cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 4939: MicroRNA-375 regulates tumor invasion and metastasis phenotypes and is associated with poor outcome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a highly invasive cancer, with a five-year survival rate of around 50%. Our goal is to improve patient outcome through understanding the mechanisms determining HNSCC invasiveness. Our research group identified miR-375 as the most consistently down-regulated miRNA in tumor samples when compared to paired normal samples. Patients in the lowest quartile of miR-375 expression had significantly decreased disease-specific survival, increase incidence of loco-regional recurrence and distant metastasis. The highly significant association of lower miR-375 expression in patients with poor prognosis and distant metastasis led us to investigate the mechanism by which miR-375 expression causes alterations to the invasive properties of HNSCC. Stable transductant cell lines with increased expression of miR-375 have been generated from two oral cavity cell lines, UMSCC1 and UMSCC47, utilizing lentiviral constructs driving expression of the miR-375 precursor. We have not seen a significant change in proliferation rate for either of the miR-375 expressing lines compared to the empty vector control expressing lines. We have observed diminished invasion properties in vitro correlates with increased miR-375 expression. We have also identified that miR-375 expression in HNSCC result in impaired chemotactic migration properties and suppressed matrix degradation properties. To identify proteins regulated by miR-375, we are utilizing stable isotope labeling of cells in cell culture (SILAC) to identify candidate miRNA target proteins to identify differentially expressed proteins in control and miR-375 over-expressing lines. Candidate target proteins will be validated as targets of miR-375 and tested for involvement in the diminished invasive properties of HNSCC as a result of miR-375 expression. In conclusion, miR-375 represents a potential prognostic marker of poor outcome and metastasis in HNSCC and may function by suppressing the expression of genes and proteins which are involved in the invasive properties of HNSCC. Citation Format: Lizandra Jimenez, Thomas Harris, Nicole Kawachi, Thomas Belbin, Nicolas Schlecht, Jihyeon Lim, Ruth Angeletti, Michael B. Prystowsky, Geoffrey Childs, Jeffrey Segall. MicroRNA-375 regulates tumor invasion and metastasis phenotypes and is associated with poor outcome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4939. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4939
Notes on the genusLinum in Madagascar

Linum emirnense Bojer subsp.marojejyense Humb. is elevated to a species and the heterostylous condition thought to exist inL. emirnense is determined to be an artifact resulting from a fungal infection of the fruit.
Whatever happened to SRY

The mammalian sex-determining gene, SRY, was identified by positional cloning approximately 10 years ago. Since its discovery, intense research into this gene has been directed on two main fronts: elucidation of its function in development of the testis and examination of its singular evolutionary history. The role or SRY as the testis-determining factor (TDF) places it at a crucial point in the highly conserved morphogenetic process of vertebrate gonadogenesis. None of the genes that directly activate SRY nor any of its immediate downstream targets have yet been positively identified. Several genes, however, such as SF1, DAX1, and SOX9, whose spatial and temporal expression profiles overlap with that of SRY, are strongly implicated as co-regulators of gonadogenesis. Molecular genetic manipulation of these genes in mice has shown that they are indispensable to sexual development. Remarkably, its key position in this cascade of gene action has not protected SRY from strong yet poorly understood selective forces that have caused it to evolve rapidly in mammals. The evolution of SRY has been characterized not only by rapid sequence divergence within mammals, but also by structural changes such as intron insertion, gene amplification, and deletion.
Non-Standard Fickian Self-Diffusion of Isotopically Pure Boron Observed by Neutron Reflectometry and Depth Profiling

Neutron reflectometry (NR) studies1 of thin films of amorphous 11B/l0B on silicon indicate that a non-standard form of Fickian diffusion occurs across the boron interface upon annealing. In order to verify this observation, the samples were examined by neutron depth profiling (NDP). Comparison of the results from models of a step function, standard Fickian diffusion and Fickian diffusion with a fixed composition at the interface were made and compared to the previous NR results. The diffusion constant resulting from the non-standard Fickian model for the NDP data differs slightly from that obtained from the commonly used Fickian diffusion model and is not inconsistent with the NR results. This finding suggests that more information regarding diffusion at interfaces can be gained from these higher resolution neutron scattering techniques.
Radiographic features of pulmonary embolism: Hampton's hump

Multidetector CT angiography is now the reference standard for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE).1 However, recognising the radiographic changes associated with PE remains important, as the imaging available early in the diagnostic process is still likely to be a plain film radiograph of the chest. We describe a case in which one of the radiographic signs of PE prompted a CT angiogram even though PE was not initially considered a strong differential consideration. A patient presented to the emergency room with a 4-day history of right-sided pleuritic chest pain and shortness …
Supporting Critical Civic Learning with Interactive Technology

Many educators desire to see technology as a panacea for inequity in education. In this chapter, I argue that technology can, for now, best serve civic research by providing new lines of communication and capture moments of democratic teaching and learning in action. Through the Brooklyn Public Scholars project, I sought to undertake a six-semester curriculum design process with students to focus on three generative themes in the humanities: difference, democratic thinking, and community. These efforts to bring a humanities perspective to democratic decision-making encouraged me to expand my civic education aspirations to explicitly include my own research into the course curriculum. However, Hurricane Sandy brought to the fore levels of resistance to using digital technology as well as opportunities to make technology adaptable to student needs. Because some students exhibited disruptive and self-defeating behaviors in our online learning environments a creative use of technology supplemented the work we were doing in the college to solve modern challenges in and out of the classroom. This chapter explores how technology integration in meaningful civic education is a must, not an add-on, and argues that we have to provide learners with the digital tools necessary to collaborate globally on pressing modern challenges requiring innovative solutions.
337 Pulmonary Agenesis, MICROPHTHALMIA, DIAPHRAGMATIC DEFECT ASSOCIATION.

A healthy 25-year-old woman was found at 22 weeks9 gestation to have a fetus with diaphragmatic hernia. In addition, the orbits were closely set and the ocular diameter of 7-8 mm was
Analysis on results of behavior surveillance and serum examination among female sex workers in entertainment establishments

Objective: To monitor the current situation and trend of behavior changes related to AIDS among female sex workers(FSWs) in entertainment establishments after finishing of complementing of 100% condom use program(100%CUP),to provide information and basis for the formulation of HIV/AIDS intervention strategies and assessment of its effects.Methods: Information of the Knowledge,Attitude and Behavior among FSWs in entertainment establishments were collected by qualitative and quantitative analysis;samples were tested for HIV and syphilis;a repeated cross-investigation was carried out in the years of 2004 and 2005.Results: The reported condom use rates among FSWs who had sex with clients at last were 91.8% in 2004 and 97.6% in 2005 respectively.The levels of understanding about STD/AIDS knowledge and cognition on behavior increased rapidly.The rates of syphilis prevalence were 3.0% in 2004 and 1.0% in 2005 respectively.Conclusion: The 100%CUP has achieved remarkable effect in the pilot site;it is necessary to conduct the campaign of health education and behavior intervention among FSWs in entertainment establishments after finishing the pilot program.
Does Changing the Volume Matter? The Relationship of Urine Volume and Dialysis Intensity

Despite many recent studies focused on novel biomarkers, urine volume remains one of the most important factors associated with renal prognosis. In patients with ESRD on either peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis, urine output is often considered a marker of residual renal function, and preservation
Overview of Private Equity

Private equity can be broadly defined to include leveraged buyout, growth capital, mezzanine capital, and venture capital. Although private equity can be considered to include all four of these investment activities, it is common for private equity to be the principal descriptor for leveraged buyout (LBO) activity. Venture capital, growth capital, and mezzanine capital are each considered a separate investment strategy, although some large private equity firms participate in all four investment areas. This chapter principally focuses on LBO activities of private equity firms. Investment firms that engage in LBO activity are called private equity firms. These firms are also called buyout firms or financial sponsors. The term financial sponsor comes from the role a private equity firm has as the “sponsor,” or provider, of the equity component in an LBO, as well as the orchestrator of all aspects of the LBO transaction, including negotiating the purchase price and, with investment banker assistance, securing debt financing to complete the purchase. A private equity portfolio company has a capital structure that, historically, included up to 70% debt. This debt includes collateralized bank borrowing through revolving credit facilities and term loans, mezzanine debt, high-yield bonds sold in the public capital markets, and subordinated notes placed principally with banks and institutional investors. The amount of debt that is included in capital structures increased through mid-2007 and then decreased as the market's tolerance for leverage diminished during the credit crisis that started at that time.
Rapid, Large-Area Synthesis of Hierarchical Nanoporous Silica Hybrid Films on Flexible Substrates

We report a simple strategy for the creation of large-area nanoporous hybrid films of silica, carbon, and gold on polyethylene terephthalate via photothermal processing. This method enables the selective heating of light-absorbing thin films on low-temperature substrates using sub-millisecond light pulses generated by a xenon flash lamp. The film contains gold nanoparticles as the nanoheaters to convert light energy to heat, a sacrificial block copolymer surfactant to generate mesopores, and cross-linked polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane as the silica source to form the skeleton of the porous structure. Hierarchical porous structures are achieved in the films after photothermal treatment, with uniform mesopores (44–48 nm) on the surface and interconnected macropores (>50 nm) underneath resulting from a foaming effect during release of gaseous decomposition products. The loading of gold nanoparticles is up to 43 wt % in the product, with less than 2 wt % organic residue. This rapid and large-area proces...
Outcome Prediction Rule for Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

A prognostic model for term infants with postasphyxial hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) based on clinical and laboratory predictors available at age 4 hours was developed at Mount Sinai Hospital and Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario.
Toward a Temporal—Spatial Model of Cumulative Life Stress

This chapter provides a conceptual framework for integrating the life-course research paradigm (Elder, George, & Shanahan, 1996) with the study of late-life stress effects. We discuss and integrate a series of studies, conducted by the authors and associates, that consider diverse ways in which lifelong Stressors and trauma may impact on psychological well-being in later life and on adaptation to old age. The conceptual framework we propose recognizes both temporal and spatial dimensions of Stressors and of their impact on late-life well-being. We also explore temporal and spatial dimensions of resistance resources and of stress impact as we propose a life-course-relevant stress paradigm.
Hippocampal Volumes Predict Risk of Dementia With Lewy Bodies in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Objective: To predict the risk of probable dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) competing with Alzheimer disease (AD) dementia by hippocampal volume (HV) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with impairments in amnestic or nonamnestic cognitive domains. Methods: Patients with MCI (n = 160) from the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer9s Disease Research Center, who participated in an MRI study at baseline from 2005 to 2014, were followed with approximately annual clinical evaluations. HVs were analyzed from 3T MRIs using FreeSurfer (5.3). Hippocampal atrophy was determined from the most normal 10th percentile of the measurement distributions in a separate cohort of clinically diagnosed patients with AD dementia. The subdistribution hazard ratios for progression to probable DLB and AD dementia were estimated by taking into account the competing risks. Results: During a median (range) follow-up of 2.0 (0.7–8.1) years, 20 (13%) patients with MCI progressed to probable DLB, and 61 (38%) progressed to AD dementia. The estimated subdistribution hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for normal HV relative to hippocampal atrophy for progression to AD dementia was 0.56 (0.34–0.91; p = 0.02) after taking into account the competing risks. The estimated hazard ratio for normal HV relative to hippocampal atrophy for progression to probable DLB was 4.22 (1.42–12.6; p = 0.01) after adjusting for age and after including the MCI subtype in the model. Conclusions: Preserved hippocampal volumes are associated with increased risk of probable DLB competing with AD dementia in patients with MCI. Preservation of HV may support prodromal DLB over AD, particularly in patients with MCI with nonamnestic features.
Syntactic Versus Memory Accounts of the Sentence Comprehension Deficits of Specific Language Impairment: Looking Back, Looking Ahead.

Purpose Compared with same-age typically developing peers, school-age children with specific language impairment (SLI) exhibit significant deficits in spoken sentence comprehension. They also demon...
"Status transfer between markets: Who, Where and How"

It has been shown that status can be transferred among partners, but few studies look into status transfer between markets and its consequences. This paper studies status transfer between markets and propose a conceptual framework of status transfer strategies under different contexts. A firm with high status in its original markets is more likely to transfer status to a new market, and a firm is more likely to transfer status to a highly related market. To effectively transfer status between markets, a firm should utilize different strategies based on the its status in original market and also consider market relatedness to create meanings of new market categories. Status transfer between markets influences the perception and evaluation of audience in new markets, thus would have an impact on firm performance. Our study contributes to status-based market competition literature and diversification literature.
Directors’ Devaluation From Firm Bankruptcy: An Integrated Model

Building on the stereotyping literature and signaling theory, we examine the effects of Chapter 11 bankruptcy on directors’ professional future. We ask if the professional devaluation of directors-...
Effect of ACTH upon gastric secretion.

SummaryACTH administered intramuscularly to normal subjects in doses of 100-160 mg daily for periods of 3-4 weeks produced a marked increase in the basal gastric secretion of hydrochloric acid and pepsin associated with an equally significant rise in the urinary uropepsin excretion. In every instance these values were increased to the levels usually observed in patients with active peptic ulcer. These studies indicate that an endocrine relationship exists between the stomach and the adrenal gland and that a hormonal phase of gastric secretion may be mediated by the adrenal corticoids. The pathway by which chronic emotional and physical stress may affect the stomach by a hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-gastric pathway is discussed.
No unjamming transition in a Voronoi model of biological tissue

Vertex models are a popular approach to simulating the mechanical and dynamical properties of dense biological tissues, describing the tissue as a network of polygons. Recently a class of two-dimensional vertex models was shown to exhibit a disordered rigidity transition controlled by the preferred cellular geometry, which was subsequently echoed by experimental findings. An attractive variant of these models uses a Voronoi tessellation to describe the cells, which reduces the number of degrees of freedom as compared the original vertex model. The Voronoi model was also endowed with a non-equilibrium model of cellular motility, leading to rich, glassy behavior. This glassy behavior was suggested to be inextricably linked to an underlying jamming transition. We test this conjecture, exploring the low-effective-temperature limit of the 2D Voronoi model by studying cell trajectories from detailed dynamical simulations in combination with rigidity measurements of energy-minimized disordered cell configurations. We find that the zero-temperature limit of this model has no unjamming transition. We show that this absence of an unjamming transition is intimately linked to the marginality of the model, i.e. the fact that the constraints imposed on cell areas and perimeters precisely balance the number of degrees of freedom in the model. Our work suggests that constraint counting arguments are useful to understand rigidity in a broad class of models of dense biological tissues.
Human Aldose Reductase Expression Prevents Atherosclerosis Regression in Diabetic Mice.

Guidelines to reduce cardiovascular risk in diabetes include aggressive LDL lowering, but benefits are attenuated compared with those in patients without diabetes. Consistent with this, we have reported in mice that hyperglycemia impaired atherosclerosis regression. Aldose reductase (AR) is thought to contribute to clinical complications of diabetes by directing glucose into pathways producing inflammatory metabolites. Mice have low levels of AR, thus raising them to human levels would be a more clinically relevant model to study changes in diabetes under atherosclerosis regression conditions. Donor aortae from Western diet-fed Ldlr-/- mice were transplanted into normolipidemic wild-type, Ins2Akita (Akita+/- , insulin deficient), human AR (hAR) transgenic, or Akita+/- /hAR mice. Akita+/- mice had impaired plaque regression as measured by changes in plaque size and the contents of CD68+ cells (macrophages), lipids, and collagen. Supporting synergy between hyperglycemia and hAR were the even more pronounced changes in these parameters in Akita+/- /hAR mice, which had atherosclerosis progression in spite of normolipidemia. Plaque CD68+ cells from the Akita+/- /hAR mice had increased oxidant stress and expression of inflammation-associated genes but decreased expression of anti-inflammatory genes. In summary, hAR expression amplifies impaired atherosclerosis regression in diabetic mice, likely by interfering with the expected reduction in plaque macrophage inflammation.
Optimum Conductivity of Gels for Electric Field Homogenization in Tissue Electroporation Therapies

Electroporation is used in tissue for gene therapy, drug therapy and minimally invasive tissue ablation. For the electroporation to be successful, the electrical field that develops during the application of the pulses needs to be precisely controlled. It is desirable to generate a homogeneous electric field in the region of interest and a null electric field in the regions not to be treated. In case of irregularly shaped tissue structures, such as bulky tumors, electric field homogeneity is almost impossible to be achieved with current electrode arrangements. In the past (Bioelectrochemistry, 70:2, 551–60, 2007), we proposed the use of conductive gels, matched to the conductivity of the tissues, to overcome this limitation. Those gels can be used to fill the dead spaces between plate electrodes gripping the tissue so that the electric field distribution becomes homogeneous. Here we analyze, through finite element simulations, how relevant the conductivity mismatches are. We found that conductivity mismatching errors are surprisingly well tolerated by the technique and that it is more convenient to use gels with higher conductivity than the conductivity of tissues rather than gels with lower conductivity. A gel with a conductivity of 5 mS/cm could be a proper solution for most cases.
Regional Scale Ecological Risk Assessment : Using the Relative Risk Model

As debates over how relative risk can be used to shape landscape-scale environmental management intensify, Regional-Scale Risk Assessment demonstrates the capabilities of RRM using nine case studies in the Pacific Northwest, Pennsylvania, Brazil, and Tasmania. The authors use a process of ranking and filters to interrelate different kinds of risks and illustrates how these relative risks are defined, mapped, and analyzed to determine remediation and management priorities. This book provides detailed descriptions for each step of RRM-from the determination of assessment goals to documentation, evaluation, and communication with decision-makers-that can benefit practitioners in environmental risk assessment and related fields worldwide.
TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS | PU.1

The PU.1/Spi-1 transcription factor is critical for hematopoiesis and functions as a master regulator of myeloid differentiation. PU.1 stimulates expression of myeloid growth factor receptors in myeloid progenitors and is a critical determinant of terminal differentiation of alveolar macrophages in which it stimulates surfactant catabolism and a variety of myeloid innate immune functions. PU.1 expression is under tight regulatory control during myeloid differentiation. Alveolar macrophage precursors are stimulated to terminally differentiate by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in the lung, which acts locally to stimulate high PU.1 levels in macrophages. Absence of GM-CSF signaling in mice due to targeted disruption of the GM-CSF gene impairs surfactant catabolism by alveolar macrophages resulting in a lung disease histologically identical to the human disease idiopathic pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. This disorder in humans is specifically associated with neutralizing autoantibodies against GM-CSF that completely neutralize GM-CSF bioactivity and reduce PU.1 expression in alveolar macrophages. Mutations in PU.1 are also associated with development of acute myelogenous leukemia. Mutations in the PU.1 binding sites of PU.1-stimulated genes are also associated with disease, for example, NADPH oxidase subunit gene mutations in chronic granulomatous disease. PU.1 has a critical role in blood and lung function in health and disease.
Exploring the relationship between welfare participation in childhood and depression in adulthood in the United States

Abstract Objective Depression is a serious mental health disorder, and untangling its causal agents is a major public health priority in the United States. This study examines the relationship between participating in welfare programs during childhood and experiencing depression during young adulthood. Method This study used wave I and IV data from the Add Health (N = 15,701). Multiple imputation is used to deal with missing data. Propensity score matching is used to reduce the selection bias, and then multiple regressions were used to examine the welfare participation and depression relationships. Results Overall, young adults from welfare-recipient families reported significantly higher depression scores, rather than the clinical diagnosis of depression. Subgroup analyses showed only the poor group had significantly higher depression scores, whereas only the near-poor group had a significantly diagnosed depression outcome. Additionally, significantly higher depression scores were found for female youth from welfare-recipient families. However, no significant differences were found between the gender groups regarding diagnosed depression. Discussion Using welfare participation as an economic marker, the subgroup analyses help to identify target populations for future intervention. Implications of this study will be of interest to policy makers and have value for informing policy decisions.
Effect of time between diagnosis and surgery in colorectal cancer patients on mortality.

708Background: Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed in the United States and accounts for > 50,000 deaths nationwide annually. With data showing that oncologic treatment at ...
Contingency tracking during unsignaled delayed reinforcement: Effects of delay duration and d-amphetamine.

In two experiments, the role of the response-reinforcer relation in maintaining low-rate responding under unsignaled delay conditions was investigated. In both experiments pecking by pigeons on one response key, denoted the relevant key, was reinforced under an unsignaled delay-of-reinforcement procedure (defined as tandem variable-interval (VI) differential-reinforcement-of-other behavior [DRO] schedule). Responding on a second key, denoted the irrelevant key, had no programmed consequences. Between sessions, the location of the relevant key varied (after one, two, or three sessions) pseudorandomly. In Experiment 1, the delay (DRO) duration was manipulated parametrically. Overall, proportional relevant-key response rates (relevant-key response rates / [relevant-key response rates + irrelevant key response rates]) increased across 3-session sequences in which the relevant key remained in the same location and decreased as the DRO duration was changed systematically (2, 5, and 10 s). In Experiment 2, acute administration of d-amphetamine increased proportional relevant-key response rates during 1-day sequences for only the DRO 5-s duration, and results over 3-day sequences, once a discrimination had already been established, were inconsistent. Results support that the response-reinforcer relation is the primary determinant of responding, and such discriminations are relatively resistant to disruption or potentiation by behaviorally active doses of d-amphetamine.
Defence without deterrence: India’s strategy in the 1965 war

Why does combat success sometimes fail to produce a stable and durable post-war settlement? In the 1965 war, India successfully defended against a Pakistani invasion, but did not improve the long-t...
Fibrotic Lung Disease at CT Predicts Adverse Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

In an elderly population that underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement, finding of any fibrotic lung disease at preprocedural CT was an independent predictor of subsequent adverse events (c...
Tsunami Loads on a Representative Coastal Bridge Deck: Experimental Study and Validation of Design Equations

Abstract Fluid impact forces on a bridge superstructure in the horizontal and vertical directions due to tsunami inundation, represented by a solitary wave, were investigated through a large-scale ...
Learning individual preferences from aggregate data: A genetic algorithm for discovering baskets of television shows with affinities to political and social interests

Abstract This paper presents a flexible general-purpose framework using genetic and multi-objective evolutionary algorithms that can leverage “unlabeled” (and anonymized) panel data on television viewership along with aggregate-level vote or public opinions statistics to (i) identify sets of programs that have affinities with politics and social issues, and (ii) estimate individual preferences from unlabeled data. The applications of this framework are significant given the wide interest in using big data for political advertising and building election forecasting models with non-polling data. Analyzing viewership spanning over seven billion minutes from Nielsen’s TV panel for an entire year (2016), we illustrate how this framework can learn interesting baskets of programs whose viewership can help estimate individual attitudes toward politics, global warming, same-sex marriage, and abortion.
Effects of zinc status on age-related T cell dysfunction and chronic inflammation.

Age-related T cell dysfunction contributes to immunosenescence and chronic inflammation. Aging is also associated with a progressive decline in zinc status. Zinc is an essential micronutrient critical for immune function. A significant portion of the older populations are at risk for marginal zinc deficiency. The combined impact of dietary zinc deficiency and age on immune dysfunction has not been well explored despite the common occurrence together in the elderly population. We hypothesize that age-related zinc loss contributes to T cell dysfunction and chronic inflammation in the elderly and is exacerbated by inadequate dietary intake and improved with zinc supplementation. Using an aging mouse model, the effects of marginal zinc deficiency and zinc supplementation on Th1/Th17/proinflammatory cytokine profiles and CD4+ T cell naive/memory phenotypes were examined. In the first study, young (2 months) and old (24 months) C57BL/6 mice were fed a zinc adequate (ZA) or marginally zinc deficient (MZD) diets for 6 weeks. In the second study, mice were fed a ZA or zinc supplemented (ZS) diet for 6 weeks. MZD old mice had significant increase in LPS-induced IL6 compared to ZA old mice. In contrast, ZS old mice had significantly reduced plasma MCP1 levels, reduced T cell activation-induced IFNγ, IL17, and TNFα response, as well as increased naive CD4+ T-cell subset compared to ZA old mice. Our data suggest that zinc deficiency is an important contributing factor in immune aging, and improving zinc status can in part reverse immune dysfunction and reduce chronic inflammation associated with aging.
Thermotherapy Effects on Healthy and Type 2 Diabetes Human Skeletal Muscle Myoblast Cell Lines.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated blood glucose levels with associated disordered carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) specifically has been shown to cause a decrease in skeletal muscle mass due to oxidative stress. This study investigated a treatment option for T2D through thermotherapy on healthy (HSMM) and T2D (D-HSMM) human skeletal muscle cells. The goals were to determine the effects of thermotherapy, long-term (chronic) and short-term (acute), on HSMM and D-HSMM cell viabilities and oxidative stress. HSMM and D-HSMM cells were grown to confluency, harvested, and counted to determine density. Acute and chronic heat treatments were applied to both cell lines. The chronic treatment consisted of a 30-minute exposure to 40°C, three times a week for three weeks; the acute treatment was a one-time exposure. Oxidative stress assays and cell viabilities were tested 24 hours after heat treatments. Results indicated no significant effect on the cell viability of HSMM and D-HSMM cells. The acute treatment had a significant increase ( ) of MDA concentration compared to the chronic treatment. The chronic treatment had a significant increase ( ) in catalase activity compared to the acute treatment. The SOD activity had no significant change ( ) between the chronic and acute treatments. In conclusion, acute thermotherapy may not be beneficial for skeletal muscle cells due to the observed increase in oxidative stress, especially in the D-HSMM cells.
Model for Service License in API Ecosystems

Rapid growth and consumption of REST APIs is generating new types of service marketplaces, which are dynamic and complex networks of providers and consumers. Existing models for software licenses and service standards, such as WDSL fall short of providing flexible frameworks for capturing the requirements that this newly created environment demands. Gaps exist in support for multi-pricing agreements across multiple providers and consumers, support for both usage and capacity events and automated generation and composition of licenses. Developers are accustomed to self-serve model, where they create and deploy new applications on the Cloud with a few mouse clicks, employing one or more available APIs. As a result, there is a need to be able to automatically assess existing licenses, compose new ones and understand their dependencies in order to shorten the time-to-value for new services. In this paper, we propose a model-driven approach for defining API service licenses, which provides capabilities to capture business and legal constraints, enable license metric calculation, QoS calculation and service pricing rules. We present API SLA analyzer system, which utilizes proposed license model to uncover SLA violations in real-time.
Indexes in award-winning cookbooks

Article discussing indexes in award-winning cookbooks and whether the quality of a cookbook is reflected in the quality of its index.
Negotiating the Transition to Junior High School

Summary Investigated are the contributions of seventh graders' coping strategies and their perceptions of the school environment to predicting changes in their adaptation during the transition to junior high school. The students completed measures three weeks into the new school year and again three months later. Resource variables included students' use of approach and avoidance coping strategies in response to a specific transition-related Stressor, and their perceptions of their new school environment. Criterion variables included students' ratings of how effectively they coped with the specific Stressor, and their general adaptation to the transition. Zero-order and cross-lag correlations generally showed that the use of approach coping strategies and favorable perceptions of the school environment were associated with higher levels of perceived coping effectiveness and general adaptation to junior high school, while the use of avoidance coping strategies was associated with lower levels of perceived ...
AC-DC converter using second-harmonic-injected PWM

The paper describes the operation of an AC-DC power converter in which the harmonic distortion in the input current is reduced using a second harmonic-injected PWM scheme. The boost power converter uses a constant switching discontinuous current mode. Expressions for the harmonic components are derived. Simulated and experimental waveforms of an AC-DC power converter are presented and the total harmonic distortion computed. >
Production modeling with PRISIM

This paper describes a software modeling facility that has been developed to provide a powerful and general capability in the production systems simulation area. Based upon the Gasp simulation language, this facility enables one to independently define the five major facets of a production system simulator: workload, workflow, factory operations, factory network configuration, and resource requirements. This simulator is being used to investigate production anomolies, to approximate resource requirements, and to assess production capabilities under varying environmental scenarios. It has proved to be a flexible, valuable tool for the simulation of job-shop activities for factory network configurations using man and machine resources.
Massive blood transfusion

Pediatricians in the hospital setting must frequently treat children who require massive transfusion (MT) in a variety of clinical situations ranging from major trauma to neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. After identifying the need for massive transfusion, the pediatrician must select the appropriate blood components. Different blood components have specific temperature, preservative, and time requirements for their storage. Changes, termed storage lesions, occur over time in blood components during storage; biochemical changes include decreased levels of 2,3-DPG, a decrease in pH, and an increase in supernatant potassium (K+) with a concurrent decrease in intracellular K+. These changes may affect the function and the viability of components. Additionally, physical changes such as deformation of the red cell membrane occur during storage. Knowledge of these storage lesions is necessary for the pediatrician to make the most appropriate decisions regarding the preparation and selection of components during MT. Serious complications of MT include hemostatic abnormalities, biochemical/ metabolic abnormalities, hypothermia, mechanical injury and the effect of Rh incompatibility, each of which has a specific management response. Pediatricians need to be aware of the potential complications associated with massive transfusion, to take measures to prevent them when possible, to anticipate additional transfusion requirements, and to know how to manage them in the pediatric patient.
Epithelial abnormalties of the cervix during pregnancy

Abstract The details of 5 additional cases of preinvasive carcinoma of the cervix followed through pregnancy and the puerperium are presented. Four of the 5 persisted after the termination of pregnancy, being found in the biopsies and/or operative specimens. These cases added to the 14 previously reported (of which 12 persisted) make a total of 19 lesions of which 16, or 84.2 per cent, persisted. It is concluded, therefore, that, regardless of nomenclature, these abnormalities are not pregnancy changes.
On the nature of the oxidation-reduction properties of nitrite reductase from Desulfovibriodesulfuricans

Abstract Nitrite reductase as isolated from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans shows a complex set of rhombically distorted high-spin ferric heme and low-spin ferric heme resonances at 11oK. These resonances disappear (due to reduction to the diamagnetic ferrous state) on enzymatic reduction with hydrogen, hydrogenase from D. vulgaris and FAD as redox mediator. The addition of nitrite to the reduced enzyme results in reoxidation of nitrite reductase as evidenced by the reappearance of most of the initial signal intensities of high-spin and low-spin ferric heme resonances. Simultaneously an intense and unusual broadened signal appears in the g=2 region, suggesting the formation of a novel heme-nitric oxide signal with the main g-value at 2.08. Confirmation of this heme-nitric oxide complex was demonstrated by reoxidation of reduced enzyme with 15 NO 2 −1 instead of 14 NO 2 −1 resulting in a decrease from three to two of the hyperfine interaction pattern of nitrogen. Thus nitrite reduction to ammonia by nitrite reductase occurs via a heme-nitric oxide intermediate as reported with spinach nitrite reductase.
Chemical equilibration of $\pi$, $\rho$ and $\omega$ mesons in ultra--relativistic nuclear collisions

I estimate the degree of local chemical equilibration for $\pi$, $\rho$ and $\omega$ mesons in ultra--relativistic nuclear collisions. The $\pi$ and $\rho$ mesons remain near chemical equilibrium in all cases, while the $\omega$ meson density is typically 30--50\% higher than the equilibrium value for O+Ag collisions at $\sqrt{s}=20$ GeV. If chemical reactions are turned off, the $\omega$ meson density is much larger, 2.5--3 times its equilibrium value. Thus, $\omega$ mesons may provide the most sensitive tests for the degree of chemical equilibration in nuclear collisions.
Electromechanical properties of Rainbow devices

A stress-biased, domed, electromechanical bender called a Rainbow was recently developed. Displacement characteristics for Rainbow devices based on piezoelectric PLZT compositions were studied in the frequency range far below the fundamental resonant mode frequency. Experimentally obtained field-induced displacements were compared with those predicted by a finite element model. The model underestimated the observed displacements. Low frequency relaxation of the displacements was observed experimentally.
Online Games Development and Production

This entry explores research surrounding the work or craft of game development and the set of practices that falls under the broader term “production.” The entry explores the variety of research projects occurring in this space. It considers work from a range of game production spaces, from hobbyist to independent to established “AAA” (“Triple A”) game developers. Also considered is the rising role that users play in shaping game development practice. Game development is a complex and widely ranging set of practices through which large and small teams work together to produce what users experience as a video game. Keywords: craft; process; tools; video games; work
In-depth modeling, analysis and design of balanced active microwave frequency doublers

In-depth modeling, analysis and design of a new balanced active microwave frequency doubler is presented. The effects of terminations, phase and gain imbalance on recombination are determined through extensive computer modeling. An actual physical model of the relatively low-cost MMIC BJT nonlinear element is employed to simulate the antiseries balanced doubler. The balanced frequency doubler realized, utilizing the approach presented, exhibits harmonic conversion gain and good fundamental rejection over a significant frequency band. >
State-to-state predissociation dynamics of CN-Ne

Electronic spectra and predissociation dynamics for the CN-Ne van der Waals complex are reported. From an analysis of the bands associated with the CN B-X transition, we conclude that the equilibrium geometry of the complex is `T'-shaped in the ground state, and linear in the excited state. Electronic and vibrational predissociation of CN(B)-Ne was found to be too slow to compete with radiative decay. Excitation spectra for the CN-Ne A-X transition were strongly influenced by predissociation processes. Two channels were characterized for CN(A2$PRD, v equals 3)-Ne. One was spin-orbit induced (CN(A2$PRD1/2, v equals 3)-Ne yields CN(A2$PRD3/2, v equals 3) + Ne), and the other mediated by interstate transfer (CN(A2$PRD3/2, v equals 3)-Ne yields CN(X, 2(Sigma) +, v equals 7) + Ne). The former was approximately 104 times faster than the latter. Symmetry based propensities were evident in the rotational population distributions of the CN fragments.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Substrate specificity in the biocleavage of the O-alkyl bond: 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (a hypotensive and platelet-activating lipid) and its metabolites

Abstract 1-Alkyl-2-acetyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphocholine possesses both hypotensive and platelet-activating properties. Our data show that after removal of the acetyl group at the sn -2 position by an acetyl hydrolase, the product, 1-alkyl-2-lyso- sn -glycero-3-phosphocholine, can be cleaved by a microsomal tetrahydropteridine-dependent alkyl monooxygenase in the liver and spleen of rats. Results obtained for the tetrahydropteridine requirement, tissue distribution, responses to thermal inactivation and catalase, and substrate inhibition of the enzyme indicate that the ether linkage of 1-alkyl-2-lyso- sn -glycero-3-phosphocholine is hydrolyzed by a monooxygenase that appears to be identical to the one responsible for cleavage of the O -alkyl moiety of alkylglycerols.
Optimal advertising pulsation policies: a dynamic programming approach

This study formulates and solves an advertising pulsation problem for a monopolistic firm using dynamic programming (DP). The firm aims at maximising profit through an optimal allocation of the advertising budget in terms of rectangular pulses over a finite planning horizon. Aggregate sales response to the advertising effort is assumed to be governed by a modified version of the Vidale–Wolfe model in continuous time proposed by Little. Using a numerical example in which a planning horizon of one year is divided into one, two through ten equal time periods, computing routines are developed to solve 150 DP problems. Computational results show among other findings that the performance yielded by the DP policy dominates the uniform advertising policy (constant spending) for a concave advertising response function and the advertising pulsing policy (turning advertising on and off) for a linear or convex response function.
Plasma Membrane Ca2+ ATPase Isoform 2b Interacts Preferentially with Na+/H+ Exchanger Regulatory Factor 2 in Apical Plasma Membranes

Abstract Spatial and temporal regulation of Ca2+ signaling require the assembly of multiprotein complexes linking molecules involved in Ca2+ influx, sensing, buffering, and extrusion. Recent evidence indicates that plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPases (PMCAs) participate in the control of local Ca2+ fluxes, but the mechanism of multiprotein complex formation of specific PMCAs is poorly understood. Using the PMCA2b COOH-terminal tail as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified the PSD-95, Dlg,ZO-1 (PDZ) domain-containing Na+/H+exchanger regulatory factor-2 (NHERF2) as an interacting partner. Protein pull-down and coimmunoprecipitation experiments using recombinant PMCA2b and PMCA4b as well as NHERF1 and NHERF2 showed that the interaction of PMCA2b with NHERF2 was specific and selective. PMCA4b did not interact with either of the NHERFs, and PMCA2b selectively preferred NHERF2 over NHERF1. Green fluorescent protein-tagged PMCA2b was expressed at the apical membrane in Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells, where it colocalized with apically targeted NHERF2. Our study identifies NHERF2 as the first specific PDZ partner for PMCA2b not shared with PMCA4b, and demonstrates that PMCA splice forms differing only minimally in their COOH-terminal residues interact with unique PDZ proteins. NHERFs have been implicated in the targeting, retention and regulation of membrane proteins including the β2-adrenergic receptor, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, and Trp4 Ca2+channel, and NHERF2 is now shown to also interact with PMCA2b. This interaction may allow the functional assembly of PMCA2b in a multiprotein Ca2+ signaling complex, facilitating integrated cross-talk between local Ca2+ influx and efflux.
Comparison of sampling and extraction techniques for fatty acids in recent sediments

Abstract Saponification of recent sediment samples was the most efficient of several procedures tested for the extraction of fatty acids. Between 32 and 65 per cent of the fatty acids in the sediments analyzed could not be released by organic solvent extraction. This fraction was released by saponification and is thought to be bound fatty acid. The precision of the analysis is an improvement over those previously reported for concentrations of fatty acids in sediments. Relative and absolute abundances of fatty acids from sediments give valid criteria for comparison of depositional environments only when uniform sampling and extraction techniques are employed.
Uranium copper dianti­monide, UCu0.44(1)Sb2 with a large Cu deficiency

UCu0.44 (1)Sb2, synthesized in the presence of an Sb flux, crystallizes in the ZrCuSi2-type structure, but with a partial occupancy of the Cu site.