cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Deformation-Induced Phase Separation in the Solid State

Amorphous Polymethylmethacrylate/Polyethyleneoxide blends deformed by solid-state coextrusion exhibit anomalous anisotropic Small Angle Neutron scattering patterns in the low q range. It is shown that upon drawing the samples have undergone phase separation to some extent. The resulting structure of the system is characterized by combining scattering techniques with Differential Scanning Calorimetry.
Nanoscale Self-Assembly: Seeing Is Understanding.

In the midst of the second world war, Derjaguin and Landau1 in Russia and Verwey and Overbeek2 in The Netherlands arrived independently at a theory to explain the kinetic stability of colloidal dispersions. The celebrated DLVO theory combined two types of forces—long-ranged electrostatic repulsion and short-ranged van der Waals attraction—to predict the rates at which nano- and microparticles aggregate irreversibly in time. Knowledge of these and other colloidal forces has since been applied to direct the spontaneous self-assembly of colloidal materials with emerging applications in optics, electronics, and catalysis. Despite their critical importance, measuring the interactions between colloidal objects in situ remains a challenging endeavor. One approach uses video microscopy3 to collect particle configurations and/or dynamical trajectories from which to infer particle interactions with the help of statistical mechanical models. This approach was used to validate the DLVO theory for the electrostatic repulsion between charge microspheres;4 however, its extension to nanoscale particles has been limited by the spatial resolution of optical microscopy. Now, with the advent of in situ liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (TEM), it is possible to apply similar techniques to quantify—for the first time—interaction potentials between nanoscale components. In this issue, Alivisatos and co-workers(5) demonstrate the power of this approach by measuring the interaction potential between pairs of charged nanorods. Their investigation reveals an interesting twist on the classic story of colloidal stability: anisotropic interactions between the rod-shaped particles lead them to aggregate selectively at their ends to form particle chains. The ability to watch this and other assembly processes in real time offers new insights into the forces and mechanisms underlying nanoscale self-assembly.
Electrical slow-wave activity from the circular layer of cat terminal antrum

Intracellular recording techniques were used to characterize the electrical slow-wave activity through the thickness of the circular muscle layer of the cat terminal antrum. Muscle strips were pinned out in cross section to the floor of a recording chamber perfused with Krebs buffer. Circular muscle cells from the myenteric to the submucosal border then were impaled with 20- to 40-M omega glass microelectrodes, and slow-wave activity was recorded. Slow waves from the myenteric side of the circular layer consisted of an upstroke depolarization, a prominent plateau phase, and a downstroke repolarization. Slow-wave characteristics for cells along the myenteric border were Em, -74.2 +/- 1.3 mV; duration, 5.3 +/- 0.5 s; upstroke amplitude, 29.4 +/- 3.4 mV; upstroke velocity, 0.20 +/- 0.03 V/s; and frequency, 5.8 +/- 0.5/min. Slow waves from muscle cells along the submucosal side of the preparation lacked a discernible plateau phase. Slow waves from submucosal border cells had the following characteristics: Em, -80.4 +/- 1.4 mV (P less than 0.01); duration, 3.5 +/- 0.4 s (P less than 0.01); upstroke amplitude, 44.0 +/- 2.4 mV (P less than 0.01); upstroke velocity, 0.56 +/- 0.06 V/s (P less than 0.01); and frequency, 4.2 +/- 0.4/min (P less than 0.05). Slow waves were not affected by 10(-7)M tetrodotoxin and 10(-6)M atropine or by removal of the longitudinal muscle layer. Slow-wave activity within each region was maintained after dissecting the circular layer into submucosal and myenteric segments. The results suggest that two distinct slow waves exist within the circular muscle layer of the cat terminal antrum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Substance Use and Street Violence: An Interview with Ruben Burgos, Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice and Retired Police Lieutenant of the Milwaukee Police Department

In a recent bulletin, the World Health Organization detailed the violence prevention work, particularly on homicide, by Rodrigo Guerrero-Velasco in the city of Cali, Columbia, where he is also the mayor (Greenhouse, 2015). Guerrero-Velasco and his colleagues have used epidemiology to study the social problem of violence and found that guns, alcohol use, and social inequalities were strongly associated risk factors with violence, as were child abuse and organized crime in a community.
Screening of Multi-Trait Rhizobacteria for Improving the Growth, Enzyme Activities, and Nutrient Uptake of Tea (Camellia sinensis)

ABSTRACTThe use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as agricultural inputs for increasing crop production needs the selection of efficient bacteria with plant growth-promoting (PGP) attributes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 20 multi-traits bacteria on tea growth, nutrient uptake, chlorophyll contents, and enzyme activities under field conditions for over 3 years. These isolates were screened in vitro for their PGP traits such as the production of indole acetic acid (IAA), nitrogenase activity, phosphorus (P) solubilization, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity. Screening of rhizobacteria that show multiple PGP traits suggests that they stimulated overall plant growth, including shoot development and leaf yield, improving macro- and micro-nutrient uptake, chlorophyll contents, and activities of enzymes of tea plant. Use of strains with multiple PGP traits could be a more effective approach and have great potential for the environmen...
Current Perspectives on Arthroplasty in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Rates, Outcomes, and Adverse Events

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic debilitating condition with significant impact on the musculoskeletal system. Arthroplasty may be indicated for damage related to active lupus or its treatment. As therapies for SLE have advanced, morbidity and mortality have declined, while the rate of joint replacement has increased. The age of SLE patients undergoing arthroplasty is increasing, and the indication for surgery is evolving-while avascular necrosis was previously the predominant indication for arthroplasty, osteoarthritis now accounts for a larger proportion of surgeries. Pain and functional outcomes of arthroplasty in SLE patients are comparable to those of the general population with osteoarthritis, but lupus remains an independent risk factor for post-hip arthroplasty complications and mortality. Further research is needed to characterize the impact of lupus disease activity and severity on arthroplasty outcomes.
Thought Chart: Tracking Dynamic EEG Brain Connectivity with Unsupervised Manifold Learning

Assuming that the topological space containing all possible brain states forms a very high-dimensional manifold, this paper proposes an unsupervised manifold learning framework to reconstruct and visualize this manifold using EEG brain connectivity data acquired from a group of healthy volunteers.
Two-dimensional Morlet wavelet transform and its application to wave recognition methodology of automatically extracting two-dimensional wave packets from lidar observations in Antarctica

Abstract Waves in the atmosphere and ocean are inherently intermittent, with amplitudes, frequencies, or wavelengths varying in time and space. Most waves exhibit wave packet-like properties, propagate at oblique angles, and are often observed in two-dimensional (2-D) datasets. These features make the wavelet transforms, especially the 2-D wavelet approach, more appealing than the traditional windowed Fourier analysis, because the former allows adaptive time-frequency window width (i.e., automatically narrowing window size at high frequencies and widening at low frequencies), while the latter uses a fixed envelope function. This study establishes the mathematical formalism of modified 1-D and 2-D Morlet wavelet transforms, ensuring that the power of the wavelet transform in the frequency/wavenumber domain is equivalent to the mean power of its counterpart in the time/space domain. Consequently, the modified wavelet transforms eliminate the bias against high-frequency/small-scale waves in the conventional wavelet methods and many existing codes. Based on the modified 2-D Morlet wavelet transform, we put forward a wave recognition methodology that automatically identifies and extracts 2-D quasi-monochromatic wave packets and then derives their wave properties including wave periods, wavelengths, phase speeds, and time/space spans. A step-by-step demonstration of this methodology is given on analyzing the lidar data taken during 28–30 June 2014 at McMurdo, Antarctica. The newly developed wave recognition methodology is then applied to two more lidar observations in May and July 2014, to analyze the recently discovered persistent gravity waves in Antarctica. The decomposed inertia-gravity wave characteristics are consistent with the conclusion in Chen et al. (2016a) that the 3–10 h waves are persistent and dominant, and exhibit lifetimes of multiple days. They have vertical wavelengths of 20–30 km, vertical phase speeds of 0.5–2 m/s, and horizontal wavelengths up to several thousands kilometers in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT). The variations in the extracted wave properties from different months in winter indicate a month-to-month variability in the gravity wave activities in the Antarctic MLT region.
Spatial quantum correlations in entangled twin beams

The study of the spatial quantum correlations in entangled beams of light has become an active research area due to the role that these quantum correlations play in the field of quantum imaging, which promises to improve optical resolution and image detection and to enhance quantum communications through parallel quantum information encoding. The presence of spatial quantum correlations is a result of momentum conservation in the process. It is also an indication that the entangled beams are composed of multiple spatial modes and that the entanglement is contained in corresponding subregions of the twin beams. The smallest size of these independently correlated subregions, known as the coherence area, places a limit on quantum imaging applications and is ultimately linked to the number of spatial modes that make up the entangled beams. We have shown that non-degenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) in a double-lambda configuration in a rubidium vapor cell is an excellent source of continuous-variable (CV) entangled twin beams, with an intensity-difference noise of less than 13% of the corresponding classical shot-noise level. Unlike other systems that rely on the use of a cavity, this system can support a large number of spatial modes, which makes it possible to generate CV entangled images. I will describe some of the spatial quantum properties of the twin beams generated by the FWM process. In particular, I will show how the size of the spatial correlations, or coherence area, can be controlled through a change in the size and profile of the pump required for the FWM and present results of a direct measurement of the spatial quantum correlations with a high quantum efficiency CCD camera.
Effects of in-situ poling and process parameters on fused filament fabrication printed PVDF sheet mechanical and electrical properties

Abstract Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a polymer prized for its unique material properties, including a high resistance to corrosive acids such as HCL and HF and its piezoelectric potential based on the proper microstructure arrangement. In this work, the effects of fused filament fabrication (FFF) routine parameters on printed PVDF film properties were investigated using a variety of experimental methods. The influence of in-fill angle (0°, 45°, and 90°) on the effective Young’s Modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and yield strength were evaluated using tensile testing and a digital image correlation (DIC) analysis. The phase content, in particular the β-phase amount, within the semi-crystalline PVDF films was determined as a function of processing parameters using the FTIR method. Considered parameters included the extrusion temperature, horizontal speed, in-situ applied hot end voltage, and bed material. Results showed that higher β-phase content was associated with lower extrusion temperatures, faster extrusion rates, and higher hot end voltages. While all “as printed” films demonstrated little to no measurable piezoelectricity, PVDF films printed with a high β-phase content and subjected to a post-printing corona poling procedure showed a small, but consistent piezoelectric response. Based on a static deflection cantilever beam experiment, the d31 coefficient of the poled specimens was estimated at 1.19 pm/V.
The impact of age on complications, survival, and cause of death following colon cancer surgery.

Given scarce data regarding the relationship among age, complications, and survival beyond the 30-day postoperative period for oncology patients in the United States, this study identified age-related differences in complications and the rate and cause of 1-year mortality following colon cancer surgery. The NY State Cancer Registry and Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System identified stage I–III colon cancer resections (2004–2011). Multivariable logistic regression and survival analyses assessed the relationship among age ( 30 days, 1-year mortality was 8.5%. Older age groups had higher complication rates, and older age and complications were independently associated with 1-year mortality (P<0.0001). Increasing age was associated with a decrease in the proportion of deaths from colon cancer with a concomitant increase in the proportion of deaths from cardiovascular disease. Older age and sepsis were independently associated with higher risk of colon cancer-specific death (65–74: HR=1.59, 95% CI=1.26–2.00; ⩾75: HR=2.57, 95% CI=2.09–3.16; sepsis: HR=2.58, 95% CI=2.13–3.11) and cardiovascular disease-specific death (65–74: HR=3.72, 95% CI=2.29–6.05; ⩾75: HR=7.02, 95% CI=4.44–11.10; sepsis: HR=2.33, 95% CI=1.81–2.99). Older age and sepsis are associated with higher 1-year overall, cancer-specific, and cardiovascular-specific mortality, highlighting the importance of geriatric assessment, multidisciplinary care, and cardiovascular optimisation for older patients and those with infectious complications.
A new, cheap method to reduce bird mortality from window collisions

Many methods to prevent bird deaths at windows are ineffective, and some useful methods are expensive or displeasing. Here we offer, for free download, an image that ended bird accidents on large windows near a tropical cloud forest area, and propose hypotheses for its experimental evaluation
MetaUniDec: High-Throughput Deconvolution of Native Mass Spectra

The expansion of native mass spectrometry (MS) methods for both academic and industrial applications has created a substantial need for analysis of large native MS datasets. Existing software tools are poorly suited for high-throughput deconvolution of native electrospray mass spectra from intact proteins and protein complexes. The UniDec Bayesian deconvolution algorithm is uniquely well suited for high-throughput analysis due to its speed and robustness but was previously tailored towards individual spectra. Here, we optimized UniDec for deconvolution, analysis, and visualization of large data sets. This new module, MetaUniDec, centers around a hierarchical data format 5 (HDF5) format for storing datasets that significantly improves speed, portability, and file size. It also includes code optimizations to improve speed and a new graphical user interface for visualization, interaction, and analysis of data. To demonstrate the utility of MetaUniDec, we applied the software to analyze automated collision voltage ramps with a small bacterial heme protein and large lipoprotein nanodiscs. Upon increasing collisional activation, bacterial heme-nitric oxide/oxygen binding (H-NOX) protein shows a discrete loss of bound heme, and nanodiscs show a continuous loss of lipids and charge. By using MetaUniDec to track changes in peak area or mass as a function of collision voltage, we explore the energetic profile of collisional activation in an ultra-high mass range Orbitrap mass spectrometer. Graphical abstract ᅟ.
Mechanistic Challenges and Engineering Applications of Protein Export in E. coli

Protein secretion and subcellular localization in E. coli has been under investigation for more than 60 years. While many details about the molecular mechanisms of these processes have been revealed, several facets of protein translocation still remain unclear. Bacteria secrete numerous proteins such as pathogenicity factors, toxins or degradative enzymes (Fernandez and Berenguer 2000). Six different secretion mechanisms for extruding proteins into the extracellular environment have been identified to-date. In Gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli, secretion into the extracellular medium requires crossing of two biological membranes, the inner and outer membranes of the cell. However, systems for protein translocation into the extracellular medium are generally highly protein-specific and with very few exceptions have not yet been engineered for the efficient export of recombinant proteins. More relevant from a technical and engineering standpoint, is the translocation of polypeptides from the cytoplasm into the periplasmic space, the main secretory compartment which is equivalent to the endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotic cells.
Proposing and Completing Your Dissertation

The dissertation is the oldest consistent requirement for becoming a doctor in most academic disciplines in the United States. The dissertation, which has its roots in the 19th Century German educational system, is the central requisite for the highest level of educational attainment, the doctor of philosophy (Rosenberg, 1962). It is distinguished from pedagogical training, which happens at earlier stages in the educational process, and is the formal demonstration that a student has attained the skills necessary to independently produce relevant scientific research and scholarship. In the United States, the dissertation was first adopted as a requirement for the doctorate by Yale University in 1861 (Furniss, 1965) and quickly became the central exposition in the passage from student to doctor for most academic disciplines in most universities. Within psychology, completion of the dissertation has been central to training at the doctoral level since the Ph.D. degree was first granted to G. Stanley Hall in 1878 (Street, 1994). This requirement is common to most doctoral psychology students and, in that sense, might be seen as the unifying or binding activity for doctorial training in our field. In its most recent survey, the US Department of Education (2000) found that 46,010 doctoral degrees were granted in 1998. Almost 10% of those degrees (4,073) were Ph.D.s in psychology.
Establishment and Control of Hay-scented Fern: A Native Invasive Species

Hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula (Michx.) Moore) is a native forest understory species that behaves as an invasive plant under certain conditions. Previous work has shown that both increased understory light intensity following overstory thinning and removal of competing plants by herbivores can lead to accelerated growth of hay-scented fern, allowing it to develop dense, nearly monospecific understories that inhibit tree seedling regeneration. To study the relationship between these two factors, we sampled 28 forest stands thinned at different times and subjected to different levels of browsing by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and concluded that more than 15 years of intensive browsing following thinning was necessary for ferns to form closed understory canopies with densities of >90 fronds/m2 and canopy heights of 60–80 cm; thinning alone or intensive browsing alone was not sufficient to cause this level of fern invasion. We applied three treatments to dense fern understories to determine the relative importance of the fern canopy and the dense mat of roots, rhizomes, and dead fronds in the inhibition of tree seedling establishment. Results after two years were: (1) complete removal of the organic mat produced a large germination response of woody and herbaceous species; (2) mixing the organic mat into the mineral soil produced an initial germination response but poor seedling survivorship, as the fern canopy regrew to near pretreatment density; (3) repeatedly clipping the ferns for two years without disturbing the organic mat resulted in a lower germination response than the removal treatment, but rapid growth of seedlings.
Abstract 2063: SAMD9/SAMD9L mutations in familial monosomy 7

The purpose of this study was to define the mutations causing familial monosomy 7 with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and/or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We have previously reported frequent germline mutations in the genes SAMD9 and SAMD9L in pediatric MDS. We obtained samples on 32 individuals in 7 families with multiple siblings affected with MDS/AML and monosomy 7. We conducted targeted sequencing of genes frequently mutated in MDS/AML and amplicon sequencing of SAMD9 and SAMD9L. We performed cell cycle analysis assays on SAMD9/9L mutations to study their effects on cell proliferation. Our data show that 5 of the 7 families have germline pathologic mutations in SAMD9 (n=1) and SAMD9L (n=4), with significant clinical variability in the phenotypes displayed, ranging from transient monosomy 7 to overt AML with monosomy 7. Consistent with previous data, the mutant SAMD9 or SAMD9L allele was underrepresented in the bone marrow. This decrease in the mutant allele paralleled the extent of monosomy 7, suggesting that only the wild-type allele was retained in cells with monosomy 7. Functional analysis revealed that all germline SAMD9/9L mutations displayed a gain-of-function ability to suppress cell cycle progression. The patients with more aggressive disease were found to harbor somatic mutations in SETBP1, ETV6 or RUNX1. In many individuals we found additional somatic revertant mutations in cis with the germline mutation, which overcame the growth-suppressive effects of the germline mutation. Our data show that germline mutations in SAMD9/9L represent a new class of predisposition genes for familial monosomy 7 with MDS/AML and should be screened for in all children with MDS. Citation Format: Victoria Bryant, Jasmine Wong, Jason Schwartz, Tamara Lamprecht, Jing Ma, Charles Mullighan, Mignon Loh, Kevin Shannon, Jeffery Klco. SAMD9/SAMD9L mutations in familial monosomy 7 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2063.
The Influence of Regional Stress and Structural Control Over the Shape of Maar Craters

This study aims to gain a better understanding of the factors leading to the expressed shape of individual maars in volcanic fields. Maars are volcanic features produced by phreatomagmatic eruptions which excavate a crater beneath the pre eruptive surface through the explosive interaction of magma and water. Maar craters take on a wide range of shapes including, circular, elliptical, and polylobate. Across all maar fields, the existence of one or more axis of elongation is commonplace. Identification of the factors which lead to, and control, elongation in individual maars will help improve the accuracy of current hazard mapping and safety protocols. In order to determine whether the orientations of elongation are controlled by existing structures and regional stress, the primary and secondary directions of elongation of maar craters from a range of tectonic settings were measured. Maars were found to exhibit similar primary elongation orientations within each field. Influence of regional stress was identified in the geographic placement of maars along lineaments in most fields. Although many maars were found in lineaments identified through nearest neighbor analyses, they rarely share primary elongation orientations with the lineaments they compose. Furthermore, maars which shared similar primary elongation orientations with one another were not found to be grouped close together geographically. Overall, the number of maars in each field which share primary elongation orientations with existing structures (faults) and nearest neighbor lineaments does not suggest regional structural control over primary elongation orientation in any field. The tendency of maars to exhibit similar primary elongation orientations within a field, coupled with the lack of correlation with structural controls shows that the elongation orientations of maars are likely governed by more local controls related to host rock material, explosion induced changes to the stress regime, or hydrology.
1765. Use of a Natural Language Processing-Based Informatics Pipeline for Infectious Disease Syndrome Surveillance

Background Automated surveillance for infectious disease syndromes (IDS) in hospitals mostly relies on structured data (e.g., diagnosis codes). Natural language processing (NLP) enables screening and concept extraction from large repositories of unstructured data (e.g., clinician notes). We demonstrate the use of an NLP-based pipeline to improve case finding for a specific IDS (urinary tract infection [UTI]) and compare this to surveillance using ICD-10 codes.
Prediction of Neurocognitive Profiles in Youth From Resting State fMRI

Difficulties with higher-order cognitive functions in youth are a potentially important vulnerability factor for the emergence of problematic behaviors and a range of psychopathologies. This study examined 2,103 9-10 year olds in the first data release from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development 21-site consortium study in order to identify resting state functional connectivity patterns that predict individual-differences in three domains of higher-order cognitive functions: General Ability, Speed/Flexibility, and Learning/Memory. We found that connectivity patterns involving task control networks and default mode network were prominently implicated in predicting individual differences across participants across all three domains. In addition, for General Ability scores specifically, we observed consistent cross-site generalizability, with statistically significant predictions in 14 out of 15 held-out sites. These findings demonstrate that resting state connectivity can be leveraged to produce generalizable markers of neurocognitive functioning. Additionally, they highlight the importance of task control-default mode network inter-connections as a major locus of individual differences in cognitive functioning in early adolescence.
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Beyond Empiricism and Plasma Exchange.

Abstract For many years after its first description in 1924, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura was an intriguing puzzle for clinicians and researchers, not only for its unique pathology, perplexing changes in von Willebrand factor multimers, and high rate of rapid fatality but also for its dramatic response to plasma infusion or exchange. The discovery of ADAMTS13 ( a d isintegrin a nd m etalloprotease with t hrombo s pondin type 1 repeats member- 13 ) and its deficiency in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, due to inhibitory autoantibodies or genetic mutations, provides a mechanistic scheme for understanding its pathogenesis. This new knowledge quickly led to the use of rituximab to promote its remission and prevent recurrence. Recombinant ADAMTS13 is also under development to replace plasma infusion as the therapy for hereditary thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Recently, caplacizumab, a bivalent nanobody targeting the glycoprotein 1b binding epitope of von Willebrand factor A1 domain, was approved as an addition to the current regimen of plasma exchange and immunomodulation for adult patients of acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. This review discusses how the new treatment may improve patient outcomes and its potential pitfalls.
Clustering and Cohesion in Networks: Concepts and Measures

Social networks are not homogeneous but typically grouped into subsets of strongly reconnected groups. Here we review the literature on structural cohesion and clustering in networks. We divide our review into sections based on overall measures of cohesion and approaches to finding subgroups in larger networks.
Warm bodies, cool wings: regional heterothermy in flying bats

Many endothermic animals experience variable limb temperatures, even as they tightly regulate core temperature. The limbs are often cooler than the core at rest, but because the large locomotor muscles of the limbs produce heat during exercise, they are thought to operate at or above core temperature during activity. Bats, small-bodied flying mammals with greatly elongated forelimbs, possess wings with large surfaces lacking any insulating fur. We hypothesized that during flight the relatively small muscles that move the elbow and wrist operate below core body temperature because of elevated heat loss. We measured muscle temperature continuously in the small fruit bat Carollia perspicillata before and during wind tunnel flights, and discretely in diverse bats at rest in Belize. We found that bats maintained high rectal temperatures, but that there was a steep proximal-to-distal gradient in wing muscle temperature. Forearm muscles were 4-6°C cooler than rectal temperature at rest and approximately 12°C cooler during flights at an air temperature of 22°C. These findings invite further study into how bats and other endotherms maintain locomotor performance in variable environments, when some muscles may be operating at low temperatures that are expected to slow contractile properties.
A 16-step synthesis of the isoryanodane diterpene (+)-perseanol

(+)-Perseanol is an isoryanodane diterpene that is isolated from the tropical shrub Persea indica1 and has potent antifeedant and insecticidal properties. It is structurally related to (+)-ryanodine, which is a high-affinity ligand for and modulator of ryanodine receptors—ligand-gated ion channels that are critical for intracellular Ca2+ signalling in most multicellular organisms2. Ryanodine itself modulates ryanodine-receptor-dependent Ca2+ release in many organisms, including mammals; however, preliminary data indicate that ryanodane and isoryanodane congeners that lack the pyrrole-2-carboxylate ester—such as perseanol—may have selective activity in insects3. Here we report a chemical synthesis of (+)-perseanol, which proceeds in 16 steps from commercially available (R)-pulegone. The synthesis involves a two-step annulation process that rapidly assembles the tetracyclic core from readily accessible cyclopentyl building blocks. This work demonstrates how convergent fragment coupling, when combined with strategic oxidation tactics, can enable the concise synthesis of complex and highly oxidized diterpene natural products. The chemical synthesis of (+)-perseanol, a diterpene with potent insecticidal properties, is reported.
Delta glutamate receptor conductance drives excitation of dorsal raphe neurons

The delta glutamate receptors, GluD1R and GluD2R, are mysterious members of the ionotropic glutamate receptor family in that they are not gated by glutamate1,2. One theory is that they are scaffolding proteins or synaptic organizers strictly, rather than ion conducting channels. Although mutant forms and wild type channels have been reported to conduct3,4,5, conduction, gating, and biophysical properties of native GluD1R remain unexplored. Here we show that the inward current induced by activation of α1-adrenergic receptors (α1-ARs) in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) is mediated by GluD1R. Native GluD1R channels are functional ion channels that are constitutively active under basal conditions and α1-ARs increase the tonic current. This inward current is responsible for the α1-AR-dependent induction of persistent pacemaker-type firing of neurons in the DR. Given the extensive distribution of these receptors, the ionotropic nature of GluDR is proposed to be widespread in the nervous system.
Abstract TP225: Coated-Platelet Levels Are Associated With Chronic Hyperglycemia and Systemic Inflammation in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Introduction: Elevated levels of coated-platelets (a subset of procoagulant platelets) are often associated with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic inflammation are bot...
Validation of the Micronutrient and Environmental Enteric Dysfunction Assessment Tool and evaluation of biomarker risk factors for growth faltering and vaccine failure in young Malian children.

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is an intestinal disorder common among children in low-resource settings and is associated with increased risk of growth stunting, cognitive deficits, and reduced oral vaccine immunogenicity. The Micronutrient and EED Assessment Tool (MEEDAT) is a multiplexed immunoassay that measures biomarkers previously associated with child growth faltering and/or oral vaccine immunogenicity: intestinal fatty acid–binding protein (I-FABP), soluble CD14 (sCD14), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). MEEDAT also measures systemic inflammation (α1-acid glycoprotein, C-reactive protein), ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor, retinol binding protein 4, thyroglobulin, and Plasmodium falciparum antigenemia (histidine-rich protein 2). The performance of MEEDAT was compared with commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) using 300 specimens from Malian infant clinical trial participants. Regression methods were used to test if MEEDAT biomarkers were associated with seroconversion to meningococcal A conjugate vaccine (MenAV), yellow fever vaccine (YFV), and pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (PRV) after 28 days, or with growth faltering over 12 weeks. The Pearson correlations between the MEEDAT and ELISA results were 0.97, 0.86, 0.80, and 0.97 for serum I-FABP, sCD14, IGF-1, and FGF21, respectively. There were significant associations between I-FABP concentration and the probability of PRV IgG seroconversion and between IGF-1 concentration and the probability of YFV seroconversion. In multivariable models neither association remained significant, however there was a significant negative association between AGP concentration and YFV seroconversion. GLP-2 and sCD14 concentrations were significantly negatively associated with 12-week change in weight-for-age z-score and weight-for-height z-score in multivariable models. MEEDAT performed well in comparison to commercially-available ELISAs for the measurement of four analytes for EED and growth hormone resistance. Adoption of MEEDAT in low-resource settings could help accelerate the identification of interventions that prevent or treat child stunting and interventions that boost the immunogenicity of child vaccinations.
Cooking Frequency and Perception of Diet among US Adults Are Associated with US Healthy and Healthy Mediterranean-Style Dietary Related Classes: A Latent Class Profile Analysis.

Background: Meal habits are associated with overall dietary quality and favorable dietary patterns determined by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI). However, within dietary patterns, complexities of food combinations that are not apparent through composite score determination may occur. Also, explorations of these food combinations with cooking and perceived diet quality (PDQ) remain unknown. Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2010 were utilized to determine the frequency of cooking at home and PDQ, along with sociodemographic variables. Latent class profile analysis was performed to determine person-centered data-driven analysis using the dietary index, HEI-2010, at both the daily and dinner meal-time levels. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was utilized to evaluate the association of dietary patterns with all covariates. Results: For daily HEI, five distinct dietary classes were identified. For dinner HEI, six classes were identified. In comparison to the standard American diet classes, home cooking was positively associated with daily (p < 0.05) and dinner (p < 0.001) dietary classes that had the highest amounts of total vegetable and greens/beans intake. PDQ was positively associated with these classes at the daily level (p < 0.001), but negatively associated with healthier classes at the dinner level (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The use of latent class profile analysis at the daily and dinner meal-time levels identified that food choices coalesce into diverse intakes, as shown by identified dietary classes. Home cooking frequency could be considered a positive factor associated with higher vegetable intake, particularly greens/beans, at the daily and dinner levels. At the same time, the perception of diet quality has a positive association only with daily choices.
Treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is the third most common gynecologic malignancy worldwide but accounts for the highest mortality rate among these cancers. A stepwise approach to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment is vital to appropriate management of this disease process. An integrated approach with gynecologic oncologists as well as medical oncologists, pathologists, and radiologists is of paramount importance to improving outcomes. Surgical cytoreduction to R0 is the mainstay of treatment, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Genetic testing for gene mutations that affect treatment is the standard of care for all women with epithelial ovarian cancer. Nearly all women will have a recurrence, and the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer continues to be nuanced and requires extensive review of up to date modalities that balance efficacy with the patient's quality of life. Maintenance therapy with poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors, bevacizumab, and/or drugs targeting homologous recombination deficiency is becoming more widely used in the treatment of ovarian cancer, and the advancement of immunotherapy is further revolutionizing treatment targets.
Evaluation of platelet function in cats with and without kidney disease: a pilot study.

ObjectivesThe aims of this study were to determine if stable chronic kidney disease (CKD) cats and uremic crisis cats have altered platelet function, and to determine the prevalence of positive fec...
Effect of anodization conditions on the synthesis of TiO 2 nanopores

Nanoporous structures play a promising role in the development of nanomechanical, nanoelectrical and biosensing devices. In addition, nanopores can be utilized as chemical and gas sensors. TiO 2 is a semiconductor material, which can have a wide range of applications in nanopore-based sensors. In this study, TiO 2 nanopores were prepared by electrochemical anodization. Titanium was used as the anode, while platinum was used as the cathode in an electrochemical cell filled with a hydrofluoric acid electrolyte solution. During the preparation process, titanium was converted to its oxide form. Nanostructures were synthesized under varying physical conditions, including HF concentrations of 0.5-10% and anodization times of 5-30 minutes. The resulting nanopore structures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). With a progressive increase in HF concentration (from 0.5% to 10%), the diameter of the nanopores decreased, from approximately 100 nm in diameter to 50 nm. The nanopores showed a transformation from tube-like structures to pore networks with increased HF concentration or anodization time. The results show that the dimensions and morphology of the nanopores can be controlled by alteration of the anodization conditions.
Patterns and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in a US metropolitan site

Abstract Background Estimates of seroprevalence to SARS-CoV-2 vary widely and may influence vaccination response. We ascertained IgG levels across a single US metropolitan site, Chicago, from June 2020 through December 2020. Methods Participants (n=7935) were recruited through electronic advertising and received materials for a self-sampled dried blood spot assay through the mail or a minimal contact in person method. IgG to the receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 was measured using an established highly sensitive and highly specific assay. Results Overall seroprevalence was 17.9%, with no significant difference between method of contact. Only 2.5% of participants reported having had a diagnosis of COVID-19 based on virus detection, consistent with a 7-fold greater exposure to SARS-CoV-2 measured by serology than detected by viral testing. The range of IgG level observed in seropositive participants from this community survey overlapped with the range of IgG levels associated with COVID-19 cases having a documented positive PCR positive test. From a subset of those who participated in repeat testing, half of seropositive individuals retained detectable antibodies for 3-4 months. Conclusions Quantitative IgG measurements with a highly specific and sensitive assay indicate more widespread exposure to SARS-CoV-2 than observed by viral testing. The range of IgG concentration produced from these asymptomatic exposures is similar to IgG levels occurring after documented non-hospitalized COVID-19, which is considerably lower than that produced from hospitalized COVID-19 cases. The differing ranges of IgG response, coupled with the rate of decay of antibodies, may influence response to subsequent viral exposure and vaccine. Graphical Abstract
Early changes in synaptic and intrinsic properties of dentate gyrus granule cells in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology and atypical effects of the cholinergic antagonist atropine

Abstract It has been reported that hyperexcitability occurs in a subset of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and hyperexcitability could contribute to the disease. Several studies have suggested that the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) may be an important area where hyperexcitability occurs. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the principal DG cell type, granule cells (GCs), would exhibit changes at the single-cell level which would be consistent with hyperexcitability and might help explain it. We used the Tg2576 mouse, where it has been shown that hyperexcitability is robust at 2–3 months of age. GCs from 2 to 3-month-old Tg2576 mice were compared to age-matched wild type (WT) mice. Effects of muscarinic cholinergic antagonism were tested because previously we found that Tg2576 mice exhibited hyperexcitability in vivo that was reduced by the muscarinic cholinergic antagonist atropine, counter to the dogma that in AD one needs to boost cholinergic function. The results showed that GCs from Tg2576 mice exhibited increased frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic potentials/currents (sEPSP/Cs) and reduced frequency of spontaneous inhibitory synaptic events (sIPSCs) relative to WT, increasing the excitation:inhibition (E:I) ratio. There was an inward NMDA receptor-dependent current that we defined here as a novel synaptic current (nsC) in Tg2576 mice because it was very weak in WT mice. Intrinsic properties were distinct in Tg2576 GCs relative to WT. In summary, GCs of the Tg2576 mouse exhibit early electrophysiological alterations that are consistent with increased synaptic excitation, reduced inhibition, and muscarinic cholinergic dysregulation. The data support previous suggestions that the DG contributes to hyperexcitability and there is cholinergic dysfunction early in life in AD mouse models.
ALD Growth of MgxCa1–xO on GaN and Its Band Offset Analysis

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes were developed for growing MgO and CaO on GaN substrates using a home-built ALD reactor with amidinate-based precursors. An optimal deposition condition was ...
Una Herramienta De Gestión Para Crear Estados Financieros Proforma (an Enhanced Management Tool for Creating Pro-Forma Financial Statements)

Spanish abstract: La creacion de estados financieros proforma presenta un reto para los emprendedores que no cuentan con una amplia formacion en finanzas y contabilidad. Este documento es el tercero de una serie que proporciona herramientas para ayudar a los(as) gerentes y emprendedores(as) a crear estas estimaciones. El enfoque requiere que los usuarios calculen solo las variables de administracion. La plantilla completa todos otros calculos necesarios. Este documento amplia las versiones anteriores introduciendo automatizaciones adicionales. Especificamente, la plantilla presentada en este articulo automatiza los impuestos y el costo de los calculos de capital. English abstract: The creation of pro-forma financial statements presents a challenge for entrepreneurs without extensive training in finance and accounting. This paper is the third in a series that provides tools to assist managers with creating these estimates. The approach requires users to estimate only management variables. The template completes all other necessary calculations. This paper extends earlier work by introducing additional automation. Specifically, the template here automates tax and cost of capital calculations.
Assessment of Commercial Off-the-Shelf Tissue Adhesives for Sealing Military-Relevant Corneal Perforation Injuries.

INTRODUCTION Open-globe ocular injuries have increased in frequency in recent combat operations due to increased use of explosive weaponry. Unfortunately, open-globe injuries have one of the worst visual outcomes for the injured warfighter, often resulting in permanent loss of vision. To improve visual recovery, injuries need to be stabilized quickly following trauma, in order to restore intraocular pressure and create a watertight seal. Here, we assess four off-the-shelf (OTS), commercially available tissue adhesives for their ability to seal military-relevant corneal perforation injuries (CPIs). MATERIALS AND METHODS Adhesives were assessed using an anterior segment inflation platform and a previously developed high-speed benchtop corneal puncture model, to create injuries in porcine eyes. After injury, adhesives were applied and injury stabilization was assessed by measuring outflow rate, ocular compliance, and burst pressure, followed by histological analysis. RESULTS Tegaderm dressings and Dermabond skin adhesive most successfully sealed injuries in preliminary testing. Across a range of injury sizes and shapes, Tegaderm performed well in smaller injury sizes, less than 2 mm in diameter, but inadequately sealed large or complex injuries. Dermabond created a watertight seal capable of maintaining ocular tissue at physiological intraocular pressure for almost all injury shapes and sizes. However, application of the adhesive was inconsistent. Histologically, after removal of the Dermabond skin adhesive, the corneal epithelium was removed and oftentimes the epithelium surface penetrated into the wound and was adhered to inner stromal tissue. CONCLUSIONS Dermabond can stabilize a wide range of CPIs; however, application is variable, which may adversely impact the corneal tissue. Without addressing these limitations, no OTS adhesive tested herein can be directly translated to CPIs. This highlights the need for development of a biomaterial product to stabilize these injuries without causing ocular damage upon removal, thus improving the poor vision prognosis for the injured warfighter.
Mixed type TAPVR—Measure twice, cut once

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAVR) can have varying drainage configurations. Here, we review a report by Nagulakonda et al. to the Journal of Cardiac Surgery detailing how additional computed tomography imaging revealed a mixed type presentation of TAPVR not identified on echocardiography.