cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunocytochemical localization of antibody during placental transmission of immunity in rats

Autologous anti-horseradish peroxidase antibody has been localized in pregnant rats at various levels through placental membranes en passage to fetal circulation. The antibody was complexed in situ with the antigen and the resulting complex was made visible electron microscopically by immunohistochemical techniques. Visceral yolk-sac membranes from fetuses during the last half of gestation, viz. at 12, 17, and 22 days gestation, were so examined; differences were noted in the localization of cytochemical reaction product at increasing gestational ages. In yolk-sac endodermal epithelium at 12 days, the product was identified on receptor areas at the free surface of the epithelium, in a system of endocytosed clathrin-coated vesicles, or endosomes, within a closely related apical canalicular system, and stored in subapical vacuoles. Uptake and storage appeared markedly reduced in membranes taken at 17 days and was least apparent at 22 days (the day before term). Moreover, the product of antibody localization was not identified in the apical canaliculi at the two later stages. It is believed that most antibody had been hydrolyzed by these later stages. However, at the latest stage, reaction product also was identified in small vesicles in the basal cytoplasm of the endodermal epithelium and in the endothelium of vitelline (i.e., fetal) capillaries. These morphological results suggest that during the latter half of pregnancy antibody is absorbed; it is stored and hydrolyzed early on, and is transferred to fetal circulation only near term, a conclusion in close accord with what is known physiologically about prenatal transmission of immunity in this species.
Did the worm turn? Deformed burrow as a slump movement indicator

ABSTRACT Analysis of a deformed burrow in a slump sheet within turbidites of the Coastal Franciscan sequence of northern California leads to a slump movement direction different from that yielded by paleocurrent indicators or slump folds.
CALHM1 ion channel elicits amyloid-β clearance by insulin-degrading enzyme in cell lines and in vivo in the mouse brain.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide accumulation in the brain. CALHM1, a cell-surface Ca2+ channel expressed in brain neurons, has anti-amyloidogenic properties in cell cultures. Here, we show that CALHM1 controls Aβ levels in vivo in the mouse brain through a previously unrecognized mechanism of regulation of Aβ clearance. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches in cell lines, we found that CALHM1 ion permeability and extracellular Ca2+ were required for the Aβ-lowering effect of CALHM1. Aβ level reduction by CALHM1 could be explained by an increase in extracellular Aβ degradation by insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), extracellular secretion of which was strongly potentiated by CALHM1 activation. Importantly, Calhm1 knockout in mice reduced IDE enzymatic activity in the brain, and increased endogenous Aβ concentrations by up to ∼50% in both the whole brain and primary neurons. Thus, CALHM1 controls Aβ levels in cell lines and in vivo by facilitating neuronal and Ca2+-dependent degradation of extracellular Aβ by IDE. This work identifies CALHM1 ion channel as a potential target for promoting amyloid clearance in Alzheimer's disease.
A PROGRAM FOR THE STUDY OF THINKING

Summary A rationale and a method for preparing problems to make possible the characterization of thought processes was described. A distinction was made between the structure of the problem and its content. The structure was defined from the formal properties or schema expressed in terms of a basic set of relationships. Content refers to the objects superimposed on the schema that give the problem meaning. The difficulty of a problem can be determined by the complexity of the schema (intrinsic difficulty) and by familiarity with the content. The former may be stated “a priori”, while the latter can only be known empirically. Scoring methods were suggested and the advantages and disadadvantages of each were discussed. The implications of group norms in evaluating psychological characteristics was analyzed, as well as the advantages of considering processes rather than products alone, in appraising thinking. RESUME Une base theorique et une methode ont ete decrites; elles permettent de preparer des problemes avec lesquels on peut caracteriser les processus de la pensee. Une distinction a ete faite entre la structure du probleme et son contenu. La structure a ete definie a partir des proprietes formelles ou des schemas exprimes en fonction d'une serie fondamentale de relations. Le contenu concerne les objets surimposes sur le schema qui donnent une signification au probleme. La difficulte d'un probleme peut etre determinee par la complexite du schema (difficulte intrinseque) et par la familiarite avec le contenu: Le premier point peut etre precise« a priori », alors que le second peut etre connu empiriquement. Des methodes de notation ont ete suggerees; les avantages et inconvenients de chacune d'entre elles ont ete discutes. Les repercussions des normes de groupe pour l'evaluation de caracteristiques psychologiques ont ete analysees, de meme que les avantages qu'il a a considerer des processus plutot que des resultats, pour evaluer la pensee.
CD4+ T Cells and Cytokines in the Pathogenesis of Acquired Myasthenia Gravis

Although the symptoms of myasthenia gravis (MG) and experimental MG (EAMG) are caused by autoantibodies, CD4(+) T cells specific for the target antigen, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, and the cytokines they secrete, have an important role in these diseases. CD4(+) T cells have a pathogenic role, by permitting and facilitating the synthesis of high-affinity anti-AChR antibodies. Th1 CD4(+) cells are especially important because they drive the synthesis of anti-AChR complement-fixing IgG subclasses. Binding of those antibodies to the muscle AChR at the neuromuscular junction will trigger the complement-mediated destruction of the postsynaptic membrane. Thus, IL-12, a crucial cytokine for differentiation of Th1 cells, is necessary for development of EAMG. Th2 cells secrete different cytokines, with different effects on the pathogenesis of EAMG. Among them, IL-10, which is a potent growth and differentiation factor for B cells, facilitates the development of EAMG. In contrast, IL-4 appears to be involved in the differentiation of AChR-specific regulatory CD4(+) T cells, which can prevent the development of EAMG and its progression to a self-maintaining, chronic autoimmune disease. Studies on the AChR-specific CD4(+) cells commonly present in the blood of MG patients support a crucial role of CD4(+) T cells in the development of MG. Circumstantial evidence supports a pathogenic role of IL-10 also in human MG. On the other hand, there is no direct or circumstantial evidence yet indicating a role of IL-4 in the modulatory or immunosuppressive circuits in MG.
Marshaling and unmarshaling models using the entity-relationship model

Software systems are usually designed and documented with the aid of visual modeling notations. Visual modeling notations keep evolving over the years in tandem with visual modeling tools, and the tight binding in between impedes the exchanging of modeling assets, which causes a spatial isolation of the models. Another problem with legacy software models is that they are isolated temporally in the early phases of the software engineering life cycle without reaching out to the later phases. This paper presents an approach for breaking both spatial and temporal isolation of software models by marshaling and unmarshaling models using the Entity-Relationship (ER) model, thus providing a promising way for evolving model-driven software development.
Expanded 3D Electrode Architecture for Low Temperature Direct Liquid Fuel Cells

The US Navy continues to pursue electrochemical power sources with high energy density for undersea applications. The direct electro-oxidation and electro-reduction of sodium borohydride and hydrogen peroxide are being investigated to meet these goals. In an effort to minimize polarization losses and increase power density, a novel carbon microfiber array (CMA) electrode in combination with a carbon cloth electrode is being investigated.
Influence of Sex Hormones, HIV Status, and Concomitant Sexually Transmitted Infection on Cervicovaginal Inflammation

The impact of demographic characteristics, phase of the menstrual cycle, use of hormonal contraceptives, and concomitant lower genital-tract infections on cervicovaginal inflammatory cells was assessed in 967 women, 654 of whom were infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) fluid was evaluated for total white blood cell (WBC), polymorphonuclear leukocyte, and monocyte counts. HIV-1 infection was not associated with statistically significant differences in numbers of inflammatory cells in CVL fluid except in 1 group--HIV-1-infected women with Chlamydia trachomatis infection had a 0.43 log(10) higher WBC count than their HIV-uninfected, chlamydia-positive counterparts (P=.04). Younger age and use of progesterone-based hormonal contraceptives were independently associated with increased numbers of inflammatory cells in CVL fluid. A 0.15-0.2 log(10) increase in inflammatory cells was seen in black versus white and Hispanic women after adjustment for known potential confounders. Progesterone-based contraceptives, younger age, and race have an independent effect on cervicovaginal inflammatory cells.
Cold Shock of a Hyperthermophilic Archaeon: Pyrococcus furiosus Exhibits Multiple Responses to a Suboptimal Growth Temperature with a Key Role for Membrane-Bound Glycoproteins

The hyperthermophilic archaeon, Pyrococcus furiosus, was grown on maltose near its optimal growth temperature, 95°C, and at the lower end of the temperature range for significant growth, 72°C. In addition, cultures were shocked by rapidly dropping the temperature from 95 to 72°C. This resulted in a 5-h lag phase, during which time little growth occurred. Transcriptional analyses using whole-genome DNA microarrays representing 2,065 open reading frames (ORFs) in the P. furiosus genome showed that cells undergo three very different responses at 72°C: an early shock (1 to 2 h), a late shock (5 h), and an adapted response (occurring after many generations at 72°C). Each response involved the up-regulation in the expression of more than 30 ORFs unique to that response. These included proteins involved in translation, solute transport, amino acid biosynthesis, and tungsten and intermediary carbon metabolism, as well as numerous conserved-hypothetical and/or membrane-associated proteins. Two major membrane proteins were evident after one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel analysis of cold-adapted cells, and staining revealed them to be glycoproteins. Their cold-induced expression evident from the DNA microarray analysis was confirmed by quantitative PCR. Termed CipA (PF0190) and CipB (PF1408), both appear to be solute-binding proteins. While the archaea do not contain members of the bacterial cold shock protein (Csp) family, they all contain homologs of CipA and CipB. These proteins are also related phylogenetically to some cold-responsive genes recently identified in certain bacteria. The Cip proteins may represent a general prokaryotic-type cold response mechanism that is present even in hyperthermophilic archaea.
Structural Analysis of Gelsolin Using Synchrotron Protein Footprinting

Protein footprinting provides detailed structural information on protein structure in solution by directly identifying accessible and hydroxyl radical-reactive side chain residues. Radiolytic generation of hydroxyl radicals using millisecond pulses of a synchrotron "white" beam results in the formation of stable side chain oxidation products, which can be digested with proteases for mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. Liquid chromatography-coupled MS and tandem MS methods allow for the quantitation of the ratio of modified and unmodified peptides and identify the specific side chain probes that are oxidized, respectively. The ability to monitor the changes in accessibility of multiple side chain probes by monitoring increases or decreases in their oxidation rates as a function of ligand binding provides an efficient and powerful tool for analyzing protein structure and dynamics. In this study, we probe the detailed structural features of gelsolin in its "inactive" and Ca2+-activated state. Oxidation rate data for 81 peptides derived from the trypsin digestion of gelsolin are presented; 60 of these peptides were observed not to be oxidized, and 21 had detectable oxidation rates. We also report the Ca2+-dependent changes in oxidation for all 81 peptides. Fifty-nine remained unoxidized, five increased their oxidation rate, and two experienced protections. Tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify the specific side chain probes responsible for the Ca2+-insensitive and Ca2+-dependent responses. These data are consistent with crystallographic data for the inactive form of gelsolin in terms of the surface accessibility of reactive residues within the protein. The results demonstrate that radiolytic protein footprinting can provide detailed structural information on the conformational dynamics of ligand-induced structural changes, and the data provide a detailed model for gelsolin activation.
Mind the Gap: Potential for Rebounds during Antiangiogenic Treatment Breaks

VEGF pathway inhibitors have shown benefits in many cancers, yet many (often controversial) questions remain about whether vascular and tumor regrowth can occur when therapy is stopped. Marked increases in endothelial cell proliferation could play a role in putative rebounds, potentially influencing overall efficacy, dosing schedules, and presurgical intervention strategies.
Relationship of cardiovascular risk factors to racial differences in femoral bypass surgery and abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy in Massachusetts.

UNLABELLED Atherosclerosis is more severe in blacks than in whites, but abdominal aortic aneurysms, which have traditionally been thought to have an atherosclerotic etiology, appear to be less common in blacks. Because of this incongruity, we compared risk factor profiles in patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and patients undergoing femoral bypass for atherosclerotic occlusive disease. A dual case-control study was conducted, first, comparing patients who had undergone aneurysmectomy to a control group of patients who had undergone appendectomy; and then comparing patients who had undergone femoral bypass surgery to the same appendectomy controls. We initially used hospital discharge data for the entire state of Massachusetts and, in a second phase, data obtained from a review of medical records from Boston University Medical Center Hospital and Boston City Hospital. The statewide database indicated that rates of femoral bypass surgery were higher in blacks than in whites, but after adjusting for differences in hypertension, diabetes, and low socioeconomic status, the black/white odds ratio for femoral bypass fell to 1.44 (95% confidence interval: 1.08, 1.92). A similar analysis based on the hospital chart review, provided better control of confounding and indicated that there was no racial difference in rates of femoral bypass after correcting for other risk factors (odds ratio = 0.94; 95% confidence interval: 0.40, 2.22; p = 0.90). In contrast, the statewide database found higher rates of abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery in whites, and particularly in white males. Smoking and hypertension were strong risk factors for aneurysmectomy, but diabetes mellitus and socioeconomic status were not. After adjusting for other variables, the black/white odds ratio for aneurysmectomy was 0.29 (95% confidence interval: 0.07, 1.23; p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS Substantial differences are found in the risk factor profiles for aneurysmal disease and femoral atherosclerotic occlusive disease. Diabetes is a particularly strong risk factor for femoral disease, but not for aneurysmal disease. In addition, blacks had higher rates of femoral bypass surgery in Massachusetts, but the apparent racial difference appeared to be due to a greater prevalence of hypertension, smoking, and diabetes in blacks. In contrast, abdominal aortic aneurysms occurred predominantly in white males, and adjustment for other risk factors further accentuated the greater risk in whites.
GaN Gunn diodes for THz signal generation

The frequency and power capability of GaN-based Gunn diodes are evaluated using transient hydrodynamic simulations. GaN Gunn oscillators with 2 /spl mu/m-thick GaN Gunn diodes are predicted to have a fundamental frequency of 148-162 GHz and power density of >10/sup 5/ W/cm/sup 2/. Due to their high frequency and power characteristics, applications of these devices are envisaged for THz signal generation.
Acute Fibrinolysis Shutdown after Injury Occurs Frequently and Increases Mortality: A Multicenter Evaluation of 2,540 Severely Injured Patients.

Background Fibrinolysis is a physiologic process that maintains microvascular patency by breaking down excessive fibrin clot. Hyperfibrinolysis is associated with a doubling of mortality. Fibrinolysis shutdown, an acute impairment of fibrinolysis, has been recognized as a risk factor for increased mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence and outcomes of fibrinolysis phenotypes in 2 urban trauma centers. Study Design Injured patients included in the analysis were admitted between 2010 and 2013, were 18 years of age or older, and had an Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 15. Admission fibrinolysis phenotypes were determined by the clot lysis at 30 minutes (LY30): shutdown ≤ 0.8%, physiologic 0.9% to 2.9%, and hyperfibrinolysis ≥ 3%. Logistic regression was used to adjust for age, arrival blood pressure, ISS, mechanism, and facility. Results There were 2,540 patients who met inclusion criteria. Median age was 39 years (interquartile range [IQR] 26 to 55 years) and median ISS was 25 (IQR 20 to 33), with a mortality rate of 21%. Fibrinolysis shutdown was the most common phenotype (46%) followed by physiologic (36%) and hyperfibrinolysis (18%). Hyperfibrinolysis was associated with the highest death rate (34%), followed by shutdown (22%), and physiologic (14%, p Conclusions Fibrinolysis shutdown is the most common phenotype on admission and is associated with increased mortality. These data provide additional evidence of distinct phenotypes of coagulation impairment and that individualized hemostatic therapy may be required.
Task-performing dynamics in irregular, biomimetic networks: Research Articles

Understanding self-organized collective dynamics—especially in sparsely connected, noisy, and imperfect networks—has important implications for designing and optimizing task-performing technological systems as well as for deciphering biological structures and functions. We note that stomatal arrays on plant leaves might provide an ideal example of task-performance in this context. Guided by observations of stomatal networks, we examined a simple model of task-performing, collective dynamics that included state noise, spatial rule heterogeneity, dynamic modules, and network rewiring. Our results indicate that task-performance in such networks can actually be enhanced by various kinds of spatial and temporal irregularity. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 12: 14–21, 2007
Surveying "genericness" in trademark litigation

This article discusses the primary significance test that is used when determining whether a claimed trademark word should receive trademark protection or should be considered a generic term. The usual way to determine the primary significance of a word is to use consumer surveys, allowing the public to say how it perceives the disputed word. The authors in this article focus on how many surveys allow the consumers to choose only between whether a word is primarily generic or primarily a brand name. The authors criticize this approach, arguing that the consumers should be able to determine that the word is both a generic term and a brand name, or what is called a hybrid word. Therefore, the authors present a new model consumer survey that incorporates this hybrid result. The article goes into detail of how the survey should work and how the results should be analyzed, including what type of remedies and protections a hybrid word should receive.
Potters for Peace: Building Social Entrepreneurs One Piece at a Time

This case explores the successes and challenges of a social enterprise based in the United States which seeks to help potters in Nicaragua market their products and to develop new product ideas.In 1986 a group of potters in Washington, DC held a benefit sale to support fellow potters from Nicaragua, and to oppose U.S. military aid to the Nicaraguan contras. One of the organizers of the event created a banner that read: “Potters for Peace,” and a nonprofit organization by the same name was soon developed. Potters for Peace (PFP) was created due to the political and economic difficulties of Nicaragua in the 1980s and a desire to see change in a troubled country.
Structure and dynamics of magnesium in silicate melts; a high-temperature 25 Mg NMR study

25Mg NMR spectra for several silicate and aluminosilicate melts were obtained from 1000–1470 8C. The peaks are initially very broad, but narrow with increasing temperature to near 500 Hz at the highest temperatures. The peak positions for most of the melts do not shift noticeably with temperature in the range studied, except for a sodium magnesium silicate composition that was previously studied by Fiske and Stebbins (1994). This material showed a decrease in frequency of the peak position by about 4 ppm between 1150– 1360 8C in both this and the previous study, consistent with an increase in the average size of the site. The chemical shifts vary with composition as well, ranging from 31 ppm for a potassium sodium magnesium silicate melt to 22 ppm for diopside melt (CaMgSi2O6) at 1400 8C. Compositions with higher field strength cations have lower frequency chemical shifts, which correspond to larger coordination numbers and bond lengths for Mg21. All of the peak positions obtained fall to slightly higher frequency than the range for sixfoldcoordinated Mg in crystals and well below the fourfold-coordinated range, indicating that the Mg is in fivefold to sixfold coordination in the melts. Spin-lattice relaxation times show that measurements are on the high-temperature side of the T1 minima, and a simple expression for quadrupolar relaxation can be used to obtain correlation times for the motion responsible for the relaxation. The correlation times obtained in this manner are very similar to the correlation time tshear obtained from viscosity measurements, implying that the Mg motion is strongly coupled to the network motion at these temperatures. Line widths also scale with T1 in this temperature range, leading to the conclusion that the viscosity is the fundamental limit to observing the 25Mg signal in the melt.
Auxiliary hypotensive action assessment of Pearl-Flos Chrysanthemi

[Objective] To evaluate the auxiliary hypotensive action of Pearl- Flos Chrysanthemi. [Methods] Tests were done in accordance with “Programs and Methods of Healthy Food Function Evaluation” issued by the Ministry of health. [Results] Compared with the hypertensive model, in the treatment groups BP values of rats decreased steadily difference significant (P0.05). In clinic trial, the Pearl-Flos Chrysanthemi taken group was effective for 26 cases (86.66%) the control group with blood pressure reduced in 6 cases (20.00%). Difference was significant (P0.05). After taken for four weeks the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) values decreased by(7.18+4.25) mmHg and (10.21+2.55) mmHg respectively. Heart rate had no apparent change before and after treatment. [Conclusion] The Pearl-Flos Chrysanthemi has auxiliary hypotensive action.
On-column entrapment of alpha1-acid glycoprotein for studies of drug-protein binding by high-performance affinity chromatography

An on-column approach for protein entrapment was developed to immobilize alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) for drug-protein binding studies based on high-performance affinity chromatography. Soluble AGP was physically entrapped by using microcolumns that contained hydrazide-activated porous silica and by employing mildly oxidized glycogen as a capping agent. Three on-column entrapment methods were evaluated and compared to a previous slurry-based entrapment method. The final selected method was used to prepare 1.0 cm × 2.1 mm I.D. affinity microcolumns that contained up to 21 (±4) μg AGP and that could be used over the course of more than 150 sample applications. Frontal analysis and zonal elution studies were performed on these affinity microcolumns to examine the binding of various drugs with the entrapped AGP. Site-selective competition studies were also conducted for these drugs. The results showed good agreement with previous observations for these drug-protein systems and with binding constants that have been reported in the literature. The entrapment method developed in this study should be useful for future work in the area of personalized medicine and in the high-throughput screening of drug interactions with AGP or other proteins.
Interactions in the Quaternary Systems H 2 O − Y(NO 3 ) 3 − La(NO 3 ) 3 − Pr(NO 3 ) 3 , H 2 O − Y(NO 3 ) 3 − La(NO 3 ) 3 − Nd(NO 3 ) 3 and H 2 O − Y(NO 3 ) 3 − Pr(NO 3 ) 3 − Nd(NO 3 ) 3 to Very High Concentrations

Isopiestic measurements have been carried out for the quaternary systems H2O−Y(NO3)3−La(NO3)3−Pr(NO3)3, H2O−Y(NO3)3−La(NO3)3−Nd(NO3)3 and H2O−Y(NO3)3−Pr(NO3)3−Nd(NO3)3 at 298.15 K to near saturation. The measurements can be represented by a modified Pitzer ion–interaction model extending to C (3) within the experimental uncertainty over the full concentration range. In addition, these systems obey the Zdanovskii-Stokes-Robinson model or partial ideal solution model within isopiestic accuracy, indicating zero solute-solute interchange energy, which is consistent with the nature of salts of the trivalent rare earth ions.
Data Visualization of Complex Eye Movements Using Directed Weighted Networks: A Case Study on a Multi-Element Target Tracking Task

Visualization approaches for eye movement analysis suffers from two limitations: (1) inability to handle the stochasticity of both number and position of moving areas of interests (AOIs), and (2) absence of quantitative metrics to analyze eye movement data. We adapted the directed weighted network (DWN) and associated “centrality” metrics to support the visualization of the complex eye movement data. A case study was performed using a realistic air traffic control task environment. Promising results were found as we were able identify important targets (aircraft) interrogated by an air traffic controller based on different time frames. This case study serves as a foundation to develop effective data visualization methods and quantitative metrics for analyzing complex eye movements for a multi-element tracking task.
Ectopic Expression of ADAMTS13 in Platelets As a Novel Therapeutic Approach for Arterial Thrombosis

Abstract 491 Megakaryocytes and platelets have been shown to produce ADAMTS13 and its only known substrate, von Willebrand factor (VWF). However, the role of platelet expression of ADMTS13 in modulation of thrombus formation is not known. Previous studies have shown that platelet-targeted delivery of clotting factor VIII corrects bleeding phenotype in hemophilia A mice despite of inhibitors. These results suggest that platelet-delivery of ADAMTS13 may also be efficacious for anti-arterial thrombosis and perhaps for treatment of acquired idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) with inhibitors. In the present study, transgenic mice (JAX B6SJL/F1 hybrid) carrying a human full-length ADAMTS13 gene under a platelet glycoprotein 1b alpha promoter were generated. The mice were crossed with Adamts13 −/− and TTP-sensitive mice (CAST/Ei) for 4 generations. Plasma and platelet ADAMTS13 protein and proteolytic activity were determined. By Western blotting and the cleavage of a fluorescein-labeled VWF73 substrate, we were able to show that human ADAMTS13 protein (∼195 kDa) and activity were present in the platelet lysate of transgenic (A13-Plt TG ) mice, but not in adamts13 −/− mice or wild-type mice. No proteolytic activity was detected in plasma of the transgenic mice. The platelet ADAMTS13 protein was releasable upon stimulation with various concentrations of thrombin (0.1–0.5 U/ml) and collagen (2.5–10 μg/ml). The released ADAMTS13 and VWF (as a positive control) were primarily associated with platelet membrane, demonstrated by surface biotinylation. However, a small fraction of the released ADAMTS13 and VWF proteins were detected in the releasate after stimulation. Moreover, the A13-Plt TG mice exhibited systemic anti-thrombotic activity, which attenuated the rate of thrombus formation in the mesenteric arterioles induced by a topical application of 10% ferric chloride. The rate of arterial thrombus formation in the transgenic mice was significantly lower than that in Adamts13 −/− mice and wild-type mice in the same genetic background. We conclude that we have generated transgenic mice overexpressing human ADAMTS13 metalloprotease in platelets. The platelet expressed ADAMTS13 is releasable upon stimulation by agonists. The platelet derived ADAMTS13 is biologically functional in cleaving VWF in vitro and in vivo , which attenuate systemic arterial thrombosis after oxidative injury. Our ongoing effort is to determine the efficacy of platelet delivered ADAMTS13 as a potential novel therapeutic for acquired TTP patients with inhibitors. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
It Tastes Like the East...: The Problem of Taste in the GDR

Abstract | This essay uses the topic of taste, specifically taste for food, as a way of unpacking the history of the GDR and East-West relations during the late Cold War. It explores the question of East German tastes from two angles: West German fantasies about the inadequacies of the GDR’s food system, and East German nutritionists’ unsuccessful struggles to regulate popular tastes. In particular, it focuses on the moment when popular taste was seen as a serious problem by the GDR state—during the rise of the obesity epidemic in the 1970s and 1980s. Resume | Cet essai utilise le theme du gout, specifiquement le gout pour la nourriture, comme un moyen de devoiler l’histoire de la RDA et les relations Est-Ouest pendant la fin de la guerre froide. Il examine la question des gouts de l’Allemagne de l’Est sous deux angles: Les fantaisies des ouest-allemands sur les insuffisances du systeme alimentaire de la RDA, et les luttes infructueuses des specialistes de la nutrition est-allemands pour reglementer les gouts populaires. L’essai se concentre en particuliere sur le moment ou le gout populaire a ete considere comme un probleme grave par l’etat de la RDA—pendant l’augmentation de l’epidemie d’obesite dans les annees 1970 et 1980.
Electroreduction of CO2 Catalyzed by a Heterogenized Zn-Porphyrin Complex with a Redox-Innocent Metal Center.

Transition-metal-based molecular complexes are a class of catalyst materials for electrochemical CO2 reduction to CO that can be rationally designed to deliver high catalytic performance. One common mechanistic feature of these electrocatalysts developed thus far is an electrogenerated reduced metal center associated with catalytic CO2 reduction. Here we report a heterogenized zinc–porphyrin complex (zinc(II) 5,10,15,20-tetramesitylporphyrin) as an electrocatalyst that delivers a turnover frequency as high as 14.4 site–1 s–1 and a Faradaic efficiency as high as 95% for CO2 electroreduction to CO at −1.7 V vs the standard hydrogen electrode in an organic/water mixed electrolyte. While the Zn center is critical to the observed catalysis, in situ and operando X-ray absorption spectroscopic studies reveal that it is redox-innocent throughout the potential range. Cyclic voltammetry indicates that the porphyrin ligand may act as a redox mediator. Chemical reduction of the zinc–porphyrin complex further confirms...
Spatial Data Mining, Geovisualization

Geovisualization in spatial data mining is one of the main methods that has recently been the subject of knowledge discovery research in geographic information science. Geovisualization is often referred to as knowledge discovery in that it produces previously unseen patterns from a larger set of data. Due to the increase in geospatial data, any techniques that can shift through large sets of data quickly and efficiently are in high demand. Geovisualization uses visual representations to facilitate thinking, understanding, and knowledge construction about human and physic environments, at geographic scales of measurement. It augments human visual ability in perceiving high complex structures, and detecting, exploring, and exploiting significant patterns. It integrates scientific visualization with traditional cartography, and can be utilized at data pre-processing, spatial data mining, and knowledge construction. The main purpose of geovisualization, however, is on insight rather than maps. Research needs in geovisualization are extensive as follows: geovisulation in spatiotemporal databases, the automated discovery of spatial knowledge, geovisualization in remote-sensing data and spatial object-oriented databases, effective geovisualizations of spatial relationships, and efficient geocomputation.
Falls and delirium in an acute care setting: A retrospective chart review before and after an organisation-wide interprofessional education

AIM AND OBJECTIVES To describe and compare identification of delirium, length of stay and discharge locations in two patient samples of falls, before and after an organisation-wide interprofessional delirium education and practice change along with implementation of a policy. BACKGROUND Delirium is a common and severe problem for hospitalised patients, with occurrence ranging from 14%-56%, morbidity and mortality from 25%-33%. Recent studies report that 73%-96% of patients who fell during a hospital stay had symptoms of delirium; however, the delirium went undiagnosed and untreated in 75% of the cases. DESIGN A descriptive, retrospective observational study using a pre/postdesign. METHODS Two chart reviews were performed on patient falls as identified in the hospital safety reporting system in 2009-2010 (98 fallers) and 2012 (108 fallers). An organisation-wide education was planned and implemented with monitoring of policy compliance. RESULTS After the education, documentation of the "diagnosis of delirium" and "no evidence of delirium" increased from 14.3%-29.5% and from 27.6%-44.4%. The documentation of "evidence of delirium" decreased significantly from 58.2%-25.9% (p < .001). The confusion assessment method (CAM) identified the diagnosis of delirium at 76% accuracy. The length of stay decreased by 7.3 days. The fall rates in 2011 and 2012 were 3.01 and 2.82 falls per 1,000 patient days and in 2013 decreased to 2.16. CONCLUSION The results indicate that improving delirium recognition and treatment through interprofessional education can reduce falls and length of stay. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The results demonstrate that when staff learn to prevent, identify, manage and document delirium more accurately the fall rate decreases. The practice change, including the use of CAM, was sustained by continuous auditing including re-education, and the re-enforcement of learning along with the implementation of a policy.
Police-Recorded Crime and Disparities in Obesity and Blood Pressure Status in Chicago

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to examine associations between several types of police‐recorded crime (violent, nonviolent, and homicide) and cardiometabolic health (obesity and elevated b...
The art of balance: Preceptors’ experiences of caring for deteriorating patients

Aim To explore nurse preceptors' experiences of caring for deteriorating patients while providing guidance and supervision to a new graduate nurse. Background Fostering novice nurse development during high-stakes encounters may be challenging for preceptors. Despite myriad preceptor literature, there is limited published research on experience of caring for deteriorating patients while serving as preceptor to a novice nurse. Design Qualitative interpretive phenomenological analysis. Method Data were collected through one-on-one, semistructured interviews between August 2016-September 2017 until data saturation occurred. Diekelmann's method was used to analyse the narratives of the purposive sample of 11 nurse preceptors. Results The findings reveal the experience of preceptors as they balanced their role as nurse with preceptor role to ensure patient safety and novice nurse development. Supporting the novice to care portrays the ways preceptors facilitated novice nurse development in caring for deteriorating patients. Impacting the preceptor role was remembering their own novice experience. Knowing when to step in was influenced by the preceptor's clinical expertise as they came to know (or not) when it was necessary for them to assume care of the patient. Debriefing: an essential preceptor tool emerged as a critical aspect of the experience to review technical aspects of care, vent emotions and provide evaluative feedback and reassurance to the novice. Conclusion Preceptors' experiences of caring for deteriorating patients while precepting novice nurses require a balancing of roles to ensure patient safety and novice nurse development. Preceptors' clinical expertise was critical in knowing when to step in and assume care of the patient. Relevance to clinical practice Caring for deteriorating patients while serving as preceptor to novice nurses requires clinical expertise to ensure patient safety and novice nurse development. Clinical leaders may use the findings from this study to improve preceptor development and support.
Learning and Long-term Physiological Regulation

A complex animal is composed of many different semiautonomous homeostatic mechanisms, and compromises must frequently be negotiated to achieve and maintain a stable overall physiological state optimal for survival. As evidenced by general skeletal behavior (McFarland, 1971), the brain has the integrative capacity required to resolve competing demands of these mechanisms. However, the conception of the brain as a process control computer—receiving data from an array of critically placed transducers, comparing the measurements to established set points, and dispatching instructions under a fixed program to a network of switches, valves, and pumps—is, although an appealing analogy, not tenable in the light of available data. Critical physiological variables are regulated to within narrow limits for periods of weeks or even years. Feedback-stabilized electromechanical regulators, such as thermostats, can maintain steady-state conditions indefinitely, but to do so they employ physical sensors or transducers which remain calibrated indefinitely. In contrast all interoceptors adapt (Chernigovsky, 1960; Mount-castle, 1980; Widdicomb, 1974), and analogous biological control schemes using interoceptors as sensors could not maintain regulation for extended periods of time.
Outcomes after Lower Extremity Revascularization for Treatment of Critical Limb Ischemia with Tissue Loss in Patients with Chronic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disease.

Background To evaluate outcomes after lower extremity revascularization for critical limb ischemia with tissue loss in patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease. Methods A retrospective medical record review of all lower extremity revascularization for critical limb ischemia with tissue loss at a university-affiliated hospital over a 3-year period was completed for demographics, comorbidities, lower extremity revascularization indication, angiogram results, complications, mortality, limb salvage, and reintervention. Chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease (CIID) and control (no autoimmune disease) were compared by chi-squared test, Student's t-test, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox Regression. Results There were 349 procedures performed (297 patients): (1) 44 (13%) primary amputations and (2) 305 (87%) lower extremity revascularizations, in which 83% were endovascular interventions; 12% was bypass; and 5% was hybrid, in which 40% was infrainguinal and 60% was infrageniculate, 72% Wounds Ischemia Infection Score System (WIFi) tissue loss class 2–3, 35% CIID. No differences were noted between CIID and control for primary amputation (P = 0.11), lower extremity revascularization type (P = 0.50), or lower extremity revascularization anatomic level (P = 0.43). Mean age was 71 + 13 years, and 56% of the patients were of male gender. Those with CIID were of similar age as controls (71 ± 14 vs. 71 ± 13; P = 0.87) and presented with comparable runoff: (1) ≤1 vessel (52% vs. 47%; P = 0.67), (2) WIFi tissue loss classification class 2–3 (66% vs. 76%; P = 0.09), and (3) WIFi infection classification class 2–3 (29% vs. 30%; P = 0.9). They were also less likely to be male (47% vs. 61%; P = 0.022) or current smokers (13% vs. 27%; P = 0.008). Postoperative mortality (P = 0.70) morbidity and reoperation (0.31) were comparable. Twenty-four–month survival was similar for CIID and control (83% ± 5% vs. 86% + 3%; P = 0.78), as was the amputation-free interval (69% ± 5% vs. 61% ± 4%; P = 0.18) and need for target extremity revascularization (40% vs. 53%; P = 0.04). Use of steroids and other anti-inflammatory medications was associated with improved 24-month amputation-free interval (87% ± 9% vs. 63% ± 3%; P = 0. 05). Dialysis (odds ratio: 2.6; 1.5–4.7; P = 0.001), WIFi infection class 2–3 (odds ratio: 2.8; 1.6–4.9; P Conclusions Patients with critical limb ischemia, tissue loss, and concomitant CIID can be successfully treated with lower extremity revascularization with similar limb salvage and need for reintervention. Steroid/anti-inflammatory use appears beneficial.
A Modular SiC High-Frequency Solid-State Transformer for Medium-Voltage Applications: Design, Implementation, and Testing

The advancements in wide-bandgap devices are enabling applications of power electronic converters coupled directly with medium-voltage (MV) grids that incorporate galvanic isolation within the converter using high-frequency solid-state transformers (SSTs). This paper presents analysis, design, and the characterization results of a 50-kVA modular soft-switched ac–ac SST using silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET for MV (>6 kV ac) applications. The SST is comprised of two hard-switched ac-line interface bridges and a resonant dc–dc stage switched at approximately 180 kHz. To minimize the cost of switching elements per ampere and maximize the design flexibility, the design uses multiple discrete SiC devices of, readily available, 1700-V ratings. This paper covers the analysis of soft-switching operation, control architecture, converter design, and system-level integration.
Human red and green cone opsins are O-glycosylated at an N-terminal Ser/Thr–rich domain conserved in vertebrates

There are fundamental differences in the structures of outer segments between rod and cone photoreceptor cells in the vertebrate retina. Visual pigments are the only essential membrane proteins that differ between rod and cone outer segments, making it likely that they contribute to these structural differences. Human rhodopsin is N-glycosylated on Asn2 and Asn15, whereas human (h) red and green cone opsins (hOPSR and hOPSG, respectively) are N-glycosylated at Asn34. Here, utilizing a monoclonal antibody (7G8 mAB), we demonstrate that hOPSR and hOPSG from human retina also are O-glycosylated with full occupancy. We determined that 7G8 mAB recognizes the N-terminal sequence 21DSTQSSIF28 of hOPSR and hOPSG from extracts of human retina, but only after their O-glycans have been removed with O-glycosidase treatment, thus revealing this post-translational modification of red and green cone opsins. In addition, we show that hOPSR and hOPSG from human retina are recognized by jacalin, a lectin that binds to O-glycans, preferentially to Gal–GalNAc. Next, we confirmed the presence of O-glycans on OPSR and OPSG from several vertebrate species, including mammals, birds, and amphibians. Finally, the analysis of bovine OPSR by MS identified an O-glycan on Ser22, a residue that is semi-conserved (Ser or Thr) among vertebrate OPSR and OPSG. These results suggest that O-glycosylation is a fundamental feature of red and green cone opsins, which may be relevant to their function or to cone cell development, and that differences in this post-translational modification also could contribute to the different morphologies of rod and cone photoreceptors.
Toddlers' sensitivity to talker age in novel word learning: Children are better teachers

From early on, young children are sensitive to talker-specific attributes present in the speech signal. For example, infants attend selectively and learn better from their mother’s voice than another female voice. Since age influences vocal quality, we asked whether toddlers show similar selective attention and learning from talkers of specific ages. We recorded visual and auditory stimuli from 3 adult males and females and 3 boys and girls. In Experiment 1, 24 toddlers viewed two side-by-side video clips of two talkers reciting a nursery rhyme and heard a soundtrack that matched with either the age or gender of one of the two talkers. The results revealed that children were able to match both vocal age and gender attributes to visual attributes. In Experiment 2, 24 toddlers were tested in a novel word learning task with talkers of different ages and genders. The results revealed that toddlers learned novel words from child talkers but failed to learn from adult talkers. These results suggest that young learners are sensitive to talker age information in speech and are biased towards learning words from younger talkers. We discuss the origins of such a bias.From early on, young children are sensitive to talker-specific attributes present in the speech signal. For example, infants attend selectively and learn better from their mother’s voice than another female voice. Since age influences vocal quality, we asked whether toddlers show similar selective attention and learning from talkers of specific ages. We recorded visual and auditory stimuli from 3 adult males and females and 3 boys and girls. In Experiment 1, 24 toddlers viewed two side-by-side video clips of two talkers reciting a nursery rhyme and heard a soundtrack that matched with either the age or gender of one of the two talkers. The results revealed that children were able to match both vocal age and gender attributes to visual attributes. In Experiment 2, 24 toddlers were tested in a novel word learning task with talkers of different ages and genders. The results revealed that toddlers learned novel words from child talkers but failed to learn from adult talkers. These results suggest that young l...