cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Amphotropic Retrovirus Transduction of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

: Mice treated with cytokines for 5 days have large numbers of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in their peripheral blood and bone marrow at 1 and 14 days after the last injection. We fractionated the HSCs from the bone marrow of these mice using elutriation at flow rates of 25, 30 and 35 ml/min. The subpopulations of HSCs from cytokine-treated mice show a 3- to 8-fold higher level of mRNA encoding the amphotropic retrovirus receptor (amphoR) compared with the corresponding HSC subpopulation from untreated mouse bone marrow. In an earlier study with mouse HSCs we showed a direct correlation between high levels of amphoR mRNA and efficient retrovirus transduction. We have now utilized our gene transfer protocol to assay amphotropic retrovirus transduction efficiency using HSCs from the bone marrow of mice treated with granulocytecolony stimulating factor/stem cell factor (G-CSF/SCF). To extend these findings to a more clinically relevant protocol we analyzed the amphoR mRNA levels in HSCs from human cord blood and adult bone marrow. The amphoR mRNA level in HSCs from human bone marrow and fresh cord blood was detectable at an extremely low level compared with the HSC population in cryopreserved cord blood samples. The 12- to 22-fold increase in amphoR mRNA in HSCs from cryopreserved cord blood renders these HSCs likely candidates for high efficiency, gene transfer.
The State of Weight Loss Surgery Patient Education: An Examination of the Evidence

the intervention measures implemented in 2012 had any significant effect on readmission rates. A multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to determine the impact of surgery date (before 2012 vs 2012, 2013 and 2014), type of surgery (gastric bypass; vertical sleeve gastrectomy; gastric band and; other), approach used (laparoscopic vs open) and conversion surgery (primary vs revisional) on readmission rates (30 days within date of operation; includes inpatients as well as 23 hr observation). Results: The total number of surgeries performed was 1,767 (gastric bypass 55.1%; sleeve gastrectomy 34.5%; gastric band 8.3% and; other 2.1%) and the readmission rate was 8.4% (inpatients 5.6%; observations 2.9%; Figure). The before and after targeted intervention rate of readmissions was 11.5% and 5.1% respectively. Pearson’s Chi (before vs after, Po.0001) and ANOVA test was significant for differences across the 2010-14 year period (Po.0001). The 2012, 2013 and 2014 readmission rates were 37%, 70% and 63% lower than the 2010-2011 rate (OR 0.63, 95%CI 0.40-0.99, P1⁄4.049; OR 0.30, 95%CI 0.17-0.55, Po.0001; OR 0.37, 95%CI 0.20-0.68, P1⁄4.001, respectively). The laparoscopic approach was associated with a 36% reduction in readmission rate (OR 0.64, 95%CI 0.42-0.98, P1⁄4.040; Table). Conclusion: Targeted clinical interventions, similar to those advocated by the DROP program, including enhanced patient education, post discharge phone calls, home IV hydration and early clinic visits, show promising real life applicability and are associated with lower readmission/observation rates after bariatric surgery.
Pest suppression by ant biodiversity is modified by pest biodiversity

Summary 1. Agroecosystems are often complex ecosystems with diverse food webs. Changes in food web complexity may have important context-dependent consequences for pest control strategies. 2. The success of predator introductions to suppress pests may depend on the diversity of pests. For crops with diverse pest assemblages, it is hypothesized that diverse predator communities are needed to suppress diverse pest assemblages below damaging levels. 3. In this study, we compare the ability of ant predator monocultures and polycultures to suppress single- and diverse- (three species) pest assemblages in a coffee foodweb. We use a factorial experiment that compared treatments of predator and pest diversity to understand the impact of pest diversity on multiple predator effects. 4. We show that predator polycultures enhanced pest risk relative to predator monocultures significantly more in the diverse-pest treatment relative to in the single-pest treatments for two of three pest species. Further, we show that pest diversity significantly reduced pest risk in all predator treatments except for the predator polyculture treatment. 5. These results suggest that pest diversity may reduce the efficiency of single predator species at suppressing pest damage, but do not limit multiple predator species. This in turn leads to stronger effects of predator diversity with greater pest diversity. These results highlight the need to consider foodweb complexity,
Blood profile and balance study of rats given the putative anorectic agent satietin

Satietin (SAT), a glycoprotein found in the plasma of a variety of animals, is a putative satiety agent. In experiments 1 and 2 rats received chronic third ventricle cannulas. At the start of the dark phase, in experiment 1, one group was infused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) and fed ad libitum (CON); a second group was infused with 100 micrograms/rat of human SAT and fed ad libitum in individual computerized pellet feeding modules; a third group was infused with aCSF and pair fed (PF) to the SAT-treated rats. The animals were killed 19.5 h later and blood was collected. Food and water intake and body weight were significantly, and comparably, reduced in the SAT-treated and PF group compared with the CON group. Plasma was assayed for a variety of nutrients, metabolites, enzymes, hormones, ions, and osmolality. Differential white cell counts were made. None of the above parameters differed significantly between the SAT and PF groups. Meal pattern analyses showed SAT treatment did not at any time alter meal size but significantly increased meal duration and intermeal interval during the first 6 h of the dark phase. In experiment 2 rats were placed in metabolic cages and infused with SAT or aCSF. Food and water intakes of the SAT group were suppressed for 1 day, whereas their body weights were significantly attenuated for 3 days. Urine volume and feces elimination were similar in the two groups over the 6-day measurement period. The normalcy of the data from experiment 1 is in accord with the possibility that SAT may act as a physiological satiety agent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Endowment additivity and the weighted proportional rules for adjudicating conflicting claims

We propose and study a new axiom, restricted endowment additivity, for the problem of adjudicating conflicting claims. This axiom requires that awards be additively decomposable with respect to the endowment whenever no agent’s claim is filled. For two-claimant problems, restricted endowment additivity essentially characterizes weighted extensions of the proportional rule. With additional agents, however, the axiom is satisfied by a great variety of rules. Further imposing versions of continuity and consistency, we characterize a new family of rules which generalize the proportional rule. Defined by a priority relation and a weighting function, each rule aims, as nearly as possible, to assign awards within each priority class in proportion to these weights. We also identify important subfamilies and obtain new characterizations of the constrained equal awards and proportional rules based on restricted endowment additivity.
Really Melanctha: Nesting Subjects in Gertrude Stein's Intertexts

ABSTRACT“Really Melanctha” examines two early works, “Melanctha” and Q.E.D., alongside Stein's more recognizably radical late prose experiments with autobiography. Resituating the early writing within a career-long life-writing project, this essay recovers “Melanctha” from a harsh reception history and reimagines it as a nascent form of the subjective play lauded in the later works. By putting Stein's interests in writing the self in direct conversation with key contemporary theorizations of the subject, such as Rei Terada's “self-differential self,” this essay argues that what has previously been read as a coding or masking of queer concerns within race can, instead, be read as a demonstration (QED) of play with subjective boundaries, cultural identities, and empathetic responses to difference.
Flight Safety Education For Current and Future Space Flight Programs

Establishing a healthy flight safety culture requires training personnel to intuitively recognize symptoms, both organizational and technical, that could lead to the loss of a spacecraft or a failure to meet mission objectives. Since October of 1998, a Flight Safety Awareness Seminar has been held as a part of the yearly NASA Johnson Space Center Safety Day activities. The seminar’s primary purpose is to increase flight safety awareness through discussion of accidents, their causes, and lessons learned. Particular attention is paid to what forms of intervention could have prevented the accident and what lessons can be applied to the International Space Station and Space Shuttle mission operations environment so future mishaps can be prevented.
Characterization of Inhomogeneities in Amorphous Superconductors

The structure and superconducting properties of rapidly quenched Zr-Ni and Zr-V alloys have been studied by XRD, EXAFS spectroscopy, TEM, electron diffraction, ED, electrical resistivity and ac susceptibility measurements. Amorphous Zr66Ni34 ribbons quenched with different cooling rates were also examined by flux pinning measurements. Characteristic differences are observed in the flux pinning mechanisms of microcrystalline and amorphous samples. The temperature dependence of upper critical fields have been measured down to 0.4 K and the results are analyzed in terms of WHH theory.
An older dog with newer tricks: Predicting efficacy of IFN-β treatment for multiple sclerosis

A building optimism for individually tailored therapy has been integrated into the burgeoning landscape of treatment options for multiple sclerosis (MS).1 In spite of ongoing advances in imaging and the understanding of MS pathogenesis, predicting which therapies will be most effective for individuals with MS has remained elusive. In this issue, Hegen et al.2 report on the use of serum cytokine analysis to explore predictors of MS patient responses to interferon-β (IFN-β) therapy. They perform Luminex cytokine quantification from serum of patients with either clinically isolated syndrome or relapsing MS before and 3 months after treatment with IFN-β. Using hierarchical clustering analysis, they stratify patients into 6 groups according to baseline cytokine expression and find that these groupings provide meaningful discrimination between patients' subsequent clinical responses to IFN-β treatment.
Effect of intraoperative factors on IOP reduction after phacoemulsification

The purpose of the study was to determine the independent predictors of long-term intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction after cataract surgery with phacoemulsification. This is a retrospective review of uncomplicated cataract surgeries from 2006 to 2008 at the Baltimore VA Medical Center with longitudinal follow-up. Demographic, clinical, biometric, and intraoperative variables including phacoemulsification parameters were recorded. Univariate and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze the relationship between these variables and postoperative IOP, which was the outcome variable. Analysis was performed in 115 eyes of 115 patients who underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification during the study period. There was an average postoperative IOP reduction through 12, 24, and 36 months of -1.7 ± 3.1, -1.5 ± 3.8, and -1.3 ± 2.6 mmHg, respectively. Higher preoperative IOP (P < 0.001), a more anterior relative lens position (P < 0.05), and longer phaco time (P < 0.05) were significantly associated with greater postoperative decrease in IOP using univariate analysis. Using multivariate analysis, preoperative IOP (P < 0.001), and phaco time (P = 0.038) were associated with greater postoperative IOP reduction through 24 months. Phaco time is independently associated with IOP reduction after adjusting for age and preoperative IOP. Higher preoperative IOP is associated with a greater IOP-lowering effect after phacoemulsification.
Biogeography, History of

Here we provide an overview of the key empirical discoveries and conceptual advances of the discipline of biogeography, with special emphasis on the development of some of its central ideas from the local knowledge of early civilizations to the globalization of that knowledge, and from the early articulations of its fundamental principles during the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries to the theoretical revolutions on the geography of life that took place during the twentieth century.
STFM's National Clerkship Curriculum: CERA reveals impact, clerkship director needs.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Consistency is needed in family medicine clerkships nationwide. The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine's (STFM) National Clerkship Curriculum (NCC) and supporting NCC website have been developed to address this need. A survey was used to measure these tools' effect and guide future improvements. METHODS: The Council of Academic Family Medicine's (CAFM) Educational Research Alliance (CERA) 2012 survey of clerkship directors (CD) was used to answer two research questions: (1) To what extent are clerkships teaching the minimum core curriculum? and (2) What resources do clerkship directors identify as important in their role? RESULTS: The survey response rate was 66% (88/134). Ninety-two percent of these CDs are aware of the NCC, 74% report having visited the NCC website, and 71% plan to visit it more than once per year in the future. A total of 21.6% strongly agree that their clerkship content matches the NCC. CDs rate the quality of materials on the website as high and place greatest value on materials that can be downloaded and adapted to their clerkships. CONCLUSIONS: STFM's NCC website and materials are familiar to CDs although only one in five state their clerkship curriculum matches the NCC minimum core curriculum. The NCC editorial board needs to better understand why so few teach curriculum that closely matches the minimum core. Continued outreach to CDs can answer this question and improve our ability to support CDs as they incorporate the NCC into family medicine clerkships.
Elements of Voice Quality: Perceptual, Acoustic, and Physiologic Aspects

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the elements of voice quality and its perceptual, acoustic, and physiologic aspects. Voice quality has been of great interest to many professions concerned with the voice from those in medicine who listen to pathologic voices to those in music who must develop professional voices. Research in voice quality has been abundant, varied, and very often disparate. Phonetically, voice quality changes with each change in vowel. A person makes these quality changes thousands of times a day as he shifts from vowel to vowel to consonant. These phonetic changes are made by most speakers using what may be viewed as a habitual set of the articulators. There are temporary physiologic conditions, such as pain, fatigue, excitement, cold, illness, or physical strain that can effect changes in voice quality. In addition to these unconscious forces that may impose a characteristic color, there are also conscious ways of using voice that may be calculated to soothe, to excite, to control, or to conform. Nevertheless, with all the possible variations, there are some similarities and dissimilarities among all voice qualities
IN DEFENSE OF INDIVIDUALISM

This paper offers a programmatic philosophical articulation of moral and political individualism. This individualism consists of two main components: value individualism and rights individualism. The former is the view that, for each individual, the end which is of ultimate value is his own well-being. Each individual's well-being has ultimate agent-relative value and the only ultimate values are these agent-relative values. The latter view is that individuals possess moral jurisdiction over themselves, i.e., rights of self-ownership. These rights (along with other rights individuals may come to possess) constrain the manner in which agents may pursue value. For this reason, the articulated individualism is an constrained individualism. Sketches of arguments are offered for both value and rights individualism. And it is argued that the sole legitimate function of legal/political institutions is to further delineate and protect the rights of individuals. However, the paper is also concerned to indicate why this radical moral and political individualism does not have many of the features or implications that are commonly ascribed to it. In this connection, I seek to show how this social doctrine accords with individuals' having concern for the well-being of others, with the emergence of relationships among individuals that have both instrumental and non-instrumental value, with a degree of responsibility for self and others that is often thought to be antithetical to individualism and, in general, with a flourishing of civil order.
ATLAS muon Endcap MDT Chamber performance

The test of the 432 ATLAS endcap monitored drift tube chambers of the muon spectrometer is completed. The results for almost 150,000 channels and more than 10,000 between electronic cards and temperature or magnetic field sensors are presented. In the certification of these chambers, a common set of procedures and requirements was adopted, so that the compliance with ATLAS specifications and a high level of uniformity is clearly visible from the data analysis results.
A sparse partitioned-regression model for nonlinear system-environment interactions

ABSTRACTThis article focuses on the modeling of nonlinear interactions between the design and operational variables of a system and the multivariate outside environment in predicting the system's performance. We propose a Sparse Partitioned-Regression (SPR) model that automatically searches for a partition of the environmental variables and fits a sparse regression within each subdivision of the partition, in order to fulfill an optimal criterion. Two optimal criteria are proposed, a penalized and a held-out criterion. We study the theoretical properties of SPR by deriving oracle inequalities to quantify the risks of the penalized and held-out criteria in both prediction and classification problems. An efficient recursive partition algorithm is developed for model estimation. Extensive simulation experiments are conducted to demonstrate the better performance of SPR compared with competing methods. Finally, we present an application of using building design and operational variables, outdoor environmental...
Electrophysiologic measurements: Intraoperative evoked potential monitoring

Summary Intraoperative electrophysiologic monitoring is important. Four conditions must exist for this technique to be of use: (1) the area of the central nervous system undergoing surgical intervention must be amenable to electrical monitoring; (2) sites must be available to both stimulate and then record the area of interest; (3) a neurophysiologist and the appropriate neurophysiologic monitoring equipment has to be available for monitoring; and (4) the surgeon and the anesthesiologist must both be prepared should any abnormalities arise to intervene and return any abnormal situations to a more physiologic state. The critical points include the avoidance of potent anesthetic agents during an important monitoring period. Should this not be possible, the neurophysiologist should be so informed. Blood levels of any of the anesthetic agents after induction should be kept at a constant level to reduce drug effect. Body temperature is a key factor in accurate monitoring. Stable and constant temperatures must be maintained throughout a case. Evoked potential monitoring is rapidly becoming a standard practice in neurosurgical operating rooms. An understanding of the principles and techniques involved and the measures an anesthesiologist can provide to prevent an impending neurologic deficit are the key elements to the successful outcome of many neurosurgical procedures.
Third-Order Differential-Algebraic Equations for Improved Integration of Multibody Dynamics

This paper introduces the concept of third-order differential-algebraic equations (DAE) for dynamics of constrained multibody systems. Third-order DAE provide jerk of components which can be integrated simultaneously with acceleration to provide improved simulation accuracy. A new Obreshkov predictor-corrector multistep integrator was developed to test this concept. Results from simulations of two planar mechanisms indicate that third-order DAE can reduce computation time by a factor of ten with equivalent accuracy compared to classical methods.Copyright © 2017 by ASME
Flow chemistry, continuous processing, and continuous manufacturing: A pharmaceutical perspective

Flow chemistry has become a vibrant area for research over the past decade. This perspective is intended to capture insights on how these advances have and will continue to impact the development and commercialization of active pharmaceutical ingredients. A series of chemistry examples from a number of pharmaceutical companies will highlight the influence of flow chemistry on this industry.
Metal-Free Electrocatalytic Aerobic Hydroxylation of Arylboronic Acids

Hydroxylation of arylboronic acids to aryl alcohols was realized by a scalable electrocatalytic method. The present electrochemical hydroxylation employs low-cost methyl viologen as an organic cathodic electrocatalyst and involves O2 as a green and sustainable reactant. The electrochemical kinetic studies shown here can be a powerful tool to gain rich mechanistic and kinetic information and thus an in-depth understanding of the electrocatalytic mechanism.
Outcomes of immunotherapy in advanced melanoma in relation to age.

187Background: Older age is a risk feature in melanoma. Elderly are more likely to have immunosenescence, which could help melanoma cells escape immune surveillance. Hence, there is a belief that elderly people cannot mount a potent immune response to checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) to fully eliminate melanoma. The objective of the study was to investigate age-related differences in the time to progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), and immunotherapy related adverse events (irAEs) among patients with metastatic melanoma who received CPI. Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with stage IV melanoma who received at least 1 dose of ipilimumab, pembrolizumab, nivolumab, or combined ipilimumab and nivolumab. Demographics, pathologic, and clinical characteristics were obtained. Immune-related response criteria were utilized to define responses. Results: Sixty patients were included; 29 were less than 65 years old and 31 were 65 years or older. No significant differences, when adjusted for gender, type ...
Bias in Balance Optimization Subset Selection: Exploration through examples

When estimating a treatment effect from observational data, researchers encounter bias regardless of estimation methods. In this paper, we focus on a particular method of estimation called Balance ...
Ionic conductivity of Ag+ exchanged α-zirconium phosphate

The conductivity of silver ion in silver exchanged ..cap alpha..-zirconium phosphate, Zr(AgPO/sub 4/)/sub 2/, was measured in the temperature range 80 to 330/sup 0/C. The data were found to conform to an Arrehnius type behavior in this temperature range with an activation energy of 0.53eV and o/sub 300//sup 0/C = 1.94 X 10/sup -4/ ohm/sup -1/cm/sup -1/. The conductivity values for Ag/sup +/ are higher than the corresponding values obtained for Na/sup +/ and K/sup +/ conduction in their respective exchanged forms. This enhancement is attributed to the greater polarizibility of the silver ion.
Single-phase mixed molybdenum-tungsten carbides: Synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity for toluene conversion

Abstract A series of single-phase mixed metal carbides of molybdenum and tungsten (Mo2-xWxC, 0
Actually Sitting Down to Write

No one can tell you the most productive way to get your words onto paper. Perhaps you can learn something from imitating the habits of professional writers, but the actual act of sitting down to write is individual. What has worked for Joan Didion or James Agee might not work for you.
Organismic-Developmental Theory and Neuropsychological Research

Nelson Butter’s view of neuropsychological problems and his methods of investigation can be seen as his assimilation and transformation of Organismic-Developmental theory (Werner, 1937, 1948), the orientation that was dominant at Clark University during his graduate training in the 1960’s. Although his research interests have always been focused on main stream issues and questions, his approach to them has been guided conceptually and methodologically by a less traditional viewpoint, articulated by Heinz Werner. We will try to trace some of the influences of this conceptual framework on Butters’ prolific research endeavors, beginning at Clark University, then at the National Institutes of Health, through his tenure at the Boston V.A. Medical Center, and in his current work at the University of California at San Diego.
Molecular Pathology of Large Cell Carcinoma and Its Precursors

The classification of lung carcinomas remains primarily morphologic with individual instances in which immunohistochemistry can serve as an adjunctive test. In the case of large cell carcinoma, the current WHO classification system remains partly one of exclusion; that is, the tumor should lack morphologic features that are generally associated with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma (Figure 27.1A).1 For example, a poorly differentiated carcinoma with demonstrable mucin (more than five mucin-positive cells in at least two high-power fields) by special stains would be designated as solid adenocarcinoma with mucin rather than as large cell carcinoma. Open image in new window Figure 27.1 Histologic features of large cell carcinomas. (A) Large cell carcinoma. (B) Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, with inset showing synaptophysin immunoreactivity. (C) Basaloid carcinoma. (D) Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma. (E) Large cell carcinoma with rhabdoid phenotype. (Hematoxylin and eosin, original magnification, ×150).
A COARSE-RESOLUTION ROAD MAP TO METHODS FOR APPROXIMATING SOLUTIONS OF TWO-POINT BOUNDARY-VALUE PROBLEMS

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a coarse-resolution road map to methods for approximating solutions of two-point boundary-value problems. It presents a couple of model problems for which the solution methods shares many features with methods for the panorama of distinct problem types such as eigenvalues, nonlinear boundary conditions, systems of equations for vector-valued functions, mixed-order systems, infinite-intervals for the independent variable, singular problems, singular-perturbation problems, multipoint boundary conditions, and mth order equations. The survey approach is used to describe the computer codes implementing various specific methods. The chapter also highlights a few ways of creating discrete models for the transformed problems.
The Fermi Surface of Aluminum and Dilute Aluminum-Zinc Alloys

We have employed the de Haas-van Alphen effect (DHVA) to study the third zone portion of the Fermi surface of pure aluminum and of dilute alloys of zinc in aluminum.
Organizational and Team Structure

The structure of an organization or a team refers to its organizing framework or how its various parts fit together and are expected to function. The structure of an organization creates the foundation for the system in which its teams and work groups are embedded. A team’s structure creates the foundation for the system in which specific employees or team members are embedded. Team performance is affected by the structures of both the organization and the team (Gomberg & Sinesi, 1994; Hackman, 1987; Lenkman & Gribbins, 1994; Moos & Billings, 1991; Shortell, Rousseau, Gilles, Devers, & Simons, 1991). These structures can either benefit or create barriers to team functioning and effectiveness.
A Revised Analysis of the Villa Cornaro

The 2006 book by Branko Mitrovic and Stephen R. Wassell, Andrea Palladio: Villa Cornaro in Piombino Dese, which was based on a 2003 survey as well as supplementary measurements made in 2004, contains analyses that suggest several potential aspects of Palladio’s design methodology for the villa. This present paper offers additional analyses, based not only on the previous data but also on subsequent measurements that the author took of column diminution as well as the ceiling heights of the main hall and the upper-story hall of the villa.
Genomics and precision medicine for malaria: A dream come true?

Abstract The fight against malaria has led to various strategies to understand the biological mechanisms of the parasite, and its interactions with both the human and mosquito hosts. The malaria parasite has evolved diverse tactics to evade host detection. Recent advances in genomics and genome editing such as development of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in malaria parasites as well as next generation sequencing technologies, proteomics and metabolomics have allowed us to better understand the parasite biology and survey genes involved in drug resistance the parasites have acquired over the years. Most importantly these new technologies are allowing us to identify new drug targets and design improved vaccine strategies. In mosquito vector control, revolutionary approaches using synthetic biology are being designed to develop gene drive systems that can reduce vector population. This new concept could have a wide impact on most vector-borne diseases. These combined innovative approaches to malaria research are intended to reduce infection rates with the ultimate goal to eliminate one of the most prevalent and deadly infectious Plasmodium species in the world.
An HPFH Mutation in the γ-Globin Gene Promoter of Humanized Cooley's Anemia Mice Rescues Them from Perinatal Lethality and Renders Them Transfusion Independent

Cooley9s Anemia (CA), β-thalassemia major, is a genetic disease caused by an impairment in β-globin protein synthesis. The resulting excess in α-globin chains causes the premature destruction of erythroid cells (ineffective erythropoiesis), anemia, and if left untreated, death within the first years of life. Several mutations in the promoters of the fetal γ-globin genes have been identified which impair the silencing of the fetal genes in adulthood, a condition termed hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH). The amount of fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) expressed and the distribution within the RBC population (pancellular vs heterocellular), varies widely with different HPFH mutations. It has also been observed that thalassemia patients who co-inherit HPFH mutations that express higher levels of Hb F have milder disease symptoms. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the incorporation of a non-deletional HPFH mutation into the promoter of the human g-globin gene in a humanized mouse model of CA can rescue the animals from their perinatal lethality. Heterozygous humanized HPFH -175 mice express pancellular, high-levels of Hb F into adulthood. Homozygous HPFH -175 CA mice are rescued from their perinatal lethality, surviving solely on 100% human Hb F and are transfusion independent for life. This result is significant because it demonstrates that introduction of an HPFH mutation into the γ-globin gene promoter by gene editing may be a viable therapeutic option for CA patients in the future. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Endoscopic septotomy as a treatment for leaks after sleeve gastrectomy: Meeting presentations: Digestive Disease Week 2019.

Background and study aims Sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is the most commonly performed bariatric procedure in the world. Leaks are the most feared complications after this procedure. Endoscopic septotomy has been described as a resolution technique that could be useful in the setting of late and chronic leaks. We present our experience in the management of gastric leaks with this advanced endoscopic technique. Patients and methods Retrospective review of patients who have been admitted to our hospital from January 2016 to December 2018. Results Five patients were found. All had their index surgery in outside hospitals. The average age was 51 years (range 40 – 69), and four patients were female. Mean time from LSG to leak presentation was 15 days (range 7 – 25). Mean time from leak presentation to septotomy procedure was 61 days (range 21 – 110). All patients were treated with sleeve dilatation before septotomy using endoscopic achalasia balloons. Mean procedure time was 79 minutes (range 55 – 125). Success was achieved in 80 % of patients, and no complications related to the procedure were identified. One patient underwent total gastrectomy for definitive management. Mean follow-up time was 14.25 months (range 6 – 26), and the average time for fistula closure was 60.25 days. Conclusion Endoscopic septotomy is safe and effective for management of chronic leaks after LSG. Associated non-selective dilatation may be a crucial step to allow distal patency and axis rectification for appropriate leak closure.
Expression of the IL-2R in Human Podocytes and the Effect of Activation on Autophagy and Apoptosis.

Background: Interleukin 2 (IL-2) treatment is associated with proteinuria. Materials and Methods: A conditionally immortalized human podocyte cell line was used to investigate expression of the podocyte specific marker podocin, IL-2R alpha (IL-2Rα), apoptosis marker Bax, and autophagy markers LC3I AND LC3II, determined by quantitative immunoblotting, following 24, 48, and 72 hours of IL-2 stimulation, comparing them to unstimulated cells. Results: Podocin was expressed at all time points. IL-2Rα expression was increased after 24 and 72 hrs (p = 0.0014, p = 0.0139) and decreased after 48 hours (p = 0.0445). Bax, LC3I, and LC3II were increased after 24 hrs (p = 0.0094, p = 0.0016, p = 0.0004) and 48 hrs (p = 0.0072, p = 0.0024, p = 0.0087). Conclusion: Human podocytes express the IL-2R and activation results in increased autophagy and apoptosis.
The Super Justification Argument for Phenomenal Transparency

In Consciousness and Fundamental Reality, Philip Goff argues that the case against physicalist views of consciousness turns on ‘Phenomenal Transparency’, roughly the thesis that phenomenal concepts...
MOF-mimetic molecules: carboxylate-based supramolecular complexes as molecular metal–organic framework analogues

Supramolecular complexes and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have both received considerable attention for decades. Interestingly, there are a subset of the former which are structurally similar to portions of the latter. These complexes, which typically feature high solubility, stability, and amenability to surface functionalization strategies, can be thought of as molecular MOF pore analogues. Although these represent a relatively small subset of supramolecular complexes, they are important examples of how the structural diversity of MOFs can be leveraged to afford novel cage complexes. Here we review recent work along the lines of MOF-mimetic molecules which can be classified as (i) pore window analogues, (ii) vertex-terminated cages, and (iii) ligand-terminated cages. We further discuss isomerization of a subset of these complexes and strategies that have been employed to extend MOF-mimetic cages into three dimensions via pillaring or ligand-based structure extension.
Transition Readiness Not Associated With Measures of Health in Youth With IBD.

BACKGROUND It remains unclear how transition readiness is associated with various domains of health in children and young adults. Our objective was to describe the transition readiness of children and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and examine its associations with demographic factors, IBD activity, and measures of physical, psychological, and social health. METHODS We recruited children ages 12 to 17 and young adults ages 18 to 20 from 2 internet-based cohorts sponsored by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Participants self-reported demographics, IBD activity, transition readiness, health-related quality of life, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Information Systems domains of physical, psychological, and social health. RESULTS Among 361 pediatric and 119 adult participants, age and female sex were associated with transition readiness. The association was greater in the pediatric cohort. Having IBD in remission was associated with worse transition readiness in the pediatric cohort only (beta = 0.3; P = 0.003). Health-related quality of life and Patient-Reported Outcomes Information Systems measures of fatigue, pain interference, and sleep disturbance were not associated with transition readiness in either children or adults. We observed few small associations between psychological or social health and transition readiness. Better transition readiness was associated with greater anxiety in adults (beta = -0.02; P = 0.02) and greater peer relationships among children (beta = 0.01; P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS In children and young adults with IBD, transition readiness was associated with older age and female sex. Associations between transition readiness and physical, psychological, and social health were either small, inconsistent across age groups, or nonexistent.
A Tesseract-based Optical Character Recognition for a Text-to-Braille Code Conversion

This study provided a platform that converts printed text documents into corresponding braille code that will trigger the palpable output of the braille cells. The system is composed of two main parts: the image scanner and the microcontroller-based braille platform. The image scanner captures the printed text document and performs a series of pre-processing algorithms where the processed image will be subjected to character recognition using Tesseract. It is open-source software for character recognition capable of recognizing text characters in different fonts and sizes. SimpleCV, also an open-source software for computer vision and a simpler version of an OpenCV, was utilized in pre-processing of images where binarization, filtering, edge detection, and character segmentation are performed. This will allow the microcontroller-based braille platform to interpret the printed characters from the generated braille code in ASCII format that will trigger the palpable output of the braille cells. The developed system was subjected to functionality and accuracy testing to assess its performance. Accuracy was based on the capability of the system to produce the right braille outputs that match the scanned line of text which are in Arial font. The testing was conducted utilizing the Arial font size of 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24. Results show that the system is capable of recognizing text with greater than 85 % accuracy starting at font size 18 with an average accuracy of 88.09 % and increases accordingly as the font size increases.
Emerging lipid lowering agents targeting LDL cholesterol

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in the US. ASCVD is caused by elevated levels of ApoB lipoproteins, which over many years penetrate the arterial subendothelial space leading to plaque growth and eventually rupture causing clinical symptoms. ApoB lipoprotein levels are approximated in clinical practice by LDL-C measurement. LDL-C lowering agents (statins, ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitors) reduce cardiovascular risk in primary and secondary prevention proportionally to LDL-C reduction (23% per 1 mmol/L of LDL). However, for a variety of reasons, many patients do not achieve their recommended LDL-C levels using currently available therapies. This has prompted the development of new LDL-C lowering drugs in the hope to reduce cardiovascular risk, such as bempedoic acid, inclisiran, gemcabene and evinacumab. Drugs targeting other lipids (triglycerides, HDL-C, lipoprotein (a)), intravascular inflammation or acting by other mechanisms also have a role in atherosclerosis prevention, however, they will not be covered in this review.
The Validity, Time Burden, and User Satisfaction of the FoodImageTM Smartphone App for Food Waste Measurement Versus Diaries: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Abstract The FoodImageTM smartphone app transmits users’ photographs of food selection and food waste to researchers, and includes user-tagged information about waste reasons and destination. Twenty-four participants were trained to record food waste using FoodImage, food waste diaries requiring visual estimation of waste quantities, and diaries requiring scale weights. Participants used each method during three staged food-waste scenarios (food preparation, eating, and clean-out) in a randomized crossover trial. Two participants had extreme values for the weighed diary method; therefore, accuracy results are reported with and without these two participants’ data. Error was calculated as waste estimated with the experimental method minus directly weighed waste. Mean absolute error from FoodImage was significantly smaller than or equal to the error from both diary methods in each scenario. Furthermore, the mean values from FoodImage were equivalent to directly weighed values in two out of the three tasks; while weighed diaries were equivalent in two tasks only when the two participants with extreme values were removed. Visually estimated diaries were equivalent for only one task. All 24 participants preferred FoodImage to diaries and all rated FoodImage as less time consuming. Over one week, FoodImage would require ~24 fewer minutes of users’ time to record all data. Unlike food waste diaries, FoodImage also transmits data to researchers in real-time and provides detailed data on food selection and intake.
Understanding purposeful systems: the application of control theory in engineering and psychology

Abstract Engineers use control theory to help them build artificial control systems that will achieve the purposes of the engineer, a process called forward engineering. Psychologists use control theory to help them understand how living control systems are “built” so as to achieve the purposes of the systems themselves, a process called reverse engineering. However, psychologists have often used control theory in a way that is more appropriate to doing forward than reverse engineering, which gives a misleading picture of how the systems they study produce purposeful behavior. This paper describes a version of control theory called Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) that was specifically developed to be used to reverse engineer living control systems. The PCT approach to reverse engineering is aimed at discovering the perceptual variables around which the observed behavior of a living system is organized, a process called the Test for the Controlled Variable or TCV.
A hemilabile diphosphine pyridine pincer ligand: σ- and π-binding in molybdenum coordination complexes

Abstract A series of molybdenum compounds supported by a hemilabile pyridine diphosphine pincer ligand have been synthesized. The ligand demonstrates variable binding modes, adapting to the electronic and geometric requirements of the metal center. In Mo0 and MoII polycarbonyl complexes, coordination through the σ-donating pyridine nitrogen lone pair is observed. Upon oxidative group transfer with anionic azide, a MoIV nitride compound is formed, accompanied by a change in the ancillary ligand binding mode to the pyridine π-system. The σ-coordination was restored by subsequent functionalization of the nitride moiety with either silyl electrophiles or protons. Protonation results in redox disproportionation with concomitant nitride functionalization. Characterization by single crystal X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopy is discussed.
Interstitial fluid flow along white matter tracts: A potentially important mechanism for the dissemination of primary brain tumors

High grade astrocytomas remain incurable even though thesetumors often appear localized on modern imaging studies, rarely metastasize to systemic sites, and can be aggressivelytreated with surgery and radiation therapy. Recent data suggestthat the dissemination of astrocytoma cells along white matter tracts to distant regions of the brain may be responsible for the poor survival of these patients and the limited impact of local therapies. Movement of astrocytoma cells along these white matter tracts can be active or passive in nature. To study the potential for tumor dissemination by bulk flow of interstitial fluid resulting from peritumoral edema, 20 μL of tritiated inulin, Evans Blue, and rat albumin were injected stereotactically into the right frontal lobe and the left temporal lobe at the gray-white matter junction in Sprague-Dawley rats. Six hours later, the ratswere sacrificed and the brains were removed, frozen and prepared for quantitative autoradiography and histologic analysis. Interstitial flow rates were calculated from the autoradiographs, andflow pathways were determined from the movement of Evans Blue, inulin and histologic data. In each animal injected in the frontal lobe, Evans Blue and inulin were primarily confinedto large ipsilateral white matter tracts and extended from the frontal injection site to the occipital lobe. The averageinterstitial fluid flow rate in the association fibers ofthe external capsule was 0.86 mm/hr. In contrast, the animalsreceiving temporal lobe injections had Evans Blue and inulin confined to the temporal lobe. The average interstitial fluid flow rate inthe white matter tracts of the temporal lobe was 0.61 mm/hr.The rapid and preferential flow of interstitial fluid along white matter tracts and the differences in the clearance of extracellular fluid observed between the frontal and temporal lobes may have important clinical implications. These data suggest that aggressive treatment of peritumoral edema, expansionof radiotherapy ports, and consideration of the location of the tumor in treatment planning may improve therapeutic outcomes for some patients.An improved understanding of the mechanisms of tumor dissemination is crucial to designing more effective therapeutic approaches for patients with this devastating malignancy.
The prevalence of ankyloglossia in children aged <1 year: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Despite the low level of evidence supporting the correction of tongue-tie for breastfeeding problems, recognition and treatment has increased substantially over the past 15 years. Prevalence reporting of tongue-tie is variable. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively synthesize the prevalence of tongue-tie in children aged <1 year and to examine the psychometric properties of the assessment tools used for diagnosing tongue-tie in these studies. PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines were followed, with selection of studies and data extraction verified by two authors. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to determine an overall prevalence rate, prevalence by infant sex, and prevalence by diagnostic method. There were 15 studies that met inclusion criteria. Overall prevalence of tongue-tie (N = 24,536) was 8% (95% CI 6–10%, p < 0.01). Prevalence was 7% in males and 4% in females. Prevalence was 10% when using a standardized assessment tool compared to 7% when using visual examination alone (p = 0.16). Available assessment tools for diagnosis of tongue-tie do not have adequate psychometric properties. Tongue-tie is a common anomaly, which has the potential to impact infant feeding. Development of a psychometrically sound assessment of tongue-tie is needed.