cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FMS (CSF-1 receptor) prolongs cell cycle and promotes retinoic acid-induced hypophosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein, G1 arrest, and cell differentiation.

Abstract The effect of the CSF-1 receptor, cFMS, on the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor protein and on the cell cycle and cell differentiation was analyzed in a cultured promyelocytic leukemia cell capable of induced myelomonocytic differentiation. A series of cFMS-transfected HL-60 sublines with progressively higher cell surface FMS expression was derived by flow cytometric cell sorting. Overexpression of FMS increased the duration of the cell cycle, prolonging all cell cycle phases especially S phase, which doubled. The increased cell cycle generation times occurred without any detectable changes in RB expression level or phosphorylation. For retinoic acid (RA)-induced myeloid differentiation, progressive overexpression of FMS caused a greater fraction of cells to differentiate and G1/0 arrest compared to wild-type cells after the same number of cell cycle generation times. FMS overexpression also progressively increased the relative amount of dephosphorylated RB protein induced, while reducing the total amount of RB protein. The inducer-originated and FMS-driven changes in RB hypophosphorylation were not effected through changes in p21/WAF1/CIP1 in this p53-negative cell. Similar effects on differentiation and G0 arrest occurred with 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (D3)-induced monocytic differentiation. FMS did not significantly affect myeloid differentiation induced by DMSO, which does not target steroid–thyroid hormone receptors like RA and D3. While differentiation is typically associated with hypophosphorylated RB in all these cases, the kinetics indicate that the FMS-induced changes in cell cycle and cell differentiation do not depend in a direct causal fashion on the interconversion between hyperphosphorylated and hypophosphorylated RB.
Comparing Xpatch, FISC, and ScaleME using a cone-cylinder

Many people that use computational electromagnetics to produce data are interested in two factors: speed and accuracy. To appreciate the tradeoff, it is imperative that data creation be well understood. The speed and accuracy tradeoff produces error sources. The paper compares data produced using high frequency techniques and the method of moments (MoM) accelerated by the multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA) (Chew, W.C. et al., 2001) using a cone-cylinder target. High frequency techniques break down as the target becomes smaller in terms of wavelengths. On the other hand, the MoM stretches the computing resources for increasing problem size. A missile-shaped target, a cone-cylinder called "the pencil", is used as a test object to create data for comparison using Xpatch, FISC, and ScaleME electromagnetic modeling and simulation software.
Lactobezoars: A Patient Series and Literature Review

Lactobezoar is a compact mass of undigested milk concretions located within the gastrointestinal tract. Most often found in infants, they can precipitate gastric outlet obstruction, mimicking a variety of medical and surgical conditions. A common etiology and method of cure have yet to be elucidated. A review of the literature provides some insight into causes, clinical presentations, diagnosis, and management. Data from the Medical University of South Carolina further help dispel the belief that lactobezoars are isolated to pre-term infants on caloric-dense formulas. Findings suggest bezoar formation may be more common than previously thought and a high index of suspicion could help avoid costly evaluations for obstructive symptoms.
The type locality of Natalus stramineus (Chiroptera: Natalidae): implications for the taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Natalus

ABSTRACT The name Natalus stramineus has been historically applied to populations of the genus Natalus from virtually the entire Neotropics. The geographic origin of the holotype of N. stramineus, however, has never been known with certainty, confounding discussions concerning the species limits, nomenclature, and biogeography of this genus. The type locality of N. stramineus was assumed to be Brazil for about 80 years, but was later transferred to the Lesser Antilles. Although the later view has dominated the taxonomy of Natalus for the past four decades, there have been recent claims that the type locality might indeed be in Brazil. In this study, I provide morphological evidence that corroborates the Lesser Antillean origin of the holotype of N. stramineus. In addition, I argue that N. stramineus-like populations do not occur in northern South America implying that the genus Natalus is distributed throughout Central and South America as three allopatric taxa. The findings presented here prompt the reco...
Corticotropin and Immunoregulation

Corticotropin (ACTH) is a neuropeptide first found in the pituitary gland and well known for its ability to stimulate adrenal steroidogenesis. Recent findings have shown ACTH to be synthesized in various tissues other than the pituitary. It has been identified in several regions of the brain (Krieger et al. 1977; Liotta and Krieger 1983), reproductive tissues (Margioris et al. 1983) including the placenta (Liotta et al. 1977), and immune tissues (Smith and Blalock 1981; Smith and Johnson 1988; Smith et al. 1991). Furthermore, ACTH has been demonstrated in the nervous tissue and hemolymph of invertebrates (Smith et al. 1991, for review). There is evidence suggesting that parasite-derived ACTH inactivates certain host defenses (Duvaux-Miret et al. 1992).
Biological analogs of RGB pixelation yield white coloration in giant clams

Giant clams utilize two mechanisms to produce white coloration analogous to that from RGB pixelated electro-optical displays. In the first, the mixed reflection from tight clusters of differently colored iridescent cells yields white. In the second, cells containing subcellular Bragg reflectors with heterogeneous lamellar spacings reflect multiple wavelengths to appear white at the macroscopic scale. Both mechanisms represent unique systems of structural color that produce white by color mixing.
A pilot functional MRI study in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients to study alteration in taste functions after surgery.

Gastric bypass restricts food intake, with a limited component of malabsorption. Gut and brain hormone changes also facilitate improvements in weight and comorbidities. Patients’ perception of taste and smell also change, along with reduced appetite for savory meals. Data on how changes in gastrointestinal physiology affect brain centers of perception and reward are sparse. With IRB approval, we recruited 13 patients to undergo pre- and postoperative taste testing and functional MRI (fMRI) in response to sweet and salty solutions. A delivery system to the tongue was used, and patients rated intensity and pleasantness. They then underwent fMRI scanning. Sensory and reward areas of the brain were evaluated for activation. Subjects were then compared to non-obese non-surgical controls with the same taste paradigm and scanning twice, at 1 month apart. All subjects experienced significant weight loss at 1 month and at 1 year after surgery. As expected, after surgery brain activation in the reward center of the brain was significantly decreased in response to sweet solutions, but this effect was also seen in non-surgical controls, making this result inconclusive. In contrast, surgical patients had significantly increased activation in the reward center to salty taste compared both to their preoperative scans and to healthy controls. After GBS, brain activation in the reward system of obese patients responding to palatable tastes may be significantly changed, and such changes can be detected using fMRI. They do not always correlate with subjective reports of intensity and pleasantness. To verify that such taste-related activation changes are caused specifically by the GBS, taste function of a control group of obese patients should be studied during the same period of time without GBS intervention but with similar weight loss.
Observations on the Regulatory Effects of the Transfer RNA Minor Base, N6-Δ2-(Isopentenyl)Adenosine, on Human Lymphocytes

Before beginning the topic of this paper, we want to present some introductory comments on the background that led us into studies on transfer RNA and unique components of tRNA, such as isopentenyladenosine. Our laboratory has been interested in the biochemical mechanisms involved in the conversion of normal human leukocytes to leukemic cells. From recent autoradiographic and cell kinetic studies (Astaldi and Mauri, 1953; Gavasto et al., 1964; Craddock and Nakai, 1962), it has become increasingly evident that human leukemia, in particular, acute leukemia, may be regarded as a disorder of the normal process of cellular differentiation rather than primarily a proliferative disorder. The evidence for this is that when leukemic blast cells of the bone marrow are compared to the blast cells of normal bone marrow, rates of DNA synthesis and mitosis are quite comparable (Astaldi and Mauri, 1953; Gavasto et al., 1964; Craddock and Nakai, 1962). In fact, if anything, the normal “blast” cells may proliferate at a rate faster than the leukemic cell. How then do leukemic cells accumulate? In the normal bone marrow, 5 % or less of the cells are primitive cells or so-called “blast” cells. There is a continuous process of maturation, during which the primitive cells are converted to mature leukocytes. During the progression to the granulocyte (the fully mature leukocyte), two major morphological changes occur.
Energy of the Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital, Thiol Reactivity, and Toxicity of Three Monobrominated Water Disinfection Byproducts.

Disinfection of drinking water protects public health against waterborne pathogens. However, during disinfection, toxic disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are formed. Exposure to DBPs was associated with increased risk of bladder cancer in humans. DBPs are generated at concentrations below their carcinogenic potencies; it is unclear how exposure leads to adverse health outcomes. We used computational estimates of the energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (ELUMO) to predict thiol reactivity and additive toxicity among soft electrophile DBPs. Bromoacetic acid (BAA) was identified as non-thiol-reactive, which was supported by in chemico and in vitro data. Bromoacetonitrile (BAN) and bromoacetamide (BAM) were thiol-reactive. Genotoxicity induced by these compounds was reduced by increasing the thiol pool with N-acetyl l-cysteine (NAC), while NAC had little effect on BAA. BAN and BAM shared depletion of glutathione (GSH) or cellular thiols as a molecular initiating event (MIE), whereas BAA induces toxi...
TM-13DIMINISHED PROGRESSION OF GLIOBLASTOMA WITH A SUPPLEMENTED HIGH-FAT LOW-CARBOHYDRATE DIET

Glioblastoma [GB] is the deadliest and most malignant type of brain tumor, with a median survival less than 12 months. Research into tumor metabolism and the Warburg Effect have shed new light on an idea that puts energy disparities at the forefront for new and innovative treatment options for patients. Tumor cells have an established dependence on glucose that plays a significant role in growth and survival. The human body retains secondary energy sources that can be utilized in times of starvation and glucose deprivation. By exchanging ketones (β-hydroxybutyrate) for glucose as the primary energy source in the body we can slow the progression of glioblastoma's. Conventional methods for entering ketosis, such as the ketogenic diet (KD), have been tested clinically with variable success due to high rates of side effects and low diet palatability, reducing compliance. Therefore, we have created a supplemented high-fat low-carbohydrate (sHFLC) Diet [10%C;60%F(30%MCT);30%P] that induces the two key physiological features of the KD but is more nutritionally sound and palatable. Dietary effectiveness was tested in vitro using patient derived GB neurosphere cell lines and in vivo using NOD/SCID xenografts. In culture, individually reducing glucose and increasing ketones resulted in a significant reduction in tumor cell viability that was enhanced by the combination of low glucose and elevated ketones. In vivo we demonstrate that animals fed the sHFLC exhibited a significant decline in circulating glucose (96.01mg/dL ±14.25 vs 165.1mg/dL ±20.87, p < .0001) and elevation in circulating ketones (1.798mmol ±1.121 vs .400mmol ±.115, p < .0001), slowed tumor progression (390.18mm3 ±133 vs 1020.69mm3 ±368.9, p < .0001; at 28 days post-implant) and increased survival (46.5 ±13.16 days vs 34.5 ±4.2 days, p < .0001) compared to normal fed controls. Additionally the sHFLC better maintained animal body weight as well as overall appearance when compared to the KD (28.78g ±1.812 vs 24.45g ±5.999, p < .001).
Early observations on 31 adults with non-refluxing colon conduits.

Abstract: A colonic segment with tunneled ureterocolic anastomoses was used for non-refluxing urinary diversion in 31 adults during the last 3½ years. Half of the patients had undergone diversions previously. These pre-existing diversionshad been associated with significant urologic complications. The remainder of the patients had a variety of benign and malignant diseases.After the non-refluxing colonic diversion all upper tracts remained stable or improved except in 3 patients in whom 4 ureterocolic anastomoses developed silent stenosis. Of 10 patients who had pre-existing refluxing diversion and episodic acute pyelonephritis 7 had no recurrences. No patient with sterile urine became infected and 18 of 24 patients with persistently infected urine improved.The anatomic versatility of the colon that allows the benefits of a low pressure system and unidirectional urine flow makes the non-refluxing colon conduit an advantageous alternative in adults requiring urinary diversion.
The Right of Publicity Maturation of an Independent Right Protecting Associative Value

Dispute and confusion marked the emergence and development of the “right of publicity,” a right concerned with the use of attributes of a generally identifiable person to enhance the commercial value of an enterprise. The Second Circuit decision in Haelan Laboratories v. Topps Chewing Gum, Inc. has played a pivotal role in shaping the understanding of the right of publicity. That case established that a celebrity has a right to damages and other relief for the unauthorized commercial appropriation of the celebrity’s persona.Since that case, the law has matured in the development of a flexible common-law approach to the commercialization of identity and the “associative value” inherent in celebrity. This article tracks those developments.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Resolution in Hypopnea- versus Apnea-Predominant Children after Adenotonsillectomy.

ObjectiveGiven that 30% to 40% of children have persistent obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) after adenotonsillectomy, we evaluated whether children with hypopnea-predominant OSA were more likely to have complete disease resolution after adenotonsillectomy than those with apnea-predominant disease. We also identified risk factors that might modify the relationship between disease resolution and polysomnographic event type (ie, hypopnea vs apnea).Study DesignCase series with chart review.SettingTertiary pediatric hospital.Subjects/MethodsConsecutive 1- to 18-year-old typically developing children diagnosed with OSA from March 2011 to December 2012 underwent adenotonsillectomy and completed pre- and postoperative polysomnography within 1 year of surgery.ResultsFifty-eight children were included (27 female; mean ± SD: age, 5.6 ± 3.1 years; body mass index z score, 1.1 ± 1.7). Overall, adenotonsillectomy resulted in significant improvement in obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (oAHI) from 23.3 ± 40.0 to 4.3 ± 8.2 e...
Heart Rate Monitoring During Intense Physical Activities Using a Motion Artifact Corrupted Signal Reconstruction Algorithm in Wearable Electrocardiogram Sensor

Accurate estimation of heart rates from electrocardiogram (ECG) signals during intense physical activity is a very challenging problem. In this study we investigated a novel technique to accurately reconstruct motion-corrupted ECG signals and HR based on time-varying spectral analysis. The algorithm is called Spectral filter algorithm for electrocardiogram Motion Artifacts and heart rate reconstruction (SegMA). The idea is to calculate time-frequency spectrum of ECG for each time shift of a windowed data segment and use the information from the spectrum to reconstruct HR during movement. The SegMA approach was applied to a datasets recorded in Chon Lab that includes 17 min recordings from 4 subjects during a challenging experimental protocol including walking, jogging, running, arm movement, wrist movement, body shaking, and weight lifting activities. The ECG and tri-axial accelerometer data were recorded from a wrist bands on both right and left wrists that are connected with wire through a tight suit. The reference ECG signals were recorded from chest using Holter monitor. The algorithm's accuracy was calculated by computing the mean absolute error between SegMA reconstructed HR from the wrist ECG and the reference HR from the Holter ECG. The average estimation errors using our method on this datasets are around 1 beats/min. These results show that the SegMA method has a potential for ECG-based HR monitoring in wearable devices for fitness tracking and health monitoring during intense physical activities.
Should we avoid heparin to eliminate HIT

> > > In almost all cases, heparin instigates the syndrome of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), a life-threatening, immune complication occurring in 1% to 5% of patients exposed to the drug. Thus, reducing exposure to heparin, in particular, exposure to unfractionated heparin (UFH), is an
INTERNET OF THINGS AND SMART GRID STANDARDIZATION

This chapter provides a basic and contextual representation of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Grid systems integration requirements and why the IoTs must leverage data standards to effectively address the unique challenges faced by the current and next‐generation grid. The IoTs that support Smart Grid must achieve end‐to‐end interoperability and security. When systems with diverse characteristics interact within the Smart Grid, the IoTs must possess basic ability to process application‐level messages. The Internet‐enabled network of connected devices supports Smart Grid applications to either improve existing practices or offer emerging technologies and services for the Smart Grid. Interoperability standards are key for “seamless communications” and “ubiquity” of IoT objects. The application domain standards for IoT data communications have the potential to address the diversity in distributed energy resources (DER), distributed generation (DG), distribution systems, and supporting markets and operations for electricity consumers.
Does accessibility matter? Understanding the effect of job accessibility on labour market outcomes:

In this study, we examine the effect of access to employment opportunities on labour market outcomes, especially focusing on unemployment rates and household income in the Chicago metropolitan area...
Refractory Pure Red Cell Aplasia Manifesting as Deficiency of Adenosine Deaminase 2

Primary progress has been made in the last 2 years, particularly in finding novel disease-causing genes for a number of autoinflammatory diseases and primary immunodeficiencies. Whole-exome sequencing has dramatically increased the pace at which causative genes are being discovered. CECR1 (Cat eye syndrome chromosome region, candidate 1) gene encodes adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2) protein. Patients who carry CECR1 mutation(s) suffer from deficiency of ADA2 (DADA2). Here, we describe a patient with pure red cell aplasia discovered to have DADA2. We also review the literature on DADA2. This report will help raise awareness of physicians for this complex disease.
Charging dynamics of single InGaAs quantum dots under resonant excitation

We investigate the rates of charge fluctuation in single quantum dots under resonant excitation, with additional modulated low-power above-band excitation. Time-resolved fluorescence is fit using stretched/compressed exponentials, indicating a continuum of relaxation and charging rates.
A review of recent development of sustainable waxes derived from vegetable oils

This review summarizes the recent development in the synthesis of biobased waxes using vegetable oils as feedstock. Driven by the increasing needs of sustainability in packaging and coating industry, research in developing renewable and eco-friendly waxes as replacers for paraffin or natural wax (e.g. beeswax and carnauba wax) has been conducted. We surveyed literature on synthesis, property, and applications of biobased waxes suitable for food contacts. The review also describes chemical structure–function relationship. Challenges in applications of such waxes are also discussed.
OncoOrders: The Early Years

This case study describes the development of an order-entry system in a chemotherapy clinic at Southwest Regional Medical Center. The system functions as a “whiteboard” and an organizational system for the Cancer Clinic. All of the systems were developed in-house at Southwest Regional by the Informatics Department. OrderAssistant, the order-entry system at Southwest Regional Hospital, has been in use in the wards for 7 years and has been a resounding success. A homegrown application, it was developed as an effort to supplant the cumbersome InVision system, which served previously as the computerized order-entry system at Southwest Regional. Although OrderAssistant is used in the inpatient environment, the designers felt that it could also be adapted to meet the Cancer Clinic outpatient’s needs such as tagging orders with DRG/ICD-9 codes and delivering orders to a patient who may or may not be located in a bed. Late in the course of the OncoOrders project, it was realized that the orchestration of activity that occurred after patients checked in resembled the activity in the Emergency Department (ED). In both environments, patients were triaged, checked in, and had labs, tests, and clinic visits scheduled according to their needs. The electronic whiteboard employed in the emergency room has been largely successful and has greatly increased the efficiency of workflow. Aiming to capitalize on that success, the Steering Committee decided to enlist help from the ED whiteboard team to produce a whiteboard for the infusion room in the chemotherapy clinic. This new whiteboard would provide an at-a-glance display of where each patient was and what treatment they were undergoing. It would also give the nurses relief from having to track patients via paper logs and retrieve each lab result via the electronic medical record. All of this information could be viewed on the whiteboard. Having decided upon what a digital Cancer Clinic would look like, the challenge remained to adapt these two tools for use in an outpatient clinic comprising patient visit, lab work, and chemotherapy infusion.
On the dynamics of formation of generic singularities of mean curvature flow

We study the formation of generic singularities of mean curvature flow by combining the different approaches, specifically the methods in studying blowup of nonlinear heat equations, the techniques used by the author and the collaborators for mean curvature flow, and these invented by Colding and Minicozzi. We study the solution in a neighborhood of the blowup point, in some generic regimes, we find the key parameters take favorable signs and have sharp decay rates. We provide the remainder estimates in different norms.
High Reliability Safeguards approach to remotely handled nuclear processing facilities: Use of discrete event simulation for material throughput in fuel fabrication

Abstract The future, sustainable use of nuclear energy will require transition to advanced nuclear energy systems. Some of these systems will utilize remotely-handled facilities in which batch-type processing will occur in hot cells. These handling procedures, as well as differences in physical and chemical composition of the special nuclear material, create new challenges to safeguardability. The focus area of the High Reliability Safeguards is the continual development of methodologies and approaches which address the safeguardability of the advanced fuel cycle from a design-driven perspective. There is a need to develop models that can quantitatively assess the safeguardability of proposed facility designs. Herein is presented progress made in regards to a first-build, material-throughput model using a discrete event simulation modeling framework for the fuel fabrication system in a pyroprocessing facility. This model takes advantage of the synergy between safeguards, safety, and security when designing a nuclear handling facility. A commercial pyroprocessing facility is used as an example system. The intent of the model is to determine if nuclear materials accounting can potentially serve as a metric for safeguardability in facility designs.
Metrics for assessing blockchain-based healthcare decentralized apps

Blockchain is a decentralized, trustless protocol that combines transparency, immutability, and consensus properties to enable secure, pseudo-anonymous transactions. Smart contracts are built atop a blockchain to support on-chain storage and enable Decentralized Apps (DApps) to interact with the blockchain programatically. Programmable blockchains have generated interest in the healthcare domain as a potential solution to resolve key challenges, such as gapped communications, inefficient clinical report delivery, and fragmented health records. This paper provides evaluation metrics to assess blockchain-based DApps in terms of their feasibility, intended capability, and compliance in the healthcare domain.
Measuring Team Performance

Metrics can play an important role in helping companies to enhance their new product development efforts. A new approach applies metrics in several critical areas to measure and improve the perform...
Effect of Dermatology Consultation on Outcomes for Patients With Presumed Cellulitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance Each year, cellulitis leads to 650 000 hospital admissions and is estimated to cost $3.7 billion in the United States. Previous literature has demonstrated a high misdiagnosis rate for cellulitis, which results in unnecessary antibiotic use and health care cost. Objective To determine whether dermatologic consultation decreases duration of hospital stay or intravenous antibiotic treatment duration in patients with cellulitis. Design, Setting, and Participants This randomized clinical trial was conducted in a large urban tertiary care hospital between October 2012 and January 2017, with 1-month follow-up duration. Patients were randomized to the control group, which received the standard of care (ie, treatment by primary medicine team), or the intervention group, which received dermatology consultation. Medical chart review of demographic information and hospital courses was performed. Adult patients hospitalized with presumed diagnosis of cellulitis were eligible. A total of 1300 patients were screened, 1125 were excluded, and 175 were included. Statistical analysis was employed to identify significant outcome differences between the 2 groups. Interventions Dermatology consultation within 24 hours of hospitalization. Main Outcomes and Measures Length of hospital stay and duration of intravenous antibiotic treatment. Results Of 175 participants, 70 (40%) were women and 105 (60%) were men. The mean age was 58.8 years. Length of hospital stay was not statistically different between the 2 groups. The duration of intravenous antibiotic treatment ( Conclusions and Relevance Early dermatologic consultation can improve outcomes in patients with suspected cellulitis by identifying alternate diagnoses, treating modifiable risk factors, and decreasing length of antibiotic treatment. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT01706913
\( \mathcal{L} \)-Transform, Normal Functionals, and Lévy Laplacian in Poisson Noise Analysis

In this paper we study Poisson noise with the help of generalized functions. We first discuss the \( \mathcal{L} \)-transform of (L 2)-Poisson functionals. We then consider an extension of the \( \mathcal{L} \)-transform with the help of Sobolev norms. Next we introduce the class of normal functionals and consider the Wick product. We consider the Hida derivatives and the Levy Laplacian acting on these normal functionals. A relationship between the \( \mathcal{L} \)-transform and Y. Ito’s \( \mathcal{U} \)-transform is given. Finally, we give a stochastic limit characterization of the Levy Laplacian with the help of two-parameter Poisson processes.
Production of Hydrogen from Biomass by Pyrolysis/Steam Reforming

We successfully demonstrated that hydrogen could be efficiently produced by catalytic steam reforming of carbohydrate-derived bio-oil fractions in a fluidized bed reactor using a commercial nickel-based catalyst. Greater steam excess than that used for natural gas reforming was necessary to minimize the formation of char and coke (or to gasify these carbonaceous solids) resulting from thermal decomposition of complex carbohydrate-derived compounds.
Flexible Fertigungssysteme in der Automobilindustrie — Ein Erfahrungsbericht —

Fur einen Automobilhersteller wie Volkswagen sind vor allem attraktive und konkurrenzfahige Produkte, innovative Produktionstechnik, hohe Qualitat und beherrschte Kosten wichtige Bausteine zur Sicherung der Wettbewerbsfahigkeit. Die Entwicklung der Kundenwunsche erfordert insbesondere in Phasen zunehmender Marktsattigung das Ausschopfen aller Potentiale, dazu gehoren im speziellen auch Marktnischen. Die daraus resultierende starkere Produktdifferenzierung, die sich fur den Kunden positiv in Form einer groseren Auswahl von Varianten und hoheren Produktinnovationen darstellt, verursacht innerhalb des Unternehmens kleinere Produktionsmengen pro Variante. Die Folge davon sind erhebliche Kostensteigerungen vor allem in den kapitalintensiven Produktionsbereichen trotz einer meist sogar noch gestiegenen Gesamtstuckzahl. Die Kosten pro Einheit und die Volumenentwicklung pro Variante beginnen damit auseinanderzulaufen6. Eine Antwort auf diese Herausforderung ist der verstarkte Einsatz flexibler Produktionssysteme, zu denen flexible Fertigungssysteme (FFS) fur den mechanischen Produktionsbereich gehoren.
The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same: Educational and Disciplinary Backgrounds of American Librarians, 1950–2015

Discussions of diversity in American librarianship usually focus on gender or ethnicity, but historical studies also show a lack of diversity in educational and disciplinary backgrounds. Librarians...
Mitochondrial transplantation prolongs cold ischemia time in murine heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND Cold ischemia time (CIT) causes ischemia‒reperfusion injury to the mitochondria and detrimentally effects myocardial function and tissue viability. Mitochondrial transplantation replaces damaged mitochondria and enhances myocardial function and tissue viability. Herein we investigated the efficacy of mitochondrial transplantation in enhancing graft function and viability after prolonged CIT. METHODS Heterotopic heart transplantation was performed in C57BL/6J mice. Upon heart harvesting from C57BL/6J donors, 0.5 ml of either mitochondria (1 × 108 in respiration buffer; mitochondria group) or respiration buffer (vehicle group) was delivered antegrade to the coronary arteries via injection to the coronary ostium. The hearts were excised and preserved for 29 ± 0.3 hours in cold saline (4°C). The hearts were then heterotopically transplanted. A second injection of either mitochondria (1 × 108) or respiration buffer (vehicle) was delivered antegrade to the coronary arteries 5 minutes after transplantation. Grafts were analyzed for 24 hours. Beating score, graft function, and tissue injury were measured. RESULTS Beating score, calculated ejection fraction, and shortening fraction were significantly enhanced (p < 0.05), whereas necrosis and neutrophil infiltration were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the mitochondria group as compared with the vehicle group at 24 hours of reperfusion. Transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of contraction bands in vehicle but not in mitochondria grafts. CONCLUSIONS Mitochondrial transplantation prolongs CIT to 29 hours in the murine heart transplantation model, significantly enhances graft function, and decreases graft tissue injury. Mitochondrial transplantation may provide a means to reduce graft failure and improve transplantation outcomes after prolonged CIT.
Role of CYP2B6 pharmacogenomics in bupropion-mediated smoking cessation.

What is known and objective Pharmacogenomics holds promise in smoking cessation because of its potential to shed light on the complexity of drug metabolism and improve treatments using therapeutic agents. The cytochrome P450 2B6 gene (CYP2B6) encodes CYP2B6 enzyme that has been found to mediate the hydroxylation of bupropion, a smoking cessation aid. CYP2B6 exhibits a range of polymorphic variants that alter the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of bupropion. Genetic variations in CYP2B6 may influence the risk of adverse effects or efficacy of treatment with bupropion. The objective of this review was to investigate the influence of pharmacogenomics on smoking cessation therapy. Methods A thorough literature search was conducted on PubMed, SCOPUS and EMBASE using keywords related to bupropion, smoking cessation, pharmacogenomics and CYP2B6. Research and review articles, case reports and clinical and preclinical studies pertinent to the research topic were identified, evaluated and summarized. Cited articles within the above-mentioned sources also provided pertinent information. Results There is strong literature evidence to prove that CYP2B6 polymorphisms affect pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of bupropion, thus affecting the therapeutic outcome of smoking cessation therapy. What is new and conclusions Complete understanding of pharmacogenetic variation of bupropion pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics will be beneficial for designing safer and more personalized smoking cessation therapy with improved outcomes.
2 - Alcohol Metabolism: General Aspects1

This chapter discusses the general aspects of alcohol metabolism. Catalase— located in the peroxisomes was known to break down ethanol, but it is now realized that this is a minor pathway. The main pathway proceeds via cytosolic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) that has multiple isoenzymes, the genetic polymorphism of which is now being unraveled in terms of its possible clinical implications. The latest ADH isozyme to be fully characterized is sigma ADH that is prevalent in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract and exhibits ethnic variability. A third pathway of ethanol metabolism was discovered— the Microsomal Ethanol Oxidizing System (MEOS) which, contrary to the two other pathways, is highly inducible by chronic alcohol consumption, with a 4–10-fold increase of cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1). It is associated with proliferation of the endoplasmic reticulum, both in experimental animals and in humans. This induction contributes to the metabolic tolerance against ethanol that develops in alcoholic and spills over to other drugs, which are microsomal substrates. Administration of ethanol with nondeficient diets resulted in accelerated blood clearance not only of ethanol but also drugs that persisted for days to weeks after the cessation of alcohol, depending on the drug.
The Share of Systematic Risk in Exchange Rates

Changes in exchange rates are not random. Two factors account for 20% to 90% of the monthly exchange rate movements in developed countries. These two factors - a dollar and a carry factor - also explain a large share of daily and quarterly changes in exchange rates. Similar results emerge for developing countries with floating currencies. Moreover, the factor structure is persistent. As a result, if these two factors were known one period in advance, mean squared errors would be a fraction of those obtained assuming that exchange rates are random walks. Across countries, the higher the share of systematic equity risk, the higher the share of systematic currency risk. These results have direct implications for asset managers, motivate further work on exchange rates, and offer new insights into international economics and finance models.
Examining Uncertainty in Illness in Parents and Children With Chronic Kidney Disease and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Mediational Model of Internalizing Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life.

To examine if parent illness uncertainty is indirectly associated with child depression, anxiety, and HRQOL in the CKD/SLE population. Parent–child dyads (N = 31) from outpatient rheumatology and nephrology clinics included children (ages 9–18) diagnosed with CKD (Stage 1, 2, or nephrotic syndrome) or SLE. Parents completed demographic and uncertainty measures and children completed uncertainty, depression, anxiety, and HRQOL measures. This cross-sectional study examined mediational models using the percentile bootstrapping method. Parent uncertainty had an indirect effect on child depression, anxiety, and HRQOL through the mediator, child uncertainty. In other words, parents’ illness uncertainty regarding their child’s condition correlates to the child’s illness uncertainty, which then is associated with the child’s mental health and wellbeing. Reverse mediations illustrated that parent uncertainty did not mediate child uncertainty and outcome variables. Results extend previous research by examining parent and child illness uncertainty in understudied conditions (CKD/SLE) and the relationship to outcome variables commonly related to depression (e.g., anxiety and HRQOL). Findings allow health psychologists and medical personnel to understand the impact of uncertainty on the child’s wellbeing and HRQOL. Clinical implications, including using specialized interventions to address illness uncertainty, are discussed.
CapZ actúa como integrador de señalamiento intracelular en respuesta a estímulos mecánicos en el miofilamento cardiaco

Los miocitos del ventriculo cardiaco pueden modificar la composicion y la morfologia estructural de su citoesqueleto (sarcomero) ante estimulos externos que tiene como objetivo regular las propiedades contractiles necesarias para mantener el funcionamiento adecuado. La hipotesis planteada es que uno de los elementos de regulacion citoesquleticos corresponde a la proteina CapZ, la cual controla el dinamismo del sarcomero en respuesta a estimulos mecanicos. Cardiomiocitos fueron cultivados en substratos con grados de rigidez fisiologica (10 kPa) o patologica (100 kPa). El dinamismo de CapZ fue probado mediante FRAP y la interaccion de CapZ con PIP2 (fosfatidilinositol 4,5-bifosfato) fue determinada mediante FRET. Se encontro que CapZ es mas dinamica en substratos patologicos que en substratos fisiologicos. A la vez, la interaccion entre CapZ y PIP2 no varia con la rigidez del substrato.
Preventing Poisoning Attacks On AI Based Threat Intelligence Systems

As AI systems become more ubiquitous, securing them becomes an emerging challenge. Over the years, with the surge in online social media use and the data available for analysis, AI systems have been built to extract, represent and use this information. The credibility of this information extracted from open sources, however, can often be questionable. Malicious or incorrect information can cause a loss of money, reputation, and resources; and in certain situations, pose a threat to human life. In this paper, we use an ensembled semi-supervised approach to determine the credibility of Reddit posts by estimating their reputation score to ensure the validity of information ingested by AI systems. We demonstrate our approach in the cybersecurity domain, where security analysts utilize these systems to determine possible threats by analyzing the data scattered on social media websites, forums, blogs, etc.
Tunable microwave-photonic filtering with high out-of-band rejection in silicon

The ever-increasing demand for high speed and large bandwidth has made photonic systems a leading candidate for the next generation of telecommunication and radar technologies. The photonic platform enables high performance while maintaining a small footprint and provides a natural interface with fiber optics for signal transmission. However, producing sharp, narrow-band filters that are competitive with RF components has remained challenging. In this paper, we demonstrate all-silicon RF-photonic multi-pole filters with ∼100× higher spectral resolution than previously possible in silicon photonics. This enhanced performance is achieved utilizing engineered Brillouin interactions to access long-lived phonons, greatly extending the available coherence times in silicon. This Brillouin-based optomechanical system enables ultra-narrow (3.5 MHz) multi-pole response that can be tuned over a wide (∼10 GHz) spectral band. We accomplish this in an all-silicon optomechanical waveguide system, using CMOS-compatible fabrication techniques. In addition to bringing greatly enhanced performance to silicon photonics, we demonstrate reliability and robustness, necessary to transition silicon-based optomechanical technologies from the scientific bench-top to high-impact field-deployable technologies.
Safety and Efficacy of Segmental Yttrium-90 Radioembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Creation.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate safety and efficacy of segmental yttrium-90 (Y90) radioembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement. The hypothesis was liver sparing segmental Y90 for HCC after TIPS would provide high antitumor response with a tolerable safety profile. Materials and Methods This single-arm retrospective study included 39 patients (16 women, 23 men) with ages 49–81 years old who were treated with Y90. Child-Pugh A/B liver dysfunction was present in 72% (28/39) with a median Model for End-stage Liver Disease score of 18 (95% confidence interval, 16.4–19.4). Primary outcomes were clinical and biochemical toxicities and antitumor imaging response by World Health Organization (WHO) and European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) criteria. Secondary outcomes were orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), time to progression (TTP), and overall survival (OS) estimates by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results The 30-day mortality was 0%. Grade 3+ clinical adverse events and grade 3+ hyperbilirubinemia occurred in 5% (2/39) and 0% (0/39), respectively. Imaging response was achieved in 58% (22/38, WHO criteria) and 74% (28/38, EASL criteria), respectively. Median TTP was 16.1 months for any cause and 27.5 months for primary index lesions. OLT was completed in 88% (21/24) of listed patients at a median time of 6.1 months (range, 0.9–11.7 months). Median OS was 31.6 months and 62.9 months censored and uncensored to OLT, respectively. Conclusions Segmental Y90 for HCC appears safe and efficacious in patients after TIPS. Preserved transplant eligibility suggests that Y90 is a useful tool for bridging these patients to liver transplantation.
Effect of Medical-Grade Polyurethane Sponges on Sinus Membrane Perforation With a Lateral Window Approach

The most commonly reported complication during the sinus elevation surgical procedure is the perforation of the Schneiderian membrane. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the rate of sinus membrane perforation during lateral window augmentation using either conventional sinus curettes or medical-grade polyurethane sponges. This retrospective study included patients who received a lateral window approach for sinus floor elevation. The sinus elevation procedures using medical-grade polyurethane sponges (test) or conventional curettes (control) were recorded and analyzed. All subjects' demographic data and preexisting conditions were evaluated. A total of 38 procedures met inclusion criteria, and those data were evaluated for analysis. There were no statistically significant differences in demographic data or preexisting conditions including age, sex, treatment location, presence and absence of septum, Schneiderian membrane thickness, and residual bone height between test and control groups. The membrane perforation rate was 7% in the test group and 43% in the control group; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance (P = .064). Within the limitations of this study, although there was no statistically significant reduction of sinus membrane perforation with the use of medical-grade polyurethane sponges, the decreased incidence of perforation might be of clinical significance.
Abstract LB087: Association of obesity and diabetes with prostate cancer risk group in a multiethnic population

Introduction: Obesity and type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been associated with adverse prostate cancer (PrCa) outcomes in several studies; however, results have been inconsistent. We examined the independent and combined effects of body mass index (BMI)/obesity and T2DM in relation to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) PrCa risk groups in a large, racially-diverse patient population from an urban medical center. Methods: We abstracted demographic, clinical and pathological data, as well as BMI/obesity and T2DM status at time of PrCa diagnosis from all patients, who underwent radical prostatectomy for their cancer at our academic institution from 2005 through 2019. Patients were classified into three NCCN PCa risk groups: low, intermediate and high risk based on their pathological Gleason score, tumor stage and diagnostic serum PSA. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine associations of obesity (BMI>30kg/m2) and T2DM with risks of intermediate and high risk PCa (comparison group were men with low risk disease). We examined both independent and combined effects of obesity and T2DM in multivariate models adjusted for age and race/ethnicity (main effect models were also adjusted for BMI or T2DM). Results: A total 1,366 PrCa patients with an average age of 60±6.9 years old with complete data were included in this analysis. The majority of patients were African-American (37.2%) or Hispanic (31.5%). The prevalence of obesity and T2DM were 29.4% and 28% respectively in this cohort, with African-Americans having the highest prevalence of both obesity (38.1%) and T2DM (43.6%) compared to other races/ethnicities. A large proportion of patients had NCCN intermediate (64%) or high-risk (14%) disease. In multivariate analyses, obesity was associated with 2.23 increased odds of high-risk PCa (95%CI: 1.26-3.93), while T2DM was associated with OR=1.53 (95%CI: 1.08-2.17) of intermediate risk PCa. Interaction analysis showed that obese patients with T2DM had increased risks of both intermediate (OR=1.99; 95%CI 1.16-3.41) and high-risk PCa (OR=2.28; 95%CI 1.14-4.53) when compared to lean men without T2DM. Discussion: In this multiracial population, both obesity and T2DM were independently associated with high risk PrCa. Moreover, there was an additive effect of obesity and T2DM in the odds of developing both intermediate and high risk PrCa. Potential biological pathways of insulin signaling and inflammatory factors arising from adipokines could be involved in promoting more aggressive PrCa phenotypes. Larger cohort studies are needed to better elucidate the mechanisms between T2DM, obesity, and PrCa tumor pathology. Citation Format: Michelle Toker, Denzel Zhu, William Shyr, Ethan Fram, Kara L. Watts, Ilir Agalliu. Association of obesity and diabetes with prostate cancer risk group in a multiethnic population [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr LB087.