cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the discriminative stimulus function of ethanol following intracranial and systematic administration: Evidence of a central mechanism

Abstract Rats were trained using a two-lever drug discrimination procedure to press one lever following systemic administration of ethanol (1.0 mg/kg, IP) and another lever following IP injections of saline. After determination of an ethanol generalization curve (0.25–1.25 g/ kg, IP), rats were surgically implanted with bilateral stainless steel guide cannulae that terminated in the lateral ventricles. Following surgery, the generalization curve was redetermined and did not differ from presurgery values. Then, generalization to bilateral intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of ethanol (600.0 and 900.0 mM, 1.0 μl/side) were administered alone and in combination with IP injections of ethanol. The ICV ethanol injections produced partial generalization, but the combination of ICV ethanol (600.0 and 900.0 mM) with IP ethanol (0.25 and 0.50 g/kg) injections were two- to threefold more potent then IP injections alone. Response rates were unaffected by any dose of ethanol tested. These data suggest central mediation of ethanol's discriminative stimulus function due to: 1) increased potency of systemically administered ethanol by centrally administered ethanol, and 2) partial generalization between centrally and peripherally administered ethanol.
Meteorological influence on the occurrence of gastric dilatation-volvulus in military working dogs in Texas

Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a life-threatening condition in dogs and other species in which the stomach dilates and rotates on itself. The etiology of the disease is multi-factorial, but explicit precipitating causes are unknown. This study sought to determine if there was a significant association between changes in hourly-measured temperature and/or atmospheric pressure and the occurrence of GDV in the population of high-risk working dogs in Texas. The odds of a day being a GDV day, given certain temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions for that day or the day before, was estimated using logistic regression models. There were 57 days in which GDV(s) occurred, representing 2.60% of the days in the 6-year study period. The months of November, December, and January collectively accounted for almost half (47%) of all cases. Disease risk was negatively associated with daily maximum temperature. An increased risk of GDV was weakly associated with the occurrence of large hourly drops in temperature that day and of higher minimum barometric pressure that day and the day before GDV occurrence, but extreme changes were not predictive of the disease.
A generalized discrete morphological skeleton transform with multiple structuring elements for the extraction of structural shape components

A common problem shared by several leading morphological shape representation algorithms is that there is much overlapping among the representative disks of the same size. A shape component represented by a group of connected disk centers sometimes uses many heavily overlapping representative disks to represent a relatively simple shape part. A shape component may also contain a large number of representative disks that form a complicated structure. We introduce a generalized discrete morphological skeleton transform that uses eight structuring elements to generate skeleton subsets so that no two skeletal points from the same skeleton subset are adjacent to each other. Each skeletal point represents a shape part that is in general an octagon with four pairs of parallel opposing sides. The number of representative points needed to represent a given shape is significantly lower than that in the standard skeleton transform. A collection of shape components needed to build a structural representation is easily derived from the generalized skeleton transform. Each shape component covers a significant area of the given shape and severe overlapping is avoided. The given shape can also be accurately approximated using a small number of shape components.
The Isidiate Corticolous Caloplaca Species in North and Central America

This paper reports on a study of the isidiate corticolous species of Caloplaca in North and Central America with notes on similar species from other parts of the world. Of the 20 described isidiate species studied, five are found within the study area. The most common species are C. epiphora and C. furfuracea. Apothecia are frequently found on these isidiate species, in contrast to the sorediate species. A key to all species studied, color photographs, and distribution maps are provided. Several new synonyms are proposed. Caloplaca griseovirens and C. isidiosissima are younger synonyms of Caloplaca aphanotripta. Caloplaca hensseneana and C. neotropica are synonyms of C. wrightii. Caloplaca bassiae and C. herbidella have been reported from the study area, but do not occur here. Caloplaca bassiae is known from Africa, India, China, and Australia and is the oldest name for C. isidiosella and C. malaensis.
Tissue biology perspective on macrophages

Macrophages are essential components of mammalian tissues. Although historically known mainly for their function in host defense and the clearance of apoptotic cells, macrophages are now increasingly recognized as serving many roles in tissue development, homeostasis and repair. In addition, tissue-resident macrophages have many tissue-specific functional characteristics, which are a reflection of distinct gene-expression programs. Here we discuss the emerging views of macrophage biology from evolutionary, developmental and homeostatic perspectives.
Toward Exawatt lasers: amplification and compression of short laser pulses in plasma

Raman amplification of short laser pulses in plasma is a promising scheme for reaching extreme laser powers. This talk reviews recent progress in development of a plasma amplifier with ns pump pulses.
The Hydroxyl Radical is a Critical Intermediate in the Voltammetric Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide

Cyclic voltammetry is a widely used and powerful tool for sensitively and selectively measuring hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Herein, voltammetry was combined with electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to identify and define the role of an oxygen-centered radical liberated during the oxidation of H2O2. The spin-trap reagents, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) and 2-ethoxycarbonyl-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole-1-oxide (EMPO), were employed. Spectra exhibit distinct hyperfine patterns that clearly identify the DMPO(•)-OH and EMPO(•)-OH adducts. Multiple linear regression analysis of voltammograms demonstrated that the hydroxyl radical is a principal contributor to the voltammetry of H2O2, as signal is attenuated when this species is trapped. These data incorporate a missing, fundamental element to our knowledge of the mechanisms that underlie H2O2 electrochemistry.
Effects of phospholipase A2, 12-lipoxygenase, and cyclooxygenase inhibitors in the feline pulmonary bed

The effects of phosphonofluoridic acid, methyl-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenyl ester (MAFP), a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, on pressor responses to angiotensin II (ANG II), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), the calcium channel opener BAY K 8644, and the thromboxane A2 mimic U-46619 were studied in the pulmonary vascular bed of the intact-chest cat. Under conditions of constant lobar blood flow, injections of ANG II, NE, 5-HT, U-46619, and BAY K 8644 into the lobar arterial perfusion circuit caused dose-related increases in lobar arterial pressure that were reproducible with respect to time. Infusion of MAFP into the perfused lobar artery at doses of 100 to 300 microg/kg for 10 min significantly reduced vasoconstrictor responses to ANG II; however, the phospholipase A2 inhibitor did not alter vasoconstrictor responses to BAY K 8644, 5-HT, NE, or U-46619. The combination of the higher dose of the phospholipase A2 inhibitor MAFP with the phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122 significantly affected vasoconstrictor responses to ANG II, NE, and 5-HT but not to BAY K 8644. In a separate series of animals, the effects of a lipoxygenase inhibitor, baicalein, were investigated. Infusion of baicalein into the perfused lobar artery at doses of 100 microg/kg for 10 min significantly reduced vasoconstrictor responses to ANG II but not the vasoconstrictor responses to BAY K 8644, 5-HT, NE, or U-46619. In a final series of experiments, the effects of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, meclofenamate, were investigated, and intravenous injection of the meclofenamate at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg did not significantly affect vasoconstrictor responses to ANG II, 5-HT, BAY K 8644, NE, or U-46619. These data provide support for the hypothesis that pulmonary vasopressor responses to ANG II are mediated, in part, by the activation of phospholipase A2, phospholipase C, and the lipoxygenase pathway in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat.
The R&B No. 1s of the ’50s

Prior to 1942 there were no systematic nationwide surveys of record purchasing or jukebox playing among African-Americans. Although race records performed by black artists had been released on subs...
Duodenoscope reprocessing surveillance with adenosine triphosphate testing and terminal cultures: a clinical pilot study.

Background and Aims Recent reports of infectious outbreaks linked to duodenoscopes have led to proposals for duodenoscope surveillance culturing, which has inherent limitations. We aimed to assess the feasibility of real-time adenosine triphosphate (ATP) testing after manual cleaning and its ability to predict reprocessing adequacy, as determined by terminal duodenoscope cultures. Methods Clinically used duodenoscopes underwent reprocessing per current guidelines. After manual cleaning, ATP samples were obtained from the elevator, within the proximal biopsy port, and by flushing of the biopsy channel. After high-level disinfection (HLD), aerobic cultures of the elevator and biopsy channel were obtained using sterile technique. Duodenoscopes with any ATP sample ≥200 relative light units underwent repeated cycles of cleaning, ATP testing, HLD, and terminal culturing. Results Twenty clinically used duodenoscopes were included; 18 underwent a second reprocessing cycle, and 6 underwent a third reprocessing cycle because of detection of high ATP. After the initial reprocessing cycle, 12 of 20 (60%) duodenoscopes had positive culture results, most commonly yielding gram-negative bacilli (GNB, n = 11 from 9 duodenoscopes), and catalase-positive gram-positive cocci (CP-GPC, n = 7 from 7 duodenoscopes), suggesting staphylococcal organisms. Ambient environmental controls also showed GNB and CP-GPC growth. The overall sensitivity and specificity of ATP testing compared with terminal cultures were 30% and 53%, respectively. Conclusions ATP sampling appears to correlate poorly with terminal culture results and cannot be recommended as a surrogate for terminal cultures. The performance and interpretation of cultures remains complicated by the potential recovery of environmental contaminants.
Avascular Necrosis of the First Metatarsal Head: Incidence in Distal Osteotomy Combined with Lateral Soft Tissue Release

The incidence of avascular necrosis of the metatarsal head following distal first metatarsal osteotomy combined with adductor tendon release has not been documented in a large series of patients. O...
On the Spiritual Features of the Figures in John Cheever's Novels

The figures in John Cheever's novels embody the awkward existence conditions and re flect cheever's ponderation on the plight and outlet of the presaent people.In cheever's novels,the modern civilization and the highly developed self consciousness of the modern people play the rol of Sadan to some degree,which causes people to have lost the past Eden Cardens and harmony in their inner hearts,and results in the morality split of the people.Amony the figures of Cheever's whole novels,there are not only the self-base slavishness,but also the indifferent and strained relations amony the people.Most of the fingures dare not face the reality and their inner heart,but take on a kind of deeply old cherishing and sorrowful feelings.
Thinking in Education: The Transactive Dimensions of Thinking

A MULTIDIMENSIONAL THINKING APPROACH For the improvement of thinking in the schools, the most important dimensions of thinking to be cultivated are the critical, the creative, and the caring. A prototype of the critical thinker is the professional, the expert, the model of good judgment. A prototype of the creative thinker is the artist. Some prototypes of the caring thinker are the solicitous parent, the considerate environmental planner, the thoughtful and concerned teacher. In each of the three cases, it will be assumed that the pedagogy will involve the community of inquiry, while the epistemology of that community will be that of the reflective equilibrium. This equilibrium should be understood in the fallibilistic sense that, in the classroom of the community of inquiry, the aim is not to find an absolute foundation of knowledge, like a bedrock. Instead, there is a constant remaking, improving, revising of all its failing parts in order to maintain the equilibrium. It is not based on a notion of absolute truth. That is why self-correction has to be always part of the inquiry process. Insofar as the inquiry process includes a caring dimension, it is concerned to protect and maintain the equilibrium. And insofar as it includes a creative dimension, it is concerned to look for new solutions and ways to maintain this equilibrium. There are, of course, differences among the communities. A community of reflective, deliberative inquiry, the kind most likely to foster critical thinking, generally emphasizes such values as precision and consistency .
Lack of “Bystander” Activation and Evidence for Competition for Resources among Gvh-Reactive CD4 T Cells

Previous studies have shown that essentially all donor CD4 T cells adopt the activated/memory phenotype in the setting of GVHD induced in freshly conditioned hosts. However, it is unknown whether this activation is all antigen-driven or might reflect lymphopenia-induced activation and/or “bystander” activation by the abundant pro-inflammatory stimuli present in the GVHD environment. We compared the activation and accumulation of GVH-reactive CD4 T cells specific for recipient superantigens, minor (mHA) and MHC antigens with that of GVH non-reactive TCR transgenic CD4 T cells in lethally irradiated BMT recipients across a full haplotype barrier (B6→B6D2F1). Wild-type B6D2F1 or transgenic B6D2F1 mice expressing membrane-bound chicken ovalbumin (OVA-B6D2F1) received lethal total body irradiation (TBI), B6 bone marrow cells (BMC) to prevent death from aplasia and a donor lymphocyte inoculum of 10 6 OTII CD4 T cells (specific for OVA peptide 323-339/IA b , representing a mHA) and 10 7 polyclonal B6 splenocytes, to preserve the strong polyclonal T cell response. On days 3 and 6 post-transplant, evidence for activation of OTII CD4 T cells was detected only in OVA-B6D2F1 recipients and not in wild-type recipients, as shown by upregulation of CD44 (average median fluorescence intensity 250 vs 92; p 5 vs 0.18±0.07×10 5 ; p 4 vs 2.4±0.3×10 4 ; p 6 OTII CD4 T cells (not recognizing any antigen in the recipient), 10 6 4C TCR transgenic CD4 T cells (directly alloreactive for recipient IA d class-II antigen) and 10 7 polyclonal B6 spleen cells. On day 6, 4C CD4 T cells showed marked accumulation, whereas OTII CD4 T cells failed to accumulate in the spleen (mean±SD of 1.6±0.4×10 6 vs 0.02±0.01 × 10 6 ; p
Severe chronic norovirus diarrheal disease in transplant recipients: clinical features of an under-recognized syndrome.

Background Norovirus (NV) infection has been reported as a cause of severe chronic diarrhea in transplant recipients, but this entity remains under-recognized in clinical practice, leading to diagnostic delays. Transplant clinicians should become familiar with this syndrome in order to facilitate early detection and management. Methods Demographic, clinical, and outcomes variables were summarized from a series of transplant recipients with positive stool NV reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays at Johns Hopkins in 2013-2014. Factors associated with longer duration of symptoms were compared using random forest analysis. Results Thirty-one of 193 (16%) transplant recipients who were tested for NV had positive stool RT-PCRs. Symptoms included diarrhea (100%), nausea/vomiting (58%), abdominal pain (52%), and wasting (35%). Acute kidney injury occurred in 23%, and persisted in 21% after 6 months. Median duration of diarrheal symptoms was 4 months (range, <1-20) and 11/31 (35.4%) patients had relapses after improvement. Wasting, incompatible kidney transplant status, and plasmapheresis were associated with longer diarrhea durations. Treatments included nitazoxanide (in 74%), reduction of immunosuppression (58%), and intravenous immunoglobulin (32%). Six patients died, but no deaths were attributed to NV. Conclusions It is important for clinicians to recognize that NV can cause severe chronic diarrhea in transplant recipients. In this series, receipt of a human leukocyte antigen- and/or blood type-incompatible kidney transplant, and plasmapheresis were associated with longer symptom duration.
Septic Arthritis of Native Joints

Septic arthritis is a rheumatologic emergency that may lead to disability or death. Prompt evacuation of the joint, either by arthrocentesis at the bedside, open or arthroscopic drainage in the operating room, or imaging-guided drainage in the radiology suite, is mandatory. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a major cause of septic arthritis in the United States. MRSA joint infection seems to be associated with worse outcomes. Antibiotic courses of 3 to 4 weeks in duration are usually adequate for uncomplicated bacterial arthritis. Treatment duration should be extended to 6 weeks if there is imaging evidence of accompanying osteomyelitis.
Serum Biomarkers of Erectile Dysfunction in Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review of Current Literature.

Abstract Introduction Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the utility of serum biomarkers as clinical surrogates for the development and/or progression of ED is unknown. Aim To summarize the current literature for serum biomarkers for ED in DM and emphasize areas for future research. Main Outcome Measures Human subject data demonstrating the utility of serum markers for the development and progression of ED in patients with DM. Methods We performed a systematic PubMed-Medline search in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) for articles published from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2016 of serum biomarkers for development or progression of ED in patients with DM using erectile dysfunction [MeSH] AND ( biomarkers [MeSH] or inflammation mediators [MeSH] or intercellular signaling peptides and proteins [MeSH] or cell adhesion molecules [MeSH]). A thorough review of these studies was completed. Results Of the 327 abstracts screened, 12 full-text studies were assessed and 1 study was excluded. Eleven studies assessing serum biomarkers for ED in patients with DM were included in this review. The most studied serum biomarkers for ED in men with DM included endothelial dysfunction markers such as serum E-selectin, endothelial progenitor cells, and endothelial microparticles and specific markers of inflammation such as interleukin-10, ratio of tumor necrosis factor-α to interleukin-10, and reactive oxygen species such as nitric oxide and malondialdehyde. Reliable serum biomarkers will enable earlier diagnosis and objective monitoring of disease progression and responses to treatment in patients with ED. Conclusion Serum biomarkers for ED in men with DM are very limited. Future longitudinal studies with uniform patient characteristics are needed to evaluate the potential clinical use of serum biomarkers in men with DM for the development and progression of ED. Patel DP, Craig JR, Myers JB, et al. Serum Biomarkers of Erectile Dysfunction in Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review of Current Literature. Sex Med Rev 2017:5:339–348.
Challenges to Leadership

In 1975, at a meeting of Conservative Party members of the British House of Commons chafing under the ineffective leadership of Edward Heath, a former prime minister who had led the party for 10 years, a backbench MP tellingly reminded his colleagues that the leadership of the Conservative Party was “a leasehold, not a freehold.” What he meant of course was that while a person may occupy the position of leader for a time that person does not own it permanently. Shortly afterwards, the indomitable Margaret Thatcher, who also attended that meeting, would replace Heath as party leader and then proceed to win three general election victories to become the longest-serving British prime minister in the twentieth century. In 1990, however, she too would learn the same lesson as Heath about the leadership leasehold when, faced with strong opposition from Conservative members of Parliament concerned about her growing unpopularity with the public, she was also forced to resign as prime minister and party leader. Countless other leaders of corporations, countries, educational and scientific institutions, from Richard Nixon to Steve Jobs, from General Douglas MacArthur to Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, whose positions had once appeared as secure as freeholds have also found themselves suddenly and usually unceremoniously dumped, ejected from the leadership premises when their leases on leadership unexpectedly ran out.
Eplacing induction motors with caged rotor permanent magnet motors: Application considerations & cost analysis

Efficiency improvements attainable with permanent magnet motors have been well documented. Some permanent magnet motors have been equipped with an induction cage in the rotor to allow direct on line starting. Designs of this type have been referred to as line start permanent magnet motors. A topic that has not received much attention is the use of this type of motor with an adjustable speed drive. This paper introduces the terminology Caged Rotor Permanent Magnet motor to describe motors of this type that can be used either direct on line or with an adjustable speed drive. Details of several installations of Caged Rotor Permanent Magnet motors are discussed. Each case study is documented from application selection, motor specification, cost justification, installation, operation and measured performance.
High-Speed InP-Based p-i-n Photodiodes With InGaAs/GaAsSb Type-II Quantum Wells

We present and discuss the performance characteristics of InP-based p-i-n photodiodes (PDs) with InGaAs/GaAsSb type-II multiple quantum wells absorption regions designed to absorb light at mid-infrared wavelengths. Top-illuminated and waveguide-integrated PDs are fabricated with dark currents as low as 100 nA at −2 V, an external responsivity as high as 0.27 A/W at 2 $\mu \text{m}$ and 0.3 A/W at 1.55 $\mu \text{m}$ , and a 3-dB bandwidth of 3.5 GHz at 2 $\mu \text{m}$ .
Pragmatic clinical trials at the National Institute of Nursing Research

Abstract Background Pragmatic clinical trials are used to test the efficacy of interventions in a real-world clinical practice setting. Purpose The purpose of this article was to summarize the presentation given at the Council on Advancement of Nursing Science 2017 Meeting. Methods Key science focus areas of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines relevant to pragmatic clinical trials were reviewed. Discussion The NIH supports some large-scale pragmatic trials and NINR participates in two of them. Generally, the NINR supports small-scale pragmatic trials that are a mission fit with the NINR. Now pragmatic trials are subject to the new NIH clinical trial requirements. Conclusion Investigators must respond to a specific clinical trial announcement and use the new clinical trial application forms. The NINR program staff are a valuable resource to answer questions that investigators may have regarding their pragmatic clinical trial proposal.
Shadowdancing: Fear as a pathway to transformation

This article explores the toxic dynamics of our public sphere today through a lens of the inner, soul-psychological work necessary to alter human reactivity to the sensations of fear. It employs a playful term, shadowdancing, (i) to invite curiosity into what we do not know that we do not know, (ii) to deepen our perceptions of self and other through the natural and avoidant use of projection, and (iii) to examine the ancient-new wisdom of the circle way as a “container” in which to lean into the collective dance of shadow and projection. Rooted in Jungian and object-relations psychological perspectives, each term is defined and examined in the hope of inviting fear to become a pathway to transformation within, and in circle-way gatherings of those willing. Guiding principles of invitation, not obligation; every voice is equal; catching courage from one another; and presume goodwill attempt to pique interest in finding ancient and new ways of becoming more and more conscious, and less and less reactive to...
Subacute Toxicity of Cyclopiazonic Acid in Broiler Chicks Fed Normal and High Zinc Diets

Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) was first isolated and identified as a toxic metabolite of Penicillium cyclopium Westling (Holzapfel, 1968). Corn and peanuts may be naturally contaminated with both CPA and aflatoxin B1 (Gallagher et al., 1978; Lansden and Davidson, 1983). Cyclopiazonic acid was relatively toxic in most animal studies (Purchase, 1971; Dorner et al., 1983; Lomax et al., 1984; Morrissey et al., 1984; Morrissey et al., 1985; Nuehring et al., 1985; Cullen et al., 1988; Wilson et al., 1989) and the 72 hr oral LD50 of CPA in day-old broiler chicks was 12 mg/kg body weight (BW) (Wilson et al., 1989).
Abstract IA31: Radiation therapy in lung cancer: Recent trends and future directions

Radiation techniques for lung cancer have evolved substantially over the past decade. While previously many patients were treated with 3D conformal therapy, with large uniform margins placed to estimate respiratory motion in the “average” tumor, patients are now simulated with sophisticated, real-time monitoring of internal motion such that treatment volumes can be individualized to maximize normal tissue sparing through image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). In addition, many patients are now treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), which has served to drastically improve conformality in select cases and increase the proportion of patients in which high doses are achievable. Concurrent with these advances, proton beam therapy (PBT) has been implemented in a limited number of centers, with the hope of utilizing the dosimetric distribution advantage of the Bragg Peak to further reduce toxicity. The role of PBT in both early-stage and locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer continues to be defined, as results from a phase II multicenter randomized trial predominantly in patients with stage II-III disease did not demonstrate superiority with PBT and concurrent chemotherapy when compared to similar regimens with IMRT. Finally, there have been much data produced with regard to dosing regimens. In early-stage disease, there has been increased implementation of stereotactic ablative body radiation (SABR), with prospective data emerging for both peripheral and central lesions. In the locally advanced setting, results from RTOG 0617 demonstrated no difference when comparing 60 Gy vs. 74 Gy in the setting of chemoradiation. There has also been a trend towards hypofractionation for patients who are unable to tolerate concurrent chemoradiation or those with oligometastatic disease, yet the benefit of hypofractionated radiation sequentially vs. combined modality treatment will need to be further assessed in prospective randomized trials, particularly in the era of immunotherapy. Citation Format: Daniel R. Gomez. Radiation therapy in lung cancer: Recent trends and future directions [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR-IASLC International Joint Conference: Lung Cancer Translational Science from the Bench to the Clinic; Jan 8-11, 2018; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2018;24(17_Suppl):Abstract nr IA31.
X‐Ray Absorption Spectroscopy Characterizations on PGM‐Free Electrocatalysts: Justification, Advantages, and Limitations

Transition metals embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon matrices (denoted as M-N-C) are the leading platinum group metal (PGM)-free electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acid, and are the most promising candidates for replacing platinum in practical devices such as fuel cells. Two of the long-standing puzzles in the field are the nature of active sites for the ORR and the reaction mechanism. Poor understanding of the structural and mechanistic basis for the exceptional ORR activity of M-N-C electrocatalysts impedes rational design for further improvements. Recently, synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) has been successfully implemented to shed some light on these two issues. In this context, a critical review is given to detail the contribution of XAS to the advancement of the M-N-C electrocatalysis to highlight its advantages and limitations.
Estrogen signaling in arcuate Kiss1 neurons suppresses a sex-dependent female circuit promoting dense strong bones.

Central estrogen signaling coordinates energy expenditure, reproduction, and in concert with peripheral estrogen impacts skeletal homeostasis in females. Here, we ablate estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in the medial basal hypothalamus and find a robust bone phenotype only in female mice that results in exceptionally strong trabecular and cortical bones, whose density surpasses other reported mouse models. Stereotaxic guided deletion of ERα in the arcuate nucleus increases bone mass in intact and ovariectomized females, confirming the central role of estrogen signaling in this sex-dependent bone phenotype. Loss of ERα in kisspeptin (Kiss1)-expressing cells is sufficient to recapitulate the bone phenotype, identifying Kiss1 neurons as a critical node in this powerful neuroskeletal circuit. We propose that this newly-identified female brain-to-bone pathway exists as a homeostatic regulator diverting calcium and energy stores from bone building when energetic demands are high. Our work reveals a previously unknown target for treatment of age-related bone disease. Estrogen promotes negative energy balance and preserves skeletal physiology. Here the authors show that loss of estrogen signalling after ablating estrogen receptor alpha (ERa) in specific hypothalamic neuronal populations leads to a marked sex-dependent increase in bone mass in female mice.
Impact of a Hospital Evidence-Based Practice Center (EPC) on Nursing Policy and Practice

Background In 2006, our healthcare system created a hospital Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) to support the local delivery of high-quality, safe and high value patient care. Since then, the importance of healthcare staff work life has also been highlighted, and together these four elements form the Quadruple Aim framework. Synergistic to this Aim, the Magnet® program promotes and recognizes organizational nursing excellence. Objective To examine the EPC's work to inform nursing policy and practice in support of the goals of the Quadruple Aim framework and Magnet® designation. Methods Methods used included the following: (1) descriptive analysis of the hospital EPC's database of rapid reviews; and (2) administration of a 40-item electronic questionnaire to nurses who requested an EPC review during fiscal years (FY) 2015 and 2016. Results Of 308 rapid reviews completed in the EPC's first 10 years, 59 (19%) addressed nursing topics. The proportion of reviews relevant to nursing increased from 5% (2/39) in the center's first 2 years to 44% (25/60) in FY 2015-2016. The majority of nursing reviews (39/59) examined processes of care. Of 23 nurses eligible to participate in the survey, 21 responded (91%). Nurses with administrative or managerial responsibilities requested 70% of reviews; clinical nurse specialists and bedside nurses requested 17% and 9%, respectively. Reviews were used to support clinical program development (48%), provide clinical guidance (33%), update nursing policies or procedures (24%) and develop training and curricula (24%). Nurses were satisfied with the hospital EPC reviews (mean; 4.7/5), and 95% indicated they were likely to request a future review. Linking evidence to action A dedicated hospital EPC in partnership with nursing offers a unique mechanism for promoting a culture of evidence-based practice. Nurses at all organizational levels use the services of a hospital EPC to inform nursing policy and practice and are highly satisfied with the process, supporting the Quadruple Aim and Magnet® designation.
A pilot safety study of ublituximab, a monoclonal antibody against CD20, in acute relapses of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

AbstractObjective:To test the safety of ublituximab, a B cell depleting agent, as add-on therapy in the acute treatment of relapses of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.Methods:We conducted an open-label phase 1b safety and proof-of-concept trial in 5 subjects with aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-immunoglob
Horse gluteus is a null-sarcolipin muscle with enhanced sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium transport

We have analyzed gene transcription, protein expression, and enzymatic activity of the Ca2+-transporting ATPase (SERCA) in horse gluteal muscle. Horses are bred for peak athletic performance but exhibit a high incidence of exertional rhabdomyolysis, suggesting Ca2+ as a correlative linkage. To assess Ca2+ regulation in horse gluteus, we developed an improved protocol for isolating horse sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles. RNA-seq and immunoblotting determined that the ATP2A1 gene (protein product SERCA1) is the predominant Ca2+ ATPase expressed in horse gluteus, as in rabbit muscle. Gene expression was assessed for four regulatory peptides of SERCA, finding that sarcolipin (SLN) is the predominant regulatory peptide transcript expressed in horse gluteus, as in rabbit muscle. Surprisingly, the RNA transcription ratio of SLN-to-ATP2A1 in horse gluteus is an order of magnitude higher than in rabbit muscle, but conversely, the protein expression ratio of SLN-to-SERCA1 in horse gluteus is an order of magnitude lower than in rabbit. Thus, the SLN gene is not translated to a stable protein in horse gluteus, yet the supra-high level of SLN RNA suggests a non-coding role. Gel-stain analysis revealed that horse SR expresses calsequestrin (CASQ) protein abundantly, with a CASQ-to-SERCA protein ratio ~3-fold greater than rabbit SR. The Ca2+ transport rate of horse SR vesicles is ~2-fold greater than rabbit SR, suggesting that horse myocytes have enhanced luminal Ca2+ stores that increase intracellular Ca2+ release and muscular contractility. We hypothesize that the absence of SLN inhibition of SERCA and the abundant expression of CASQ may potentiate horse susceptibility to exertional rhabdomyolysis.
Too much, too young? Altered corticolimbic axonal innervation and resting state functional connectivity suggests sex-dependent outcomes in a rat model of early life adversity

Background: Adverse early experiences significantly alter behavioral and neural trajectories via aberrant brain maturation. Children with a history of early life stress (ELS) exhibit maladaptive behaviors and increased risk of mental illness later in life. Evidence in ELS-exposed humans identifies a role of atypical corticolimbic development; specifically, within amygdala-prefrontal cortex (PFC) circuits, and show precocially mature corticolimbic functional connectivity (FC). However, the neurobiological substrates of such ELS-driven developmental changes remain unknown. Here, we identify putative neurobiological changes to determine the timeline of developmental perturbations following ELS in rats. Methods: Anterograde axonal tracing from basolateral amygdala (BLA) to pre- and infralimbic (PL, IL) PFC was quantified at postnatal days (PD)28, 38, and 48, along with anxiety-like behavior, in maternally separated (ELS) or control reared (CON) male and female rats. Resting state (rs)FC was assessed at PD28 and PD48 in a separate cohort. Results: PD28 female ELS show early maturation of BLA-PFC innervation, with ELS-related changes in the male group not appearing until PD38. Female ELS show altered rsFC at PD28 and PD48, with only transient ELS-related changes seen in male PL. In female ELS, decreased anxiety-like behavior was associated with increased BLA-IL rsFC. Conclusions: These data provide evidence that female rats may be more vulnerable to the effects of ELS via precocial BLA-PFC innervation, which likely drives altered corticolimbic rsFC. These data also show evidence that increased BLA-IL rsFC is associated with behavioral resiliency following ELS in female rats, providing mechanistic insight into the underlying etiology of adversity-induced vulnerability and resiliency.
Alopecia areata in 2 patients treated with dupilumab: New onset and worsening.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that can be comorbid with the autoimmune disease alopecia areata (AA).1, 2 Dupilumab is a novel treatment for moderate-to-severe AD that may have implications in AA therapy given its role in inhibiting the helper T cell 2 response at the level of interleukin-4 receptor α subunit.3 This mechanism might target AA of the scalp where there can be upregulation of helper T cell 2 via interleukin-13 among other cytokines.3, 4 Here we present 2 cases of patients with hair loss while on dupilumab for AD—1 with new onset and subsequent improvement of alopecia universalis (AU), and one with worsening of previously diagnosed alopecia totalis (AT) while on treatment.
Categorical and Dimensional Ratings of Emotional Speech: Behavioral Findings From the Morgan Emotional Speech Set

Purpose Emotion classification for auditory stimuli typically employs 1 of 2 approaches (discrete categories or emotional dimensions). This work presents a new emotional speech set, compares these ...
Bi-functionality of samarium- and praseodymium-based perovskite catalysts for oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions in alkaline medium

Abstract The present study ellucidates bi-functional catalytic activity of the graphene-supported praseodymium (PrNixCo1-xO3-δ) and samarium (SmNixCo1-xO3-δ) perovskites towards oxygen evolution and oxygen reduction reactions in alkaline solutions. The perovskites with varied Ni and Co content (of x = 0.1, 0.5, and 0.9) were synthesized via sol-gel glycine-nitrite combustion followed by heat-treated at 700, 900 and 1200 °C. The cubic perovskite phase of PrNixCo1-xO3-δ was stabilized at x = 0.1, 0.5 in the entire temperature range (of 700 °C–1200 °C), while the perovskite phase of SmNixCo1-xO3-δ (x = 0.1, 0.5) was observed only at lower temperatures (of 700 and 900 °C). Consequently, changes in structural properties resulted in superior oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrochemical activity in comparison to the state-of-the-art IrO2. Among the Sm-based perovskites, SmNi0.1Co0.9O3-δ (700 °C) demonstrated OER mass activity of 495 mA/mg and the highest oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of 95 mA/cm2·mg. For Pr-based perovskites, the highest electrocatalytic activity toward OER and ORR was observed for PrNi0.1Co0.9O3-δ (900 °C) resulting in 60 mA/mg for ORR and 680 mA/mg for OER which is 50% higher than the mass activity of the state-of-the-art IrO2 catalyst. The overall performance of the composites is discussed in terms of graphene support interactions, Co and Ni redox processes, relative concentration of oxygen-vacancy sites and OER/ORR bi-functionality.
Complementary imaging with compressive sensing

Measurements on quantum systems are always constrained by uncertainty relations. For traditional, projective measurements, uncertainty relations correspond to resolution limitations; a detector's position resolution is increased at the cost of its momentum resolution and vice-versa. However, many experiments in quantum measurement are now exploring non- or partially-projective measurements. For these techniques, measurement disturbance need not manifest as a blurring in the complementary domain. Here, we describe a technique for complementary imaging | obtaining sharp position and momentum distributions of a transverse optical field with a single set of measurements. Our technique consists of random, partially-projective filtering in position followed by projective measurements in momentum. The partial-projections extract information about position at the cost of injecting a small amount of noise into the momentum distribution, which can still be directly imaged. The position distribution is recovered via compressive sensing.
Design of Adiabatic Logic-Based Energy-Efficient and Reliable PUF for IoT Devices

Internet of Things (IoT) devices have stringent constraints on power and energy consumption. Adiabatic logic has been proposed as a novel computing platform to design energy-efficient IoT devices. Physically Unclonable Functions (PUFs) is a promising paradigm to solve security concerns such as Integrated Circuit (IC) piracy, IC counterfeiting, and the like. PUFs have shown great promise for generating the secret bits that can be used in the secure systems in an inexpensive way. However, designing a reliable PUF along with energy-efficiency is a big challenge. Therefore, for energy-efficient and reliable PUFs, we are proposing a novel energy-efficient adiabatic logic-based PUF structure. The proposed adiabatic PUF uses energy recovery concept to achieve high energy efficiency and uses the time ramp voltage to exhibit the reliable start-up behavior. The channel length of the transistors play a major role in controlling manufacturing variations. So, in this article, the circuit simulations are performed with 180nm and 45nm Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology in a Cadence Spectre simulator to analyze the impact of channel length variations. The proposed adiabatic PUF has worst-case reliability of 96.84% and 99.6% with temperature variations at 180nm and 45nm CMOS technology, respectively. Further, the proposed adiabatic PUF consumes 1.071fJ/bit-per cycle at 180nm CMOS technology and 0.08fJ/bit-per cycle at 45nm CMOS technology.
Atypical systemic and dermatologic loxoscelism in a non-endemic region of the USA

Loxosceles reclusa (LR), commonly known as the brown recluse spider, is endemic to the south central United States. We present a case of LR envenomation in a healthy adult male outside the usual ge...
Correction and optimization of symmetric echo-planar spectroscopic imaging for hyperpolarized [1-13C]-pyruvate

Abstract Symmetric echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI) supports higher spectral bandwidth and improves signal-to-noise efficiency compared to flyback EPSI with the same readout bandwidth, but suffers from artifacts that are associated with non-uniform temporal sampling in k-t space. Our goal is to eliminate these artifacts and enhance observation of hyperpolarized [1-13C] pyruvate and its metabolites using symmetric EPSI. We used symmetric EPSI to efficiently acquire radially encoded spectroscopic imaging projections with a spectral under-sampling scheme that was optimized for HP pyruvate and its metabolites. A simple approach called selective correction of off-resonance effects (SCORE) was developed and applied to eliminate spectral artifacts. Simulations were used to assess the relative SNR performance of this technique, and a phantom study was carried out at 3 T to evaluate this method and compare it with alternative strategies. SCORE correction eliminated spectral artifacts due to chemical shift and non-uniform sampling in time. It is also compatible with established methods to eliminate artifacts caused by eddy currents. SCORE corrected symmetric EPSI supported maximal EPSI spectral bandwidth and improved SNR efficiency. Symmetric EPSI with SCORE correction offers a straightforward, efficient, and effective framework for assessment of hyperpolarized [1-13C] pyruvate and its metabolites.
Archival Legacy Investigations of Circumstellar Environments (ALICE): Statistical assessment of point source detections

The ALICE program, for Archival Legacy Investigation of Circumstellar Environment, is currently conducting a virtual survey of about 400 stars, by re-analyzing the HST-NICMOS coronagraphic archive with advanced post-processing techniques. We present here the strategy that we adopted to identify detections and potential candidates for follow-up observations, and we give a preliminary overview of our detections. We present a statistical analysis conducted to evaluate the confidence level on these detection and the completeness of our candidate search.
Public Preferences Toward Environmental Risks: The Case of Trihalomethanes

We present the results of an in-depth study in a small Southern Illinois town looking at the public's preferences with respect to reducing trihalomethanes (THMs) in their public drinking water system. THMs are an interesting environmental risk to study. First they are a low-level risk created as a byproduct (via chlorination) of reducing the much larger risk of bacterial contamination. Second, THMs are a weak carcinogen (with a scientific debate over how weak) with a long latency period. Third, small towns pose an interesting policy trade-off question with respect to THMs due to the sharply rising per capita cost of carbon filtration as population decreases. Further, filtration at the home or tap level is a viable alternative to public filtration. These issues are considered in the context of designing a survey to elicit maximum willingness to pay (WTP) for a reduction in THMs. The key survey design question involves how to communicate low-level risks of different magnitudes to respondents. Respondents were randomly assigned to different risk levels and statistical tests reject the hypothesis that WTP estimates are insensitive to the risk levels assigned. Our value of a statistical life estimates are quite low relative to most estimates in the literature. Our estimates should be low, however, if respondents discount due to the long latency period. After allowing for discounting using commonly used rates, our value of a statistical life estimates are well within the range commonly found in the literature for WTP to avoid current period fatal accidents.