cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tamoxifen-elicited uterotrophy: cross-species and cross-ligand analysis of the gene expression program

Tamoxifen (TAM) is a well characterized breast cancer drug and selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) which also has been associated with a small increase in risk for uterine cancers. TAM's partial agonist activation of estrogen receptor has been characterized for specific gene promoters but not at the genomic level in vivo.Furthermore, reducing uncertainties associated with cross-species extrapolations of pharmaco- and toxicogenomic data remains a formidable challenge. A comparative ligand and species analysis approach was conducted to systematically assess the physiological, morphological and uterine gene expression alterations elicited across time by TAM and ethynylestradiol (EE) in immature ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6 mice. Differential gene expression was evaluated using custom cDNA microarrays, and the data was compared to identify conserved and divergent responses. 902 genes were differentially regulated in all four studies, 398 of which exhibit identical temporal expression patterns. Comparative analysis of EE and TAM differentially expressed gene lists suggest TAM regulates no unique uterine genes that are conserved in the rat and mouse. This demonstrates that the partial agonist activities of TAM extend to molecular targets in regulating only a subset of EE-responsive genes. Ligand-conserved, species-divergent expression of carbonic anhydrase 2 was observed in the microarray data and confirmed by real time PCR. The identification of comparable temporal phenotypic responses linked to related gene expression profiles demonstrates that systematic comparative genomic assessments can elucidate important conserved and divergent mechanisms in rodent estrogen signalling during uterine proliferation.
Emotion and sincerity in Persian discourse: Accomplishing the representation of inner states

This paper deals with the presentation and evocation of emotion in performative face-to-face linguistic communication in Iran. Performance in linguistic communication is shown to involve the speaker’s need to convey an impression of his or her own inner states. Since aAectivity is one of the most diAcult things to convey in face-to-face interaction, it is posited that a person employing successful linguistic performance skills must have a series of strategies available for demonstrating that he or she is truly conveying a specific intended emotion. This involves a two-stage process in which the speaker first signals that a message conveys an emotion, then signals the nature of the emotion being conveyed. In order to accomplish this, culturally prescribed symbolic elements are presented by the speaker that must be performed for others to ‘‘read’’ the emotional content of a communication. Added to the performative skills needed by the speaker is the requirement that the emotion conveyed be perceived as ‘‘sincere.’’ This paper continues earlier research (Beeman 1986) demonstrating the eAectiveness of speakers in Iran in creating the contexts for the interpretation of their own strategic communication.
Analysis and measurement of the stability of dual-resonator oscillators

This paper investigates the stability of oscillators with dual-resonating tanks. After deriving oscillator models, it is shown that contrary to prior belief, there can be only one stable oscillating state. Sufficient conditions for stable oscillating states are derived and silicon measurement results are used to prove their validity. A fully integrated transmitter for intraocular pressure sensing that leverages the dual-resonator tank is designed and fabricated based on the derived models. An unstable version of the transmitter is also demonstrated to prove the concept of instability in dual-resonator oscillators‥
GROUND MOVEMENTS CAUSED BY BRACED EXCAVATIONS

The causes and patterns of ground movement associated with braced excavations are examined. Field measurements of displacements for braced cuts in sand and soft to medium clay show a relationship between the deflection of the excavation wall and the ratio of horizontal to vertical movement adjoining the cut. A review of various case histories indicates that soil displacement depends strongly on the construction process. Practices are recommended for promoting a stiff bracing system, excavating beneath the lowest braces, and using berms to restrain ground movement.
Estrogen receptor accessory proteins augment receptor-DNA interaction and DNA bending

Increasing evidence suggests that accessory proteins play an important role in the ability of the estrogen receptor (ER) and other nuclear hormone receptors to modulate transcription when bound to cis-acting hormone response elements in target genes. We have previously shown that four proteins, hsp70, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and two unknown proteins (p48 and p45), copurify with ER that has been isolated by site-specific DNA chromatography (BERE) and influence the interaction of ER with DNA in vitro. To better define the nature of these effects, we used filter binding and electrophoretic mobility shift assays to study the ability of these proteins to alter the kinetics of ER-DNA interaction and to influence the ability of ER to bend DNA when bound to an estrogen response element (ERE). The results of both assays indicate that ERE-purified ER, with its four associated proteins (hsp70, PDI, p48, p45), has a greater ability to bind to the vitellogenin A2 ERE than ER purified by estradiol-Sepharose chromatography in the absence (ESeph) or presence (EATP) of ATP, in which p48, p45 (ESeph) and hsp70 (EATP) are removed. Surprisingly, the rates of association and dissociation of ER and ERE were essentially the same for all three mixtures, suggesting that one or more ER-associated proteins, especially p45 and p48, may be required for ER to attain maximum DNA binding activity. In addition, circular permutation and phasing analyses demonstrated that the same ER-associated proteins produced higher order ER-DNA complexes that significantly increased the magnitude of DNA distortion, but did not alter the direction of the ER-induced bend of ERE-containing DNA fragments, which was toward the major groove of the DNA helix. These results suggest that p45 and/or p48 and possibly hsp70, play an important role both in the specific DNA binding and bending activities of ER and thus contribute to the overall stimulation of transcription in target genes that contain cis-acting EREs.
Correlation of proton and heavy-ion test results on CMOS bulk memories used for space applications

Experiments were performed to determine the heavy-ion and proton sensitivity of CMOS bulk 2 K*8 RH space-qualified SRAMs (static random access memories). The experimental data obtained on both the HC6116 and HC6216 devices indicate that the more immune a device is to upsets from heavy ions, the more immune it will be to upsets from protons. The tests were conducted at room temperature and worst-case supply voltage on devices with several different cross-coupled memory cell resistor values. The results indicated correlation between heavy-ion LET (linear energy transfer) threshold versus proton apparent threshold. The heavy-ion data indicate a correlation between the upset cross-sections and resistor values as well. Several proton energies were used to determine energy dependence of proton sensitivity. A special assessment/evaluation of the measured. calculated, and inferred parameter values was performed. The results were used to predict upset rates for a mission-specific space environment. With the given mission environment in mind (28.5 degrees inclination circular orbit at 550-km altitude), the HC6216 device with a minimum of a 370-k Omega memory cell resistor was chosen as the device to use. >
The comparison of pixel size and atmospheric correction method on matched filter detection for a hyperspectral image

Two atmospheric correction methods are used to obtain the reflectance for a hyperspectral data image resampled to varying spatial resolution. The physics-based FLAASH approach as well as the in-scene based QUAC method retrieve the reflectance spectra for the scene, and the ability to use the results to detect materials of interest in the image is determined. Using a spectral matched filter to score the results, both FLAASH and QUAC perform well at matching the ground truth spectrum of a bright meter-sized material at ground sampling distances of 2.4–24 m. For a dark material, QUAC performance degrades with lower resolutions.
Dose distribution considerations of medium energy electron beams at extended source-to-surface distance

Abstract Purpose : To determine the effects of extended source-to-surface distance (SSD) on dose distributions for a range of medium energy beams and cone sizes. Methods and Materials : The depth-dose cures and isodose distributions (of 6 MeV, 10 MeV, and 14 MeV electron beams from a dual photon and multielectron energies linear accelerator were studied. To examine the influence of cone size, the smallest and the largest cone sizes available were used. Measurements were carreid out in a water phantom with the water surface set at three different SSDs from 101 to 116 cm. Results : In the region between the phantom surface and the depth of maximum dose, the depth-dose decreases as the SSD increases for all electron beam energies. The effects of extended SSD in the region beyond the depth of maximum dose are unobservable and, hence, considered minimal. Extended SSD effects are apparent for higher electron beam energy with small cone size causing the depth of maximume dose and the rapid dose fall-off region toshift deeper into the phantom. However, the change in the depth-dose curve is small. On the other hand, the rapid dose fall-off region is essentially unaltered when the large cone is used. The penumbra enlarges and electron beam flatness deteriorates with increasing SSD.
Multiple fleet aircraft schedule recovery following hub closures

Abstract This paper presents three multi-commodity network-type models for determining a recovery schedule for all aircraft operated by a large carrier following a hub closure. The first is a pure network with side constraints, the second is a generalized network, and the third is a pure network with side constraints in which the time horizon is discretized. Each model allows for cancellations, delays, ferry flights, and substitution between fleets and subfleets. In the first two cases, the objective is to maximize a “profit” function which includes an incentive to maintain as much of the original aircraft routings as possible. In the third case, the objective is to minimize the sum of cancellation and delay costs. After comparing solution quality and computation times for each of the three models, the first was seen to outperform the others and was singled out for further analysis. Results for a comprehensive set of scenarios are presented along with ideas for continuing work.
Distinct Requirements for Activation of NKT and NK Cells during Viral Infection

NK cells are key regulators of innate defense against mouse CMV (MCMV). Like NK cells, NKT cells also produce high levels of IFN-γ rapidly after MCMV infection. However, whether similar mechanisms govern activation of these two cell types, as well as the significance of NKT cells for host resistance, remain unknown. In this article, we show that, although both NKT and NK cells are activated via cytokines, their particular cytokine requirements differ significantly in vitro and in vivo. IL-12 is required for NKT cell activation in vitro but is not sufficient, whereas NK cells have the capacity to be activated more promiscuously in response to individual cytokines from innate cells. In line with these results, GM-CSF-derived dendritic cells activated only NK cells upon MCMV infection, consistent with their virtual lack of IL-12 production, whereas Flt3 ligand-derived dendritic cells produced IL-12 and activated both NK and NKT cells. In vivo, NKT cell activation was abolished in IL-12(-/-) mice infected with MCMV, whereas NK cells were still activated. In turn, splenic NK cell activation was more IL-18 dependent. The differential requirements for IL-12 and IL-18 correlated with the levels of cytokine receptor expression by NK and NKT cells. Finally, mice lacking NKT cells showed reduced control of MCMV, and depleting NK cells further enhanced viral replication. Taken together, our results show that NKT and NK cells have differing requirements for cytokine-mediated activation, and both can contribute nonredundantly to MCMV defense, revealing that these two innate lymphocyte subsets function together to fine-tune antiviral responses.
Monte carlo calculation of transport for three‐dimensional magnetohydrodynamic equilibria

A Monte Carlo algorithm has been implemented which couples the results of a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium code with particle transport calculations similar to those of Boozer and Kuo-Petravic. The equilibrium results are in a form which lends itself to easy and accurate computation of the coefficients required to follow particle orbits in flux variables at finite pressure. In particular, the parallel current and the Clebsch potential for the current are obtained from Fourier series solutions of first-order partial differential equations with constant coefficients. Confinement times are estimated from the exponential decay of expected values of appropriately chosen functionals of the particle distribution. The observation that these functionals satisfy boundary conditions helps us to compute confinement times over a wide range of collision frequencies, including cases where losses due to particle trapping are very high. Initial conditions are chosen to optimize the Monte Carlo calculation by using known information about the expected particle distribution. Results for actual and proposed stellarator experiment are given. Electron and ion confinement times are compared, since this is relevant to the issue of the effect of ambipolar electric fields on stellarator confinement. A spectral method is given to determine the electric field from charge neutrality, and numerical evidence is presented to suggest that anomalous electron transport may be due to small resonant terms in the electric potential. Also, comparisons are made with a simplified theory of particle transport already incorporated in the equilibrium code.
Alexander Randall may have had it right after all.

Several theories exist regarding the pathogenesis of urinary calculi, and the early incipient events leading to calculus formation remain the most controversial. The authors detail a theory by which microscopic Randall plaques (RP) lead to calcium oxalate calculi in idiopathic calcium oxalate stone formers (1). Outlined is a process by which RP form in the basement membrane of the loops of Henle and spread through the interstitium through mineral deposition in an organic matrix, eventually eroding through the urothelium. Once exposed to the urinary milieu, precipitation of minerals and organic substances occurs based on urinary constituents. The process leading to RP formation is not yet fully defined, but one must consider an alternative theory based on a more vascular process. In short, formation may be RP due to a process similar to how atherosclerotic lesions form in arteries as the vasa recta that surround the tubules have turbulent flow, relative hypoxia, and hyperosmolarity which is an ideal environment for vascular injury and a calcifying process. The early events leading to RP and calcium oxalate stone formation has yet to be determined, but is likely multifactorial and represents an area of research fit for collaboration beyond our fellow urologic colleagues.
Mexican American and Other Hispanic Couples’ Relationship Dynamics: A Review to Inform Interventions Aimed at Promoting Healthy Relationships

Public policy initiatives have set out to promote healthy relationships among low-income racial and ethnic-minority couples. Interventions used, however, are based on decades of research with primarily White, middle-class, college-educated couples and have yielded disappointing results. The aim of this literature review is to provide the reader with the current state of knowledge on relationship dynamics among the fastest growing ethnic-minority group in the United States: Mexican American (MA) Hispanics and other Hispanic subgroups. Thirty-seven empirical journal articles focusing on the following domains of interest were reviewed: (1) patterns of union formation and dissolution, (2) ideals and views about marriage, (3) relationship satisfaction and quality, (4) communication and conflict, and (5) unique themes. MA couples have higher marital rates, a decreased risk of marital dissolution, and report greater relationship satisfaction than African American couples. First-generation and less acculturated M...
Pediatric Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy

Abstract Background Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder among children and adolescents that is associated with increased mortality for numerous reasons. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy is a critically important entity for physicians who treat patients with epilepsy. Many pediatric neurologists are hesitant to discuss this condition with patients and families because of the lower risk in the pediatric age group. Methods We searched for studies published between January 2000 and June 2015 by means of a PubMed search and a cumulative review of reference lists of all relevant publications, using the keywords "sudden unexpected death in epilepsy patients," "pediatric SUDEP," "sudden unexpected death in epilepsy patients and children," "sudden unexpected death in children" and "sudden infant death syndrome." Results SUDEP is a rare condition in children. Its mechanism is poorly understood and may have a distinct pathogenesis from adult sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. Limited comfort, experience, and knowledge to provide appropriate education about sudden unexpected death in epilepsy leads to fewer physicians discussing this subject leading to less informed and less prepared patients and families. Conclusion We provide a detailed review of the literature on pediatric SUDEP, including the definition, classification, and proposed mechanisms of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy in children, as well as discuss the incidence in the pediatric population and risk factors in children, concluding with possible prevention strategies.
Host-Guest Carbon Dots for Enhanced Optical Properties and Beyond

Carbon dots, generally small carbon nanoparticles with various forms of surface passivation, have achieved the performance level of semiconductor quantum dots in the green spectral region, but their absorption and fluorescence in red/near-IR are relatively weaker. Conceptually similar to endofullerenes, host-guest carbon dots were designed and prepared with red/near-IR dyes encapsulated as guest in the carbon nanoparticle core. Beyond the desired enhancement in optical properties, the host-guest configuration may significantly broaden the field of carbon dots.
Laser wafering

A new technique for the laser wafering of semiconductors is presented using sub surface laser engraving. In the laser wafering process, a high intensity laser is used to form sub-surface etch pits or defects at multiple depths in an ingot. This allows a rapid, controllable approach to the formation of wafers with thickness ranging from below 10 microns to over 100 microns. Laser wafering provides a way to cut a a brick of silicon into multiple wafers with minimal kerf loss and the possibility to dramatically lower the cost of silicon solar cell production. The techniques relies on the principle that many materials, including silicon and other semiconductors, have a non-linear absorption co-efficient with intensity, such that sub-band gap light is absorbed above a given intensity. This allows a high intensity laser to be focused at an arbitrary point below the surface, and allowing absorption of the high intensity light only at the focal point.
Protective Effect of Tempol on Buthionine Sulfoximine-Induced Mitochondrial Impairment in Hippocampal Derived HT22 Cells

Using a simulated oxidative stress model of hippocampus-derived immortalized cell line (HT22), we report that prooxidant buthionine sulfoximine (BSO, 1 mM, 14 h), without adversely affecting cell viability or morphology, induced oxidative stress by inhibiting glutathione synthesis. BSO treatment also significantly reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (p < 0.05) and significantly lowered total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.001) in HT22 cells when compared to vehicle treated control cells. Antioxidant tempol, a piperidine nitroxide considered a SOD mimetic, reversed BSO-induced decline in SOD activity (p < 0.01) and also increased BSO-induced decline in total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05). Interestingly, BSO treatment significantly reduced mitochondrial oxygen consumption (p < 0.05), decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (p < 0.05), and lowered ATP production (p < 0.05) when compared to vehicle treated control cells, collectively indicative of mitochondrial impairment. Antioxidant tempol treatment mitigated all three indicators of mitochondrial impairment. We postulate that BSO-induced oxidative stress in HT22 cells caused mitochondrial impairment, and tempol by increasing SOD activity and improving antioxidant capacity presumably protected the cells from BSO-induced mitochondrial impairment. In conclusion, present study provides an interesting simulation of oxidative stress in hippocampal cells, which will serve as an excellent model to study mitochondrial functions.
Degenerate thermal isomerizations of bicyclo[3.1.1]hept‐2‐ene: strategy and analysis

Bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-ene was first prepared and well identified in 1972. In 1974, the degenerate thermal isomerization involving 1-d- and 3-d-bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-ene was approached successfully, as one of the two deuterium-labeled structures was selected, heated, and equilibrated. There has been no further study of this degenerate isomerization. Here, a detailed outline of reaction trajectories for d2-labeled bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-enes is given that will establish the four independent kinetic parameters needed for 20 linking paths between six d2-species. The use of racemates, eliminating chiral separations and dissections, provides degenerate isomerization paths providing this method with general utility. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Initial Structural Studies of Charged Receptors That Bind to Inorganic Phosphate Anion and to an Anionic Phospholipid Found in Bacterial Membranes

ITC titration studies of a family of bis-ammonium receptors based upon a scaffold of two bis-linked phenol rings show that several of the receptors bind to both dihydrogenphosphate and phosphatidylglycerol anions in a similar binding motif. Thermodynamic properties determined from ITC show that anion binding is entropy driven. Job plots determined from (1)H NMR clearly demonstrate that anion-receptor binding stoichiometry is dependent on the receptor's length of its bis-amine linkage.
Role of Serum Biomarkers in Early Detection of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis and Fibrosis in West Virginian Children

Background: Obesity, an epidemic among West Virginia children, as well as insulin resistance (IR), is wellestablished contributors to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Progression of NASH can lead to hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis, making early detection imperative. The standard for diagnosing NASH is histologically via liver biopsy, which is highly invasive and generally contraindicated in children. By studying serum biomarkers associated with NASH, we aim to identify high risk children who can benefit from a less invasive, alternative approach to the early detection of NASH. Methods: Seventy one children were prospectively recruited and divided into 3 groups: normal weight without IR (control), obese without IR, and obese with IR. Serum samples were drawn for each patient and biomarker levels were assessed via ELISA kits. Results: Obese without IR and obese with IR patients had significantly elevated levels of lipid metabolism and accumulation markers (FGF-21, NEFA, FATP5, ApoB), oxidative stress markers (dysfunctional HDL, 8-Isoprostane), inflammatory markers(dysfunctional HDL, CK-18) and apoptosis markers (CK-18) compared to control patients (p<0.02). Bilirubin (an antioxidant) was significantly decreased in the obese without IR and obese with IR patients compared to control (p<0.02). Conclusion: This study showed a correlation between obesity, IR, and biomarkers associated with NASH in pediatrics patients from West Virginia, with obese with IR patients showing the strongest correlation. These findings support the clinical application of these serum biomarkers as a less invasive method for early detection of NASH and hepatic fibrosis.
The relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and history of spontaneous abortion

Objective To investigate the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and history of spontaneous abortion and the significance of treating subclinical hypothyroidism to reduce the spontaneous abortion ratio.Methods 210cases of pregnant women in the first trimester were studied between January 2011 and December 2012 in Department of Reproductive Center,50 cases of recurrent miscarriage women were taken as group A,80 cases of primary spontaneous abortion women were taken as group B,80 cases of no abortion women were taken as group C.Electrochemiluminescence(ECL) assay was used for checking thyrotropin(TSH),free thyroxine(FT4).Levothyroxine was taken for treatment.Results The mean age of Group A,Group B,Group C patient age was(28.5 ± 4.7) years,(27.9 ± 3.9) years and(29.2 ±4.1) years,the age of three groups were normally distributed,no significant difference(χ2= 2.246,P 0.05).The morbidity rate of subclinical hypothyroidism of group A was 26%,group B was 18.75% and group C was 5%.There was of no significant difference of morbidity rate between group A and B.The morbidity rates of group A and B were both higher than group C,the difference was significant(Pearson χ2= 11.740,P 0.05).After levothyroxine treatment,the abortion rate of group A was 23.08%,and group B was 13.33%,while there was no case abortion in group C.The abortion rate of group C was significantly lower than that of group A and group B,that showed subclinical hypothyroidism was associated with poor pregnancy outcomes.Conclusion Subclinical hypothyroidism was associated with history of spontaneous abortion,but treating subclinical hypothyroidism with Levothyroxine can reduce the incidence of abortion once again.
Don't Forget What You Can't See: A Case of Ocular Syphilis.

This case describes an emergency department (ED) presentation of ocular syphilis in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patient. This is an unusual presentation of syphilis and one that emergency physicians should be aware of. The prevalence of syphilis has reached epidemic proportions since 2001 with occurrences primarily among men who have sex with men (MSM). This is a case of a 24-year-old male who presented to our ED with bilateral painless vision loss. The patient’s history and ED workup were notable for MSM, positive rapid plasmin reagin (RPR) and HIV tests and fundus exam consistent with ocular syphilis, specifically uveitis. Ocular manifestations of syphilis can present at any stage of syphilis. The 2010 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines now recommend that ocular syphilis be treated as neurosyphilis regardless of the lumbar puncture results. There is a paucity of emergency medicine literature on ocular syphilis. For emergency physicians it is important to be aware of iritis, uveitis, or chorioretinitis as ocular manifestations of neurosyphilis especially in this high-risk population and to obtain RPR and HIV tests in the ED to facilitate early diagnosis, and treatment and to prevent irreversible vision loss.
Autophagic cell death is dependent on lysosomal membrane permeability through Bax and Bak

Cells deficient in the pro-death Bcl-2 family members Bax and Bak are known to be resistant to apoptotic cell death, and previous we have shown that these two effectors are also needed for mitochondrial-dependent cellular necrosis (Karch et al., 2013). Here we show that mouse embryonic fibroblasts deficient in Bax/Bak1 are resistant to the third major form of cell death associated with autophagy through a mechanism involving lysosome permeability. Indeed, specifically targeting Bax only to the lysosome restores autophagic cell death in Bax/Bak1 null cells. Moreover, a monomeric-only mutant form of Bax is sufficient to increase lysosomal membrane permeability and restore autophagic cell death in Bax/Bak1 double-deleted mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Finally, increasing lysosomal permeability through a lysomotropic detergent in cells devoid of Bax/Bak1 restores autophagic cell death, collectively indicting that Bax/Bak integrate all major forms of cell death through direct effects on membrane permeability of multiple intracellular organelles.
Is P Versus NP Formally Independent

This is a survey about the title question, written for people who (like the author) see logic as forbidding, esoteric, and remote from their usual concerns. Beginning with a crash course on ZermeloFraenkel set theory, it discusses oracle independence; natural proofs; independence results of Razborov, Raz, DeMillo-Lipton, Sazanov, and others; and obstacles to proving P vs. NP independent of strong logical theories. It ends with some philosophical musings on when one should expect a mathematical question to have a definite answer.
Spinal Cord Injury and Trauma

Trauma of the spinal cord has almost always been associated with feelings of hopelessness and foreboding. The first recorded reference to injury of the spinal cord was found in the Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus, written about 2500–3000 B. C. “Thou shouldst say concerning him, one having a dislocation of the vertebrae of his neck while he is unconscious of his two legs and two arms and his urine dribbles. An ailment not to be treated.”1 Almost 5,000 years later, Robert Penn Warren described a quadriplegic in his novel All The Kings Men (1946). He describes a lifetime of paralysis, hopelessness, and impending death.
Retinyl acetate mediates autocrine proliferation and wound healing of keratinocytes through a c-neu (erbB-2)-like receptor

Studies were initiated on retinyl acetate a natural fatty acid retinol ester to determine its effect on the clonal growth of normal human keratinocytes NHK and on the proliferation of HaCaT immortalized human keratinocytes Both can be propagated in a chemically defined serum free medium Retinyl acetate RetAc at physiological concentrations supports the autocrine production of an EGF like growth factor that stimulates proliferation of both normal and HaCaT cells in serum free media supplemented only with insulin The possible cellular mechanism of autocrine stimulated proliferation induced by RetAc was elucidated by inhibiting clonal growth following treatment with a specific receptor tyrosine phosphokinase inhibitor and by employing indirect immunofluorescence antibody detection microscopy to positively stain c neu erbB cell membrane targets C neu antibody positively stains the cytoplasm of untreated keratinocytes which is relocalized to focal adhesion cell surface receptors after alkaline phosphatase treatment indicating a phosphorylation labile receptor By contrast RetAc treated keratinocytes stained positively for c neu at cell surface focal adhesion sites that were labile to dephosphorylation by treatment with alkaline phosphatase In addition we investigated the effect of retinyl acetate on wound healing in an epidermal monolayer wound healing model RetAc inhibited wound closure of damaged epidermal sheets in the wound healing zone at concentrations greater than those that stimulate keratinocyte proliferation This result and other previous studies indicate RetAc stimulation of keratinocyte proliferation can be employed without EGF to produce a cultured stratified squamous keratinized epidermis suitable for wound healing applications
Abstract TP6: Evaluation of Patients With High NIH Stroke Scale as Thrombectomy Candidates Using the Kentucky Appalachian Stroke Registry (KApSR)

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy has become standard of care for emergent large vessel occlusive (ELVO) stroke. Estimates of incidence for thrombectomy eligibility vary significantly. NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) of 9 or greater is highly predictive of large vessel occlusion. Using our Kentucky Appalachian Stroke Registry (KApSR), we evaluated regional trends in stroke admissions with NIHSS of 10 or more to determine effects and needs in thrombectomy utilization. Methods: Using the KApSR database that captures patients throughout the Appalachian region in our stroke network, we evaluated patients admitted with ischemic stroke with NIHSS > 9 anytime during admission. We recorded demographics, comorbidities, treatment (thrombectomy, decompressive craniectomy), and county of origin. Change in NIHSS from admission to discharge was measured as an indicator of inpatient outcome. Summary statistics and analyses were performed on SPSS; p<0.05 was significant. Results: From 2010 to 2016, 2250 patients were included...
Commentary: Studies of prenatal antidepressant exposures: what can you recommend? A reflection on Sujan et al. (2019)

The review by Sujan et al. asks a question of clinical and public health importance: are antidepressant medications safe to use during pregnancy from the perspective of their potential effects on the infant and growing child? They provide a thorough review of the animal and human literature to date, focusing primarily on offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes (autism spectrum disorder, ASD, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD). They conclude, based on their review, that antidepressant exposure in pregnancy does not substantially increase the risk of these outcomes, and that women should therefore be reassured about the safety of these medications when used in pregnancy. While their review should be of interest to clinicians and researchers, we would advocate a more conservative approach. Even if associations with ASD and ADHD are equivocal, there is still evidence that SSRI exposure may be associated with outcomes occurring at other developmental timepoints. Clinical recommendations should be based on a fuller picture of potential risks and benefits to both the mother and the fetus, in the context of the mother's underlying depression. In this commentary, we also suggest some approaches that future observational studies may adopt to help strengthen the interpretability of findings.
Selective hydrogenation of acetylene over Pd/CeO 2

Five hundred ppm Pd/CeO2 catalyst was prepared and evaluated in selective hydrogenation of acetylene in large excess of ethylene since ceria has been recently found to be a reasonable stand-alone catalyst for this reaction. Pd/CeO2 catalyst could be activated in situ by the feed gas during reactions and the catalyst without reduction showed much better ethylene selectivity than the reduced one in the high temperature range due to the formation of oxygen vacancies by reduction. Excellent ethylene selectivity of ∼100% was obtained in the whole reaction temperature range of 50°C–200°C for samples calcined at temperatures of 600°C and 800°C. This could be ascribed to the formation of PdxCe1−xO2−y or Pd-O-Ce surface species based on the X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results, indicating the strong interaction between palladium and ceria.
Exogenous luteinizing hormone (LH) increases estradiol response patterns in poor responders with low serum LH concentrations.

Purpose:Our purpose was to investigate whether the addition of exogenous leuteinizing hormone (LH) increases estradiol secretion in LH-depleted women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) with purified follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Methods:We carried out case series and retrospective analysis of midfollicular serum LH concentrations and estradiol response patterns in COH cycles. All patients initially received gonadotropins containing purified FSH. Human menopausal gonadotropin containing LH was added to poor responders with low midfollicular LH concentrations. Results:The addition of exogenous LH to the COH regimen significantly increased estradiol secretion in poor responders with low midfollicular endogenous LH concentrations. This was confirmed statistically by an average change in the slope of the estradiol patterns from 27.54 to 85.49 after the addition of exogenous LH. Furthermore, patients with midfollicular serum LH concentrations <3.0 mIU/ml had significantly lower midfollicular and peak estradiol (E2) concentrations compared to patients with LH concentrations ≥3.0 mIU/ml (352.3 and 2094.3 vs 855.6 and 3757.1 pg/ml, respectively). Conclusions:The addition of exogenous LH increases E2response patterns in poor responders with low midfollicular serum LH concentrations. Low midfollicular serum LH concentrations are associated with significantly lower midfollicular and peak E2concentrations.
Modelling of unmanned aircraft visibility for see-and-avoid operations

With more unmanned aircraft (UA) becoming airborne each day, an already high manned aircraft to UA exposure rate continues to grow. Pilots and rulemaking authorities realize that UA visibility is a...
Effect of Antibiotic Use Within First 48 Hours of Life on the Preterm Infant Microbiome: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

This randomized clinical trial investigates whether withholding the standard 48 hours of intravenous empirical antibiotics immediately after birth in preterm infants protects the developing microbiome and improves clinical outcomes.
A recommendation system for scientific water data

We describe a recommendation system for HydroShare, a platform for scientific water data sharing. We discuss similarities, differences and challenges for implementing recommendation systems for scientific water data sharing. We discuss and analyze the behaviors that scientists exhibit in using HydroShare as documented by users’ activity logs. Unlike entertainment system users, users on HydroShare tend to be task-oriented, where the set of tasks of interest can change over time, and older interests are sometimes no longer relevant. By validating recommendation approaches against user behavior as expressed in activity logs, we conclude that a combination of content-based filtering and a latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic modeling of user behavior—rather than and instead of LDA classification of dataset topics—provides a workable solution for HydroShare and compares this approach to existing recommendation methods.
Separate But Unequal: The Resegregation of Louisiana Public Schools Through the School-to-Prison Pipeline

Known as one of America's lowest-ranking states in education and as the world's prison capital, the state of Louisiana has continuously perpetuated the school-to-prison pipeline through the use of overly punitive discipline policies, alternative schools, and high stakes testing. The disproportionate effect of discipline policies upon Louisiana's minority students raises concerns that racial bias and stereotyping play a significant role in school discipline and safety processes in violation of Title IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A recent study by the American Bar Association debunks two myths: that the pipeline only affects the worse behavior of minority students and that zero-tolerance policies actually create a safer environment for public schools. There is, in fact, no evidence showing that these policies make school safer, nor do they produce a more positive outcome for the students affected by them. In discussing the history of the state's segregated public school system and its re-segregation after the United States Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, this article explores whether Louisiana's perpetuation of the school-to-prison pipeline violate Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Pelvic Examinations in the Adolescent and Young Adult Population: A Commentary on Why and When.

ABSTRACT Various professional organizations have weighed in on the practice utility of speculum examinations. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and American College of Physicians (ACP) have recommended against internal pelvic examinations in asymptomatic patients, whereas the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has encouraged shared decision making. Although a pelvic examination can be a stressful event for adolescents, studies have shown that early discussions and performing the examination in a trusting environment can mitigate the worries and improve the patient−provider relationship. In this commentary, we discuss the literature and conclude that performing a pelvic examination in the asymptomatic adolescent and young adult patient is ultimately a matter of shared decision making. The benefits of conducting the examination in a nonthreatening environment, minimizing “exceptionalization” of the female genitalia, and strengthening the patient−provider relationship should be highlighted during the discussions.
Controller reactions to free flight in a complex transition sector re-visited using ADS-B+ [ATC]

In 1998 ERAU ATM Research Laboratories and NARI carried out a simulation for NASA Ames. The experiment was designed to measure the performance of certified professional controllers in scenarios containing aircraft that were under their control and aircraft that were self-separating in a free flight operation. The experimental scenario used a busy transition sector with a mix of en-route and climbing and descending traffic. Controllers were responsible for ensuring the safety of all aircraft including the self-separating aircraft. The result of the first simulation was that as the number of self-separating aircraft increased so did the controller workload. This was considered to be due to the lack of intent information from the self-separating aircraft. This paper describes the result of revisiting the scenario but with the provision of automatic dependent surveillance roadcast information including the forecast trajectory change point information.
A MIPS assembly language simulator designed for education

The MIPS computer architecture is widely used in undergraduate computer architecture and organization courses because of its straightforward design. MIPS is the primary example of the popular textbook Computer Organization and Design [2], used at over 400 universities. We describe a GUI, Java-based simulator for the MIPS assembly language, with characteristics that emphasize usefulness to undergraduate computer science students and - importantly - their instructors.Java and Sun are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
Two substrate‐targeting sites in the Yersinia protein tyrosine phosphatase co‐operate to promote bacterial virulence

Summary YopH is a protein tyrosine phosphatase and an essen- tial virulence determinant of the pathogenic bacte- rium Yersinia. Yersinia delivers YopH into infected host cells using a type III secretion mechanism. YopH dephosphorylates several focal adhesion proteins including p130Cas in human epithelial cells, resulting in disruption of focal adhesions and cell detachment from the extracellular matrix. How the C-terminal pro- tein tyrosine phosphatase domain of YopH targets specific substrates such as p130Cas in the complex milieu of the host cell has not been fully elucidated. An N-terminal non-catalytic domain of YopH binds p130Cas in a phosphotyrosine-dependent manner and functions as a novel substrate-targeting site. The structure of the YopH protein tyrosine phosphatase domain bound to a model phosphopeptide substrate was solved and the resulting structure revealed a second substrate-targeting site ('site 2') within the catalytic domain. Site 2 binds to p130Cas in a phos- photyrosine-dependent manner, and co-operates with the N-terminal domain ('site 1') to promote efficient recognition of p130Cas by YopH in epithelial cells. The identification of two substrate-targeting sites in YopH that co-operate to promote epithelial cell detachment and bacterial virulence reinforces the importance of protein-protein interactions for determining protein
External data structures for shortest path queries on planar digraphs

In this paper we present space-query trade-offs for external memory data structures that answer shortest path queries on planar directed graphs. For any $S = {\it \Omega}(N^{1 + \epsilon}$) and S=O(N2/B), our main result is a family of structures that use S space and answer queries in $O({{N^{2}}\over{SB}})$I/Os, thus obtaining optimal space-query product O(N2/B). An S space structure can be constructed in $O(\sqrt{S}\cdot {\rm sort}(N))$ I/Os, where sort(N) is the number of I/Os needed to sort N elements, B is the disk block size, and N is the size of the graph.
Instructive video retrieval for surgical skill coaching using attribute learning

Video-based coaching systems have seen increasing adoption in various applications including dance, sports, and surgery training. Most existing systems are either passive (for data capture only) or barely active (with limited automated feedback to a trainee). In this paper, we present a video-based skill coaching system for simulation-based surgical training by exploring a newly proposed problem of instructive video retrieval. By introducing attribute learning into video for high-level skill understanding, we aim at providing automated feedback and providing an instructive video, to which the trainees can refer for performance improvement. This is achieved by ensuring the feedback is weakness-specific, skill-superior and content-similar. A suite of techniques was integrated to build the coaching system with these features. In particular, algorithms were developed for action segmentation, video attribute learning, and attribute-based video retrieval. Experiments with realistic surgical videos demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method and suggest areas for further improvement.
End-User Software Engineering Position Paper

PERSONAL WORK My goal is to make the process of programming easier, especially for people who are not necessarily specialists in computer science. Why is it so much harder to program a computer than simply to use a computer application? I can’t think of any good reason why this is so; we just happen to have a tradition of arcane programming languages and mystically complex software development techniques. We can do much better.
Cbfa1/RUNX2 Directs Specific Expression of the Sclerosteosis Gene (SOST)

Loss-of-function mutations in the sclerosteosis gene (SOST) cause a rare sclerosing bone dysplasia characterized by skeletal overgrowth. Cbfa1/RUNX2 is a key transcriptional regulator of osteoblast function. Here we link these two pathways by demonstrating, via gel shift and transient transfection analyses, that Cbfa1 binding to the proximal SOST promoter contributes to differential SOST expression in two osteosarcoma cell lines. Additionally, an E-box binding motif in the 1.8-kb proximal SOST promoter appears to be functional in SAOS-2 cells, but does not account for SAOS-specific expression of SOST. The regulation of SOST expression by Cbfa1 suggests a potential role for the sclerosteosis gene in homeostatic regulation of osteoblast differentiation and function. Furthermore, the juxtaposition of Cbfa1, E-box, and C/EBP binding sites in the SOST proximal promoter bears an intriguing resemblance to the promoter for osteocalcin, another osteoblast-specific gene with a loss-of-function phenotype of bone overgrowth.