cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of environmental hypercapnia and metal (Cd and Cu) exposure on acid-base and metal homeostasis of marine bivalves

Elevated CO2 levels reduce seawater pH and may affect bioavailability of trace metals in estuaries. We studied the interactive effects of common metal pollutants (50 μg l(-1) Cd or Cu) and PCO2 (~395, 800 and 2000 μatm) on metal levels, intracellular pH, expression of metal binding proteins and stress biomarkers in estuarine bivalves Crassostrea virginica (oysters) and Mercenaria mercenaria (hard clams). Cd (but not Cu or hypercapnia) exposure affected the acid-base balance of hemocytes resulting in elevated intracellular pH. Cd and Cu exposure led to the increase in the tissue metal burdens, and metal accumulation was reduced by elevated PCO2 in the mantle but not hemocytes. No change was found in the intracellular free Cd(2+), Cu(2+) or Fe(2+) during Cu or Cd exposure indicating that these metals are bound to intracellular ligands. Free Zn(2+) content in oyster hemocytes was suppressed by Cd and Cu exposure and below the detection limits in clam hemocytes, which went hand-in-hand with the elevated mRNA expression of metallothioneins and ferritin in Cd- and Cu-exposed bivalves, enhanced by hypercapnia. The metal-binding and antioxidant mechanisms of oysters and clams were sufficient to effectively maintain intracellular redox status, even though metal exposure combined with moderate hypercapnia (~800 μatm PCO2) led to the elevated production of reactive oxygen species in hemocytes. Overall, while hypercapnia modulates metal accumulation, binding capacity and oxidative stress in estuarine bivalves, the physiological effects of elevated CO2 are mild compared to the effects of other common stressors.
A Novel Motion Artifact Removal Method via Joint Basis Pursuit Linear Program to Accurately Monitor Heart Rate

Photoplethysmography (PPG)-based heart rate (HR) estimation during physical exercise is challenging as PPG signals are often contaminated by motion artifacts (MA). This study develops a novel HR estimation method to effectively attenuate the impact of MA on PPG signals and accurately identify HR variations during physical exercise. First, a new signal reconstruction procedure is implemented based on a joint basis pursuit linear program (BPLP) to decompose PPG signal into different time series. Furthermore, an adaptive MA removal technique is developed, where the correlation between the acceleration signals and PPG time series are calculated and used as a reference to eliminate MA. Then, a new sparse spectra reconstruction method is designed to rebuild the spectrum of the current window based on the previous time frame. Furthermore, a simple HR estimation method with only one tuning parameter is designed to select the HR associated peak from the reconstructed spectra. Finally, a postprocessing technique is applied to further boost the accuracy of detection. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with three popular methods in recent studies using both training and testing sets from 2015 IEEE Signal Processing Cup. The proposed method provides the average absolute error of 1.79 beats per minutes (BPM) on all 22 recordings. With respect to testing datasets with stronger MA, the average absolute error is computed as 2.61BPM. The proposed HR tracking algorithm shows good robustness as it only involves a small set of parameters and can provide accurate estimations when PPG signals are contaminated by strong MA.
In-utero, incarcerated umbilical hernia with fistula

Abstract Omphalocele, gastroschisis, and umbilical hernia are abdominal wall defects well-characterized by their clinical presentation, umbilical cord position, treatment options, and clinical course. Differentiating omphalocele from umbilical cord hernia can be challenging. To our knowledge this is the first case of an incarcerated umbilical hernia with a fistula that may have originated in-utero.
Heavy boron doping in superconducting carbon materials

Author(s): Sakai, Y; Chelikowsky, JR; Cohen, ML | Abstract: We examine physical properties of heavily boron-doped sp3-hybridized carbon allotropes: cubic diamond, hexagonal diamond, and body centered tetragonal C4. The structural similarity between cubic diamond and hexagonal diamond leads to similar responses to substitutional boron doping. On the other hand, body centered tetragonal C4 exhibits distinct structural and electronic properties because of its characteristic structure. Our study also shows that the superconducting transition temperatures up to 60 K are possible in heavily doped carbon materials despite their various atomistic structures.
0.00016 deg/√hr Angle Random Walk (ARW) and 0.0014 deg/hr Bias Instability (BI) from a 5.2M-Q and 1-cm Precision Shell Integrating (PSI) Gyroscope

We report record-high performance from a fused-silica micro Precision Shell Integrating (PSI) gyroscope. The PSI gyroscope uses a fused-silica resonator with a diameter of 1 cm and a mechanical quality factor (Q) of 5.2 million. The gyroscope has an angle random walk (ARW) of 0.00016 deg/√hr and short-term in-run bias instability of 0.0014 deg/hr without any temperature compensation. This performance for such a small shell gyroscope compares well with the larger mHRG and HRG devices reported previously. This performance, in a device this small, is achieved by optimizing the fabrication of the shell resonator so it provides high Q, large mass, high frequency resonance, and low as-fabricated frequency mismatch.
Paints as a Scalable and Effective Radiative Cooling Technology for Buildings

Jyotirmoy Mandal completed his PhD in Applied Physics at Columbia University in the City of New York and is currently a Schmidt Science Fellow and a postdoctoral researcher at University of California, Los Angeles. His research interests include low-cost optical designs for radiative cooling and solar heating, with a focus on applications in developing countries. Yuan Yang is an associate professor in the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics at Columbia University in the City of New York. His research interests include electrochemical energy storage and thermal energy management. Dr. Yang has published over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles, including in leading journals such as Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Advanced Materials, and Joule. Nanfang Yu is an associate professor in the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics at Columbia University in the City of New York. His research interests include mid-infrared and far-infrared optics, metamaterials, biophotonics, and biologically inspired flat optics. Dr. Yu’s research has been published in leading journals like Science, Nature Materials, Nature Nanotechnology, and Joule. Aaswath P. Raman is an assistant professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is also co-founder and chief scientific officer of SkyCool Systems, a startup commercializing radiative cooling technologies. Dr. Raman’s research interests include nanophotonics, metamaterials, radiative heat transfer, and energy applications, including radiative cooling. His works have been published in leading journals such as Nature, Nature Energy, Physical Review Letters, and Joule.
Borders and the Provision of Health Services for Rural Africans

Dube discusses the extension of curative health services, through hospitals and clinics, to rural Africans in this chapter. He examines the spatial distribution of health services based on borders, both internal and intercolonial, while continuing the theme of the fear of diffusion of disease and its impact on public health.
Identity Navigation During Refugee Experiences: Between Individual Agency and Systemic Architectures of Control

In 2018 the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees asserted that there are 25.4 million refugees worldwide. News media, state actors, and other bodies speak about refugees in ways that emphasize certain aspects of their experiences. We do not often hear how those identified as refugees speak about themselves and how they navigate their identities in the context of information. This article asks: How do self-identified refugee communities in Athens, Greece, and Hamburg, Germany, engage with information spaces during their refugee experiences to navigate identity in new receiving-society contexts? Drawing on Erving Goffman (1959) and Webb Keane’s (1997) idea that information transmission through interaction is at the center of identity development, this research uses a mixed method of semi-structured interviews and embedded participant observation. The findings expose three challenges to identity navigation at both sites: prolonged liminality, unfamiliar information spaces within receiving societies, and misinformed information spaces within receiving societies. In addressing these challenges, participants balanced tremendous effort and agency with the effects of systems beyond their control. The implications of our findings relate to the viability of liminality theories and the need for policy modifications to encourage receiving societies to assume responsibility for aspects of identity work within their control.
Analyzing the attack landscape of Zigbee-enabled IoT systems and reinstating users' privacy

Zigbee network security relies on symmetric cryptography based on a pre-shared secret. In the current Zigbee protocol, the network coordinator creates a network key while establishing a network. The coordinator then shares the network key securely, encrypted under the pre-shared secret, with devices joining the network to ensure the security of future communications among devices through the network key. The pre-shared secret, therefore, needs to be installed in millions or more devices prior to deployment, and thus will be inevitably leaked, enabling attackers to compromise the confidentiality and integrity of the network. To improve the security of Zigbee networks, we propose a new certificate-less Zigbee joining protocol that leverages low-cost public-key primitives. The new protocol has two components. The first is to integrate Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman key exchange into the existing association request/response messages, and to use this key both for link-to-link communication and for encryption of the network key to enhance privacy of user devices. The second is to improve the security of the installation code, a new joining method introduced in Zigbee 3.0 for enhanced security, by using public key encryption. We analyze the security of our proposed protocol using the formal verification methods provided by ProVerif, and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of our solution with a prototype built with open source software and hardware stack. The new protocol does not introduce extra messages and the overhead is as lows as 3.8% on average for the join procedure.
Development of a pregnancy-specific reference material for thyroid biomarkers, vitamin D, and nutritional trace elements in serum.

OBJECTIVES Matrix differences among serum samples from non-pregnant and pregnant patients could bias measurements. Standard Reference Material 1949, Frozen Human Prenatal Serum, was developed to provide a quality assurance material for the measurement of hormones and nutritional elements throughout pregnancy. METHODS Serum from non-pregnant women and women in each trimester were bottled into four levels based on pregnancy status and trimester. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods were developed and applied to the measurement of thyroid hormones, vitamin D metabolites, and vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP). Copper, selenium, and zinc measurements were conducted by inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell MS. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroglobulin (Tg), and thyroglobulin antibody concentrations were analyzed using immunoassays and LC-MS/MS (Tg only). RESULTS Certified values for thyroxine and triiodothyronine, reference values for vitamin D metabolites, VDBP, selenium, copper, and zinc, and information values for reverse triiodothyronine, TSH, Tg, and Tg antibodies were assigned. Significant differences in serum concentrations were evident for all analytes across the four levels (p≤0.003). TSH measurements were significantly different (p<0.0001) among research-only immunoassays. Tg concentrations were elevated in research-only immunoassays vs. Federal Drug Administration-approved automated immunoassay and LC-MS/MS. Presence of Tg antibodies increased differences between automated immunoassay and LC-MS/MS. CONCLUSIONS The analyte concentrations' changes consistent with the literature and the demonstration of matrix interferences in immunoassay Tg measurements indicate the functionality of this material by providing a relevant matrix-matched reference material for the different stages of pregnancy.
Progress towards a circular economy in materials to decarbonize electricity and mobility

Abstract Over 90% of the global economy continues to use natural resources unsustainably. The linear “take-make-toss” approach to materials use still prevails over circular economy and industrial ecology ideas in practice. The shift to renewable energy is one step towards building an economy on more circular material flows. But the materials needed to decarbonize electricity and mobility are supplied by mining and extractives industries, places where impacts from natural resource extraction can be most severe. Manufacturers of wind turbines, photovoltaics, batteries and vehicles—critical technologies to the clean energy transition—still primarily rely on feedstocks and inputs from natural resources as opposed to waste for processing and production. Similarly, robust and complete end-of-life (EoL) management strategies are not well developed for these materials. This review synthesizes progress towards a circular economy—reducing impacts from resource extraction, metallurgy, manufacturing, and waste disposal, and resource recovery—in key materials needed to decarbonize electricity and mobility. Efforts to manufacture by principles of sustainable design to reclaim the recycling value of EoL product waste are complicated by new materials and increasingly complex composites. Dialog and collaboration about trends in materials use and waste flows that span extractive industry scientists and professionals to product designers and recyclers will be critical to spurring the technological and policy innovations needed to encourage more progress.
Global Organizations and Taxes: An Analysis of the Dividend, Interest, Royalty, and Compensation Payments Between U.S. Multinationals' Foreign Affiliates

This study investigates the importance of multinational tax planning for global enterprises by examining cross-border payments of dividends, interest, royalties and compensation between commonly-owned foreign affiliates of U.S. multinationals. Using data from the multinationals' actual U.S. tax returns, we find dividends, royalties and sometimes interest are negatively correlated with the cumulative income and withholding taxes levied on cross-border transfers. We find no evidence that compensation payments are correlated with taxes. The findings are consistent with human capital contracts encountering more adverse non-tax considerations than equity, debt, and intangible property contracts.
Abstract SP094: DCIS - Con

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) represents a collection of biologically heterogenous pre-invasive breast lesions some with the potential for progression to invasive cancer. Widespread adoption of screening mammography has increased the diagnosis of DCIS and may contribute to overdiagnosis identifying some conditions that may never impact one’s overall health. Unfortunately, clinicians treating DCIS patients currently lack robust biomarkers stratifying DCIS patients into those at high or low risk for invasive progression. Further, variations in pathologic assessment and grade, intra-lesional DCIS heterogeneity, and discordance in pathologic interpretations between pathologists make it challenging for providers to further identify appropriate low risk DCIS patients for active surveillance. Guideline concordant care including excision and potentially radiation and anti-estrogen therapies should remain as the standard of care and provides a definitive treatment endpoint which patients desire. Existing evidence documents a significant upstage rate of DCIS to invasive disease at surgical excision including a small, but important population benefiting from adjuvant systemic therapy. Finally, patient anxiety and documented poor adherence rates to endocrine therapy preclude active surveillance and after all the morbidity of surgical excision is low. Citation Format: S McLaughlin. DCIS - Con [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr SP094.
PIGA Mutations Can Mimic Neonatal Hemochromatosis

Neonatal hemochromatosis (NH), one of the most common causes of liver failure in the neonate, often causes fetal loss or death during the neonatal period. Most cases are thought to be due to gestational alloimmune disease; however, other rare causes have been reported. NH is generally considered congenital and familial but not heritable. We present an infant diagnosed with NH whose clinical course differed significantly from that of most NH cases: at 11 months of age he had normal levels of liver enzymes, ferritin, and bilirubin, and normal neurodevelopment. This term male infant was born with a history of intrauterine growth restriction, oligohydramnios, and pericardial effusion. On day of life 1, he had hyperbilirubinemia and transaminitis; on day of life 3, ferritin was elevated; and on day of life 9, an MRI revealed iron deposits in the liver and renal cortex. Phenotypic features prompted a genetics consult. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a variant in the phosphatidylinositol glycan biosynthesis class A protein (PIGA) gene. Germ-line PIGA mutations are generally thought to be lethal in utero; however, there are reports of infants with PIGA mutations associated with dysmorphic features, neurologic manifestations, biochemical perturbations, and systemic iron overload; development can be normal up to 6 months of age. Because of the differences between infants with NH versus PIGA germ-line mutations in inheritance, prognosis, and natural history of disease, we propose that PIGA gene testing should be considered when evaluating newborns who present with NH.
Patrick Heelan’s phenomenology and hermeneutics of observation in quantum mechanics

Patrick Heelan, with background in quantum theory and in hermeneutic phenomenology, investigated not only the hermeneutical philosophy of science but also the parallels between quantum mechanics and human experience in general and the logic of changes of worldview. Heelan’s closeness to Aristotle and Lonergan, often neglected, is discussed, and issues concerning Heelan’s treatment of the social context of science are raised.
Treatment of post-stroke aphasia: A narrative review for stroke neurologists:

This review is intended to help physicians guide patients to optimal management of post-stroke aphasia. We review literature on post-stroke aphasia treatment, focusing on: (1) when and for whom language therapy is most effective, (2) the variety of approaches that can be effective for different individuals, and (3) the extent to which behavioral therapy might be augmented by non-invasive brain stimulation and/or medications.
Restricting the Means of Exchange within Organizations

This paper considers why firms often ban monetary exchange between their employees, while encouraging these trades through other means, such as through the reciprocation of favours or barter. Despite classical inefficiencies associated with non-monetary exchange, we illustrate two themes as to why non-monetary trade may be preferred to allowing money. First, the use of non-monetary trade may affect the allocation of rents in surplus-enhancing ways, as agents respond strategically to the existence of these rents. Second, non-monetary trade improves the ability of agents to impose sanctions on those who act dishonestly.
Lichen 5. Medullary and bacterial biofilm layers

Abstract A lichen is a slow-growing niche-constructing organism that form a thallus via scripted symbiotic/mutualist relationships between fungi, algae, and bacteria. In preceding papers we have presented quick-freeze deep-etch EM (QFDEEM) images of the algal and outer layers of squamulose, foliose and fruticose lichens. Here we examine the remaining layers, one occupied by medullary fungal hyphae, and the others including a stunning variety of bacterial biofilms and novel extracellular matrix (ECM) materials. We document that the medullary compartment is filled with an ECM wherein fungal hyphae and secondary metabolites, many crystalline, are suspended in a ground substance that we call fog. We propose that fog is a liquid-glass-like mixture of secondary metabolites (synthesized by the fungi), polyols (synthesized by the algae), and polyol-sequestered water. Bacteria are described in several contexts. In the outer cortical layers of foliose Candelaria and Physcia lobes, they form patchy biofilm islands atop the fungal walls and the polysaccharide-based ECM. In the inner surface of Cladonia podetia they form long heterospecific biofilms at the lichen/external water boundary and at the fog boundary, reinforcing the intrinsic fog/water phase separation and preventing the fog from leaking out. In the outer layer of Usnea fibrils and the inner cortex of foliose lobes, they join fungi and extracellular materials to form surface boundaries. Hence lichenized bacteria not only participate in metabolic exchange but also serve architectural roles in lichen construction and maintenance.
Neonatal stroke enhances interaction of microglia-derived extracellular vesicles with microglial cells.

Abstract Microglial cells support brain homeostasis under physiological conditions and modulate brain injury in a context-dependent and brain maturation-dependent manner. Microglial cells protect neonatal brain from acute stroke. While microglial signaling via direct cell-cell interaction and release of variety of molecules is intensely studied, less is known about microglial signaling via release and uptake of extracellular vesicles (EVs). We asked whether neonatal stroke alters release of microglial EVs (MEV) and MEV communication with activated microglia. We pulled down and plated microglia from ischemic-reperfused and contralateral cortex 24 h after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) in postnatal day 9 mice, isolated and characterized microglia-derived microvesicles (P3-MEV) and exosomes (P4-MEV), and determined uptake of fluorescently labeled P3-MEV and P4-MEV by plated microglia derived from ischemic-reperfused and contralateral cortex. We then examined how reducing EVs release in neonatal brain—by intra-cortical injection of CRISPR-Cas9-Smpd3/KO (Smpd3/KD) to downregulate Smpd3 gene to disrupt neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (N-SMase2)—impacts P3-MEV and P4-MEV release and stroke injury. Both size and protein composition differed between P3-MEV and P4-MEV. tMCAO further altered protein composition of P3-MEV and P4-MEV and significantly, up to 5-fold, increased uptake of both vesicle subtypes by microglia from ischemic-reperfused regions. Under physiological conditions neurons were the predominant cell type expressing N-SMase-2, an enzyme involved in lipid signaling and EVs release. After tMCAO N-SMase-2 expression was diminished in injured neurons but increased in activated microglia/macrophages, leading to overall reduced N-SMase-2 activity. Compared to intracerebral injection of control plasmid, CRISPR-Cas9-Smpd3/Ct, Smpd3/KD injection further reduced N-SMase-2 activity and significantly reduced injury. Smpd3 downregulation decreased MEV release from injured regions, reduced Smpd3/KD-P3-MEV uptake and abolished Smpd3/KD-P4-MEV uptake by microglia from ischemic-reperfused region. Cumulatively, these data demonstrate that microglial cells release both microvesicles and exosomes in naive neonatal brain, that the state of microglial activation determines both properties of released EVs and their recognition/uptake by microglia in ischemic-reperfused and control regions, suggesting a modulatory role of MEV in neonatal stroke, and that sphingosine/N-SMase-2 signaling contributes both to EVs release and uptake (predominantly P4-MEV) after neonatal stroke.
Patient Navigator and Community Health Worker Attitudes Toward End-of-Life Care.

Background: There are racial/ethnic disparities in hospice use and end-of-life (EOL) care outcomes in the United States. Although the use of community health workers (CHWs) and patient navigators (...
Effect of reducing specific activity of [177Lu]-DKFZ-PSMA617 on uptake in the tumor, salivary gland and kidney

230 Objectives: Peptide based radiotherapeutic agents targeting prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) such [177Lu]-DKFZ-PSMA617 ([177Lu]-PSMA617), [177Lu]-PSMA-I&T, [131I]-MIP-1095, [225Ac]-DKFZ-PSMA617 have emerged as leading candidates for treating metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer. Patients undergoing therapies with [177Lu]-PSMA617 or [225Ac]-PSMA617 have experienced high grade xerostomia and medium to low grade nephropathy arising due to salivary gland and kidney toxicity. Using [68Ga]-PSMA11 we demonstrated that by lowering apparent specific activity (ASA) we observed significant reduction in renal uptake without affecting the tumor uptake (1). Here in we present our data on the effect of reducing ASA of [177Lu]-PSMA617 on the tumor, salivary gland and kidney uptake. Methods: [177Lu]-PSMA617 was synthesized using established protocol and the apparent specific activity of the product was varied by adding cold ligand DKFZ-PSMA11. Athymic nude mice (n=20) bearing PC3-PIP (PSMA+) tumor xenografts were administered 277 kBq (7.5 µCi) of [177Lu]-PSMA617 at ASA’s of 0.3, 0.15, 0.03, 0.007, 0.0036 and 0.0018 mCi/nmol. Terminal biodistribution studies were conducted 1 h post administration to determine mean uptake in organs (%ID/g). Results: Biodistribution studies revealed that [177Lu]-PSMA617 uptake in PC3-PIP tumors were 21.83±6.21, 18.7±2.01, 26.52±2.9, 16.17±3.7, 13.52±3.68, and 12.18±1.68 %ID/g at ASA’s of 0.3, 0.15, 0.03, 0.007 and 0.0036 and 0.0018 mCi/nmol respectively. Corresponding kidney uptake values were 123.14±52.52, 132.31±47.4, 84.29±78.25, 2.189±1.85, 1.16±0.36, 0.65±0.23 %ID/g, respectively. Corresponding salivary gland uptake values were 0.57±0.16, 0.45±0.15, 0.41±0.3, 0.11±0.03, 0.23±0.23, 0.08±0.03 % ID/g, respectively. Conclusions: These studies establish that salivary gland and kidney uptake can be drastically reduced without affecting tumor uptake of 177Lu-PSMA617 simply by reducing its specific activity. These studies provide proof of concept solutions for xerostomia and renal toxicity arising from [177Lu]-PSMA617. References: Pillarsetty N, et al. J Nucl Med 2016 vol. 57 (supplement_2), 528.
Dopaminergic input from the posterior hypothalamus to the raphe pallidus area inhibits brown adipose tissue thermogenesis.

Systemic administration of dopamine (DA) receptor agonists leads to falls in body temperature. However, the central thermoregulatory pathways modulated by DA have not been fully elucidated. Here we...
Comparative Study of Transmembrane Potential and Magnetic Evoked Field Due to Applied Electric Field in the Turtle Cerebellum

The application of a uniform electric field to an in vitro preparation allows the selective polarization of definite regions of the neurons oriented parallel to the axis of the field (Chan & Nicholson, 1986). Thus, in the isolated turtle cerebellum, it is possible to depolarize the somatic region of the Purkinje cells (Pc) , while hyperpolarizing the superficial side of their dendrites, by means of an electric field directed from dorsal to ventral surface (d-v), and vice versa. We have used this method in order to measure the contribution of sodium (Na) and calcium (Ca) conductances to the magnetic evoked field (MEF). In a previous paper (Okada et al., 1988c) we have shown that it is possible to record both MEF and extracellular potential (EP) in response to pulsed applied electric field. In the present study, a comparison with the intracellular recording was carried out to ascertain the ionic basis of the MEF and EP. Sinusoidal electric fields were also used in order to apply the field along known directions, by avoiding capacitative properties of the membranes, and to provide a sufficient amount of depolarization to directly activate Na and Ca conductances. We made bath applications of specific drugs to block these conductances as well as synaptic transmissions.
The Receptor-mediated Leukemogenesis Hypothesis: A Model of Retroviral Oncogenesis by Viral Stimulation of Cell-surface Receptors

In our view the central lesion in oncogenesis is the sustained, apparently uncontrolled proliferation of malignant cells beyond the regulated number of their normal counterparts; these malignant cells would not differ in kind from normal cells, but mainly in the size of their proliferative compartments. Given this point of view, it is logical to assume that malignant cells utilize normal mitogenic pathways for their sustained proliferation, and that one must look to means by which a particular class of cells controls its proliferation if one wishes to understand how malignancy develops in that cell type.
Mapping the Main Roads to Fairness: Examining the Managerial Context of Fairness Promotion

This paper explores the managerial context surrounding fairness promotion using a multi-method examination that employs interviews and a survey of practicing managers. The results of these examinations describe how managers tend to focus their efforts to promote fairness on fairly allocating rewards and responsibilities (i.e., promoting distributive fairness), accurately and consistently applying organizational policies (i.e., promoting procedural fairness) and providing representation and understanding to their subordinates around key organizational issues (i.e., promoting informational fairness and voice). Analyses of the interview and survey data show how managers’ efforts to promote employee development, enact managerial propriety, and demonstrate moral leadership mediate relationships between their fundamental desires to develop positive working relationships with their subordinates and the efforts they make to promote fairness. This paper concludes with a discussion about how this work refines and extends research on how and why managers promote fairness.
Assortative Mating and Plant Phenology: Evolutionary and Practical Consequences

Variation in mating phenology causes assortative mating for phenological traits. Here I show that this assortative mating can be strong, as it is caused not only by periods of non-overlap in flowering, but also by variation in the composition of the mating pool during periods of overlap. Using a one-locus, two-allele model, I show that this temporal assortative mating can: (1) lead to declines in mean fitness under balancing selection, including fixation of one allele; (2) strongly affect the rate of response to directional selection; and (3) determine the boundaries of the basins of attraction under disruptive selection. These results suggest that the evolution of phenological traits – and traits functionally coupled with them – may be more complex than we have generally thought. They also suggest caution in interpreting the results of studies (e.g. quantitative genetic studies) that assume randomly mating populations.
On non-parametric nonlinear system identification using dispersion functions

This paper adopts dispersion functions as a tool for non-parametric nonlinear system identification. Dispersion functions have the meaning of "projection" and they make it possible to determine the order of a model, and the significance (or the existence) of delay elements within a nonlinear model. >
Use and Research Issues of a New Computer Keyboard

For use with computers, the traditional QWERTY keyboard has been enlarged to more than 100 keys. This has generated postural and motoric challenges for the user, including cumulative trauma disorders. Among the proposed ergonomic solutions is the Ternary Chord Keyboard (TCK) which has only eight keys. Its evaluation posed use and research issues. TCK operation requires fast and finely controlled force and displacement by the fingertips in a horizontal plane, i.e., “rocking” of keys instead of their familiar “tapping”. Associated mental tasks include memorization of the chords for each character.Experiments were performed (a) on TCK prototypes to measure the time needed to memorize and learn its operation, and to assess keying performance; and (b) on specially designed experimental apparatus to measure finger mobility, strength, and speed. The results indicate that finger mobility, strength and tapping performance were not well correlated with keying performance. All subjects were able to learn to operate ...
Lo relativo y lo universal en la defensa de las humanidades para la democracia

Cuando se pone en duda la importancia del estudio de las humanidades aparecen varios argumentos en su defensa. En este ensayo se analiza uno de ellos: la democracia las necesita. A partir del modelo educativo para la democracia que Martha Nussbaum propone en Sin fines de lucro: por que la democracia necesita de las humanidades se explora la nocion de educacion liberal, la necesidad de la democracia y la idea de humanidad que aparecen en este argumento, con el fin de preguntarnos sobre la importancia que se le da al estudio especializado de las humanidades en la educacion superior, lo que se entiende por ellas, su autonomia frente a su funcion para la democracia, y la manera en que educan la forma en que vemos a los otros y nos relacionamos con ellos.
Ground states of σ-bonded molecules

Calculations of the bond orders, net charge densities and energy levels for the π-electrons in a number of conjugated hydrocarbons by the valence-electron SCF MO method and by the π-electron SCF MO method are compared. The distinctions between alternant and non-alternant hydrocarbons, and in bond orders among single, aromatic, and double bonds, established by π-electron methods is maintained to a high degree of approximation in the full valence-electron calculations. An excellent correlation exists between the π-electron energy levels calculated by the two methods. The valence-electron calculations indicate that the hyperconjugative release of electrons in neutral molecules such as propene and toluene is negligible, but that this release can be substantial in carbonium ions.
State Regulations for Nursing Home Residents with Serious Mental Illness

To identify state regulations for nursing home residents with Serious Mental Illness (SMI). We reviewed state regulations for policies relating to nursing home residents with SMI, and conducted interviews with expert stakeholders. A framework for analyzing state regulations was generated by identifying four discrete categories: States with specific mental illness regulations, Alzheimer’s or dementia regulations, minor mention of mental illness, and no mention of mental illness. A large majority of the states have little or no mention of mental illness in their nursing home regulations, suggesting limited attention to all forms of mental illness by most state regulatory bodies.
Novel neuroprotection by caffeine and adenosine A2A receptor antagonists in animal models of Parkinson's disease

The adenosine A(2A) receptor has recently emerged as a leading non-dopaminergic therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease, largely due to the restricted distribution of the receptor in the striatum and the profound interaction between adenosine and dopamine receptors in brain. Two lines of research in particular have demonstrated the promise of the A(2A) receptor antagonists as novel anti-parkinsonian drugs. First, building on extensive preclinical animal studies, the A(2A) receptor antagonist KW6002 has demonstrated its potential to increase motor activity in PD patients of the advanced stage in a recent clinical phase IIB trial. Second, recently two prospective epidemiological studies of large cohorts have firmly established the inverse relationship between the consumption of caffeine (a non-specific adenosine antagonist) and the risk of developing PD. The potential neuroprotective effect of caffeine and A(2A) receptor antagonists in PD is further substantiated by the demonstration that pharmacological blockade (by caffeine or specific A(2A) antagonists) or genetic depletion of the A(2A) receptor attenuated dopaminergic neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration in animal models of PD. Moreover, A(2A) receptor antagonism-mediated neuroprotection goes beyond PD models and can be extended to a variety of other brain injuries induced by stroke, excitotoxicity and mitochondrial toxins. Intensive investigations are under way to dissect out common cellular mechanisms (such as A(2A) receptor modulation of neuroinflammation) which may underlie the broad spectrum of neuroprotection by A(2A) receptor inactivation in brain.
PaR-PaR Laboratory Automation Platform

Labor-intensive multistep biological tasks, such as the construction and cloning of DNA molecules, are prime candidates for laboratory automation. Flexible and biology-friendly operation of robotic equipment is key to its successful integration in biological laboratories, and the efforts required to operate a robot must be much smaller than the alternative manual lab work. To achieve these goals, a simple high-level biology-friendly robot programming language is needed. We have developed and experimentally validated such a language: Programming a Robot (PaR-PaR). The syntax and compiler for the language are based on computer science principles and a deep understanding of biological workflows. PaR-PaR allows researchers to use liquid-handling robots effectively, enabling experiments that would not have been considered previously. After minimal training, a biologist can independently write complicated protocols for a robot within an hour. Adoption of PaR-PaR as a standard cross-platform language would enable hand-written or software-generated robotic protocols to be shared across laboratories.
Homicide as Infectious Disease: Using Public Health Methods to Investigate the Diffusion of Homicide

This study examined the spatial and temporal movement of homicide in Newark, New Jersey from January 1982 through September 2008. We hypothesized that homicide would diffuse in a similar process to an infectious disease with firearms and gangs operating as the infectious agents. A total of 2,366 homicide incidents were analyzed using SaTScan v.9.0, a cluster detection software. The results revealed spatio-temporal patterns of expansion diffusion: overall, firearm and gang homicide clusters in Newark evolved from a common area in the center of the city and spread southward and westward over the course of two decades. This pattern of movement has implications in regards to the susceptibility of populations to homicide, particularly because northern and eastern Newark remained largely immune to homicide clusters. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings, as well as recommendations for future research, are discussed.
Identification of Chlamydia pneumoniae within human choroidal neovascular membranes secondary to age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, and increasing evidence suggests that it is an inflammatory disease. The prokaryotic obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia pneumoniae is emerging as a novel risk factor in cardiovascular disease, and recent sero-epidemiological data suggest that C. pneumoniae infection is also associated with AMD. In this study, we examined choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) tissue from patients with neovascular AMD for the presence of C. pneumoniae and determined whether the pathogen can dysregulate the function of key cell types in ways that can cause neovascular AMD. Nine CNV removed from patients with neovascular AMD were examined for the presence of C. pneumoniae by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR); in addition, we performed PCR on nine non-AMD eyes, and IHC on five non-AMD CNV, seven non-AMD eyes, and one internal limiting membrane specimen. Finally, human monocyte-derived macrophages and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were exposed to C. pneumoniae and assayed in vitro for the production of pro-angiogenic immunomodulators (VEGF, IL-8, and MCP-1). C. pneumoniae was detected in four of nine AMD CNV by IHC and two of nine AMD CNV by PCR, induced VEGF production by human macrophages, and increased production of IL-8 and MCP-1 by RPE cells. In contrast, none of the 22 non-AMD specimens showed evidence for C. pneumoniae. These data indicate that a pathogen capable of inducing chronic inflammation and pro-angiogenic cytokines can be detected in some AMD CNV, and suggest that infection may contribute to the pathogenesis of AMD.
Gas-Phase Reactions of Nickel and Nickel-Rich Oxide Cluster Anions with Nitric Oxide. 2. The Addition of Nitric Oxide, Oxidation of Nickel Clusters, and the Formation of Nitrogen Oxide Anions

A fast flow reactor-quadrupole mass spectrometer coupled with a laser vaporization source is used to study the gas-phase reactions of nickel and nickel oxide cluster anions (NixOy-, where x = 1−12 and y = 0, 1, or 2) with nitric oxide. The results indicate that three processes are occurring in the presence of the nickel cluster anions. First, nickel and nickel oxide clusters are oxidized by the reaction with nitric oxide. Second, addition products with these oxides are also formed. Third, nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen trioxide are formed on nickel oxide clusters and subsequently released as anions. Rate constants are reported for the initial reaction occurring between the nickel cluster anions and the nitric oxide, and the reaction rates are compared with reaction rates of the same nickel anion clusters with molecular oxygen. Finally, a comparison of the reaction rates for nickel oxides formed both in the flow tube and in the laser vaporization source are reported. These reactions (previously reported in ...
Economic Growth with Intergenerational Altruism

In this paper, we study the properties of equilibria in an aggregative growth model with intergenerational altruism.' In this model, each generation is active for a single period. At the beginning of this period, it receives an endowment of a single homogeneous good which is the output from a "bequest investment" made by the previous generation. It divides the endowment between consumption and investment. The return from this investment constitutes the endowment of the next generation. Each generation derives utility from its own consumption and that of its immediate successor. However, since altruism is limited, in the sense that no generation cares about later successors, the interests of distinct agents come into conflict. Models of this type have been used to analyze a number of issues concerning intergenerational altruism. One line of research, pursued by Arrow (1973) and Dasgupta (1974a) elucidates the implications of Rawls' principle of just savings. Others, beginning with Phelps and Pollak (1968), have addressed the question of how an "altruistic growth economy" might actually evolve over time. Topics of subsequent investigation have included the efficiency and optimality of equilibrium programs, and the implications of intergenerational altruism for the distribution of wealth. Unfortunately, the positive features of equilibrium programs have received little attention from previous authors. Aside from a few comments by Kohlberg (1976), virtually nothing is known about the asymptotic behaviour of capital stocks in these models. In particular, will the long-run capital stock which arises from intergenerational conflict be higher or lower than the "turnpike" associated with the solution to the optimal planning problem? On a priori grounds, the answer is not clear. Agents who take only a limited interest in the future will tend to bequeath less than those who are far-sighted. However, since each generation views its children's bequest as pure waste, it must bequeath a larger sum to obtain the same consumption value. In this paper, we obtain steady-state results for equilibrium capital stocks completely analogous to the well-known optimal planning results. By comparing "steady-states", we
CalDAG-GEFI is at the nexus of calcium-dependent platelet activation

The importance of the second messengers calcium (Ca(2+)) and diacylglycerol (DAG) in platelet signal transduction was established more than 30 years ago. Whereas protein kinase C (PKC) family members were discovered as the targets of DAG, little is known about the molecular identity of the main Ca(2+) sensor(s). We here identify Ca(2+) and DAG-regulated guanine nucleotide exchange factor I (CalDAG-GEFI) as a critical molecule in Ca(2+)-dependent platelet activation. CalDAG-GEFI, through activation of the small GTPase Rap1, directly triggers integrin activation and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) release. CalDAG-GEFI-dependent TxA(2) generation provides crucial feedback for PKC activation and granule release, particularly at threshold agonist concentrations. PKC/P2Y12 signaling in turn mediates a second wave of Rap1 activation, necessary for sustained platelet activation and thrombus stabilization. Our results lead to a revised model for platelet activation that establishes one molecule, CalDAG-GEFI, at the nexus of Ca(2+)-induced integrin activation, TxA(2) generation, and granule release. The preferential activation of CalDAG-GEFI over PKC downstream of phospholipase C activation, and the different kinetics of CalDAG-GEFI- and PKC/P2Y12-mediated Rap1 activation demonstrate an unexpected complexity to the platelet activation process, and they challenge the current model that DAG/PKC-dependent signaling events are crucial for the initiation of platelet adhesion.
Real-Time Performance Analysis of Hand Writing Rehabilitation Exercise in Haptic Virtual Reality

In recent years, virtual reality (VR) has been applied to many medical fields. Rehabilitation with VR technologies is one of the emerging research directions. In this paper, a hand writing training exercise is described to train the user to improve the lost hand writing ability in the haptic virtual environment. In the exercise, PHANTOM Premium 1.0 is used for writing English characters as a virtual pen, and also for giving the user force feedbacks as a guidance tool. The approach can be used to guide user's hand movement on the right track of the predefined trajectory according to the real-time guiding force. The user with hand dysfunctions can be trained for precise hand movements through this exercise. The performance is analyzed in real-time and the practicing results are saved in the database. The figures of guiding force including the force magnitude and direction, the correctness of the practicing, and the completion of the exercise are plotted with MatLab and shown to the user in real-time. The saved results in the database can be used for the future analysis and supervision from the specialist.
Simply fabricated all polymer electro-optic modulator

An all polymer EO modulator with a simple fabrication process using commercially available cladding materials has been designed, fabricated, and characterized. The result is a low Vπ modulator that is capable of being scaled up to larger scale production. Continued work on this project is being made towards designing an amplitude modulator structure and developing traveling wave transmission line electrodes that will utilize the low dispersion and THz response times of the π-conjugated OEOM system for high frequency operation.