cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Signaling mechanisms that link salt retention to hypertension: Endogenous ouabain, the Na+ pump, the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and TRPC proteins

Salt retention as a result of chronic, excessive dietary salt intake, is widely accepted as one of the most common causes of hypertension. In a small minority of cases, enhanced Na(+) reabsorption by the kidney can be traced to specific genetic defects of salt transport, or pathological conditions of the kidney, adrenal cortex, or pituitary. Far more frequently, however, salt retention may be the result of minor renal injury or small genetic variation in renal salt transport mechanisms. How salt retention actually leads to the increase in peripheral vascular resistance (the hallmark of hypertension) and the elevation of blood pressure remains an enigma. Here we review the evidence that endogenous ouabain (an adrenocortical hormone), arterial smooth muscle α2 Na(+) pumps, type-1 Na/Ca exchangers, and receptor- and store-operated Ca(2+) channels play key roles in the pathway that links salt to hypertension. We discuss cardenolide structure-function relationships in an effort to understand why prolonged administration of ouabain, but not digoxin, induces hypertension, and why digoxin is actually anti-hypertensive. Finally, we summarize recent observations which indicate that ouabain upregulates arterial myocyte Ca(2+) signaling mechanisms that promote vasoconstriction, while simultaneously downregulating endothelial vasodilator mechanisms. In sum, the reports reviewed here provide novel insight into the molecular mechanisms by which salt retention leads to hypertension.
Plasma production of metallic nanoparticles

Metallic iron and iron oxide particles were produced by injecting ferrocene into the afterglow region of a low pressure, low power, plasma generated using a microwave power source. This was done as part of an effort to explore the feasibility of using flow type microwave plasmas for the production of metal nanoparticles. It was found that two parameters had the largest impact on the particles: injection point and plasma composition. Analysis done using Mossbauer effect spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction indicated that low yields of small particles (ca. 10 nm) resulted from injection into the afterglow region. Much higher yields of large particles (ca. 50 nm) formed if the ferrocene was injected through the coupler. In hydrogen plasmas the particles that were produced were metallic iron, whereas in oxygen and argon plasmas the particles were iron oxide. In all cases significant amounts of graphitic carbon formed around the metal particles.
SPONTANEOUS DECREASE OF THE SURFACE TENSION OF SERUM. I

1. Over 3,000 measurements of surface tension of sera have been made with the ring method, and they have yielded a new phenomenon, the spontaneous and rapid decrease of the surface tension of a serum in function of the time. 2. Generally, after 10 minutes the surface tension reaches a value which is practically constant. At least, the decrease is very much slower. After stirring, a rise occurs and a similar phenomenon takes place; but stability is not obtained as rapidly, requiring about 25 minutes. By stirring again, the same thing happens repeatedly, the slope of the curve being less marked each time, the rise in surface tension being slightly below each previous value, and the phenomenon undergoing a sort of damping. 3. An equation was established which expresses the experimental facts with an accuracy of about 0.2 per cent. It applies to the whole phenomenon, before and after stirring. It has only one characteristic constant, See PDF for Equation This formula, by simply changing t to c (concentration), expresses satisfactorily in general the phenomenon of adsorption in the surface layer; that is, the decrease in surface tension in function of the concentration. 4. Prolonged heat, at 55°C., and time seem to inhibit this phenomenon. 5. When precipitation occurs in a serum, the bottom of the liquid, which contains the precipitate, has the highest surface tension. When stirred, the surface tension rises a little every time. The upper part, clear, with lower surface tension, shows the reverse phenomenon; after every stirring, the surface tension becomes a little lower.
Combination with vorinostat overcomes ABT-263 (navitoclax) resistance of small cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive tumor type with high mortality. One promising approach for SCLC treatment would be to utilize agents targeting molecular abnormalities regulating resistance to apoptosis. BH3 mimetic antagonists, such as ABT-737 and its orally available derivative ABT-263 (navitoclax) have been developed to block the function of pro-survival BCL-2 family members. The sensitivity of SCLC to these drugs varies over a broad range in vitro and in clinical trials. We have previously shown that the expression of Noxa, a BH3-only pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family protein, is a critical determinant of sensitivity to ABT-737. Thus, pharmacological up-regulation of Noxa could enhance cell death induced by the BH3 mimetics. We find that the combination of ABT-263 and a HDAC inhibitor, vorinostat, efficiently induces apoptosis in a variety of SCLC cell lines, including ABT-263 resistant cell lines. Cell death induced by combined treatment is Noxa- and/or BIM-dependent in some cell lines but in others appears to be mediated by down-regulation of BCL-XL and release of BAK from BCL-XL and MCL-1. These results suggest that combination of HDAC inhibitors and BCL-2 inhibitors could be an alternative and effective regimen for SCLC treatment.
Erythrocyte L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine hydrolase activity and plasma phenylalanine and aspartate concentrations in children consuming diets high in aspartame

A deficit of alpha-aspartyl-phenylalanine (alpha-Asp-Phe) hydrolase activity has been suggested as a cause of possible adverse effects of aspartame ingestion. Twenty-five normal preschool children and 23 school-age children described by their parents as sensitive to sugar were fed diets high in sucrose, aspartame, or saccharin for three successive 3-wk periods. Blood samples were obtained at baseline (fasting) and within the last 3 d of each dietary period (postprandial). alpha-Asp-Phe concentrations were below detection limits (0.5 mumol/L) in all plasma samples and Phe and Asp concentrations remained within normal limits, alpha-Asp-Phe hydrolase activities in baseline hemolysate samples did not differ between groups. One subject had a plasma alpha-Asp-Phe hydrolase activity > 2 SD below the mean. Despite this low activity, this subject did not show consistent cognitive or behavioral anomalies that could be linked to low hydrolase activity.
FIRE HISTORY OF A PONDEROSA PINE/DOUGLAS FIR FOREST IN THE COLORADO FRONT RANGE

Changes in fire regime over time were quantified for a 600 ha area of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum)/Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests in Fourmile Canyon, Boulder County, Colorado. Fire dates were determined using four methods: fire scar wedges, increment core samples of fire scars, post-fire cohort age, and growth rates of remnant trees. Fire scar wedges were more reliable than increment cores, although increment cores did yield fire dates within 1–3 years of the true fire date. Age structure, in some stands initiated by fire, yielded approximate (within 5–10 years) fire dates. Of twelve remnant trees measured to quantify changes in growth patterns following fires, eight were released 2–12 years after the fire, while the remaining four showed no release. A mean fire interval of 15.2 years characterized the entire study area. Mean fire intervals were 31.8 years for the pre-settlement era (pre-1859), 8.1 years for the settlement era (1859–1920), and 28.0 years for the suppressio...
EVOLUTION OF BASAL METABOLIC RATE AND ORGAN MASSES IN LABORATORY MICE.

Animal species of similar body mass vary widely in basal metabolic rate (BMR). A central problem of evolutionary physiology concerns the anatomical/physiological origin and functional significance of that variation. It has been hypothesized that such interspecific differences in wild animals evolved adaptively from differences in relative sizes of metabolically active organs. In order to minimize confounding phenotypic effects and maximize relevant genetic variation, we tested for intraspecific correlations between body-mass-corrected BMR and masses of four organs (heart, kidney, liver, and small intestine) among six inbred strains of mice. We found significant differences between strains in BMR and in masses of all four organs. Strains with exceptionally high (or low) BMR tended to have disproportionately large (or small) organs. The mass of each organ was correlated with the masses of each of the other three organs. Variation in organ masses accounted for 52% of the observed variation in BMR, of which 42% represented between-strain variation, and 10% represented within-strain variation. This conclusion is supported by published measurements of metabolic rates of tissue slices from the four organs. The correlation between BMR and intestine or heart mass arose exclusively from differences between strains, while the correlation between BMR and liver or kidney mass also appeared in comparing individual mice within the same strain. Thus, even though the masses of the four examined organs account for no more than 17% of total body mass, their high metabolic activities or correlated factors account for much of the variation in BMR among mice. We suggest that large masses of metabolically active organs are subject to natural selection through evolutionary trade-offs. On the one hand, they make possible high-energy budgets (advantageous under some conditions), but on the other hand they are energetically expensive to maintain.
Regulatory Aspects of Food Packaging—A Global Matter

Globalization and industrialization have led to the consumption of packaged foods around the world. Today, food and packaging are synonymous because of distribution to an ever-growing global population. A variety of plastics in single-layer and multilayer forms are used in the construction of packaging of perishable and nonperishable foods. Applications of plastics in contact with food, in the developed regions, are regulated through a body of laws that are constantly updated. The Food and Drug Administration issued the first guidance in the United States in 1949.
Role of imaging in temporal bone and cerebellopontine-angle lesions. A surgeon's perspective.

In recent years, with the advances in imaging technology, the gold standard for diagnosis of lesions of the temporal bone and cerebellopontine angle has shifted from histologic identification of the lesion from surgical specimens or autopsy material to noninvasive identification, localization, and characterization of the tissue by imaging. The symptoms caused by such lesions usually provide clues as to their location and probable nature. Clinical tests, such as the vestibular evaluation, audiometry, auditory brainstem response, and otoacoustic emissions further help with topodiagnosis of the lesion. This article provides illustrative examples of eclectic algorithms that can be applied for each clinical situation. No doubt the algorithms will change with advances in diagnostic tests; however, application of imaging studies without adequate clinical investigations often makes the task of interpreting the scans difficult for the neuroradiologist. Furthermore, the positive diagnostic yield from a widespread use of imaging technology is small.
Expression kinetics of hepatic progenitor markers in cellular models of human liver development recapitulating hepatocyte and biliary cell fate commitment

Due to the limitations of research using human embryos and the lack of a biological model of human liver development, the roles of the various markers associated with liver stem or progenitor cell potential in humans are largely speculative, and based on studies utilizing animal models and certain patient tissues. Human pluripotent stem cell-based in vitro multistage hepatic differentiation systems may serve as good surrogate models for mimicking normal human liver development, pathogenesis and injury/regeneration studies. Here, we describe the implications of various liver stem or progenitor cell markers and their bipotency (i.e. hepatocytic- and biliary-epithelial cell differentiation), based on the pluripotent stem cell-derived model of human liver development. Future studies using the human cellular model(s) of liver and biliary development will provide more human relevant biological and/or pathological roles of distinct markers expressed in heterogeneous liver stem/progenitor cell populations.
Abstract # 1862 Indoleamine-2,3-dioxgenase 1 (Ido1) protects against viral encephalitis

Viral encephalitis (VE) is a life-threatening condition that can be triggered by infection with a multitude of different viruses including members of Picornaviridae. There are few treatment options for VE and the mechanisms that influence prognosis are poorly defined. Inhibition of Ido1 aids in viral clearance during experimental West Nile Virus encephalitis. To determine the role of Ido1 during picornavirus-induced encephalitis we inoculated wild-type (WT) and Ido1-/- mice with either vehicle or Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus. Anxiety-like behavior was measured using an elevated zero maze at day 6 post-infection (p.i.). Burrowing activity was measured at days 4 and 6 p.i. Hippocampal gene expression was determined by RT-qPCR. Infected Ido1-/- mice showed a tendency toward a higher incidence of seizures (50% vs. 69.6%; p = 0.06). The occurrence of seizures was associated with greater time spent in the open areas of the maze, suggesting reduced anxiety. Infected Ido1-/- mice entered the light zone more often than WT mice. However, infection reduced burrowing activity and infected Ido1-/- mice burrowed less than WT mice. Infection increased Ido1, Ifng and viral RNA expression. The elevation in Ifng and viral RNA expression was greater in Ido1-/- compared to WT mice at day 8 p.i. These data indicate that Ido1 impedes viral replication, decreases neuroinflammation, and modulates encephalitis-induced behavioral alterations. Thus, the absence of Ido1 during picornavirus-induced encephalitis may be detrimental.
eHealth Literacy, Online Help-Seeking Behavior, and Willingness to Participate in mHealth Chronic Disease Research Among African Americans, Florida, 2014–2015

INTRODUCTION The high rate of ownership of smartphones among African Americans provides researchers with opportunities to use digital technologies to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases in this population. This study aimed to assess the association between eHealth literacy (EHL) and access to technology, health information-seeking behavior, and willingness to participate in mHealth (mobile health) research among African Americans. METHODS A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 881 African American adults from April 2014 to January 2015 in north central Florida. EHL was assessed by using the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) with higher scores (range, 8-40) indicating greater perceived skills at using online health information to help solve health problems. RESULTS Overall eHEALS scores ranged from 8 to 40, with a mean of 30.4 (standard deviation, 7.8). The highest score was for the item "I know how to find helpful health resources on the Internet," and the lowest score was for "I can tell high quality from low quality health resources on the Internet." Most respondents owned smartphones (71%) and searched online for health information (60%). Most were also willing to participate in health research that used text messages (67%), smartwatches/health tracking devices (62%), and health apps (57%). We found significantly higher eHEALS scores among women, smartphone owners, those who use the Internet to seek health information, and those willing to participate in mHealth research (P < .01 for all). CONCLUSION Most participants owned smartphones, used the Internet as a source of information, and were willing to participate in mHealth research. Opportunities exist for improving EHL and conducting mHealth research among African Americans to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases.
Sociological theory and US foreign policy in the 21st century

In recent decades, several sociologists have moved beyond grand theories of international relations, and empirically examined the motivations of US foreign policy leading into the 21st century. Thi...
Hellmut Haug, Erkenntnisekel. Zum frühen Werk Thomas Manns

(1970). Hellmut Haug, Erkenntnisekel. Zum fruhen Werk Thomas Manns. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 45, No. 2, pp. 134-137.
Are All Program Elements Created Equal? Relations Between Specific Social and Emotional Learning Components and Teacher-Student Classroom Interaction Quality.

School-based social and emotional learning (SEL) programs are presented to educators with little understanding of the program components that have the greatest leverage for improving targeted outcomes. Conducted in the context of a randomized controlled trial, the present study used variation in treatment teachers’ (N = 143) implementation of four core components of the Responsive Classroom approach to examine relations between each component and the quality of teachers’ emotional, organizational, and instructional interactions in third, fourth, and fifth grade classrooms (controlling for pre-intervention interaction quality and other covariates). We also examined the extent to which these relations varied as a function of teachers’ baseline levels of interaction quality. Indices of teachers’ implementation of Morning Meeting, Rule Creation, Interactive Modeling, and Academic Choice were derived from a combination of teacher-reported surveys and classroom observations. Ratings of teacher–student classroom interactions were aggregated across five observations conducted throughout the school year. Structural path models indicated that teachers’ use of Morning Meeting and Academic Choice related to higher levels of emotionally supportive interactions; Academic Choice also related to higher levels of instructional interactions. In addition, teachers’ baseline interaction quality moderated several associations such that the strongest relations between RC component use and interaction quality emerged for teachers with the lowest baseline interaction quality. Results highlight the value of examining individual program components toward the identification of program active ingredients that can inform intervention optimization and teacher professional development.
Soluble HER2 (sHER2) as a prognostic serum biomarker of non-small cell lung cancer.

e21000 Background: The human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/HER) gene family encodes four homologous tyrosine kinases that regulate cell growth and proliferation, survival, motility, and ad...
Outcomes of stage IA polyp-limited vs endometrium-limited epithelial high grade endometrial carcinoma (EMC).

e16500 Background: Optimal management of stage IA polyp-limited (PL) vs endometrium-limited (EL) epithelial high grade EMC is unclear and warrants further investigation. Methods: From 10/1995-11/20...
An efficient placement and routing technique for fault-tolerant distributed embedded computing

This article presents an efficient technique for placement and routing of sensors/actuators and processing units in a grid network. The driver application that we present is a medical jacket, which requires an extremely high level of robustness and fault tolerance. The power consumption of such jacket is another key technological constraint. Our proposed interconnection network is a mesh of wires. A jacket made of fabric and wires would be susceptible to accidental damage via tears. By modeling the tears, we evaluate the probability of having failures on every segment of wires in our mesh interconnection network. Then, we study two problems of placement and routing in the sensor networks such that the fault tolerance is maximized while the power consumption is minimized. We develop efficient integer linear programming (ILP) formulations to address these problems and perform both placement and routing, simultaneously. This ensures that the solution is a lower bound for both problems. We evaluate the effectiveness of our proposed techniques on a variety of benchmarks.
S-parameters quality estimation in physical units

S-Parameters are the most common way to describe electrical behavior of linear electric networks. However, any available S-Parameters that is available for describing a physical system is not perfectly accurate and does not describe it comprehensively. It becomes important to be able to estimate the quality of existing data in order to achieve reliability of the results and conclusions developed based on it. A metric is created in the present work to estimate a physical system based on passivity, reciprocity and causality properties in physical units. First, based on the original S-Parameters, will be created passive, causal and reciprocal S-Parameters; then similarity metric will be defined in time domain to get estimation in physical units; finally similarity metric in time domain will be applied between original and passive, causal and reciprocal matrices to get correspondingly passivity, causality and reciprocity estimations in physical units.
Spine Surgery Complicated by an Engorged Lumbar Epidural Venous Plexus from Cerebrospinal Fluid Overshunting: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background Overshunting of cerebrospinal fluid may lead to intracranial hypotension and dilation of spinal epidural veins. Radiculopathy may rarely occur secondary to engorged spinal epidural veins. In addition, the cause of radiculopathy may be obscured by concomitant spinal degenerative changes. We present a case and review the pathogenesis as well as the current clinical literature. Case Description A 29-year-old woman presented with positional headaches from intracranial hypotension in the setting of cerebrospinal fluid overshunting. The patient also had back pain and lumbar radiculopathy, which became more severe after lumboperitoneal shunt placement. On radiographic work-up, there was evidence of right L5 nerve root impingement secondary to a disc bulge and an engorged lumbar epidural venous plexus secondary to overshunting. The patient underwent surgery for a planned L4-5 decompression with a transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. The operation was complicated by rapid blood loss originating from the epidural venous plexus, and we were unable to safely place the interbody graft. Conclusions Spinal surgeons need to be aware of the rare diagnosis of radiculopathy secondary to epidural venous plexus engorgement, as it may change the treatment approach or lead to deleterious intraoperative consequences, such as hemorrhage.
A Life Span Study of Liberal Arts and Professional Groups on Personal and Intellective Growth

A 13-year longitudinal evaluational and research programme has been carried out on 13 classes of students and controls in a special integrated humanities, social science and medical programme resulting in a A.B. — and M.D. in six years (Inteflex).
Effect of Ethanol Administration on the Phosphorylation of a 43KDa Synaptosomal Protein

It is generally known that ethanol can freely enter the body organs and perturb cell membranes. The perturbation may, in turn, lead to changes in activity of neurotransmitters, ligand binding to receptors, ion fluxes, and enzyme activities (19). On chronic exposure to ethanol, the biologic system may develop adaptive mechanisms to overcome the perturbation. The physical and biochemical mechanisms by which ethanol alters membrane activities have not yet been clearly understood. However, phosphorylation is increasingly seen to be an ubiquitous biochemical mechanism for the modulation of membrane protein activity. Changes in phosphorylation of membrane proteins by ethanol may lead to changes in functional activity of the membrane (4,10,18). In a previous report (21), we have characterized the phosphorylation of a 43 kDa protein present in synaptosomes. An ecto-cellular protein kinase activity was suggested because the phosphorylation was very rapid (< 10 sec) and was dependent on Ca2+ and ATP (both available extracellularly) (21). The phosphorylation process was not dependent on cAMP or calmodulin. This 43kDa protein appears to be intimately related to Ca2+ movement across the synaptosomal membrane.
Bioabsorbable Soy Protein Plastic Composites: Effect of Polyphosphate Fillers on Biodegradability

The use of biodegradable polymers made from renewable agricultural products such as soy protein isolate has been limited by the tendency of these materials to absorb moisture. A straightforward approach for controlling the inherent water absorbency of the biodegradable polymers involves blending special bioabsorbable polyphosphate fillers, biodegradable soy protein isolate, plasticizer, and adhesion promoter in a high-shear mixer followed by compression molding. The procedure yields a relatively water-resistant, biodegradable soy protein polymer composite, as previously reported. The aim of the present study is to determine the biodegradability of the new polyphosphate filler/soy protein plastic composites by monitoring the carbon dioxide released over a period of 120 days. The results suggest that the composites biodegrade satisfactorily, with the fillers having no significant effect on the depolymerization and mineralization of the soy protein plastic, processes that would otherwise result in nonbiodegradable composites. Further, the results indicate that the biodegradation and useful service life of these biocomposites may be controlled by changing the filler concentration, making the biocomposites useful in applications in which the control of water resistance and biodegradation is critical.
Archean Greenstone Belts and Granitic Gneisses of North America

The Precambrian shields of all continents contain belts of folded metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks surrounded by granitic gneisses. These so-called greenstone belts are the remnants of large volcano-sedimentary complexes of Archean and Proterozoic age. The volcanic rocks range in composition from komatiites and low-K tholeiites to dacites and rhyolites and consist of lava flows, sills, and stratified tuffs. The sedimentary rocks are typically composed of greywacke, quartzite, argillites, and cherty iron formations with uncommon carbonate units (de Wit and Ashwal 1997; Goodwin 1996).
Are You Always This Enthusiastic

I get asked this question frequently. I can’t help it—I love my job. I love the creativity and autonomy of independent research. I love the gratifying feeling of seeing a project brought to completion and published for others to read. Most of all, I love the opportunity to teach and mentor so many talented and unique students. And, I realize how close I came to not pursuing this career path.
A Geospatial Analysis of the Impact of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative on Breastfeeding Initiation in North Carolina.

Background:Significant disparities in breastfeeding support and practice exist in North Carolina. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is a worldwide intervention that encourages birth facilities to adopt specific practices in support of breastfeeding.Research aim:This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative on breastfeeding initiation in North Carolina, with special attention to rural areas.Methods:To better understand disparities in breastfeeding initiation across North Carolina, we conducted a secondary analysis of birth certificate data from 2011 to 2014. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between breastfeeding initiation and (a) birth at a Baby-Friendly hospital and (b) maternal residence in a county with a Baby-Friendly hospital. Model residuals were aggregated by county and analyzed for spatial autocorrelation.Results:Birth at a Baby-Friendly hospital was associated with increased odds of breastfeeding in...
Techno-economic analysis of waste heat recovery systems for wet-cooled combined cycle power plants

Abstract Increasing ambient temperature negatively impacts the performance of natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plants. There have been multiple approaches to mitigate this performance reduction by chilling the compressor inlet air of the gas turbine, as well as by recovering the waste heat emanating from the power plant to generate additional power. In the present study, a detailed techno-economic assessment on the application of different types of waste heat recovery systems used to chill the compressor inlet air has been assessed. A simplified thermodynamic and heat transfer model is developed to predict the performance of an evaporatively cooled NGCC at varying ambient conditions. By taking typical meteorological year (TMY3) hourly weather data for two different locations – Los Angeles, California and Houston, Texas – the yearly output for a 565 MW plant is predicted at a 100% capacity factor. The feasibilities of different waste heat recovery (WHR) systems including a flue gas driven absorption chiller, a steam driven absorption chiller, and an electrically driven vapor compression chiller are assessed by calculating the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for each scenario. The results of the analysis showed that, for a fixed WHR system costs (i.e., $ per kWth), the system powered by flue gas generated the smallest LCOE, followed by the mechanically-driven vapor compression, steam-heated chiller, and, finally, the gas turbine exhaust chiller for both the locations at all COP combinations. The analysis also investigated the impact of fixed investments cost, and the flue gas system again yielded the smallest LCOE, while still yielding a lower LCOE than at baseline case over a wide range of COP and tolerable cooling costs for both locations.
Factors Associated with Human Papillomavirus Vaccination among Women in the United States.

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States (US). HPV vaccines have the ability to prevent infection with HPV. The objective of this study was to assess the factors associated with HPV vaccination among women in the US. Methods Data from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used to assess predictors of HPV vaccination. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Analyses were conducted using SAS Version 9.4. Results Factors that decreased the likelihood of receiving HPV vaccination included: being between the ages of 27-50 (AOR: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.06-0.11), having some college education, and residing in the South Black Belt States (AOR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.31-0.78), Midwest (AOR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.44-0.90), and the West (AOR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.15-0.95). Factors that decreased the likelihood of receiving HPV vaccination to completion included: being Non-Hispanic Black (AOR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.11-0.64), Hispanic (AOR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.10-0.68), between the ages of 27-50 years (AOR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.26-0.84), and residing in the Midwest (AOR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.18-0.73) and South Remainder (non- Black Belt) states (AOR: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.09-0.93). Conclusion Our results suggest that sociodemographic disparities still exist in more recent data underscoring the urgent need for additional efforts to increase HPV vaccination in populations that are least likely to receive the vaccination.
Oropharyngeal histoplasmosis: a report of 10 cases.

A wide differential diagnosis must be entertained in patients with unusual oral and pharyngeal ulcerations. A mucosal biopsy is essential. We retrospectively reviewed 10 cases from the Infectious Diseases Division at Mayo Clinic Rochester (MN, USA), in which the diagnosis proved to be Histoplasma capsulatum infection. Between 1995 and 2016, 10 patients were diagnosed with oropharyngeal histoplasmosis. Common presenting symptoms included weight loss, weakness and oropharyngeal pain with ulcerations. Despite specialty evaluation at other facilities, diagnostic delay occurred in six patients due to lack of biopsy or fungal staining. Yeast forms consistent with H. capsulatum were identified in the biopsy specimens of all our patients. Treatment included intravenous amphotericin B and prolonged courses of azoles. Oral histoplasmosis occurred in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients, and was a manifestation of disseminated infection. Severe pain involving all areas of the mouth was typical. Diagnostic delay may be avoided by early biopsy using fungal stains.
Innovation and Enterprise Growth

The renewal of IBM's core product line during the 1990s required the transformation of the computer maker's transactions processing mainframes to ebusiness servers for large-scale, open systems com...
A novel and selective method for the N-arylation of indoles mediated by KFAl2O3☆

Abstract Indole was reacted with aryl electrophiles in the presence of 37% KF Al 2 O 3 and catalytic 18-crown-6 in DMSO at 120 °C to give selectively 1-arylindoles in fair to excellent yield. Electrophiles containing electronically unfavorable substitution patterns or leaving groups, such as 3-chlorobenzonitrile, coupled effectively under the reaction conditions.
Joint Representation of Multiple Parties in Tax Court Proceedings

This paper deals with the potential problems of representing several parties in a tax matter.
Strain-Specific Immune Response to Influenza Virus Infection

Abstract A major question in influenza infection pathology is whether viruses of varying virulence invoke distinct immune responses. While efforts have attempted to mathematically characterize the host immune response to influenza virus infection, there has been no previous exploration of strain-specific infection dynamics. Here, a mechanism-based mathematical model is developed and used to compare the immune dynamics invoked by deadly H5N1 and moderately pathogenic H1N1 viruses. Results suggest that the kinetics of the immune response, specifically those related to the virus as well as those involved in interferon production, differ between H1N1 and H5N1 infections. The ability to predict strain differences could aid in clinical understanding of infection severity and take a step towards future application of patient-specific treatment profiles.
A Deep-Learning Approach for Automated OCT En-Face Retinal Vessel Segmentation in Cases of Optic Disc Swelling Using Multiple En-Face Images as Input

Purpose In cases of optic disc swelling, segmentation of projected retinal blood vessels from optical coherence tomography (OCT) volumes is challenging due to swelling-based shadowing artifacts. Based on our hypothesis that simultaneously considering vessel information from multiple projected retinal layers can substantially increase vessel visibility, in this work, we propose a deep-learning-based approach to segment vessels involving the simultaneous use of three OCT en-face images as input. Methods A human expert vessel tracing combining information from OCT en-face images of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), inner retina, and total retina as well as a registered fundus image served as the reference standard. The deep neural network was trained from the imaging data from 18 patients with optic disc swelling to output a vessel probability map from three OCT en-face input images. The vessels from the OCT en-face images were also manually traced in three separate stages to compare with the performance of the proposed approach. Results On an independent volume-matched test set of 18 patients, the proposed deep-learning-based approach outperformed the three OCT-based manual tracing stages. The manual tracing based on three OCT en-face images also outperformed the manual tracing using only the traditional RPE en-face image. Conclusions In cases of optic disc swelling, use of multiple en-face images enables better vessel segmentation when compared with the traditional use of a single en-face image. Translational relevance Improved vessel segmentation approaches in cases of optic disc swelling can be used as features for an improved assessment of the severity and cause of the swelling.
Dominant atopy risk mutations identified by mouse forward genetic analysis.

Background Atopy, the overall tendency to become sensitized to an allergen, is heritable but seldom ascribed to mutations within specific genes. Atopic individuals develop abnormally elevated IgE responses to immunization with potential allergens. To gain insight into the genetic causes of atopy, we carried out a forward genetic screen for atopy in mice. Methods We screened mice carrying homozygous and heterozygous N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced germline mutations for aberrant antigen-specific IgE and IgG1 production in response to immunization with the model allergen papain. Candidate genes were validated by independent gene mutation. Results Of 31 candidate genes selected for investigation, the effects of mutations in 23 genes on papain-specific IgE or IgG1 were verified. Among the 20 verified genes influencing the IgE response, eight were necessary for the response, while 12 repressed IgE. Nine genes were not previously implicated in the IgE response. Fifteen genes encoded proteins contributing to IgE class switch recombination or B-cell receptor signaling. The precise roles of the five remaining genes (Flcn, Map1lc3b, Me2, Prkd2, and Scarb2) remain to be determined. Loss-of-function mutations in nine of the 12 genes limiting the IgE response were dominant or semi-dominant for the IgE phenotype but did not cause immunodeficiency in the heterozygous state. Using damaging allele frequencies for the corresponding human genes and in silico simulations (Monte Carlo) of undiscovered atopy mutations, we estimated the percentage of humans with heterozygous atopy risk mutations. Conclusions Up to 37% of individuals may be heterozygous carriers for at least one dominant atopy risk mutation.
Outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery for large vestibular schwannomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Large vestibular schwannomas (VS) pose a treatment challenge for both microsurgery (MS) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Technical developments have allowed for safer irradiation of large tumors. It remains unclear if SRS can achieve appropriate tumor control and acceptable cranial nerve toxicities. In this study, we assess outcomes of irradiation for large VS. Methods PubMed MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane were searched for all the studies assessing SRS outcome in large VS. Primary endpoints included clinical and radiographic tumor control, need for salvage surgery, serviceable hearing, cranial nerve V and VII impairment, presence of hydrocephalus requiring shunting, and presence of vertigo/dizziness. Results Twenty-two studies were identified that met selection criteria for analysis from an initial pool of 1272 reports. They were evaluated according to treatment protocol: 1) single-dose SRS (13 studies, 483 patients), 2) combination of MS and SRS (7 studies, 182 patients), and 3) fractionated SRS (3 studies, 82 patients). Tumor control was achieved in 89%, 94%, and 91% of patients, respectively. Odds ratios (ORs) of post- over pretreatment serviceable hearing were 0.42 (P < .01), 0.47 (P = .05), and 0.60 (P = .22); for facial nerve impairment, these ORs were 1.08 (P = .69), 3.45 (P = .28), and 0.87 (P = .71), respectively. Conclusions The management of large VS remains challenging. All treatment modalities resulted in high tumor control rates and worsening of pretreatment hearing. None, however, caused significant facial nerve impairment, suggesting that management strategies incorporating focal irradiation can be successful.
Discontinuous Conduction Mode Analysis of High Gain Extended-Duty-Ratio Boost Converter

A typical non-isolated photovoltaic (PV) microinverter requires a high conversion ratio in the dc-dc stage as well as needs to support a wide range of input-output voltage operation accommodating partial shading scenario. An extended-duty-ratio (EDR) boost converter is a good candidate for such application as it provides a high efficiency solution with a hybrid of interleaved inductor and switched capacitor configuration significantly lowering the switch voltage stress, switching losses, and providing inherent equal current sharing among the input phases. However, these advantages of EDR boost converter in continuous conduction mode (CCM) is only true for a limited duty ratio range. On the contrary, it is observed that the discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) can support a wider range of duty ratio operation, maintaining lower voltage stress on the devices and ensuring inherent equal current sharing among the boost inductors. Nevertheless, even in the DCM, the operation in the region with least voltage gain becomes very complex and requires a thorough understanding. This paper presents an extensive analysis of an EDR boost converter for DCM operation for all the operating regions. The operating characteristics of an EDR boost converter in DCM is analysed and its gain is derived. The detailed analysis presented in this paper enables in designing the components and judiciously deciding the operating range of EDR boost converter in DCM operation for any application. In order to verify the analysis, the simulation and experimental results from a 300 W EDR boost hardware prototype are also provided.
In Search of Distress Risk in Emerging Markets

Although the non-financial corporate sector accounts for the lion’s share of the post-Global Financial Crisis surge in emerging-market leverage, there is little systematic research on factors that impact corporate distress risk in emerging markets. Existing bankruptcy risk models developed using US data have low predictive power when applied to emerging market firms. We suggest that these models do not account for emerging market vulnerabilities to global shocks such as advanced economy monetary policy changes, US dollar movements, or shifts in global liquidity and risk-aversion. A novel multi-country dataset of corporate defaults allows us to quantify the importance of global shocks on emerging market corporate distress. Using a set of accounting, market, and macroeconomic variables, we develop a model of distress risk specific to emerging markets with comparable forecasting power to that of existing models based on US data. We also explore the asset pricing implications of our model by testing whether equity returns accurately reflect default risk. We find that global factors like US interest rates and credit risk contribute more predictive power for corporate default risk than domestic macroeconomic variables, especially for those firms whose stock returns are most sensitive to global financial conditions.
Cell-Based High-Throughput Luciferase Reporter Gene Assays for Identifying and Profiling Chemical Modulators of Endoplasmic Reticulum Signaling Protein, IRE1:

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress activates three distinct signal transducers on the ER membrane. Inositol-requiring protein 1 (IRE1), the most conserved signal transducer, plays a key role in ER stress-mediated signaling. During ER stress, IRE1 initiates two discrete signaling cascades: the "adaptive" signaling cascade mediated by the XBP1 pathway and the "alarm" signaling cascade mediated by stress-activated protein kinase pathways. Fine-tuning of the balance between the adaptive and alarm signals contributes significantly to cellular fate under ER stress. Thus, we propose that the design of high-throughput screening (HTS) assays to selectively monitor IRE1 mediated-signaling would be desirable for drug discovery. To this end, we report the generation of stable human neural cell lines and development of cell-based HTS luciferase (Luc) reporter gene assays for the identification of pathway-specific chemical modulators of IRE1. We implemented a cell-based Luc assay using a chimeric CHOP-Gal4 transcription factor in 384-well format for monitoring IRE1 kinase-mediated p38MAPK activation and an unfolded response pathway element (URPE)-Luc cell-based assay in 1536-well format for monitoring IRE1's RNase-mediated activation of XBP1. Chemical library screening was successfully conducted with both the CHOP/Gal4-Luc cells and UPRE-Luc engineered cells. The studies demonstrate the feasibility of using these HTS assays for discovery of pathway-selective modulators of IRE1.
Measurement of Multiaxial Ply Strength by an Off-Axis Flexure Test

An off-axis flexure (OAF) test was performed to measure ply strength under multiaxial stress states. This test involves unidirectional off-axis specimens loaded in bending, using an apparatus that allows these anisotropic specimens to twist as well as flex without the complications of a resisting torque. A 3D finite element stress analysis verified that simple beam theory could be used to compute the specimen bending stresses at failure. Unidirectional graphite/epoxy specimens with fiber angles ranging from 90 deg to 15 deg have combined normal and shear stresses on their failure planes that are typical of 45 deg plies in structural laminates. Tests for a range of stress states with AS4/3501-6 specimens showed that both normal and shear stresses on the failure plane influenced cracking resistance. This OAF test may prove to be useful for generating data needed to predict ply cracking in composite structures and may also provide an approach for studying fiber-matrix interface failures under stress states typical of structures.
Fine-Grain Conjunction Scheduling for Symbolic Reachability Analysis

In symbolic model checking, image computation is the process of computing the successors of a set of states. Containing the cost of image computation depends critically on controlling the number of variables that appear in the functions being manipulated; this in turn depends on the order in which the basic operations of image computation--conjunctions and quantifications--are performed. In this paper we propose an approach to this ordering problem--the conjunction scheduling problem--that is especially suited to the case in which the transition relation is specified as the composition of many small relations. (This is the norm in hardware verification.) Our fine-grain approach leads to the formulation of conjunction scheduling in terms of minimum max-cut linear arrangement, an NP-complete problem for which efficient heuristics have been developed. The cut whose width is minimized is related to the number of variables active during image computation.We also propose a clustering technique that is geared toward the minimization of the max-cut, and pruning techniques for the transition relation that benefit especially from the fine-grain approach.
Improved limits on intergalactic intracluster H I in the Coma Cluster

New observations using the Arecibo telescope have failed to detect intergalactic intracluster H I in the Coma Cluster. This represents a factor of two improvements over our previously reported limit (Wright et al., 1974) and makes it less likely that the cluster can be dynamically bound by H I. The highly flattened, rapidly rotating, extremely dense, cold H I clouds permitted by the observations will not evaporate over the cluster lifetime, but violate global stability criteria and hence cannot provide the missing mass in the cluster.
FCRAO CO Survey of the Outer Galaxy

FCRAO has initiated an imaging survey of CO J=l−0 emission from the outer Galaxy to better understand the physical properties of the molecular gas component of the interstellar medium and to determine the relationship of this component to spiral arm features. When completed in Spring 1996, the CO Survey will cover 103° < l II < 145°, -3° < b II < 5°, and −150 < VLSR < 50 km s−1 with angular sampling of 50″ and velocity resolution of 0.8 km s−1 . During the first year of observations, we have focused upon two fields with longitude ranges of 103° < l II < 112° and 131° < l II < 139°. The first field corresponds to the Cepheus region while the second field contains the W3, W4, and W5 complex of HII regions. To date, 700,000 CO spectra have been collected. In this contribution, we present preliminary results from the first year of observations.