cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hematogenous Osteomyelitis in Infants and Children: Imaging of a Changing Disease

In children, hematogenous osteomyelitis is an infection that primarily affects the most vascularized regions of the growing skeleton. The disease has increased in frequency, virulence, and degree of soft-tissue involvement. The change in clinical manifestations and management over the past 2 decades should be reflected in the current imaging approach to the disease. Imaging of infection must depict the location of a single focus or of multiple foci of involvement and the presence of drainable collections. This review provides an overview of the imaging implications directed by the changing epidemiology, the newer insights of anatomy and pathophysiology, the imaging characteristics with emphasis on specific locations and disease complications, and the differential diagnosis considerations. In addition, basic imaging guidelines for appropriate extent of area to image based on patient age are provided. © RSNA, 2017.
Sensory mapping of pelvic dermatomes in women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.

Aim To describe a sensory map of pelvic dermatomes in women with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS). We hypothesized that if IC/BPS involves changes in central processing, then women with IC/BPS will exhibit sensory abnormalities in neurologic pelvic dermatomes. Methods Women with IC/BPS and healthy controls underwent neurologic examination that included evaluation of sharp pain sensitivity and vibration in dermatomes T12, L1, L2, S1-5. Peripheral nervous system sensitivity to pressure, vibration, and pinprick were scored using numeric rating scales (NRS). Bilateral comparisons were made with Wilcoxon signed-rank test and comparisons between groups were made by the Mann-Whitney U-test. Results Total of 74 women with IC/BPS and 36 healthy counterparts were included. IC/BPS and control groups had similar age (43.0 ± 14.1 and 38.6 ± 15.3 years, P = 0.14) and BMI (28.9 ± 8.0 kg/m2 and 26.9 ± 8.4 kg/m2 , P = 0.24), respectively. Women with IC/BPS reported hyperalgesia (elevated bilateral NRS pain intensity) in all pelvic dermatomes compared to healthy controls. S4-S5 region had the highest pain intensity in all participants. All IC/BPS participants exhibited vibration sensation hypoesthesia, at least unilaterally, in all of the pelvic dermatomes except L1 compared to healthy controls. Conclusion This detailed map of neurologic pelvic dermatomes in women with IC/BPS found hyperalgesia in all pelvic dermatomes, and some evidence of vibration sensation hypoesthesia, compared to healthy controls. These findings support the hypothesis that IC/BPS may involve changes in central signal processing biased towards nociception.
APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B Activities Render Cancer Cells Susceptible to ATR Inhibition

The apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B have emerged as key mutation drivers in cancer. Here, we show that APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B activities impose a unique type of replication stress by inducing abasic sites at replication forks. In contrast to cells under other types of replication stress, APOBEC3A-expressing cells were selectively sensitive to ATR inhibitors (ATRi), but not to a variety of DNA replication inhibitors and DNA-damaging drugs. In proliferating cells, APOBEC3A modestly elicited ATR but not ATM. ATR inhibition in APOBEC3A-expressing cells resulted in a surge of abasic sites at replication forks, revealing an ATR-mediated negative feedback loop during replication. The surge of abasic sites upon ATR inhibition associated with increased accumulation of single-stranded DNA, a substrate of APOBEC3A, triggering an APOBEC3A-driven feed-forward loop that ultimately drove cells into replication catastrophe. In a panel of cancer cell lines, ATRi selectively induced replication catastrophe in those harboring high APOBEC3A and/or APOBEC3B activities, showing that APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B activities conferred susceptibility to ATRi. Our results define an APOBEC-driven replication stress in cancer cells that may offer an opportunity for ATR-targeted therapy. Cancer Res; 77(17); 4567-78. ©2017 AACR.
Replication-dependent size reduction precedes differentiation in Chlamydia trachomatis

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infection. It produces an unusual intracellular infection in which a vegetative form, called the reticulate body (RB), replicates and then converts into an elementary body (EB), which is the infectious form. Here we use quantitative three-dimensional electron microscopy (3D EM) to show that C. trachomatis RBs divide by binary fission and undergo a sixfold reduction in size as the population expands. Conversion only occurs after at least six rounds of replication, and correlates with smaller RB size. These results suggest that RBs only convert into EBs below a size threshold, reached by repeatedly dividing before doubling in size. A stochastic mathematical model shows how replication-dependent RB size reduction produces delayed and asynchronous conversion, which are hallmarks of the Chlamydia developmental cycle. Our findings support a model in which RB size controls the timing of RB-to-EB conversion without the need for an external signal.
Higher Growth Rate of Branch Duct Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms Associates With Worrisome Features.

Background & Aims For patients with branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs, cysts), it is a challenge to identify those at high risk for malignant lesions. We sought to identify factors associated with development of pancreatic cancer, focusing on neoplasm growth rate. Methods We performed a retrospective study of 189 patients with BD-IPMNs who underwent at least 2 contrast-enhanced cross-sectional imaging studies, 1 year or more apart, at a tertiary referral center from January 2003 through 2013. Patients with cysts that had Fukuoka worrisome or high-risk features were excluded. Two radiologists reviewed all images. Cyst size was recorded at the initial and final imaging studies and growth rate was calculated. We collected patient demographic data, cyst characteristics, and clinical outcomes; univariate logistic regression models were used to determine the odds of developing worrisome features. The primary outcomes were to determine growth rate of low-risk BD-IPMNs and to assess whether cyst growth rate correlates high-risk features of IPMNs. Results Based on image analyses, cysts were initially a median 11 mm (range, 3–31 mm) and their final size was 12.5 mm (range, 3–42 mm). After a median follow-up time of 56 months (range, 12–163 months), the median cyst growth rate was 0.29 mm/year. Twelve patients developed worrisome features, no patients developed high-risk features, 4 patients had surgical resection, and no cancers developed. The rate of BD-IPMN growth was greater in patients who developed worrisome features than those who did not (2.84 mm/year vs 0.23 mm/year; P P = .009). Conclusion In a retrospective analysis of images from patients with BD-IPMN, we found low-risk BD-IPMNs to grow at an extremely low rate (less than 0.3 mm/year). BD-IPMNs in only about 6% of patients developed worrisome features, and none developed high-risk features or invasive cancers. BD-IPMNs that developed worrisome features were associated with a significantly higher rate of growth than lesions with low-risk features. Low risk BD-IPMNs that grow more than 2.5 mm/year might require surveillance.
Reading comprehension in L1 and L2: An integrative approach

Abstract Like other areas of research in reading and language, the study of reading comprehension has traditionally focused on readers of native or first language, and relatively little attention has been directed to the study of second language reading comprehension. Even fewer studies have examined the neurocognitive bases of second language reading comprehension. In this article we take these research gaps as a starting point for providing an integrative analysis of reading comprehension in first and second languages, and with a perspective on both cognitive and neuorimaging evidence. We further examine variables of learner abilities (e.g., working memory), second language proficiency, and order of presentation/reading in the two languages that impact individual differences in reading comprehension, with a particular focus on the knowledge structure that the reader establishes in the first and second languages. Implications and future directions for an integrative neurocognitive perspective on L1 and L2 reading comprehension are discussed in light of limited evidence based on individual difference studies.
The effect of statin treatment on survival and on the use of healthcare resources among patients with acute myocardial infarction

The aim of this study was to investigate the cost-effectiveness of statin use by newly hospitalised patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Finland. The data were from the PERFECT database of patients hospitalised for AMI and discharged in 1998–2012 in Finland. Selected patients had first-time AMI and had not used statins earlier (N=60 404). We generated a matched data set from statin non-users for statin users based on propensity matching analysis (N=28 412), which was also used. Statin use was defined as statins purchased within the first week after hospital discharge. Healthcare costs included costs of inpatient and outpatient hospital care, costs of nursing homes and costs of prescribed medicines (at 2011 prices). The follow-up time was one year. Logit and generalised linear models were used. We measured the effects of statin use as life years (LYs) gained and computed costs per LY gained. Both data were analysed for the entire period and for subperiods 1998–2001, 2002–2007 and 2008–2011, without discount rates and with a 3% discount rate. An average patient would gain 0.26–0.51 more years. The estimated costs per LY gained ranged between EUR 800 and 15 000. They were highest (EUR 12 000–15 000) in 1998–2001 by the matched data, but were actually savings in 2008–2011. The estimated costs indicate that statin use in treating AMI was very cost-effective. However, our rather long study period may suggest that the cost estimates per LY gained could be overestimated, as the life expectancy of AMI patients is likely shorter than that of the general population. Published: Online April 2018.
Density-Dependent Capture Efficiency of a Survey Dredge and Its Influence On the Stock Assessment of Eastern Oysters ( Crassostrea virginica ) in Delaware Bay

Abstract A reliable measure of gear capture efficiency is required to calculate unbiased estimates of population size and fishing mortality from survey data in a stock assessment. However, capture efficiency can vary spatially and temporally due to changes in abundance, stock area, the environment, and the sampling gear itself. Therefore, periodic reassessment of this parameter is necessary to ensure that the catchability coefficients being applied accurately reflect the capture efficiency of the survey sampling gear, especially when catchability is being estimated outside of the stock assessment model. Using data from field experiments conducted in 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2013, we evaluated spatial and temporal variability in capture efficiency for a commercial dredge used to conduct a fishery-independent survey of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) population in Delaware Bay, USA. A spatial gradient in capture efficiency was detected, but no temporal trend. Capture efficiency was a function of the density of oysters in the sampled area. To our knowledge this is the first time density-dependent capture efficiency has been identified for a sessile invertebrate stock survey. Since density dependence in capture efficiency leads to hyperstable catch-per-unit-effort, caution is advised when deriving oyster abundance from dredge survey catch-per-effort data, especially at low oyster density and when high spatial resolution estimates of survey dredge capture efficiency are not available.
Primate Personality and Behavioral Endocrinology

Although hormones are best known for their physiological functions, elegant studies in a variety of species have also demonstrated important effects of hormones on behavior (and vice versa: behavior’s effects on hormone levels). Behavioral endocrinology is an exciting field because the relationship between hormones and behavior is complex and in many ways still poorly defined. Initial studies in primates focused primarily on associations between specific behaviors such as aggression or mating and hormones such as testosterone, cortisol, and progesterone. However, as primatologists began to recognize the importance of behavioral style variation and the influence of personality on all aspects of behavior, the physiological correlates of this variable also began gaining attention. In this review, I briefly discuss the mechanisms by which hormones affect behavior before reviewing important research on the role of hormones in maternal style, dominance relationships, and personality. I also discuss the practical and theoretical implications of the relationship between primate personalities and hormone levels. I suggest that this field could benefit from more research in two primary areas: first, the hormonally mediated costs and benefits of certain behavioral styles, and second, personality variation in wild primates and its endocrine correlates.
Flow Structure and Mixing in a Motored Axisymmetric Engine

This paper describes observations of the in-cylinder flow field made using a smoke flow visualization technique in a transparent cylinder axisymmetric motored engine. The engine incorporates variable valve timing and variable swirl hardware. The visualization system utilizes a copper vapor laser, 16mm high speed camera and titanium dioxide smoke. Three intake valve lift profile shapes were studied.
Functionally Based Communicative Approaches to Language Teaching

Functional linguistics serves as a perspective from which to gain insight into the key sociolinguistic concepts of communicative competence, intelligibility, and model, the nature of English language use in nonnative contexts, and the underlying framework of communicative approaches to language teaching. It further provides a theoretical basis for relating the practical concerns of materials and methodology design to learner needs and the sociocultural context in which the learning occurs. This link between theory and practice is achieved when materials identified as communicative are examined with respect to their functional basis.
Modeling the macrophage-anthrax spore interaction: Implications for early host-pathogen interactions.

Abstract Inhalational anthrax, caused by the gram positive bacteria Bacillus anthracis, is a potentially fatal form of anthrax infection. It is initiated after inhaled spores are deposited in the lung, phagocytosed by immune cells, and subsequently transported to nearby lymph nodes. Intracellular spores that successfully germinate and become vegetative bacteria can lyse their host cell and contribute to bacterial outgrowth and toxin production. To better understand the early disease dynamics of the host-pathogen interaction, we develop a mathematical model of ordinary differential Equations and estimate parameters using available data. The model which consists of two subsystems is designed in accordance with an in vitro experimental protocol in which macrophages were challenged with varying doses of spores at spore-to-macrophage ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:10, 1:20. Initial modeling results suggested the need to consider two distinct subpopulations of anthrax bacteria: newly germinated bacteria which cannot replicate immediately and fully vegetative bacteria that can. Additional modeling results provide insights into possible reasons why macrophage-induced killing is more effective at the 1:20 ratio.
An adaptive modeling approach to structural health monitoring of multistory buildings

Abstract Presented is an adaptive model-based approach for structural health monitoring (SHM) of multistory buildings. Fault detection, isolation and estimation (FDIE) are accomplished through the integration of reduced-order physics models with a new observer-based parameter identification algorithm that directly estimates changes in structural stiffness and damping. In the proposed method, each building floor is connected to its adjoining floors using springs and dampers (i.e., structure columns) to capture the planar motion of the system. The novelty in this method is that the structure features of stiffness and damping are directly estimated from the observer model states. To demonstrate the proposed method, a finite element analysis of a scaled digital building is used to generate dynamic structural data. The simulated data will be corrupted to emulate sensor noise. It will be shown that for this numerical study a 15% stiffness change in one of the nine columns between the floors that produces 1.67% decrease in overall stiffness is detected. It will be also shown that the proposed approach is able to detect, isolate and estimate faults of different magnitudes at single and multiple locations.
Learning to shape virtual patient locomotor patterns: internal representations adapt to exploit interactive dynamics.

This study aimed to understand how humans manipulate the physics of locomotion, a common task for physical therapists during locomotor rehabilitation. To achieve this aim, a novel locomotor simulat...
Pedometer Accuracy and Metabolic Cost in Elementary School Children While Walking, Skipping, Galloping, and Sliding

Pedometers are commonly used instruments that measure activity in children. While pedometers were designed to measure activity during walking, children often engage in other locomotor movements, such as skipping, galloping, and sliding. This study assessed the accuracy of two pedometers in children performing these movements and quantified the metabolic cost of these movements. Fifty-three children performed these movements on a motorized treadmill for 3 min at 67 m/min and again at 80.5 m/min. Pedometers were most accurate during walking and least accurate during skipping. Pedometers also tended to underestimate step counts during skipping, galloping, and sliding. Skipping, galloping, and sliding elicited greater metabolic cost compared to walking at the same speeds. In the context of teaching a physical education class, pedometer counts across these locomotor patterns could be used as a proxy measure of metabolic cost. Physical educators can use this information when assessing activity in PE classes that incorporate these kinds of locomotor movements. Subscribe to TPE
Conformational dynamics between transmembrane domains and allosteric modulation of a metabotropic glutamate receptor

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are class C, synaptic G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that contain large extracellular ligand binding domains (LBDs) and form constitutive dimers. Despite the existence of a detailed picture of inter-LBD conformational dynamics and structural snapshots of both isolated domains and full-length receptors, it remains unclear how mGluR activation proceeds at the level of the transmembrane domains (TMDs) and how TMD-targeting allosteric drugs exert their effects. Here, we use time-resolved functional and conformational assays to dissect the mechanisms by which allosteric drugs activate and modulate mGluR2. Single-molecule subunit counting and inter-TMD fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements in living cells reveal LBD-independent conformational rearrangements between TMD dimers during receptor modulation. Using these assays along with functional readouts, we uncover heterogeneity in the magnitude, direction, and the timing of the action of both positive and negative allosteric drugs. Together our experiments lead to a three-state model of TMD activation, which provides a framework for understanding how inter-subunit rearrangements drive class C GPCR activation.
First Report of Serratia marcescens Causing a Leaf Spot Disease on Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa)

In the 2017 and 2018 growing seasons (between May and October), several cultivars of industrial hemp plants grown for flowers in greenhouse production from four North Carolina counties showed symptoms of an angular leaf spot on leaves, stems, and flower parts. Lesions were initially small, dark brown, 1 to 3 mm in size, and vein-limited. As the disease progressed, lesions coalesced to form larger regions of necrosis that engulfed large portions of leaves, and whole plants were lost to disease. Red bacterial ooze was observed streaming from the plant tissues. Bacterial colonies growing on potato dextrose agar (PDA) were raised and dark-pink colored. The Gram stain indicated gram-negative bacilli. A representative isolate (called strain T2) was used to inoculate Cannabis sativa L. ‘Carmagnola’. Two-week-old seedlings (n = 6) were inoculated with a bacterial suspension (OD₆₀₀ = 0.1, approximately 10⁸ CFU/ml) using a PreVal hand sprayer; additional seedlings (n = 6) were inoculated with sterile water to serve as the negative control. Plants were incubated at 23°C for 21 days in a growth chamber with a 12-h photoperiod. After 8 days, dark brown-black lesions similar to those described above were observed on inoculated leaves. Control plants remained symptomless. The pathogen of interest was the only microorganism reisolated from lesions, and after transferring onto PDA, colonies were identical in morphology to those isolated from the original diseased plants. Molecular identification was conducted by first extracting DNA from the representative isolate T2 using the DNeasy Powersoil kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). The 16S ribosomal RNA region (Klindworth et al. 2013) and the RNA polymerase β-subunit (rpoB) gene (Mollet et al. 1997) were PCR amplified. Amplicons were sequenced at the North Carolina State Genomic Sciences Laboratory, and sequences for each gene from the isolate assessed (T2) were deposited to GenBank (accessions MK598699 and MN400982 for 16S rRNA and rpoB, respectively). NCBI-BLAST searches (Altschul et al. 1997) showed the highest similarity (99.6% identity) with 16S rRNA of Serratia marcescens subsp. sakuensis and 99.6% pairwise identity to rpoB of S. marcescens strain B3R3 (GenBank accession KU894791). Based on pathogenicity, morphology, and molecular identification, the unknown bacterial isolate was identified as S. marcescens. Because industrial hemp is increasingly grown across the United States for cannabidiol production, this disease could pose significant challenges and cause yield reduction in affected plants. Additionally, this pathogen could be of human health concern should it survive hemp processing practices, because there are strains that affect humans.
The Impact of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion on Vascular Surgery.

Background The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion increased Medicaid eligibility such that all adults with an income level up to 138% of the federal poverty threshold in 2014 qualified for Medicaid benefits. Prior studies have shown that the ACA Medicaid expansion was associated with increased access to care. The impact of the ACA Medicaid expansion on patients undergoing complex care for major vascular pathology has not been evaluated. Methods The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database was used to identify patients undergoing care for major vascular pathology in 6 states from 2010 to 2014. The analysis cohort included adult patients between the ages of 18 and 64 years who underwent a nonemergent surgical procedure for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, thoracic aortic aneurysm, carotid artery stenosis, peripheral vascular disease, or chronic kidney disease. Poisson regression was used to determine the incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Results There were a total of 83,960 patients in the study cohort. Compared with nonexpansion states, inpatient admissions for Medicaid patients with an abdominal or thoracic aneurysm and carotid stenosis diagnosis increased significantly (IRR, 1.20, 1.27, 1.06, respectively; P Conclusions In states that expanded Medicaid coverage under the ACA, the rate of vascular-related surgeries and admissions for Medicaid patients increased. We conclude that expanding insurance coverage results in enhanced access to vascular surgery.
Exploring pharmacy residency program director preference of pharmacy student organization membership and leadership involvement on residency candidate interview selection.

Abstract Introduction Pharmacy student professional organization involvement and leadership are important qualifications of a pharmacy residency candidate. It is unknown if membership in specific student pharmacy organizations or types of leadership roles within these organizations are preferred by residency program directors (RPDs). The purpose of the study was to determine preference and importance of specific pharmacy student professional organization membership and leadership involvement when selecting residency candidates for an interview by RPDs. Methods A descriptive study was conducted using an online survey. Pharmacy RPDs with involvement in reviewing applicants for interviews were included. RPDs ranked the importance and preference of specific student professional organization membership, breadth versus depth of involvement, and leadership position held on selecting candidates for an interview. Results The survey was sent to 2084 RPDs. A total of 232 respondents met inclusion criteria and completed the survey. The majority (95.5%) of RPDs reported student membership as important, while 28.6% had preference for a specific organization. A total of 56.3% of RPDs reported student leadership as “very important” and 76.1% preferred depth over breadth of involvement. A total of 55.6% of RPDs preferred applicants with a high-level leadership position. Conclusions Pharmacy student professional organization membership is important to RPDs when selecting residency candidates for an interview. The majority of RPDs have no preference for a specific organization, while 28.6% report a preference that affects interview selection. RPDs report leadership as important and place higher importance on depth versus breadth of involvement, with greater preference for a high-level leadership position.
Godly husbands and housework: A global examination of the association between religion and men’s housework participation:

In studies seeking to understand cultural and institutional influences on the division of domestic labor, religion has often been left out of the picture in favor of economic, gender and welfare st...
3 – Pathological Gait

Publisher Summary Although some variability is present in normal gait, particularly in the use of the muscles, there is an identifiable ‘normal pattern’ of walking, and a ‘normal range’ can be defined for most of the measurable parameters. Pathology of the locomotor system produces abnormal patterns of movement or applied force. Some of these abnormalities can be identified by eye, but others can only be identified by the use of appropriate measurement systems. The pattern of gait is the outcome of a complex interaction between the many neuromuscular and structural elements of the locomotor system. Abnormal gait might result from a disorder in any part of this system, including the brain, spinal cord, nerves, muscles, joints, and skeleton. Abnormal gait might also result from the presence of pain, so that although physically capable of walking normally, the subject finds it more comfortable to walk in some other way.
T‐cell receptor affinity in the age of cancer immunotherapy

The strength of the interaction between T-cell receptors (TCRs) and their ligands, peptide/major histocompatibility complex complexes (pMHCs), is one of the most frequently discussed and investigated features of T cells in immuno-oncology today. Although there are many molecules on the surface of T cells that interact with ligands on other cells, the TCR/pMHC is the only receptor-ligand pair that offers antigen specificity and dictates the functional response of the T cell. The strength of the TCR/pMHC interaction, along with the environment in which this interaction takes place, is key to how the T cell will respond. The TCR repertoire of T cells that interact with tumor-associated antigens is vast, although typically of low affinity. Here, we focus on the low-affinity interactions between TCRs from CD8+ T cells and different models used in immuno-oncology.
Patients’ and Providers’ Perspectives on Sexual Health Discussion in the United States: A Scoping Review

Abstract Objectives The objective of this scoping review was to explore patients’ and providers’ perspectives on sexual health communication. Methods A literature search was conducted in three databases, Medline (OVID), CINAHL (Ebsco), and PsycINFO (Ebsco) covering January 1, 2000—May 12, 2020. A coding sheet with a list of questions was created in Qualtrics to extract information from each article. Results Thirty-three (33) studies were included in this review. The findings indicated that 1) the current sexual health discussion does not meet the needs of the patients; and 2) patients and providers hold uniquely different perspectives on the importance of the discussion, the responsibility of conversation initiation, and the comfort level of the discussion. Conclusions There remains a significant gap between providers’ perceptions and patients’ needs regarding sexual health discussion. More efforts should be made to promote the necessary sexual health communication. Practice Implications Providers should initiate the discussion when necessary because it is very likely that patients welcome the discussion. Medical education and training should incorporate sexual health into its curricula to enhance health care professionals’ abilities in addressing sexual health issues. Providers should model a sense of openness and comfort in conversation to encourage patients to discuss sexual health.
Effect of predation on the mechanical properties and detachment of MABR biofilms.

Abstract The membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) is an emerging wastewater treatment technology that uses O2-supplying membranes as a biofilm support. Because O2 is supplied from the biofilm base instead of the bulk liquid, MABR biofilms have distinct microbial community structures and behavior. Past research showed that protozoan predation in MABR biofilms can greatly increase biofilm porosity, producing a void layer at the base of the biofilm. We hypothesized that this void layer could weaken the biofilm and promote sloughing, and investigated this with heterotrophic MABR biofilms. A rheometer was used to measure biofilm mechanical strength, and MABR flow cells were used to explore detachment. MABRs supplied with cycloheximide, a protozoan inhibitor, were used as controls. Predation increased the internal void ratio from 6 ± 7% to 50 ± 16%. The storage modulus was 1,780 ± 1,180 Pa with predation condition, compared to 9,800 ± 4,290 Pa for the control. Similarly, the loss modulus was 1,580 ± 729 Pa with predation and 363 ± 189 Pa for the control. When subjected to an increased flow, the biofilm loss was 44 ± 24% for the flow cell with predation, while only 7 ± 9% for the control. This research shows that predation can have an important impact on biofilm porosity in MABRs, reducing the mechanical strength and increasing detachment. Understanding this phenomenon can help develop more effective biofilm control strategies in MABRs.
High Power Optical Breakdown and Design to Combat Dirt and Airborne Particles

Traditional design involves the spectrum of an optic, but mechanical and materials properties must be included for high CW power. High bandgaps and low stress maximize damage thresholds in the presence of dirt and particles.
Vehicular RF Convergence: Simultaneous Radar, Communications, and PNT for Urban Air Mobility and Automotive Applications

Modern RF environments are becoming increasingly congested. This limits the opportunities and capabilities of modern RF systems, obstructing the development and proliferation of new technologies. Novel vehicular RF technologies promise a new era of transportation capabilities, but legacy design techniques cannot adapt to the current spectral congestion. We summarize recent RF Convergence results and discuss how they mitigate spectral congestion in modern vehicular applications. We propose a joint radar, communications, positioning, navigation, and timing (JRCPNT) system architecture as a suitable candidate for future automotive applications. We present relevant performance bounds and initial experimental results to demonstrate the potential performance enhancements of such multiple-function RF systems. We define multiple-channel, multiple-user receiver (MCMUR) techniques that enable this architecture and discuss how these components cooperate to enable these performance enhancements. We summarize initial experimental results to demonstrate the viability of such multiple-function architectures in the context of urban air mobility (UAM) and other automotive applications.
Historical cost, inflation, and the U.S. corporate tax burden

Abstract We study whether the interaction between U.S. tax rules and inflation increases the real U.S. corporate tax burden because tax deductions based on historical cost are not inflation-indexed. We extend prior literature by using new models to examine this prediction. We find a significantly positive association between tax burden and inflation for capital- and inventory-intensive firms, even after they utilize inflation-mitigating tax law provisions. We also find that the LIFO inventory method mitigates inflation-induced tax distortions. These results provide evidence that capital- and inventory-intensive firms face a higher real tax burden in the presence of inflation.
Iron(II/III) Halide Complexes Promote the Interconversion of Nitric Oxide and S-Nitrosothiols through Reversible Fe-S Interaction.

Heme and non-heme iron in biology mediate the storage/release of NO• from S-nitrosothiols as a means to control the biological concentration of NO•. Despite their importance in many physiological processes, the mechanisms of N-S bond formation/cleavage at Fe centers have been controversial. Herein, we report the interconversion of NO• and S-nitrosothiols mediated by FeII/FeIII chloride complexes. The reaction of 2 equiv of S-nitrosothiol (Ph3CSNO) with [Cl6FeII2]2- results in facile release of NO• and formation of iron(III) halothiolate. Detailed spectroscopic studies, including in situ UV-vis, IR, and Mossbauer spectroscopy, support the interaction of the S atom with the FeII center. This is in contrast to the proposed mechanism of NO• release from the well-studied "red product" κ1-N bound S-nitrosothiol FeII complex, [(CN)5Fe(κ1-N-RSNO)]3-. Additionally, FeIII chloride can mediate NO• storage through the formation of S-nitrosothiols. Treatment of iron(III) halothiolate with 2 equiv of NO• regenerates Ph3CSNO with the FeII source trapped as the S = 3/2 {FeNO}7 species [Cl3FeNO]-, which is inert toward further coordination and activation of S-nitrosothiols. Our work demonstrates how labile iron can mediate the interconversion of NO•/thiolate and S-nitrosothiol, which has important implications toward how Nature manages the biological concentration of free NO•.
Loss of TLR4 in endothelial cells but not Müller cells protects the diabetic retina.

Others have previously reported that global loss of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) reduced retinal inflammation. To determine cell specific actions of TLR4 in the retina, we generated diabetic endothelial cell specific and Muller cell specific TLR4 knockout mice. Diabetic Cdh5-Cre TLR4 mice, PDGFRα-Cre TLR4 mice, and TLR4 floxed mice were evaluated for retinal permeability, neuronal damage, and numbers of degenerate capillaries, all changes commonly observed in the diabetic retina. We also measured protein levels of key inflammatory mediators. We found that diabetes increased permeability, neuronal, and vascular damage in all mice. Loss of TLR4 in the retinal endothelial cells protected against these changes when compared to diabetic TLR4 floxed mice. In contrast, loss of TLR4 in Muller cells did not reduce diabetes-induced increases in permeability or neuronal and vascular damage. Elimination of TLR4 in either mouse model reduced inflammatory mediators, as well as VEGF levels. Taken together, our findings suggest that loss of TLR4 in endothelial cells is protective against diabetic-induced damage, while Muller cell TLR4 is not involved in the damage.
A backend-agnostic, quantum-classical framework for simulations of chemistry in C++

As quantum computing hardware systems continue to advance, the research and development of performant, scalable, and extensible software architectures, languages, models, and compilers is equally as important in order to bring this novel coprocessing capability to a diverse group of domain computational scientists. For the field of quantum chemistry, applications and frameworks exists for modeling and simulation tasks that scale on heterogeneous classical architectures, and we envision the need for similar frameworks on heterogeneous quantum-classical platforms. Here we present the XACC system-level quantum computing framework as a platform for prototyping, developing, and deploying quantum-classical software that specifically targets chemistry applications. We review the fundamental design features in XACC, with special attention to its extensibility and modularity for key quantum programming workflow interfaces, and provide an overview of the interfaces most relevant to simulations of chemistry. A series of examples demonstrating some of the state-of-the-art chemistry algorithms currently implemented in XACC are presented, while also illustrating the various APIs that would enable the community to extend, modify, and devise new algorithms and applications in the realm of chemistry.
Reported History of Traumatic Brain Injury Among Suicide Decedents: National Violent Death Reporting System, 2003-2017.

Introduction Traumatic brain injury is a major cause of death and disability in the U.S., and research shows that individuals who suffer traumatic brain injury have an increased risk for suicide. This study examines the characteristics of suicide decedents with a documented traumatic brain injury history using a database containing circumstantial data on suicides and examines the differences in traumatic brain injury‒ and nontraumatic brain injury‒related suicides within the general population and within individuals with a history of military service. Methods Logistic regression models estimated AORs and 95% CIs of suicide among those with and without a previous traumatic brain injury using data from the 2003–2017 National Violent Death Reporting System (analyzed in 2020). Results From 2003 to 2017, a total of 203,157 suicide decedents were identified, and 993 had a documented traumatic brain injury before suicide. Among those with a documented traumatic brain injury, a higher percentage were White non-Hispanic. Firearm injuries were the most common method of suicide for both groups. Poisoning was more common among decedents with a previous traumatic brain injury than among those without. Male individuals, those who were single, and those who served in the military were 1.4 times more likely to have a documented traumatic brain injury history before the suicide. Almost 1 in 5 suicides (18.9%) documenting traumatic brain injury occurred among individuals with a history of military service. Conclusions Comprehensive suicide prevention approaches are imperative. Healthcare providers can play a role in assessing and identifying patients at increased risk of suicide, including those who have experienced falls or injuries that often result in traumatic brain injury, and provide tailored interventions or referrals.
An Introduction to Complex Analysis and Geometry

An Introduction to Complex Analysis and Geometry provides the reader with a deep appreciation of complex analysis and how this subject fits into mathematics. The book developed from courses given in the Campus Honors Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. These courses aimed to share with students the way many mathematics and physics problems magically simplify when viewed from the perspective of complex analysis. The book begins at an elementary level but also contains advanced material.The first four chapters provide an introduction to complex analysis with many elementary and unusual applications. Chapters 5 through 7 develop the Cauchy theory and include some striking applications to calculus. Chapter 8 glimpses several appealing topics, simultaneously unifying the book and opening the door to further study.The 280 exercises range from simple computations to difficult problems. Their variety makes the book especially attractive.A reader of the first four chapters will be able to apply complex numbers in many elementary contexts. A reader of the full book will know basic one complex variable theory and will have seen it integrated into mathematics as a whole. Research mathematicians will discover several novel perspectives.
PATH CONTROL OF SURFACE SHIPS USING SLIDING MODES

The surface ship path control problem is formulated as a nonlinear state space control problem subject to disturbances, modelling errors, and parameter uncertainty. A "destroyer study" ship using a nonlinear manoeuvring model is used as the system model. The system to be controlled is highly nonlinear with parameters that vary with speed and operational conditions. Uncertainty in the force coefficients, as well as in disturbances of the seaway lead to the need for a robust control for navigational accuracy. This paper investigates the use of cross track error and line-or-sight guidance laws with a sliding mode autopilot for path control of surface ships, and presents results based on computer simulations using the model described above. The results illustrate the simplicity and effectiveness of the robust control design for compensating the nonlinearities and disturbance effects with improvements in the navigational accuracy. Comparisons between the two guidance schemes are presented and guidelines are developed with respect to proper guidance selection.
Adolf Grünbaüms psychoanalytische Erkenntnistheorie

Adolf Grunbaum wurde am 15. Mai 1923 in Koln geboren. Er erwarb seinen B. A. in Mathematik und Philosophie 1943 mit einer hohen Auszeichnung an der Wesleyan University, seinen M. S. in Physik im Jahre 1948 an der Yale University und seinen Ph.D. in Philosophie im Jahre 1951 an der Yale University. Im Jahre 1950 begann er mit seiner Lehrtatigkeit an der Lehigh University. Funf Jahre spater wurde er zum William-Wilson-Selfridge-Professor fur Philosophie berufen. Im Jahre 1960 nahm er eine Stelle als Andrew-Mellon-Professor fur Philosophie an der University of Pittsburgh an, wo er seither tatig ist. 1979 wurde er aufgrund seiner Arbeit zur psychoanalytischen Erkenntnistheorie an derselben Universitat auserdem zum „Research Professor“fur Psychiatrie berufen.
Early impact of the 2011 ACGME duty hour regulations on surgical outcomes.

Background In 2011, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) implemented additional restrictions on resident work hours. Although the impact of these restrictions on the education of surgical trainees has been examined, the effect on patient safety remains poorly understood. Methods We used national Medicare Claims data for patients undergoing general (n = 1,223,815) and vascular (n = 475,262) surgery procedures in the 3 years preceding the duty hour changes (January, 2009–June, 2011) and the 18 months thereafter (July, 2011–December, 2012). Hospitals were stratified into quintiles by teaching intensity using a resident to bed ratio. We utilized a difference-in-differences analytic technique, using nonteaching hospitals as a control group, to compare risk-adjusted 30-day mortality, serious morbidity, readmission, and failure to rescue (FTR) rates before and after the duty hour changes. Results After duty hour reform, no changes were seen in the measured outcomes when comparing teaching with nonteaching hospitals. Even when stratifying by teaching intensity, there were no differences. For example, at the highest intensity teaching hospitals (resident/bed ratio of ≥0.6), mortality rates before and after the duty hour changes were 4.2% and 4.0%, compared with 4.7% and 4.4% for nonteaching hospitals (relative risk [RR], 0.98; 95% CI, 0.89–1.07). Similarly, serious complication (RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.98–1.06), FTR (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.87–1.04), and readmission (odds ratio, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.96–1.03) rates were unchanged. Conclusion In Medicare beneficiaries undergoing surgery at teaching hospitals, outcomes have not improved since the 2011 ACGME duty hour regulations.
Cellular evidence for efference copy in Drosophila visuomotor processing

Each time a locomoting fly turns, the visual image sweeps over the retina and generates a motion stimulus. Classic behavioral experiments suggested that flies use active neural-circuit mechanisms to suppress the perception of self-generated visual motion during intended turns. Direct electrophysiological evidence, however, has been lacking. We found that visual neurons in Drosophila receive motor-related inputs during rapid flight turns. These inputs arrived with a sign and latency appropriate for suppressing each targeted cell's visual response to the turn. Precise measurements of behavioral and neuronal response latencies supported the idea that motor-related inputs to optic flow-processing cells represent internal predictions of the expected visual drive induced by voluntary turns. Motor-related inputs to small object-selective visual neurons could reflect either proprioceptive feedback from the turn or internally generated signals. Our results in Drosophila echo the suppression of visual perception during rapid eye movements in primates, demonstrating common functional principles of sensorimotor processing across phyla.
Gadolinium-induced nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in a patient with an acute and transient kidney injury.

Summary Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) describes a characteristic fibrosing disorder which typically presents with indurated plaques on the trunk and extremities of patients with advanced renal disease. We present a case of biopsy-confirmed NSF in a patient with severe acute kidney injury with no prior history of renal disease. A 64-year-old man with an acute and severe decrease in glomerular filtration rate underwent magnetic resonance imaging studies with gadolinium contrast (Omniscan™) and subsequently developed NSF. His renal disease had normalized at the time his skin disease developed. Skin biopsies revealed findings of NSF and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed insoluble gadolinium within lesional tissue.
Cutting edge: The minor histocompatibility antigen H60 peptide interacts with both H-2Kb and NKG2D

Minor histocompatibility Ags elicit cell-mediated immune responses and graft rejection in individuals receiving MHC-matched tissues. H60 represents a dominant Ag that elicits a strong CTL response in C57BL/6 mice immunized against BALB.B. An 8-aa peptide in the H60 protein is presented by H-2K b and this is recognized by the TCR as an alloantigen. The intact H60 glycoprotein is a ligand for the costimulatory NKG2D receptor that is expressed by activated CD8 + T cells. Thus, H60 may provide both an allogeneic peptide and its own costimulation. We show that mutation of an H-2K b -binding anchor residue in the H60 peptide completely abrogates binding of H60 glycoprotein to NKG2D and a synthetic H60 peptide partially blocks the binding of NKG2D to its ligand. Ligands of the human NKG2D receptor are remarkably polymorphic, suggesting that these may also serve as minor histocompatibility Ags.
Poincaré Series and Hilbert Modular Forms

In this paper, we bound the square moment of the linear form in the Fourier coefficients of Hilbert modular forms by means of Poincare series, and obtain sharp estimate on the critical line for the fourth moment of L-functions associated with Hilbert cusp forms which are primitive Hecke eigenforms.