

During evolution, as organisms increased in complexity and function, the need for the ensheathment and insulation of axons by glia became vital for faster conductance of action potentials in nerves. Myelination, as the process is termed, facilitates the formation of discrete domains within the axolemma that are enriched in ion channels, and macromolecular complexes consisting of cell adhesion molecules and cytoskeletal regulators. While it is known that glia play a substantial role in the coordination and organization of these domains, the mechanisms involved and signals transduced between the axon and glia, as well as the proteins regulating axo–glial junction formation remain elusive. Emerging evidence has shed light on the processes regulating myelination and domain differentiation, and key molecules have been identified that are required for their assembly and maintenance. This review highlights these recent findings, and relates their significance to domain disorganization as seen in several demyelinating disorders and other neuropathies.
Abstract A22: Functional analysis of PGE2 pathway members EP4 and MRP4 in ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancy in the United States. Most cases of ovarian cancer present in late stages, leading to recurrent disease that is incurable and often fatal due to innate or acquired chemoresistance; therefore, new therapies are desperately needed. Cyclo-oygenases, COX-1 and COX-2, are enzymes that catalyze the production of the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a lipid mediator that is functionally linked to progression of many cancers including breast and ovarian cancer. PGE2 is exported from the cell via multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (MRP4) where it acts in a paracrine and autocrine manner by activating a family of four G-protein coupled receptors (EP1-4) that are linked to different intracellular signaling pathways. EP2 and EP4 can activate PKA/cAMP, PI3K, and ERK pathways. COX-1 and COX-2 have been shown to be overexpressed in primary ovarian cancer as well as in many ovarian cancer cell lines. We hypothesized that the EP4 receptor is overexpressed in ovarian cancer; that binding of its cognate ligand, PGE2, will drive ovarian cancer progression; and that inhibition of the EP4-mediated signaling will lead to inhibition of ovarian cancer growth and metastasis. In order to test this hypothesis, we analyzed the expression of the EP4 receptor in a human ovarian cancer tissue microarray (TMA) as well as human ovarian cancer cell lines. Immunohistochemical analysis of EP4 on the TMA composed of varying histologies, including serous, endometrioid, and clear cell, as well as normal ovarian tissue revealed that EP4 was expressed in 38.7% of ovarian cancer patients, whereas EP4 was not expressed in the 10 normal ovarian tissue samples. Additionally, in comparison to immortalized human ovarian surface epithelial (HOSE) cells, EP4 is overexpressed in many of the cell lines analyzed, including OVCAR-3, COAV-3, SKOV3, and Kuramochi cells. Blockade of the EP4 receptor via antagonist or siRNA results in a decrease in proliferation, migration, and invasion in ovarian cancer cell lines. In addition to overexpression of EP4, MRP4 was also found to be overexpressed in ovarian cancer cell lines when compared to HOSE cells. Given the role of MRP4 in exporting PGE2 and affecting drug resistance/ sensitivity in breast cancer cell lines, we hypothesize that MRP4 will similarly play a role in modulating the amount of PGE2 in the microenvironment in ovarian cancer, thereby affecting signaling via of EP4 receptor. Functional testing of dual EP4/ MRP4 inhibition may provide much-needed new therapies for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Citation Format: Mc Millan Ching, Cong Fan, Dana Roque, Gautam Rao, Paul Staats, Amy Fulton, Jocelyn Reader. Functional analysis of PGE2 pathway members EP4 and MRP4 in ovarian cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Conference: Addressing Critical Questions in Ovarian Cancer Research and Treatment; Oct 1-4, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2018;24(15_Suppl):Abstract nr A22.
Trumpism: a disfigured Americanism

The current cultural turmoil in the U.S. is much associated with Trumpism. This article asserts that Trumpism has its ideological root in nativism, a cultural tradition perpetuated by John Higham. To point out the disfigured Americanism in Trumpism, this paper theorizes the vertical America and the horizontal America, and dissects their complex interplay and symbiosis in an evolving American culture. The vertical Americanism sets hierarchies to secure power and control as well as maintain racial and cultural “purity;” the horizontal Americanism, epitomized by Martin Luther King and Barack Obama, equalizes and connects across races, creeds, and social classes. The color line (in Dubois’ term) thus becomes a converging and diverging boundary between the two Americas; it harbors and delineates Trumpism. It is argued that disfigurement of Americanism comes from a disruptive and destructive interplay of the vertical and the horizontal in Trump’s America.
Adsorption Behavior of Organic Corrosion Inhibitors on Metal Surfaces—Some New Insights from Molecular Simulations

Some recent efforts toward studying adsorption, aggregation, and self-assembly of corrosion inhibitor molecules near metal/water interfaces via classical molecular simulations are reported. Two dif...
Needle hydrophone transfer function model for characterizing therapeutic transducers

A rigid piston model has been developed to predict needle hydrophone transfer functions. The model predicts that “effective” sensitive element diameter depends on the frequency and can exceed geometrical sensitive element diameter by a factor of up to 2.25. The model predicts harmonic distortion for hydrophone measurements of focused pressure waves, which were modeled using nonlinear plane wave theory for spectral characteristics and Gaussian radial pressure distributions. The pressure wave model was validated by comparing to hydrophone (sensitive element diameter: 85 microns) measurements performed in focal planes of source transducers (3.5 MHz, 64 mm diameter, 89 mm focus and 5 MHz, 19 mm diameter, 38 mm focus). Root mean squared difference (RMSD) between the model fit and measured relative strengths of the first four harmonics was 9% (3.5 MHz transducer) and 11% (5 MHz transducer) where Blackstock’s sigma parameter (JASA, 39, 1019–1026, 1966), which measures extent of nonlinearity, was optimized to fit the data. RMSD between model and measured half width half maxima was 10 ± 5%. Tone bursts from each transducer were measured using needle hydrophones (sensitive element diameters: 200, 400, 600, and 1000 microns). RMSD between model and measured harmonic distortion was 12 ± 4% for the first four harmonics.A rigid piston model has been developed to predict needle hydrophone transfer functions. The model predicts that “effective” sensitive element diameter depends on the frequency and can exceed geometrical sensitive element diameter by a factor of up to 2.25. The model predicts harmonic distortion for hydrophone measurements of focused pressure waves, which were modeled using nonlinear plane wave theory for spectral characteristics and Gaussian radial pressure distributions. The pressure wave model was validated by comparing to hydrophone (sensitive element diameter: 85 microns) measurements performed in focal planes of source transducers (3.5 MHz, 64 mm diameter, 89 mm focus and 5 MHz, 19 mm diameter, 38 mm focus). Root mean squared difference (RMSD) between the model fit and measured relative strengths of the first four harmonics was 9% (3.5 MHz transducer) and 11% (5 MHz transducer) where Blackstock’s sigma parameter (JASA, 39, 1019–1026, 1966), which measures extent of nonlinearity, was optimized to fit...
Simulation of Spherically Imploding Plasma Liners for the PLX-α Project

The Plasma Liner Experimnent-ALPHA (PLX-α project is developing spherically imploding plasma liners as a standoff driver for a plasma-jet-driven magneto-inertial-fusion (PJMIF) concept, in which merging supersonic plasma jets form a plasma liner that compresses a magnetized plasma target to fusion conditions. One main aim of the simulation component of the PLX-α project is to perform highly resolved simulations of supersonic plasma jets at experimental conditions, their propagation and merger, and formation and implosion of liners. Detailed numerical studies of hydrodynamic processes in plasma jets and liners have been performed using the FronTier and SPH codes enhanced with radiation, physical diffusion, and plasma-EOS models. In this talk, we discuss predicted properties of plasma liners, in particular 4π-averaged liner density, ram pressure, and Mach number, the degree of nonuniformity, strength of primary and secondary shock waves, and the scaling of these quantities with the number of plasma jets, initial jet parameters, and other input data. In addition to direct analysis of liner states, simulations also provide synthetic data for direct comparison to experimental data from a multi-chord interferometer, survey and high-resolution spectrometers, and high-speed cameras. A detailed comparison of simulations with the first series of PLX-α experiments operating with 6 and 7 jets will be presented. Verified against experimental data, both codes will be used for predictive simulations of spherical plasma liners for upcoming PLX-α experiments and potential scaled-up future experiments.
An 11.2nW, 0.45V PVT-tolerant Pulse-width Modulated Temperature Sensor in 65 nm CMOS

This paper presents a low power temperature sensor in 65 nm CMOS. The architecture is digital friendly because it creates a pulse-width modulated (PWM) output instead of a DC voltage; hence, it can be directly interfaced with a digital counter instead of a power-hungry analog-to-digital converter. The proposed design does not use a reference current, which is the prime energy consumer in most temperature sensors, due to required feedback amplifiers. Additionally, reference current devices require large voltage headroom while their resistors occupy large die area. The proposed design expresses the output as a ratio, relative to a reference pulse. Therefore, it is less susceptible to process-voltage-temperature (PVT) variation. The proposed design achieves a temperature accuracy of +0.23°C to-0.22°C within the temperature range-20-80°C, while consuming only 11.2nW at 27°C, while operating from a supply voltage as low as 450 mV.
Peri-implantitis prevalence, incidence rate, and risk factors: A study of electronic health records at a U.S. dental school.

Objectives We assessed peri-implantitis prevalence, incidence rate, and associated risk factors by analyzing electronic oral health records (EHRs) in an educational institution. Methods We used a validated reference cohort comprising all patients receiving dental implants over a 3.5-year period (2,127 patients and 6,129 implants). Electronic oral health records of a random 10% subset were examined for an additional follow-up of ≥2.5 years to assess the presence of radiographic bone loss, defined as >2 mm longitudinal increase in the distance between the implant shoulder and the supporting peri-implant bone level (PBL) between time of placement and follow-up. "Intact" implants had no or ≤2 mm PBL increase from baseline. Electronic oral health record notes were reviewed to corroborate a definitive peri-implantitis diagnosis at implants with progressive bone loss. A nested case-control analysis of peri-implantitis-affected implants randomly matched by age with "intact" implants from peri-implantitis-free individuals identified putative risk factors. Results The prevalence of peri-implantitis over an average follow-up of 2 years was 34% on the patient level and 21% on the implant level. Corresponding incidence rates were 0.16 and 0.10 per patient-year and implant-year, respectively. Multiple conditional logistic regression identified ill-fitting fixed prosthesis (OR = 5.9; 95% CI: 1.6-21.1), cement-retained prosthesis (OR = 4.5; 2.1-9.5), and radiographic evidence of periodontitis (OR = 3.6; 1.7-7.6) as statistically associated with peri-implantitis. Implant location in the mandible (OR = 0.02; 0.003-0.2) and use of antibiotics in conjunction with implant surgery (OR = 0.19; 0.05-0.7) emerged as protective exposures. Conclusions Approximately 1/3 of the patients and 1/5 of all implants experienced peri-implantitis. Ill-fitting/ill-designed fixed and cement-retained restorations, and history of periodontitis emerged as the principal risk factors for peri-implantitis.
Reassessing the integrated model of advice-giving in supportive interactions: the moderating roles of need for cognition and communication styles

The present study reassessed the effectiveness of the Integrated Model of Advice-giving with participants of varying levels of need for cognition (NFC) and different communication styles (high- and...
Structure activity relationship towards design of cryptosporidium specific thymidylate synthase inhibitors.

Abstract Cryptosporidiosis is a human gastrointestinal disease caused by protozoans of the genus Cryptosporidium, which can be fatal in immunocompromised individuals. The essential enzyme, thymidylate synthase (TS), is responsible for de novo synthesis of deoxythymidine monophosphate. The TS active site is relatively conserved between Cryptosporidium and human enzymes. In previous work, we identified compound 1, (2-amino-4-oxo-4,7-dihydro-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-methyl-phenyl- l -glutamic acid), as a promising selective Cryptosporidium hominis TS (ChTS) inhibitor. In the present study, we explore the structure-activity relationship around 1 glutamate moiety by synthesizing and biochemically evaluating the inhibitory activity of analogues against ChTS and human TS (hTS). X-Ray crystal structures were obtained for compounds bound to both ChTS and hTS. We establish the importance of the 2-phenylacetic acid moiety methylene linker in optimally positioning compounds 23, 24, and 25 within the active site. Moreover, through the comparison of structural data for 5, 14, 15, and 23 bound in both ChTS and hTS identified that active site rigidity is a driving force in determining inhibitor selectivity.
School–University Partnerships: One Institution’s Efforts to Integrate and Support Teacher Use of High-Leverage Practices:

School–university partnerships have served as possible solutions for many contemporary educational challenges. As centers for clinical practice, they are potential vehicles for the development and ...
Effects of montane watershed development on vulnerability of domestic groundwater supply during drought

Abstract Climate change is expected to reduce recharge to montane aquifers in the western United States, but it is unclear how this will impact groundwater resources in watersheds where intensive surface-water development has disrupted the natural hydrologic regime. To better understand sources of recharge and associated vulnerabilities of groundwater supply in this setting, we made a detailed geochemical survey of domestic wells finished in fractured bedrock throughout the Yuba and Bear River watersheds (Sierra Nevada foothills, northern California) during historic drought (2015–2016). Stable isotopes of water and noble gas recharge temperatures closely tracked atmospheric lapse rates across a broad elevation gradient (100–2000 m), indicating groundwater inputs are dominated by local precipitation that rapidly recharges fractured bedrock during the winter wet-season. However, nearly one-quarter of wells had water isotopes that were fractionated by evaporation and warm recharge temperatures, indicative of mixing with dry-season recharge by surface water. Monte Carlo mixing models suggest evaporation-impacted groundwater samples are mixtures of local rain with an average of 28% ± 13% from diverted surface water that can recharge bedrock aquifers during the dry-season by either irrigation return flow or seepage from extensive distribution infrastructure. Wells that received recharge subsidies from diverted surface water had elevated levels of nitrate and coliform bacteria compared to those replenished exclusively by local precipitation, which are more vulnerable to supply shortage during drought. It is important to consider the impacts of increased surface-water development on the quantity and quality of groundwater recharge in rapidly developing montane watersheds.
Caring for Newborns Born to Mothers With COVID-19: More Questions Than Answers.

* Abbreviations: AAP — : American Academy of Pediatrics CDC — : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 — : coronavirus disease 2019 PCR — : polymerase chain reaction SARS-CoV-2 — : severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 WHO — : World Health Organization As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues, its impact on newborns remains uncertain. Early reports from China suggested that although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection could be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, newborns did not appear to show clinical signs of infection and had negative viral testing results.1,2 More recent reports suggest that, although low, risk of neonatal infection does exist. A recent (as we write this commentary) review identified 27 publications describing 217 newborns born to mothers with COVID-19, of which 21 publications describing 187 newborns were from China.3 Of the 217 newborns, 7 (3%) had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection: 3 had positive serum levels of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M antibodies with negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results, and 4 had positive PCR test results. Beyond the immediate postnatal period, in several case studies, authors report positive SARS-CoV-2 test results in symptomatic newborns in the first month of life, and new reports are published frequently.3–7 The mechanism of neonatal infection is unclear. Vertical transmission during pregnancy is not thought to be likely; SARS-CoV-2 test results on placenta, umbilical cord, amniotic fluid, vaginal secretions, and breast milk samples have uniformly been negative.8 More likely is postnatal infection through horizontal transmission. This uncertainty around neonatal infection risk has led to notable variations in care practices for newborns born to mothers with COVID-19. Hospitals, professional organizations, and public health agencies have interpreted the limited available data in the context of their local environments to develop practice recommendations that then are applied to a wide range of clinical and social conditions. Although there is … Address correspondence to Munish Gupta, MD, MMSc, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 330 Brookline Ave, Rose 339, Boston, MA 02215. E-mail: mgupta{at}bidmc.harvard.edu
Summation and retardation test performance following extinction or Pavlovian conditioned inhibition training

Abstract There is evidence that both Pavlovian conditioned inhibition training and CS-alone extinction trials result in a CS that passes a summation and retardation test. The present experiments compared the extent that these two procedures produced a CS that could pass these tests. Such a comparison could provide insight into the kind of inhibitory learning that results, specifically whether two CSs on the nonreinforced trials compete for the acquisition of inhibitory learning. Very little evidence of competition for inhibitory learning has been obtained in previously published studies. Evidence consistent with more inhibition occurring using the Pavlovian CI procedure than extinction was obtained.