cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular interplay between leptin, insulin-like growth factor-1, and β-amyloid in organotypic slices from rabbit hippocampus

Evidence shows that the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and leptin reduce β-amyloid (Aβ) production and tau phosphorylation, two major hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). IGF-1 expression involves the JAK/STAT pathway and the expression of leptin is regulated by the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). We have previously shown that Aβ reduces leptin by inhibiting the mTORC1 pathway and Aβ was also suggested to inhibit the JAK/STAT pathway, potentially attenuating IGF-1 expression. As IGF-1 can activate mTORC1 and leptin can modulate JAK/STAT pathway, we determined the extent to which IGF-1 and leptin can upregulate the expression of one another and protect against Aβ-induced downregulation. We demonstrate that incubation of organotypic slices from adult rabbit hippocampus with Aβ42 downregulates IGF-1 expression by inhibiting JAK2/STAT5 pathway. Leptin treatment reverses these Aβ42 effects on IGF-1 and treatment with the STAT5 inhibitor completely abrogated the leptin-induced increase in IGF-1. Furthermore, EMSA and ChIP analyses revealed that leptin increases the STAT5 binding to the IGF-1 promoter. We also show that IGF-1 increases the expression of leptin and reverses the Aβ42-induced attenuation in leptin expression via the activation of mTORC1 signaling as the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin completely precluded the IGF-1-induced increase in leptin expression. Our results demonstrate for the first time that Aβ42 downregulates IGF-1 expression and that leptin and IGF-1 rescue one another from downregulation by Aβ42. Our study provides a valuable insight into the leptin/IGF-1/Aβ interplay that may be relevant to the pathophysiology of AD.
An empirical model for dissolved phosphorus in runoff from surface-applied fertilizers

Abstract Dissolved phosphorus (P) in runoff from surface-applied fertilizers can be relatively great, but commonly used, field or watershed-scale computer models often do not simulate direct transfer of fertilizer P to runoff. Using data from our own simulated rainfall experiments and published runoff studies, we developed a simple model to predict fertilizer P release during rain and the concentration of dissolved P in runoff. The model operates on a daily time-step and requires input data on the amount of fertilizer P applied, type of soil cover (bare, residue-covered, grassed), and amount of rain and runoff for each storm during the simulation period. The model applies fertilizer to the soil surface, adsorbs fertilizer P to soil before the first rain, releases P from fertilizer for each rain event, and distributes released fertilizer P between runoff and infiltration based on the runoff to rain ratio. Using data from 11 runoff studies, we validated that our model accurately predicts dissolved P in runoff from surface-applied fertilizers. Validation data represented a series of runoff events for a variety of fertilizer types, soil cover types and subsequent fertilizer P adsorption amounts, storm hydrology conditions (i.e., runoff to rain ratio), and plot or field sizes (0.2 m 2 to 9.6 ha). An analysis showed model predictions can be quite sensitive to rainfall and runoff data. However, the simplicity of our model should make it straightforward to incorporate into more complex P transport models, thus improving their ability to reliably predict P loss to the environment for a variety of agricultural land uses.
Global Change on Mars

The martian atmosphere is made up almost entirely of carbon dioxide. Observations and models show that this carbon dioxide forms seasonal deposits at the martian poles. In his Perspective, [Paige][1] highlights the reports by [ Malin et al .][2] and by [ Smith et al .][3], who analyze newly acquired spacecraft observations that show that Mars' highly dynamic present-day carbon dioxide cycle may change from one year to the next. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/294/5549/2107 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/294/5549/2146 [3]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/294/5549/2141
An electrodynamic levitation system for studying individual cloud particles under upper-tropospheric conditions

Abstract A laboratory system composed of an electrodynamic levitation cell within an environmental control chamber has been designed and built. The system is ideal for studies of individual particles, such as pure water droplets, aqueous solution droplets, solid salt particles, and ice crystals, under mid- and upper-tropospheric conditions. The experimental system has several features that make it particularly useful for studies of cloud physics. The levitation cell has a cubic geometry with transparent electrodes, thus allowing for full, three-axis positioning of a levitated particle, as well as a large range of viewing angles for optical access and light-scattering measurements. Particles in the approximate diameter range of 10 to 100 μm can be suspended indefinitely with minimal wall influences. The levitation cell is housed within an environmental control chamber capable of operating at temperatures (T), pressures (p), vertical velocities (w), and saturation ratios (with respect to ice, Si) in the ran...
Mortality benefit of statin use in traumatic spinal cord injury: a retrospective analysis.

An observational study based on retrospective review of the medical charts and death records of 163 individuals with traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCI). To determine whether HMG coA Reductase Inhibitor (‘statin’) use in a cohort of patients with traumatic SCI reduced overall and cause-specific mortality. An outpatient clinic designated for veterans with SCI at the Oklahoma City Veterans Administration Hospital. Review and analysis of the medical records of 163 veterans with traumatic SCI cared for between the years 2000 and 2014. Data collected included statin use, duration of statin use and intensity of statin therapy, as well as cause-specific mortality. Seventy five participants had taken statins for an average of 5.7±3.7 years, and had greater cardiovascular risk burdens than those who had not taken statins (n=88). Statin use was associated with a reduced risk of death. The mortality rate for those patients on statins was 33.8–49.9 per 1000 person-years, depending on assumptions made regarding residual effects of statin use. Under most assumptions this was significantly lower than the mortality rate seen in those not on statins (47.4–66.8 deaths per 1000 person-years). Within the statin group, neither duration nor average intensity of statin therapy affected mortality. Statin use among a cohort of veterans with traumatic SCI reduced all-cause mortality. This retrospective study ought to spur further investigations into the potential benefits of statin use among people with chronic SCI, and begin a discussion as to whether individuals with injuries should routinely be offered statin therapy.
Adenosine A2A receptor antagonist treatment of Parkinson’s disease

Background: Observations in animal models suggest that A2A antagonists confer benefit by modulating dopaminergic effects on the striatal dysfunction associated with motor disability. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-principle study evaluated the pathogenic contribution and therapeutic potential of adenosine A2A receptor–mediated mechanisms in Parkinson disease (PD) and levodopa-induced motor complications. Methods: Fifteen patients with moderate to advanced PD consented to participate. All were randomized to either the selective A2A antagonist KW-6002 or matching placebo capsules in a 6-week dose-rising design (40 and 80 mg/day). Motor function was rated on the Unified PD Rating Scale. Results: KW-6002 alone or in combination with a steady-state IV infusion of each patient’s optimal levodopa dose had no effect on parkinsonian severity. At a low dose of levodopa, however, KW-6002 (80 mg) potentiated the antiparkinsonian response by 36% (p Conclusions: The results support the hypothesis that A2A receptor mechanisms contribute to symptom production in PD and that drugs able to selectively block these receptors may help palliate symptoms in levodopa-treated patients with this disorder.
Activity of Tedizolid (TR-700) against Well-Characterized Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains of Diverse Epidemiological Origins

The in vitro activities of tedizolid and 10 antistaphylococcal agents were compared against 111 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains from 14 epidemiologically characterized groups. Tedizolid, tigecycline, and daptomycin were the most potent agents, with tedizolid 4-fold more potent than linezolid. Tedizolid, linezolid, and vancomycin were unaffected by epidemiological types. Tigecycline and daptomycin had reduced potency against ST80-MRSA-IV and ST239-MRSA-III, respectively. Overall, tedizolid was highly potent against all MRSA strain types, including those resistant to other classes of drugs.
Microarchitectural techniques for power gating of execution units

Leakage power is a major concern in current and future microprocessor designs. In this paper, we explore the potential of architectural techniques to reduce leakage through power-gating of execution units. This paper first develops parameterized analytical equations that estimate the break-even point for application of power-gating techniques. The potential for power gating execution units is then evaluated, for the range of relevant break-even points determined by the analytical equations, using a state-of-the-art out-of-order superscalar processor model. The power gating potential of the floating-point and fixed-point units of this processor is then evaluated using three different techniques to detect opportunities for entering sleep mode; ideal, time-based, and branch-misprediction-guided. Our results show that using the time-based approach, floating-point units can be put to sleep for up to 28% of the execution cycles at a performance loss of 2%. For the more difficult to power-gate fixed-point units, the branch misprediction guided technique allows the fixed-point units to be put to sleep for up to 40% more of the execution cycles compared to the simpler time-based technique, with similar performance impact. Overall, our experiments demonstrate that architectural techniques can be used effectively in power-gating execution units.
Response of the cavity shear layer oscillations to external forcing

Influence of externally forced initial flow conditions on axisymmetric cavity shear layer was studied. A sinusoidally heated strip upstream of the cavity excited Tollmien-Schlichting waves that, after amplification by the boundary layer, were introduced to the cavity shear layer. It is shown that by selecting a forcing frequency, which satisfies a phase difference criterion between two comers of the cavity and has an amplitude that is above the threshold amplitude, it is possible to excite a naturally nonoscillating shear layer. It is also shown that the frequency and amplitude of the oscillation in the self sustained mode can be controlled through external forcing. By using a feed-back control scheme, up to 40% reduction of the velocity fluctuation level can be obtained.
HIV-1 DNA Decay Dynamics in Blood During More Than a Decade of Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy

Background. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) DNA dynamics during long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) are not defined. Methods. Blood mononuclear cells obtained during 7–12 years of effective ART were assayed for total HIV-1 DNA and 2-long terminal repeat (LTR) circles by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Slopes of HIV-1 DNA were estimated by participant-specific linear regressions. Plasma was assayed for residual viremia (HIV-1 RNA) by qPCR. Results. Thirty participants were studied. HIV-1 DNA decreased significantly from years 0–1 and 1–4 of ART with median decay slopes of −0.86 (interquartile range, −1.05, −0.59) and −0.11 (−0.17, −0.06) log10(copies/106 CD4+ T-cells)/year, respectively (P < .001). Decay was not significant for years 4–7 (−0.02 [−0.06, 0.02]; P = .09) or after year 7 of ART (−0.006 [−0.030, 0.015]; P = .17). All participants had detectable HIV-1 DNA after 10 years (median 439 copies/106 CD4+ T-cells; range: 7–2074). Pre-ART HIV-1 DNA levels were positively associated with pre-ART HIV-1 RNA levels (Spearman = 0.71, P < .001) and with HIV-1 DNA at years 4, 7, and 10 on ART (Spearman ≥ 0.75, P < .001). No associations were found (P ≥ .25) between HIV-1 DNA slopes or levels and % activated CD8+ T-cells (average during years 1–4) or residual viremia (n = 18). 2-LTR circles were detected pre-ART in 20/29 and in 8/30 participants at last follow-up. Conclusions. Decay of HIV-1 DNA in blood is rapid in the first year after ART initiation (86% decline), slows during years 1–4 (23% decline/year), and subsequently plateaus. HIV-1 DNA decay is not associated with the levels of CD8+ T-cell activation or persistent viremia. The determinants of stable HIV-1 DNA persistence require further elucidation. Clinical Trials Registration. {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00001137","term_id":"NCT00001137"}}NCT00001137.
Climate change as an intergenerational problem

Predicting climate change is a high priority for society, but such forecasts are notoriously uncertain. Why? Even should climate prove theoretically predictable—by no means certain—the near-absence of adequate observations will preclude its understanding, and hence even the hope of useful predictions. Geological and cryospheric records of climate change and our brief recent record of instrumental observations show that the climate system is changeable on all time scales—from a few years out to the age of the earth. Major physical, chemical, and biological processes influence the climate system on decades, centuries, and millennia. Glaciers fluctuate on time scales of years to centuries and beyond. Since the Industrial Revolution, carbon dioxide has been emitted through fossil fuel burning, and it will be absorbed, recycled, and transferred amongst the atmosphere, ocean, and biosphere over decades to thousands of years.
Study of Bone Marrow and Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Treatment of Escherichia coli Endotoxin-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be derived from multiple tissue sources. However, the optimal source of MSCs for cell-based therapy for acute lung injury (ALI) is unclear. In the present experiments, we studied bone marrow (BM)-derived and embryonic stem cell-derived human MSC (ES-MSCs) as a therapeutic agent in Escherichia coli endotoxin-induced ALI in mice. We hypothesized that ES-MSCs would be more potent than BM-MSCs owing to its more primitive source of origin. ALI was induced by the intratracheal instillation of endotoxin at 4 mg/kg into 10–12-week-old C57BL/6 mice with or without BM-MSCs, ES-MSCs, or normal human lung fibroblasts as a cellular control. Compared with the endotoxin-injured mice at 48 hours, the administration of ES-MSCs provided results similar to those of BM-MSCs, significantly reducing the influx of white blood cells and neutrophils and decreasing the secretion of the inflammatory cytokines, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α, in the injured alveolus. BM-MSCs also reduced extravascular lung water, a measure of pulmonary edema, by 60% and the total protein levels, a measure of lung permeability, by 66%. However, surprisingly, ES-MSCs did not have these protective effects, which was partially explained by the increased secretion of matrix metallopeptidase 9 by ES-MSCs, an enzyme known to increase lung protein permeability. In conclusion, both BM-MSCs and ES-MSCs markedly decreased endotoxin-induced inflammation. However, ES-MSCs did not show any beneficial effect on reducing pulmonary edema and lung protein permeability compared with BM-MSCs, suggesting that not all MSCs behave in a similar fashion. Our results highlight the need perhaps for a disease-specific potency assay for MSCs.
“Engineering Economics Jeopardy!” Mobile App for University Students

This article presents the “Engineering Economics Jeopardy!” mobile app development process and college students’ satisfaction assessment of the developed app. The app includes a general tools E-book, calculator, reference tables, conceptual questions, and calculation problems in an engaging fashion. The E-book is a summary of the key concepts of engineering economics. The calculator provides functions to solve basic engineering economics problems with formulas. The tables allow the users to compute discrete compound interest factors. Through this Jeopardy! game, users can compete with two virtual opponents that have artificial intelligence to answer conceptual questions and calculation problems. Different sets of problems range from the simple questions on the time value of money to more complex concepts, such as sensitivity analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, and supply–demand equilibrium. This app is intended to give students more opportunity to learn and practice concepts of engineering economics wheneve...
Lessons from a distributed peer-to-peer smart tracker

This paper presents the software architecture and middleware for a distributed smart camera (DSC) system that performs multi-target tracking. Middleware is used to abstract away important operations from the details of network operation. The paper describes the tracking algorithms and their middleware needs, the software architecture of the tracker, and the lessons learned for the next generation of tracker.
Recent improvements in SRI's Keyword Detection System for Noisy Audio

We present improvements to a keyword spotting (KWS) system that operates in highly adverse channel conditions with very low signal-to-noise ratio levels. We employ a system combination approach by combining the outputs of multiple large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR) systems. These systems are complementary thanks to different design decisions across all levels of information: three speech activity detections systems; a wide range of front-end signal processing features (standard cepstral and filter-bank features, noise-robust features and multi-layer perceptron features); three statistical acoustic model types (Gaussian mixtures models, deep and convolutional neural networks); two keyword search strategies (wordbased and phone-based). We explore the scenario where the
A million-plus neuron model of the hippocampal dentate gyrus: Dependency of spatio-temporal network dynamics on topography

This paper describes a million-plus granule cell compartmental model of the rat hippocampal dentate gyrus, including excitatory, perforant path input from the entorhinal cortex, and feedforward and feedback inhibitory input from dentate interneurons. The model includes experimentally determined morphological and biophysical properties of granule cells, together with glutamatergic AMPA-like EPSP and GABAergic GABAA-like IPSP synaptic excitatory and inhibitory inputs, respectively. Each granule cell was composed of approximately 200 compartments having passive and active conductances distributed throughout the somatic and dendritic regions. Modeling excitatory input from the entorhinal cortex was guided by axonal transport studies documenting the topographical organization of projections from subregions of the medial and lateral entorhinal cortex, plus other important details of the distribution of glutamatergic inputs to the dentate gyrus. Results showed that when medial and lateral entorhinal cortical neurons maintained Poisson random firing, dentate granule cells expressed, throughout the million-cell network, a robust, non-random pattern of spiking best described as spatiotemporal “clustering”. To identify the network property or properties responsible for generating such firing “clusters”, we progressively eliminated from the model key mechanisms such as feedforward and feedback inhibition, intrinsic membrane properties underlying rhythmic burst firing, and/or topographical organization of entorhinal afferents. Findings conclusively identified topographical organization of inputs as the key element responsible for generating a spatio-temporal distribution of clustered firing. These results uncover a functional organization of perforant path afferents to the dentate gyrus not previously recognized: topography-dependent clusters of granule cell activity as “functional units” that organize the processing of entorhinal signals.
The Use of Spartan in Faulkner's ABSALOM, ABSALOM!

Critics including Cleanth Brooks, Ilse Dusoir Lind, Lennart Bjork, and Donald Kartiganer have taken the Greek thread of William Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom! as an invitation to read the novel in te...
How AIDS Invented Global Health

The changes wrought by HIV have affected research, clinical practice, and policy. And the AIDS epidemic provided the foundation for a revolution that upended traditional approaches to “international health,” replacing them with innovative global approaches to disease.
Objective measurement of spasticity by light reflection

Difficulties in making objective evaluations of muscle spasticity in patients with spinal cord injury complicate rehabilitation programs. It is often difficult to predict or to judge the results of a particular regimen which in some instances may produce irreversible changes. A technique for measuring one of the components of spasticity is described. The apparatus involves two parts: a portable force recorder and a stimulator to deliver a near-uniform stimulus. A beam of light is reflected on a calibrated ground glass for direct viewing of the force of the plantar flexion of the foot. The beam deflection is directly proportional to the force supplied by a spring-loaded reflex hammer which may be adjusted to deliver a constant and reproducible force to the tendon. For a permanent record of the deflection, a Polaroid film may be obtained. Twelve patients with para- and quadriplegia and spasticity were tested while on antispasmodic medication (diazepam, 20 mg.). The premedicated forces recorded averaged 7.1 pounds, and on diazepam the force recorded was 4 pounds.
Effect of group thawing on post-thaw viability of bovine spermatozoa packaged in .5-milliliter French straws.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of thawing groups of 2, 5, 10, 15, or 20 .5-ml French straws on post-thaw spermatozoal viability. Thermostatically controlled and nonthermostatically controlled thawing baths were compared. Using a split-plot design, semen from 10 bulls was extended in egg yolk citrate, frozen, and then thawed (in the respective groups) at 36 degrees C in two types of thawing baths. Motility and percentage of intact acrosomes were determined immediately after thawing (0 h) and again after 4 h of incubation at the respective temperature of each thawing bath. Neither percentage of intact acrosomes nor motility was influenced by the number of straws thawed at 0 h (P greater than .05). Thawing bath had no effect (P greater than .05) on motility or percentage of intact acrosomes at 0 h. Bull variation was significant in both the 0- and 4-h evaluations. After 4 h of incubation, there was a significant (P less than .05) straw number x thawing bath interaction. When 15 or 20 straws were thawed in the thermostatically controlled bath there was a reduction (P less than .05) in motility and percentage of intact acrosomes. However, in the nonthermostatically controlled bath there was no reduction in motility and percentage of intact acrosomes as the size of straw group increased. Our results indicate that, when using a nonthermostatically controlled thawing bath, semen packaged in .5-ml straws can be thawed in groups of 20 without an effect on post-thaw sperm viability.
Effects of seleniferous grains and inorganic selenium on tissue and blood composition and growth performance of rats and swine.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of varying dietary selenium (Se) levels and Se source on growing swine. In Exp. 1, seleniferous wheat and oats were used to formulate diets containing .47, 2.58, 5.60 or 8.40 micrograms/g organic Se. Dietary Se level had no effect on pig performance during the 6-wk experiment as measured by daily gain, daily feed intake or feed/gain. Blood composition and enzyme activity were not affected by dietary treatment. Selenium concentrations of blood, hair, liver, kidney, heart, spleen and diaphragm muscle were increased linearly (P less than .01) as dietary Se increased. In addition, liver weight as a percentage of body weight was increased linearly (P less than .01) as dietary Se level increased. No signs of chronic Se poisoning were observed. Dietary treatments in Exp. 2 were similar to Exp. 1 with the exception that sodium selenite was utilized as the Se source and the diets were fed for 17 wk. Inorganic Se levels of .54, 2.63, 5.69 or 8.33 micrograms/g had no effect on pig performance as measured by daily gain, daily feed intake or feed/gain. Selenium concentrations of blood, hair, liver, kidney, spleen and diaphragm muscle were significantly increased as dietary Se level increased. Liver weight as a percentage of body weight was increased at the two highest dietary Se levels. Blood glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly increased by dietary treatment, while other blood variables were not affected. No signs of chronic Se poisoning were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
[A Project to Improve the Time-Effectiveness of Routine Morning Blood Tests].

BACKGROUND & PROBLEMS Morning blood sampling, conducted around 4am to 5am, is routinely ordered due to nothing-by-mouth (NPO) requirements and clinical practice norms. However, this routine may interrupt the normal sleep of patients and decrease the satisfaction of patients with the care received. However, our night-shift staff is not able to take all blood samples during this time, resulting in a high rate of overdue reporting. PURPOSE To reduce the overdue rate of laboratory result from 62.3% to less than 19.3%. RESOLUTION In 2013, we performed interventions including the process reengineering of blood sampling to meet the needs of laboratory result flows and the upgrading of equipment in our neurology ward. The reengineering strategies used included the redistribution of blood sampling times in order to decrease testing for unnecessary items. The equipment upgrades improved the ability of the carrier in the pneumatic tube systems to carry the chilled blood samples. An independent two-sample t-test was used to compare the overdue rate before and after the interventions. RESULTS The overall overdue rate for the blood sampling to laboratory flow improved from 62.3% before the intervention to 18.0% (t = 7.07, p < .001) after the intervention. Furthermore, the overdue rate for the testing done at the stat laboratory improved from 66.9% to 21.3% (t = 7.36, p < .001), while the overdue rate for the testing done at the non-stat laboratory improved from 52.4% to 17.8% (t = 5.37, p < .001). Besides, the satisfaction of both inpatients and nurses with regard to blood-sampling flow improved from 51% and 54.2%, respectively to 93% (t = 51.10, p < .001) and 94% (t = 12.26, p <.001). CONCLUSIONS Our process reengineering strategies and the upgrading of the pneumatic tube system successfully reduced the overdue rate for the blood sampling and increased the satisfaction of inpatients.
Paclitaxel in the treatment of patients with upper gastrointestinal carcinomas

New agents active against unresectable metastatic and locoregional carcinoma of the esophagus or stomach are needed to improve patient outcomes. Paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) appears to be active against both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. A phase II study of paclitaxel 250 mg/m2 administered by 24-hour intravenous infusion every 21 days with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (5 micrograms/kg/d subcutaneously 24 hours following paclitaxel) was conducted in such patients who had received no prior chemotherapy or biologic therapy. Of 33 patients with adenocarcinoma and 18 with squamous cell carcinoma, 16 (32%) had an objective response, including one complete response (CR); 11 others (22%) had minor responses. The CR, 11 of the partial responses (PRs), and six of the minor responses occurred among the 33 patients with adenocarcinoma. Granulocytopenia resulted in 11 hospitalizations in nine patients. Subsequently, paclitaxel (175 mg/m2 over 3 hours on day 1), cisplatin (20 mg/m2 days 1 through 5), and 5-fluorouracil (initially 1,000 mg/ m2, lowered to 750 mg/m2/d, by continuous infusion days 1 through 5) were administered every 28 days to patients with advanced adenocarcinoma (30) or squamous cell carcinoma (22) of the esophagus. Among 47 patients evaluable for response to date, four have had a CR and 17 a PR (overall response rate, 45%). Toxicity was moderate, and no treatment-related deaths occurred. Grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic toxicity was less frequent after the 5-fluorouracil dose was lowered. Response has been higher in squamous cell carcinoma patients. This combination should be explored further. In measurable metastatic gastric carcinoma, only one PR occurred among 20 previously untreated patients given paclitaxel 250 mg/m2 over 24 hours with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in a phase II Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study. Preliminary results from a phase II trial at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center exploring the single-agent activity of paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 every 21 days without routine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in previously untreated patients suggest definite, albeit low-level, activity against gastric carcinoma. Only one PR and three minor responses occurred among the first 15 patients who received paclitaxel in a 3-hour infusion. When the paclitaxel infusion was extended to 24 hours in this ongoing trial, three of the next 10 evaluable patients achieved a PR, with toxicity similar to that observed in other trials of paclitaxel at this dose range.
From Archives to Action: Zines, Participatory Culture, and Community Engagement in Asian America

As a pedagogical tool, zines exist at the intersection of radical history, analog creativity, participatory culture, and community engagement. This article highlights the importance of contextualizing zines within a history of social activism to shift the focus of zines from individualism and self motivation to their role in community empowerment and social justice. This is particularly relevant when teaching about the topic of Asian American zines and community engagement. The first half of this article discusses the use of Densho’s online archive of the complete print run of the Asian American movement periodical Gidra as a way to teach students about histories of Asian American independent publishing, racial formation, and community activism. The second part of this article moves from archives to practice, concerning how students can use the skills and knowledge that they learn from these archival materials and apply them to current events and community engagement projects surrounding gentrification and tenants’ rights in Los Angeles Chinatown.
Communication and moral conflict

Moral conflict, a common problem in modern society, occurs when groups argue from incommensurate positions in fractious debate. Such conflicts are characterized by persistence, predictable structure, and morally attenuated discourse. Responses to moral conflict may involve rhetorical eloquence, or the application of standards of good persuasion from within the moral tradition, but such communication has little effect outside of the moral order from which it emanates. The frustration arising from this pattern often leads to reciprocated diatribe and the use of violence. A potentially more constructive approach is transcendent eloquence, in which interveners or the conflicting parties themselves develop a new framework for understanding and comparing such conflicts. The ideas in this paper are based on a number of case studies, and the case of the New Christian Right and its critics is featured.
Surgical extraction of human dorsal root ganglia from organ donors and preparation of primary sensory neuron cultures

Primary cultures of rodent sensory neurons are widely used to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in pain, itch, nerve injury and regeneration. However, translation of these preclinical findings may be greatly improved by direct validation in human tissues. We have developed an approach to extract and culture human sensory neurons in collaboration with a local organ procurement organization (OPO). Here we describe the surgical procedure for extraction of human dorsal root ganglia (hDRG) and the necessary modifications to existing culture techniques to prepare viable adult human sensory neurons for functional studies. Dissociated sensory neurons can be maintained in culture for >10 d, and they are amenable to electrophysiological recording, calcium imaging and viral gene transfer. The entire process of extraction and culturing can be completed in <7 h, and it can be performed by trained graduate students. This approach can be applied at any institution with access to organ donors consenting to tissue donation for research, and is an invaluable resource for improving translational research.
Along-wind buffeting responses of wind turbines subjected to hurricanes considering unsteady aerodynamics of the tower

Abstract Most of the studies on wind turbine subjected to high winds, consider quasi-steady formulation for wind turbine parts. The objective of this paper is to investigate the along wind responses of a parked wind turbine subjected to hurricane forces by considering, first, the tower unsteady aerodynamics, and second, the recent observations and proposed models for hurricanes. For this purpose, quasi-steady formulation of aerodynamic forces on a parked wind turbine was modified by addressing unsteady aerodynamic effects on the wind turbine tower. A time domain approach for addressing the unsteady aerodynamics of the tower was proposed by using aerodynamic admittance function. The frequency dependent aerodynamic admittance function was addressed in time domain using rational functions (RF). This procedure was implemented in NREL-FAST package and the model was verified. In order to investigate the structural responses subjected to hurricane, the recent observations of the hurricane boundary layer winds as well as the models presented for hurricane turbulence energy were discussed. The unsteady analysis of wind turbine structure subjected to various hurricane turbulence models, resulted in the range of 29% smaller to 4.9% larger responses than quasi-steady analysis of conventional spectrum models presented in past literature and carried out by NREL-FAST module.
Potential decline in carbon carrying capacity under projected climate-wildfire interactions in the Sierra Nevada

Ecosystem carbon carrying capacity (CCC) is determined by prevailing climate and natural disturbance regimes, conditions that are projected to change significantly. The interaction of changing climate and its effects on disturbance regimes is expected to affect forest regeneration and growth, which may diminish forest carbon (C) stocks and uptake. We modeled landscape C dynamics over 590 years along the latitudinal gradient of the U.S. Sierra Nevada Mountains under climate and area burned by large wildfires projected by late 21st century. We assumed climate and wildfire stabilize at late-21st century conditions (2090-2100) to facilitate analysis of lags between warming and changing CCC. We show that compared with historical (1980-2010) climate and wildfire conditions, projected scenarios would drive a significant decrease of up to 73% in mean total ecosystem carbon (TEC) by the end of the 590-year simulation. Tree regeneration failure due to intensified growing season dryness and increased area burned would substantially decrease forested area, transitioning the system from C sink to source. Our results demonstrate the potential for a lower CCC in the system due to extensive vegetation type conversion from forest to non-forest types, and suggest a decline in the contribution of Sierra Nevada forests to U.S. C sink.
Motion compensation of L-band SAR using GNSS-INS

An experiment using the Vector Network Analyzer, modified from LiSALAB Ground-Based Synthetic Aperture Radar (GBSAR) system has been performed to evaluate the feasibility of constructing a mobile SAR system operating at L-band. Data was collected in a parking lot in Purdue University, West Lafayette. The system utilizes a GNSS-INS unit to acquire position information for assisting azimuth signal compression, and the acquired data was azimuth compressed with Range-Doppler Algorithm (RDA) [1]. We have demonstrated the feasibility of using a GNSS-INS system to correct the irregular motion of the Radar platform to improve accuracy in signal compression, resultant image with and without position correction has been shown as a comparison.
The computer simulation archive: development and current contents

The development history of the Computer Simulation Archive is described from its inception in 1998 to the present. An overlap of visions among the creators produces an asset for the simulation community and the North Carolina State University Libraries. Collections donated over this period have produced impressive growth. Usage statistics show a steady increase in access, and the simulation endowment has nearly tripled over the past six years. The commitment of the North Carolina State University Libraries staff and the strong, consistent support of the simulation community are the key factors in this record of success.
Bilateral absence of the cruciate ligaments with meniscal dysplasia: Unexpected diagnosis in a child with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Abstract Bilateral agenesis of the cruciate ligaments is a rare congenital anomaly. We report a unique case of a young girl who had congenital short femur and diagnosed with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and later discovered to have congenital absence of both anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and meniscal dysplasia in both the knees when MRI was performed at 11 years of age. The MRI was performed to evaluate knee laxity and persistent symptoms despite medical management and multiple steroid injections for arthritis treatment. This patient is one of the youngest with congenital absence of both the cruciate ligaments to be treated with ACL reconstruction. We highlight the unique radiographic imaging manifestations of congenital cruciate ligament agenesis and emphasize the role of MRI to confirm and depict additional intraarticular abnormalities.
Malaria and Victorian Fictions of Empire

The impact of malaria on humankind has been profound. Focusing on depictions of this iconic 'disease of empire' in nineteenth-century and postcolonial fiction, Jessica Howell shows that authors such as Charles Dickens, Henry James, H. Rider Haggard, Olive Schreiner and Rudyard Kipling did not simply adopt the discourses of malarial containment and cure offered by colonial medicine. Instead, these authors adapted and rewrote some common associations with malarial images such as swamps, ruins, mosquitoes, blood, and fever. They also made use of the unique potential of fiction by incorporating chronic, cyclical illness, bodily transformation and adaptation within the very structures of their novels. Howell's study also examines the postcolonial literature of Amitav Ghosh and Derek Walcott, arguing that these authors use the multivalent and subversive potential of malaria in order to rewrite the legacies of colonial medicine.
Enhanced whispering gallery mode sensors

Optical whispering gallery mode (WGM) biochemical sensors operate by tracking changes in resonant frequency as materials enter the evanescent near-field of the resonator. To achieve the smallest limit of detection, it is desirable for WGM sensors to exhibit as large a frequency shift as possible for a material of a given size and refractive index, as well as the ability to track as small a frequency shift as possible. Previously, plasmonic nanoantennas have been coupled to WGM resonators to increase the magnitude of resonance shifts via plasmonic enhancement of the electric field, however this approach also results in increased scattering from the WGM, which degrades its quality factor, making it less sensitive to extremely small frequency shifts. This degradation is caused by the ohmic and scattering dissipation caused by metallic nanoantennas. Using simulations, we show here that the precise positioning of nanoantennas coupled to a microtoroid WGM resonator can be used to overcome this drawback and achieve ultrahigh-Q plasmonic cavity modes simultaneously with electric field enhancement. It is shown that a nanoantenna composed of two similarly coupled nanorods supports higher Q modes than a single nanorod antenna. Our results have immediate application in the context of optical sensing.
MR IMAGING OF BREAST IMPLANTS

MR imaging has proved to be an excellent imaging modality in locating free silicone and evaluating an implant for rupture, with a sensitivity of approximately 94% and specificity of 97%. Silicone has a unique MR resonance frequency and long T1 and T2 relaxation times, which allows several MR sequences to provide excellent diagnostic images. The most commonly used sequences include T2-weighted, STIR, and chemical shift imaging (Figs. 3, 13, and 14). The T2-weighted and STIR sequences are often used in conjunction with chemical water suppression. The most reliable findings on MR images for detection of implant rupture include identification of the collapsed implant shell (linguine sign) and free silicone within the breast parenchyma.
Is the Latency from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Onset to Diagnosis Improving

Background Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neuropathologically defined disease with a broad clinical spectrum. It can initially be mistaken for other neurodegenerative diseases. Diagnosis of PSP earlier in the course may reduce its psychological and financial burden, permit earlier access to neuroprotective interventions, and avoid unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic measures. Our impression is that physicians are more aware of PSP in the 2010s than in the 1990s. This study tests that hypothesis using the latency from symptom onset to PSP diagnosis as a surrogate outcome. Methods We reviewed records of 385 patients with "possible" or "probable" PSP from 1990 to 2016 at the Movement Disorders Center, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. The time from symptom onset to diagnosis was calculated for each patient and labeled as latency. We used the Pearson correlation coefficient, Student's t-test, and ANOVA as appropriate. Results Our data show that the mean latency (SD) from symptom onset to diagnosis PSP, in months, was 43.76 (25.60) in the 1990s, 40.76 (28.73) in the 2000s, and 29.15 (16.80) in the 2010s (P < .001). There was also an inverse relationship between age at onset and latency (Pearson's r = -0.23, P < .001). This relationship did not affect the statistical significance of our main observation. Conclusion Our finding suggests that there is a progressive reduction in the latency over the past three decades. It may reflect increased awareness of PSP by physicians in our referral area.
Military Medicine and the Academic Surgery Gender Gap.

INTRODUCTION Gender disparity in academic medicine has been well described in the civilian sector. This has not yet been evaluated in the military health system where hundreds of female surgeons are practicing. Military service limits factors such as part time work and control over time spent away from family, which are often cited as contributors to the pay and promotion gap in civilian academic medicine. The military has explicit policies to limit discrimination based on gender. Pay between men and women is equal as it is based on rank and time in rank. One would expect to see less disparity in promotion through the academic ranks for military female surgeons given this otherwise equal treatment. This has not previously been objectively tracked or reported. It is beneficial to characterize the military academic medicine gender gap and benchmark against national data to define the academic gender gap and lay the groundwork for future work to identify factors contributing to the observed difference. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study was granted exemption from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) Internal Review Board (IRB). The Uniformed Services University (USU) Department of Surgery academic appointment list was reviewed to assess female representation in the categories of Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, and Other. Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) and the US Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) were assessed for total numbers of female surgeons on active duty, and numbers were compared with nationally published Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) data using a logistic regression model. RESULTS There was a higher proportion of women in academic positions in the civilian cohort than in the military cohort (OR: 1.84; CI: 1.53-2.21, p < .0001). This difference was observed at every level of academic achievement. A higher percentage of women were observed at lower levels of professorship than at higher levels; instructors were more likely to be women than assistant professor (OR: 1.44, CI:1.16-1.79), associate professor (OR: 2.24, CI: 1.77-2.84), or full professor (OR:4.61, CI: 3.57-5.94). CONCLUSIONS Fewer female surgeons in military medicine hold academic appointment when compared with their counterparts in civilian medicine. Similar to the civilian sector, military academic surgery also demonstrates less likelihood of female representation in higher academic stations. This discrepancy in representation follows a linear trend over the different ranks. This discrepancy has not been previously documented. The military offers a unique opportunity to study the issue of gender imbalance in academic promotion practices given its otherwise equal treatment of males and females. Additional studies will be necessary to understand uniformed female surgeons' barriers to academic advancement.
Phonon-Suppressed Auger Scattering of Charge Carriers in Defective Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides.

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) draw strong interest in materials science, with applications in optoelectronics and many other fields. Good performance requires high carrier...