cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Catchment storage and residence time in a periodically irrigated watershed

Understanding anthropogenic impacts on water storage and water flow pathways in catchments is an ongoing challenge in hydrology. Here, we study the dynamics of subsurface storage and residence time of water in a catchment in Berkeley, California, that is within a regional park but contains diverse land use within its perimeter, including a periodically irrigated golf course. Our study combines several isotopic tracers with water budget data to examine sources of water in a stream draining the site. Irrigation water, applied to a small area of the watershed, is a minor component of the water budget. However, geochemical tracers reveal that irrigation water is a significant fraction of stream flow downstream of the golf course during baseflow and during precipitation events. Isotopic tracers indicate that the watershed has a preference to release young water for stream flow generation, resulting in contrasting tritium ages for stream water and groundwater of 1.3 ± 0.5 year and 8.2 ± 1.7 year, respectively. We determined that the older water is a very small component (0.7%) of the stream water in the tail of an assumed exponential distribution. We used the seasonal variation of stable water isotopes in precipitation and stream water over two water years to explain the damping of the isotopic signature of stream water, which yields information about the catchment's response to the input signal. The methods described here may be applicable to other urban or suburban headwater catchments in areas with a component of non‐natural recharge from, for example, leaky infrastructure, storm water routing or dry season irrigation.
Bilateral Congenital Cataracts

Congenital cataract is the leading cause of preventable childhood blindness. The purpose of this review is to discuss a systematic approach to the evaluation of bilateral congenital cataracts, both hereditary and non-hereditary. Children with bilateral cataracts require a detailed history and ophthalmic and systemic examination to guide further genetic and systemic evaluation. It is important to communicate with the pediatrician as well during this process. With advances in genetic testing, it is possible to identify causes for sporadic cataracts, as well as assess phenotype-genotype correlation of cataracts.
A Rare Case of Leukemia Cutis as the First Presentation of a Myelodysplastic Syndrome to Acute Myeloid Leukemia Transformation.

Leukemia cutis (LC) is a rare presentation of leukemia. It is characterized by the infiltration of leukemic cells into the different layers of the skin causing varying skin manifestations. It can occur before the hematological presentation of leukemia or during the disease course and carries a poor prognosis. Here, we report a patient with therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome (t-MDS) whose transformation to acute leukemia was heralded by the development of LC. Worrisome cutaneous lesions should not be overlooked, and a skin biopsy should be pursued to confirm the diagnosis. A high index of suspicion is the key to early recognition of sometimes nonspecific skin findings of widespread systemic disease.
Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery lacks a longitudinal survival advantage in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Background This study evaluates the longitudinal impacts of off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods Adults with LVEF ≤ 30% undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting between 2011 and 2020 were included. Patients were stratified based on the utilization of cardiopulmonary bypass into OPCAB or on-pump coronary artery bypass (ONCAB) groups. Primary outcomes included survival and hospital readmissions. Secondary outcomes evaluated postoperative morbidities. Multivariable regression evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and readmission. Propensity score matching was utilized to reduce bias. Results A total of 660 low LVEF patients were included, of which 28.5% (n = 188) were OPCAB and 71.5% (n = 472) were ONCAB. The rates of complete revascularization were similar between the groups (80.3% vs 82.0%; P = .67). Early survival between the unmatched groups was similar at 1-year follow-up (86.2% vs 87.9%; P = .53); however, at 5 years OPCABs had significantly worse survival compared with ONCABs (71.5% vs 64.2%; P = .02). These findings persisted in the matched cohort where survival at 1 year was comparable (86.8% vs 85.7%; P = .80), but 5-year survival was better for ONCABs (64.1% vs 69.9%; P = .03). The rates of readmission were similar between the unmatched and matched groups at all time intervals, including readmissions for cardiac-related and heart failure-related events (all, P > .05). Conclusions In contemporary patients with reduced LVEF, survival after OPCAB was similar at 1 year but lower at 5-year follow-up compared with ONCAB, despite similar rates of complete revascularization. These findings suggest that there may be other factors influencing longitudinal mortality in the low LVEF cohort, beyond the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.
Electron-Transparent Thermoelectric Coolers Demonstrated with Nanoparticle and Condensation Thermometry.

More efficient thermoelectric devices would revolutionize refrigeration and energy production, and low-dimensional thermoelectric materials are predicted to be more efficient than their bulk counterparts. But nanoscale thermoelectric devices generate thermal gradients on length scales that are too small to resolve with traditional thermometry methods. Here we fabricate, using single-crystal bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) and antimony/bismuth telluride (Sb2-xBixTe3) flakes exfoliated from commercially available bulk materials, functional thermoelectric coolers (TECs) that are only 100 nm thick. These devices are the smallest TECs ever demonstrated by a factor of 104. After depositing indium nanoparticles to serve as nanothermometers, we measure the heating and cooling produced by the devices with plasmon energy expansion thermometry (PEET), a high-spatial-resolution, transmission electron microscopy (TEM)-based thermometry technique, demonstrating a ΔT = -21 ± 4 K from room temperature. We also establish proof-of-concept for condensation thermometry, a quantitative temperature-change mapping technique with a spatial precision of ≲300 nm.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and risk of hospitalization for Covid-19.

Abstract Background Covid-19 disease causes significant morbidity and mortality through increase inflammation and thrombosis. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis are states of chronic inflammation and indicate advanced metabolic disease. We sought to understand the risk of hospitalization for Covid-19 associated with NAFLD/NASH. Methods Retrospective analysis of electronic medical record data of 6,700 adults with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR from March 1, 2020 to Aug 25, 2020. Logistic regression and competing risk were used to assess odds of being hospitalized. Additional adjustment was added to assess risk of hospitalization among patients with a prescription for metformin use within the 3 months prior to the SARS-CoV-2 PCR result, history of home glucagon-like-peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) use, and history of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS). Interactions were assessed by gender and race. Results A history of NAFLD/NASH was associated with increased odds of admission for Covid-19: logistic regression OR 2.04 (1.55, 2.96, p Conclusions NAFLD/NASH is a significant risk factor for hospitalization for Covid-19, and appears to account for risk attributed to obesity. Treatments for metabolic disease mitigated risks from NAFLD/NASH. More research is needed to confirm risk associated with visceral adiposity, and patients should be screened for and informed of treatments for metabolic syndrome. Key Questions Question Does NAFLD/NASH independently increase risk for poor outcomes from Covid-19? Findings In this observational study, a history of NAFLD/NASH was associated with a significantly increased odds of hospitalization. Metabolic surgery was protective against admission in persons with NAFLD/NASH and Covid-19. Metformin and glucagon like peptide 1 receptor agonists were associated with non-significant protecting against admission. Meaning Treatment for metabolic syndrome greatly reduce the elevated risk of hospitalization for Covid-19 among persons with NAFLD/NASH.
Spontaneous Intraparenchymal Hepatic Hemorrhage as a Sequela of COVID-19

Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been presenting with varying signs and symptoms. The medical community is being updated with new knowledge about this disease daily. We present a case of intrahepatic hemorrhage in a patient diagnosed with C0VID-19 which we believe was caused by endothelialitis, which is a characteristic feature of COVID-19. Nevertheless, further continued studies are required to validate this point. We aim to educate the medical community about the possible complications by COVID-19 in the liver and highlight that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may be a useful option in these cases.
Macrophage-targeted single walled carbon nanotubes stimulate phagocytosis via pH-dependent drug release

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the world. A driving feature of atherosclerotic plaque formation is dysfunctional efferocytosis. Because the “don’t eat me” molecule CD47 is upregulated in atherosclerotic plaque cores, CD47-blocking strategies can stimulate the efferocytic clearance of apoptotic cells and thereby help prevent the progression of plaque buildup. However, these therapies are generally costly and, in clinical and murine trials, they have resulted in side effects including anemia and reticulocytosis. Here, we developed and characterized an intracellular phagocytosis-stimulating treatment in the CD47-SIRPα pathway. We loaded a novel monocyte/macrophage-selective nanoparticle carrier system with a small molecule enzymatic inhibitor that is released in a pH-dependent manner to stimulate macrophage efferocytosis of apoptotic cell debris via the CD47-SIRPα signaling pathway. We demonstrated that single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can selectively deliver tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor 1 (TPI) intracellularly to macrophages, which potently stimulates efferocytosis, and chemically characterized the nanocarrier. Thus, SWNT-delivered TPI can stimulate macrophage efferocytosis, with the potential to reduce or prevent atherosclerotic disease.
Foraging in marine habitats increases mercury concentrations in a generalist seabird.

Abstract Methylmercury concentrations vary widely across geographic space and among habitat types, with marine and aquatic-feeding organisms typically exhibiting higher mercury concentrations than terrestrial-feeding organisms. However, there are few model organisms to directly compare mercury concentrations as a result of foraging in marine, estuarine, or terrestrial food webs. The ecological impacts of differential foraging may be especially important for generalist species that exhibit high plasticity in foraging habitats, locations, or diet. Here, we investigate whether foraging habitat, sex, or fidelity to a foraging area impact blood mercury concentrations in western gulls (Larus occidentalis) from three colonies on the US west coast. Cluster analyses showed that nearly 70% of western gulls foraged primarily in ocean or coastal habitats, whereas the remaining gulls foraged in terrestrial and freshwater habitats. Gulls that foraged in ocean or coastal habitats for half or more of their foraging locations had 55% higher mercury concentrations than gulls that forage in freshwater and terrestrial habitats. Ocean-foraging gulls also had lower fidelity to a specific foraging area than freshwater and terrestrial-foraging gulls, but fidelity and sex were unrelated to gull blood mercury concentrations in all models. These findings support existing research that has described elevated mercury levels in species using aquatic habitats. Our analyses also demonstrate that gulls can be used to detect differences in contaminant exposure over broad geographic scales and across coarse habitat types, a factor that may influence gull health and persistence of other populations that forage across the land-sea gradient.
Modeling of Crop Production Systems and System Characterization

A system is an integration of a group of interacting or interrelated components or subsystems to be operated collectively to perform a function. For example, an automated spray system consists of a spray boom and pumping subsystem and a controlling subsystem to regulate the spray system. In the boom several nozzles are mounted to deliver the liquid mix from the attached tank. The pump is basically a motor with the speed to be controlled for the nozzles to deliver different amount of liquid. The controller can be a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) controller to control the pump motor speed with a servo board signal output. Therefore, the voltage delivered to the pump motor can be in pulses with the pump speed determined by the modulated pulse width. A model is a simplified representation of a real system, and often consists of a series of selected inter-connected modules/elements to relate system input to output with specified boundaries and predetermined time characteristics. The purpose of a model can facilitate understanding of a system/process by simulating to eliminate unnecessary components, or to predict, control, and optimize events based on the past observations. Still in the example of the spray system, it can model the relationships between the subsystems and components to simulate how the voltage (pressure) settings drive corresponding motor speeds for different numbers of nozzles to deliver certain amount of liquid. In modeling only mathematical relationships are considered without any details of the components. For example, the total spray amount at the inlet of the boom is distributed (divided) to each nozzle. The relationship between PWM pump speed control and the servo voltage can be empirically calibrated with the data pair of servo output voltage and PWM control output voltage measured in system experiment. This relationship then can be interpolated or extrapolated to simulate the control of the spray system.
Effect of famotidine on hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Famotidine is a competitive histamine H2-receptor antagonist most commonly used for gastric acid suppression but thought to have potential efficacy in treating patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis are to summarize the current literature and report clinical outcomes on the use of famotidine for treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Five databases were searched through February 12, 2021 to identify observational studies that reported on associations of famotidine use with outcomes in COVID-19. Meta-analysis was conducted for composite primary clinical outcome (e.g. rate of death, intubation, or intensive care unit admissions) and death separately, where either aggregate odds ratio (OR) or hazard ratio (HR) was calculated. RESULTS: Four studies, reporting on 46,435 total patients and 3,110 patients treated with famotidine, were included in this meta-analysis. There was no significant association between famotidine use and composite outcomes in patients with COVID-19: HR 0.63 (95% CI: 0.35, 1.16). Across the three studies that reported mortality separated from other endpoints, there was no association between famotidine use during hospitalization and risk of death-HR 0.67 (95% CI: 0.26, 1.73) and OR 0.79 (95% CI: 0.19, 3.34). Heterogeneity ranged from 83.69% to 88.07%. CONCLUSION: Based on the existing observational studies, famotidine use is not associated with a reduced risk of mortality or combined outcome of mortality, intubation, and/or intensive care services in hospitalized individuals with COVID-19, though heterogeneity was high, and point estimates suggested a possible protective effect for the composite outcome that may not have been observed due to lack of power. Further randomized controlled trials (RCTs) may help determine the efficacy and safety of famotidine as a treatment for COVID-19 patients in various care settings of the disease.
Sterile neutrinos produced near the electroweak scale: Mixing angles, MSW resonances, and production rates

We study the production of sterile neutrinos in the region TMW in an extension beyond the standard model with the see-saw mass matrix originating in Yukawa couplings to Higgs-like scalars with masses and vev's of the order of the electroweak scale. Sterile neutrinos are produced by the decay of scalars and standard model vector bosons. We obtain the index of refraction, dispersion relations, mixing angles in the medium and production rates including those for right-handed sterile neutrinos, from the standard model and beyond the standard model self-energies. For 1 . MW/T. 3 we find narrow MSW resonances with k . T for both left and right handed neutrinos even in absence of a lepton asymmetry in the (active) neutrino sector, as well as very low energy (k/T � jj ) narrow MSW resonances in the presence of a lepton asymmetry consistent with the bounds from WMAP and BBN. For small vacuum mixing angle, consistent with observational bounds, the absorptive part of the self-energies lead to a strong damping regime very near the resonances resulting in the exact degeneracy of the propagating modes with a concomitant breakdown of adiabaticity. We argue that cosmological expansion sweeps through the resonances, resonant and non-resonant sterile neutrino production results in a highly non-thermal distribution function enhanced at small momentum k < T, with potentially important consequences for their free streaming length and transfer function at small scales.
Grain refinement of wrought austenitic stainless steels by rapid heating

Rapid heating after cold deformation has been investigated as a grain refinement technique for austenitic stainless steels. The method shows considerable promise for obtaining average grain diameters in the 3 to 10 μm range without causing carbide precipitation in the alloy. This technique has been used here to obtain a wide range of grain sizes in type 316 steel for property measurements. The hardness, tensile strength and 0.2 pct offset yield strength were found to vary linearly with the reciprocal of the square root of the average grain diameter.
Timing Analysis of Targeted Hunter Searches

One can determine all primitive number fields of a given degree and discriminant with a finite search of potential defining polynomials. We develop an asymptotic formula for the number of polynomials which need to be inspected which reflects both archimedean and non-archimedean restrictions placed on the coefficients of a defining polynomial.
Ultrasound-guided injection of the maxillary nerve in the horse

SummaryReasons for performing study Infiltration of the equine maxillary nerve with local anaesthetic can be useful for both diagnostic and surgical procedures. The deep location and proximity of the nerve to surrounding vascular and orbital structures make an accurate, complication-free injection a challenge using traditional techniques reliant upon surface anatomical landmarks. Objectives To develop an ultrasound-guided injection technique of the maxillary nerve in equine cadavers and to evaluate its efficacy and potential for complications in vivo. Study design Descriptive cadaver anatomical and clinical study. Methods The relevant anatomy of the pterygopalatine fossa was reviewed in 6 cadaver heads from mature horses of a range of ages, breeds and genders. In an additional 13 cadaver heads, ultrasound-guided injection of 0.2 ml New Methylene Blue dye was performed on both left and right maxillary nerves (n = 26 attempts) in the pterygopalatine fossa. An independent observer dissected the area and recorded the number of times that dye successfully contacted the nerve, along with inadvertent penetration of other structures. The procedure was then performed on 8 clinical cases undergoing a variety of standing surgical procedures on the head. Results Dye was successfully deposited in contact with the nerve during all attempts on cadaver heads, with no penetration of the orbital cone, deep facial vein and maxillary artery or associated branches. In a single cadaver, a unilateral gas artefact in the masseter muscle prohibited an injection attempt. Analgesia of the maxillary nerve was achieved in <15 min in all clinical cases, with complete loss of ipsilateral cutaneous sensation over the rostral face. No gross or ultrasonographic abnormalities were detected following the procedure. Conclusions Using ultrasonographic landmarks of the pterygopalatine fossa, local anaesthetic can be deposited around the maxillary nerve without the inadvertent penetration of adjacent vital structures. Potential relevance The technique allows for vascular structures to be visualised and avoided, which is currently not possible using traditional blind approaches.
Pulsations of B stars: A review of observations and theories

I discuss the observational and theoretical status for several classes of variable B stars. The older classes now seem to be better understood in TERMS of those stars that probably have at least one radial mode and those that have only nonradial modes. The former are the β Cephei variables, and the latter are the slowly rotating 53 Persei and the rapidly rotating S Ophiuchi variables. It seems that in this last class there are also some Be stars that show nonradial pulsations from the variations of the line shapes and their light. Among the nonradial pulsators, we must also include the supergiants which show pulsations with very short lifetimes, A review of the present observational and theoretical problems is given. The most persistent problem of the cause for the pulsations is briefly discussed, and many proposed mechanisms plus some new thoughts are presented.
Ultraviolet comm links for distributed sensor networks

Free-space ultraviolet communication exploits atmospheric scattering and absorption to achieve modest data rates with non-line-of-sight transmit-receive geometries. We introduce the ultraviolet communication concept and report on test bed measurements made outdoors in full daylight.
The Courtesan and the Birth of Ars Erotica in the Kāmasūtra: A History of Erotics in the Wake of Foucault

T h i s a r T i c l e i n v e s T i g a T e s T h e role played by the courtesan in determining the nature and origin of the Kāmasūtra (Treatise on pleasure), the Sanskrit text from ancient India, in critical engagement with michel Foucault’s notion of ars erotica. In particular, this article focuses on the courtesan as the historical anchor of a subtle—but critical—affinity between erotics and the discourse and practice of theater evident in the Kāmasūtra. An understanding of this affinity is crucial for determining the nature of pleasure and the precise mode of its pursuit in this foundational text on erotics. What is at the heart of this affinity, this article contends, is the question of identity as it relates to the discourse and practice of pleasure. more generally, this article argues that it was the courtesan and the set of practices that developed around her that constituted not only the historical and cultural context of the Kāmasūtra but also one of its most important sources of ideas. The courtesan thus holds the key to both the nature and historical origin of ars erotica as it took form in India. The Kāmasūtra, attributed to Vātsyāyana, was composed in the third century of the Common Era. After its translation into English for the first time in 1883, the Kāmasūtra emerged worldwide as an iconic text in the field of erotics. Its impact in India, however, was felt far beyond its own
Thermal shaping of shell-crosslinked (SCK) nanoparticles, facilitated by nanoconfinement of fluid-like cores

The controlled manipulation of the shape of shell-crosslinked (SCK) nanoparticles is described as a novel methodology for the construction of complex nanostructured materials. The presence of a hydrophobic, fluid-like (low Tg) core domain in the SCK allows for substrate-induced shaping of the nanoparticle. The SCK nanoparticles are prepared by the self-assembly of poly(acrylic acid)-block-polyisoprene (PAA-b-PI) diblock copolymers into polymer micelles, followed by crosslinking of the hydrophilic shell layer via amidation reactions between the acrylic acid functionalities and 2,2′-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine). The synthesis of two amphiphilic diblock copolymers, one consisting of an unmodified PI block (PAA-b-PI, PI having 86% 4,1-microstructure, Tg(PI) = −75 °C) and the other composed of a hydrochlorinated PI block (PAA-b-PI(HCl), Tg(PI(HCl)) = 27 °C), the assembly of the copolymers into polymer micelles and the subsequent shell-crosslinking of the micelles into SCKs is described. The synthesis of a poly(tert-butyl acrylate)-block-polyisoprene (PtBA-b-PI) precursor via nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMRP) and the subsequent methanesulfonic acid catalyzed cleavage of the precursor's tert-butyl ester groups is discussed. Treatment of poly(tert-butyl acrylate)-block-polyisoprene (PAA-b-PI) with HCl(g) is also described as a method for hydrolysis of the tert-butyl esters and for hydrochlorination of the unsaturated groups of PI to yield PAA-b-PI(HCl) in one step. The results of the analyses of solution properties are presented and these findings, in conjunction with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) size measurements, indicate spherical shapes for the SCKs in aqueous solution. Using a combination of TEM and AFM dimension determinations, an SCK containing a PI core (predominantly cis-4,1-repeat units) of Tg = −63 °C is shown to deform, at room temperature, from the solution-state spherical shape upon deposition onto a mica substrate. By contrast, deposition of an SCK containing a PI(HCl) core (Tg = 33 °C) shows little deformation at room temperature from spherical shape as determined by its particle aspect ratio of 1.4 (sphere = 1.0). Thermally-driven particle shape manipulation, behavior analogous to the processing of nanoscopic thermoplastic materials, is demonstrated with the hydrochlorinated SCK (PAA-b-PI(HCl)). A large decrease in the average AFM particle height of this SCK is found upon heating above the Tg of the hydrochlorinated PI core (33 °C). This finding demonstrates the major role played by the core (glassy vs. fluid-like) in defining the equilibrium shape of the SCK. Crosslinking within the core domain (in addition to the initial shell crosslinking) is also shown to dramatically increase the rigidity of the nanoparticles and prevent nanoparticle shape deformation when in contact with substrates.
Model of activated chemisorption and its application

Abstract A model is proposed for the calculation of sticking probabilities ( S ) for activated chemisorption of gases from molecular beams. The cases examined are: monochromatic, effusional and supersonic molecular beams. The equations derived are used for activation energy calculations of H 2 /Cu and N 2 /W chemisorption. The model gives an adequate description of S dependencies on mean kinetic energy and incidence angle of a molecular beam.
Neurofibrosarcoma of spermatic cord.

Abstract The first report of a neurofibrosarcoma arising within the spermatic cord is presented. The light and electron microscopic features are discussed.
Prevalence of Osteoporosis in Women Referred for Bone Density Testing: Utility of Multiple Skeletal Sites

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine retrospectively the prevalence of osteoporosis in a referral population and to compare the effectiveness of measuring multiple skeletal sites for identifying osteoporosis. Although osteoporosis is considered to be a major public health problem in the United States, and there are reliable methods for diagnosis based on bone densitometry, fewer than 25% of cases are currently identified. There is no consensus about which skeletal site(s) should be measured for optimal results. In this study, bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the radius (proximal site), lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total proximal femur regions in 537 consecutive white females age 50 and older referred by community physicians for bone densitometry. The prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis (based on the World Health Organization definitions) was determined, as well as the incidence of misclassification of patients based on different skeletal sites. Overall, 53.3% had osteoporosis, an additional 37.7% had osteopenia, and only 8.7% had normal BMD at all measurement sites. The prevalence was similar at all measurement sites and the incidence of misclassification was low. Given the magnitude of undetected osteoporosis and the efficacy of bone densitometry at any skeletal site, these data have important implications for the optimal deployment of bone density measurement facilities.
Role of leptin receptor-induced STAT3 signaling in modulation of intestinal and hepatic inflammation in mice.

Leptin-deficient ob/ob mice are resistant to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis. However, the signal transduction pathways involved have not been identified. The present study investigated the effect of leptin-induced STAT3 signaling in the DSS and Con A models. Mice carrying a leptin receptor (LEPR) gene mutant for Y1138 (s/s mice), with abrogated leptin-induced STAT3 signaling, were compared with wild-type (WT) and LEPR-deficient db/db mice. Administration of DSS to s/s mice resulted in a clinical score and colon shortening of intermediate severity compared with disease induced in WT and db/db mice—the latter group having the lowest disease severity. A comparable degree of inflammatory infiltrate and epithelial damage was observed in the colon of WT and s/s mice, and these parameters were reduced in db/db mice. Levels of IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α were comparable in the colon of s/s and db/db mice, and a similar trend was observed for CXCL2. s/s and WT mice developed severe liver disease in response to Con A, whereas db/db mice were protected. However, Con A-induced serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels in s/s mice mimicked levels observed in db/db rather than WT mice. In conclusion, lack of leptin-induced STAT3 signaling is associated with reduced cytokine production following DSS and Con A administration, but it appears to sensitize mice to the effects of proinflammatory mediators.
Enhanced column flotation performance for fine coal cleaning

Abstract Past studies have found that the froth flotation process is efficient in recovering heavy middling particles, which negatively affects the recovery-grade curve achieved for fine coal recovery. Experimental and theoretical results indicate that the recovery of middling particles can be reduced from 25% to 10% using flotation columns in a multi-stage cleaning approach, thereby improving the overall separation performance. Tests conducted on a −48 mesh coal sample found a 7% improvement in mass yield using a rougher-cleaner column circuit while producing a flotation concentrate containing 8% ash. Similarfindings were obtained from the treatment of a −65 mesh coal sample using a different flotation column technology. To fundamentalty evaluate the use of multi-stage cleaning, a continuous column model has been developed which incorporates selective and non-selective froth drop-back, and feed component flotation kinetics. For kinetic rate limiting conditions, separation performance was found to substantially improve with the use of multi-stage cleaning, which agrees with the experimental findings. Under carrying capacity conditions, the improvement is a function of the degree of selectivity in the detachment process. Economic justification of the use of multi-stage column treatment must be based on enhancements in product grade and/or mass yield.
Tripyl-convergent total synthesis of a homochiral benzoindane-fused prostacyclin analog

Abstract Benzoindane-fused prostacyclin analog 14 was prepared from homochiral ammonium salt 5 in 7 steps and 35% overall yield. Key include addition of “soft” aryllithium reagent 6b to 5 to afford 7 ; and addition of homochiral acetylide 9 to the vinyl sulfone moiety of chloride 8 (with subsequent in situ cyclization) to afford 10 , thereby rapidly assembling the tricyclic framework of 14 . Compound 14 was a weak inhibitor of collagen-induced platelet aggregation having an IC50 = 2.5μM.
The continuing important role of radionuclide generator systems for nuclear medicine

In this review, the continuing importance and status of development of radionuclide generator systems for nuclear medicine are discussed. Radioisotope costs and availability are two important factors, and both nuclear reactors and accelerator facilities are required for production of the parent radioisotopes. Radionuclide generator research is currently focused on the development of generators which provide radioisotopes for positron emission tomography (PET) applications and daughter radioisotopes for various therapeutic applications which decay primarily by particle emission. Generator research continues to be influenced by developments and requirements of complementary technologies, such as the increasing availability of PET. In addition, the availability of a wide spectrum of tumor-specific antibodies, fragments, and peptides for radio-immunodiagnosis and radioimmunotherapy has stimulated the need for generator-derived radioisotopes. The advantages of treatment of arthritis of the synovial joints with radioactive particles (radiation synovectomy) may be expected to be of increasing importance as the elderly population increases, and many of these agents are prepared using generator-derived radioisotopes such as yttrium-90 and rhenium-188. Therapeutic use of the “in vivo generator” is a new approach, where the less radio-toxic parent radioisotope is used to prepare tissue-speciic therapeutic agents. Following in vivo site localization, decay of the parent provides the daughter for therapy at the target site. The principal foundation of most diagnostic agents will continue to require technetium-99m from the molybdenum-99/technetium-99m (“Moly”) generator. With the limited availability of nuclear reactors and facilities necessary for production and processing of fission 99mTc and the significant issues and problems associated with radioactive waste processing, however, the possibility of utilizing lower specific activity 99Mo produced from neutron activation of enriched 98Mo may become practical in the future.
CiVicinity events: pairing geolocation tools with a community calendar

In this paper, we introduce the design of a location-sensitive calendar as part of an ongoing community portal project. CiVicinity's Events page supports the aggregation and presentation of activities and events throughout the community in one centralized location. The integration of location-aware features, including map visuals and distances based on a user's current location, enhances the locality of the online calendar. We support the design rationale of this calendar through a brief user evaluation study focusing on the benefits and additions of the location-sensitive features.
Stent modeling using immersed finite element method

Abstract The objective of this paper is to study the mechanical behaviors of angioplasty stents during and after implantation using a fluid–structure interaction computational technique. The deployment of a balloon expandable stent is simulated using immersed finite element method (IFEM), which was developed for solving complex fluid and deformable structure interaction problems. Using this method, we modelled a stainless steel stent in a blood vessel. A balloon is deployed to assist the expansion of the stent that is to be plastically deformed. The balloon is modelled as a thin hyperelastic material while the stent has the property of steel. The mechanical behaviors such as the expansion mechanism, stress distribution on the stent, and the surrounding fluid velocity profile during the implantation of the stent are studied. With appropriate applied internal pressure, the balloon inside the stent is deployed which linearly expands the diameter of a Medtronic AVE Modular Stent S7 until it reaches 1.7 times of its original diameter. The results will assist in the development of novel stent designs and stent deployment protocols to minimize vascular injury during stenting and reduce restenosis.
Nonlinear response theories and effective pair potentials

We present a general method based on nonlinear response theory to obtain effective interactions between ions in an interacting electron gas, which can also be applied to other systems where an adiabatic separation of time scales is possible. Nonlinear contributions to the interatomic potential are expressed in terms of physically meaningful quantities, giving insight into the physical properties of the system. The method is applied to various test cases and is found to improve the standard linear and quadratic response approaches. It also reduces the discrepancies previously observed between perturbation theory and density functional theory results for proton-proton pair potentials in metallic environments.
Simultaneous melting and freezing in the impingement region of a liquid jet

An experimental investigation of an impinging water jet freezing on a melting solid surface has been carried out. Attention was focused on the stagnation region of an axisymmetric jet. In the experiment, a water jet was directed upward against the lower end of a meltable rod, having a diameter about twice that of the jet orifice. Solid octane (m.p.—56.5°C) and solid mercury (m.p.—38.9°C) served as the meltable materials. A laminar-axisymmetric flow model was developed to describe melting heat transfer in the presence of jet solidification within the impingement region. Measurements of the melting rate and conditions for the onset of jet solidification were found to agree quite well with the values predicted with this model.
Krugman Meets Marx and Keynes at the Baby-Sitting Co-op

Paul Krugman tells the story of the Capitol Hill baby-sitting co-op as a means of introducing readers to the economics of recessions. We take the story from where Krugman stops and develop it by presenting different aspects of a monetary economy with the help of a graphical analysis. This is done with the introduction of history of economic thought to the curriculum by visiting monetary theories of Karl Marx’s Capital (1867) and John Maynard Keynes’s A Treatise on Money (1930). The benefit of using these two sources is twofold. First, it is possible to find a common theory in both Marx and Keynes’s writings to explain the baby-sitting co-op story. Second, it is possible to move beyond the story and introduce other aspects of a monetary economy such as endogenoity of money, industrial and financial circulation of money, etc. In addition, a graphical framework is developed as teaching aid.
10 AMOXICILLIN PHARMACOKINETICS IN THE PRETERM INFANT

Amoxicillin (AM) is one of the most frequently used antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial infections in the preterm infants. Despite the widespread use of AM in neonatal intensive care units, pharmacokinetic studies in preterm infants are not available. The recommended dosage of AM is 50-100mg/kg/24h. We studied the multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of AM (25 mg/kg q12h) in 17 preterm infants (gest. age 29 ± 1.9 wks) on day 3 of life. Blood samples were taken before (t = 0) and 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 hrs after the AM dose and analyzed by HPLC-assay. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of all infants was simultaneously studied by means of the 24h continuous inulin infusion technique to investigate the effect of GFR on the clearance of AM. The results were: Conclusions. 1. Amoxicillin 25 mg/kg q12h results in adequate serum levels of AM in preterm infants with a gestational age below 32 weeks on day 3 of life. 2. The total body clearance of AM (1.0 ± 0.4 ml/min) and the GFR (1.0 ± 0.3 ml/min) are equal, indicating that AM is primarily excreted by glomerular filtration in the preterm infant.
Leveraging Human Genetics to Develop Future Therapeutic Strategies in Rheumatoid Arthritis

The purpose of this article is to place these genetic discoveries in the context of current and future therapeutic strategies for patients with RA. More specifically, this article focuses on (1) a brief overview of genetic studies, (2) human genetics as an approach to identify the Achilles heel of disease pathways, (3) humans as the model organism for functional studies of human mutations, (4) pharmacogenetic studies to gain insight into the mechanism of action of drugs, and (5) next-generation patient registries to enable large-scale genotype-phenotype studies.
Micromechanics Analysis of Porous and Filled Ceramic Composites

A finite element analysis was used to calculate the internal stresses and deformations everywhere within spherically filled or porous ceramic materials. This analysis accounts for interactions between inclusions and demonstrates the importance of these interactions on stress fields around the inclusions. Modulus of elasticity and Poisson's ratio were calculated for porous and filled ceramics. The predicted modulus is compared with experimental data for two glass composites; the agreement is excellent.
Major and minor electrocardiographic abnormalities and their association with underlying cardiovascular disease and risk factors in Hispanics/Latinos (from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos)

The association of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities with cardiovascular disease and risk factors has been extensively studied in whites and African-Americans. Comparable data have not been reported in Hispanics/Latinos. The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) is a multicenter, community-based, prospective cohort study of men and women of diverse backgrounds aged 18 to 74 years who self-identified as Hispanic/Latinos. Participants (n = 16,415) enrolled from March 2008 to June 2011. We describe the prevalence of minor and major ECG abnormalities and examined their cross-sectional associations with cardiovascular disease and risk factors. The Minnesota code criteria were used to define minor and major ECG abnormalities. Previous cardiovascular disease and risk factors were based on data obtained at baseline examination. Significant differences in prevalent ECG findings were found between men and women. Major ECG abnormalities were present in 9.2% (95% confidence interval 8.3 to 10.1) of men and 6.6% (95% confidence interval 5.8 to 7.3) of women (p
Proteome-wide post-translational modification statistics: frequency analysis and curation of the swiss-prot database

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) broadly contribute to the recent explosion of proteomic data and possess a complexity surpassing that of protein design. PTMs are the chemical modification of a protein after its translation, and have wide effects broadening its range of functionality. Based on previous estimates, it is widely believed that more than half of proteins are glycoproteins. Whereas mutations can only occur once per position, different forms of post-translational modifications may occur in tandem. With the number and abundances of modifications constantly being discovered, there is no method to readily assess their relative levels. Here we report the relative abundances of each PTM found experimentally and putatively, from high-quality, manually curated, proteome-wide data, and show that at best, less than one-fifth of proteins are glycosylated. We make available to the academic community a continuously updated resource (http://selene.princeton.edu/PTMCuration) containing the statistics so scientists can assess “how many” of each PTM exists.
Interfacial adhesion of cellulose fiber and natural fiber filled polypropylene compounds and their effects on rheological and mechanical properties

Rayon fiber (RN) and pine wood fiber (PW) filled polypropylene (PP) compounds, PP/RN (90/05 and 75/25 wt%) and PP/PW (90/05, 75/25 and 50/50 wt%), are investigated for their interfacial adhesion, rheological properties, morphology, nucleation and mechanical properties. The interfacial adhesion of the RN-filled PP compounds is better than that of the PW ones. As the concentration of the RN and the PW particles is increased, the dynamic viscosity, the crystallization temperature, and the tensile modulus are increased; however, the tensile strain is decreased. The viscosity of the RN-filled compounds is higher than that of the PW ones at the same loadings. Significant differences are found in the elongation yield test. As the concentration of the particles is increased, the elongation yield stress of the RN compounds is increased. Elongation yield stress of the PW compounds is decreased and more spherulites are locally developed on the RN surface than the PW surface. The interfacial adhesion of the RN surfac...
Effects of alcohol on cardiovascular performance after experimental nonpenetrating chest trauma.

Abstract Electrocardiographic and hemodynamic correlates were recorded before and after a standardized nonpenetrating blow to the chest in 9 anesthetized control dogs (Group I), 5 dogs pretreated with alcohol, 0.4 g/kg intravenously (Group II), and 12 dogs undergoing chest trauma after alcohol infusions (Group III). In animals in Group I, transient major arrhythmias, including complete heart block and ventricular tachycardia, occurred immediately after impact. One animal died with ventricular fibrillation. In the eight survivors these disturbances were accompanied by acute reductions in aortic pressure and cardiac index; values for both variables gradually increased after restoration of sinus mechanism. Alcohol alone (Group II) produced no significant alterations in either hemodynamic performance or electrical activity, but when combined with nonpenetrating chest injury (Group III) it caused a mortality rate of 92 percent, the majority of animals dying with electromechanical dissociation. Mean survival time in Group III was 23.1 ± 6.5 (standard error of the mean) minutes compared with 80.3 ± 9.6 minutes in Group I. At autopsy, minor cardiac lesions of either the pericardium or myocardium were observed in all animals in Groups I and III, but none were considered lethal. It is concluded that administration of alcohol, even in small doses, can effect catastrophic reductions in mechanical performance in the presence of otherwise nonfatal cardiac injury secondary to nonpenetrating chest trauma. The clinical implications of this association are discussed.
Velocity and extraneous boundary conditions of viscous flow problems

A novel method for treating certain troublesome boundary conditions in the numerical solution of time-dependent incompressible viscous flow problems is presented. This new method is developed on the basis of an integral representation for the velocity vector which contains the entire kinematics of the problem, including the boundary conditions of concern. It is shown that for the exterior flow problem the free-stream condition is satisfied at infinity exactly and the need to treat a far-field condition is removed by the use of the integral representation. The distribution of a nonvelocity variable on the solid boundary - i.e., the 'extraneous' boundary condition needed for both the exterior and the interior flows - is shown to be governed by the kinematics of the problem.