cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maspin Is a Multifunctional Tumor-Suppressing Serpin

Maspin (MAmmary SerPIN) is a member of the family of SERine Protease INhibitors or serpins. It is non-inhibitory and is grouped in the ovalbumin serpin (ov-serpin) subfamily because it exhibits significant sequence similarity to chicken ovalbumin. Initially identified from human normal mammary epithelial cells, maspin was named after its source of identification (mammary epithelia). Subsequent studies by our laboratory and many colleagues concluded that maspin is not only expressed in mammary epithelial cells but also in many other tissues and cell types. Functionally, maspin was first reported to be a breast tumor-suppressing serpin. Maspin has been shown to be a potent metastasis inhibitor in breast and prostate cancers by numerous groups in the last 20 years. In addition, maspin possesses multiple functions in other cancers, vascular diseases, and physiological processes. Numerous mouse models have been developed to determine its role in normal biology and disease development. In this review, we intend to summarize some of the key findings of maspin research in the last two decades. These studies offer great potential for developing maspin-based therapeutics against cancer and other diseases. We focus discussion on maspin’s biological functions, gene regulation, and animal models of maspin research.
Diet, nutrition, and cancer: past, present and future

Despite the potentially important roles of diet and nutrition in cancer prevention, the evidence to support these roles is widely perceived by the public and health professionals as being inconsistent. In this Review, we present the issues and challenges in conducting and interpreting diet-cancer research, including those relating to the design of epidemiological studies, dietary data collection methods, and factors that affect the outcome of intervention trials. Approaches to improve effect estimates, such as the use of biomarkers to improve the accuracy of characterizing dietary exposures, are also discussed. Nutritional and dietary patterns are complex; therefore, the use of a reductionist approach to investigations, by focusing on specific nutrients, can produce misleading information. The effects of tumour heterogeneity and the failure to appreciate the nonlinear, U-shaped relationship between micronutrients and cancer in both observational studies and clinical trials are discussed. New technologies and investigational approaches are enabling the exploration of complex interactions between genetic, epigenetic, metabolic, and gut-microbial processes that will inform our knowledge of the diet-cancer relationship. Communicating the status of the evolving science in the context of the overall scientific evidence base, and evidence-based dietary recommendations for cancer prevention, should be emphasized in guidance for the public and for individual patients.
Analysis of UG Under the Environment of Sketch Typical Automotive Fixture

When the fixture designers in the design of mechanism,motion simulation after completing the establishment of 3D model using the motion module of UG tooling,simulation between itself and the movement interference fixture and auto parts interfearence,modify the 3D model of the workload,and can not guarantee the fixture after the modification of the new the problem.Therefore,analyzed the movement UG sketch based on the state of the environment on the fixture,the fixture design stage to avoid problems.
Hypoxia, alpha 2-adrenergic, and nitric oxide-dependent interactions on canine cerebral blood flow.

We tested the hypothesis that NO synthase inhibition with N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and alpha 2-adrenoreceptor stimulation with dexmedetomidine (Dex) decreases the cerebral blood flow (CBF) response to hypoxia. In isoflurane-anesthetized dogs, CBF was measured during two episodes of hypoxic hypoxia. In a control group (n = 6), CBF increased similarly from 83 +/- 4 to 210 +/- 30 ml.min-1 x 100 g-1 and from 88 +/- 7 to 205 +/- 27 (+/- SE) ml.min-1 x 100 g-1 during two hypoxic episodes. In a second group (n = 6), hypoxia increased CBF from 88 +/- 15 to 204 +/- 38 ml.min-1 x 100 g-1. Dex (10 micrograms/kg i.v.) reduced normoxic CBF to 54 +/- 8 ml.min-1 x 100 g-1, and subsequent hypoxia increased CBF to 97 +/- 14 ml.min-1 x 100 g-1. In a third group pretreated with L-NAME (40 mg/kg i.v.) 1 h before anesthesia (n = 6), normoxic CBF was less than in the control group (52 +/- 2 vs. 83 +/- 4 ml.min-1 x 100 g-1). Hypoxia increased CBF to 177 +/- 13 ml.min-1 x 100 g-1. Dex after L-NAME further decreased normoxic CBF to 37 +/- 3 ml.min-1 x 100 g-1, and subsequent hypoxia increased CBF to 106 +/- 18 ml.min-1 x 100 g-1. Dex, L-NAME, and Dex + L-NAME each reduced cerebral O2 transport (CBF x arterial O2 content) during normoxia, but the increase in CBF during hypoxia was sufficient to prevent further decreases in O2 transport. Thus the response to hypoxia remained proportional to normoxic levels of CBF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy for Depression and Psychiatric Disorders [Health Matters]

The brain may be seen as an electronic network made up of neurons and their connections. The structure of a neuron consists of both higher - conducting "passive" membranes and an "active" component of transmembrane voltage; the two are mediated by intra- and extra-cellular ion concentrations in a water milieu.
The Shoulder: Acquired Disorders

The chapter begins with an in-depth discussion of glenohumeral instability and dislocation. Proximal humeral fractures and Little Leaguer’s shoulder are described, followed by a concise discussion of glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD). Fractures of the clavicle and the scapula are then discussed in depth. A section on chondral injuries of the glenohumeral joint follows, and the chapter concludes with a short description of soft tissue injuries around the shoulder.
A 90 nm FPGA I/O buffer design with 1.6 Gbps data rate for source-synchronous system and 300 MHz clock rate for external memory interface

As FPGAs become more integrated into high-speed systems, high performance I/O with excellent signal integrity becomes more important. This paper describes how these challenges were met on an FPGA developed to support 1.6 Gbps differential source-synchronous standards and 300 MHz external memory interfaces. The I/O buffer features programmable drive strength, output impedance matching, hot-socketing compliance, and 3.3v tolerance. High-speed performance was achieved using design techniques of differential level-shifters with voltage and temperature compensated current sources, on-chip decoupling capacitors, and floating-well output buffers. In addition, DLLs and programmable phase offset circuits were used to obtain precise timing control. The chip was manufactured on a 90 nm CMOS process.
Simple and robust feedforward compensation of quadrant glitches using a compliant joint

Abstract Quadrant glitches commonly occur when rolling/sliding bearings are used in precision motion stages. Compensating them accurately using feedforward control is challenging due to the need for complex friction models, and the variability of on-machine friction dynamics. This paper shows that quadrant glitches can be accurately and robustly compensated with simple friction models by attaching the bearing to the moving table using a joint that is very compliant in the motion direction. Design of a prototype joint that achieves high compliance by combining a positive-stiffness flexure with negative-stiffness permanent magnets is presented. Large reductions in quadrant glitches are demonstrated in experiments.
Effect of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion on Emergency Department Visits: Evidence From State-Level Emergency Department Databases

Study objective We assess whether the expansion of Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) results in changes in emergency department (ED) visits or ED payer mix. We also test whether the size of the change in ED visits depends on the change in the size of the Medicaid population. Methods Using all-capture, longitudinal, state data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Fast Stats program, we implemented a difference-in-difference analysis, which compared changes in ED visits per capita and the share of ED visits by payer (Medicaid, uninsured, and private insurance) in 14 states that did and 11 states that did not expand Medicaid in 2014. Analyses controlled for state-level demographic and economic characteristics. Results We found that total ED use per 1,000 population increased by 2.5 visits more in Medicaid expansion states than in nonexpansion states after 2014 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1 to 3.9). Among the visit types that could be measured, increases in ED visits were largest for injury-related visits and for states with the largest changes in Medicaid enrollment. Compared with nonexpansion states, in expansion states the share of ED visits covered by Medicaid increased 8.8 percentage points (95% CI 5.0 to 12.6), whereas the uninsured share decreased by 5.3 percentage points (95% CI –1.7 to –8.9). Conclusion The ACA's Medicaid expansion has resulted in changes in payer mix. Contrary to other studies of the ACA's effect on ED visits, our study found that the expansion also increased use of the ED, consistent with polls of emergency physicians.
Characterizing the In-Plane Rocking Response of Masonry Walls with Unbonded Posttensioning

AbstractUnlike the use of bonded reinforcement to anchor a masonry wall to its foundation, the use of unbonded posttensioning may result in a controlled rocking response of the wall. Considering th...
Toward Theological Inclusivism: The Effects of a World Religions Course in a Mormon University

ABSTRACTInclusivist, exclusivist, and pluralist attitudes toward other religions interact in complex ways within the Mormon faith. Hence, a course on the world’s religions at LDS-sponsored Brigham Young University presents an interesting case study in this context. Through survey data and statistical analysis this article attempts to examine the effect of this course over students’ convictions in their own faith, particularly in relation to the inclusivist vs. exclusivist spectrum. Findings suggest that the sympathetic exposure to other religions in this course did not decrease students’ confessional commitment to Mormonism although it reshaped it in a more inclusivist direction. The religious make-up of students’ families and communities of upbringing is also shown to play a role in this conclusion.
On P values and effect modification.

Aim A crucial element of evidence-based healthcare is the sound understanding and use of statistics. As part of instilling sound statistical knowledge and practice, it seems useful to highlight instances of unsound statistical reasoning or practice, not merely in captious or vitriolic spirit, but rather, to use such error as a springboard for edification by giving tangibility to the concepts at hand and highlighting the importance of avoiding such error. This article aims to provide an instructive overview of two key statistical concepts: effect modification and P values. Methods and results A recent article published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology on side effects related to statin therapy offers a notable example of errors in understanding effect modification and P values, and although not so critical as to entirely invalidate the article, the errors still demand considerable scrutiny and correction. In doing so, this article serves as an instructive overview of the statistical concepts of effect modification and P values. Conclusion Judicious handling of statistics is imperative to avoid muddying their utility. This article contributes to the body of literature aiming to improve the use of statistics, which in turn will help facilitate evidence appraisal, synthesis, translation, and application.
Tuning Structure–Function Properties of π-Conjugated Superstructures by Redox-Assisted Self-Assembly

Controlling structure–function properties of hierarchical assemblies that feature stacks of π-conjugated building blocks represents an important challenge to engineer optoelectronic materials. In this regard, the development of new tools to navigate the free energy landscape of supramolecular assembly can lead to the creation of kinetically trapped superstructures equipped with emergent electronic properties. In the present contribution, we demonstrate that redox-assisted self-assembly of supramolecular polymers built from water-soluble perylene diimide enforces formation of superstructures with optoelectronic properties not manifested in parent assemblies. Leveraging on a theoretical model developed for H-aggregates in semiconducting polymers, free-exciton bandwidth has been calculated and increases by more than 30% in kinetically trapped superstructures (380 meV) when compared to initially prepared assemblies (290 meV). Electronic structure of intermediate assemblies is believed to perturb intermolecula...
Enhancement of Self-Esteem

As we earlier emphasized in describing insecurity/inadequate self-esteem, this covert and causative component for the emergence and continuation of the overt components of TAB pattern appears in the majority of cases to arise in early childhood because of insufficient display of affection and admiration from both parents. In such cases, free-floating hostility also appears before such children reach the age of 10. In most of the remaining cases, insecurity/inadequate self-esteem begins some time before or during adolescence. In these latter cases, insufficient parental affection and admiration do not appear to have triggered the onset of this emotional perturbation.
Soundscapes of Labor and Belonging: Mexican Custodians’ Radio Listening Practices at a Southern California University

This paper examines how Mexican immigrant custodians at a public California university claim space, make themselves visible, and assert their dignity through their music and sound. A Latino Cultural Citizenship framework is utilized to connect listening practices to a wider socio-cultural context. As one of the fastest growing media formats in the U.S., Spanish-language radio can be heard as both a symbol of a changing America and a contested site of cultural exchange where Latinos negotiate an audible presence. Through in-depth interviews and ethnographic data collection, respondents addressed how listening to Spanish-language radio impacted their work life and their sense of belonging in their local communities. Workers gave testimonies on navigating the “sonic color line” at work and home that policed their bodies and sounds.
Studying Professional Development as Part of the Complex Ecosystem of STEM Higher Education

Professional development in teaching is a critical component of ongoing work to improve student learning outcomes in higher education, especially STEM education. While there are many large-scale professional development programs designed to help participants change the way STEM is taught, few have thoroughly evaluated the outcomes to determine whether faculty members have adopted new techniques and transferred what they learned to their teaching practice. Importantly, without substantive assessment of long-term professional development outcomes, we are left with little evidence of program effectiveness. In this article we examine the current state of professional development evaluation in STEM higher education, propose possible study design elements to use when investigating the impact of professional development on instructors, and describe a novel longitudinal research design for the evaluation of professional development activities.
Developing Interprofessional Primary Care Teams: Alumni Evaluation of the Department of Veterans Affairs Centers of Excellence in Primary Care Education Program:

Purpose:The Centers of Excellence in Primary Care Education (CoEPCE) is an interprofessional graduate training program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In this project, we describe c...
Living with natural hazards: tropical storms, lava flows and the resilience of island residents

Abstract Our research explores the complexities of experiencing consecutive natural hazards by the residents of Puna, Hawaiʻi, who were significantly impacted by Tropical Storm Iselle and the June 27th lava flow in 2014. The district of Puna suffered heavy damage from Tropical Storm Iselle, a natural hazard of short duration, followed by the June 27th lava flow, a natural hazard of extended duration. Our study used qualitative, open-ended interviews and participant observation to examine the responses of individuals and communities in this low-income, rural area. Themes common to both Tropical Storm Iselle and the June 27th lava flow include the successful dissemination of information by trusted agencies, use of local and indigenous knowledge, and the substantial impact of these occurrences on children.
Repurposing Retired Faculty Laptops to Make Engineering More Accessible

This abstract is for a Full Paper in the category of Innovative Practice. In Electrical and Computer Engineering programs, we are increasingly seeing a digital divide between students who can study and work on assignments 24/7 from powerful laptops, and those students who are forced to rely on the college’s fixed, limited access computer labs to succeed. This paper discusses a proposal to address this problem in a low-to-no cost way at California Polytechnic State University by issuing underprivileged students laptops that have been recently retired from faculty use. The paper looks at the cost implications (and opportunities) of performing a light refurbishment on old faculty units, and provides benchmarks of retired faculty machines against newer faculty laptops across a number of common Electrical Engineering computation tasks.
Decellularized scaffolds for tissue engineering: Current status and future perspective.

Based on Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data as of December 2019, more than 113 000 patients require an organ transplantation, yet, over the course of this past year, only 36 000 patients received a transplant. This discrepancy between those that need a donor organ and those that receive one remains one of medicine's biggest challenges. Multiple solutions, both biologic and artificial, have been proposed to mitigate this difference. One of the most promising approaches to generate bioartificial organs for transplantation involves re-seeding decellularized scaffolds with appropriate cells. Decellularization involves physical, chemical, or biological methods that typically require intimate contact of various decellularization solutions with each cell. Consequently, conventional submersion decellularization has been limited to simple tissues such as heart valves. The invention of perfusion decellularization was a breakthrough that allowed the generation of tissue-engineered scaffolds from tissues with higher structural organization and entire organs. Such scaffolds are composed of a myriad of extracellular matrix (ECM) components that include collagen, elastin, proteoglycans, and glycoproteins. Together, these components allow the scaffolds to fulfill specialized functions, such as structural functions as well as biological functions including the regulation of cellular processes and extracellular molecules. These specialized functions of decellularized scaffolds can increasingly be harnessed for applications in tissue engineering.
Language and thought as control of perception

Abstract To identify the elements and relations of language, the empirical linguistics pioneered by Zellig Harris uses the fundamental methodology of Perceptual Control Theory, the Test for the Controlled Variable, in the form of substitution tests. Statistical learning demonstrates that this suffices for learning and maintaining language, and PCT can model how the brain does it. Intersubjective agreements constituting language result from collective control. Because intersubjective agreement is the basis of Scientific objectivity, linguistics can be objective in ways that other sciences cannot be. Harrisian empirical linguistics characterizes the objective information in language, and PCT shows how an embodied cognitive system associates with it subjective meanings (non-language perceptions). The alignment of stages of growth of the perceptual hierarchy with predictable regression periods in infant behavior also coincides with stages in the development of language. Each field, Harrisian empirical linguistics and PCT, has consequences for the other.
A unique molten salt reactor feature – The freeze valve system: Design, operating experience, and reliability

Abstract Reliable mechanical valves that can withstand the corrosive and high-temperature conditions in Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) have not yet been demonstrated. In their place, freeze valves (sometimes called freeze plugs) represent a unique nuclear design solution for isolating salt flow during operations. Additionally, in some cases, they are intended to perform safety-related functions. As implied by the name, operation of a freeze valve depends upon the controlled phase change of salt, and the ability of increased reactor heat from transients to induce modulation of the “valve” has frequently been equated to safety function passivity. In this article, a review of literature pertaining to freeze valve design, performance, and thermodynamic analyses is presented first. The Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) was the first MSR to implement the use of freeze valves and is the only liquid-fueled MSR with significant operating experience; yet, the success of the MSRE freeze valve to thaw on demand or remain frozen during power operation depended on two subsystems comprising power-operated sensors, mechanical valves, and other active components. Accordingly, as executed at the MSRE, the freeze valve system was not a fully passive safety feature. Performance of original Process Hazards Analysis (PHA) studies on an MSRE safety-related freeze valve design indicates failure of multiple individual active components could result in the impairment of the freeze valve function, such that the freeze valve itself is a system of components – rather than a single component. Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) based on PHA results provides estimated failure rates for two important failure modes of freeze valves. The results suggest that designers of freeze valve systems may face a trade-off between the reliability of the freeze valve to thaw on demand and the reliability of the freeze valve to remain frozen during normal reactor operations; however, a sensitivity study showed that the likelihood of a spurious thawing of the MSRE freeze valve system could have been reduced without significantly affecting the likelihood of a failure to thaw.
Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is commonly encountered in internal medicine practice. This talk aims to develop learners’ foundational approach to acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) by correlating pathophysiology with management strategies. Learners will gain an understanding of how to assess and triage ADHF patients to appropriate medical settings.
Treatment patterns and outcomes among women with brain metastases from gynecologic malignancies.

Abstract Background Brain metastasis secondary to gynecologic malignancy is rare and has no definitive management guidelines. In this descriptive study, we aimed to identify prognostic factors and treatments that may be associated with longer overall survival. Methods Patients with brain metastases from gynecologic malignancies were identified between 2004 and 2019 at two institutions. Descriptive statistics were performed using N (%) and median (interquartile range). Univariate cox proportional hazards regression was performed to evaluate the effect of different factors on overall survival. Results 32 patients presented with brain metastasis from gynecologic primaries (ovarian/fallopian tube/primary peritoneal n = 14, uterine n = 11, cervical n = 7). Median age of initial cancer diagnosis was 61 (34–79). At initial cancer diagnosis 83% of patients were Stage III/IV and underwent surgery (66%), chemotherapy (100%), and/or pelvic radiation (33%). Median time from initial cancer diagnosis to brain metastasis was 18 months. Treatment of brain metastasis with surgery and radiation compared to stereotactic radiosurgery or whole brain radiation therapy alone revealed a trend toward longer overall survival (p = 0.07). Time from initial cancer diagnosis to brain metastasis was associated with longer overall survival with each one-month increase from initial cancer diagnosis associated with a 7% reduction in risk of death (HR 0.93, 95% CI = 0.89–0.97, p = 0.01). Initial cancer treatment, stage, histology, and number of brain lesions did not affect overall survival. Conclusions Patients with brain metastasis secondary to gynecologic malignancies with the longest overall survival had the greatest lag time between initial cancer diagnosis and brain metastasis. Brain metastasis treated with surgery and radiation was associated with longer overall survival.
In Vitro Testing of a Cobot System to Assist Histotripsy Clot Ablation

Histotripsy is a noninvasive focused ultrasound therapy for bubble cloud-induced ablation of tissue, including venous thrombosis. The total targeted volume can be much larger than the focal volume, and the histotripsy source must be translated to ensure uniform exposure. Recent advances in automation have given rise to collaborative robots (cobots) that can be operated without the need for advanced training. The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of cobot-assisted histotripsy for venous clot ablation in vitro. A six-axis cobot was controlled using a custom interface in order to apply histotripsy pulses along the length of a clot under ultrasound image guidance. Passive cavitation images were formed to identify the locations of intense bubble activity in reference to the center of the clot. For all insonation locations, bubble activity was contained within the clot and within a millimeter of the target (i.e. the center of the clot). Overall, these results demonstrate cobot-aided histotripsy ablation with ultrasound image guidance is effective for ablation over extended tissue targets.
Price Discovery with Heterogeneous Sellers in Real Estate

This paper provides a theoretical framework to examine how the differences in seller motivation can potentially affect the distribution of home prices. Heterogeneous seller behavior, strategies, an...
Computed tomography and artificial intelligence

Abstract In the past 2 decades, significant advances in computed tomography (CT) hardware and software have expanded the clinical utility of CT imaging. Hardware improvements include faster gantry rotation with improved temporal resolution, improved spatial resolution, and greater coverage of the patient, enabling faster acquisition. Concurrently, there have been applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in all aspects of CT imaging—acquisition, reconstruction, analysis, and measurement of novel image features—which may further improve the value and reduce cost. Chapter 9 summarizes the recent advances in AI applied to several key aspects of CT imaging, interpretation, and analysis.
Associations of subjective and objective stress responses with interpersonal trauma, PTSD, stress-induced drinking, and drinking to cope in young adults.

Objective To understand how interpersonal trauma (IPT), stress response, and drinking to cope converge to predict stress-induced drinking, a risk factor for alcohol use disorder. Method Young adults with no substance use disorder were classified into three trauma history groups: (a) IPT with PTSD (n = 27), (b) IPT without PTSD (n = 35), and (c) Control (no trauma-history/no PTSD; n = 36). Participants completed a baseline assessment, including a structured clinical interview, to confirm PTSD diagnosis, followed by the Trier Social Stressor Task (TSST) and an alcohol use task. Subjective units of distress and blood serum cortisol were collected at standardized timepoints throughout the tasks. Results In all three groups (PTSD, IPT, control), males consumed more alcohol in the lab than females. Participants in the PTSD group had significantly higher drinking to cope motives, which were associated with greater subjective reactivity; however, neither drinking to cope motives nor subjective reactivity to the TSST predicted post-stressor alcohol consumption for those with PTSD. Conclusions The interplay among trauma history, stress, and drinking among young adults is nuanced; additional lab-based studies are needed to further clarify the nuanced connection between trauma history, acute stress reactions, and alcohol use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Brave new home: Our future in smarter, simpler, happier housing, by Diana Lind: New York, Bold Type Books, 2020

We have been through so much in recent times. The subprime mortgage crisis turned many homeowners into renters. The Great Recession stunted the economic mobility of an entire generation, cramped th...
TCAD-Augmented Machine Learning With and Without Domain Expertise

In this article, using experimental data, we demonstrate that the technology computer-aided design (TCAD) is a very cost-effective tool to generate the data to build machine learning (ML) models for semiconductor device and process characterization. Characterization of the emerging ultra wide bandgap gallium oxide (Ga2O3) Schottky barrier diode (SBD) is used as an example. Machines are trained by using only TCAD ${I}$ – ${V}$ ’s and then used to deduce the effective Schottky metal work function (WF) and ambient temperature ( ${T}$ ) of an experimental SBD based on its ${I}$ – ${V}$ . Besides noise, the experimental device also suffers from relatively large variations in drift layer thickness and doping concentrations. Both ML models with domain expertise (WDE) and without domain expertise (WoDE) are studied and compared. The ML model WDE requires the use of device knowledge to extract relevant features (e.g., subthreshold slope and turn-on voltage) for ML. The ML model WoDE obviates such a requirement and can be extended to cases where domain expertise is difficult to apply. Denois- ing autoencoder is used in the WoDE case. We showed that with only 500 TCAD ${I}$ – ${V}$ ’s, we can train machines WDE and WoDE that can deduce the experimental device WF and ${T}$ reasonably well. In particular, the ML model WoDE has an acceptable prediction accuracy despite the noise and additional variations in the experimental device.
MR SIGnature MAtching (MRSIGMA) with retrospective self-evaluation for real-time volumetric motion imaging

MRSIGMA is a promising real-time volumetric imaging for MRI-guided adaptive radiotherapy using a MR-Linac system. However, the lack of a real-time 3D reference image acquired with similar temporal resolution introduces significant challenges for in vivo validation. This work proposes a retrospective self-validation for MRSIGMA, where the same data used for real-time imaging are used to create a non-real-time reference. MRSIGMA with self-validation is tested in patients with liver tumors using quantitative metrics defined on the tumor and nearby organs-at-risk structures. MRSIGMA with self-validation was able to quantitatively evaluate the real-time motion tracking performance of MRSIGMA. The self-validation quantitative parameter can be used as a confidence parameter in each real-time motion-tracking study.
Impact of technology-based interventions on linking potential kidney donors and transplant candidates: a scoping review.

Background Despite the demonstrated survival advantage in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients of a preemptive living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT), there has been a decline in LDKT among African-American and Hispanic populations. Methods We performed a scoping review and summarized the evidence about the use of technology-based interventions (TBI) to not only increase knowledge and awareness of LDKT but to also link living donors with transplant candidates. Results We evaluated 31 studies and characterized them into "transplant-candidate facing" TBI, "transplant donor facing" TBI and "interactive websites" targeting both donors and candidates. For the patient-facing interventions, 60% of studies suggested an increased likelihood of linking possible donors and candidates. The donor-facing interventions showed an increase in donor awareness and 75% of these interventions suggested increasing donor- candidate linkage. Conclusions This study also demonstrates that TBI (regardless of medium) that are accessible and customized to the specific target population can potentially increase linkage of donors to recipients and serve as effective guides to connect potential donors to transplant candidates.
Iron Mobilization from Crocidolite Results in Enhanced Iron-Catalyzed Oxygen Consumption and Hydroxyl Radical Generation in the Presence of Cysteine

The reactivity of iron on crocidolite with O2 in the presence of cysteine was determined and compared with that of iron mobilized from crocidolite by citrate, EDTA, or nitrilotriacetate (NTA). Suspension of crocidolite in 50 mM NaC1, pH 7.5, in the absence of a reducing agent, did not result in a measurable amount of O2 consumption or OH˙ generation. Addition of cysteine in the absence of other iron chelators increased crocidolite-dependent O2 consumption. Therefore, iron on crocidolite had limited redox activity in the presence of cysteine. However, when iron was mobilized from crocidolite it had increased redox activity. Citrate, EDTA, or NTA (1 mM) mobilized 75, 44, or 31 µM iron, respectively, in preincubations up to 76 h, and increased O2 consumption upon addition of cysteine to 3.1, 2.1 or 1.1 nmol O2 consumed/mg/min, respectively. Using ESR spectroscopy with the spin trap DMPO, the amount of OH˙ formed in the presence of crocidolite was determined and found to be directly related to the amount of iron mobilized from crocidolite by EDTA. In the presence of a chelator, both O2 consumption and OH˙ generation depended only upon the presence of a component(s) mobilized from crocidolite by the chelator. Pretreatment of the crocidolite with desferrioxamine B (1 mM), an iron chelator, inhibited O2 consumption in the presence or absence of citrate. The results of this study suggest that iron is responsible for the crocidolite-dependent reactions with O2 and that mobilization of iron by citrate, NTA, or EDTA greatly enhances its reactivity with O2. Furthermore, mobilization of iron from crocidolite by EDTA greatly enhanced the generation of OH˙ Therefore, intracellular mobilization of iron from asbestos may increase reactions with O2 leading to OH˙ formation, DNA damage, and cancer.
Thinking Otherwise: Ethics and Politics in Joseph Conrad's Under Western Eyes

Joseph Conrad is usually seen as politically conservative or indifferent. Reading his late novel, Under Western Eyes , as an illustration of the relationship between ethics and politics complicates this assessment. Conrad establishes Russia as an abyssal space of otherness in his 1905 essay, “Autocracy and War.” Under Western Eyes (1911) stages the clash between Russia’s non-viable political extremes (autocracy and revolution) and a Levinasian ethics of alterity. The end of the novel implies that, in the wake of complete political alienation, a new future for the nation can be imagined, one that acknowledges the self’s responsibility for the other. Using Levinas’s rethinking of ethics to reinterpret Conrad’s ambivalent cynicism opens up new ways of understanding the politics of modernist literature.
Digital wavelength multiplexed holographic data storage system

Summary form only given. We have implemented, what we believe to be, the first wavelength-multiplexed digital holographic data storage system. The automated storage and retrieval of digital data in an Fe-doped LiNbO/sub 3/ crystal, using an external-cavity tunable diode laser at 670 nm, was demonstrated.
Characterization of Terminal Sialic Acid Linkages on Human Thymocytes: CORRELATION BETWEEN LECTIN-BINDING PHENOTYPE AND SIALYLTRANSFERASE EXPRESSION (∗)

T cell surface sialylation changes during maturation in the thymus. We have previously demonstrated increased expression of mRNA encoding the Galβ1, 3GalNAc α2,3-sialyltransferase in mature medullary human thymocytes, compared with immature cortical thymocytes. For this enzyme, increased expression of transferase mRNA correlated with increased sialylation of O-glycans. We have now examined the pattern of expression in the human thymus of two additional sialyltransferases, the Galβ1,4GlcNAc α2,6-sialyltransferase (ST6N) and the Galβ1,3/4GlcNAc α2,3-sialyltransferase (ST3N). The patterns of mRNA expression were compared with the pattern of binding of two sialic acid-specific plant lectins, Sambucus nigra agglutinin and Maackia amurensis agglutinin, which preferentially recognize α2,6- and α2,3-linked sialic acids, respectively, on N-glycans. By in situ hybridization, mRNA encoding ST3N was detected uniformly throughout the thymus. All thymocytes bound M. amurensis agglutinin, demonstrating a direct correlation between the level of ST3N mRNA expression and cell-surface glycosylation. In contrast, mRNA encoding ST6N was also expressed uniformly throughout the thymus; however, only mature (CD3hi) medullary thymocytes bound S. nigra agglutinin. On mature thymocytes, S. nigra agglutinin appeared to bind primarily to the cell-surface glycoprotein CD45; since only the mature thymocytes expressed the CD45RA isoform, while both mature and immature populations expressed the CD45R0 isoform, CD45RA may be a preferred substrate for ST6N. These results demonstrate that glycoprotein sialylation is tightly regulated during T cell development and that the developmentally regulated expression of specific oligosaccharide structures on the cell surface may be influenced by expression of both the relevant glycosyltransferase and specific acceptor substrates.
Highly restricted origin of prefrontal cortical inputs to striosomes in the macaque monkey

The prefrontal cortex is made up of neocortical areas thought to mediate aspects of the temporal and spatial organization of behavior. One of the prime output targets of the prefrontal cortex is the striatum, which is thought to operate in series with the prefrontal cortex in some neural computations. We have analyzed this prefronto- striatal projection in cynomolgus monkeys by combining anterograde neuronal tract tracing methods with neurochemical markers for the striosome and matrix compartments of the striatum. Our results single out two parts of the frontal cortex as projecting densely to the striosome compartment of the striatum: the posterior orbitofrontal/anterior insular cortex and the mediofrontal prelimbic/anterior cingulate cortex. These areas jointly innervated striosomes in the anterior and ventromedial striatum, mainly in the caudate nucleus. Striosomes in the dorsolateral striatum were never labeled. Thus, the anatomical subsystem defined by striosome affiliation includes three cortical and striatal regions that, in humans, have been implicated in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Nearly all of the remaining parts of the prefrontal cortex studied projected preferentially to the matrix compartment. Most of these prefrontal inputs were also patchy, and many of the patches (matrisomes) were selectively paired with nearby striosomes. The highly fractionated organization of prefrontal inputs to striosomes and matrisomes could form a template for computational networks in the striatum that redistribute prefrontal corticostriatal inputs to serve in context- dependent behavioral planning.
An improved method for monitoring active oxygen in bacteria-treated suspension cells using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence

Abstract Modification of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (LDC) assays resulted in a reliable and highly reproducible method for the measurement of active oxygen levels in bacteria-treated soybean suspension cells. Optimization of the LDC assay for use at pH 7·0 required the addition of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the continuous monitoring of chemiluminescence to detect accurate maximum peak heights. With this improved technique, we were able to detect changes in active oxygen in soybean cell suspension cultures inoculated with Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea races 4 and 6. During the first hour after inoculation, increased active oxygen was observed in cells inoculated with either race. A second peak occurred after 3–4 h in suspension cell cultures inoculated with race 6, which causes a hypersensitive reaction in soybean leaves.
Understanding intestinal vulnerability to perforation in the extremely low birth weight infant.

Spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) occurs commonly in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. Our understanding of its etiologies has improved dramatically over the last decade. Included in this comprehension is an ongoing reconciliation of the iatrogenic risk factors, the microbiology, and the histopathology. The latter shows focal perforations with necrosis of the muscularis externa and no sign of ischemic damage (typically characterized by mucosal necrosis in the preterm bowel). Associations include extreme prematurity, early postnatal steroids (EPS), early use of indomethacin (EUI), and two common pathogens (Candida and Staphylococcus epidermis). Animal models of SIP suggest that all risk factors converge on a common collection of signaling pathways: those of nitric oxide synthases (NOS), insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), and epidermal growth factors (EGFs). Many of these factors skew trophism of the ileum (defined as thinning of the submucosa concomitant with hyperplasia of the muscosa). Global depletion of NOS is associated with disturbed intestinal motility and diminished transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) in the muscularis externa. This constellation of insults seems to make the distal intestine vulnerable to perforation during recovery of motility.
Modeling transport through synthetic nanopores

Synthetic nanopores have arisen as a convenient means of characterizing single molecules, with DNA being one of the most popular subjects. By applying an electric field, ions and charged biomolecules like DNA can be compelled to interact with, or translocate through, nanopores in thin membranes. The use of the nanopore method for characterizing nucleic acids gained initial momentum in 1996 with a landmark paper by Kasianowicz et al.
Synchrotron deceleration of electrons in a plasma and the generation of electromagnetic radiation

Electromagnetic radiation generated by electrons with several hundred keV of energy gyrating in a dense magnetized plasma has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Radiation with an intensity several thousand times greater than that generated by the single particle synchrotron process is observed at the second cyclotron harmonic if the background plasma is sufficiently dense. A critical condition for the generation of this radiation is that the upper hybrid resonance frequency of the background plasma be greater than the observation frequency. The observations are related to a relativistic phase trapping of the energetic electrons by an electromagnetic wave propagating perpendicular to the magnetic field. The plasma instability mechanism proposed is in good agreement with the observations.
The interaction between sensory and tonic factors in the perception of the vertical in pigeons

In two separate experiments, 21 pigeons were given 10 days of training to peck a key on which a white vertical line was exposed. Next, the birds were given generalization tests along the angularity dimension with the floor tilted 24° to the right or to the left. Reliable asymmetrical gradients were obtained with enhanced responding to the side toward which the floor was tilted. This posturally induced distortion in the visual perception of the vertical indicates that sensory-tonic interactions typically observed in humans have a parallel in this lower species.
Divergent growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‐day Saints in the United States, 1990–2004: Diaspora, gathering, and the East–West divide

This paper analyses the spatially divergent growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1990 to 2004 in the US. The Church has been based in Utah since 1847, and its membership continues to be concentrated in the West. However, recent population trends show an ongoing diaspora throughout the country marked by local and regional clusters (or ‘gatherings’) where more rapid growth and larger relative membership sizes are evident. The Church is growing fastest in the central and eastern portions of the country, exceeding general population growth rates there. Natural increase in these areas has been greatly augmented by conversions and in-migration. Comparisons using the Hoover index of concentration and the Duncan index of dissimilarity also show that with the regional divergence of Church growth rates, its membership distribution is slowly becoming more similar to that of the general population. Although future Church membership growth in the eastern parts of the country will probably be counterbalanced by the sheer size of population increases in the traditional Church population centres in the West, recent data show that the West has become increasingly less Mormon as conversions and natural increase have not kept pace with the migration of non-Mormons into the region. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A note on the geometry of Shanken's CSR T2 test for mean/variance efficiency

Abstract Shanken (1985) derives a test for the zero-beta capital asset pricing model (CAPM) which, as he points out, is equivalent to a test of the mean/variance efficiency of the market portfolio. This note illustrates the geometry of Shanken's test in the mean/variance space.
Cyclohexanecarbonitriles: Assigning Configurations at Quaternary Centers From 13C NMR CN Chemical Shifts.

13C NMR chemical shifts of the nitrile carbon in cyclohexanecarbonitriles directly correlate with the configuration of the quaternary, nitrile-bearing stereocenter. Comparing 13C NMR chemical shifts for over 200 cyclohexanecarbonitriles reveals that equatorially oriented nitriles resonate 3.3 ppm downfield, on average, from their axial counterparts. Pairs of axial/equatorial diastereomers varying only at the nitrile-bearing carbon consistently exhibit downfield shifts of δ 0.4−7.2 for the equatorial nitrile carbon, even in angularly substituted decalins and hydrindanes.