cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Game-Theoretic Approach to Efficient Power Management in Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks pose numerous fundamental coordination problems. For example, in a number of application domains including homeland security, environmental monitoring, and surveillance for military operations, a network's ability to efficiently manage power consumption is extremely critical because direct user intervention after initial deployment is severely limited. In these settings, limited battery life gives rise to the basic coordination problem of maintaining coverage while maximizing the network's lifetime. In this paper, we propose a distributed scheme for efficient power management in sensor networks that is guaranteed to identify suboptimal topologies in an online fashion. Our scheme is based on a general (game-theoretic) mathematical structure that induces a natural mapping between the informational layer and the physical layer. We provide sufficient conditions for the convergence of the algorithm to a pure Nash equilibrium and characterize the performance of the algorithm in terms of coverage. We also present encouraging performance results on a MicaZ testbed as well as on large-scale topologies (obtained via simulation).
Evaluation of teacher induction practices in a US university English language program: Towards useful evaluation

This article reports on a formative and internal evaluation of teacher induction practices for newly hired teachers in a US university ESL program. By adopting a utilization-focused approach, evalu...
Osmotic Compression of Single Cardiac Myocytes Eliminates the Reduction in Ca2+ Sensitivity of Tension at Short Sarcomere Length

Abstract According to the Frank-Starling relation, cardiac output varies as a function of end-diastolic volume of the ventricle. The cellular basis of the relation is thought to involve length-dependent variations in Ca2+ sensitivity of tension; ie, as sarcomere length is increased in cardiac muscle, Ca2+ sensitivity of tension also increases. One possible explanation for this effect is that the decrease in myocyte diameter as muscle length is increased reduces the lateral spacing between thick and thin filaments, thereby increasing the likelihood of cross-bridge interaction with actin. To examine this idea, we measured the effects of osmotic compression of single skinned cardiac myocytes on Ca2+ sensitivity of tension. Single myocytes from rat enzymatically digested ventricles were attached to a force transducer and piezoelectric translator, and tension-pCa relations were subsequently characterized at short sarcomere length (SL), at the same short SL in the presence of 2.5% dextran, and at long SL. The pCa (−log[Ca2+]) for half-maximal tension (ie, pCa50) increased from 5.54±0.09 to 5.65±0.10 (n=7, mean±SD, P <.001) as SL was increased from ≈1.85 to ≈2.25 μm. Osmotic compression of myocytes at short length also increased Ca2+ sensitivity of tension, shifting tension-pCa relations to [Ca2+] levels similar to those observed at long length (pCa50, 5.68±0.11). These results support the idea that the length dependence of Ca2+ sensitivity of tension in cardiac muscle arises in large part from the changes in interfilament lattice spacing that accompany changes in SL.
Shift Full Rank Matrices with Applications in Asynchronous Cooperative Communications

To achieve full cooperative diversity in a relay network, most of the existing space-time coding schemes require the synchronization between terminals. A family of space-time trellis codes that achieve full cooperative diversity order without the assumption of synchronization has been recently proposed. The family is based on the stack construction by Hammons and El Gamal and its generalizations by Lu and Kumar. It has been shown that the construction of such a family is equivalent to the construction of binary matrices that have full row rank no matter how their rows are shifted. We call such matrices as shift full rank (SFR) matrices. In this paper, we systematically study and construct SFR matrices of any sizes for any number of terminals. Furthermore, we construct shortest (square) SFR (SSFR) matrices that correspond to space-time trellis codes with the smallest memory sizes and asynchronous full cooperative diversity.
Effects of ternary additions on the twin energy and site preference in γ-TiAl

Site preference and the effects of ternary additions (Mn, V, etc.) on the twin energy in γ-TiAl were studied by means of all-electron total energy self-consistent calculations based on the local density approximation. The results show that when Mn, Ti, or V substitute on the Al-sites in γ-TiAl, the twin energy is about 20–25% lower than that of stoichiometric γ-TiAl; this may explain observations of increased twinning activity in 48% Al TiAl. By contrast, when ternary additions of V (or Al) occupy Ti-sites, the twin energy has nearly the same value as that of pure γ-TiAl, which is consistent with the observation of only a few twins for Al-rich compositions. By comparing the total energy of Ti6(XAl5) and (Ti5X)Al6 supercells, it is found that the relative stability of Ti6(XAl5) over (Ti5X)Al6 (i.e., the preference for occupying Al-sites) is increased in going from Nb, V, Cr, and Ti to Mn, in agreement with observation that excess Ti occupies Al-sites, and Nb preferentially substitutes on the Ti-sites. The results indicate that Mn preferentially substitutes on the Al-sites, and V (or Cr) may occupy both Ti- and Al-sites.
A Burden-Neutral Shift from Foreign Tax Creditability to Deductibility?

Observers of international tax rules have long conflated two distinct effects of the foreign tax credit on multinational firms: the effect on the incentive to invest abroad and the effect on foreign tax sensitivity. With national welfare as the policy objective, we discuss how a burden neutral shift from foreign tax credits to deductibility could be designed to improve distortions associated with insensitivity to foreign taxation without raising aggregate burdens on outward foreign investment. We also provide new evidence suggesting that the tax sensitivity of outward foreign direct investment is indeed reduced for OECD countries using foreign tax credits, in comparison with other OECD countries. Finally, we discuss policy considerations surrounding a possible burden-neutral shift from foreign tax creditability to deductibility.
Who should undergo liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma? Ablate, wait … and see!

165 ISSN 2045-0923 10.2217/HEP.14.2 © 2014 Future Medicine Ltd Hepatic Oncol. (2014) 1(2), 165–168 The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rising in the USA, and the use of liver transplantation (LT) for HCC treatment has grown accordingly [1,2]. This trend has magnified an inequity in the distribution of livers to needy patients with versus without HCC. While donor organ availability has remained relatively static over the last decade, the fraction of LT performed for HCC has ballooned, with associated increases in waiting time and the severity of liver dysfunction at LT in non-HCC candidates [2,3]. For a given period of time on the LT wait list, HCC candidates have lower mortality and a higher probability of receiving LT than non-HCC candidates [4,5]. These disparities shed unflattering light on the current liver allocation system. Consideration of an ethical framework for the management of scarce resources will guide policy makers in molding this system into one that effectively directs organs to the patients, with or without HCC, who will benefit most [6].
Covariances among first-lactation milk records of cousins.

Abstract Covariances among first-lactation milk records expressed as deviations from herd-mate averages of Holstein cows related as cousins of varying degree, as daughterdam, as full and maternal sibs, and as aunt-niece of varying degree were examined to determine whether genetic maternal effects are important. The multiple regression of the expected coefficients of additive direct, additive maternal, dominance direct, and dominance maternal genetic variance components; and additive direct by additive maternal and dominance direct by dominance maternal genetic covariances on the 24 estimated covariances between pairs of relatives gave a multiple correlation coefficient of .95. The regression of actual covariance on the coefficient of additive direct genetic variance gave a correlation of .92. These results suggest for these data that only additive genetic effects are important for this trait. Additive genetic variance accounted for 38% of total variance. The intercept of the regression line indicated that the average environmental covariance among pairs of relatives accounts for 2 to 3% of the total variance.
Security constrained emergency voltage stabilization: A Model Predictive Control based approach

Voltage instability impacts power system transfer limits and its reliability. This paper presents an approach to determine a voltage control scheme based on the model predictive control (MPC) theory. MPC is used to develop an optimal control strategy, consisting of a sequence of amounts of the shunt capacitors to switch. The resulting control strategy prevents voltage instability and maintains a desired amount of post-transient voltage stability margin (an index of system security). The objective of optimization is to minimize a weighted sum of the cumulative voltage deviations and the cumulative cost of capacitive controls. The effect of the capacitive control on voltage behavior is computed by means of trajectory sensitivity. The sensitivity of voltage stability margin with respect to the capacitive control is used to construct a security constraint for post-fault operation in the MPC formulation. The efficacy of the proposed approach is illustrated through applications to the 39-bus New England system for preventing voltage collapse.
Phenomenology of young women's sexual risk-taking in tourism

Abstract Tourist experiences have been conceptualized as heterotopias, and liminoid contra-normative settings offering a license for thrills, situational disinhibition, and sexual experimentation. The purpose of this study was to explore the links between tourism and young women's sexual behavior, focusing on their perceptions of sexual risk-taking in tourism and its consequences. Transcendental phenomenology was implemented to grasp the uniqueness of the individual experiences and assess the universal meanings of the phenomenon, proceeding through the stages of epoche, phenomenological reduction, imaginative variation, and synthesis. The findings of fifteen in-depth interviews reveal that women's sexual risk-taking in tourism is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon involving physical, sexual health, social, emotional, mental/self-perceptional, cultural, and legal aspects. Clarifying the dimensions of sexual risk-taking in tourism and its consequences benefits the literature in terms of shedding light on an under-researched topic and provides information for health education/intervention programs aimed at addressing sexual risk behaviors in tourism.
Contextual Priming in Grapheme–Color Synesthetes and Yoked Controls: 400 msec in the Life of a Synesthete

■ Grapheme–color synesthesia is a heritable trait where graphemes (“2”) elicit the concurrent perception of specific colors (red). Researchers have questioned whether synesthetic experiencesare meaningful orsimply arbitrary associationsand whether these associations are perceptual or conceptual. To address these fundamental questions, ERPs were recorded as 12 synesthetes read statements such as “The Coca-Cola logo is white and 2,” in which the final grapheme induced a color that was either contextually congruous (red) or incongruous (“…white and 7,” for a synesthetes who experienced 7 as green). Grapheme congruity was found to modulate the amplitude of the N1, P2, N300, and N400 components in synesthetes, suggesting that synesthesia impacts perceptual as well as conceptual aspects of processing. To evaluate whether observed ERP effects required the experience of colored graphemes versus knowledge of grapheme–color pairings, we ran three separate groups of controls on a similar task. Controls trained to a synestheteʼ sa ssociationselicited N400 modulation, indicating that knowledge of grapheme–color mappings was sufficient to modulate this component. Controls trained to synesthetic associations and given explicit visualization instructions elicited both N300 and N400 modulations. Lastly, untrained controls who viewed physically colored graphemes (“2” printed inred)elicitedN1andN400modulations.TheN1graphemecongruity effect began earlier in synesthetes than colored grapheme controls but had similar scalp topography. Data suggest that, in synesthetes, achromatic graphemes engage similar visual processing networks as colored graphemes in nonsynesthetes and are in keeping with models of synesthesia that posit early feedforward connections between form and color processing areas in extrastriate cortex. The P2 modulation was unique to the synesthetes and may reflect neural activity that underlies the conscious experience of the synesthetic induction. ■
Complex permittivity and permeability of single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes at high microwave frequencies and quantifying microwave absorption

The present paper reports high frequency microwave characterization of both the single- and multi walled carbon nanotubes and quantifying microwave absorption through the measurements of S parameter. The dielectric properties for these nanostructured carbon materials are measured using the rectangular waveguide technique and are determined in the frequency regime ranging 8-40 GHz. The data is represented in terms of both the real and imaginary parts of permittivity and permeability. These results represents a milestone in such measurements for nanoscale cylindrical conductors i.e. carbon nanotube structures which serves as a model example and it covers a wide frequency range using an efficient, non-invasive and highly accurate technique that is ideal for high frequency characterization for a variety of nanoscale materials.
Minimally Invasive and Robotic-Assisted Thymus Resection

Thymectomy for thymoma has traditionally been performed through a transsternal approach because of the excellent exposure that that the median sternotomy provides. Minimally invasive alternatives, such as transcervical thymectomy, video-assisted thymectomy, and robotic thymectomy, have not been extensively evaluated for this disease process. It is uncertain which patients may benefit from minimally invasive approaches and data regarding the oncologic effectiveness of these techniques remains to be established. However, given the excellent capability of these techniques to perform a complete and extensive thymectomy, there does appear to be a role for minimally invasive thymectomy in the treatment of thymoma.
An Electrostatic Theory for Instruments which Measure the Radii of Water Drops by Detecting a Change in Capacity Due to the Presence of a Drop

Abstract A very abrupt rise in capacity occurs as a water drop approaches and comes in contact with one of the electrodes of a capacitor. This capacity change can be used to measure drop sizes and thus to determine dropsize distributions in clouds since the maximum amplitude of the change increases with the radius of the drop. The main result of this paper is a formula for the change in capacity as a function of the distance between the electrode and the drop. The maximum value of the capacity occurs just when the drop touches the electrode, and is approximately E2R23/V2[cm], where E is the electric field at the location of the drop, V the voltage across the capacitor plates, and R2 the radius of the drop (in cgs-Gaussian units). The theory agrees very well with an experiment in which the capacity was measured by placing a fixed charge on the capacitor and measuring the change in voltage as a steel ball (in place of a water drop) approached one of the electrodes. The fragments resulting from the break-up ...
Carbon dioxide laser for detrusor tunnel creation in robot-assisted laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplant

Abstract Objective Demonstrate and report initial results using a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) laser for detrusor tunnel creation in robot-assisted laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplant (RALUR). Methods Retrospective chart review was performed for cases of RALUR from 2011 to 2014. Patients undergoing complex reconstruction (ureteral tailoring, dismembered reimplant, concomitant ureteroureterostomy), and those who had incomplete follow-up were excluded. Variables, including use of the CO 2 laser, were collected and correlated with outcomes. Results 23 patients representing 40 ureteral units were included for analysis. A CO 2 laser was used in 9/23 (39%) patients and 16/40 (40%) ureteral units. Intraoperative mucosotomy was reported in 3/14 (21%) patients for the electrocautery group and 1/9 (11%) patients for the CO 2 laser group. Resolution of VUR was observed in 11/14 (79%), and 9/9 (100%) of patients for the electrocautery group and the CO 2 laser group, respectively. Two complications were identified in the electrocautery group of patients: ileus (Clavien 2), and transient bilateral ureteral obstruction requiring placement of ureteral stents (Clavien 3B). There were no complications in the CO 2 laser group. Conclusions Creation of the detrusor tunnel with a CO 2 laser is safe and effective, and is associated with a lower rate of failure and complication in this cohort.
A critical role for the vascular endothelium in functional neurovascular coupling in the brain.

Background The functional modulation of blood flow in the brain is critical for brain health and is the basis of contrast in functional magnetic resonance imaging. There is evident coupling between increases in neuronal activity and increases in local blood flow; however, many aspects of this neurovascular coupling remain unexplained by current models. Based on the rapid dilation of distant pial arteries during cortical functional hyperemia, we hypothesized that endothelial signaling may play a key role in the long-range propagation of vasodilation during functional hyperemia in the brain. Although well characterized in the peripheral vasculature, endothelial involvement in functional neurovascular coupling has not been demonstrated. Methods and Results We combined in vivo exposed-cortex multispectral optical intrinsic signal imaging (MS-OISI) with a novel in vivo implementation of the light-dye technique to record the cortical hemodynamic response to somatosensory stimulus in rats before and after spatially selective endothelial disruption. We demonstrate that discrete interruption of endothelial signaling halts propagation of stimulus-evoked vasodilation in pial arteries, and that wide-field endothelial disruption in pial arteries significantly attenuates the hemodynamic response to stimulus, particularly the early, rapid increase and peak in hyperemia. Conclusions Involvement of endothelial pathways in functional neurovascular coupling provides new explanations for the spatial and temporal features of the hemodynamic response to stimulus and could explain previous results that were interpreted as evidence for astrocyte-mediated control of functional hyperemia. Our results unify many aspects of blood flow regulation in the brain and body and prompt new investigation of direct links between systemic cardiovascular disease and neural deficits.
The Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator

The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is designed to rapidly and accurately detect malignant ventricular arrhythmias and deliver a sufficient amount of energy to terminate the arrhythmia before there is any end-organ damage from the cardiac arrest. Although dual-chamber tachycardia detection may give a clinician more confidence in diagnosing appropriate therapy, it is unclear whether this justifies the additional risk and expense of the atrial lead insertion. Electromagnetic interference generated from electrocautery, lithotripsy, or radiofrequency ablation can create electrical signals recorded by the device as ventricular depolarizations. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators for primary prevention of sudden death is not recommended for individuals immediately after myocardial infarction or coronary artery revascularization, although many of these patients will ultimately meet criteria for prophylactic ICD implantation as demonstrated by the MADIT-II and SCD-HeFT trials. Most ICD trials performed in the past decade clearly demonstrate mortality benefits in patients identified as high risk for sudden death.
Temporal CT changes after hepatic and renal interstitial radiotherapy in a canine model.

Purpose The purpose of this work was to define the temporal CT characteristics of hepatic and renal ablation following point-source radioablation utilizing a low energy, photon X-ray source emitted from a miniature probe. Method Twelve mongrel dogs underwent each of three hepatic and two renal point-source radiation ablations. Animals underwent serial, dual phase, spiral CT scans and were killed at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. Results Ablative lesions were clearly visible at 1 month following therapy and consistently diminished in size over the 6 months of follow-up. Lesion size tended to be proportional to dose delivered. Both hepatic and renal lesions were low in attenuation with frequent rim enhancement that diminished over time. Hepatic lesions frequently showed transient hepatic attenuation differences (THADs). Lesion size appeared independent of proximity to vessels. Conclusion Following hepatic or renal interstitial radiotherapy, lesions are generated that are similar in CT appearance to those produced by other ablative techniques. The presence of rim or THAD enhancement can be seen early on as part of the normal tissue-healing response.
Effect of citrus bioflavonoids on metabolism of hydrocortisone in man.

SummaryAdministration to normal humans of certain phenolic compounds, such as citrus bioflavonoids and N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (NAPA) significantly decreased the rate of disappearance from the plasma of parenterally administered hydrocortisone.The authors acknowledge the cooperation of Drs. H. H. Weathers, J. E. White and L. M. Harlow, Jr. and thank Joanne Roberts, Christine Olah, Leon Ashford and Lawrence La Valle for valuable technical assistance.
Design and evaluation of adaptive switched digital video system

In this paper we implemented a switched digital video broadcast simulator to simulate a deployment by a service provider that offers a list of content channels to a pool of users. Content channels have different popularity ranking, and therefore, unpopular channels have low probability of being watched. Service providers can exploit this to use limited bandwidth to provide the same number of content channels to users. Our solution investigates the effect of using limited bandwidth allocation on the percieved quality from users' perspective. We ran experiments in which the video quality is adjusted according to bandwidth load. Our results show that it is possible to achieve a reasonable quality of service even when allocating lower bandwidth than would be needed in a traditional broadcast deployment.
Probabilism and the Number of Units Affected: Measuring Influence Concentration 1

In suggesting a basis for operational indices of the concentration of power Steven Brams' creative article “Measuring the Concentration of Power in Political Systems” (see pp. 461–475) has performed an important service to the discipline in opening up a neglected area. It is very surprising that despite all the past efforts to devise summary measures of power bases (e.g., income or military strength) so little effort has gone into summary indices for rigorously gauging their dispersion or the absence of dispersion. Having acknowledged Brams' piece as an extremely valuable stimulus for further thought, I would like now to exercise a scientific prerogative to propose a variation in the approach that should, for some theoretical purposes, prove even more useful. As Brams notes appropriately, it is indeed true that the best index “for any particular study will depend on the nature and purposes of the study.” All the versions of Brams' PC index are directed toward measuring the collective exercise of influence between different levels of decision-makers. This approach reflects an essentially deterministic point of view: the influence from any level on a mutual influence set or sets is determined by the exercise of influence on only one of its members. For example, if a has power over b , and b is in a mutual influence set with c , then c 's actions vis-a-vis b are completely determined by a . As far as the PC index is concerned, this is no different from the case of a 's directly influencing b and directly influencing c when b and c are not in an influence relationship. But if one takes a probabilistic viewpoint of indeterminacy, of a 's predominance but less than complete control over b and c when they are in a mutual influence relationship, the relations among units at a subordinate level become interesting.
The Public Sphere as Site of Emancipation and Enlightenment: A Discourse Theoretic Critique of Digital Communication

Habermas claims that an inclusive public sphere is the only deliberative forum for generating public opinion that satisfies the epistemic and normative conditions underlying legitimate decision making. He adds that digital technologies and other mass media need not undermine—but can extend—rational deliberation when properly instituted. This paper draws from social epistemology and technology studies to demonstrate the epistemic and normative limitations of this extension. We argue that current online communication structures fall short of satisfying the required epistemic and normative conditions. Furthermore, the extent to which Internet-based communications contribute to legitimate democratic opinion and will formation depends on the design of the technologies in question.
General Label-Free Mass Spectrometry-Based Assay To Identify Glycosidase Substrate Competence.

Common glycosidase assays rely on the hydrolysis of non-natural labeled sugar substrates that thereby preclude obtaining information as to the specificity of the leaving group and therefore the most kinetically competent natural substrates. A β-mannosidase could be known to hydrolyze β-mannose, for example, but from what is presently hard to determine by any high-throughput means. Herein, the first chiral dopant-based mass spectrometric assay, with its foundation rooted in the Cooks’ fixed ligand kinetic method, is presented to screen label-free monosaccharide-containing substrates for their kinetic competency with a given glycosidase as a step to name these enzymes not just for the sugar that is removed but also for the leaving group that is produced. This work also presents the first information about the substrate specificity of two specific hyperthermophilic enzymes and the first test of some native, unlabeled substrates (α-1-4 mannobiose and β-1-galactosylphingosine) with mesophilic enzymes.
Mid-infrared supercontinuum generation in tapered As2S3 chalcogenide planar waveguide

AbstractWe numerically demonstrate mid-infrared supercontinuum generation in a non-uniformly tapered chalcogenide planar waveguide. This planar rib waveguide of As2S3 glass on MgF2 is 2 cm long with increasing etch depth longitudinally to manage the total dispersion. This waveguide has zero dispersion at two wavelengths. The dispersion profile varies along the propagation distance, leading to continuous modification of the phase-matching condition for dispersive wave emission and enhancement of energy transfer efficiency between solitons and dispersive waves. Numerical simulations are conducted for secant input pulses at a wavelength of 1.55 μm with a width of 50 fs and peak power of 2 kW. Results show this proposed scheme significantly broadens the generated continuum, extending from ~1 to ~7 μm.
Reclaiming Civic Space through U.N. Supported Litigation

With the issue of shrinking civil space an ever lurking menace, the author discusses how new approaches are needed – not only to protect the civil space that still exists but increasingly to regain that which is already lost. Maina Kiai explains how the traditional tools alone – such as reporting - are no longer fit for purpose. Consequently, his mandate has developed a new litigation project which aims to support the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association through litigation in domestic and regional courts. The project actively seeks to support cases related to these rights and focuses on providing technical assistance and advisory services to litigants, attorneys and civil society organisations. Moreover, the author’s office submits amicus curiae briefs in relevant cases to add critical analysis and an international voice. The author presents his experience of lodging one such brief in Bolivia and encourages readers to get involved in the project.
IL-15 Mediates Mitochondrial Activity through a PPARδ-Dependent-PPARα-Independent Mechanism in Skeletal Muscle Cells.

Molecular mediators of metabolic processes, to increase energy expenditure, have become a focus for therapies of obesity. The discovery of cytokines secreted from the skeletal muscle (SKM), termed “myokines,” has garnered attention due to their positive effects on metabolic processes. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a myokine that has numerous positive metabolic effects and is linked to the PPAR family of mitochondrial regulators. Here, we aimed to determine the importance of PPARα and/or PPARδ as targets of IL-15 signaling. C2C12 SKM cells were differentiated for 6 days and treated every other day with IL-15 (100 ng/mL), a PPARα inhibitor (GW-6471), a PPARδ inhibitor (GSK-3787), or both IL-15 and the inhibitors. IL-15 increased mitochondrial activity and induced PPARα, PPARδ, PGC1α, PGC1β, UCP2, and Nrf1 expression. There was no effect of inhibiting PPARα, in combination with IL-15, on the aforementioned mRNA levels except for PGC1β and Nrf1. However, with PPARδ inhibition, IL-15 failed to induce the expression levels of PGC1α, PGC1β, UCP2, and Nrf1. Further, inhibition of PPARδ abolished IL-15 induced increases in citrate synthase activity, ATP production, and overall mitochondrial activity. IL-15 had no effects on mitochondrial biogenesis. Our data indicates that PPARδ activity is required for the beneficial metabolic effects of IL-15 signaling in SKM.
Review: Octreotide reduces rebleeding more than does vasopressin or terlipressin in patients with esophageal varices

Source Citation Corley DA, Cello JP, Adkisson W, Ko WF, Kerlikowske K. Octreotide for acute esophageal variceal bleeding: a meta-analysis. Gastroenterology. 2001 Mar;120:946-54. 11231948 (All 2001 ...
Short Pulse Laser Imaging

Inverse algorithms for the transient radiative transport equation (RTE) solution must be developed in order to use measured scattered transient optical signals to predict the optical properties of tissues. Since most inverse algorithms are statistical in nature, the optical properties that they predict carry uncertainties in addition to those associated with the experimental measurements. Before implementing the complex inverse algorithms, accurate and deterministic forward solutions of the transient RTE using the correct optical properties for the media under consideration are needed. In the work presented in this chapter, the forward solution of the transient radiation equation was validated by short-pulse laser based temporal and spatial intensity measurements on live animal models to quantify the optical properties of different layers of tissues and as well as tumor properties. Very limited studies of such experimental validation of the numerical model has been performed on live animals with tumors for determining tissue optical properties. Experiments have been conducted with live anaesthetized rats injected with tumorigenic agents and live anaesthetized mice with mammary tumors. A parametric study of the variation of the optical properties of the tumors and tumorigenic agents was performed to predict the correct optical properties of the diseased tissues.
Unique Motifs and Length of Hairpin in Oleosin Target the Cytosolic Side of Endoplasmic Reticulum and Budding Lipid Droplet

Plant cytosolic lipid droplets (LDs) are covered with a layer of phospholipids and oleosin and were extensively studied before those in mammals and yeast. Oleosin has short amphipathic N- and C-terminal peptides flanking a conserved 72-residue hydrophobic hairpin, which penetrates and stabilizes the LD. Oleosin is synthesized on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and extracts ER-budding LDs to cytosol. To delineate the mechanism of oleosin targeting ER-LD, we have expressed modified-oleosin genes in Physcomitrella patens for transient expression and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) BY2 cells for stable transformation. The results have identified oleosin motifs for targeting ER-LD and oleosin as the sole molecule responsible for budding-LD entering cytosol. Both the N-terminal and C-terminal peptides are not required for the targeting. The hairpin, including its entire length, initial N-portion residues, and hairpin-loop of three Pro and one Ser residues, as well as the absence of an N-terminal ER-targeting peptide, are necessary for oleosin targeting ER and moving onto budding LDs and extracting them to cytosol. In a reverse approach, eliminations of these necessities allow the modified oleosin to enter the ER lumen and extract budding LDs to the ER lumen. Modified oleosin with an added vacuole signal peptide transports the ER-luminal LDs to vacuoles. The overall findings define the mechanism of oleosin targeting ER-LDs and extracting budding LDs to the cytosol as well as reveal potential applications.
Prediction of pathology and survival by FDG PET in gliomas.

Objectives: Despite being in use for nearly two decades, the utility of [18F]2-fluoro-2deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) in the evaluation and treatment of brain tumors remains controversial. We retrospectively analyzed all patients with histologically proven gliomas, between the years 1990 and 2000, who underwent FDG PET studies at various stages of their treatment and who were followed till either death or for a minimum period of 1 year in an attempt to bring resolution to this controversy.
TGFb inhibits IL-33-mediated mast cell activation (INC6P.316)

TGFβ is involved in many pathological considtions, including autoimmune disorders, cancer, and cardiovascular and allergic diseases. We have previously found that TGFβ can suppress IgE-mediated mast cell activation. IL-33 is a recently discovered member of the IL-1 family that plays a critical role in mast cell activation and enhances IgE-mediated activation. In this study, we investigated the effects of TGFβ on IL-33-mediated mast cell activation. Bone marrow-derived mast cells cultured in TGFβ -1, -2, or -3 showed reduced IL-33-mediated production of TNF, IL-6, IL-13 and MCP-1, in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, TGFβ also reduced expression of the T1/ST2 receptor as well as IL-33-mediated ERK activation. The role of IL-33 in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases is incompletely understood. These findings, consistent with our previously reported effects of TGFβ on IgE-mediated activation, demonstrate that TGFβ can provide broad and substantial inhibitory signals to activated mast cells.
Preferences for facially communicated big five personality traits and their relation to self-reported big five personality

Abstract A growing body of research has begun to document that core personality traits are associated with specific facial structures, and that individuals are sensitive to these facial cues, as indexed by preferences for faces communicating higher or lower levels of specific traits. We explored how self-reported Big Five personality traits influence preferences for facially-communicated Big Five personality in targets. Participants selected among pairs of faces manipulated to have structures associated with high or low levels of personality traits (e.g., high extraversion versus low extraversion) and completed a Big Five Inventory. Participants demonstrated the strongest preferences for faces communicating high levels of agreeableness and extraversion. Greater self-reported openness was associated with preferences for higher levels of all facially-communicated Big Five Traits. Interestingly, higher neuroticism in women predicted a stronger preference for agreeable male faces, but disagreeable female faces. Higher neuroticism in men was associated with a stronger preference for facially-communicated openness in male targets, but a reduced preference for facially-communicated openness in female targets. Implications of these findings as they relate to personality and social perception are discussed.
Cumulative Harm as a Function of Carbon Emissions

Anthropogenic climate change is indisputably harmful. Yet the nature, extent, and duration of this harm, and hence the extent of our individual and collective causal responsibility for it, are underappreciated. Climate disruption may persist for millennia, during which its harmful effects, lessened by adaptation and moderating temperatures, might diminish in frequency but will nevertheless continue to accumulate in number. Total harm can therefore be meaningfully estimated only relative to some specified time period. With regard to varying emissions scenarios, harm during any such time period within the next few millennia increases directly and (to a close approximation) continuously with cumulative prior anthropogenic carbon emissions up through that period. It follows that even small emissions can in the long run cause significant harm.
Reactive Surface Area: An Old But New Concept in Carbon Gasification

Temperature-programmed desorption and transient kinetics were found to be powerful complementary techniques for providing the important distinction between stable C-O complexes and reactive C(O) intermediates on the surface of coal- and polymer-derived chars. Knowledge of the reactive surface area (RSA) of these materials is necessary for understanding the variations in their gasification rate with conversion. Char gasification, even when uncatalyzed, should be analyzed not as a conventional gas/solid reaction, but as if it were a heterogeneous catalytic reaction. Turnover frequencies of char reactive sites in both carbon dioxide and oxygen have been determined.
Relationship of epileptic seizures to sleep stage and sleep depth.

Study objectives Interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) are facilitated by NREM stages 3 and 4 sleep and as sleep is deepening. To determine whether sleep influences seizures in a similar way to IEDs, we examined seizure rates in various stages of sleep in epilepsy patients undergoing overnight video-EEG-polysomnography (VPSG). Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Neurology Department. PATIENTS, MEASUREMENTS, AND INTERVENTIONS: We reviewed VPSGs from our Sleep and Epilepsy Laboratories to identify patients with recorded seizures during sleep. A total of 55 patients having 117 seizures were identified. Results Ninety-five percent of seizures occurred in NREM sleep (61% in stage 2, 20% in stage 1, 14% in stages 3 and 4 combined), and 5% in REM sleep. Adjusting for time spent in each stage of sleep, patients had 0.34 seizures per hour in stage 1, 0.38 seizures per hour in stage 2, 0.29 seizures/hr in stage 3 and 4 combined, and 0.09 seizures per hour in REM sleep. Seizures/hour was higher in NREM sleep (0.35 for NREM and 0.09 for REM; p=0.0001). For single seizures occurring in 1 night, seizure rate was significantly higher in NREM stages 1 and 2 as compared to NREM stages 3 and 4 sleep. A significant increase in log delta power, an automated measure of sleep depth, was observed in the 10 minutes prior to seizures. Conclusions Both seizures and IEDs are facilitated by NREM sleep. While deeper stages of NREM sleep activate IEDs, lighter stages of NREM sleep promote seizures, at least for single seizures occurring in 1 night.
A designer bow-tie combination therapeutic platform: An approach to resistant cancer treatment by simultaneous delivery of cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory agents and radiation

Multimodal therapies are used to treat advanced cancers including castration-resistant prostate cancer to manage the biological characteristics of the tumors like inflammation, bone metastases, and participation of metabolically altered cancer stem cells (CSCs) that have integral roles in disease dissemination and progression. We developed a multifunctional polymer-based self-assembled technology to deliver a predefined stoichiometric combination of a chemotherapy and an anti-inflammatory agent in a stimuli responsive manner, to complement and improve the currently established treatment methods of prostate cancer. We combined clinically applicable fractionated radiation therapy (XRT) to further sensitize the activity of this targeted multifunctional platform towards prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expressing advanced prostate cancer. After irradiation, our PSMA-targeted self-assembly system could modulate the mitochondrial metabolism, cellular respiration and the overall radiation-induced DNA damage process. We report the synthesis of this advanced multifunctional platform and describe its unique properties that allow the ability to load multiple FDA approved drugs with a predefined stoichiometric ratio for targeted co-delivery of chemotherapeutics and anti-inflammatory agents. The efficacy of this platform was demonstrated using several in vitro and in vivo studies, in a unique bilateral PSMA expressing prostate cancer tumor model, and in patient derived CSCs.
Preface to the National Lawyers Guild Review, 68-2

Introduces: 1. Legalization of Prostitution is a Violation of Human Rights by Dianne Post. 2. Boeing and the NLRB -- A Sixty-Four Year-Old Time Bomb Explodes by Andrea Strom. 3. Lost in the Debt Ceiling Debate: The Legal Duty to Create Jobs by Jeanne Mirer and Marjorie Cohn. 4. Western Complicity in the Crimes of the Ben Ali Regime by Corinna Mullin and Azadeh Shahshahani. 5. NLG Mourns the Passing of Debra Evenson by Heidi Boghosian. 6. Debra Evenson Award Established by Sugar Law Center by Jeanne Mirer.
The transcription factor Shox2 shapes thalamocortical neuron firing properties by regulation of key ion channels

ABSTRACT Thalamocortical neurons (TCNs) transmit information about sensory stimuli from the thalamus to the cortex and are capable of tonic and phasic burst firing modes in response to different physiological states. These firing properties of TCNs are supported by precisely-timed inhibitory synaptic inputs from the thalamic reticular nucleus and intrinsic T-type Ca2+ and HCN currents. These intrinsic currents are mediated by Cav3.1 and HCN channel subunits, and alterations in expression or these channels can have dramatic implications on thalamus function. The factors that modulate these currents controlling the firing patterns important for integration of the sensory stimuli and the consequences resulting from the disruption of these firing patterns are not well understood. Shox2 is a transcription factor important for pacemaker activity in the heart that is also expressed in adult mouse thalamus. We hypothesized that genes regulated by Shox2’s transcriptional activity may be important for firing properties of TCNs. In this study, we used RNA sequencing on control and Shox2 knockout mice to determine Shox2-affected genes and revealed a network of ion channel genes important for neuronal firing properties. Quantitative PCR confirmed that expression of Hcn2, 4 and Cav3.1 genes were affected by Shox2 KO. Western blotting showed expression of the proteins for these channels was decreased in the thalamus, and electrophysiological recordings showed that Shox2 KO impacted the firing properties of a subpopulation of TCNs. Finally, behavioral studies revealed that Shox2 expression in TCNs play a role in somatosensory function and object memory. Overall, these results reveal Shox2 as a transcription factor important for TCN function.
Emergent Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery

Laparoscopic intervention for colorectal emergencies depends on both patient and surgeon factors. While mainly used for surgery complications of diverticulitis and cancer, a wide spectrum of applications is possible. Emergent laparoscopic colorectal surgery is safe and feasible in many cases, and permits exploration while limiting incision size, reducing overall morbidity. The ultimate success of emergent laparoscopic colorectal surgery lies in proper patient selection. In this chapter, we address the trends in utilization, indications, technical considerations, and pitfalls of emergent laparoscopic colorectal resection.
Life Cycle Assessment for Ordinary and Frost-Resistant Concrete

This is an environmental study on concrete that follows the standard protocol of life cycle assessment (LCA) for two types of concrete, ordinary and frost-resistant concrete, with a focus on the superplasticizers used as admixtures. The use phase is not included in this study and the concrete is assumed to be inert during this phase. The results show that production of the raw material (especially cement) and the transports involved in the life cycle of concrete are the main contributors to the total environmental impacts. The environmental impact of frost-resistant concrete is between 24–41% higher than that of ordinary concrete due to its higher content of cement. Superplasticizers contribute with approximately 0.4–10.4% of the total environmental impact of concrete. Also, we have concluded that the low amount of leakage of superplasticizers from concrete leads to a low risk for the environment and humans.
The End-Permian Mass Extinction

Abstract The end-Permian mass extinction was triggered by geologically-rapid carbon release from enormous flood basalt eruptions, the Siberian Traps. This perturbation to the carbon cycle led to a hyperthermal event: considerable temperature increases on land and in the oceans, expansion of oceanic oxygen minimum zones, heavy metal pollution, short-term acid rain and disruption of the ozone layer, and intensification of the hydrologic cycle with shifts in rainfall patterns. If carbon release was sufficiently rapid, the oceans may have suffered a short-lived acidification event. These environmental stresses caused a severe and rapid extinction in the oceans and probably also on land. In the oceans, extinctions occurred in a single pulse lasting