cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modulation of Cellular Immunity in Medical Students

This study assessed the psychosocial modulation of cellular immunity in 34 medical-student volunteers. The first blood sample was obtained 1 month before examinations, and the second on the day of examinations. There were significant declines in the percentage of helper/inducer T- lymphocytes, in the helper/inducer-suppressor/cytotoxic-cell ratio, and in natural killer-cell activity in the blood samples obtained on the day of examinations. Half of the subjects were randomly assigned to a relaxation group which met between sample points; the frequency of relaxation practice was a significant predictor of the percentages of helper/inducer cells in the examination sample. Three biochemical nutritional assays (albumin, transferrin, and total iron-binding protein) were within normal limits on both samples. Data from the Brief Symptom Inventory showed significantly increased global self-rated distress associated with examinations in the no-intervention group, compared to nonsignificant change in the relaxation group. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.
Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Recrudescence at the End of the Natalizumab Dosing Cycle

Natalizumab (Tysabri, Biogen Idec, Cambridge, MA) is a monoclonal antibody that binds to α4 integrin (also called very late antigen-4) on the cell surface of all leukocytes except neutrophils. It reduces migration of leukocytes into the central nervous system (CNS), and significantly reduces the relapse rate and risk of disability accrual in patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).1 Furthermore, some natalizumab-treated patients experience subjective improvement in functional status, mood, fatigue level, and cognitive function.2–6 Natalizumab is administered as a 300-mg intravenous infusion every 4 weeks. The mean half-life of natalizumab in MS patients is 11 days (SD 4 days).7 In a typical patient at steady state, 24% of the dose remains at the time the patient is re-dosed 4 weeks later.7 However, α4 integrin saturation remains greater than 70% at 4 weeks after infusion.8 Several studies have evaluated the effect of natalizumab on quality of life, fatigue, and cognitive function. Rudick et al.2 found that natalizumab treatment resulted in significantly more improvement in Physical and Mental Component Summary scores from the 36-item Short Form Health Status Survey (SF-36) compared with placebo. Iaffaldano et al.6 reported a prospective open-label study of patients going on natalizumab in which patients had periodic cognitive testing and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) measurement. They found a decrease in the Cognitive Impairment Index, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score, and FSS score in patients while on natalizumab treatment compared with the pre-natalizumab condition. Portaccio et al.9 performed a small, nonrandomized study of patients going on natalizumab or interferon beta (IFNβ), and found a lower rate of cognitive worsening in the natalizumab group relative to the IFNβ-treated group. Yildiz et al.10 tested patients already receiving natalizumab at two time points a year apart, and found that fatigue scores actually worsened over the interval despite a very low relapse rate. However, none of these studies evaluated changes in symptoms within the natalizumab dosing cycle. We have observed clinically that a significant number of natalizumab-treated MS patients report feeling more of their previously experienced MS symptoms at the end of their dosing cycle, and that these symptoms abate shortly after receiving their next natalizumab infusion. Though commonly experienced, this phenomenon of end of dosing interval (EDI) symptoms has not been previously studied. We performed a cross-sectional survey and cohort study of natalizumab-treated MS patients to determine the prevalence of this phenomenon, and to determine whether subjective differences in fatigue, mood, and quality of life (QOL) scores can be detected between the beginning and end of the natalizumab dosing cycle.
Laparoscopic Esophagomyotomy for Achalasia in Children

Achalasia is an uncommon condition in children. The authors report on two children who were evaluated and treated with laparoscopic esophagomyotomy. A 6-port technique was used, with five 5-mm ports and one 10-mm port. During the procedure, esophagoscopy was performed simultaneously, which provided esophageal distension for easier dissection and aided the surgeon by documenting when a complete myotomy had been accomplished. The patients' symptoms have resolved, and no postoperative complications have developed. Laparoscopic esophagomyotomy can be performed safely in children and is an effective approach for treatment of this disorder. Its advantages over the open approach include shorter hospitalization and less discomfort.
African-American Youth and Exposure to Community Violence: Supporting Change from the Inside

Children’s exposure to community violence and its effects on child health outcomes have become a major public health concern in this country, and African-American youth are at greatest risk. Participatory action research, as a vehicle for promoting social justice, is one tool that can be used to address community violence. This article describes the use of focus groups as a way to give African-American youth a voice in providing solutions to violence exposure through the revision of curricula (coping skills and civic engagement). Participants reported a variety of stressors, including exposure to violence, and a lack of coping strategies and adult support for processing violence. Suggestions for curriculum revisions are included. The process of conducting groups, lessons learned from the process, and implications for researchers interested in promoting social justice are discussed.
Positive definiteness and holomorphy

Conditions for holomorphic extensions of operator-valued functions in domains D (or complex manifolds) of ℂn are formulated in terms of positive-definiteness of order 3 of certain kernels on D×D.
Bureaucratic Experimentation and Immigration Law

In debates about presidential authority and policy innovation, scholars have focused on two overarching relationships — horizontal tension between the President and Congress and the vertical interplay of federal and state authority. These debates, however, have missed an important, yet obscured, arena in which innovative policymaking can take place. Low-level executive branch officials, exercising discretion delegated down throughout federal agencies, can promote solutions to policy problems that provide learning opportunities for the President and Congress. This Article uses the fertile arena of immigration to identify existing mechanisms and suggest reforms that would allow innovative work in the trenches to trickle up to the higher echelons, helping inform agency-wide decisions made at the top. Ground-level immigration officials — including line officers, trial attorneys and judges — have been granted broad and vast discretion not to enforce the law in sympathetic and meritorious cases. Notwithstanding the predominant (and often correct) depiction of lower-level officers as an obstacle to policy innovation, many immigration bureaucrats have demonstrated willingness, and an ability, to place their discretion toward creative ends in a number of different removal contexts. In this Article, I argue that existing mechanisms for lower-level discretion can and should be harnessed to pair local laboratories of experimentation with opportunities for interchange throughout various levels of the Executive Branch. Rather than situate policy innovation through the lens of federalism or as a horizontal separation-of-powers conflict between the President and Congress, policymakers should consider how bottom-up influences within the agency might inform and help shape policy innovation. The dialectic of bottom-up and top-down policymaking provides a useful counterweight to the conventional idea that a unitary executive is the exclusive way to energize federal bureaucrats to action. The inquiry into lower-level innovation also provides insights into debates about agency design, administrative constitutionalism, and federalism. Finally, the internal separations of power fashioned by lower-level experimentation can lend greater legitimacy to presidential deferred action programs — both in the federal courts and the court of public opinion.
Disparities in perceived patient-provider communication quality in the United States: Trends and correlates

Abstract Objective This study aimed to describe disparities and temporal trends in the level of perceived patient–provider communication quality (PPPCQ) in the United States, and to identify sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with elements of PPPCQ. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using nationally-representative data from the 2011–2013 iterations of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). Descriptive statistics, multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations. Results PPPCQ scores, the composite measure of patients’ ratings of communication quality, were positive overall (82.8; 95% CI: 82.1–83.5). However, less than half (42–46%) of respondents perceived that providers always addressed their feelings, spent enough time with them, or helped with feelings of uncertainty about their health. Older adults and those with a regular provider consistently had higher PPPCQ scores, while those with poorer perceived general health were consistently less likely to have positive perceptions of their providers' communication behaviors. Conclusions Disparities in PPPCQ can be attributed to patients’ age, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, employment status, income, healthcare access and general health. Practice implications These findings may inform educational and policy efforts which aim to improve patient–provider communication, enhance the quality of care, and reduce health disparities.
Distributed Intelligent Automation Solutions for Self-adaptive Manufacturing Plants

Nowadays, a new generation of responsive factories is needed to face continuous changes in product demand and variety, and to manage complex and variant production processes. To such an aim, self-adaptive automation solutions are required, capable to adapt their control strategy in real-time to cope with planned as well as unforeseen product and process variations. In such a context, the present paper describes an automation solution based on a modular distributed approach for agile factory integration and reconfiguration, integrating a knowledge based cooperation policy providing self-adaptation to endogenous as well as exogenous events. The proposed approach is discussed through its application to a plant for customized shoe manufacturing.
Effects of adding medium-chain triglycerides to sow diets during late gestation and early lactation on litter performance.

This experiment was conducted to determine whether feeding medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) to sows during late gestation and early lactation would improve neonatal pig survival. Beginning on d 91 of gestation and continuing through d 7 of lactation, sows were fed isoenergetic (7,000 kcal of ME/d) and isonitrogenous (278 g of CP/d) amounts of either control (19% starch, 2% soybean oil), long-chain triglycerides (LCT, soybean oil, 12%), or MCT (10% MCT, 2% soybean oil) diets. Sows (n = 18, 19, and 17, respectively) were induced to farrow on d 112 of gestation. Litters were weighed at birth, before suckling, and on d 1, 3, 7, and 21 of lactation. There was no effect of treatment on average pig weight at any time and no difference in the number of live pigs at birth. Beginning on d 3 (P < .05) and continuing through weaning (d 21, P < .02) survival was improved in litters from sows fed MCT relative to litters from sows fed the control diet. Overall survival rates were 80, 81, and 90% in control, LCT, and MCT groups, respectively. The greatest improvement in survival was observed in pigs weighing < 900 g at birth. Survival of pigs in this weight range was 32, 53, and 68% in control, LCT, and MCT treatments, respectively. Although feeding MCT resulted in an increase in content of medium-chain fatty acids in milk, these accounted for < 5% of the fatty acids in milk and likely cannot account for the improved survival rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Contemporary studies on fish feeding: summary of GUTSHOP ’84

As with any symposium, the essence of GUTSHOP ’84 resides in the publication of selected papers, which have benefited from extemporaneous exchanges with peers during the workshop and subsequent comments and suggestions of reviewers and editors. But, despite their often insightful revelation of new ideas and alternative opinions, these in situ discussions are seldom published. As with previous proceedings, we have found much of this information deserving inclusion and have paraphrased the germane points in the following synopsis.
A Preliminary Study of Genetic Variation in the Dopaminergic and Serotonergic Systems and Genome-Wide Additive Genetic Effects on Depression Severity and Treatment Response

Major depression is a heritable disorder that is commonly treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. However, no study has quantified the overlap in genetic effects between pretreatment depression severity and treatment response and the extent to which genetic effects could be attributed to variation in the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems (DA/5-HT). Data (N=1618) from the clinician-rated Hamilton Rating Scale of Depression and the clinician-rated Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology were obtained from participants of European ancestry in the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression clinical trial. Genetic variants explained 31%–64% of the variance across assessments of pretreatment depression severity and treatment response. However, effects from the DA/5-HT systems genes were negligible. There was also limited evidence for genetic overlap for pretreatment depression severity and treatment response. Despite the clear genetic contributions to these depression phenotyp...
Reducing Offset and Bias Instability in Lorentz Force Magnetic Sensors Through Bias Chopping

In this paper, we describe a method for reducing offset and offset-related 1/f (flicker) noise in micromechanical resonator-based Lorentz force magnetometers by chopping the dc bias voltage applied to the resonator. This 1/f noise is shown to determine the stability of the sensor's output at long averaging times. The magnetometer is operated at a 40-Hz frequency offset from its 62.88-kHz resonant frequency. At 4.6-mA bias current, the input referred noise is 70 nT/√Hz limited by white electronic noise. Using the proposed bias chopping method, the sensor's offset is reduced from 310 to 15 μT, and the bias instability is reduced from 27 to 7 nT. The averaging time to reach the bias instability increases from 18 to 290 s as a result of chopping. The root cause of 1/f noise is demonstrated to be 1/f noise on the ac and dc bias voltages applied to the sensor. While the sensor's readout is modulated at the 62.92-kHz excitation frequency and could therefore be expected to be free from 1/f noise, the baseband 1/f noise on these voltage sources is shown to be up-converted to the excitation frequency. Up-conversion occurs through the existence of fabrication imperfections that lead to mismatches in the sensing capacitances, resistances, and parasitic feedthrough capacitances of the sensor. By chopping the bias voltage, the Lorentz force signal is separated from the offset and 1/f noise produced by these error sources. This technique is a generic method to reduce 1/f noise and bias instability in sensors based on micromechanical resonators. [2016-0184].
Partial volume morphology: eliminating precision loss in binary morphology

Binary morphology has innumerable applications in biomedical imaging, from segmentation to denoising. However, it suffers from inherently low precision. This is primarily because binary morphology is a binary technique, where each image voxel is all-or-nothing included or excluded. Many desirable structuring element shapes, especially circles or spheres, are poorly approximated on regular grids. Making things worse, common workflows involving multiple binary morphology iterations, such as opening or closing, compound this error. Also, small structuring elements often cannot be applied to 3D anisotropic image volumes. This work describes an extension to the theory of binary morphology, dubbed partial volume morphology or PVM, which allows the structuring element and/or image to hold fractional gray values to account for partial volumes. Partial volume morphology enables arbitrarily shaped structuring elements to be used, regardless of the underlying image resolution, with arbitrary precision. This technique also extends to 3D anisotropic volumes, allowing high precision morphological operations in anisotropic datasets heretofore impossible with binary morphology. This technique can be applied to a binary segmentation, where it provides subtle improvements and eliminates precision error in the intermediate steps of a multiple-operation workflow. Additionally, PVM is particularly suited for use on ‘soft’ segmentated data, where the partial volume contribution or probability at each point can be found. With segmentation and structuring elements both partial volume aware, partial volume morphology reaches its full potential as a high precision analytical tool. An open source reference implementation in Python, pvmpy, is provided.
Familial disorders of parathyroid glands

Abstract The molecular mechanisms underlying familial parathyroid diseases continue to be elucidated. The mechanisms of familial parathyroid diseases are better understood than many sporadic parathyroid diseases. Familial parathyroid disease is associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 which is associated with MEN1 mutation, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A caused by RET mutation, and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 4 is caused with CDKN1B mutation. Sporadic parathyroid tumours are identified with mutations of MEN1 but generally not of RET . CDKN1B mutations are also identified in sporadic forms of primary hyperparathyroidism, although very rarely. Calcium sensing receptor gene mutations are involved in familial hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism, but are generally not identified in sporadic parathyroid tumours. However, the HPRT2 ( CDC73 ) gene, which is mutated in hyperparathyroidism jaw-tumour syndrome and a subset of cases of familial isolated hyperparathyroidism, is frequently mutated in sporadic parathyroid carcinomas. Germline activating GCM2 mutations were recently found associated with a subset of familial isolated hyperparathyroidism. Parafibromin, a protein encoded by HPRT2 , has been used in the diagnostic setting. The understanding and pathogenesis of parathyroid disease continues to evolve.
Analytical techniques for characterizing cyclodextrins and their inclusion complexes with large and small molecular weight guest molecules

Abstract Cyclodextrins are oligosaccharides that have truncated cone like structures, making them capable of forming non-covalent bonds with a large variety of molecules (especially hydrophobic molecules). Additionally, as the outer rims of their truncated cones are lined with several hydroxyl groups, secondary interactions with and functionalization of these hydroxyl groups are also possible. Current techniques available to analyze and characterize these interactions, although somewhat limited, can be accomplished by judicious selection of analytical tools. However, for emerging applications, the currently utilized techniques summarized in this review may not be sufficient. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview, including their possible limitations, of current techniques commonly employed to investigate such interactions. In view of CD-based materials for emerging applications, wherever possible, analytical tools used for these studies are also discussed.
Sympathetic Under-Arousal and Externalizing Behavior Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly exhibit co-occurring externalizing behavior problems, which can impede learning opportunities and contribute significantly to caregiver stress. Substantial theory and research has linked under-arousal of the sympathetic nervous system to increased externalizing problems in children without ASD, but under-arousal has not been considered as an explanatory mechanism for individual differences among children with ASD. We tested the notion that lower electrodermal activity (EDA) would predict more externalizing problems in children with ASD, and considered the degree to which parent co-regulatory support could buffer this risk. Forty children with ASD between the ages of 4 and 11 years and their primary caregivers participated in a laboratory visit that included various play, compliance, and problem-solving regulatory tasks. EDA was measured through wireless wrist sensors, parental scaffolding was observed during a dyadic problem-solving task, and parents rated their children’s externalizing behavior problems. As predicted, low EDA during the compliance-oriented tasks directly predicted higher child externalizing problems. Parental scaffolding moderated the link between under-arousal during the problem-solving regulatory tasks and externalizing problems such that the relation was observed in the context of low, but not high, support. Implications for relevant theories (e.g., fearlessness theory, stimulation-seeking theory) are discussed, and the potential for psychophysiological patterns to inform intervention with these children is considered.
Quantitative Skills, Critical Thinking, and Writing Mechanics in Blended Versus Face-to-Face Versions of a Research Methods and Statistics Course:

Hybrid or blended learning (BL) has been shown to be equivalent to or better than face-to-face (FTF) instruction in a broad variety of contexts. We randomly assigned students to either 50/50 BL or ...
Misogyny for Male Solidarity: Online Hate Discourse Against Women in South Korea

Kim explores how misogynistic discourses have been constructed and reproduced in a male-dominated online community Ilbe (http://www.ilbe.com/) in South Korea. First, the chapter examines how the Ilbe community excludes female users and controls its male-dominated atmosphere. Second, by focusing on the figure of the kimchi-nyeo (girl/woman), the chapter investigates how online misogyny in South Korea develops a social discourse that reinforces gender stereotypes and justifies gender discrimination. Kim further demonstrates how hate speech toward Korean women is often accomplished through racialized comparisons with foreign, especially Japanese, women. Finally, the growth in online misogyny is analyzed in relation to a crisis in hegemonic masculinity; specifically, Kim argues that consistent production and distribution of misogynistic discourse serve to restore male bonds and hegemonic masculinity in South Korea.
Exploiting Approximate Feature Extraction via Genetic Programming for Hardware Acceleration in a Heterogeneous Microprocessor

This paper presents a heterogeneous microprocessor for low-energy sensor-inference applications. Hardware acceleration has shown to enable substantial energy-efficiency and throughput gains, but raises significant challenges where programmable computations are required, as in the case of feature extraction. To overcome this, a programmable feature-extraction accelerator (FEA) is presented that exploits genetic programming for automatic program synthesis. This leads to approximate, but highly structured, computations, enabling: 1) a high degree of specialization; 2) systematic mapping of programs to the accelerator; and 3) energy scalability via user-controllable approximation knobs. A microprocessor integrating a CPU with feature-extraction and classification accelerators is prototyped in 130-nm CMOS. Two medical-sensor applications (electroencephalogram-based seizure detection and electrocardiogram-based arrhythmia detection) demonstrate 325 $\times $ and 156 $\times $ energy reduction, respectively, for programmable feature extraction implemented on the accelerator versus a CPU-only architecture, and 7.6 $\times $ and 6.5 $\times $ energy reduction, respectively, versus a CPU-with-coprocessor architecture. Furthermore, 20 $\times $ and 9 $\times $ energy scalability, respectively, is demonstrated via the approximation knobs. The energy-efficiency of the programmable FEA is 220 GOPS/W, near that of fixed-function accelerators in the same technology, exceeding typical programmable accelerators.
Guanylate cyclase from Dictyostelium discoideum.

Guanylate cyclase from crude homogenates of vegetative Dictyosteliumdiscoideum has been characterized. It has a pH optimum of 8.0, temperature optimum of 25°C and requires 1 mM dithiothreitol for optimal activity. It strongly prefers Mn++ to Mg++ as divalent cation, requires Mn++ in excess of GTP for detectable activity, and is inhibited by high Mn++ concentrations. It has an apparent Km for GTP of approximately 517 μM at 1 mM excess Mn++. The specific activity of guanylate cyclase in vegetative homogenates is 50–80 pmoles cGMP formed/min/mg protein. Most of the vegetative activity is found in the supernatant of a 100,000 x g spin (S100). The enzyme is relatively unstable. It loses 40% of its activity after 3 hours storage on ice. Enzyme activity was measured from cells that had been shaken in phosphate buffer for various times. It was found that the specific activity changed little for at least 8 hours. Cyclic AMP at 10−4 M did not affect the guanylate cyclase activity from crude homogenates of vegetative or 6 hour phosphate-shaken cells.
Teratogenicity of acetaldehyde in vitro: relevance to the fetal alcohol syndrome.

Abstract Day 10 rat embryos grown in vitro showed significant retardation in growth and development when culture media contained acetaldehyde. A concentration-response range for acetaldehyde-induced embryotoxicity was defined, from no effect at 5μM to complete lethality at 100μM. The relative teratogenicity of ethanol and acetaldehyde, and the potential roles of these compounds in producing the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are discussed. Despite intensive investigation into alcohol teratogenicity, the mechanism that produces the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) remains unknown. Observed anomalies may result from direct embryonic exposure to ethanol or one of its metabolites, or from some indirect effect such as altered placental function or maternal nutritional status. Use of in vitro techniques allows study of direct embryonic exposures in the absence of indirect influences. Under such conditions, ethanol has been found to exert direct embryotoxicity (1). Rat embryos, grown as cultured explants and subjected to ethanol concentrations of 32.5 or 65mM, were retarded in growth and development when compared to untreated controls. In this paper, we report direct embryotoxic effects of acetaldehyde, the primary metabolite of ethanol, at concentrations as low as 25μM. Acetaldehyde teratogenicity has not been extensively studied. Veghelyi et al. (2) and Lambert, Papp and Nishiura (3) employed a combination of ethanol and disulfiram (an inhibitor of acetaldehyde-oxidizing enzymes). Teratogenic effects exceeded expectations based upon assumption of an additive interaction between these two compounds, and were attributed to elevated maternal blood acetaldehyde. O'Shea and Kauffman (4,5) and Dreosti et al. (6) administered acetaldehyde to pregnant animals by injection. Treatment resulted in retarded growth and development, decreased DNA synthesis, and increased frequencies of malformation and resorption. While these studies imply a role for acetaldehyde in alcohol-induced teratogenesis, indirect effects through altered maternal or placental factors cannot be eliminated. We present here the first concentration-response data for direct ebryonic exposure to acetaldehyde.
Data structures using C

1. Introduction to Data Structures. 2. The Stack. 3. Recursion. 4. Queues and Lists. 5. Trees. 6. Sorting. 7. Searching. 8. Graphs and their Applications. 9. Storage Management.
Three new monoclonal antibodies that define a unique antigen associated with prolymphocytic leukemia/non-Hodgkin‧s lymphoma and are effectively internalized after binding to the cell surface antigen

Prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL) is closely related to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but present with distinctive clinical/laboratory features and associated with much worse prognosis. In this study, we generated three new IgG1-kappa monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), termed SN8, SN8a and SN8b, by use of an unconventional approach, ie, by using an isolated B PLL antigen preparation to immunize mice. These MoAbs, particularly SN8, showed a highly selective reactivity to B PLL and B non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) among various human leukemia-lymphoma specimens tested; eg, SN8 was capable of effectively distinguishing B PLL from B CLL as well as from hairy cell leukemia (HCL) cell specimens. The cell surface antigen defined by the three MoAbs was determined to be a covalently linked heterodimeric glycoprotein complex (gp49/40) consisting of a 49,000 dalton (alpha-chain) and a 40,000-dalton component (beta-chain). Epitope comparison showed that the epitope defined by SN8 (SN8 epitope) is in close proximity to SN8a epitope but in a distant position from SN8b epitope. Western blot analysis showed that both SN8 and SN8a epitopes are on the beta-chain, but SN8b epitope was not detected on either the alpha- or the beta-chain of the reduced antigen in the same analysis. Binding of either SN8 or SN8b to the cell surface gp49/40 did not cause significant downregulation of the antigen expression whereas binding of SN8a to the antigen caused small (approximately 20%) decrease in the antigen expression. Among the various normal peripheral blood cells, only a subpopulation (6.0% to 24.2% among different specimens derived from different donors) of B cells reacted with the SN8 series MoAbs; these MoAbs showed no significant reactivity against T cells, granulocytes, monocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets. Minimal or no significant reactivity (0 to 2.6% among different specimens) was detected against normal bone marrow cells. Ricin A-chain conjugates of the three MoAbs are all strongly effective for specific killing of SN8 antigen-expressing leukemia cells in the absence of any potentiators; furthermore, the addition of 10 mmol/L NH4Cl, a potentiator, enhanced strongly the cytotoxic activities of the SN8, SN8a, and SN8b conjugates. Thus, each of the three MoAbs was effectively internalized after binding to the cell surface antigen.
A Low Resolution Haptic Interface for Interactive Applications

This paper introduces a novel haptic interface for use as a general-purpose sensory substitution device called the Low Resolution Haptic Interface (LRHI). A prototype of the LRHI was developed and tested in a user study for its effectiveness in conveying information through the sense of touch as well as for use in interactive applications. Results are promising, showing that participants were able to accurately discriminate a range of both static and dynamic haptic patterns using the LRHI with a composite accuracy of 98.38%. The user study also showed that participants were able to sucessfully learn to play a completely haptic interactive cat-mouse game with the device.
Pain and opioid prescriptions vary by procedure after breast surgery.

Background With the opioid epidemic in the United States, evaluating opioid prescribing patterns is essential. We evaluated opioids prescribed at discharge following breast surgery and their association with patient factors and pain scores. Methods We retrospectively identified adult patients who underwent a mastectomy for cancer at Mayo Clinic sites from January 2010 to December 2016. Pain scores and prescription data were compared across operations and patient factors by univariate and multivariable analyses. Results Of 4021 patients, 3782 (94.1%) received an opioid prescription. Median oral milligram morphine equivalents (MME) were similar across all site-specific procedure groups (medians ranging from 225 to 375) while pain scores ranged from 1 to 4. Patients undergoing bilateral mastectomy (BM) and immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) reported the greatest pain scores. Pain scores did not vary with age or diagnosis for patients undergoing unilateral mastectomy or BM with lymph node surgery and IBR procedures. On multivariable analysis, variables associated with a MME discharge prescription >Q4 values included age, body mass index, site, year, inpatient status, and pain before discharge >3. Conclusion Patient-reported pain following breast surgery varied by procedure, while MMEs prescribed remained similar. This suggests current opioid prescribing does not reflect intensity of pain and requires further research to optimize discharge opioid prescribing practices.
Cardinality bounds involving the skew-λ Lindelöf degree and its variants

Abstract We introduce a modified closing-off argument that results in several improved bounds for the cardinalities of Hausdorff and Urysohn spaces. These bounds involve the cardinal invariant skL ( X , λ ) , the skew-λ Lindelof degree of a space X, where λ is a cardinal. skL ( X , λ ) is a weakening of the Lindelof degree and is defined as the least cardinal κ such that if U is an open cover of X then there exists V ∈ [ U ] ≤ κ such that | X \ ∪ V | λ . We show that if X is Hausdorff then | X | ≤ 2 skL ( X , λ ) t ( X ) ψ ( X ) , where λ = 2 t ( X ) ψ ( X ) . This improves the well-known Arhangel'skiĭ–Sapirovskiĭ bound 2 L ( X ) t ( X ) ψ ( X ) for the cardinality of a Hausdorff space X. We additionally define several variations of skL ( X , λ ) , establish other related cardinality bounds, and provide examples.
The TLK1/Nek1 axis contributes to mitochondrial integrity and apoptosis prevention via phosphorylation of VDAC1

The TLK1/Nek1 axis contributes to cell cycle arrest and implementation of the DDR to mediate survival upon DNA damage. However, when the damage is too severe, the cells typically are forced into apoptosis, and the contribution of TLKs in this process has not been investigated. In contrast, it is known that Nek1 may play a role by phosphorylating VDAC1 maintaining proper opening and closure of the channel and thus mitochondrial integrity. We now show that the activating phosphorylation of Nek1-T141 by TLK1 contributes to the phosphorylation and stability of VDAC1 and thereby to mitochondrial permeability and integrity. Treatment of three different cell lines model that overexpress Nek1-T141A mutant with doxorubicin showed exquisite sensitivity to the drug, with implementation of rapid accumulation of cells with subG1 DNA content (apoptotic) and other alterations in the cell cycle. In addition, these cells displayed reduced oxygen consumption under normal conditions and less reliance on mitochondria and more dependence on glycolysis for energy production. Consistent with greater apoptosis, upon treatment with low doses of doxorubicin, cells overexpressing Nek1-T141A displayed leakage of Cyt-C into the cytoplasmic fraction. This suggests that inhibiting the TLK1/Nek1/VDAC1 nexus could sensitize cancer cells to apoptotic killing in combination with an appropriate DNA damaging agent. We in fact have previously reported that Nek1 expression is elevated in advanced Prostate Cancer (PCa) and we now report that VDAC1 expression is elevated and correlated with disease stage, thereby making the TLK1/Nek1/VDAC1 nexus a very attractive target for PCa.
Photography Aids Visually Impaired Museum Visitors

(1981). Photography Aids Visually Impaired Museum Visitors. Roundtable Reports: Vol. 6, Focus on the Disabled, pp. 6-7.
SPECIAL ISSUEWhat Can Be Learned When Empirically Supported Treatments Fail?Introduction

Empirically supported treatments for mental health disorders are not universally efficacious. Such treatments may prove unsuccessful by not fully helping to resolve target problems, by not preventing relapse over time, or by leaving clients more impaired following intervention. Treatments also may fail as a result of barriers to dissemination to new settings or populations. We introduce a framework for presenting descriptive case studies of clients for whom empirically supported treatments failed and encourage the field to consider the research and clinical advances that may be informed by careful attention to treatment failure.
Effects of temperature and wetness duration on the sporulation of Phomopsis viticola on infected grape canes.

Abstract In 2008, research was initiated to examine effects of temperature and wetness duration on the sporulation of Phomopsis viticola on infected grape canes and to determine effects of interrup...
Genetic architecture of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Advances in genetic and genomic technologies over the last thirty years have greatly enhanced our knowledge concerning the genetic architecture of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Several genes including APP, PSEN1, PSEN2, and APOE have been shown to exhibit large effects on disease susceptibility, with the remaining risk loci having much smaller effects on AD risk. Notably, common genetic variants impacting AD are not randomly distributed across the genome. Instead, these variants are enriched within regulatory elements active in human myeloid cells, and to a lesser extent liver cells, implicating these cell and tissue types as critical to disease etiology. Integrative approaches are emerging as highly effective for identifying the specific target genes through which AD risk variants act and will likely yield important insights related to potential therapeutic targets in the coming years. In the future, additional consideration of sex- and ethnicity-specific contributions to risk as well as the contribution of complex gene-gene and gene-environment interactions will likely be necessary to further improve our understanding of AD genetic architecture.
Investigation of the Interlaminar Shear Properties of Fiber-Reinforced Polymers via Flexural Testing Using Digital Image Correlation

The determination of the interlaminar properties of laminate composites to date has included a few direct measurement techniques: the standardized short-beam test via three-point flexural testing and the double beam shear test via five-point flexural testing. These test methods are limited to a determination of the apparent interlaminar strength, whereas the full stress–strain behavior cannot be determined. The double beam shear test allows for a calculation of the shear modulus, provided that four additional elastic, in-plane properties have been determined in advance via three additional types of tests. The present work includes a comparison of the three-point short-beam test, the nonstandardized four-point flexural test, and the double beam shear test (requiring small span-length-to-thickness ratios for the shear loading to become dominant). The tests are carried out on unidirectional carbon fiber–reinforced composite (CFRP-UD) with a symmetric layup. The experiments are accompanied by photomechanical investigations using digital image correlation (DIC) to visualize the phenomenology of shear deformation. The novelty of this approach includes the use of the DIC-determined shear strains, which show a parabolic distribution across the specimen’s thickness. The DIC-calculated maximum shear strain across the thickness is used for a full description of the stress–strain behavior with a focus on the elastic loading range to evaluate the shear modulus. Interlaminar shear strengths and shear moduli determined from all three types of tests are compared with the intralaminar shear properties.
Racialized Workplaces, Contemporary Racial Attitudes, and Stereotype Endorsement: A Recipe for Consumer Racial Profiling:

Negative stereotypes are widely assumed to underpin the mistreatment that black Americans sometimes experience while engaging in everyday consumption activities like shopping or dining away from ho...
Differential Alphavirus Defective RNA Diversity between Intracellular and Extracellular Compartments Is Driven by Subgenomic Recombination Events

Alphaviruses are positive-sense RNA arboviruses that can cause either a chronic arthritis or a potentially lethal encephalitis. Like other RNA viruses, alphaviruses produce truncated, defective viral RNAs featuring large deletions during replication. These defective RNAs (D-RNAs) have primarily been isolated from virions after high-multiplicity-of-infection passaging. Here, we aimed to characterize both intracellular and packaged viral D-RNA populations during early-passage infections under the hypothesis that D-RNAs arise de novo intracellularly that may not be packaged and thus have remained undetected. To this end, we generated next-generation sequencing libraries using RNA derived from passage 1 (P1) stock chikungunya virus (CHIKV) 181/clone 25, intracellular virus, and P2 virions and analyzed samples for D-RNA expression, followed by diversity and differential expression analyses. We found that the diversity of D-RNA species is significantly higher for intracellular D-RNA populations than P2 virions and that specific populations of D-RNAs are differentially expressed between intracellular and extracellular compartments. Importantly, these trends were likewise observed in a murine model of CHIKV AF15561 infection, as well as in vitro studies using related Mayaro, Sindbis, and Aura viruses. Additionally, we identified a novel subtype of subgenomic D-RNA that is conserved across arthritogenic alphaviruses. D-RNAs specific to intracellular populations were defined by recombination events specifically in the subgenomic region, which were confirmed by direct RNA nanopore sequencing of intracellular CHIKV RNAs. Together, these studies show that only a portion of D-RNAs generated intracellularly are packaged and D-RNAs readily arise de novo in the absence of transmitted template.IMPORTANCE Our understanding of viral defective RNAs (D-RNAs), or truncated viral genomes, comes largely from passaging studies in tissue culture under artificial conditions and/or packaged viral RNAs. Here, we show that specific populations of alphavirus D-RNAs arise de novo and that they are not packaged into virions, thus imposing a transmission bottleneck and impeding their prior detection. This raises important questions about the roles of D-RNAs, both in nature and in tissue culture, during viral infection and whether their influence is constrained by packaging requirements. Further, during the course of these studies, we found a novel type of alphavirus D-RNA that is enriched intracellularly; dubbed subgenomic D-RNAs (sgD-RNAs), they are defined by deletion boundaries between the capsid-E3 region and the E1-3' untranslated region (UTR) and are common to chikungunya, Mayaro, Sindbis, and Aura viruses. These sgD-RNAs are enriched intracellularly and do not appear to be selectively packaged, and additionally, they may exist as subgenome-derived transcripts.
Hydrocarbon transformations in sediments from the Cathedral Hill hydrothermal vent complex at Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California – A chemometric study of shallow seep architecture

Abstract Guaymas Basin is a submarine depression in the Gulf of California marking the northern end of the East Pacific Rise mid-oceanic spreading ridge. The basin receives high input of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) from elevated productivity in the overlying surface waters and runoff from the surrounding continent. This, coupled with high sedimentation rates, produces near-uniform compositions of SOM. Various hydrothermal vent complexes occur along this margin. One of these is Cathedral Hill, a hydrothermal mound with sulfide chimneys surrounded by mats dominated by sulfide-oxidizing Beggiatoa, covering sediments stained by locally produced oil. We collected four push cores along a transect at this site (4 m × 0.21 m) extending from near the vent center to the ambient sediment just outside the microbial mat cover. Porewater temperatures near the mound center were projected to reach 155 °C by 21 cm below the sea floor (cmbsf). Within these conditions, a kinetic model based on vitrinite reflectance equivalence (%Re) predicts petroleum formation as shallow as 15–18 cmbsf, with metagenesis commencing at
Association of Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances With Opioid Prescribing Rates.

Importance The majority of US states have passed mandates requiring the use of electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) as a tool to reduce rates of opioid prescribing. It is not known whether increasing use of EPCS will have the intended effect. Objective To assess the association between use of EPCS and trends in opioid prescribing. Design, Setting, and Participants In this retrospective, longitudinal cohort study of all patients and prescribers in the 50 US states and the District of Columbia from 2010 to 2018, changes in state-level use of EPCS and concurrent changes in opioid prescribing in each state are described. Then the association between changes in the use of EPCS and opioid prescribing are estimated using state and year fixed-effects models that include covariates for policy change and state demographic change. Data Analysis was performed on May 5, 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures The proportion of controlled substances in each state prescribed using EPCS based on opioid prescriptions per 100 persons and morphine milligram equivalents (MME) of opioids. Results In 2018, the population-weighted percent of opioids prescribed using EPCS was 27%, up from 0% as of 2013. National rates of opioid prescriptions decreased from 78 prescriptions per 100 persons in 2013 to 53 in 2018. Over the same period, there was a decrease from 64 071 MME per 100 persons in 2013 to 40 906 MME per 100 persons in 2018, representing 36% of the 2013 level. By 2018, EPCS increased to 69.4% in states with mandates for its use and 23.6% in states without mandates. In multivariable models, a 10 percentage-point increase in the use of EPCS was associated with an additional 2 prescriptions per 100 persons (95% CI, 1.3-2.8) and a 0.8% (95% CI, 0.06%-1.5%) increase in MME per 100 persons. Conclusions and Relevance These data suggest that an increased use of EPCS was not associated with decreased opioid prescribing or a decrease in the amount prescribed and may have been associated with a small increase in opioid prescribing. Opioid prescribing is associated with a variety of social and public health factors, and thus, despite the appeal, EPCS adoption alone may be insufficient to reduce opioid prescribing. Policy makers should consider levers to ensure that EPCS is integrated with outside data and that information is actively used to inform prescribing decisions.
Higher Emergency Physician Chest Pain Hospitalization Rates Do Not Lead to Improved Patient Outcomes.

Background: Wide variation exists for hospital admission rates for the evaluation of possible acute coronary syndrome, but there are limited data on physician-level variation. Our aim is to describ...
Making Ecology Developmental: China’s Environmental Sciences and Green Modernization in Global Context

Although the science of ecology is often understood in antimodernizing terms, this article shows how ecology in China has become a means to articulate green modernization and sustainable developmen...