cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural changes in thin films of the 1:1 bismuth molybdate under reduction and oxidation conditions

Abstract A systematic study of reduction and reoxidation of thin films of 1:1 bismuth molybdate was carried out using transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Films 50–700 A thick prepared by the vacuum evaporation technique have been subjected to further oxygen depletion (reduction) by annealing in vacuum and to reoxidation by heating in air. The films obtained by vacuum evaporation were found to be amorphous and oxygen deficient. On oxidation, pronounced recrystallization occurred and a scheelite tetragonal phase was found with parameters a = b = 5.26 ± 0.05 A , c = 11.52 ± 0.05 A , c a ~ 2.19 and space group I4 1 a (C 4h 6 ) . Further heating in air resulted in the nucleation and growth of smaller crystallites (domains) of a different structure (superstructure) within the previously developed single crystals. The new structure corresponds to a body centered tetragonal cell having the parameters a = b = 5.32 ± 0.05 A , c = 11.70 ± 0.05 A , c a ⋍ 2.2 and space group I 4 m2 (D 2d 9 ) . By heating the original films in vacuum, however, further oxygen depletion occurred along with the usual crystallization, yielding finally MoO 2 , metallic bismuth and traces of the scheelite structure. The structure of the region near the catalyst surface differs from the structure of the bulk. Thin films may possibly provide some information about the structure of this region. Furthermore, catalytic oxidation by oxides is essentially a reduction of the catalyst followed by its reoxidation by the oxygen of the atmosphere. Therefore, we suggest that a switching between a scheelite structure during the reduction period and the superstructure during the catalyst reoxidation period may occur in the region near the surface of the catalyst. Some considerations are provided regarding the hypothesis that some nonstoichiometric compounds contain within the initial compound a dispersion of small particles with a different composition.
Use Of The Best Practices Technique In Business And Ways To Maximize Its Usefulness

The approach of identifying and learning from the best practices employed in an industry is popular in academic and professional business training. The concept of following the leader (similar to benchmarking) is a trusted tactic, if not a strategy, used in many industries. However, if the correct research method is not used to identify these practices, the outcomes can be ineffective as a result of using inappropriate techniques, or inefficient as result of using techniques that promise success yet result in failure. This paper discusses how best practices may sometimes be erroneously identified and provides guidance on how to avoid the error. The research is based on an experience with the hospice sector of the health care industry.
Wavelet spectra of surface EMG during gait in children with di- and tetraplegic spastic cerebral palsy

Research question: Gait Deviation Index (GDI) is sensitive to detect changes in gait function after tapping of cerebrospinal fluid on gait function? Introduction: Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a syndrome consisting of chronic ventricular dilation, normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure and the symptomatic triad of dementia, gait dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Gait disturbance are usually the initial sign and most important symptom, but its objective evaluation has not been established. The tap test (TT) is commonly used to prognosticate shunt responsiveness. Clinical improvement following TT is one of the few established prognostic indicators of a positive response to shunting in patients with iNPH. Materials andmethods: Eighty-six consecutive patients (male: 57; female: 29) of mean age 77 (0.9) years with clinical diagnosis of iNPH were referred to gait analysis laboratory in Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (HIAE) to participated in this study. The gait assessment was conducted using three-dimensional gait analysis pre and post TT. The reconstruction, markers label and the Plugin Gait biomechanical model processing to obtain kinematic data were performed using Vicon Nexus’ software. The kinematic data were imported into a spreadsheet, where a mathematical routine was used to calculate the GDI. The statistical analysis used paired t-test with the level of statistical significance set at p 0.8 large. Results: Differences were found between pre and post tests for GDI for both sides and with large effect size (Table 1). Discussion: The literature examining gait parameters after TT in iNPH is limited and often based on clinicians’ subjective ratings as opposed to objective measures of change. The results of this study demonstrate that GDI is likely to change following TT. The results suggest that this index is sensitive and provide a quantitativemeasure of the changes in gait pattern of pre and post TT.
Microtubules mediate anti-inflammatory and lung vascular barrier protective effects of atrial natriuretic peptide

Independently on control of circulating fluid, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in the lung. We tested a role of microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton in the ANP-induced protection against endothelial cell (EC) barrier dysfunction and acute lung injury induced by Staphylococcus aureus -derived peptidoglican-G (PepG). ANP attenuated PepG-induced Rho signaling via suppression of PepG-induced MT disassembly and inhibition of MT-associated Rho-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor GEF-H1. ANP-induced EC barrier preservation and MT stabilization was due to phosphorylation and inactivation of MT-associated protein stathmin. Phosphorylation deficient stathmin-S63A mutant abolished ANP protective effects against PepG-induced hyperpermeability, activation of Rho and NFkB signaling, and expression of inflammatory adhesion molecules. In contrast, siRNA-based stathmin knockdown prevented PepG-induced peripheral MT disassembly and EC barrier dysfunction. ANP protective effects in murine model of PepG-induced lung injury were associated with increased acetylated MT and phospho-stathmin levels, while exacerbated lung injury in the ANP knockout mice was accompanied by decreased pool of stable MT. Stathmin knockdown in vivo reversed exacerbation of lung injury in ANP knockout mice. These results show a novel mechanism of EC barrier protection and mitigation of inflammation by ANP in EC culture and in the in vivo model of lung injury via stathmin-dependent MT assembly and MT-regulated Rho signaling. Funding: HL087823, HL107920.
Matters of context guide future research in TGFβ superfamily signaling

The highly conserved wiring of the SMAD-dependent transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) superfamily signaling pathway has been mapped over the last 20 years after molecular discovery of its component parts. Numerous alternative TGFβ-activated signaling pathways that elicit SMAD-independent biological responses also exist. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the renowned context dependency of TGFβ signaling output remains an active and often confounding area of research, providing a prototype relevant to regulation of other signaling pathways. Highlighting discoveries presented at the 9th FASEB meeting, The TGFβ Superfamily: Signaling in Development and Disease (July 12-17th 2015 in Snowmass, Colorado), this Review outlines research into the rich contextual nature of TGFβ signaling output and offers clues for therapeutic advances.
Survey Techniques Used to Measure Nearshore Profiles

The three most common survey techniques used to measure nearshore profiles are (1) conventional boat-sonic depth sounder; (2) hydrostatic pressure profiler; and (3) the self powered Coastal Research Amphibious Buggy (CRAB)• Theory of operation and methodology used for each technique are summarized and evaluated. Three separate field tests using survey data from each technique are evaluated for system repeatability. Data reduction, sea surface correction, and filtering methods for boat-depth sounder survey data are examined.
Eye movements reveal readers’ lexical quality and reading experience

Two experiments demonstrate that individual differences among normal adult readers, including lexical quality, are expressed in silent reading at the word level. In the first of two studies we identified major dimensions of variability among college readers and among words using factor analysis. We then examined the effects of these dimensions of variability on eye movements during paragraph reading. More experienced readers (who also were higher in reading speed) read words more quickly, especially less frequent words, while readers with higher lexical knowledge showed shorter early fixations, especially for more frequent words. These results suggest that individual differences in reading may reflect differences in the quality of lexical representations and in reading experience, which is a source of lexical quality. In a second study, we controlled the lexical knowledge readers obtained from new words through a training paradigm that varied exposure to a word’s orthographic, phonological, and meaning constituents. Training exposure to orthographic and phonological constituents affected first pass reading measures, and phonological and meaning training affected second pass measures. Incomplete knowledge of word components slowed first pass reading times, compared to both more complete knowledge and no knowledge. Training effects were mediated by individual differences, pointing to lexical quality and reading experience—which, combined reflect reading expertise—as important in word reading as part of text reading.
Research progress on Elaeagnus mollis Diels as a kind of woody oil-plant resource

Elaeagnus mollis Diels,one of the Chinese endemic plants,is a shrub or small deciduous tree.In this paper,a broad literatures are reviewed concerning its characteristics and values of resource and the present situation of conservation and utilization.Finally,some suggestions for effective conservation and utilization are put forward.
Morphological and Histochemical Studies of the Leukemic Cells from a Patient with Atypical Myeloblastic Leukemia with Special Reference to Intracytoplasmic Mucopolysaccharide Vacuoles and Fibrillar Formation

A detailed study (phase contrast, bright field and electron microscopy) of the primitive leukemic cells from a patient with atypical myeloblastic leukemia has been presented. An unusual mucopolysaccharide-containing vacuole has been observed and characterized both morphologically and histochemically. In addition, this study has yielded considerable information concerning the structure and chemical composition of the fibrillar formations, fat droplets and the alterations in erythrocytes following their ingestion by the leukemic cells. Intramitochondrial structural alterations have been observed and characterized in many of the primitive myeloblasts. Changes in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum may reflect impaired or altered metabolism in these abnormal leukemic cells.
Roman Festivals in the Greek East: From the Early Empire to the Middle Byzantine Era

Part I. Festivals in the Greek East Before Constantine: 1. Greek city festivals in the Imperial age 2. Roman festivals in Eastern cities Part II. Roman Festivals in the Greek East After Constantine: 3. Theodosius' reform of the legal calendar 4. Contested festivals in the fourth century 5. The Lupercalia from Augustus to Constantine Porphyrogennetos 6. John Malalas and ritual aetiology 7. The Brumalia 8. Kalendae Ianuariae again, and again 9. Christian liturgy and the Imperial festival tradition Part III. Christianity and Private Ritual: 10. Christian incubation 11. Magic in a Christian Empire Epilogue. The persistence of festivals and the end of sacrifices.
Review: In diabetes, benefits of lowering BP depend on baseline BP being 140 mm Hg or more

Source Citation Brunstrom M, Carlberg B. Effect of antihypertensive treatment at different blood pressure levels in patients with diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta-analyses. BMJ. 2016;3...
The Traditional Theory of Human Nature

The dominant theory of human nature in the Western tradition is that the human being is a peculiar sort of being, a rational animal. That is, the human is both animal and rational, pulled in two different directions at once. While the animal side of our nature seeks gratification in bodily pleasures or worldly goods, the rational side guides us toward higher values, in particular the famous Platonic triad of Truth, Beauty, and above all, the moral Good. The Darwinian account, in sharp contrast, insists that humans have only one dimension, the animal one. All of the “higher” values are merely indirect means of pursuing animal ends, in particular survival and reproduction. The remainder of this book asks which of these two views is more plausible.
Learn about broadening participation: research at RESPECT'16

We invite you to RESPECT'16, the second international conference of the IEEE Computer Society's Special Technical Community on Broadening Participation (STCBP), coming this August 11-13 in conjunction with the STARS Celebration in Atlanta, GA. The RESPECT'16 conference showcases "Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology". Through RESPECT, the STCBP strives to build a strong multi-disciplinary community, theory, and foundation for broadening participation research. The RESPECT program offers research papers, experience reports, lightning talks and posters, in addition to excellent joint keynotes.
Examining the Impact of Training in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology

This research identifies, examines, and presents an empirical evaluation of the existing technology acceptance constructs as they relate to end-user participation in training programs. The analysis...
Mentor qualities that matter: The importance of perceived (not demographic) similarity.

Mentoring, particularly same-gender and same-race mentoring, is increasingly seen as a powerful method to attract and retain more women and racial minorities into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and careers. This study examines elements of a mentoring dyad relationship (i.e., demographic and perceived similarity) that influence the quality of mentorship, as well as the effect of mentorship on STEM career commitment. A national sample of African American undergraduates majoring in STEM disciplines were surveyed in their senior year. Overall, perceived similarity, rather than demographic similarity, was the most important factor associated with protege perceptions of high quality mentorship and high quality mentoring was in turn associated with higher commitment to STEM careers. We discuss the implications for mentoring underrepresented students and broadening participation in STEM.
Computationally tractable robust moving horizon estimation using an approximate convex hull

When the model of the system under observation is not precisely known, state estimation and the subsequent prediction of system trajectories from this state estimate is subject to uncertainty. A useful method state estimation and prediction is to provide bounds within which the estimates are guaranteed to lie. When a model set is available, predictions can be made for every element of this set, with bounds derived from these predictions. The goal of this work is to reduce the computational complexity of a robust moving horizon estimation (MHE) method of this from. The main element of this method is the computation and use of a so called approximate convex hull that provides an approximate cover of the model set. Estimates and predictions need only be made for the models at the vertices of the approximate convex hull. An output bound is given that reflects the effect of the approximation error. Therefore, the method guarantees that the actual output is in the bound estimated by the robust MHE.
Knowledge, attitude, and practice of blood culture contamination: A multicenter study

We developed a questionnaire to assess the knowledge and practice of nursing staff, patient care assistants, phlebotomists, and laboratory technicians regarding blood culture collection and contamination at 2 tertiary care academic centers. Our study showed there were several gaps in knowledge and practice regarding obtaining blood cultures.
Across the Deep Blue Sea: The Saga of Early Norwegian Immigrants

Review of: "Across the Deep Blue Sea: The Saga of Early Norwegian Immigrants," by Odd S. Lovoll.
Some rules for the automatic synthesis of programs

A set of rules (or facts) about program synthesis is presented. The rules are about the process of programming, and are sutficient for the synthesis of an insertion sort program. The use of the rules to write a short LISP program is described. Taken together, the rules are an embodiment of a detailed theory which explains one small part of the programming process. The size of the set of rules suggests the complexity of the process of writing programs and indicates that much work will be required to codify significant amounts of programming knowledge as a step toward the development of program-understanding systems.
Defining the DNA Binding Site Recognized by the Fission Yeast Zn 2 Cys 6 Transcription Factor Pho7 and Its Role in Phosphate Homeostasis.

Fission yeast phosphate homeostasis entails transcriptional induction of genes encoding phosphate-mobilizing proteins under conditions of phosphate starvation. Transcription factor Pho7, a member of the Zn2Cys6 family of fungal transcription regulators, is the central player in the starvation response. The DNA binding sites in the promoters of phosphate-responsive genes have not been defined, nor have any structure-function relationships been established for the Pho7 protein. Here we narrow this knowledge gap by (i) delineating an autonomous DNA-binding domain (DBD) within Pho7 that includes the Zn2Cys6 module, (ii) deploying recombinant Pho7 DBD in DNase I footprinting and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) to map the Pho7 recognition sites in the promoters of the phosphate-regulated pho1 and tgp1 genes to a 12-nucleotide sequence motif [5'-TCG(G/C)(A/T)xxTTxAA], (iii) independently identifying the same motif as a Pho7 recognition element via in silico analysis of available genome-wide ChIP-seq data, (iv) affirming that mutations in the two Pho7 recognition sites in the pho1 promoter efface pho1 expression in vivo, and (v) establishing that the zinc-binding cysteines and a pair of conserved arginines in the DBD are essential for Pho7 activity in vivoIMPORTANCE Fungi respond to phosphate starvation by inducing the transcription of a set of phosphate acquisition genes that comprise a phosphate regulon. Pho7, a member of the Zn2Cys6 family of fungal transcription regulators, is the central player in the phosphate starvation response in fission yeast. The present study identifies a 12-nucleotide Pho7 DNA binding motif [5'-TCG(G/C)(A/T)xxTTxAA] in the promoters of phosphate-regulated genes, pinpoints DNA and protein features important for Pho7 binding to DNA, and correlates them with Pho7-dependent gene expression in vivo The results highlight distinctive properties of Pho7 vis-a-vis other fungal zinc binuclear cluster transcription factors as well as the divergent cast of transcription factors deployed for phosphate homeostasis in fission yeast versus budding yeast.
Development of TCRγδ Cells

Over the past several years, a novel T cell subset has been identified that, unlike conventional CD8+ cytolytic cells and CD4+ helper TCRαβ cells, expresses a T cell receptor complex (TCR) composed of CD3-associated, disulfide-linked TCR γ and δ gene products (Bluesfone et al. 1991a). The role of TCRγδ cells in immune responses is currently not well understood. TCRγδ T lymphocytes appear in enhanced numbers in skin lesions of Mycobacterium leprae, celiac sprue, polymyositis, listeria infections, and in the synovial fluid of joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis (Reviewed in Immunol. Rev. Vol. 120, 1991). These observations raise the possibility that this subset of T lymphocytes may play a role in the control of infectious processes and in autoimmune disease. The TCRγδ cells develop in waves in the thymus prior to TCRαβ development with each successive wave expressing a distinct family of TCR Vγ and Vδ genes (Raulet, 1989). In fact, unlike TCRαβ cells, TCRγδ cells selectively home to specific tissues including the skin, lung, reproductive tract and intestine where they reside as intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) (Bluestone et al. 1991b). In addition, TCRγδ cells occupy anatomically distinct regions of the lymphoid tissue, such that splenic TCRγδ cells predominate in the sinusoids while the TCRas cells localize to the follicular areas. In spite of the great potential for diversity in this population, the TCRγδ cells have a more limited TCR repertoire than as cells especially in the regional epithelial tissues where in some cases a single TCRγ and δ chain is expressed on resident cells.
Are mothers’ work-to-family conflict, school involvement, and work status related to academic achievement?

This study investigates a moderated mediational model whereby maternal involvement in schooling mediates the association between maternal work-to-family conflict and children’s academic achievement in early adolescence, and socioeconomic contexts interact with maternal work status to moderate this association. Participants reflect a subsample of 725 fifth graders (and their employed mothers and teachers) from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (NICHD SECCYD). Of the children in this subsample, 49.4% were female and 79.7% were White, non-hispanic. On average mothers completed 14.7 years of education (SD = 2.4), with 75.4% of mothers completing more than a high school education. Multi-group analyses in SEM using Mplus 7.4 tested whether maternal work status would interact with core socioeconomic contexts (e.g., maternal education, child race, marital status, poverty status, work schedule, and number of children in the home) to moderate the relationship between maternal work-to-family conflict, maternal involvement in school, and academic outcomes. Results revealed partial mediation between maternal work-to-family conflict and achievement through maternal involvement in school. Our hypothesis that maternal work status would interact with other core socioeconomic contexts to moderate the relationship between maternal work-to-family conflict, maternal involvement in school, and academic outcomes was supported. We conclude that mothers’ involvement in school may be an important way in which negative outcomes of work-to-family conflict may be minimized. We also highlight the importance of situating maternal employment in a larger familial and socioeconomic context.
NILPOTENCE IN THE STEENROD ALGEBRA

While all of the relations in the Steenrod algebra, A, can be deduced in principle from the Adem relations, in practice, it is extremely difficult to determine whether a given polynomial of elements in A is zero for all but the most elementary cases. In his original paper [Mi] Milnor states “It would be interesting to discover a complete set of relations between the given generators of A”. In particular Milnor shows that every positive dimensional element of A is nilpotent. Thus it would be desirable to find a simple closed form for nilpotence relations in A. Let x ∈ A. We say that x has nilpotence k, if x = 0 and xk−1 6= 0 (take x = 1). In this case we write Nil(x) = k. In this paper we investigate Nil(x) for several infinite families of Milnor basis elements of A at the prime 2. The paper is organized as follows. First, an infinite family of subalgebras and isomorphisms between them are constructed. The isomorphisms are used to produce infinite families of elements having the same nilpotence. Next, we compute strong upper and lower bounds for the nilpotence of Milnor basis elements in these subalgebras. Comparing these bounds and extending to the families produced via the isomorphisms shows that Sq(2(2 − 1) + 1) has nilpotence k + 2. Finally a strong lower bound for the nilpotence of P s t is computed for all s, t ∈ N. The main results are stated and discussed in Sections II and III. Detailed proofs are presented in Section IV.
Quality of life survey of urinary diversion patients: comparison of ileal conduits versus continent Kock ileal reservoirs

There has been a recent marked increase in interest in continent urinary diversions. While considerable time has been spent on the technical aspects of these diversions the psychological impact has not yet been fully explored. We describe an extensive survey that was conducted among 100 consecutive adults (87 respondents) who had undergone urinary diversion via an ileal conduit and 100 consecutive adults (85 respondents) in whom a continent Kock ileal reservoir was created during the last 3 to 5 years at our university by the same surgeons. The Kock pouch patients were stratified further into 63 with primary diversion and 22 who underwent conversion from previous conduit diversions. The survey consisted of a questionnaire that included a social and sexual survey, the Beck Depressive Inventory, the Profile of Mood States and a physical impact study. The results revealed that all patients surveyed generally were satisfied with the diversions and they had adapted reasonably socially, physically and psychologically. The key to adaptation seemed to be a detailed, realistic preoperative education about the type of diversion used. Patients with ileal conduit diversions had the lowest expectations of the form of diversion as defined by the preoperative awareness of the need to wear an external ostomy appliance with its associated inconveniences and change in the external body image. Postoperatively, ileal conduit patients also had the poorest self images as defined by a decrease in sexual desire and in all forms of physical contact (sexual and nonsexual). The subset of patients who underwent conversion from conduit diversions to Kock pouches, however, were statistically the most satisfied, and they were the most physically and sexually active. We conclude that the Kock continent urostomy offers an important alternative to noncontinent forms of diversion.
Introduction to Nonlinear and Mixed-Integer Optimization

This chapter presents an introduction to the class of mixed-integer nonlinear MINLP optimization problems. Section 20.1 presents the motivation for studying MINLP problems. Section 20.2 discusses the mathematical formulation and outlines the theoretical and algorithmic challenges. Section 20.3 provides an overview of the local MINLP optimization algorithms which can address convex MINLP problems rigorously. Finally, section 20.4 outlines the global MINLP optimization approaches for nonconvex MINLP optimization problems.
Evaluation of Lung Vascular Permeability by External Scanning of Gamma Emitter Activity

A minimally invasive method for measuring and analyzing lung transvascular protein flux would be useful for diagnosing and monitoring patients with lung injury. We have developed a method which detects movement of radiolabeled albumin from plasma to lung interstitium using sodium iodide detectors that are located outside the body, and positioned over the lung. The technique is similar to methods reported by Gorin (1,2), Prichard and Lee (3,4), and Dauber et al. (5).
Fluctuations in p53 Signaling Allow Escape from Cell-Cycle Arrest.

Biological signals need to be robust and filter small fluctuations yet maintain sensitivity to signals across a wide range of magnitudes. Here, we studied how fluctuations in DNA damage signaling relate to maintenance of long-term cell-cycle arrest. Using live-cell imaging, we quantified division profiles of individual human cells in the course of 1 week after irradiation. We found a subset of cells that initially establish cell-cycle arrest and then sporadically escape and divide. Using fluorescent reporters and mathematical modeling, we determined that fluctuations in the oscillatory pattern of the tumor suppressor p53 trigger a sharp switch between p21 and CDK2, leading to escape from arrest. Transient perturbation of p53 stability mimicked the noise in individual cells and was sufficient to trigger escape from arrest. Our results show that the self-reinforcing circuitry that mediates cell-cycle transitions can translate small fluctuations in p53 signaling into large phenotypic changes.
A robust learning approach for regression models based on distributionally robust optimization

We present a Distributionally Robust Optimization (DRO) approach to estimate a robustified regression plane in a linear regression setting, when the observed samples are potentially contaminated with adversarially corrupted outliers. Our approach mitigates the impact of outliers by hedging against a family of probability distributions on the observed data, some of which assign very low probabilities to the outliers. The set of distributions under consideration are close to the empirical distribution in the sense of the Wasserstein metric. We show that this DRO formulation can be relaxed to a convex optimization problem which encompasses a class of models. By selecting proper norm spaces for the Wasserstein metric, we are able to recover several commonly used regularized regression models. We provide new insights into the regularization term and give guidance on the selection of the regularization coefficient from the standpoint of a confidence region. We establish two types of performance guarantees for the solution to our formulation under mild conditions. One is related to its out-of-sample behavior (prediction bias), and the other concerns the discrepancy between the estimated and true regression planes (estimation bias). Extensive numerical results demonstrate the superiority of our approach to a host of regression models, in terms of the prediction and estimation accuracies. We also consider the application of our robust learning procedure to outlier detection, and show that our approach achieves a much higher AUC (Area Under the ROC Curve) than M-estimation (Huber, 1964, 1973).
Monoclonal Antibody Targeting the Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Prevents and Reverses Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Mice

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a disabling condition accompanying several cancer drugs, including the front-line chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel. Although CIPN can force dose reduction or even discontinuation of chemotherapy, affecting survival in cancer patients, there is no US Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for CIPN. CIPN in mice is characterized by neuropathic pain (eg, mechanical allodynia) in association with oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), as well as retraction of intraepidermal nerve fibers. Here, we report that paclitaxel-induced mechanical allodynia is associated with transcriptional increase in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9 and decrease in metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (TIMP1), a strong endogenous MMP9 inhibitor. Consistently, MMP9 protein levels are increased in DRG neurons in vivo and in vitro after paclitaxel treatment, and it is demonstrated, for the first time, that intrathecal injections of exogenous TIMP1 or a monoclonal antibody targeting MMP9 (MMP9 mAb) significantly prevented and reversed paclitaxel-induced mechanical allodynia in male and female mice. Analyses of DRG tissues showed that MMP9 mAb significantly decreased oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory mediators interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α, as well as prevented paclitaxel-induced loss of intraepidermal nerve fibers. These findings suggest that MMP signaling plays a key role in paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy, and MMP9 mAb may offer new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of CIPN. PERSPECTIVE: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) remains ineffectively managed in cancer patients, potentially leading to the discontinuation of an otherwise life-saving treatment. Here, we demonstrate that a monoclonal antibody targeting MMP9 alleviates neuropathic pain and several mechanisms linked to CIPN. This study is particularly relevant, because a humanized MMP9 antibody is already in advanced clinical trials for the treatment of colitis and cancer, and it may be straightforwardly repurposed for the relief of CIPN.
Endoscopic endonasal approaches for the management of skull base meningiomas: selection criteria and clinical outcomes.

Background Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumor, arising from different locations, including the skull base. Despite advances in adjuvant treatments, surgical resection remains the main and best treatment for meningiomas. New surgical strategies, such as the endoscopic endonasal approach, have greatly contributed in achieving maximum and total safe resection, preserving the patient's neurological function. Methods Based on the senior authors large experience and a review of the current literature, we have compiled this paper. Results We review the surgical technique used at our institution and the most relevant aspects of patient selection when considering resecting a skull base meningioma using the the EEA. Further consideration is given to some skull base meningiomas arising from specific locations with some case examples. Conclusions The EEA is not an ideal approach for every skull base meningioma. Careful evaluation of the neurovascular structures surrounding the tumor is imperative to select the appropriate surgical corridor for a safe resection. Nevertheless, for appropriately selected cases, the endoscopic technique is a very valuable tool with some evidences of being superior to the microscopic transcranial approach. A dual-trained surgeon, in both endoscopic and transcranial approaches, is the best alternative to achieve the best patient outcome.
Development of self-assembled polygalacturonic acid-peptide composites and their interactions with mesenchymal stem cells for potential applications in tendon tissue engineering

We have developed a new biomimetic scaffold for potential applications in tendon tissue engineering (TE). The scaffold template was synthesised by conjugating polygalacturonic acid with the dipeptide leucyl-leucine to mimic the leucine rich proteoglycans found in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tenocytes. To the template, type I collagen and an elastin derived peptide were incorporated in order to form the final PG-Leu-Leu-Col-El scaffold. Results indicated the formation of gelatinous, fibrous scaffolds. DSC analysis showed phase changes that included crystallisation and thermal melting due to re-organisation of the scaffold components. Young's modulus was determined to be 832 ± 2 MPa. Rheology studies showed that the scaffold maintained a constant G´ / G˝ ratio over a wide range of angular frequency. Cell studies with bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) indicated that the scaffolds promoted cell proliferation and formed three dimensional cell-scaffold matrices. This newly developed scaffold may open new opportunities for tissue engineering applications.
Proceedings of the 15th ACM SIGPLAN international conference on Functional programming

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 15th ACM SIGPLAN International Conference on Functional Programming -- ICFP'10. This conference features original papers on the art and science of functional programming. Submissions are invited on all topics from principles to practice, from foundations to features, from abstraction to application. The scope includes all languages that encourage functional programming, including both purely applicative and imperative languages, as well as languages with objects or concurrency. This year, the Call for Papers attracted 99 submissions, comprised of 92 full submissions and 7 experience reports. From these, the Program Committee selected 30 full papers and 3 experience reports. Full papers were evaluated according to their relevance, correctness, significance, originality, and clarity. Full papers include a special form of research paper, called Functional Pearls, which are not required to report original research, but must be concise, instructive, and entertaining. They are strictly limited to twelve pages. ICFP also includes experience reports. These reports provide evidence that functional programming really works or describe obstacles that have kept it from working. Experience reports are labeled in their titles and are limited to six pages. Each submission was reviewed by at least three Program Committee members. PC members were encouraged to solicit external reviews, but were required to read the papers themselves and form their own opinions. Reviews included comments from 125 external reviewers, and were made available to the authors for response before the PC meeting. Papers were selected during a physical meeting on June 3-4, 2010, held at Microsoft Research Cambridge. All PC members attended the meeting. In addition to selecting the program, the PC also chose to invite talks by Mike Gordon, Matthias Felleisen and Guy Blelloch. There were three submissions by PC members, two of which were accepted. These submissions were discussed after all other decisions had been made and were evaluated at a higher standard.
Microwave Emissions From Cell Phones Exceed Safety Limits in Europe and the US When Touching the Body

In our publications, we have shown both from measurements and computer modeling that the specific absorption rate (SAR) reduces by 10%-15% for every millimeter separation of the cell phone on account of rapidly diminishing EM fields in the near-field region of the cell phone antenna. This rapid reduction of SAR depending on the antenna and its location on the handset has been shown, both computationally and experimentally, regardless of the phantom model such as a flat phantom suggested for SAR compliance testing of devices in contact with the body, for a sphere phantom, and for head-shaped models used for SAR compliance testing of cell phones. Unfortunately, our observations in the past were based on SARs of only three cell phones. Expecting that the SARs for cell phones may exceed the safety limits for body contact, cell phone manufacturers have started to recommend that the devices can be used at 5-25 mm from the body even though it is difficult to see how to maintain this distance correctly under mobile conditions. The National Agency ANFR of France recently released the cell phone SAR test data for 450 cell phones that measure 10-g SARs reducing by 10%-30% for each millimeter distal placement from the planar body phantom. Their data corroborate our findings that most cell phones will exceed the safety guidelines when held against the body by factors of 1.6-3.7 times for the European/ICNIRP standard or by factors as high as 11 if 1-g SAR values were to be measured as required by the U.S. FCC.
Quantifier Scope in Russian

This paper documents certain quantifier scope ambiguities in Russian and argues that these are derived by means of a covert syntactic movement operation, Quantifier Raising (QR). By doing so, it argues against the popular “frozen scope” view of Russian (Ionin 2003) by showing that optional, non-local QR past vP level must be available in the language in exactly the contexts where it is available in English. Syntactic evidence for the parallelism comes from Inverse Linking, Antecedent Contained Deletion and other contexts that have been argued to point to the existence of QR in English. Additionally, evidence for the availability of subject Reconstruction for scope in Russian (contra Ionin 2003) strongly suggests that the mechanism deriving ambiguity in basic SVO sentences in Russian must involve subject Reconstruction plus object QR to vP, exactly as has been argued to be necessary for English in Johnson (2000; 2001). The conclusion that Russian possesses QR with the same properties known from English suggests that the availability of QR in certain languages or certain constructions should not be tied to the unavailability of Scrambling since Russian also exhibits Scrambling. This conclusion thus carries important implications for other languages still currently taken to be similarly scope frozen due to the availability of Scrambling.
Tunable coupler for superconducting Xmon qubits: Perturbative nonlinear model

We study a recently demonstrated design for a high-performance tunable coupler suitable for superconducting Xmon and planar transmon qubits [Y. Chen et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 220502 (2014)]. The coupler circuit uses a single flux-biased Josephson junction and acts as a tunable current divider. We calculate the effective qubit-qubit interaction Hamiltonian by treating the nonlinearity of the qubit and coupler junctions perturbatively. We find that the qubit nonlinearity has two principal effects: The first is to suppress the magnitude of the transverse ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{x}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{x}$ coupling from that obtained in the harmonic approximation by about 15%, assuming typical qubit parameters. The second is to induce a small diagonal ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{z}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{z}$ coupling. The effects of the coupler junction nonlinearity are negligible in the parameter regime considered. The approach used here can be applied to other complex nonlinear circuits arising in the design of superconducting hardware for quantum information processing.
Quantitative analysis of 3-isopropylamino-1,2-propanediol as a degradation product of metoprolol in pharmaceutical dosage forms by HILIC-CAD

Abstract Aryloxypropanolamine is an essential structural scaffold for a variety of β-adrenergic receptor antagonists such as metoprolol. Molecules with such a structural motif tend to degrade into α, β–hydroxypropanolamine impurities via a radical–initiated oxidation pathway. These impurities are typically polar and nonchromophoric, and are thus often overlooked using traditional reversed phase chromatography and UV detection. In this work, stress testing of metoprolol confirmed the generation of 3-isopropylamino-1,2-propanediol as a degradation product, which is a specified impurity of metoprolol in the European Pharmacopoeia (impurity N). To ensure the safety and quality of metoprolol drug products, hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) methods using Halo Penta HILIC column (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) coupled with charged aerosol detection (CAD) were developed and optimized for the separation and quantitation of metoprolol impurity N in metoprolol drug products including metoprolol tartrate injection, metoprolol tartrate tablets, and metoprolol succinate extended-release tablets. These HILIC-CAD methods were validated per USP validation guidelines with respect to specificity, linearity, accuracy, and precision, and have been successfully applied to determine impurity N in metoprolol drug products.
The Effect of Expressive Biosignals on Empathy and Closeness for a Stigmatized Group Member

We explore the potential for expressive biosignals, or displays of sensed physiological data as social cues, to influence perceptions of a member of a stigmatized group. In a between-subjects experiment (N=62) participants read a fictional interview with a drug addict in prison, and rated their empathy and closeness with the interviewee. Participants were randomly assigned to read either 1) the transcript of the interview by itself, 2) the transcript with a text description of the interviewee's heart rate, or 3) the transcript with a graph of the interviewee's heart rate. Results demonstrate that providing information about heart rate can increase empathy in terms of emotional perspective-taking. Additionally, visualizing the heart rate as a graph, as opposed to text, can increase closeness. We discuss the implications of these results and present suggestions for future directions.
National Security Lawyering in the Post-War Era: Can Law Constrain Power?

Do we face a rule of law crisis in U.S. national security law? The rule of law requires that people and institutions are subject and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced. Among other things, this requires that those bound by the law not be the judges in their own case. Does national security lawyering meet this standard? And if not, what should be done about that? This Article seeks to answer these questions. It begins by demonstrating a key source of the problem: There are almost no external constraints on national security lawyering. Congress and the courts have mostly opted out of making decisions in cases involving national security, our international partners find it difficult to discipline a hegemon, and the press and advocacy organizations are constrained by the fact that the matters on which they seek transparency are, generally speaking, classified, and thus revealing them is a crime. In short, the ordinary checks do not apply. The absence of any real oversight means that those interpreting the law are almost exclusively the lawyers for the very same actors regulated by that law—members of the U.S. executive branch. Drawing on historical research and interviews with former national security lawyers from the last four presidential administrations, this Article describes the group of lawyers most centrally involved in addressing national security law questions, now known as “the Lawyers Group.” Even at its best, the Lawyers Group process was insufficient to adequately protect the rule of law. The Trump administration, in apparently ignoring many of the legal constraints on the President’s national security authority, has laid bare problems that existed all along. In doing so, it has created an opportunity to strengthen the rule of law in national security lawyering as we move into a new presidential administration. It is up to us to seize it.
Multipole moments ofSm154,Yb176,Th232, andU238from proton inelastic scattering

We have measured the inelastic scattering of 35 MeV protons from the nuclei $^{154}\mathrm{Sm}$, $^{176}\mathrm{Yb}$, $^{232}\mathrm{Th}$, and $^{238}\mathrm{U}$. Angular distributions were extracted for ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}={0}^{+}\ensuremath{-}{8}^{+}$ members of ground state rotational bands. These data were analyzed using coupled channels calculations for scattering from a deformed optical potential. Searches were made on some of the parameters of this potential, including the deformation parameters ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{2}$ and ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{4}$. The multipole moments of the potential distribution were calculated from the parameter values and are compared to the results of Coulomb excitation, electron scattering, and inelastic, alpha-particle scattering studies. In general, these moments deduced in our investigation agree better with those from Coulomb excitation and electron scattering than with moments deduced from $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particle scattering. But we also find the moments from our study to be systematically smaller than those from Coulomb excitation.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{154}\mathrm{Sm}$($p$,${p}^{\ensuremath{'}}$), $^{176}\mathrm{Yb}$($p$,${p}^{\ensuremath{'}}$), $^{232}\mathrm{Th}$($p$,${p}^{\ensuremath{'}}$), and $^{238}\mathrm{U}$($p$, ${p}^{\ensuremath{'}}$), ${E}_{p}=35$ MeV; enriched targets, nuclear emulsion plates (7 keV FWHM) and position-sensitive proportional counter (15 keV FWHM), magnetic spectrograph; measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(E{p}^{\ensuremath{'}},\ensuremath{\theta})$; coupled channels calculations, rotational model; deduced optical model and deformation parameters, quadrupole and hexadecapole moments; comparisons to Coulomb excitation, ($e$,${e}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) and ($\ensuremath{\alpha}$,${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$), comparisons to Hartree-Fock calculations.