cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prediction of Non-Axisymmetric Effective Wake by a Three-Dimensional Euler Solver

A fully three-dimensional Euler solver, based on a finite volume approach, is developed and applied to the prediction of the effective wake for propellers subject to non-axisymmetric inflows. The method is coupled with an existing lifting-surface vortex-lattice method for the analysis of unsteady cavitating propeller flows. The results are validated against analytical solutions from actuator disk theory. The effect of the grid parameters on the results (circumferential average and amplitudes of harmonics of the predicted effective wake) is found to be very weak. The predicted total velocity field correlates very well with that measured in propeller experiments.
Chronic ACTH administration and the development of hypertension in rats.

SummaryThe results of the present study demonstrate that the chronic infusion of ACTH stimulates endogenous steroidogenesis, suppresses PRA, and leads to the development of hypertension in normal rats; the hypertension is reversible upon cessation of ACTH infusion. This experimental model should prove useful for studying adrenal mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension.Ronald H. Freeman is the recipient of Research Career Development Award 1 K04 HL 00257-03, from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Spatial uncertainty in cluster detection

Advances in GIS are increasingly focused on providing more sophisticated spatial analytical capabilities. Much of this work assumes no attribute and positional uncertainties in data. While there has been considerable research devoted to enhanced data creation techniques and metadata associated with error and uncertainty, little has been done to characterize or better understand error/uncertainty impacts in spatial analysis. This paper explores issues associated with the detection and significance of clusters under known positional uncertainty. Multiple equally likely data instances in which positional certainty is not assumed are assessed for existence of clusters. Results suggest that identified patterns can vary significantly when there is error or uncertainty in spatial data.
Electrical properties of orientation-mismatched interface of (311)B InP/(100) GaAs, and the effect of surface preparation methods

We investigated electrical conductivity across orientation- and lattice mismatched interface formed by wafer bonding. An interface of (311)B InP and (100) GaAs wafer had a barrier height (Vb) of about 0.5 eV, which was higher than that of a bonded interface of (100) InP/(100) GaAs due to an orientation mismatch. The effect of surface treatment method before the bonding process was also investigated, and it was shown that the Vb is lower for the interface formed by bonding wafers with dry surface. Although the Vb was high for the (311)B InP/(100) GaAs interface, it had a decent conductivity, and we believe that such an integrated structure is beneficial for fabricating new types of devices such as long-wavelength VCSEL with polarization control.
American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association 2016 dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) focused update: Implications for surgeons.

From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif. Disclosures: Author has nothing to disclose with regard to commercial support. Received for publication April 13, 2016; accepted for publication April 13, 2016; available ahead of print May 14, 2016. Address for reprints: Richard J. Shemin, MD, 100 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite 730, Los Angeles, CA 90095 (E-mail: Rshemin@mednet.ucla.edu). J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2016;152:1276-8 0022-5223/$36.00 Copyright 2016 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2016.04.047
Crisis of Authority: Politics, Trust, and Truth-Telling in Freud and Foucault

Contemporary social and political theory has reached an impasse about a problem that had once seemed straightforward: how can individuals make ethical judgments about power and politics? Crisis of Authority analyzes the practices that bind authority, trust and truthfulness in contemporary theory and politics. Drawing on newly available archival materials, Nancy Luxon locates two models for such practices in Sigmund Freud's writings on psychoanalytic technique and Michel Foucault's unpublished lectures on the ancient ethical practices of 'fearless speech', or parrhesia. Luxon argues that the dynamics provoked by the figures of psychoanalyst and truth-teller are central to this process. Her account offers a more supple understanding of the modern ethical subject and new insights into political authority and authorship.
Circulating biomarkers and incident ischemic stroke in the Framingham Offspring Study

Objective: We related a panel of inflammatory biomarkers to risk of incident ischemic stroke (IIS) in a community-dwelling sample. Methods: Stroke-free Framingham offspring attending examination cycle 7 (1998–2001) had 15 circulating inflammatory biomarkers measured. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) of IIS per SD increment of each biomarker. Model 1 included age and sex. Model 2 additionally adjusted for systolic blood pressure, hypertension treatment, current smoking, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and atrial fibrillation. The continuous net reclassification improvement was used to assess the improvement in IIS risk prediction of statistically significant biomarkers from our main analysis over traditional stroke risk factors. Results: In 3,224 participants (mean age 61 ± 9 years, 54% women), 98 experienced IIS (mean follow-up of 9.8 [±2.2] years). In model 1, ln–C-reactive protein (ln-CRP) (HR 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.56), ln–tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (ln-TNFR2) (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.09–1.63), ln–total homocysteine (ln-tHcy) (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.11–1.58), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.07–1.46) were associated with risk of IIS. All associations, except for ln-CRP, remained significant in model 2 (ln-TNFR2: HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.02–1.51; ln-tHcy: HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.01–1.43; and VEGF: HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04–1.42). The addition of these 4 biomarkers to the clinical Framingham Stroke Risk Profile score improved stroke risk prediction (net reclassification improvement: 0.34, 0.12–0.57; p Conclusions: Higher levels of 4 biomarkers—CRP, tHcy, TNFR2, and VEGF—increased risk of IIS and improved the predictive ability of the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile score. Further research is warranted to explore their role as potential therapeutic targets.
What does translation know

ABSTRACTThis essay introduces Christian Hawkey’s Ventrakl (2010) into the tradition of ‘experimental translation’ – translations that deliberately and severely depart from their source texts, opening up the question of what counts as a translation in the first place. I argue that Ventrakl, which stages a long encounter and ‘collaboration’ with the early twentieth-century Austrian poet Georg Trakl, enriches our understanding of the relationship between translation and contemporary experimental poetic practice through a method that I term ‘radical contextualization’. By strenuously foregrounding the processes of learning and composition that go into its vanguardist attempt at an encounter with history, Ventrakl also foregrounds the question of the ethics of learning, particularly as it affects the relationship between artistic originality and historical reliance on pre-codified modes of communication and authority. I read Ventrakl in light of both translation theory (especially the possibilities opened up b...
T2*-based MR imaging of hyperglycemia-induced hemichorea-hemiballism

Summary Introduction Hyperglycemia can induce hemichorea-hemiballism, especially in elderly type II diabetics. CT and MRI findings include hyperdensity and T1-shortening in the contralateral lentiform nucleus, respectively. This study explores the associated imaging findings on T2*-based sequences. Methods Six patients with clinically documented hyperglycemia-induced hemichorea-hemiballism who had undergone MR imaging with a T2*-based sequence (T2* gradient echo or susceptibility-weighted imaging) were included in this retrospective case series. Results All six patients demonstrated T1-shortening contralateral to their hemichorea-hemiballism. T2*-based sequences demonstrated unilateral hypointense signal within the striatum in four patients. One patient had mild bilateral striatal hyperintensities, while another did not show significant signal changes. Conclusion It is important for the radiologist to be aware of the signal changes that can be seen on T2*-based sequences in hyperglycemia-induced hemochorea-hemiballism.
The distribution of intravenously administered [3H]Chole-sterol in the arteries and other tissues: Part 2. radioautographic findings*

Summary A new method for radioautography with lipid substances has been described which is based on carbowax embedding of tissue and dipping the sections into liquid Ilford K2 and Ilford G5 photographic emulsions. The method allows lipids to stay in situ and permits proper staining of the underlying tissue sections. Thus, lipid substances labeled with low energy isotopes can be effectively traced in tissues at the level of cells, fibers, and membranes. Radioautography was performed with this method on arteries and other tissues of normal dog and monkey ( Macaca irus ) between 4 and 6 weeks after the intravenous injection of [ 3 H]cholesterol. An accumulation of radioactive cholesterol was detected along the elastic membranes of elastic type arteries including aorta and coronary artery. The findings suggest that a high concentration of cholesterol is present on the elastic membranes of arteries. Radioactive cholesterol also appeared to be located in smooth muscle cells of elastic type arteries but not in the smooth muscle cells of muscular type arteries. The radiographic findings in intact and sub-cellularly fractionated arteries indicate that blood cholesterol enters the normal arterial wall and is distributed extracellulary as weil as intracellularly.
Social and Emotional Development of Gifted Students: Introducing the School-Based Psychosocial Curriculum Model

This column introduces the school-based psychosocial curriculum model. The model incorporates Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development and applies it to a planned program of talent develop...
Sampled Aperture Techniques Applied to B-Mode Echoencephalography

Whereas A-mode echoencephalography has been found diagnostically useful, B-mode displays for similar object volumes have not yet provided the additional information that might be expected from a two-dimensional presentation. Poor image quality results from a number of causes stemming from the presence of skull bone (White, 1967; 1968). Large differences in specific acoustic impedance between skull bone and soft tissue combined with irregularities of skull bone surfaces result in unfavorable reflections and reverberations of acoustic energy. Severe attenuation of ultrasound at diagnostically useful frequencies further reduces system sensitivity and target acquisition. Additionally, significant differences between acoustic velocities in bone and tissue result in beam degradation and registration errors in the B-mode image. With one possible exception (Somer, 1969), the nature and extent of these aberrations have thus far limited practical utilization of B-mode scanners in clinical examinations of head structure.
Marginal set likelihood for semiparametric copula estimation

Quantitative studies in many fields involve the analysis of multivariate data of diverse types, including measurements that we may consider binary, ordinal and continuous. One approach to the analysis of such mixed data is to use a copula model, in which the associations among the variables are parameterized separately from their univariate marginal distributions. The purpose of this article is to provide a method of semiparametric inference for copula models via the construction of what we call a marginal set likelihood function for the association parameters. The proposed method of inference can be viewed as a generalization of marginal likelihood estimation, in which inference for a parameter of interest is based on a summary statistic whose sampling distribution is not a function of any nuisance parameters. In the context of copula estimation, the marginal set likelihood is a function of the association parameters only and its applicability does not depend on any assumptions about the marginal distributions of the data, thus making it appropriate for the analysis of mixed continuous and discrete data with arbitrary margins. Estimation and inference for parameters of the Gaussian copula are available via a straightforward Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm based on Gibbs sampling. Some key words: Bayesian inference, latent variable model, marginal likelihood, Markov chain Monte Carlo, multivariate estimation, polychoric correlation, sufficiency.
Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the resolution of innate leukocyte inflammation

Inflammation is a host response to infection or damage and is vital for clearing pathogens and host debris. When this resolution fails to occur, chronic inflammation ensues. Chronic inflammation is typically characterized as a low-grade, persistent inflammatory process that can last for months or even years. This differs from acute inflammation, which is typically a fast, robust response to a stimulus followed by resolution with return to homeostasis. Inflammation resolution occurs through a variety of cellular processes and signaling components that act as "brakes" to keep inflammation in check. In cases of chronic inflammation, these "brakes" are often dysfunctional. Due to its prevalent association with chronic diseases, there is growing interest in characterizing these negative regulators and their cellular effects in innate leukocytes. In this review, we aim to describe key cellular and molecular homeostatic regulators of innate leukocytes, with particular attention to the emerging regulatory processes of autophagy and lysosomal fusion during inflammation resolution.
Use of Competitive Substrate Analogs and Alternative Substrates for Studying Kinetic Mechanisms

Very many factors are capable of causing enzyme inhibition; i.e., they are capable of slowing down the rates of enzymically catalyzed reactions. These factors include denaturation and interaction of the enzyme with so-called irreversible and reversible inhibitors. This monograph will be restricted to the latter class of enzyme inhibitors, those whose action can be reversed by either dilution or dialysis. The reader is directed to the book by BAKER (1) for a discussion of irreversible inhibitors. The purpose of this chapter is to show how inhibitors may be used to characterize kinetic mechanisms and also to provide information on the nature of enzyme and substrate interaction. Inhibitors may combine with one or more enzyme forms. If these enzyme-inhibitor complexes cannot undergo further reaction, they are called “dead end” inhibitors. On the other hand, if the complexes of enzyme and inhibitor can react with substrate to form product at a reduced rate, they are called “partial” inhibitors. This nomenclature Was originally suggested by CLELAND (2).
Inheritance of Oligomycin Resistance in Tissue Culture Cells

The mitochondrial ATPase complex has been resolved into the soluble F1, having the catalytic site for ATP synthesis, and the hydrophobic membrane-integrated F0, involved in proton translocation (Senior, 1973; Koslov and Skulacher, 1977). The F0 has been studied with the use of oligomycin and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), which inhibit enzyme activity of the complex by acting on a component of F0, (Bulos and Racker, 1968; Roberton et al., 1968; Sebald et al., 1976, 1979; Kiehl and Hatefi, 1980).
Enhancing the use of Cellulose by Solutions in DMSO and DMAc

Wood (xylem) is a vascular tissue which occurs universally in gymnosperms (soft wood trees) and dicotyledonous angiosperms (hard wood trees). The wood consists of lignin and holocellulose. The former is a polymer consisting of repeat phenolpropane units and the latter consists of cellulose and hemicellulose. Hemicellulose is a mixture of pentosans, hexosans and polyuronides.
Using Historical Variation in Opioid Prescribing Immediately After Fracture Surgery to Guide Maximum Initial Prescriptions.

OBJECTIVES Recent studies have advocated for prescription opioid maximums (based on percentage reductions from historical amounts) to reduce excess prescribing. Implementing this in orthopaedic trauma has been difficult, given the injury variety and limited historical data on postoperative prescribing. We report on the initial opioid prescriptions for a large cohort of postoperative, opiate-naive fracture patients and hypothesize that prescribing was associated with fracture location and morphology. DESIGN Retrospective cohort analysis. SETTING Two American College of Surgeons Level I trauma centers. PATIENTS Six thousand eight hundred seventy-nine orthopaedic trauma patients treated between 2002 and 2015. Only patients who had a single operatively treated injury and were opiate naive (had not received an opioid prescription in the 6 months before presentation) were included. INTERVENTION Postoperative opioid discharge prescription. OUTCOMES We analyzed the quantity of initial opioids prescribed in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs, a standardized unit of opioid dosage used for comparison across opioid types). Fracture location and morphology were classified using the OTA/AO classification. RESULTS Fracture location was an independent predictor of the MME prescribed (P < 0.001). All other fracture locations were prescribed significantly higher MME than distal radius fractures (control group, 150 MME, P < 0.01). There was no difference in MMEs prescribed by articular involvement or degree of comminution. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate significant variation in initial postoperative opioid prescribing to opiate-naive orthopaedic trauma patients by fracture location, but not by fracture morphology. We use these data to propose a guideline based on the OTA/AO fracture classification for the maximum initial prescription of opioids. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Embodied truths: How dynamic gestures and speech contribute to mathematical proof practices

Abstract Grounded and embodied theories of cognition suggest that both language and the body play crucial roles in grounding higher-order thought. This paper investigates how particular forms of speech and gesture function together to support abstract thought in mathematical proof construction. We use computerized text analysis software to evaluate how speech patterns support valid proof construction for two different tasks, and we use gesture analysis to investigate how dynamic gestures—those gestures that depict and transform mathematical objects—further support proof practices above and beyond speech patterns. We also evaluate the degree to which speech and gesture convey distinct information about mathematical reasoning during proving. Dynamic gestures and speech indicating logical inference support valid proof construction, and both dynamic gestures and speech uniquely predict variance in valid proof construction. Thus, dynamic gestures and speech each make separate and important contributions to the formulation of mathematical arguments, and both modalities can convey elements of students’ understanding to teachers and researchers.
Active coping shields against negative aging self-stereotypes contributing to psychiatric conditions

Abstract Rationale Psychiatric conditions are often falsely considered inherent to aging. We examined whether negative age stereotypes, which older individuals tend to assimilate from the environment across their lifespan, contributed to an increased risk of developing four psychiatric conditions, and, if so, whether this risk was reduced through active coping. Method The sample consisted of participants aged 55 years and older, free of the psychiatric conditions at baseline, drawn from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, a nationally representative sample. New cases of posttraumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder were assessed during three waves spanning a four-year period. Results As predicted, participants holding more-negative age stereotypes were more likely to develop the psychiatric conditions, and their engagement in active coping reduced the risk of their developing these conditions. Conclusion Our findings suggest that prevention and treatment efforts designed to reduce psychiatric conditions in later life may benefit from bolstering active coping as well as positive age stereotypes.
Development of a Technology-Assisted Food Frequency Questionnaire for Elementary and Middle School Children: Findings from a Pilot Study.

Background: This pilot study collected preliminary data for the modification of the VioScreen Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), an adult-validated, self-administered, web-based dietary assessment tool for use in older children. Methods: A convenience sample of 55 children, aged 6–14 years, completed the VioScreen FFQ and 3-day diet record (reference standard). Caregivers completed a short sociodemographic questionnaire. Reported dietary intakes from the VioScreen FFQ and 3-day diet record were calculated using standard nutrient databases, and descriptive statistics were used to examine differences in food/beverage items and portion sizes between the two methods. Informal focus groups obtained user feedback and identified components of the VioScreen FFQ that required modifications. Results: The highest de-attenuated Pearson correlation coefficients between the VioScreen FFQ and 3-day diet record were observed for iron (r = 0.69), saturated fat (r = 0.59), and vegetables (r = 0.56), and the lowest were for whole grains (r = 0.11) and vitamin C (r = 0.16). Qualitative feedback was overall positive, and six technological modifications were identified. Conclusion: Findings from this pilot study provided valuable information on the process of evaluating the use of the VioScreen FFQ among older children, and will inform the future development of a modified version for this population.
Phosphorylation of Arabidopsis eIF4E and eIFiso4E by SnRK1 inhibits translation

Regulation of protein synthesis is critical for maintaining cellular homeostasis. In mammalian systems, translational regulatory networks have been elucidated in considerable detail. In plants, however, regulation occurs through different mechanisms that remain largely elusive. In this study, we present evidence that the Arabidopsis thaliana energy sensing kinase SnRK1, a homologue of mammalian AMP-activated kinase and yeast sucrose non-fermenting 1 (SNF1), inhibits translation by phosphorylating the cap binding proteins eIF4E and eIFiso4E. We establish that eIF4E and eIFiso4E contain two deeply conserved SnRK1 consensus target sites and that both interact with SnRK1 in vivo. We then demonstrate that SnRK1 phosphorylation inhibits the ability of Arabidopsis eIF4E and eIFiso4E to complement a yeast strain lacking endogenous eIF4E, and that inhibition correlates with repression of polysome formation. Finally, we show that SnRK1 over-expression in Nicotiana benthamiana plants reduces polysome formation, and that this effect can be counteracted by transient expression of eIF4E or mutant eIF4E containing non-phosphorylatable SnRK1 target residues, but not by a phosphomimic eIF4E. Together, these studies elucidate a novel and direct pathway for translational control in plant cells. In light of previous findings that SnRK1 conditions an innate antiviral defense and is inhibited by geminivirus pathogenicity factors, we speculate that phosphorylation of cap binding proteins may be a component of the resistance mechanism.
Beyond detoxification: Pleiotropic functions of multiple glutathione S-transferase isoforms protect mice against a toxic electrophile.

Environmental and endogenous electrophiles cause tissue damage through their high reactivity with endogenous nucleophiles such as DNA, proteins, and lipids. Protection against damage is mediated by glutathione (GSH) conjugation, which can occur spontaneously or be facilitated by the glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes. To determine the role of GST enzymes in protection against electrophiles as well as the role of specific GST families in mediating this protection, we exposed mutant mouse lines lacking the GSTP, GSTM, and/or GSTT enzyme families to the model electrophile acrylamide, a ubiquitous dietary contaminant known to cause adverse effects in humans. An analysis of urinary metabolites after acute acrylamide exposure identified the GSTM family as the primary mediator of GSH conjugation to acrylamide. However, surprisingly, mice lacking only this enzyme family did not show increased toxicity after an acute acrylamide exposure. Therefore, GSH conjugation is not the sole mechanism by which GSTs protect against the toxicity of this substrate. Given the prevalence of null GST polymorphisms in the human population (approximately 50% for GSTM1 and 20–50% for GSTT1), a substantial portion of the population may also have impaired acrylamide metabolism. However, our study also defines a role for GSTP and/or GSTT in protection against acrylamide mediated toxicity. Thus, while the canonical detoxification function of GSTs may be impaired in GSTM null individuals, disease risk secondary to acrylamide exposure may be mitigated through non-canonical pathways involving members of the GSTP and/or GSTT families.
Insights into the applications of waste materials in the oil and gas industry: state of the art review, availability, cost analysis, and classification

This study investigates different types of waste materials and their applicability in the oil and gas industry as well as analyzing various applications of these waste materials in the petroleum industry. This study also explores the availability of these waste materials by performing a statistical analysis in a good number of countries worldwide. The statistical study was performed starting with a study on which countries generate waste the most overall, followed by examining multiple countries and investigating their top three most available waste. The results showed that the USA is the leading country in terms of municipal solid waste generation of 258 million metric tons, followed by China that generates around 220.4 million metric tons and then India that generates 168.4 million metric tons of municipal solid waste. The regions that generate the most food waste are North America and Oceania, providing the availability of food waste in those regions. Most of the palm tree wastes are available in the Middle East and some parts of the USA, while green waste can be found in the USA, China, and the UK. Sawdust wastes are mostly available in Europe and North America, while hay waste is abundant in the USA. Waste materials were also examined for various petroleum industry applications. Food wastes were found to be effective in drilling and completion fluids. Various food waste products were utilized to alter the drilling fluid properties such as potato peels and mandarin peels. Food wastes were also effective in altering the pH of the drilling fluids. Some plant-based wastes such as date trees were effective treatments used to stop lost circulation. Based on biodegradability and toxicity basis, waste materials were also classified into four main categories, which are eco-friendly, biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and toxic using color category classification. In summary, waste materials have the potential to be used in the petroleum industry, and they might as well be a good alternative for the future. As an example, the drilling fluid average cost approximately one-tenth of the total cost of the drilling operation, which is considered a tangible cost. By using waste materials as drilling fluid additives, the cost of the drilling fluid can be minimized. Further investigation and research should be carried out to get a better understanding of the importance of waste materials, and how they can be exploited for future applications in the oil and gas industry.
Culpability for Violence in the Congo: Lessons from the Crisis of 1960–1965

During Congo’s emergence from colonization in the mid-twentieth century, coups, political assassinations, and ethnic massacres took place that exacerbated inequality and insecurity in the region then and ever since. Some Western literature has essentialized these events, implying that they were a product of African people’s innate disorganization, divisiveness, leftism, and violence. Many of the writings keep to surface appearances rather than probing behind-the-scenes causalities. Evidence from archives, images, memoirs, and interviews, however, reveals a counterintuitive complexity in both the representation and perpetration of the direct and structural violence of the Congo crisis. Very different cultures, financing, technology, and interactions were characteristic of the western state agents who sponsored, organized, took part in, and often wrote about the coups and killings in Congo as opposed to the African functionaries with whom and against whom they worked. This chapter illustrates some of the evidence for these complex and contrasting patterns, offers alternative explanations, and outlines some lessons to be learned from the crisis.
CYCLOIDEA3 Is Targeted by Disparate Transcription Factors in Patterning Flowers in Gerbera.

Flowering plants have evolved enormous diversity and complexity of inflorescence architecture. One great model for studying complex inflorescence development and evolution is the Asteraceae (the sunflower family), which is one of the largest flowering plant families and widely distributed across the
Evidence that angiotensin II does not directly stimulate the MD2-TLR4 innate inflammatory pathway

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a critical role in the regulation of blood pressure. Inappropriate activation of the RAS, particularly stimulation of the ACE-Ang II-AT1 receptor axis is a key factor in hypertension and AT1R antagonists (ARBs) are first line therapies in the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Accumulating evidence suggests that the Ang II-AT1R axis may stimulate both innate and adaptive immune systems. Indeed, recent studies suggest that Ang II stimulates inflammatory events in an AT1R-independent manner by binding the MD2 accessory protein of the TLR4 complex in renal NRK-52E cells. Direct Ang II stimulation of the TLR4 complex is clinically relevant as ARBs increase circulating Ang II levels. Thus, the current study further investigated Ang II stimulation of the TLR4 pathway to release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine CCL2 under identical conditions to the TLR4 ligands LPS and palmitate in the NRK-52E cells. Although LPS (1 ng/mL) and palmitate (100 μM) stimulated CCL2 release 20-fold, Ang II (0.1-10 μM) failed to induce CCL2 release. Both the LPS and palmitate CCL2 responses were abolished by the TLR4 inhibitor Tak242 and significantly reduced by the MD2 inhibitor L48H37. Ang II (1 μM) had no additive effects on LPS (1 ng/mL) or palmitate (100 μM), and the ARB candesartan failed to attenuate CCL2 release to either agent alone. Ang II also failed to induce the release of the putative TLR4 ligand HMBG1. These studies failed to confirm that Ang II directly stimulates the MD2-TLR4 complex to induce cytokine release in NRK-52E cells.
Correlates of personal health record registration and utilization among veterans with HIV.

Objective We examined correlates of registration and utilization of the Veteran Health Administration's (VHA) personal health record (PHR), My HealtheVet (MHV), among a national cohort of veterans living with HIV. Materials and Methods Using VHA administrative data, we matched veterans with HIV who registered for MHV in fiscal year 2012-2018 (n = 8589) to 8589 veterans with HIV who did not register for MHV. We compared demographic and geographic characteristics, housing status, comorbidities, and non-VHA care between MHV registrants and nonregistrants to identify correlates of MHV registration. Among registrants, we examined the association between these characteristics and MHV tool use (prescription refill, record download, secure messaging, view labs, and view appointments). Results MHV registrants were more likely to be younger, women, White, and to have bipolar disorder, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis than nonregistrants. Having a substance use disorder (SUD) diagnosis or a higher Elixhauser score was associated with lower odds of MHV registration. Among registrants, women were less likely to use prescription refill. Patients who were at risk of homelessness in the past year were less likely to use secure messaging and, along with those who were homeless, were less likely to use view labs and prescription refill. Bipolar disorder and depression were associated with increased secure messaging use. Diagnoses of SUD and alcohol use disorder were both associated with lower rates of prescription refill. Discussion Among veterans living with HIV, we identified significant differences in PHR registration and utilization by race, sex, age, housing status, and diagnosis.
Development of an instrument to measure perceived gentrification for health research: Perceptions about changes in environments and residents (PACER).

Abstract Despite a myriad of potential pathways linking neighborhood change and gentrification to health, existing quantitative measures failed to capture individual-level, self-reported perceptions of these processes. We developed the Perceptions About Change in Environment and Residents (PACER) survey to measure the gentrification-related neighborhood change experienced by individuals relevant to health. We employed a multi-stage process to develop PACER including a scoping review, question refinement, content validity, and cognitive interviews. Content validity and cognitive interviews were assessed within the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP) and for residents of different tenure in both gentrifying and non-gentrifying neighborhoods to ensure PACER considers the complex nature of neighborhood change for different people within different urban contexts. We piloted the instrument to a sample from the resident panel BeHeardPhilly to assess acceptability and data quality. Finally, we assessed internal consistency, dimensionality, and criterion-related validity using Principal Components Analysis (PCA), descriptive statistics, and correlation coefficients. Testing showed good internal consistency for PACER questions, as well as for each of four resulting factors (Feelings, Built Environment, Social Environment, and Affordability). Correlations between factors and other context measures demonstrated strong criterion-related validity. PACER offers an unprecedented tool for measuring and understanding resident perceptions about gentrification-related neighborhood change relevant to health. Rigorously tested and tailored for health, PACER holds utility for application across different settings to examine changes from events that may impact and shift neighborhoods.
Research on Surface Sampling for Determination of Pesticide Residues in Pome Fruit

A surface sampling method for analysis of pesticide residues in pome fruit was studied by layer-by-layer scan from pericarp to kernel. Phoxim residues of apples, pears and papayas was determined by GC-MS, respectively, in core, different layers of pulp, peel ,as well as the whole fruit. Phoxim residue content was decreased when depth of the layer increased. It was inferred from experimental data the the appropriate depth of surface sampling is 2.5mm, 2mm and 3.5mm in apples, pears and papayas. Although the ratio of the pesticide in pericarp and the total (Cp/Ct) ranged from 6.241 to 9.262 in apple, 4.254 to 5.069 in pears, and 4.39 to 5.037 in papayas in different groups, the ratio of Cp/Ct and quality of specific group is essentially unchanged for a certain kind of fruit. According to the results, a conversion formula of the content of pesticide residues in whole fruit and pericarp was set, based on surface sampling method.
Tobacco Control Lessons from the Higgs Boson: Observing a Hidden Field Behind Changing Tobacco Norms in Japan

From a tobacco control law and policy perspective, Japan has been doing it all wrong. Or so it might seem. At the very least, tobacco control activists in Japan have had few successes obtaining the standard run of law and policy measures -- mandatory smoke-free workplace laws, substantial tax increases, effective package warning labeling, industry document disclosures, judicial awards of meaningful damages for death and disease caused by tobacco products, strict age-control enforcement, etc. Yet over the past twenty years, domestic tobacco use measured by either prevalence or consumption has plummeted while smoke-free environments, albeit often with designated smoking areas, have become amply normed. Something seems to be happening to generate good results despite only limited help from the standard tools. The obvious first question is “How did that happen?” Next must be “Is there anything we can learn from this for other settings?” While quick responses might attribute an unfathomable “Japaneseness” in the circumstances, a closer look points to more generic dynamics among the lead factors. This paper tentatively posits a set of five social and rational economic factors at play that are anything but uniquely Japanese. These suggest hopeful potentials for global tobacco control efforts. But there is no panacea here. While domestic circumstances in Japan have greatly improved, Japan Tobacco Inc. remains a powerful global industry force. Its Tokyo home-base has provided a safe territory regrettably protecting it from the degree of notoriety that counterparts Philip Morris and British American Tobacco appropriately receive. That gap, particularly with regards to Article 5.3 of the global Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, calls for action within Japan and abroad.
Analysis of an Approximate Decorrelating Detector

In this paper an approximate decorrelating detector is analyzed on the basis of a first order approximation to the inverse crosscorrelation matrix of signature waveforms. The approximation is fairly accurate for systems with low crosscorrelations and is exact in the two-user synchronous case. We present an exact as well as approximate analysis of the bit-error-rate performance of this detector on a channel that is subject to flat fading, and also specifically for the case of random signature waveforms. The detector outperforms the conventional matched filter receiver in terms of BER. The approximate decorrelator (while not being near-far resistant like the decorrelating detector) is fairly robust to imperfections in power control. Power trade-off regions are identified which characterize the significant advantage that the approximate decorrelator provides over the matched filter receiver. The reduced complexity of the approximate decorrelator and performance gains over the conventional matched filter makes it a viable alternative for implementation in practical CDMA systems, in particular in those where the signature waveforms span many symbol intervals.
Atomic Force Microscopy: Contribution to the Birth of Nanocell Biology

Throughout history, the development of new imaging tools has provided new insights into our perceptions of the living world, profoundly impacting human health. The invention of the light microscope over 300 years ago was the first catalyst that propelled us into the era of modern biology and medicine. Using the light microscope, a giant step into the gates of modern medicine was made with the discovery of the unit of life, the cell. The structure and morphology of normal and diseased cells, and of disease-causing microorganisms, were revealed for the first time by the light microscope. Then, in 1938, with the birth of the electron microscope (EM), dawned a new era. Through the mid-1940s and the 1950s, a number of subcellular organelles were discovered and their functions determined using the EM. Viruses, the new life forms were identified and observed for the first time, and implicated in diseases ranging from the common cold to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Despite the capability of the EM to image biological samples at near nanometer resolution, sample processing resulting in morphological alterations remained a major concern. Then in the early 1980s, scanning probe microscopy evolved, further extending our perception of the living world to the subnanometer realm. One such scanning probe microscope, the atomic force microscope (AFM), has helped overcome both limitations of light and electron microscopy, enabling determination of the three-dimensional (3D) structure and dynamics of single biomolecules and live cells, at angstrom resolution. This unique capability of the AFM has provided a new understanding of the cell, through determination of 3D live cellular structure-function, at nanometer to subnanometer resolution and in real time, contributing to the birth of the field of nanocell biology. The story of how the use of the AFM resulted in the discovery of a new cellular structure, the “porosome”—the universal secretory machinery in cells—that allows an understanding of the general molecular machinery and mechanism of cell secretion, is briefly discussed in this article.
What can cryptography do for coding theory

By Shannon’s seminal work, we know that for the binary symmetric channel bsc p which flips each transmitted bit independently with probability p, there exist binary codes of rate 1 − H(p) − e that enable reliable information transmission with exponentially small probability of miscommunication. Here e> 0 is arbitrary and H(·) is the binary entropy function. The quantity 1 − H(p) is called the (Shannon) capacity of the bsc p channel. But what if the errors are adversarial and not randomly distributed? For the adversarial channel Adv p where the channel can corrupt up to a fraction p of symbols in an arbitrary manner after seeing the codeword, it is known that for error-free communication to be possible, the rate has to be much smaller than the Shannon capacity 1 − H(p).
Institutionalization in cultural industries: The reciprocal influence of commercial recordings and social practices in the evolution of traditional Irish music

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to more closely examine the relationship between traditional cultural practices and the commercial products that are derived from and inspired by them. Existing institutional approaches to the cultural industries have been limited in their scope and empirical focus. This paper seeks to correct those oversights.Design/methodology/approach – The paper utilizes a focused historical case study of traditional Irish music, drawing from the myriad resources on the subject housed in the Boston College Irish Music Collection.Findings – A unique and parallel production system in traditional Irish music was identified – a symbiotic and mutually reinforcing relationship between traditional social practices and derivative commercial products that has not yet been articulated within institutional approaches to the cultural industries.Research limitations/implications – By applying DiMaggio and Powell's totality of relevant actors criterion in organizational fields the authors iden...
Pathophysiologic mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias

Arrhythmias result from abnormalities of impulse initiation or impulse conduction or a combination of both. Abnormal impulse initiation results from either automaticity or triggered activity. Automaticity can further be subdivided into (1) automaticity caused by the normal automatic mechanism (a normal property of cardiac cells in the sinus node, in some parts of the atria, in the atrioventricular junctional region, and in the His-Purkinje system) and (2) automaticity caused by an abnormal mechanism (resulting from a decrease in membrane potential of cardiac fibers, which normally have a high level of membrane potential). Triggered activity is caused by afterdepolarizations, which are second depolarizations that occur either during repolarization (referred to as early afterdepolarizations) or after repolarization is complete or nearly complete (referred to as delayed afterdepolarizations). Abnormal impulse conduction results in reentrant excitation. Usually a combination of slowed conduction and unidirectional conduction block provides the conditions necessary for reentry to occur. Slow conduction and block may result from a decrease in the resting potential and velocity of depolarization of the action potential or may be a consequence of the anisotropic structure of cardiac muscle, in which case resting potential and action potential upstroke velocity may be normal.
Trapped Electrons in Irradiated Quartz and Silica: II, Electron Spin Resonance

The correlation of two paramagnetic defects, observed by the electron spin resonance (ESR) technique, with two optical absorption bands produced by r-ray or neutron irradiation is indicated. The peaks of the two absorption bards fall at ∼2100 8.u. and 2300 a.u. The effective g values for the ESR lines, for a crystal orientation with respect to the magnetic field of 100.1] parallel to H2, are 2.0006 plusmn; 0.0005 for the 2100 a.u. band, and there are two lines observed for the 2300 a.u. band at [g= 2.0007 and g= 2.00091 ± 0.0005. The correlation of the optical bands and ESR lines was established by a series of bleaching and annealing experiments. These experiments also establish the presence of another center which is not observed directly by either the optical or the ESR technique. ESR lines were observed which were attributed to a hyperfine interaction, A= 7.7 oersteds, of the g= 2.0006 (2100 a.u. band) defect with the Si29 isotope (I = 1/2, 4.7% abundance). Models for these defects, consistent with the experimental data, are suggested.
RESONANCE IN PHONON-PHONON SCATTERING

The scattering process, two phonons \ensuremath{\rightarrow} two phonons, is examined in perturbation theory. One of the contributions of second order in the cubic anharmonic potential gives rise to an energy denominator that can vanish. This difficulty is removed by noting that the intermediate phonon has a complex self-energy associated with its instability in the presence of anharmonic forces. Approximating the irreducible self-energy by its lowest-order contribution, one finds a Breit-Wigner form of width equal to the decay rate, one phonon \ensuremath{\rightarrow} 2 phonons, calculated to lowest order. An experiment is proposed to observe directly the predicted resonance. This experiment appears to be somewhat beyond the capabilities of present apparatus. The effect of the resonance on heat conduction, phonon drag, and the analogous resonance expected in spin-wave scattering, are not discussed in this paper.
The Use of Intraocular Lenses in Children

Managing children with cataracts is time consuming and often frustrating. None of the options for the correction of aphakia in childhood are ideal, and amblyopia remains the biggest obstacle to good vision. Spectacles, contact lenses, and epikeratophakia all have significant disadvantages, and intraocular lenses are beginning to emerge as a widely accepted alternative. Although amblyopia will continue to be the toughest management issue, advances in surgical technique and lens design may make management of childhood cataracts simpler. This article will review current trends of intraocular lens use in children, with an emphasis on surgical techniques and recommendations. Results and precautions will also be discussed, as well as controversial areas such as bilateral intraocular lens and the use of intraocular lens in very young children.