cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A method of assessment of central nervous function in mice with viral encephalomyelitis

SUMMARY A quantitative investigation into the balancing and locomotor function, learning and memory of mice infected with an arthropod-borne virus is described. Mice can remain on a rod rotating in a horizontal plane about its long axis, and this natural ability can be assessed by counting the number of times they fall off. The mice improve their ability with experience and can retain the improved ability for short periods. Natural ability in mice about 25 days old was greater than in those 3 weeks older. This ability was diminished by the encephalomyelitis which resulted from infection with Langat virus. Within the limits of the experiments the rate of learning depended upon the number of trials rather than the interval between them. Memory lasting 10 days or longer was demonstrated in some mice but evidence on the effect of ageing on learning and memory was conflicting. Despite the presence of Langat virus infection the learning ability and memory of mice which showed no clinical signs of disease appeared to be unimpaired. 129 Functional impairment of the central nervous system is an important sequel to viral encephalitis in man but, perhaps because of technical difficulties, this aspect of the disease has received little attention in experiments on animals. We became interested in the function of the nervous system as part of a general investigation into the pathogenesis of arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) encephalitides and were faced with the need to assess quantitatively the higher nervous functions (balance and locomotor function, learning and memory) III mIce. Mice placed upon a rod rotating about its long axis in a horizontal plane can retain their position. This natural ability is affected adversely if the function of the nervous system is impaired. A rotating rod seems first to
V(D)J Recombination: Modulation of RAG1 and RAG2 Cleavage Activity on 12/23 Substrates by Whole Cell Extract and DNA-bending Proteins

Summary Antigen receptor gene rearrangement is directed by DNA motifs consisting of a conserved heptamer and nonamer separated by a nonconserved spacer of either 12 or 23 base pairs (12 or 23 recombination signal sequences [RSS]). V(D)J recombination requires that the rearranging DNA segments be flanked by RSSs of different spacer lengths, a phenomenon known as the 12/23 rule. Recent studies have shown that this restriction operates at the level of DNA cleavage, which is mediated by the products of the recombination activating genes RAG1 and RAG2. Here, we show that RAG1 and RAG2 are not sufficient for 12/23 dependent cleavage, whereas RAG1 and RAG2 complemented with whole cell extract faithfully recapitulates the 12/23 rule. In addition, HMG box containing proteins HMG1 and HMG2 enhance RAG1 - and RAG2 -mediated cleavage of substrates containing 23 RSS but not of substrates containing only 12 RSS. These results suggest the existence of a nucleoprotein complex at the cleavage site, consisting of architectural, catalytic, and regulatory components.
Energetic demands of immature sea otters from birth to weaning: implications for maternal costs, reproductive behavior and population-level trends

Sea otters ( Enhydra lutris ) have the highest mass-specific metabolic rate of any marine mammal, which is superimposed on the inherently high costs of reproduction and lactation in adult females. These combined energetic demands have been implicated in the poor body condition and increased mortality of female sea otters nearing the end of lactation along the central California coast. However, the cost of lactation is unknown and currently cannot be directly measured for this marine species in the wild. Here, we quantified the energetic demands of immature sea otters across five developmental stages as a means of assessing the underlying energetic challenges associated with pup rearing that may contribute to poor maternal condition. Activity-specific metabolic rates, daily activity budgets and field metabolic rates (FMR) were determined for each developmental stage. Mean FMR of pre-molt pups was 2.29±0.81 MJ day−1 and increased to 6.16±2.46 and 7.41±3.17 MJ day−1 in post-molt pups and dependent immature animals, respectively. Consequently, daily energy demands of adult females increase 17% by 3 weeks postpartum and continue increasing to 96% above pre-pregnancy levels by the average age of weaning. Our results suggest that the energetics of pup rearing superimposed on small body size, marine living and limited on-board energetic reserves conspire to make female sea otters exceptionally vulnerable to energetic shortfalls. By controlling individual fitness, maternal behavior and pup provisioning strategies, this underlying metabolic challenge appears to be a major factor influencing current population trends in southern sea otters ( Enhydra lutris nereis ).
Evaluating the Impact of Interaction between Middle School Students and Materials Science and Engineering Researchers

We, as education outreach providers at a research center, believe research scientists and engineers have much to contribute to science education. Our job is to design programs that allow our faculty and students to share their expertise and their stories to positively impact student learning and attitudes towards STEM fields. Is it possible to show that middle school students’ interaction with scientists and engineers makes a positive difference in only one day? The National Science Foundation funded Princeton Center for Complex Materials (PCCM), in partnership with MRS and NOVA, held a large-scale, one-day event for middle school students on January 27, 2011. This study measures the impact of that engagement on the students’ attitudes, contributing to their general attitude towards science and scientists that will ultimately determine their career choices later in life. Among other methods, focus group interviews and pre- and post-event attitude surveys were conducted and analyzed to evaluate the impact of the program.
The Seasonality of the Great Plains Low-Level Jet and ENSO Relationship

AbstractThis study investigates the seasonality of the relationship between the Great Plains low-level jet (GPLLJ) and the Pacific Ocean from spring to summer, using observational analysis and coupled model experiments. The observed GPLLJ and El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) relation undergoes seasonal changes with a stronger GPLLJ associated with La Nina in boreal spring and El Nino in boreal summer. The ability of the GFDL Forecast-Oriented Low Ocean Resolution (FLOR) global coupled climate model, which has the high-resolution atmospheric and land components, to simulate the observed seasonality in the GPLLJ–ENSO relationship is assessed. The importance of simulating the magnitude and phase locking of ENSO accurately in order to better simulate its seasonal teleconnections with the Intra-Americas Sea (IAS) is demonstrated. This study explores the mechanisms for seasonal changes in the GPLLJ–ENSO relation in model and observations. It is hypothesized that ENSO affects the GPLLJ variability through the...
Effect of Spatial Resolution on Cluster Detection: A Simulation Study

Background: Aggregation of spatial data is intended to protect privacy, but some effects of aggregation on spatial methods have not yet been quantified. Methods: We generated 3,000 spatial data sets and evaluated power of detection at 12 different levels of aggregation using the spatial scan statistic implemented in SaTScan v6.0. Results: Power to detect clusters decreased from nearly 100% when using exact locations to roughly 40% at the coarsest level of spatial resolution. Conclusion: Aggregation has the potential for obfuscation.
Minimum-redundancy linear arrays

It is shown that there is a class of linear arrays which achieves maximum resolution for a given number of elements by minimizing the number of redundant spacings present in the array. For many-element arrays the degree of redundancy will approach 4/3. Applications of such arrays to aperture synthesis are discussed.
Contralateral Ureteral Meatal Advancement in Unilateral Antireflux Surgery

AbstractPurpose: Contralateral vesicoureteral reflux is a well-known development after successful unilateral ureteral reimplantation that is not apparently influenced by the reimplantation technique. We sought to determine whether bilateral reimplantation should be performed routinely in unilateral cases.Materials and Methods: From 1984 to 1995 we performed contralateral ureteral meatal advancement in 53 children 1 to 9.5 years old (mean age 2.5) undergoing surgery for unilateral grades II to V vesicoureteral reflux, including 12 with reflux in duplex systems. Ureteral meatal advancement involves a transverse Y shaped mucosal incision from the nonrefluxing orifice to the opposite hemitrigone. The inferior half of the ureteral orifice is then advanced toward the midline using 3 or 4 long-term resorbable sutures. The control group included 98 children who underwent unilateral surgery for grades II to V reflux from 1990 to 1995.Results: No evidence of vesicoureteral reflux was observed in the 53 children who...
On the State of the Art of Info-metrics

Info-metrics is the science and practice of inference and quantitatively processing information. In this paper I provide a brief discussion of the state of info-metrics. After defining and discussing the concept of information and types of information I relate these concepts to information processing and data analysis. The connection between info-metrics and the class of information-theoretic methods of inference is discussed here as well. The discussion concludes with a partial list of open questions in info-metrics.
Reactive Synthesis of NbAl3 Matrix Composites

NbA1 3 matrix composites were synthesized “in-situ” via reactive hot compaction (RHC) of elemental powders. It was found that the simultaneous application of pressure during synthesis was effective in attaining a near-theoretical density matrix at relatively low temperatures and pressures. Using this technique, two types of composites were produced: (1) matrices containing a uniform dispersion of second phase particles (either Nb 3 Al or Nb 2 Al with an Nb core or Nb 2 Al) and (2) matrices reinforced with coated or uncoated ductile Nb filaments. It was found that a limited amount of toughening is obtained using the first approach, while composites containing coated Nb filaments exhibited a significant increase in the ambient temperature fracture toughness. In this paper, various aspects of RHC processing of NbAI 3 matrix composites, the effect of initial stoichiometry and powder size on the microstructure, as well as the mechanical behavior of the composites will be discussed.
In vivo and in vitro characteristic of HIF-1α and relative genes in ischemic femoral head necrosis.

Background: Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (Perthes’ disease) is a childhood hip disorder initiated by ischemic necrosis of the growing femoral head. So far, the etiology and pathogenesis of Perthes’ disease is poorly understood. Materials and methods: Avascular osteonecrosis rat model was established to mimic the pathophysiological changes of femoral head necrosis. The chondrocytes of newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were isolated and cultured in hypoxic and normoxic condition. The expression characteristic of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) was evaluated both in vivo and in vitro models. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and apoptotic genes in chondrocytes treated with normoxia and hypoxia were also studied. Results: HIF-1α expression increased greatly after ischemic operation and kept at relative high level in the arthromeningitis stage and declined in the stages of osteonecrosis and reconstruction. The HIF-1α mRNA levels of chondrocytes incubated at hypoxia were significantly higher than the cells treated with normoxia at 24 and 72 hours. Hypoxia inhibited VEGF expression; chondrocytes could oppose this inhibition manifested by the increasing of VEGF mRNA level after 72 hours hypoxia. The expression of apoptotic genes, Casp3, Casp8 and Casp9, elevated in chondrocytes after hypoxia with time differences. Conclusion: Hypoxia might be an etiological factor for femoral head necrosis, HIF-1α, VEGF as well as apoptotic genes participated the pathophysiological process of ischemic osteonecrosis.
Openness to Experience Rather Than Overexcitabilities Call It Like It Is

Openness to experience is a personality factor in the five-factor model of personality, and it is composed of six facets. Facets of openness appear conceptually analogous to overexcitabilities (OEs...
Presence of P210bcrabl Is Associated with Decreased Expression of a Beta Chemokine C10 Gene in a P210bcrabl-Positive Myeloid Leukemia Cell Line

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is thought to start with the acquisition of the t(9;22) chromosomal translocation that codes for the P210bcrabl tyrosine-specific protein kinase. The CML cells exhibit anchorage-independent cell growth and genetic instability. After the initial phase, the cells acquire the phenotype of growth factor-independent growth. After the chronic phase, the disease evolves into the accelerated and blastic phases through the process of sequential random mutation. To identify some of the genetic changes that contribute to the phenotype of blastic and accelerated phase cells, we used differential display PCR to compare levels of cDNA reverse transcripts of mRNA in 32Dc13 cells and 32Dc13 cells that were stably transfected with a bcrabl cDNA plasmid in a constitutively expressed transcription unit. These cells were designated 32Dc13P210bcrabl. For these studies, we used the 32D myeloid leukemia cell line, which depends on IL-3 for growth. Following introduction of the bcr-abl cDNA through transfection, the cell line became growth factor independent, mimicking the change in phenotype that occurs during the later phases of CML. These differential display screening assays detected altered levels of transcripts for 28 genes. Of interest to the biology of growth factor-independent growth in the bcrabl-positive 32D cells was the fact that the C10 β chemokine gene was expressed at higher levels in the 32Dc13 cells than in the 32Dc13P210bcrabl cells. These studies show that a C10 β chemokine gene was expressed at different levels with or without P210bcrabl.
An Empirical Study on the Change of Total Factor Energy Efficiency in China's Steel Sector——Based on Provincial Panel Data

Based on the non-parametric DEA method and provincial panel data,total factor energy efficiency(TTFE) of 28 provincial units in China' steel sector during 1992-2008 was estimated.In order to measure regional divergence of Chinese steel energy efficiency,7 major economic regions is constructed and efficiency characteristics are analyzed.The results indicate that:(1) China's steel sector has great potential to raise energy efficiency.(2) Adjusted mount of energy mainly concentrates in three major economic regions including central region,southwest region and northwest region.(3)U shape relationship exists between TTFE and regionally economic level for china's steel sector,scale return promoting TTFE can be showed in the period of intensive expansion;(4)Discrepancy of technological progress in major economic regions is a main factor to affect TTFE.
Analysis on Risk Factors and Epidemiologic Characteristics of Overweight and Obesity of Adults in Anhui Province

Objective To analyze the risk factors and epidemiologic characteristics of overweight and obesity of adults in Anhui province.Methods Multi-stage randomized clusters sampling was used to survey 12 cities and counties.Data on weight and height was obtained through physical check-ups.Results The crude prevalence rate of overweight and obesity were 29.95% and 8.52%,and the age-adjusted rate were 16.33% and 4.45%.The prevalence of overweight in male and female and obesity in female increased with the increase of age.The prevalence of overweight and obesity were significantly higher in northern part of the province than that in the middle and south parts.The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the major risk factors influencing overweight would include age,smoking habits,physical exercises,marry status,mental status and location of residence.Conclusion Overweight and obesity among the adults in Anhui province had become a threatening hazard to resident's health.Prevention and control of this hazard should be urgently needed.
Dynamic multileaf collimation and three-dimensional verification in IMRT

We have developed software for constructing the leaf sequences necessary for IMRT delivery using a multileaf collimator. The algorithm used is an enhancement of the sliding window technique and supports several accelerator/MLC combinations [1,2]. Several factors are addressed in this application. The user specifies the RMS difference between the desired profile and the profile obtained with translated MLC motion. Tolerance of leaf positioning is also a user input. Transmission through MLC leaves is corrected using an iterative method. Leakage between opposing and neighboring leaves is minimized. Individual leaves are synchronized to reduce tongue and grove effect by varying their relative starting and ending times. The application supports fixed gantry step-and-shoot, fixed gantry dynamic, and fixed gantry optimized modes. During fixed gantry optimized mode, the delivery is dynamic, but switches to step-and-shoot mode in instances where MLC leaves cannot meet tolerance specification. Verifications have been performed using film dosimetry and amorphous Silicon (a-Si:H) 2D array detector acquisitions [3].
WE-AB-209-12: Quasi Constrained Multi-Criteria Optimization for Automated Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning

Purpose: To introduce quasi-constrained Multi-Criteria Optimization (qcMCO) for unsupervised radiation therapy optimization which generates alternative patient-specific plans emphasizing dosimetric tradeoffs and conformance to clinical constraints for multiple delivery techniques. Methods: For N Organs At Risk (OARs) and M delivery techniques, qcMCO generates M(N+1) alternative treatment plans per patient. Objective weight variations for OARs and targets are used to generate alternative qcMCO plans. For 30 locally advanced lung cancer patients, qcMCO plans were generated for dosimetric tradeoffs to four OARs: each lung, heart, and esophagus (N=4) and 4 delivery techniques (simple 4-field arrangements, 9-field coplanar IMRT, 27-field non-coplanar IMRT, and non-coplanar Arc IMRT). Quasi-constrained objectives included target prescription isodose to 95% (PTV-D95), maximum PTV dose (PTV-Dmax) 0.8. Results: The qcMCO plans varied mean dose by >5 Gy to ipsilateral lung for 24/30 patients, contralateral lung for 29/30 patients, esophagus for 29/30 patients, and heart for 19/30 patients. In the 600 plans computed without human interaction, average PTV-D95=67.4±3.3 Gy, PTV-Dmax=79.2±5.3 Gy, and spinal cord Dmax was >45 Gy in 93 plans (>50 Gy in 2/600 plans). Statistically significant dosimetric tradeoffs were evident in 19/30 plans, including multiple tradeoffs of at least 5 Gy between multiple OARs in 7/30 cases. The most common statistically significant tradeoff was increasing PTV-Dmax to reduce OAR dose (15/30 patients). Conclusion: The qcMCO method can conform to quasi-constrained objectives while revealing significant variations in OAR doses including mean dose reductions >5 Gy. Clinical implementation will facilitate patient-specific decision making based on achievable dosimetry as opposed to accept/reject models based on population derived objectives.
Looking under the hood of local adaptation plans: shedding light on the actions prioritized to build local resilience to climate change

In the face of a changing climate, many United States (US) local governments are creating plans to prepare. These plans layout how a community is vulnerable to existing and future changes in climate as well as what actions they propose taking to prepare. The actions included in these plans provide insight into what local governments feel they have the ability to undertake, as well as what actions they believe are important to building resilience. To date, little to no analysis has been conducted on the content of these plans, leaving researchers, practitioners, and those supporting communities with limited understanding of what gaps need to be filled or how best to support locally prioritized climate action. This paper analyzes the content of 43 stand alone climate adaptation plans from US local communities to identify the types of actions proposed and how those actions compare to what researchers indicate the communities should be prioritizing based on regional climate projections. The results indicate that local communities include numerous and varied actions in their adaptation plans and that the majority of communities are selecting actions that are theoretically appropriate given projected changes in regional climate. Yet some types of actions, such as building codes and advocacy, are not being widely used. These results contrast with previous studies, which found that local communities focus primarily on capacity building approaches. Findings also demonstrate that plans rarely contain significant details about how actions will be implemented, raising questions about whether plans will translate into real-world projects.
Antibiotic utilisation in very low birth weight infants without sepsis or necrotising enterocolitis is associated with multiple adverse outcomes

Commentary on: Ting JY, Synnes A, Roberts A, et al . Association Between Antibiotic Use and Neonatal Mortality and Morbidities in Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants Without Culture-Proven Sepsis or Necrotizing Enterocolitis. JAMA Pediatr . 2016;170:1181–1187. Concerns about antibiotic overuse have been raised since the 1940s, largely driven by worries about antibiotic resistance and the limited development pipeline for new antimicrobials.1 More recently, prolonged antibiotic exposure has been associated with adverse outcomes in preterm infants, including sepsis, necrotising enterocolitis and mortality.2 3 Paralleling these findings has been the rapid increase in our knowledge of the importance of the gut microbiome in health and disease,4 one that is substantially altered in infancy by antimicrobial exposure.5 Understanding the relationship between antimicrobial …
Identification of a protective proteomic signature and a potential therapeutic target in diabetic nephropathy.

In a recent paper in Nature Medicine, Qi et al. set out to identify protective pathways in patients with longstanding diabetes who do not develop diabetic nephropathy. Unbiased proteomic analysis of kidney tissue identified a unique protein signature in unaffected individuals. Studies in vitro and in murine models identified the highly upregulated glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase M2 as a potential therapeutic target to prevent or treat diabetic nephropathy.
Early life exposure to China's 1959-61 famine and midlife cognition.

Background Existing studies of the 1944-45 Dutch famine found little evidence of the association between early life malnutrition and midlife cognition. Methods Among 2446 rural participants born between 1958 and 1963 in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we examined effects of exposure to China's 1959-61 Great Leap Forward famine during prenatal and early postnatal life, on four cognitive measures in 2011 (baseline) and changes in cognition between 2011 and 2013 (first follow-up). We obtained difference-in-differences (DID) estimates of the famine effects by exploiting temporal variation in the timing and duration of famine exposure across six birth cohorts born between 1958 and 1963, together with geographical variation in famine severity at the prefecture level. Results After adjusting for gender, marital status and provincial fixed effects, we found that the 1961 cohort who experienced full-term prenatal and partial-term postnatal exposures to famine had lower scores on the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (TICS), a test of drawing pentagons, and general cognition at age 50 years compared with the unexposed 1963 cohort. Adjusting for education, the famine effects on drawing pentagons and general cognition were fully attenuated, but the effect on TICS persisted. We also found a robust negative famine effect on the longitudinal change in general cognition during the 2-year follow-up in the 1959 cohort. Conclusions Severe nutritional deprivation during prenatal and postnatal periods has a lasting impact on cognitive performance in Chinese adults in their early 50s.
A Novel Method for the Extrinsic Calibration of a 2D Laser Rangefinder and a Camera

We present a novel method for extrinsically calibrating a camera and a 2D laser rangefinder whose beams are invisible from the camera image. We show that the point-to-plane constraints from a single observation of a V-shaped calibration pattern composed of two non-coplanar triangles suffice to uniquely constrain the relative pose between two sensors. Next, we present an approach to obtain analytical solutions using point-to-plane constraints from single or multiple observations. Along the way, we also show that the previous solutions, in contrast to our method, have inherent ambiguities and therefore must rely on a good initial estimate. Real and synthetic experiments validate our method and show that it achieves better accuracy than the previous methods.
Agglomeration of Escherichia coli with Positively Charged Nanoparticles Can Lead to Artifacts in a Standard Caenorhabditis elegans Toxicity Assay

The increased use and incorporation of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in consumer products requires a robust assessment of their potential environmental implications. However, a lack of standardized methods for nanotoxicity testing has yielded results that are sometimes contradictory. Standard ecotoxicity assays may work appropriately for some ENPs with minimal modification but produce artifactual results for others. Therefore, understanding the robustness of assays for a range of ENPs is critical. In this study, we evaluated the performance of a standard Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) toxicity assay containing an Escherichia coli (E. coli) food supply with silicon, polystyrene, and gold ENPs with different charged coatings and sizes. Of all the ENPs tested, only those with a positively charged coating caused growth inhibition. However, the positively charged ENPs were observed to heteroagglomerate with E. coli cells, suggesting that the ENPs impacted the ability of nematodes to feed, leading to a f...
The relationship between patient and tumor characteristics, patterns of breast cancer care, and 5-year survival among elderly women with incident breast cancer.

To examine the relationship between patient and tumor characteristics, patterns of breast cancer care, and 5-year survival among a population-based cohort of elderly women with incident breast cancer, with a special focus on identifying sources of socioeconomic (SES) disparities in outcomes. We identified women with newly diagnosed breast cancer in 2006–2009 from the Surveillance and Epidemiology End Result study linked with Medicare claims. A Classification and Regression Tree (CART) model was applied to 13 individual indicators of neoadjuvant and adjuvant breast cancer treatment, tumor characteristics, and patient sociodemographic variables to identify patterns with the greatest discriminant value in predicting 5-year survival. We subsequently examined the extent to which these patterns varied by the patient’s SES. Survival probabilities associated with the 18 unique CART-identified patterns ranged from 22 to 87%. The number of positive axillary nodes was the best single discriminator between high and lower survival outcomes. The most common discriminant factor among patterns with poor ( 2 cm, and no breast surgery. Relative to high SES women, poor women were nearly four times (12.3% vs. 3.2%, p < 0.001) as likely to be classified in the pattern associated with worse survival, and less likely (31.7% vs. 52.9%, p = 0.04) to receive the pattern associated with the greatest survival. Greater adoption of effective patterns of care could improve survival of elderly women with incident breast cancer overall, and reduce SES disparities therein.
Scattering of Elastic Waves by Inclined Subsurface Cracks

Recently analytical techniques using the T-matrix of an isolated flaw were developed to study the problem of ultrasonic wave scattering from a subsurface flaw in an elastic half space that interfaces with a fluid half space.1,2 he scattered far field in the fluid was expressed in orders of multiple scattering between the flaw and the fluid-solid interface. It was concluded from both the theoretical study and the experimental study3 that for incident wave angles oblique to the interface multiple scattering effects are negligible for depths greater than the flaw diameter. At incidence normal to the interface, it was found that first order multiple scattering modulated the scattered field of the isolated flaw. The modulation wavelength could be related directly to the depth of the flaw and its amplitude became smaller as the depth increased. At oblique angles of incidence, mode conversion at the fluid-solid interface is the major cause of the observed interference pattern in the frequency spectrum. Atdepths below one crack diameter, multiple scattering effects are significant and the full scattering series must be retained.
CHAPTER 26 – Platelet Aggregation

Historically, studies of platelet function were performed in an effort to elucidate the basis of bleeding in patients with a history of epistaxes, bruising, gingival bleeding, etc. The original aggregometer described in 1962 by Born1 consisted of an absorbptiometer and experiments evaluating platelet function were performed at room temperature. In the same year, O'Brien reported his results of aggregation studies using a photoelectric colorimeter run at three different temperatures. This methodology has progressed to an instrument designed specifi cally for measuring platelet aggregation that is basically a spectrophotometer attached to a chart recorder or computer.
Lipid Extraction by α-Synuclein Generates Semi-Transmembrane Defects and Lipoprotein Nanoparticles.

Modulations of synaptic membranes play an essential role in the physiological and pathological functions of the presynaptic protein α-synuclein (αSyn). Here we used solution atomic force microscopy (AFM) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to investigate membrane modulations caused by αSyn. We used several lipid bilayers to explore how different lipid species may regulate αSyn–membrane interactions. We found that at a protein-to-lipid ratio of ∼1/9, αSyn perturbed lipid bilayers by generating semi-transmembrane defects that only span one leaflet. In addition, αSyn coaggregates with lipid molecules to produce ∼10 nm-sized lipoprotein nanoparticles. The obtained AFM data are consistent with the apolipoprotein characteristic of αSyn. The role of anionic lipids was elucidated by comparing results from zwitterionic and anionic lipid bilayers. Specifically, our AFM measurements showed that anionic bilayers had a larger tendency of forming bilayer defects; similarly, our EPR measurements revea...
Two-Dimensional CsAg5Te3–xSx Semiconductors: Multi-anion Chalcogenides with Dynamic Disorder and Ultralow Thermal Conductivity

Metal chalcogenides underpin a wide variety of energy-related applications and are ideal systems for probing lattice dynamics and fundamental transport phenomena. Here we describe the synthesis and transport properties of CsAg5TeS2 and its solid solution CsAg5Te3–xSx (x = 1–2), new semiconductors with tunable band gaps ranging from 0.17 to 0.30 eV. CsAg5TeS2 has a fully ordered two-dimensional structure that includes a group of Ag atoms in a heteroleptic tetrahedral coordination geometry (AgTe2S2). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction indicates that the compounds crystallize in the tetragonal space group P4/mmm, while pair distribution function (PDF) analysis reveals off-centering at the heteroleptic Ag sites, signifying the lower-symmetry I4/mcm space group. The underlying disorder acts as a phonon-blocking mechanism that helps facilitate an ultralow lattice thermal conductivity below 0.40 W·m–1·K–1 at ∼300 K , highlighting the importance of local disorder in thermal transport. Density functional theory prov...
Stockwell Transform Detector For Photoplethysmography Signal Segmentation

Real-time embedded analysis of physiologic waveforms is critical to predict impending pathophysiology. While electrocardiogram (ECG) data is often analyzed to assess cardiovascular disease, there is recent evidence that photoplethysmography (PPG) can track blood loss and thereby alert to hypovolemia. In this work we present a Stockwell transform inspired filter bank to segment PPG waveforms. The Stockwell transform allows for computationally efficient frequency analysis. The proposed Stockwell filter bank utilizes a sparse time-frequency spectrum and is coupled to the Shannon energy envelope to extract PPG peaks. Finally, we demonstrate that the described method is tolerant to the presence of additive Gaussian noise.
Transcriptome Response of Female Culicoides sonorensis Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) to Early Infection with Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (EHDV-2)

Female Culicoides sonorensis biting midges are vectors of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), which causes morbidity and mortality in wild and domesticated ruminants. The aims in this study were to identify key changes in female midge transcriptome profiles occurring during early infection with EHDV-2. Midges were fed either negative control bloodmeals or bloodmeals containing EHDV-2 and transcriptomes were acquired at 36 h through deep sequencing. Reads were de novo assembled into a transcriptome comprised of 18,754 unigenes. Overall, there were 2401 differentially expressed unigenes and ~60% were downregulated in response to the virus (953 up; 1448 down). Downstream Gene Ontology enrichment, KEGG pathway mapping, and manual analyses were used to identify the effect of virus ingestion at both the gene and pathway levels. Downregulated unigenes were predominantly assigned to pathways related to cell/tissue structure and integrity (actin cytoskeleton, adherens junction, focal adhesion, hippo signaling), calcium signaling, eye morphogenesis and axon guidance. Unigenes attributed to sensory functions (especially vision), behavior, learning and memory were largely downregulated. Upregulated unigenes included those coding for innate immune processes, olfaction and photoreceptor pigments. Our results suggest that midges respond to virus infection as soon as 36 h post-ingestion, and that EHDV-2 may have a significant phenotypic effect on sensory and neural tissues.
The impact of obesity on severity of solid organ injury in the adult population at a Level I trauma center

Background The obese (body mass index, BMI > 30) have been identified as a subgroup of patients in regards to traumatic injuries. A recent study found that high-grade hepatic injuries were more common in obese than non-obese pediatric patients. This study seeks to evaluate whether similar differences exist in the adult population and examine differences in operative versus non-operative management between the obese and non-obese in blunt abdominal trauma. Methods Patient with trauma evaluated at an American College of Surgeons verified Level I trauma center from February 2013 to November 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients aged >18 years with blunt mechanism of injury and a BMI listed in the trauma registry were included. Patients were excluded for incomplete data, including BMI or inability to grade hepatic or splenic injury. Data collected included age, gender, BMI, injury severity score, hospital length of stay, procedures on liver or spleen, and mortality. Organ injuries were scored using the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grading scales, and were determined by either imaging or intraoperative findings. Obesity was classified as BMI > 30 compared with non-obese with BMI Results During the study period, 9481 patients were included. There were 322 spleen injuries and 237 liver injuries, with 64 patients sustaining both liver and splenic injuries. No differences existed in the percentage of high-grade hepatic or splenic injuries between the obese and non-obese. Obese patients with liver injuries were more likely to have procedural intervention than non-obese liver injuries and had higher rates of mortality. No differences were found in intervention for splenic injury between obese and non-obese. Conclusions Contrary to prior studies on adult and pediatric patients with trauma, this study found no difference between obese and non-obese patients in severity of solid organ injury after blunt abdominal trauma in the adult population. However, there was an increased rate of procedural intervention and mortality for obese patients with liver injuries. Level of Evidence 3.
Altered Cortical and Postural Response to Balance Perturbation in Traumatic Brain Injury – An EEG Pilot Study *

30-60% of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients suffer from long-term balance deficit. Even though motor preparation and execution are altered and slowed in TBI, their relative contribution and importance to posture instability remain poorly understood. This study investigates the impaired cortical dynamics and neuromuscular response in TBI in response to balance perturbation and its relation to balance deficit. 12 TBI and 6 healthy control (HC) participants took the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) test and participated in a balance perturbation task where they were subjected to random anterior/posterior translation, while brain (EEG), muscle (EMG) activities, and center of pressure (COP) were continuously recorded. Using independent component analysis (ICA), the component most responsible for the N1 component of the perturbation evoked potential (PEP) was selected and its amplitude and latency were extracted. Balance task performance was measured by computing the COP displacement during the task. TBI had a significantly lower BBS, larger COP displacement and lower N1 amplitude compared to the HC group. No group differences was found for N1 latency and muscle activity onset delay to the perturbation. BBS was correlated with the COP displacement and N1 amplitude, and COP displacement was correlated with N1 latency. TBI balance deficit may be associated with more impaired than delayed cortical response to balance perturbation.
The Values Program at Le Moyne College

Ten years ago the faculty and staff at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, developed the campuswide Values Program. Their dream was to guide the way for all students to reflect seriously on the...
Riesz bases of exponentials for partitions of intervals

For a partition of [0, 1] with nodes 0 = a 0 1 n–1 n = 1, we construct a partition of ℤ, Λ 1 , Λ 2 ,…, Λ n such that ℰ(Λ j ) is a Riesz basis for L2[a j–1 , a j ]. Our construction also guarantees that ${\mathcal{E}}\left( { \cup _{j = 1}^k{\Lambda _j}} \right)$ is a Riesz basis for L2[0, a k ], and ${\mathcal{E}}\left( { \cup _{j = k + 1}^n{\Lambda _j}} \right)$ is a Riesz basis for L2 [a k , 1].
Ferritins in Kidney Disease

Ferritins are evolutionarily conserved proteins that regulate cellular iron metabolism. It is the only intracellular protein that is capable of storing large quantities of iron. Although the ratio of different subunits determines the iron content of each ferritin molecule, the exact mechanism that dictates organization of these subunits still is unclear. In this review, we address renal ferritin expression and its implication in kidney disease. Specifically, we address the role of ferritin subunits in preventing kidney injury and also promoting tolerance against infection-associated kidney injury. We describe functions for ferritin that are independent of its ability to ferroxidize and store iron. We further discuss the implications of ferritin in body fluids, including blood and urine, during inflammation and kidney disease. Although there are several in-depth review articles on ferritin in the context of iron metabolism, we chose to focus on the role of ferritin particularly in kidney health and disease and highlight unanswered questions in the field.
A Two-Dose Oritavancin Regimen Using Pharmacokinetic Estimation Analysis.

Antibiotics for the treatment of complicated, multidrug-resistant Gram-positive infections are limited, especially when prolonged treatment is necessary. Oritavancin is approved for the treatment of serious skin infections as a 1200 mg single-dose regimen, but case reports describe supplemental doses given at weekly intervals ranging from 800 mg to 1200 mg. This study determined population pharmacokinetic estimates for a 1200 mg single dose with and without an 800 mg dose 1 week apart. A simulated oritavancin 1200 mg dose was infused over 3 h followed 7 days later by a simulated 800 mg dose infused over 3 h for pharmacokinetic estimation. The oritavancin dosing displayed predictable linear pharmacokinetics and therapeutic concentrations. The total and free oritavancin concentrations remained above the susceptibility breakpoint (0.12 mg/L) for 8 weeks and 4.6 weeks, respectively, with the two-dose regimen. This was significantly greater than the single-dose regimen. This regimen also results in a greater area under the drug concentration–time curve (AUC) above the susceptibility breakpoint compared to the single-dose regimen (p < 0.001), and it maintains a high AUC:minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ratio against organisms with MICs up to 0.25 mg/L. These results along with the observational clinical reports of success and safety with this dosing scheme of 1200 mg followed by 800 mg 7 days later provide evidence for further evaluation of this approach when prolonged oritavancin treatment may be indicated.
A Combined Frequency and Time Based Channel Reuse Partitioning Multiple Access Technique for Indoor Wireless ATM Networks

This paper describes a multiple access technique suitable for indoor wireless ATM networks that exploits both frequency division and time division techniques for channel re-use (i.e. FDMA/TDMA). The novel feature of the proposed technique is that co-ordinated, prioritised TDM A is supported for clusters of Access Point’s (AP’s) using measurement based time slot assignments. This has the advantage of easily supporting uneven load distributions and allowing rapid handover between AP’s on the same frequency carrier. The proposed technique can also support bursty traffic efficiently by periodic time slot re-assignment, which is an important consideration for wireless ATM systems. Results are presented of the performance of the proposed technique and are compared with a conventional FDMA/TDMA strategy.
A Prospective Evaluation of Clinical Characteristics of Methamphetamine-associated Cardiomyopathy (MACM) in Comparison to a Matched-cohort with Non-methamphetamine Non-ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Background With globally increasing rates of methamphetamine (MA) abuse, there is a rising prevalence of methamphetamine-associated cardiomyopathy (MACM). The condition, however, is poorly characterized, leaving clinicians with little data to guide diagnosis and management. Purpose To compare clinical characteristics of prospectively encountered patients with MACM to those with non-MA non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NMACM). Methods Consecutive patients with MACM confirmed by history presenting to Los Angeles County (LAC)+USC Medical Center between Jun 2018 and March 2020 were interviewed and studied. We retrospectively identified an age- and gender-matched cohort of NMACM and compared demographic, laboratory, and echocardiographic data between the two groups. Results 140 patients (70 MACM and 70 NMACM) were included. Mean age was similar (49.6±10 vs 48.2±10.5 years, p=0.45) and 94% of patients were male. Patients were predominantly Hispanic in both groups (51% vs 61%, p=0.232) with a greater proportion of Caucasians in the MACM group (21% vs 6%, p=0.007). Significantly more patients with MACM were homeless (47% vs 7%, p=0.001). 20% of MACM patients were college educated. The mean and median duration of MA use prior to a diagnosis of heart failure was 9.8 and 5.5 years, respectively. Two-thirds of MACM patients reported current MA use. MACM compared to NMACM was characterized by lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) [20% vs 26%, p Conclusion Compared to an age and gender matched cohort of NMACM, prospectively identified patients with MACM had a high incidence of homelessness and significantly more severe myocardial insult with greater degree of LV and RV dilatation and depression of LV function. Frequency or amount of MA use did not appear to be associated with severity of MACM.
A high-resolution unified observational data product of mesoscale convective systems and isolated deep convection in the United States for 2004–2017

Abstract. Deep convection possesses markedly distinct properties at different spatiotemporal scales. We present an original high-resolution (4 km, hourly) unified data product of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) and isolated deep convection (IDC) in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and examine their climatological characteristics from 2004 to 2017. The data product is produced by applying an updated Flexible Object Tracker algorithm to hourly satellite brightness temperature, radar reflectivity, and precipitation datasets. Analysis of the data product shows that MCSs are much larger and longer-lasting than IDC, but IDC occurs about 100 times more frequently than MCSs, with a mean convective intensity comparable to that of MCSs. Hence both MCS and IDC are essential contributors to precipitation east of the Rocky Mountains, although their precipitation shows significantly different spatiotemporal characteristics. IDC precipitation concentrates in summer in the Southeast with a peak in the late afternoon, while MCS precipitation is significant in all seasons, especially for spring and summer in the Great Plains. The spatial distribution of MCS precipitation amounts varies by season, while diurnally, MCS precipitation generally peaks during nighttime except in the Southeast. Potential uncertainties and limitations of the data product are also discussed. The data product is useful for investigating the atmospheric environments and physical processes associated with different types of convective systems; quantifying the impacts of convection on hydrology, atmospheric chemistry, and severe weather events; and evaluating and improving the representation of convective processes in weather and climate models. The data product is available at https://doi.org/10.25584/1632005 (Li et al., 2020).
Why new biology must be uncovered to advance therapeutic strategies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by the destruction of alveolar tissue (in emphysema) and airway remodeling (leading to chronic bronchitis), which cause difficulties in...
Development and Validation of a Seven-County Regional Pedestrian Volume Model:

This study describes the development and validation of pedestrian intersection crossing volume models for the seven-county Milwaukee metropolitan region. The set of three models, among the first de...
Editorial Commentary: Repair the Anterior Cruciate Ligament When You Can: Add Suture Tape Augmentation and Dress for Success.

Abstract Preserving the native anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) through primary repair has seen a resurgence over the past few years—rightfully so—given the inherent advantages of repairing the ACL over reconstruction. The issue is how best to repair the ACL and protect it to optimize healing. Suture tape augmentation techniques have shown promising low failure rates, and recent biomechanical studies have demonstrated benefits of the suture tape and optimal fixation methods for ACL repair. So, I believe it is time for orthopaedic surgeons to strongly consider routine suture tape augmentation use for improved outcomes with primary ACL repair.