cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular mechanisms of age-related hearing loss

Age-related hearing loss, known as presbyacusis, is characterized by the progressive deterioration of auditory sensitivity associated with aging and is the most common cause of adult auditory deficiency in the United States. Presbyacusis is defined as a progressive, bilateral, high-frequency hearing loss that is manifested on audiometric assessment by a moderately sloping pure tone audiogram. This condition affects approximately 23% of the population between 65 and 75 years of age and 40% of the population older than 75 years of age. In 1980, it was estimated that 11% of the population was 76 years or older and this number is expected to nearly double by the year 2030 [, Otolaryngol. Head Neck Surg. 100, 262]. When coupled with the fact that the population over 65 years of age is experiencing the most rapid progression of hearing loss, the potential socioeconomic ramifications are staggering. Interestingly, presbyacusis varies in its frequency across differing societies. This discrepancy has been attributed to many factors such as genetics, diet, socioeconomic factors, and environmental variables [, Otolaryngol. Head Neck Surg. 100, 266;. Scand. Audiol. 26 (1997) 133]. The purpose of this discussion is to illuminate the various molecular mechanisms underlying this age-related hearing loss and to offer insights into potential ways to mitigate the effects of aging on hearing impairment.
Production of volatile compounds from irradiated oil emulsion containing amino acids or proteins.

Oil emulsions containing amino acids, glutathione, bovine serum albumin, gelatin, or myofibrillar proteins were prepared. The emulsions were irradiated at 0, 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 kGy absorbed doses and analyzed for volatile compounds. Irradiation increased the production of aldehydes (for example, hexanal, heptanal, octanal, and nonanal) indicating that lipid oxidation of oil emulsion was accelerated by irradiation. Irradiation produced, by radiolytic degradations, new volatile compounds from oil emulsions containing leucine, valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, methionine, or cysteine. This indicated that radiolysis of protein may play an important role in off-
Acute Kidney Injury Following Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Cardiopulmonary bypass is a significant risk factor for acute kidney injury (AKI) in children with congenital heart disease. AKI is a significant and independent risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. The traditional definitions of acute renal failure that rely on changes in serum creatinine alone are no longer valid, as even small increases in serum creatinine are associated with excess morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. The concentrations of urinary NGAL, IL-18, and KIM-1, and serum NGAL and cystatin C are emerging as novel, early biomarkers of AKI in children following cardiopulmonary bypass. The treatment of AKI is largely supportive, though early recognition is important. Timing of treatment (i.e., renal replacement therapy) may be crucial to assure the best possible outcome.
Melt and Rheological Properties of Mozzarella Cheese as Affected by Starter Culture and Coagulating Enzymes

Low moisture part-skim (LMPS) Mozzarella cheeses were made with single culture (SC) of Streptococcus thermophilus or mixed culture (MC) of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus helveticus using 1× or 6× of cheese coagulants chymosin or Cryphonectria parasitica (CP). Cheeses were analyzed for total solids, fat, protein, ash, salt, and calcium on day 1. Changes in melt characteristics and proteolysis during storage (4 °C) were monitored on 1, 7, 15, and 30 days (d). After 30 d storage, melt area as measured by modified Schreiber test increased only by approximately 2 times in cheeses made with SC as against 3-4 times in the cheeses made with MC. On d 30, creep test showed that the fall in height decreased by approximately 4-5 times in the SC cheeses but approximately 7-9 times in the cheeses made with MC when compared with the values obtained on d 1 for corresponding cheeses. Melt characteristics on d 7 for cheeses prepared with MC almost corresponded to that of d 30 cheeses made with SC, suggesting faster ripening and increase in melt of cheeses made with MC. Soluble nitrogen was also higher in MC cheeses as compared to those made using SC only. The degradation of total αs-casein was higher in the chymosin cheeses and that of β-casein in the CP cheeses. The degradation of casein fraction f (24-199) was higher in MC cheeses as compared to those prepared with SC only. After 30 d storage, the highest percentage breakdown of αs-casein was approximately 75% in cheeses made with MC using 6× chymosin and that of β-casein was approximately 50% in cheese samples prepared with MC using 6× coagulant from Cryphonectria parasitica. Meltability of Mozzarella cheese was better correlated to hydrolysis of β-casein and was comparable to soluble nitrogen but least to αs-casein. Mozzarella cheese / melt / proteolysis / starter culture / coagulant concentration
Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 decreases breast cancer cell motility, invasion and matrix metalloproteinase expression

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is the rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes the formation of prostaglandins. The inducible isoform of COX (COX-2) is highly expressed in aggressive metastatic breast cancers and may play a critical role in cancer progression (i.e. growth and metastasis). However, the exact mechanism(s) for COX-2-enhanced metastasis has yet to be clearly defined. It is well established that one of the direct results of COX-2 action is increased prostaglandin production, especially prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Here, we correlate the inhibition of COX-2 activity with decreased breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression. Breast cancer cells (Hs578T, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) were treated with selective COX-2 inhibitors (NS-398 and Niflumic acid, NA). Cell proliferation was measured by staining with erythrosin B and counting the viable cells using a hemacytometer. Cell migration and invasion were measured using migration and invasion chamber systems. MMP expression was determined by enzyme immunoassay (secreted protein) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (mRNA). Our results show that there is a decline in proliferation, migration and invasion by the Hs578T and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines in the presence of either low concentrations (1 μM or lower) NA or NS-398. We also report that MMP mRNA and protein expression by Hs578T cells is inhibited by NS-398; there was a 50% decrease by 100 μM NS-398. PGE2 completely reversed the inhibitory effect of NS-398 on MMP mRNA expression. Our data suggests that COX-2-dependent activity is a necessary component for cellular and molecular mechanisms of breast cancer cell motility and invasion. COX-2 activity also modulates the expression of MMPs, which may be a part of the molecular mechanism by which COX-2 promotes cell invasion and migration. The studies suggest that COX-2 assists in determining and defining the metastatic signaling pathways that promote the breast cancer progression to metastasis.
Choice of injection site, locus of control, and the perception of momentary pain.

A sample of 138 preoperative, adult patients were randomly assigned choice and no choice conditions. The in the choice condition were asked decide in which of two locations t preferred to receive their preoperative injections. Pain of injection was sessed using the Pilowsky and Kaufman visual analog scale and a verbal and numerical descriptive scale. Locus control was measured by Rotter's Scale on the night before surgery. Analysis of the data showed a lack support for hypotheses predicting a difference in pain perception on the basis of decision-making and locus of control. However, when preoperative injection ratings were compared with past ratings of intramuscular injections, those patients in the no choice condition perceived significantly less pain from the former, Additional analyses revealed that age, sex, and nurse variation had significant effects on the perception of pain.
Specific absorption rates and induced current densities for an anatomy-based model of the human for exposure to time-varying magnetic fields of MRI

A 6-mm resolution, 30-tissue anatomy-based model of the human body is used to calculate specific absorption rate (SAR) and the induced current density distributions for radiofrequency and switched gradient magnetic fields used for MRI, respectively. For SAR distributions, the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used including modeling of 16-conductor birdcage coils and outer shields of dimensions that are typical of body and head coils and a new high-frequency head coil proposed for the 300–400 MHz band. SARs at 64, 128, and 170 MHz have been found to increase with frequency (f ) as f k where k is on the order of 1.1–1.2. The tables of the calculated maximum 1 kg and 100 g SAR may be used to calculate the maximum RF currents and/or magnetic fields that may be used in order not to exceed the safety guidelines. Because of the low frequencies associated with switched gradient magnetic fields, a quasi-static impedance method is used for calculation of induced current densities that are compared with the safety guidelines. Magn Reson Med 41:816–823, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Obesity and asthma: location, location, location

There is a worldwide epidemic of obesity. In the USA, the prevalence of obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg·m−2, has increased among adults aged 20–74 yrs from ∼15% in the late 1970s to ∼35% in 2010. Another third of the population is overweight (BMI ≥25 to <30 kg·m−2). The obesity epidemic has impacted both developed and developing nations throughout the world. The World Health Organization estimates that worldwide, ∼2 billion people are either obese or overweight. Obesity is a well-established risk factor for type 2 diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Obesity is also an important risk factor for asthma. In the late 1980s, two large surveys were published that examined the impact of obesity on the prevalence of chronic diseases [1, 2]. Both reported an increased prevalence of asthma in the obese and/or overweight. These studies received relatively little attention until ∼10 yrs later, when reports began to emerge describing associations between obesity and asthma in adults and children of multiple ethnicities throughout the world [3]. These association studies were limited by their inability to address the direction of causality and were initially interpreted as indicating a more sedentary lifestyle in asthmatics (due to respiratory symptoms during exercise) resulting in more obesity. It was not until publication of the first prospective analysis of the relationship between obesity and asthma in 1999 [4] that obesity really began to be appreciated as a major risk factor for asthma. The authors followed almost 86,000 initially nonasthmatic females over a 4-yr period. They observed that after adjustment for several factors, including exercise, initial BMI correlated strongly with the risk of new-onset asthma. Subsequently, several other prospective studies confirmed these …
Calcification of the mitral valve.

Abstract The frequent observation by roentgenologists and pathologists of calcification in the region of the mitral valve has led to much conjecture concerning its origin and significance. Views regarding its etiology may be divided into three general groups: inflammation, degeneration, and metabolic disturbances. Calcification of the mitral ring has been ascribed to degenerative 1, 7, 8, 10, 11 or atheromatous processes 2, 3 of nonrheumatic origin 6–11 occurring chiefly in the aged. 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 It has been pointed out that the lesion occurs at the site of maximum stress and strain 1 and that decreased blood supply is an important factor in its genesis. Others have suggested a similarity to the Monckeberg type of aortic valve calcification, 12, 13 assuming a predilection to collagen involution with deposition of lipoid and calcium. 12 The acellular structure of the posterior portion of the annulus is held responsible for localization of calcification in that part of the ring. 20 Many investigators are of the opinion that calcification of the annulus fibrosus of the mitral valve is of no clinical significance. On the other hand, calcification of the leaflets of the mitral valve has been considered inflammatory (rheumatic) in origin, when it occurs in younger age groups. 3, 6, 7, 9, 10 Decreasing the caloric intake in rats has been found to result in increased calcium deposition in the heart, the aorta, and the kidneys. 14 Animal experimentation has also shown that the form of mineral supplement has an effect upon the production of cardiac calcification, but that moderate enforced exercise reduces the incidence of calcification. 15 The present investigation was undertaken to determine the incidence and distribution of calcification on the mitral valve and to evaluate its clinical significance.
The incidence of hospitalized cases of systemic mycotic infections

Information was obtained concerning patients hospitalized in 1970 at institutions participating in the Commission on Professional and Hospital Activities and having a deep mycosis as a discharge diagnosis. Based on these data there were an estimated 7697 patients with systemic mycotic infection hospitalized in the United States in 1970, the cost of their hospitalization being estimated at 9·39 million dollars. Hospitalization rates conformed, in general, to the known geographic distribution of the infective agent. For patients with a primary diagnosis of a mycotic infection, case fatalities per 100 hospitalized patients ranged from 0·0 for actinomycosis to 18·0 for cryptococcosis. Despite limitations of data derived from this type of survey, the findings represent the most accurate and comprehensive study of patients hospitalized due to systemic mycoses.
Drug-Induced Regulation of the MDR1 Promoter in Candida albicans

Resistance of Candida albicans to azole antifungal drugs is mediated by two types of efflux pumps, encoded by the MDR1 gene and the CDR gene family. MDR1 mRNA levels in a susceptible clinical isolate are induced by benomyl (BEN) but not by other drugs previously shown to induce MDR1 . To monitor MDR1 expression under several conditions, the MDR1 promoter was fused to the Renilla reniformis luciferase reporter gene ( RLUC ). The promoter was monitored for its responses to four oxidizing agents, five toxic hydrophobic compounds, and an alkylating agent, all shown to induce major facilitator pumps in other organisms. Deletion constructs of the MDR1 promoter were used to analyze the basal transcription of the promoter and its responses to the toxic compound BEN and the oxidizing agent tert -butyl hydrogen peroxide (T-BHP). The cis -acting elements in the MDR1 promoter responsible for induction by BEN were localized between −399 and −299 upstream of the start codon. The cis -acting elements responsible for MDR1 induction by T-BHP were localized between −601 and −500 upstream of the start codon. The T-BHP induction region contains a sequence that resembles the YAP1 -responsive element (YRE) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . This Candida YRE was placed upstream of a noninducible promoter in the luciferase construct, resulting in an inducible promoter. Inversion or mutation of the 7-bp YRE eliminated induction. Many of the drugs used in this analysis induce the MDR1 promoter at concentrations that inhibit cell growth. These analyses define cis -acting elements responsible for drug induction of the MDR1 promoter.
PACKING SHELVES WITH ITEMS THAT DIVIDE THE SHELVES' LENGTH: A CASE OF A UNIVERSAL NUMBER PARTITION PROBLEM

This note examines the likelihood of packing two identical one dimensional shelves of integer length L by items whose individual lengths are divisors of L, given that their combined length sums-up to 2L. We compute the number of packing failures and packing successes for integer shelve lengths L, 1 ≤ L ≤ 1000, by implementing a dynamic programming scheme using a problem specific "boundedness property". The computational results indicate that the likelihood of a packing failure is very rare. We observe that the existence of packing failures is tied to the number of divisors of L and prove that the number of divisors has to be at least 8 for a packing failure to exist.
Utilization of Cellular Automata in the DNA Signal Search Problem

Time-varying cellular automata (TV CA) are a form of cellular automata (CA) where the transition functions vary over time or are time de- pendent. The DNA signal search problem (DSSP) is a well-known problem in bio-informatics. Es- sentially it is the problem of searching for patterns in biological sequences. Two classical approaches utilize computation theory to exploit the power of deterministic snite automata (DFA). A third approach uses a sltering technique. CA is novel in DSSP. We view a CA as an ag- gregate of NFAs or cells where the NFA transitions are modised to account for neighboring cell states. There is a large body of literature on CA and large body of literature on NFA in DSSP. In this paper we extend the classical approach and explain the us- age of a TV CA in DSSP.
Observations of energy transport and rate of spreads from low-intensity fires in longleaf pine habitat - RxCADRE 2012.

Wildland fire rate of spread (ROS) and intensity are determined by the mode and magnitude of energy transport from the flames to the unburned fuels. Measurements of radiant and convective heating and cooling from experimental fires are reported here. Sensors were located nominally 0.5 m above ground level. Flame heights varied from 0.3 to 1.8 m and flaming zone depth varied from 0.3 to 3.0 m. Fire ROS derived from observations of fire transit time between sensors was 0.10 to 0.48 m s–1. ROS derived from ocular estimates reached 0.51 m s–1 for heading fire and 0.25 m s–1 for backing fire. Measurements of peak radiant and total energy incident on the sensors during flame presence reached 18.8 and 36.7 kW m–2 respectively. Peak air temperatures reached 1159°C. Calculated fire radiative energy varied from 7 to 162 kJ m–2 and fire total energy varied from 3 to 261 kJ m–2. Measurements of flame emissive power peaked at 95 kW m–2. Average horizontal air flow in the direction of flame spread immediately before, during, and shortly after the flame arrival reached 8.8 m s–1, with reverse drafts of 1.5 m s–1; vertical velocities varied from 9.9 m s–1 upward flow to 4.5 m s–1 downward flow. The observations from these fires contribute to the overall understanding of energy transport in wildland fires.
The two-step model of UV mutagenesis reassessed: deamination of cytosine in cyclobutane dimers as the likely source of the mutations associated with photoreactivation.

A large increase in the incidence of bacteriophage mutants is found after photoreactivation of UV-irradiated phage S13. The increase was seen only when the irradiated phage were stored before they were photoreactivated; the maximum mutation frequency was achieved after storage for 2 h at 4° C or 30 min at 37° C. The mutations can be attributed entirely to deamination of cytosine in cyclobutane dimers. Naked S13 DNA was stored for 2 h at 37° C after being irradiated with wavelengths ≥290 nm in the presence of 0.2% acetophenone, which sensitizes the formation of thymine-thymine but not cytosine-containing dimers; the specific mutation frequency was 7.2-fold lower compared to the frequency produced by irradiation in the absence of the photosensitizer, confirming that cytosine dimers are a major source of mutations. These results undermine the basis for the two-step model of UV mutagenesis in which a distinctly separate misincorporation step is supposed to precede the lesion bypass step; instead the results support a different two-step model, in which a deamination step precedes the bypass. The S13 capsid appears to completely inhibit the putative deamination reaction at about 75% of the dimer sites.
Influence of sapogenins on cholesterol metabolism in rats.

SummaryRats were fed for four weeks on a basal fiber-free diet (B) or the same diet augmented with 1% cholesterol (BC). Diosgenin, tigogenin, hecogenin, β-sitosterol and their acetates (1%) were added to diet BC. Liver cholesterol and triglyceride levels of rats fed BC were significantly elevated compared to rats fed diet B (472 and 165%, respectively). The increases in liver cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly inhibited by all eight test compounds. When all rats were fed a single dose of [4-14C]cholesterol, appearance of isotope in serum and liver of animals fed the various steroids was up to 61% less than in rats fed diet BC. The acetates of hecogenin, tigogenin and β-sitosterol were more effective than the unesterified steroids in inhibiting cholesterol accumulation in liver.
AN UNUSUAL CASE OF ACUTE DECOMPENSATED HEART FAILURE

Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm (SVA) is a very uncommon condition, responsible for up to 3.5% of congenital heart defects, and 0.04 to 0.14% of heart surgeries. Untreated ruptured SVA has a survival of 2 to 4 years. Heart failure is leading cause of death with infective endocarditis seen in up to 8% of
Disrupted Attosecond Charge Carrier Delocalization at a Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Semiconductor Interface

Despite significant interest in hybrid organic/inorganic semiconductor interfaces, little is known regarding the fate of charge carriers at metal oxide interfaces, particularly on ultrafast time scales. Using core-hole clock spectroscopy, we investigate the ultrafast charge carrier dynamics of conductive ZnO films at a hybrid interface with an organic semiconductor. The adsorption of C60 on the ZnO surface strongly suppresses the ultrafast carrier delocalization and increases the charge carrier residence time from 400 attoseconds to nearly 30 fs. Here, we show that a new hybridized interfacial density of states with substantial molecular character is formed, fundamentally altering the observed carrier dynamics. The remarkable change in the dynamics sheds light on the fate of carriers at hybrid organic/inorganic semiconductor interfaces relevant to organic optoelectronics and provides for the first time an atomistic picture of the electronically perturbed near-interface region of a metal oxide.
Nondestructive assessment approaches to storage life of solid propellants(III) ——residual life prediction method

Based on the theoretic analysis of dynamics and research results of propellant aging characteristic parameters,the method for predicting solid propellant residual life by the nondestructive means was investigated.Theoretic analysis of dynamics shows that the activation energy is the function of aging temperature.There exists linear dependence of activation energy on aging temperature,and their relationship is equivalent to that of the factor before index on aging temperatures.The results show that the stress problem affecting the service life of propellant can be converted into dynamics issue,and the stress have a remarkable effect on the service life of propellant.A nondestructive approach to predicting the residual life of solid propellants was established by using new four-parameter dynamics formula and the suitable characteristic parameters.This method can be used to prolong life of the due missile.
Electron-spin-resonance studies on flavoenzymes

Our current knowledge on the spin distribution of flavoenzyme semiquinones would suggest that it is very similar to that determined for model flavin systems. It remains for future work to establish whether this conclusion is valid for a wide range of flavoenzymes as well as for those in which the flavin has become covalently attached to the protein via the 8 alpha position. The improvement in e.s.r. instrumental capabilities, advances in ENDOR spectroscopy, and the application of other techniques such as electron spin echo spectroscopy should result in considerable new information regarding the structures and environment of flavoenzyme semiquinones. Further application of these physical approaches to flavoenzymes in which chemically modified flavins have been substituted for the 'normal' coenzyme (Massey & Hemmerich, 1980) may be particularly informative.
Experience with Penile Prosthesis in Spinal Cord Injury Patients

AbstractDuring the last 2 years 30 patients in the spinal cord injury service at our hospital received a penile prosthesis implant. The records of 25 patients were reviewed and 20 patients were interviewed 3 to 27 months postoperatively. A detailed evaluation of each patient shows that in properly selected patients the results of this operation can be satisfactory and gratifying.
The Wrong Side: A Rare Case of Wandering Liver in a 78-Year-Old Man.

A 78-year-old man was hospitalized with acute cholecystitis and choledocholithiasis. Abdominal CT confirmed gallstones in the biliary tract with normal position of the liver and gallbladder (Figure 1). Laboratory work-up revealed total bilirubin 2.3 mg/dL, direct bilirubin 2.2 mg/dL, alkaline phosphatase 394 μ/L, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) 1,869 μ/L, and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) 742 μ/L. MRI cholangiopancreatography revealed liver and gallbladder on the left side, with pancreas, duodenum, and spleen in normal anatomical position (Figure 2). The liver pedicle was distorted, with dilated common bile duct (CBD) lying parallel to the pancreatic duct. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and ERCP was performed for cholecystitis and choledocholithiasis, respectively. The position of liver changed from the right side to the left side of the abdomen, with the bile duct parallel to the pancreatic duct during cholecystectomy and ERCP.
Assignment of the Fundamental Modes of Hydroxyacetone Using Gas-Phase Infrared, Far-Infrared, Raman, and ab Initio Methods: Band Strengths for Atmospheric Measurements.

Hydroxyacetone (acetol) is a simple organic molecule of interest in both the astrophysical and atmospheric communities. It has recently been observed in biomass burning events and is a known degradation product of isoprene oxidation. However, its vibrational assignment has never been fully completed, and few quantitative data are available for its detection via infrared spectroscopy. Our recent acquisition of both the pressure-broadened gas-phase data and the far-IR spectra now allow for unambiguous assignment of several (new) bands. In particular, the observed C-type bands of several fundamentals (particularly in the far-infrared) and a few combination bands demonstrate that the monomer is in a planar (Cs) conformation, at least a majority of the time. As suggested by other researchers, the monomer is a cis–cis conformer stabilized by an intramolecular O—H···O═C hydrogen bond forming a five-membered planar ring structure. Band assignments in the Cs point group are justified (at least for a good fraction ...
Myths of the Underworld Journey: Roadmaps of Déviance: The ‘Orphic’ Gold Tablets

INTRODUCTION Pure I come from the pure, Queen of those below the earth, and Eukles and Eubouleus and the other immortal gods; For I claim that I am of your blessed race. So boasts the deceased woman of Thurii on a gold tablet buried with her, identifying not only herself, but her antecedents as worthy. This enigmatic tablet, similar to others found throughout the margins of the Greek world, from Thessaly to southern Italy and Crete, has piqued the interest of scholars ever since its discovery in 1879. Although the tablet proclaims the identity and lineage of the deceased woman with whom it was buried, the identity and lineage of the tablets themselves — what sorts of religious phenomena they represent and where they come from — remain largely mysterious. These so-called Orphic gold tablets present one of the most intriguing puzzles in the study of Greek religious beliefs. In all the graves from classical antiquity excavated by modern scholars, fewer than twenty examples have been found of these enigmatic pieces of gold foil inscribed with instructions for the deceased in the afterlife. In contrast to gold tablets that are simply blank or contain only the name of the deceased or a dedication “To Persephone and Plouto,” the nearly twenty tablets with sizable inscriptions evoke a narrative; they present a piece of the story of the deceased's journey to the underworld and her encounter with the powers there. An analysis of the way in which the myth of the underworld journey is used in these tablets can reveal much about the mysterious religious context in which these tablets were produced.
Marketing to the Social Conscience

The socially aware consumer today needs more information in order to make responsible purchases.
The Oxford handbook of dance and theater

The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Theater, edited and with an introduction by Nadine George-Graves, offers readers an extended tour of contemporary disciplinary, interdisciplinary and cross-discipli...
NOX2 drives M1-like microglial/macrophage activation and neurodegeneration following experimental traumatic brain injury

Following traumatic brain injury (TBI), activation of microglia and peripherally derived inflammatory macrophages occurs in association with tissue damage. This neuroinflammatory response may have beneficial or detrimental effects on neuronal survival, depending on the functional polarization of these cells along a continuum from M1-like to M2-like activation states. The mechanisms that regulate M1-like and M2-like activation after TBI are not well understood, but appear in part to reflect the redox state of the lesion microenvironment. NADPH oxidase (NOX2) is a critical enzyme system that generates reactive oxygen species in microglia/macrophages. After TBI, NOX2 is strongly up-regulated in M1-like, but not in M2-like polarized cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that NOX2 drives M1-like neuroinflammation and contributes to neurodegeneration and loss of neurological function after TBI. In the present studies we inhibited NOX2 activity using NOX2-knockout mice or the selective peptide inhibitor gp91ds-tat. We show that NOX2 is highly up-regulated in infiltrating macrophages after injury, and that NOX2 deficiency reduces markers of M1-like activation, limits tissue loss and neurodegeneration, and improves motor recovery after moderate-level control cortical injury (CCI). NOX2 deficiency also promotes M2-like activation after CCI, through increased IL-4Rα signaling in infiltrating macrophages, suggesting that NOX2 acts as a critical switch between M1- and M2-like activation states after TBI. Administration of gp91ds-tat to wild-type CCI mice starting at 24h post-injury reduces deficits in cognitive function and increased M2-like activation in the hippocampus. Collectively, our data indicate that increased NOX2 activity after TBI drives M1-like activation that contributes to inflammatory-mediated neurodegeneration, and that inhibiting this pathway provides neuroprotection, in part by altering M1-/M2-like balance towards the M2-like neuroinflammatory response.
Integrating knowledge across domains to advance the science of health behavior: overcoming challenges and facilitating success

Health behaviors often co-occur and have common determinants at multiple levels (e.g., individual, relational, environmental). Nevertheless, research programs often examine single health behaviors without a systematic attempt to integrate knowledge across behaviors. This paper highlights the significant potential of cross-cutting behavioral research to advance our understanding of the mechanisms and causal factors that shape health behaviors. It also offers suggestions for how researchers could develop more effective interventions. We highlight barriers to such an integrative science along with potential steps that can be taken to address these barriers. With a more nuanced understanding of health behavior, redundancies in research can be minimized, and a stronger evidence base for the development of health behavior interventions can be realized.
Nonlinear Distributed Coupling into Guided Waves

Thin-film waveguides are a very attractive material geometry for performing nonlinear optics experiments for a number of reasons. They provide diffractionless propagation in one or more dimensions. Furthermore, efficient interactions are possible at low powers becasue of beam confinement to dimensions of the order of the wavelength of light. The application of second-order nonlinear interactions to optical waveguides is a well-developed field.1,2 In contrast to this, interest and progress in third-order nonlinear guided wave phenomena is much more recent. Demonstrated to date have been degenerate four wave mixing in CS2-covered3 and semiconductor-doped glass4 waveguides, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering with monolayer sensitivity,5 nonlinear waveguiding phenomena,6,7 and a variety of phenomena related to distributed coupling into nonlinear waveguides.8-17 One of the disadvantages of distributed coupling via prisms or gratings is decreased coupling efficiency11,12,16 at high laser powers, making efficient nonlinear interactions more difficult to achieve. On the other hand, the distributed coupling does lead to interesting phenomena including optical limiting,12 optical bistability,13,14 switching,10,12–15,17 and measurement of waveguide nonlinearities.8–10,12,16 In this paper we summarize our experiments on nonlinear distributed couplers in various time regimes.
The Supraclavicular Flap in Head and Neck Reconstruction

The supraclavicular artery island flap has recently become increasingly used for the reconstruction of complex soft-tissue defects after head and neck oncologic ablative procedures. In an aging population with multiple comorbidities, with surgery often being performed in the salvage setting, many patients who are not good candidates for free tissue transfer are in still need of advanced reconstructive options. The goal of this article is to review the evolution of this flap and to highlight the recent technical modifications and outcomes data regarding the use of the supraclavicular flap in head and neck reconstruction. The supraclavicular artery island flap provides a versatile fasciocutaneous flap with minimal donor site morbidity that affords the reconstructive surgeon a thinness, pliability, color, and texture unmatched by other regional pedicled flaps. It is cost-effective and has been shown to have similar functional outcomes to free tissue transfer for a variety of ablative defects, including those of the lateral skull base and parotid, larynx, oral cavity, and oropharynx. The supraclavicular artery island flap has a number of proven advantages in the reconstruction of complex soft-tissue defects after head and neck oncologic ablative procedures. In an era in which salvage surgery is increasingly being performed in an aging patient population with rising comorbidities, the supraclavicular artery island flap provides a reliable, efficient alternative to free tissue transfer reconstruction that can ultimately result in decreased healthcare costs and lower patient morbidity.
Probable Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the US Veteran Population According to DSM-5: Results From the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study.

OBJECTIVE With the publication of DSM-5, important changes were made to the diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including the addition of 3 new symptoms. Some have argued that these changes will further increase the already high rates of comorbidity between PTSD and other psychiatric disorders. This study examined the prevalence of DSM-5 PTSD, conditional probability of PTSD given certain trauma exposures, endorsement of specific PTSD symptoms, and psychiatric comorbidities in the US veteran population. METHODS Data were analyzed from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS), a Web-based survey of a cross-sectional, nationally representative, population-based sample of 1,484 US veterans, which was fielded from September through October 2013. Probable PTSD was assessed using the PTSD Checklist-5. RESULTS The weighted lifetime and past-month prevalence of probable DSM-5 PTSD was 8.1% (SE = 0.7%) and 4.7% (SE = 0.6%), respectively. Conditional probability of lifetime probable PTSD ranged from 10.1% (sudden death of close family member or friend) to 28.0% (childhood sexual abuse). The DSM-5 PTSD symptoms with the lowest prevalence among veterans with probable PTSD were trauma-related amnesia and reckless and self-destructive behavior. Probable PTSD was associated with increased odds of mood and anxiety disorders (OR = 7.6-62.8, P < .001), substance use disorders (OR = 3.9-4.5, P < .001), and suicidal behaviors (OR = 6.7-15.1, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS In US veterans, the prevalence of DSM-5 probable PTSD, conditional probability of probable PTSD, and odds of psychiatric comorbidity were similar to prior findings with DSM-IV-based measures; we found no evidence that changes in DSM-5 increase psychiatric comorbidity. Results underscore the high rates of exposure to both military and nonmilitary trauma and the high public health burden of DSM-5 PTSD and comorbid conditions in veterans.
Building a Successful Career in Engineering

This paper describes one's approach to obtaining, maintaining and motivating oneself to stay inspired as one matriculates through one's career. The paper provides a step-by-step process for matriculating through one's career starting with a self-assessment, which provides options for your career plan, defines your strengths and weaknesses, and ensures that you are on the right road. In addition it helps match your strengths to the work you are considering and identifies what your contributions could be to the marketplace. The paper then takes you through the career decision-making process where one identifies one's long and short-term goals by matching career, personal and community objectives for lifelong learning, resulting in learning or personal career plan. The final stage to building a successful career in engineering is the identification and closure of the ideal job that matches your skills and learning objects, to job needs.
The nature of doubt and a new puzzle about belief, doubt, and confidence

In this paper, I present and defend a novel account of doubt. In Sect. 2, I make some preliminary observations about the nature of doubt. In Sect. 3, I introduce a new puzzle about the relationship between three psychological states: doubt, belief, and confidence. I present this puzzle because my account of doubt emerges as a possible solution to it. Lastly, in Sect. 4, I elaborate on and defend my account of doubt. Roughly, one has doubt if and only if one believes one might be wrong; I argue that this is superior to the account that says that one has doubt if and only if one has less than the highest degree of confidence.
Biologic Therapy in the Treatment of Chronic Skin Disorders

Understanding of the immunologic pathways involved in the pathogenesis of skin-related diseases is constantly advancing. Several biologic agents play important therapeutic roles for management of patients with chronic urticaria, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis, particularly omalizumab for antihistamine-resistant chronic urticaria, interleukin (IL)-1 inhibitors for cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome and Schnitzler syndrome, dupilumab for recalcitrant atopic dermatitis, and IL-17 inhibitors for psoriasis. The therapeutic utility of biologic agents for patients with immune-related dermatologic disorders is likely to expand in the future. This article reviews the data regarding biologic agents and their utility in the management of specific skin-related disorders.
Climate Analyses to Assess Risks from Invasive Forest Insects: Simple Matching to Advanced Models

The number of invasive alien insects that adversely affect trees and forests continues to increase as do associated ecological, economic, and sociological impacts. Prevention strategies remain the most cost-effective approach to address the issue, but risk management decisions, particularly those affecting international trade, must be supported by scientifically credible pest risk assessments. Pest risk assessments typically include an evaluation of the suitability of the climate for pest establishment within an area of concern. A number of species distribution models have been developed to support those efforts, and these models vary in complexity from simple climate matching to mechanistic models. This review discusses the rationale for species distribution models and describes some common and influential approaches. Species distribution models that use distributional records and environmental covariates are routinely applied when ecological information about a species of concern is limited, an all-too common situation for pest risk assessors. However, fundamental assumptions of the models may not always hold. A structured literature review suggests that many common species distribution models are not regularly applied to alien insects that may threaten trees and forests. For ten high-impact alien insect species that are invading North America, MaxEnt and CLIMEX were applied more often than other modeling approaches. Some impediments to model development and publication exist. More applications of species distribution models to forest insects are needed in the peer-reviewed literature to ensure the credibility of pest risk maps for regulatory decision making, to deepen understanding of the factors that dictate species’ distributions, and to better characterize uncertainties associated with these models.
Autograft Versus Allograft for Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis:

Background:Multiple studies have demonstrated a higher risk of graft failure after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with allograft, but limited data are available comparing outcomes of posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (PCLR) with autograft versus allograft.Purpose:To compare the clinical outcomes of autograft versus allograft for primary PCLR.Study Design:Systematic review.Methods:A systematic review was performed by searching PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE to locate studies (level of evidence I-III) comparing clinical outcomes of autograft versus allograft in patients undergoing primary PCLR with the conventional transtibial technique. Search terms used were “posterior cruciate ligament,” “autograft,” and “allograft.” Patients were evaluated based on graft failure rate, examination of knee laxity, and patient-reported outcome scores (Lysholm, Tegner, subjective International Knee Documentation Committee [IKDC], and objective IKDC scores).Results:Five studies (2 level II, 3 le...
Taiwan and China: Fitful Embrace

China’s relation to Taiwan has been in constant contention since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in October 1949 and the creation of the defeated Kuomintang (KMT) exile regime on the island two months later. The island’s autonomous sovereignty has continually been challenged, initially because of the KMT’s insistence that it continue to represent not just Taiwan but all of China—and later because Taiwan refused to cede sovereignty to the then-dominant power that had arisen on the other side of the Taiwan Strait. One thing that makes Taiwan so politically difficult and yet so intellectually fascinating is that it is not merely a security problem, but a ganglion of interrelated puzzles. The optimistic hope of the Ma Ying-jeou administration for a new era of peace and cooperation foundered on a landslide victory by the Democratic Progressive Party, which has made clear its intent to distance Taiwan from China’s political embrace. The Taiwanese are now waiting with bated breath as the relationship tautens. Why did detente fail, and what chance does Taiwan have without it? Contributors to this volume focus on three aspects of the evolving quandary: nationalistic identity, social economy, and political strategy. “Provides essential background for an understanding of both why the issues between Taiwan and China remain difficult to resolve and why that lack of resolution poses a potential threat to peace in the western Pacific area.” STEVEN GOLDSTEIN, Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard University LOWELL DITTMER is Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He is editor in chief of the journal Asian Survey and the author of Sino-Soviet Normalization and Its International Implications , China’s Quest for National Identity , China Under Modernization , and South Asia’s Nuclear Crisis.
Oleoylethanolamide modulates glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist signaling and enhances exendin-4-mediated weight loss in obese mice

Long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor (GLP-1R) agonists (GLP-1RA), such as exendin-4 (Ex4), promote weight loss. On the basis of a newly discovered interaction between GLP-1 and oleo...
Kinetics of Glucose Metabolism and Utilization of Lactate in Mammalian Cell Cultures

Glucose is a major energy source for mammalian cells grown in culture. Although conditions are aerobic, in most cases, glucose is not completely oxidized. Depending on the culture conditions and the cell type, about 50-100% of glucose is converted to lactate. In this study, the glucose metabolism was studied in batch, chemostat, and perfusion cultures of CHO and NS0 cells. The glucose utilization rate slowed down when glucose became limiting. This decrease could also be attributed to slow growth rates at low glucose concentrations. Lactate production rate also decreased at low growth rates. When the media was enriched with amino acids, glucose was completely metabolized in batch cultures. The lactate concentration increased until the glucose is depleted. Then lactate was utilized along with other amino acids. The utilization of lactate was also observed in chemostat and perfusion cultures. Net lactate production from glucose dropped to zero at low glucose levels. A thorough analysis on lactate yield on glucose demonstrated a constant flux of glucose to cell mass. This flux was observed to be independent of lactate formation, which was proportional to glucose utilization.
Immediate Internal Fixation in Open Fractures

Open fractures require emergency treatment. Adequate debridement and copious irrigation are essential in their management. The parenteral administration of antibiotics should be started immediately. If the wound is closed primarily, the antibiotics are discontinued after three days. If the wound is closed secondarily, the antibiotics are continued for another three days after this procedure. Most open fractures should be treated without the use of internal fixation techniques. However, we believe that there are reasons for employing immediate internal fixation, particularly in polytraumatized patients and others sustaining type III open fractures, to facilitate care of the soft tissue. When immediate internal fixation techniques are used in open fractures, the wound must not be closed primarily.
Tumors of the Digestive System

The tumors of the tubular part of the digestive system, the liver, and the pancreas account for a significant portion of the day-to-day surgical pathology material in most diagnostic pathology laboratories. While many of these gastrointestinal tumors are microscopically identical to the homonymous tumors in other parts of the body, some are unique to the digestive system. This chapter reviews the grading of the most important neoplasms and related preneoplastic conditions of the digestive system.