cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ErbB4 reduces synaptic GABAA currents independent of its receptor tyrosine kinase activity

ErbB4 signaling in the central nervous system is implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders and epilepsy. In cortical tissue, ErbB4 associates with excitatory synapses located on inhibitory interneurons. However, biochemical and histological data described herein demonstrate that the vast majority of ErbB4 is extrasynaptic and detergent-soluble. To explore the function of this receptor population, we used unbiased proteomics, in combination with electrophysiological, biochemical, and cell biological techniques, to identify a clinically relevant ErbB4-interacting protein, the GABAA receptor α1 subunit (GABAR α1). We show that ErbB4 and GABAR α1 are robustly coexpressed in hippocampal interneurons, and that ErbB4-null mice have diminished cortical GABAR α1 expression. Moreover, we characterize a Neuregulin-mediated ErbB4 signaling modality, independent of receptor tyrosine kinase activity, that couples ErbB4 to decreased postsynaptic GABAR currents on inhibitory interneurons. Consistent with an evolving understanding of GABAR trafficking, this pathway requires both clathrin-mediated endocytosis and protein kinase C to reduce GABAR inhibitory currents, surface GABAR α1 expression, and colocalization with the inhibitory postsynaptic protein gephyrin. Our results reveal a function of ErbB4, independent of its tyrosine kinase activity, that modulates postsynaptic inhibitory control of hippocampal interneurons and may provide a novel pharmacological target in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders and epilepsy.
Implementing the Institute of Medicine Definition of Disparities: An Application to Mental Health Care

In health care, the term “disparities” refers to the unequal treatment of patients on the basis of race or ethnicity, and sometimes on the basis of gender or other patient characteristics. A consensus has emerged that eliminating disparities should be a major goal of health policy, but the empirical and policy literature fails to agree on what a “disparity” is, and how it should be measured. Empirical research often estimates coefficients of race/ethnicity variables without relating these coefficients to an explicit definition of disparity. The recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care (IOM 2002), defines a disparity as a difference in treatment provided to members of different racial (or ethnic) groups that is not justified by the underlying health conditions or treatment preferences of patients.1 This definition recognizes the role of socioeconomic differences associated with race/ethnicity as mediators of disparities. To implement the IOM definition, we developed a new method for adjusting for health status that can be used with any model, including nonlinear models that quantify use of health care. We compare the magnitude of disparities estimated by this method to a residual race/ethnicity effect that is often interpreted as meaning a disparity.2
Whether and when to share: Spectrum sensing as an evolutionary game

Cooperative spectrum sensing is an efficient sensing scheme for cognitive radio networks (CRNs), in which secondary users (SUs) share sensing results with other SUs to improve the overall sensing performance. For a single SU, if the sensing results are shared early, there is more time for data transmission, which improves the throughput. In cases with multiple SUs sending early sensing results, it is more likely that the sensing results will be sent simultaneously over the same signaling channel. In this situation, the conflicts that occur affect both the sensing performance and throughput. For this situation, importance of when to share is taken into account, for which we have modeled spectrum sensing as an evolutionary game. The strategy set for each player in our game model contains not only whether to share its sensing results, but also when to share. The payoff of each player is defined based on the throughput, which considers the influence of the time spent both on sensing and sharing. We prove the existence of the evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS). In addition, we propose a practical algorithm for each secondary user to converge at the ESS. We conduct experiments on our GNU/USRP testbed. The experimental results verify for our model, including the convergence to the ESS.
Retirement Satisfaction for Retirees and their Spouses Do Gender and the Retirement Decision-Making Process Matter?

This study investigates factors related to retirees’ and their spouses’ individual and joint retirement satisfaction using decision-making theory and a life course perspective. The sample includes 421 retired respondents (ages 50 to 72) and spouses from the Cornell Retirement and Well-Being Study. Although 77% of retirees report retirement satisfaction, only 67% of their spouses are satisfied; even fewer couples (59%) report joint satisfaction. Multivariate logistic regression analyses reveal that retirees’ and spouses’ individual and joint reports of retirement satisfaction are related to perceptions of spousal influence on the retirement decision, with effects varying by gender. Those couples most likely to report being satisfied with retirement, individually and jointly, are retired wives and their husbands where wives reported that their husbands were not influential in their retirement decision. The results underscore the importance of regarding retirement as gendered and as both an individual- and a...
The new DSM-5 diagnosis of mild neurocognitive disorder and its relation to research in mild cognitive impairment

The Diagnostic Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-5) has included a category named the neurocognitive disorder which was formally known in DSM-IV as 'dementia, delirium, amnestic, and other cognitive disorders'. The DSM-5 distinguishes between 'mild' and 'major' neurocognitive disorders. Major neurocognitive disorder replaces the DSM-IV's term 'dementia or other debilitating conditions'. A pivotal addition is 'mild neurocognitive disorder (mNCD)' defined by a noticeable decrement in cognitive functioning that goes beyond normal changes seen in aging. It is a disorder that may progress to dementia - importantly, it may not. Presently, our understanding of mNCD is derived from research on mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Whereas there is currently no clear treatment for mNCD, many experimental therapies now and into the future will focus upon secondary prevention, namely decreasing the risk of progression to major NCD. In this article, we will focus on mNCD by reviewing the relevant literature on MCI. We will review the research on the incidence and prevalence of MCI, conversion rates from MCI to dementia, risk factors for conversion of MCI to dementia, comorbidity of MCI with other neuropsychiatric disorders (NPS), and the development of treatment strategies for neuropsychiatric disorders in MCI. The presence of NPS is common among individuals with MCI and is an important risk for progression to dementia. However, there has been little research on effective treatments for NPS in MCI. Clinicians and investigators must determine if the treatment of the NPS in mNCD will improve quality of life and help reduce the progression of the cognitive impairment.
Increased sensitivity to light-induced melatonin suppression in premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Increased sensitivity to light-induced melatonin suppression characterizes some, but not all, patients with bipolar illness or seasonal affective disorder. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), categorized as a depressive disorder in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), have altered sensitivity to 200 lux light during mid-follicular (MF) and late-luteal (LL) menstrual cycle phases compared with normal control (NC) women. As an extension of a pilot study in which the authors administered 500 lux to 8 PMDD and 5 NC subjects, in the present study the authors administered 200 lux to 10 PMDD and 13 NC subjects during MF and LL menstrual cycle phases. Subjects were admitted to the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) in dim light ( .05).
On a class of Boussinesq equations for shallow water waves

The Euler's equations describing the dynamics of capillary-gravity water waves in two-dimensions are considered in the limits of small-amplitude and long-wavelength under appropriate boundary conditions. Using a double-series perturbation analysis, a general Boussinesq type of equation is derived involving the small-amplitude and long-wavelength parameters. A recently introduced sixth-order Boussinesq equation by Daripa and Hua [Appl. Math. Comput. 101 (1999), 159- 207] is recovered from this equation in the 1/3 Bond number limit (from below) when the above parameters bear a certain relationship as they approach zero.
Dynamic Relations between Stock Returns and Exchange Rate Changes

We re-examine the relation between stock returns and exchange rate changes in five major European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and the UK), the USA, Canada, and Japan by taking into account dynamic effects, including lagged changes of variables, and employing causal relations. We find that lagged exchange rates have a significant impact on stock returns. We find evidence of Granger causality from exchange rate changes to stock returns, and also for the reverse direction. Furthermore, the dynamic relation has been more significant and stronger in recent years and recession periods than in early periods and expansion periods.
Studies of the vegetation of a white-sand black-water igapo (Rio Negro, Brazil)

The vegetation analysis of a Central Amazonian igapo, a forest under severe environmental stress — poor soil and seasonal flooding, reveals the existence of the dominant species Myrciaria dubia with a M.I.V. 75. The Shannon diversity index of this forest is 4.358 bits per individual, of which 75.73% is attributable to the evenness value. Species distributions change along the moisture gradient. Though many species exhibit the tendency of zonal distribution, the boundaries of zones are not abrupt. The authors suggest that species distribution is the result of physiological difference to flood tolerance. Further research should be directed to the comparison of flood tolerance of the plants which occur in the following three areas: permanent water-logged area, beach area with open canopy and upper area with closed canopy. The various adaptive strategies to seasonal inundation and drought, and the reproductive potential of the forest also merit further studies.
A note on the classification of consumer demand functions with respect to retailer pass-through rates

Tyagi (1999) derived conditions on the curvature of consumer demand functions which make it optimal for a profit-maximizing retailer to pass-through greater (less) than 100% of a manufacturer trade deal amount. Since the pass-through is customarily evaluated at the optimal wholesale price, then additional sufficient conditions are needed to ensure the existence of an optimal wholesale price. The purpose of this note is to derive the additional required conditions on the curvature of the consumer demand functions for the existence of a greater (less) than 100% retailer pass-through rate at the optimal wholesale price.
Differences between building a traditional DSS and an ODSS: lessons from the Air Force's Enlisted Force Management System

It is shown that, although many aspects of a traditional decision support system (TDSS) and an organizational decision support system (ODSS) are similar, there are important differences that must be understood if the ODSS is to be successful. Differences in purposes lead to differences in design, differences in managing the development effort, differences in implementation, and differences in maintenance. In fact, some aspects of building an ODSS are more similar to building a traditional information system than to building a TDSS. The suggested approach to building an ODSS combines principles and good practice for building both types of systems. The points made are illustrated with examples from the ODSS that are currently being implemented by the US Air Force. The system, called the Enlisted Force Management System, is being used to help members of the Air Staff in the Pentagon make decisions related to their enlisted personnel. >
Simulation of porosity reduction in random structures

We describe an algorithm for computing the motion of a solid-liquid interface in 2D, which is applicable to geological pressure solution or to pressure sintering. The backward motion (toward the solid) of the interface is due to dissolution of the solid, and the forward motion (away from the solid) is due to the inverse process of reprecipitation. The interface velocity is assumed proportional to the difference between the solubility of the solid and the concentration of the solution. The former is dependent upon stress (the phenomenon of “pressure solution”), so our algorithm must also keep track of the stress. We use a Lagrangian grid, with constant-stress periodic boundary conditions. The method has been applied to porosity reduction in sandstone. It is applicable to other interface-following problems, such as freezing, if the motion is slow enough that heat transport is not rate-limiting.
Associated production of Higgs and weak bosons, with H-->bb̄, at hadron colliders

We consider the search for the Higgs boson at a high-luminosity Fermilab Tevatron, an upgraded Tevatron of energy 3.5 TeV, and the CERN Large Hadron Collider, via $WH/ZH$ production followed by H -> bb~ and leptonic decay of the weak vector bosons. We show that each of these colliders can potentially observe the standard Higgs boson in the intermediate-mass range, 80 GeV \gamma\gamma at the LHC. In addition, it can potentially be used to observe the lightest Higgs scalar of the minimal supersymmetric model in a region of parameter space not accessible to CERN LEP II or the LHC (using h -> \gamma\gamma,ZZ^*).
Syphilis Fast Latex Agglutination Test, a Rapid Confirmatory Test

Using 255 serum samples with various reactivities, we evaluated the Syphilis Fast latex agglutination test (Syphilis Fast) against the Treponema pallidum particle agglutination test (TP-PA) for confirming a diagnosis of syphilis. We found 98.8% agreement between the Syphilis Fast and the TP-PA. The Syphilis Fast, however, had a couple of advantages over the TP-PA: the test takes only 8 min to perform and produces results that are easy to read. It appears to be a good confirmatory test for syphilis, especially for point-of-care clinics such as prenatal or sexually transmitted disease clinics.
A review of air quality, biological indicators and health effects of second-hand waterpipe smoke exposure

Objective There has been a rapid increase in the use of waterpipe tobacco and non-tobacco based shisha in many countries. Understanding the impact and effects of second-hand smoke (SHS) from cigarette was a crucial factor in reducing cigarette use, leading to clean indoor air laws and smoking bans. This article reviews what is known about the effects of SHS exposure from waterpipes. Data sources We used PubMed and EMBASE to review the literature. Articles were grouped into quantitative measures of air quality and biological markers, health effects, exposure across different settings, different types of shisha and use in different countries. Study selection Criteria for study selection were based on the key words related to SHS: waterpipe, hookah, shisha and third-hand smoke. Data extraction Independent extraction with two reviewers was performed with inclusion criteria applied to articles on SHS and waterpipe/hookah/shisha. We excluded articles related to pregnancy or prenatal exposure to SHS, animal studies, and non-specific source of exposure as well as articles not written in English. Data synthesis A primary literature search yielded 54 articles, of which only 11 were included based on relevance to SHS from a waterpipe/hookah/shisha. Conclusions The negative health consequences of second-hand waterpipe exposure have major implications for clean indoor air laws and for occupational safety. There exists an urgent need for public health campaigns about the effects on children and household members from smoking waterpipe at home, and for further development and implementation of regulations to protect the health of the public from this rapidly emerging threat.
Resolving Translation Mismatches With Information Flow

Languages differ in the concepts and real-world entities for which they have words and grammatical constructs. Therefore translation must sometimes be a matter of approximating the meaning of a source language text rather than finding an exact counterpart in the target language. We propose a translation framework based on Situation Theory. The basic ingredients are an information lattice, a representation scheme for utterances embedded in contexts, and a mismatch resolution scheme defined in terms of information flow. We motivate our approach with examples of translation between English and Japanese.
Real-Ti me Ultrasound Instru mentation: An Update

Real-time ultrasound imaging techniques have almost totally replaced static B-mode gray scale imaging. The increased use of real-time imaging is the result of advances in transducer technology, the miniaturization of electronics through the development of digital circuitry, advances in computer software, and improved ultrasonic focusing. The final result has been an increase in image quality and information content for real-time ultrasound. A review of basic real-time ultrasound instrumentation is presented. Sector scanners, linear arrays, and phased arrays are discussed in detail. Electronic focusing methods (transmit and receive focusing) are explained with many illustrative examples. The new imaging technique of endosonography or transonography is introduced.
Development of a Rapid ATP Bioluminescence Assay for Biocidal Susceptibility Testing of Rapidly Growing Mycobacteria

An ATP-based biocide susceptibility assay for mycobacteria was developed by optimizing the cell lysis and assay conditions. Compared to the conventional agar plating method, the assay was rapid (1.5 h) and showed high sensitivity and specificity as determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The test species, Mycobacterium immunogenum, M. chelonae, and M. abscessus, showed various susceptibilities to the glutaraldehyde- and isothiazolone-based test biocides.
Salvage chemotherapy with paclitaxel for recurrent primary brain tumors.

PURPOSETo assess the safety and efficacy of Taxol (paclitaxel; Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Princeton, NJ) given at a dose of 175 mg/m2 every 3 weeks as a 3- to 4-hour outpatient infusion to patients with recurrent malignant primary brain tumors who had received prior radiotherapy and at least one chemotherapy regimen containing nitrosoureas and who were no longer responding to therapy.PATIENTS AND METHODSTwenty patients (12 men and eight women), ages 19 to 69 years (median, 35), with recurrent primary brain tumors were treated according to a phase II protocol with intravenous Taxol. Tumor histologies included the following: anaplastic astrocytoma (n = 8), glioblastoma multiforme (n = 8), and anaplastic oligodendroglioma (n = 4). All patients had been previously treated with subtotal resection, limited-field radiotherapy (median dose, 60 Gy; range, 54 to 78 Gy), and nitrosourea-based chemotherapy. Taxol was administered intravenously at a dose of 175 mg/m2/d every 3 weeks with neurologic and neuroradiographic...
The role of pre- and post-SRS systemic therapy in patients with NSCLC brain metastases

Purpose: We report our experience with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for NSCLC brain metastases. We then assess the prognostic value of pre- and post-SRS systemic therapy (PrSST and PoSST) and evaluate the timing of PoSST. Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed 96 patients with lung cancer and ECOG PS ≤ 3 who underwent SRS during 2007-2013. Recorded factors included SRS treatment parameters, systemic status of disease (SDS) at time of SRS, and the use of PrSST and PoSST. SDS was designated as pulmonary disease or extrapulmonary disease. For analysis, the SRS-PoSST interval (SPI) was divided into ≤30 days and >30 days. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results: 85 patients with NSCLC were included in this analysis. 48% received PrSST and 48% received PoSST. 57% of patients had pulmonary disease while 40% had extrapulmonary disease. 46% of patients had synchronous metastases. At a median follow-up of 6 months, the median survival was 6.4 months and the actuarial overall survival at 3, 6, 12, and 36 months was 80%, 52%, 31%, and 6%. Extrapulmonary disease (p = 0.008) negatively predicted for survival while the receipt of any systemic therapy (p = 0.050) or PoSST alone (p = 0.039) positively predicted for survival. In patients receiving PoSST, an SPI >30 days positively predicted for survival (HR 0.28, 95% CI 0.13-0.62, p = 0.002) regardless of SDS. Conclusion: Our results indicate the prognostic importance of systemic therapy and specifically PoSST. Additionally, delaying the initiation of PoSST to >30 days seems beneficial. This finding was potentially influenced by neurotoxicity after SRS. Further investigation is warranted to define the optimal SPI.
Stevens–Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

Erythema multiforme in its most extreme form has traditionally been divided between toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. These two life-threatening skin diseases are now considered part of the same spectrum of disease. They can be differentiated by clinical and histological criteria. We can also now predict which patients are apt to have the most guarded prognosis. Treatment by multiple agents is imperfect, but offers a better chance of a good outcome than ever before.
New insights into pathogenesis and potential therapeutic options for Graves orbitopathy.

Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the seemingly heterogeneous tissues of the thyroid and orbit. Evidence suggests that these tissues share a common antigen: the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor protein. It is speculated that this antigen (which is present in orbital tissue in
A flow cytometric method to measure prokaryotic records in ice cores: an example from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide drilling site

Microorganisms were the earliest inhabitants on our planet that occupy nearly every environment, and play a major role in biogeochemical cycles. Despite their global importance, there remains a paucity of data on microbial responses to long-term environmental and climatic changes. Microorganisms are known to be immured in glacial ice, but no high-resolution temporal records of their density exist, owing in large part to the lack of appropriate clean methodology that allows for rapid analysis of samples over depth. We describe a clean and time efficient method that can produce a high-temporal resolution record of prokaryotic density archived in ice cores. The method combines acquisition of discrete samples using a continuous ice-core melting system coupled with flow cytometry (FCM) of DNA-stained samples. Specifically, we evaluate the performance of the FCM measurement technique in terms of specificity, precision, accuracy and minimum detection limits. Examples from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide ice core are included to show the efficacy of the method.
Predicting Functional Outcomes After Above Knee Amputation for Infected Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Above knee amputation (AKA) is a rare, but serious, complication of total knee arthroplasty with relatively poor functional outcomes. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors predicting ambulatory status after AKA for periprosthetic joint infection of the knee and to elucidate the effects of this procedure on general health outcomes. Methods Patients who underwent AKA after an infected total knee arthroplasty between 2009 and 2014 at a single institution (n = 53) were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were followed for an average of 29 ± 18 months postoperatively or until death (n = 10). The primary outcome variable was ambulatory status at a minimum of 1-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes were Veterans RAND-12 (VR-12) scores. Demographics, surgical history, and complications were collected by chart review and/or telephone interview. Multiple regression modeling was used to identify predictors of better ambulatory status following AKA. Results Following AKA, 47% patients were nonambulatory, 28% were home ambulators, and 26% were community ambulators. The ambulatory status did not significantly worsen with AKA ( P = .961). Male gender ( P = .002), preoperative community ambulatory status ( P = .030), and absence of persistent phantom pain ( P = .016) were independent predictors of better ambulation. The VR-12 scores improved with AKA (physical, P P = .368), with higher mental scores seen in elderly patients served with AKA ( P = .015). Conclusions Overall, functional outcomes did not worsen following AKA compared to preoperative status. Gender, preoperative ambulatory status, and phantom pain affect postoperative ambulatory status. These data provide information to council patients regarding postoperative expectations when this procedure is required.
Comparing 3-month recall to daily reporting of sexual behaviours

Objectives This study aimed to examine discrepancies between self-report methods and methodological issues related to sexual risk taking. We examined sexual behaviour assessed via 3-month electronic recall and by daily electronic reporting among a large cohort of patients attending STI clinics. Methods STI clinic attenders (N= 628) aged 15 to 60 years reported on demographic information (at baseline), penile–vaginal sex acts, condom-unprotected penile–vaginal sex and STI history using 3-month recall and daily reports. Additionally, interviewer–participant match related to race and gender, as well as study site were considered as covariates. Results Concordance between recall and daily reports on penile–vaginal sex was moderately strong (Spearman9s r (rs)=0.62; p Conclusions Shifting focus to methodological considerations of technological reports can help ensure better investment of resources into sexual health research due to greater understanding of the methodological properties of data collection methods.
Facile Synthesis of Nanosilver-Incorporated Titanium Nanotube for Antibacterial Surfaces

The battle against postoperative infection in orthopedic surgery calls for the development of surfaces with antibacterial activity on the implant side of the bacterial biofilm. Incorporation of nanosilver into titanium nanotube surfaces offers a potential solution. This study presents a novel single-step anodization approach to incorporating nanosilver particles within and among anodized titanium nanotubes on implant surfaces using a new hybrid electrolyte. The amount of nanosilver deposited on the titanium nanotubes was analyzed by varying the silver concentration in the hybrid electrolyte. Successful fabrication of titanium nanotubes by anodization of foils, rods and thermal plasma-sprayed surfaces of Ti6Al4V, and simultaneous nanosilver deposition was quantified by field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Upon post-anodization heat treatment, the amorphous to anatase conversion of these structures was confirmed using X-ray diffraction analysis. This study presents a simple single-step fabrication of antibacterial titanium nanotube surfaces allowing controlled nanosilver deposition needed to avoid unintended cytotoxicity.
Perceptions of fall circumstances, injuries and recovery techniques among power wheelchair users: a qualitative study.

Objective:To understand the circumstances surrounding the worst fall experienced by power wheelchair users in the past year and to examine injuries sustained and recovery methods.Design:A qualitati...
Modeling all-electrical detection of the inverse Edelstein effect by spin-polarized tunneling in a topological-insulator/ferromagnetic-metal heterostructure

The spin-momentum locking of the surface states in a three-dimensional topological insulator (TI) allows a charge current on the surface of the TI induced by an applied spin current onto the surface, which is known as the inverse Edelstein effect (IEE), that could be achieved either by injecting pure spin current by spin-pumping from a ferromagnetic metal (FM) layer or by injecting spin-polarized charge current by direct tunneling of electrons from the FM to the TI. Here, we present a theory of the observed IEE effect in a TI-FM heterostructure for the spin-polarized tunneling experiments. If an electrical current is passed from the FM to the surface of the TI, because of density-of-states polarization of the FM, an effective imbalance of spin-polarized electrons occurs on the surface of the TI. Due to the spin-momentum helical locking of the surface states in the TI, a difference of transverse charge accumulation appears on the TI surface in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the magnetization of the FM, which is measured as a voltage difference. Here, we derive the two-dimensional transport equations of electrons on the surface of a diffusive TI, coupled to a FM, starting from the quantum kinetic equation, and analytically solve the equations for a rectangular geometry to calculate the voltage difference.
MRI texture analysis as a predictor of tumor recurrence or progression in patients with clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas

Background There are limited predictors of prognosis in patients with clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs). We hypothesized that MRI texture analysis may predict tumor recurrence or progression in patients with NFPAs undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (TSS). Objective To characterize texture parameters on preoperative MRI examinations in patients with NFPAs in relation to prognosis. Methods Retrospective study of patients with NFPAs who underwent TSS at our institution between 2009 and 2010. Clinical, radiological and histopathological data were extracted from electronic medical records. MRI texture analysis was performed on coronal T1-weighted non-enhanced MR images using ImageJ (NIH). MRI texture parameters were used to predict tumor recurrence or progression. Both logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard analyses were conducted to adjust for potential confounders. Results Data on 78 patients were analyzed. On both crude and multivariable-adjusted analyses, mean, median, mode, minimum and maximum pixel intensity were associated with the risk of pituitary tumor recurrence or progression after TSS. Patients whose tumor mean pixel intensity was above the median for the population had a hazard ratio of 0.44 (95% CI: 0.21-0.94, P = 0.034) for recurrence or progression in comparison with tumors below the median. Conclusions Our data suggest that MRI texture analysis can predict the risk of tumor recurrence or progression in patients with NFPAs.
Disruption of INOS, a Gene Encoding myo-Inositol Phosphate Synthase, Causes Male Sterility in Drosophila melanogaster.

Inositol is a precursor for the phospholipid membrane component phosphatidylinositol (PI), involved in signal transduction pathways, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and osmoregulation. Alterations of inositol metabolism have been implicated in human reproductive issues, the therapeutic effects of drugs used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder, spinal cord defects, and diseases including diabetes and Alzheimer's. The sole known inositol synthetic enzyme is myo-inositol synthase (MIPS), and the homolog in Drosophilia melanogaster is encoded by the Inos gene. Three identical deletion strains (inosΔDF /CyO) were constructed, confirmed by PCR and sequencing, and homozygotes (inosΔDF /inosΔDF ) were shown to lack the transcript encoding the MIPS enzyme. Without inositol, homozygous inosΔDF deletion fertilized eggs develop only to the first-instar larval stage. When transferred as pupae to food without inositol, however, inosΔDF homozygotes die significantly sooner than wild-type flies. Even with dietary inositol the homozygous inosΔDF males are sterile. An inos allele, with a P-element inserted into the first intron, fails to complement this male sterile phenotype. An additional copy of the Inos gene inserted into another chromosome rescues all the phenotypes. These genetic and phenotypic analyses establish D. melanogaster as an excellent model organism in which to examine the role of inositol synthesis in development and reproduction.
The Effects of Positive Verbal Reinforcement on the Time Spent outside the Classroom for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in a Residential Setting

To more effectively instruct the entire class, teachers of students with emotional behavioral disorders (EBD) often choose to send students who display inappropriate behavior out of the room. A mul...
How to Fix a Prior

We sometimes add new information to our states of full belief by routine expansion and sometimes by deliberate expansion. (Levi, 1980a, ch.2; 1991b, ch.3.)
Receptor-Mediated Phosphoinositide Metabolism

In a scant few years, the ligand-stimulated turnover of phosphatidylinositol (PI) has progressed from a curious observation to a major biochemical and pharmacological enterprise. In the 1940’s, de Hevesy (see de Hevesy, 1964) introduced the use of beta-emitting radioisotopes to biochemistry, and demonstrated that the addition of 32P-labeled inorganic phosphate to tissue preparations led to highly radioactive phospholipids. In 1953, Hokin and Hokin published their seminal observation that two minor phospholipids, phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidate (PA) were selectively labeled to high specific activities in such preparations (Hokin and Hokin, 1953). Furthermore, the labeling was greatly intensified by the presence of cholinergic ligands in the incubation medium, and the stimulated labeling could be reduced to the basal level by the addition of atropine, a known antagonist of muscarinic cholinergic receptors. This latter observation was important, since it demonstrated that the stimulated labeling is indeed receptor-linked. Hence their observation constituted a biochemical “handle” into the transduction process whereby a receptor-ligand interaction on the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane is converted to an intracellular response. Over the intervening years, it became apparent that a large number of receptor-ligand interactions could be coupled to stimulated PA and PI labeling, and that they formed a class distinct from receptor-ligand interactions linked to cyclic AMP.
A quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) for estimating solid material-air partition coefficients of organic compounds.

The material-air partition coefficient (Kma ) is a key parameter to estimate the release of chemicals incorporated in solid materials and resulting human exposures. Existing correlations to estimate Kma are applicable for a limited number of chemical-material combinations without considering the effect of temperature. The present study develops a quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) to predict Kma for a large number of chemical-material combinations. We compiled a dataset of 991 measured Kma for 179 chemicals in 22 consolidated material types. A multiple linear regression model predicts Kma as a function of chemical's Koa , enthalpy of vaporization (∆Hv ), temperature, and material type. The model shows good fitting of the experimental dataset with adjusted R2 of 0.93 and has been verified by internal and external validations to be robust, stable and has good predicting ability ( Rext2 > 0.78). A generic QSPR is also developed to predict Kma from chemical properties and temperature only (adjusted R2 = 0.84), without the need to assign a specific material type. These QSPRs provide correlation methods to estimate Kma for a wide range of organic chemicals and materials, which will facilitate high-throughput estimates of human exposures for chemicals in solid materials, particularly building materials and furniture.
Incorporation of gold nanoparticles into the bilayer of polydiacetylene unilamellar vesicles

Gold nanoparticles made with three different alkanethiol surface passivating agents were loaded into the hydrophobic bilayers of polydiacetylene liposomes. The physical and optical properties of the vesicles were compared to each other and a nanoparticle-free control. Small gold nanoparticles were utilized to minimize the plasmon absorption and thereby minimize the effects of energy transfer processes on the optical behavior of the polydiacetylene moiety. The size and structure of the liposomes were examined with dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy, while the stability of the bilayer was investigated through differential scanning calorimetry. Optical spectroscopy was used to monitor the photopolymerization of the vesicles as well as the stress-induced polydiacetylene blue to red transition. Specifically, changes to the absorption frequency, fluorescence frequency, and the fluorescence intensity were monitored. This system can serve as a model system for the optimization of liposomes containing nanoparticles with specialized optical, magnetic, or chemical functionality.
Understanding the Engaged Buddhist Movement

The fundamental Buddhist belief that “life is suffering” is applicable not only at the level of individual human existence but also applicable at the level of family, community and the larger society. For Buddhists, suffering is a result of unnecessary human delusion and ego manifested through such qualities as unrestrained desire and anger. Society’s institutions and policies can be understood as mutable entities that reflect this delusion, particularly in the form of human greed and materialism. Thus, because humans create institutions and policies through their actions, these institutions “like us, can be changed by our actions,” so writes Buddhist environmental scholar and activist, Joanna Macy (1991, p. 191).
The Effect of Hierarchy on Moral Silence in Healthcare: What Can the Holocaust Teach Us?

Physicians, nurses, and healthcare professional students openly (and in many cases, eagerly) participated in the medical atrocities of the Shoah. In this paper, a physician-bioethicist and nurse-bioethicist examine the role of hierarchical power imbalances in medical education, which often occur because trainees are instructed ‘to do so’ by their superiors during medical education and clinical care. We will first examine the nature of medical and nursing education under National Socialism: were there cultural, educational, moral and legal pressures which entrenched professional hierarchies and thereby commanded obedience in the face of an ever-diminishing individual and collective conscience? We will then outline relevant parallel features in modern medical education, including the effects of hierarchy in shaping ethical decision making and conscience formation. We then propose several solutions for the prevention of the negative effects of hierarchical power imbalances in medical education: (1) universal Holocaust education in medical and nursing schools; (2) formative and experiential ethics instruction, which teaches students to ‘speak up’ when ethical issues arise; (3) acceptance of, and adherence to, a personalistic philosophical anthropology in healthcare; (4) support for rigorous conscience protection laws for minority ethical views that respect the role of integrity without compromising patient care.
Engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for efficient fermentation of cellulose

Conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels using microbial fermentation is an attractive option to substitute petroleum-based production economically and sustainably. The substantial efforts to design yeast strains for biomass hydrolysis have led to industrially applicable biological routes. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a robust microbial platform widely used in biofuel production, based on its amenability to systems and synthetic biology tools. The critical challenges for the efficient microbial conversion of lignocellulosic biomass by engineered S. cerevisiae include heterologous expression of cellulolytic enzymes, co-fermentation of hexose and pentose sugars, and robustness against various stresses. Scientists developed many engineering strategies for cellulolytic S. cerevisiae strains, bringing the application of consolidated bioprocess at an industrial scale. Recent advances in the development and implementation of engineered yeast strains capable of assimilating lignocellulose will be reviewed.
Global Reports of Well-Being Overestimate Aggregated Daily States of Well-Being.

Researchers can characterize people’s well-being by asking them to provide global evaluations of large parts of their life at one time or by obtaining repeated assessments during their daily lives....
A STING-based biosensor affords broad cyclic dinucleotide detection within single living eukaryotic cells.

Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) are second messengers conserved across all three domains of life. Within eukaryotes they mediate protective roles in innate immunity against malignant, viral, and bacterial disease, and exert pathological effects in autoimmune disorders. Despite their ubiquitous role in diverse biological contexts, CDN detection methods are limited. Here, using structure guided design of the murine STING CDN binding domain, we engineer a Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) based biosensor deemed BioSTING. Recombinant BioSTING affords real-time detection of CDN synthase activity and inhibition. Expression of BioSTING in live human cells allows quantification of localized bacterial and eukaryotic CDN levels in single cells with low nanomolar sensitivity. These findings establish BioSTING as a powerful kinetic in vitro platform amenable to high throughput screens and as a broadly applicable cellular tool to interrogate the temporal and spatial dynamics of CDN signaling in a variety of infectious, malignant, and autoimmune contexts. Cyclic dinucleotides are conserved second messengers but current detection methods are limited. Here the authors engineer a Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) based biosensor, BioSTING, which gives real-time in vitro detection of these nucleotides.
Abstract 1743: Evaluation of the effects of combined chemical inhibition of PARP and BET proteins in preclinical models of urothelial bladder cancer

Purpose: Metastatic urothelial bladder cancer (mUC) is incurable, and options are limited after patients fail 1st and 2nd line treatments. Thus, there is an unmet need to develop novel therapeutic strategies that increase survival in mUC patients. According to data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, UC has the third highest rate of somatic mutations, and mutations in DNA damage repair (DDR) genes are common. This provides rationale for the use of PARP inhibitors in UC patients with DDR mutations. Epigenetic changes are also common in UC, so epigenetic regulator inhibitors in combination with PARP inhibitors could be a viable treatment strategy in mUC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of combined olaparib plus an epigenetic regulator inhibitor in preclinical models of UC. Methods: BRCA1-competent 5637 cells and BRCA1-mutant J82 cells were screened against 62 compounds in the UNC EpiG Diamond library to identify epigenetic regulator inhibitors that could have synergy with olaparib. Cells were treated with 5 ascending concentrations of each compound (10 nM–10 µM), and cell viability was measured by alamarBlue™. RT-qPCR and western blotting were used to evaluate the effects of birabresib (OTX-015) on MYC and BRCA1 gene and c-MYC and BRCA1 protein expression, respectively. To evaluate birabresib effects on cell cycle, flow cytometry was performed. To evaluate cell viability, cells were treated with 8 ascending concentrations of olaparib and birabresib (0.1nM–100uM), alone and in combination, and then treated with CellTitrGlo™. IC50 values were calculated using a four-parameter non-linear regression model, and synergy estimates were derived by Compusyn software. Results: The EpiG screen revealed that as a class BET inhibitors potently limited cell viability in 5637 and J82 cells. Birabresib was particularly potent (IC50 in 5637 cells=100nM and in J82 cells=330nM; n=2), and selected for further evaluation. After 24h, birabresib significantly inhibited both MYC and BRCA1 expression (P Conclusion: Birabresib represses MYC/c-MYC and BRCA1/BRCA1 expression. Olaparib plus birabresib induces cell cycle arrest, and appears to be synergistic. This provides rationale supporting additional lines of prospective inquiry to evaluate olaparib plus birabresib in UC. Citation Format: Kaitlyn A. Maffuid, Chad D. Torrice, Brian Hardy, William A. Murphy, Lindsey I. James, William Y. Kim, Stephen V. Frye, Kenneth J. Pearce, Daniel J. Crona. Evaluation of the effects of combined chemical inhibition of PARP and BET proteins in preclinical models of urothelial bladder cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1743.
Phase-field modeling of constrained interactive fungal networks.

Abstract Fungi develop structures that interact with their surroundings and evolve adaptively in the presence of geometrical constraints, finding optimal solutions for complex combinatorial problems. The pathogenic fungus Ophiocordyceps constitutes a perfect model for the study of constrained interactive networks. Modeling these networks is challenging due to the highly coupled physics involved and their interaction with moving boundaries. In this work, we develop a computational phase-field model to elucidate the mechanics of the emerging properties observed in fungal networks. We use a variational approach to derive the equations governing the evolution in time of the mycelium biomass and the nutrients in the medium. We present an extensive testing of our model, reproduce growing and decaying phenomena, and capture spatial and temporal scales. We explore the variables interplay mechanism that leads to different colony morphologies, and explain abrupt changes of patterns observed in the laboratory. We apply our model to simulate analogous processes to the evolution of Ophiocordyceps as it grows through confined geometry and depletes available resources, demonstrating the suitability of the formulation to study this class of biological networks.