cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heparin-PF4 Antibodies Are Frequent after Vascular Surgery, but Not a Frequent Cause of Graft Thrombosis or Thrombocytopenia.

Surgical intervention for atherosclerotic disease of the aortoiliac and femoral-popliteal arteries has significantly reduced the incidence and complications of peripheral ischemia. However, surgical correction of obstructive arterial lesions can be complicated by either early graft failure due to acute thrombosis or late stenosis of the vascular bypass graft. Despite improvements in surgical technique, early graft failure is still observed in up to 10% of patients and up to 30 % can subsequently develop a graft stenosis. The etiology of early graft closure is less clearly understood. Anatomic or structural defects in the new graft may result in early thrombosis. Underlying prothrombotic conditions have also been suggested as contributing factors to early graft thrombosis. Recently, we have observed recurrent thrombotic events occurring in vascular grafts in two patients who were subsequently diagnosed with the syndrome of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia. Because of these events we undertook an IRB approved, prospective evaluation of HIT antibodies in patients undergoing vascular surgery. Patients undergoing infra-inguinal bypass surgery for atherosclerotic vascular disease were enrolled after informed consent. Blood samples were obtained the day before surgery, day of hospital discharge, at days 14 and 28 after surgery. Platelet counts were obtained on the day of discharge and on post-surgery day 14. Plasma samples were assayed for PFA-heparin antibodies by ELISA (Stago Diagnostica) and platelet activating antibodies by platelet aggregometry. All assays were performed in duplicate. Seventy-nine patients were enrolled. Six (7.7%) patients provided only the pre-surgical blood specimen and only 68 (86%) patients provided all four blood specimens. All but 5 patients reported previous heparin exposure. Of the 73 patients in which post-surgical blood samples were taken, 28 (38%) became ELISA positive for PF4-Heparin antibodies. When tested for platelet activating antibodies, 7 (10%) were positive. All patients who developed a positive ELISA had antibody detected by day 14. Four patients tested positive by ELISA prior to surgery, with 3/4 having positive aggregation assays. One ELISA negative patient developed early graft closure. No patient developed thrombocytopenia or a 50% or greater decrease in platelet count. Patients undergoing vascular surgery frequently develop PF4-Heparin antibodies of which up to 10% patients have platelet activating antibodies. However, both thrombocytopenia and vascular graft thrombosis due to HIT is a rare event.
Abstract 555: A workflow for enrichment and whole genome amplification (WGA) of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) for next generation sequencing

Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer deaths. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are thought to be responsible for the seeding of metastases. These tumor cells are heterogeneous with variation occurring at the single-cell level. Using a flexible micro spring array (FMSA) device for label-free mechanical enrichment of CTCs from whole blood samples, we established a workflow from isolation followed by whole genome amplification (WGA) and finally sequencing of circulating tumor cells. Briefly, circulating tumor cells were collected from the FMSA using the Zeiss Laser Capture Microdissection System. Isolated cells underwent whole genome amplification using a commercial WGA kit. The quality of the amplified genomic DNA was analyzed using the TaqMan® Real-Time PCR Assays. Specific loci were then amplified with the Ion AmpliSeq™ Cancer Hotspot Panel v2 and sequenced using the Ion PGM™ System. These studies were performed to understand the genomic heterogeneity observed in circulating tumor cells. Citation Format: Merisa Nisic, Sijie Hao, Ramdane Harouaka, Si-Yang Zheng. A workflow for enrichment and whole genome amplification (WGA) of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) for next generation sequencing. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 555. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-555
Navigating the Liminal State Between Life and Death: Clinician Moral Distress and Uncertainty Regarding New Life-Sustaining Technologies.

Barg and colleagues (2017) describe the lack of a culturally scripted role for existence in a liminal state following LVAD implantation and how that creates uncertainty for patients at this borderl...
Notes on the Concept of Data Interoperability: Cases from an Ecology of AIDS Research Infrastructures

Data interoperation functions with the logic of a black box. Interoperation is achieved through front-loaded work and epistemically charged negotiation that thereafter become infrastructural, that is, supporting downstream actions without fully revealing the underpinnings that enable those actions. Drawing from ethnographic and archival investigations of data interoperation within and across an ecology of HIV/AIDS research infrastructures, this paper offers several sensitizing concepts for the investigation of how data are brought together and thereafter circulate. Data interoperability is historical, infrastructural, relatively irreversible, negotiated, epistemic, seamful and seamless, and is approaching the status of a general value rather than a specific means to an end.
Cell and oxygen flow in arterioles controlling capillary perfusion.

Measurements of hemodynamic and oxygen transport characteristics in the arterioles that control capillary perfusion in striated muscle were used to compare oxygen flow into adjacent capillary netwo...
A Parallel Forecasting Approach Using Incremental K-means Clustering Technique

A parallel forecasting approach used in weather prediction which has important aspect of the modern society, especially with the realization of modern smart cities. A new approach is considering here which will provide excellent result for large semi-structured data. Thus, it is very important to analyze weather data keeping in mind the enormity of the available data sizes. Here it is presented a methodology for weather data analysis keeping in mind the big-data nature of the data sizes pertaining to weather data. Here also it has been taken date-wise atmospheric conditions collected of decade. The traditional k-means clustering is used to form clusters which represents association in between related dates of current year’s and previous year’s weather data. Such associations predict atmospheric conditions of one year’s weather condition on the bases of previous data. Incremental k-means clustering algorithm is used to process current year’s weather parameters as new data and it shows that the calculated weather condition falls under one of the existing clusters to represent similar atmospheric conditions. The total work has been divided by two parts: first, Storing NCDC semi-structured data on hadoop cluster and second, fitting a clustering methodology for predicting weather conditions.
Strain-free polished channel-cut crystal monochromators: a new approach and results

The use of channel-cut crystal monochromators has been traditionally limited to applications that can tolerate the rough surface quality from wet etching without polishing. We have previously presented and discussed the motivation for producing channel cut crystals with strain-free polished surfaces [1]. Afterwards, we have undertaken an effort to design and implement an automated machine for polishing channel-cut crystals. The initial effort led to inefficient results. Since then, we conceptualized, designed, and implemented a new version of the channel-cut polishing machine, now called C-CHiRP (Channel-Cut High Resolution Polisher), also known as CCPM V2.0. The new machine design no longer utilizes Figure-8 motion that mimics manual polishing. Instead, the polishing is achieved by a combination of rotary and linear functions of two coordinated motion systems. Here we present the new design of C-CHiRP, its capabilities and features. Multiple channel-cut crystals polished using the C-CHiRP have been deployed into several beamlines at the Advanced Photon Source (APS). We present the measurements of surface finish, flatness, as well as topography results obtained at 1-BM of APS, as compared with results typically achieved when polishing flat-surface monochromator crystals using conventional polishing processes. Limitations of the current machine design, capabilities and considerations for strain-free polishing of highly complex crystals are also discussed, together with an outlook for future developments and improvements.
Individual Freedom and Welfare Economics

The notion of individual freedom has been around in economics for a long time. The formal analysis of individual freedom in welfare economics, however, is of more recent origin; it constitutes an important aspect of the recent literature that has sought to widen the ethical basis of welfare economics beyond the traditional framework that focused exclusively on the utilities of individuals. Sen’s concept of an individual’s capability set has been the major source of inspiration for the recent literature on individual freedom in welfare economics. The purpose of this paper is to present a brief review of some specific issues which have come up in this relatively new and important strand of welfare economics.
Review of Attachment Theory: Familial Predictors, Continuity and Change, and Intrapersonal and Relational Outcomes

Initially, the major focus of attachment theory was the parent–child relationship, but Bowlby (1988) also described the attachment system as active over the entire life course. Accordingly, a proli...
Effects of cannabis on sex hormones and testicular enzymes of the rodent.

The effect of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) on testosterone production and testicular enzymes was examined in rat testes. Acute doses of THC and CBD at 10 mg/kg depressed testosterone formation in testis microsomes. Chronic THC, 2 mg/kg, but not CBD, evoked the most dramatic decrease in testicular enzyme activity. 2 mg delta-9-THC/kg depressed two marker proteins used to assess rat testicular cell function: gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GTP), used as a marker of Sertoli cell plasma membranes, and cytochrome P-450, a microsomal component used to assess interstitial cell function. After two days of treatment, both were significantly depressed. No changes were observed in sorbitol dehydrogenase activity or beta-glucuronidase activity. Supplementation with gonadotropins of THC treated rats led to a significant restoration of the GTP and P-450 levels indicating that the lower gonadotropin levels in the plasma of THC treated animals is mediating the effect of THC in those animals. Both LH and FSH were more potent in overcoming the effects of THC than either hormone alone. It is suggested that the reduction of testosterone synthesis in testes of THC treated rats may be the result of the reduction in P-450 content.
Environmental Enforcement: Cases and Materials

Environmental Enforcement: Cases and Materials is the first casebook devoted exclusively to environmental enforcement issues. For use in a specialized course or seminar or as a supplement to existing survey courses, the book introduces future lawyers to the full range of legal issues and practical challenges they will face when handling environmental enforcement cases. The book begins with an examination of the theories underlying the various models of environmental enforcement and the appropriate roles of the federal and state governments in enforcement. It then contains chapters on government investigative authorities and administrative, civil, criminal, and citizen enforcement. There also is a lengthy chapter devoted to the specialized issues arising in Superfund enforcement. The book then examines the burgeoning area of compliance incentives and assistance programs and also discusses alternative enforcement strategies, such as permit bars, public spotlighting techniques, and common law theories.
The tis Genes, Primary Response Genes Induced by Growth Factors and Tumor Promoters in 3T3 Cells

Publisher Summary A wide variety of cellular responses to extracellular ligands share a common generic pathway. (1) A hydrophilic ligand (a growth factor, hormone, neurotransmitter, morphogen, or antigen) binds to a transmembrane receptor present on the responding cell. (2) An intracellular signal is generated by the bound receptor, as a consequence of this ligand-receptor interaction. (3) Signal-transduction mechanisms within the cytoplasm activate intracellular protein kinases. (4) Latent transcription factors are activated by phosphorylation and/or dephosphorylation, initiating the transcription of previously quiescent genes. (5) The new transcripts are translated into proteins whose functions alter the biological properties of the cell. Stimulation of cell division in response to growth factors is therefore, a special case of a generalized biological mechanism by which extracellular ligands elicit cellular responses as a consequence of ligand-induced gene expression. The roles of some of the primary response genes, such as tis21/pc3 and tis7/pc4, remain obscure, despite the description of their encoded proteins and gene structure. To address problems in the context of the mitogenic response, ones isolated cDNAs for a group of genes induced in Swiss 3T3 cells by the mitogen and tumor promoter tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA, or simply, phorbol).
Morel-Lavellée lesions: MRI characteristics in the pediatric patient.

A closed degloving injury is often referred to as a Morel-Lavellee lesion regardless of location despite traditionally being associated with the hip in adults. It results from a shearing injury that separates the subcutaneous layers from the fascia with fluid filling a potential space. While the most common location and cause have been described in adults, there is limited literature in pediatric patients. We have seen pediatric Morel-Lavellee lesions commonly occurring at the knee after sports. We set out to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics. A retrospective analysis was performed. All patients with trauma to the pelvis and lower extremities with a subcutaneous fluid collection seen on MRI were evaluated. Age, gender, mechanism of injury, time interval to imaging, and treatment were recorded. The collections were evaluated for location, size, shape and signal characteristics including the presence of fat, blood and septations. Twenty-one patients ages 7 to 17 years old had findings of degloving injury on MRI. The most common etiology was sports related (18/21, 85.7%). The anterior knee was most often affected (18/21, 85.7%). Lesions were ovoid and centered over the medial retinaculum (8/18, 44.4%) or lateral retinaculum (7/18, 38.9%). A capsule was weakly associated with later presentation (P=0.12). Pediatric Morel-Lavellee lesions commonly occur in a location not classically described, the anterior knee, and often after sports injury. Commonly, the collections are ovoid and always located at the subcutaneous fat/fascial interface. Recognition of specific imaging characteristics in a common location after sports injury allows for early identification. While most patients recover with conservative management, some need additional intervention with aspiration or debridement.
Recent Quarkonium Studies from the PHENIX Experiment

Abstract Quarkonium suppression in nucleus-nucleus collisions is a powerful tool to probe the density and temperature of the medium created in heavy ion collisions. Forward rapidity measurements in p(d)+Au collisions are essential to understand how quarkonium states are affected by initial state effects, formation time, and local particle multiplicity. Earlier measurements in Au+Au collisions showed a stronger suppression of forward J / ψ compared to mid-rapidity results, indicating the possibility of a smaller contribution of regenerated quarkonium states at forward rapidity. These proceedings report on the latest quarkonium studies performed by the PHENIX collaboration in the rapidity range 1.2 | y | 2.2 .
Management of Concurrent Biliary and Duodenal Obstruction

Concurrent biliary and duodenal obstruction (CBDO) most commonly occurs in the setting of advanced malignancy. Most commonly, patients present with biliary obstruction followed by the development of duodenal obstruction. Diagnosis before endoscopy is frequently challenging and requires incorporating clinical history, physical examination, and biochemical and radiographic findings. Generally, CBDO is associated with poor long-term survival, as it generally reflects at least locally advanced disease. Hence, the goal of management is palliation of the symptoms by alleviating the concurrent obstructions through endoscopic and radiographic approaches. CBDO can be classified into three types based on its luminal involvement proximal to, distal to, or actually involving the major papilla. Generally, the endoscopic approach is to prioritize relief of biliary obstruction wherever possible first and to subsequently address the duodenal obstruction if possible. In this chapter, we discuss the different types and approaches to CBDO.
Intrafollicular oocyte transfer in the horse: effect of autologous vs. allogeneic transfer and time of administration of ovulatory stimulus before transfer

To assess meiotic and developmental competence after transfer of immature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) to the preovulatory follicles of mares (intrafollicular oocyte transfer (IFOT)). In Experiment 1, mares received an ovulatory stimulus at IFOT. Thirty hours later, COCs were recovered from the follicle, and mature oocytes underwent ICSI and embryo culture. In Experiments 2 and 3, autologous vs. allogeneic COCs were used. The mares were inseminated and embryos were recovered. In Experiment 3, the ovulatory stimulus was administered 9 h (autologous) and 15 h (allogeneic) before IFOT. In Experiment 4, only allogeneic COCs were used; the ovulatory stimulus was administered 9 or 15 h before IFOT. Excess embryos (autologous) and parentage-verified embryos (allogeneic) were considered IFOT-derived. In Experiment 1, 36/54 IFOT oocytes (67%) were recovered, of which 56% were mature, vs. 49% of in vitro matured oocytes (P > 0.1). After ICSI, blastocyst rates were 25% and 18%, respectively (P > 0.1). In Experiment 2, 0/6 autologous and 2/6 allogeneic IFOT yielded IFOT-derived embryos. In Experiment 3, 0/7 autologous and 2/5 allogeneic IFOT yielded IFOT-derived embryos. The proportion of mares yielding IFOT-derived embryos was lower after autologous vs. allogeneic IFOT (0/13 vs. 4/11; P < 0.05). In Experiment 4, 1/8 9-h and 1/7 15-h IFOT yielded IFOT-derived embryos. Transferred oocytes mature within the follicle and can maintain developmental competence. Allogeneic IFOT was more efficient than was autologous IFOT. The time of ovulatory stimulation did not affect embryo yield. The IFOT procedure is still not repeatable enough to be recommended for clinical use.
Exploring geometric anisotropy for point-referenced spatial data

Abstract Isotropic covariance functions are routinely adopted in specifying models for point-referenced spatial data but carry the limitation that spatial dependence is not directional. Geometric anisotropic covariance functions offer a class of stationary specifications which incorporate directional dependence through spatial range. They have received modest attention in the literature but can provide flexible and readily interpretable directional dependence. Within a Bayesian framework, this paper attempts to illuminate when and how much such models for random effects in geostatistical settings improve out-of-sample predictive performance. We show that geometric anisotropy yields better predictive performance when the residuals strongly depart from isotropy (anisotropy ratio is much greater than one) and sample size is fairly large. Also, improvement is more prominent when the spatial variance is much greater than the pure error variance. The investigation of predictive performance is illustrated through simulation as well as modeling of real data on P M 2 . 5 monitoring stations.
A 2.56-Gb/s Serial Wireline Transceiver That Supports an Auxiliary Channel in 65-nm CMOS

In this article, an asynchronous serial transceiver that is capable of transmitting and receiving an auxiliary data stream concurrently with the primary data stream is described. The transceiver instantiates the auxiliary data stream by modulating the phase of the primary data without affecting the primary channel transmission and recovery mechanisms. Standard receiver interoperability is maintained since the auxiliary data appear as primary data jitter. Analysis of the proposed transceiver and considerations of the system parameters are included and can be used to determine how such an auxiliary channel is implemented. The proposed transceiver with the auxiliary channel can be widely used in many data communication applications such as for transmitting signatures for authentication or other control information, steganography, or additional data in an existing serial link. A prototype transceiver, implemented in a 65-nm CMOS process, demonstrates the proposed concept with an 80-Mb/s auxiliary channel in a 2.56-Gb/s asynchronous serial link.
Remorse and Judging

This chapter focuses on the judicial evaluation of remorse. It is an article of faith that judges can and should evaluate remorse when determining sentence. Although the dynamics of this evaluation are understudied, the existing literature helps illuminate the assumptions judges employ and the dangers and limitations of those assumptions. Judges rely on evaluation of demeanor and body language and on allocution, and their interpretations are rife with implicit assumptions and unstated rules about what counts as remorse. Many of these assumptions (for example the link between remorse and decreased recidivism and the possibility of assessing remorse from demeanor) lack evidentiary support. These assumptions and implicit rules vary widely from judge to judge. They often fail to account for the influence of race, ethnicity, gender and social class on the expression and evaluation of remorse. Moreover, they put a premium on the willingness to plead guilty, and to do so at the earliest possible opportunity. The chapter draws upon the few existing empirical studies on the topic and identifies areas that require further study.
Reading Freud Anew

Howard Kaye offers an important and compelling demonstration of Freud’s continued signifcance as a cultural and social theorist. Kaye provides a deep reading of several important texts of Freud, responds to many of his interlocutors, and he situates him within the political, intellectual and social context of his time. He demonstrates the breadth of Freud’s ambition to transform “metaphysics into metapsychology” and his contribution to on-going ethical and moral debates of our time. Nonetheless, Kaye inadequately considers the on-going significance of psychoanalysis as a method of psychological treatment and as an emancipatory practice designed to liberate individuals from unnecessary self-imposed contraints interfering with their freedom and happiness.
Expression-based prediction of human essential genes and candidate lncRNAs in cancer cells.

Motivation Essential genes are required for the reproductive success at either cellular or organismal level. The identification of essential genes is important for understanding the core biological processes and identifying effective therapeutic drug targets. However, experimental identification of essential genes is costly, time consuming and labor intensive. Although several machine learning models have been developed to predict essential genes, these models are not readily applicable to lncRNAs. Moreover, the currently available models cannot be used to predict essential genes in a specific cancer type. Results In this study, we have developed a new machine learning approach, XGEP (eXpression-based Gene Essentiality Prediction), to predict essential genes and candidate lncRNAs in cancer cells. The novelty of XGEP lies in the utilization of relevant features derived from the TCGA transcriptome dataset through collaborative embedding. When evaluated on the pan-cancer dataset, XGEP was able to accurately predict human essential genes and achieve significantly higher performance than previous models. Notably, several candidate lncRNAs selected by XGEP are reported to promote cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis. Moreover, XGEP also demonstrated superior performance on cancer-type-specific datasets to identify essential genes. The comprehensive lists of candidate essential genes in specific cancer types may be used to guide experimental characterization and facilitate the discovery of drug targets for cancer therapy. Availability and implementation The source code and datasets used in this study are freely available at https://github.com/BioDataLearning/XGEP. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Clinical characteristics and risk factors of post polypectomy electrocoagulation syndrome in children

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics and risk factors of post polypectomy electrocoagulation syndrome (PPECS) in children. Methods: Clinical data of 23 children with PPECS in Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from January 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Additionally, 115 children without PPECS who had polypectomy performed by the same endoscopist at the same time were collected into the control group. The morbidity, clinical characteristics and therapeutic protocol were analyzed, and the risk factors of PPECS were analyzed by Logistic regression. Results: Among the total 2 083 children who had endoscopic polypectomy with electrocautery, 23 children (1.1%) developed PPECS. All had abdominal pain and fever. The average age of the children with PPECS was (3.5±1.5) years, including 19 cases (82.6%) younger than 3 years. There were 18 cases with polyps larger than 25 mm (78.3%). The endoscopic operation time ((56±15) vs. (24±8) min, t=18.086, P<0.01), the rate of piecemeal resection (78.3% (18/23) vs. 17.4% (20/115), χ2=17.358, P<0.01), the lesion size ((38.4±3.7) vs. (15.8±4.3) mm, t=15.127, P<0.01), the proportion of polyps located in the right hemicolon (47.8% (11/23) vs. 23.5% (27/115), χ2=7.035, P<0.05), and the proportion of broad-based polyps (78.3% (18/23) vs. 25.2% (29/115), χ2 = 29.259, P<0.01) in the PPECS group were all significantly higher than those in the non-PPECS group. Similarly, the leukocyte counts ((17.4±4.5)×109/L vs. (8.5±1.2)×109/L, t=6.085, P<0.05) and C-reactive protein ((25.8±3.6) vs. (1.1±0.6) mg/L, t=5.531, P<0.05) in the PPECS group were higher than those in the non-PPECS group. The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that lesion size ≥25 mm (OR=7.554, 95%CI 3.135-20.158, P=0.001), broad-based polyps (OR=5.676, 95%CI 1.153-9.596, P=0.002) and lesion located in the right hemicolon (OR=5.845, 95%CI 1.737-9.297, P=0.008) were independent risk factors of PPECS. Conclusions: The clinical features of PPECS in children are fever, abdominal pain and leukocytosis after the procedure. The lesion size ≥ 25 mm, broad-based polyps and lesion located in the right hemicolon are the independent risk factors of pediatric PPECS.
O15 Montana Offers Innovative Virtual School Nutrition Leadership Institute During COVID-19

Objective Evaluate the Montana Cook Fresh Leadership Institute (MCF) for K-12 school nutrition staff, offered virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions. Use of Theory or Research The MCF curriculum was developed using a participatory approach from Montana Team Nutrition staff, school nutrition professionals, and state-level administration to include evidence-based materials and learning strategies. Target Audience Twenty-two nutrition professionals from 9 Montana school districts in July 2020. Program Description MCF was developed as a 30-hour, 5-day in-person training during 2018 and 2019. In 2020, the format of MCF was adjusted to a 10 day, 30-hour, 3-hour a day virtual workshop. MCF utilized live video conferencing and independent work completed via an online learning management platform. Topics addressed USDA regulations, procurement, food production, culinary skills, and emergency preparedness. Evaluation Methods A pre and post self-reported survey tool and a post MCF evaluation tool were applied. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA was applied to determine significant changes from pre to post (P Results Pre (n = 22) and post surveys (n = 21) determined an average 9.96% percent change in mean comfort level, confidence, and likelihood of future behavior (P Conclusion The pre to post evaluation results indicate that a virtual MCF can achieve positive learning outcomes. Future training efforts should be focused on exploring ways to improve participants comfort with scratch cooking and batch cooking in a virtual format.
SARS-CoV-2: is there neuroinvasion?

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2, a coronavirus (CoV), is known to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome, and a number of non-respiratory complications, particularly in older male patients with prior health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension. These prior health conditions are associated with vascular dysfunction, and the CoV disease 2019 (COVID-19) complications include multiorgan failure and neurological problems. While the main route of entry into the body is inhalation, this virus has been found in many tissues, including the choroid plexus and meningeal vessels, and in neurons and CSF. MAIN BODY: We reviewed SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19, ACE2 distribution and beneficial effects, the CNS vascular barriers, possible mechanisms by which the virus enters the brain, outlined prior health conditions (obesity, hypertension and diabetes), neurological COVID-19 manifestation and the aging cerebrovascualture. The overall aim is to provide the general reader with a breadth of information on this type of virus and the wide distribution of its main receptor so as to better understand the significance of neurological complications, uniqueness of the brain, and the pre-existing medical conditions that affect brain. The main issue is that there is no sound evidence for large flux of SARS-CoV-2 into brain, at present, compared to its invasion of the inhalation pathways. CONCLUSIONS: While SARS-CoV-2 is detected in brains from severely infected patients, it is unclear on how it gets there. There is no sound evidence of SARS-CoV-2 flux into brain to significantly contribute to the overall outcomes once the respiratory system is invaded by the virus. The consensus, based on the normal route of infection and presence of SARS-CoV-2 in severely infected patients, is that the olfactory mucosa is a possible route into brain. Studies are needed to demonstrate flux of SARS-CoV-2 into brain, and its replication in the parenchyma to demonstrate neuroinvasion. It is possible that the neurological manifestations of COVID-19 are a consequence of mainly cardio-respiratory distress and multiorgan failure. Understanding potential SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion pathways could help to better define the non-respiratory neurological manifestation of COVID-19.
Ground Vehicle Suspension Optimization Using Surrogate Modeling

Using surrogate models in place of more computationally expensive simulations is a common practice in several contexts. In this paper, we present an optimization task of finding ideal spring coefficient values for ground vehicle suspensions with respect to a particular metric of driver safety and comfort, develop a set of surrogate models based on sampling full system simulations to calculate this metric, and present and compare the results of using these surrogate models to perform the optimization. We show that the medium-fidelity model, as defined for this study, is of sufficient fidelity for the optimization and that additional fidelity offers little benefit but that the underlying objective function is noisy enough to limit the usefulness of the surrogate model approach for the optimization.
The transforming activity of PP59C-MYC is weaker than that of v-myc.

We and others have speculated that elevated expression of c-myc plays an important role in the establishment of the transformed follicle, a preneoplastic lesion essential for the development of the ALV-induced bursal-dependent lymphoma (Baba and Humphries 1985, Clurman and Hayward 1989, Neiman et al 1985). The discovery of base substitutions and missense mutations in some tumor c- myc alleles raises the possibility that qualitative as well as quantitative alterations within the chicken c-myc proto-oncogene may play a role in the genesis and/or progression of bursal lymphomas (Westaway et al 1984). In order to assess the contribution that deregulated expression of an unaltered c-myc allele makes during ALV lymphomagenesis (Hayward et al 1981) , we have constructed a recombinant avian retrovirus, SNVc-myc, that encodes the second and third exons of normal chicken c-myc and expresses only the smaller of the two c-myc proto-oncogene products, pp62c-myc and pp59c-myc (Hann et al 1988). Ultimately, this virus will enable the effects of specific mutations within the context of wild-type pp59c-myc to be assessed.
Exploring Li substituted O3-structured layered oxides NaLixNi1/3 − xMn1/3 + xCo1/3 − xO2 (x = 0.07, 0.13, and 0.2) as promising cathode materials for rechargeable Na batteries

Abstract A series of new O3 cathode materials, NaLi x Ni 1/3 − x Mn 1/3 + x Co 1/3 − x O 2 (x = 0.07, 0.13, and 0.2), are explored by substituting Li in the layered structure. Single phase is achieved at low Li content (x = 0.07) while the increase in the amount of Li leads to impurity phase. The optimized composition, NaLi 0.07 Ni 0.26 Mn 0.4 Co 0.26 O 2 , demonstrates good capacity retention and excellent rate performance. Ex-situ synchrotron XRD suggests that the O3 phase is maintained upon cycling, thus results in the excellent performance. X-ray absorption spectroscopy data shows that Ni 2 + /Ni 4 + is the main redox couple while Co 3 + /Co 4 + partially contributes to balancing the charge.
Internet and Technology Transfer in Acute Care Hospitals in the United States: Survey-2000

This paper provides the results of the survey-2000 measuring technology transfer and, specifically, Internet usage. The purpose of the survey was to measure the levels of Internet and Intranet existence and usage in acute care hospitals. The depth of the survey includes e-commerce for both business-to-business and customers. These results are compared with responses to the same questions in survey-1997. Changes in response are noted and discussed. This information will provide benchmarks for hospitals to plan their network technology position and to set goals. This is the third of three articles based upon the results of the survey-2000. Readers are referred to prior articles by the author, which discuss the survey design and provide a tutorial on technology transfer in acute care hospitals.(1) The first article based upon the survey results discusses technology transfer, system design approaches, user involvement, and decision-making purposes.(2)
The routine use of albumin for fluid resuscitation of critically ill patients is not warranted

Intervention: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 4% albumin or normal saline, with randomization stratified according to institution and whether there was a diagnosis of trauma on admission to the ICU. Study fluids were supplied in identical 500-ml bottles, and blinding was ensured through the use of specially designed masking cartons and specially designed and manufactured administration sets. The effectiveness of the blinding was confirmed in a formal study before the trial was initiated. The treating clinicians determined the amount and rate of fluid administration. In addition to the study fluid, patients received maintenance fluids, specific replacement fluids, enteral or parenteral nutrition, and blood products at the discretion of the treating clinicians. The monitoring of central venous pressure, pulmonary-artery catheterization, and all other aspects of patient care were performed at the discretion of the treating clinicians.
The portfolio allocation effects of investor sentiment about the ability of managers to beat the market

I present a model that can transform discounts on closed-end mutual funds into a measure of investor sentiment about the ability of fund managers to beat the market. This measure of sentiment varies positively with capital flows into actively managed open-end mutual funds, but negatively with capital flows into passively managed index funds. Investors appear to re-allocate their portfolios between actively and passively managed investment vehicles based on expectations about by how much managers will beat or trail the market.
Helicopter satellite communication: Development of low-cost real-time voice and data system for Aeronautical Mobile Satellite Service (AMSS)

Current helicopter communication is handled by VHF radio which is limited in coverage and operational range. There has not been any SATCOM system designed to meet the requirements of helicopters. Existing fixed wing aircraft SATCOM systems have been considered but do not support helicopter specific requirements. Furthermore, the high cost, size, and weight of these systems make them unsuitable for helicopter applications. In this paper, various diversity techniques have been investigated for optimum design. Coding, modulation, and interleaving are all employed to mitigate periodic RF signal blockage, due to the main rotor blades, and high Doppler frequency shifts. At the same time, the helicopter's wide angle rapid flight maneuvers impose restrictions on the antenna requirements for continuous coverage. Potential low-cost omni-directional antennas and locations on the helicopter are presented.
Gap-reduced thermal paste package design for cooling single flip-chip electronic modules

A method of reducing the thermal paste chip-to-cap interface gap is presented to achieve enhanced cooling of single flip-chip electronic modules. The structure and assembly process steps of the gap reduction design are described. The thermal reliability of the design is evaluated by measuring the thermal resistance for several permutations of the structural design variables, allowing identification of an optimum design configuration.
Academic Capitalism and Professional Reproduction at the Conference

Characteristics of the November 2006 Race, Ethnicity, and Place conference in San Marcos, Texas, are discussed in order to (a) interrogate the problematic nature of academic capitalism at academic meetings, where decisions about corporate sponsorship and key speakers often go unchallenged, and (b) analyze aspects of professional reproduction at the site of the conference. This commentary argues that academic capitalism often allows corporate interests to convey messages that are at odds with geography’s critical tradition, and that benign acceptance of such messages by senior members teaches early-stage researchers to be uncritical of the corporatization of academia.
Modeling the Dynamic Response of the Fiber/Matrix Interphase in Continuous Fiber Composite Materials

A mathematical model was developed for the torsional dynamic response of unidirectional composites with imperfect bonding between the fibers and matrix. The model is basically an assemblage of homogeneous isotropic cylinders with different dynamic properties. The interfacial region where the fibers and matrix are chemically and mechanically bonded was modeled as a nonuniform interphase. The interphase, containing both a stiff region and a soft region, was incorporated into a three-phase model. To study the effects of the interphase on the dynamic response of the composites, the dynamic modulus of the interphase was varied to simulate fiber/matrix bonding conditions. A low storage modulus and high loss modulus of the interphase, corresponding to poor interfacial bonding, were found to result in more damping. The torsional dynamic response for a pitch-based carbon fiber/epoxy composite system with different fiber volume fractions was evaluated with the current models. The dynamic response of the composites predicted by the three-phase model agreed well with values measured by torsional dynamic mechanical test, while the two-phase model with perfect bonding between the fibers and matrix not only underestimated the loss modulus but failed to predict the trend of the loss tangent of the composites. These observations indicated that a viscoelastic interphase was significant and necessary to obtain good correlation with experimental results.
Stromal Development and Mating System of Balansia epichloë, a Leaf-Colonizing Endophyte of Warm-Season Grasses.

Abstract Studies of the stromal development and mating system of Balansia epichloe were conducted. Early development of the stroma consists of both endophytic and epiphytic phases of growth. As development progresses, the epiphytic stromal subiculum on the upper surface of leaves is linked with endophytic mycelium within leaves by hyphal bridges, which may provide carbohydrates for stromal development. Sugar utilization studies suggest that Balansia epichloe is excluded from growth within inflorescence primordia of grasses by the presence of high levels of sugars that are inhibitory to growth of the endophyte. Studies of the mating system of B. epichloe were conducted, and the fungus was shown to be heterothallic, with ephelidial conidia functioning as spermatia. Insect vectoring of ephelidial spermatia is suggested to account for the irregular pattern of perithecial development on stromata.
Elucidation of Two Major Aggregation Pathways in an IgG2 Antibody

Two major aggregation pathways observed in an IgG2 molecule are described. Different aggregate species generated by long-term incubation of the antibody at 37°C were collected by a semi-preparative size exclusion chromatography method. These purified species were analyzed extensively by denaturing size-exclusion chromatography methods. The major aggregation pathway at low pH (4.0) resulted in the formation of both dimers and high molecular weight (HMW) aggregates. It was found that these dimers and HMW aggregates contain antibody molecules that have a peptide bond cleavage between an aspartic acid and proline residue in the CH2 domain. Evidence that unfolding of the CH2 domain may be driving the aggregation at low pH is presented. At higher pH (pH – 6.0), formation of a dimer having approximately 75% covalent character was the major aggregation pathway while formation of higher molecular weight aggregates were largely suppressed. The covalent dimer consisted of both disulfide linked antibody molecules and another species (∼26%) that was formed due to nondisulfide covalent bonds between two heavy chains. At pH – 5.0, both dimer and higher molecular weight aggregates were formed and the aggregation pathway was a combination of the major pathways observed at pH – 4.0 and 6.0. The dimer species formed at pH – 5.0 had a larger contribution from covalent species—both disulfide and nondisulfide linked, while the HMW aggregate contained a higher percentage of molecules that had the peptide bond cleavage in the CH2 domain. The dimer formed at pH – 6.0 was found to have identical secondary and tertiary structure as the intact antibody molecule. However, the dimer and higher molecular weight aggregate formed at pH – 4.0 have altered secondary and tertiary structure. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 98:3013–3030, 2009
Context and Implications Document for: Teaching English language arts methods in the United States: a review of the research

This guide accompanies the following article: Donna L. Pasternak, Samantha Caughlan, Heidi Hallman, Laura Renzi and Leslie Rush. Teaching English language arts methods in the United States: a review of the research, Review of Education, DOI:10.1002/rev3.3031
Collisional activation spectra of organic ions

Collision with neutral molecules is shown to provide a convenient method of adding internal energy to ions in a field-free drift region of the mass spectrometer. The effects on this process of ion accelerating potential, target gas pressure and identity, and precursor ion internal energy and mass have been investigated to optimize experimental conditions. Such collisions cause ion decompositions whose activation energies cover a broad range; for a particular ion such decompositions can be viewed as its “collisional activation (CA) spectrum.” CA spectra, which can be obtained for each ion in the normal mass spectrum, and which appear to follow the predictions of the quasi equilibrium theory, show many more of the possible unimolecular ion decomposition reactions for an ion than do unimolecular metastables, and thus provide valuable information for ion reaction mechanisms and molecular structure determination. Collisional activation can sometimes yield ion energies which are relatively inaccessible by electron impact. The precursor ion internal energy has a negligible effect on the ion's CA spectrum except for product ions formed through the processes of lowest activation energy. Thus, CA spectra should also be valuable for the characterization of ion structures.
Natural language interfaces and strategic computing

Modern weaponry is often too complex for unaided human operation, and is largely or totally controlled by computers. But modern software, particularly artificial intelligence software, exhibits such complexity and inscrutability that there are grave dangers associated with its use in non-benign applications. Recent efforts to make computer systems more accessible to military personnel through natural language processing systems, as proposed in the Strategic Computing Initiative of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, increases rather than decreases the dangers of unpredictable behavior. Defense systems constitute, in fact, a paradigm case of the wrong kind of application for this technology. This cannot be expected to change, since the unpredictability stems from inherent properties of computer systems and of natural languages.
Effect of carbon dioxide on the cortical seizure threshold to lidocaine

Abstract The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of CO 2 on the threshold of cortical seizures produced by a local anesthetic (lidocaine). Apneic cats were mechanically ventilated at constant minute volume and oxygen tension, with only inspired CO 2 concentration being altered. Arterial CO 2 tension, measured just prior to lidocaine injection, ranged from 20 to 100 mm Hg. Spontaneous electrical activity from cortical and subcortical areas, which always included amygdala, was continuously recorded. Increasing the arterial CO 2 tension reduces the dose of lidocaine which will just produce an electrical seizure. Thus, the cortical threshold to lidocaine-induced electrical seizures is lowered when the arterial CO 2 tension is increased and, conversely, is heightened if the tension is reduced. The seizure is not related to the transient hypotension produced by rapidly injected lidocaine. Two mechanisms, separately or together, are postulated to explain this: CO 2 increases cerebral blood flow, thereby delivering more lidocaine per unit time to the brain; and CO 2 itself has an excitatory effect on subcortical structures (presumably amygdala and related limbic elements). A third possible mechanism may be that CO 2 increases the relative intraneuronal concentration of pharmacologically active lidocaine cation.