cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of urease in megasome formation and Helicobacter pylori survival in macrophages

Previous studies have demonstrated that Helicobacter pylori (Hp) delays its entry into macrophages and persists inside megasomes, which are poorly acidified and accumulate early endosome autoantigen 1. Herein, we explored the role of Hp urease in bacterial survival in murine peritoneal macrophages and J774 cells. Plasmid-free mutagenesis was used to replace ureA and ureB with chloramphenicol acetyltransferase in Hp Strains 11637 and 11916. ureAB null Hp lacked detectable urease activity and did not express UreA or UreB as judged by immunoblotting. Deletion of ureAB had no effect on Hp binding to macrophages or the rate or extent of phagocytosis. However, intracellular survival of mutant organisms was impaired significantly. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that (in contrast to parental organisms) mutant Hp resided in single phagosomes, which were acidic and accumulated the lysosome marker lysosome-associated membrane protein-1 but not early endosome autoantigen 1. A similar phenotype was observed for spontaneous urease mutants derived from Hp Strain 60190. Treatment of macrophages with bafilomycin A1, NH4Cl, or chloroquine prevented acidification of phagosomes containing mutant Hp. However, only ammonium chloride enhanced bacterial viability significantly. Rescue of ureAB null organisms was also achieved by surface adsorption of active urease. Altogether, our data indicate a role for urease and urease-derived ammonia in megasome formation and Hp survival.
Coronary revascularization in women in 2003: sex revisited.

During the past 3 decades, numerous and remarkably consistent studies have reported sex differences in the epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, and clinical manifestations of coronary artery disease,1 and, especially noteworthy, in the sex differences in patients undergoing coronary revascularization, where a disturbingly higher mortality rate has been noted in women.2,3 In fact, multiple paradoxes have been observed. Differences between women and men in the extent of epicardial coronary artery disease in relation to risk factors and the degree of stable and unstable angina, in the relationship between congestive heart failure and left ventricular systolic function, and recently, in the higher in-hospital mortality after revascularization in younger but not older women in comparison to men have been noted.4 It has been suggested that improvements in procedural technology and technique, particularly the increasing performance of off-pump procedures and use of heparin bonded circuits, and the widespread use of stents and adjunctive pharmacotherapy in patients undergoing both coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) would improve outcomes in women. Therefore, it is timely to review the current status and issues concerning coronary revascularization in women. Virtually all single-center and large-scale multicenter registries have reported that in comparison to men, women undergoing CABG or PCI have more comorbid disease, are older, are smaller in size, and have a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, peripheral vascular disease, and unstable angina, as well as more severe (Canadian Cardiovascular Society class III–IV) angina. Despite a lower prevalence of previous myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction than men, they have more congestive heart failure.2–6 Yet, the extent of epicardial coronary artery disease, as measured by angiography, is similar (or less) in women in comparison to men, a finding that refutes the hypothesis that women are referred for coronary angiography …
Gaspra and Ida: Implications of Spacecraft Reconnaissance for NEO Issues

: The first spacecraft encounters with asteroids were flybys of Gaspra and Ida by Galileo. They emphasize the diversity of asteroid properties and permit us to consider the probable physical nature of near-Earth objects (NEOs).
Sign language contact and interference: ASL and LSM

This work concerns structural outcomes of contact between Mexican Sign Language (LSM) and American Sign Language (ASL). A brief description of the social environment that leads to contact between LSM and ASL along the U.S.–Mexico border is provided, and two claims are advanced: (i) Contact between sign languages can exhibit characteristics of contact between spoken languages (e.g., interference), but there are also unique features of signed-language contact due to the ability to produce elements from a signed and spoken language simultaneously; and (ii) examples of interference from one sign language in the production of the other are sometimes systematic and predictable based on the signer's linguistic background, but cases of lack of interference also provide evidence that some signers are able to employ subtle articulatory differences, either consciously or not, when producing signs from the sign language that was learned after they acquired their first sign language.This work was supported by a National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders grant (F31 DC00352) to the author. I would also like to thank two anonymous reviewers and Barbara Johnstone for their comments on an earlier draft of this article, and Claire Ramsey and Sergio Pena provided input about the Mexican Deaf situation as well. Any errors are, of course, my own.
Content-based retrieval of 3D models in distributed Web databases by visual shape information

Digital documents assembled from different components, like text, images, video, audio and 3D models, are supported today by many distributed applications. This paper presents a new approach to retrieving 3D models as part of digital documents using content-based image retrieval functionality. To find a 3D model best-fitting the user's query, shape information is extracted from the retrieved models and a score is generated by comparing shape images with the graphical user input. A distributed database environment with a WWW interface is presented and used as a generic implementation platform for this technique. The new retrieval method for 3D geometry is then described by extending the generic architecture in two steps, with a server-side module and an interactive client display. I outline how this method can be used for partial geometry downloading of 3D models in digital libraries.
The Value of Common Perspectives in Self-Reported Appraisals You Get What You Ask For

This article uses the work of Smircich and Chesser on direct and meta-perspectives (i.e., points of view) to test the correspondence between self-reported and supervisory ratings of performance. Results from two field studies indicate a higher level of self-supervisor rating correlation when using a common perspective. Similar results were obtained using an alternative measure of rating correspondence. The results provide evidence that researchers using self-reports of performance as surrogates for archival performance data should ask respondents for their supervisor's assessment of their performance rather than for their own assessment. The practical implications of these results for field research are discussed.
Approximating watchman routes

Given a connected polygonal domain P, the watchman route problem is to compute a shortest path or tour for a mobile guard (the "watchman") that is required to see every point of P. While the watchman route problem is polynomially solvable in simple polygons, it is known to be NP-hard in polygons with holes.We present the first polynomial-time approximation algorithm for the watchman route problem in polygonal domains. Our algorithm has an approximation factor O(log2n). Further, we prove that the problem cannot be approximated in polynomial time to within a factor of c log n, for a constant c > 0, assuming that P≠NP.
Organizational Routines Development and New Venture Performance

To better understand how entrepreneurial ventures vary as they evolve, we introduce and develop the concept of an organizational routine in a prototypical state, a protoroutine. Protoroutines allow experienced new ventures (but not inexperienced start-ups) to economize on decision-making and execution time in problem solving by drawing from an inventory of prior solutions to challenges. Protoroutines are not, however, tailored to the challenge at hand. We embed protoroutines into a simulation-based model featuring agents with differing decision-making speeds and abilities of exploring more distant solutions, two parameters influenced by founding team characteristics. Search speed and distance are typically traded off against each other at the team design level. Protoroutines may therefore be particularly helpful in organizational contexts in which it is optimal to have both search speed and distance. We characterize the organizational contextual configurations along the dimensions of environmental turbulence and decision complexity in which protoroutines, search speed, and search distance are associated with elevated (and dampened) organizational performance. One important conclusion is that decision-making speed can be a valuable organizational resource across organizational environments. Overall, our agent-based model and simulation results deepen our understanding of how and with what performance consequence new ventures develop.
Morphology of Ti37Al63 Thin-Films Deposited by Magnetron Sputtering

TiAl based thin-films possess high oxidation-resistance and high melting points, making them possible candidates for application in electronics. The behavior of the films upon exposure to various temperatures is of interest for such application. In the present study, Ti 37 Al 63 thin films were deposited onto SiO 2 substrates using RF magnetron sputtering from a compound target. Anneals were performed in vacuum at temperatures ranging from 400 °C to 700 °C. The phases and microstructural behavior of the films were evaluated as a function of annealing. Microstructural behavior was correlated with resistivity changes in the films. The behavior of Ti-Al films as potential under-layers for silver metallization was also evaluated. The Ti-Al was observed to enhance the thermal stability of pure Al thin-films. The results are relevant for potential application of the films to electronics.
Reaction p ¯ p → K ¯ K π π π at 1.6-2.2 GeV c

Antiproton-proton annihilations into final states ${K}_{1}^{0}{K}_{1}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$, ${K}_{1}^{0}{K}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{\mp}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, ${K}_{1}^{0}{K}_{2}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}m{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}(m\ensuremath{\ge}1)$, and ${K}^{+}{K}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ have been studied in a bubble-chamber experiment at six incident momenta in the range 1.6-2.2 $\frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c}$, corresponding to a total center-of-mass energy range 2290-2500 MeV. The explicit use of charge-conjugation symmetry allowed the study of the ${K}^{+}{K}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ final state with very few ambiguities in our sample of events. A search for direct-channel resonances revealed a \ensuremath{\sim}3-standard-deviation enhancement in the ${K}^{+}{K}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\omega}$ channel at 2350 MeV, but no corresponding enhancement appears in the ${K}_{1}^{0}{K}_{1}^{0}\ensuremath{\omega}$ or ${K}_{1}^{0}{K}_{2}^{0}\ensuremath{\omega}$ channels. No evidence was found for a previously reported ${K}^{*}K\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}$ resonant state near 2360 MeV.
G32(P) Benign Acute Childhood Myositis: Clinical Presentation in an Emergency Department

Aims To describe the demographics and clinical presentation of children who attended the emergency department of Temple Street hospital with acute onset difficulty in walking or refusal to walk and who were subsequently diagnosed with benign acute myositis. Methods We collected a list of all the ED patients who had a raised Creatinine kinase result from the pathology laboratory. We used the Emergency Department Clinical Information System, Symphony to review the medical records of these children and collect the data we needed. Results Fifty one (51) children, (40 males and 11 females) were seen with clinical myositis and raised Creatinine kinase levels between November and February of 2012–2013. Mean age was 5.9 years. Twenty eight (54.9%) presented with leg pain, sixteen (29.4%) non-weight bearing and seven (5.9%) with difficulty walking. 64.7% of these patients had calf tenderness, 5.9% had thigh tenderness and in 29.4% muscle tenderness was not clearly documented in the clinical notes. There was evidence of concurrent viral disease in thirty one (61%) of these patients with nineteen (37.2%) having had a viral illness in the preceding week. Creatinine Kinase levels were elevated in all patients with levels ranging from 183 – 7584. Conclusion Benign acute childhood myositis (BACM) is a syndrome more commonly seen in childhood typically affecting males. Symptoms include calf pain and refusal or difficulty to walk, often after a viral illness. It has been epidemiologically linked to Influenza virus. Previous studies have described much fewer cases. The Temple street University Hospital emergency department (ED) is one of the busiest in Western Europe and in the 2012/2013 winter months we did experience a surge of children with this history. BACM can be differentiated from other more serious causes of difficulty walking in children by the presence of calf tenderness in the presence of otherwise normal lower limb exam on a background of concurrent or preceding viral illness as shown in this study. These children may not necessarily need extensive investigation or routine follow up but can be discharged with appropriate advice to parents to seek review if symptoms continue.
Sticking to the story: outstanding challenges in gecko-inspired adhesives.

The natural clinging ability of geckos has inspired hundreds of studies seeking design principles that could be applied to creating synthetic adhesives with the same performance capabilities as the gecko: adhesives that use no glue, are self-cleaning and reusable, and are insensitive to a wide range of surface chemistries and roughness. Important progress has been made, and the basic mechanics of how 'hairy' adhesives work have been faithfully reproduced, advancing theory in surface science and portending diverse practical applications. However, after 15 years, no synthetic mimic can yet perform as well as a gecko and simultaneously meet of all the criteria listed above. Moreover, processes for the production of inexpensive and scalable products are still not clearly in view. Here, we discuss our perspective on some of the gaps in understanding that still remain; these gaps in our knowledge should stimulate us to turn to deeper study of the way in which free-ranging geckos stick to the variety of surfaces found in their natural environments and to a more complete analysis of the materials composing the gecko toe pads.
Seed-Mediated Growth of Shape-Controlled Wurtzite CdSe Nanocrystals: Platelets, Cubes, and Rods

Prior investigations into the synthesis of colloidal CdSe nanocrystals with a wurtzite crystal structure (wz-CdSe) have given rise to well-developed methods for producing particles with anisotropic shapes such as rods, tetrapods, and wires; however, the synthesis of other shapes has proved challenging. Here we present a seed-mediated approach for the growth of colloidal, shape-controlled wz-CdSe nanoparticles with previously unobserved morphologies. The synthesis, which makes use of small (2-3 nm) wz-CdSe nanocrystals as nucleation sites for subsequent growth, can be tuned to selectively yield colloidal wz-CdSe nanocubes and hexagonal nanoplatelets in addition to nanorod and bullet-shaped particles. We thoroughly characterize the morphology and crystal structures of these new shapes, as well as discuss possible growth mechanisms in the context of control over surface chemistry and the nucleation stage.
Bending Analysis of Laminated Composite Sandwich Plates Reinforced with Carbon Nanotube Forests

In order to meet the ever-increasing demand for high-strength, lightweight aerospace structures, a new material is created via combination of three prior innovations: sandwich configurations, composites, and the addition of carbon nanotubes. A theoretical sandwich panel is created using facesheets of a novel woven microfibre composite reinforced by carbon nanotube forests, as created by Vinod P. Veedu, et. al., in “Multifunctional Composites Using Reinforced Laminae with Carbon-Nanotube Forests” (Nature Materials). This sandwich panel, and a similar panel without nanotube reinforcement, are weightoptimized and analytically subjected to a uniform load in order to compare the effect of adding nanotubes entirely parallel to the direction of the applied load. The analysis itself is carried out via the use of the higher-order finite element method developed for sandwich panels by S. Oskooei and J. S. Hansen in “Higher-Order Finite Element for Sandwich Plates” (AIAA Journal). The resulting x, y, and z direction displacements and compressive and tensile stresses are all significantly reduced for the nanotube-enhanced panel. Up to one-half the displacement and one-fifth the stress results from inclusion of the nanotube forest. Reduction in displacement and stress is found to be directly proportional to increase in applied load, as expected. Furthermore, the benefits of adding a nanotube forest to the woven composite are shown to be even greater in the sandwich configuration than in the composite configuration alone. Inclusion of the nanotube forest results in a 2.71-fold increase in allowable tensile stress and a 3.16-fold increase in allowable compressive stress, versus the 2.42-fold increase in the flexural strength for the facesheet panel alone (as measured by Veedu, et. al.). Finally, the use of a different epoxy with higher Poisson’s ratio is proposed for use in the composite facesheets. The effect of increased facesheet Poisson’s ratio on both displacement and stress is analyzed and shown to further reduce displacement in all directions and both compressive and tensile stresses in the panel. The greatest impact of higher Poisson’s ratio was found to occur in sandwich panels experiencing levels of lateral loading near panel failure. The proposed use of the woven composite reinforced by nanotube forests as a facesheet in sandwich panels, particularly with a higher facesheet Poisson’s ratio, is thus confirmed as a feasible and promising application warranting further study.
Postnatal plasma concentration and urinary excretion of Na and K in the rat.

SummaryRats show a critical period in electrolyte balance at around 40 days of age. PNNa and UNaV increase abruptly and UKV falls at this time. PK shows a continuous decrease over the age ranges st...
A Pilot Study of the Safety and Initial Efficacy of Ivermectin for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder.

Background Ivermectin (IVM) is an antiparasitic agent that has been shown to reduce alcohol intake in mice, suggesting IVM as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, the safety profile of IVM administered in combination with an intoxicating dose of alcohol has not been characterized in humans. Methods This pilot project sought to provide the first clinical evidence that IVM could be repositioned as an AUD pharmacotherapy by examining (i) the safety of combining IVM (30 mg oral , once a day [QD]) with an intoxicating dose of intravenous alcohol (0.08 g/dl) and (ii) the effects of IVM on alcohol cue-induced craving and subjective response to alcohol. Eleven individuals with AUD participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study in which they received the study medication, participated in a cue exposure paradigm followed by intravenous alcohol administration, and remained in an inpatient unit overnight for observation. Results IVM treatment, versus placebo, did not increase the number or severity of adverse effects during alcohol administration or throughout the visit. However, IVM did not reduce cue-induced craving nor did it significantly affect subjective response to alcohol. Conclusions These results suggest that IVM (30 mg oral, QD) is safe in combination with an intoxicating dose of alcohol, but do not provide evidence that this dose of IVM is effective in reducing alcohol craving or its reinforcing effects. Given the preclinical data suggesting IVM is effective in reducing alcohol consumption in mice, additional studies testing larger samples and alternate dosing regimens are warranted to further characterize the potential efficacy of IVM as an AUD treatment.
Modification of Cold Heavy Oil Production Model: Establishment and Interpretation of Radial Flow Model

In order to more properly understand the mechanism of cold heavy oil production(CHOP),the one dimensional CHOP model is applied to the radial flow conditions.Re-introducing dimensionless variables is made to simplify and solve the model,developing the radial flow model.The case calculation indicates that the radial flow model can reflect the behavior of cold production and sand inflow,be consistent with real situations quantitatively,and prove its reliable property.The study also shows that continuous sand inflow is indeed one of the most key mechanisms by CHOP for IOR,such as forming highly flowing channels,removing skin effect and improving fluid flowing performance in heavy oil reservoir.Finally,a brief discussion is conducted on the defects and the development in the future.
One-way maternal transport: an evolving concept. Inpatient services.

Transporting the high-risk pregnant woman to a tertiary center prior to labor or delivery, in an attempt to offer more intensive care to the patient and her infant, has gained increasing support from medical communities over the past few years. Because of this concept, tertiary centers need to be actively involved in the organization of these transport systems and to be certain that all members of the perinatal team at the referring as well as the receiving center are kept informed of events. This paper describes how Vanderbilt University Hospital initiated an active one-way maternal transport system and how that system is maintained and reviews the first 176 patients treated under that system. Establishing direct lines of communication between the practicing physician and the tertiary center and emphasizing continuing education at all levels seem to be important aspects in the development and maintenance of such a referral system.
Myeloid deletion of nemo causes osteopetrosis in mice owing to upregulation of transcriptional repressors

The transcription factor NF-κB is central to numerous physiologic processes including bone development, and its activation is controlled by IKKγ (also called NEMO), the regulatory subunit of IKK complex. NEMO is X-linked, and mutations in this gene result in Incontinentia Pigmenti in human hemizygous females. In mice, global deficiency causes embryonic lethality. In addition, certain point mutations in the NEMO (IKBKG) human gene manifest skeletal defects implicating NEMO in the regulation of bone homeostasis. To specifically investigate such role, we conditionally deleted Nemo from osteoclast and myeloid progenitors. Morphometric, histologic, and molecular analyses demonstrate that myeloid NEMO deletion causes osteopetrosis in mice. Mechanistically, NEMO deficiency hampered activation of IKK complex in osteoclast precursors, causing arrest of osteoclastogenesis and apoptosis. Interestingly, inhibiting apoptosis by genetic ablation of TNFr1 significantly increased cell survival, but failed to rescue osteoclastogenesis or reverse osteopetrosis. Based on this observation, we analyzed the expression of different regulators of osteoclastogenesis and discovered that NEMO deletion leads to increased RBPJ expression, resulting in a decrease of Blimp1 expression. Consequently, expression of IRF8 and Bcl6 which are targets of Blimp1 and potent osteoclastogenic transcriptional repressors, is increased. Thus, NEMO governs survival and osteoclast differentiation programs through serial regulation of multiple transcription factors.
Die Lehre vom Magnetismus. (Magnetik.)

Da ein Magnet imstande ist, Eisen nach sich hin in Bewegung zu setzen, so besitzt jeder Magnet zufolge seines magnetischen Zustands Energie (magnetische Energie). Bei der Magnetisierung eines Stahlstucks durch Streichen wird ihm magnetische Energie durch Aufwendung von Arbeit erteilt. (Uberwindung der Anziehungskraft zwischen dem streichenden Magnetpol und den ungleichnamigen Polen der Molekularmagnete des Stahlstucks!)
Local Times and Related Properties of Multidimensional Iterated Brownian Motion

Let {W(t), t∈R} and {B(t), t≥0} be two independent Brownian motions in R with W(0) = B(0) = 0 and let $$Y(t) = W(B(t)){\text{ }}(t \geqslant 0)$$ be the iterated Brownian motion. Define d-dimensional iterated Brownian motion by $$X(t) = (X_1 (t),...,X_d (t)){\text{ }}(t \geqslant 0)$$ where X 1, X d are independent copies of Y. In this paper, we investigate the existence, joint continuity and Holder conditions in the set variable of the local time $$L = \{ L(x,B):x \in {\text{R}}^d ,B \in B({\text{R}}_{\text{ + }} )\}$$ of X(t), where $$B({\text{R}}_{\text{ + }} )$$ is the Borel σ-algebra of R +. These results are applied to study the irregularities of the sample paths and the uniform Hausdorff dimension of the image and inverse images of X(t).
Under the Canopy: Migration Governance in Southeast Asia

Contrary to prevailing discourse, migration governance in Southeast Asia is rich and varied, offering a range of regional, bilateral and subnational regimes. Many commentators characterize Southeast Asia as lacking adequate migration governance, and media reports highlight human rights abuses against migrants in the region. These depictions offer only partial truths, overlooking the complexity of law and practice in the region. Though few Southeast Asian nations are signatories to the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, many have ratified other multilateral international treaties relating to migration. Looking deeper under the canopy, this article explores the full panoply of migration regimes, noting not only gaps in governance frameworks but also creative approaches, some of which may provide models for other regions. While many migrants in the region suffer serious harms, others benefit from innovative and generous migration policies. These regional, bilateral, and subnational approaches are often more deeply grounded in local value systems than international treaties. As a result, local populations may accord greater legitimacy to these under-the-canopy approaches, which may in the long run be more effective in improving the situation of migrants in Southeast Asia. The view from above the canopy is blocked by a sea of green leaves; one must take the time to peer under the canopy in order to gain an accurate understanding of migration governance in Southeast Asia.
Abstract 3843: Autologous resconstitution of human cancer and immune system in vivo

Correlative studies from checkpoint inhibitor trials have indcated that better understanding of human leukocytic trafficking into the human tumor microenvironment can expedite the translation of future immune-oncologic agents. In order to directly characterize signaling pathways that can regulate human leukocytic trafficking into the tumor, we have developed a completely autologous xenotransplanation method to reconstitute the human tumor immune microenvironment in vivo. When we analyzed the TCGA database of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC), we found that STAT3 signaling was associated with worse prognostic mesenchymal subtye. We silenced STAT3 signaling in the tumor compartment in these autologously reconstituted humanized mice, and we noted increased tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and slower tumor growth rate. We also used this novel agents that can alter endogenous leukocytic infiltration into the tumor. Taken together, we present a valuable method to study individialized human tumor microenvironments in vivo without confound allgeneic responses. Citation Format: Juan Fu, Rupashree Sen, David L Masica, Rachel Karchin, Drew Pardoll, Young Kim. Autologous resconstitution of human cancer and immune system in vivo [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3843. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3843
Adipose stem cells from chronic pancreatitis patients improve mouse and human islet survival and function

Chronic pancreatitis has surgical options including total pancreatectomy to control pain. To avoid surgical diabetes, the explanted pancreas can have islets harvested and transplanted. Immediately following total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TP-IAT), many islet cells die due to isolation and transplantation stresses. The percentage of patients remaining insulin free after TP-IAT is therefore low. We determined whether cotransplantation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) from chronic pancreatitis patients (CP-ASCs) would protect islets after transplantation. In a marginal mass islet transplantation model, islets from C57BL/6 mice were cotransplanted with CP-ASCs into syngeneic streptozotocin-treated diabetic mice. Treatment response was defined by the percentage of recipients reaching normoglycemia, and by the area under the curve for glucose and c-peptide in a glucose tolerance test. Macrophage infiltration, β-cell apoptosis, and islet graft vasculature were measured in transplanted islet grafts by immunohistochemistry. mRNA expression profiling of 84 apoptosis-related genes in islet grafts transplanted alone or with CP-ASCs was measured by the RT2 Profiler™ Apoptosis PCR Array. The impact of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on islet apoptosis was determined in islets stimulated with cytokines (IL-1β and IFN-γ) in the presence and absence of CP-ASC conditioned medium. CP-ASC-treated mice were more often normoglycemic compared to mice receiving islets alone. ASC cotransplantation reduced macrophage infiltration, β-cell death, suppressed expression of TNF-α and Bcl-2 modifying factor (BMF), and upregulated expressions of IGF-1 and TNF Receptor Superfamily Member 11b (TNFRSF11B) in islet grafts. Islets cultured in conditioned medium from CP-ASCs showed reduced cell death. This protective effect was diminished when IGF-1 was blocked in the conditioned medium by the anti-IGF-1 antibody. Cotransplantation of islets with ASCs from the adipose of chronic pancreatitis patients improved islet survival and islet function after transplantation. The effects are in part mediated by paracrine secretion of IGF-1, suppression of inflammation, and promotion of angiogenesis. ASCs from chronic pancreatitis patients have the potential to be used as a synergistic therapy to enhance the efficacy of islet transplantation following pancreatectomy.
Efficacy and safety of atypical antipsychotics for behavioral symptoms of dementia among patients residing in long-term care.

Background There are limited options for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Objective Evaluate the efficacy and safety of using atypical antipsychotics for BPSD among patients residing in long-term care. Setting Long term care community facility in the United States. Methods Retrospective observational study of patients residing in a long-term care facility with a diagnosis of dementia not trauma-induced with documented BPSD treated with an atypical antipsychotic for at least 2 weeks. Paper medical records were reviewed from January 1, 1990 until March 23, 2010. Main outcome measure Behavioral/psychological efficacy outcomes were documented beginning 2 weeks after atypical antipsychotic therapy was initiated and safety outcomes were documented from the time of atypical antipsychotic initiation, until the last documentation available. Efficacy and safety outcomes were documented as part of routine clinical practice based on the responsible clinician. Results A total of 85 distinct atypical antipsychotic treatment periods for 73 unique patients were included. Nearly 50% of patients continued atypical antipsychotic treatment for at least 1 year and 5.6% of treatments were discontinued due to an adverse event. Patients’ behavioral/psychological outcomes improved for 52 (61%) treatments, remained stable for 17 (20%) treatments, and worsened for 16 (19%) treatments. Adverse events were reported by 57% of patients, with the most common adverse events being metabolic, fall related, and extrapyramidal symptoms. The odds ratio for an adverse event was 1.08 (p = 0.03) for every 90 day increase in duration of treatment. Conclusion In patients who reside in a long-term care setting, atypical antipsychotic treatment improved BPSD, but also increased the potential risk of adverse events.
Mycotic Aneurysm Detected by the Axiom: Scan Where the Pain Is:

The lower extremity venous duplex scan is one of the most frequently ordered examinations in the vascular laboratory. Many laboratories will use the protocol format on the ultrasound machine to dec...
The Sun Is a Nuclear Furnace

Why does the sun shine? A simple answer is, “Because of nuclear fusion.” Although there is some sense in which this is a correct answer, it is at best an incomplete one. Other factors contribute to bring about conditions in stars under which nuclear fusion can take place. Still other factors are responsible for converting the energy produced by fusion into forms more directly perceptible to our senses—forms such as light and heat radiation.
Serotonin in Depression and Anxiety

Data on 5HT in depression are disparate in nature and difficult to compress into a unifying theory. We summarize our own belief that the specificity of 5HT dysfunctions may be better related to certain psychopathological phenomena rather than to depression per se. Data linking 5HT dysfunction, and in particular postsynaptic 5HT receptor hypersensitivity, to panic disorder are presented and preliminary results on 5HT and suicidality are discussed. As other data have shown 5HT dysfunction to be associated with the symptoms of anxiety and depressive mood, and as some of our recent work has identified a strong linkage between suicidality, aggression, and anxiety, this may also suggest that the specificity of the biological variable (5HT disturbance) may be more closely related, on the functional or dimensional level, to psychopathological dysfunctions or symptoms such as suicidality, dysregulation of aggression, and anxiety, rather than to discrete nosological categories (i.e., depression).
A Gauge-Invariant Theory of Intense-Field Coulomb Approximations to All Orders

We present a gauge invariant theory of intense-field Coulomb approximations to all orders. The present theory, overcomes a longstanding discrepancy between the strong-field velocity and the length gauge approximations, as well as accounts for the long-range Coulomb interaction in the final-state.
Theoretical Consideration of Amplification Strategies

Experimentalists would like to perform large-scale expression analysis on samples drawn from small cell populations and even single cells. Amplification of the source material is required to assay such small samples under all existing array technologies. In this report we consider the very different theoretical properties of linear and PCR-based amplification. A suggestion is made concerning a hybrid amplification strategy incorporating the advantages offered by both approaches.
Examining the Observability of Emergent Behavior as a Function of Reduced Model Order

Current work on complex systems has been heavily focused on network interactions and network structure, without significant emphasis on the emergent phenomena that characterize such systems. In the included work, the ability to perceive or observe emergent behavior in complex systems has been studied. Specifically, by identifying emergent behavior as the dynamics of reduced-order models of the self-organizing systems, the observability of the emergent phenomena can be studied as a function of the model order. Included analytical results show the relationship between observability metrics of the full- and reduced-order models. Singular perturbation techniques have been used to perform model order reduction for nonlinear systems such as the Hyper Rossler and coupled Hindmarsh-Rose neuron models. Results indicate that accuracy increases and observability decreases with increasing model order. The trade-off between accuracy and observability metrics has been used to propose a predictive metric that identifies the desirable order at which to model emergent behavior.
Social Media, the Internet, and Trial by Jury

This review starts with a historical overview of trial by jury and then moves to a discussion of media and communication. This is followed by an examination of the advantages and disadvantages asso...
Colorful Organic Solar Cells Employing Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Dye Molecule

We demonstrate color tunable polymer solar cells by employing an energy transfer dye molecule in a polymerpolymer binary photoactive system. The guest dye molecule functions as energy transfer donor to the host photoactive system allowing the solar cell color to range from blue green to purple red without any significant efficiency decrease. In this proceeding we re-empathize the importance of the results and discussions which were published in Nano Energy in 2017 [1].
Seismic Design Factors for Steel Moment Frames with Masonry Infills: Part 1:

In this two-part work, seismic behavior and design of steel moment frames with masonry infills are investigated systematically. In this first part, the “infill strength ratio” (the ratio of the sto...
Diagrammatic Representation of Mineral Parageneses

When a group of rocks is subjected to a definite set of externally controlled conditions, the rocks should show variations in mineral composition corresponding to their chemical variations. In equilibrium, there should be a definite relationship between the chemical and the mineral compositions of rocks. In this case, the term chemical composition refers only to components that are not mobile. If a rock is open to H2O, for example, its H2O content varies with the external conditions.
Testing a Neural Network Accelerator on a High-Altitude Balloon

The cognitive communications project has been working to refine artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches to support their deployment and sustained use in space environments. It has historically been difficult to implement such techniques on space platforms, however, due to the computational requirements they levy onto general-purpose avionics hardware. While technologies exist to accelerate the computation of aspects of neural networks, such platforms have not historically been deployed in space environments. Given that testing payloads in such environments can be both cost-and time-prohibitive, high-altitude balloons can be used as a way to approximate a space environment at a much lower cost, thus providing a cost-effective way in which to test newer approaches to hardware acceleration for artificial intelligence which may be deployed onto spacecraft more directly. This paper describes a successful test of a commercial off-the-shelf neural network accelerator on a high-altitude balloon. It begins by explaining our selection criteria when evaluating different commercial neural network acceleration techniques: primary considerations include size, weight, and power (SWaP) as well as ease of integration. Next, the paper describes the development and implementation of an experimental flight test platform: flight and ground components are discussed. Afterward, the paper discusses the experimental payload itself: this includes the experimental procedure as well as the specific image and method used for testing. Finally, the paper concludes with an evaluation of both the experimental device tested at altitude as well as the flight test framework itself, identifying how the existing platform can be used to continue testing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions for acceleration.
Increased lifespan, decreased mortality, and delayed cognitive decline in osteoarthritis

In absence of therapies targeting symptomatic dementia, better understanding of the biology underlying a cognitive decline is warranted. Here we present the results of a meta-analysis of the impact of osteoarthritis (OA) on cognitive decline and overall mortality. Across 7 independent datasets obtained in studies of populations in the USA, EU and Australia (NBER, NSHAP, TILDA, NACC, Kaiser Permanente, GRIM BOOKS, OAI, with a total of >7 × 107 profiles), OA cohorts demonstrated higher cognitive scores, later dementia onset as well as longer lifespan and lower age-specific all-cause mortality. Moreover, generalized OA with multiple localizations is associated with more significant reduction of mortality and dementia than a singly localized OA or no arthritis. In OA patients with younger ages, all-cause mortality was disproportionally reduced as compared to that in controls, while exponential term of Gompert’z hazard function was increased, accelerating mortality accrual at later ages. Up to 8–10% of poly-osteoarthritic patients are predicted and observed to reach centenarian lifespan, while in matched non-OA population the same benchmark is reached by less than 1% of patients. These results point at a possibility of life-extending and cognition preserving impacts of OA-conditioned immune system.
Sheng: Rise of a Kenyan Swahili Vernacular: by Chege Githiora, Suffolk and Rochester, James Currey, 2018, xiv + 220 pp.

Sheng is a way of speaking Swahili that is used by an increasing number of Kenyans in Nairobi and beyond; the moniker was created in typical Sheng fashion by rearranging the syllables of a clipped ...
Trading in Information: On the Unlikely Correspondence Between Patents and Blackmail Law

This paper studies the problem of trading in information in two seemingly unrelated settings: inventive activity; and blackmail. In the former, a discoverer of some new information wishes to profit from it but may be deterred because the act of disclosure effectively makes the information public. Thus, legal protection of the information in the form of a patent is usually needed to allow the inventive process to proceed. Blackmail also involves trading in information; but because the transaction is between two parties who already know its content—the discoverer, and someone who wishes to keep it hidden—the appropriability problem is absent. The paradox of blackmail is why the blackmailer prefers to sell the information to the informed party rather than to the uninformed party (who actually values it more); this latter transaction would be legal. The resolution of the paradox provides the link to patent law, because the latter transaction does involve the appropriability problem.
Testosterone therapy and risk of breast cancer development: a systematic review.

Purpose of review We aim to conduct a systematic review of the literature, document all reported cases of breast cancer development in cis men and female-to-male (FtM) transgender men undergoing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), and determine if testosterone poses a substantial risk of breast cancer development and recurrence. Recent findings A systematic search through December 2019 was performed. Out of 1890, 15 studies were eligible for inclusion in the final analyses. In total, 22 patients have developed breast cancer while on testosterone treatment. Four cases were cis men, whereas 18 cases were FtM. Age ranged from 18 to 61 years. Testosterone treatment duration ranged from 5 weeks up to 25 years. Summary There is a relatively higher incidence of BCa in FtM on CSH therapy compared with cis men on TRT. Because of the small sample size of reported cases, we cannot delineate the exact relationship between testosterone therapy and BCa development. Additionally, we have limited data to suggest that TRT should or should not be contraindicated in cis men and FtM with a prior history of breast cancer.
Rise in Angiopoietin-2 Following Neonatal Cardiac Surgery Is Associated With Adverse Clinical Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES Neonatal cardiac surgery for congenital cardiac defects is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and there is a need for early identification of patients at highest risk of adverse outcomes. Because vascular endothelial injury mediates damage across organ systems, we measured serum biomarkers of endothelial injury in neonates following cardiopulmonary bypass and examined their associations with short-term outcomes. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Pediatric cardiac ICU. PATIENTS Thirty neonates less than 2 weeks old undergoing repair of congenital cardiac defects with cardiopulmonary bypass. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Biomarkers of endothelial integrity, angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2, were measured preoperatively and at 24 hours postoperatively. A composite adverse outcome was defined as any of the following: stroke, need for renal replacement therapy, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support, cardiac arrest, or death. Associations of biomarkers with adverse outcomes were examined using Wilcoxon rank-sum test. There was an increase in angiopoietin-2 from preoperatively to 24 hours postoperatively (p < 0.0001) and a decrease in angiopoietin-1 from preoperatively to 24 hours postoperatively (p < 0.0001). Patients with greater rise in angiopoietin-2 from preoperatively to 24 hours postoperatively had greater risk of composite adverse outcome (p = 0.04). They had a trend toward higher Vasoactive-Inotropic Score (p = 0.06) and a higher prevalence of low cardiac output syndrome (p = 0.06). Twenty-four hour postoperative angiopoietin-2 level was associated with the composite adverse outcome (p = 0.03). The rise in angiopoietin-2 level from preoperatively to 24 hours postoperatively directly correlated with cardiopulmonary bypass duration (r = 0.47; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS In neonatal cardiac surgery, longer duration of cardiopulmonary bypass is directly associated with greater endothelial injury as measured by increased serum levels of angiopoietin-2. Angiopoietin-2 levels 24 hours postoperatively were significantly associated with a composite adverse outcome. Postoperative angiopoietin-2 level may serve as an early indicator of patients in need of closer monitoring and protective intervention. Further research into endothelial protective strategies is warranted.
Repair of DNA Double-Strand Breaks by the Nonhomologous End Joining Pathway.

DNA double-strand breaks pose a serious threat to genome stability. In vertebrates, these breaks are predominantly repaired by nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ), which pairs DNA ends in a multiprote...