cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of IL-17 and Th17 Cells in Herpes Simplex Virus-Induced Corneal Immunopathology

HSV-1 infection of the cornea leads to a blinding immunoinflammatory lesion of the eye termed stromal keratitis (SK). Recently, IL-17–producing CD4+ T cells (Th17 cells) were shown to play a prominent role in many autoimmune conditions, but the role of IL-17 and/or of Th17 cells in virus immunopathology is unclear. In this study, we show that, after HSV infection of the cornea, IL-17 is upregulated in a biphasic manner with an initial peak production around day 2 postinfection and a second wave starting from day 7 postinfection with a steady increase until day 21 postinfection, a time point when clinical lesions are fully evident. Further studies demonstrated that innate cells, particularly γδ T cells, were major producers of IL-17 early after HSV infection. However, during the clinical phase of SK, the predominant source of IL-17 was Th17 cells that infiltrated the cornea only after the entry of Th1 cells. By ex vivo stimulation, the half fraction of IFN-γ–producing CD4+ T cells (Th1 cells) were HSV specific, whereas very few Th17 cells responded to HSV stimulation. The delayed influx of Th17 cells in the cornea was attributed to the local chemokine and cytokine milieu. Finally, HSV infection of IL-17R knockout mice as well as IL-17 neutralization in wild-type mice showed diminished SK severity. In conclusion, our results show that IL-17 and Th17 cells contribute to the pathogenesis of SK, the most common cause of infectious blindness in the Western world.
WLC38-5: Multi-Antenna Limited Feedback for Temporally-Correlated Channels: Feedback Compression

A novel method is proposed for reducing the feedback rate of a transmit beamforming system with feedback of quantized channel state information. Specifically, the channel is modeled as a Markov chain and the feedback bits are compressed by truncating the Markov chain transition probabilities. Using the proposed method, the feedback rate can be compressed by more than 100% without degrading the system performance.
Biocompatibility, Biodistribution, and Drug-Delivery Efficiency of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy in Animals

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are a promising material for drug delivery. In this Full Paper, MSNs are first shown to be well tolerated, as demonstrated by serological, hematological, and histopathological examinations of blood samples and mouse tissues after MSN injection. Biodistribution studies using human cancer xenografts are carried out with in vivo imaging and fluorescent microscopy imaging, as well as with inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. The results show that MSNs preferentially accumulate in tumors. Finally, the drug-delivery capability of MSNs is demonstrated by following tumor growth in mice treated with camptothecin-loaded MSNs. These results indicate that MSNs are biocompatible, preferentially accumulate in tumors, and effectively deliver drugs to the tumors and suppress tumor growth.
Activation of T cells by a tyrosine kinase activation domain in the cytoplasmic tail of CD3 epsilon

The multichain T cell antigen receptor functions by interacting with and activating one or more nonreceptor tyrosine kinases. The cytoplasmic tail of the zeta chain can activate T cells independently of the rest of the receptor complex. The function of the remaining invariant CD3 chains remains unknown. A 22-amino acid region of the cytoplasmic tail of CD3 epsilon was also able to independently activate T cells. Stimulation of T cells by means of the cytoplasmic tails of either zeta or CD3 epsilon resulted in quantitatively distinct patterns of tyrosine phosphorylation, suggesting activation of different biochemical pathways.
Oppositional Consciousness: Its Manifestation and Development. The Case of People with Disabilities*

While resource mobilization theory has advanced our understanding of social movements, two questions require further explanation: (1) How do people come to define their situation as unjust and subject to change through collective action? (2) How is such an “oppositional consciousness” empirically studied? From field research among people with disabilities, I suggest that oppositional consciousness is manifested through the collective actions, symbols, and cultural artifacts constructed by a group. I propose that strong interpersonal ties among group members may not be necessary for an oppositional consciousness to develop. To understand how a dominated group develops an oppositional consciousness, rather than analyzing the strength of its members' social ties, we must examine the context and the nature of these ties: (1) the institutions in which their social interactions typically occur; (2) the socialization process they experience within these institutions; and (3) members' contact with the oppositional ideologies of other dominated groups.
Head tracker evaluation utilizing the dynamic tracker test fixture

In military aviation, head tracker technologies have become increasingly important to track the pilot's head position and orientation, allowing the user to quickly interact with the operational environment. This technology allows the pilot to quickly acquire items of interest and see Fighter Data Link type information. Acquiring the target on a helmet-mounted tracker/display which can automatically slew a weapon's seeker is far more efficient than having to point at the target with the nose of the aircraft as previously required for the heads-up display (HUD) type of target acquisition. The United States Air Force (USAF) has used and evaluated a variety of helmet-mounted trackers for incorporation into their high performance aircrafts. The Dynamic Tracker Test Fixture (DTTF) was designed by the Helmet-Mounted Sensory Technology (HMST) laboratory to accurately measure rotation in one plane both static and dynamic conditions for the purpose of evaluating the accuracy of head trackers, including magnetic, inertial, and optical trackers. This paper describes the design, construction, capabilities, limitations, and performance of the DTTF.
Ascending connections of a midbrain auditory area in a crocodile, Caiman crocodilus

The torus semicircularis is a tonotopically organized auditory region in the midbrain of the crocodile, Caiman crocodilus (Manley, '71). Two distinct regions of the torus can be distinguished in Caiman: an external nucleus, which is continuous with the deep layers of the optic tectum, and a central nucleus. Ascending connections of the central nucleus were studied with the light microscope by means of the Fink-Heimer procedure after unilateral, anodal stereotaxic lesions. Efferent axons leave the central nucleus in the lateral lemniscus to enter the tecto-reuniens tract where they course as far rostrally as nucleus Z. At this level, this bundle bifurcates. The majority of these fibers turn medially and then pass through and probably synapse on interposed neurons of nucleus Z, prior to their termination in nucleus reuniens. The remaining axons continue ventrally past nucleus Z to enter the ventral supraoptic decussation where they travel anteriorly to a level just posterior to the optic chiasm. Here the fascicles cross the midline and swing caudally, still in the ventral supraoptic decussation, until they reach nucleus Z of the contralateral side. At this level, these fibers enter the tecto-reuniens tract and turn medially, to pass through and perhaps end on the intercalated neurons of nucleus Z, prior to their termination in nucleus reuniens. The neuronal architecture of nucleus Z and that of the nucleus reuniens complex are described. The latter, a midline nuclear group, consists of two subdivisions: a pars centralis and a pars diffusa. Each of these subdivisions is segregated into two neuronal aggregates at the midline. Efferents of the central nucleus terminate massively in the pars centralis and, to a considerably lesser extent, in the pars diffusa of nucleus reuniens. The results of this study are compared with similar ones in pigeons and mammals. Parallels in the fiber connections of midbrain auditory and visual areas and the segregation of these modalities in the mesencephalon and diencephalon are discussed.
The International Business Ethics Index: Japan

The Business Ethics Index (BEI) was expanded in Japan. The overall BEI for Japan stands at 99.1 – slightly on the negative side. The component BEI patterns were similar to those in the U.S. In an open-ended question about their ethical experiences as consumers, the Japanese were concerned about customer service and good management practices.
IL-33 stimulates dendritic cell secretion of IL-2 that promotes selective expansion of ST2+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (IRC5P.460)

IL-33 is a pleiotropic IL-1 family cytokine that signals via ST2 and expands ST2+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in vivo. As ST2+ Treg show poor expansion by direct IL-33 stimulation, we sought to define mechanisms mediating their expansion. IL-2 signaling promotes ST2 expression on CD4+ T cells, and dendritic cells (DC) express ST2 (able to respond to IL-33), and are a potential source of IL-2. Thus, we examined if IL-33 mediates ST2+ Treg expansion by stimulating DC IL-2 production. CD11c+ wild type (WT) or IL-2 knockout (KO) bone marrow DC were exposed to IL-33 or LPS. DC phenotype was evaluated by multi-color flow cytometric analysis. The influence of IL-33 DC on T cell function was evaluated in MLR with CD4+ T cells, and T cell proliferation and phenotype were determined by flow analysis. Cytokines were quantitated by ELISA. We found that unlike LPS, IL-33 does not influence DC surface phenotype or induce pro-inflammatory cytokine production compared to controls. However, IL-33 induces a 5-fold increase IL-2 production by DC. In MLR, IL-33 DC selectively expand an activated subset of ST2+Foxp3+ Treg that are CD44hiICOShi. IL-33 DC-derived IL-2 is critical since IL-33-exposed IL-2 KO DC fail to expand ST2+ Treg. In summary, IL-33 licenses DC to selectively expand a subset of activated Treg through production of IL-2, in the absence of classical DC activation. These findings may be harnessed to aid the development of novel therapeutics aimed at promoting immune tolerance.
ATV magnetometer systems for efficient ground magnetic surveying

Ground magnetic data contain information, not pre-sent in aeromagnetic data, which may be useful for precisely mapping near-surface faults and contacts, as well as constraining or aiding interpretation of other geophysical methods. However, collecting ground magnetic data on foot is labor-intensive and is therefore limited to small surveys. In this article, we present two newly developed all-terrain vehicle (ATV) magnetometer systems that significantly expand the survey area that is possible in a ground magnetic survey without greatly reducing the quality of data.
Renal responses to atrial natriuretic peptide are preserved in bilateral ureteral obstruction and augmented by neutral endopeptidase inhibition

ABSTRACT Purpose: Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) contributes to post-obstructive diuresis in bilateral ureteral obstruction (BUO). In this study we examined the activity of neutral endopeptidase (NEP), an enzyme responsible for degradation of ANP, in the kidney in rats subjected to BUO for 24 hours. Materials and Methods: Renal function was examined by the clearance method in sham operated rats and BUO rats after obstruction release. Renal responses to an intravenous bolus injection of ANP (5 μg/kg) were studied in sham operated and BUO rats with or without pretreatment with intravenous phosphoramidon (100 μg/kg per minute), a NEP inhibitor. Results: In BUO rats natriuresis and diuresis occurred despite a marked decrease in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). ANP administration increased GFR and induced marked natriuresis and diuresis in sham operated and BUO rats. Inhibition of ANP degradation by phosphoramidon induced natriuresis and diuresis, and accentuated these renal responses to ANP. Conclusions: Renal responses to ANP and renal NEP activity were preserved in 24-hour BUO. NEP inhibition to attenuate ANP degradation augmented responses to ANP in increasing GFR, natriuresis and diuresis. These findings provide the theoretical potential for facilitating the recovery of GFR after BUO release by inhibiting ANP degradation by pharmacological means.
PHC: A Global Ocean Hydrography with a High-Quality Arctic Ocean

A new gridded ocean climatology, the Polar Science Center Hydrographic Climatology (PHC), has been created that merges the 1998 version of the World Ocean Atlas with the new regional Arctic Ocean Atlas. The result is a global climatology for temperature and salinity that contains a good description of the Arctic Ocean and its environs. Monthly, seasonal, and annual average products have been generated. How the original datasets were prepared for merging, how the optimal interpolation procedure was performed, and characteristics of the resulting dataset are discussed, followed by a summary and discussion of future plans.
Spatial Distribution and Temporal Patterns of Cassin's Auklet Foraging and Their Euphausiid Prey in a Variable Ocean Environment.

Krill (Euphausiids) play a vital ecosystem role in many of the world’s most productive marine regions, providing an important trophic linkage. We introduce a robust modeling approach to link Cassin’s auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) abundance and distribution to large-scale and local oceanic and atmospheric conditions and relate these patterns to similarly modeled distributions of an important prey resource, krill. We carried out at-sea strip transect bird surveys and hydroacoustic assessments of euphausiids (2004–2013). Data informed separate, spatially-explicit predictive models of Cassin’s auklet abundance (zero-inflated negative binomial regression) and krill biomass (two-part model) based on these surveys. We established the type of prey responsible for acoustic backscatter by conducting net tows of the upper 50 m during surveys. We determined the types of prey fed to Cassin’s auklet chicks by collecting diet samples from provisioning adults. Using time-depth-recorders, we found Cassin’s auklets utilized consistent areas in the upper water column, less than 30 m, where krill could be found (99.5% of dives were less than 30 m). Birds primarily preyed upon two species of euphausiids, Euphausia pacifica and Thysanoessa spinifera, which were available in the upper water column. Cassin’s auklet abundance was best predicted by both large scale and localized oceanic processes (upwelling) while krill biomass was best predicted by local factors (temperature, salinity, and fluorescence) and both large scale and localized oceanic processes (upwelling). Models predicted varying krill and bird distribution by month and year. Our work informs the use of Cassin’s auklet as a valuable indicator or krill abundance and distribution and strengthens our understanding of the link between Cassin’s auklet and its primary prey. We expect future increases in frequency and magnitude of anomalous ocean conditions will result in decreased availability of krill leading to declines in the Farallon Islands population of Cassin’s auklets.
Pharmacology of Chronic Pain Management

Rational and effective administration of ­medications for children requires a fundamental understanding and integration of the role of ontogeny in the disposition and actions of drugs. Dosing of analgesic medications for pediatric patients is dependent on the interplay between pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and pharmacogenomics (PG). There is much debate concerning the methodology employed to adjust PK parameters to body size. Traditionally, empirical approaches to drug dosing have been based on using either body weight or body surface area. However, the use of linear per kilogram and surface area models have generally been considered inappropriate for scaling small children to adults, and a non-linear relationship between weight and drug elimination capacity is now widely accepted. The consideration of accurate pharmacological and pharmacokinetic data for pediatric dosing may involve the use of cumbersome mathematical analysis in order to obtain a rational, safe, and effective dose. However, the log of basal metabolic rate plotted against the log of body weight in all species studied produces a straight line with a slope of 0.75, and the use of dosing equations has largely been replaced by adjustment (or normalization) of the drug dose for either body weight or body-surface area (Anderson and Holford 2008; Anderson and Meakin 2002).
A Qualitative Approach to Understanding Real-World Electronic Cigarette Use: Implications for Measurement and Regulation

Introduction An understanding of the real-world use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is needed to inform surveillance efforts and future state and federal regulation. This study investigates the behavioral aspects of e-cigarette use. Methods We used qualitative methods to examine salient characteristics of e-cigarette use. The lead investigator (M.C.) conducted in-depth, semistructured individual interviews to explore patterns and behaviors associated with e-cigarette use among a purposive sample of 50 current adult users. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data and document themes. Results Several important themes emerged. Although most users started with "closed system" products, the majority switched from that type of e-cigarette to "open system" devices. Responses were diverse on preferred flavors, although mixing flavors was a common practice. Many users had difficulty estimating the total amount of e-liquid they used within a given period and described an iterative process in which they experimented with different nicotine levels to determine their preferred concentration. Reported frequency of use and puffing behaviors varied greatly between users and also differed from the way traditional cigarettes are smoked. Conclusion Results from this study have implications for developing appropriate survey metrics for e-cigarette surveillance, the regulation of flavorings, and reporting of e-cigarette product constituents.
A proposal for improving the acquisition of medical data in forward field hospitals

Current medical recording policy in forward field hospitals adequately delineates battle and non-battle injuries and incapacitation from sickness or disease. Although useful for planning, such data do not often provide insights that could improve medical care. The author has gathered combat medical data in Vietnam and Desert Storm and concludes that by providing and storing carbon copies of admission and operating room logs plus operative notes, discharge summaries, and the clinical record cover sheet, the Army Medical Corps would have a permanent, analyzable account of field hospital medical activities. Digital copying and disk storage of these specific documents would greatly increase their usefulness, especially if coupled with standard data formats for admission and operating logs and a simple diagnosis coding scheme to aid data retrieval either by hand or computer. Medical data should be made available to concerned forward medical personnel because in past wars some of the most insightful medical observations of immediate help to the sick and wounded have been made by individual physicians analyzing medical data at the front.
Surface errors without semantic impairment in acquired dyslexia: a voxel-based lesion–symptom mapping study

Patients with surface dyslexia have disproportionate difficulty pronouncing irregularly spelled words (e.g. pint), suggesting impaired use of lexical-semantic information to mediate phonological retrieval. Patients with this deficit also make characteristic 'regularization' errors, in which an irregularly spelled word is mispronounced by incorrect application of regular spelling-sound correspondences (e.g. reading plaid as 'played'), indicating over-reliance on sublexical grapheme-phoneme correspondences. We examined the neuroanatomical correlates of this specific error type in 45 patients with left hemisphere chronic stroke. Voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping showed a strong positive relationship between the rate of regularization errors and damage to the posterior half of the left middle temporal gyrus. Semantic deficits on tests of single-word comprehension were generally mild, and these deficits were not correlated with the rate of regularization errors. Furthermore, the deep occipital-temporal white matter locus associated with these mild semantic deficits was distinct from the lesion site associated with regularization errors. Thus, in contrast to patients with surface dyslexia and semantic impairment from anterior temporal lobe degeneration, surface errors in our patients were not related to a semantic deficit. We propose that these patients have an inability to link intact semantic representations with phonological representations. The data provide novel evidence for a post-semantic mechanism mediating the production of surface errors, and suggest that the posterior middle temporal gyrus may compute an intermediate representation linking semantics with phonology.
Serum progesterone concentrations on the day after human chorionic gonadotropin administration and progesterone/oocyte ratios predict in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer outcome.

In gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue-pretreated in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycles, pregnancy rates are inversely related to serum progesterone levels on the day of administration of human chorionic gonadotropin. The relationship of the progesterone concentration on other days in the periovulatory period to pregnancy rates in such cycles is little studied. We therefore retrospectively analyzed the relationship between progesterone concentrations on the day after human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy in 114 cycles, 28 and 23 of which produced clinical and ongoing/delivered pregnancies, respectively. To assess the effect of the extent of follicular luteinization on success, we also studied the relationship between the progesterone concentration per oocyte retrieved and pregnancy for the day of and day after human chorionic gonadotropin. Progesterone concentrations on the day after human chorionic gonadotropin were inversely associated with clinical pregnancy by multiple logistic regression analysis (P<0.05). Progesterone/oocyte ratios were inversely associated with clinical pregnancy (P<0.05) and ongoing/delivered pregnancy (P<0.02) for both the day of and the day after human chorionic gonadotropin. The study results extend the window of time during which elevated progesterone concentration is associated with poor outcome to at least 2 days. This finding is consistent with hypothetical mechanisms attributing the link between progesterone concentration and outcome to either endometrial or follicle/oocyte events. The association of lack of follicular luteinization (low progesterone per oocyte ratios) and favorable outcome suggests a predominant effect of progesterone on follicle/oocyte quality. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying the association between progesterone and in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer outcome.
Riboflavin Content of Blood and Muscle in Normal and in Malnourished Humans.

Summary and Conclusions1. The blood riboflavin values of 20 normal subjects ranged between 0.35 and 0.45 μg per ml, with an average value of 0.42 μg per ml. The same range of riboflavin values was found in a group of 35 patients with varying degrees of riboflavin deficiency. The average value for this group was 0.40 μg of riboflavin per ml.2. The muscle riboflavin values of 9 control subjects ranged between 2.2 and 3.5 μg per gram of fresh weight with an average value of 2.9 μg per gram. The muscle riboflavin values for 30 pellagrins lay within the same range with an average value of 2.8 μg per gram of fresh muscle.3. From these results we have concluded that a determination of blood and muscle riboflavin values is of little significance in the evaluation of a state of riboflavin deficiency in man.
The great blockade of Lithuania: Evaluating sanction theory with a case study of Soviet sanctions to prevent Lithuanian independence

Previous work in political science has looked to dyadic, international, and domestic factors in senders and targets of sanctions for explanations of why they sometimes succeed and frequently fail. In this paper, we present a case study of the sanctions imposed by the Soviet Union over Lithuania’s declaration of independence in 1990. We examine the dyadic, international, and domestic factors that influenced the outcome of the sanctions and connect them to existing theoretical and empirical work in the literature. While dyadic and international factors played important roles, we find the strongest evidence for the role of domestic political factors in the Soviet Union and Lithuania in determining the outcome of the dispute.
Comparing the responses of larval and adult lepidopteran communities to timber harvest using long-term, landscape-scale studies in oak-hickory forests

Abstract Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) are important components of forest ecosystems; they affect tree growth and influence nutrient cycling as caterpillars, provide food for higher trophic levels as caterpillars and adults, and are pollinators as adults. Here, we report on and compare the results of two long-term studies of the effects of logging on Lepidoptera in oak hickory forests. In one study, the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project (MOFEP), caterpillars were used as response taxa. Sampling via observation without removal focused on larvae found on leaves of two dominant tree species, Quercus alba and Q. velutina , in alternative harvest regimes. In a second, the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment of Indiana (HEE), we examined the response of adults to alternative harvest levels by sampling with blacklighting. Caterpillar sampling in MOFEP and in an associated chronosequence revealed that clearcutting decreases numbers and diversity of Lepidoptera, year effects were as important in influencing caterpillar assemblages as the harvest per se , and that species richness of caterpillars continued to increase each year post-harvest. When using adult moths as response taxa, species composition was resilient to timber harvest under shelterwood management, recovering to the near original condition three years post treatment. Communities in patch cut or clear cut stands were slower to recover, and appeared to develop novel communities relative to their pre-harvest condition. A late spring frost decreased abundance and species richness of caterpillars, while a severe drought impacted adult lepidopterans, depressing species richness in patch cut stands to a greater degree than in control or shelterwood cut stands. Together, these results demonstrate that Lepidoptera communities in oak-history forests respond immediately to logging due to changes in host plant availability, but may also be impacted many years subsequent due to stochastic year effects and seral changes in forest structure and composition.
Discovery of Allosteric and Selective Inhibitors of Inorganic Pyrophosphatase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPiase) is an essential enzyme that hydrolyzes inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), driving numerous metabolic processes. We report a discovery of an allosteric inhibitor (2,4-bis(aziridin-1-yl)-6-(1-phenylpyrrol-2-yl)-s-triazine) of bacterial PPiases. Analogues of this lead compound were synthesized to target specifically Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) PPiase (MtPPiase). The best analogue (compound 16) with a Ki of 11 μM for MtPPiase is a species-specific inhibitor. Crystal structures of MtPPiase in complex with the lead compound and one of its analogues (compound 6) demonstrate that the inhibitors bind in a nonconserved interface between monomers of the hexameric MtPPiase in a yet unprecedented pairwise manner, while the remote conserved active site of the enzyme is occupied by a bound PPi substrate. Consistent with the structural studies, the kinetic analysis of the most potent inhibitor has indicated that it functions uncompetitively, by binding to the enzyme–substrate complex. ...
Texas District 23: Play It Again: A Nationalized Election in Texas’s Swingin’est District

The 2016 rematch between incumbent Will Hurd (R) and Pete Gallego (D) ended almost exactly as the 2014 had: with a razor thin victory for Hurd. Hurd’s re-election broke a pattern of alternating partisan representation in Texas District 23 that reached back nearly a decade, and surprised observers who thought Gallego would ride Democratic coattails to victory. The fact that Hillary Clinton won the district comfortably demonstrates that even in highly nationalized contests, congressional campaigns can matter in marginal districts. Gallego’s fixation on demoralizing the opposition by tying Hurd to GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump proved an ineffective method for broadening his base or mobilizing his supporters, which allowed Hurd to overcome the partisan odds.
International Law, Institutional Moral Reasoning, and Secession

This paper argues for the superiority of international law’s existing ban on unilateral secession over its reform to include either a primary or remedial right to secession. I begin by defending the claim that secession is an inherently institutional concept, and that therefore we ought to employ institutional moral reasoning to defend or criticize specific proposals regarding a right to secede. I then respond to the objection that at present we lack the empirical evidence necessary to sustain any specific conclusion regarding an international legal right to secession. Specifically, I argue that we ought to adopt a precautionary approach, and that such an approach justifies giving no weight to promoting political self-determination per se when considering whether to reform international law governing secession. I conclude with several reasons to think that even a remedial right to unilateral secession will detract from, not enhance, the international legal order’s ability to promote peace and human rights.
“Stuck Through with a Pin, and Beautifully Preserved”: Curating the Life of Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861)

In 1853, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, then living in Italy and internationally famous, wrote to her friend Isa Blagden that she dreaded the idea of becoming the subject of biography, of being “caught, stuck through with a pin, and beautifully preserved with other butterflies and beetles.” Over the 150 years since her death, Barrett Browning (EBB) has been repeatedly “stuck through with a pin” as biographers have reconstructed her and refashioned her according to various social, political, and ideological agendas. In the twenty-first century, biographers present a more capacious though not exclusively positive account of the poet and her writing. As this chapter shows, their important recovery work of Barrett Browning’s “fresh strange music” unveils a more candid, authentic portrait for modern readers.
Revenue management in last-mile delivery: state-of-the-art and future research directions

Abstract This paper explores future avenues of research for revenue management in last-mile delivery. First, we review earlier efforts in this field, which have focused primarily on the problem of attended home deliveries (AHD) of groceries. Second, based on a topological classification of last-mile delivery characteristics, we identify relevant extensions inspired in current industry trends. Finally, we outline how existing models should be extended for these new problems and discuss promising streams of future research.
Spectrochemical Elemental Analyses of Textiles and Textile Fibers

Among the numerous spectroscopic techniques and procedures available for analytical purposes, some ten are methods for the qualitative identification and for the quantitative estimation of the chemical elements, both metallic and nonmetallic. These ten different spectroscopic approaches are described very briefly. Three spectroscopic procedures have been of most importance in elemental analyses of textiles and textile fibers. These three, electronic (ultraviolet or visible) emission (or so-called spectrochemical analysis), x-ray fluorescence, and atomic absorption are described in detail. Applications of these three techniques are illustrated, mainly in the analysis of cotton cellulose fibers, as these are the more familiar analysis in the author’s laboratory and the chemical modification of cotton cellulose has created a special need for elemental analyses for a fairly wide number of both metals and nonmetals. However, the techniques described are applicable with little if any modification to similar analyses of any natural or synthetic fiber. They can also be applied without modification to the analysis of yarn or fabric. The three techniques are compared with reference to such factors as, speed of analysis, sensitivity, cost of original equipment, requirements for operator skill, etc.
Rationale for electrical parameter determination in external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) for migraine: A narrative review.

BackgroundMigraine is a primary headache disorder involving dysregulation of central and peripheral pain pathways. Medical treatment is often limited by drug side effects, comorbidities and poor co...
Anatomy Dissection Guide—a Comparative Study of Formats

Anatomical dissection remains an important curricular feature, but with decreasing laboratory hours, effective and efficient teaching modalities must be used. The purpose of this study is to compare dissection guide formats: one in prose and one in a more streamlined bulleted format. The streamlined guide was created in accordance with modern teaching tenets, presenting concise directions with few anatomical descriptions. First-year (M1) and second-year (M2) medical students participated in this study (n = 167 and n = 164, respectively). Dissection guide formats were randomly assigned to groups. This arrangement continued for an entire series of dissections in one anatomical region. A cross-over study was done for the M1s in the subsequent series of dissections. At the end of each series of dissections, a survey to evaluate the guides was distributed. Completion times were recorded at the end of each dissection, and performance was evaluated using exams. The results demonstrated significantly greater preference for the abridged guide in terms of detail level, efficacy, and engagement (p < 0.05). Students using the abridged guide expressed more positive responses to survey items regarding dissection in general (p < 0.05). The results also indicated less need for assistance from instructors when using the abridged dissection guide (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences found between groups in terms of completion times and exam results. The application of modern teaching approaches to an anatomy dissection guide was shown to enhance student experience. The use of these principles is recommended for a more positive and efficacious learning experience.
Superficial Chemical Peels and Microdermabrasion

Superficial skin resurfacing is a process causing controlled injury to the epidermis. Processes can be chemical or mechanical and classified as laser or nonlaser. Although our armamentarium for skin resurfacing ranges from topical medicaments to ablative lasers, superficial skin resurfacing with chemical peels and microdermabrasion (MDA) has maintained its popularity. These well-established therapies have proven safe and effective, offer minimal risk, low cost, and are well-tolerated by patients often with little to no post-procedure downtime. Potential benefits extend to all Fitzpatrick skin types and if done appropriately are highly unlikely to cause significant dyspigmentation or scarring. Indications for treatment are acne vulgaris, rosacea, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma, and photodamage including lentigines, fine rhytides, and actinic keratoses. Superficial resurfacing with chemical peels or MDA can be used in combination with other therapies (e.g., laser) and may enhance the efficacy of other topical treatments. A superficial depth of penetration may be of significant benefit to the patient but does have limitations. It is important for patients to understand the likely need for a series of treatments, the importance of pre- and post-care regimens, and expected outcomes.
A Planar Positioning System for Antennas

We designed and built a low budget planar positioning system for antennas for applications such as through-wall imaging. Key constraints were: a budget under $700, minimize vibrations due to moving parts, reliability, accuracy, size, producibility, and simplicity. The positioning system will be referred to as the structure. The structure consists of a horizontal and a vertical axis, which is fabricated from aluminum extrusions as main supports. Analysis shows that for this budget aluminum is an excellent option for the physical build, because of its light weight, durability, and low cost.
Evaluating resource adequacy impacts on energy market prices across wind and solar penetration levels

Abstract This study evaluates market impacts of excess capacity across various wind and solar system penetrations. First, different fleet compositions are simulated in a production cost model to yield price outputs. Price statistics reveal a strong relationship between scarcity price events, resource adequacy, and the mean and standard deviation of prices. Next, a method is presented for adjusting resource adequacy to a chosen level, which links a capacity expansion model with a probabilistic resource adequacy model.
A Scalable Distributed algorithm for Least Squares Solutions in Double-layered Multi-agent Networks

In this paper, we propose a scalable distributed algorithm for double-layered multi-agent network to cooperatively find the least square solutions to an over-determined linear equation. Compared with existing consensus-based distributed linear equation solvers, the double-layered network structure allows us to implement two types of coordination, namely consensus and conservation, simultaneously. As a result, the proposed algorithm has achieved better scalability in the sense that each agent does not need to know a full row of the overall equation. The convergence of our algorithm is exponential, which has been validated by both analytical proof and numerical simulations.
Relationships among Commercial Biases and Author Conflicts of Interest in Biomedical Publishing

Recently, concerns have been raised over the potential impacts of commercial biases on editorial practices in biomedical publishing. Specifically, it has been suggested that commercial biases may make editors more open to publishing articles with author conflicts of interest (aCOI). Using a data set of 128,781 articles published in 159 journals, we evaluated the relationships among commercial publishing biases and reported author conflicts of interest. The 159 journals were grouped according to commercial biases (reprint services, advertising revenue, and ownership by a large commercial publishing firm). 30.6% (39,440) of articles were published in journals showing no evidence of commercial publishing biases. 33.9% (43,630) were published in journals accepting advertising and reprint fees; 31.7% (40,887) in journals owned by large publishing firms; 1.2% (1,589) in journals accepting reprint fees only; and 2.5 % (3,235) in journals accepting only advertising fees. Journals with commercial biases were more likely to publish articles with aCOI (9.2% (92/1000) vs. 6.4% (64/1000), p = 0.024). In the multivariate analysis, only a journal’s acceptance of reprint fees served as a significant predictor (OR = 2.81 at 95% CI, 1.5 to 8.6). Shared control estimation was used to evaluate the relationships between commercial publishing biases and aCOI frequency in total and by type. BCa-corrected mean difference effect sizes ranged from -1.0 to 6.1, and confirm findings indicating that accepting reprint fees may constitute the most significant commercial bias. The findings indicate that concerns over the influence of industry advertising in medical journals may be overstated, and that accepting fees for reprints may constitute the largest risk of bias for editorial decision-making.
Use Case and Performance Analyses for Missing Data Imputation Methods in Big Data Analytics

In big data analytics the phenomenon of missing data is universal due to reasons such as faulty equipment and nonresponses in surveys. Imputation is the process of replacing missing data with substituted values. Proper imputation could greatly improve the accuracy and effectiveness of big data analytics.In this paper, we analyze a rich set of deletion and imputation methods, focusing on strengths, weaknesses, best use cases, implementation strategies, and error-examination based performance analysis. Our goal is to find the best fitted imputation method(s) for each given use case.
Evaluation of Synthetic Cannabinoid Metabolites in Human Blood in the Absence of Parent Compounds: A Stability Assessment

Synthetic cannabinoids represent a chemically diverse class of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) responsible for large analytical and interpretative challenges for forensic toxicologists. Between 2016 and 2019, the three most prevalent synthetic cannabinoids in the United States were MMB-FUBINACA (FUB-AMB), 5F-MDMB-PINACA (5F-ADB) and 5F-MDMB-PICA, based on results from seized drug and toxicology testing. In 2018, accurate determination of synthetic cannabinoid positivity was brought into question as it was determined that the metabolites of these drug species were present in the absence of parent compounds in forensically relevant blood samples. During this study, the stability of MMB-FUBINACA, 5F-MDMB-PINACA and 5F-MDMB-PICA was evaluated, as well as the characterization of breakdown products. A liquid-liquid extraction method was assessed for recovery of basic parent compounds and acidic metabolites and deemed fit for use in this study. Analysis was performed by liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) using a SCIEX TripleTOF® 5600+. All three synthetic cannabinoids were found to be unstable when stored in blood at either room temperature or refrigerated; all analytes were considerably more stable when stored in the freezer. All three synthetic cannabinoids degraded to their respective butanoic acid metabolites: MMB-FUBINACA 3-methylbutanoic acid, 5F-MDMB-PINACA 3,3-dimethylbutanoic acid and 5F-MDMB-PICA 3,3-dimethylbutanoic acid. All three of these metabolites were studied and determined to be stable in blood at all storage conditions. Considering these results, our laboratory continued testing for synthetic cannabinoid metabolites in blood samples and found 83 positives (21%) for only a synthetic cannabinoid metabolite. A case report is presented herein where 5F-MDMB-PINACA 3,3-dimethylbutanoic acid was identified in the absence of 5F-MDMB-PINACA. Forensic toxicologists should be aware of the results of this study as they directly impact analytical consideration for test development and implementation, as well as interpretation of findings.
Two-Stage Adaptive Design for Prognostic Biomarker Signatures With a Survival Endpoint

Cancer biomarker discoveries typically involve using patient specimens. In practice, there is often strong desire to preserve high quality biospecimens for studies that are most likely to yield use...
Mass Incarceration Retards Racial Integration

President Nixon replaced President Johnson's War on Poverty with his War on Drugs in 1971. This new drug war was expanded by President Reagan and others to create mass incarceration. The United States currently has a higher percentage of its citizens incarcerated than any other industrial country. Although Blacks are only 13 percent of the population, they are 40 percent of the incarcerated. The literatures on the causes and effects of mass incarceration are largely distinct, and I combine them to show the effects of mass incarceration on racial integration. Racial prejudice produced mass incarceration, and mass incarceration now retards racial integration.
Los Angeles 2024 Bid and 2028 Opposition

Los Angeles hosted the Olympics twice before and the bid for the 2024 summer games appeared to be business as usual for the city’s leaders. The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision in 2017 to award games to Paris in 2024 and LA in 2028, however, transformed the usual bid process into an extended period of preparation for the games. Shortly before the IOC’s decision was announced, opposition to hosting the games emerged in the form of a local group of activists calling itself NOlympics LA. While the IOC’s decision short-circuited opposition to a 2028 bid, this group recognized the value of starting a conversation about the future of the city and region in the ten-year run up to 2028. Building on the work of other Olympic opposition groups, NOlympics LA has developed extensive ties to local grassroots organizations and anti-Olympics opposition groups in other Olympic cities as it raises fundamental questions about urban life and the Olympics.
Bacillus velezensis AP183 Inhibits Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation and Proliferation in Murine and Bovine Disease Models

The increasing frequency of S. aureus antimicrobial resistance has spurred interest in identifying alternative therapeutants. We investigated the S. aureus-inhibitory capacity of B. velezensis strains in mouse and bovine models. Among multiple B. velezensis strains that inhibited S. aureus growth in vitro, B. velezensis AP183 provided the most potent inhibition of S. aureus proliferation and bioluminescence in a mouse cutaneous wound (P = 0.02). Histology revealed abundant Gram-positive cocci in control wounds that were reduced in B. velezensis AP183-treated tissues. Experiments were then conducted to evaluate the ability of B. velezensis AP183 to prevent S. aureus biofilm formation on a tracheostomy tube substrate. B. velezensis AP183 could form a biofilm on a tracheostomy tube inner cannula substrate, and that this biofilm was antagonistic to S. aureus colonization. B. velezensis AP183 was also observed to inhibit the growth of S. aureus isolates originated from bovine mastitis cases. To evaluate the inflammatory response of mammary tissue to intramammary inoculation with B. velezensis AP183, we used high dose and low dose inocula in dairy cows. At the high dose, a significant increase in somatic cell count (SCC) and clinical mastitis was observed at all post-inoculation time points (P < 0.01), which resolved quickly compared to S. aureus-induced mastitis; in contrast, the lower dose of B. velezensis AP183 resulted in a slight increase of SCC and no clinical mastitis. In a subsequent experiment, all mammary quarters in four cows were induced to have grade 1 clinical mastitis by intramammary inoculation of a S. aureus mastitis isolate; following mastitis induction, eight quarters were treated with B. velezensis AP183 and milk samples were collected from pretreatment and post-treatment samples for 9 days. In groups treated with B. velezensis AP183, SCC and abundance of S. aureus decreased with significant reductions in S. aureus after 3 days post-inoculation with AP183 (P = 0.04). A milk microbiome analysis revealed significant reductions in S. aureus relative abundance in the AP183-treated group by 8 days post-inoculation (P = 0.02). These data indicate that B. velezensis AP183 can inhibit S. aureus biofilm formation and its proliferation in murine and bovine disease models.