cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract A45: Semaphorin 3C mediates glioma stem cell tumorigenicity and radioresistance

Purpose: Different cancer cell compartments often communicate through soluble factors to facilitate tumor growth. Glioma stem cells (GSCs) are a subset of tumor cells that resist standard therapy to contribute to disease progression. How GSCs employ a distinct secretory program to communicate with and nurture each other over the non-stem tumor cell (NSTC) population is not well defined. Methods/Materials: GSCs were enriched from patient specimens and functionally validated. We used a candidate approach to screen for secreted factors that were preferentially used by GSCs but not NSTCs. Expression was assessed by Western blot, and confirmed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence in vitro and in human and mouse GBM tissues. Ligand-receptor interactions were confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. Rac activity was assessed by Rac-GTP pulldown. Co-culture epistasis experiments were performed using knockdown and recombinant protein approaches. Glioma stem cell marker analysis (CD133, Sox2, Olig2), cell viability (ATP-dependent assays), apoptosis (TUNEL, PI/AnnexinV, cleaved caspase 3/7), self-renewal (tumorsphere formation and limiting dilution assay) and invasion (transwell migration assay) were performed. GSCs were separated in PlexinD1 hi and lo populations by FACS. Radiation (3 Gy) was delivered by Cs-137 irradiator. GSCs were used to establish orthotopic xenograft models of glioblastoma and tumor growth and animal survival were assessed. Results: We have found that GSCs preferentially secrete Sema3C and coordinately express PlexinA2/D1 receptors to activate Rac1/NFkB signaling in an autocrine and paracrine loop to promote their own survival. Importantly, Sema3C is not expressed in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) or NSTCs. Disruption of Sema3C induced apoptosis of GSCs, but not NPCs or NSTCs, and suppressed tumor growth in orthotopic models of glioblastoma. Introduction of activated Rac1 rescued the Sema3C knockdown phenotype in vivo. Furthermore, GSCs that expressed high levels of PlexinD1 receptors were more resistant to radiation, and Sema3C and PlexinD1 were upregulated after irradiation. Together, these data support that Sema3C signaling contributes to radiation resistance. Conclusions: Our study supports targeting Sema3C to break this GSC-specific autocrine/paracrine loop to improve glioblastoma treatment, potentially with a high therapeutic index. Citation Format: Jennifer Yu, Jianghong Man, Shoemake Jocelyn, Wu Qiulian, Jeremy Rich, Shideng Bao. Semaphorin 3C mediates glioma stem cell tumorigenicity and radioresistance. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Brain Cancer Research; May 27-30, 2015; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(23 Suppl):Abstract nr A45.
Petrofacies: Enhancing The Deepwater Reservoir Characterization Effort In West Africa

Deepwater petrofacies are high-order lithofacies associations from detailed core descriptions that are grouped by similarity of log response. Based on log-to-core calibrations using a conventional core training set, petrofacies are rapidly and continuously predicted in uncored intervals or wells using a combination of deterministic and multivariate statistical models, including discriminant function analysis. Such models accurately characterize deepwater lithofacies associations in the slope-channel systems of West Africa. A 75-92% accuracy rate is documented using a well-by-well cross validation technique in which individual cored wells are progressively removed from a six-well core calibration set, and the excluded well's petrofacies are predicted using the remaining five. In this way, the optimistic bias associated with discriminant analysis of spatially correlated log data sets is mitigated. A facies-based approach to petrophysical analyses in deepwater reservoirs significantly enhances the reservoir characterization effort in West Africa. Technical and process improvements are documented at all business stages and at multiple interfaces in the geoscience and reservoir engineering workflow. Examples include: ○ better and more appropriate use of local and regional core data sets as analogs; ○ improved performance predictions from logs; ○ improved integration of geoscience, petrophysical, and reservoir engineering data that ensures a smooth transition between map-based, probabilistic reserves assessments in Exploration and 3D geologic/simulation models in Development; and ○ reduced cycle time resulting from earlier integration of geologic and simulation modeling technologies and data types. In this paper, the process for assigning and predicting petrofacies is presented with case studies that exemplify the value of the approach. Case studies are selected from multiple West Africa fields at various upstream business stages. In one recent exploration well, hydrocarbon pore volume was increased by 15% over previous petrophysical methods.
The Relationship Between Enlistment Body Mass Index and the Development of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the U.S. Military.

ABSTRACTBackground: The incidence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the military has risen dramatically. OSA is considered “service connected” and compensable by the Veterans Administration. The association between body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) measured at initial enlistment and development of OSA has yet to be assessed. Methods: Data were obtained from the Defense Medical Surveillance System, the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, U.S. Department of Defense, Silver Spring, Maryland (inclusive dates:1993–2012; release date: December 2013). A study population of 550,000 randomly-selected active duty enlisted personnel was followed retrospectively from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2012, or until diagnosis with OSA, separation from the military, or death occurred. The main exposure of interest was BMI recorded at time of enlistment. Results: Adjusted hazard ratios for enlistment BMI were calculated using BMI of 23 to 23.9 as reference. Exponentially increasing risk for OSA was observed as BM...
Pilot-plant evaluation of amine flotation of rougher phosphate concentrate in a column cell

In the Florida phosphate industry, a two-stage flotation process is employed for the recovery of phosphate mineral value. In both stages, conventional flotation cells are commonly used. In the present study, the authors evaluated the efficacy of using column flotation in the amine separation of silica from phosphate rougher concentrate. Pilot-plant studies carried out in a 0.45- by 1.2-m dual extraction flotation column (DEC) are presented and compared with plant performance employing conventional flotation cells on both fine and coarse amine feeds.
Polymer fiber-based models of connective tissue repair and healing

Physiologically relevant models of wound healing are essential for understanding the biology of connective tissue repair and healing. They can also be used to identify key cellular processes and matrix characteristics critical for the design of soft tissue grafts. Modeling the various stages of repair post tendon injury, polymer meshes of varying fiber diameter (nano-1 (390 nm) < nano-2 (740 nm) < micro (1420 nm)) were produced. Alignment was also introduced in the nano-2 group to model matrix undergoing biological healing rather than scar formation. The response of human tendon fibroblasts on these model substrates were evaluated over time as a function of fiber diameter and alignment. It was observed that the repair models of unaligned nanoscale fibers enhanced cell growth and collagen synthesis, while these outcomes were significantly reduced in the mature repair model consisting of unaligned micron-sized fibers. Organization of paxillin and actin on unaligned meshes was enhanced on micro- compared to nano-sized fibers, while the expression and activity of RhoA and Rac1 were greater on nanofibers. In contrast, aligned nanofibers promoted early cell organization, while reducing excessive cell growth and collagen production in the long term. These results show that the early-stage repair model of unaligned nanoscale fibers elicits a response characteristic of the proliferative phase of wound repair, while the more mature model consisting of unaligned micron-sized fibers is more representative of the remodeling phase by supporting cell organization while suppressing growth and biosynthesis. Interestingly, introduction of fiber alignment in the nanofiber model alters fibroblast response from repair to healing, implicating matrix alignment as a critical design factor for circumventing scar formation and promoting biological healing of soft tissue injuries.
Electrical detection of spin-momentum locking in Bi2Se3(Conference Presentation)

Topological insulators (TIs) exhibit topologically protected metallic surface states populated by massless Dirac fermions with spin-momentum locking – the carrier spin lies in-plane, locked at right angle to the carrier momentum. An unpolarized charge current should thus create a net spin polarization. Here we show direct electrical detection of this bias current induced spin polarization as a voltage measured on a ferromagnetic (FM) metal tunnel barrier surface contact [1]. The voltage measured at this contact is proportional to the projection of the TI spin polarization onto this axis, and similar data are obtained for two different FM contact structures, Fe/Al2O3 and Co/MgO/graphene. From measurements of the carrier type and sign of the spin voltage for n-Bi2Se3 and p-Sb2Te3, we show that transport measurements can be used to determine the chirality of the spin texture [2]. The chirality inverts as one crosses the Dirac point, so that the carrier spin-momentum locking follows a left-hand rule (clockwise chirality) when the Fermi level is above the Dirac point, and right-hand rule below (counter-clockwise chirality). These results demonstrate simple and direct electrical access to the TI Dirac surface state spin system, provide clear evidence for the spin-momentum locking and bias current-induced spin polarization, and enable utilization of these remarkable properties for future technological applications. [1] C. H. Li, O. M. J. van ‘t Erve, J. T. Robinson, Y. Liu, L. Li , and B. T. Jonker, Nature Nanotech. 9, 218 (2014). [2] C. H. Li, O. M. J. van ‘t Erve, Y. Y. Li, L. Li and B. T. Jonker, under review.
Sex Education Policy: Need for a Standard Definition of Medically Accurate Information:

In comparison with other Western industrialized nations, the rates of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among youth aged 15 to 19 in the United States is higher. Since the 1980s,...
Second Quarter: Violence and American Football

This chapter looks at the role of violence in American football, and how understanding the religious dimensions of violence can help us in understanding how violence functions in American football. While explaining the relevance of all three functions of religious violence in studying American football, the chapter focuses on the social-psychological function (particularly as explained by Rene Girard).
Performance and accuracy of criticality calculations performed using WARP – A framework for continuous energy Monte Carlo neutron transport in general 3D geometries on GPUs

In this companion paper to “Algorithmic Choices in WARP – A Framework for Continuous Energy Monte Carlo Neutron Transport in General 3D Geometries on GPUs” (doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2014.10.039), the WARP Monte Carlo neutron transport framework for graphics processing units (GPUs) is benchmarked against production-level central processing unit (CPU) Monte Carlo neutron transport codes for both performance and accuracy. Neutron flux spectra, multiplication factors, runtimes, speedup factors, and costs of various GPU and CPU platforms running either WARP, Serpent 2.1.24, or MCNP 6.1 are compared. WARP compares well with the results of the production-level codes, and it is shown that on the newest hardware considered, GPU platforms running WARP are between 0.8 and 7.6 times as fast as CPU platforms running production codes. The GPU platforms running WARP are also shown to be between 15% and 50% as expensive to purchase and between 80% and 90% as expensive to operate as equivalent CPU platforms performing at an equal simulation rate.
Bacterial Contamination of CT Equipment: Use of ATP Detection and Culture Results to Target Quality Improvement.

Rationale and Objective This study aimed to evaluate the use of an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) monitoring system to minimize surface contamination on inpatient computed tomography (CT) scanners. Methods The bore, table, and wrap of two quaternary care inpatient CT scanners (load/scanner: ~ 30–40 CT examinations/day) were assayed with bacterial cultures and an ATP detection system during six prospective iterative plan–do–check–act improvement cycles from January 6, 2016 to October 12, 2016. Per-cycle sampling was for eight consecutive weekdays. ATP detection was expressed as relative light units (RLUs) through a luciferase reaction, with >350 RLU considered contaminated per manufacturer recommendations. Culture swabs were placed into 6.5% NaCl broth, a Staphylococcus enrichment broth, and incubated aerobically at 37°C for 48 hours. Positive broths were plated to chromogenic Staphylococcus media. Culture rates (Fisher exact test) and RLU values (Mann-Whitney U test) were compared. Results In Cycle 1, both culture results and median RLU values indicated the wrap was the most contaminated item (positive culture rate: 63% [10/16], median RLU interquartile range: 173 [IQR: 56–640]); however, RLU values were not predictive of per-sample culture results (P = .36). Following iterative improvements, RLU values at Cycle 6 were significantly lower than at peak (P = .02–.04) and within manufacturer's recommendations: all samples: 45 (IQR: 16–87), bore: 26 (IQR: 0–51), table: 68 (IQR: 21–89), wrap: 47 (IQR: 38–121). Conclusion The Velcro wrap is the most contaminated item on a CT scanner, and special processes may be needed to ensure adequate cleansing. ATP detection is a crude surrogate for bacterial culture results but benefits from speed, reduced cost, and greater statistical power.
Essential role of endogenous prolactin and CDK7 in estrogen-induced upregulation of the prolactin receptor in breast cancer cells.

// Raghuveer Kavarthapu 1 , Maria L. Dufau 1 1 Section on Molecular Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Schriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4510, USA Correspondence to: Maria L. Dufau, email: dufaum@mail.nih.gov Keywords: estrogen receptor, prolactin, prolactin receptor, estradiol, STAT5 Received: November 17, 2016 Accepted: February 18, 2017 Published: March 09, 2017 ABSTRACT Our early studies have shown that Estradiol (E 2 )/Estrogen Receptor α (ER) in a non-DNA dependent manner through complex formation with C/EBPβ/SP1 induced transcriptional activation of the generic hPIII promoter and expression of the Prolactin Receptor (PRLR) receptor in MCF-7 cells. Subsequent studies demonstrated effects of unliganded ERα with requisite participation of endogenous PRL on the activation of PRLR transcription. Also, EGF/ERBB1 in the absence of PRL and E 2 effectively induced upregulation of the PRLR. In this study we have delineated the transcriptional mechanism of upregulation of PRLR receptor induced by E 2 incorporating knowledge of the various transcriptional upregulation modalities from our previous studies. Here, we demonstrate an essential requirement of STAT5a induced by PRL via PRLR receptor which associates at the promoter and its interaction with phoshoERα S118. Knock-down of PRL by siRNA significantly reduced E 2 -induced PRLR promoter activity, mRNA and protein expression, recruitment of ERα to the complex at promoter, C/EBPβ association to its DNA site and productive complex formation at hPIII promoter. The specific CDK7 inhibitor (THZ1) that attenuates E 2 -induced ERα phosphorylation at S118 abrogated E 2 -induced PRLR promoter activation. Further studies demonstrated that E 2 induced cell migration was inhibited by PRL siRNA and THZ1 indicating its dependence on PRL/PRLR and CDK7, respectively. Our studies have demonstrated the essential role of endogenous PRL and CDK7 in the upregulation of PRLR by E 2 and provide insights for therapeutic approaches that will mitigate the transcription/expression of PRLR and its participation in breast cancer progression fueled by E 2 and PRL via their cognate receptors.
The Effect of Employment Guarantee Program on Smoking

We test whether employment guarantee programs increase the likelihood of taking up or increasing intensity of smoking? Continuing from income elasticity and health behavior studies on low-income adults in developed countries, we provide a causal test of whether smoking is a normal good for low-income adults in developing countries. Our identification relies on staggered implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Program (NREGA) from 2006 to 2009 in different states in India and controls for self-selection into the program. Based on 2005 and 2012 waves of India Human Development Survey (IHDS) that were conducted before and after implementation of NREGA and using two-stage residual inclusion (2SRI) estimation method, NREGA participants are at least 9.75 percentage point more likely to smoke than those that did not participate in NREGA. The results are robust to alternate specifications. Our study is the first to highlight negative health behaviors resulting from participation in employment guarantee programs.
Creating a context for learning: Activating children’s whole number knowledge prepares them to understand fraction division

When children learn about fractions, their prior knowledge of whole numbers often interferes, resulting in a whole number bias. However, many fraction concepts are generalizations of analogous whole number concepts; for example, fraction division and whole number division share a similar conceptual structure. Drawing on past studies of analogical transfer, we hypothesize that children’s whole number division knowledge will support their understanding of fraction division when their relevant prior knowledge is activated immediately before engaging with fraction division. Children in 5th and 6th grade modeled fraction division with physical objects after modeling a series of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems with whole number operands and fraction operands. In one condition, problems were blocked by operation, such that children modeled fraction problems immediately after analogous whole number problems (e.g., fraction division problems followed whole number division problems). In another condition, problems were blocked by number type, such that children modeled all four arithmetic operations with whole numbers in the first block, and then operations with fractions in the second block. Children who solved whole number division problems immediately before fraction division problems were significantly better at modeling the conceptual structure of fraction division than those who solved all of the fraction problems together. Thus, implicit analogies across shared concepts can affect children’s mathematical thinking. Moreover, specific analogies between whole number and fraction concepts can yield a positive, rather than a negative, whole number bias.
Economic underdevelopment in the Middle East: The historical roles of culture, institutions and religion

Can worldwide disparities in levels of development be explained by institutional or cultural factors? In Timur Kuran's view, the belated development of the Middle East may be explained by structural factors integral to Islamic institutions rather than in Islamic culture itself. Attitudes and behavior traditionally attributed to Islamic culture are in fact nothing more than the current-day expression of these factors and should not be interpreted outside an economic context.
Abstract TP455: Treatment With Trifluoromethoxyphenyl-3 (1propionylpiperidin-4-yl) Urea Improves Cognitive Functions and Endothelium Dependent Dilation in Penetrating Arterioles From Hypertensive Rats With Bilateral Common Carotid Stenosis

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) converts epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), arachidonic acid metabolites produced by cytochrome 450 enzymes, into less metabolically active compounds. sEH inhibitors have been proposed to have vascular and neural protective effects in stroke models. Studies from our lab showed that bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS), a physiologically relevant model of cognitive impairment, impairs endothelium dependent dilation in penetrating arterioles (PAs) from stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSPs). We hypothesized that treatment of SHRSPs with BCAS with the sEH inhibitor, trifluoromethoxyphenyl-3 (1propionylpiperidin-4-yl) urea (TPPU) would alleviate cognitive dysfunction and improve endothelium dependent dilation in PAs. Data are shown as mean ± SEM, vehicle vs TPPU, and p
EEG source imaging based on spatial and temporal graph structures

EEG serves as an essential tool for brain source localization due to its high temporal resolution. However, the inference of brain activities from the EEG data is, in general, a challenging ill-posed inverse problem. To better retrieve task related discriminative source patches from strong spontaneous background signals, we propose a novel EEG source imaging model based on spatial and temporal graph structures. In particular, graph fractional-order total variation (gFOTV) is used to enhance spatial smoothness, and the label information of brain state is enclosed in a temporal graph regularization term to guarantee intra-class consistency of estimated sources. The proposed model is efficiently solved by the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). A two-stage algorithm is proposed as well to further improve the result. Numerical experiments have shown that our method localizes source extents more effectively than the benchmark methods.
Metastable Ar(1s5) density dependence on pressure and argon-helium mixture in a high pressure radio frequency dielectric barrier discharge

Simulations of an α-mode radio frequency dielectric barrier discharge are performed for varying mixtures of argon and helium at pressures ranging from 200 to 500 Torr using both zero and one-dimensional models. Metastable densities are analyzed as a function of argon-helium mixture and pressure to determine the optimal conditions, maximizing metastable density for use in an optically pumped rare gas laser. Argon fractions corresponding to the peak metastable densities are found to be pressure dependent, shifting from approximately 15% Ar in He at 200 Torr to 10% at 500 Torr. A decrease in metastable density is observed as pressure is increased due to a diminution in the reduced electric field and a quadratic increase in metastable loss rates through Ar2* formation. A zero-dimensional effective direct current model of the dielectric barrier discharge is implemented, showing agreement with the trends predicted by the one-dimensional fluid model in the bulk plasma.
The Parish Clergy's Ministry of Prayer with Hospitalized Parishioners:

Previous reports suggest that clergy frequently pray with parishioners during hospital visits. In this study, 286 parish clergy and lay volunteers characterize these prayers as meditative, liturgic...
A simple ZVT auxiliary circuit for full-bridge based bridgeless single-phase PFC with hybrid PWM modulation scheme

This paper proposes a zero-voltage-transition (ZVT) technique for the full-bridge based bridgeless single-phase PFC. An auxiliary circuit consists of a small auxiliary inductor and two active switches is placed in parallel with the main filter inductor. The proposed ZVT technique has several advantages over the existing ZVT schemes including low ripple of the filter inductor current, natural zero-current-switching (ZCS) for the auxiliary switches, relatively less additional components and allowing unipolar or hybrid PWM modulation of the full-bridge converter. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme has been validated through hardware experiment. It shows that the proposed ZVT scheme can save approximately 40% of the power loss compared with the regular hard-switching operation.
Factors That Enhance the Quality of Relationships between Mentors and Mentees during Check & Connect.

School engagement is an important predictor of graduation. One strategy to enhance student engagement is mentoring. Check & Connect is a structured mentoring program that has resulted in favorable ...
Catalytic cycles for isobutane isomerization over sulfated-zirconia catalysts

Reaction kinetic studies of isobutane isomerization over sulfated-zirconia catalysts were performed at 423 K. These catalysts show sustained rates of dihydrogen production that follow the same trend with time-on-stream as the rate of hydrocarbon production. Lower rates of dihydrogen production and correspondingly lower rates of hydrocarbon production are observed for catalysts dried at 773 K compared to samples dried at 588 K. It appears that sulfated-zirconia has the ability to generate olefins under reaction conditions, and this dehydrogenation reaction appears to be reversible, because increasing levels of dihydrogen in the feed suppress catalytic activity. These kinetic data can be described by a reaction scheme involving oligomerization/β-scission, isomerization and hydride transfer steps over acid sites, combined with dehydrogenation steps that generate olefins. The values of the rate constants for oligomerization steps over sulfated-zirconia are several orders of magnitude higher than for the corresponding steps over H-mordenite, whereas the rate constants for hydride transfer steps are similar for sulfated-zirconia and H-mordenite.
Photoconductive Switch Simulation with Absorbing Boundary Conditions

Ultrafast lasers have been used along with electro-optic sampling techniques to characterize photoconductive switching devices and create transient waveforms with sub-picosecond rise times. We study these fast transients by coupling a three dimensional solution of Maxwell’s equations in the time domain with a bipolar Ensemble Monte Carlo model. Physical parameters of interest can be accurately computed and directly related to the measured data. We find that a proper inclusion of absorbing boundary conditions and details of the electro-optic material are crucial to transient velocity overshoot calculations.
Transluminal Angioplasty for Vertebral Basilar Artery Stenosis

In recent years, the development and application of a balloon catheter technique for dilating arterial stenoses (transluminal angioplasty) has generated considerable interest. This technique has been successfully employed to reduce symptomatic stenoses in the coronary [7], renal [8, 9], and iliofemoral [2, 8] arteries. Relief of symptomatic stenoses in other arterial systems is currently under consideration or initial trials. This report describes our initial experience with balloon catheter dilatation of intracranial vertebral or basilar artery stenoses in four patients with severe brains stem, cerebellar, or posterior cerebral symptoms poorly responsive to medical or prior surgical therapy.
Some Air Pollution Aspects of the Los Angeles Temperature Inversion

During research on air pollution in Los Angeles, various meteorological aspects of the problem have been studied. One of these was the derivation of a mathematical formula which combines measures of the stability, height, and thickness of the inversion layer to give an overall value for its intensity. This formula has been useful in describing inversions and in various correlation studies. A file of data on inversion conditions in the Los Angeles area has been accumulated in the course of the smog program. These data, which apply to mean inversion conditions from May through November, are interesting not only for the smog problem but also in evaluating the climate of the area. They should prove useful in other studies where an appreciation of the climatic nature of the inversion surface is required. The cycle of the inversion indicates that the base gradually lowers during the summer and early fall and that as early as June, inversions are present 90% of the time. The “smog season” generally coincides wit...
Rhetorical Holy War: Polygamy, Homosexuality, and the Paradox of Community and Autonomy

INTRODUCTION I. A BRIEF HISTORY OF MORMON POLYGAMY II. THE NARRATIVE BATTLE OVER THE LEGITIMACY OF MORMON POLYGAMY a. NARRATIVE, TEXTUALITY, AND “FUNDAMENTALIST“ VERSUS “LITERARY“ READING b. THE “FUNDAMENTALIST“ PROBLEM OF “RHETORICAL REDUCTIVISM“ c. CULTURAL NARRATIVES OF MORMON POLYGAMY d. LEGAL NARRATIVES OF MORMON POLYGAMY III. NOTES FROM A CURRENT NARRATIVE HOLY WAR: THE ANALOGY OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE a. INTRODUCTION: MORMON POLYGAMY AS A WINDOW ON THE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE CONTROVERSY b. THE COMMUNITY-AUTONOMY PARADOX IN POLYGAMY AND HOMOSEXUALITY c. SHOWCASING THE MORAL SYLLOGISM: FUNDAMENTALIST PUBLIC NARRATIVES OF HOMOSEXUALITY d. TOWARD A “CRAFTY“ NARRATIVE OF MARRIAGE CONCLUSION
Design of a Revenue Meter for a Short-Term Transactions in a Distribution Market

Modern power grids are characterized by the increasing number of active demand users, smart meter deployment, and distributed energy sources. At distribution level, a distributed management of the electricity transactions seems to be more suitable than a centralized structure because of the large number of the potential participants. A short-term transactive energy scheme is useful to solve the imbalance caused by the randomness characteristics inherited individual generation and consumption patterns. Therefore, effective devices that allows to quantify the electricity transactions on short-term basis are required for a transactive energy scheme. This paper describes the structure of a short-term transactive energy environment based on auctions and presents the design of an efficient metering unit that allows quantifying power transactions for a 5 minutes market.
Abstract P273: The Association of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Cardiac Parasympathetic Responses During Stress Testing: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may lead to abnormalities in the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity at night; variation in daytime activity and responses to stress...
Secondary adrenal insufficiency induced by long-term use of opioid analgesics.

AbstractThe effects of long-term use of opioid analgesics on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis are not well recognized. We report a 41-year-old woman on chronic opioid therapy hospitalized fo...
Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate drives Ca2+-independent membrane penetration by the tandem C2 domain proteins synaptotagmin-1 and Doc2β

Exocytosis mediates the release of neurotransmitters and hormones from neurons and neuroendocrine cells. Tandem C2 domain proteins in the synaptotagmin (syt) and double C2 domain (Doc2) families regulate exocytotic membrane fusion via direct interactions with Ca2+ and phospholipid bilayers. Syt1 is a fast-acting, low-affinity Ca2+ sensor that penetrates membranes upon binding Ca2+ to trigger synchronous vesicle fusion. The closely related Doc2β is a slow-acting, high-affinity Ca2+ sensor that triggers spontaneous and asynchronous vesicle fusion, but whether it also penetrates membranes is unknown. Both syt1 and Doc2β bind the dynamically regulated plasma membrane lipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), but it is unclear whether PIP2 serves only as a membrane contact or enables specialized membrane-binding modes by these Ca2+ sensors. Furthermore, it has been shown that PIP2 uncaging can trigger rapid, syt1-dependent exocytosis in the absence of Ca2+ influx, suggesting that current models for the action of these Ca2+ sensors are incomplete. Here, using a series of steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements, we show that Doc2β, like syt1, penetrates membranes in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Unexpectedly, we observed that PIP2 can drive membrane penetration by both syt1 and Doc2β in the absence of Ca2+, providing a plausible mechanism for Ca2+-independent, PIP2-dependent exocytosis. Quantitative measurements of penetration depth revealed that, in the presence of Ca2+, PIP2 drives Doc2β, but not syt1, substantially deeper into the membrane, defining a biophysical regulatory mechanism specific to this high-affinity Ca2+ sensor. Our results provide evidence of a novel role for PIP2 in regulating, and under some circumstances triggering, exocytosis.
Friction-Induced Apoptosis

Epithelial cells form tribological sliding interfaces through the body, often lining tissues and organs, and produce high-water-content mucin gels, thereby protecting underlying cells, tissues, membranes, and organs from damage. Friction and the resulting direct contact shear stresses have been shown to induce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and upregulate genes associated with programmed cell death (apoptosis). Using monolayers of immortalized corneal epithelial cells, in situ fluorescence microscopy, and a microtribometer with aqueous gel probes, a series of experiments were performed under acute and chronic conditions to explore onset conditions and progression of apoptosis of these cells. The results reveal that the initiation of apoptosis occurs near physiological shear stresses below 100 Pa. Interesting, the direct contact pressures in the absence of sliding did not initiate apoptosis even at pressures approaching 3 kPa.
A Rotation-Based Precoding for MIMO Broadcast Channels With Integrated Services

The problem of merging multiple services over multiple-input multiple-output Gaussian broadcast channels with two receivers is studied. The transmitter provides two independent services: a public (multicast) service with a common message for both users, and a private service with a confidential message intended only for one of the users which is to be kept secret from the other. Under this scenario, a new linear precoding scheme is developed to maximize secrecy-multicast rate region. This scheme decomposes input covariance matrix using rotation matrices and results in a reformulation of the secrecy-multicast capacity region which is easier to be optimized. Next, by finding the distributions to which eigenvalues and rotation angles fit in, a search algorithm is proposed to solve the new capacity expression to find precoding and power allocation matrices. Numerical results illustrate that the proposed precoding method significantly increases the rate region compared to the existing methods.
Imaging Evaluation of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract

Children presenting with either acute or chronic pathology of the upper aerodigestive tract often present with either respiratory symptoms of stridor, increased work of breathing, cough, or recurrent pneumonias or gastrointestinal symptoms of dysphagia, drooling, failure to thrive, and vomiting. For those children in acute distress, emergent airway management is imperative. For those with more indolent symptoms, imaging studies are often integral to the diagnosis of the underlying disease process. Typically, plain radiographs of the neck are the initial imaging study done to narrow the differential. These plain films are often followed by either CT and/or MR imaging or dynamic fluoroscopic studies in conjunction with bronchoscopy. Discussing clinical details with the radiologist prior to ordering radiologic studies can optimize the imaging plan in order to limit radiation dose and sedation as much as possible.
Distributed Algorithm for Selecting Leaders for Supervisory Robotic Swarm Control

In this paper, we present a distributed algorithm for selecting multiple leaders in a swarm that can be used for supervisory control of the swarm system. The usage of optimally placed leaders within swarms can minimize the communication requirements for information dissemination across a robotic network. We formulate the leader selection problem as a combinatorial optimization problem and provide a novel characterization of the optimal solution based on the notion of Voronoi decomposition of a graph. Based on this characterization, we present an incremental, distributed algorithm to compute the leader set. We present simulation results to show that our approach results in optimal performance.
Pitch and duration in Welsh stress perception: the implications for intonation

Previous work has shown that stress in Welsh is not directly related to the usual acoustic cues of F0, intensity and duration of the vowel. An experiment was conducted to assess the relative contribution of F0 pattern and segmental duration to the perception of stress in Welsh. A stress-related minimal pair of words was recorded and edited to give stimulus continua. These were resynthesized with three types of pitch pattern superimposed. Ten Welsh listeners made stress judgements on the randomized stimuli. The results point to a complex interaction of F0, segmental duration and stress perception in Welsh. Pitch-prominence alone was no cue to stress, but functioned as such solely in terms of recognized intonational categories. A certain type of segmental durational effect also influenced stress judgements. The patterns of co-occurrence between pitch patterns and stress location that are found in the intonational units of the language were the means by which stress was indirectly perceived when the stimuli showed a change in F0. Various theories of intonation in English are discussed with reference to this interaction between stress and pitch.
Monocrystalline Silicon Carbide Disk Resonators on Phononic Crystals with Ultra-Low Dissipation Bulk Acoustic Wave Modes.

Micromechanical resonators with ultra-low energy dissipation are essential for a wide range of applications, such as navigation in GPS-denied environments. Routinely implemented in silicon (Si), their energy dissipation often reaches the quantum limits of Si, which can be surpassed by using materials with lower intrinsic loss. This paper explores dissipation limits in 4H monocrystalline silicon carbide-on-insulator (4H-SiCOI) mechanical resonators fabricated at wafer-level, and reports on ultra-high quality-factors (Q) in gyroscopic-mode disk resonators. The SiC disk resonators are anchored upon an acoustically-engineered Si substrate containing a phononic crystal which suppresses anchor loss and promises QANCHOR near 1 Billion by design. Operating deep in the adiabatic regime, the bulk acoustic wave (BAW) modes of solid SiC disks are mostly free of bulk thermoelastic damping. Capacitively-transduced SiC BAW disk resonators consistently display gyroscopic m = 3 modes with Q-factors above 2 Million (M) at 6.29 MHz, limited by surface TED due to microscale roughness along the disk sidewalls. The surface TED limit is revealed by optical measurements on a SiC disk, with nanoscale smooth sidewalls, exhibiting Q = 18 M at 5.3 MHz, corresponding to f · Q = 9 · 1013 Hz, a 5-fold improvement over the Akhiezer limit of Si. Our results pave the path for integrated SiC resonators and resonant gyroscopes with Q-factors beyond the reach of Si.
Risks of genetic damage in offspring conceived using spermatozoa produced during chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND Men who have just started cytotoxic therapy for cancer are uncertain and concerned about whether spermatozoa collected or pregnancies occurring during therapy might be transmitting genetic damage to offspring. There are no comprehensive guidelines on the risks of different doses of the various cytotoxic, and usually genotoxic, antineoplastic agents. OBJECTIVES To develop a schema showing the risks of mutagenic damage when spermatozoa, exposed to various genotoxic agents during spermatogenesis, are collected or used to produce a pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS A comprehensive literature review was performed updating the data on genetic and epigenetic effects of genotoxic agents on animal and human spermatozoa exposed during spermatogenic development. RESULTS Relevant data on human spermatozoa and offspring are extremely limited, but there are extensive genetic studies in experimental animals that define sensitivities for specific drugs and times. The animal data were extrapolated to humans based on the stage when the cells were exposed and the relative kinetics of spermatogenesis and were consistent with the limited human data. In humans, alkylating agents and radiation should already induce a high risk of mutations in spermatozoa produced within 1 or 2 weeks after initiation of therapy. Topoisomerase II inhibitors and possibly microtubule inhibitors produce the greatest risk at weeks 5-7 of therapy. Nucleoside analogs, antimetabolites, and bleomycin exert their mutagenic effects on spermatozoa collected at 7-10 weeks of therapy. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS A schema showing the time from initiation of therapy at which specific antineoplastic agents can cause significant levels of genetic damage in conceptuses and live offspring was developed. The estimates and methods for computing the level of such risk from an individual patient's treatment regimen will enable patients and counselors to make informed decisions on the use of spermatozoa or continuation of a pregnancy.
MAVS regulates the quality of the antibody response to West-Nile Virus

A key difference that distinguishes viral infections from protein immunizations is the recognition of viral nucleic acids by cytosolic pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as RNA-sensing Rig-I-like receptors (RLRs). Insights into the specific functions of cytosolic PRRs in the instruction of adaptive immunity are therefore critical for the understanding of protective immunity to infections. West Nile virus (WNV) infection of mice deficent of MAVS, the essential RLR signaling adaptor, results in a defective adaptive immune response. While this finding suggests a role for RLRs in the instruction of adaptive immunity to WNV, it is difficult to interpret due to the high WNV viremia, associated exessive antigen loads, and pathology in the absence of a MAVS-dependent innate immune response. To overcome these limitations, we have infected MAVS-deficient mice with a single-round-of-infection mutant of WNV called RepliVAX (RWN). RWN-infected MAVS-deficient (MAVSKO) mice failed to produce an effective neutralizing antibody response to WNV despite normal titers of antibodies targeting the viral WNV-E protein. This defect occurred indepedently of antigen loads or overt pathology. The specificity of the antibody response in RWN-infected MAVSKO mice remained unchanged and was still dominated by antibodies that bound the neutralizing lateral ridge (LR) epitope in the DIII domain of WNV-E. Instead, MAVSKO mice produced IgM antibodies, the dominant isotype controlling primary WNV infection, with lower affinity for the DIII domain. Our findings suggest that RLR-dependent signals are important for the quality of the humoral immune response to WNV.
What is retained about common ground? Distinct effects of linguistic and visual co-presence.

Abstract Common ground can be mutually established between conversational partners in several ways. We examined whether the modality (visual or linguistic) with which speakers share information with their conversational partners results in memory traces that affect subsequent references addressed to a particular partner. In 32 triads, directors arranged a set of tangram cards with one matcher and then with another, but in different modalities, sharing some cards only linguistically (by describing cards the matcher couldn't see), some only visually (by silently showing them), some both linguistically and visually, and others not at all. Then directors arranged the cards again in separate rounds with each matcher. The modality with which they previously established common ground about a particular card with a particular matcher (e.g., linguistically with one partner and visually with the other) affected subsequent referring: References to cards previously shared only visually included more idea units, words, and reconceptualizations than those shared only linguistically, which in turn included more idea units, words, and reconceptualizations than those shared both linguistically and visually. Moreover, speakers were able to tailor references to the same card appropriately to the distinct modality shared with each addressee. Such gradient, partner-specific adaptation during re-referring suggests that memory encodes rich-enough representations of multimodal shared experiences to effectively cue relevant constraints about the perceptual conditions under which speakers and addressees establish common ground.
The use of low-titer group O whole blood is independently associated with improved survival compared to component therapy in adults with severe traumatic hemorrhage

BACKGROUND There is a resurgence in the use of low-titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) for hemorrhagic shock. We hypothesized the use of LTOWB compared to component therapy (CT) would be independently associated with improved 24-hour mortality. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS In this prospective observational study, trauma patients 18 years of age or older with massive transfusion protocol activations were included from August 17, 2018, to May 14, 2019. The primary outcome was 24-hour mortality. Secondary outcomes included 72-hour blood product totals, multiple organ dysfunction scores (MODS), and 28-day mortality. Multivariable logistic regression (MVLR) and Cox regression were performed to determine independent associations. RESULTS There were no clinically meaningful differences in measures of injury severity between study groups (CT, n = 42; LTOWB, n = 44). There was no difference in MODS between study groups. The unadjusted mortality was not statistically different between the study groups (9/42 [21%] for CT vs. 7/44 [16%] for LTOWB; p = 0.518). In the MVLR model, LTOWB increased the odds of 24-hour survival by 23% (odds ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.69-0.96; p = 0.017). Adjusted survival curve analysis indicated improved survival at both 24 hours and 28 days for LTOWB patients (p < 0.001). Further stratification showed an association between LTOWB use and survival when maximum clot firmness (MCF) was 60 mm or less (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS The use of LTOWB is independently associated with improved 24-hour and 28-day survival, and does not increase organ dysfunction at 72 hours. Use of LTOWB most impacted survival of patients with reduced clot firmness (MCF ≤60 mm). Collectively, these data support the clinical use and continued study of LTOWB for hemostatic resuscitation.
Geometric Effects on Discharge Relationships for Labyrinth Weirs

AbstractPublished labyrinth weir design methods, along with specific site constraints, are typically used to develop an appropriate labyrinth weir geometry (footprint, weir height, wall thickness, ...
Addressing fear of death and dying: traditional and innovative interventions

The fear of death and dying is a multifaceted and prevalent source of human distress that can cause significant psychological and existential distress, especially at the end of life. Analysing curr...
A “real-time” guitar recording using Rydberg atoms and electromagnetically induced transparency: Quantum physics meets music

We demonstrate how Rydberg atoms and the phenomena of electromagnetically induced transparency can be used to aid in the recording of a musical instrument in real time as it is played. Also, by using two different atomic species (cesium and rubidium) in the same vapor cell, we demonstrate the ability to record two guitars simultaneously, where each atomic species detects and allows for the recording of each guitar separately. The approach shows how audio data (the musical composition) can be detected with a quantum system, illustrating that due to the research over the past decade we can now control ensembles of atoms to such an extent that we can use them in this “entertaining” example of recording a musical instrument.
Transnational Relationships between the Italian Revolutionary Left and Palestinian Militants during the Cold War

This article examines the transnational ties between the Italian revolutionary left and Palestinian militants from the mid-1960s through the early 1980s. Some observers have cited these connections...