cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HPC1/RNASEL Mediates Apoptosis of Prostate Cancer Cells Treated with 2′,5′-Oligoadenylates, Topoisomerase I Inhibitors, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand

The hereditary prostate cancer 1 (HPC1) allele maps to the RNASEL gene encoding a protein (RNase L) implicated in the antiviral activity of interferons. To investigate the possible role of RNase L in apoptosis of prostate cancer cells, we decreased levels of RNase L by severalfold in the DU145 human prostate cancer cell line through the stable expression of a small interfering RNA (siRNA). Control cells expressed siRNA with three mismatched nucleotides to the RNase L sequence. Cells deficient in RNase L, but not the control cells, were highly resistant to apoptosis by the RNase L activator, 2′,5′-oligoadenylate (2-5A). Surprisingly, the RNase L-deficient cells were also highly resistant to apoptosis by combination treatments with a topoisomerase (Topo) I inhibitor (camptothecin, topotecan, or SN-38) and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand [TRAIL (Apo2L)]. In contrast, cells expressing siRNA to the RNase L inhibitor RLI (HP68) showed enhanced apoptosis in response to Topo I inhibitor alone or in combination with TRAIL. An inhibitor of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases reduced apoptosis induced by treatment with either 2-5A or the combination of camptothecin and TRAIL, thus implicating c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase in the apoptotic signaling pathway. Furthermore, prostate cancer cells were sensitive to apoptosis from the combination of 2-5A with either TRAIL or Topo I inhibitor, whereas normal prostate epithelial cells were partially resistant to apoptosis. These findings indicate that RNase L integrates and amplifies apoptotic signals generated during treatment of prostate cancer cells with 2-5A, Topo I inhibitors, and TRAIL.
How did the cookie crumble? identifying fragmentation procedures

By computer experimentation, we examine how different methods of randomly partitioning the interval [0,1] can be identified from the resulting fragments. We explore some descriptive statistics whose empirical densities appear to distinguish well between the various methods. These are combined into scores used in guessing the fragmentation method used. The proposed methodology appears to have wider educational and research interest.
Exercise and PGC-1α-Independent Synchronization of Type I Muscle Metabolism and Vasculature by ERRγ

How type I skeletal muscle inherently maintains high oxidative and vascular capacity in the absence of exercise is unclear. We show that nuclear receptor ERRγ is highly expressed in type I muscle and, when transgenically expressed in anaerobic type II muscles (ERRGO mice), dually induces metabolic and vascular transformation in the absence of exercise. ERRGO mice show increased expression of genes promoting fat metabolism, mitochondrial respiration, and type I fiber specification. Muscles in ERRGO mice also display an activated angiogenic program marked by myofibrillar induction and secretion of proangiogenic factors, neovascularization, and a 100% increase in running endurance. Surprisingly, the induction of type I muscle properties by ERRγ does not involve PGC-1α. Instead, ERRγ genetically activates the energy sensor AMPK in mediating the metabovascular changes in ERRGO mice. Therefore, ERRγ represents a previously unrecognized determinant that specifies intrinsic vascular and oxidative metabolic features that distinguish type I from type II muscle.
Control of abnormal electrical cavity with applied electrical fields

Electrical fields applied to the cerebellum and the hippocampus have been shown to modulate the excitability of neurons provided that the electrical field is properly oriented with the dendritic structure. The effect of electrical fields has been tested on epileptiform electrical activity in order to determine the feasibility of blocking or reducing this type of abnormal neuronal firing. The experiments were done using the hippocampal slice in-vitro preparation, since it allows direct visual control of the position of the electrodes in order to align the electrical field with the dendrites. Epileptiform electrical activity was generated by adding 3500 units/ml of penicillin to the artificial cerebrospinal fluid solution. Low-intensity electrical fields were then applied with a monopolar or a tripolar electrode using constant current pulses. It is shown that it is possible to achieve a reduction in the amplitude of the electrical activity greater than 80%. Preliminary results have confirmed that neuronal firing is decreased by the applied fields. >
Generating Sound and Resource-Aware Code from Hybrid Systems Models

Modern real-time embedded systems are complex, distributed, feature-rich applications. Model-based development of real-time embedded systems promises to simplify and accelerate the implementation process. Although there are appropriate models to design such systems and some tools that support automatic code generation from such models, several issues related to ensuring correctness of the implementation with respect to the model remain to be addressed. In this work, we investigate how to derive sampling rates for distributed real-time systems generated from a hybrid systems model such that there are no switching discrepancies and the resources spent in achieving this are a minimum. Of particular interest are the resulting mode switching semantics and we propose an approach to handle faulty transitions and compute execution rates for minimizing missed transitions.
UBVRI Light Curves of 44 Type Ia Supernovae

We present UBVRI photometry of 44 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) observed from 1997 to 2001 as part of a continuing monitoring campaign at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The data set comprises 2190 observations and is the largest homogeneously observed and reduced sample of SNe Ia to date, nearly doubling the number of well-observed, nearby SNe Ia with published multicolor CCD light curves. The large sample of U-band photometry is a unique addition, with important connections to SNe Ia observed at high redshift. The decline rate of SN Ia U-band light curves correlates well with the decline rate in other bands, as does the U - B color at maximum light. However, the U-band peak magnitudes show an increased dispersion relative to other bands even after accounting for extinction and decline rate, amounting to an additional ~40% intrinsic scatter compared to the B band.
Delusions of Technology

“…the new language of contemporary telecommunications makes possible serious global interchange only among and between selected groups of scientists, engineers, technocrats, and military strategists.”
DBC2, a candidate for a tumor suppressor gene involved in breast cancer

A previously uncharacterized gene, DBC2 (deleted in breast cancer), was cloned from a homozygously deleted region at human chromosome 8p21. DBC2 contains a highly conserved RAS domain and two putative protein interacting domains. Our analyses indicate that DBC2 is the best candidate tumor suppressor gene from this region. It lies within the epicenter of the deletions and is homozygously deleted in 3.5% (7/200) of breast tumors. Mutation analysis of DBC2 led to discovery of two instances of somatic missense mutations in breast tumor specimens, whereas no missense mutations were found in other candidates from the region. Unlike other genes in the region, expression of DBC2 is often extinguished in breast cancer cells or tissues. Moreover, our functional analysis revealed that DBC2 expression in breast cancer cells lacking DBC2 transcripts causes growth inhibition. By contrast, expression of a somatic mutant discovered in a breast cancer specimen does not suppress the growth of breast cancer cells.
Combining a rain microphysical model and observations: Implications for radar rainfall estimation

A bin-model was used to characterize the signature of dynamical microphysical processes on Z-R relationships used for radar rainfall estimation. The sensitivity analysis performed shows that coalescence is the dominant microphysical process for low to moderate rain intensity regimes (R ≪ 20mm h−1), and that rain rate in this regime is strongly dependent on the spectral properties of the DSD (i.e. the shape). For high intensity rainfall (R ≫ 20mm h−1), collision-breakup dynamics dominate the evolution of the raindrop spectra. Analysis of the time-dependent Z-R relationships produced by the model suggests convergence to a universal Z-R relationship for heavy intensity rainfall. Conversely, the model results show that Z-R relationships severely underestimate reflectivity in the light rainfall regime.
Blood Parasites of Frogs From an Equatorial African Montane Forest in Western Uganda

In a survey of blood parasites in Ugandan frogs, 30 (17%) of 180 frogs were infected with at least 1 species of Hepatozoon or Trypanosoma, or with microfilariae. There were significant differences in the prevalence of parasitism among species, with parasitemia detected in only 3 of 9 species. The intensity of blood parasite infection ranged from 1 to 1,080 infected cells per 5,000 cells examined. Seasonal changes in the prevalence and intensity of parasitemia were not observed, nor was there any association between parasitemia and infection with the pandemic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.
Evidence of Post-transcriptional Regulation of U6 Small Nuclear RNA

Mechanisms regulating the intracellular level of endogenous U6 small nuclear RNA were studied by transient transfection of ectopic U6 gene constructs into immortalized normal and malignant human cell lines. Transfection and expression of a modified U6 gene containing native promoter, capping, and termination sequences but lacking all highly conserved internal spliceosome sequences produced dose-dependent effects on endogenous U6 gene expression. At low transfection doses, no significant changes in endogenous U6 RNA levels or half-life were noted. However, as the dose of the transfected gene and its expression increased, native U6 RNA levels dramatically decreased in association with an apparent decrease in U6 RNA half-life. Down-regulation of native U6 RNA levels was transient, with recovery noted within 48-96 h in conjunction with declining expression of the ectopic gene. These modulatory effects appeared specific to endogenous U6 transcripts, because no changes were noted in 7sk, U1, U3, or 5S RNA levels or half-lives. Transfection with an unmodified U6 gene did not alter total U6 transcript levels but did produce a similar dose-dependent decrease in U6 RNA half-life. These studies suggest a hitherto unrecognized U6-specific intracellular regulatory mechanism, through which over-accumulation of U6 small nuclear RNA is prevented.
Safer Sexual Diversity Climates: Lessons Learned from an Evaluation of Massachusetts Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students

This article investigates students’ perceptions of the sexual diversity climate (SDC) in Massachusetts secondary schools, based on the implementation of the recommendations of the Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students (SSP). Data were collected from 1,646 students in a stratified random sample of 33 schools. There were statistically significant positive differences in SDC where one or more of the SSP recommendations were implemented, with differential effects by gender. This study is designed to provide information to other states, municipalities, school systems, high schools, and individual teachers on ways to establish safer sexual diversity climates in schools to benefit all students.
Definable types in O -minimal theories

?0. Introduction. Let L be a first order language. If M is an L-structure, let LM be the expansion of L obtained by adding constants for the elements of M. DEFINITION. A type p(v) E Sn (M) is definable if and only if for any L-formula 0(U, T), there is an LM-formula d60(w), so that for all a c M, 0(v, a) E p u) iff M l= d6(a). The formula dO is called the definition of 0. Definable types play a central role in stability theory and have also proven useful in the study of models of arithmetic. We also remark that it is well known and easy to see that for M -< N, the property that every M-type realized in N is definable is equivalent to N being a conservative extension of M, where DEFINITION. If M -< N, we say that N is a conservative extension of M if for any n and any LN-definable S C N , S n M, is LM-definable in M. Van den Dries [DI] studied definable types over real closed fields and proved the following result. THEOREM 0.1 (van den Dries). (i) Every type over (R, ?, , 0, 1) is definable. (ii) Let F and K be real closed fields and F c K. Then, the following are equivalent: (a) Every element of K that is bounded in absolute value by an element of F is infinitely close (in the sense of F) to an element of F. (b) K is a conservative extension of F. Our goal is to provide a characterization of definable types over r-minimal structures that generalizes van den Dries' results. In particular, we will show that every type over an M-minimal expansion -of R is definable. Van des Dries has pointed out the following interesting special case of Theorem 3.4 for the &minimal expansion of R obtained by adding finitely subanalytic functions (see [D2] for definitions): (3.4.2). Let f (x, j7) be a real analytic function on I'm x In, where I is a compact interval. For a E Itm let fa(y) f (ay), and let F {fT: a E Im}. Consider rn
Energy transfer, spectral diffusion, and fluorescence of molecular aggregates: Brownian oscillator analysis

Abstract The energy transfer rate and the time- and frequency-resolved fluorescence of molecular dimers is calculated. Spectral diffusion and the time-dependent Stokes shift are incorporated using the Brownian oscillator model for the solvent. The results generalize Forster's energy transfer theory to the case when the energy transfer and spectral diffusion rates are comparable. Generalized rate equations for the excited state populations which contain time-dependent energy transfer rate W ( t ) are derived. This rate is expressed in terms of the overlap of the time-dependent fluorescence spectrum of the donor and the absorption spectrum of the acceptor.
Residual inflammation and ulcerative colitis in remission.

Dr Moss has previously served on advisory boards for Jans-sen, Abbott, and UCB and is an investigator on research grants to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center from Pfizer, Shire, and Salix.
Well-to-Wheels Analysis of Advanced SUV Fuel Cell Vehicles

Fuel cell vehicles are currently undergoing extensive research and development because of their potential for high efficiency and low emissions. A complete well-to- wheels evaluation is helpful when considering the introduction of advanced vehicles that could use a new fuel, such as hydrogen. Several modeling tools developed by Argonne National Laboratory were used to evaluate the impact of several new vehicle configurations. A transient vehicle simulation software code, PSAT (Powertrain System Analysis Toolkit), was used with a transient fuel cell model derived from GCTool (General Computational Toolkit); and GREET (Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy use in Transportation) was employed in estimating well- to-tank performances. This paper compares the well-to- wheels impacts of several advanced SUVs, including conventional, parallel and series hybrid-electric and fuel cell vehicles.
Immunological evaluation of the entirely carbohydrate-based Thomsen-Friedenreich - PS B conjugate.

PS B, a naturally occurring CD4+ T-cell simulating zwitterionic polysaccharide from Bacteroides fragilis ATCC 25285/NCTC 9343, was conjugated with aminooxy Thomsen Friedenreich (TF or T) [α-D-Gal-(1,3)-β-D-GalNAc-ONH2] tumor antigen. Immunization in Jax C57BL/6, followed by ELISA revealed IgM and IgG antibody TF specificity. FACS data noted preferential binding to TF-laced MCF-7 cells but not to HCT-116 cells.
Economizing on Polaroid Films

Scintillation cameras are usually supplied with either single or tri-lens Polaroid cameras. The three lenses of the tri-lens camera system have neutral density filters of various density gradings to control the intensity of the transmitted light through them. This results in the production of three images with a wide range of density differential to aid in the reading of the scintigraphs. The fact that some technologists do use the single-lens system and the contention that the range of density provided by the tri-lens system is probably more than adequate prompted the development of a technique ( 1)
Analysis of Motion of a Ball on Vertical Vibrating Plate

The jumping motion of a ball, as a repulsive body (e=0.6) or non-repulsive body (e=0), on vertically vibrating plate was analyzed by the calculation using various values of amplitude (ao) and frequency of vibrating plate.The mean values of height of jumped ball (Hm), relative velocity at collision point (Um) and impact energy between ball and plate (Em), defined by Eq. (9), are closely related to the value of (aoω) as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 7 respectively. And these results were not arranged with the values of K(=aoω2/g).For obtaining the value of impact energy, the steel ball, of which diameter is 7/16 inch., was treated as an example.
Pulmonary PKG-1 is upregulated following chronic hypoxia.

Recent studies from our laboratory indicate that pulmonary vasodilatory responses to exogenous nitric oxide (NO) are attenuated following chronic hypoxia (CH) and that this NO-dependent vasodilatio...
Pea Aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) Biology on Glandular-Haired Medicago Species

The biology of Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) was studied through one generation on six wild-type, glandular-haired Medicago species and two cultivars (‘Vernal’ and ‘Team’) of M. sativa L. Pea aphids were confined to the apical 10 cm of stem terminals during testing. In comparing growth and development of the pea aphid on glandular-haired species with ‘Vernal,’ significant differences were noted: the pea aphid on glandular-haired species survived fewer degree-days Celsius, produced fewer young at a lower rate of reproduction, and had a lower rate of nymphal development. Also, pea aphid 2nd and 3rd instars preferred the basal one-third of the 10-cm stem terminals on glandular-haired species and the apical one-third of the 10-cm stem terminals on ‘Vernal’ and ‘Team.’
Quasi-Symmetric Wheatstone Bridge Zinc Oxide Nanorod UV Detectors

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod-based ultraviolet (UV) detectors have high responsivity at room temperature due to carrier generation assisted by the depletion region formed by oxygen adsorbed on the surface of nanorods. As such, the amount of oxygen adsorbed on the ZnO nanorod surface and the number of electron-hole pairs that reaches the depletion region on the surface can change the response of the detector. In this paper, the transient responses of metal-semiconductor-metal ZnO nanorod-based UV detectors based on a quasi-symmetric Wheatstone bridge configuration were investigated. Responsivity, defined as the ratio of the Wheatstone bridge detector output current to the total power of the UV light incident on the active area of the detector, as high as 54 A/W was obtained in some of these UV detectors at 30 °C. It was found that the responsivity and the temperature effects on the UV response of the Wheatstone bridge ZnO nanorod UV detectors can be tailored by the difference in the diameters and lengths of the rods grown in the two quadrants.
Analysis on Prevalence of Fatty Liver and Its Relevant Factors Among Retired Enterprise-employees in Sanmenxia,Henan Province

Objective To investigate the prevalence of fatty liver and its related factors among retired enterprise-employees in Sanmenxia,Henan Province.Methods With the overall survey method,physical examination and experimental detection were performed in the retired of 32 enterprises in Sanmenxia,Henan City.Results A total of 7,459 employees participated in the study,and the prevalence rate of fatty liver was 34.31%.The prevalence rate of female(37.12%) was significantly higher than that of male(28.93%),(P0.05).The prevalence rates of fatty liver in employees with overweight,obesity and diabetes mellitus were all significantly higher than that of normal controls(P0.05).With the degree of fatty liver aggravation,the levels of blood sugar,serum alanine aminotransferase,triglyceride,and total cholesterol in employees with light,medium,and heavy fatty liver were gradually increased,and the difference was statistically significant(P0.05).Conclusions The prevalence rate of fatty liver of retired enterprise-employees in Sanmenxia is higher.Female,overweight,obesity,and diabetes employees are more likely to have fatty liver.Tertiary prevention should be carried out among the susceptible.
In-office ultrasonography to image the kidneys and bladder of children

AbstractWe present the first experience with in-office ultrasonography to further the office evaluation of children with urological problems. Since February 1986 we imaged prospectively the kidneys and bladders of 172 children (100 boys and 72 girls, mean age 6 years) who presented for office evaluation using a portable 5MHz. real-time linear array scanner. Initially, we gained familiarity with in-office ultrasonography by examining 38 children who presented for evaluation of problems not recognized to be associated with renal malformations (that is undescended testis). In-office ultrasonography showed hydronephrosis in 1 boy with a buried penis that was found later to be owing to ureteropelvic junction obstruction requiring pyeloplasty. Then, in-office ultrasonography was used to supplement the office evaluation of children with a history of urine infection, voiding problems or known malformations of the kidney and/or bladder. The test showed that 12 of 24 children (50 per cent) with a history of urine i...
The Ethics of Single-Blind Trials in Biomedicine

Novel drugs are typically evaluated in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials before they are introduced into clinical practice. The use of placebo- or sham-controlled trials for evaluating invasive medical intervention is much less common, owing in part to ethical concerns. In this chapter, I discuss the ethics of single-blind, sham-controlled studies of invasive procedures in which the patient-subjects, but not the investigators administering the procedures, are blinded to whether they receive the treatment intervention under evaluation in the trial. I will focus on two distinct ethical issues: (1) whether it can be justified to expose subjects to the risks of sham invasive procedures for the purpose of generating clinically relevant scientific knowledge and (2) whether the active deception involved in blinding patient-subjects is compatible with informed consent. These issues are introduced via a historical case study of the landmark, sham-controlled trials of internal mammary artery ligation.
On Krebesʼs tangle

Abstract A genus-1 tangle G is an arc properly embedded in a standardly embedded solid torus S in the 3-sphere. We say that a genus-1 tangle embeds in a knot K ⊆ S 3 if the tangle can be completed by adding an arc exterior to the solid torus to form the knot K . We call K a closure of G . An obstruction to embedding a genus-1 tangle G in a knot is given by torsion in the homology of branched covers of S branched over G . We examine a particular example A of a genus-1 tangle, given by Krebes, and consider its two double-branched covers. Using this homological obstruction, we show that any closure of A obtained via an arc which passes through the hole of S an odd number of times must have determinant divisible by three. A resulting corollary is that if A embeds in the unknot, then the arc which completes A to the unknot must pass through the hole of S an even number of times.
Evaluation of Microphone Density for Finite Element Source Inversion Simulation of a Laboratory Acoustic Test

Simulation of the response of a system to an acoustic environment is desirable in the assessment of aerospace structures in flight-like environments. In simulating a laboratory acoustic test a large challenge is modeling the as-tested acoustic field. Acoustic source inversion capabilities in Sandia’s Sierra/SD structural dynamics code have allowed for the determination of an acoustic field based on measured microphone responses—given measured pressures, source inversion optimization algorithms determine the input parameters of a set of acoustic sources defined in an acoustic finite element model. Inherently, the resulting acoustic field is dependent on the target microphone data. If there are insufficient target points, then the as-tested field may not be recreated properly. Here, the question of number of microphones is studied using synthetic data, that is, target data taken from a previous simulation which allows for comparison of the full pressure field—an important benefit not available with test data. By exploring a range of target points distributed throughout the domain, a rate of convergence to the true field can be observed. Results will be compared with the goal of developing guidelines for the number of sensors required to aid in the design of future laboratory acoustic tests to be used for model assessment.
Bone Tissue Engineering Incorporating Poly(Propylene Fumarate) Composites: A Mini Review

Tissue engineering is intended to manipulate living cells to help develop substitutes for native tissues or remodel tissue. Bioartificial tissues are commonly explored in various tissue engineering ventures to overcome the disadvantages of working with native tissue. Poly(propylene fumarate) is a potential biomaterial for bioartificial bone grafts. The polymer’s many desirable physical and chemical properties have drawn significant research interest. This miniature review is intended to cover a small portion of the investigations of poly(propylene fumarate) as a bone tissue engineering biomaterial.
Dislocation Transport of Hydrogen in Steel

It has been proposed that the transport of hydrogen by dislocations is an important factor in the embrittlement of alloys. For example, it has been shown that plastic deformation increases the absorption of hydrogen from the environment due to the motion of dislocations during plastic deformation.1 In addition, there are experiments which show increased solubility and decreased diffusivity of hydrogen for samples that have been cold worked prior to permeation experiments.2,3 These results indicate that there is an interaction between hydrogen and dislocations and therefore should be considered when evaluating the mechanism of hydrogen embrittlement. Considerable controversy has arisen with respect to the exact role which dislocation transport plays in the embrittlement process. Some workers have suggested that the dislocations transport hydrogen to fracture initiation sites such as inclusions, microvoids or grain boundaries where eventually sufficient pressures develop to promote embrittlement.4 Others have proposed that transport is a necessary but not sufficient condition for embrittlement in which kinetic factors limit the hydrogen supersaturation and pressures at discontinuities.5
Traumatic Brain Injury: Where Do We Stand with Ketamine and Hyperventilation?

A 29-year-old man on his bicycle is hit by a taxi cab despite being in a New York City designated bike lane. The rider does not have a helmet on and sustains a left tibia/fibula open fracture and a large bleeding scalp laceration. The first responders place a neck collar on, start an intravenous line, and call the trauma emergency department (ED) at Bellevue Hospital to report their assessment at the site of the accident. Above all, he is unconscious, with bilateral breath sounds, strong pulses, and no apparent abdominal or chest trauma. With a Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 8, the anesthesiologist is called to intubate the patient to both protect his airway and initiate neuroresuscitation. Total body computed tomography (CT) scan is consistent with the orthopedic trauma discovered on examination and a traumatic brain injury with a parietal subarachnoid hemorrhage and midline shift. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) looks at traumatic brain injury within 48 h and describes the severity.
The Application of SPOOL-FIRE in Theoretical Analysis and Experimental Comparison

A number of sodium fire experiments have been analyzed using the SPOOL-FIRE code, which is available from the Argonne Code Center. Good agreement is observed between theoretical calculation and exp...
How Low Is Too Low? Postpartum Hemorrhage Risk among Women with Thrombocytopenia.

Objective To estimate the association between severity of thrombocytopenia and postpartum hemorrhage. Study Design We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort of women delivering by cesarean or vaginal birth after cesarean conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Maternal–Fetal Medicine Unit. Women delivering ≥ 20 weeks with platelets Results A total of 54,597 women were included; 5,611 (10.3%) had antepartum thrombocytopenia, 1,976 (3.6%) women had laboratory evidence of hemorrhage, and 3,862 (7.1%) had clinical evidence of hemorrhage. Thrombocytopenia was associated with both laboratory evidence of hemorrhage (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.38–1.86) and clinical evidence of hemorrhage (aOR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.52–1.83). The odds of laboratory and clinical evidence of hemorrhage increased incrementally with severity of thrombocytopenia. Conclusion Thrombocytopenia is associated with both laboratory and clinical evidence of hemorrhage; risk increases dramatically as platelet count decreases.
Effective delivery of social and behavior change communication through a Care Group model in a supplementary feeding program

In 2014, an intervention aimed at increasing the oil in corn soy blend (CSB) porridge prepared by caregivers of children with moderate acute malnutrition was implemented in Southern Malawi. This analysis describes the flow of key messages delivered through the Care Group model during this intervention. The intervention provided a supplementary food ration of CSB and oil and used a Care Group model in which healthcare workers were trained to deliver social and behavior change communication (SBCC) to care group volunteers who then delivered messages to caregivers of beneficiary children. Healthcare workers also delivered messages to caregivers directly. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with all three groups in order to determine the exchange of key messages about ingredient use, storage, and purpose, which were analyzed descriptively. Analysis of SBCC flow and information exchange showed that 100% of caregivers reported learning about the amounts of oil and CSB to use while preparing porridge and over 90% of caregivers, healthcare workers, and care group volunteers reported talking about it. Focus groups confirmed an effective flow of communication among these three groups. This analysis evaluated the flow of key SBCC messages through multiple, overlapping lines of communication among healthcare workers, care group volunteers, and caregivers; the effective transmission of these SBCC messages through this model may contribute to the success of a supplementary feeding intervention program. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT01873196 ).
Towards low-cost sensors for real-time monitoring of contaminant ions in water sources

In this work, a systematic study of the dielectric properties of environmentally-relevant electrolyte liquids is presented. Excessive amount of unwanted chemicals and ions in water sources can often cause environmental and health concerns. The lack of affordable and real-time sensors for these contaminants limits effective conservation and management strategies. To tackle these problems, we propose a method to exploit indicators extracted from dielectric spectra up to 20 GHz and thereby establish a basis for developing a low-cost sensing system. Results for nitrate, sulfate, and chloride ions show that the method can be judiciously used to uniquely estimate the concentration and type of ions.
Robotic Liver Resection for Malignancies

The benefits of minimally invasive surgery for quicker patient recovery with reduced complications are increasingly recognized, and laparoscopic abdominal surgery is now an integrated part of surgical training. Laparoscopic approaches to liver surgery have been widely adopted and are increasingly reported in the literature. Multiple studies have demonstrated the equivalency, and sometimes superiority, of perioperative parameters and short-term postoperative outcomes after laparoscopic liver surgery when compared to open liver resections, even for major hepatectomy [1–3]. A number of studies have largely allayed fears that oncologic outcomes would be compromised with a laparoscopic approach to liver surgery. Both meta-analyses and case-controlled series have shown similar rates of margin positivity, recurrence and survival when comparing laparoscopic and open liver resections for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [4–6]. Likewise, laparoscopy has shown no disadvantages in regards to oncologic outcomes when used for colorectal carcinoma (CRC) liver metastases [2, 7–11]. In 2008 an international consensus conference on laparoscopic liver surgery composed the Louisville Statement, which was issued in 2009 [12]. They deduced that: (1) currently acceptable indications for laparoscopic liver surgery include solitary lesions of 5 cm or less that are located in segments 2–6, (2) laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy should be considered standard of care, (3) major laparoscopic liver resections should be performed only by experienced surgeons, (4) conversion to open procedure should be readily considered for patient safety, long operative times and difficult resections, (5) a hand-assisted or hybrid approach may be beneficial. Importantly, however, a significant learning curve for laparoscopic liver surgery has been demonstrated, with a 45–75 cases needed for competency [13–17]. Though the feasibility, safety and oncologic efficacy of a laparoscopic approach to liver surgery are well established, the liver still presents significant technical challenges for larger anatomic resections, owing to the need for mobilization, limited space to maneuver and the complex and variant vascular and biliary anatomy.
Between invaders and a risky place: exotic grasses alter demographic tradeoffs of native forb germination timing.

Priority effects are hypothesized to play an important role in community assembly and may promote suppression of native by exotic species. Work in a range of grassland systems has proved valuable for testing these effects, demonstrating that earlier germination by some exotic annual grasses contributes to their competitive dominance over natives. Yet few studies have measured native forb germination phenology under field conditions, and the demographic consequences of emergence timing for competitive interactions and native fitness are not well understood. We focused on three native annual species in a southern California grassland dominated by exotic Bromus spp. over three years, measuring (1) seedling emergence rates, for both early (October) and later (November and December) germinators; (2) effects of exotic grasses on native survival and reproduction, through a grass removal experiment; and (3) interactions between emergence timing and grass competitive effects on native mortality, survival, and flowering. We quantified tradeoffs of emergence timing, by estimating mortality experienced by early germinants until the late cohort emerged (early survival), and then for both cohorts from the time of late emergence to flowering (spring survival). The two most common focal natives, Amsinckia intermedia and Phacelia distans, varied substantially in germination phenology but primarily emerged early. The less abundant Clarkia purpurea germinated late. Late emergence reduced spring survival in control plots but not those where exotic grasses were reduced experimentally, supporting the importance of priority effects and benefits of early germination in competition with grasses. However, early emergence entailed a high cost of initial mortality risk in some years. We found no effect of emergence timing on size at flowering. Estimates of net survivorship to flowering suggest that late emergence consistently was associated with the highest survival when exotic grasses were reduced experimentally. Early emergence was more favored in control than in exotic grass reduction plots, but the survival tradeoffs differed substantially between years. These results suggest that priority effects contribute to suppression of native forbs, but may not consistently promote higher fitness for earlier germinators. Instead, exotic invasion may increase yearly variation in the fitness consequences of native germination phenology, with potential implications for bet hedging strategies.
Impact of time to testosterone rebound and comorbidity on the risk of cause-specific mortality in men with unfavorable-risk prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND Herein, the authors evaluated how the time to testosterone rebound (TTR) after radiotherapy (RT) and 6 months of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) impacted the risk of prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) and cardiovascular-specific mortality (CVM) among men with varying comorbidity extent. METHODS Between 1995 and 2001, a total of 206 men who were randomized to receive RT either alone or with 6 months of ADT for unfavorable-risk PC and who had a comorbidity score assigned using the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation 27 metric comprised the study cohort. Multivariable competing risk regression was used to evaluate the impact of and possible interaction between comorbidity and TTR on PCSM and CVM. RESULTS After a median follow-up of 18.19 years, 30 men (18.6%), 39 men (24.2%), and 92 men (57.1%), respectively, had died of PC, CV disease, or other causes. As TTR increased, PCSM significantly decreased in men with no or minimal (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.53, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.34-0.84 [P =.007]) and moderate to severe (AHR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.14-0.99 [P = .048]) comorbidity. However, increasing TTR significantly increased the risk of CVM among men with moderate to severe comorbidity (AHR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.40-2.49 [P <.001]), but not those with no or minimal comorbidity (AHR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.57-1.29 [P =.46]), leading to a significant interaction between TTR and comorbidity (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study indicate that considering an intermittent course of ADT such that the TTR approaches 18 months, instead of continuous long-term administration of ADT, in men with moderate to severe comorbidity and high-risk PC may reduce the increased risk of CVM without increasing the risk of PCSM. Cancer 2018;124:1391-9. © 2018 American Cancer Society.
Pharyngeal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease

This article discusses the extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease, focusing primarily on the gamut of pharyngeal abnormalities that can be detected on barium swallows. Abnormalities of pharyngeal swallowing caused by gastroesophageal reflux are illustrated. We particularly emphasize how pharyngoesophageal relationships can guide the radiologist for performing tailored barium swallows to optimally evaluate pharyngeal abnormalities in patients with underlying gastroesophageal reflux disease.
On the Need for A General Quantitative Theory of Pattern Similarity

Abstract The concept of similarity evokes different meanings for different people. However similarity is conceived, it certainly plays an important role in the modeling of pattern perception. The contrasting approaches toward psychological similarity taken by the measurement theorists, the psychometricians of multidimensional scaling, and the process model oriented cognitive psychologists should be reconciled if a full account of the role of similarity in perception is to be adequately developed. This essay attempts to initiate a preliminary synthesis of these approaches while introducing some important philosophical questions concerning the application of multidimensional scaling ( MDS ) models of similarity. These questions arise from a deeper analytical investigation of the foundations of modeling perception. Along the way, the reader is introduced to mathematical concepts from topology and geometry that underlie the use of MDS . It is hoped that the discussion will provide some tutorial benefits as well as open the door to a more unified treatment of similarity and its role in psychological representation.
Monistic Theories of Society

Given their importance in the history of ideas, monistic theories of society have received little serious attention in the literature. By a monistic theory, I mean one which holds that in a given area, one factor (or variable, as I shall usually call it) determines everything that happens; or, less strictly, that the one variable is the most important or crucial one in determining what happens in the given domain. There are social theories which hold, for example, that ideas are the only or crucially determining factor in history and theories which hold that certain ones among our ideas — religious or philosophical or scientific — constitute that factor. Other theories have maintained that a certain biological factor such as race or size is the major factor in the social process. And yet other, more modern, theories have insisted that certain technological features such as the forces of production or the media of communication is the single exclusive or dominant determinant of human affairs. Each of these is what I shall call a monistic theory of society. I shall undertake a logical analysis of this notion of a monistic theory of society even though, or so I believe, its crucial features have nothing to do with the fact that the theory is a theory of society. All that is required for most of what I want to say is that the theory be a scientific theory or the prolegomenon to a scientific theory.
Systemic Inflammation, Intestine, and Paraoxonase-1

Serum paraoxonase 1 (PON1) has been shown to act as an important guardian against cellular damage from oxidized lipids in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), plasma membrane, against toxic agents such as pesticide residues including organophosphates and against bacterial endotoxin. PON1 associated with circulating high-density lipoprotein (HDL) has the ability to prevent the generation of pro inflammatory oxidized phospholipids by reactive oxygen species. The activities of the HDL-associated PON1 and several other anti-inflammatory factors in HDL are in turn negatively regulated by these oxidized lipids. In rabbits, mice, and humans there appears to be an increase in the formation of these oxidized lipids during the acute phase response. This results in the association of acute phase proteins with HDL and inhibition of the HDL-associated PON1 that renders HDL pro inflammatory.
Professors, pack your bags!

How often do you feel deprived when you see your colleagues from a foreign language department, history department, or some other department plan a professional experience overseas and you think "What reason could I ever have to travel in the computing field -> we can do everything virtually?" During this panel, the panelists who have had a variety of experiences going overseas (by themselves and with students) will talk about their experiences and what they learned. Each of the panelists has spent a year teaching and/or researching overseas while on a sabbatical. In addition, some of the panelists have taken students on technology service trips to different countries. Areas visited include Asia, Africa, Europe, and Central America. Audience members will hear about lessons learned and will be inspired about all the different opportunities for working overseas.
Evaluation of a noninvasive method for monitoring percutaneous absorption of lidocaine in vivo.

The pharmacodynamic measurement of in vivo skin penetration of lidocaine was explored with an instrument used in dentistry to determine tooth pulp vitality. The instrument delivers a low-current, pulsatile electrical waveform of increasing intensity with time. The readings, which are reproducible, are in arbitrary units on a scale of 0–80. Testing of naive sites showed variation as a function of location, even over relatively small distances. The response at a marked site over a 12-hr period generally was consistent in five subjects. Following intradermal administration of 1 or 2% lidocaine hydrochloride injection in one subject, the instrument reached its maximum value within 2 min. This was followed by a sustained plateau and then a gradual falloff of the effect. Topical formulations containing 5% lidocaine base and corresponding blank formulations were applied under occlusion within Hilltop chambers to intact skin on the forearms of human volunteers for 3 hr. While the response to a 40% propylene glycol formulation was not significantly different from the corresponding control, a cream exhibited slow development of profound anesthesia that lasted for several hours following chamber removal.
Where the Weird Things Are: A Collection of Species Range Extensions in the Southern California Bight

A large-scale monitoring program associated with the establishment of a marine protected area network in southern California provided an opportunity to observe and document unique or rare species across the region. Scientists and students from several educational and research institutions surveyed 145 subtidal reefs, 39 intertidal reefs, and five sandy beaches from 2011–2017, a period of time where oceanographic and climatic conditions changed serially and dramatically. In conjunction with an increase in monitoring frequency and locations, dramatic shifts in oceanographic climate during this same time period likely caused shifts in tolerable habitat conditions for many nearshore species. Here we describe range extensions, both to the north and south, of 14 marine fish, invertebrate, and algae species as observed during the 2011–2012 South Coast MPA Baseline Program and subsequent monitoring efforts.
A lesson in clinical reasoning for the pharmacy preceptor.

Purpose In this article, the pharmacy preceptor is introduced to the core components of the clinical reasoning process. Teaching strategies based on script theory and experiential educational theory are described to aid the pharmacy preceptor in facilitating the development of clinical reasoning in novice practitioners. Summary The development of clinical reasoning skills is essential for all healthcare providers. Clinical reasoning involves the integration of analytic and nonanalytic reasoning while minimizing the occurrence of cognitive error or bias. Such skills are needed to make diagnoses, formulate treatment plans, and solve clinical problems relating to all facets of healthcare. Teaching strategies by which to facilitate the development of clinical reasoning in physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers have been described. To date, the topic of clinical reasoning has not been adequately addressed in the pharmacy education or practice literature. Conclusion Clinical reasoning is fundamental to clinical pharmacy practice. Instruction and modeling of this process by preceptors facilitate the development of advanced practitioners.
A View from the Other Side of the Table: Taking Clinical Microbiology Experience to Industry

Abstract Clinical microbiology is a dynamic field that offers many licensed professionals rewarding careers that have a direct impact on patient care. Alternative careers include numerous opportunities for bachelors, masters, and doctoral level scientists in the biotechnology industry, which also impacts human health. Understanding if you are interested in an industry position or where you can apply your skill set outside the routine laboratory is important for deciding a future career path. This article explores the diagnostic life cycle of a commercial product and its stakeholders, as well as providing insight into some of the roles a career in industry can offer those looking to take their clinical microbiology experience outside the clinical laboratory.