cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low Bone Mass in Premenopausal Women With Depression

Background An increased prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) has been reported in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), mostly women. Methods Study recruitment was conducted from July 1, 2001, to February 29, 2003. We report baseline BMD measurements in 89 premenopausal women with MDD and 44 healthy control women enrolled in a prospective study of bone turnover. The BMD was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at the spine, hip, and forearm. Mean hourly levels of plasma 24-hour cytokines, 24-hour urinary free cortisol, and catecholamine excretion were measured in a subset of women. We defined MDD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition). Results The prevalence of low BMD, defined as a T score of less than −1, was greater in women with MDD vs controls at the femoral neck (17% vs 2%; P = .02) and total hip (15% vs 2%; P = .03) and tended to be greater at the lumbar spine (20% vs 9%; P = .14). The mean ± SD BMD, expressed as grams per square centimeters, was lower in women with MDD at the femoral neck (0.849 ± 0.121 vs 0.866 ± 0.094; P = .05) and at the lumbar spine (1.024 ± 0.117 vs 1.043 ± 0.092; P = .05) and tended to be lower at the radius (0.696 ± 0.049 vs 0.710 ± 0.055; P = .07). Women with MDD had increased mean levels of 24-hour proinflammatory cytokines and decreased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Conclusions Low BMD is more prevalent in premenopausal women with MDD. The BMD deficits are of clinical significance and comparable in magnitude to those resulting from established risk factors for osteoporosis, such as smoking and reduced calcium intake. The possible contribution of immune or inflammatory imbalance to low BMD in premenopausal women with MDD remains to be clarified. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT00006180
The application of an improved steam distillation apparatus to the determination of fluoride in rocks and minerals

Abstract The efficiency of the Willard and Winter steam distillation of fluoride can be improved by using sulphuric or phosphoric acid instead of perchloric acid solutions. However, sulphate and phosphate must be kept out of the distillate, for they interfere in many methods of determination, including the commonly-used thorium nitrate titration. A newly-designed apparatus is described which permits close control of the distillation, and rapid and complete recovery of fluorine, free from significant amounts of sulphate or phosphate. Procedures are outlined whereby fluorine can be quantitatively recovered from silicate rocks and minerals and easily determined with precision and accuracy.
Hydrogen Neutralization of Shallow-Donor Impurities in Single-Crystal Silicon

New data are presented that considerably strengthen the conclusion, reported previously, that hydrogen can passivate shallow donors in silicon by associating with them to form neutral complexes. Effects of inhomogeneity of doping with depth have been eliminated in the new experiments; the observed increase of the effective Hall mobility after hydrogenation requires neutralization of ionizeddonor scattering centers.
Tiny bubbles and endocytosis

See related article, pages 679–687 Since the initial use of bubbles for echocardiographic contrast, it has been a common clinical observation that these bubbles are disrupted in a sonographic field. It was recognized that the frequency and power of the ultrasound beam were key elements in the efficiency of this disruption, and it was concluded that bubble resonance, leading to cavitation, caused bubble destruction. The combination of ultrasound and microbubbles as a therapeutic modality was described in 1998, as an approach to in vivo arterial clot dissolution.1 Subsequently, this combination has been investigated for delivery of bioactive molecules and has been shown to deliver plasmids with reporter constructs to a variety of target organs, usually with low efficiency. More recently, it has been observed that in the presence of microbubbles, even levels of ultrasound energy that would not be expected to produce cavitation can augment delivery of macromolecules. Thus, there may be 2 distinct processes of cell permeabilization occurring in the presence of ultrasound and microbubbles. High acoustic pressure leads to cavitation, causing the bubbles to implode, with substantial release of energy, driving lipid shell through the cell membrane. (This process has been called UTMD for ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction.) Lower acoustic pressure produces subcavitary oscillation and has been suggested to activate the cell membrane to allow for transfer of macromolecules.2 In the article …
Proteomic contributions to our understanding of vaccine and immune responses

Vaccines are one of the greatest public health successes; yet, due to the empirical nature of vaccine design, we have an incomplete understanding of how the genes and proteins induced by vaccines contribute to the development of both protective innate and adaptive immune responses. While the advent of genomics has enabled new vaccine development and facilitated understanding of the immune response, proteomics identifies potentially new vaccine antigens with increasing speed and sensitivity. In addition, as proteomics is complementary to transcriptomic approaches, a combination of both approaches provides a more comprehensive view of the immune response after vaccination via systems vaccinology. This review details the advances that proteomic strategies have made in vaccine development and reviews how proteomics contributes to the development of a more complete understanding of human vaccines and immune responses.
Guidelines for the Management of Pregnant Women With Substance Use Disorders

Background Women of reproductive potential with substance use disorders, especially those who are pregnant, present many clinical challenges to healthcare providers, including comorbid psychiatric disorders, a history of trauma and abuse, avoidance of or poor access to prenatal care, fear of legal consequences, and countertransference reactions. Methods In November 2013, members of the Women's Mental Health Special Interest Group of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine presented a Workshop reviewing substance abuse in pregnancy, highlighting the specific contributions that psychosomatic medicine specialists can make in the care of these patients. The discussion focused on epidemiology; maternal and fetal risks; and screening and treatment considerations for tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and several other substances. Objective Our purpose in publishing this review is to provide clinicians and educators with the most up-to-date summary in this field to better engage these patients in care and break the intergenerational cycle of abuse and addiction.
New developments in the use of positive airway pressure for obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder which afflicts a large number of individuals around the world. OSA causes sleepiness and is a major cardiovascular risk factor. Since its inception in the early 1980's, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has emerged as the major treatment of OSA, and it has been shown to improve sleepiness, hypertension, and a number of cardiovascular indices. Despite its successes, adherence with treatment remains a major limitation. Herein we will review the evidence behind the use of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, its various modes, and the methods employed to improve adherence. We will also discuss the future of PAP therapy in OSA and personalization of care.
Mapping metal catalysts using synchrotron computed microtomography (CMT) and micro-X-ray fluorescence (μXRF)

Gas-to-liquids (GTL) is a viable pathway to synthesize clean fuels from natural gas. The continuing technological advances in natural gas conversion technology have led several companies to make investment in the Fischer–Tropsch (F–T) route to synthesize clean hydrocarbon fuels. But, a highly efficient gas conversion process to capitalize on remote natural gas fields still remains elusive. Heterogeneous catalyst assemblies are typically utilized in the GTL conversion reactions but an in-depth characterization of catalytic materials is needed to design the next-generation more efficient catalysts. Computed microtomography (CMT) and micro-X-ray fluorescence (μXRF), techniques at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS), Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), are complementary methods that allow mapping of catalyst constituents. We describe here the experimental apparatus and give examples of utilization of these techniques in catalyst characterization in different processes. The potential of using CMT and μXRF techniques for monitoring changes in the catalyst composition during F–T synthesis are discussed and an example based on the use of X-ray fluorescence imaging is presented.
The Innovation in the Field of High Voltage Bipolar Transistor

AbstractThe power mosfet technology gives a lot of new possibilities in the low and medium voltage application field:-High switches speed for low volume, efficient application,-Power switches easy to design and to drives.In the range of medium and high voltage and medium and high power application the same type of request come up for the bipolar devices:*Increase of the device ruggedness by increasing then safe operating areas*capability to sustain accidental overloads or energy discharge from the parasitic inductances*Improvement the device switching speed to increase the working system frequency*Narrowing of the electrical parameter distribution*Capability to drive products easileyAnd also, improve the chameteristics of the bipolar devices:*The saturation voltage*Decrease the die cost by an easy manufacturing and process control.
A Computer Simulation Model for Forecasting Catalog Sales

The AHAF model generates sales forecasts for individual articles of merchandise in catalogs, using heuristic programming to simulate the actual decision-making process of a catalog control buyer.
Did LCCs save airline revenue management|[quest]|

The growth of low-cost carriers (LCCs) and their simplified fare structures highlighted the weaknesses of traditional airline revenue management (RM) forecasting and optimization. The LCC pricing revolution caused RM systems to falter and threatened decades of scientific research and RM system investment by airlines. At the same time, it provided a much-needed impetus for new RM research into improved forecasting and optimization models, laying the foundation for the next generation of airline RM systems.
Arrested oligodendrocyte lineage progression during human cerebral white matter development: dissociation between the timing of progenitor differentiation and myelinogenesis.

Immature oligodendrocytes (OLs) derive from a large pool of late OL progenitors that populate human cerebral white matter throughout the latter half of gestation. We recently reported that a minor population of immature OLs are present in human cerebral white matter for at least 3 months before these cells commit to myelinogenesis around 30 wk postconceptional age. Since this finding supports dissociation between the events that regulate human immature OL maturation and their commitment to myelinogenesis, we characterized here the cellular sequence of events that characterize immature OLs during the transition from a premyelinating to a myelinating state. Commitment of immature OLs to myelinogenesis in human cerebral white matter correlated with the longitudinal extension of specialized processes, designated “pioneer processes,” that made multiple types of apparent contacts with axons. This event coincided with the appearance of 3 distinct populations of sheaths that varied in their labeling for myelin basic protein (MBP). Since few axons initially labeled for MBP, this supported the occurrence in vivo of O4-negative, O1-positive premyelin sheaths that precede MBP-positive compacted myelin. These observations identify 3 sequential stages of early myelinogenesis: 1) the initial ensheathment of axons by premyelin sheaths generated by immature OLs; 2) the initial insertion of MBP into transitional sheaths; and 3) the generation of MBP-rich mature myelin.
First-principles mode-by-mode analysis for electron-phonon scattering channels and mean free path spectra in GaAs

We present a first-principles framework to investigate the electron scattering channels and transport properties for polar materials by combining the exact solution of the linearized electron-phonon (e-ph) Boltzmann transport equation in its integral-differential form associated with the e-ph coupling matrices obtained from the polar Wannier interpolation scheme. No ad hoc parameter is required throughout this calculation, and GaAs, a well-studied polar material, is used as an example to demonstrate this method. In this work, the long-range and short-range contributions as well as the intravalley and intervalley transitions in the e-ph interactions (EPIs) have been quantitatively addressed. Promoted by such mode-by-mode analysis, we find that in GaAs, the piezoelectric scattering is comparable to deformation-potential scattering for electron scatterings by acoustic phonons in EPI even at room temperature, and it makes a significant contribution to mobility. Furthermore, we achieved good agreement with experimental data for the mobility, and we identified that electrons with mean free paths between 130 and 210 nm provide the dominant contribution to the electron transport at 300 K. Such information provides a deeper understanding of the electron transport in GaAs, and the presented framework can be readily applied to other polar materials.
Live Imaging of Host–Pathogen Interactions in Zebrafish Larvae

Zebrafish larvae are a powerful platform for studying the innate immune response to infection. The small size and optical transparency of larval zebrafish allow for multiple subject, multidimensional, and longitudinal imaging experiments. This chapter describes protocols for infecting zebrafish larvae with their natural pathogen Mycobacterium marinum, rapid short-term imaging, long-term extended imaging, and drug treatment assays. These protocols can be easily adapted to image and manipulate host interactions with other pathogens.
Exports in the Globalization Strategies of Korean, Japanese and U.S. Firms – An Interactive Analysis

The successes of their export sectors have been key to the economic recoveries of both Japan and Korea through the 1970’s. During the 1980’s, exportation became fundamental in the establishment of their largest firms as major multinational corporations. At the beginning of the 1990’s U.S. trade officials point to America’s export sector as the outstanding performer in a generally weak economy. This study conducts mail questionnaire surveys of senior executives of the largest Korean, Japanese, and U.S. corporations to gain insights into the evolution of the international competitive strategies of their corporations. The paper uses quantitative analysis to improve understanding of how firms continuously adjust their marketing strategies in response to their interactions in export markets in an increasingly global market place.
Endorepellin-evoked Autophagy Contributes to Angiostasis

Endorepellin, the C-terminal domain of perlecan, is an angiostatic molecule that acts as a potent inducer of autophagy via its interaction with VEGFR2. In this study, we examined the effect of endorepellin on endothelial cells using atomic force microscopy. Soluble endorepellin caused morphological and biophysical changes such as an increase in cell surface roughness and cell height. Surprisingly, these changes were not accompanied by alterations in the endothelial cell elastic modulus. We discovered that endorepellin-induced autophagic flux led to co-localization of mammalian target of rapamycin with LC3-positive autophagosomes. Endorepellin functioned upstream of AMP-activated kinase α, as compound C, an inhibitor of AMP-activated kinase α, abrogated endorepellin-mediated activation and co-localization of Beclin 1 and LC3, thereby reducing autophagic progression. Functionally, we discovered that both endorepellin and Torin 1, a canonical autophagic inducer, blunted ex vivo angiogenesis. We conclude that autophagy is a novel mechanism by which endorepellin promotes angiostasis independent of nutrient deprivation.
Validating the BTrackS Balance Plate as a low cost alternative for the measurement of sway-induced center of pressure

The BTrackS Balance Plate (BBP) is a low-cost force plate that provides objective balance assessment and true portability for the user. Given that this technology is relatively new, the purpose of the present study was to provide the first center of pressure (COP) validation of the BBP. Two BBP devices (one new and one used) were compared with a laboratory-grade force plate (LFP) during simultaneous collection of COP that was induced by an inverted pendulum device with human-like sway characteristics. The results of this study showed almost perfect agreement between the BBP devices and the LFP (ICC>0.999), as well as a high degree of BBP accuracy (<1% error magnitude) and precision (<0.2mm regression residuals). These results suggest the BBP can serve as an effective, low-cost solution for objective balance testing in the laboratory or clinic.
Introduction Aestheticizing Pragmatics

Pragmatics emerged among the sciences of language at the end of the 1960’s in reaction to certain totalizing models in linguistics: structuralism (primarily in Europe) and generative grammar (initially in the United States). Certain disciples of Chomsky became dissatisfied with autonomous syntax and later with generative semantics: they decided to break away from their mentor. Whereas Chomsky continued to talk a lot about very little, they defied him by speaking very suggestively about an excessively broad range of phenomena. Pragmatics — which Bar-Hillel considered as a ‘wastebasket discipline’ in the fifties — nevertheless gained respectability. The history of pragmatics spans, of course, much more than three decades. The Stoic conception of language, in the shadow of the great Greek tradition and therefore intensely subversive, had in fact a pragmatic aim. The term pragmatisch appears in Kant: it expresses a relation with a human goal, this goal being only determinable within a community. This characterization naturally inspires the pragmaticism of the Neo-Kantian Charles Sanders Peirce1. It is this Kant-Peirce lineage that led to Morris and Carnap’s rather bland conceptions of pragmatics, after the heavy losses incurred by positivism and behaviorism. In any case, despite the constant presence of a pragmatic approach in the history of thought, this reassessment of pragmatics (against the triumphs proclaimed by structuralism and generativism) was experienced as a significant breakthrough. A whole range of pragmatics came to the attention of linguists. To employ the rather simplistic criteria of intellectual geography, one can classify them into two very distinct groups: Anglo-Saxon and ‘continental’ (European, if you like) pragmatics. Anglo-Saxon pragmatics reconstructs the meaning of discursive sequences from the properties of the situation in which this sequence is produced. According to continental pragmatics, on the other hand, meaning is essentially determined by the ‘life of discourse’, or, in the words of Benveniste, by subjectivity in discourse. One can then oppose a situational pragmatics to an enunciative pragmatics. These two classes of pragmatics undoubtedly overlap with two intellectual mentalities that are wellknown in the social sciences: Anglo-Saxon versus ‘continental’, some kind of objectivism (bracketing the speaking subject) versus some kind of subjectivism (refusing to reduce the subjective to a situational or objectifiable position formalized, for example, as referential indices).
Patient Advocacy Organizations, Industry Funding, and Conflicts of Interest.

Importance Patient advocacy organizations (PAOs) are influential health care stakeholders that provide direct counseling and education for patients, engage in policy advocacy, and shape research agendas. Many PAOs report having financial relationships with for-profit industry, yet little is known about the nature of these relationships. Objective To describe the nature of industry funding and partnerships between PAOs and for-profit companies in the United States. Design, Setting, and Participants A survey was conducted from September 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014, of a nationally representative random sample of 439 PAO leaders, representing 5.6% of 7865 PAOs identified in the United States. Survey questions addressed the nature of their activities, their financial relationships with industry, and the perceived effectiveness of their conflict of interest policies. Main Outcomes and Measures Amount and sources of revenue as well as organizational experiences with and policies regarding financial conflict of interest. Results Of the 439 surveys mailed to PAO leaders, 289 (65.8%) were returned with at least 80% of the questions answered. The PAOs varied widely in terms of size, funding, activities, and disease focus. The median total revenue among responding organizations was $299 140 (interquartile range, $70 000-$1 200 000). A total of 165 of 245 PAOs (67.3%) reported receiving industry funding, with 19 of 160 PAOs (11.9%) receiving more than half of their funding from industry. Among the subset of PAOs that received industry funding, the median amount was $50 000 (interquartile range, $15 000-$200 000); the median proportion of industry support derived from the pharmaceutical, device, and/or biotechnology sectors was 45% (interquartile range, 0%-100%). A total of 220 of 269 respondents (81.8%) indicated that conflicts of interest are very or moderately relevant to PAOs, and 94 of 171 (55.0%) believed that their organizations’ conflict of interest policies were very good. A total of 22 of 285 PAO leaders (7.7%) perceived pressure to conform their positions to the interests of corporate donors. Conclusions and Relevance Patient advocacy organizations engage in wide-ranging health activities. Although most PAOs receive modest funding from industry, a minority receive substantial industry support, raising added concerns about independence. Many respondents report a need to improve their conflict of interest policies to help maintain public trust.
Guidelines for Defining Biologically Important Bat Roosts: A Case Study from Colorado

Abstract Conservation of roosts is regularly recommended as a strategy to decrease the risk of threats to local bat populations (e.g., white-nose syndrome). Determining whether a roost site plays a meaningful role in maintaining a local bat population can be difficult given the variability found in roost structure type, and use by season, duration, and sex. Here we provide land managers and biologists with guidelines to aid in the decision process for determining which roosts are biologically important in maintaining healthy bat populations at a local scale. We define methods for determining biologically important roost sites and provide a case study of their use on bat roosts in Colorado. To be considered biologically important, we suggest that a roost meet two primary criteria: 1) it is considered a hibernaculum, maternity roost, transient roost, colonial bachelor roost, or fall swarming site used by bat species that are gregarious roosters, hibernators, or are known to swarm, and 2) if the site is dist...
A Group Independent Study Using a Client-Based Promotional Plan Project: Design and Assessment

Client-based group projects (CBGP) enhance learning through processes of experience and application along with peer-based learning, while independent learning may induce a more active learning role and increased level of self-responsibility. The descriptive case in this article reviews the implementation of a group independent study where project completion is to finish a client’s promotional plan for an Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) course. This case describes the course’s inputs and processes to propose that integrating learning inputs and processes from CBGP work and independent study may enhance learning outcomes. Learning effectiveness and work performance are reviewed with lessons learned and directions for future research.
The Pearl Frontier: Indonesian Labour and Indigenous Encounters in Australia's Northern Trading Network. By Julia Martinez and Adrian Vickers. (Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press, 2015. Pp. xi, 227. $50.00.)

This welcome volume, focused on maritime Australian‐Indonesian connections, serves as a reminder of the deep historical roots of the intertwined dynamics of mobile capital and mobile labor. Through...
Effects of medical school selection on student motivation: a PhD thesis report.

High stakes are involved in student selection, for both medical schools and applicants. This thesis investigated the effects of selection on the medical student population and applicant pool in the Dutch setting. This thesis consists of six papers: two quantitative studies, one qualitative study, two mixed methods studies and one perspective paper based on a review of the literature. (1) Compared with a lottery, selection does not result in a student population with better motivation, engagement and performance, both in the clinical and pre-clinical phases of the study. (2) Selection seems to have a temporary stimulating effect on student motivation through enhancing perceived autonomy, competence and relatedness. (3) Applicants adopt a strategic approach, based on the selection procedure, in their choice of medical school. (4) The description of an applicant’s motivation is not a reliable and valid tool to assess motivation during selection. (5) Gaining healthcare experience is crucial for applicants’ motivation, but inequalities in access to such experiences can demotivate certain student groups from applying to medical school. (6) The gains yielded from selection compared with a lottery seem to be small. Unintentionally induced self-selection among certain groups of students and biased selection procedures may compromise student diversity. The added value of selection procedures compared with a weighted lottery for admitting students to medical school is questionable. Students are generally motivated and perform well, irrespective of how they enrolled in medical school. Selection yields only small gains, while student diversity may be hampered.
Modulating Vitamin D Receptor–Coregulator Binding With Small Molecules

Abstract Nuclear receptor coregulators (coactivators and corepressors) play an essential part in nuclear receptor-mediated transcription. Depending on their amino acid sequence, they can bind the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the presence or absence of ligand and enable activation or repression of gene transcription. Coregulators interact with many nuclear receptors and certain other transcription factors, which impedes characterization of their function specifically during VDR-mediated transcription. This chapter summarizes recent scientific efforts to develop inhibitors that selectively bind VDR and disrupt the interaction with coregulators. Following the discovery of peptide inhibitors of VDR–coregulator interactions, peptidomimetics including cyclic peptides and peptides bearing unnatural amino acids resulted in VDR–coregulator inhibitors with cellular activity. Crystal structures of coactivator peptides bound to VDR have enabled rational design of novel small molecule-based VDR–coregulator inhibitors. In parallel, high-throughput screening identified irreversible inhibitors of the interaction between VDR and the steroid receptor coactivator 2. Currently, the majority of these inhibitors are in the development stage to improve their activity and selectivity. In the future, it is expected that these inhibitors will be applied as molecular probes to identify specific functions of VDR–coregulator interactions during VDR-mediated transcription.
Functional endomyocardial imaging by single-channel high resolution cross-polarization OCT (Conference Presentation)

Subcellular resolution is required for OCT to portray the microstructural information of myocardium issue that is comparable to histology. Compare with its intrinsic intensity contrast, functional OCT system may provide contrast related to the tissue composition. We present a high-resolution (HR) cross-polarization OCT system that can provide functional contrast of human myocardium tissue in one-shot measurement. The system is implemented based on our previously reported high-resolution long imaging range OCT system with minimal modification. It features a broadband supercontinuum source, single-channel and one-shot detection, with moderate signal processing. The system has an axial resolution of 3.07 μm, and it is capable to produce accurate polarization information by calibrating the reconstruction performance with a quarter wave plate. The orthogonal polarization channels are multiplexed to fit within one imaging range. Following CP-OCT detection, the retardation can be reconstructed based on the complex signals, and the depolarization effect can be depicted by the channel intensity ratio. Tissue specimens from ten fresh human hearts are used to demonstrate the capability of CP-OCT contrasts. By analyzing the intrinsic and functional OCT contrasts of fresh human myocardium tissues against histology slides, we show that various tissue structures and tissue types of the myocardium, such as fibrosis and ablated lesions, can be better depicted by the function contrasts. We also suggest the possibility of using A-line features from the two orthogonal polarization channels to distinguish normal myocardium, fibrotic myocardium, and ablated lesions. This may serve as a rapid and cost-efficient solution for assessment of myocardium and further facilitate automatic tissue classification.
Forensic Investigation of Ten Asphalt Interstate Pavements with Varying Performance in Arkansas

AbstractAfter 9–12 years of service, multiple sections of various interstates within Arkansas prematurely deteriorated. Four of these “poor” performing sections were compared to two “medium” and fo...
Influences: Childhood, boyhood, and youth.

Peering into the fog of time through memory’s astigmatic lens, I can cubbyhole my scientific embryogenesis into three stages: childhood in graduate school, boyhood in postdoc research, and youth in my first few years at Brandeis. As an undergraduate physics major who had avoided biology classes
Diversity for Detecting Routing Attacks in Multihop Networks

This paper presents a diversity model for reliable transmission in multihop networks under routing attacks. Traditionally, diversity is envisioned to be best achieved by utilizing multiple independent and disjoint paths. In this paper, we show that increasing the dependency/connectivity among transmission paths enables accurate detection and identification of malicious nodes. We define a diversity metric that reflects the degree of connectivity among routing paths. Then, we analyze the detection accuracy as a function of network diversity and communication overhead in a generalized network topology. Our results provide insights on network architecture and topology designs that should be tailored to achieve a good tradeoff between network reliability and transmission efficiency.
Polarization and charge carrier density coupling in epitaxial PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3/ZnO heterostructures

The integration of ferroelectric materials with semiconductor heterostructures can greatly enhance the functionality of electronic devices, provided the ferroelectric material retains a significant part of its switchable polarization. This work reports polarization switching in epitaxial PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3/ZnO/GaN heterostructures grown on c-cut sapphire single-crystal substrates. The electrical measurements of PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3/ZnO ferroelectric/semiconductor capacitors reveal an unexpected difference between a counterclockwise ferroelectric hysteresis loop and a clockwise C-V loop. A non-linear hysteretic behavior of the capacitance is observed in the voltage range that is at least 3 times narrower than the range of ferroelectric polarization switching voltages. This difference can be explained by charge injection effects at the interface between ferroelectrics and semiconductors. The interaction between electric polarization and the electronic structure of the heterojunction leads to capacitance and charge carrier concentrations that are switchable by polarization of the ferroelectric layer. These findings are important for both fundamental and applied research of switchable and highly tunable ferroelectric/semiconductor heterostructures.
Vitamin D improves sunburns by increasing autophagy in M2 macrophages

Cutaneous inflammation from UV radiation exposure causes epidermal damage, cellular infiltration, and secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators that exacerbate tissue destruction. Recovery is mediated chiefly by anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages that suppress inflammation and augment epidermal regeneration. Vitamin D enables anti-inflammation to promote tissue repair in response to injury. Since vitamin D enhances cellular macroautophagy/autophagy, we investigated the role of autophagy in vitamin D protection of UV-mediated sunburn and inflammation. Using a UV-mediated acute skin injury mouse model, we demonstrate that a single dose of vitamin D resolves injury with sustained inhibition of inflammatory cytokines associated with enhanced autophagy in myeloid anti-inflammatory M2 macs. Increased MAP1LC3B/LC3 expression corroborated with complete autolysosome formation detected by electron microscopy and correlated with degradation of SQSTM1/p62 in the skin following vitamin D treatment. Specifically, pharmacological inhibition of autophagy increased UV-induced apoptosis, suppressed M2 macs recruitment, and prevented vitamin D downregulation of Tnf and Mmp9 in the skin. Furthermore, selective deletion of autophagy in myeloid cells of atg7 cKO mice abrogated vitamin D-mediated protection and recapitulated UV-induced inflammation. Mechanistically, vitamin D signaling activated M2-autophagy regulators Klf4, Pparg, and Arg1. Lastly, analysis of UV-exposed human skin biopsies detected a similar increase in macrophage autophagy following vitamin D intervention, identifying an essential role for autophagy in vitamin D-mediated protection of skin from UV damage. Abbreviations: ARG1: arginase 1; ATG7 cKO: autophagy related 7 conditional knockout; HPF: high powered field; KLF4: Kruppel like factor 4; MAP1LC3B/LC3: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; macs: macrophage; 3-MA: 3-methyladenine; MMP9: matrix metallopeptidase 9; NOS2: nitric oxide synthase 2, inducible; PPARG: peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; TNF: tumor necrosis factor; UV: ultraviolet; VD: vitamin D, 25-hydroxy vitamin D3; 1,25-VD: 1, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3.
Improved Safety and Efficacy with Standardised Plasmapheresis Protocol

Background/Problem: Plasmapheresis is a procedure that involves extracorporeal separation of blood products resulting in filtered plasma, which has therapeutic application in various diseases including TTP. The plasmapheresis ordering with the labs involved can be tedious, time consuming and is prone to errors. With electronic medical records, we have the opportunity to have order sets for most complex orders. We developed plasmapheresis order set for our VA and prospectively assessed the impact of utility of using the plasmapheresis order set. Methods: We created a mock patient clinical scenario in which 5 Hematology oncology fellows were required to place plasmapheresis orders for a case of TTP using CPRS at the VA. Collected data included the time required to place the orders and the completed orders list. The complete orders list was further analyzed to detect errors. Errors were defined as either omitted orders or orders, which needed to be changed. We created a plasmapheresis order set in CPRS. After education on using the plasmapheresis order set, we repeated the mock patient clinical scenario with the same 5 hematology oncology fellows. The time required to place the orders and the errors were calculated. The difference in the error rate and the total time before and after the use of order set was analyzed. Results: The average time to place the orders pre-order set is 18 minutes and error rate is 15.4 per fellow and with the order set the total time was reduced to 5 minutes and the error rate is 0.4 per fellow. There was a 72% reduction in the total time and 97% reduction in the error rate. Conclusions: Standardized plasmapheresis protocol tremendously reduces the time taken to place the orders along with significant reduction in the error rate. This project demonstrates the application of clinical informatics better patient care. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
BMPR2 dysfunction impairs insulin signaling and glucose homeostasis in cardiomyocytes.

Insulin resistance and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction are associated with lipotoxicity in heritable forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), commonly due to mutations in bone morphogenet...
Risk factors associated with delayed discharge following robotic assisted surgery for gynecologic malignancy.

Abstract Background The risk factors for extended length of stay (LOS) have not been examined in a cohort of patients with complex social and medical barriers who undergo robotic assisted (RA) surgery for gynecologic malignancies. We sought to identify those patients with a LOS > 24 h after robotic surgery and the risk factors associated with delayed discharge. Then we aimed to develop a predictive model for clinical care and identify modifiable pre-operative risk factors. Methods After IRB approval, data was abstracted from medical records of all patients with a gynecologic malignancy who underwent a RA laparoscopic surgery from 2010 to 2015. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent risk factors associated with delayed discharge defined as LOS > 24 h. A multi-variable logistic regression model was performed using a stepwise backward selection for the final prediction model. All testing was two-sided and a p-value Results Of the 406 eligible and evaluable patients, 194 (48%) had a LOS > 24 h. Age ≥ 60 years, a higher usage of narcotic medication, a longer surgical time, and a larger estimated blood loss were all associated with LOS > 24 h (p Conclusions The development of a pre-hospitalization risk stratification and anticipating the possible need for home care services pre-operatively shows promise as a strategy to decrease LOS in patients classified as high-risk. These findings warrant prospective validation through the use of this prediction model in our institution.
Enabling Passive Backscatter Tag Localization Without Active Receivers

Backscattering tags transmit passively without an on-board active radio transmitter. Almost all present-day backscatter systems, however, rely on active radio receivers. This presents a significant scalability, power and cost challenge for backscatter systems. To overcome this barrier, recent research has empowered these passive tags with the ability to reliably receive backscatter signals from other tags. This forms the building block of passive networks wherein tags talk to each other without an active radio on either the transmit or receive side. For wider functionality, accurate localization of such tags is critical. All known backscatter tag localization techniques rely on active receivers for measuring and characterizing the received signal. As a result, they cannot be directly applied to passive tag-to-tag networks. This paper overcomes the gap by developing a localization technique for such passive networks based on a novel method for phase-based ranging in passive receivers. This method allows pairs of passive tags to collaboratively determine the inter-tag channel phase while effectively minimizing the effects of multipath and noise in the surrounding environment. Building on this, we develop a localization technique that benefits from large link diversity uniquely available in a passive tag-to-tag network. We evaluate the performance of our techniques with extensive micro-benchmarking experiments in an indoor environment using fabricated prototypes of tag hardware. We show that our phase-based ranging performs similar to active receivers, providing median 1D ranging error
IL-1α-induced COX-2 expression in human intestinal myofibroblasts is dependent on a PKCζ-ROS pathway

Abstract Background & Aims: Intestinal myofibroblasts (IMFs) express cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) early on in polyp progression and respond to pro-inflammatory cytokines. Interleukin (IL)-1α induces COX-2 expression in IMF via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase C (PKC), and nuclear factor κ B (NF-κB)-dependent pathways. Because NF-κB activity can be mediated by PKC activation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, we examined the relationship of these pathways to IL-1α-induced COX-2 expression. Methods: The effects of specific PKC inhibitors and antioxidants on PKC activation, ROS generation, and COX-2 expression were studied. Results: Immunoprecipitation/kinase (IPK) analysis showed that IL-1α increased PKC α, δ, and ζ activity 4.5-, 3.1-, and 2.6-fold, respectively, within 5 minutes. Single-cell fluorescence microscopy of 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCF)-loaded cells showed that IL-1α increased ROS levels 2-fold within 15 minutes and this increase was inhibited by 10 μmol/L bisindolylymaleimide I (BIS), a pan-specific PKC inhibitor that also inhibits COX-2 expression. Chelerythrine chloride (CC) (0.5 μmol/L) inhibited classic and novel PKC activity, but not PKCζ, and enhanced IL-1α-mediated ROS generation 4.0-fold and COX-2 expression 1.8-fold. The use of a PKCζ pseudosubstrate prevented IL-1 from increasing ROS greater than control levels and abolished IL-1α-induced COX-2 expression. Small inhibitory RNA (siRNA) for PKCζ confirmed its role in COX-2 expression. Antioxidants inhibited ROS generation and diminished IL-1α-induced COX-2 expression by 80%, without affecting PKC activation. Neither the PKC inhibitors nor the antioxidants prevented NF-κB-mediated transcription as determined by reporter gene analysis. Conclusions: PKCζ and threshold ROS generation are critical for IL-1α-induced COX-2 expression and act concomitantly with NF-κB translocation in IMF.
Same-sex marriage

List of tables Preface Same-sex marriage timeline 1. Marriage, culture and law 2. Doing the rite thing: cultural practices of commitment 3. How do I love thee? Questioning the marriage model 4. Making it legal: marriage, law and legality 5. Sin or civil right? Debating marriage in the states 6. Conclusion: marriage and beyond Epilogue Appendices Notes Court cases References Index.
Review of Deborah Blum’s Book: Ghost Hunters: William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life after Death

Psychical energy, even in its subtle form, is felt directly when our affections are found conflicted. Deborah Blum's "Ghost Hunters" provides many examples of conflicted affection, both in the positive and in the negative. You can find this book at Amazon: Ghost Hunters: William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life after Death .
Optical urethrotomy as ambulatory procedure

Optical urethrotomy is a relatively new means of treating urethral stricture. We performed the procedure on 100 ambulatory patients using only topical anesthesia and sedation in some. The patients were followed a minimum of one year. Our success rate for cure following one procedure was 66 per cent; however, those patients not cured required less frequent dilations after urethrotomy. We believe that this is a safe and effective means of treating urethral strictures in the outpatient setting with little morbidity and discomfort and with considerable economic savings.
Chemically etched open tubular and monolithic emitters for nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

We have developed a new procedure for fabricating fused-silica emitters for electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in which the end of a bare fused-silica capillary is immersed into aqueous hydrofluoric acid, and water is pumped through the capillary to prevent etching of the interior. Surface tension causes the etchant to climb the capillary exterior, and the etch rate in the resulting meniscus decreases as a function of distance from the bulk solution. Etching continues until the silica touching the hydrofluoric acid reservoir is completely removed, essentially stopping the etch process. The resulting emitters have no internal taper, making them much less prone to clogging compared to, e.g., pulled emitters. The high aspect ratios and extremely thin walls at the orifice facilitate very low flow rate operation; stable ESI-MS signals were obtained for model analytes from 5-μm-diameter emitters at a flow rate of 5 nL/min with a high degree of interemitter reproducibility. In extensive evaluatio...
NUMERICAL OBSERVATIONS ON SEPARATRIX CROSSINGS

We investigate one degree of freedom Hamiltonian systems when trajectories cross a separatrix. We study such systems numerically using high precision computations and compare our results with first order, analytical predictions. In all our experiments we find oscillatory behavior which is not predicted by the first order analysis.
Lessons learned: experiences of gaining weight by kidney transplant recipients.

Context—Weight gain after kidney transplantation is a widespread phenomenon, but the question of effective strategies to intervene in patterns that lead to weight gain has not been well studied.Objective—To obtain (1) insight into recipients' perceptions of weight gain and (2) information on intervention strategies that recipients think could prevent weight gain.Design—Qualitative focus groups and a 13-question, multiple-choice survey were used.Setting—A regional mid-South transplant center.Participants—Seven kidney transplant recipients (86% African American, 57% female, mean age 55.0 years) who had gained at least 12% of their total body weight during a 12-month larger observational study.Main Outcome Measures—Content from the focus group sessions was analyzed for major and minor themes. The survey results were analyzed with descriptive statistics.Results—Identified themes included barriers to healthy eating caused by medications and removal of dietary restrictions. Barriers to physical activity include...
Cyclic AMP and Aclrenergic Receptor Control of Rat Liver Glycogen Metabolism

We used the isolated perfused rat liver as a model system to study mechanisms by which catecholamines alter hepatic carbohydrate metabolism. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, phenylephrine and isoproterenol all cause activation of glycogen phosphorylase, and increase glucose output. The effects of all of these agents are blocked by the alpha blocker phentolamine, whereas the beta blocker propranolol only inhibits the effect of norepinephrine. Cyclic AMP levels rise in the liver and the perfusate following epinephrine. This rise is accentuated by phentolamine and blocked by propranolol. Isoproterenol causes a greater elevation of cyclic AMP than phenylephrine while the reverse is true with respect to phosphorylase. The above data leads us to conclude that there are two independent mechanisms whereby catecholamines may activate glycogenolysis: 1) a beta receptor—mediated effect resulting in a rise in cellular cyclic AMP levels, which by the wellknown cascade mechanism activates phosphorylase; and 2) an alpha rec...