cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Church and State in the Byzantine Empire: A Reconsideration of The Problem of Caesaropapism

In the medieval theocratic societies of both the Byzantine East and the Latin West, where the influence of Christian precepts so strongly pervaded all aspects of life, it was inevitable that the institutions of church and state, of sacerdotium and regnum to use the traditional Latin terms, be closely tied to one another. But whereas in the West, at least after the investiture conflict of the eleventh century, the pope managed to exert a strong political influence over secular rulers, notably the Holy Roman Emperor, in the East, from the very foundation of Constantinople in the fourth century, the Byzantine emperor seemed clearly to dominate over his chief ecclesiastical official, the patriarch.
Mineral Deposits of Canada: A Synthesis of Major Deposit Types, District Metallogeny, the Evolution of Geological Provinces and Exploration Methods. Wayne D. Goodfellow, Editor. 1,068 Pp. Geological Association of Canada, Mineral Deposits Division, Special Publication No. 5. 2007. Hardcover. ISBN-13: 978-1-897095-24-9. Price: members CDN$60.00, non-members CDN$80.00.

Following in the footsteps of other landmark reviews of major ore-producing countries such as Australia (Hughes, 1990; Solomon and Groves, 1994) and South Africa (Anhaeusser and Maske, 1986), this substantial (>1,000 pages) monograph is a great achievement that should be in every geologic research library in the world. In many ways it sets a new standard, most notably in that all figures and photographs are in color and that the entire volume is available in electronic form, both as an included DVD and (mostly) on the GAC website. It is common in such compendia to have a spectacular cover photo or frontispiece to catch the reader’s attention, and this book does not disappoint. The frontispiece photo is of a 61.8-kg sample from the Dome mine, Timmins, Ontario, and is stated to contain 20 wt percent gold. At today’s prices, the gold alone would be worth 1.5 million dollars! …
A voltage-controlled beam splitter and a voltage-controlled scanner for laser systems

Present beam splitters allow a maximum beam separation of about 12o, and an electronically-controlled scanner for lasers is non-existent. Design variables are presented for a beam splitter (yielding up to 90o or more beam separation), and for an electronic scanner. Voltage control is obtained by changing input polarization components with a voltage-controlled KDP crystal. The beam splitter consists of two doubly-refracting crystals, either optically clamped or cemented, so as to form an oblique boundary at which one component is totally reflected, and the other, totally transmitted. The beam-separation angle determines the angle of incidence, which in turn specifies the maximum ratio (n 1 /n 2 ) of indices of refraction for the totally-reflected component and the exact ratio of indices required for total transmission of the other. Experimental measurements of the relative transmission intensities for the two beams are presented for a first experimental model. The scanner makes use of one of the conical refraction phenomena found in biaxial crystals. Here, each direction of vibration has a unique and "continuous" direction of refraction; so a "continuous" scan then results from a "continuous" change in the input vibration direction. Shaping of the output surface, or of some external media properly directs each particular ray. The beam splitter may prove especially useful in sampling, feedback, logic, and intensity-control systems, and the scanner in high-speed sweeping systems, including optical radar and television.
An STM for biological applications: Bioscope

SUMMARY We present an STM with an improved coarse positioning system and a large scan area which is especially suitable for biological applications. Three stepper motors are used to move an X-Y-Z table. Movements of motor axes are geared down to drive micrometer spindles so that steps of 250 nm can be performed. The stepper motors can be uncoupled from the STM for scanning operation. A piezo tube is used to scan areas of up to 10times10μm with low voltage operation. Probes can be scanned in air or in electrochemical cells. High stability against thermal drift and vibrations is achieved by a rigid and symmetrical design.
Structural Activity Relationship Studies of Zebra Mussel Antifouling and Antimicrobial Agents from Verongid Sponges

Several dibromotyramine derivatives including moloka'iamine were selected as potential zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) antifoulants due to the noteworthy absence of fouling observed on sponges of the order Verongida. Sponges of the order Verongida consistently produce these types of bromotyrosine-derived secondary metabolites. Previously reported antifouling data for the barnacle Balanus amphitrite(EC50 = 12.2 microM) support the results reported here that the compound moloka'iamine may be a potential zebra mussel antifoulant compound (EC50 = 10.4 microM). The absence of phytotoxic activity of the compound moloka'iamine toward Lemna pausicostata and, most importantly, the compound's significant selectivity against macrofouling organisms such as zebra mussels suggest the potential utility of this compound as a naturally derived antifoulant lead.
Dynamic modeling and simulation of greenhouse environments under several scenarios: A web-based application

Greenhouse crop production systems are located throughout the world within a wide range of climatic conditions. To achieve environmental conditions favorable for plant growth, greenhouses are designed with various components, structural shapes, and numerous types of glazing materials. They are operated differently according to each condition. To improve the pedagogy and the understanding of the complexity and dynamic behavior of greenhouse environments with different configurations, an interactive, dynamic greenhouse environment simulator was developed. The greenhouse environment model, based on energy and mass balance principles, was implemented in a web-based interactive application that allowed for the selection of the greenhouse design, weather conditions, and operational strategies. The greenhouse environment simulator was designed to be used as an educational tool for demonstrating the physics of greenhouse systems and environmental control principles. Several scenarios were simulated to demonstrate how a specific greenhouse design would respond environmentally for several climate conditions (four seasons of four geographical locations), and to demonstrate what systems would be required to achieve the desired environmental conditions. The greenhouse environment simulator produced realistic approximations of the dynamic behavior of greenhouse environments with different design configurations for 28-h simulation periods.
Application of eddy covariance measurements to the temperature dependence of soil organic matter mean residence time

[1] The micrometeorological technique of eddy covariance is a powerful tool for characterizing the carbon (C) budget of terrestrial ecosystems. However, few attempts have been made to link canopy-scale eddy exchange to soil C processes. Here we develop a simple means of using calculations derived from a global database of eddy flux measurements to examine the role of climate on soil C decomposition rates. We then compare the results of the eddy covariance calculations to the temperature dependence of soil C residence times determined by four common methods: laboratory incubations, direct soil respiration measurements, radiocarbon uptake, and stable C isotope change following land conversion. In all five methods, the soil organic C turnover time decreases exponentially with increasing mean annual temperature. The similar slopes and intercepts of the eddy flux and chamber measurements lend support for the robustness of micrometeorological techniques in measuring respiration. The similarities in the response of soil C turnover to temperature for the eddy flux and 14C-derived turnover times is especially encouraging in that bomb-14C measurements do not rely on any of the assumptions that were used to calculate soil C turnover from eddy flux data. However, the 13C isotope method yields a significantly different slope and intercept than the other three techniques. The results of this work reinforce the recognized temperature dependence of soil C turnover and suggest that eddy flux experiments are a useful and additional approach for studying the soil C budget.
Three-dimensional ultrasonography for planning percutaneous drainage of complex abdominal fluid collections.

PURPOSE To identify information provided by three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography (US) useful for percutaneous drainage of complex abdominal fluid collections. MATERIALS AND METHODS 3D US evaluation of the collection structure and spatial relationship of items of interest was performed immediately before percutaneous access of 46 complex fluid collections in 26 patients (28 procedures). Procedurally useful information was tabulated and analyzed. RESULTS In five of 28 procedures (18%), 3D US could not visualize the fluid collections. In 21 of 23 procedures (91%) with adequate US visualization, 3D US provided unique helpful information: in 20 of 21 (95%), the direction of access was selected to favor subsequent manipulation; in 17 of 21 (81%), a single access site could be used for multiple drains; in 17 of 21 (81%), the location of the drain was determined; in 11 of 21 (52%), the number of drains was altered; and in six of 21 (29%), high-risk deep collections were accessed via connections from safer superficial collections. 3D US provided no additional information in two of 23 procedures (9%) and provided misinformation regarding interconnections between collections in two of 23 (9%). Percutaneous drainage was curative in 20 of 26 patients (77%). CONCLUSION In sonographically suitable situations, 3D US can add substantial information on structure and spatial relationships to optimize initial drainage of complex fluid collections.
Micro Feature Pad Development and Its Performance in Chemical Mechanical Planarization

There are many elements affecting CMP performance such as the slurry, pad, process parameters and pad conditioning. Among these, the pad is considered to be one of the most important parts because of its deterioration during polishing. However, specific pad design techniques have not yet been fully investigated. In this paper, conventional polyurethane pad characteristics are investigated. A pad design based on this analysis is suggested. Prototype pads are fabricated using micro molding and are used in an experiment for examining the pad deterioration mechanism.
‘Here come the cops’: Policing the resistance in rap music

When rap music broke into the mainstream in the late 1980s, it was quickly hailed as a vehicle for political resistance against the blatant social and racial inequalities in the United States. Howe...
The adding machine fraternity at St. Louis: creating a center of invention, 1880-1920

Between 1880 and 1920, several inventors in St. Louis, Missouri, made pioneering contributions to the development of commercial adding machines. The inventions of Frank S. Baldwin, William S. Burroughs, the brothers William W. and Hubert H. Hopkins, and their associates did much to make mechanical arithmetic commonplace in US business.
3-D microfabricated toroidal planar inductors with different magnetic core schemes for MEMS and power electronic applications

Micromachined toroidal planar inductors that have three different magnetic core structures have been designed, fabricated, and characterized for MEMS and power electronic applications. A plain ring core shows a high inductance value of 10 /spl mu/H in a low frequency range below 2 kHz, whereas both a ring core with an air gap and a spiral type core show higher inductance values in a high frequency range of 2 kHz-1 MHz. The inductors have a low resistance value of /spl sim/1.5 /spl Omega/ with total dimensions 4 mm/spl times/1.5 mm/spl times/120 /spl mu/m.
Cytotoxic Effects of Methionine Alkyl Esters and Amides in Normal and Neoplastic Cell Lines

Homologous series of L-methionine alkyl ester hydrochlorides and tosylates were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro growth inhibitory activity in Meth A sarcoma. Cytotoxicity, as determined by [3H]thymidine incorporation, was found to be directly proportional to alkyl chain length and surface tension lowering activity. L-Methionine decyl and dodecyl ester hydrochlorides possessed optimum cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 29, 28 μM) which was not reversible by the addition of L-methionine. Surface tension of a 50 μM solution of the decyl and dodecyl ester hydrochlorides were 35.4 and 32.7 dyn/cm, respectively. The corresponding decyl and dodecyl ester tosylates and amide hydrochlorides were less active. The N-t-butoxycarbonyl analogues were essentially inactive, demonstrating the necessity of an unsubstituted and/or potentially cationic amino group. Methionine dependence characteristics and cytotoxicity were also determined for three human (IMR-90, LX-1, MCF7) and four additional murine (L1210, L5178Y, 3T3, SV-T2) cell lines. The human cell lines Meth A, LX-1, and SV-T2 were found to be methionine independent. The LX-1 tumor cell line and the SV-T2 transformed line exhibited two to four times more sensitivity to the cytotoxic and cytolytic properties of the decyl and dodecyl ester hydrochlorides than their normal counterparts. The dodecyl amide hydrochloride derivative demonstrated enhanced cytotoxic activity in vivo relative to the corresponding ester, possibly due to decreased metabolic hydrolysis.
Claudins and the Kidney

Claudins are tight-junction membrane proteins that function as both pores and barriers in the paracellular pathway in epithelial cells. In the kidney, claudins determine the permeability and selectivity of different nephron segments along the renal tubule. In the proximal tubule, claudins have a role in the bulk reabsorption of salt and water. In the thick ascending limb, claudins are important for the reabsorption of calcium and magnesium and are tightly regulated by the calcium-sensing receptor. In the distal nephron, claudins need to form cation barriers and chloride pores to facilitate electrogenic sodium reabsorption and potassium and acid secretion. Aldosterone and the with-no-lysine (WNK) proteins likely regulate claudins to fine-tune distal nephron salt transport. Genetic mutations in claudin-16 and -19 cause familial hypomagnesemic hypercalciuria with nephrocalcinosis, whereas polymorphisms in claudin-14 are associated with kidney stone risk. It is likely that additional roles for claudins in the pathogenesis of other types of kidney diseases have yet to be uncovered.
Molecular Population Genetics of Sodium Channel and Juvenile Hormone Esterase Markers in Relation to Pyrethroid Resistance in Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Pyrethroid insecticide resistance in strains of tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), has been linked to a locus hscp , which encodes the target of action of pyrethroids, a voltage-gated sodium channel (α subunit). Using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, we examined allelic variation for the DNA marker locus Hpy within this gene, and for an additional marker locus Hejs within a juvenile hormone esterase gene, for population samples from the southern United States in 1990 and 1995. FST, the estimate of genetic variance among populations for Hpy was 0.041 (SE = 0.005), significantly greater than the FST of 0.001 (SE = 0.003) for Hejs , and other estimates reported for allozyme loci in a 1989 collection over a similar geographic range. The greater variance for Hpy suggests that selection had been acting at or near the hscp locus. There was a significant excess of Hpyl, 3 , and 5 homozygotes in the 1990 collection, relative to Hardy–Weinberg expectation. However, there was also excess homozygosity for Hejs alleles, for reasons unknown. Hpy3 , the 3rd most common allele of Hpy , significantly increased after pyrethroid selection on Texas and Louisiana samples of 1990, and on progeny of a Louisiana sample of 1995. This indicates positive linkage disequilibrium between Hpy3 and presumed resistance-conferring allele(s) at another locus. Disequilibrium has persisted from 1990 to 1995. We conclude that one or more mutations elsewhere in the hscp gene confer resistance to pyrethroids in populations of H. virescens .
Romae de Dacia Triumphantis: Roma and Captives at the Capitoline Hill

Clement XI's construction on the Capitol of a monumental framework for the ancient group of “Roma and Captives,” already prominent since its discovery in 1595, marked the culmination both of the decoration of the Capitol and of warfare against the Turks. The group symbolizes the victory of Belgrade in 1717, and many other ancient groups were recycled to connect the ancient victories they had once commemorated with Christian victories over comparable enemies.
Heart Failure in Older Adults.

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality in older adults and a growing public health problem placing a huge financial burden on the health care system. Many challenges exist in the assessment and management of HF in geriatric patients, who often have coexisting multimorbidity, polypharmacy, cognitive impairment, and frailty. These complex “geriatric domains” greatly affect physical and functional status as well as long-term clinical outcomes. Geriatric patients have been under-represented in major HF clinical trials. Nonetheless, available data suggest that guideline-based medical and device therapies improve morbidity and mortality. Nonpharmacologic strategies, such as exercise training and dietary interventions, are an active area of research. Targeted geriatric evaluation, including functional and cognitive assessment, can improve risk stratification and guide management in older patients with HF. Clinical trials that enroll older patients with multiple morbidities and HF and evaluate functional status and quality of life in addition to mortality and cardiovascular morbidity should be encouraged to guide management of this age group.
The roles of tidal breathing parameters and flow-volume loop in diagnosis of wheezing diseases in infants

Objectives To examine the results of tidal breathing flow-volume loop(TBFV)measurement in infants with asthma,bronchiolitis and bronchopneumonia,and to explore the significance of these parameters in diagnosis of wheezing diseases in infants. Methods Fifty-four infants with asthma(asthma group),fifty-four infants with bronchiolitis(bronchiolitis group),and forty-five infants with bronchopneumonia(bronchopneumonia group)were enrolled in the study,fifty-one infants with non-cardiac diseases before operation were studied as control. All the recruits were hospitalized at the same time,and their ages were between two months and three years. Each group received aerosol inhalation of salbutamol and ipratropium bromide. TBFV parameters were obtained before and 15 minutes after aerosol inhalation to evaluate the effects to the drugs. Results (1)In comparison with the normal controls,respiratory rate (RR)was significantly higher,Ti,Te,TPTEF/Te,and VPTEF/Ve were significantly lower in both asthma and bronchopneumonia groups;Vt/Kg was lower in bronchopneumonia group;before inhalation. TPTEF/Te,VPTEF/Ve in the bronchiolitis group were significantly lower than the normal standards. (2)Significant recovery(increase)in TPTEF/Te and VPTEF/Ve were found in asthma group but no improvement in bronchiolitis and bronchopneumonia groups except lower RR after inhalation. (3)The improvement rates of TPTEF/Te、VPTEF/Ve in asthma group were significant compared with that of the groups of bronchiolitis and bronchopneumonia,but no significant changes in groups of bronchiolitis and bronchopneumonia. (4)Taking improvement rate ≥ 15% either in TPTEF/Te or in VPTEF/Ve as a positive marker of bronchodilation,the specificity was 82.6%,the sensitivity was 31.3%. Conclusions (1)TBFV could be used to test pulmonary function of infants,as it reflects the pathophysio-logical features of infants with asthma,bronchiolitis and bronchopneumonia. (2)TPTEF/Te and VPTEF/Ve can reflect the airway obstruction. (3)The changes of TPTEF/Te and VPTEF/Ve before and after the inhalation of drugs may be used as a supplement index for clinical diagnosis of asthma in infants.
A manufacturer looks at problems in insulation systems in printed wiring assemblies

In this session we are limiting our discussions to the usual, day-by-day problems encountered in the use of glass epoxy laminates in making printed wiring assemblies; we will eschew the esoteric problems of ultra high temperatures, exotic materials and the like. We have as much as we can handle with what has to be done right now; we'll let someone else solve tomorrow's problems.
Epidemiological survey of hand foot and mouth disease in Yuanhui district of Luohe city

Objective To carry out an epidemiology survey on the prevalence of hand foot and mouth disease in the district and explore the factors causing the epidemic.Methods Conducted descriptive statistics and analysis on the incidence of the hand foot and mouth disease in the district based on the data collected form Jan 1,2012 to May 23,2012,including onset time,current address,age and gender,by using the data of individuals from national disease prevention and control system as well as the software SPSS 13.0.Results Children aged five or below represented the majority of the patients catching the epidemic,accounting for 84.5%,with the areas having more migrant people being more prevalent.EV71 was the main pathogen of the disease,representing 55.9%.Conclusion Prevention against hand foot and mouth disease should focus on children under five years old.Conducting the epidemiology survey on the prevalence of the disease helps put forward effective measures combating the disease and reduce the incidences.
A Theoretical Line Loss Calculation Method for Distribution System based on Hybrid Learning Algorithm

In order to improve the calculation accuracy of theoretical line loss for distribution system,a novel calculation method based on hybrid learning algorithm(HLA),which is composed by generalized regression neural network(GRNN) and particle swarm optimization(PSO),is proposed.The theoretical line loss calculation is Abstracted into the multi regression problem(MRP),of which the input and output vector are selected as various impact factors and theoretical line loss values.The sample set is constructed for HLA training.In GRNN training process,the method can overcome the difficulty for selecting optimal training parameters by PSO.The experiments show that,the HLA method has better performance compared with the traditional one.
Analysis of analytic nonresonant background removal algorithm for MCARS spectra

Multiplex Coherent Anti Stokes Raman Spectroscopy (MCARS) has been shown to generate a complete Raman spectrum of a material on a millisecond time scale which allows for rapid identification of a wide variety of molecular targets. Along with the desired resonant spectrum due to the vibrational Raman spectroscopy of the analyte, MCARS is known to simultaneously generate a nonresonant spectrum that can obscure the desired Raman spectrum which hinders detection. Extracting the desired resonant Raman signal analytically from the overall MCARS signal has proven difficult without having prior knowledge of the analyte. We have developed an algorithm that utilizes a combination of the maximum entropy method in conjunction with advanced Fourier filtering to analytically remove the nonresonant background from our MCARS spectra without having prior knowledge of the vibrational spectrum of the analyte. In this report, we will report on the theoretical background for this algorithm as well as our experimental work testing this algorithm under various nonresonant spectra conditions for a number of analytes. We will systematically vary the amount of nonresonant background generated in the sample by changing the temporal overlap of the two beams necessary to generate the MCARS signal. Additionally, we place the analyte into increasing concentrations of water to generate increasing amounts of nonresonant background spectra to test the algorithm’s effectiveness. Finally, we compare the analyte vibrational spectral output from the algorithm to the Raman spectrum measured with the spontaneous Raman system in the laboratory of the same sample in an effort to ascertain accuracy of the output spectra.
Biomass and Taper for Trees in Thinned and Unthinned Longleaf Pine Plantations

Longleafpine (Pinus palustrisMil1.) trees growing in thinnedplantation studies in Louisiana and Texas and unthinned stands from the Louisiana sites were sampledfor establishing taper, volume, and specific gravity. Stem analysis data were collected on 147stems ranging in agefrom 30 to 50 yr. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were employed to determine coefJicients and to detect differences among treatments, for tree taper and specific gravity. Taper and volume equation coefficients and statistics at specified ages were developedfor intermediate plantation ages by examining and aging internal growth ringsfrom the stem sections. Biomass was computed by combining the taper and specific gravity equations. Seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) was used to simultaneousl yfit the system offour equations composed of specific gravity, taper, volume, and biomass, because of the correlated error structure of these equations. Biomass equations, however, could not be developedfor the intermediate ages because specific gravity could not be determined or related to earlier tree
Platelet-Type 12-Lipoxygenase Regulates Angiogenesis in Human Prostate Carcinoma

The growth and metastasis of solid tumors are dependent on the ability of tumor cells to induce angiogenesis [1]. Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, involves endothelial cell proliferation, motility, and tubular differentiation. It is known that tumor cells can secrete a variety of angiogenic factors, such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), to stimulate angiogenesis. Tumor cells also produce angiogenesis inhibitors such as thrombospondin and angiostatin to control angiogenesis. The balance between angiogenesis stimulators and inhibitors determines the angiogenicity of tumor cells [2]. Acquisition of the ability to stimulate angiogenesis by tumor cells is an integral part of tumorigenesis. Activated oncogenes, such as ras, or inactivated tumor suppressor genes, such as p53, not only increase mitogenesis and prevent apoptosis in tumor cells, but also lead to the development of an angiogenic phenotype [for review,.3].
RxSpatial: Reactive Spatial Library for Real-Time Location Tracking and Processing

Current commercial spatial libraries implemented strong support on functionalities like intersection, distance, and area for various stationary geospatial objects. The missing point is the support for moving object. Performing moving object real-time location tracking and computation on server side of GIS application is challenging because of high user volume of moving object to track, time complexity of analysis and computation, and requirement of real-timing. In this Demo, we present the RxSpatial, a real time reactive spatial library that consists of (1) a front-end, a programming interface for developers who are familiar with the Reactive framework and the Microsoft Spatial Library, and (2) a back-end for processing spatial operations in a streaming fashion. Then we provide the demonstration scenarios that show how RxSpatial is employed in real-world applications. The demonstration scenarios include criminal activity tracking, collaborative vehicle system, performance analysis and an interactive internal inspection.
Polymers of β-Lactam Antibiotics: Structural, Chemical and Biological Properties

Polymers of benzylpenicillin, ampicillin and cephaloridine have been isolated, physically examined and tested for allergenicity. Five of eleven penicillin sensitive subjects were found to give a positive response in the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) while two tested individuals showed release of histamine from basophils. Two penicillin sensitive subjects also gave positive LTT with cephaloridine polymer.
Hormonal and molecular effects of restraint stress on formalin-induced pain-like behavior in male and female mice

The evolutionary advantages to the suppression of pain during a stressful event (stress-induced analgesia (SIA)) are obvious, yet the reasoning behind sex-differences in the expression of this pain reduction are not. The different ways in which males and females integrate physiological stress responses and descending pain inhibition are unclear. A potential supraspinal modulator of stress-induced analgesia is the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). This limbic brain region is involved in both the processing of stress and pain; the CeA is anatomically and molecularly linked to regions of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis and descending pain network. The CeA exhibits sex-based differences in response to stress and pain that may differentially induce SIA in males and females. Here, sex-based differences in behavioral and molecular indices of SIA were examined following noxious stimulation. Acute restraint stress in male and female mice was performed prior to intraplantar injections of formalin, a noxious inflammatory agent. Spontaneous pain-like behaviors were measured for 60min following formalin injection and mechanical hypersensitivity was evaluated 120 and 180min post-injection. Restraint stress altered formalin-induced spontaneous behaviors in male and female mice and formalin-induced mechanical hypersensitivity in male mice. To assess molecular indices of SIA, tissue samples from the CeA and blood samples were collected at the 180min time point. Restraint stress prevented formalin-induced increases in extracellular signal regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) phosphorylation in the male CeA, but no changes associated with pERK2 were seen with formalin or restraint in females. Sex differences were also seen in plasma corticosterone concentrations 180min post injection. These results demonstrate sex-based differences in behavioral, molecular, and hormonal indices of acute stress in mice that extend for 180min after stress and noxious stimulation.
A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Affects the Binding Affinity of H2A.X and Regulates Latexin Transcription and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Function

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) provide life-long production of blood cells and undergo self-renewal division in order to sustain the stem cell pool. Precisely regulated HSC pool maintenance and blood cell production is vital for organismal survival. We have identified a protein, latexin ( Lxn ), as a novel regulator of HSCs in mice, whose natural variation in the expression is inversely correlated with HSC population size. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in transcriptional regulation of Lxn in HSCs have not been clearly defined, and the genetic factors contributing to its natural variation are unknown. Here we report that an upstream regulatory sequence of the Lxn gene controls the promoter activity, and histone protein H2A.X interacts with the promoter and acts as a transcriptional activator. We identify a functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs31528793, in the Lxn promoter that is associated with the differential binding of H2A.X, as identified by mass spectrometry. SNP rs31528793 attenuates the ability of H2A.X to bind and activate the Lxn promoter, as shown by chromatin immunoprecipitation and promoter luciferase assay. Moreover, overexpression of H2A.X increases the endogenous Lxn level and decreases HSC number and self-renewal. Concomitant blockage of Lxn activation significantly reverses these phenotypic changes, suggesting Lxn is one of the downstream targets and functional mediators of H2A.X. This study, for the first time, reveal the regulatory mechanism involved in Lxn transcription and uncover the functional role of naturally occurring genetic variants in determining differential gene expression and phenotypic diversity in HSC population. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Phase formations in low density high entropy alloys

Abstract Phase formations in high entropy alloys (HEAs) with at least two light elements in literature are predicted by CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagrams) thermodynamic calculations and the results are compared with experimental observations. The comparison suggests that the applicability of traditional CALPHAD calculations depends on the manufacturing processes of HEAs. Factors such as solute trapping, energies of defects need to be considered while predicting phases in HEAs prepared by non-equilibrium processes. The effects of light elements (Al, Ti, Si, alkali and alkaline earth metals) on the phase formations in HEAs are discussed. Especially, intermetallics predicted for Si-containing HEAs by traditional CALPHAD calculation can be suppressed in rapid solidification process, due to the solute trapping effect. Mg or other alkali and alkaline earth metals can lead to the formations of various intermetallics in HEAs prepared by conventional casting, but could be dissolved into solid solutions by non-equilibrium processes such as mechanical alloying. It is proposed that non-equilibrium processes may be an effective way to introduce light elements Si, alkali and alkaline earth metals into HEAs.
Does it matter where you go for breast cancer surgery

6504 Background: Variation in receipt of local therapy for breast cancer has motivated research addressing whether treatment differences are attributable to surgeons. We assessed the amount of vari...
Outcomes of endovascular and open surgical repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms in elderly patients.

Abstract Background Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is becoming the preferred treatment modality for patients with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA). Although the survival advantage of EVAR over open aortic repair (OAR) has been shown in some studies, it is unclear whether this benefit extends to elderly patients. We sought to evaluate the outcomes of rAAA repair in octogenarians. Methods We reviewed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) data set (2005-2014) to identify patients older than 80 years who were treated with EVAR and OAR for rAAA. Procedural trends were evaluated during the course of the study period. Perioperative outcomes including mortality, morbidity, and hospital length of stay (LOS) were compared. Multivariable regression models were used to identify predictors of perioperative mortality and morbidity. Results Among 1048 elderly patients who underwent rAAA repair, 450 (43%) and 598 (57%) were treated with EVAR and OAR, respectively. The use of EVAR to treat rAAA had increased significantly in this population of patients (0% in 2005 vs 56% in 2014; P P P P 48-hour ventilator dependence (43% vs 21%; P P P P 48-hour ventilator dependence (AOR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.8-3.3; P P Conclusions Elderly patients have significant but acceptable perioperative mortality and morbidity after rAAA repair. Use of endovascular repair in the elderly population has increased and is associated with better perioperative survival and 30-day outcomes compared with traditional open repair in this study.
Planar Cell Polarity Effector Fritz Interacts with Dishevelled and Has Multiple Functions in Regulating PCP.

The Planar cell Polarity Effector (PPE) genes inturned, fuzzy, and fritz are downstream components in the frizzled/starry night signaling pathway, and their function is instructed by upstream Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) core genes such as frizzled and dishevelled PPE proteins accumulate asymmetrically in wing cells and function in a protein complex mediated by direct interactions between In and Frtz and In and Fy. How the PCP proteins instruct the accumulation of PPE protein is unknown. We found a likely direct interaction between Dishevelled and Fritz and Dishevelled and Fuzzy that could play a role in this. We previously found that mild overexpression of frtz rescued a weak in allele. To determine if this was due to extra Frtz stabilizing mutant In or due to Frtz being able to bypass the need for In we generate a precise deletion of the inturned gene (inPD ). We found that mild overexpression of Fritz partially rescued inPD , indicating that fritz has In independent activity in PCP. Previous studies of PPE proteins used fixed tissues, and did not provide any insights into the dynamic properties of PPE proteins. We used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology to edit the fritz gene to add a green fluorescent protein tag. fritzmNeonGreen provides complete rescue activity and works well for in vivo imaging. Our data showed that Fritz is very dynamic in epidermal cells and preferentially distributed to discrete membrane subdomains ("puncta"). Surprisingly, we found it in stripes in developing bristles.
Work Stressors, Depressive Symptoms, and Hazardous Drinking Among Navy Members Across Deployment

Few studies have attempted to examine how changes in work stressors from predeployment to postdeployment and reintegration may be associated with changes in mental health symptoms and hazardous dri...
Buffeting response analysis of offshore wind turbines subjected to hurricanes

Abstract The objective of this paper is to investigate the effects of newly observed hurricane turbulence models on offshore wind turbines by considering unsteady aerodynamic forces on the tower and wind-wave-soil-structure interaction. The specific goals were analyzing the tower and blade structural buffeting responses, the low cycle fatigue during different hurricane categories, and extreme value of the short term responses. To achieve these goals, first, the recent observations on hurricane turbulence models were discussed. Then a new formulation for addressing unsteady wind forces on the tower was introduced and NREL-FAST package was modified with new formulation. Results showed that recently observed turbulence models resulted in larger structural responses and low cycle fatigue damage than existing models. In addition, extreme value analysis of the short term results showed that the IEC 61400-3 recommendation for wind turbine class I was conservative for designing the tower for wind turbine class S subjected to hurricane; however, for designing the blade, IEC 61400-3 recommendations for class I underestimated the responses.
Characterizing the Pyrenophora teres f. maculata-Barley Interaction Using Pathogen Genetics.

Pyrenophora teres f. maculata is the cause of the foliar disease spot form net blotch (SFNB) on barley. To evaluate pathogen genetics underlying the P. teres f. maculata–barley interaction, we developed a 105-progeny population by crossing two globally diverse isolates, one from North Dakota and the other from Western Australia. Progeny were phenotyped on a set of four barley genotypes showing a differential reaction to the parental isolates, then genotyped using a restriction site-associated-genotype-by-sequencing (RAD-GBS) approach. Genetic maps were developed for use in quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis to identify virulence-associated QTL. Six QTL were identified on five different linkage groups and individually accounted for 20–37% of the disease variation, with the number of significant QTL ranging from two to four for the barley genotypes evaluated. The data presented demonstrate the complexity of virulence involved in the P. teres f. maculata–barley pathosystem and begins to lay the foundation for understanding this important interaction.
Humoral Immunity to HIV-1:

The emerging evidence that specific genomic clades of HIV-1 are improving their fitness for efficient transmission via mucosal surfaces, i. e., heterosexual routes (Cohen, 1995; Osborn, 1995; Mastro et al., 1994), is disturbing and serves as an important backdrop for this book and a discussion of the role of humoral immunity. The evolution to improved fitness for mucosal transmission does not come as a surprise to those in the comparative lentivirus field, because the animal lentiviruses are as capable of broad transmission spectrum as one finds for enveloped RNA viruses (reviewed in Nara, 1988; Nara et al., 1991). These viral pathogens can assume either a cell-free or a cell-associated state, as dictated by the social and reproductive behaviors of the species. Because of genomic plasticity, primitive retroviral ancestry, and likely evolution with the vertebrates’ innate and adaptive immune systems, various aspects of humoral host defenses may have been exploited by the virus. Insights gained over the past few years now contribute to a more complete picture and understanding of so-called “humoral immunity,” which includes both nonclonal, innate, or nonadaptive immune system and the clonal, acquired (i. e., specific), or adaptive immune system. Together, these complementary defense systems must communicate to protect infectious nonself from noninfectious self. This is accomplished through similar structural/ functional forms of nonclonal and clonal inducible soluble host defense molecules (Janeway, 1992) by providing a continuous antimicrobial state during the period of initial infection and subsequent colonization of the host. These two defense systems now appear to be more inextricably linked in their induction than previously appreciated. Thus, depending on which effect or arms are activated, and in what order, may influence the establishment of conventional T- and B-cell-type immunity.
MASS SPECTROMETRIC ANALYSIS OF POLYMERS

An appealing approach to analysis of polymers is their direct analysis by mass spectrometry. Because mass spectrometry allows direct measurements relevant to end groups, cross-linking information, repeating units, and dispersity, it has many advantages lacked by nonspecific techniques. However, the need for mass spectrometric samples to be measured in the gaseous state has been a vexing problem and the single biggest hindrance to widespread use of mass spectrometry for polymer analysis. Depending upon the mass analyzer used, such methods provided either fingerprint information or more complete polymer distribution data. This chapter reviews the developments and considers the current state-of-the-art with respect to mass spectrometric polymer analysis. There has been a substantial progress over the past twenty years in the capabilities of mass spectrometry for characterizing polymers. These advances can primarily be attributed to the spectacular developments in ion source design, which resulted in Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/lonization (MALDI) and Electrospray Ionization (ESI) becoming routinely available with all types of mass spectrometers. Thus, practical mass spectrometry of such high mass polymers remains an unsolved problem at the time of this writing.
Leptin: From Satiety Signal to Reproductive Regulator

The hypothalamus was identified many years ago as an important site in the regulation of body weight (Hetherington and Ranson, 1940). Although the metabolic messenger(s) responsible for transmitting information regarding adipose energy stores to this site was unknown, numerous investigations suggested that a circulating product of adipose tissue was the agent involved. This unidentified entity was made more tangible in the late 1950s by classic parabiosis experiments, which surgically linked rodents bearing induced lesions of the ventromedial nucleus (Hervey, 1959) to intact controls. In these rats that featured conjoined circulatory systems, the lesioned animals rapidly became obese as a result of hyperphagia, while intact control animals lost body weight due to decreased food intake. Although these studies directly supported the prevailing theories of lipostasis, the identity of the putative “satiety factor” remained a mystery until quite recently.
Properties of the Eshelby tensor and existence of the equivalent ellipsoidal inclusion solution

Abstract We show that the Eshelby tensor, S E , when written in the 6 × 6 matrix (Voigt) form, is weakly positive definite, i.e., it can be written as a product of two positive definite matrices. All eigenvalues of S E are real and lie between 0 and 1, for an arbitrary anisotropic elastic medium with a positive definite elastic stiffness tensor C. The weakly positive definiteness property leads to a direct proof of the existence of Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion solution for a “transformed” ellipsoidal inhomogeneity in an infinite elastic medium.
The Internet of Space Things/CubeSats: A ubiquitous cyber-physical system for the connected world

Abstract The Internet of Things (IoT) has been recognized as a key driver of 5G wireless communications, with a projected 50 billion endpoints by 2020 ranging from connected temperature sensors to unmanned aerial vehicles. The long term success of IoT is tied to its pervasiveness, an area where the heterogeneous connectivity solutions of today fall short by a large margin. The true potential of IoT can only be realized when it is augmented with a ubiquitous connectivity platform capable of functioning even in the most remote of locations. In this paper, a novel cyber-physical system spanning ground, air, and space, called the Internet of Space Things/CubeSats (IoST) is introduced. Centered around CubeSats, IoST is envisioned as a means to achieving global connectivity at low costs, which is further bolstered by the use of Software-Defined Networking and Network Function Virtualization which provide fine-grained control over the system hardware, improve network resource utilization, and simplify network management. In addition to a detailed component-level system description, novel solutions for tackling peculiarities of the space environment are also provided. Furthermore, the system’s potential is showcased through a preliminary performance evaluation targeting key metrics such as latency and throughput.
The Challenges of a Vertical Evacuation Drill

IntroductionRecent natural and infrastructural disasters, such as Hurricanes Sandy (2012) and Katrina (2005) and the Northeastern power outage of 2003, have emphasized the need for hospital staff to be trained in disaster management and response. Even an internal hospital disaster may require the safe and efficient evacuation and transfer of patients with varying medical conditions and complications. A notably susceptible population is renal transplant patients, including those with post-transplant complications.HypothesisThis descriptive study evaluated staff performance of a vertical evacuation drill of renal transplant patients at State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center – University Hospital Brooklyn (UHB; Brooklyn, New York USA).MethodsThirteen standardized patients, 12 of whom received a renal transplant, with varying medical histories, ambulatory ability, and mental status were vertically evacuated by the transplant staff from the eighth floor to the ambulance entrance on the ground floor. Non-ambulatory patients were transported on portable evacuation sleds.ResultsAll patients were evacuated successfully within 3.5 hours. On a post-drill evaluation form, drill participants self-reported largely positive results concerning their own role in the drill and the evacuation drill itself. Drill evaluators observed very different results, including staff reticence, poor training retention, and lack of leadership.ConclusionDespite encouraging post-drill evaluation results from the participants, the evacuation drill highlighted several immediate deficiencies. It also demonstrated a significant discrepancy in performance perception between the drill participants and the drill evaluators.SalwayRJ, AdlerZ, WilliamsT, NwokeF, RoblinP, ArquillaB. The Challenges of a Vertical Evacuation Drill. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2019;34(1):25–29.