cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hepatic Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma in a Patient With Hemochromatosis

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) is a rare hepatic vascular tumor that represents a diagnostic challenge. The rarity of this neoplasm precludes establishment of a standard-of-care treatment. Risk factors for HEHE are not well-known. Liver transplant remains the most common therapeutic modality for nonmetastatic disease. This article describes a patient who presented with abdominal pain, fatigue, poor appetite, and weight loss. Genetic testing showed that the patient was homozygous for C282Y consistent with hereditary hemochromatosis, and liver biopsy was consistent with malignant epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. The patient was referred for a liver transplant but was deemed inappropriate for transplant secondary to peritoneal studding, with frozen-section analysis showing metastatic disease at the time of surgery.
Criminal Justice Issues in Revolutionary Nicaragua

In this article, the author discusses his experiences traveling to Nicaragua in May 1985, as a part of a group of American lawyers and law professors invited by the Nicaraguan Association of Democratic Justice to consult on the judicial process, as well as a revolutionary struggle within the Nicaraguan institutions responsible for criminal justice. This article addresses current criminal procedure, special tribunals, and popular anti-Somocista tribunals. It also discusses a pilot project geared to improve criminal justice issues in Nicaragua.
Neutral mood induction during reconsolidation reduces accuracy, but not vividness and anxiety of emotional episodic memories.

Abstract Background and objectives Consolidated memories become labile upon reactivation and as a result have to go through reconsolidation to become re-stabilized. This property of memory may potentially be used to reduce the impact of highly negative episodic memories. Because detailed and vivid negative memories are mediated by high arousal, if arousal is lessened during reconsolidation, memory accuracy and vividness should diminish. In this study, we examined this hypothesis. Methods Participants ( N = 72) viewed a stressful, suspenseful video on Day 1 to develop negative episodic memories. Then, 24–29 h later, they saw a brief reminder of the stressful video (or not), and then viewed a neutral, calming (or positive) video. Another 24–29 h later, participants were tested on the accuracy, vividness, and anxiety associated with their memory of the stressful video on Day 1. Results Participants who watched the reminder and then the neutral video showed reduced memory accuracy compared to participants in the other groups. Despite the reduction in memory accuracy, their memory vividness and anxiety associated with the stressful video did not decrease. Limitations The use of undergraduates prevents generalizations to clinical populations. Also, the study did not test long-term memories that were more than 2 days old. Conclusions Neutral mood induction during reconsolidation reduces the accuracy of highly negative episodic memories.
Mobile game development projects for introductory CS courses: tutorial presentation

Game development and mobile computing have been successfully used to increase student motivation. However, instructors with no background in mobile computing, computer graphics, and/or game development may find it difficult to develop or adopt course materials on these topics. This workshop is designed to address these concerns. Using Java Micro Edition, we have developed several project-based course modules focused on mobile game development and designed to study fundamental programming principles (e.g. loops) while also exposing students to more advanced concepts (e.g. databases). Using a mobile phone emulator, participants will test-drive one of our modules and develop a simple game, which can then be transferred to and played on a mobile device. A Windows or Mac laptop is recommended.
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli dynamically regulates EGFR signaling in intestinal epithelial cells

The diarrheagenic pathogen enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) dynamically modulates the survival of infected host intestinal epithelial cells. In the initial stages of infection, several prosurvival signaling events are activated in host cells. These include the phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the consequent activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt pathway. While studying this pathway in infected epithelial cells, we observed EGFR depletion at later stages of infection, followed subsequently by a decrease in phospho-EGFR. EGFR loss was not dependent on receptor phosphorylation, or on canonical proteasome- and lysosome-dependent processes. Although a type III secretion mutant (ΔescN) stimulated EGFR phosphorylation, it failed to induce receptor degradation. To identify the specific EPEC effector molecule(s) that influenced EGFR stability, epithelial cells infected with isogenic mutant EPEC strains were examined. An EPEC ΔespF strain failed to induce EGFR degradation, whereas EPEC ΔespZ accentuated receptor loss in infected cells. Given the known and contrasting effects of EspF and EspZ on caspase activation, and the known role of proteases in cleaving EGFR, we explored the effect of caspase inhibitors on infection-dependent EGFR loss. The pan-caspase inhibitor Q-VD-OPh blocked EPEC-induced EGFR cleavage in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, our data suggest that EPEC EspF stimulates caspase-dependent EGFR cleavage and loss, whereas EspZ inhibits this process. Whereas EGFR phosphorylation contributes to the survival of host cells early in infection, EspF-driven caspase activation and consequent EGFR loss likely induce a precipitous increase in host cell death later in the infectious process.
Giant-cell tumor of the patella.

Giant-cell tumors of the patella are rare. Twenty-eight cases, including the two presented here, have been reported in the literature. Resection of the patella gives the best prognosis. Patellectomy should be combined with synovectomy if the joint has been invaded by the lesion, provided there is no suspicion of malignant growth.
Comparative Response of Normal Human Thymus and Lymph Node Cells to Phytohemagglutinin in Culture

Human thymocytes, in short-term tissue culture, show a proliferative activity distinct from that observed by either lymph node or blood lymphocytes. As expected, the behavior of lymph node lymphocytes in culture is very similar to that of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The only difference between these 2 groups of cells was the finding of spontaneous proliferation by normal lymph node cells after 3 days in culture without phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Whereas blood and lymph node lymphocytes show a negligible uptake of H3T in the basal state, approximately 10 per cent of thymus cells incorporate H3T, indicating significant autonomous proliferation. This is unaffected by PHA and is unassociated with globulin synthesis as judged by immunofluorescent technics. After 3 days in culture, there are significantly more transformed cells and more cells which incorporate H3T into DNA in thymus cell cultures containing PHA than in the control cultures. However, the labeling index of stimulated thymus cultures is less than either the basal rate of proliferation of thymocytes or 3-day cultures of PHA stimulated blood and lymph node lymphocytes. These observations suggest that the normal human thymus contains at least two populations of lymphoid cells: a major component which shows autonomous and unsustained proliferative activity and does not respond to PHA, and a second and probably minor cellular component which transforms and proliferates in response to PHA.
The Relation of Maternal Birth Weight to African-American and Non-Latina White Twin Pregnancy Outcomes: A Population-Based Study

Objectives The authors investigated the association between maternal birth weight and adverse birth outcome as measured by rates of low birth weight (<2500 g, LBW), preterm birth (<37 weeks, PTB), and small for gestational age (weight <10th percentile for gestational age, SGA) among African American and White twin pregnancies. Methods Stratified and multivariable regression analyses were performed on the Illinois transgenerational dataset of non-Latina African American and non-Latina White twin pairs (born 1989–1991) and their mothers (born 1956–1976). Results Former LBW (n = 104) and non-LBW (n = 742) African American mothers had LBW rates in both twins of 76 and 56 %, respectively; RR (95 % CI) = 1.4 (1.2–1.6). Former LBW (n = 105) and non-LBW (n = 2136) White mothers had LBW rates in both twins of 41 and 34 %, respectively; RR = 1.2 (0.9–1.5). In multivariable regression models, the adjusted (controlling for maternal age, education, marital status, parity, prenatal care usage, and cigarette smoking) RR of LBW in both twins among former LBW (compared to non-LBW) African American and White mothers equaled 1.4 (1.2–1.6) and 1.2 (0.9–1.5), respectively. Maternal LBW was associated with a modestly increased risk of PTB but not SGA among African American twin pregnancies: adjusted RR = 1.3 (1.1–1.4) and 1.1 (0.8–1.5), respectively. Conclusions In African American twin pregnancies, maternal LBW is a risk factor for LBW in both twins. Further research is needed to determine whether a similar generational association occurs among non-Latina White twin pregnancies.
Chemotherapy-induced Dkk-1 expression by primary human mesenchymal stem cells is p53 dependent

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are abundant throughout the body and regulate signaling within tumor microenvironments. Wnt signaling is an extrinsically regulated pathway that has been shown to regulate tumorigenesis in many types of cancer. After evaluating a panel of Wnt activating and inhibiting molecules, we show that primary human MSCs increase the expression of Dkk-1, an inhibitor of Wnt signaling, into the extracellular environment following chemotherapy exposure in a p53-dependent manner. Dkk-1 has been shown to promote tumor growth in several models of malignancy, suggesting that MSC-derived Dkk-1 could counteract the intent of cytotoxic chemotherapy, and that pharmacologic inhibition of Dkk-1 in patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for certain malignancies may be warranted.
For the Long-Run: Avoiding the Temptations of the Status Quo, Rancour, and Self-Pity

AbstractThis article updates the author's article which opens this issue, and responds to the other contributions. Composed over the winter of 2011–2012, the opening paper was commissioned for a private conference held in Europe. The difficulties academics from Israel or Palestine (and elsewhere) experience in convening to discuss the subject matter explain why the conference was private. It was not officially conceived as a ‘track-two’ contribution to the possibilities of a peace initiative from the second Obama administration, or from the European Union, but it was intimated that such possibilities might shape the paper.
A First Step Toward Quantifying the Climate’s Information Production over the Last 68,000 Years

Paleoclimate records are extremely rich sources of information about the past history of the Earth system. We take an information-theoretic approach to analyzing data from the WAIS Divide ice core, the longest continuous and highest-resolution water isotope record yet recovered from Antarctica. We use weighted permutation entropy to calculate the Shannon entropy rate from these isotope measurements, which are proxies for a number of different climate variables, including the temperature at the time of deposition of the corresponding layer of the core. We find that the rate of information production in these measurements reveals issues with analysis instruments, even when those issues leave no visible traces in the raw data. These entropy calculations also allow us to identify a number of intervals in the data that may be of direct relevance to paleoclimate interpretation, and to form new conjectures about what is happening in those intervals—including periods of abrupt climate change.
Body size over the life-course and the risk of endometrial cancer: the California Teachers Study

Obesity is a public health epidemic and a major risk factor for endometrial cancer. Here, we identify key aspects of body size which jointly, over the life-course (since adolescence), are associated with endometrial cancer risk. Among 88,142 participants in the California Teachers Study, 887 were diagnosed with invasive type 1 endometrial cancer between 1997–1998 and 2012. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models provided estimates of hazard rate ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for endometrial cancer associated with life-course body size phenotypes, which incorporated validated measures. Among women currently using hormone therapy, endometrial cancer risk was only associated with height (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.32–2.40 for ≥67 vs. <67 inches). Among women not using hormone therapy, tall women who were overweight/obese in adolescence (HR 4.33, 95% CI 2.51–7.46) or who became overweight/obese as adults (HR 4.74, 95% CI 2.70–8.32) were at greatest risk. Considering absolute body mass, changes in adiposity over time, and body fat distribution together, instead of each measure alone, we identified lifetime obesity phenotypes associated with endometrial cancer risk. These results more clearly define specific risk groups, and may explain inconsistent findings across studies, improve risk prediction models, and aid in developing targeted interventions for endometrial cancer.
Juvenile X-linked retinoschisis responsive to intravitreal corticosteroids

Abstract Purpose To report the case of an adult male with X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) who presented with cystoid macular edema (CME) that responded consistently to treatment with intravitreal steroids. Observations A 39 year old male with unilateral presentation of CME after repair of a retinal detachment secondary to XLRS responded initially to an injection of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA). Central subfield thickness on OCT was reduced. Three months later, the CME recurred and he was unresponsive to topical treatment so repeat IVTA was given, and the CME once again was reduced dramatically. After the next recurrence, intravitreal dexamethasone implant treatment was initiated and successful at treating recurrences in 3 month intervals for 5 additional injections. Finally, an intravitreal fluocinolone acetonide implant was surgically placed with control of CME. Conclusions and importance Corticosteroids have never been reported to be effective in CME related to XLRS. Here, we document a case of a man who successfully had decrease of intraretinal fluid and schisis with treatment of intravitreal corticosteroids as demonstrated by spectral domain optical coherence tomography.
Codes of Ethics for Public Health

A code of ethics clarifies the values of a profession, promotes ethical behavior, enables public accountability, and aids in the identification, discussion, and resolution of ethical issues. The U.S. Public Health Code of Ethics, adopted in 2002, is distinctive in that it prescribes ethical interactions between an agency, such as a health department, and the population it serves. Codes of ethics for health educators, epidemiologists, and health service administrators address the actions of individual professionals, yet they are still consistent with the principles in the Public Health Code of Ethics.
Autonomous exploration by expected information gain from probabilistic occupancy grid mapping

Occupancy grid maps are spatial representations of environments, where the space of interest is decomposed into a number of cells that are considered either occupied or free. This paper focuses on exploring occupancy grid maps by predicting the uncertainty of the map. Based on recent improvements in computing occupancy probability, this paper presents a novel approach for selecting robot poses designed to maximize expected map information gain represented by the change in entropy. This result is simplified with several approximations to develop an algorithm suitable for real-time implementation. The predicted information gain proposed in this paper governs an effective autonomous exploration strategy when applied in conjunction with an existing motion planner to avoid obstacles, which is illustrated by numerical examples.
The clinician perspective on sex differences in autism spectrum disorders

Research studies using existing samples of individuals with autism spectrum disorders have identified differences in symptoms between males and females. Differences are typically reported in school age and adolescence, with similarities in symptom presentation at earlier ages. However, existing studies on sex differences are significantly limited, making it challenging to discern if, how, and at what point in development females with autism spectrum disorder actually exhibit a different behavioral presentation than males. The purpose of this study was to gather impressions from a large group of clinicians to isolate specific areas for future study of sex differences. Clinicians were surveyed about their opinions and perceptions of symptom severity in females, as compared to males, at different points during development. They were also asked to provide open-ended responses about female symptom presentation. Consistent with previous literature, clinicians noted more sex-related differences in restricted and...
Deep Convolutional Neural Networks with transfer learning for computer vision-based data-driven pavement distress detection

Abstract Automated pavement distress detection and classification has remained one of the high-priority research areas for transportation agencies. In this paper, we employed a Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN) trained on the ‘big data’ ImageNet database, which contains millions of images, and transfer that learning to automatically detect cracks in Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA) and Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) surfaced pavement images that also include a variety of non-crack anomalies and defects. Apart from the common sources of false positives encountered in vision based automated pavement crack detection, a significantly higher order of complexity was introduced in this study by trying to train a classifier on combined HMA-surfaced and PCC-surfaced images that have different surface characteristics. A single-layer neural network classifier (with ‘adam’ optimizer) trained on ImageNet pre-trained VGG-16 DCNN features yielded the best performance.
Re-Claiming, Re-Inventing, and Re-Reforming a Field: The Future of College Reading.

At present, there is much discussion regarding the future of reading instruction at the postsecondary level. In order to contemplate the future of the field of college reading, however, we must fir...
Comparison of Body Fat Results from 4 Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Devices vs. Air Displacement Plethysmography in American Adolescent Wrestlers

Background: Accurate and accessible methods of body composition are necessary to ensure health and safety of wrestlers during competition. The most valid and reliable instruments are expensive and relatively inaccessible to high school wrestlers; therefore, more practical technology is needed. Objective: To compare body fat percentage (BF%) results from 4 bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) devices to those from air displacement plethysmography (ADP) in adolescent wrestlers. Methodology: 134 adolescent male and female wrestlers (1.72±0.9 m, 66.8±14.3 kg, 15.6±1.1 yrs.) were tested for hydration and then completed 4 body composition tests with different BIA devices and one with Bod Pod. Relative and absolute agreement were assessed between each BIA device and ADP on a single day. Results: When compared with ADP, all devices demonstrated excellent reliability (ICC (2,1)) range: 0.88-0.94), but questionable measurement error (SEM range: 2.3-3.6 %BF). Bland-Altman plots revealed that each bioelectrical impedance device we tested over-estimated body fat percent in high school wrestlers (range: 0.8-3.6 %BF) and demonstrated wide 95% limits of agreement (range: 15.0-20.8 %BF) compared to ADP. Conclusions: The devices investigated demonstrated reasonable measurement accuracy. However, wide margins of error of each device were noted. Caution should be taken when assessing adolescent wrestlers with lower amounts of body fat, as it may result in failing to identify those who do not meet the minimum body fat percentage for competition. The governing bodies should use the research data in the decision-making process regarding appropriate devices for use in their weight management programs.
Violeta Parra and the Chilean Folk Revival of the 1950s

This chapter examines Violeta Parra’s contribution to the Chilean folk revival of the 1950s. She practiced her vocation according to the dual meaning of the Spanish term folclorista: as someone who collects folk songs (folklorist) and as someone who performs them (folk singer). She and her cohort of folcloristas undertook their project of folk revival propelled by a staunch cultural nationalism and a sense of urgency; they firmly believed that there existed a “true” and untouched Chilean folklore awaiting their discovery and that such folklore was under attack on all fronts. In their interlocking practice of definition and defense of Chilean traditions, they contributed to the ideological struggle over what it meant to be Chilean in their times.
The Unseen Digital Divide: Urban, Suburban, and Rural Teacher Use and Perceptions of Web-Based Classroom Technologies

This quantitative study investigated the differences in perceptions and attitudes toward technology integration of K-12 public school teachers in rural, suburban, and urban environments. The purpos...
A Comparison of the Effects of FATTY ACID DESATURASE 7 and HYDROPEROXIDE LYASE on Plant–Aphid Interactions

The spr2 mutation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), which disrupts function of FATTY ACID DESATURASE 7 (FAD7), confers resistance to the potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) and modifies the plant’s C6 volatile profiles. To investigate whether C6 volatiles play a role in resistance, HYDROPEROXIDE LYASE (HPL), which encodes a critical enzyme in C6 volatile synthesis, was silenced in wild-type tomato plants and spr2 mutants. Silencing HPL in wild-type tomato increased potato aphid host preference and reproduction on 5-week old plants but had no influence on 3-week old plants. The spr2 mutation, in contrast, conferred strong aphid resistance at both 3 and 5 weeks, and silencing HPL in spr2 did not compromise this aphid resistance. Moreover, a mutation in the FAD7 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana also conferred resistance to the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) in a genetic background that carries a null mutation in HPL. These results indicate that HPL contributes to certain forms of aphid resistance in tomato, but that the effects of FAD7 on aphids in tomato and Arabidopsis are distinct from and independent of HPL.
Attitudes Toward Tax Evasion: A Demographic Study of Switzerland

A number of studies have examined the relationship between tax collection and various demographic variables. However, until recently most of those studies have involved a United States sample population. The Internal Revenue Service provides demographic data for researchers on a regular basis. The present study goes beyond those studies in several important ways. For one, it uses data on Switzerland taken from the World Values database. Not much work has been done on the Swiss tax or public finance system. Thus, the present study expands on the very limited research done on Swiss public finance. The present study expands on existing literature in at least two other ways as well. For one, it examines how various demographics interact with attitudes toward tax evasion. Secondly, we examine several demographic variables that were not examined in prior studies. One of the questions in the World Values database asked whether it would be justifiable to cheat on taxes if it were possible to do so. Respondents were asked to choose a number from 1 to 10 to indicate the extent of their support for tax evasion. This study examines those responses, both overall and through the prism of more than 20 demographic variables. A trend analysis is also done to determine whether Swiss attitudes regarding tax evasion have changed in recent years. A comparison is made with other ethical issues to determine the relative seriousness of tax evasion. The study found that attitudes toward the justifiability of tax evasion often do differ by demographic variable. Tax evasion was found to be a less serious offense than claiming government benefits to which you are not entitled, taking a bribe, wife beating, and avoiding a fare on public transport and more serious than suicide, prostitution, abortion, euthanasia, divorce and homosexuality. The trend of opinion on the justifiability of tax evasion has been mixed since the first Swiss survey was taken in 1989. General attitudes because more acceptable toward tax evasion in the 1990s, then because far less acceptable toward the practice in the following decade. Although the present study focuses on Switzerland, the methodology used in the present study could serve as a template for research on other countries or regions. A bibliography of further reading is also included, along with links to more than 80 other tax evasion studies.
Physical Description of Radio and Microwave Radiation

An understanding of the interaction of radio and microwave radiation with biological systems requires a knowledge of some of the laws describing the characteristics of radio and microwave radiation. The physical processes of radio and microwave radiation are governed by four principles now known as Maxwell’s equations. These equations represent mathematical expressions of experimental observations. From these four principles or laws of electromagnetics, one may deduce with mathematical vigor and exactness, all macroscopic electromagnetic phenomena.
Preferences for idioms: Restrictions due to lexicalization and familiarity

Two experiments examined the hypothesis that preferences for figurative interpretations of common idioms depend on both lexicalization and the degree of familiarity of the phrase's idiomatic meaning. Experiment I reported that native English speakers understood both high and low familiarity idioms as lexicalized units while nonnatives did not. Experiment 2 found that preferences for idiomatic interpretations depended on the degree of familiarity only when idioms were recognized as lexicalized units. It was concluded that both lexicalization and familiarity contribute to the likelihood of idiomatic preferences, while only lexicalization contributes significantly to the comprehension of idiomatic meanings.
Journal of Hematology & Oncology reviewer acknowledgement 2013

The editors of Journal of Hematology & Oncology would like to thank all our reviewers who have contributed to the journal in Volume 6 (2013).
Together for a Better Multicultural Society

“Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you traveled.” – MohammedThe title of KAME 2018 Conference in Seoul Korea: “Together for a Better Multicultural Society” was well-suited and th...
Author Correction: Methods to study RNA-protein interactions.

In the version of this paper originally published, three references were accidentally omitted: Schwartz, J. C. et al. Cell Rep. 5, 918–925 (2013); Tundup, S. et al. FEBS Lett. 580, 1285–1293 (2006); and Itri, F. et al. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 492, 67–73 (2017). The PDF and HTML versions of the paper now include these as references 58, 59, and 60, respectively, and subsequent references have been renumbered accordingly.
Dosimetric impact of esophagus motion in single fraction spine stereotactic body radiotherapy.

Nine patients with single fraction spinal stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) treatment were identified to assess both the intra fraction and daily esophageal motion and associated dosimetric deviation in spinal SBRT. We performed a chained deformable registration of 4D CT phase images to estimate the intra fraction motion magnitude of the esophagus in a breathing cycle. The intra fraction esophageal motion mostly exhibited in the superior-inferior direction with the total motion magnitude increased from the T1 (0.7 mm) to the T11 vertebra level (6.5 mm). The actual dose received by a moving esophagus was estimated by accumulating dose from each phase of the 4D dataset using deformable image registration. In comparison, dose recalculated on the average CT reflects the dose received by a stationary esophagus. Intra fraction motion was found to reduce the maximum dose received by a small volume of esophagus ⩽2 cm3, with the largest absolute and relative dose difference being -80 cGy and -6.4%, respectively. Its effect on the maximum dose received by 5 cm3 of esophagus can be higher or lower with a large percentage difference, but did not result in substantial absolute dose increase to violate the dose constraint of 11.9 Gy we used for plan evaluation. In addition, there was no correlation between the dosimetric deviation and the intra fraction motion magnitude. These findings suggest that 4D CT simulation is not essential with regards to the esophageal dose. The daily motion of the esophagus and its dosimetric impact was investigated by examining the difference of esophagus delineated on both treatment and planning CT after they were registered using boney target. The day to day difference of esophagus was negligible for all cases in this study.
Progressive practice and translanguaging: Supporting multilingualism in a Hong Kong preschool

As an officially trilingual special administrative region of China and an economic powerhouse in Asia, Hong Kong has invested heavily in dual language schools that emphasize learning English alongs...
StAR, a bridge from ApoE, LDL, and HDL cholesterol trafficking to mitochondrial metabolism

Abstract Cholesterol trafficking from serum lipoproteins converges on steroidogenic acute regulator (StAR/STARD1) at the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM). 195S-Phospho-StAR directs cholesterol released by lipid droplets or endosomes to the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) for metabolism at CYP11A1. A helical N-terminal domain slows StAR import, providing time to channel OMM cholesterol to the IMM. Import requires OMM StAR renewal through translation. StAR transcription is activated by CRTC2 binding to cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), initiated by protein kinase A phosphorylation of salt-inducible kinase forms. mRNA formation is restrained by slow splicing, as established by single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) imaging of primary and spliced RNA at StAR gene loci. Resolved 3.5-kb mRNA molecules slowly exit loci, associating singly with individual perinuclear mitochondria. 3′UTR sequestration by AKAP1 and TIS11b effects the OMM location and enhanced mRNA turnover. Mitochondrial fusion, stimulated by cAMP and MFN2, enhances StAR activity, while initiating slower import at mitochondrial-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane (MAM) contacts, directed by VDAC2 and translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO). IMM StAR additionally prevents cholesterol-induced respiratory stress.
Effects of sucrose supplementation and generation on life‐history traits of Bracon cephi and Bracon lissogaster, parasitoids of the wheat stem sawfly

Knowledge of the life‐history traits that influence the reproductive success of parasitoids could provide useful information to enhance their effectiveness as biological control agents. The wheat stem sawfly Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) is a major pest of wheat in the Northern Great Plains of North America. The bivoltine, sympatric and specialist parasitoids Bracon cephi (Gahan) and Bracon lissogaster Muesebeck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are the only species known to attack C. cinctus in wheat. In the present study, we quantify the body size, longevity, egg load and egg volume of B. cephi and B. lissogaster aiming to test whether these life‐history traits differ among adult females developing from overwintering and summer generation larvae. We also investigate the effect of sucrose supplementation on the same reproductive parameters. The results obtained show no differences between life‐history traits of B. cephi developing from the overwintering and summer generations. By contrast, the egg load of B. lissogaster is significantly different between generations, with overwintered females producing 1.2‐fold more eggs than summer individuals. Sucrose feeding has a strong positive effect on life‐history traits of both parasitoid species and generations. The longevity of sucrose‐fed females of B. cephi is increased three‐fold, whereas the survival of B. lissogaster is increased almost nine‐fold. Females of B. cephi treated with sucrose have four‐fold more mature eggs, whereas the egg load of B. lissogaster is increased 1.15‐ to 1.25‐fold with sugar feeding. Only B. cephi females increase egg volume with sucrose. The present study provides valuable insights on the life‐history and nutritional requirements of these two important parasitoid species.
An emerging role for Toll-like receptors at the neuroimmune interface in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic progressive, painful disease of synovial joints, characterized by cartilage degradation, subchondral bone remodeling, osteophyte formation, and synovitis. It is now widely appreciated that the innate immune system, and in particular Toll-like receptors (TLRs), contributes to pathological changes in OA joint tissues. Furthermore, it is now also increasingly recognized that TLR signaling plays a key role in initiating and maintaining pain. Here, we reviewed the literature of the past 5 years with a focus on how TLRs may contribute to joint damage and pain in OA. We discuss biological effects of specific damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) which act as TLR ligands in vitro, including direct effects on pain-sensing neurons. We then discuss the phenotype of transgenic mice that target TLR pathways, and provide evidence for a complex balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory signaling pathways activated by OA DAMPs. Finally, we summarize clinical evidence implicating TLRs in OA pathogenesis, including polymorphisms and surrogate markers of disease activity. Our review of the literature led us to propose a model where multi-directional crosstalk between connective tissue cells (chondrocytes, fibroblasts), innate immune cells, and sensory neurons in the affected joint may promote OA pathology and pain.
Surface termination, crystal size, and bonding-site density effects on diamond biosensing surfaces

Abstract Diamond's properties, such as chemical stability and low biofouling rates, make it an ideal material for developing more adequate biosensing technology for single-use bioreactors. We propose a simplistic approach to covalently functionalizing diamond and evaluating the effects of different variables on the sensitivity of the bioactive surface. We hypothesize that by maximizing sensitivity, we can maximize the signal-to-noise ratio of the biosignal. Three different methods of achieving an oxygenated surface on diamond with varying crystal sizes is investigated to see which results in the most active biointerface. Surface termination species were confirmed post‑oxygenation with X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The diamond was then functionalized with a biotinylated monolayer, which was treated with gold-conjugated streptavidin to quantify the available bonding sites. After complete biofunctionalization, detection sensitivity of IL-8 and antibody density were assessed with ELISA and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for quantification of sites with functional antibodies. The contradicting correlations between diamond morphology and percentage of C O bonds lead us to conclude that the effectiveness of oxygen-termination method is independent of diamond morphology. Through quantifying bonding sites, it was found that both the number of available sites and active sites increased with increasing crystal size. This result is suspected to be directly correlated to the hybridization of the diamond-carbon material in that functional species prefer sp3 carbon over sp2. Therefore, a diamond film with the largest possible crystals is predicted to have a higher detection sensitivity in biosensing applications.
Matrix Multiplication: Verifying Strong Uniquely Solvable Puzzles

Cohn and Umans proposed a framework for developing fast matrix multiplication algorithms based on the embedding computation in certain groups algebras [9]. In subsequent work with Kleinberg and Szegedy, they connected this to the search for combinatorial objects called strong uniquely solvable puzzles (strong USPs) [8]. We begin a systematic computer-aided search for these objects. We develop and implement algorithms based on reductions to \(\mathrm {SAT}\) and \(\mathrm {IP}\) to verify that puzzles are strong USPs and to search for large strong USPs. We produce tight bounds on the maximum size of a strong USP for width \(k < 6\), and construct puzzles of small width that are larger than previous work. Although our work only deals with puzzles of small-constant width and does not produce a new, faster matrix multiplication algorithm, we provide evidence that there exist families of strong USPs that imply matrix multiplication algorithms that are more efficient than those currently known.
Improving the Validity of the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery with Measures of Attention Control

We evaluated the predictive value of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) at the latent level, using multitasking as a proxy for real-world job performance. We also examined whether adding measures of attention control to the ASVAB could improve its predictive validity. To answer these questions, data were collected from 171 young adults recruited from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the greater Atlanta community. Both regression and latent variable analyses revealed that the ASVAB does predict multitasking at the latent level but that measures of attention control add substantial predictive validity in explaining multitasking above and beyond the ASVAB, fluid intelligence, and processing speed. Theoretical as well as practical applications of these results are discussed in terms of theories of attention control, and potential cost savings in selection for military positions.
Contracaeciasis in an American white pelican.

Abstract An American white pelican migrating through Iowa, USA exhibited regurgitation and anorexia. At the time of necropsy, numerous nematodes were observed in the crop and proventriculus with evidence of proventriculitis. Nematodes were identified as Contracaecum spp. based on morphological features of the adult worms and eggs. Species level identification of C. fagerholmi were made using nucleotide sequence analysis of the partial cox2 gene. Contracaecum infections are highly prevalent in piscivorous birds that acquire the infection by ingesting fish infected with larval stages of the parasite. Considering the possible zoonotic nature of Contracaecum, humans whose diets include uncooked fresh-water and/or marine fish should handle fresh fish with care, as these may harbor immature stages of Contracaecum spp.
Rx for Teaching Communication Skills: Why and How Clinicians Should Record, Transcribe and Study Actual Client Consultations

The legal academy has much to learn by recording, transcribing and systematically studying student-client and attorney-client consultations. Social scientists and medical providers have studied doctor-patient conversations using conversation analysis and other social science techniques for years. Through this systematic study, researchers have reached conclusions about effective doctor-patient consultations that form the basis for teaching these skills in medical school. This article will highlight findings from these studies and the evidence-based medical school texts. This article will also review the few similar studies that have been made of attorney-client consultations, and suggest topics that merit study in the law clinic. Finally, it will lay out how a law clinic could obtain informed consent, protect client confidentiality and privilege, and gain the necessary approval of the Institutional Review Board to carry out such valuable studies
Hospital Admissions Associated With Cancer Pain in Older Adults With and Without Dementia.

Abstract Background Neoplasm-related pain is often suboptimally treated, contributing to avoidable suffering and increased medical resource use and costs. We hypothesized that dementia may contribute to increased resource use and costs in patients hospitalized for neoplasm-related pain in the United States. Aims To examine how persons with cancer and dementia use medical resources and expenditures in US hospitals compared to ondividuals without dementia. Design This study examined a retrospective cohort. Setting Admissions to US hospitals for neoplasm-related pain from 2012-2016 Participants/Subjects Methods Data were obtained from the 2012-2016 National Inpatient Sample (NIS). The sample included hospital admissions of individuals aged 60 or older with a primary diagnosis of neoplasm-related pain. Dementia was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), and ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. Primary outcomes were number of admissions, costs, and length of stay (LOS). Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression models were used to examine the relationships among dementia, costs, and LOS. Results Of 12,034 admissions for neoplasm-related pain, 136 (1.1%) included a diagnosis of dementia and 11,898 (98.9%) did not. Constipation was present in 13.2% and 24.5% of dementia and nondementia admissions, respectively. The median LOS was 4 days in persons with dementia and three in those without. Mean costs per admission were higher in persons without dementia ($10,736 vs. $9,022, p = .0304). In adjusted regression results, increased costs were associated with nonelective admissions and longer LOS, and decreased costs with age above the mean. In contrast, decreased LOS was associated with age above the mean and nonelective admissions. Dementia was associated with neither endpoint. Conclusion This study provides nurses and other health care professionals with data to further explore opportunities for improvement in cancer pain management in patients with and without dementia that may optimize use of medical resources.
Race, Policing, and History — Remembering the Freedom House Ambulance Service

Race, Policing, and History In the 1960s, Pittsburgh’s Freedom House Ambulance Service supplanted the police in a role in which they were not effective, reimagined the role of Black citizens in imp...
TiB2 nanoparticles-regulated oxidation behavior in aluminum alloy 7075

Abstract In this paper, we studied the oxidation behavior in AA7075 containing TiB2 nanoparticles. The results indicate that TiB2 nanoparticles play distinctive roles during the coupled oxidation processes. At a lower temperature, TiB2 ruptures the Al2O3 film and refine the microstructure and morphology. Above the solutionizing point, Zn oxidation proceeds deeply into the matrix, and TiB2 nanoparticles partially block the diffusion path to increase the diffusion gradient. The TiB2-regulated oxidation is responsible for the surface patterning and the inward oxidation. The characterization of the oxygen penetration depth provides a mechanistic understanding for the coupled oxidation in AA7075 induced by TiB2 nanoparticles.
The Impact of Pet Care Needs on Medical Decision-Making among Hospitalized Patients: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Patient Experience.

Hospital-based protocols to support pet care needs for hospitalized patients may have potential to benefit patient health and wellbeing, but must be informed by experiences of hospitalized pet owne...
A Pro-inflammatory Stimulus Disrupts Hippocampal Plasticity and Learning via Microglial Activation and 25-Hydroxycholesterol.

Inflammatory cells including macrophages and microglia synthesize and release the oxysterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC), which has antiviral and immunomodulatory properties. Here, we examined the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an activator of innate immunity, on 25HC production in microglia, and the effects of LPS and 25HC on CA1 hippocampal synaptic plasticity and learning. In primary microglia, LPS markedly increases expression of cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (Ch25h), the key enzyme involved in 25HC synthesis, and increases the levels of secreted 25HC. Wild type microglia produced higher levels of 25HC than Ch25h knockout (KO) microglial with or without LPS. LPS treatment also disrupts long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal slices via induction of a form of NMDA receptor-dependent metaplasticity. The inhibitory effects of LPS on LTP were mimicked by exogenous 25HC, and were not observed in slices from Ch25h KO mice. In vivo, LPS treatment also disrupts LTP and inhibits one-trial learning in wild type but not Ch25h KO mice. These results demonstrate that the oxysterol, 25HC, is a key modulator of synaptic plasticity and memory under proinflammatory stimuli. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neuroinflammation is thought to contribute to cognitive impairment in multiple neuropsychiatric illnesses. In this study, we found that a pro-inflammatory stimulus, LPS, disrupts hippocampal LTP via a metaplastic mechanism. The effects of LPS on LTP are mimicked by the oxysterol, 25HC, an immune mediator synthesized in brain microglia. Effects of LPS on both synaptic plasticity and one-trial inhibitory avoidance learning are eliminated in mice deficient in Ch25h, the primary enzyme responsible for endogenous 25HC synthesis. Thus, these results indicate that 25HC is a key mediator of the effects of an inflammatory stimulus on hippocampal function and open new potential avenues to overcome the effects of neuroinflammation on brain function.
Online Coverage Planning for an Autonomous Weed Mowing Robot with Curvature Constraints.

The land used for grazing cattle takes up about one-third of the land in the United States. These areas can be highly rugged. Yet, they need to be maintained to prevent weeds from taking over the nutritious grassland. This can be a daunting task especially in the case of organic farming since herbicides cannot be used. In this paper, we present the design of Cowbot, an autonomous weed mowing robot for pastures. Cowbot is an electric mower designed to operate in the rugged environments on cow pastures and provide a cost-effective method for weed control in organic farms. Path planning for the Cowbot is challenging since weed distribution on pastures is unknown. Given a limited field of view, online path planning is necessary to detect weeds and plan paths to mow them. We study the general online path planning problem for an autonomous mower with curvature and field of view constraints. We develop two online path planning algorithms that are able to utilize new information about weeds to optimize path length and ensure coverage. We deploy our algorithms on the Cowbot and perform field experiments to validate the suitability of our methods for real-time path planning. We also perform extensive simulation experiments which show that our algorithms result in up to 60 % reduction in path length as compared to baseline boustrophedon and random-search based coverage paths.
Facets of Access: A Conceptual and Standard Threats Analysis

The concept of information access is central to both Library and Information Science and to human rights discourse and practice. This paper offers a definition of information access and proposes a relational understanding of it. Using a “standard threat analysis,” based on the work of political philosopher Henry Shue (1996), the access relation is analyzed in terms of five facets: (1) availability, (2) reachability, (3) findability, (4) comprehensibility, and (5) useability. It is shown how this theory can be synthesized with another prominent account of access (Burnett, Jaeger, and Thompson, 2008) to create a rubric to guide the evaluation and creation of information systems and services that satisfy the human right to information access.