cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of long-term use of eHealth systems in adolescents with type 1 diabetes treated with sensor-augmented pump therapy:

Telemedicine in diabetes includes telemonitoring and transmission of important data (self monitoring of blood glucose data, insulin therapy, pump setting, etc.) from the patient s home to the diabetic unit, with a real-time health feedback. Moreover, an eHealth approach is thought to facilitate diabetes management and to improve compliance to CSII/SAP treatment in adolescents, but to date, limited literature related to this topic is available and long-term studies are still lacking. The main aim of this study was to compare the long-term effect on glycometabolic control of eHealth intervention and traditional care in T1DM SAP-treated adolescents. In our study we demonstrated a favorable impact of monthly teleassistance on treatment compliance. Adolescents receiving frequent feedback provided by the medicalmultidisciplinary team, due to the telemonitoring, resulted more compliant in self-management of diabetes. In particular, the medical team feedback resulted in interventions on behavioral errors and insulin therapy adjustments, leading to an improved glycometabolic control.
Feeding Responses of Corn Earworm Larvae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Corn Silks of Varying Flavone Content

Silks of 50 field corn, Zea mays L., inbreds were evaluated in 4 separate bioassays (fresh silks, 2- and 4-g oven-dried silks/100 inl diet, and silk methanol extract deposited on celufil) for their effects on the growth of corn earworm, Helicoverna zea (Boddie) larvae. The silks also were assayed for maysin, isomaysin, and apimaysin plus 3'-methoxymaysin content. Significant differences in larval growth were found among silks from inbreds within each bioassay. The dried silk bioassay was easier to mix and dispense and permitted the use of silks of germplasm with varying maturity. A highly significant negative relationship was found between weight of larvae and maysin content from fresh silk, and maysin and isomaysin content from oven-dried silk. The correlation between larval weight and apimaysin plus 3'-methoxymaysin was not significant. The correlation between larval weight and total flavones from oven dried silks seas enhanced (-0.667 for maysin alone to -0.979 for total flavones) compared with that between larval weight and maysin alone.
Energy Storage Technologies for High-Power Applications

Energy storage systems provide viable solutions for improving efficiency and power quality as well as reliability issues in dc/ac power systems including power grid with considerable penetrations of renewable energy. The storage systems are also essential for aircraft powertrains, shipboard power systems, electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles to meet the peak load economically and improve the system’s reliability and efficiency. Significant development and research efforts have recently been made in high-power storage technologies such as supercapacitors, superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES), and flywheels. These devices have a very high-power density and fast response time and are suitable for applications with rapid charge and discharge requirements. In this paper, the latest technological developments of these devices as well as advancements in the lithium-ion battery, the most power dense commercially available battery, are presented. Also, a comparative analysis of these high-power storage technologies in terms of power, energy, cost, life, and performance is carried out. This paper also presents the applications, advantages, and limitations of these technologies in a power grid and transportation system as well as critical and pulse loads.
Using Deep Learning for Energy Expenditure Estimation with wearable sensors

Energy Expenditure (EE) Estimation is an important step in tracking personal activity and preventing chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Accurate and online EE estimation using small wearable sensors is a difficult task, primarily because most existing schemes work offline or using heuristics. In this work, we focus on accurate EE estimation for tracking ambulatory activities (walking, standing, climbing upstairs or downstairs) of individuals wearing mobile sensors. We use Convolution Neural Networks (CNNs) to automatically detect important features from data collected from triaxial accelerometer and heart rate sensors. Using CNNs, we find a significant improvement in EE estimation compared to other state-of-the-art models. We compare our results against state-of-the-art Activity-Specific Linear Regression as well as Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) based models. Using a universal CNN model, we obtain an overall low Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 1.12 which is 30% and 35% lower than existing models. The results were calibrated against a COSMED K4b2 indirect calorimeter readings.
Endovascular Infections Arising from Right-Sided Heart Structures

Endovascular infections arising from the right side of the heart produce a characteristic clinical picture when compared with other forms of endocarditis. Right-sided endocarditis is unique in its predisposing conditions, microbiology, clinical manifestations, and complications. These factors, along with the treatment and prognosis of right-sided endocarditis, are reviewed in this article.
Proprioceptive control of posture in the crayfish abdomen.

1. The reflex role of the crayfish abdominal muscle receptor organ (MRO) was studied in intact preparations under relatively physiological conditions by electro-physiological and photographic methods. 2. By separately stretching the receptor muscles of the two receptors in each half-segment it was found that discharge of the tonic MRO is sufficient to evoke activity in the tonic superficial extensors but has no effect on the deep twitch extensors. No effect on either muscle group was produced by activity in the phasic MRO. 3. Discharge of the tonic MRO was found to activate only one of the five motoneurones supplying the superficial extensors. This motoneurone is generally tonically active and has a low threshold to tactile input. Evidence is given that this motoneuronedoes not innervate the receptor muscle of the tonic MRO. 4. The excitatory effect of tonic MRO output on ipsilateral superficial extensor motoneurones is only one-tenth as great in adjacent segments as in the same segment. The effect contralaterally in the same segment is negligible. 5. Simultaneous electrical recording of tonic MRO output with photographic recording of abdominal position proves that the response of the tonic MRO is a function of the difference between actual segment length and some centrally deter-mined ‘desired’ length. Evidence is presented supporting the concept that the tonic MRO functions as an error detector in a follow-up length servo control system which governs the posture of the crayfish abdomen. A model of this system is presented anddiscussed. Supported by grants (to Dr Donald Kennedy) from the U.S. Public Health Service (B-2944) and the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AF-AFOSR).
Spend time now, save time later: IPM lessons learned from the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

Abstract A case study involving a comprehensive inspection to discriminate between old and active pest infestations is described. Integrated pest management (IPM) processes within the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), Smithsonian Institution, Division of Mammals (DOM) are challenging because of the size and composition of the collection, the age of storage equipment, and a low staffing to specimen ratio. Each specimen cabinet was inspected by IPM technicians during a 6-week period in late 2012. Following that inspection, two members of the NMNH collections program technician team began a 9-week project to clean 5,925 incidents in the affected cabinets in DOM storage areas in the Natural History Building downtown. The results of this project show that cleaning up a pest infestation in any natural history collection can be done in a reasonable amount of time and will help ensure the preservation of collections in the future. Knowing that the collections have been fully inspected and cleaned will al...
Viscous flow between two rotating nonconcentric cylinders for small eccentricity

The flow of a viscous and incompressible fluid between two rotating nonconcentric cylinders is investigated. An approximate solution of the Navier-Stokes equations is obtained by a perturbation method for the case of small eccentricity. A second solution of the basic flow is obtained by imposing the additional geometric restriction of small gap between the two cylinders and employing the asymptotic expansion of Bessel functions by Meissel's series. This second solution is also obtained by formulating a small gap boundary value problem. The transverse velocity profiles are presented for the case when the eccentricity and gap are small and the outer cylinder is stationary.
Treatment of Parkinsonism in Patients with Non-Parkinson Dementia

Parkinsonism and dementia can co-occur in patients without Parkinson’s disease, and most of patients with neurodegenerative parkinsonism develop significant cognitive impairment. Parkinsonism–dementia syndromes notably include dementia with Lewy bodies, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal syndrome, normal-pressure hydrocephalus, vascular parkinsonism and dementia, drug-induced parkinsonism and dementia, frontotemporal lobe dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Therapeutic options for parkinsonism in these patients are limited, and data are scarce. In this chapter, we summarize the available information on this topic.
Impact of straight, unconnected, radially-oriented, and tapered mesopores on column efficiency: A theoretical investigation.

Abstract Superficially porous particles (SPPs) can be prepared from a pseudomorphic transformation (PMT) which produces straight, unconnected, and radially-oriented mesopores (ROMs). ROMs can be either both ends open in fully porous particles (FPPs) or one-end-closed in SPPs. The impact of ROMs on the longitudinal diffusion (B/u), solid–liquid mass transfer resistance (Csu), and on the eddy dispersion (A(u)) height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) of 3D randomly packed columns was investigated based on theoretical viewpoints. Torquato's theory of effective diffusion in packed beds (B term), Giddings’ coupling theory of eddy dispersion (A term), and Giddings’ generalized nonequilibrium theory (Cs term) are applied to make predictions. First, it is found that the A term is nearly independent on the internal structure of the particle. Secondly, in the absence of flow, infinitely narrow and both ends open (no constriction effect) ROMs induce an internal hindrance factor of 2 3 regarding diffusion along the axial direction. Experimental data reveal that one-end-closed and 80 A wide ROMs in SPPs lead to a measurable internal hindrance factor of 2 7 regarding diffusion in the porous shell. Thirdly, above the optimum speed, the Cs coefficient is dependent on the geometry (cylinders, cones, etc.) of the ROMs: when ROMs are conical in SPPs, Cs is expected to decrease by 80% with respect to cylindrical ROMs. From an application perspective, PMT-SPPs prepared with narrow ROMs are well suited for the analysis of small molecules at or below optimum speed (lowest B term) while PMT-SPPs made of wide and conical ROMs are ideal for the analysis of large molecules above optimum speed (smallest Cs term).
Abstract IA22: Studying drug resistance through PDX models

Emergence of drug resistance is the main limitation for a durable response to therapy. The mechanisms of such resistance need to be uncovered in order to identify those patients that are more likely to respond and/or develop novel strategies to overcome tumor adaptation to therapy. Patient-derived xenografts can be established from patients at any stage of their treatment. However, samples collected before the exposure to the pharmacological pressure (therapy-naive) and tumors from patients that progressed to therapy after an initial response (acquired resistance) are preferable. Of particular interest are the models derived from outliers; that are either patients unexpectedly refractory to a given therapy (e.g. BRCA-mut tumors not responding to PARP inhibitors or HER2-positive tumors not responding to anti-HER2 agents) or patients that exhibited an exceptional response (magnitude/durability) to specific targeted agents. There are at least two advantages in using patient-derived material for this kind of studies. The availability of virtually limitless tissue allows deep genomic and proteomic analysis of tumor cells that supposedly resemble the clinical scenario. Moreover, the possibility to perpetuate these tumors is crucial to confirm the resistance phenotype and test novel and more efficacious therapeutic options. In my presentation I will include several examples of how patient-derived models have helped demonstrating the genuineness of previously hypothesized mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapy and have been instrumental to test combinatorial strategies that resulted in remarkable antitumor activity. Furthermore, I will show that patient-derived models can also serve as tools to test novel “smart” drug delivery systems. Citation Format: Maurizio Scaltriti. Studying drug resistance through PDX models. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Patient-Derived Cancer Models: Present and Future Applications from Basic Science to the Clinic; Feb 11-14, 2016; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2016;22(16_Suppl):Abstract nr IA22.
Use of online training modules for professional development with school-based therapists: Outcome project

ABSTRACTThis evidence-based project provided a professional development opportunity for school-based therapists to gain knowledge about evidence-based practice and learn strategies to integrate newly learned knowledge for the purpose of becoming an evidence-based practitioner. The purpose of the project was to determine whether a six-module online course about evidence-based practice would increase school-based occupational therapists’ knowledge of evidence-based practice. Current literature reveals that teaching allied health professionals about evidence-based practice increases their knowledge about this topic. Literature also supports the use of online teaching as an effective tool for learning about evidence-based practice. Through web-based delivery, participants viewed six narrated PowerPoint presentations at individually convenient times. Results, measured by discussion forum responses and pre- and postsurveys, indicated that six lessons of contextually based, online learning was an effective means...
When Science goes Public: From Technical Arguments to Appeals to Authority

Recent calls for increased public participation in technical decision-making have brought to the fore argumentation between scientists and citizens. In this paper, we examine what happens as arguments travel from the technical to the public sphere. Based on a case study of a U.S. debate over the net energy balance of corn-based ethanol, we show how the evidence-based technical arguments are transformed into appeals to expert authority.
Developmental Patterns Based Individualized Parcellation of Infant Cortical Surface.

The human cerebral cortex develops dynamically during the early postnatal stage, reflecting the underlying rapid changes of cortical microstructures and their connections, which jointly determine the functional principles of cortical regions. Hence, the dynamic cortical developmental patterns are ideal for defining the distinct cortical regions in microstructure and function for neurodevelopmental studies. Moreover, given the remarkable inter-subject variability in terms of cortical structure/function and their developmental patterns, the individualized cortical parcellation based on each infant’s own developmental patterns is critical for precisely localizing personalized distinct cortical regions and also understanding inter-subject variability. To this end, we propose a novel method for individualized parcellation of the infant cortical surface into distinct and meaningful regions based on each individual’s cortical developmental patterns. Specifically, to alleviate the effects of cortical measurement errors and also make the individualized cortical parcellation comparable across subjects, we first create a population-based cortical parcellation to capture the general developmental landscape of the cortex in an infant population. Then, this population-based parcellation is leveraged to guide the individualized parcellation based on each infant’s own cortical developmental patterns in an iterative manner. At each iteration, the individualized parcellation is gradually updated based on (1) the prior information of the population-based parcellation, (2) the individualized parcellation at the previous iteration, and also (3) the developmental patterns of all vertices. Experiments on fifteen healthy infants, each with longitudinal MRI scans acquired at six time points (i.e., 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months of age), show that our method generates a reliable and meaningful individualized cortical parcellation based on each infant’s own developmental patterns.
The Relationship Between Speech, Language, and Phonological Awareness in Preschool-Age Children With Developmental Disabilities.

Purpose A number of intrinsic factors, including expressive speech skills, have been suggested to place children with developmental disabilities at risk for limited development of reading skills. T...
Design of a measurement system for temperature distribution in continuous-flow microwave heating of pumpable fluids using infrared imaging and fiber optic technology.

Continuous microwave heating has the potential to revolutionize processing operations in which high energy densities per unit volume are required. The adoption of microwave heating for large scale commercial application has been hampered by a lack of reliable information on the temperature distribution during heating of pumpable fluids. This study represents an initial attempt to design a system that quantifies the temperature distribution during continuous microwave heating and its relationship with processing tube surface temperature distribution. The novel measurement system designed consisted of a semi-rigid thin axial support system on which fiber optic probes were attached at different lengths in the microwave heating cavity. Inlet, outlet and in-line longitudinal temperatures were monitored during continuous flow microwave heating (1.5 kW, 2.5 kW, 3.5 kW, and 4.5 kW) of water of three different salinities (0 ppt, 15 ppt, and 30 ppt) at a flow rate of 1.6 l/min. Inlet and exit temperatures were meas...
Demodulators and Detectors

Demodulation is the process of retrieving the information from a modulated carrier. It is necessary to treat AM and FM separately because of the different techniques used. Nonetheless, both AM and FM demodulation make use of analog multipliers and/or nonlinear device characteristics. In essence, the carrier is extracted and is multiplied with the original modulated signal, sometimes after its phase is shifted, to produce the modulation signal. In the process, the sidebands are frequency-translated down to a lowpass spectrum.
Role of the caudal fastigial nucleus in saccade generation. II. Effects of muscimol inactivation

1. We studied the effect of temporarily inhibiting neurons in the caudal fastigial nucleus in two rhesus macaques trained to make saccades to jumping targets. We placed injections of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist muscimol unilaterally or bilaterally at sites in the caudal fastigial nucleus where we had recorded saccade-related neurons a few minutes earlier. 2. Unilateral injections (n = 9) made horizontal saccades to the injected side hypermetric and those to the other side hypometric (mean gain of 1.37 and 0.61, respectively, for 10 degrees target steps, and 1.26 and 0.81 for 20 degrees target steps; normal saccade gain was 0.96). Saccades to vertical targets showed a small but significant hypermetria and curved strongly toward the side of the injection. The trajectories and end points of all targeted saccades were more variable than normal. 3. After unilateral injections, centripetal saccades were slightly larger than centrifugal saccades (mean gains for ipsilateral saccades were 1.42 and 1.31, respectively, for 10 degrees target steps, and 1.37 and 1.15 for 20 degrees target steps). 4. Unilateral injections increased the average acceleration of ipsilateral saccades and decreased the acceleration of contralateral saccades. Injections decreased both the acceleration and deceleration of vertical saccades. 5. After dysmetric saccades, monkeys acquired the target with an abnormally high number of hypometric corrective saccades. Injection increased the average number of corrective saccades from 0.6 to 2.1 after 10 degrees horizontal target steps and from 0.8 to 2.1 after 20 degrees steps. The size of each successive corrective saccade in a series decreased, and the latency from the previous corrective saccade increased. 6. Bilateral injections (n = 2) of muscimol, in which we injected first into the left caudal fastigial nucleus and then, within 30 min, into the right, made all saccades hypermetric (mean gain for 10 degrees right, left, up, and down saccades was 1.18, 1.49, 1.43, and 1.10, respectively). Paradoxically, bilateral injection decreased both saccade acceleration and deceleration. Saccade trajectories and end points were more variable than normal. 7. To account for the effects of our injections, we propose that the activity of caudal fastigial neurons on one side normally helps to decelerate ipsilateral saccades and helps to accelerate contralateral saccades by influencing the feedback loop of the saccade burst generator in the brain stem. Without caudal fastigial activity the brain stem burst generator produces hypermetric, variable saccades. We therefore also propose that the influence of caudal fastigial neurons on the burst generator makes saccades more consistent and accurate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Life is sweet: the cell biology of glycoconjugates

Cells are dazzling in their diversity, both within and across organisms. And yet, throughout this variety runs at least one common thread: sugars. All cells on Earth, in all domains of life, are li...
Long-term discontinuation of antithrombotic therapy in patients with HeartMate II continuous-flow left ventricular assist device support:

Recurrent bleeding events are a common complication of left ventricular assist devices leading to significant morbidity. Clinicians may be reluctant to discontinue all antithrombotic therapies in t...
Legionella pneumophila as a Health Hazard to Miners: A Pilot Study of Water Quality and QMRA

Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila), the causative agent of legionellosis, is an aquatic bacterium that grows in warm water. Humans are only presented with a health risk when aerosolized water containing L. pneumophila is inhaled. In mining operations, aerosolized water is used as dust control and as part of the drilling operations, a currently ignored exposure route. This study characterized L. pneumophila concentrations in the mine’s non-potable water and the relationship between L. pneumophila and chlorine concentrations. These concentrations informed a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model to estimate the infection risk to miners exposed to aerosolized water containing L. pneumophila. Fourteen water samples were collected from seven locations at a mine and analyzed for temperature, pH, chlorine, and L. pneumophila serogroup. Most samples (93%) tested positive for L. pneumophila cells. The faucet from the sprinkler system on the adit level (entrance to the underground mine levels) showed the highest concentration of L. pneumophila (8.35 × 104 MPN/L). Disability adjusted life years (DALYs) were estimated in the QMRA model and showed that the risk for all miners was significantly lower (p < 0.0001) with the ventilation system on than when the system was off. Our study showed that the use of a ventilation system at the adit level of the mine reduced the risk of infection with aerosolized L. pneumophila.
Spatiotemporal delivery of basic fibroblast growth factor to directly and simultaneously attenuate cardiac fibrosis and promote cardiac tissue vascularization following myocardial infarction.

Following myocardial infarction (MI), the destruction of vasculature in the infarcted heart muscle and progression of cardiac fibrosis lead to cardiac function deterioration. Vascularization of the damaged tissue and prevention of cardiac fibrosis represent promising strategies to improve cardiac function. Herein we have developed a bFGF release system with suitable release kinetics to simultaneously achieve the two goals. The release system was based on an injectable, thermosensitive, and fast gelation hydrogel and bFGF. The hydrogel had gelation time <7 s. It can quickly solidify upon injection into tissue so as to increase drug retention in the tissue. Hydrogel complex modulus can be tuned by hydrogel solution concentration. The complex modulus of 176.6 Pa and lower allowed cardiac fibroblast to maintain its phenotype. Bioactive bFGF was able to gradually release from the hydrogel for 4 weeks. The released bFGF promoted cardiac fibroblast survival under ischemic conditions mimicking those of the infarcted hearts. It also attenuated cardiac fibroblasts from differentiating into myofibroblasts in the presence of TGFβ when tested in 3D collagen model mimicking the scenario when the bFGF release system was injected into hearts. Furthermore, the released bFGF stimulated human umbilical endothelial cells to form endothelial lumen. After 4 weeks of implantation into infarcted hearts, the bFGF release system significantly increased blood vessel density, decreased myofibroblast density and collagen content, augmented cardiac cell survival/proliferation, and reduced macrophage density. In addition, the bFGF release system significantly increased cardiac function. These results demonstrate that delivery of bFGF with appropriate release kinetics alone may represent an efficient approach to control cardiac remodeling after MI.
POSTER: A Polyhedral+Dataflow Intermediate Language for Performance Exploration

This poster introduces a compiler intermediate language designed for dataflow optimizations within a polyhedral framework. This intermediate representation describes computations at a high level, defines a set of loop and data transformations that can be applied, and provides visual feedback reflecting the expected effect of transformations on the performance model. Computations are represented as macro-dataflow graphs, with support for both regular and irregular scientific applications, including stencils and sparse linear algebra kernels. This layer provides optimizations such as loop transformations or temporary storage reductions. The multi-level intermediate representation enables this broad range of optimizations by allowing each layer to be transformed independently, while respecting dependences. The approach is evaluated on a computational fluid dynamics solver, sparse matrix-vector multiplication kernels, and the matrix-tensor Khatri-Rao product. The experimental results either outperform or are competitive with existing implementations.
Oropharyngeal Human Papillomavirus and Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer (HNSCC) encompasses a diverse group of tumors originating from the squamous epithelium of the aerodigestive tract. Over the last four decades, an unexpected epidemiological pattern has emerged that suggests evolving risk factor exposures may be altering the epidemiology of HNSCC. The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPC) has increased, while the incidence of tumors arising from nonoropharyngeal subsites has decreased. The increase in OPC has been attributed to human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection, while declines in heavy tobacco and alcohol use are thought to have resulted in reductions in the incidence of nonoropharyngeal HPV-negative HNSCC. Perhaps the most clinically relevant feature of HPV-positive OPC (HPV-OPC) is the therapeutic responsiveness and prognostic advantage conferred by HPV-positive tumor status. In light of the emergence of HPV-OPC as a distinct subtype of HNSCC with a significantly more favorable prognostic profile, ongoing investigations of HPV-OPC represent efforts to refine the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic approaches for HPV-positive disease.
Machine learning with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging of the breast for early prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Abstract In patients with locally advanced breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), some patients achieve a complete pathologic response (pCR), some achieve a partial response, and some do not respond at all or even progress. Accurate prediction of treatment response has the potential to improve patient care by improving prognostication, enabling de-escalation of toxic treatment that has little benefit, facilitating upfront use of novel targeted therapies, and avoiding delays to surgery. Visual inspection of a patient’s tumor on multiparametric MRI is insufficient to predict that patient’s response to NAC. However, machine learning and deep learning approaches using a mix of qualitative and quantitative MRI features have recently been applied to predict treatment response early in the course of or even before the start of NAC. This is a novel field but the data published so far has shown promising results. We provide an overview of the machine learning and deep learning models developed to date, as well as discuss some of the challenges to clinical implementation.
Differential expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor subtypes within the cerebral microvasculature.

Myogenic tone is critical for appropriate regulation of cerebral blood flow, but the mechanisms used by vascular smooth muscle cells to detect changes in intraluminal pressure are not fully charact...
Quantifying Tensile Forces at Cell-Cell Junctions with a DNA-based Fluorescent Probe

SUMMARY Cells are physically contacting with each other. Direct and precise quantification of forces at cell–cell junctions is still challenging. Herein, we have developed a DNA-based ratiometric fluorescent probe, termed DNAMeter, to quantify intercellular tensile forces. These lipid-modified DNAMeters can spontaneously anchor onto live cell membranes. The DNAMeter consists of two self-assembled DNA hairpins of different force tolerance. Once the intercellular tension exceeds the force tolerance to unfold a DNA hairpin, a specific fluorescence signal will be activated, which enables the real-time imaging and quantification of tensile forces. Using E-cadherin-modified DNAMeter as an example, we have demonstrated an approach to quantify, at the molecular level, the magnitude and distribution of E-cadherin tension among epithelial cells. Compatible with readily accessible fluorescence microscopes, these easy-to-use DNA tension probes can be broadly used to quantify mechanotransduction in collective cell behaviors.
Fabrication and Modeling of Recessed Traces for Silicon-Based Neural Microelectrodes

Chronically-implanted neural microelectrodes are powerful tools for neuroscience research and emerging clinical applications, but their usefulness is limited by their tendency to fail after months in vivo. One failure mode is the degradation of insulation materials that protect the conductive traces from the saline environment. Studies have shown that material degradation is accelerated by mechanical stresses, which tend to concentrate on raised topographies such as conducting traces. Therefore, to avoid raised topographies, we developed a fabrication technique that recesses (buries) the traces in dry-etched, self-aligned trenches. The depth of the trenches and the thickness of the traces are matched so that overlying insulation materials are flat, which, according to finite-element modeling, reduces stress concentrations in the insulation material. Here, we provide details on process optimization, modeling of intrinsic stress, and characterization using SEM, focused ion-beam cross sections, profilometry, and electrochemical impedance testing. The technique requires no extra masks, is easy to integrate with existing processes, and produces flatness within about 10 nm.
18F-Fluciclovine Uptake in a Ureterocele

A 60-year-old man with prostate adenocarcinoma status post radical prostatectomy and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection referred for restaging F-fluciclovine PET/CT due to rising serum prostate-specific antigen levels (1.1 ng/mL at that time of imaging). PET/CT images were obtained from the proximal thighs to the vertex of the skull approximately 3 to 5 minutes after the IV administration of 347.8 MBq (9.4 mCi) of F-fluciclovine. PET/CT imaging demonstrated a focus of abnormally increased F-fluciclovine uptake at the right ureterovesical junction. Subsequent MRI of the pelvis revealed that this focus corresponded to a benign ureterocele.
Applications of the Health Belief Model and Continuing Professional Development for Emergency Preparedness and Response.

The COVID-19 pandemic is the public health emergency of the 21st century. During these unprecedented times, pharmacists have been playing a critical role as frontline healthcare workers, drug information experts, and essential health care professionals. Although pharmacists are not recognized as
Impact of Protease Inhibitor-Based Antiretroviral Therapy on Tacrolimus Intrapatient Variability in HIV-Positive Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Abstract Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive kidney transplant (KT) recipients have been shown to experience higher rejection rates due in part to drug-drug interactions between antiretroviral therapy (ART) and immunosuppression regimens. High tacrolimus (FK) intrapatient variability (IPV) is associated with inferior outcomes in KT. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of protease inhibitor (PI)-based ART on FK IPV and graft outcomes. Methods We performed a single-center review of HIV-positive KT recipients from 2007 to 2017. Percentage coefficient of variation (%CV = (σ/μ) × 100; σ, median; μ, standard deviation) was calculated for FK IPV. FK IPV at 6 and 12 months, graft function, and immune outcomes in PI-based vs non-PI-based KT recipients were compared. Results A total of 23 HIV-positive KT patients were identified, of whom 10 were maintained on PI-based ART. Median IPV for the entire cohort at 6 and 12 months was 35.8% and 41%, respectively. Patients on PI-based regimens were proportionally more likely to experience high IPV at both time points. Median FK IPV was numerically higher at 6 months (37.3% vs 26.8%, P = .11) and significantly higher at 12 months (57.8% vs 30.9%, P = .01) for patients on PI-based regimens. Lastly, inferior graft function was observed in PI-based patients. Conclusion Our data suggest that PI-based ART is associated with a higher degree of FK IPV, which may contribute to worsening graft function. Larger studies are warranted to determine the impact of PI-based ART on FK IPV and graft outcomes in this population.
A pore–scale investigation of surface roughness on the evolution of natural fractures during acid dissolution using DBS method

Abstract Natural fractures are the essential pathways by which water, hydraulic fracturing fluids, oil and gas, reactants, and contaminants can travel in the porous media. To fully understand subsurface processes relevant to the fluid transport in natural fractures, the Darcy–Brinkmann–Stokes (DBS) pore–scale method was employed to investigate the effects of fracture surface roughness on the reactive transport and dissolution mechanisms of porous media with natural fractures. The advection–diffusion equation described the transport of reactants, and the incorporated mass balance equation dynamically tracked the fracture evolution during acid dissolution. The model has been developed based on the OpenFOAM platform, a CFD open–source code. The partial differential equations were discretized by the Finite Volume Method (FVM) on the structured grids. We studied the dissolution mechanisms, effective surface area, and normalized porosity–permeability relationship on different surface roughness. An Indiana limestone sample with different calcite content was investigated to elucidate the impacts of unreacted minerals on acidizing process. We categorized the solid dissolution of fractures into three dissolution patterns regarding the second Damkohler number and the Peclet number—face dissolution, front dissolution, and edge dissolution—, where the front dissolution pattern and the face dissolution pattern had the shorter time to consume up the rock in the fractured system. The quantified pore–scale parameters obtained from this study are expected to improve the accuracy of Darcy–scale models. The microscopic insights from the present study can guide effective operating parameters and enhance hydrocarbon production by optimizing the acidization process.
NK cells seize PD1 from leukaemia cells

A preprint by Hasim et al. shows that tumour cell-derived PD1 can be acquired by natural killer cells through trogocytosis, which dampens their anti-tumour effector function.
CoviNet: Covid-19 diagnosis using machine learning analyses for computerized tomography images

The Covid-19 is a highly contagious and virulent disease caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Corona Virus – 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Over 146 million cases and 3.1 million deaths were reported worldwide as of April 27, 2021. A multinational consensus from the Fleischner Society reported that Computerized Tomography (CT) can be utilized for the early diagnosis of Covid-19. However, this classification involves radiologists’ time and efforts significantly. It is crucial to develop an automated analysis of CT images to save their time and efforts. In this paper, we propose CoviNet, a deep three-dimensional convolutional neural network (3D-CNN) to diagnose Covid-19 from CT images. We trained and tested the proposed CoviNet using two public datasets with radiologist-labeled CT images. The experimental results show the proposed CoviNet is promising. © 2021 SPIE.
The Impact of COVID-19 Testing on College Campuses

Abstract Background After moving instruction online for more than a year, many colleges and universities are preparing to reopen and offering fully in-person classes for the Fall 2021 semester. In this paper, we study the impact of weekly testing protocols on college campuses. Methods An extended susceptible–infectious–removed (SIR) compartmental model was used to simulate COVID-19 spread on a college campus setting. Seven scenarios were evaluated which considered polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid antigen testing kits available at various levels of supply. The infection attack rate (IAR), the number of infections, and the number of tests utilized by the end of the simulation semester are reported and compared. Results Weekly testing significantly reduces the number of infections compared to when testing is not available. The use of PCR tests results in the lowest infection attack rate and the total number of cases; however, using rapid antigen tests with higher coverage is more effective than using PCR tests with lower coverage. Conclusions The implementation of COVID-19 testing protocols should be considered and evaluated as using testing allows for identification and isolation of cases which reduces the spread of COVID-19 on college campuses. Even if testing capacity is limited, its partial implementation can be beneficial.
Design of Novel PPAR Agonist for Neurodegenerative Disease

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-activated transcription factors of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily comprising three subtypes: PPARα, PPARγ, and PPARβ/δ. The PPAR family of nuclear receptors is centrally involved in regulating whole-body energy homeostasis and metabolic function. Endogenous ligands include free fatty acids, eicosanoids, and leukotrienes. Synthetic ligands developed to serve as full agonists aim at treating diabetes type 2, hyperlipidemia, and other metabolic-related diseases. Further, there has been a developing interest in the role of PPAR agonist’s role in neurodegenerative disease. However, many of these clinically practical therapeutics are associated with harmful effects on human health. Therefore, new approaches have led to a new class of selective PPAR modulators (SPARMs), or partial agonists meet this challenge. In addition, these partial agonists have been observed to show a favorable impact on insulin sensitivity, blood glucose levels, and dyslipidemia with significantly reduced side effects on human health. Partial agonists have been found to display differences in transcriptional and cellular outcomes by acting through distinct structural and dynamic mechanisms within the ligand-binding region when compared to full agonists. Recently, a new focus on PPAR agonists’ class has intensified for neurodegenerative diseases, as new ligands and novel biological roles have emerged particularly for its therapeutic potential in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The present chapter critically analyzes current PPAR ligands using in silico modeling and the implication of promising new therapeutics in neurodegenerative disorders.
The value of official reinterpretation of trauma computed tomography scans from referring hospitals.

Abstract Introduction Historically, computed tomography (CT) scans of injured children obtained at referring emergency departments were not reinterpreted by trauma center radiologists at our institution, creating a dilemma for trauma physicians: rescan, use the outside interpretation, or interpret scans themselves. In 2010, our radiologists began reinterpreting all referring hospital trauma CT scans; this study examines the effect of that change. Methods Transferred patients who had undergone an abdomen/pelvis CT (CTAP) scan between December 2010 and December 2012 were identified in our trauma registry. Pediatric radiologist reinterpretations were compared to referring hospital radiologist reports. Results We identified 168 patients transferred to our institution with a CTAP. Seventy patients were excluded owing to lack of: complete study, referring hospital interpretation, or reinterpretation. Of the remaining 98 cases, 12 new injuries were identified: 3 splenic and 3 liver injuries, 1 adrenal hematoma, 2 pelvic fractures, 1 spinal fracture, 1 duodenal hematoma and 1 jejunal perforation. Three patients had solid organ injuries upgraded (grade II to III liver laceration; 2 renal lacerations with active extravasation initially missed), and 4 patients downgraded to no injury. Conclusion Reinterpretation of referring hospital CT scans by pediatric radiologists is beneficial to appropriate management of pediatric trauma patients with concern for blunt abdominal trauma.
Three Dimensional Gravity and M-Theory

It is well known that string theory can be formulated as two dimensional gravity coupled to matter. In the 2d gravity formulation the central charge of the matter together with a hidden dimension from the conformal factor or Liouville mode determines the Target space dimension. Also the vacuum amplitude of the 2d gravity formulation implies important constraints on the Target space theory associated with modular invariance. In this paper we study a three dimensional gravity approach to M-theory. We find that there are three hidden Liouville type fields coming from the 3d gravity sector and that these together with the number of zero modes of the matter fields determine an eleven dimensional Target space of M theory. We investigate the perturbative vacuum amplitude for the 3d gravity approach to M theory and constraints imposed from SL(3,Z) modular invariance using a method of Dolan and Nappi together with a sum over spin structures which generalizes the SL(2,Z) invariance found in string theory. To introduce gauge fields in M-theory we study the vacuum amplitude on a three annulus and introduce interactions with two dimensional matter on a boundary in analogy with the introduction of gauge fields for open string theory. We study a three dimensional version of M-theory from the 3d gravity perspective and show how it relates to two dimensional type 0A string theory described by a 2d superLiouville theory with c=1 matter and, on manifolds with boundary, to a E8xSO(8) 2d heterotic string. We discuss a nonperturbative 3d gravity approach to M-theory and the expansion about e=0 in the Chern-Simons gauge formulation of the theory. Finally we study the interaction of fermionic matter with 3d gravity to investigate the origins of conformal dimension and Liouville effective action from a 3d gravity approach.
Inhibitors of Na+/H+ and Na+/Ca2+ exchange potentiate methamphetamine-induced dopamine neurotoxicity: Possible role of ionic dysregulation in methamphetamine neurotoxicity

Although the neurotoxic potential of methamphetamine (METH) is well established, underlying mechanisms have yet to be identified. In the present study, we sought to determine whether ionic dysregulation was a feature of METH neurotoxicity. In particular, we reasoned that if METH impairs the function of Na+/H+ and/or Na+/Ca2+ antiporters by compromising the inward Na+ gradient [via prolonged DA transporter (DAT) activation and Na+/K+ ATPase inhibition], then amiloride (AMIL) and other inhibitors of Na+/H+ and/or Na+/Ca2+ exchange would potentiate METH neurotoxicity. To test this hypothesis, mice were treated with METH alone or in combination with AMIL or one of its analogs; 1 week later, the animals were killed for studies of dopamine (DA) neuronal integrity. AMIL markedly potentiated the toxic effect of METH on DA neurons. Potentiation was not caused by increased core temperature, enhanced DAT activity or higher METH brain levels. The DAT inhibitor, WIN-35,428, protected completely against METH-induced DA neurotoxicity in AMIL pretreated animals, suggesting that the potentiating effects of AMIL require a METH/DAT interaction. Findings with METH and AMIL were extended to six other AMIL analogs (MIA, EIPA, DIMA, BENZ, BEP, DiCBNZ), another species (rats), and neuronal type (5-HT neurons). These results support the notion that ionic dysregulation may play a role in METH neurotoxicity.