cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Action Language Hybrid AL

This paper introduces an extension of the action language \(\mathcal {AL}\) to Hybrid \(\mathcal {AL}\). A program in Hybrid \(\mathcal {AL}\) specifies both a transition diagram and associated computations for observing fluents and executing actions. The semantics of \(\mathcal {AL}\) is defined in terms of Answer Set Programming (ASP). Similarly, the semantics of Hybrid \(\mathcal {AL}\) is defined using Hybrid ASP which is an extension of ASP that allows rules to control sequential execution of arbitrary algorithms.
Introduction: Childhood and Disability.

From growth attenuation therapy for severely developmentally disabled children to the post-natal management of infants with trisomy 13 and 18, pediatric treatment decisions regularly involve assessments of the probability and severity of a child’s disability. Because these decisions are almost always made by surrogate decision-makers (parents and caregivers) and because these decision-makers must often make decisions based on both prognostic guesses and potentially biased quality of life judgments, they are among the most ethically complex in pediatric care. As the introduction to HEC Forum’s special thematic issue on Childhood and Disability, this article orients the reader to the history of bioethics’ relationship to both pediatric ethics and disability studies and introduces the issue’s five manuscripts. As clinicians, disability scholars, philosophers and clinical ethicists writing on various aspects of pediatric disability, the articles’ authors all invite readers to dig beneath an overly-simplified version of what disability might mean to children and families and instead embrace a posture of genuine humility, recognizing both the limits and harms of traditional medical and bioethical responses (or indifferences) to the disabled child.
First-Grade Retention among Low Achieving Students: A Search for Significant Predictors.

Some children fail first grade, the first rung on the ladder of formal education. The determinants of first-grade failure are of particular interest because at this stage there are alternatives to failure. For example, the child may be deferred from starting formal schooling or may spend more time in kindergarten, options that are not available later. With data from a large stratified random sample of Baltimore children who began first grade in 1982, a series of logistic regression analyses pinpoint the factors bearing on the decision not to promote children at the end of first grade. Children who fail are contrasted with others who are pro moted, with the two groups approximately matched on California Achievement Test scores. Among four clusters of predictor variables that involve the child, parent, or teacher, the variables related to judgments made by teachers stand out. Some policy implications of the findings are discussed.
Predicting the multi-domain progression of Parkinson's disease: a Bayesian multivariate generalized linear mixed-effect model.

It is challenging for current statistical models to predict clinical progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD) because of the involvement of multi-domains and longitudinal data. Past univariate longitudinal or multivariate analyses from cross-sectional trials have limited power to predict individual outcomes or a single moment. The multivariate generalized linear mixed-effect model (GLMM) under the Bayesian framework was proposed to study multi-domain longitudinal outcomes obtained at baseline, 18-, and 36-month. The outcomes included motor, non-motor, and postural instability scores from the MDS-UPDRS, and demographic and standardized clinical data were utilized as covariates. The dynamic prediction was performed for both internal and external subjects using the samples from the posterior distributions of the parameter estimates and random effects, and also the predictive accuracy was evaluated based on the root of mean square error (RMSE), absolute bias (AB) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. First, our prediction model identified clinical data that were differentially associated with motor, non-motor, and postural stability scores. Second, the predictive accuracy of our model for the training data was assessed, and improved prediction was gained in particularly for non-motor (RMSE and AB: 2.89 and 2.20) compared to univariate analysis (RMSE and AB: 3.04 and 2.35). Third, the individual-level predictions of longitudinal trajectories for the testing data were performed, with ~80% observed values falling within the 95% credible intervals. Multivariate general mixed models hold promise to predict clinical progression of individual outcomes in PD. The data was obtained from Dr. Xuemei Huang’s NIH grant R01 NS060722 , part of NINDS PD Biomarker Program (PDBP). All data was entered within 24 h of collection to the Data Management Repository (DMR), which is publically available ( https://pdbp.ninds.nih.gov/data-management ).
Pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis in the emerging pathogen Pseudomonas monteilii

Regulation of pyrimidine biosynthesis by pyrimidines in the emerging, opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas monteilii ATCC 700476 was evident. When wild-type cells were grown on succinate in the...
Airway dimensions from fetal life to adolescence-A literature overview

BACKGROUND Data on airway dimensions in pediatric patients are important for proper selection of pediatric airway equipment such as endotracheal tubes, double-lumen tubes, bronchial blockers, or stents. The aim of the present work was to provide a synopsis of the available data on pediatric airway dimensions. METHODS A systematic literature search was carried out in the PubMed database, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Prisma, and Google Scholar and secondarily completed by a reference search. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, a final selection of 109 studies with data on pediatric airway dimensions published from 1923 to 2018 were further analyzed. RESULTS Six different airway measurement methods were identified. They included anatomical examinations, chest X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance tomography, bronchoscopy, and ultrasound. Anatomical studies were more abundant compared to other methods. Data provided were very heterogeneously presented and powered. In addition, due to different study conditions, they are hardly comparable. Among all, anatomical and computer tomography studies are thought to provide the most reliable data. Ultrasound is an upcoming technique to estimate airway parameters of fetus and premature infants. There was, in general, a lack of comprehensive studies providing a complete range of airway dimensions in larger groups of patients from birth to adolescence. CONCLUSIONS This work revealed a large heterogeneity of studies providing data on pediatric airway dimensions, making it impossible to compare, or assemble them to normograms for clinical use. Comprehensive studies in large population of children are needed to provide full range nomograms on pediatric airway dimensions.
The Use of Reproductive and Developmental Features in Assessing Tupaiid Affinities

The lack of unquestioned early Tertiary fossil tupaiids has stimulated a search for morphological, developmental, molecular, and behavioral features of extant tree shrews which might provide insight into their evolutionary relationships with primates or other eutherians. Reproductive features were among the earliest to be cited as evidence of a special tupaiid-primate relationship. Kaudern (1911) was one of the first investigators to suggest close affinities between tupaiids and primates as a result of his comparative studies on the male reproductive system in Tupaiidae, Macroscelididae, Lipotyphla, and Lemuroidea. He concluded that the male reproductive system provided no evidence of special affinities between tupaiids and macroscelidids; instead, he emphasized the occurrence of scrotal testes and seminal vesicles as shared similarities which supported the classification of tupaiids with Primates rather than Insectivora. These reproductive similarities were also cited as evidence of a close tupaiid-primate relationship by Carlsson (1922) in her extensive analysis of cranioskeletal and soft anatomical features in insectivores and prosimians. Subsequently, developmental characters of the fetal membranes and placenta, particularly the nature of the definitive placenta and allantois, were also utilized to support the hypothesis of primate affinities for tree shrews (Meister and Davis, 1956, 1958; Le Gros Clark, 1959, 1971).
An Empirical Investigation of Normative, Affective, and Gender Influence on E-Commerce Systems Adoption

Electronic commerce (e-commerce) systems adoption factors and the moderating effects of gender are important topics for e- commerce designers and human-computer interaction researchers. Even though there are a lot of research endeavors to explain e-commerce systems adoption, one of the main questions to be answered is regarding the normative and affective factors based on the theory of reasoned action and the self-determination theory. In this paper, the relationships among the social norms, perceived enjoyment, and their relationships to intention to adopt e-commerce system are tested (n = 322). Furthermore, the moderating effects of gender are tested based on the socio-linguistic literature. As expected, the influence of social norms is stronger in the female group while the influence of enjoyment is stronger in the male group. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed in the paper.
Clothing Contamination Resulting from Greenhouse Spraying of Pesticides

New spray technology involving charged droplets has been evaluated for improved treatment efficiencies. Our objectives were to further the investigation of contamination of non-targeted areas by measuring the pesticide deposition on applicator clothing during greenhouse spraying by Electrostatic Spraying System® (ESS) and DRAMM® sprayers, comparing deposition patterns and assessing the performance of Comfort-GardII® coveralls in a limited exposure situation. The deposition from the two sprayers was analyzed in two ways: visual analysis using a fluorescent dye tracer and chemical analysis of two insecticides, Orthene® and Tame®,using gas chromatography. The highest deposition observed with the fluorescent dye was on the gloves. The outer surfaces of the comfort-Gard II coveralls were contaminated with both pesticides. Pesticide deposition was similar for the high concentration/low volume ESS sprayer and the low concentration/high volume DRAMM sprayer. Pesticide contamination at different locations on the coverall was highly variable with the back and chest of the torso having the highest concentrations. Under these test conditions with the higher concentration mix, pesticide was observed on the collection garment on the upper and lower arm with the Dramm sprayer and on the chest front for the ESS sprayer, thus we conclude that more lengthy and thorough investigations of Comfort-Gard II performance are needed.
Brain-Computer Interface Controlled Robotic Arm to Improve Quality of Life

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) systems can be used to perform daily life actions by utilizing brain activity to distinguish between different commands. For example, a robotic arm controlled with BCI. A robotic arm can allow patients diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Locked in syndrome (LIS), or any other neurodegenerative disease to grip objects and move them around the area. This system can potentially be used to perform a variety of useful tasks such as opening doors, picking up objects and to restore a level of everyday function. The presented system utilizes Electroencephalography (EEG) signals to create a BCI which can control a robotic arm. Specifically, Steady State Visual Evoked Potential (SSVEP) based signals are captured from a user's brain to serve as the controller for three servo motors. The user is presented with three sets of LEDs with different frequencies to distinguish between each of the three degrees of freedom (DOF). The frequencies and servos are paired in the following manner: 7 Hz => servo 1, 11 Hz => servo 2, and 15 Hz => servo 3. Servo 1 changes the orientation of the arm, servo 2 changes the angle of the claw, and servo 3 controls the opening and gripping of the claw. The first experiment is intended for the subjects to get familiar with the system by attempting to activate each of the three servos ten times. The subjects were able to complete this experiment with an average accuracy of 85.56%. The final experiment allowed the subjects to perform a more essential task, which is swapping the items at two locations. On average, the subjects were able to complete the swap experiment in 4:31 minutes.
TWIST1 regulation of circRNA: a novel mechanism to promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process in which epithelial cells reversibly transdifferentiate and adopt a mesenchymal morphology (1-3). EMT is driven by suppression of epithelial associated genes such as E-cadherin and upregulation of mesenchymal associated genes such as fibroblast-specific protein 1 and Vimentin (1-3). These genetic changes lead epithelial cells to become more spindle-like in appearance due to loss of epithelial cell apical-basal polarity, cell-cell interactions, and cell-extracellular matrix interactions (1).
Abstract 350: Brown Adipose Tissue, a Novel Mechanism to Induce both Angiogenesis and Arteriogenesis

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is known to protect metabolism, but the extent to which it mediates angiogenesis and cardioprotection, the goal of this investigation, is not known. The Regulator of G Pr...
A new parabolic flow in Kaehler manifolds

In this paper, we introduce a new parabolic equation on K\"ahler manifolds. The static point of this flow is related to the existence of a lower bound of the Mabuchi energy. In this paper, we prove the flow always exists for all times for any initial smooth data. Further more, if the initial metric has non-negative bisectional curvature, we prove the flow converges to a static metric eventually.
Joint analysis of frontal theta synchrony and white matter following mild traumatic brain injury

Some of the most disabling aspects of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) include lingering deficits in executive functioning. It is known that mTBI can damage white matter tracts, but it remains unknown how this structural brain damage translates into cognitive deficits. This experiment utilized theta band phase synchrony to identify the dysfunctional neural operations that contribute to cognitive problems following mTBI. Sub-acute stage (< 2 weeks) mTBI patients (N = 52) and healthy matched controls (N = 32) completed a control-demanding task with concurrent EEG. Structural MRI was also collected. While there were no performance-specific behavioral differences between groups in the dot probe expectancy task, the degree of theta band phase synchrony immediately following injury predicted the degree of symptom recovery two months later. Although there were no differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) between groups, joint independent components analysis revealed that a smaller network of lower FA-valued voxels contributed to a diminished frontal theta phase synchrony network in the mTBI group. This finding suggests that frontal theta band markers of cognitive control are sensitive to sub-threshold structural aberrations following mTBI.
Simulation and Measurement of the Magnetic Field Coupling From a Proximity Detection System to Trailing Cables

Some of the common and serious hazards in underground mines are the dangers of being pinned, crushed, or struck by a large mining machine such as a scoop or a continuous mining machine (CMM). Proximity detection systems (PDSs) have been applied to protect miners from these hazards. The primary components of PDSs that are currently approved by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for use in underground coal mines are machine-mounted magnetic field generators and a miner-worn component (MWC), which measures the strength of the magnetic fields produced by the generators. Since these systems are magnetic field based, they can be adversely impacted by nearby cables due to parasitic coupling. Some mobile equipment in underground mines is electrically powered by long trailing cables that are pulled through the mine behind the equipment. Because the components of the PDS (generators and MWC) are frequently in close proximity to these cables, parasitic coupling can occur. Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health investigated the influence of trailing cables on the performance of PDSs. In particular, a three-phase model was proposed to describe the coupling process. The factors for controlling the magnetic field coupled from a field generator to a trailing cable were experimentally studied. The results show that the coupling is primarily controlled by two factors: the distance between the PDS components and the cable and the impedance between the cable and the ground. The coupling can be mitigated by either maintaining some minimum separation distance between the PDS components and the cable or increasing the impedance between the cable and the ground. The results presented in this article can help PDS manufacturers to design systems that are more immune to these effects.
Culturally Responsive Approaches for Addressing ADHD Within Multi-tiered Systems of Support

Purpose of review Limited work has emphasized cultural responsiveness when working with families and children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from diverse backgrounds. We present a primer for psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals on the implementation of culturally responsive practices within a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework when collaborating with schools. Recent findings Individuals with ADHD demonstrate unique behavioral challenges that affect school and home functioning. As a framework to address the needs of all children with academic and behavioral issues, many public schools have adopted MTSS. Emerging findings on cultural adaptations of evidence-based interventions for ADHD within MTSS are promising. Through a comprehensive tiered approach, this review focuses on (1) initial behavior screening and prevention, (2) implementation of evidence-based interventions tailored to the child's development and family culture, and (3) collaboration between psychiatrists, psychologists, school personnel, and families regarding evaluation of outcomes for children with ADHD, particularly when pharmacological treatment is considered. Engaging in these approaches can promote culturally responsive practices and improve the quality of services provided to children with ADHD.
Impact of a Family Medicine Minor Procedure Service on Cost of Care for a Health Plan.

Background and objectives Academic medical centers (AMC) are among some of the most expensive places to provide care. One way to cut costs is by decreasing unnecessary referrals to specialists for procedures that can be provided by well-trained primary care physicians. Our goal is to measure the financial impact of an office-based minor procedure service driven entirely by family physicians. Methods We examined claims data for procedures performed on patients insured under our AMC's home-grown accountable care organization-style health plan (Stanford Health Care Alliance [SHCA]). Descriptive statistics was used to compare the volume and cost of procedures performed by family medicine (FM) versus specialty care (SC). We preformed a subanalysis of SC procedures to explore the degree to which consultation and facility fees increased costs for SC. We used mathematical modeling to estimate the impact on cost of care if procedures were shifted from SC to FM and to calculate a return on investment (ROI). Results Our data set examined 6,974 outpatient procedures performed on SHCA patients from 2016-2018 at a cost of $5,263,720 to SHCA. FM performed 6% of procedures at an average cost of $236 per procedure, while SC performed 94% of procedures at an average cost of $787 per procedure. FM saved money for all 12 types of skin, musculoskeletal, and reproductive procedures assessed; the average saved per procedure was $551. This represents a 70% cost savings. ROI was 2.33; for every $1 spent on FM procedures, SHCA saved $2.33. Conclusion A family medicine minor procedure service significantly lowered health spending at our AMC.
Correction to: Hydroflux-assisted densification: applying flux crystal growth techniques to cold sintering

Correction to: Hydroflux-assisted densification: applying flux crystal growth techniques to cold sintering.
An alternate and efficient method for preparation of 2,6-diacetamido-4-formylpyridine for formation of porphyrin appended with hydrogen bonding motifs

We report here an alternate redesigned five-step synthesis of 2,6-diacetamido-4-formylpyridine. The method described here is more convenient where this aldehyde is prepared in commercially viable q...
Association between processes of diabetes care and health care utilization in patients with diabetes: Evidence from a nationally representative US sample.

BACKGROUND This study examined the association between quality of processes of diabetes care in terms of adherence to American Diabetes Association (ADA)-recommended guidelines and health care utilization in patients with diabetes. METHODS Adults with diabetes were identified from the pool of five panels of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a nationally representative US sample, between 2012 and 2017. The Diabetes Care Survey was used to determine adherence to the ADA-recommended guidelines for processes of diabetes care if all of the following were performed annually: glycosylated hemoglobin check, foot examination, dilated eye examination, lipid panel, influenza immunization, blood pressure check, and dental examination. Health care utilization in terms of inpatient hospitalization, and emergency department (ED) and outpatient visits were estimated using two-part hurdle models. RESULTS An estimated 26.3 million adults with diabetes were derived from the pooled 5-panel data, of which 7.8% met the ADA-recommended guidelines for processes of diabetes care, and adherence rates of individual recommendations were generally below 50%. Overall, adults who adhered to the ADA-recommendations were older, non-Hispanic white, and married nonsmokers with private insurance and higher income. Mean inpatient hospital stays, ED, and outpatient visits between ADA-adherent vs nonadherent patients were 0.98 vs 1.62 (P < .001), 0.36 vs 0.39 (P = .074), and 17.9 vs 12.8 (P < .001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Socioeconomic disadvantage and minority status were linked with nonadherence to the ADA-recommended processes of diabetes care. Adherence to the ADA recommendation was associated with significant reduction in inpatient hospitalization and a trend toward less ED visits. Our findings may apply to the United States and are likely to be different in other parts of the world.
Short and Long Term Mortality in Patients with Right Heart Failure after Left Ventricular Assist Device Placement

Introduction The incidence of right heart failure (RHF) after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement ranges reportedly from 10-40%. We determined to analyze the short and long term mortality rates for those with RHF after LVAD placement. Methods In a single academic center, we conducted a retrospective analysis of those implanted with a LVAD from 2013 to 2019, and the incidence of postoperative RHF during index admission. Charts with insufficient data were excluded. RHF was defined via the classifications designated by INTERMACS, and patients were categorized into INTERMACS mild, moderate or severe RHF. Cox proportional analysis were performed for Kaplan Meyer curves for 1 and 5-year survival rates. Results A total of 136 LVAD implantations met criteria in which 22.1% were implanted as bridge to transplant and 77.9% as destination therapy. RHF was diagnosed in 44.1% of patients, in which 14.7%, 17.7%, and 11.8% were categorized as INTERMACS mild, moderate, and severe RHF respectively. Ninety-day mortality rates for patients with INTERMACS mild, moderate, and severe RHF were 15%, 10.9%, and 37.5%. The combined 90-day mortality rate for all patients with RHF was 23%. One-year mortality rates (FIGURE 1) for INTERMACS mild, moderate, and severe RHF were 20%, 25%, and 43.8%. The combined 1-year mortality rate for all patients with RHF was 28.3%, which contrasted the 1-year mortality rate for patients without RHF of only 6.7%. Five-year mortality rates (FIGURE 2) for INTERMACS mild, moderate, and severe RHF were 40%, 42.7% and 43.8%. The combined 5-year mortality rate for all patients with RHF was 41.2%, which contrasted the 5-year mortality rate for patients without RHF of 19.7%. For those with RHF who received temporary right VAD (tRVAD) support post-operatively, the average INTERMACS RHF severity was moderate. Ninety-day mortality rates for those with early tRVAD (≤24 hours) and delayed tRVAD (>24 hours) were 25% and 75%. Of those who received tRVAD, the 1-year mortality rate was 25% for those with early tRVAD, while those with delayed tRVAD had a 1-year mortality of 100% and all died on index admission. The 5-year mortality rate for those with RHF and early tRVAD was 50%. Total 90-day mortality for all patients (with and without RHF) was 16.2%. Total 1-year mortality for all patients was 11.7%. Conclusions In our study, 44.1% of patients had RHF after LVAD implantation with nearly 1/3 dying within 1 year. Implantation of early tRVAD seemingly improved 1 year survival as compared to INTERMACS severe RHF.
Gastric Metabolomics Detects Helicobacter pylori Correlated Loss of Numerous Metabolites in Both the Corpus and Antrum.

Helicobacter pylori is a chronic bacterial pathogen that thrives in several regions of the stomach, causing inflammation that can vary by site and result in distinct disease outcomes. Whether the regions differ in terms of host-derived metabolites is not known. We thus characterized the regional variation of the metabolomes of mouse gastric corpus and antrum organoids and tissue. The uninfected secreted organoid metabolites differed between the corpus and antrum in only seven metabolites: lactic acid, malic acid, phosphoethanolamine, alanine, uridine, glycerol, and isoleucine. Multiple of the secreted chemicals were depleted upon H. pylori infection in both regions including urea, cholesterol, glutamine, fumaric acid, lactic acid, citric acid, malic acid, and multiple non-essential amino acids. These results suggest a model in which H. pylori preferentially uses carboxylic acids and amino acids in complex environments, and these are found in both the corpus and antrum. When organoid metabolites were compared to mouse tissue, there was little overlap. The tissue corpus and antrum metabolomes were distinct, including antrum-elevated 5-methoxytryptamine, lactic acid, and caprylic acid, and corpus-elevated phospholipid products. The corpus and antrum remained distinct over an 8 month infection time course. The antrum displayed no significant changes between the time points, in contrast to the corpus which exhibited metabolite changes that were consistent with stress, tissue damage, and depletion of key nutrients such as glutamine and fructose-6-phosphate. Overall, our results suggest that the corpus and antrum have largely but not completely overlapping metabolomes that change moderately upon H. pylori infection.
Reasoning in the social sciences

In 1981, A. C. Crombie identified six “styles of scientific thinking in the European tradition” that constitute our ways of reasoning in the natural sciences. In this paper, I try to show that these styles constitute reasoning in the social sciences as well, and that, as a result, the differences between reasoning about the physical world and about human beings are not so different as some interpretevists have supposed.
Retaining and Supporting Faculty Who Are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color: The Promise of a Multi-Leveled Mentoring-Partnership Model

A greater number of predominantly White institutions (PWIs) in the United States have focused their efforts on recruiting a more diverse faculty body to better reflect the students and surrounding ...
Native language inhibition predicts more successful second language learning: Evidence of two ERP pathways during learning

How some individuals succeed in learning a second language as adults is still an unsolved question in cognitive neuroscience. At the brain level, adults' electrophysiological responses to input in a second language may differ after completing different types of training. However, there is limited understanding of what neural pathways are activated as learning unfolds, and which patterns of activation lead to successful learning. Using brain event-related potentials, this study explored whether individual brain responses to practice difficulty during second language learning predict learning outcomes. English-speaking learners of Spanish practiced completing newly learned phrases in their second language. For some learners, all the choices presented during practice were "easy" because non-target choices were unrelated distractors. In the more "difficult" practice mode, however, learners had to avoid choosing a competing word that would be acceptable based on their native language, but not in the second language being learned. Performance during practice was similar in both groups of learners. Critically, divergence in event-related potentials indicated alternative strategies to practice, based on the level of difficulty. At the group level, learners completing the easier practice revealed increased monitoring when making responses; in the difficult condition, learners showed inhibition of their native language (i.e., an N400 for phrases congruent with the native language) to avoid interference during word selection. Individual brain responses indexing the degree of native language inhibition predicted learning rates in tests.
The "Quiet TED"-A Special Subgroup of Thyroid Eye Disease.

PURPOSE Thyroid eye disease (TED) or Graves' orbitopathy starts with an active inflammatory stage (active disease) followed by resolution of inflammation and progression to a fibrotic, inactive stage. In our practice, we have encountered cases that have not had active disease despite presence of fibrotic sequelae and disease progression. We aim to delineate the clinical characteristic of this unique group of patients. METHODS We conducted a single-center (Mayo Clinic Rochester) retrospective chart review of TED patients who throughout the course of their disease had only evidence for inactive TED, defined as clinical activity score <3. RESULTS Median age in the cohort (n = 19) was 54 years (IQR 47-61). 58% had a prior diagnosis of Graves' disease (GD) before referral. 80% (n = 15) were euthyroid at the time of TED onset (median thyroid-stimulating hormone 1.7 mIU/L). The most common finding was diplopia (100%, n = 19) followed by proptosis (63%, n = 12). Interestingly the disease was asymmetric in 42% of cases. Overall median clinical activity score on presentation was 1 (IQR 0-1). Severity wise, 85% (n = 16) of patients were classified as moderate-to-severe during follow up. Orbital decompression was performed in only 1 case, while extraocular muscle surgery was performed in 13 cases. CONCLUSIONS Quiet TED is a subgroup of TED patients that defies the classic disease paradigm. It presents primarily with diplopia and proptosis. Further evaluation of this group might identify useful insights in TED pathophysiology and help optimize therapeutic choices.
How different time intervals between repeated applications of CPP-ACP fluoride varnish effect smooth surface enamel demineralization?

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the preventive effects of different time intervals between repeated applications of the CPP-ACP fluoride varnish on enamel demineralization. Methods Human teeth were sectioned and randomly allocated to three groups: 4-week, 6-week, and 12-week (N = 22/group). Baseline images of the enamel surfaces were obtained using the FluoreCam recording the area, intensity, and impact of baseline enamel demineralization. All groups received fluoride varnish applications at the beginning of the experiment. The varnish was reapplied every 4 or 6 weeks in the 4-week and 6-week groups, respectively. Following each application, the groups underwent thermo-cycling, tooth brushing and pH cycling to simulate the time effect. After 12 weeks, the enamel surfaces were reimaged using the FluoreCam. Within and between-group differences in the area, intensity and impact of demineralization were evaluated. Results At baseline, there were no significant between-group differences for area, intensity, or impact. Statistically significant (p Conclusion Reapplication of the CPP-ACP fluoride varnish every 4–6 weeks, is more effective in reducing enamel demineralization compared to every 12 weeks.
Getting Really Wild: Challenges and Opportunities of Real-World Multimodal Affect Detection

Affect detection in the "real" wild - where people go about their daily routines in their homes and workplaces - is arguably a different problem than affect detection in the lab or in the "quasi" wild (e.g., YouTube videos). How will our affect detection systems hold up when put to the test in the real wild? Some in the Affective Computing community had an opportunity to address this question as part of the MOSAIC (Multimodal Objective Sensing to Assess Individuals with Context [1]) program which ran from 2017 to 2020. Results were sobering, but informative. I'll discuss those efforts with an emphasis on performance achieved, insights gleaned, challenges faced, and lessons learned.
Consumer Experiences with Delta-8-THC: Medical Use, Pharmaceutical Substitution, and Comparisons with Delta-9-THC

Introduction: Cannabis products containing delta-8-THC became widely available in most of the United States in late 2020 and rapidly became a significant source of revenue for hemp processing companies, especially in states where use of delta-9-THC remains illegal or requires professional authorization for medical use. Scientific research on the use of delta-8-THC is scarce, previous clinical studies included a combined total of 14 participants, leading some state governments to prohibit it until its properties and effects are better understood. Methods: Researchers developed an online survey for delta-8-THC consumers addressing a broad range of issues regarding delta-8-THC, including use for the treatment of health and medical conditions. Previous survey studies on the medical use of cannabis and cannabis products informed survey components. Results: Patterns of delta-8-THC use had both similarities with and differences from the use of delta-9-THC cannabis and products. Administration methods were primarily edibles (64%) and vaping concentrates (48%). About half of the participants (51%) used delta-8-THC to treat a range of health and medical conditions, primarily anxiety or panic attacks (69%), stress (52%), depression or bipolar disorder (46%), and chronic pain (41%). Participants compared delta-8-THC very favorably with both delta-9-THC and pharmaceutical drugs and reported substantial levels of substitution for both. Most participants did not inform their primary care provider of their delta-8-THC use (78%) and were not confident of their primary care provider's ability to integrate medical cannabis into their treatment (70%). Knowledge of effective dosages was low, and participants' knowledge of delta-8-THC was primarily from the Internet and their own experiences. Conclusion: Harm reduction is a central component of public health. Although the legal environment is becoming more restrictive for delta-8-THC in comparison to delta-9-THC, results suggest that delta-8-THC may be equally effective for desired purposes of cannabis use and lower in undesirable or adverse effects. All policies and practices should be informed by empirical evidence. Considerable research will be needed to systematically verify the patterns reported by participants, and collaborations among academic researchers, government, and the cannabis industry may be valuable in developing the knowledge base for delta-8-THC and other cannabinoids.
Geschlechterpositionierungen in der Schule

Die diskursive Konstruktion von Subjektivitat erfordert eine Analyse von Machtverhaltnissen in und durch diskursive Anrufungs- und Positionierungspraxen. Daran knupft dieser Artikel an und befasst sich mit den diskursiven Prozessen der Geschlechtersubjektivation im Genderregime Schule: So steht das Verhaltnis institutionalisierter Geschlechter( re-)produktionen mit subjektiven Erfahrungs- und Erlebensweisen im Vordergrund, welches sich am ‚Schauplatz Subjektivitat‘ verdichtet und konstelliert (vgl. Weedon 1991: 49 ff.). Das Interesse fur die diskursive Konstruktion des Subjekts verlangt den Blick auf die Geschlechterpositionierungen zu richten, die geschlechtliche Seinsweisen ins Leben zeichnen und Wirkungen auf das ‚Innere‘ erzielen, auf die strukturierenden Modi des Wahrnehmens, Denkens, Fuhlens und Handelns der jeweiligen diskursiven Geschlechterfigur.
miR-150 prevents pulmonary inflammation by regulating Interleukin-1R associated kinase-2 downstream of focal adhesion kinase

Pulmonary inflammation and severe edema developing post-sepsis are the main hallmarks of Acute Lung Injury (ALI). We have shown that tamoxifen-induced endothelial-specific deletion of FAK led to di...
The professionalization of accountancy

Reviews the history of the early development of the accountancy profession in the UK and the USA and describes the organization of professional accountancy bodies in both countries, concentrating particularly on events in the post‐formation period. Identifies the persistent struggle of UK and US accountants with the conflicting phenomena of economic self‐interest and public duty. Shows how professional accountancy in the UK and the USA evolved from internalized disputes to externalized defences of the professional mission. This evolution caused the actions of UK and US accountants to be scrutinized increasingly in public. Researched evidence of recent institutional reaction to such scrutiny is consistent with earlier behaviour associated with formation events. The economic self‐interest of accounting professionals appears continuously to have motivated their actions to protect the public interest.
dsg, a gene required for cell-cell interaction early in Myxococcus development.

Abstract dsg mutants of Myxococcus xanthus are conditionally defective in fruiting body development, including sporulation. Unable to develop on their own, these mutants can assemble fruiting bodies with spores if they are mixed with wild-type cells. To elucidate the developmental defect in dsg mutants by close comparison with wild type, such mutants have been backcrossed by transduction, using a closely linked insertion of transposon Tn5 for selection. Backcrossed dsg mutants form aggregates that are larger, less compact, and less symmetrical than dsg+ fruiting bodies. Also, the starvation-induced sporulation in dsg aggregates is delayed and reduced. However, dsg mutants can be induced by glycerol or dimethyl sulfoxide to sporulate at levels approaching those of wild type. dsg mutants may thus have a primary defect early in development which diminishes their capacity to aggregate and which indirectly decreases the number of fruiting body spores. The linked insertion of Tn5 also facilitated cloning the dsg gene. The cloned dsg+ allele was shown to be dominant to both the dsg-429 and dsg-439 alleles, and both mutant alleles were shown to belong to the same genetic complementation group. Subcloning of restriction fragments, deletions, and insertions of transposon Tn5 agree in locating the dsg gene to an 850-base-pair segment of the cloned region.
Recent Advances Toward Pain Therapeutics

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on recent advances toward pain therapeutics. Two of the most promising novel targets actively pursued for chronic pain are the voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels—in particular Nav 1.3, 1.7, and 1.8—and nerve growth factor (NGF/tropomyosin-related kinase receptor A (TrkA). Both of these targets are predominantly localized in the periphery. The achievement of good target selectivity with small molecules is also a common challenge of both pathways. A summary of recent drug development for these two pathways, highlighting recent developments and progress made toward finding truly selective inhibitors, is provided in the chapter. In contrast to sodium channels and NGF/TrkA, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is believed to play a significant role in both the periphery and the central nervous system. The chapter covers some recently disclosed novel noncovalent inhibitors and clinical data that raise questions about the validity of the target. The treatment of chronic pain is potentially on the cusp of entering a new era with a number of novel mechanistic approaches in clinical development. Many of these novel mechanisms present unique medicinal chemistry challenges in developing safe and effective medicines.
CONSERVATION OF RIBOSOMAL AND MESSENGER RIBONUCLEIC ACID CISTRONS IN BACILLUS SPECIES.

Doi, Roy H. (Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.), and Richard T. Igarashi. Conservation of ribosomal and messenger ribonucleic acid cistrons in Bacillus species. J. Bacteriol. 90:384-390. 1965.-Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) fractions from various Bacillus species were tested for interspecies DNA-RNA hybrid formation. DNA preparations from B. subtilis, B. cereus, B. megaterium, B. stearothermophilus, and B. macerans, whose base composition varied from 33 to 50% guanylate + cytidylate content, were used in the hybrid annealing mixtures with pulse-labeled RNA from sporulating cells and from log-phase cells of B. subtilis and B. cereus. Efficient hybridization in these cases was obtained only in homologous annealing situations. When heterologous DNA and RNA preparations were tested for hybrid formation, only 1 to 6% of the homologous hybridization was obtained. Although the efficiency of hybrid formation was low, the results were reproducible. No difference in efficiency of hybrid formation was observed between the messenger RNA from sporulating cells and that from log-phase cells. When B. subtilis ribosomal RNA was placed in annealing mixtures with heterologous DNA, 47.5 to 62.9% of the homologous hybridization was obtained. These results suggest that a small number of identical sequences are present among the Bacillus species. Furthermore, the ribosomal RNA cistrons appear to be more highly conserved relative to other genetic sequences.
Tree rings and multiseason drought variability in the lower Rio Grande Basin, USA

[1] Agriculture and ranching in semiarid regions often rely on local precipitation during the growing season as well as streamflow from runoff in distant headwaters. Where snowpack and reservoir storage are important, this pattern of reliance leads to vulnerability to multiseason drought. The lower Rio Grande basin in New Mexico, used as a case study here, has experienced drought conditions over the past 12 years characterized both by low local summer monsoon precipitation and by reduced availability of surface water supplies from the upper Rio Grande. To place this drought in a long-term context, we evaluate the covariability of local warm-season and remote cool-season hydroclimate over both the modern period and past centuries. We draw on a recently developed network of tree-ring data that allows an assessment of preinstrumental warm-season variations in precipitation over the southwest. Both instrumental and paleoclimatic data suggest that low runoff followed by a dry monsoon is not unusual, although over the full reconstruction period (1659–2008), years with wet or dry conditions shared in both seasons do not occur significantly more often than unshared conditions. Low flows followed by dry monsoon conditions were most persistent in the 1770s and 1780s; other notable periods of shared seasonal droughts occurred in the 1660s and 1950s. The recent drought does not yet appear to be unusually severe in either the instrumental or paleoclimatic context.
Microchannel-nanopore device for bacterial chemotaxis assays.

Motile bacteria bias the random walk of their motion in response to chemical gradients by the process termed chemotaxis, which allows cells to accumulate in favorable environments and disperse from less favorable ones. In this work, we describe a simple microchannel-nanopore device that establishes a stable chemical gradient for chemotaxis assays in ≤1 min. Chemoattractant is dispensed by diffusion through 10 nm diameter pores at the intersection of two microchannels. This design requires no external pump and minimizes the effect of transmembrane pressure, resulting in a stable, reproducible gradient. The microfluidic platform facilitates microscopic observation of individual cell trajectories, and chemotaxis is quantified by monitoring changes in cell swimming behavior in the vicinity of the intersection. We validate this system by measuring the chemotactic response of an aquatic bacterium, Caulobacter crescentus, to xylose concentrations from 1.3 μM to 1.3 M. Additionally, we make an unanticipated obser...
Tissue distribution of the mRNA for a rhesus monkey major histocompatibility class Ib molecule, Mamu-AG.

We identified recently a novel major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I locus in the rhesus monkey, Mamu-AG , which is expressed in the placenta and encodes molecules that share unique characteristics of human HLA-G. We established locus-specific reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and ribonuclease protection assays to determine whether Mamu-AG is expressed in other rhesus monkey tissues. With an RT-PCR assay, Mamu-AG mRNA was detected in placenta, amniotic membranes, kidney, spleen, eye, brain, lung, spinal cord, liver and occasionally heart, but was undetectable in lymph nodes, salivary glands, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), large and small intestine, skeletal muscle or skin. Examination of endocrine organs demonstrated the presence of Mamu-AG transcripts in pituitary, testes, ovary and adrenal glands but not in pancreas or thyroid. Quantitative analysis using a ribonuclease protection assay demonstrated that the highest level of Mamu-AG mRNA expression was consistently in the placenta and amniotic membranes, while expression was moderate in a few tissues (testis, adrenal) and low to undetectable in all other tissues. These results suggest that the Mamu-AG mRNA, like the mRNA for the human MHC class Ib gene HLA-G, is expressed at high levels in the placenta, but also has restricted low-level expression in other tissues.
Determination of δ-opioid receptors in NG108-15 cells

The delta-opioid receptors in mouse neuroblastoma x rat glioma NG108-15 cells were characterized by receptor binding and cAMP assays. Saturation binding assays using [3H][D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE) or [3H][D-Ser2, Leu5, Thr6]enkephalin (DSLET) gave similar binding capacities (Bmax). Competition binding assays showed that DPDPE and DSLET have similar affinity for the [3H]DPDPE or 3[H]DSLET binding sites. The rank order of potency of competition with [3H]DPDPE and [3H]DSLET was similar: naltriben approximately DSLET > or = DPDPE > 7-benzylidenenaltrexone (BNTX). Both DPDPE and DSLET were found to decrease cAMP formation. The action of DSLET was antagonized by naltriben but not BNTX, while the action of DPDPE was reversed by both antagonists. Therefore, the delta-opioid receptor in NG108-15 cells has similar affinity for the agonists DPDPE and DSLET, and a higher affinity for the antagonist naltriben than BNTX.
Asia's First Globalizer

Japan's experience proves that it is possible to adapt to globalization while preserving a unique culture. Yet the transition is not complete. If the barriers are acknowledged and addressed, Japan can gain significant soft power and influence in the information age.