cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protein Components of Mitochondrial DNA Nucleoids in Higher Eukaryotes

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is not packaged in nucleosomal particles, but has been reported to associate with the mitochondrial inner membrane. Gentle lysis of Xenopus oocyte mitochondria with nonionic detergent liberates a nucleoprotein complex containing mtDNA associated with a previously characterized DNA binding partner, mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA), as well as a series of inner membrane proteins identified by sequencing. More extensive detergent treatment stripped most of these proteins from the DNA, leaving a limited number of proteins in a nucleoid core. Sequencing of the major proteins retained in association with mtDNA revealed the expected mtDNA binding proteins, mtTFA and mitochondrial single-stranded DNA binding protein (mtSSB), as well as four proteins not previously reported to associate with mtDNA. These include adenine nucleotide translocator 1, the lipoyl-containing E2 subunits of pyruvate dehydrogenase and branched chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase and prohibitin 2. The association of several of these proteins with mtTFA-containing mtDNA nucleoids was confirmed by immunoprecipitation.
The onset and development of circular-cylinder vortex wakes in uniformly accelerating flows

The influence of uniform flow acceleration on the stability and the characteristics of circular-cylinder wakes over a Reynolds-number range, 20<R<330, was investigated. Experiments were preformed to examine the temporal evolution of the wake before, during, and after the onset of the wake instability. We have demonstrated in several ways that the wake is stabilised by flow acceleration: (i) the onset of the wake instability occurs at larger Reynolds numbers than in the steady flow case, (ii) the closed wake develops to states that would be unstable in a steady flow, and (iii) once vortex shedding does occur there is a reduction in instantaneous Strouhal number. We have also examined the temporal growth rate of the wake instability and find that it is directly proportional to the applied flow acceleration. Physical mechanisms are proposed to describe the experimental observations.
Signal integration by DegS and RseB governs the σ E - mediated envelope stress response in Escherichia coli

In Escherichia coli, the σE transcription factor monitors and maintains outer membrane (OM) integrity by activating genes required for assembly of its two key components, outer membrane proteins (OMPs) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and by transcribing small RNAs to down-regulate excess unassembled OMPs. σE activity is governed by the rate of degradation of its membrane-spanning anti-σ factor, RseA. Importantly, the DegS protease can initiate RseA cleavage only when activated by binding to unassembled OMPs. The prevalent paradigm has been that the σE response is controlled by the amount of activated DegS. Here we demonstrate that inactivation of a second negative regulator, the periplasmic protein RseB, is also required for σE induction in vivo. Moreover, OMPs, previously known only to activate DegS, also generate a signal to antagonize RseB inhibition. This signal may be lipid related, as RseB is structurally similar to proteins that bind lipids. We propose that the use of an AND gate enables σE to sense and integrate multivariate signals from the envelope.
Time of Flight Electrochemistry: Diffusion Coefficient Measurements Using Interdigitated Array (IDA) Electrodes

A simple and straightforward method for measuring diffusion coefficients using interdigitated array (IDA) electrodes is reported. The method does not require that the exact electrode area be known but depends only the size of the gap between the IDA electrode pairs. Electroactive molecules produced at the generator electrode of the IDA by a voltage step or scan can diffuse to the collector electrode and the time delay before the current for the reverse electrochemical reaction is detected at the collector is used to calculate the diffusion coefficient. The measurement of the diffusion rate of Ru(NH3)6+2 in aqueous solution has been used as an example measuring diffusion coefficients using this method. Additionally, a digital simulation of the electrochemical response of the IDA electrodes was used to simulate the entire current/voltage/time behavior of the system and verify the experimentally measured diffusion coefficients. This work was supported as part of the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences.
Central corneal melting associated with reformulated generic diclofenac in a patient with inferior fornix foreshortening.

Purpose: To report a case of corneal melting in a patient with fornix foreshortening being treated with reformulated generic diclofenac. Methods: Case report. Results: An asymptomatic 76-year old man presented with central corneal melting while being treated with reformulated generic diclofenac. This formulation did not contain the vitamin E derivative, tocophersolan, which has been felt to contribute to corneal melting associated with generic diclofenac in the past. Other factors for corneal melting included multiple medication use and altered forniceal architecture, but did not include previous corneal or cataract surgery. Following discontinuation of the topical medications and temporary tarsorrhapy, the defect reepithelialized. Conclusion: In patients with a compromised ocular surface, reformulated generic diclofenac has the potential to cause corneal melting without prior cataract or refractive surgery. Use should not be indiscriminate or without close supervision.
Isocurvature, non-gaussianity and the curvaton model

Recent analyses of the statistical distribution of the temperature anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background do not rule out the possibility that there is a large non-Gaussian contribution to the primordial power spectrum. This fact motivates the reanalysis of the curvaton scenario, paying special attention to the compatibility of large non-Gaussianity of the local type with the current detection limits on the isocurvature amplitude in the cosmic microwave background. We find that if the curvaton mechanism generates a primordial power spectrum with an important non-Gaussian component, any residual isocurvature imprint originated by the curvaton, would have an amplitude too big to be compatible with the current bounds. This implies that the isocurvature mode should be equal to zero in this scenario and we explore the consequences of this inference. In order to prevent the generation of a such a signal, the cold dark matter (CDM) must be created at a late stage, after the curvaton decays completely. This is used to constrain the nature of the CDM, arriving at a general relation between the temperature of the universe at CDM creation and the scale of inflation. It is possible to find an absolute maximum for the temperature at CDM creation, which is dependent on the particular inflationary potential. For a quadratic potential, we find ${T}_{\mathrm{cdm}}l1.7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$.
Object-oriented database views for supporting multidisciplinary concurrent engineering

In this paper we present a new approach for creating materialized object-oriented (OO) views. We investigate the required semantic content of an OO model in order to support views. We present a view algebra which is capable of manipulating both the is-a dimension and association dimension of a composite object. We also propose a methodology for constructing materialized OO views. >
The olfactory system as the gateway to the neural correlates of consciousness

How consciousness is generated by the nervous system remains one of the greatest mysteries in science. Investigators from diverse fields have begun to unravel this puzzle by contrasting conscious and unconscious processes. In this way, it has been revealed that the two kinds of processes differ in terms of the underlying neural events and associated cognitive mechanisms. We propose that, for several reasons, the olfactory system provides a unique portal through which to examine this contrast. For this purpose, the olfactory system is beneficial in terms of its (a) neuroanatomical aspects, (b) phenomenological and cognitive/mechanistic properties, and (c) neurodynamic (e.g., brain oscillations) properties. In this review, we discuss how each of these properties and aspects of the olfactory system can illuminate the contrast between conscious and unconscious processing in the brain. We conclude by delineating the most fruitful avenues of research and by entertaining hypotheses that, in order for an olfactory content to be conscious, that content must participate in a network that is large-scale, both in terms of the neural systems involved and the scope of information integration.
The Right to the Protection of Personal Data (Dreptul la Protecţia Datelor cu Caracter Personal)

(The article is written in Romanian)This article aims to analyze, from two perspectives, the right to the protection of personal data, a right which had maybe the most dynamic evolution in the last three decades on a very narrow niche. Firstly, we will focus on the right’s content by analyzing thoroughly the provisions which enshrine it. Secondly, we are interested to reason whether it is a new fundamental right, distinct from the right to the protection of private life or not. The right to the protection of personal data was born out of the necessity to protect the individual from the avalanche-like development of a computerized human society. Personal data have been legally defined as,"any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person,” covering, therefore, a generous sphere of protection.Because it is a relatively new and less known right, we are interested in describing this generous sphere of protection. We will look upon the first important legal act which regulated distinctly and in detail the right to the protection of personal data – the 108 Convention of the Council of Europe from 1981 for the protection of individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal Data. Further, we will analyze Article 16 of the Treaty of Lisbon which enshrines the right to the protection of personal data. This provision was introduced for the first time in an EU treaty in Article 16, which became the central piece in the protection of personal data in the Member States of the EU. We will analyze the extent in which Article 16 may enjoy direct effect. Further we will concentrate on Article 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which is exclusively dedicated to data protection.In the next section we will analyze the content of this right from the perspective of the provisions of Directive 95/46 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data. We will look upon the criteria for making data processing legitimate, the special categories for processing and the scope of the independent supervisory authorities created in all EU Member States.In the last section we will analyze the possibility that the right to the protection of personal data is a new fundamental right from both a formal and a substantial point of view.
Genetic Measures of Inbreeding in Peromyscus

Previous research on mice of the genus Peromyscus led to the conclusion that populations of these animals may be highly inbred. In this paper, the mating system of one species, Peromyscus polionotus , is studied by analysis of five biochemical polymorphisms in 221 monogamous pairs collected in the field. There is no evidence in the statistical tests of a deviation from random mating. Most reports of inbreeding in populations of Peromyscus are ambiguous and can be explained readily by forces other than inbreeding.
Formation of Iron Sulfides in Sour Oil Tanks and Its Spontaneous Combustion

The spontaneous combustion of iron sulfides in sour oil tanks is thought to be the main reason to cause fire and explosion accidents in oil tanks.Sulfur hydrogen dissolving in water to form hydro-sulfuric acid reacts with iron to give iron sulfides.The gas of sulfur hydrogen was continuously passed through the water,at a flow rate of 300 mL/min for 6 h,in trigonal beaker contained 8 g iron powder to produce the iron sulfide samples at 25, 50 and 75 ℃ respectively.The deposit was filtered and dried.The reaction product was analyzed by chemical and XRD analysis.The results show the iron sulfide in reaction product is FeS.Air passed through the dry and moist reaction product at a flow rate of 300 mL/min respectively.The experimental results show that all the reaction products are of high spontaneous combustion nature.When sulfuration temperature is increased,the sulfuration reaction rate rose and the spontaneous combustion nature of reaction product are also raised.
The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Staging of Bladder Carcinoma

AbstractThe clinical staging of bladder carcinoma traditionally has relied on transurethral resection of the bladder tumor, urinary cytology, excretory urography and an examination with the patient under anesthesia. Recent evidence has shown magnetic resonance imaging to be effective in the staging of bladder cancer. Whether magnetic resonance imaging is more accurate than conventional clinical staging techniques has not been answered. To determine the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging in this regard 34 patients with bladder carcinoma underwent staging by this technique before radical cystectomy. The magnetic resonance imaging stage and conventional clinical stage were compared to the final pathological stage. Magnetic resonance imaging had an over-all accuracy of 50 per cent versus 57 per cent for conventional staging techniques and it identified 2 of 5 patients with nodal disease. To date magnetic resonance imaging does not appear to be better than conventional clinical staging techniques in pati...
TECHNIQUE OF INTEGRATION

This chapter discusses the techniques of integration by substitution and explains a number of trigonometric substitutions. Any introduction of a new variable that will reduce the given integral to a recognizable type form is permissible. Once the integration is accomplished, it is necessary to transform the result back into terms of the original variable. The formula for integration by parts is based on the inversion of the formula for the differentiation of a product. All rational fractions whose numerator is of higher degree than its denominator can, by long division, be reduced to a polynomial plus a fraction whose numerator is of lower degree than the denominator.
Detection efficiencies of parallel, fan and cone beam collimators for source distributions in an attenuating medium

Fan-beam (FB) and cone-beam (CB) collimators have been applied in SPECT due to their improved trade-off between spatial resolution and detection efficiency when compared with conventional parallel-hole (PH) collimators. However, the advantages have usually been evaluated in the absence of attenuation and scatter. In this study, the authors studied the detection efficiencies of the three collimator geometries in more realistic imaging situations. Theoretical formulations were derived for the detection efficiencies of the three collimators for point and line sources placed in air and inside attenuating media with attenuation effect only. The effects of scatter were investigated using Monte Carlo simulation methods. For primary photons with and without attenuation effect, theoretical predictions agreed with results from Monte Carlo simulations. They indicate that for a point source, the relative detection efficiencies of FB and CB with respect to PH collimator at different depths in an attenuating medium are the same as those without attenuation. For a line source placed along the central axes of the collimators, the relative detection efficiencies of the FB and CB collimators are lower with attenuation than without. This is due to the increased attenuation effect at greater depths outweighing the increase in geometric efficiency. The addition of scatter does not significantly change the relative efficiencies for a line source. Finally, the signal-to-noise ratios of the FB and CB are higher than that of the PH collimator and the differences increase with source depth. The understanding of the relative detection efficiencies is important in evaluating potential clinical applications of the FB and CB collimators. >
Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram.

The serotonin transporter is a sodium and chloride-coupled transporter that "pumps" extracellular serotonin into cells. S-citalopram is a drug used to treat depression and anxiety by binding to the serotonin transporter with high-affinity, blocking serotonin reuptake. Here we report an efficient procedure and a set of tools to stabilize, express, purify, and crystallize serotonin transporter-antibody complexes bound to S-citalopram and other antidepressants. Mutations which stabilize the serotonin transporter were identified using an S-citalopram binding assay. Serotonin transporter expressed in baculovirus-transduced HEK293S GnTI- cells, was reconstituted into proteoliposomes and used to raise high-affinity antibodies. We have developed a strategy to discover antibodies that are useful for structural studies. A straightforward approach for the expression of antibody fragments in Sf9 cells has also been established. Transporter-antibody complexes purified using this procedure are well-behaved and readily crystallize, producing complexes with S-citalopram that diffract X-rays to 3-4 A resolution. The strategies developed here can be utilized to determine the structure of other challenging membrane proteins.
Liquid Transport In Micron And Submicron Channels

There has been a growth of interest in fluid transport in very small structures. The basis for this interest derives from the application of micromachining technology to problems in fluidics. Several aspects of this problem are reviewed and discussed including some of our recent research on this topic. The problems discussed may be separated into those dealing with biological systems and those that explore the applicability of the macroscopic Navier-Stokes equations to very small planar channels. In the work conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, an experimental investigation of fluid flow in extremely small channels was conducted. Three devices have been constructed with channels of rectangular cross-section ranging in area from 7200 to 80 square microns. It was found that in the relatively large flow channels that the experimental observations were in rough agreement with the predictions from the Navier-Stokes equations. However, in the smallest of the chan-nels, there was a significant deviation from the Navier-Stokes predictions.
Racial/Ethnic Discrepancies in Household Overspending

An analysis of 6,113 households with four quarters of expenditure data in the 2004-2005 U.S. Consumer Expenditure Interview Survey found that 43% of households had outlays more than aftertax income, and 25% of households had outlays that were 127% or more of aftertax income. Black and non-Hispanic White households had the same proportion overspending, 42%, while 49% of Hispanic households overspent. Based on a logistic regression of overspending, controlling for income and other variables, Black households were less likely than non-Hispanic White households to overspend.
Formal Synthesis of (+)-Laurencin by Gold(I)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Dehydrative Alkoxylation

8-Membered cyclic ethers are found in a wide range of natural products; however, they are challenging synthetic targets due to enthalpic and entropic barriers. The gold(I)-catalyzed intramolecular dehydrative alkoxylation of ω-hydroxy allylic alcohols was explored to stereoselectively construct α,α'-cis-oxocenes and further applied in a formal synthesis of (+)-laurencin. The gold(I)-catalyzed intramolecular dehydrative alkoxylation may constitute an alternative method for the synthesis of molecular building blocks and natural products that contain highly functionalized 8-membered cyclic ethers.
Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Commercial Citrus Trees Affected by Phyllosticta citricarpa in Florida.

Citrus black spot (CBS) caused by Phyllosticta citricarpa, is the most recent introduction of an exotic citrus pathogen into Florida and has been a challenge to control to date. Understanding the dispersal pattern of the disease within affected groves is vital in developing effective control strategies to limit the spread of the disease. The spatial pattern of CBS-affected trees was studied in two commercial ‘Valencia’ orange groves over three consecutive citrus seasons. Cluster analyses based on nearest-neighbor distance (F, G and J-functions) and pairwise distances between points (Ripley’s K function, Besag’s L function and the pair correlation function, g) were used to test the hypothesis of complete spatial randomness (CSR) of CBS infected trees within the groves. In both groves, the hypothesis of CSR was rejected for all tests performed including quadrats testing (2 × 2 trees up to 10 × 10 trees). The relationship between tree age and disease was assessed at one experimental site. Citrus trees bearing fruit for the first time accounted for approximately 13% of trees positive for disease and were located within areas of heavy disease pressure. These findings support short distance movement of inoculum as the main spread of disease in the groves studied.
Exploring the Mechanism of the Clinical Encounter on Depressive Symptoms in Young Adults: A Path Analysis

Elucidating mechanisms of how high quality clinical encounters with providers may alleviate depressive symptoms in young adults are critical to reduce psychological morbidity and disability. Guided by Street's Model of Health Communication (SMHC), this study explores the predictive relationships of the clinical encounter, which includes communication functions (patient-provider communication and patient self-appraisal of communication skills with provider) and proximal outcomes (patient activation; PA) to improve health outcomes (depressive symptoms) in young adults. This study of young adults (n = 60) employed path analysis to examine the overall model fit and direct and indirect effects of each variable on depressive symptoms. The final SMHC had excellent model fit (X2 = 2.26, p =.32, TLI =.99, CFI = 1.00, RMSEA =.05). Patient-provider communication and self-appraised communication skills with providers had indirect effects on depressive symptoms and a direct effect on PA; PA had a direct effect on depressive symptoms (R2 =.30, p <.01). Findings elucidate potential novel targets, amenable to behavioral intervention, to improve depressive symptoms within the clinical encounter, and provide a foundation for hypothesis-driven model testing among young adults with depressive symptoms.
The use of brain organoids to investigate neural development and disease

Understanding the development and dysfunction of the human brain is a major goal of neurobiology. Much of our current understanding of human brain development has been derived from the examination of post-mortem and pathological specimens, bolstered by observations of developing non-human primates and experimental studies focused largely on mouse models. However, these tissue specimens and model systems cannot fully capture the unique and dynamic features of human brain development. Recent advances in stem cell technologies that enable the generation of human brain organoids from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) promise to profoundly change our understanding of the development of the human brain and enable a detailed study of the pathogenesis of inherited and acquired brain diseases.
Novel technique to improve strength of weak arbiter PUF

In this paper, we aim at increasing the strength of weak arbiter physical unclonable function (APUF) which are vulnerable to modeling attacks because of low uniqueness and randomness. We propose a unique technique which takes n × 1 challenge-response pairs (CRPs) from APUF and combines them with ring oscillators (ROs) implemented on the same FPGA to get n × n CRPs. We claim the proposed technique to be immune to modeling attacks to a great extent. The experimental results show that the uniqueness and randomness of the APUF increase by at least 19% and 16%, respectively after the implementation of proposed technique.
Contact tracing with a real-time location system: A case study of increasing relative effectiveness in an emergency department

Background Contact tracing is the systematic method of identifying individuals potentially exposed to infectious diseases. Electronic medical record (EMR) use for contact tracing is time-consuming and may miss exposed individuals. Real-time location systems (RTLSs) may improve contact identification. Therefore, the relative effectiveness of these 2 contact tracing methodologies were evaluated. Methods During a pertussis outbreak in the United States, a retrospective case study was conducted between June 14 and August 31, 2016, to identify the contacts of confirmed pertussis cases, using EMR and RTLS data in the emergency department of a tertiary care medical center. Descriptive statistics and a paired t test (α = 0.05) were performed to compare contacts identified by EMR versus RTLS, as was correlation between pertussis patient length of stay and the number of potential contacts. Results Nine cases of pertussis presented to the emergency department during the identified time period. RTLS doubled the potential exposure list (P Conclusions RTLS doubled the potential pertussis exposures beyond EMR-based contact identification. Thus, RTLS may be a valuable addition to the practice of contact tracing and infectious disease monitoring.
Curry’s Study on the Quality of Public Library Reference Service to LGBTQ Youth

A Review of: Curry, A. (2005). If I ask, will they answer? Evaluating public library reference service to gay and lesbian youth. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 45(1), 65-75. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/journal/refuseserq Abstract Objective - To assess the quality of service provided by reference staff in public libraries when presented with a request for LGBTQ information by a young person. Design - Unobtrusive observation without informed consent. Setting - Public library branches in the greater Vancouver area, British Columbia, Canada. Subjects - Reference librarians. Methods - A 19-year-old posing as a high school student approached reference desk staff at 20 public library branches. The student proxy, “Angela”, was instructed to ask for books on forming a gay-straight alliance at her school and, if there was a full reference interview, to also ask for recommendations of novels that the group might read. She recorded the reactions, both verbal and nonverbal, using Reference and User Services Association guidelines as a template. Library administrators were aware of the potential visits and permitted the research, but the reference desk staff were not aware of a potential visit by the student proxy. The researcher claimed that her method, while deceptive, was necessary to obtain authentic reactions from the library staff. Main Results - Most reference librarians approached by Angela made adequate attempts to assist her, although a few library staff reacted negatively to her query. Half of the librarians reacted positively to the patron’s request, with most of the others providing neutral responses. Very few of the librarians actually taught the patron how to use the library’s catalog to search for materials, and most of the librarians were unable to find appropriate materials due to not knowing the appropriate search terms. Only three library staff showed overt disapproval of the search topic, such as frowning or rushing to finish the reference interview quickly, with most remaining objective or supportive. Because of the service she received, Angela stated that eight of the 20 libraries were welcoming enough that she thought she would return. Conclusion - The wide range of responses received by Angela indicated that there was room for improvement in educating public library staff on gay and lesbian issues and materials, especially for gay and lesbian youth.
Nano-Oxide-Dispersed Ferritic Steel for Fusion Energy Systems

The role of oxide nanoparticles in cavity formation of a nano-oxide-dispersed ferritic steel subjected to (Fe + He) dual-ion and (Fe + He + H) triple-ion irradiations has been studied using transmission electron microscopy to elucidate the synergistic effects of helium and hydrogen on radiation tolerance of nano-oxide-dispersed ferritic steel for fusion energy systems. The effect of oxide nanoparticles on suppressing radiation-induced void swelling is clearly revealed from the observation of preferred trapping of helium bubbles at oxide nanoparticles, which results in a unimodal distribution of cavities in the (Fe + He) dual-ion irradiated specimen. An adverse effect of hydrogen implantation, however, is revealed from the observation of a bimodal distribution of cavities with large and facetted voids in association with the formation of HFe5O8-based hydroxide in local regions of the (Fe + He + H) triple-ion irradiated specimen.
A hybrid feature extraction method to detect Atrial Fibrillation from single lead ECG recording

Identifying patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is one of the most challenging and prevailing problems in cardiology. In this study, we propose a novel feature extraction method hybridizing probabilistic symbolic pattern recognition (PSPR) and Sample Entropy (SampEn) to represent morphological changes in electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings. We implement a PSPR framework on continuous SampEn and RR interval series obtained from 4,630 ECG recordings in the training dataset. In our hybrid feature extraction method, PSPR symbolically discretizes SampEn and RR interval series with seven and nine unique symbols, respectively and then models the pattern transition behavior of these series using probability theory. We extract 28 features including PSPR-based metrics and descriptive metrics from SampEn, RR intervals, and processed ECG recordings. A random-forest classifier was trained on 13 features derived using a Genetic Algorithm based feature selection technique. On the test dataset of 1,158 ECG recordings, we achieved an accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 95.3%, 77.7%, and 97.9%, respectively. Results demonstrate that our proposed hybrid method can extract features that are significant to detect AFib rhythms using single lead short ECG recordings.
Identity, Conformity, and Nonconformity: A Closer Look.

As clinicians, we have been vigilant to screen for underlying psychopathology in children and adolescents who meet criteria for gender dysphoria (GD) based on the risk these individuals have for developing externalizing and/or internalizing disorders, likely driven by a stigmatizing society. However, we have not paid careful attention to an often overlooked population, namely gender-nonconforming (GNC) children-especially those in community samples-who do not meet criteria for GD per se but who, according to the well-done and thought-provoking study featured in this issue, van der Miesen et al.'s "Behavioral and Emotional Problems in Gender-Nonconforming Children: A Canadian Community-Based Study,"1 appear to share some similar psychiatric vulnerabilities as their peers with GD, with some unique features noted for natal boys versus natal girls. The few studies that have looked at this group of children have relied on clinical samples, which complicates whether the increased rates of psychopathology are in fact due to GNC-related factors versus inherently higher rates of psychopathology in clinical samples. Because of this, previous studies using clinical samples might overestimate the rates of psychopathology in GNC youths. Van der Miesen et al. smartly attempted to avoid that bias by drawing participants from the community and by excluding participants with any previous mental health diagnoses, including GD.1 This study is a refreshing shift, delving into community samples and using a validated measure, the Gender Identity Questionnaire for Children (GIQC), thus allowing comparisons to be made with prior clinical samples.
Genetic variation within ‘Medjool’ and ‘Deglet Noor’ date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars in California detected by fluorescent-AFLP markers

SummaryDate palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the most important fruit crops of the arid climate region in countries of North Africa and Middle East and there is limited production in California. All date palms in California have always been propagated by offshoots, a vegetative propagation. Throughout the world and in California, two of the most important, widely grown date cultivars are ‘Medjool’ and ‘Deglet Noor’. In the past, it has been difficult to identify date palm cultivars based on morphological characteristics, and even more difficult to identify genetic strains of commercial cultivars. To identify the date cultivars in California, we developed a PCR based amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis with near infrared fluorescence labelled primers. The AFLP markers generate large number of polymorphic bands among different date cultivars and facilitate easy identification of each cultivar. Using four AFLP primer sets (IRD700 E1TA/M1CAG, IRD800 E1AC/M1CAG, IRD700 E1TG/M1CAT, and...
Clinical Behavioral Pediatrics

The involvement of psychologists in pediatric health care has risen dramatically during the past 20 years. Although psychology has long been viewed as a health science discipline, its health impact has been primarily defined as concerning clinical psychology, psychiatry, and mental illness (Schofield, 1969). The appointment of psychologists to departments of pediatrics in medical schools and general medical and surgical hospitals was once rare. Today it has become commonplace. This emphasis on the collaborative management of the health care needs of children is in part due to changes in the practice of pediatric medicine.
Lover … of the Fine Amenities

The history of the placement of a memorial tablet honoring Henry James in Chelsea Old Church, London (and the proposal to efface it).
Superhero Blockbusters: Actors Ahead of the Curve

Smith-Rowsey argues that full casts of protean, verisimilar actors now dominate blockbusters, and that this can be seen through the two rather different superhero films The Dark Knight (2008) and Iron Man (2008). The author’s argument builds upon the timeline established in Chaps. 2 and 3, whereby so-called “character acting” in lead performances in blockbusters became steadily more desirable than “star acting,” situating The Dark Knight and Iron Man as culminations and accelerations of the same trend. Smith-Rowsey claims that these two films established model templates not only for superhero films but blockbusters more generally, centralizing “right for the part” actors over stars. This chapter pays particular attention to skillful performances by Heath Ledger, Michael Caine, Christian Bale, Robert Downey Jr., and Jeff Bridges, making case studies of the highly regarded “interrogation scene” in The Dark Knight and of Downey’s “audition tapes” for Iron Man.
Unbinding Dynamics of Non-Nucleoside Inhibitors from HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase

Non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (NNRTIs), which bind to an allosteric site 10–15 A from the polymerase active site, play a central role in anti-HIV chemotherapy. Though NNRTIs have been known for 30 years, the pathways by which they bind and unbind from HIV-RT have not been characterized. In crystal structures for complexes, three channels are found to extend from the NNRTI binding site to the exterior of the protein, while added mystery comes from the fact that the binding site is collapsed in the unliganded protein. To address this issue, metadynamics simulations have been performed to elucidate the unbinding of four NNRTIs from HIV-RT. A general and transferable collective variable defined by the distance between the center-of-mass (COM) of the binding pocket and COM of the ligand is used to follow the dynamics while minimizing the bias. The metadynamics also allows computation of the barriers to unbinding, which are compared with the observed potencies of the compounds in an a...
Abstract 1171: Identifying small molecules that specifically inhibit glioma stem cells

Glioblastomas (GBM) are the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults and are recognized as one of the deadliest forms of cancer. Despite aggressive therapy consisting of maximal surgical resection followed by concomitant radiation and temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy, GBM remains to have a median survival time of ~ 15 months. Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) are suggested to play a critical role in the GBM phenotype; GSC have tumor initiation ability, propagation ability, and have been shown to be a driver in promoting GBM resistance to current therapeutic interventions. Due to these poor clinical outcomes and resistance to current treatments, more potent and preferably more specific pharmacological therapies are needed in order to target cellular-molecular pathways to eradicate GSCs and effectively treat GBM. In an effort to identify agents that specifically inhibit GSC growth, we recently conducted a drug screen of over 3,000 small molecules. HSR020913 patient derived neurospheres were treated for 72 hours with library agents at a concentration of 10 µM and cell growth was observed for a period of 5 days. We identified twelve highly potent compounds in the primary screen that inhibited the growth of HSR020913 neurospheres by over 50%. Subsequently, the potency of these compounds was tested on five additional GBM patient derived neurosphere lines (HSR040622, HSR040822, CCF3691, CCF3832, and CCF08-387) at even lower concentrations. We next sought to determine the specificity of these compounds in killing GSCs but not normal cells. To this aim we tested these compounds against immortalized human neural stem cells (v-Myc hNSCs) and normal human astrocytes (NHA). Of the twelve potent compounds identified in the primary screen, three compounds (AGSC9, AGSC11, AGSC12) showed to have negligible to minimal effect, only at higher doses, on normal neural stem cells. The respective half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was determined for all the neurosphere lines utilized. Subsequent studies determined the inhibitory effect of these compounds on clonogenic capacity and enzymatic activity. Future studies are warranted to identify molecular pathways targeted by these compounds and determine their effect on tumor progression and survival in vivo. Citation Format: Anthony R. Sloan, Raffaella Spina, Dillon M. Voss, Sophie Laye, Eli E. Bar. Identifying small molecules that specifically inhibit glioma stem cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1171.
White matter in infancy is prospectively associated with language outcome in kindergarten

Abstract Language acquisition is of central importance to a child’s development. Although the trajectory of acquisition is shaped by input and experience postnatally, the neural basis for language emerges prenatally. Thus a fundamental question remains unexamined: to what extent may the structural foundations for language established in infancy predict long-term language abilities? In this longitudinal neuroimaging investigation of children from infancy to kindergarten, we find that white matter organization in infancy is prospectively associated with subsequent language abilities, specifically between: (i) the left arcuate fasciculus in infancy and subsequent phonological awareness and vocabulary knowledge, and (ii) the left corticospinal tract in infancy and phonological awareness and phonological memory in kindergarten. Results are independent of age and home literacy environment. These findings directly link white matter organization in infancy with language abilities after school entry, and suggest that structural organization in infancy sets an important foundation for subsequent language development.
Culture, Cognition and Embodiment

The study of relationship between the cultural and the mental in the social and human sciences stands at crossroads. The classical approach to this issue attempts to derive individual cognition from abstract cultural patterns external to the mind, and conceives of culture as an external, emergent order of symbols organized as ‘systems.’ These internalized ‘symbols of mind’ provide the essential foundation of individual cognition. In contrast to this view, we have a now growing set of perspectives emerging at the intersection of cognitive science, cultural and cognitive anthropology, developmental psychology, robotics, and the philosophy of mind and action. These ‘embodied’ approaches to cognition reject the classical view of cognition as the organization of sense data via recourse to conventional cultural symbols. Instead, cognition is seen as tightly linked to practical action and as inherently ‘grounded’ in the nonarbitrary features of human bodies as they relate to the material environment.
Current Knowledge and Attitudes Concerning Cost-Effectiveness in Glaucoma Pharmacotherapy: A Glaucoma Specialists Focus Group Study.

Author(s): Feldman, Robert M; Cioffi, George A; Liebmann, Jeffrey M; Weinreb, Robert N | Abstract: Background:Rising healthcare costs motivate continued cost-reduction efforts. To help lower costs associated with open-angle glaucoma (OAG), a prevalent, progressive disease with substantial direct and indirect costs, clinicians need to understand the cost-effectiveness of intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering pharmacotherapies. There is little published information on clinicians' knowledge and attitudes about cost-effectiveness in glaucoma treatment. Purpose:This pilot focus group study aimed to explore clinician attitudes and perspectives around the costs and cost drivers of glaucoma therapy; the implementation of cost-effectiveness decisions; the clinical utility of cost-effectiveness studies; and the cost-effectiveness of available treatments. Methods:Six US glaucoma specialists participated in two separate teleconferencing sessions (three participants each), managed by an independent, skilled moderator (also a glaucoma specialist) using a discussion guide. Participants reviewed recent publications (n=25) on health economics outcomes research in glaucoma prior to the sessions. Results:Participants demonstrated a clear understanding of the economic burden of glaucoma therapy and identified medications, diagnostics, office visits, and treatment changes as key cost drivers. They considered cost-effectiveness an appropriate component of treatment decision-making but identified the need for additional data to inform these decisions. Participants indicated that there were only a few recent studies on health economics outcomes in glaucoma which evaluate parameters important to patient care, such as quality of life and medication adherence, and that longitudinal data were scant. In addition to efficacy, participants felt patient adherence and side-effect profile should be included in economic evaluations of glaucoma pharmacotherapy. Recently approved medications were evaluated in this context. Conclusion:Clinicians deem treatment decisions based on cost-effectiveness data as clinically appropriate. Newer IOP-lowering therapies with potentially greater efficacy and favorable side-effect and adherence profiles may help optimize cost-effectiveness. Future studies should include: clinicians' perspectives; lack of commercial bias; analysis of long-term outcomes/costs; more comprehensive parameters; real-world (including quality-of-life) data; and a robust Markov model.
Understanding the Experiences of Racially Minoritized Doctoral Students in Evangelical Theological Education

Although some scholars have explored the experiences of racially minoritized doctoral students in large research universities, few have studied the racial dynamics of doctoral education in smaller ...
Defining Abdominal Obesity as a Risk Factor for Coronary Heart Disease in the U.S.: Results From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

OBJECTIVE Various organizations have highlighted the need to examine whether abdominal obesity cut points are appropriate for identification of cardiovascular risk among ethnic minority adults, particularly Hispanic/Latino adults living in Western societies. This study aimed 1) to establish optimal definitions for abdominal obesity among Hispanics/Latinos and 2) to determine the level of agreement between the presence of metabolic syndrome diagnosed by the current Joint Interim Statement (JIS) definition and an updated definition with optimal abdominal obesity cut points. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The sample included 16,289 adults who self-identified as Hispanic/Latino ages 18–74 years enrolled in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to derive sensitivity and specificity values. The largest sum of sensitivity plus specificity was used to determine appropriate cut points. RESULTS Among U.S. Hispanic/Latino adults, waist circumference cut points of >102 cm in men (in line with current JIS criteria) and >97 cm (9 points higher than JIS criteria) in women provide optimal discrimination for cardiovascular risk as judged by the presence of coronary heart disease. When using these cut points to create an updated metabolic syndrome definition among women, we found disagreement between our updated definition and the current JIS criteria. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was overestimated by ∼5 percentage points among women based on JIS criteria in comparison with our definition. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the current recommendations for waist circumference cut points may not be appropriate for U.S. Hispanic/Latino women.
Erythrocyte-driven immunization via biomimicry of their natural antigen-presenting function

Erythrocytes naturally capture certain bacterial pathogens in circulation, kill them through oxidative stress, and present them to the antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the spleen. By leveraging this innate immune function of erythrocytes, we developed erythrocyte-driven immune targeting (EDIT), which presents nanoparticles from the surface of erythrocytes to the APCs in the spleen. Antigenic nanoparticles were adsorbed on the erythrocyte surface. By engineering the number density of adsorbed nanoparticles, (i.e., the number of nanoparticles loaded per erythrocyte), they were predominantly delivered to the spleen rather than lungs, which is conventionally the target of erythrocyte-mediated delivery systems. Presentation of erythrocyte-delivered nanoparticles to the spleen led to improved antibody response against the antigen, higher central memory T cell response, and lower regulatory T cell response, compared with controls. Enhanced immune response slowed down tumor progression in a prophylaxis model. These findings suggest that EDIT is an effective strategy to enhance systemic immunity.