cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preventative Vaccines for Zika Virus Outbreak: Preliminary Evaluation

Abstract Since it emerged in Brazil in May 2015, the mosquito-borne Zika virus (ZIKV) has raised global concern due to its association with a significant rise in the number of infants born with microcephaly and neurological disorders such as Guillain-Barre syndrome. We developed prototype subunit and adenoviral-based Zika vaccines encoding the extracellular portion of the ZIKV envelope gene (E) fused to the T4 fibritin foldon trimerization domain (Efl). The subunit vaccine was delivered intradermally through carboxymethyl cellulose microneedle array (MNA). The immunogenicity of these two vaccines, named Ad5.ZIKV-Efl and ZIKV-rEfl, was tested in C57BL/6 mice. Prime/boost immunization regimen was associated with induction of a ZIKV-specific antibody response, which provided neutralizing immunity. Moreover, protection was evaluated in seven-day-old pups after virulent ZIKV intraperitoneal challenge. Pups born to mice immunized with Ad5.ZIKV-Efl were all protected against lethal challenge infection without weight loss or neurological signs, while pups born to dams immunized with MNA-ZIKV-rEfl were partially protected (50%). No protection was seen in pups born to phosphate buffered saline-immunized mice. This study illustrates the preliminary efficacy of the E ZIKV antigen vaccination in controlling ZIKV infectivity, providing a promising candidate vaccine and antigen format for the prevention of Zika virus disease.
Fasudil, a Rho-Associated Protein Kinase (ROCK) Inhibitor, Decreases Disease Burden in a Cbl/Cbl-b Deficiency-Driven Murine Model for Myeloproliferative Disorders

Abstract Myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) are heterogeneous clonal diseases with variable clinical courses. Mutations in the Cbl family genes have been reported in multiple independent studies to be present in about 10% of patients with MPDs and these patients tend of have a poorer prognosis. We have previously demonstrated that Cbl-flox/flox, Cbl-b-null mice rendered Cbl/Cbl-b double knockout (DKO) in the hematopoietic compartment with MMTV-Cre develop a disease phenotypically similar to human MPDs. An in vitro kinase inhibitor screen identified fasudil, a ROCK inhibitor, with relatively selective anti-proliferative activity against Cbl/Cbl-b DKO vs. control murine bone marrow cells. We established a mouse model with a uniform time of MPD onset by transplanting Cbl/Cbl-b DKO bone marrow cells (2x106 per recipient) into 21 busulfan-conditioned NOD/SCID/gamma chain-deficient (NSG) mice. All recipients showed donor cell engraftment. Four weeks post-transplant, we treated 13 mice with 100 mg/kg fasudil daily by gavage. By two weeks of treatment, total white cell and monocyte counts were significantly lower in mice treated with fasudil (p=0.02 and 0.04 respectively). For the entire group, we observed a trend towards improved survival in fasudil-treated mice that didn’t reach statistical significance (p=0.07). However, analysis of male recipients only (n=12) revealed a significant survival advantage in fasudil-treated group (p=0.04). The gender difference may stem from a currently unexplained more severe disease phenotype we observed in female recipients. Notably, while all untreated mice succumbed to MPD, prolonged survival was observed in 2 mice beyond 27 weeks, nearly twice the average life-span in the Cbl/Cbl-b DKO MPD model (16 weeks). The 2 long-term survivors had undetectable levels of myosin light chain (MLC), a downstream target of ROCK phosphorylation (figure) suggesting that inhibition of downstream signaling of ROCK is associated with improved disease control and survival. Taken together, our data suggest a therapeutic potential for fasudil in the treatment of MPDs or other mutant Cbl-driven myeloid disorders. Download : Download high-res image (59KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure: . Fasudil activity in mouse model of Cbl/Cbl-b DKO MPD. Total WBC (A) and monocyte (B) counts over time in untreated and fasudil-treated mice (mean+/-SEM), C: MLC levels by Western Blot in peripheral blood of control vs. fasudil-treated mice; those surviving longer than 27 weeks are indicated. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Risk Factor Analysis Based on Deep Learning Models

Accurate rendering of diagnosis and prognosis for a disease with respect to a patient requires analysis of complicated, diverse, yet correlated risk factors (RFs). Most of the existing methods for this purpose are based on handcraft RFs by calculating their statistical significance to the disease. However, such methods not only incur intensive labor but also lack capability to discover or infer previously unknown complex relationships and combined effects among correlated RFs. Nowadays, deep learning models have emerged as a hot topic, due to its ability to automatically extract useful and complex features from raw data. In this paper, we explore the effectiveness of deep learning on medical data by building a deep learning based framework to analyze risk factors and study its prediction performance in disease diagnosis. Specifically, we investigate the application of deep learning with a special focus on interpreting the latent features extracted or created from raw data by the model. Experimental results demonstrate that deep learning based methods are able to aggregate features sharing same characteristics, and reduce effects from unimportant and uncorrelated RFs. The abstract features obtained by deep learning methods can represent the essentials of raw inputs, and give a good prediction performance in disease diagnosis.
A Case of Immune-Mediated Polyneuropathy in a Patient with Paraprotein-Associated Systemic Capillary Leak Syndrome (P3.184)

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of a patient with systemic capillary leak syndrome and profound neurological symptoms. BACKGROUND: Systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) is a rare immune-mediated disorder characterized by episodic attacks of capillary hyperpermeability of unclear etiology. The diagnosis is based on episodes of profound hypotension, edema, hemoconcentration, and hypoalbuminemia without evidence of underlying infection. A majority of patients with SCLS also have monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS). MGUS is associated with immune-mediated neuropathies however a detailed depiction of neuropathy in SCLS has not been previously described. DESIGN/METHODS: A single case report. RESULTS: A 66 year-old man was diagnosed with SCLS in 2011 after an extensive diagnostic work-up. The patient was started on IVIG as treatment for SCLS and has had no further episodes. He was known to have a plasma immunoglobulin G kappa monoclonal protein. He was referred to neurology for evaluation of progressive weakness, numbness, and paresthesias in the distal lower extremities that he dated to the first SCLS attack. Clinical examination showed weakness of the distal lower extremities with bilateral foot drop, diffuse areflexia, and large fiber sensory loss. EMG showed a moderately severe, generalized sensorimotor polyneuropathy with evidence of active and chronic axonal loss. IVIG has also stabilized his neurological symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: While the association between SCLS and MGUS is well-recognized, the incidence of neuropathy in patients with SCLS has not been established. To our knowledge this is the first case to report neurological and electrophysiological findings in a patient with SCLS. Further research into the underlying pathophysiology of this disorder may help elucidate whether the neuropathy results from concurrent monoclonal gammopathy or from indirect immune-mediated effects secondary to SCLS. This case also underscores that patients with SCLS are at risk for neuropathy and should be screened. Disclosure: Dr. Stavros has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cunningham-Rundles has received personal compensation for activities with CSL Behring and Baxter as a consultant and/or medical advisory board member. Dr. Cunningham-Rundles has received research support from ADMA. Dr. Simpson has received personal compensation for activities with NeurogesX, Eli Lilly & Company, AstraZeneca, Allergan, Inc., ViroMed, Pfizer Inc., Astellas Pharma, Ipsen, and Merz Pharma as a consultant and/or speaker.
Electrochemical Water Oxidation by a Catalyst-Modified Metal–Organic Framework Thin Film

Water oxidation, a key component in artificial photosynthesis, requires high overpotentials and exhibits slow reaction kinetics that necessitates the use of stable and efficient heterogeneous water-oxidation catalysts (WOCs). Here, we report the synthesis of UiO-67 metal–organic framework (MOF) thin films doped with [Ru(tpy)(dcbpy)OH2]2+ (tpy=2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine, dcbpy=5,5′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine) on conducting surfaces and their propensity for electrochemical water oxidation. The electrocatalyst oxidized water with a turnover frequency (TOF) of (0.2±0.1) s−1 at 1.71 V versus the normal hydrogen electrode (NHE) in buffered solution (pH∼7) and exhibited structural and electrochemical stability. The electroactive sites were distributed throughout the MOF thin film on the basis of scan-ratedependent voltammetry studies. This work demonstrates a promising way to immobilize large concentrations of electroactive WOCs into a highly robust MOF scaffold and paves the way for future photoelectrochemical water-splitting systems.
Parent-adolescent influences on everyday dietary practices: Perceptions of adolescent females with obesity and their mothers.

Parents demonstrate an important influence on adolescent obesity and dietary behavior; yet, family-based obesity interventions continue to exhibit limited success among adolescents. To further inform family-based approaches for adolescent obesity treatment, we examined the perceptions of adolescent females with obesity and their mothers of the influences experienced within the parent-adolescent relationship that affect everyday dietary practices. We conducted six focus group interviews (three adolescent female and three mother) among 15 adolescent (12–17 years old) females with obesity and 12 of their mothers. Content analysis techniques were used to analyze the transcribed interviews. Adolescent females with obesity discussed a diverse set of parental influences (controlling, supporting and cultivating, overlooking and tempting, acquiescing, providing, attending, and not providing and avoiding) on their daily dietary practices. Among mother focus groups, mothers discussed specific intentional and unintentional types of influences from children that affected the food and drink they consumed, prepared, and acquired. Findings provide a fuller view of the varied social influences on everyday dietary practices within the parent-adolescent relationship. They indicate the importance of examining both parent-to-child and child-to-parent influences and begin to illuminate the value of attending to the social circumstances surrounding dietary behaviors to strengthen family-based obesity treatment approaches.
Orthogonal Luciferase–Luciferin Pairs for Bioluminescence Imaging

Bioluminescence imaging with luciferase–luciferin pairs is widely used in biomedical research. Several luciferases have been identified in nature, and many have been adapted for tracking cells in whole animals. Unfortunately, the optimal luciferases for imaging in vivo utilize the same substrate and therefore cannot easily differentiate multiple cell types in a single subject. To develop a broader set of distinguishable probes, we crafted custom luciferins that can be selectively processed by engineered luciferases. Libraries of mutant enzymes were iteratively screened with sterically modified luciferins, and orthogonal enzyme–substrate “hits” were identified. These tools produced light when complementary enzyme–substrate partners interacted both in vitro and in cultured cell models. Based on their selectivity, these designer pairs will bolster multicomponent imaging and enable the direct interrogation of cell networks not currently possible with existing tools. Our screening platform is also general and ...
Families and Mediation: The Impact of Various Mediation Styles in Child Custody Cases

The child custody disputes may have different backgrounds, such as: divorce, guardianship, adoption, child abuse and neglect, etc. Quite often, however, parents’ separation and divorce raise the issue of child custody. Families dealing with these stressful life events face a tough time of insecurity and confusion. Studies have shown that the degree of cooperation or conflict between parents is the factor that significantly contributes to how the children will react to their parents’ divorce or separation. Unfortunately, the adversarial process has not proven to be the best method to help parents to cooperate and support each other when the lives of their children are being discussed. In contrast to litigation, mediation has showed to be a process that diminishes negative consequences that often result from custody disputes. Mediation brings parents together, emphasizes their common interests, and helps them make decisions that will benefit the whole family. During the past few decades, international mediation practice has developed various mediation styles, nowadays used by mediators to manage different types of disputes. This paper will address one of the most discussed classifications of mediation styles with an effort to reach conclusions on the most appropriate approach to mediating child custody disputes.
Facilitating surgeon understanding of complex anatomy using a three-dimensional printed model.

Background 3-dimensional prints (3DP) anecdotally facilitate surgeon understanding of anatomy and decision-making. However, the actual benefit to surgeons or patients has not been quantified. This study investigates how surgeon understanding of complex anatomy is altered by a 3DP compared to computed tomography (CT) scan or CT + digital reconstruction (CT + DR). Materials and methods Key anatomic features were segmented from a CT-abdomen/pelvis of pygopagus twins to build a DR and printed in color on a 3D printer. Pediatric surgery trainees and attendings (n = 21) were tested regarding anatomy identification and their understanding of point-to-point distances, scale, and shape. Results There was no difference between media regarding point-to-point distances. The 3DP led to an increased number of correct answers for questions of scale and shape compared to CT (P < 0.05). CT + DR performance was intermediate but not statistically different from 3DP or CT. Identification of anatomy was inconsistent between media; however, answers were significantly closer to correct when using the 3DP. Participants completed the test faster with the 3DP (6.6 ± 0.5 min) (P < 0.05) than with CT (18.9 ± 2.5 min) or CT + 3DR (14.9 ± 1.5 min). Conclusions Although point-to-point measurements were not different, 3DP increased the understanding of shape, scale, and anatomy. It enabled understanding significantly faster than other media. In difficult surgical cases with complex anatomy and a need for efficient multidisciplinary coordination, 3D printed models should be considered for surgical planning.
Bathysiphonid (Protista: Foraminiferida) Localities in Franciscan Flysch, Northern California, with a Redescription of Bathysiphon Aaltoi Miller, 1986

Four bathysiphonid localities are described from the Late Jurassic to mid-Cretaceous Yolla Bolly terrane of northern coastal California: Point Saint George near Crescent City (with abundant Bathysiphon aaltoi); Little Lost Man Creek near Orick (rare Bathysiphon sp.); Redwood Creek also near Orick (abundant B. cashmanae rare B. aaltoi); and Berry Summit east of Arcata (rare Bathysiphon sp. cf. B. aaltoi). All occurrences are in fine-grained deep sea fan deposits containing trace fossils characteristic of the Nereites ichnofacies. A series of large, nearly complete tests approximately 100 mm in length from Point Saint George permits a more accurate and complete description of B. aaltoi.
Transvernacular Poetry and Government: Andrew Marvell in Early Modern Europe

Marvell’s experiences as traveling tutor, diplomat and political agent add a dimension of real international encounter in his poetry and prose that stands in addition to the literary citation or quotation of non-English books, and makes his verse distinctive among his contemporaries. This essay maps some of the literary landscape and the politics of literature in the places he visited in Europe, Russia and Scandinavia, and not least the monarchical absolutism experienced by some writers in these places. While some of this encounter and literary knowledge is reflected in his writing, other parts are not. The dominant pattern is that the north European encounter is in general not met by northern literary influence in Marvell’s writing: features of citation, quotation, allusion and echo are largely to southern European sources: mostly French and Italian, but also Spanish. Marvell’s interest in the longer history of lyric is set in the context of the Thirty Years War that seriously inhibited access to valuable ancient manuscripts. The question of the possible influence of some of Marvell’s writings, especially his poetry, in seventeenth-century Europe is discussed. It is to be hoped that the geography of poetry begun here will help illuminate the European dimensions of Marvell’s writings as more concrete details of his activities and his writings in Europe as well as in England are discovered.
The Relative Influence of Injunctive and Descriptive Social Norms on Methamphetamine, Heroin, and Injection Drug Use Among Homeless Youths: The Impact of Different Referent Groups:

The current study assessed the relative influence of both injunctive and descriptive norms in the context of different referent groups (i.e., family, street peers, home-based peers, and staff membe...
Measuring judicial independence in international law: Putting together the pieces of the puzzle

This article searches for paths, frameworks and modules for the measurement and evaluation of judicial independence in international law. First, it discusses the measurability of the concept. Judic...
Losing the right to the truth

Soulevant la question de savoir si l'on peut perdre le droit a la verite, l'A. montre que ni le principe de l'universalite ni le respect de l'autonomie ne sont suffisants pour exiger une reponse vraie a une question. Des lors, la morale, la prudence et le sens commun apparaissent comme de bons guides dans l'exigence ethique de verite. Faisant la part du droit a la verite de l'auditeur et du droit de mentir du locuteur, l'A. montre avec S. Bok et T. Hill Jr que le mensonge prive l'auditeur d'un certain degre d'autonomie, d'une part, et defend l'origine du droit a la verite dans la participation active de l'individu a la communaute morale, d'autre part
Seis ideas que están cambiando el campo de las discapacidades intelectuales y del desarrollo en todo el mundo

El proposito del presente articulo es presentar seis ideas que en estos momentos estan teniendo influencia en los legisladores y en los proveedores de servicios y apoyos en el ambito de las discapacidades intelectuales y del desarrollo (que estan intimamente relacionadas). Estas seis ideas son las siguientes: las personas se ven influidas por varios sistemas, debemos enfocar la discapacidad desde un punto de vista holistico, las politicas sobre discapacidad deben tener un enfoque sistematico, los apoyos deben abarcar los elementos de un sistema de apoyos, la evaluacion tiene diversos factores y las organizaciones se deben transformar para poder ser sostenibles.
Elaboration of the New Theory of Depression and Conclusions

To find better treatments for major depression we have to (1) advance knowledge about the psychopathologic structure of the depressive disorders and (2) resolve how the array of different established drugs bring about therapeutic effects. Failure to move forward on these issues has stalled drug development resulting in the failure to introduce new classes of ADs since the SSRIs. The findings and novel concepts reported include: (1) the “opposed neurobehavioral states” hypothesis, a theory about the nature of depression that better explains the psychological experience, its multifaceted quality, and its basis at the neurobehavioral level. Questioning whether the current concept of “depression” adequately represents the disorder’s complexity and turmoil-like quality, (2) presents a new model for clinical research and trials more appropriate to the revised concept of depression, (3) summarizes results from two multidisciplinary projects structured in accord with the new model, showing earlier basic assumptions about specificity and timing of drug clinical actions to be false, (4) by applying the alternative model new, more refined data on the nature, onset and sequence of drug-induced behavioral actions is generated. It indicated that the various AD classes induce different behavioral changes and that efficacy can be achieved through several different behavioral pathways, facilitating novel approaches to drug development. At the practical level, the clinician will now be able to more judiciously select the appropriate treatment, and predict, from the patient’s behavioral reactivity in the first 2 weeks, the clinical response at outcome.
Best Initial Conditions for the Rendezvous Maneuver

Abstract The majority of the papers dedicated to the rendezvous problem have employed the assumption of given initial position and given initial velocity of the chaser spacecraft vis-a-vis the target spacecraft. In this research, the initial separation velocity components are assumed free and the initial separation coordinates are subject to only the requirement that the chaser-to-target distance is given. Within this frame, two problems are studied: time-to-rendezvous free and time-to-rendezvous given. It is assumed that the target spacecraft moves along a circular orbit, that the chaser spacecraft has variable mass, and that its trajectory is governed by three controls, one determining the thrust magnitude and two determining the thrust direction. Analyses performed with the multiple-subarc sequential gradient-restoration algorithm for optimal control problems show that the fuel-optimal trajectory is zero-bang; namely, it includes a long coasting zero-thrust subarc followed by a short powered max-thrust braking subarc. While the thrust direction of the powered subarc is continuously variable for the optimal trajectory, its replacement with a constant (yet optimized) thrust direction produces a very efficient guidance trajectory.
Pushing Archetypal Representational Systems Further

We revived Jung’s Archetypes to characterize what we see as an emerging confluence of evolutionary, embodied, and ecological responses to traditional cognitive models of mental representation. We p...
Heterogeneity of birth‐state effects on internal migration

Working in a discrete location choice framework, we develop a model of migration that allows the identification of heterogeneity in state‐of‐birth effects across states. We employ a novel method for using aggregate data to estimate the role of birth state on migration choices. This approach reveals considerable heterogeneity and some regional clustering in birth‐state inertia effects across states, with strong attachments in California, the Southwest, and the upper Midwest. The weakest attachments are in the mountain states and New York.
Retained placenta after vaginal delivery: risk factors and management

Retained placenta after vaginal delivery is diagnosed when a placenta does not spontaneously deliver within a designated amount of time, variably defined as a period of 18-60 mins. It may also be diagnosed if a patient experiences significant hemorrhage prior to delivery of the placenta. Normal placenta delivery requires adequate uterine contractions, with shearing of the placenta and decidua from the uterine wall and expulsion of the tissue. Thus, retained placenta can occur in the setting of significant uterine atony, abnormally adherent placenta, as with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), or closure of the cervix prior to placental expulsion. Risk factors for retained placenta parallel those for uterine atony and PAS and include prolonged oxytocin use, high parity, preterm delivery, history of uterine surgery, and IVF conceptions. History of a prior retained placenta and congenital uterine anomalies also appear to be risk factors. Management entails manual removal of the placenta with adequate analgesia, as medical intervention alone has not been proven effective. Complications can include major hemorrhage, endometritis, or retained portions of placental tissue, the latter of which can lead to delayed hemorrhage or infection. Prophylactic antibiotics can be considered with manual placenta removal, though evidence regarding effectiveness is inconsistent. If hemorrhage is encountered, deployment of a massive transfusion protocol, uterine evacuation with suction, and use of intrauterine tamponade, as with an intrauterine balloon, should be initiated immediately. When a separation plane between the placenta and uterus is particularly difficult to create, PAS should be considered, and preparations should be made for hemorrhage and hysterectomy. Patients with risk factors for retained placenta should have a laboratory sample sent for blood type and antibody screening on admission to labor and delivery, and plans should be made for appropriate analgesia and preparations for hemorrhage if a retained placenta is encountered.
Large Left Atrial Appendage Causing Cryptogenic Stroke.

Cryptogenic stroke is a subtype of ischemic stroke for which no identifiable cause is found after routine diagnostic evaluation. It accounts for roughly 25% of ischemic strokes. Structural cardiac abnormalities such as patent foramen ovale, atrial septal defect (ASD), and a large left atrial appendage (LAA) are commonly associated risk factors in patients with cryptogenic stroke. We report a case of a patient with a history of a surgically repaired ASD found to have a large LAA without identifiable thrombus on both transthoracic echocardiogram and transesophageal echocardiogram after presenting with an acute cryptogenic stroke in the absence of any arrhythmias. We aim to emphasize the importance of the LAA, particularly if large, in the pathogenesis and development of cryptogenic strokes. Additionally, we discuss the necessity for clearly defined guidelines on whether to start anticoagulation in these patients.
Amicus Brief of Cybersecurity Law Professors in Enigma Software v. Malwarebytes

In Enigma Software v. Malwarebytes, the Ninth Circuit ruled that 47 U.S.C. 230(c)(2)(B) does not protect anti-threat classification decisions that are allegedly based on "anti-competitive animus." This amicus brief, joined by 7 professors, explains how the Ninth Circuit's ruling makes the Internet less safe. Many anti-threat software programs are, in fact, rogue software that should be classified as threats. Those classification decisions will create greater legal risk, and that will discourage legitimate anti-threat vendors from labeling rogue software as threats. To ensure that anti-threat software vendors can continue to vigorously protect consumers from rogue software, the amicus brief urges the Ninth Circuit to rehear the case.
An association between biased impression updating and relationship facilitation: A behavioral and fMRI investigation

Is ingroup bias associated with any benefit for maintaining close relationships? We examined the link between biased impression updating for ingroup members (i.e., friends) and relationship maintenance, as measured by the number of friends participants reported having (Studies 1 and 2). We also investigated the underlying neural basis of this possible effect, focusing on activity in the right temporo-parietal junction (RTPJ), a region of the social brain involved in moral updating (Study 2). Specifically, we tested whether selectively discounting negative information about close others, manifested in reduced impression updating, and indexed by reduced RTPJ activity, is related to maintaining close relationships. In Study 1, after imagining a friend and a stranger performing different positive and negative behaviors, participants who were reluctant to update how close they felt to their friend (friend-closeness) reported having more friends in real life. In Study 2, participants were led to believe that a friend and a stranger gave money to them or took money away from them, while they were in the scanner. Participants who engaged in less negative updating of friends versus strangers reported having more friends. Participants who engaged in less friend-closeness updating also showed reduced RTPJ activity when their friend took money from them, and this neural pattern was associated with reports of having more friends. Together, these findings suggest that selectively discounting close others' negative behavior is linked to maintaining close relationships, indicating a potential social benefit of ingroup bias.
Interdisciplinary Cluster Hiring Initiatives in U.S. Research Universities: More Straw than Bricks?.

Over the last three decades, interdisciplinary cluster hiring programs have become popular on research university campuses as an approach to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. These program...
Acholeplasma equirhinis sp. nov. isolated from respiratory tract of horse (Equus caballus) and Mycoplasma procyoni sp. nov. isolated from oral cavity of raccoon (Procyon lotor).

We describe two novel species of Acholeplasma sp. strain N93 and Mycoplasma sp. strain LR5794 which were isolated from the nasopharynx of a horse from the United Kingdom and from the oral cavity of a North American raccoon from Canada, respectively. These strains were phenotypically and genetically characterized and compared to other established Mycoplasma and Acholeplasma species. Both strains are facultative anaerobes, resistant to penicillin, and produce acid from glucose but do not hydrolyze arginine and urea. Both strains grew well in microaerophilic and anaerobic atmospheric conditions at 35–37 °C using PPLO (pleuropneumonia-like organisms) medium. Acholeplasma sp. N93 does not require serum for growth. Colonies of both strains showed a typical fried-egg appearance and transmission electron microscopy of bacterial cells revealed a typical mycoplasma cellular morphology. Molecular characterization included assessment of several genetic loci. The genetic analysis indicated that Acholeplasma sp. N93 and Mycoplasma sp. LR5794 were most closely related to A. hippikon and A. equifetale, and M. molare and M. lagogenitalium, respectively. However, both novel strains were genetically unique in comparison to other well-known Mycoplasma and Acholeplasma species. Based on the isolation source history, phenotypic, genotypic, and phylogenetic characteristics of these novel strains, we propose the name Acholeplasma equirhinis sp. nov. for Acholeplasma sp. isolated from the nasopharynx of a horse [the type strain is N93T (= DSM 106692T = ATCC TSD-139T = NCTC 14351T)], and the name Mycoplasma procyoni sp. nov. for the Mycoplasma sp. isolated from the oral cavity of a North American raccoon [the type strain is LR5794T (= DSM 106703T = ATCC TSD-141T = NCTC 14309T)].
Paediatric developmental venous anomalies (DVAs): how often do they bleed and where?

Developmental venous anomalies (DVAs) are anomalies of venous drainage and considered a low-flow malformation. Studies evaluating natural history and risk factors for intracranial haemorrhage in the paediatric population are rare. We evaluate clinical and radiological features, risk factors and outcomes of paediatric DVAs. A retrospective study was conducted over a 10-year period between 2004 and 2014. Medical records, imaging and prospective databases were reviewed. Three-hundred-and-three radiological studies in total were evaluated. Fifty-two children (20 boys and 32 girls [median age: 6 years] were identified with DVAs. Their age distribution was as follows: 1.9% neonates (< 1 month), 11.5% infants (1 month to 1 year), 30.8% 1–5 years, 30.8% 5–12 years and 25% 12–16 years. The majority (92.3%) presented with asymptomatic DVAs identified incidentally. Overall, anatomical distribution revealed predilection for frontal region (42.3%) with other common sites being posterior fossa (17.3%) and basal ganglia (13.5%). Temporal (11.5%), parietal (9.6%) and occipital (5.8%) were the remainder. Associated cavernous malformations (CMs) were present in 3/52 (5.8%), and no DVAs were associated with aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Three patients had more than one DVA. There were three deaths unrelated to DVAs over median follow-up of 3.8 years. Four patients (7.7%) suffered DVA-related intracranial haemorrhage presenting with neurological deficits. The ages of the children with DVA-related haemorrhages were 21 days, 2 years and 6 months, 7 years and 1 month and 11 years and 7 months. Left-sided DVA haemorrhages predominated (3/4, 75%). The relative risk of a cerebellar DVA haemorrhage compared to its supratentorial counterpart was 5.35 (OR 6.8, 95% CI 0.8–58). DVA-related haemorrhage is sevenfold greater in our paediatric cohort compared to adults and is significantly associated with cerebellar location and cavernous malformations. There were no haemorrhages over a median period of 3.8 years of prospective follow-up.
CRT-600.24 Association of Diagnosis Related Group With 30-Day Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

The association between Medicare Severity-Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) and 30-day outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has not been well studied. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between DRG and 30-day clinical outcomes in patients with severe
Mind-body practices in U.S. adults: Prevalence and correlates.

Abstract Objectives Mind-body practices (MBP), such as Yoga or Tai-Chi, have increased in popularity in the past 25 years in the US. These activities may help promote a less sedentary lifestyle and may have positive effects on health. The objective of the present study is to understand the prevalence and trends of MBP in US adults and the factors associated with their use in a population-based adult lifespan sample. Methods We used data from three waves of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) survey (1995, 2005, and 2015), a population-based longitudinal study of community-dwelling adults. Only data from participants with valid observations across three waves (N = 2262) aged 24–74 years at baseline (M = 46; SD = 11) were used. We examined the prevalence of MBP, longitudinal patterns, and correlates of MBP use over 20 years. Results Rates of MBP use were relatively stable over time in this sample, with 20%, 17%, and 18% of participants using MBP at wave 1, 2, and 3, respectively. A number of sociodemographic and health variables were independently related to frequency of MBP use over 20 years: Women, participants with higher levels of education, never married participants, and participants who suffered from multiple chronic health conditions were more likely to use MBP. Discussion Our findings suggest that MBP may provide an opportunity for physical activity for individuals suffering from chronic health conditions. More research is needed to understand whether this, in turn, results in better health outcomes for these individuals.
Classroom Greetings: More than a Simple Hello.

In classrooms, the act of saying hello - the ritual of shaking hands or hugging, and taking the time to exchange information – can enact relational values of “We”-ness, of belonging. In this paper we highlight how one second grade teacher’s personalized and consistent use of greetings, and apprenticeship of students into how to greet and be greeted, functions to build community and involvement. Data are part of a two-year case study of a second-grade classroom in a diverse urban US context. This study examines approximately 16 weeks of classroom greeting data collected from Morning Meetings (10 hours, 39 minutes) and then homes in on 5 minutes across one day for a close look at the apprenticeship into, and roles of, being a greeter. Analysis explicates how greetings are used in different ways across time and how they work together to build classroom community togetherness. We argue that classroom greetings are a partial marker of dialogic pedagogy.
Clostridium difficile Infection in Surgical Patients

The incidence and severity of Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection has dramatically increased globally in the last three decades particularly due to indiscriminate use of antibiotics.
Rapid molecular detection of airway pathogens in lung transplant recipients.

Author(s): Hoover, Jonathan; Mintz, Michelle A; Deiter, Fred; Aminian, Emily; Chen, Joy; Hays, Steven R; Singer, Jonathan P; Calabrese, Daniel R; Kukreja, Jasleen; Greenland, John R | Abstract: BackgroundAirway infections are difficult to distinguish from acute rejection in lung transplant recipients. Traditional culture techniques take time that may delay treatment. We hypothesized that a rapid multiplex molecular assay could improve time to diagnosis and appropriate clinical decision making.MethodsIn a prospective observational study of recipients undergoing bronchoscopy, we assessed the BioFire® FilmArray® Pneumonia Panel (BFPP) in parallel to standard of care (SOC) diagnostics. Research clinicians performed shadow (research only) clinical decision making in real time. Time to report and interpretation were reported as median and interquartile ranges and compared by Wilcoxon signed-ranked test. Agreement was defined based on detection of any species targeted in the molecular assay.ResultsFor the 150 enrolled subjects, BFPP results were available 3.8nhours (IQR 2.8-5.1) following bronchoscopy, compared to 13nhours for viral SOC (IQR 10-34, Pnln.001) results and 48nhours for bacterial SOC (IQR 46-70, Pnln.001) results. Positive BFPP results were interpreted in 9nhours (IQR 5-20) following bronchoscopy, compared to 74nhours for SOC (IQR 37-110, Pnln.001). Assays agreed for 138 (92%) of the 150 subjects. Of 22 BFPP diagnoses, five (23%) resulted in a shadow antibiotic recommendation. Notable BFPP deficiencies included fungal species and H parainfluenzae, accounting for 15 (27%) and 13 (23%) of the 56 actionable SOC results, respectively.ConclusionsThis molecular diagnostic including bacterial targets has the potential to shorten time to diagnosis and augment current clinical decision making but cannot replace SOC culture methods.
Plant Traits are Differentially Linked to Performance in a Semiarid Ecosystem

A central principle in trait-based ecology is that trait variation has an adaptive value. However, uncertainty over which plant traits influence individual performance across environmental gradients may limit our ability to use traits to infer ecological processes at larger scales. To better understand which traits are linked to performance under different precipitation regimes, we measured above- and belowground traits, growth, and reproductive allocation for four annual and four perennial species from a coastal sage scrub community in California under conditions of 50%, 100%, and 150% ambient precipitation. Across water treatments, annual species displayed morphological trait values consistent with high rates of resource acquisition (e.g., low leaf mass per area, low root tissue density, high specific root length), and aboveground measures of resource acquisition (including photosynthetic rate and leaf N concentration) were positively associated with plant performance (reproductive allocation). Results from a structural equation model demonstrated that leaf traits explained 38% of the variation in reproductive allocation across the water gradient in annual species, while root traits accounted for only 6%. Although roots play a critical role in water uptake, more work is needed to understand the mechanisms by which root trait variation can influence performance in water-limited environments. Perennial species showed lower trait plasticity than annuals across the water gradient and were more variable as a group in terms of trait-performance relationships, indicating that species rely on different functional strategies to respond to drought. Our finding that species identity drives much of the variation in trait values and trait-performance relationships across a water gradient may simplify efforts to model ecological processes, such as productivity, that are potentially influenced by environmentally induced shifts in trait values.
Few Adverse Cardiovascular Events Among Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Receiving Hydroxychloroquine: Are We Reassured?

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), an antimalarial agent, was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of rheumatic diseases in 1955 and has since become a crucial disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). It is now a standard-of-care medication for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and part of the triple-therapy regimen for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While risks of cardiotoxicity and specifically conduction abnormalities have been documented, they are thought to be rare.
On the Continuity of Bounded Weak Solutions to Parabolic Equations and Systems with Quadratic Growth in Gradients

We establish the pointwise continuity of bounded weak solutions to of a class of scalar parabolic equations and strongly coupled parabolic systems. Our approach to the regularity theory of parabolic scalar equations is quite elementary and its applications to strongly coupled systems does not require higher $L^p$ integrability of derivatives.
The Projection Extension Method: A Spectrally Accurate Technique for Complex Domains.

An essential ingredient of a spectral method is the choice of suitable bases for test and trial spaces. On complex domains, these bases are harder to devise, necessitating the use of domain partitioning techniques such as the spectral element method. In this study, we introduce the Projection Extension (PE) method, an approach that yields spectrally accurate solutions to various problems on complex geometries without requiring domain decomposition. This technique builds on the insights used by extension methodologies such as the immersed boundary smooth extension and Smooth Forcing Extension (SFE) methods that are designed to improve the order of accuracy of the immersed boundary method. In particular, it couples an accurate extension procedure, that functions on arbitrary domains regardless of connectedness or regularity, with a least squares minimization of the boundary conditions. The resulting procedure is stable under iterative application and straightforward to generalize to higher dimensions. Moreover, it rapidly and robustly yields exponentially convergent solutions to a number of challenging test problems, including elliptic, parabolic, Newtonian fluid flow, and viscoelastic problems.
The Sharing Economy and Competition

The chapter deals with the topic of the sharing economy, with an emphasis on ride sharing due to its uniquely broad worldwide absorption and the commodity nature of the services provided. It begins by examining the sharing economy in general, studying its definition, its history, its growth world-wide, and its economic rationale. This introductory discussion observes recent explosive growth driven by instant mass communication combined with either increasing willingness of regulators to accommodate technology-based innovation, or inability of regulators to impede it. The chapter analyzes the sharing economy as a disruptive force in regulated service sectors. The definitional features of the sharing economy include enterprise structures that may be able to serve as alternatives to public regulation, resolving the trust problem that limits economic activity. The impact of the sharing economy can therefore include overcoming failings in regulation, including corruption and stasis. The chapter recognizes the countervailing problems with privatizing the regulator’s role, including presenting safety and privacy concerns as well as transition costs that uniquely impact participants in regulated markets. The chapter then analyzes the host of competition policy issues raised by the sharing economy, discuss how jurisdictions have so far handled those issues, and propose best approaches to resolving those issues. Competition policy questions that have arisen or can be expected to include problems in market definition, firm structure, monopolization, and cartelization. These questions, all of which impact the service market in which consumers are affected, have flip-side questions in the labor markets. The chapter is intended to explain the sharing economy and its regulatory and competition policy implications, and to provide a roadmap to improve regulatory responses.
Symbolic FSM Traversal Methods

State Transition Graph traversal algorithms for finite state machines have applications in the area of synthesis, test, and verification. Traditional methods that enumerate the state space of the machine explicitly cannot handle machines with a large number of states. The approaches presented in the previous chapter try to combine implicit input enumeration with implicit state-space enumeration. Unfortunately, in general, states can only be combined if they are equivalent and have uni-distant state codes. Also, the method of enumeration involves a depth-first search of the STG.
The optimality of a class of distributed estimation fusion algorithm

When the measurement noises across sensors at the same time may be correlated, for linear minimum mean-squared errors (LMMSE) estimation, a systematic way to handle the corresponding distributed estimation fusion problem is proposed in this paper based on a unified data model for linear unbiased estimation. The optimality (equivalence to the optimal centralized estimation fusion) of the new optimal distributed estimation fusion algorithm is then analyzed. A necessary and sufficient condition of the optimality for the general case and sufficient conditions for two special cases are given. Comparisons with the existing distributed estimation fusion algorithms are also discussed.
Sticking to Your Plan: Empirical Evidence on the Role of Present Bias for Credit Card Paydown

I use data from an online financial service to show that many consumers fail to stick to their self-set debt paydown plans, and argue that this behavior is best explained by present bias. Each user's sensitivity of consumption spending to paycheck receipt proxies for his short-run impatience. I empirically distinguish between consumers who are aware (sophisticated) and unaware (naive) of their future impatience by exploiting that this sensitivity varies with available resources for sophisticates only. Consistent with present bias, I find that sophisticated agents' planned paydown is more predictive of actual paydown than that of naives, and that their paydown falls with higher measured impatience. This highlights the importance of distinguishing between sophisticated and naive present-biased individuals in understanding their financial decision making.