cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Delivery of exogenous antigen into the major histocompatibility complex class I and class II pathways by electroporation.

Exogenous, nonreplicating protein antigens (Ags) are usually taken up by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) via endocytosis or pinocytosis and enter the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II pro- cessing and presentation pathway. Although exogenous Ags are not processed and presented in the class I pathway by most cells, soluble proteins can enter the class I processing and presentation pathway if they are intro- duced directly into the cytoplasm of APCs. The purpose of these studies was to determine whether exogenous pro- teins could be processed and presented to T cells if they were delivered into cells by electroporation. The condi- tions for electroporation were optimized so that the via- bility of the electroporated cells was high5 and the majority of electroporated cells had protein incorporated. Electroporated B cells not only presented exogenous oval- bumin to CD8�, class I MHC-restricted T cells but also stimulated CD4�, class H MHC-restricted T cells. Elec- troporated cells also primed Ag-specific cytotoxic T lym- phocytes (CTLs) in vivo, stimulated CTL precursors in vitro, and served as target cells for lysis by Ag-specific CTLs, indistinguishable from transfected cells. Thus, electropermeabilized cells were structurally intact, and the introduced exogenous protein was processed and pre- sented in association with both class I and class II MHC molecules. This approach is as efficient and reproducible as other techniques of delivering exogenous proteins into the intracellular processing pathways. These studies sug- gest that electroporation could be employed for the study of cell-mediated immunity to various exogenous proteins. J. Leukoc. Biol. 56: 616-624; 1994.
This dust was once the man: commemorating the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's last hours.

Most Americans may not know the role played by the Union Army’s surgeon general working alongside a young Army surgeon and staff from what was known then as the Army Medical Museum (today’s National Museum of Health and Medicine [NMHM]) to care for President Abraham Lincoln in the hours after he was assassinated in 1865. On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln attended the play “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC. At approximately 10:30 p.m., John Wilkes Booth entered the president’s box and fired a single bullet from a Deringer pistol into the back of Lincoln’s head. The first physician to treat Lincoln was 23-year-old Army surgeon Charles A. Leale. When he heard gunshot, Leale made his way to the presidential box and found Lincoln in a comatose state. After receiving permission from Mary Todd Lincoln to attend her husband, Leale located the wound, removed a blood clot, and probed the opening made by the ball with his finger. His declaration that the wound was mortal was telegraphed across the nation.
Children’s Ideas About Life Science Concepts

This chapter explores young children’s conceptions of life science topics that were identified in the research literature. Topics that were prevalent in the literature were the distinction between living and non-living entities, growth and development of organisms, germs and contagions, and differences between plants and animals. Research was identified through two fields: science education and developmental psychology. Developmental psychology studies identified conceptions and alternative conceptions of life science held by young children between ages 4 and 7. Intervention studies from the field of science education identified life science conceptions and also showed that young children could improve their conceptions of life science topics with appropriate instruction. Through a review of the existing research we make recommendations for future research that explores young children’s ideas about life science, as well as provide implications for classroom instruction. From the research reviewed it is clear that young children can improve their ideas about life science concepts through appropriate instruction. They are not developmentally constrained due to their young age, but everyday experience of life science topics may not lead to scientifically accurate conceptions. If they do receive appropriate instruction in life science concepts they would certainly obtain better understandings.
Peronist Christianity and Non-Catholic Religions: Politics and Ecumenism (1943–55)

AbstractThe birth of Peronism was closely associated with Catholicism. Many things made the new political movement look like the realization of the Catholic Utopias of the 1930s, and many feared—or hoped—that this government would turn into a religious dictatorship. Between 1945 and 1948, the attempt of the Peronist state to control non-Catholic religions was part of religious policies openly aligned with the Catholic church. However, by 1950 it became apparent that the episcopacy's demands for state protection of Catholicism above other religions had ceased to produce consensus in official circles. Not only did the government seem unwilling to limit the activities of non-Catholics anymore, but it even began to introduce the respect of all religions as a Peronist cause. This new “non-sectarian” approach to religion had a political logic: the only legitimate loyalty was to Peron and his movement rather than to any other group or institution. As the government gradually lost its first Catholic support, Pero...
Cushing syndrome and adrenocortical carcinoma in a patient with CD4+ lymphocytopenia.

In 1992, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defined idiopathic CD4 + lymphocytopenia as a syndrome of CD4+ cell counts less than 300/~L on more than one occasion in patients who are HNseronegative and have no known immunodeficiency state.1 Numerous cases of idiopathic CD4 + lymphocytopenia have been reported and have been associated with a wide range of disease entities. We report here a case of idiopathic CD4 + lymphocytopenia in a patient who was later found to have Cushing syndrome caused by adrenal carcinoma.
Experimental Induction of Human Atypical Melanocytic Lesions and Melanoma in Ultraviolet-Irradiated Human Skin Grafted to Immunodeficient Mice

The development of melanoma and its precursor lesions has been associated with intense intermittent sun exposure and the deleterious effects of ultraviolet (UV) light (1). This is supported by epidemiologic data as well as several animal models in which melanoma could be induced or promoted by UV irradiation (Table 1). It remains to be elucidated what changes UV light induces in the human pigment cells at the molecular level that trigger malignant transformation. Experimental animal models established to date have helped us to understand the etiology and pathobiology of melanoma, but they do not necessarily mirror the biology of human melanoma development. The skin morphology in animals differs substantially from that in humans, and melanocytes show a different distribution pattern. In mice, melanocytes are mainly located in the hair follicles, whereas in humans, melanocytes are found epidermally at the basement membrane zone. The number of cell layers of the epidermis is, for the most part, markedly less in mice than in humans (Fig. 1).
Low-cost chirp linearization for long-range ISAL imaging application

High quality linear laser frequency chirp of high chirp rate is critical to many laser ranging applications. In this paper, we describe a cost-effective chirp linearization approach implemented on our Inverse synthetic Aperture LADAR (ISAL) imaging testbed. Our approach uses a COTS PZT for external cavity laser frequency tuning and a common self-heterodyne fiber interferometer as a frequency monitor, with a two-step hardware and software chirp linearization procedure to achieve high quality chirp. First, the nominal triangle waveform input to PZT drive is modified through an iterative process prior to ISAL imaging acquisition. Several waveforms with chirp rates between 1 and 4THz/s have been acquired with residual chirp rate error ~ +/-2% in usable region. This process generally needs to be done only once for a typical PZT that has excellent repeatability but poor linearity. The modified waveform is then used during ISAL imaging acquisition without active control while the imperfection in transmitted frequency is monitored. The received imaging data is resampled digitally based on frequency error calculated from the frequency monitor data, effectively reduce chirp nonlinearity to ~+/- 0.2% in chirp rate error. The measured system impulse response from return signal shows near designed range resolution of a few mm, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach.
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in dementias and mild cognitive impairment.

With the anticipated increase in dementias due to the aging demographic of industrialized nations, biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases are increasingly important as new therapies are being developed for clinical trials. Proton MR spectroscopy ( 1 H MRS) appears poised to be a viable means of tracking brain metabolic changes due to neurodegenerative diseases and potentially as a biomarker for treatment effects in clinical therapeutic trials. This review highlights the body of literature investigating brain metabolic abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease, amnestic mild cognitive impairment, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and Parkinson's disease dementia. In particular, the review addresses the viability of 1 H MRS to discriminate among dementias, to measure disease progression, and to measure the effects of pharmacological treatments. While findings to date are encouraging, more study is needed in longitudinal patterns of brain metabolic changes, correspondence with changes in clinical markers of disease progression, and sensitivity of 1 H MRS measures to treatment effects. Such developments will hopefully benefit the search for effective treatments of dementias in the twenty‐first century.
Brain image registration based on cortical contour mapping

The authors address the problem of brain image registration, and they present a new, nonlinear registration technique. In the first step of the authors' technique they obtain a point-to-point mapping between the outer cortical contours of the brain images using an elastic string algorithm. In the second step the authors register the two images based on the point-to-point correspondence established in the first step. They propose a new, nonlinear registration transformation, which is based on a spatially variable scaling and relation that can describe highly nonlinear deformations. Finally, the authors test their algorithm on two different registration problems: they first consider the registration of a postmortem photograph of a baboon brain cross-section and then an MR image of approximately the same cross-section. >
Background for Digital Design

This chapter discusses the modern digital design methods. It also examines that digital systems are switching devices that operate in only one of two possible states at any given time, but that can be switched back and forth from one state to another at a very high speed. The two states are high voltage (HV) and low voltage (LV). The LV and HV levels are usually taken as 0 V and 2 to 5 V, respectively, for common CMOS logic circuits. To design a useful digital device, meaningful logic names must be assigned to the inputs and outputs of a logic circuit so that their physical interpretation in terms of voltage levels can be made unambiguously. This requires the use of a notation that can easily bridge the gap between the logic domain in which the device is designed, and the physical domain in which the device is to be operated.
Influence of Substituent Chain Branching on the Transfection Efficacy of Cyclopropenium-Based Polymers

The realization of gene therapy relies on the development of delivery vectors with high efficiency and biocompatibility. With a multitude of structures accessible, the core challenge is precisely tuning vector structure to probe and optimize structure–property relationships. Employing a modular strategy, two pairs of cationic polymers based on the trisaminocyclopropenium (TAC) ion were synthesized where the substituents differ in the degree of alkyl chain branching. All TAC-based polymers exhibited higher transfection efficiencies than the untreated controls, with variable in vitro toxicities. Considering both cytotoxicity and transfection efficacy, an optimal nonviral vector was identified. Our studies highlight the importance of exercising precise control over polymer structure, both in terms of backbone identity and substituent nature, and the necessity of a robust, modular platform from which to study them.
The Impact of Prior Activity History on the Influence of Restricted Repetitive Behaviors on Socialization for Children With High-Functioning Autism

Research has demonstrated that incorporating restricted interests of an individual with autism into recess activities is effective at increasing socialization with typically developing peers. However, certain activity contexts may alter the reinforcing influence of the restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs) depending on an individual's history in that activity. Using an alternating treatment design, this study examined whether an individual's history with an activity affected socialization. RRBs were embedded into activities with a reported positive history (i.e., prior history of positive experiences) and activities with a reported negative history (i.e., prior history of aversive experiences) for participants. Data indicated that socialization increased and remained above baseline levels when RRBs were introduced during activities with a positive history, whereas socialization was minimal when RRBs were introduced in activities with a negative history. Social significance and implications for designing activities that incorporate a child's RRBs are discussed.
Dysplastic canine retinal morphogenesis

Retinal dysplasia is a failure in normal retinal development. The morphologic sequence of the dysplastic processes was examined in fetuses and neonates from dogs affected with an inherited form of retinal dysplasia. The dysplastic change has its onset at 45-50 days' gestation and is most prominent in the dorsal peripapillary retina. Morphologic characteristics of involved sensory retina include the focal loss of cell junctions forming the external limiting membrane, folding of the sensory retina, disorganized proliferation of neuroblasts in the retina and subretinal space, and formation of rosettes composed of multiple layers of neuroblasts. These morphologic changes suggest that there is an intrinsic abnormality of neural retinal differentiation.
Hot and sour in the deep ocean

Stable layering in the ocean limits the rate that human-derived carbon dioxide can acidify the deep ocean. Now observations show that ocean warming, however, can enhance deep-ocean acidification through increased organic matter decomposition.
Exit from Trade Agreements: A Reputational Analysis of Cooperation and Fairness

The last three years have been marked more by exits from trade agreements than by the successful completion of major additional pacts. While most of the international trade literature focuses on the best methods of better integrating national markets, this article seeks to examine the effect of exit on international relations. We generally assume that the costs of severing economic ties is enough to maintain trade agreements, but that proposition no longer seems robust in our current moment of widespread dissatisfaction with trade relations. This article, therefore, seeks to look outside of trade-related costs of exit to possible extralegal costs, particularly reputational or community costs, of exit. The article also aims to provide the first cut of distinguishing between the two types of reputationsâ€”one for being â€˜uncooperativeâ€™ and one for being â€˜unfairâ€™. Drawing on behavioral theories, the article begins to develop a distinction between an audienceâ€™s belief that a state is acting â€˜uncooperativelyâ€™ as compared to â€˜unfairlyâ€™ and what the consequences of this distinction may be. The article illustrates how different types of exit can have divergent reputational effects.
Convection and Boiling

In all practical energy systems with fluids, heat is transferred by convection, a combination of conduction, and fluid advection. It is the process of nanofluid convection that would be of technological interest, not merely conduction. For any type of thermal design using a convective medium it is important to understand both the fluid advection as well as the way energy is transferred by advection and conduction. Convection happens in two modes: forced and natural convection . Forced convection occurs when the fluid is pumped mechanically through the thermal system. Natural convection occurs without mechanical power, when density differences—created by temperature or concentration gradients—induce the fluid advection process. In both convection cases, the rate of heat transfer and the heat flux are given by Newton’s law of cooling in terms of suitably defined convection coefficients.
Endocrine and Neurochemical Sequelae of Primate Vocalizations

There is now an extensive literature on the behavioral effects of separation of non-human primate infants from their mothers (see review by Mineka and Suomi, 1978). These studies have been conducted in a variety of species, both New and Old World monkeys. Early research focused primarily on behavioral variables, in particular the infant’s activity and vocalization during the separation. More recently, measures of physiological function have been included in the examination of the infant’s response to removal from its mother (Reite et al., 1982; Coe et al., 1985a, b). By assessing behavior and physiology simultaneously, our laboratory has taken a psychobiological approach to this field of study. In this chapter, we will review a series of studies conducted during the past 10 years in the Laboratory of Developmental Psychobiology at Stanford University on the physiological and behavioral responses to separation in the infant squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) and the infant rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). By using two species of monkeys, we have been able to generalize some of our findings across non-human primate species.
Review on Resonators

Cavity resonators find applications in filter networks, wavemeters, and tuned circuits in oscillators. Microwave cavities rely on the field distribution in lines or guides bounded by electric or magnetic walls instead of the lumped LC elements used at the lower frequencies.
MnFe2O4 and MnO2 nanoparticle-based high-temperature, air-stable, long-term antioxidation cermet solar selective absorbers

Concentrated solar power (CSP) systems need to complement the photovoltaic (PV) technology via energy storage to better integrate solar electricity in to power grids. The efficiency of CSP systems can improve with high optical absorption in the solar spectrum regime and low emittance in the infrared (IR) spectrum, thereby reaching higher operation temperatures for lower levelized cost of energy. High-temperature, air-stable solar selective absorbers made with cermet composite materials that have optimal properties of both ceramic and metal can be the solution to this goal; however, this achievement has been difficult due to metal oxidation at high temperatures. Current state-of-the-art product such as the Pyromark 2500 black paint has a significantly high solar absorbance (α solar =97%) in the solar spectrum regime but also has a high thermal emittance loss (e=88%) in the IR spectrum at 750 °C.[1] Here, we demonstrate outstanding optical responses of thermodynamically-stable, high-temperature, low-cost long-term antioxidation cermet solar selective absorber coatings with MnFe 2 O 4 and MnO 2 nanoparticles and silicone precursors as Si-rich matrices that undergo inter-diffusion reaction with Stainless Steel 310 (SS310). It has been shown that absorbers with MnFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles have solar absorbance of ~92.5%, thermal emittance of 55%, and thermal efficiency of 88-89% posterior to annealing at 750°C for 700 hours in air, and those with MnO 2 nanoparticles have solar absorbance of ~91.5%, thermal emittance of 52.5%, and thermal efficiency of 88% posterior to annealing at 750°C for 700 hours in air. We expect that the solar selective absorber coatings with such high thermal efficiencies and high-temperature stability in air will lead to a breakthrough in the market of CSP systems.
Serotonin signaling regulates insulin-like peptides for growth, reproduction, and metabolism in the disease vector Aedes aegypti .

Disease-transmitting female mosquitoes require a vertebrate blood meal to produce their eggs. An obligatory hematophagous lifestyle, rapid reproduction, and existence of a large number of transmittable diseases make mosquitoes the world's deadliest animals. Attaining optimal body size and nutritional status is critical for mosquitoes to become reproductively competent and effective disease vectors. We report that blood feeding boosts serotonin concentration and elevates the serotonin receptor Aa5HT2B (Aedes aegypti 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor, type 2B) transcript level in the fat-body, an insect analog of the vertebrate liver and adipose tissue. Aa5HT2B gene disruption using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing approach led to a decreased body size, postponed development, shortened lifespan, retarded ovarian growth, and dramatically diminished lipid accumulation. Expression of the insulin-like peptide (ILP) genes ilp2 and ilp6 was down-regulated while that of ilp5 and ilp4 was up-regulated in response to Aa5HT2B disruption. CRISPR-Cas9 disruption of ilp2 or ilp6 resulted in adverse phenotypes similar to those of Aa5HT2B disruption, while ilp5 CRISPR-Cas9 disruption had exactly the opposite effect on growth and metabolism, with significantly increased body size and elevated lipid stores. Simultaneous CRISPR-Cas9 disruption of Aa5HT2B and ilp5 rescued these phenotypic manifestations. Aa5HT2B RNAi silencing rendered ilp6 insensitive to serotonin treatment in the cultured fat-body, suggesting a regulatory link between Aa5HT2B and ILP6. Moreover, CRISPR-Cas9 ilp6 disruption affects expression of ilp-2, -5, and -4, pointing out on a possible role of ILP6 as a mediator of the Aa5HT2B action.
Place-based predictors of HIV viral suppression and durable suppression among heterosexuals in New York city.

Scant research has explored place-based correlates of achieving and maintaining HIV viral load suppression among heterosexuals living with HIV. We conducted multilevel analyses to examine associati...
In Situ Hinge Technique for the Frontal Bandeau for the Correction of Metopic Craniosynostosis Reduces Operative Time.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Treatment of metopic craniosynostosis often involves bitemporal expansion of the anterior cranium. This report compares perioperative variables of a surgical technique in which the fronto-orbital bandeau is bent in situ to traditional fronto-orbital advancement and remodeling (FOAR). METHOD/DESCRIPTION Six patients undergoing the hinge technique were compared to the senior author's 6 most recent conventional FOARs. Study and control cohorts were reasonably well matched for age and sex; only those with nonsyndromic, single-suture metopic synostosis were included. Perioperative variables such as OR time, blood loss, hardware costs, length of stay, and perioperative complications were compared between groups using unpaired t tests. RESULTS Operative time was significantly decreased when the hinge technique was utilized, with a mean operative time of 159 ± 14.0 minutes for hinge patients and 193 ± 33.8 minutes for nonhinge patients (P = 0.049). Hardware was also significantly decreased from an average of 2.2 ± 1.0 plates and 35 ± 13.8 screws in nonhinge patients to 1 plate and 20 screws in each hinge patient (P < 0.02), for an average hardware saving of $2990 per hinge surgery (P = 0.019). Estimated blood loss, length of stay, and perioperative complications were not significantly different between groups. All patients in both groups had Whitaker 1 outcomes in short-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The hinge technique for the treatment of metopic synostosis is associated with a statistically significant decrease in operative time, hardware utilization, and hardware cost. Perioperative outcomes were similar between the hinge technique and traditional FOAR in the short term, and additional follow-up is needed to determine whether the 2 have similar long-term outcomes.
Nivolumab-Associated Acute Demyelinating Encephalitis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Nivolumab is a checkpoint inhibiting immunotherapeutic agent prescribed for the treatment of resistant cancers. Many immune-related adverse effects including neurological effects have been described, but central nervous system (CNS) toxicities are rarely reported. We present a 59-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of treatment-resistant, progressive, laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. She received nivolumab and presented with gradual weakness, confusion, and progressive dyspnea. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head showed multifocal cerebral demyelination, primarily involving the parietal lobe. The diagnosis of acute demyelinating encephalitis was made. She improved dramatically after stopping nivolumab and receiving treatment with high-dose intravenous steroid and immunoglobin therapy. We conclude, from this case and literature review, that immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment requires more investigation to determine if autoimmune encephalitis with demyelination can occur as a severe form of immune-related adverse events. CNS toxicity appears to be reversible with prompt cessation of immunotherapy followed by treatment with high doses of steroid with or without intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.
From symbiont to parasite: the evolution of for-profit science publishing

Two 17th century institutions-learned societies and scientific journals-transformed science in ways that still dominate our professional lives today. Learned societies like the American Society for Cell Biology remain relevant because they provide forums for sharing results, discussing the practice of science, and projecting our voices to the public and the policy makers. Scientific journals still disseminate our work, but in the Internet-connected world of the 21st century, this is no longer their critical function. Journals remain relevant almost entirely because they provide a playing field for scientific and professional competition: to claim credit for a discovery, we publish it in a peer-reviewed journal; to get a job in academia or money to run a lab, we present these published papers to universities and funding agencies. Publishing is so embedded in the practice of science that whoever controls the journals controls access to the entire profession. We must reform our methods for evaluating the contributions of younger scientists and deflate the power of a small number of "elite" journals. More generally, given the recent failure of research institutions around the world to strike satisfactory deals with publishing giant Elsevier, the time has come to examine the motives and methods of those to whom we have entrusted the keys to the kingdom of science.
Progress towards metal-free radical alkylations of quinones under mild conditions

Abstract A new method for the radical alkylation of quinones is reported. Lewis basic nitrogen additives increase the efficacy of quinone alkylations from carboxylic acids using catalytic AgNO3 and Selectfluor as a mild oxidant. Electrochemical data suggests that certain Lewis basic additives are capable of directly reducing Selectfluor through a single-electron transfer, presumably via a charge-transfer complex. This process yields intermediates capable of promoting oxidative decarboxylation of alkyl carboxylic acids without an added metal initiator. Using this strategy, we have demonstrated progress towards a metal-free C–H quinone alkylation reaction that proceeds at room temperature under mild conditions.
Large granular lymphocytic leukaemia after solid organ and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukaemia (T-LGLL) is a chronic clonal lymphoproliferative disorder of cytotoxic T lymphocytes which commonly occurs in older patients and is often associated with autoimmune diseases. Among 246 patients with T-LGLL seen at our institution over the last 10 years, we encountered 15 cases following solid organ or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Here, we studied the clinical characterization of these cases and compared them to de novo T-LGLL. This experience represented a clear picture of the intricate nature of the disease manifestation and the complexities of several immune mechanisms triggering the clonal expansion.
Computationally Derived Image Signature of Stromal Morphology Is Prognostic of Prostate Cancer Recurrence Following Prostatectomy in African American Patients.

Purpose: Between 30%–40% of patients with prostate cancer experience disease recurrence following radical prostatectomy. Existing clinical models for recurrence risk prediction do not account for population-based variation in the tumor phenotype, despite recent evidence suggesting the presence of a unique, more aggressive prostate cancer phenotype in African American (AA) patients. We investigated the capacity of digitally measured, population-specific phenotypes of the intratumoral stroma to create improved models for prediction of recurrence following radical prostatectomy. Experimental Design: This study included 334 radical prostatectomy patients subdivided into training (VT, n = 127), validation 1 (V1, n = 62), and validation 2 (V2, n = 145). Hematoxylin and eosin–stained slides from resected prostates were digitized, and 242 quantitative descriptors of the intratumoral stroma were calculated using a computational algorithm. Machine learning and elastic net Cox regression models were constructed using VT to predict biochemical recurrence-free survival based on these features. Performance of these models was assessed using V1 and V2, both overall and in population-specific cohorts. Results: An AA-specific, automated stromal signature, AAstro, was prognostic of recurrence risk in both independent validation datasets [V1,AA: AUC = 0.87, HR = 4.71 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.65–13.4), P = 0.003; V2,AA: AUC = 0.77, HR = 5.7 (95% CI, 1.48–21.90), P = 0.01]. AAstro outperformed clinical standard Kattan and CAPRA-S nomograms, and the underlying stromal descriptors were strongly associated with IHC measurements of specific tumor biomarker expression levels. Conclusions: Our results suggest that considering population-specific information and stromal morphology has the potential to substantially improve accuracy of prognosis and risk stratification in AA patients with prostate cancer.
Calculation of the γ/γ′ interface free energy in the Ni–Al system by the capillary fluctuation method

Monte Carlo computer simulations with an embedded-atom potential are applied to study coherent γ/γ' interfaces in the Ni–Al system. The (1 0 0) interface free energy has been extracted from the power spectrum of equilibrium shape fluctuations (capillary waves) and found to decrease with temperature from about 20 mJ m−2 at 550 K to about 10 mJ m−2 at 1200 K. These numbers are in reasonable agreement with existing experimental data. Strengths and weaknesses of the capillary wave method are discussed.
Intention to accept pertussis vaccination among Chinese people older than age 5

Background: The intention of Chinese people older than age 5 to accept the pertussis vaccination is unknown, which is important for the future design of an effective pertussis vaccination program i...
Intestinal and systemic inflammation induced by symptomatic and asymptomatic enterotoxigenic E. coli infection and impact on intestinal colonization and ETEC specific immune responses in an experimental human challenge model.

Recent studies have gained a better appreciation of the potential impacts of enteric infections beyond symptomatic diarrhea. It is recognized that infections by several enteropathogens could be ass...
Using Individual Responsibility to Regulate Firms

Using a Department of Justice policy intervention intended to increase individual responsibility of managers for corporate offenses (e.g., pollution) as a natural experiment, I find that firms with a high ex-ante probability of regulatory violations (“exposed firms”) suffer an abnormal return of -1% around the event date on average. The negative value effects are concentrated in exposed firms with low agency costs. The value effects are positive for exposed firms with high agency costs. Consistent with market reactions, exposed firms reduce investment significantly. Firms also commit fewer offenses and the reduced investment contributes to fewer offenses. Various tests support the causal effect of the policy intervention on firm investment. In addition, shareholders are not able to undo the effect of the policy on managers through contracting. These findings suggest that although some regulatory offenses can represent an agency cost on shareholders when fines are paid by shareholders, on average, fines on shareholders allow a manager to pursue potentially harmful projects whose value to shareholders outweighs fines borne by them. These findings cast doubt on the view that there is a lack of individual responsibility for corporate offenses against society.
Layered viscoelastic properties of granular biofilms.

Abstract Granular biofilms are dense spherical complex biological systems composed mainly of multi-microbial cells, water, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). They facilitate efficient purification and settling of activated sludge in wastewater treatment processes. The viscoelastic properties of these complex biofilm systems are important characteristics that control their growth and dictate how they respond to hydrodynamic forces and chemical stimuli. However, the viscoelastic properties of granular biofilms are poorly understood. In this paper, we study granular biofilms' viscoelastic properties using optical coherence elastography (OCE), a nondestructive method that integrates optical coherence tomography (OCT) with elastic wave propagation. While quantitative viscoelastic characterization of granular biofilms is challenging due to their heterogeneous properties, we show that elastic waves are suitable for this purpose. First, we employ guided elastic waves in a thin section of a granular biofilm to reveal a two-layered profile for the viscoelastic properties. Next, we utilize circumferential elastic waves that propagate near the surface of a non-sectioned spherical biofilm to quantify the layered system's viscoelastic properties. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first quantitative study that characterizes the layered viscoelastic properties of granular biofilms. The measurement approach may provide a platform to study the interplay between the viscoelastic properties and other characteristics of granular biofilms such as the complex microbial system, morphology, and oxygen distribution.
Psychological distress across intersections of race/ethnicity, gender, and marital status during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Analyze how psychological distress in the U.S. population during the COVID-19 pandemic differed across race/ethnicity, gender, and marital status.Cross-sectional data collected March 19-24, 2020, a...
In Vitro Down Regulation and Possible Internalization of Central Angiotensin Receptors

Angiotensin receptors in peripheral tissues have been shown to up or down regulate in response to changes in circulating angiotensin2/3. Nevertheless it has been difficult to demonstrate changes in central angiotensin receptors in response to alterations in blood or cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) levels of angiotensins4/5. Failure to detect such changes could be the result of a dilution effect whereby only a small percentage of angiotensin receptors are exposed to altered ligand levels or a rapidly recycling population of receptors. This study demonstrates that tachyphalaxis does occur to intracerebroventricularly (ICV) applied angiotensins. This change in angiotensin sensitivity may be a result of receptor down regulation and internalization which appear to occur at least in the in vitro preparation used in this study.
Automated Euler and Navier-Stokes Database Generation for a Glide-Back Booster

AeroDB is a database generation framework that is used to compute thousands of Euler and Navier-Stokes solutions for a 2nd generation glide-back booster in one week using the NASA Information Power Grid. Process automation and web-based access is used to greatly simplify and reduce the user workload. The solutions are validated with experimental data, and stability derivatives are computed using a monotone cubic-spline procedure. Flow visualization and three-dimensional surface plots are used to interpret and characterize the nature of computed flow fields.
Abstract 17681: Functional Role of Slc26a6 in the Regulation of Cardiac Excitability

Background: One of the major knowledge gaps in cardiac physiology is the mechanism underlying the relatively high intracellular chloride concentration ([Cl − ] i ) in cardiomyocytes (~20-30 mM) compared to that in skeletal muscle (~4-5 mM) and the relative contribution of Cl − to cardiac excitability. Due to the passive distribution of Cl − through Cl − channels, the coupled inward Cl − transport must exist in cardiomyocytes to maintain the relatively high [Cl − ] i . We recently identified and cloned the cardiac isoforms of a solute carrier, slc26a6. We demonstrated that slc26a6 mediated electrogenic Cl − /oxalate and Cl − /HCO 3 − exchanges in both atrial and ventricular myocytes. Since slc26a6 is electrogenic, we hypothesize that the exchange activity may regulate cardiac excitability. Methods and Results: We recorded the resting membrane potential (RMP) and action potential (AP) in mouse ventricular myocytes using perforated patch-clamp and fast solution exchange techniques. A low extracellular Cl − concentration ([Cl − ] o , 8 mM) hyperpolarized the RMP and the effect was reversible when the solution with high [Cl − ] o (154 mM) was applied. The inhibition of slc26a6 hyperpolarized the RMP at high [Cl − ] o . Indeed, this observation cannot be explained by the passive Cl − distribution across the cell membrane since the low [Cl − ] o should depolarize the RMP if the resting Cl − conductance is significant. Moreover, AP duration was shortened by low [Cl − ] o which may be explained by the enhanced HCO 3 − influx coupled with the Cl − efflux through slc26a6 with a stoichiometry of HCO 3 − : Cl − ≥ 2. We further tested the dose-dependent activation by oxalate because of the specific Cl − /oxalate exchange activities of cardiac slc26a6. The AP shortening by oxalate influx, as well as the [Cl − ] o -dependent changes of RMP suggest important functional roles of slc26a6 in the regulation of cardiac excitability. Conclusion: Cardiac slc26a6 participates in the regulation of cardiac excitability by affecting the Cl − distribution across the plasma membrane of cardiomyocytes through its electrogenic Cl − /HCO 3 − exchange activities. This new insight helps to pave the way for the understanding of the roles of Cl − in cardiac excitability. Funded by AHA Western States Affiliate (14BGIA18870087 to XZ).
A Review of “The Digital Economy: Business Organization, Production Processes and Regional Developments”

Information technology (IT), telework, cyberspace, the Internet, the digital revolution, fiber networks, eBay, the blogosphere … this vast, intertwined panoply of new ways of doing business, new ma...
Factors influencing patient decisions to initiate and discontinue subcutaneous testosterone pellets (Testopel) for treatment of hypogonadism

Abstract Introduction A variety of modalities for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) are available, including topical gels, injections, and Testopel subcutaneous testosterone pellets (STP). STP are becoming more commonly utilized in the United States; however, patient preferences, expectations, and usage patterns regarding this therapy remain poorly characterized. Aim To identify factors influencing patients' decisions to initiate or discontinue STP. Methods A total of 175 men from an academic urology clinic who were currently using or who had previously used STP for hypogonadism received a 32-item electronic survey. Main Outcome Measures Assessment of the impact of convenience, efficacy, side effects, cost, and symptom relief on initiation and discontinuation of STP. Results One hundred and thirteen men (64.6% response rate) of mean age 51.4 years who previously underwent a mean of 2.8 STP implant procedures completed the survey. Fifty-nine (52.2%) and 40 (35.4%) men had switched to STP from topical gel and injection therapy, respectively, whereas 14 (12.4%) men initially started TRT with STP. Convenience (68.8%) was the most important factor in patients' decision to start STP, while cost of the previous form of TRT (14.7%) was least important. At the time of the survey, 32 men (28.3%) had discontinued STP therapy. Cost of therapy (50%) was the primary factor in discontinuing STP. There was no difference in serum testosterone levels between men who continued STP and those who discontinued therapy (642.8 vs. 629.0 ng/dL, P = 0.83). Overall, 68.1% of patients continued STP therapy at the time of survey completion. Conclusions Convenience is the most important factor in a patient's decision to initiate STP; however, physician recommendation also plays a substantial role. Cost was the primary reason for discontinuation. Upon survey completion, greater than two-thirds of respondents elected to continue STP therapy. STP are a viable treatment option for hypogonadal men seeking a convenient and efficacious alternative modality of TRT. Smith RP, Khanna A, Coward RM, Rajanahally S, Kovac JR, Gonzales MA, and Lipshultz LI. Factors influencing patient decisions to initiate and discontinue subcutaneous testosterone pellets (Testopel) for treatment of hypogonadism. J Sex Med 2013;10:2326–2333.
Torn Between East and West: The Regional Factor in Ukrainian Politics

Two issues that are central to an understanding of post-Soviet party politics in Ukraine are examined in detail within the context of their regional variation. First is the lack of an organizational culture, which reflects the continued dominance of the former Communist Party nomenklatura in party politics in Ukraine. No powerful popular movements or parties have been able or willing to seriously challenge this dominance. Second is the split between Eastern and Western Ukraine, which becomes quite apparent in a review of returns from the 1994 parliamentary elections. Few political parties poll strongly in all parts of Ukraine; instead, there is a growing division between a nationalist West and a Russian-oriented East. The paper assesses the implications of the nomenklatura dominance and East-West division for the future of pluralist party democracy in Ukraine. 6 figures, 3 tables, 21 references.
The subcutaneous ventricular reservoir: an effective treatment for posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus.

Use of the subcutaneous ventricular reservoir in the treatment of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus was studied in a series of 38 patients. All of the patients were considered to be medically labile. Additionally, all had failed conservative modes of therapy consisting of lumbar punctures with or without furosemide or acetazolamide. Management of the hydrocephalus consisted of reservoir placement. Subsequently, taps were performed at various intervals and amounts, depending upon the degree of ventricular dilatation as determined by sonography and signs of increased intracranial pressure. The majority of reservoirs were left in place for 1–2 months. There were no reservoir infections. Once the patients were medically stable, the reservoir was removed and a shunt placed. Eight patients died before shunt placement and 2 patients died after shunting, reflecting a 29% mortality. In no case was a death related to the shunt, but rather reflected the medical lability of the patient population. Four patients (15% of surviving patients) did not require shunting. The total shunt infection rate was 6.9% (among survivors with a shunt in place, 7.7%). These results support the use of the reservoir as an easy and effective means of protecting the cortical mantle while decreasing morbidity related to future shunt placement.
Demonic Ambiguities: Enchantment and Disenchantment in Nathaniel Turner’s Virginia

This paper conjoins three texts – the “Confessions of Nat Turner,” Walter Benjamin’s “Capitalism as Religion,” and Max Weber’s “Science as a Vocation.” Benjamin and Weber provide interpretive prisms through which to examine Turner’s confession. Though quite unlike each other, each glances at the demonic – a matter of some significance when one considers the meaning of the “full faith and credit” held due the decision of the Southampton (Virginia) County Court to hang Turner for his attempted 1831 slave rebellion. Like guilt/debt, the dual meanings of Schuld that, for Benjamin, confirmed the existence of a religious – specifically a Christian – structure in capitalism, the conjunction of faith and credit has its own demonic ambiguity, simultaneously sacralizing (faith) and secularizing (credit) the authority of the law. In capitalism as religion and as law, these demonic ambiguities fuse together in an overwhelming simultaneity that is at once economic and juridical, moral and psychological, profane and sacral. This simultaneity – and Turner’s attempt to disrupt it – is the paper’s chief concern.
A pulsed modulator power supply for the g-2 muon storage ring injection kicker

This paper describes the pulse modulator power supplies used to drive the kicker magnets that inject the muon beam into the g-2 storage ring that has been built at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Three modulators built into coaxial structures consisting of a series circuit of an energy storage capacitor, a damping resistor and a fast thyratron switch are used to energize three magnets that kick the beam into the proper orbit. A 100 kV charging power supply is used to charge the capacitor to 95 kV. The damping resistor shapes the magnet current waveform to a 450 nanosecond half-sine to match the injection requirements. This paper discusses the modulator design, construction and operation.
Land of Plenty: Oklahomans in the Cotton Fields of Arizona, 1933-1942

Land of Plenty: Oklahomans in the Cotton Fields of Arizona, 1933-1942. Marsha L. Weisiger. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. 1995. $24.95 cloth.
Feeling Attractive in the Wake of Breast Cancer: Optimism Matters, and So Do Interpersonal Relationships

Survey data from 63 married (or living as married) breast cancer patients (Stage I, n = 25; Stage II, n = 30; Stage III, n =8) provided evidence that both dispositional optimism and interpersonal factors may influence how physically attractive breast cancer patients feel. Optimistic women reported more frequently agreeing with their partners, higher levels of social support, and more feelings of physical attractiveness. Beyond the effects of optimism, relationship agreement and global perceptions of social support accounted for significant variance in feelings of attractiveness. Tests for mediation further suggested that more optimistic breast cancer patients feel more attractive because their dispositions promote perceptions that support is available in general and from their marital partners in particular. Agreement in the marital relationship appears to influence feelings of attractiveness, in large part, because relationship agreement contributes to generalized perceptions of available support.