cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective Alpha7 Nicotinic Receptor Agonist Increases Cardiac Function in Isolated Mouse Hearts by a Non-Nicotinic Mechanism

Selective alpha7 nicotinic receptor agonists, such as GTS-21, are known to have neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory actions, but the effect of these agents on the heart is not known. Therefore, we evaluated the actions of GTS-21 in isolated atria and isolated hearts from C57BL/6 mice. GTS-21 (1-100 μM) caused a concentration-dependent increase in amplitude of contractions and decrease in beating rate in isolated atria. Percent changes in rate and contractile force evoked by 30 μM GTS-21 were −14 ± 2 and +36 ± 11, respectively (n = 4). The onset of responses to GTS-21 was slower than would occur to acetylcholine and norepinephrine, and effects of GTS-21 were not blocked by atropine or atenolol. The impact of GTS-21 on left ventricular function was evaluated next in isolated hearts paced at 400 BPM. Treatment with 30 µM GTS-21 caused significant increases in contractile function: developed pressure (+30 ± 4%); peak systolic pressure (+16 ± 2%); dP/dtmax (+31 ± 6%). Diastolic pressure was also decreased (−60 ± 10%) while the rate of relaxation increased (-dP/dtmax, +36 ± 6%) with no sizable change in coronary perfusion pressure (p < 0.05 for all parameters, n = 4). Surprisingly, responses to GTS-21 were not affected by a selective alpha7 antagonist or the nonselective nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine, and there was no evidence of desensitization. Our data demonstrate that GTS enhances atrial and ventricular contractility and improves LV relaxation with a modest decrease in heart rate. GTS-21 cardiac actions occur by a mechanism that is independent of nicotinic receptors and autonomic nerves. The unique profile of cardiac effects for GTS-21 suggests its potential use in the setting of acute heart failure.
Electrochemistry and Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence of Quinoxaline Derivatives

We report the electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of donor−acceptor compounds containing a quinoxaline derivative as the central core coupled with fluorene (CFPQ, CFPP, and MFPQ) and triphenylamine moieties (MAPQ). Cyclic voltammetry of all four derivatives show reversible reduction waves (assigned to the formation of the radical anion) localized in the quinoxaline moiety (the acceptor group), whereas oxidation waves show behavior that depends upon the nature of the donor group. With a pair of strong donor groups, triphenylamine, (MAPQ), exhibits a two electron oxidation wave due to the two noninteracting donor moieties. The fluorene derivatives (CFPQ, CFPP, and MFPQ) show less reversible oxidation waves at scan rates of 100 mV/s, but CFPP and CFPQ become reversible at higher scan rates. In their absorbance and emission spectra, all of the compounds, except MFPQ, exhibit large Stokes shifts, which are related to the rearrangement of the excited-state and also to so...
Low-complexity distributed spectrum sharing among multiple cognitive users

The problem of sharing multiple primary channels among multiple cognitive users is considered. The occupancy of each primary channel is modeled by a continuous time on-off process with exponentially distributed idle (off) period and arbitrarily distributed busy (on) period. Each cognitive user follows a slotted sensing-before-transmission access protocol, with the capability of sensing one primary channel in each slot. To limit the interference to the primary users, the transmissions of cognitive users on each channel are subject to a prescribed collision constraint. In the absence of sensing error, it is shown that a distributed spectrum sharing scheme with low complexity achieves the throughput region under tight collision constraints. Cognitive access with sensing error is also investigated and optimal transmission policy is obtained for the orthogonalized periodic sensing. Packet level simulations are conducted to validate the performance of the spectrum sharing scheme under various channel models as well as perfect and imperfect channel sensing.
A Stochastic Clustering Auction (SCA) for Centralized and Distributed Task Allocation in Multi-agent Teams

This paper considers the problem of optimal task allocation for heterogeneous teams, e.g., teams of heterogeneous robots or human-robot teams. It is well known that this problem is NP hard and hence computationally feasible approaches must develop an approximate solution. This paper proposes a solution via a Stochastic Clustering Auction (SCA) that uses a Markov chain search process along with simulated annealing. The original developments are for a centralized auction, which may be feasible at the beginning of a mission. The problem of developing a distributed auction is also considered. It can be shown that if the distributed auction is such that the auctioneer allocates tasks to optimize the regional cost, then the distributed auction will always decrease the global cost or have it remain constant, which provides the theoretical basis for distributed SCA. Both centralized SCA and distributed SCA are demonstrated via simulations. In addition, simulation results show that by appropriate choice of the parameter in SCA representing the rate of “temperature” decrease, the number of iterations (i.e., auction rounds) in SCA can be dramatically reduced while still achieving reasonable performance. It is also shown via simulation that in relatively few iterations (8 to 35), SCA can improve the performance of sequential or parallel auctions, which are relatively computationally inexpensive, by 6%-12%. Hence, it is complimentary to these existing auction approaches.
Computational analysis of the cathepsin B inhibitors activities through LR‐MMPBSA binding affinity calculation based on docked complex

Cathepsin B, a ubiquitous lysosomal cysteine protease, is involved in many biological processes related to several human diseases. Inhibitors targeting the enzyme have been investigated as possible diseases treatments. A set of 37 compounds were recently found active in a high throughput screening assay to inhibit the catalytic activity of Cathepsin B, with chemical structures and biological test results available to the public in the PubChem BioAssay Database (AID 820). In this study, we compare these experimental activities to the results of theoretical predictions from binding affinity calculation with a LR-MM-PNSA approach based on docked complexes. Strong correlations (r2 = 0.919 and q2 = 0.887 for the best) are observed between the theoretical predictions and experimental biological activity. The models are cross-validated by four independent predictive experiments with randomly split compounds into training and test sets. Our results also show that the results based on protein dimer show better correlations with experimental activity when compared to results based on monomer in the in silico calculations. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009
Differential contributions of central and effector memory T cells to recall responses.

Although the absolute number of memory CD8+ T cells established in the spleen following antigen encounter remains stable for many years, the relative capacity of these cells to mediate recall responses is not known. Here we used a dual adoptive transfer approach to demonstrate a progressive increase in the quality of memory T cell pools in terms of their ability to proliferate and accumulate at effector sites in response to secondary pathogen challenge. This temporal increase in efficacy occurred in CD62Llo (effector memory) and CD62Lhi (central memory) subpopulations, but was most prominent in the CD62Lhi subpopulation. These data indicate that the contribution of effector memory and central memory T cells to the recall response changes substantially over time.
AutoMentor: Artificial Intelligent Mentor in Educational Game

AutoMentor is an artificial intelligent mentor who guides groups of players to accomplish tasks through online interaction including chats and E-mails in a serious game called “Land Science”. The architecture of AutoMentor consists of such analysis modules as speech act classifier, newness, relevance, epistemic network analysis and state transition network. The analyses of these modules make human mentor to be replaced by automated mentor agent. The forms of conversation among mentor agent and groups of students involve multi-logues and mutli-turns.
C1q limits dendritic cell differentiation and activation by engaging LAIR-1

C1q, the first component of complement, and leukocyte-associated Ig-like receptor 1 (LAIR-1; CD305), an inhibitory receptor expressed on hematopoietic cells, have both been associated with arrest of monocyte-derived dendritic cell (DC) differentiation and inhibition of Toll-like receptor activity in plasmacytoid DCs. Defects in both molecules have been implicated in susceptibility to, and progression of, systemic lupus erythematosus. Inhibitory signaling partners for C1q on monocytes and DCs remain undefined. Because C1q contains collagen-like motifs and LAIR-1 is a universal collagen receptor, we hypothesized that C1q is a functional ligand for LAIR-1. Binding analyses in cell-free systems and on the cell membrane demonstrate that C1q and its collagen tail associate with LAIR-1 and LAIR-2 (CD306), a soluble inhibitor of LAIR-1. Both C1q and its collagen tail trigger phosphorylation of LAIR-1 immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs) in monocytes. Functional analyses show that C1q-mediated inhibition of monocyte-DC differentiation and C1q-mediated inhibition of IFN-α production by plasmacytoid DCs were both reversed by LAIR-2. Moreover, C1q-mediated inhibition of DC differentiation was reversed by LAIR-1 siRNA. Thus, C1q is a functional ligand for LAIR-1 restricting immune cell differentiation and activation. The discovery of C1q interactions with LAIR-1 and LAIR-2 lends much needed insight into molecular mechanisms operating to prevent the loss of tolerance, particularly in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Small Business Strategies: Refining Strategic Management Theory for the Entrepreneurial and Small Business Contexts

Research in entrepreneurship has debated the differences between entrepreneurial and small business ventures for quite some time, arguing that entrepreneurial ventures are small growth-oriented, strategically-innovative firms, while small business ventures are neither growth oriented nor strategically innovative. However, scholars often treat both types of ventures analogously in terms of both construct and theory, which poses clear problems given their differences. As a result, we may have missed opportunities to advance both our understanding of new firm survival and growth and our understanding of how theoretical perspectives in strategic management apply to entrepreneurial and small business ventures. Since we understand far less about the strategies of small firms than the strategies of large firms, these problems present a substantial opportunity to refine strategic management theory for the entrepreneurial and small business contexts. Thus, in this study we examine the extent to which small firms may engage in strategic pursuits of competitive advantage to determine the applicability of strategic management theories to the contexts. We do so by empirically examining the types of strategies employed by entrepreneurial and small business ventures. Contrary to common assumptions, we find the essence of small firm strategy is to stay small. We discuss the implications of our findings for future research and practice.
Tuyour al-Amal and Informal Education for Syrian refugee children in Lebanon

Many of our readers already know that Lebanon, a country of fewer than 6 million people, has reached a breaking point in its capacity to host the almost 1.2 million Syrian refugees that have streamed into Lebanon as a result of the horrifying civil war in Syria these past three and a half years. What many of us may not know is that Mustafa al-Haj, a Syrian graduate of the University of Damascus (BA, 2010) and refugee, is the co-founder and principal of Tuyour al-Amal (lit. “Birds of Hope,”) an elementary, junior high, and high school desperately reaching out to US, European, Lebanese, and other Arab media, individuals, and NGOs to cobble together funding to keep the school afloat. Their Syrian curriculum and their innovative art therapy program are pioneering in the informal education system for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and their classes are showing positive changes in the children who enroll and continue to attend.
Kinetic Study and Analytical Application of the Hexadecyltrimethylammonium Bromide-Catalyzed Reaction of l-Fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene with Amines

Arylation of amines by reaction with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene is catalyzed by micelles of cetrimonium bromide. This catalysis has been exploited to reduce the analysis time in the spectrophotometric determination of amines as their dinitrophenyl derivatives. The kinetics of the catalysis were studied for the five amines: alanine, phenylalanine, aniline, 4-methylaniline, and 4-methoxyaniline. The dependence of rate constant on surfactant concentration can be quantitatively accounted for by Berezin's model, in which uptake of the amine and the 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene by the micelle is described as a partitioning phenomenon for both species. An alternative model is developed in which one reactant partitions into the micellar phase and the other binds to the micelle with 1:1 stoichiometry; the two models are formally equivalent. Intrinsic catalytic rate constants and binding constants were evaluated. About one-third to one-half of the maximum observed micellar acceleration is attributed to a true micellar catalysis, the remainder being ascribed to an increase in local reactant concentrations in the micelle.
Testosterone Regulation of 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases.∗

SummaryCastration of male guinea pigs produced a decrease in activities of DPN and TPN 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases of the kidneys. Subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate for 14 days restored activities of kidney enzymes. Extension of injections to 65 days gave no further changes. Dehydrogenases of liver were not affected by castration or androgen administration. Ratio of DPN to TPN dehydrogenase was approximately 2:1 in liver and 1:4 in kidney. DPN enzyme activity of liver was approximately 10 times that of kidney.
The Sec7 N-terminal regulatory domains facilitate membrane-proximal activation of the Arf1 GTPase

The Golgi complex is the central sorting compartment of eukaryotic cells. Arf guanine nucleotide exchange factors (Arf-GEFs) regulate virtually all traffic through the Golgi by activating Arf GTPase trafficking pathways. The Golgi Arf-GEFs contain multiple autoregulatory domains, but the precise mechanisms underlying their function remain largely undefined. We report a crystal structure revealing that the N-terminal DCB and HUS regulatory domains of the Arf-GEF Sec7 form a single structural unit. We demonstrate that the established role of the N-terminal region in dimerization is not conserved; instead, a C-terminal autoinhibitory domain is responsible for dimerization of Sec7. We find that the DCB/HUS domain amplifies the ability of Sec7 to activate Arf1 on the membrane surface by facilitating membrane insertion of the Arf1 amphipathic helix. This enhancing function of the Sec7 N-terminal domains is consistent with the high rate of Arf1-dependent trafficking to the plasma membrane necessary for maximal cell growth.
Atomic-Absorption Spectrophotometry in Mineral and Trace-Element Studies in Man

Analyses of calcium, magnesium, and zinc in the diet and in urine and stool have been performed with the atomic-absorption spectrophotometer. Complete metabolic balance studies of calcium, magnesium, and zinc were performed under constant metabolic conditions in man during different intake levels of these elements. These studies have led to a better understanding of the interrelationship of minerals and trace elements in man.
Widespread JNK-dependent alternative splicing induces a positive feedback loop through CELF2-mediated regulation of MKK7 during T-cell activation.

Alternative splicing is prevalent among genes encoding signaling molecules; however, the functional consequence of differential isoform expression remains largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that, in response to T-cell activation, the Jun kinase (JNK) kinase MAP kinase kinase 7 (MKK7) is alternatively spliced to favor an isoform that lacks exon 2. This isoform restores a JNK-docking site within MKK7 that is disrupted in the larger isoform. Consistently, we show that skipping of MKK7 exon 2 enhances JNK pathway activity, as indicated by c-Jun phosphorylation and up-regulation of TNF-α. Moreover, this splicing event is itself dependent on JNK signaling. Thus, MKK7 alternative splicing represents a positive feedback loop through which JNK promotes its own signaling. We further show that repression of MKK7 exon 2 is dependent on the presence of flanking sequences and the JNK-induced expression of the RNA-binding protein CELF2, which binds to these regulatory elements. Finally, we found that ∼25% of T-cell receptor-mediated alternative splicing events are dependent on JNK signaling. Strikingly, these JNK-dependent events are also significantly enriched for responsiveness to CELF2. Together, our data demonstrate a widespread role for the JNK–CELF2 axis in controlling splicing during T-cell activation, including a specific role in propagating JNK signaling.
Evaluation of V/STOL Research Aircraft Design

The evaluation and evolution of direct jet lift V/STOL transport aircraft designs are discussed. The V/STOL transport design selected as an example is a lift-fan design that was evaluated as a candidate configuration for a possible future V/STOL research transport. The paper includes discussion of potential advanced V/STOL landing approach profiles as key design requirements for V/STOL aircraft, description and experimental results of an integrated propulsion/control system designed to achieve desired advanced V/STOL near-terminal operating capabilities, and results from evaluating V/STOL designs on piloted moving-base simulators. This paper discusses use of the piloted moving-base simulator as a design tool for evolving satisfactory V/STOL stabilization and propulsion/control systems. Included are problems and solutions identified during simulation of simultaneous decelerating/descent steep curved landing approaches under instrument flight conditions. Simulation results are also compared to flight results obtained with the DO-31 V/STOL research transport.
CHO expressed recombinant human lactoferrin as an adjuvant for BCG.

Lactoferrin (LF), an iron binding protein with immune modulatory activities, has adjuvant activity to enhance vaccine efficacy. Tuberculosis (TB) is a pulmonary disease caused by the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Progressive TB disease is clinically defined by damaging pulmonary pathology, a result of inflammation due to immune reactivity. The current vaccine for TB, an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), has only limited efficacy to prevent adult pulmonary TB. This study examines a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) expressed recombinant human LF (rHLF) to boost efficacy of the BCG vaccine and delay early pathology post infectious challenge. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with BCG, or BCG admixed with either rHLF or bovine LF (bLF; internal control), or remained unvaccinated. Mice were then aerosol challenged with Erdman MTB. All vaccinated mice demonstrated decreased organ bacterial load up to 19 weeks post infection compared with non-vaccinated controls. Furthermore, mice receiving bLF or rHLF supplemented BCG vaccines showed a modest decrease in lung pathology developed over time, compared to the BCG vaccine alone. While mice vaccinated with BCG/rHLF demonstrated increased general lung inflammation at day 7, it occurred without noticeable increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines. At later times, decreased pathology in the rHLF groups correlated with decreased inflammatory cytokines. Splenic recall to BCG antigens showed BCG/rHLF vaccination increased production of IFN-γ, IL-6, and GM-CSF compared to naive, BCG, and BCG/bLF groups. Analysis of T cell stimulating functions of bone marrow derived macrophages and dendritic cells treated with BCG/bLF or BCG/rHLF showed decreases in IL-10 production when co-cultured with sensitized CD4 and CD8 T cells, compared to those cultured with macrophages/dendritic cells treated with BCG without LF. These results indicate that addition of rHLF to the BCG vaccine can modulate development of host pathology early post infectious challenge, most likely through host immune regulation affecting hypersensitive responses.
SELECTIVE LATE INA INHIBITION BY GS967 EXERTS POTENT SUPPRESSION OF CATECHOLAMINE-INDUCED VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA

Catecholamines can elicit early and delayed afterdepolarizations (EADs and DADs), resulting in ventricular tachyarrhythmias. As late sodium current (INa) inhibition suppresses EADs and DADs, we examined whether GS967, a selective inhibitor of late INa that is devoid of beta-adrenergic blocking
The Down Syndrome Information Act: Balancing the Advances of Prenatal Testing Through Public Policy

Abstract Since the dawn of prenatal testing in the 1970s, concerns have been raised over its administration to respect a mother's autonomy as well as the expressive critique against those with the tested-for condition. Advances in prenatal testing have made it such that more mothers than ever are given a test result of Down syndrome, yet are not provided the rest of the information recommended by professional guidelines. In response, first federal legislation and then, increasingly, state legislation is requiring that this information be provided to expectant mothers. Though receiving broad bipartisan support in passage, some of the statutes have received criticism. These public policy measures will be surveyed and evaluated as to their relative merits and limitations.
Eustenopus villosus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for Biological Control of Yellow Starthistle (Asteraceae: Cardueae) in North America

The host specificity of Eustenopus villosus (Boheman) was studied in the laboratory using field-collected adults from Greece and overwintered progeny of these adults. No-choice and two-choice host specificity tests were carried out in the laboratory. Thirty-four plant species, in addition to yellow starthistle ( Centaurea solstitialis L.) (as the control) from Greece and the United States, were tested. Under no-choice test conditions in the laboratory, adults showed to some degree a rather broad feeding spectrum but with heaviest feeding on yellow starthistle. Oviposition was restricted to some species in the genus Centaurea , with heaviest oviposition on yellow starthistle. Under two-choice conditions (test plant caged with yellow starthistle control), oviposition occurred only on yellow starthistle. The literature on field hosts and host specificity tests indicate a high level of larval host specificity to yellow starthistle. A laboratory study showed that the combined effects of adult and larval feeding on yellow starthistle can reduce seed production by 98.8% under laboratory conditions; this also indicates that the species has excellent potential as a biological control agent.
Operating room fires: part II. optimizing safety.

Background:The second part of the authors' study on operating room fires analyzes the construct of the nasal cannula used during facial surgery for patients under conscious sedation with supplemental oxygen. This prospective study compares two common styles of nasal cannulas with a nasopharyngeal sy
An Attracticide for Control of Amyelois transitella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Almonds

A wind-tunnel bioassay was used in conjunction with field trapping to determine long-range behavioral response of navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker), females to almond by-products and to assess potential for developing an attracticide by combining these materials with pyrethroids. Crude almond oil (CAO) was 10-fold more effective in attracting navel orangeworm females, on a per-weight basis, than almond presscake (PC); the combination of PC with CAO elicited no greater response than did CAO alone. Mummy almonds, which are those that remain on the tree after harvest, provide the primary sites for oviposition by A. transitella females in the spring, but CAO attracted twice as many females as did larvae-infested mummy almonds and 6.5-fold more than did uninfested mummies. Upwind-flight response to almond materials seemed to be restricted to gravid females, as these materials evoked no response in either virgin males or virgin females. When CAO was combined with pyrethroids, upwind attraction was not significantly affected by either 0.1 or 0.5% formulations of either permethrin or cypermethrin; however, response was reduced when either of these compounds was present at a 1% level. Fenvalerate did not interfere with response to CAO, even at the 1% level. Mortality studies of females attracted to a formulation of nonracemic fenvalerate with CAO showed greatest efficacy (90% mortality) when the toxicant was present at a 2.5% concentration.
Clinical value of three-dimensional ultrasound with OmniV iew in the diagnosis of absence of nasal bone in early pregnancye

Objective To investigate the clinical application value of Omni View(a new three-dimensional ultrasound technology) in the diagnosis of absence of nasal bone in early pregnancy. Methods Three hundred pregnant women who underwent routine ultrasound examination in our hospital were enrolled in the study, which were divided into four groups according to the fetal crown rump length: 45~54 mm(65 cases), 55~64 mm(74 cases), 65~74 mm(85 cases), and75~84 mm(76 cases), respectively. The nasal bone was observed and analyzed of by applying two-dimensional ultrasound and three-dimensional ultrasound with Omni View. The display rates of nasal bone were compared between groups, and the images of absence of the nasal bone were analyzed. Results 1 The display rate of each group of Omni View for fetal nasal bone was slightly higher than that of two-dimensional ultrasound(except 55~64 mm group,with the same display rate), but there was no statistically significant difference(P0.05). 2 The total display rate of Omni View on fetal nasal bone was slightly higher than that of two-dimensional ultrasound, with no statistically significant difference(P0.05). For two-dimensional ultrasound, 6 cases does not show the fetal nasal bone in the median sagittal plane on the face. However, for the 6 cases, Omni View can draw the anatomical lines on referenced facial sagittal plane, obtain the retronasal triangle coronal and its perpendicular to the axial plane, then display the fetal nasal bone. Besides, 7 cases did not display the fetal nasal bone in both two-dimensional ultrasound and Omni View, which were diagnosed as nasal bone a bsence. Conclusion Three dimensional ultrasound with Omni View has the advantage of simple operation, and can provide more diagnostic information of the nasal bone based on two-dimensional ultrasound, as well as reduce dependence on operator's skill and experience. It provides a new idea and method for the early diagnosis of absence of nasal bone and serves as an important supplement of two-dimensional ultrasonography.
Black Men and the Digital Divide

This chapter focuses on the role adult educators can play in assisting Black men to overcome the challenges faced in accessing and using digital technology and acquiring appropriate skills in a digital society.
Surface-Anchored Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Orthogonal Gradient Networks

We present a versatile synthetic route leading toward generating surface-attached polyacrylamide gels, in which the cross-link density varies continuously and gradually across the substrate in two orthogonal directions. We employ free radical polymerization to synthesize random copolymers comprising ∼5% of photoactive methacrylyloxybenzophenone (MABP), ∼5% of thermally active styrene sulfonyl azide (SSAz), and ∼90% of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) units. The presence of MABP and SSAz in the copolymer facilitates control over the cross-link density of the gel in an orthogonal manner using photoactivated and thermally activated cross-linking chemistries, respectively. Spectroscopic ellipsometry is employed to determine the degree of swelling of the gel in water and methanol as a function of position on the substrate. Network swelling varies continuously and gradually across the substrate and is high in regions of low gel fractions and low in regions of high gel fractions.
SU-C-209-03: Anti-Scatter Grid-Line Artifact Minimization for Removing the Grid Lines for Three Different Grids Used with a High Resolution CMOS Detector

Purpose: Demonstrate the effectiveness of an anti-scatter grid artifact minimization method by removing the grid-line artifacts for three different grids when used with a high resolution CMOS detector. Method: Three different stationary x-ray grids were used with a high resolution CMOS x-ray detector (Dexela 1207, 75 µm pixels, sensitivity area 11.5cm × 6.5cm) to image a simulated artery block phantom (Nuclear Associates, Stenosis/Aneurysm Artery Block 76–705) combined with a frontal head phantom used as the scattering source. The x-ray parameters were 98kVp, 200mA, and 16ms for all grids. With all the three grids, two images were acquired: the first for a scatter-less flat field including the grid and the second of the object with the grid which may still have some scatter transmission. Because scatter has a low spatial frequency distribution, it was represented by an estimated constant value as an initial approximation and subtracted from the image of the object with grid before dividing by an average frame of the grid flat-field with no scatter. The constant value was iteratively changed to minimize residual grid-line artifact. This artifact minimization process was used for all the three grids. Results: Anti-scatter grid lines artifacts were successfully eliminated in all the three final images taken with the three different grids. The image contrast and CNR were also compared before and after the correction, and also compared with those from the image of the object when no grid was used. The corrected images showed an increase in CNR of approximately 28%, 33% and 25% for the three grids, as compared to the images when no grid at all was used. Conclusion: Anti-scatter grid-artifact minimization works effectively irrespective of the specifications of the grid when it is used with a high spatial resolution detector. Partial support from NIH Grant R01-EB002873 and Toshiba Medical Systems Corp.
A 46-year-old woman with abdominal pain, ascites, and a pelvic mass

Presentation of Case A 46-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of abdominal pain. She was well until the morning of admission, when she experienced the abrupt onset of diffuse abdominal pain, without nausea or vomiting. She passed a normal stool that morning. She was brought to the hospital. The patient was a native of Canada and was married, with one child. There was a history of an abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and incidental appendectomy, performed 15 years earlier because of an ovarian cyst. She had consumed sushi in recent days, had used conjugated estrogens since the hysterectomy, . . .
Current Applications of Supercontinuum Light

Since the first observation of supercontinuum (SC) light in 1970 by Alfano and Shapiro (1970), numerous applications have emerged. The first application of SC was in inverse Raman scattering (Alfano and Shapiro, 1971) and later for time-resolved laser spectroscopy of liquids and solids. In the previous edition of the book published in 2006, Dorsinville et al. (2006) reviewed many supercontinuum light applications of time resolved absorption spectroscopy (in the areas of solid state physics, chemistry, and biology), time resolved excitation spectroscopy (in the areas of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering, and Raman induced Phase conjugation), as well as optical pulse compression. Dorsinville et al. also explored future applications in ranging, imaging, optical computational switches, atmospheric remote sensing, kinetics of nonlinearities in solids, and optical fiber measurements. This chapter does not focus on these previously reviewed topics. Interested readers can refer to the second edition of the book published in 2006.
Asset Allocation, Credit Regulation, and Banking Supervision

Chapter 3 brought to the reader’s attention two of the basic functions of central banks: monetary policy, which aims at establishing the right money supply for the economy, and the fight against inflation to safeguard the value of money earned and saved by people and companies. Chapter 4 pressed the point that money has a cost which in nominal terms is expressed by the interest rate established by the central monetary institution. It also explained why currency exchange risks and other factors impact on the cost of money.
Abstract 209: The effect of heme influx on initiation and tumorigenesis of NSCLC

Heme is a central molecule for mitochondrial function and for all processes involved in oxygen utilization. Heme serves as a prosthetic group or as a cofactor for a number of oxidative phosphorylation enzymes and other oxygen-utilizing hemoproteins. Heme also directly regulates the synthesis, translocation and assembly of these enzyme complexes. Most, if not all, human cells can synthesize and uptake heme from the circulation. A number of epidemiological studies have shown that high heme intake is associated with increased risk of cancer, including lung cancer. Recent studies carried out in our lab showed intensified mitochondrial respiration and increased levels of heme and hemoproteins in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Together, these experimental and epidemiological studies strongly suggest that heme is an “oncometabolite.” To assess the status of heme metabolism in cancer cells, we performed a series of experiments in NSCLC cells and compared the results with an immortalized normal lung cell line, HBEC30KT. We used Zinc protoporphyrin, an analogue of heme to measure the level of heme uptake. We found that heme uptake as well as heme synthesis are significantly elevated in all NSCLC cells compared to HBEC. The rate of heme degradation was also measured in these cell lines. Previously, our lab demonstrated that lowering intracellular heme levels selectively decreases oxygen consumption in NSCLC cells and inhibits cell migration and colony formation. Experiments are underway to test ways to alter intracellular heme availability and characterize their effects on NSCLC tumor growth and metastasis. Citation Format: Sagar Sohoni, Md Maksudul Alam, Chantal Vidal, Jagmohan Hooda, Li Zhang. The effect of heme influx on initiation and tumorigenesis of NSCLC. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 209.
In the Orbit of Islam and Arabism

In a hitherto little-known country, adjoining the province to which Lebanon and Palestine belonged, was born about A.D. 570 to a cameleer father a child known to history by his honorific name Muhammad (“highly praised”), a name given today to more children than any other. Mecca, the barren city of his birth, can now be used as a common noun for any place sought by groups for pilgrimage or some other object. The city to which he and his small band of followers migrated, almost as refugees, changed its original name to Medina (al-Madinah, “the city”); the year of his migration (hijrah, hegira), 622, marked the beginning of a new calendar for Moslems. A.H. (anno Hegirae) is used by Moslems all over the world as A.D. by Christians. Hegira (small h) has come to mean exodus, flight. The religion founded by Muhammad, Islam (“surrender” to the will of God), is now the religion of some 430,000,000 scattered all over the globe. The book he, an unschooled man, produced (Koran, al Q,ur’an, “reading”, “recitation”) is considered by these people the literal word of God, dictated to his Messenger by Gabriel and embodying all theology, science and philosophy.
‘You aren’t from around here’: race, masculinity, and rural transgender men

AbstractBoth scholarly and everyday understandings of transgender people tend to assume that they can only live well in urban places, yet there is little research on the transgender people actually living in rural communities. This article uses an intersectional analysis of 45 interviews conducted between 2010 and 2013 with transgender men living in the Southeast and Midwest United States to understand how some rural transgender people may not necessarily and automatically fare worse than those in cities. Indeed, these data demonstrate that a more productive question might be, which transgender people integrate into rural communities? The reported experiences of trans men suggest that the claims to sameness that are crucial to inclusion in rural communities are articulated centrally through whiteness and enacting appropriate rural working-class heterosexual masculinities. The claim to sameness allows for a measure of acceptance in rural communities under economic and demographic strain in the twenty-first...
Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiologic Abnormality (Sciwora)

Spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) is a spinal cord injury (SCI) without fractures or bony malalignment on either pain radiographs or computed tomography (CT) scans. SCIWORA is most commonly seen in the pediatric age group.
Lack of chemopreventive activity of lycopene in the Wistar-Unilever rat prostate cancer model

3906 Several epidemiology studies have identified an inverse association between consumption of tomato-based products and prostate cancer risk. Although this relationship has not been a universal finding, the possible activity of lycopene and/or other tomato components as inhibitors of prostate carcinogenesis remains a compelling hypothesis. The present study was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that consumption of lycopene protects against prostate cancer induction in rats. A preliminary diet tolerance study identified no clinical evidence of toxicity when lycopene was administered at levels of up to 5000 mg/kg diet. In blood samples collected after six weeks of exposure, plasma lycopene demonstrated a linear increase with dose between 0 and 5000 mg/kg diet. Based on a multiple of presumed human exposure, lycopene doses of 500 and 2500 mg/kg diet were selected for use in the prostate cancer chemoprevention study. In the chemoprevention study, hormone-dependent prostate cancers were induced in male Wistar-Unilever rats by a sequential regimen of antiandrogen –androgen –chemical carcinogen –androgen. Rats were treated with cyproterone acetate (50 mg/kg/day for 21 days via gavage) followed by testosterone propionate (100 mg/kg/day for 3 days via subcutaneous injection). Sixty hours after the first dose of testosterone propionate, rats (40 to 42 per group) rats received a single intravenous injection of N -methyl- N -nitrosourea [MNU; 30 mg/kg body weight]. Beginning one week post-MNU, chronic androgen stimulation was provided by 2 subcutaneous pellets containing 40 mg of crystalline testosterone; pellets were replaced at intervals of 6 months. Dietary administration of lycopene was initiated one week post-MNU, and was continued until the termination of the study at 13 months. Accessory sex glands were collected from all study animals at necropsy, and cancer incidence was determined by histopathologic evaluation of interrupted step sections prepared from all glands. Dietary administration of lycopene conferred no protection against prostate carcinogenesis in this study. In comparison to a total cancer incidence of 63% (all accessory sex glands) in dietary controls, total cancer incidences of 81% and 69% were observed in groups fed the low and high doses of lycopene. Similarly, cancers that were clearly limited to the dorsolateral/anterior prostate were found in 48% of dietary controls versus 60% and 43% of rats in groups fed the low and high doses of lycopene, respectively. None of these differences was significant at the 5% level of confidence. Cancer incidence in the seminal vesicle was less than 15% in all groups. These data do not support the hypothesis that lycopene is a potent inhibitor of prostate carcinogenesis. (Supported by NO1-CN-95113 from the NCI.)
Dyslexia — Diagnosis and Treatment from the Perspective of a Reading Specialist

What happens in actual remedial instruction with dyslexics has important implications for the evaluating neuropsychologist, and communication between the educator and the clinical evaluator can be useful in diagnosing and making recommendations for follow-up from neurological, psychological, and educational data. Using a case study with a neuropsychological evaluation report and spelling tests, this paper contrasts the perspectives of the reading teacher and neuropsychologist. Unlike the clinical evaluator, the reading specialist sees the patient over a long period of time in treatment and becomes familiar with problems and progress in a way the single-session evaluator cannot.
Particle shape impacts export and fate in the ocean through interactions with the globally abundant appendicularian Oikopleura dioica.

Marine microbes exhibit highly varied, often non-spherical shapes that have functional significance for essential processes, including nutrient acquisition and sinking rates. There is a surprising absence of data, however, on how cell shape affects grazing, which is crucial for predicting the fate of oceanic carbon. We used synthetic spherical and prolate spheroid microbeads to isolate the effect of particle length-to-width ratios on grazing and fate in the ocean. Here we show that the shape of microbe-sized particles affects predation by the appendicularian Oikopleura dioica, a globally abundant marine grazer. Using incubation experiments, we demonstrate that shape affects how particles are retained in the house and that the minimum particle diameter is the key variable determining how particles are ingested. High-speed videography revealed the mechanism behind these results: microbe-sized spheroids oriented with the long axis parallel to fluid streamlines, matching the speed and tortuosity of spheres of equivalent width. Our results suggest that the minimum particle diameter determines how elongated prey interact with the feeding-filters of appendicularians, which may help to explain the prevalence of ellipsoidal cells in the ocean, since a cell’s increased surface-to-volume ratio does not always increase predation. We provide the first evidence that grazing by appendicularians can cause non-uniform export of different shaped particles, thereby influencing particle fate.
G107(P) Portal vein obstruction: The challenge of timely diagnosis

Background Portal vein obstruction (PVO) due to thrombosis with cavernoma formation is a major cause of portal hypertension. Significant morbidity occurs due to oesophageal variceal bleeding. Early diagnosis provides an opportunity for prophylactic intervention. Aim evaluate the spectrum of clinical presentation of PVO, and identify opportunities for early diagnosis. Methods Children born after 1990 with final diagnosis of PVO referred to single centre 2000 – 2015 were studied. Data collected retrospectively: initial symptoms, signs and investigations, incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and time to diagnosis. Results Fifty-six children identified, one excluded (insufficient data). Age at presentation 3y 10m (1 m 13y 8 m), 26 male. Risk factors identified in 28/55 (51%): umbilical vein instrumentation (12), congenital heart disease (10) other congenital anomalies (6). Four patterns of presentation identified: (a) incidental finding of PVO on US (n=9); (b) neonatal jaundice +/ascites with US diagnosis of PVO (n=4); (c) upper GI bleed (n=22) and (d) ‘haematological presentation’ with splenomegaly and/or symptoms/signs of hypersplenism (n=20). Of 22 presenting with GI bleeding (mean age 3y 6m, 6m–10y6m) 15 had diagnosis established during admission. Seven were discharged without PVO identified: all readmitted after median 1m (7d – 18m) with further bleeding, after which diagnosis established. Three with GI bleed at presentation were initially referred to haematology for investigation of thrombocytopenia, two undergoing bone marrow (BM) assessment. Of 20 children (mean age 5y 2m, 17 m-13 y) with ‘haematological presentation’, 13 (65%) were referred to haematology (11) or immunology (2). BM assessment performed in 9/20 (45%) was normal. Only 9/20 (45%) in this group had diagnosis of PVO established within 2w of presentation. In 11 median interval to diagnosis was 10 m (2m – 6y). Of these, 10 had a significant GI bleed during the interval to diagnosis. Conclusion PVO has wide spectrum of presentation. Associated risk factors in 51% may aid diagnosis. Diagnosis was delayed in 18/42 (43%), most frequently in those with ‘haematological’ presentation (55%) but also in those with GI bleed (32%). Carefully focussed imaging by US with Doppler and/or other radiological modalities should be undertaken in a child with history, symptoms or signs compatible with PVO.
Measuring and modeling microclimate impacts of Sequoiadendron giganteum

Abstract The University of Portland (UP) in Portland, Oregon (USA) removed four giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) from UP’s campus in 2017 for a construction project. The loss of these trees provided an opportunity to measure how sequoias influence microclimates, with a goal of quantifying their roles in mitigating urban heat island (UHI) effects, and thus promoting preservation of these and similar trees everywhere. Our study applied a widely-used computational fluid dynamics model called ENVI-met to isolate effects of sequoias on microclimates, and validated results by making field measurements before and after UP removed the four sequoias. Our study is likely the most thorough to ever measure and model microclimate effects of sequoias, or potentially any other large trees. Results show model simulations of plant metabolic processes and their influences on air temperatures, surface temperatures, winds, and carbon dioxide concentrations, with validation statistics ranking model performance comparable to or superior to previous ENVI-met studies. Applications include new methods for running and validating microclimate models, which could lead to better decisions about what kinds of trees to plant where, and greater protection for trees, which can reduce the UHI effect and its detrimental influences on energy demand, human comfort, and human health.
The significance of pathological extracapsular vs. intracapsular lymph node involvement in patients with resectable esophageal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy.

The standard of care for locoregional esophageal cancer, regardless of histology, remains neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiation followed by an esophagectomy after restaging workup (1,2).
Navigational enterprises in Europe and its empires, 1730-1850.

Serious historians of science have never been enamoured of Dava Sobel’s account of the origins of modern methods of calculating longitude. In her admittedly appealing fairy tale, Longitude: The Tru...
Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for Immunoglobulin Light Chain Amyloidosis Patients Aged 70 to 75.

Abstract Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has been used in treatment for immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis for over 2 decades and is generally reserved for patients younger than 70 years. Herein we report on outcomes of ASCT in a cohort of patients with AL amyloidosis aged 70 years or older. Between August of 2002 and April of 2017, 34 patients aged 70 years or older, with biopsy-proven AL amyloidosis, received an ASCT at the Mayo Clinic Rochester. Seventy percent of patients (n = 24) were transplanted within 6 months of diagnosis, and 74% (n = 25) received reduced-intensity conditioning with melphalan