cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chloride transport in a mathematical model of the rat proximal tubule.

The proximal tubule model of this laboratory [Am. J. Physiol. 250 (Renal Fluid Electrolyte Physiol. 19): F860-F873, 1986] has been updated to examine proposed pathways for Cl- transport. Two additional buffer pairs have been added, i.e., HCO2-/H2CO2 and NH3/NH4+. At the luminal cell membrane Cl-/HCO2- and Cl-/HCO3- exchange are considered as pathways for Cl- entry, whereas at the peritubular membrane, Cl- exit occurs by either Na(+)-2HCO3-/Cl- exchange or K(+)-Cl- cotransport. Calculations with this model indicate that absolute proximal reabsorption of both Na+ and Cl- are critically dependent on the rate of luminal Na+/H+ exchange. In contrast, increases in the coefficient for Cl-/HCO2- exchange have little impact on overall Cl- flux, but, by enhancing base secretion, limit the depression of end-proximal HCO3-. Model calculations confirm those of Preisig and Alpern (J. Clin. Invest. 83: 1859–1867, 1989) showing that their measured value of luminal membrane H2CO2 permeability is inadequate to sustain the transcellular Cl- flux as Cl-/HCO2- exchange. Conversely, with sufficiently high H2CO2 permeability, luminal Cl- uptake is enhanced along the tubule, as HCO2- secretion and luminal acidification increase luminal H2CO2 to values severalfold greater than in glomerular filtrate. At the basolateral membrane, the thermodynamic driving force across the Na(+)-2HCO3-/Cl- exchanger is small. Although its contribution to steady-state Cl- exit may be less than the K(+)-Cl- cotransporter, the Na(+)-2HCO3-/Cl- exchanger can be a mechanism by which cytosolic acidification enhances peritubular Cl- transport, when luminal acidification enhances luminal Cl- uptake. A simulation is presented in which impermeant replacement of luminal Na+ leads to enhanced convective Cl- flux across the tight junction and alkalinization of the lateral interspace. In this setting, cytosolic Cl- depletion via the Na(+)-2HCO3-/Cl- exchanger may mimic luminal membrane Na(+)-Cl- cotransport.
PSI in the case of internal wave beam reflection at a uniform slope

Two-dimensional numerical simulations are performed to examine internal wave reflection at a sloping boundary. Owing to reflection, the reflected wave amplitude and wavenumber increase. At low values of the incoming wave amplitude, the reflected wave beam is linear and its properties agree well with linear inviscid theory. Linear theory overestimates the reflected wave Froude number, , for higher values of incoming wave amplitude. Nonlinearity sets in with increasing value of incoming wave Froude number, , leading to parametric subharmonic instability (PSI) of the reflected wave beam: two subharmonics emerge from the reflection region with frequencies and and wavenumbers that add up to those of the reflected wave. The amplification of Froude number due to reflection must be sufficiently large for PSI to occur implying that the off-criticality in wave angle cannot be too large. The simulations also show that, all other parameters being fixed, a threshold in beam amplitude is required for the onset of PSI in the reflected beam, consistent with results from a previous weakly-nonlinear asymptotic theory for a freely propagating finite-width beam. Growth rates of subharmonic modes at moderate reflected wave amplitude are in reasonable agreement with that theory. However, for , small scale fluctuations becomes prominent and the subharmonic energy growth rates saturate in the simulations in contrast to the theoretical prediction. Increasing the incoming beam thickness (number of carrier wavelengths) increases the strength of PSI. Keeping the incoming Froude number constant and increasing the incoming Reynolds number by a factor of 50 does not have an effect on the unequal division of frequencies among the subharmonic modes that is found in the simulations.
The Early Phases of Industrialization in Russia: Afterthoughts and Counterthoughts

The following pages do not purport to cast the topic in a new mould. My views on the course of European industrialization in the nineteenth century in general and on that of Russia in particular have been laid down in a number of essays published within the span of the last ten or twelve years.1 This circumstance, however, should cause no disappointment to the members of this Conference. A paper on an assigned topic resembles the proverbial gift horse in that no reasonable person will expect too much from it. Still, it need not be entirely toothless, and it is possible that a confrontation of my views with those of Professor Rostow might yield one or two additional insights; at the very least, it may draw sharper contours around the methodological problems involved.
The Soviet Occupation of Eastern Poland, 1939–41

On 17 September 1939 the Red Army advanced cautiously into the eastern half of Poland. It was an unusual invasion as some inhabitants initially thought that the Soviet troops had come to help them fight the Germans.1 Advancing Soviet forces rapidly disabused them, however, by installing their own authority in the occupied areas. The public justification for the Soviet advance was the need to restore order and protect the kindred Belorussian and Ukrainian peoples after the collapse of the Polish state.2 In fact Stalin was merely securing his prize of eastern Poland as negotiated under the secret terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
Abstract 276: Enhancing standard chemotherapy response by targeted inhibition of MAPK signaling pathways in experimental pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has the worst prognosis of all solid tumors, with an overall survival rate of less than 6%. Gemcitabine (Gem) remained the standard of care agent over the past 16 years despite limited clinical benefits. Nab-paclitaxel (NPT), a water-soluble albumin-bound formulation of paclitaxel, has recently shown greater efficacy in advanced PDAC. Nab-paclitaxel combination with gemcitabine is now standard of care for advanced PDAC. More than 90% of PDAC tumors harbor an activating mutation in the KRAS oncogene. Since to date no therapeutics have effectively targeted this oncogene product, alternative strategies focus on inhibition of downstream effectors of KRAS signaling pathways. Trametinib (Tra) is a small molecule inhibitor of the RAF-MEK-ERK (MAPK) signaling pathway that is a well-described mediator of KRAS induced transformation and tumorigenesis. In the present preclinical study, we evaluated combination treatment benefits of the standard chemotherapeutics with trametinib to define a novel therapeutic strategy for PDAC. Median animal survival over controls (20 days) in human intraperitoneal PDAC xenografts was significantly improved by NPT (33 days, a 65% increase, p = 0.0004), Gem (26 days, a 30% increase, p = 0.002), NPT+Gem (39 days, a 95% increase, p = 0.0001) and Tra (31 days, a 55% increase, p = 0.0004) therapy. Survival was further increased by addition of trametinib to chemotherapy: NPT+Tra (median: 37 days, a 85% increase, p = 0.0001), Gem+Tra (34 days, a 70% increase, p = 0.0001) and NPT+Gem+Tra (49 days, a 145% increase, p 3 ), NPT (105.3 mm 3 ), Tra (184 mm 3 ), NPT+Tra (81 mm 3 ), NPT+Gem (37.3 mm 3 ), and NPT+Gem+Tra (-8.1 mm 3 ). Mean tumor weight (in g) in different therapy groups was as follows: controls 0.38±0.06, NPT 0.23±0.06, Tra 0.31±0.03, NPT+Tra 0.23±0.06, NPT+Gem 0.15±0.05 and NPT+Gem+Tra 0.11±0.05. In vitro studies demonstrated inhibition in PDAC cell (AsPC-1, Panc-1, Mia PaCa-2, CFPAC) proliferation by treatment with NPT+Gem, trametinib, and combination. Immunoblot analysis revealed that trametinib effects were accompanied by decrease in phospho-ERK expression and increase in the expression of apoptosis-related cleaved caspase-3 protein. These findings suggest that the effects of the standard chemotherapeutic regimens can be enhanced through specific inhibition of downstream components of the MAPK signaling pathway, which clinically could lead to improved PDAC therapy effects. Citation Format: Niranjan Awasthi, Sheena Monahan, Margaret A. Schwarz, Roderich E. Schwarz. Enhancing standard chemotherapy response by targeted inhibition of MAPK signaling pathways in experimental pancreatic cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 276.
Cicero’s Conception of Liberty

French, American, English, and Italian republicanism all shared a common origin in republican Rome. All looked more to Rome in defining their conceptions of liberty than they did to each other, and it is only insofar as they share this common Roman element that subsequent ideologies can properly be considered “republican” at all, in any useful or coherent sense of the term “republic.” This makes the Roman conception of libertas particularly important in understanding republican liberty elsewhere. Roman ideas of liberty appear throughout Livy and particularly in his aphorisms on the liber populus Romanus (free Roman people) and the tranquilla moderatio of its imperia legum (empire of laws)1 But Marcus Tullius Cicero gave the idea of Roman liberty its most detailed elaboration, in his works “On the Republic” and “On the Laws.”2
Thyroid Functional Disease and Mortality in a National Peritoneal Dialysis Cohort.

Context and Objective: End-stage renal disease patients have a higher risk of thyroid disease compared with those without kidney disease. Although thyroid dysfunction is associated with higher death risk in the general population and those undergoing hemodialysis, little is known about the effect of thyroid disease upon mortality in patients treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD). Design, Setting, Participants, and Main Outcome: We examined the association of thyroid status, assessed by serum TSH, with all-cause mortality among PD patients from a large national dialysis organization who underwent one or more TSH measurements over 5 years (January 2007 to December 2011). Thyroid status was categorized as overt-hyperthyroid, subclinical-hyperthyroid, low-normal, high-normal, subclinical-hypothyroid, and overt-hypothyroid range (TSH < 0.1, 0.1–<0.5, 0.5–<3.0, 3.0–<5.0, 5.0–<10.0, and ≥10.0 mIU/L, respectively). We examined the association between TSH and mortality using case mix–adjusted time-dependent Cox mo...
Conformal blocks, Verlinde formula and diagram automorphisms

Abstract The Verlinde formula computes the dimension of the space of conformal blocks associated to simple Lie algebras and stable pointed curves. If a simply-laced simple Lie algebra admits a nontrivial diagram automorphism, then this automorphism acts on the space of conformal blocks naturally. We prove an analogue of the Verlinde formula for the trace of the diagram automorphism on the space of conformal blocks. Along the way, we get an analogue of the Kac-Walton formula for the trace of the diagram automorphism. We also get a twining type formula between the conformal blocks for the pair ( s l 2 n + 1 , s p 2 n ) .
Single-cell isolation by a modular single-cell pipette for RNA-sequencing

Single-cell transcriptome sequencing highly requires a convenient and reliable method to rapidly isolate a live cell into a specific container such as a PCR tube. Here, we report a modular single-cell pipette (mSCP) consisting of three modular components, a SCP-Tip, an air-displacement pipette (ADP), and ADP-Tips, that can be easily assembled, disassembled, and reassembled. By assembling the SCP-Tip containing a hydrodynamic trap, the mSCP can isolate single cells from 5–10 cells per μL of cell suspension. The mSCP is compatible with microscopic identification of captured single cells to finally achieve 100% single-cell isolation efficiency. The isolated live single cells are in submicroliter volumes and well suitable for single-cell PCR analysis and RNA-sequencing. The mSCP possesses merits of convenience, rapidness, and high efficiency, making it a powerful tool to isolate single cells for transcriptome analysis.
Global and Regional Peacekeepers: Trends, Opportunities, Risks and a Way Ahead

Never before has it been so important for policymakers to balance regional and global forms of peacekeeping. Although the United Nations Security Council retains primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security and is the single largest source of peacekeepers, some regional organizations, particularly in Africa and Europe, are playing increasingly important roles. This article analyzes the relationship between UN peace operations and those conducted by regional organizations. After summarizing recent trends in regional-global collaboration it analyzes the opportunities and risks of increasing the regionalization of peace operations. Current policy challenges are daunting, not least because better-resourced missions alone will not bring peace to contemporary warzones. Rather, policymakers should clarify the nature and limits of UN peace operations; ensure partnerships between the UN and regional organizations can deliver effective peace operations in the field; and embed peace operations within a viable conflict resolution strategy to end the war or crisis in question.
Transforming Sub-Saharan Africa’s Agriculture through Agribusiness Innovation

Agribusiness offers promising opportunities to accelerate Africa’s agricultural sector development, increase food security, address poverty, youth employment and drive agriculture-led economic growth. This desk research offers a snapshot of the agribusiness activities in Africa with emphasis on the contribution of higher education institutions that are members of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) and selected public universities in Ghana. Our review shows that agribusiness yet in its infancy is gaining traction and longer-term prospects are promising based on initial success and encouraging outcomes in some countries. Various initiatives are taking place in the region, including agribusiness incubation; capacity building, education, and agribusiness knowledge transfer programs at different levels. Partnerships among stakeholders such as government, international groups and private sectors are also growing to boost and encourage better value chain management for agriculture across the African continent. A few RUFORUM university members are setting up the pace in terms of investments to nurture agricultural entrepreneurs through curriculum enhancement; intellectual property and technology transfer policies, and technology commercialization models for conventional and modern technologies through business incubation parks and spin-off companies. Some of the successes and milestones in agribusiness development have yet to happen in many RUFORUM members and in public universities in Ghana. Drawing upon published reports, scholarly articles, and our primary analysis, we highlight several key actions and recommendations that can inform policy and practice to expand and sustain the growth trajectory of agribusiness as a new developmental platform for Africa.
Critical Appraisal Worksheets for Integration Into an Existing Small-Group Problem-Based Learning Curriculum

Introduction Since medical students matriculate with a diversity of backgrounds, there can exist a disparity in student ability to critically appraise health science literature. To address this, we...
Innovative use of FA techniques SCM and OBIRCH along with TCAD to resolve junction scaling issues at advanced technology nodes

A novel device engineering approach is presented that combines three analysis methods to examine leakage in SRAM-like test structures at advanced technology nodes. This system exploits the physics of laser-based failure analysis, combined with carrier profile measurements by SCM, and TCAD simulation for verification of process conditions responsible for leakage. This system accounts for process non-uniformity, finds nonvisual implant differences, thoroughly proves which variations actually cause electrical problems, and eliminates spurious findings. We also provide two unique findings where different types of local implant distribution problems were shown to cause either reverse bias leakage or early diode turn-on at low voltage forward bias.
Subjective Probability Forecasting: Some Real World Experiments

Three experiments in subjective probability forecasting were designed, and these experiments were conducted in four forecast offices of the U.S. National Weather Service. The first experiment involved credible interval temperature forecasts, the second experiment involved point and area precipitation probability forecasts, and the third experiment involved the effect of guidance forecasts on precipitation probability forecasts. In each case, some background material is presented; the design of the experiment is discussed; some preliminary results of the experiment are presented; and some implications of the experiment and the results for probability forecasting in general and probability forecasting in meteorology in particular are discussed.
Characterization of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C in rat colonocyte membranes

The phosphoinositide signal transduction pathway mediates important processes in intestinal physiology, yet the key enzyme, phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), is not well-characterized in the colon. PI-PLC activity was examined in rat colonic membranes using exogenous [3H]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) as substrate, and beta-glycerophosphate to suppress degradation of substrate or product. The activity of membrane PI-PLC increased 6-fold with the addition of alamethicin, and a further 2-3-fold enhancement was observed with 10 microM guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]), suggesting the involvement of G-protein(s). The effect of GTP[S] appeared to be specific, as up to 100 microM adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]-triphosphate failed to stimulate PI-PLC activity, and guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate inhibited activity. The response of membrane PI-PLC to Ca2+ was biphasic, while > 0.5 mM Mg2+ was inhibitory with or without GTP[S]. Comparable total PI-PLC activities and responses to GTP[S] and Ca2+ were observed in purified brush-border and basolateral membranes. Western immunoblots probed with monoclonal antibodies to PLC isoenzymes PLC-beta 1, -gamma 1 and -delta 1 demonstrated that these antipodal plasma membranes contain predominantly the PLC-delta 1 isoform, with small amounts of PLC-gamma 1 present but no detectable PLC-beta 1. PLC-gamma 1 was the major isoform detected in cytosol.
Molecular Mechanisms of Multistage Carcinogenesis

The subject of chemical carcinogenesis is an exciting one for at least three reasons. One, it deals with a disease of major magnitude. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and the Western World. Two, it probes some of the most fundamental questions in contemporary biology, i.e. questions related to DNA structure, chromatin and the control of gene expression, membrane structure and function, the very basic problem of growth control and the specificity and stability of cellular differentiation. Three it brings together investigators from such diverse disciplines as epidemiology, toxicology, cell biology and molecular genetics.
“Less Is More”: The New Paradigm in Critical Care

What appears to be the world’s first ICU was established at the Municipal Hospital of Copenhagen in December of 1953 by the Danish anesthesiologist Bjorn Ibsen during the polio epidemic of 1952–1953 [1]. The first patient admitted to the unit was a 43 year old man who had unsuccessfully attempted to hang himself. The patient had a tracheotomy performed and received manual positive pressure ventilation with 60 % oxygen in N2O [2]. The first physician staffed ICU’s in the US were developed in 1958 by Max Harry Weil and Herbert Shubin at the Los Angles County General Hospital and by Peter Safar in Baltimore [3, 4]. The introduction of the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) in the early 1970s by Swan and colleagues became the monitoring tool that defined critical care medicine for the next four decades [5, 6]. The PAC became synonymous with critical care medicine. The era of the PAC resulted in a style of medicine that can best be characterized as aggressive. If some care is good, more care is even better. However almost all medical interventions be they invasive procedures, diagnostic tests, imaging studies, mechanical ventilation, surgery or drugs have some risk of adverse effects [7]. In some cases, these harms outweigh the benefits. This may be particularly so in ICU patients who are highly vulnerable and at an increased risk of iatrogenic complications [8]. Beginning in 1996 the safety and effectiveness of the PAC came into question [9]. Subsequent studies demonstrated that the PAC provided misleading (“physiologic variables”) that could lead to inappropriate therapeutic interventions and that the use of the PAC did not improve patient outcome [10–12]. The PAC has now all but been abandoned [13]. In 2000 the ARDSnet group published their now landmark study which demonstrated that mechanical ventilation with low tidal volume of 6 mL/kg/IBW improved patient outcome as compared to the standard approach (12 mL/kg/IBW) [14]. The last decade has witnessed a slew of studies that have challenged conventional wisdom and which have led to a gentler, less invasive approach to the critically ill patient… this has led to the paradigm that “Less may be More” (see list below) [7, 8]. We now realize that our goal as intensivists is too be supportive and allow the body to heal itself while at the same time limiting the harm we cause with are arsenal of therapeutic and diagnostic weapons.
AlGaN/GaN FinFET: A Comparative Study

In this paper, a comprehensive study is conducted on AlGaN/GaN FinFETs as a potential candidate for microwave and power applications. It has been described that due to superior material properties associated with GaN and electrical properties exhibited by the tri-gate structure, FinFETs offer superior results for radio frequency applications. The tri-gate structure of FinFET allows full depletion of the channel, which results in low leakage current and dynamic power loss. FinFETs offer higher current density and integration compared to other mainstream CMOS technologies.
Comparison Between the Hyperelastic Behavior of Fresh and Frozen Equine Articular Cartilage in Various Joints.

Fresh and frozen cartilage samples of the fetlock, carpus, and stifle were collected from 12 deceased horses. Half were measured immediately following extraction, and half were frozen for seven days and then measured. Seven indentations (various normalized displacements) were implemented with an indention rate of 0.1 mm/s. Solid phase aggregate modulus (Es), hyperelastic material constant (α), and fluid load fraction (F') of equine articular cartilage were assessed using the Ogden hyperelastic model. The properties were statistically compared in various joints (fetlock, carpus, and stifle), and between fresh and frozen samples using various statistical models. There was no statistical difference between the fetlock and carpus in the aggregate modulus (p = 0.5084), while both were significantly different from the stifle (fetlock: p = 0.0017 and carpus: p = 0.0406). For the hyperelastic material constant, no statistical differences between joints were observed (p = 0.3310). For the fluid load fraction, the fetlock and stifle comparison showed a difference (p = 0.0333), while the carpus was not different from the fetlock (p = 0.1563) or stifle (p = 0.3862). Comparison between the fresh and frozen articular cartilage demonstrated no significant difference among the joints in the three material properties: p = 0.9418, p = 0.7031, and p = 0.9313 for the aggregate modulus, the hyperelastic material constant, and the fluid load fraction, respectively.
Regulation of Globin Gene Expression and Erythroid Differentiation by Sp/KLF Factors.

Abstract Sp/Kruppel-like factor (KLF) family of proteins are characterized by the presence of three highly homologous Cys2His2 type zinc-fingers near the C-terminus that bind GC/CACCC boxes, which are one of the most common regulatory elements found in promoters of many cellular and viral genes. Currently, more than 20 members have been identified in the family. This family of factors plays important roles in cell growth, differentiation, development and homeostasis by regulating the expression of their target genes. The GC and GT/CACCC boxes in the globin gene promoters and the beta globin locus control region play an important role in the tissue- and developmental stage- specific expression of globin genes. We have carried out extensive studies to identify the KLF factors that regulate gamma globin expression and erythroid differentiation. Gene expression analysis revealed that most of the Sp/KLF factors are expressed, albeit at variable levels, in human fetal liver and adult blood cells. To determine the role of the Sp/KLF factors in gamma globin expression and erythroid differentiation, functional studies using systematic RNAi to knockdown selected Sp/KLF factors were performed. We used a lentiviral mediated siRNA expression system for specific silencing selected Sp/KLF factors. Effective knockdown of Sp/KLF factors was achieved as judged by a 70–90% decrease in their mRNA levels in the cells. Analyses of globin gene expression showed that the knockdown of some Sp/KLF factors resulted in changes in globin gene expression in K562 cells. We also observed that knockdown of specific Sp/KLF factors resulted in erythroid differentiation of K562 cells. These results suggest that specific Sp/KLF factors may play a role in regulation of globin gene expression and erythroid differentiation.
2020 SSCA Presidential Address: Activists at the Crossroads

Dr. Bourland-Davis’s address was not presented in the usual forum at the conference, given its cancellation as part of the novel coronavirus pandemic response. Offered here, she looks at crossroads...
Characterization of ground-to-air emissions with sUAS using a digital twin framework

Environmental sensing using small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) has become more and more desirable due to the spatial temporal resolution and frequency of sampling. In the oil and gas industry, the process of detecting, quantifying, and localizing leaks are of utmost concern. Emission leaks that go undetected are potentially hazardous and can be costly to companies. In this work we extend a digital twin framework to a controlled release experiment using sUAS. The digital twin model is tuned heuristically and compared using a mass balance method to estimate the source rate. The results show qualitative agreement with the temporal and spatial behavior of the experimental data.
Experimental measurement of energy release from an initiating layer in an insensitive explosive

Abstract When subjected to a shock of insufficient strength to trigger prompt reaction, heterogenous condensed phase explosives can form regions where significant amounts of the explosive remain unreacted for times much greater than the reaction time of the detonating explosive. This phenomena is observed for the explosive PBX 9502 (95 wt% TATB) both for planar and oblique input shocks. In this work, we build on previous results by performing cylinder expansion (CYLEX) tests where the explosive charge is comprised of a faster core of PBX 9501 (95 wt% HMX) inside a slower annulus of PBX 9502. The detonation in the faster PBX 9501 drives an oblique shock into the adjacent PBX 9502, and an annular transverse initiating layer (IL) results. In the test geometry, the IL travels steadily down the length of the test after a short run distance. At radial positions beyond the IL, an annular region of detonating PBX 9502 is observed. Using standard CYLEX test diagnostics, we infer the total energy release of this experiment. By making the assumptions that (1) the combined energy release is comprised of contributions from detonating PBX 9501, detonating PBX 9502, and the IL in the PBX 9502 and (2) mass-specific energy release for the detonating explosives is approximately the same as typically observed for each explosive, the IL energy release and reaction efficiency can be computed. Results are compared to prior results for a similar geometry, and indicate that while shock deadened PBX 9502 does not detonate promptly, it does eventually release a significant portion of its chemical potential energy over longer timescales on the order of 10 µs.
Nicotine promotes breast cancer metastasis by stimulating N2 neutrophils and generating pre-metastatic niche in lung

Smoking has a profound impact on tumor immunity, and nicotine, which is the major addictive component of smoke, is known to promote tumor progression despite being a non-carcinogen. In this study, we demonstrate that chronic exposure of nicotine plays a critical role in the formation of pre-metastatic niche within the lungs by recruiting pro-tumor N2-neutrophils. This pre-metastatic niche promotes the release of STAT3-activated lipocalin 2 (LCN2), a secretory glycoprotein from the N2-neutrophils, and induces mesenchymal-epithelial transition of tumor cells thereby facilitating colonization and metastatic outgrowth. Elevated levels of serum and urine LCN2 is elevated in early-stage breast cancer patients and cancer-free females with smoking history, suggesting that LCN2 serve as a promising prognostic biomarker for predicting increased risk of metastatic disease in female smoker(s). Moreover, natural compound, salidroside effectively abrogates nicotine-induced neutrophil polarization and consequently reduced lung metastasis of hormone receptor-negative breast cancer cells. Our findings suggest a pro-metastatic role of nicotine-induced N2-neutrophils for cancer cell colonization in the lungs and illuminate the therapeutic use of salidroside to enhance the anti-tumor activity of neutrophils in breast cancer patients.
Explaining jargon using clear communication strategies

Health Communication, Science Communication, Interpersonal Communication.This activity prepares students to explain jargon effectively when communicating with individuals who have low health litera...
Historical Context Matters: Health Research, Health Care, and Bodies of Color in the United States

This chapter provides examples of health research and healthcare abuses of people of color and considers how these legacies of violence impact health care’s current capacity to serve trafficked people. The reader will learn examples of how, historically, people of color were forced and manipulated into participating in human subject research and used for medical education without reaping the benefits of healthcare improvements based on the use of their bodies. In some cases, the guise of healthcare provision has been used to perpetuate acts of genocide against communities of color. Health care’s history of abuse bleeds into the contemporary failures to properly serve people of color and people with a trafficking experience. The chapter also provides specific recommendations for the fields of education, public health, research, health care, and immigration law to advance the goal of sustainable trafficking abolition.
The Persistence of Poverty and Residential Father Absence in Low Birthweight Children's Family Environments Trajectories: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study of American Children

Background: Low birthweight infants are more often born to poor and single mothers. We examined if such disparities in poverty and residential father absence persisted throughout the first five years of life. Methods: Four waves of data from The Fragile Families Child and Wellbeing Study linked to individual medical records were analysed for 2638 children born to unmarried mothers. Sequence analysis of poverty and residential father absence was used to characterize childhood family environment trajectories (FETs). In addition to describing the types of FETs that these children experienced, we used multinomial logistic regression to predict FET by low birthweight adjusting for maternal education, race, and age. Findings: We find that that low birthweight children continue to suffer disproportional levels of poverty and residential father absence relative to their non-low birthweight peers thought-out their childhood years. Low birthweight children had an elevated risk of growing up in a family environment characterized by poverty and cohabiting motherhood (relative risk ratio 2·12, 95% CI 1·23-3·66), or in a family environment typified by poverty and residential father absence (1·60, 1·07-2·59). Interpretation: The persistence of poverty and residential father absence that low birthweight children experience is striking, even when considering a subpopulation of high-risk children in isolation and adjusting for socio-demographic confounders. Understanding and addressing the consequences of these childhood disparities at the family environment level is paramount in reducing long-term health risks for vulnerable low birthweight children. Funding Statement: This study was in part supported by the Carlsberg Foundation, grant number 2013_01_0817. Lisbeth Loft is currently supported by the European Research Council, grant number 707099. Declaration of Interests: Lisbeth Loft has nothing to disclose Ethics Approval Statement: This study was conducted with approval by University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Social Sciences (j.nr.: 514-0070/19-2000). The data used in this study had been stripped of all identifying information and of any potential links back to identifiers before the author was granted access. For this reason, this study was considered exempt.
Employment-Based Health Insurance and Aggregate Labor Supply

We study the impact of the U.S. employment-based health insurance system on the employment rate, the shares of full-time/part-time workers, and aggregate hours worked in a general equilibrium life cycle model with incomplete markets and idiosyncratic risks in both income and medical expenses. In contrast to most Europeans, who get universal health insurance from the government, most working-age Americans get health insurance through their employers. We find that the employment-based health insurance system provides Americans with an extra incentive to work and work full-time. In a calibrated version of the model, we assess the extent to which the different health insurance systems account for the differences in employment rate and full-time/part-time shares of workers between the U.S. and European countries. Our quantitative results suggest that the different health insurance systems can account for a significant fraction of the differences in employment rate and full-time/part-time shares of workers between the two regions. In addition, we find that the employment-based health insurance system is one of the reasons why many Americans work more than Europeans.
Genetics of Tourette Syndrome

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a developmental neuropsychiatric disorder that is characterized by vocal and motor tics and is estimated to affect 0.2–1 % of the population. Despite evidence for a substantial genetic contribution toward disease risk, identification and replication of associations between genetic variants and TS have been challenging. Rare mutations in several genes have been identified, yet it is unclear whether these genes or their biological pathways play a role in the majority of TS cases. Similar to other complex neuropsychiatric disorders, it is likely that multiple variations in multiple genes, both within the individual and the population, may act together with environmental factors to confer risk. Centralized consortia are collecting larger patient cohorts required to identify candidate genes and biological pathways for TS. Recent profiling of gene expression in the striatum, a brain region highly implicated in TS, indicates downregulation of GABAergic and cholinergic interneurons and shows overlap with gene networks implicated by rare structural genetic variants. Together, integrated analyses of common and rare sequence and structural variation, transcriptomic variation, and bioinformatic analyses of convergent gene networks and pathways may elucidate the genetic etiology of TS.
Toward a dynamic helical model for the influence of microtubules on wall patterns in plants

Publisher Summary This chapter marshals evidence that leads to discuss hypotheses on relevant microtubule behavior. The predominating impression in the chapter is that microtubules and nascent microfibrils are parallel; where they are not, this can be attributed to reorientations preparing the way for a new wall lamella. The molecular basis of parallelism is pursued but the parallelism is, regardless of mechanism, insufficient to explain the diversity of wall textures that are encountered. This is partly because there is a discrepancy of scale: wall textures being discussed in micrometer terms of entire cell lengths but models for the transmembrane parallelism usually being constructed over the narrower range which is measured by the nanometers that separate the two major elements. The chapter further discusses microtubule patterns and the patterns of cellulose in algae.
Downstream Clot Fragment Migration During Endovascular Clot Extraction Adversely Affects Clinical Outcome (P4.212)

Objective: To assess the effect of downstream migration of clot fragments on clinical outcome in patients treated with endovascular clot extraction. Background: FDA approval of clot extraction devices is based on technical effectiveness for opening target arteries. Recent randomized trials, however, have failed to demonstrate clinical effectiveness. The role of intraoperative downstream migration of clot fragments has received little attention. Methods: With IRB approval, we reviewed charts, procedure reports, and images of all patients with M1 occlusions treated with endovascular clot extraction within the past 5 years to compare outcomes in patients with “open” arteries (OP) versus “open with fragments” (OF). Results: Thirty four patients were treated under general anesthesia (21 Penumbra, 7 Merci retriever, 6 Solitaire). Numbers of patients in each category of final patency were: OP=15, OF=19. No significant intergroup differences were found (means) for age (60), gender (male 55%), symptom onset to treatment (4.71 hours), admission BP (141/82), duration of anesthesia (2.1 hrs), mean BP during anesthesia (132/70), admission NIHSS (13.8), IV-rtPA (70%) pretreatment. OP patients were more likely to have had an atheroembolic than cardiac source (p<0.03), as well as treatment with Solitaire stent (all 6 Solitaire patients were OP). OF were more likely to have had treatment with IV-rtPA (p<0.15), Penumbra (p<0.03), and adjunctive IA-rtPA and abciximab for the target clot (p<0.09). OP had lower discharge NIHSS (6.79 v 13.22; p<.03); greater NIHSS change (-6.21 v -1.89; p<0.03); discharge mRS=0-2 (47% v 21%; p<0.15); discharge mRS=0-3 (53% v 79%; p<0.005); discharged home (33% v 11%; p<0.2). There was one death in each group (NS); one sICH in OF; length of stay was 8 days in both. Conclusion: Our results strongly suggest an adverse effect of downstream clot fragments. Awareness of this should become part of the approval and post-marketing evaluation of devices. Disclosure: Dr. Frey has received personal compensation for activities with Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., EKT Pharma, Genentech Inc., and Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc. Dr. Darbonne has nothing to disclose. Dr. Clark has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tucker has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chapple has nothing to disclose.
Isolation and Culturing of Glioma Cancer Stem Cells

In many human cancers including malignant glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to be responsible for tumor initiation, metastasis and resistance to conventional anti-cancer therapies. Therefore, a CSC-targeted drug delivery strategy to eliminate CSCs is a desirable approach for developing a more effective therapeutic. Moreover, isolated CSCs will provide an invaluable tool for studying the underlying cellular mechanisms of tumor development and provide insight into therapeutic options for successful eradication of CSCs. This unit describes a method for the isolation and culture of CSCs from human GBM tumor tissue.
Interviewing Clients across Cultures: A Practitioner's Guide

A Guide to Interviewing across Cultures. Preparing for the Interview. Biases and Boundary Issues. Setting the Right Tone: Building Rapport and Conveying Respect. Beyond Words: Nonverbal Communication in Interviews. Language Competence: Building Bridges with People Who Have a Different Native Language. The Interpreted Interview. Understanding and Addressing Reluctance to Divulge Information. Interviewing Culturally Diverse Children and Adolescents. Interview Reports and Documents. Authority and Trust Issues for Specific Professions. Common Dilemmas and Misunderstandings in Cross-cultural Interviews. Afterword: Your Self as a Resource.
Adaptive Feedback Linearization for the Control of a Typical Wing Section with Structural Nonlinearity

Earlier results by the authors showed constructions of Lie algebraic, partial feedback linearizing control methods for pitch and plunge primary control utilizing a single trailing edge actuator. In addition, a globally stable nonlinear adaptive control method was derived for a structurally nonlinear wing section with both a leading and trailing edge actuator. However, the global stability result described in a previous paper by the authors, while highly desirable, relied on the fact that the leading and trailing edge actuators rendered the system exactly feedback linearizable via Lie algebraic methods. In this paper, the authors derive an adaptive, nonlinear feedback control methodology for a structurally nonlinear typical wing section. The technique is advantageous in that the adaptive control is derived utilizing an explicit parameterization of the structural nonlinearity and a partial feedback linearizing control that is parametrically dependent is defined via Lie algebraic methods. The closed loop stability of the system is guaranteed to be stable via application of La Salle's invariance principle.
Anti-sDNA antibody purified from sera of human patients with systemic lupus erythematosus--i. Purification and characterization.

Abstract Human SLE sera with anti-nuclear activity were subjected to immunoadsorption with a singlestranded deoxyribonucleic acid (sDNA)-cellulose adsorbant. The antibodies were dissociated from the adsorbant with an equal-molar solution of 4 nucleotides (dAMP. dGMP, dCMP and TMP). Ligand-eluted antibodies were characterized for purity by immunoelectrophoresis and disc gel electrophoresis. Antibody preparations were analyzed for immunoglobulin classes by the capillary precipitin test using class-specific antisera. IgG was the predominant class in all preparations. Purified antibody preparations derived from immunoadsorption were characteristically aggregated as determined by disc-gel electrophoresis and molecular sieve chromatography. The possible sources of aggregation are discussed in detail.
Studies of the high pressure transition in sulfur

The metallic nature of the elements in Group VI A increases with atomic weight. Oxygen and sulfur are insulators, selenium is a high resistance semiconductor, tellurium is a low-resistance semiconductor or what is often called a semimetal, and polonium is a metal. One of the most interesting high-pressure characteristics of Group VI A elements is that each approaches the metallic State under extreme pressure conditions (except oxygen which has not been studied yet). The results of the studies of high-pressure transition in crystalline orthorhombic sulfur are presented here.
The roles of organizational justice and trust in a gain-sharing control system

This study examines the roles of organizational justice and trust in a specific type of management control system (MCS), gain-sharing. According to the proposed theory, employee perceptions involving the procedural and distributive justice of the gain-sharing plan influence employee trust in managers. Positive perceptions of fairness lead to high trust, which, in turn has positive consequences for the organization such as lower employee turnover. To investigate these issues, a survey was administered to employees of a large manufacturing company. Results of structural equation modeling indicate that employee perceptions regarding the fairness of the gain-sharing plan are positively related to employee trust in managers. Further, trust is linked to employee turnover intentions. The results imply that the organizational justice of an MCS has consequences for the attitudes and behaviors of employees and thus the success or failure of the MCS.
Counting Hexagonal Lattice Animals

We describe Maple packages for the automatic generation of generating functions(and series expansions) for counting lattice animals(fixed polyominoes), in the two-dimensional hexagonal lattice, of bounded but arbitrary width. Our Maple packages(complete with source code) are easy-to-use and available from my website.
Unraveling the conflicts to preserve research integrity.

For decades, constructive collaborations between investigators and industry have benefited patients and the public. Recently, high-profile lawsuits (1), public interest groups, and politicians (2) have raised concerns that financial and other interests may unduly influence professional judgment and threaten the integrity of scientific research. As a result of the attention regarding payments to physicians, a sense of urgency has arisen to better detect and deal with conflicts. Multiple efforts have emerged to mitigate the conflicts and promote objectivity in research. Individual states (3), professional organizations (4), and even industry (5) promote more rigorous reporting and restrictions. In addition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations (6), the Public Health Service (PHS) National Institutes of Health (NIH) proposed new, more stringent guidelines in May 2010 aimed at preventing financial conflict of interests among researchers who receive federal research funding (7). Starting September 30, 2013, the Physician Payment Sunshine Act (8), a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, will require manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, and medical supplies to post payments or other transfers of value over $10 (or lesser-value items when the aggregated amount exceeds $100 during the calendar year to a single provider) that are made to physicians. This applies to payments made for research funding and grants. The information will be posted on a public website that is searchable and in a format that is easy to understand. The goal of these regulations and the internal policies implemented by institutions (including Baylor Health Care System) is to protect research participants, maintain the integrity of professional judgment and science, and preserve trust in research. When bias occurs in research, there is the potential of harm to participants, damage to the reputations of researchers and institutions, and possible distrust of the research findings. Well-formulated institutional policies for addressing conflicts can assist the institution in mitigating bias by identifying potential conflict of interests and prospectively determining whether the conflicting relationships should be allowed, managed, or eliminated.
SAWs enable the advent of the signal microprocessor development station

The Signal MicroProcessor (SMP) is a software-controlled programmable processor IC chip for video and RF signals. The SMP has been developed to bring the power of programmable mathematical processing to high-speed analog electronic equipment in cases where the cost and power requirements of the high-speed analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and ultra-high-speed digital processing present a problem. It is enabled by a technology called acoustic charge transport, which is used to provide the buffer memory for analog signals in a platform that can also implement the high-speed arithmetic operations. The SMP performs the function of an ADC, a digital signal processor with 128 multipliers, 128 adders, control circuitry, and a digital-to-analog converter all working with a 360 megasample/s throughput rate. >