cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Responsible Use of Youth Fitness Testing to Enhance Student Motivation, Enjoyment, and Performance

While physical fitness testing has the potential to invoke embarrassment and anxiety, strategies can be developed that can motivate students to exert maximal effort, provide positive feedback on skill improvement, and encourage students to set fitness goals that can be achieved through developmentally appropriate physical activities. The purpose of this article is to discuss relevant psychological theories that explain factors related to students' performance on fitness testing, as well as to provide instructional strategies that minimize adverse reactions to fitness testing and that maximize effort, enjoyment, and motivation. Throughout the article, we address the relationship of physical fitness testing to several psychological factors such as perceptions of competence, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, enjoyment, goal orientation, and physical activity promotion.
Introduction to the spectral element method for three-dimensional seismic wave propagation

SUMMARY We present an introduction to the spectral element method, which provides an innovative numerical approach to the calculation of synthetic seismograms in 3-D earth models. The method combines the £exibility of a ¢nite element method with the accuracy of a spectral method. One uses a weak formulation of the equations of motion, which are solved on a mesh of hexahedral elements that is adapted to the free surface and to the main internal discontinuities of the model. The wave¢eld on the elements is discretized using high-degree Lagrange interpolants, and integration over an element is accomplished based upon the Gauss^Lobatto^Legendre integration rule. This combination of discretization and integration results in a diagonal mass matrix, which greatly simpli¢es the algorithm. We illustrate the great potential of the method by comparing it to a discrete wavenumber/re£ectivity method for layer-cake models. Both body and surface waves are accurately represented, and the method can handle point force as well as moment tensor sources. For a model with very steep surface topography we successfully benchmark the method against an approximate boundary technique. For a homogeneous medium with strong attenuation we obtain excellent agreement with the analytical solution for a point force.
Management's role in shaping organizational culture

Aim The present study addresses the importance of the manager’s role in the development and maintenance of organizational culture. It describes the types of cultures that exist and manager characteristics that are essential to facilitating a healthy workplace. Background While many managers do not deny the importance of organizational culture in employee satisfaction, few fail to realize the direct impact they have in shaping it. It is oftentimes believed that cultures are predetermined; however, this is a false assumption. It is crucial that managers at all levels are aware of their roles and responsibilities in upholding positive workplace environments that can increase employee satisfaction. Dissatisfaction is the major cause of turnover and can have detrimental cost and environmental effects on the agency. Evaluation Four critical components of culture (i.e. trust and trustworthiness, empowerment and delegation, consistency and mentorship) are discussed, as is the role of managers in turning these into positive cultural traits. The viewpoints of several authors, such as Stephen Covey, Mark McCormack and Charles Handy, are explored in relation to the development of organizational culture. Additional theories ‐ Kanter’s Theory of Organizational Empowerment, Locke’s Goal-setting Theory and the Social Exchange Theory ‐ supplement these viewpoints. Conclusions Managers are always under the magnifying glass, with each action carefully scrutinized by subordinates. They must exercise caution when making decisions, ensuring that fairness and equitability exists among staff, and that ethical standards are upheld on a continual basis. The four cultural components, viewed as managerial traits of trust and trustworthiness, empowerment, consistency and mentorship coexist at all times regardless of the type of culture. Managers must put support systems and other mechanisms into place that allow employees the opportunity to empower themselves and to flourish, thus increasing their own effectiveness as well as that of the organization.
Quantitative X-ray powder diffraction analyses of clays using an orienting internal standard and pressed disks of bulk shale samples

Quantitative analysis of clay minerals by x-ray diffraction requires oriented clays in order to increase detection limits of the analyses. This is achieved commonly either by smear or sedimentation techniques; however, these techniques can lead to poor analytical precision when used with an internal standard because they often produce nonhomogeneous internal standard-clay mineral mixtures. Compaction of bulk shale material at 8000 psi in a hydraulic press produces preferred orientations comparable to that produced by smear or sedimentation. When used with a suitable platy internal standard which provides an estimate of clay mineral preferred orientation, excellent analytical precision is achieved routinely. Several lines of experimental evidence indicate that 1 to 5 m ..mu.. MoS/sub 2/ is an ideal orienting internal standard for use with compaction mounts.
Reorganization of hippocampal functional connectivity with transition to chronic back pain

The hippocampus has been shown to undergo significant changes in rodent models of neuropathic pain; however, the role of the hippocampus in human chronic pain and its contribution to pain chronification have remained unexplored. Here we examine hippocampal processing during a simple visual attention task. We used functional MRI to identify intrinsic and extrinsic hippocampal functional connectivity (synchronous neural activity), comparing subacute back pain (SBP, back pain 1–4 mo) and chronic back pain (CBP, back pain >10 yr) patients to control (CON) subjects. Both groups showed more extensive hippocampal connectivity than CON subjects. We then examined the evolution of hippocampal connectivity longitudinally in SBP patients who recovered (SBPr, back pain decreased >20% in 1 yr) and those with persistent pain (SBPp). We found that SBPp and SBPr subjects have distinct changes in hippocampal-cortical connectivity over 1 yr; specifically, SBPp subjects showed large decreases in hippocampal connectivity with medial prefrontal cortex (HG-mPFC). Furthermore, in SBP patients the strength of HG-mPFC reflected variations in back pain over the year. These relationships were replicated when examined in a different task performed by SBP patients (rating fluctuations of back pain), indicating that functional connectivity of the hippocampus changes robustly in subacute pain and the nature of these changes depends on whether or not patients recover from SBP. The observed reorganization of processing within the hippocampus and between the hippocampus and the cortex seems to contribute to the transition from subacute to chronic pain and may also underlie learning and emotional abnormalities associated with chronic pain.
Expression and characterization of the C345C/NTR domains of complement components C3 and C5.

Complement components C3, C4, and C5 are members of the thioester-containing α-macroglobulin protein superfamily. Within this superfamily, a unique feature of the complement proteins is a 150-residue-long C-terminal extension of their α-subunits that harbors three internal disulfide bonds. Previous reports have suggested that this is an independent structural module, homologous to modules found in other proteins, including netrins and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases. Because of its distribution, this putative module has been named both C345C and NTR. To assess the structures of these segments of the complement proteins, their relationships with other domains, and activities as independent structures, we expressed C345C from C3 and C5 in a bacterial strain that permits cytoplasmic disulfide bond formation. Affinity purification directly from cell lysates yielded recombinant C3- and C5-C345C with properties consistent with multiple intramolecular disulfide bonds and high β-sheet contents. rC5-, but not rC3-C345C inhibited complement hemolytic activity, and surface plasmon resonance studies revealed that rC5-C345C binds to complement components C6 and C7 with dissociation constants of 10 and 3 nM, respectively. Our results provide strong evidence that this binding corresponds to the previously described reversible binding of C5 to C6 and C7, and taken together with earlier work, indicate that the C5-C345C module interacts directly with the factor I modules in C6 and C7. The high binding affinities suggest that complexes composed of C5 bound to C6 or C7 exist in plasma before activation and may facilitate assembly of the complement membrane attack complex.
Predation of bacteria by the protozoa Tetrahymena pyriformis in toluene-degrading cultures

The influence of the toluene concentration on predation of toluene-degrading bacteria by the protozoa Tetrahymena pyriformis was investigated in suspended batch cultures continuously aerated with toluene-contaminated air. At gas phase concentrations of 0.035 to 0.74 g m−3, toluene did not significantly affected protozoan activity and the final bacteria concentration was reduced by growing protozoa by 98 to 99.9% compared to protozoa-free controls. As the toluene concentration was increased to 1.16–1.33 g m−3, the reduction of the bacteria cell concentration was 80%. At 3.35 g toluene m−3, growth of T. pyriformis was completely inhibited. Overall, the results presented herein demonstrate that protozoa grazing on bacteria play a major role in controlling bacterial cell concentration, but that the toxicity of the treated pollutants to the protozoa is an important factor that needs to be taken into account in biological treatment processes.
CD40/CD154 interactions at the interface of tolerance and immunity

Development of the acquired immune response is dependent on the signaling of CD40 by its ligand, CD154. These molecules govern both the magnitude and quality of humoral- and cell-mediated immunity. A litany of studies have conclusively documented that blockade of this ligand-receptor pair can prevent, and also intervene in, the progression of antibody- and cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, and can instill long-lived allogeneic and xenogeneic graft tolerance. Many effector mechanisms of inflammation are abolished as a result of CD154 blockade, but we are now beginning to understand that CD154 blockade may, in some instances, engender long-lived, antigen-specific tolerance. In the context of transplantation tolerance, we present a hypothesis that alpha CD154 blockade is most effective at inducing long-lived allospecific tolerance if anergy and regulation can be elicited prior to the onslaught of inflammation that is induced by grafting (preemptive tolerance). This facet of alpha CD154-induced tolerance appears to co-opt the normal processes of peripheral tolerance induced by immature DCs and can be exploited to induce long-lived antigen-specific tolerance. The underlying science and the prospects for inducing long-lived antigen-specific tolerance in a model of allograft tolerance through CD154 blockade are presented and discussed.
Emotion and security

Examining the role of human emotional response in making complex security-related decisions.
Mimicking the host and its microenvironment in vitro for studying mucosal infections by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Why is a healthy person protected from Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, while individuals with cystic fibrosis or damaged epithelium are particularly susceptible to this opportunistic pathogen? To address this question, it is essential to thoroughly understand the dynamic interplay between the host microenvironment and P. aeruginosa . Therefore, using model systems that represent key aspects of human mucosal tissues in health and disease allows recreating in vivo host–pathogen interactions in a physiologically relevant manner. In this review, we discuss how factors of mucosal tissues, such as apical–basolateral polarity, junctional complexes, extracellular matrix proteins, mucus, multicellular complexity (including indigenous microbiota), and other physicochemical factors affect P. aeruginosa pathogenesis and are thus important to mimic in vitro . We highlight in vitro cell and tissue culture model systems of increasing complexity that have been used over the past 35 years to study the infectious disease process of P. aeruginosa , mainly focusing on lung models, and their respective advantages and limitations. Continued improvements of in vitro models based on our expanding knowledge of host microenvironmental factors that participate in P. aeruginosa pathogenesis will help advance fundamental understanding of pathogenic mechanisms and increase the translational potential of research findings from bench to the patient's bedside.
Impact of Ceutorhynchus litura feeding on root carbohydrate levels in Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Abstract Canada thistle is a serious perennial weed found throughout the northern regions of the United States and Canada. The weevil, Ceutorhynchus litura (F.), was first released in Canada in 1965 as a potential biological control agent for Canada thistle; however, its impact as a control agent has been sporadic. The objective of this study was to characterize C. litura impacts on the carbohydrate profile in Canada thistle roots through the growing season and to evaluate the potential for this biological control agent in causing stress to Canada thistle. Field plots, infested with C. litura, were established and extensively sampled for C. litura infestations. By sampling C. litura–damaged and undamaged Canada thistle shoots–roots through the season, we were able to establish the profile of free sugars and fructans in the roots and compare these levels to the presence and extent of insect damage. Levels of all free sugars and fructans were consistently found to be depressed in roots from C. litura–damage...
On the Nature of Alpha Feedback Training

A new kind of interaction between man and his body, biofeedback, elicited enthusiastic interest in many sectors of the scientific community in the late 1960s. A number of investigators had shown that automatic electronic sensing and feedback of a wide variety of usually unconscious physiological functions allowed individuals to directly influence internal processes that had previously been considered beyond volitional control. These included galvanic skin response (Crider, Shapiro, and Tursky, 1966), heart rate (Engel and Chism, 1967; Engel and Hansen, 1966), blood pressure (Shapiro, Tursky, Gershon, and Stern, 1969), evoked cortical potentials (Fox and Rudell, 1968; Rosenfeld, Rudell, and Fox, 1969), and EEG (Hart, 1968; Kamiya, 1969; Mulholland, 1968). Perhaps most impressive was the elegant demonstration by Miller and DiCara (1967) that curarized animals could acquire instrumental control over visceral and glandular responses.
Design Guidelines for High Efficiency Plasmonics Silicon Solar Cells

We report a novel solar cell design concept, for high optical absorption in the thin active layer of photovoltaic devices due to localized surface plasmon effects arising on the employed metallic nanoparticle arrays. The proposed solar cell geometry consists of sub-wavelength nanotextured surface in combination with plasmonics metal nanoparticles. The detailed balance analysis is carried out for the limiting efficiency of an optimized nanotextured surface in combination with the gold (Au) nanoparticle arrays described herein. The ultimate efficiency of the optimized nanostructured silicon surface decorated by the Au nanoparticle arrays is 39.67 %, which compares favorably with the ultimate efficiency of 31.11 % for an optimized nanotextured surface without Au nanoparticles. For the proposed geometry of the solar cell, the maximum short circuit current density (J SC) and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 31.57 mA/cm2 and 25.42 %, respectively, are achieved on a single-crystal silicon layer of thickness 2.8 μm, compared to the predicted J SC and PCE values of 25.45 mA/cm2 and 20.87 %, respectively, for an optimized structure of the same thickness without Au plasmonics effects. The influence of a silicon dioxide/silicon nitride (SiO2/Si3N4) stack as a dielectric spacer layer, which could also serves as a surface passivation for nanotextured surface, on the optical absorption performance of plasmonics Au nanoparticle is also presented.
A 1 MHz eGaN FET based 4-switch buck-boost converter for automotive applications

This paper presents the development of a 1 MHz enhancement mode GaN (eGaN) FET based 4-switch buck-boost converter with bootstrap driver for automotive applications. Conventionally, with Si MOSFETs, it is difficult to optimize the efficiency of a 4-switch buck-boost converter since the high side switches need to switch at high frequency or completely conduct the output/input current in either buck or boost operation mode. GaN FET with much lower Figure of Merit provides the possibility to achieve high efficiency of 4-switch buck-boost converter at MHz switching frequency. This paper investigates the challenges of using bootstrap driver in MHz 4-switch buck-boost converter, and presents associated solutions. A 6–45Vin, 10V/7A, 1 MHz eGaN FET based 4-switch buck-boost converter is built and measured high conversion efficiency confirms the superior performance with GaN FET.
The microRNA, let-7, significantly impacts the radiation response in Radelegans and mammalian cells

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 3103 Purpose/Objectives: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are novel global regulatory RNAs originally discovered in C. elegans and found to play a significant role as human cancer loci. MiRNAs are aberrantly expressed in tumors compared to normal tissues and regulate proteins known to be critical for pro-survival pathways. These findings indicate that miRNA misregulation likely plays a role in tumor cell transformation. We hypothesized that miRNAs might play a role in a cancer cell's response to cytotoxic therapy and therefore might be a potential target to impact the radiation response. Materials/Methods: We have developed a tissue-model of radiation-induced reproductive cell death in the nematode C. elegans, called Radelegans. Reproductive cell death is the primary mode of death in tissue clonogens, the targets of cytotoxic therapy, responsible for solid tumor eradication. We began by evaluating the impact of the miRNA let-7 on the radiosensitivity phenotype in this system. To validate the significance of let-7 on the radiation response we performed miRNA microarrays post-irradiation as well as evaluated the effect of altering expression levels of let-7 in a well-established cell culture system. Results: We have found that the miRNA, let-7, significantly impacts the radiation response in Radelegans, with its loss leading to radioresistance and its overexpression leading to radiosensitivity. This is likely due to its regulation of the RAS oncogene as well as numerous additional downstream targets. We further have found that in mammalian cells all but one of the let-7 homologues is immediately downregulated in response to radiation, implicating this family of miRNAs in the cell's response to radiation. In addition, using a tissue-culture system we have found that altering the levels of let-7 in mammalian cells is a means to alter the radiation response. These findings will be further validated in mouse models.
Elusive and Evanescent Indo-Pak Peace

The ubiquitous propensity in the ruling circles in New Delhi for the last 50 years has been to forge peace with our western neighbor Pakistan (literally meaning ‘The Land of the Pure’). Our leaders have bent over backwards to achieve this; they yielded to every Pakistani tantrum; they acquiesced to every Pakistani demand; they sacrificed every interest of their own people; they turned an ostrich’s eye to each Pakistani dagger stabbed in our back; still we are at the same position (if not further away) as we are half a century back. The time has come, this author believes, to reevaluate our strategy vis-a-vis our ex-fraternal twin. We have a tryst with destiny to resolve this dispute now and forever relieving posterity with this mental encumbrance.
Rapid Thermal Annealing of Ion Implanted GaAs and InP

This paper discusses the properties of high intensity lamp-annealed silicon or beryllium-implanted GaAs and InP samples. We find this annealing process can result in efficient activation of dopants. Conventional furnace annealing at the same temperature does not result in increased electrical activation of the dopants. High fluence silicon implants can be activated in anneal times as short as 2 seconds, while low fluence silicon implants require more extended annealing. Activation of low fluence implants in GaAs depends strongly on the properties of the bulk semi-insulating material.
Millimeter Wave Networked Wearables in Dense Indoor Environments

Supporting high data rate wireless connectivity among wearable devices in a dense indoor environment is challenging. This is primarily due to bandwidth scarcity when many users operate multiple devices simultaneously. The millimeter-wave (mmWave) band has the potential to address this bottleneck, thanks to more spectrum and less interference because of signal blockage at these frequencies. In this paper, we explain the potential and challenges associated with using mmWave for wearable networks. To provide a means for concrete analysis, we present a system model that admits easy analysis of dense, indoor mmWave wearable networks. We evaluate the performance of the system while considering the unique propagation features at mmWave frequencies, such as human body blockages and reflections from walls. One conclusion is that the non-isotropy of the surroundings relative to a reference user causes variations in system performance depending on the user location, body orientation, and density of the network. The impact of using antenna arrays is quantified through analytic closed-form expressions that incorporate antenna gain and directivity. It is shown that using directional antennas, positioning the transceiver devices appropriately, and orienting the human user body in certain directions depending on the user location result in gigabits-per-second achievable ergodic rates for mmWave wearable networks.
A cladistic analysis of the Piesmatinae (Hemiptera-Heteroptera: Piesmatidae)

A cladistic analysis of 13 characters suggests that of the 3 piesmatine genera, Mcateella and Miespa are the more closely related. Their common ancestor probably evolved the same stock that gave rise to the 3rd genus, Piesma . The distribution of the subfamily suggests that this “proto-piesmatine” stock arose in the Old World, and that Mcateella and Miespa evolved from their common ancestor in Gondwanaland.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Spectroscopic Studies of Amorphous Tetraglyme (CH3O(CH2CH2O)4CH3) and Tetraglyme:LiCF3SO3 Structures

Systems of poly(ethylene oxide) with dissolved inorganic salts are used as solid polymer electrolytes in high energy density batteries. Amorphous tetraglyme [CH3O(CH2CH2O)4CH3], a model for amorphous PEO, and tetraglyme:LiCF3SO3 (lithium triflate) with an ether oxygen:Li+ ratio of 10:1 were studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations at 300 and 400 K. Conformational and structural analyses of Li+ interactions with tetraglyme and triflate ion oxygens are consistent with decreased Li+ coordination by tetraglyme and increased ionic aggregation at the higher temperature. Dihedral angle population density distributions for tetraglyme chains show that the trans conformation is favored for C−O bonds while the more compact gauche conformation is favored for C−C bonds and is enforced by coordination of adjacent oxygens to Li+. Calculated populations of tetraglyme conformational triads indicate that the most stable conformation around Li+-tetraglyme oxygens is tgt. Mean-square radius of gyration and end-to-end d...
Electrophilic Alkylation of Pseudotetrahedral Nickel(II) Arylthiolate Complexes

A kinetic study is reported for reactions of pseudotetrahedral nickel(II) arylthiolate complexes [(TpR,Me)Ni–SAr] (TpR,Me = hydrotris{3-R-5-methyl-1-pyrazolyl}borate, R = Me, Ph, and Ar = C6H5, C6H4-4-Cl, C6H4-4-Me, C6H4-4-OMe, 2,4,6-Me3C6H2, 2,4,6-iPr3C6H2) with organic electrophiles R′X (i.e., MeI, EtI, BzBr) in low-polarity organic solvents (toluene, THF, chloroform, dichloromethane, or 1,2-dichloroethane), yielding a pseudotetrahedral halide complex [(TpR,Me)Ni–X] (X = Cl, Br, I) and the corresponding organosulfide R′SAr. Competitive reactions with halogenated solvents and adventitious air were also examined. Akin to reactions of analogous and biomimetic zinc complexes, a pertinent mechanistic question is the nature of the reactive nucleophile, either an intact thiolate complex or a free arylthiolate resulting from a dissociative pre-equilibrium. The observed kinetics conformed to a second-order rate law, first order with respect to the complex and electrophile, and no intermediate complexes were obse...
Parental Knowledge: Examining Reporter Discrepancies and Links to School Engagement Among Middle School Studies

It is well established that parental knowledge contributes to adolescents’ well-being and school success and scholars have noted that parents and adolescents report different levels of knowledge. Discrepancies in parental knowledge have implications for adolescent outcomes such as risk behaviors, but little is known about the implications of knowledge discrepancies for adolescents’ school outcomes. The present study examined discrepancies in parent and adolescent reports of parental knowledge and investigated the extent to which knowledge discrepancies were linked to school engagement. Participants were early adolescents (N = 174; 53 % female) and their parents (90 % mothers). Adolescents (57 % African American/Black, 18 % multiracial, 17 % White/Caucasian, 7 % Hispanic/Latino and 1 % Asian American) attended a Midwestern, Title 1, urban, public middle school. Adolescents completed surveys in their homerooms and parents completed paper–pencil surveys at home or surveys via telephone. Results showed that parents reported more knowledge of adolescents’ activities and whereabouts compared to adolescents’ reports. Knowledge discrepancies were associated with school bonding and school self-esteem such that dyads in which adolescents reported more knowledge than their parents reported had significantly higher levels of school bonding and school self-esteem compared to dyads in which parents reported much more knowledge.
Studying genetic resilience to improve human health.

In 2015, for the first time in three decades, novel lipid-lowering drugs for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia were approved by the FDA in the US and EMA in Europe (US Food and Drug Administration 2015a, US Food and Drug Administration 2015b, European Medicines Agency 2015a, European Medicines Agency 2015b). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), an enzyme encoded by the PCSK9 gene in humans, is the target of these novel therapeutics. In the early 2000s, PCSK9 was found to play a role in cholesterol homeostasis by promoting the degradation of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor in the liver, reducing its ability to remove LDL from circulation (Maxwell & Breslow, 2004, Park et al., 2004, Benjannet et al., 2004, Maxwell et al., 2005). At the same time, Dr. Helen H. Hobbs and Dr. Jonathan Cohen at UT-Southwestern had been studying people with very high and very low cholesterol. Based on its role in cholesterol metabolism, they sequenced the PCSK9 gene in people with very low cholesterol and found nonsense mutations that caused the PCSK9 enzyme to lose its function (Cohen et al., 2005). “Resilience” to hypercholesterolemia was conferred on individuals harboring loss-of-function mutations in the PCSK9 gene, opening the door for the development of drugs based on this novel mechanism of action. The pursuit of resilience through genome-wide analyses is now underway and will undoubtedly further our understanding of the biology of disease, provide promising therapeutic targets, and potentially improve human health and aging. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A 60 GHz 2×2 planar phased array with SIW modified butler matrix feed

A 60 GHz 2×2 planar phased array with substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) Butler Matrix feed is designed, fabricated, and measured. The standard Butler Matrix has been modified to provide phased outputs to a planar patch array as opposed to the more conventional linear array. Additional transverse slots are etched on the bottom wall of SIW phase shifting sections to reduce the area of the Butler Matrix by 56.8% over previously reported implementations. Patch array elements with 0.5λ spacing are excited through aperture coupling via 4 rectangular slots allocated on the top wall of the SIW Butler Matrix. The antenna was fabricated using Rogers RT5880 substrate. Measured results show higher than 5.3 dB return loss for all ports, with ports 1 and 4 measuring S 11 less than −10.8 dB.
Altering the Trajectory of the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Asset-Based Pedagogy and Classroom Dynamics.

Prior research has contributed to our understanding about the ways teachers communicate their expectations to students, how students perceive differential teacher behaviors, and their effect on stu...
Anti-Inflammatory Therapies for Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterized by airway obstruction, chronic bacterial infection, and a self-propagating inflammatory response. These three factors are interrelated and feed into each other resulting in structural damage to the airway wall architecture, loss of lung function, and ultimately the death of the patient. Current maintenance regimens targeted toward treating the lung disease typically include airway clearance measures to relieve the airway obstruction and inhaled antibiotics to treat the chronic bacterial infection. Few patients receive chronic anti-inflammatory therapy. The first studies of anti-inflammatory drugs for CF began approximately 30 years ago with the first study of oral corticosteroids. Unfortunately, chronic systemic corticosteroid use was associated with significant side effects and therefore cannot be recommended for long-term use in treating CF airway inflammation. High-dose ibuprofen is the only anti-inflammatory drug currently recommended for the treatment of CF airway inflammation. Unfortunately, it has never been widely adopted primarily due to the requirement to obtain pharmacokinetic studies prior to initiating therapy and concerns over potential side effects. Clearly, new anti-inflammatory drugs are desperately needed in CF. Because massive neutrophil influx is the hallmark of airway inflammation in CF, any new anti-inflammatory drug must either directly or indirectly address the neutrophil and its damaging inflammatory products. In this chapter, the history of anti-inflammatory drug development in CF will be reviewed first, and then an update on current studies of anti-inflammatory drugs in the CF pipeline will be provided.
Leveraging the Medical Context to Increase Upper Extremity Reconstruction Among Patients With Tetraplegia: A Qualitative Analysis

Abstract Objectives To (1) characterize patients' medical experiences from initial injury until they become candidates for upper extremity reconstruction (UER); and (2) identify points in this medical context that may be most amenable to interventions designed to increase UER utilization. Design A qualitative cross-sectional study using grounded theory methodology and constant comparative analysis of data collected through semistructured individual interviews. Setting Community. Participants A sample of individuals with C4 to C8 cervical spinal injuries (N=19) who sustained injuries at least 1 year before interview. Nine patients had undergone reconstruction, and 10 had not. The study sample was predominantly male (79%) and white (89%), and American Spinal Injury Association grades A through D were represented (A, 42%; B, 32%; C, 16%; D, 10%). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Participants' self-report of their medical experiences from the time of injury through the early recovery period. Results We identified 3 domains that formed patients' medical context before UER candidacy: (1) their ability to achieve and maintain health; (2) their relationship with health care providers; and (3) their expectations regarding clinicians' tetraplegia-specific expertise. Trust emerged as a major theme driving potential intervention targets. Patients transferred to referral centers had higher trust in tertiary providers relative to local physicians. In the outpatient setting, patients' trust correlated with the tetraplegia-specific expertise level they perceived the specialty to have (high for physical medicine and rehabilitation, intermediate for urology, low for primary care). Conclusions In appropriate candidates, UER produces substantial functional gains, but reconstruction remains underused in the tetraplegic population. By analyzing how patients achieve health and build trust in early recovery/injury, our study provides strategies to improve UER access. We propose that interventions targeting highly trusted points of care (transfer hospitals) and avoiding low-trust points (primary care physicians, home health) will be most effective. Urology may represent a novel entry point for UER interventions.
Screening of an FDA-approved compound library identifies levosimendan as a novel anti-HIV-1 agent that inhibits viral transcription.

Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has been proven to efficiently inhibit ongoing replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and significantly improve the health outcome in patients of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, cART is unable to cure HIV-1/AIDS. Even in presence of cART there exists a residual viremia, contributed from the viral reservoirs of latently infected HIV-1 proviruses; this constitutes a major hurdle. Currently, there are multiple strategies aimed at eliminating or permanently silence these HIV-1 latent reservoirs being intensely explored. One such strategy, a recently emerged "block and lock" approach is appealing. For this approach, so-called HIV-1 latency-promoting agents (LPAs) are used to reinforce viral latency and to prevent the low-level or sporadic transcription of integrated HIV-1 proviruses. Although several LPAs have been reported, there is still a question of their suitability to be further developed as a safe and valid therapeutic agent for the clinical use. In this study, we aimed to identify new potential LPAs through the screening an FDA-approved compound library. A new and promising anti-HIV-1 inhibitor, levosimendan, was identified from these screens. Levosimendan is currently used to treat heart failure in clinics, but it demonstrates strong inhibition of TNFα-induced HIV-1 reactivation in multiple cell lines of HIV-1 latency through affecting the HIV-1 Tat-LTR transcriptional axis. Furthermore, we confirmed that in primary CD4+ T cells levosimendan inhibits both the acute HIV-1 replication and the reactivation of latent HIV-1 proviruses. As a summary, our studies successfully identify levosimendan as a novel and promising anti-HIV-1 inhibitor, which should be immediately investigated in vivo given that it is already an FDA-approved drug.
Dual Strategies for Argonaute2-Mediated Biogenesis of Erythroid miRNAs Underlie Conserved Requirements for Slicing in Mammals

Summary While Slicer activity of Argonaute is central to RNAi, conserved roles of slicing in endogenous regulatory biology are less clear, especially in mammals. Biogenesis of erythroid Dicer-independent mir-451 involves Ago2 catalysis, but mir-451-KO mice do not phenocopy Ago2 catalytic-dead ( Ago2-CD ) mice, suggesting other needs for slicing. Here, we reveal mir-486 as another dominant erythroid miRNA with atypical biogenesis. While it is Dicer dependent, it requires slicing to eliminate its star strand. Thus, in Ago2-CD conditions, miR-486-5p is functionally inactive due to duplex arrest. Genome-wide analyses reveal miR-486 and miR-451 as the major slicing-dependent miRNAs in the hematopoietic system. Moreover, mir-486-KO mice exhibit erythroid defects, and double knockout of mir-486/451 phenocopies the cell-autonomous effects of Ago2-CD in the hematopoietic system. Finally, we observe that Ago2 is the dominant-expressed Argonaute in maturing erythroblasts, reflecting a specialized environment for processing slicing-dependent miRNAs. Overall, the mammalian hematopoietic system has evolved multiple conserved requirements for Slicer-dependent miRNA biogenesis.
Application of equivalent medium parameters in finite element models of microwave metamaterials

Simulated or experimentally measured reflection and transmission are used to obtain effective permittivity (e), permeability (μ), and conductivity (σ) for a planar microwave metamaterial. These parameters are then used in a finite element model of macro-scale metamaterial objects, where the metamaterial is taken to be a homogeneous layer with frequency-dependent e, μ, and σ. We demonstrate good agreement between reflection and absorption of metamaterial structure and those obtained from modeling homogenized, macro-scale metamaterials. We further demonstrate use of the method for geometrically scaled, oddly shaped macroscopic objects. This method significantly reduces computation requirements and enables modeling of metamaterial-made, large area objects without modeling their actual intricate metamaterial structure.
Field-circuit coextraction of systems with interconnects and circuit components

A field-circuit coextraction method is proposed for the 3D full-wave model extraction of systems with interconnects and surface mounting circuit components. Local metal patches are added to each circuit component based on the pins and circuit profile. The voltage and the current continuity between fields and circuits are enforced through internal ports defined on the artificial reference patches.
Cause Analysis and Countermeasures of a Breakdown Failure of Flexible 110 kV Cable Terminal

disintegration examination and analysis are employed in flexible terminal breakdown of 110 kV XLPE insulated cables. It is considered that the main reason of breakdown is the separation of the stress cone of the terminal and the fracture of the semi- conductive layer of the cable insulation. Therefore, the finite element method is used to electric field model and simulate the dislocation fault of internal stress cone and outer semiconductor layer of cable insulation. The distribution of the electric field intensity is calculated and compared. The simulation and calculation results verify the validity of the breakdown mechanism analysis, and put forward some practical suggestions.
Drug-Induced Enhanced Risk for Sudden Cardiac Death in Clinical Practice, Clinical Research, and Drug Development

Primum non nocere (“first, do no harm”) is one of the fundamental precepts in medicine. It means that possible harm must be considered before “bringing any forth by a healer” to the human body or mind (“iatrogenesis”). Based on numerous iatrogenic studies, it appears that the use of some of the common current medicines arguably could cause more harm than good in many patients.1 The extent of serious and fatal adverse drug reactions is largely underestimated and is of an important magnitude. Lazarou et al. in their meta-analysis of 39 prospective U.S. studies on adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients revealed that the incidence of serious and fatal adverse drug reactions was 6.7% and 0.32%, respectively. Based on this, iatrogenic drug-induced death is between the fourth and sixth leading cause of death in the United States.2
Impurity-induced degradation at zirconia/sapphire interfaces

Sapphire fibre surface damage caused by a polycrystalline zirconia coating has been analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). “Pitting” of the sapphire surface was partially attributed to formation of a transient liquid phase (interphase) capable of local dissolution of alumina at zirconia grain contacts. Chemical etching was used to verify that the interphase material was silicate-based and resided at triple points between zirconia grains and the fibre surface. An additional crystalline calcium hexaluminate phase (hibonite) was found on some fibres. Origin of these impurities and resulting consequences of their presence are rationalized in view of observed surface modification.
Nucleation and growth of tungsten nanotendrils grown under divertor-like conditions

Abstract Tungsten is the primary candidate for plasma-facing materials in the critical regions of a magnetic fusion energy (MFE) device, such as a tokamak. However, tungsten (and many other metals) grow copious nanotendril "fuzz" when exposed to fusion-relevant He-bearing plasmas, and the impact of this fuzz on reactor operation is still unknown. Further, the mechanism of fuzz growth is also poorly understood at present. In order to experimentally probe the growth mechanisms, we developed a new sample preparation technique to examine the interface of individual nanotendril roots with the substrate (substrate/tendril interface) using electron microscopy and measured the grain boundary character distributions (GBCDs) of substrate/tendril interfaces, the GBs within individual tendrils (tendril/tendril interfaces), and GBs within the substrate (substrate/substrate interfaces). We find the substrate/tendril and tendril/tendril GBCDs are essentially indistinguishable, but very different from the substrate/substrate GBCDs, which implies that tendril growth periodically forms new GBs at the substrate/tendril interface, and these GBs are pushed upward to become tendril/tendril interfaces within the fuzz mat. These results will help guide future computational modelling studies to elucidate the details of the growth mechanisms.
Branched Chain Amino Acids in Metabolic Disease

Elevations in circulating branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) have gained attention as potential contributors to the development of insulin resistance and diabetes. Epidemiological evidence strongly supports this conclusion. Suppression of BCAA catabolism in adipose and hepatic tissues appears to be the primary drivers of plasma BCAA elevations. BCAA catabolism may be shunted to skeletal muscle, where it indirectly leads to FA accumulation and insulin resistance, via a number of proposed mechanisms. BCAAs have an important role in the development of IR, but our understanding of how plasma BCAA elevations occur, and how these elevations lead to insulin resistance, is still limited.
Experience in a Public Cord Blood Bank Using a Segment-Based Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Assay as a Biomarker for Umbilical Cord Blood Potency

Background: AMR-001, an autologous CD34+ cell product derived from mini-marrow harvest, is currently undergoing Phase II trials to treat acute myocardial infarction (AMI). At the time of AMR-001 infusion, it is believed that the infarct-region stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1) levels are peaked. It was found that improvement in cardiac perfusion and infarct size correlated with the mobility potential of CD34+ cells, as mediated by a SDF-1 gradient. We have initiated a study to identify potential microRNAs (miRNAs) and proteins that may be used as biomarkers that correlate to CD34+ cell migratory potential. Methods: In vitro transwell migratory assays were performed on purified CD34+ cells derived from bone marrow of healthy donors. After 4 hours at 37 C, CD34+ cells that migrated into the lower chamber in the presence of SDF-1, the non-mobilized cells in the upper chamber, and untreated cells were harvested. The miRNA expression profile was analyzed (Sistemic, Ltd) using microarray slides (Agilent). A biotin label-based antibody array (RayBiotech) was used for the detection of 1000 proteins. Results: Hierarchical clustering analysis of the miRNA data showed that mobilized cells grouped separately from the non-mobilized/untreated cells. Sixty-three miRNAs were upregulated in the mobilized samples compared to non-mobilized/untreated samples, including two miRNAs which have a reported pro-angiogenic role in migratory cells. Twenty-six proteins had higher expression in mobilized cells compared to non-mobilized cells. Several of the identified proteins have a role in migration or angiogenesis. Conclusion: Analysis of the miRNA and protein profiles of the CD34+ cells identified a number of miRNAs/proteins that represent possible markers for a migratory phenotype. qPCR and ELISA assays will be performed to verify the specific miRNAs and proteins identified. This approach will enable the development of a biomarker assay for migratory potential of AMR-001.
BAPC-assistedCRISPR/Cas9 System: Targeted Delivery into Adult Ovaries for Heritable Germline Gene Editing (Arthropoda: Hemiptera)

Innovative technologies aimed at reducing psyllid populations using targeting RNA suppression, like RNAi, or gene-editing tools, like CRISPR/Cas9 have the potential to reduce psyllid vectors and disrupt pathogen transmission. Breakthroughs that improve gene editing in psyllids, such as BAPC-assisted-CRISPR/Cas9 System, enabled delivery by injection of CRISPR/Cas9 components directly into nymphs and adult females. Injection near ovaries produced heritable germline gene editing in subsequent generations, G0, G1, G2. This method opens the world of gene editing across arthropods and bypasses the need for microinjection of eggs. Effective development of therapeutic treatments against psyllid and leafhopper vectors, providing strategies for maintaining sustainable citrus and grapevine industries.
Effect of wettability of ceramic proppant surface in guar gum solution on the oil flow efficiency in fractures

Abstract Guar gum and its derivatives have been the most commonly used polymers to increase the viscosity of fracture fluids. Ceramic proppants are vital products for enhancing oil and gas well productivity in low-permeability reservoirs. In the last several decades, abundant studies have been found in the investigation of proppant size, shape, compositions on the fracture conductivity. However, few types of research can be found to study the proppant wettability effect on the oil and gas flow efficiency. In our research, eight experiments were conducted using traditional guar gum fracturing fluid. Results of this work indicated that ceramic proppant promotes oil flow efficiency from sandstone core samples to proppant packs and thus should promote oil well productivity. The mechanism behind this phenomenon is believed to be the formation of oil flow channels across the fracture face due to the imbibition of oil in the core onto the oil-wet surface of the proppant, promoting oil flow from the core to the fracture. After guar gum was added the results inverted, this phenomenon for water-wet proppant is believed to be increased by the viscosity of fracture fluids which increased the viscosity of water, promoting oil flow from the core to the fracture. Nevertheless, the stimulation effect of oil-wet proppant on oil flow efficiency can be reduced by the presence of guar gum solution. Inside the proppant matrix filled with guar gum fracturing fluid, oil can be blocked inside the proppant matrix as a discontinuous phase while the aqueous phase can be easily mixed with the guar gum fluid and then be transferred out.
Listicles and the modern news article: comparing the perceived credibility of listicles and traditional articles among millennial media consumers

Listicles are a new media phenomenon that appear on virtually every news organization’s website (articles that are simply lists or rankings and offer concise details about a topic to readers). This...
Black Male Leaders Care Too: An Introduction to Black Masculine Caring in Educational Leadership:

Background: This study addresses the leadership of African American male leaders and their operationalization of the ethic of care in their practice by analyzing the educational leadership of Afric...