cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The cumulative effects of intravenous antibiotic treatments on hearing in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Abstract Background Aminoglycosides (AGs) and glycopeptides are antibiotics essential for treating life-threatening respiratory infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The goal of this study was to examine the effects of cumulative intravenous (IV)-AG (amikacin and/or tobramycin) and/or glycopeptide (vancomycin) dosing on hearing status in patients with CF. Methods Hearing thresholds were measured from 0.25 to 16.0kHz, in 81 participants with CF. Participants were categorized into two groups: normal hearing in both ears (≤25dB HL for all frequency bands) or hearing loss (>25dB HL for any frequency band in either ear). Participants were also characterized into quartiles by their cumulative IV-AG (with or without vancomycin) exposure. Dosing was calculated using two strategies: (i) total number of lifetime doses, and (ii) total number of lifetime doses while accounting for the total doses per day. This was referred to as the "weighted" method. Results Participants in the hearing loss group were significantly older than those in the normal-hearing group. After adjusting for gender and age at the time of hearing test, participants in the two highest-quartile exposure groups were almost 5 X more likely to have permanent sensorineural hearing loss than those in the two lowest-quartile exposure groups. There was a small group of CF patients who had normal hearing despite high exposure to IV-antibiotics. Conclusions Cumulative IV-antibiotic dosing has a significant negative effect on hearing sensitivity in patients with CF, when controlling for age and gender effects. A trend for increasing odds of hearing loss was associated with increasing cumulative IV-antibiotic dosing.
Weakness Is Independent of Fatigue in Diverse Neuromuscular Diseases (P03.049)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate weakness and fatigue in a neuromuscular clinic patient population using the six-minute walk test (6MWT). BACKGROUND: The 6MWT is a primary end-point in many clinical trials involving neuromuscular disease. Weakness and fatigue are captured by the 6MWT, but it9s uncertain whether fatigue accompanies weakness in these conditions. Comparison across neuromuscular diseases has not been examined. DESIGN/METHODS: Sixty-seven patients performed the 6MWT: (SMA =19; DMD/BMD =23; myasthenia gravis (MG) =12; mitochondrial disease (MITO) =13), ranging in age from 5 to 45 years. SMA and DMD patients were tested longitudinally. Percent-predicted distance was computed from normative values to determine weakness. Fatigue was determined by the decrement in distance from the first to sixth minute. Pearson correlation coefficients examined the relationship between percent-predicted distance and fatigue. Paired sample t-tests evaluated fatigue and distance. RESULTS: Weakness was seen across all groups (%-predicted distance =62.2%). Fatigue was seen only in SMA (21.3% decrement), with other groups showing little or no fatigue (DMD/BMD =6.0%; MG =3.8%; MITO =0.7%). Correlation between %-predicted distance and fatigue was high only in SMA (R = - 0.73; p CONCLUSIONS: All patients with neuromuscular disease demonstrated weakness (%-predicted distance). Only the SMA group demonstrated fatigue, inversely related to walking ability. In contrast, weakness progressed in DMD without fatigue. Previous studies showed that functional worsening in SMA is absent over 12 months and only subtle over longer periods. Conversely, fatigue increased significantly over 12 months. These findings suggest independent mechanisms underlying weakness and fatigue in SMA. Supported by: SMA Foundation. Disclosure: Dr. Blumenschine has nothing to disclose. Dr. Montes has received personal compensation for activities with ISIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as a consultant. Dr. Dunaway has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rao has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chiriboga has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sproule9s spouse holds stock and/or stock options in Pfizer Inc. Dr. De Vivo has received personal compensation for activities with Isis Pharmaceuticals.
Temperature effects on formation of carbon-based nanomaterials from kraft lignin

Abstract The formation of carbon-based nanomaterials was investigated through heating iron nitrate promoted kraft lignin at different temperatures up to 600 °C under argon gas at atmospheric pressure. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction images showed that multi-layer turbostratic-structured graphene presented in samples heated at 600 °C. X-ray diffraction results indicated that iron oxides nanoparticles started their formation as an amorphous carbon matrix at 300 °C, and turned into α-Fe nanoparticles at 600 °C. It is believed that the formation of observed multi-layer graphene materials is based on the dissolution and precipitation mechanism of carbonaceous gases from lignin decomposition acting as carbon sources and α-Fe working as the catalyst.
Production of Seed-Like Storage Lipids and Increase in Oil Bodies in Corn (Maize; Zea mays L.) Vegetative Biomass

Abstract Triacylglycerides (TAGs) are high energy density lipids with a $25 billion commodity at international level. Plant TAGs are produced via a series of chemical reactions catalyzed by certain enzymes including diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGATs) and phospholipid diacylglycerol acyltransferases (PDATs). In Arabidopsis, certain transcription factors including Wrinkled 1 (Wri1) and Leafy Cotyledons2 (LEC2) supply the necessary substrates for synthesis of fatty acids and/or for packaging of the oil bodies. TAGs will be stored as oil body structurs which certain proteins such as oleosin can protect them from Enzymatic degradation. In this Study, we overexpressed three major genes involved in the TAG biosynthesis and accumulation; 1) dgat 1 as a key enzyme in TAGs biosynthesis, 2) wri1 which is the major transcription factor involved in supplies of fatty acids for TAG biosynthesis, and 3) oleosin ( Ole ) gene which encodes for protein that protects TAGs from degradation. All three genes were integrated in maize genome under a constitutive promoter to allow the production of oil bodies and seed storage oil-like TAG in maize vegetative biomass. Our results indicated an increase in the total leaf oil contents by 79% in the metabolically engineered line. GC-MS analysis detected a total of 13 fatty acids in the leaf oil extract samples, representing ∼99.99% of the total fatty acids. Overall, the percentage of the leaf total saturated (SFA) were decreased while the percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were increased in metabolically engineered plant leaves. This is the first report of increasing TAG accumulation in maize vegetative biomass (stover) via metabolic engineering, which will open new dimension for creating new opportunities to complement and expedite the cellulosic biofuels applications.
The Kidneys, Volume and Blood Pressure Regulation, and Hypertension

Control of blood pressure is complex and time-dependent and involves the integration of numerous physiological factors that contribute to short- and long-term regulations. Experimental studies support a central role for the kidneys in the long-term regulation of arterial pressure and in the pathogenesis of hypertension. A pivotal part of the renal-body fluid feedback control system for long-term volume and pressure regulation is the renal-pressure natriuresis mechanism. Renal-pressure natriuresis is abnormal in all types of experimental and clinical hypertension. Chronically elevated blood pressure or hypertension is an important compensatory mechanism that allows maintenance of sodium balance when renal-pressure natriuresis is impaired. A shift of pressure natriuresis may occur as a result of intrarenal abnormalities such as enhanced formation of angiotensin II, reactive oxygen species, and endothelin (via ETA receptor activation) or decreased synthesis of nitric oxide or natriuretic prostanoids. In other instances, the altered kidney function is caused by extrarenal disturbances, such as increased renal sympathetic nervous activity or excessive formation of antinatriuretic hormones, such as aldosterone. This brief review focuses on the importance of the kidneys in the long-term regulation of blood pressure and briefly summarizes the various intra- and extrarenal factors that contribute to abnormal pressure natriuresis in hypertension.
Effects of Varenicline, Depressive Symptoms, and Region of Enrollment on Smoking Cessation in Depressed Smokers.

Introduction:Despite effective treatments, relapse to smoking remains a vexing global health problem. One predictor of relapse is depressive symptoms. Medications such as varenicline reduce withdrawal-related symptoms of depression, reducing relapse. This study examined whether varenicline moderated the effect of depressive symptoms on relapse, and whether this varied by region of enrollment. Methods:Adult smokers (n = 525; 37% male) with past or current, stable major depressive disorder recruited from United States (n = 255), and European (n = 270) sites participated in a randomized, double-blind cessation treatment trial including 12 weeks of varenicline or placebo, with 40-week nontreatment follow-up. Results:Longitudinal and binary logistic regressions were used to model the probability of sustained abstinence by end of treatment and point-prevalence abstinence in follow-up. The association between depression symptoms and abstinence was moderated by intervention group at end of treatment, and by region during follow-up: more severe symptoms were associated with end-of-treatment relapse for placebo (odds ratio [OR] = 0.91, p = .003), but not varenicline (OR = 0.99, p = .568). During follow-up, increased symptoms of depression predicted greater likelihood of smoking for European (p = .009) but not US participants. Europeans were more likely to be abstinent for both outcomes (p < .01). Conclusions:These results extend studies demonstrating varenicline is associated with less withdrawal-related depression, and suggest it aids cessation even in smokers with depressive symptoms. Findings also suggest regional differences in the relationship between depressive symptoms and cessation that may be related to differences in prevalence. Implications:This study indicates varenicline may aid cessation partially by reducing withdrawal-related symptoms of depression. It also suggests that the impact of depressive symptoms on cessation varies regionally, and that this variation may be related to differences in smoking prevalence.
Direct-Acting Antivirals to Prevent Vertical Transmission of Viral Hepatitis C: When Is the Optimal Time to Treat?

Objective: To describe the most current evidence for the use of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) to treat hepatitis C along the pregnancy-pediatric continuum in the United States. Data Sources: The ...
Disease Classification Using Molecular Signatures

Clinical presentation in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is heterogeneous in terms of organ involvement and disease progression. Difficulty measuring this clinical heterogeneity has hindered the understanding of pathogenesis and development of effective treatments. Genome-wide profiling of SSc skin has measured this heterogeneity and shown that multiple, distinct gene expression subsets can be identified in SSc patients. Microarray analysis of skin provides more robust signatures than found in biopsy-derived fibroblasts and these signatures are remarkably consistent between lesional and non-lesional skin samples, indicative of the systemic nature of the disease. In addition to accurately permitting a molecular stratification of the well-described clinical subsets of limited and diffuse cutaneous SSc, gene expression studies of patients with diffuse scleroderma (dSSc) show reproducible, disease-specific gene expression indicating subsets of patients based on different patterns of gene expression. Notably, disease-specific gene expression points to specific pathways in SSc pathogenesis. Activation of these pathways appears to be associated with disease subsets, implicating different pathophysiological processes underlying skin pathology in different patient subsets. Targeted analysis of the level of expression of IFN- and TGF-β-responsive genes in the skin correlates strongly with the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) providing another tool for clinical management. Gene expression in peripheral blood and lung from SSc patients give further insights into the systemic response driving SSc pathogenesis.
Instrumentation for LC-MS/MS in Proteomics

Mass spectrometers now have sufficient sensitivity and acquisition rates to allow analysis of complex proteomic samples on a chromatographic timescale. In this chapter the different instrument options for protein and peptide analysis will be presented, along with their relative strengths and weaknesses for producing different types of information, such as protein identification, modification characterization, or reporting quantitative measurements.
Angiomotins stimulate LATS kinase autophosphorylation and act as scaffolds that promote Hippo signaling

The Hippo pathway controls cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival by regulating the Yes-associated protein (YAP) transcriptional coactivator in response to various stimuli, including the mechanical environment. The major YAP regulators are the LATS1/2 kinases, which phosphorylate and inhibit YAP. LATS1/2 are activated by phosphorylation on a hydrophobic motif (HM) outside of the kinase domain by MST1/2 and other kinases. Phosphorylation of the HM motif then triggers autophosphorylation of the kinase in the activation loop to fully activate the kinase, a process facilitated by MOB1. The angiomotin family of proteins (AMOT, AMOTL1, and AMOTL2) bind LATS1/2 and promote its kinase activity and YAP phosphorylation through an unknown mechanism. Here we show that angiomotins increase Hippo signaling through multiple mechanisms. We found that, by binding LATS1/2, SAV1, and YAP, angiomotins function as a scaffold that connects LATS1/2 to both its activator SAV1-MST1 and its target YAP. Deletion of all three angiomotins reduced the association of LATS1 with SAV1-MST1 and decreased MST1/2-mediated LATS1/2-HM phosphorylation. Angiomotin deletion also reduced LATS1/2's ability to associate with and phosphorylate YAP. In addition, we found that angiomotins have an unexpected function along with MOB1 to promote autophosphorylation of LATS1/2 on the activation loop motif independent of HM phosphorylation. These results indicate that angiomotins enhance Hippo signaling by stimulating LATS1/2 autophosphorylation and by connecting LATS1/2 with both its activator SAV1-MST1/2 and its substrate YAP.
Detecting village burnings with high-cadence smallsats: A case-study in the Rakhine State of Myanmar

Abstract Mass atrocities continue to occur in areas away from international observers and with poor information outflow, with the international community often learning days or weeks after the onset of violence. While organizations concerned with human rights are increasingly using remote sensing, high-resolution commercial satellites remain an expensive option for monitoring large areas at risk of human rights violations.In order to address the need for rapid alerting of possible human rights violations in remote areas, we present an algorithmic approach to leverage affordable, high-cadence, smallsat satellite imagery to detect the burning of villages within as little as two days of occurrence. This algorithm capitalizes on the constellation's systematic observations by detecting a potentially destroyed village if its near-infrared reflectance is less than 20% of its control pair for two sequential observations. The algorithm is based on Planet's Dove satellite's near-infrared band, which is a persistent indicator of the destruction of plant cell structure and is less affected by atmospheric scattering than a Dove satellite's visible bands.Comparison of this product with a database constructed from manual analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery shows high levels of accuracy among villages in the study area. We evaluated algorithm performance in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, a sovereign state in Southeast Asia, from 1 August 2017 until 31 December 2017. In the study approximately 7000 images were downloaded and analyzed, producing algorithmic estimates that were within 82.5% of the ground-reference database, demonstrating a functioning system to alert human rights practitioners to a potential destruction of villages and to corroborate refugee eyewitness accounts of destruction. This information can also be used to validate refugee asylum claims or for the prosecution of the perpetrators in international courts.
Health And Research Journal:A new Beggining

2019: it was a joint decision of the journal’s Editorial Board, to change the language from Greek to English. The Greek language is the language that is appreciated and recognized internationally as the language with an amazing and unique wealth. This change has one purpose and that is, to OPEN “out of borders”, a movement that will provide and secure opportunities of international prospect. Three years ago, in 2015, we decided to publish the HEALTH and RESEARCH JOURNAL, with the aim of publishing all MSc dissertations of postgraduate students. Today we believe that this goal needs to be modified. The journal, besides the Master's Program "Intensive Care Units" (which is the main publisher), collaborates and supports the Master's Program of “Clinical and Experimental Neurosurgery”, the Master's Program of “Hellenic Society for Ergospirometry, Exercise and Rehabilitation” and the “Hellenic Society of Nursing Research and Education” which is the co-publisher. The road has already been opened and in the near future our journal will collaborate with the National Documentation Center, which will give new prospect. We hope that this change will receive the acceptance and consent we expect. Value, reliability and scientific approach depend on the entire scientific community that will decide to participate by publishing their manuscripts. We hope the new year to bring something new to HEALTH and RESEARCH JOURNAL and to make it equal to many remarkable and reputable scientific journals. Happy New Year with peace, health and scientific achievements. The Editorial Board
Coping in context: the effects of long-term relations between interparental conflict and coping on the development of child psychopathology following parental divorce

Exposure to high levels of postdivorce interparental conflict is a well-documented risk factor for the development of psychopathology, and there is strong evidence of a subpopulation of families for which conflict persists for many years after divorce. However, existing studies have not elucidated differential trajectories of conflict within families over time, nor have they assessed the risk posed by conflict trajectories for development of psychopathology or evaluated potential protective effects of children's coping to mitigate such risk. We used growth mixture modeling to identify longitudinal trajectories of child-reported conflict over a period of six to eight years following divorce in a sample of 240 children. We related the trajectories to children's mental health problems, substance use, and risky sexual behaviors and assessed how children's coping prospectively predicted psychopathology in the different conflict trajectories. We identified three distinct trajectories of conflict; youth in two high-conflict trajectories showed deleterious effects on measures of psychopathology at baseline and the six-year follow-up. We found both main effects of coping and coping by conflict trajectory interaction effects in predicting problem outcomes at the six-year follow-up. The study supports the notion that improving youth's general capacity to cope adaptively is a potentially modifiable protective factor for all children facing parental divorce and that children in families with high levels of postdivorce conflict are a particularly appropriate group to target for coping-focused preventive interventions.
Direct visualization of oil degradation and biofilm formation for the screening of crude oil-degrading bacteria

A simple procedure has provided detection and screening of oil-degrading bacteria using optical microscopy. A 100 µm crude-oil droplet was injected at the bottom of and attached onto a transparent ...
LOS in The Dysbiotic Gut.

The neonatal gut microbiome undergoes dynamic changes in response to many nutritional and environmental variables. A recent study by Singer et al. in Nature Medicine elucidates several mechanisms to inhibit the expansion of gut-derived pathobionts in a dysbiotic neonatal gut and prevent these pathobionts from disseminating systemically and causing sepsis in neonatal mice.
Targeting GPCR Signaling for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Therapies

A variety of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis, largely through their promotion of profibrotic fibroblast activation. By contrast, recent work has highlighted the beneficial effects of Gαs-coupled GPCRs on reducing fibroblast activation and fibrosis. This review highlights how fibrosis-promoting and -inhibiting GPCR signaling converges on downstream signaling and transcriptional effectors, and how the diversity and dynamics of GPCR expression challenge efforts to identify effective therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Next-generation strategies to overcome these challenges, focusing on target selection, polypharmacology, and personalized medicine approaches, are discussed as a path towards more effective GPCR-targeted therapies for pulmonary fibrosis.
Introduction to Group Work with African Americans Children and Adolescents

Dear Journal for Specialists in Group Work Audience,What a tremendous accomplishment, to be able to present to you in the coming year, 3 Editions of the Special Issue on Group Counseling for Africa...
Private Information and Endogenous Matching in Supply Chains: Theory and Experiments

We investigate a supply chain setting where a supplier's cost information may be private information (and they have the ability to disclose it) and buyers and suppliers may endogenously match into pairs. After forming pairs, the two parties interact in a dynamic back-and-forth bargaining environment. We first derive theoretical predictions depending on whether the supplier's cost information is private or not, and the matching protocol type. We then test these predictions through a human-subject experiment, which yields a number of insights. A key one is that suppliers always make less than the normative theory predicts, whether their cost information is known or private information. This effect is especially pronounced under private information for high cost suppliers, because buyers make more aggressive bargaining offers in such a setting. Thus, contrary to theory, a second result is that higher cost suppliers actually benefit from disclosing their private costs, in an effort to achieve a more favorable outcome while bargaining. A third important result is that endogenous matching leads to a higher variance of profits, compared to an exogenous matching protocol. This is due to the ability of higher quality buyers to choose to contract with higher quality suppliers and vice-versa.
A Decoupling and Matching Network Design for Single- and Dual-Band Two-Element Antenna Arrays

This article presents a new decoupling and matching network (DMN) design for symmetric, single- and dual-band two-element antenna arrays. The DMNs use parallel-line-based coupling elements. The decoupling between the output ports of the proposed DMN and the reflection coefficients at these ports is obtained using the scattering parameters of the coupled antenna array and those of the DMN. These are clearly expressed as functions of the DMN's design parameters. These design parameters are determined using a simple numerical method to provide high inter-element isolation and good impedance matching for the array. To verify the proposed synthesis procedure, three DMN example designs are considered. These include one for a single-band array and two for dual-band arrays having different frequency ratios. Prototypes of these antennas along with their DMNs were designed, fabricated, and experimentally characterized. In each case, a good agreement between the measured and theoretical results is achieved. Simulation and measurement results show that the proposed DMN design and its associated synthesis procedure can be employed to significantly improve the interelement isolation of single- and dual-band, two-element arrays in various scenarios.
Proliferations of Post-Qualitative Inquiry and Academic Debate:

In this commentary, we consider the evolving and ongoing debate regarding post-qualitative inquiry as evidenced in this Special Issue. We suggest that the debate is productive and that concretizing...
Perspectives on Pain, Engagement in HIV Care, and Behavioral Interventions for Chronic Pain Among Older Sexual Minority Men Living with HIV and Chronic Pain: A Qualitative Analysis.

Objective and methods The transition of HIV from an acute, fatal illness to a chronic health condition has shifted the treatment needs of people living with HIV (PLWH). PLWH, including sexual minority men (SMM), are living longer and are subject to health concerns often associated with aging. A major health concern of older SMM living with HIV who report problematic substance use is chronic pain. This qualitative analysis of 15 one-on-one interviews with older SMM living with HIV and chronic pain aimed to characterize this population's experiences with pain, engagement in HIV care, and problematic substance use. This study was conducted in a community health center in Boston, MA. We also solicited suggestions for preferred intervention strategies. Results Three main themes emerged from the interview transcripts: 1) the impact of chronic pain and pain treatment on engagement in HIV clinical care; 2) the impact of substance use on chronic pain; and 3) response to interventions to address chronic pain and substance use. Conclusions These findings underscore the need for interventions that address the structural, physical, and psychological barriers to engagement in medical and self-care that affect older SMM living with HIV and chronic pain.
The Pol Pot regime’s simultaneous war against Vietnam and genocide of Cambodia’s ethnic Vietnamese minority

This article examines the international context of and empirical evidence for the genocide of Cambodia’s domestic ethnic Vietnamese minority in the years 1977 and 1978. It sets out the basis for th...
Magnetized Ablative Rayleigh-Taylor Instability in 3-D

3-D extended-MHD simulations of the magnetized ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instability are presented for the first time. Previous 2-D simulations claiming perturbation suppression by magnetic tension are shown to be misleading, as they do not include the most unstable dimension. For perturbation modes along the applied field direction, the magnetic field simultaneously reduces ablative stabilization and adds magnetic tension stabilization; the stabilizing term is found to dominate for applied fields >5T, with both effects increasing in importance at short wavelengths. For modes perpendicular to the applied field, magnetic tension does not directly stabilize the perturbation, but can result in moderately slower growth due to the perturbation appearing 2-D (albeit in a different orientation to 2-D ICF simulations). In cases where thermal ablative stabilization is dominant the applied field increases the peak bubble-spike height. Resistive diffusion is shown to be important for short wavelengths and long timescales, reducing the effectiveness of tension stabilization.
The mitospecific domain of Mrp7 (bL27) supports mitochondrial translation during fermentation and is required for effective adaptation to respiration.

We demonstrate here that mitoribosomal protein synthesis, responsible for the synthesis of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) subunits encoded by mitochondrial genome, occurs at high levels during ...
Physical model simulation of rock-support interaction for the tunnel in squeezing ground

Abstract The existence of squeezing ground conditions can lead to significant challenges in designing an adequate support system for tunnels. Numerous empirical, observational and analytical methods have been suggested over the years to design support systems in squeezing ground conditions, but all of them have some limitations. In this study, a novel experimental setup having physical model for simulating the tunnel boring machine (TBM) excavation and support installation process in squeezing clay-rich rocks is developed. The observations are made to understand better the interaction between the support and the squeezing ground. The physical model included a large true-triaxial cell, a miniature TBM, laboratory-prepared synthetic test specimen with properties similar to natural mudstone, and an instrumented cylindrical aluminum support system. Experiments were conducted at realistic in situ stress levels to study the time-dependent three-dimensional tunnel support convergence. The tunnel was excavated using the miniature TBM in the cubical rock specimen loaded in the true-triaxial cell, after which the support was installed. The confining stress was then increased in stages to values greater than the rock's unconfined compressive strength. A model for the time-dependent longitudinal displacement profile (LDP) for the supported tunnel was proposed using the tunnel convergence measurements at different times and stress levels. The LDP formulation was then compared with the unsupported model to calculate the squeezing amount carried by the support. The increase in thrust in the support was back-calculated from an analytical solution with the assumption of linear elastic support. Based on the test results and case studies, a recommendation to optimize the support requirement for tunnels in squeezing ground is proposed.
A Transposable Element within the Non-canonical Telomerase RNA of Arabidopsis thaliana Modulates Telomerase in Response to DNA Damage

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as critical factors in many biological processes, but little is known about how their regulatory functions evolved. One of the best-studied lncRNAs is TER, the essential RNA template for telomerase reverse transcriptase. We previously showed that Arabidopsis thaliana harbors three TER isoforms: TER1, TER2 and TER2S. TER1 serves as a canonical telomere template, while TER2 is a novel negative regulator of telomerase activity, induced in response to double-strand breaks (DSBs). TER2 contains a 529 nt intervening sequence that is removed along with 36 nt at the RNA 3’ terminus to generate TER2S, an RNA of unknown function. Here we investigate how A. thaliana TER2 acquired its regulatory function. Using data from the 1,001 Arabidopsis genomes project, we report that the intervening sequence within TER2 is derived from a transposable element termed DSB responsive element (DRE). DRE is found in the TER2 loci of most but not all A. thaliana accessions. By analyzing accessions with (TER2) and without DRE (TER2Δ) we demonstrate that this element is responsible for many of the unique properties of TER2, including its enhanced binding to TERT and telomerase inhibitory function. We show that DRE destabilizes TER2, and further that TER2 induction by DNA damage reflects increased RNA stability and not increased transcription. DRE-mediated changes in TER2 stability thus provide a rapid and sensitive switch to fine-tune telomerase enzyme activity. Altogether, our data shows that invasion of the TER2 locus by a small transposon converted this lncRNA into a DNA damage sensor that modulates telomerase enzyme activity in response to genome assault.
Gas Dynamic and Transport Phenomena in the Two-Dimensional Jet Interaction Flowfield

Pressure, temperature, gas sampling, and optical measurements were made in the turbulent separated flow region upstream of jets. Hot hydrogen, helium, and nitrogen were injected from a converging slot nozzle perpendicular to the heated Mach 2.5 airstream above a flat plate. The dependence of the separation distance, wall pressure, and side force on the jet to freestream pressure and density ratios and the separation Reynolds number was determined. The injectant concentration in the separated flow region was found to be high, and to correlate with a ratio of the injectant and freestream temperatures and molecular weights. A tracer gas injection technique was used to determine air and injectant mass transport rates through the separated flow region. Approximately five percent of the gas injected passed through this region.
Link selection algorithms for link-based ILPs and applications to RWA in mesh networks

RWA is a fundamental problem in the design and control of optical networks. We propose link selection algorithms that reduce the size of the link-based ILP formulation for RWA by pruning redundant link decision variables. The resulting formulation scales well to mesh topologies representative of backbone and regional networks. In our experiments, the new formulation decreases the running time by more than two orders of magnitude without any impact on optimality. The link selection techniques are general in that they may be applied to any optimization problem for which the ILP formulation consists of multicommodity flow equations as its core constraints.
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography and En Face Optical Coherence Tomography Features of Paracentral Acute Middle Maculopathy

Purpose To characterize the optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography, en face OCT, and microperimetry features of paracentral acute middle maculopathy in both the acute phase and after resolution, and to propose a classification of distinct subtypes of this entity. Design Retrospective observational case series. Methods Clinical histories, high-resolution digital color imaging, spectral-domain OCT images, fluorescein angiography, OCT angiography images, and en face OCT images of 16 patients with paracentral acute middle maculopathy were evaluated. Microperimetry was available in 6 patients. Results The most common referring diagnoses were isolated branch retinal arterial occlusion (5/16), combined central retinal vein and cilioretinal artery occlusion (4/16), and isolated central retinal vein occlusion (4/16). All patients demonstrated hyperreflective plaque-like lesions at the level of the inner nuclear layer on spectral-domain OCT, with no fluorescein angiographic correlate. OCT angiography demonstrated variable areas of capillary dropout within the superficial and deep retinal capillary plexi in these areas. En face OCT highlighted confluent areas of middle retina hyperreflectivity corresponding to these lesions. Three distinct en face OCT patterns were observed: arteriolar, fern-like, and globular. Microperimetry demonstrated relative scotomas mapping to the area of middle retinal hyperreflectivity seen on en face OCT. Conclusions Paracentral acute middle maculopathy may be best evaluated with the use of en face OCT imaging, which corresponds to subjective and objective visual field defects. En face OCT appearance may be used to classify paracentral acute maculopathy into distinct subtypes.
Enhancement of terahertz imaging of packaged power electronic devices

Nondestructive imaging of packaged silicon carbide power transistors was performed using terahertz (THz) time-domain reflection imaging. Techniques were developed to process the data gathered by these measurements and enhance the quality of the THz time-domain images. It was found that applying high-pass error function filters in the frequency domain provided the best balance of improving image clarity and minimizing distortion of the time-domain signal. The results indicate that with proper data processing, THz imaging can be a viable nondestructive method for inspecting packaged power electronic devices.
Basal cell carcinoma arising in venous ulcers and mimicking granulation tissue.

background. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) arising in venous ulcers is rare, and its appearance in this setting is not fully recognized. objective. The purpose of this report is to alert the clinician to the subtle clinical appearance of this tumor and to prompt a more rapid recognition. methods. We report five cases of BCC arising in venous ulcers of the lower extremity that we have observed over a period of 6 years. In all cases the tumor was diagnosed histologically. results. In all five cases the tumor had the appearance of seemingly healthy granulation tissue, which was often exuberant and translucent. The border of this apparent “granulation tissue” was rolled over the margins of the ulcer. conclusion. Basal cell carcinoma arising in venous ulcers often has the appearance of translucent granulation tissue that extends beyond the ulcer's margins. These clinical characteristics should alert the clinician to the need for obtaining a biopsy of the ulcer bed.
In vivo electrochemical studies of monoamine release in the medial prefrontal cortex of the rat

The magnitude and duration of release of monoamines evoked by local applications of potassium were measured in vivo in the medial prefrontal cortex using high-speed chronoamperometry. Typical electrochemical signals reflecting releases of electroactive species ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 μM and lasting 90–120 s were detected at a variety of dorsal-ventral and anterior-posterior electrode placements in the medial prefrontal cortex. The magnitude of the reduction current measured following the oxidation reaction suggests a contribution of both serotonin and dopamine to the electrochemical signal, dopamine serving as the predominant monoamine in the medial prefrontal cortex proper and serotonin appearing to predominate in the more posterior regions of the frontal cortex. This conclusion was reinforced by the fact that unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of ascending dopamine fibers almost completely abolished electrochemical signals in the ipsilateral but not in the contralateral medial prefrontal cortex. The present study provides an in vivo characterization of monoamine release in the mesocortical dopamine terminal field, where it has been suggested that psychomotor stimulants may produce some of their positive reinforcing effects.
A survey of anesthesiologist and anesthetist attitudes toward single-use vials in an academic medical center.

Abstract Study Objective To evaluate whether proper implementation of safety measures was uniform at 5 hospitals, and to elucidate motivating factors that lead to nonadherence. Design Electronic anonymous survey instrument. Setting Academic medical center. Measurements Of the 319 surveys sent to anesthesia providers across 5 hospitals, 89 responses were obtained. Questions addressed compliance with Centers of Disease Control (CDC) safety standards and the rationale for anesthesia providers' decisions to comply or not comply with these standards. Main Results 59.6% of respondents reported that they had reused vials between cases, while 40.4% had never done so. Of the 89 respondents, 63 (44%) felt that cost was the primary factor that prevented them from using entirely new medications on each case. Thirty-two (23%) reported convenience/efficiency as the reason; 11 (8%) responded that time prevented them from using entirely new medications on each case; 14 (10%) reported that the environment was a driving factor; and 3 individuals (2%) responded apathy. Eighteen (13%) responded "other" and, when asked to amplify a response, most of these individuals reported that they do use entirely new medications on each case. Conclusions Safe anesthetic practices were not uniform among respondents, and one of the main reasons given for noncompliance with safe standards was cost.
Evidence for processed material in the atmospheres of Large Magellanic Cloud B supergiants

We present a high-dispersion study of the optical spectra of 11 LMC B-type supergiants. These stars had been shown previously to have a wide range in nitrogen absorption line strengths, despite having very similar temperatures and luminosities. The current study shows that the relatively rare nitrogen-weak stars also have weaker photospheric helium lines and stronger photospheric oxygen lines than the more spectroscopically typical supergiants. This pattern suggests that the vast majority of LMC B-type supergiants have had their surfaces contaminated by material from their original hydrogen-burning cores - with a resultant enhancement of surface nitrogen and helium and a depletion in oxygen - while the spectroscopically nitrogen-weak stars are more likely to have retained their main-sequence surface abundances.
Reversed phase paper chromatography and detection of steroids of the cholesterol class.

Abstract A system of paper chromatography has been presented in which the stationary phase is a high-boiling hydrocarbon mixture (odorless kerosene) and the mobile phase is 60% aq. propanol. This system is not only useful for separation and identification of the cholesterol class of compounds but may be conveniently used to free tissue extracts of so-called fat. The use of the system in preparative chromatography has been discussed. Special application of two color reagents, phosphomolybdic acid and phosphotungstic acid, has been described. Proper use of the former can make it fairly specific for some steroids with secondary alcohol functions. Phosphotungstic acid was shown to give a characteristic pink color with many steroids having Δ5, 3β-ol functions if warmed gently lavender a vivid lavender if heated more strongly. Certain steroids with allylic alcohol functions were also very chromogenic but with varying results. Precautions and limitations in the use of the reagents were discussed.
Measurements of pore scale flows within and exiting ceramic foams

LDA was used to measure the mean velocities and pore scale turbulence intensity of air flowing through ceramic foams having pore sizes between 0.8 and 2.5 mm in diameter. The stream-wise and transverse velocity components were measured near the exit plane, in a region between two foams separated by 5 mm, and within a section of ceramic foam. Mean velocities ranged from 0.25 m/s to 1.5 m/s, corresponding to pore Reynolds numbers between 20 and 200. A transition to a fully developed pore turbulence was achieved at pore Reynolds numbers above approximately 150.
Coupled-channels and fluctuations analysis of deuteron stripping and deuteron scattering on 20Ne

Abstract The first three states in 21Ne (ground state 3 2 + , 0.35 MeV 5 2 + and 1.75 MeV 7 2 + ) were studied with the 20Ne( d , p)21Ne reaction. Differential cross section and vector analyzing power angular distributions at 7 energies between 10 and 12 MeV were measured. In addition, excitation functions for the differential cross section were obtained for these three states, between 9 and 13 MeV in steps of 50 keV, at four backward scattering angles of 90, 108.3, 131.7 and 150 degrees. A statistical analysis of the observed fluctuations was performed to separate the compound-nuclear contribution to the cross section from the direct contribution. A quantitative estimate of the compound contribution could be made since the absolute normalization of the Hauser-Feshbach calculation was determined from the fluctuation analysis. The energy-averaged angular distributions were compared to the sum of compound and direct calculations. For the 5 2 + state a one-step direct-reaction calculation was found to be reasonably adequate. Calculations were compared with the data for all three transitions using the coupled-channels approach with spectroscopic amplitudes obtained from a shell-model calculation. In general, the fits to the data were not very good. Elastic and inelastic deuteron scattering to the ground state 0+ and to the excited 2+ state were also measured. These data were compared to optical-model and coupled-channels calculations.
Effects of ATP analogs on the proton pumping by the vacuolar H+‐ATPase from maize roots

understanding the regulatory properties of the activities of the V-type adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) on tonoplast membranes is important in determining the mechanisms by which this enzyme controls cytoplaslic and vacuolar pH. The possible existence of a regulatory site for adenine nucleotides was examined by comparing the effects of ADP, adenylylimidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP) and 3'-o-(4-benzoul) benzoyladenine 5'-triphosphate (BzATP) to those of the 2'-3'-dialdehyde derivative of AMP (oAMP) and ATP by using highly purified tonoplast vesicles from maize (Zea mays L. cv. FRB 73) roots
Fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics of low temperature two-phase micro-channel heat sinks – Part 2. Subcooled boiling pressure drop and heat transfer

This second part of a two-part study explores the performance of a new cooling scheme in which the primary working fluid flowing through a micro-channel heat sink is indirectly cooled by a refrigeration cooling system. The objective of this part of study is to explore the pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics of the heat sink. During single-phase cooling, pressure drop decreased with increasing heat flux because of decreased liquid viscosity. However, pressure drop began increasing with increasing heat flux following bubble departure. These opposite trends produced a minimum in the variation of pressure drop with heat flux. Increasing liquid subcooling decreased two-phase pressure drop because of decreased void fraction caused by strong condensation at bubble interfaces as well as decreased likelihood of bubble coalescence. It is shown macro-channel subcooled boiling pressure drop and heat transfer correlations are unsuitable for micro-channel flows. However, two new modified correlations produced good predictions of the present heat transfer data.
Bohrbugs, Mandelbugs, Exhaustive Testing and Unintended Automobile Acceleration

This paper relates Mandelbugs and Bohrbugs to the problem of exhaustive testing. A Bohrbug is only related to the set of input data whereas a Mandelbug depends on the input data and the interaction of this data with the state of the system (computer storage). A simple Mandelbug example is given. The paper concludes with a speculation that unintended auto acceleration may be due to a Mandelbug.
A Review of Mindfulness-Based Sex Therapy Interventions for Sexual Desire and Arousal Difficulties: From Research to Practice

Published articles and case studies on mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) to treat sexual desire and arousal dysfunctions were reviewed. Only publications utilizing clinical samples (which are the majority of the literature) were included, resulting in 12 empirical papers and 5 case studies. There is preliminary empirical evidence for the effectiveness of MBIs in enhancing sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, ejaculatory latency, perceived sexual arousal, sexual satisfaction, and decreasing sexual distress. However, most of the research has been conducted on women in groups. There are many populations that remain underrepresented in the literature (e.g., men, people of diverse race/ethnicity/sexual orientation/gender identity, the aging). Online interventions and body-based approaches show some promise, but more empirical research is needed. Research on mindfulness-based couples groups are in progress.