cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alzheimer’s Protective A2T Mutation Changes the Conformational Landscape of the Aβ1–42 Monomer Differently Than Does the A2V Mutation

The aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides plays a crucial role in the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recently, it has been reported that an A2T mutation in Aβ can protect against AD. Interestingly, a nonpolar A2V mutation also has been found to offer protection against AD in the heterozygous state, although it causes early-onset AD in homozygous carriers. Since the conformational landscape of the Aβ monomer is known to directly contribute to the early-stage aggregation mechanism, it is important to characterize the effects of the A2T and A2V mutations on Aβ1–42 monomer structure. Here, we have performed extensive atomistic replica-exchange molecular dynamics simulations of the solvated wild-type (WT), A2V, and A2T Aβ1–42 monomers. Our simulations reveal that although all three variants remain as collapsed coils in solution, there exist significant structural differences among them at shorter timescales. A2V exhibits an enhanced double-hairpin population in comparison to the WT, similar to those reported in toxic WT Aβ1–42 oligomers. Such double-hairpin formation is caused by hydrophobic clustering between the N-terminus and the central and C-terminal hydrophobic patches. In contrast, the A2T mutation causes the N-terminus to engage in unusual electrostatic interactions with distant residues, such as K16 and E22, resulting in a unique population comprising only the C-terminal hairpin. These findings imply that a single A2X (where X = V or T) mutation in the primarily disordered N-terminus of the Aβ1–42 monomer can dramatically alter the β-hairpin population and switch the equilibrium toward alternative structures. The atomistically detailed, comparative view of the structural landscapes of A2V and A2T variant monomers obtained in this study can enhance our understanding of the mechanistic differences in their early-stage aggregation.
Some Demographic and Genetic Consequences of Environmental Heterogeneity for Biological Control

Economically important pests usually attack a crop or group of crops over a wide region in which there are geographic, local, and temporal variations in the environment. Effectiveness of any control program will therefore depend on the different responses of the crop, pest, and control organism to this pattern of environment. Usually the environmental heterogeneity is treated as an unavoidable complication in program evaluation, and attempts are made to work with “average” conditions.
Content-based image post-processing for blurring artifact reduction

Blurring artifacts occur in low bit-rate wavelet images or in video coding. They manifest themselves as blurred patches within textured regions. As such, it is possible to exploit this texture level correlation between adjacent image regions to reconstruct the lost texture. In order to automatically identify the blurred patches, and use valid source regions to draw textures from their surroundings regions, we developed an efficient content-based statistical testing method to choose the candidate source region and to identify potentially blurred patches. Preliminary experiment results indicate that our algorithm produces excellent results that are consistent with that produced by a human operator.
Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Protects Bovine Oocytes from Heat Shock During Maturation

Abstract Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a sphingolipid metabolite that can block apoptosis by counteracting the proapoptotic effects of ceramide. Experiments were performed to evaluate whether S1P blocks the disruption in oocyte developmental competence caused by heat shock. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were placed in maturation medium and cultured at 38.5 or 41°C for the first 12 h of maturation. Incubation during the last 10 h of maturation, fertilization, and embryonic development were performed at 38.5°C. Heat shock during the first 12 h of maturation reduced cleavage rate, the number of oocytes developing to the blastocyst stage, and the percentage of cleaved embryo that subsequently developed to blastocysts. Addition of 50 nM S1P to maturation medium had no effect on oocytes matured at 38.5°C but blocked effects of thermal stress on cleavage and subsequent development. The blastocysts formed at Day 8 did not differ between S1P and control groups in caspase activity, total cell number, or percen...
A Game-Theoretic Approach to Energy-Efficient Modulation in CDMA Networks with Delay QoS Constraints

A game-theoretic framework is used to study the effect of constellation size on the energy efficiency of wireless networks for M-QAM modulation. A non-cooperative game is proposed in which each user seeks to choose its transmit power (and possibly transmit symbol rate) as well as the constellation size in order to maximize its own utility while satisfying its delay quality-of-service (QoS) constraint. The utility function used here measures the number of reliable bits transmitted per joule of energy consumed, and is particularly suitable for energy-constrained networks. The best-response strategies and Nash equilibrium solution for the proposed game are derived. It is shown that in order to maximize its utility (in bits per joule), a user must choose the lowest constellation size that can accommodate the user's delay constraint. This strategy is different from one that would maximize spectral efficiency. Using this framework, the tradeoffs among energy efficiency, delay, throughput and constellation size are also studied and quantified. In addition, the effect of trellis-coded modulation on energy efficiency is discussed.
Robustness of NPD control (preliminary results)

Robustness results are presented for nonlinear PD (NPD) control. Drawing on the experimental demonstration by Xu et al. (1995) of the performance benefits of NPD control and previous results establishing Lyapunov stability, the robustness of NPD control is examined and minimum bounds for robustness to parametric variation are established. As an example, robust control of the Sarcos dextrous manipulator is described.
Early predictors of sepsis in the motor-vehicle crash trauma victim.

INTRODUCTION Sepsis is a major cause of late morbidity and mortality in the victim of trauma. Currently, there is no method that is clinically practical and accurate for predicting the occurrence of sepsis in trauma victims. METHODS Data were collected on 3,759 motor-vehicle crash victims from 16 hospitals during a 4 1/2 year period. Retrospective analysis was done to examine the relationship of patient and injury factors known within the first 24 hours of admission on the development of sepsis. RESULTS Sepsis developed in 154 patients (4.1%) who had a mortality rate of 17.5%. Significant early predictors of sepsis included: 1) certain pre-existing conditions; 2) blood transfusion required; 3) seven or more injuries; 4) Glasgow Coma Scale score <10 and hypotension [corrected]; 5) major blood vessel injury; 6) head trauma; 7) internal injury of the chest or abdomen; 8) spinal-cord injury; and 9) certain fracture types. CONCLUSIONS These predictors might help target high-risk patients and, thus, promote earlier and more effective treatment for those patients.
Improving quality control by early prediction of manufacturing outcomes

We describe methods for continual prediction of manufactured product quality prior to final testing. In our most expansive modeling approach, an estimated final characteristic of a product is updated after each manufacturing operation. Our initial application is for the manufacture of microprocessors, and we predict final microprocessor speed. Using these predictions, early corrective manufacturing actions may be taken to increase the speed of expected slow wafers (a collection of microprocessors) or reduce the speed of fast wafers. Such predictions may also be used to initiate corrective supply chain management actions. Developing statistical learning models for this task has many complicating factors: (a) a temporally unstable population (b) missing data that is a result of sparsely sampled measurements and (c) relatively few available measurements prior to corrective action opportunities. In a real manufacturing pilot application, our automated models selected 125 fast wafers in real-time. As predicted, those wafers were significantly faster than average. During manufacture, downstream corrective processing restored 25 nominally unacceptable wafers to normal operation.
Paper 15: Efferent and Afferent Control of an Electromyographic, Proportional-Rate, Force Sensing Artificial Elbow with Cutaneous Display of Joint Angle:

The ideal replacement for an amputated human limb would achieve a symbiosis with the intact human system. It should not only appear anthropomorphic; it should perform as if it were a natural extension of the human central nervous system. A prosthetic elbow for above-elbow amputees has aimed at this objective and has undergone considerable engineering refinement in parallel with simulation and evaluation studies with amputees. Efferent control is achieved by surface detection of electrical potentials generated by neuromuscular activity in the otherwise non-functional muscles in the amputees stump. Electrical intensity, related to conscious effort on the part of the amputee, controls in a proportional fashion the battery power delivered to the electric motor–gear–chain–ballscrew–linkage which rotates the elbow. Afferent reflexive feedback to the human nervous system of force-sensing information is achieved by means of a strain gauge element whose electrical output opposes the EMG signal in the limb control ...
Latchup in merged triple well structure

In advanced CMOS, RF CMOS, and RF BiCMOS, structures which allow the separation of the p-well from the low doped p- substrate to form an "isolated MOSFET" are advantageous; this technology is also referred to as "triple well" technology. As practiced today, circuit designers desire to re-map dual-well structures to triple well implementations without a change in the on-chip design, ground-rules, or p+/n+ spacing rules. As a result, "triple well" is being practiced not as isolated regions but "merged triple well" where the n-well and associated isolating buried layers are integrated. This paper compares latchup measurements with standard dual-well implementation to a merged triple well implementation in a high resistivity p- substrate wafer. The results are shown with standard dual-well structures, and the merged triple well structures in a BiCMOS SiGe technology. Physical models are developed to explain the enhancement and reduction effects of latchup in merged triple well technology.
RESEARCH ARTICLE: The Decline and Recovery of Intercity Bus Service in the United States: A Comeback for an Environmentally Friendly Transportation Mode?

The intercity bus sector in the United States (US) has experienced a dramatic recovery in recent years due to the expansion of new curbside operators—express operators linking major cities that do not use traditional stations. Curbside operators such as BoltBus, DC2NY Bus, and Megabus are infusing new life into this once-struggling sector, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast. This study explores two aspects of the changing role of the intercity bus. First, it evaluates the extent to which intercity bus service diminished after 1960 and its subsequent recovery starting in 2006. Drawing on newly collected data from 11,400 arrivals and departures from a representative sample of US cities between 1960 and 2010, it shows that US cities lost more than three quarters of their intercity bus services before the recovery began. Secondly, it shows how recent growth of curbside-bus operators is reducing fuel consumption by about 11 million gallons annually and reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 242 million pounds. This is the equivalent benefit of removing 23,114 vehicles from the road or having 66,041 people convert from conventional to hybrid cars. These findings suggest that the sector's recovery has significant and perhaps underappreciated environmental benefits. It also suggests that further expansion by the sector, nurtured by public policy, could be an effective strategy to promote more energy-efficient intercity travel. Environmental Practice 13:1–9 (2011)
Cable TV, Public Education, AZT, And A Shared Pond: Three Case Incidents In Government, Business And Ethics

This submission consists of three case incidents or vignettes with a focus on decisions rather than details. The paper includes original cases, case questions and reviews of those questions for the instructor. The common perspective of government, business and social responsibility unites these cases. The first case begins with the cable TV industry and ends with public education. It examines the relationship between government and business in these two distinct environments. The second case concerns Burroughs-Wellcome and its pricing of the anti-aids drug AZT. Protesters complained that the price of the drug was too high for many people to afford and picketed the company, which insisted that it was only doing its job and making a profit. The third case is an environmental case which serves as a platform to investigate the relation between government and business in a commons situation.
SAGES Laparoscopic Surgery Safety Checklist

Laparoscopic surgery has become the preferred approach for a wide variety of intra-abdominal pathology. As a result, hundreds of thousands of laparoscopic procedures are undertaken in the USA every year. For example, approximately 500,000 laparoscopic cholecystectomies and 200,000 laparoscopic gastric bypasses alone are being performed yearly. Surgical complications such as wound infections and postoperative bleeding account for nearly half of all surgical adverse events and many of these are thought to be potentially preventable.
Pharmacological inhibition of LSD1 for the treatment of MLL-rearranged leukemia

Mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene translocations are found in ~75 % infant and 10 % adult acute leukemia, showing a poor prognosis. Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) has recently been implicated to be a drug target for this subtype of leukemia. More studies using potent LSD1 inhibitors against MLL-rearranged leukemia are needed. LSD1 inhibitors were examined for their biochemical and biological activities against LSD1 and MLL-rearranged leukemia as well as other cancer cells. Potent LSD1 inhibitors with biochemical IC50 values of 9.8–77 nM were found to strongly inhibit proliferation of MLL-rearranged leukemia cells with EC50 of 10–320 nM, while these compounds are generally non-cytotoxic to several other tumor cells. LSD1 inhibition increased histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methylation, downregulated expression of several leukemia-relevant genes, induced apoptosis and differentiation, and inhibited self-renewal of stem-like leukemia cells. Moreover, LSD1 inhibitors worked synergistically with inhibition of DOT1L, a histone H3 lysine 79 (H3K79) methyltransferase, against MLL-rearranged leukemia. The most potent LSD1 inhibitor showed significant in vivo activity in a systemic mouse model of MLL-rearranged leukemia without overt toxicities. Mechanistically, LSD1 inhibitors caused significant upregulation of several pathways that promote hematopoietic differentiation and apoptosis. LSD1 is a drug target for MLL-rearranged leukemia, and LSD1 inhibitors are potential therapeutics for the malignancy.
Beyond Part C: Reducing Middle School Special Education for Early Intervention Children with Developmental Delays

ABSTRACTThis study examined the rates of special education placement during middle school grades (sixth through eighth) among children who participated in the Linda Ray Intervention Program (LRIP) center-based and home-based learning modalities. The study sample included 113 children in Miami Dade County Public Schools who had gestational cocaine exposure and received early intervention services due to developmental delays. This study found that children who participated in the center-based (25 hours per week) learning modality had a significantly lower rate of special education placement (14%) than the students in the home-based (three hours per week) learning modality (30%) in middle school. Also, results indicated that children who were socioeconomically disadvantaged (free/reduced lunch) and in the home-based learning modality were three to four times more likely to be in special education. This study provides evidence for the long-term impact of the LRIP center-based modality on special education out...
Seroma in Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction.

Background Seroma, as a complication of prosthetic breast reconstruction, results in patient distress, increased office visits, undesirable aesthetic outcomes, and--importantly--may escalate to infection and frank prosthesis loss. Herein, the authors review the pathophysiology and risk factors and attempt to collate published practices for avoidance and management of seroma. Methods A systematic literature review was performed using MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library for studies published between 2000 and January of 2015. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the overall pooled incidence of seroma and to examine the effect of drain number and acellular dermal matrix use. Results Seventy-two relevant primary articles and three systematic reviews were identified. Fifty-one citations met inclusion criteria, including two randomized controlled trials. The overall pooled incidence was 5.4 percent (95 percent CI, 4.1 to 6.7 percent). Obesity, acellular dermal matrix, and preoperative irradiation were cited risk factors. Pooled relative risk for acellular dermal matrix was 1.83 (95 percent CI, 1.28 to 2.62). Drain practices were collated from 34 articles. Conclusions Seromas following prosthetic breast reconstruction are complicated by the hypovascular, proinflammatory milieu of the mastectomy skin flap, the geometrically complex dead space, and the presence of a foreign body with potential contamination and biofilm. There is reasonable evidence to suggest that these factors contribute to a progression of seroma to infection and prosthesis loss. These findings have motivated this summary article on current practice guidelines and strategies to prevent and treat seromas. Clinical question/level of evidence Risk, II.
Nonreversibility in the reductive denaturation of chymotrypsinogen A. 1.

SummaryInvestigation of the air-reoxidation of denatured, fully reduced chymotrypsinogen A resulted in a maximum recovery of 1.4% of enzymatically active chymotrypsin upon treatment with trypsin. Under the same conditions, urea-denatured chymotrypsinogen, which had not been reduced, yielded 100% recovery of enzymatic activity. Thus the biologically functional conformation of the polypeptide chain comprising chymotrypsinogen may not be that of greatest thermodynamic stability.
Age as a Factor in Determining Radiosensitivity of Eggs of Plodia interpunctella

Age had a profound effect on the interaction of irradiation dose and egg hatch when eggs of Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) were treated with 0.5–50 krad. Radiosensitivity varied as development proceeded from 1 to 72 h, and there was a 25-fold difference between the most sensitive (2 h) and the most resistant age (72 h) as measured by the dose required to reduce egg hatch to 50%. Eggs 18, 24, and 30 h old were equally sensitive, and 24-h eggs were selected as the easiest age at which to irradiate with a low dose for induction of sterility in the resulting adults.
Experimental Models of Anxiety for Drug Discovery and Brain Research

Animal models have been vital to recent advances in experimental neuroscience, including the modeling of common human brain disorders such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. As mice express robust anxiety-like behaviors when exposed to stressors (e.g., novelty, bright light, or social confrontation), these phenotypes have clear utility in testing the effects of psychotropic drugs. Of specific interest is the extent to which mouse models can be used for the screening of new anxiolytic drugs and verification of their possible applications in humans. To address this problem, the present chapter will review different experimental models of mouse anxiety and discuss their utility for testing anxiolytic and anxiogenic drugs. Detailed protocols will be provided for these paradigms, and possible confounds will be addressed accordingly.
Virtual Instrument Development for Hardware-in-loop Simulation of Underwater Vehicle

Virtual instrument is the newly notional instrument connecting computer technology with instrument technology.It makes the effective integration of computer hardware resource,hardware resource of instrument and control system and software resource of virtual instrument realized.This paper introduces the virtual instrument interact environment,layouts structure of hardware-in-loop simulation of underwater vehicle and technology of reflective memory real-time network,completes the design of virtual instrument of hardware-in-loop simulation of underwater vehicle based on labview.It shows that the design can make intuitionistic,efficient,real-time examination and monitoring of simulation by its powerful user-machine interaction.It achieves intelligent measuring and controlling of the system of real-time hardware-in-loop simulation.
Inoculating subunit vaccine comprised of KLH and Aβ_(24-42) induced normal BALB/c mice to produce antibody against Aβ_(42)

Objective:To study whether inoculating subunit vaccine comprised of cartier protein KLH and C terminal fragment Aβ_(24-42)could induce normal BALB/C mice to produce antibody against Aβ_(42)or not.Methods:The subunite vaccine comprised of KLH and Aβ_(24-42)was inoculated into BALB/c mice.Antibodies against Aβ_(42)of serum and supernatant of homogenated brain were assessed by indirect ELISA.The morphologies of brain,liver,spleen,heart,lung and kidney were observed in paraffin section by HE staining.Re- sults:After the second inoculation,all experiment groups began to develop antibody against Aβ_42),and the titer raised gradually with in- oculating times.However,antibody against Aβ_(42)could not be detected in supernatant of homogenated brain.No morphological damages on the brain,liver,spleen,heart,lung and kidney were found out.Conclusion:BALB/c mice can be induced to develop antibody against Aβ_(42)after inoculating with subunite vaccine comprised of KLH and Aβ_(24-42),and there were rarely systematic toxicity in several important organs.
Surgery in the Nursing Home Patient

Will a Geriatric Surgical Consult Service eventually develop into yet another surgical subspecialty? Precedent has been set in surgical fields such as pediatric and plastic surgery, and surely the expanding patient population will demand that some surgeons take care of the geriatric surgical patient full time. Those surgeons doing so will therefore become recognized experts and will be frequently consulted. The surgical problems faced by this unique patient population observed in our small series are most often straightforward. More complicated issues related to wound and intravenous line care, breast disease, and alimentary tract disease should be easily handled by an aggressive, conscientious, well-trained general surgeon.
Mechanism of Seizure Termination

Physiological mechanisms contributing to seizure termination and organized according to membranes, synapses, networks, and circuits are reviewed by researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York.
Literacy, Personal Development, and Social Development Among Latina Youth: Exploring the Use of Latino Literature and Dance

A culturally responsive group counseling intervention was conducted that merged literacy acquisition with personal and social development. Employing an embedded mixed methods design, 20 fifth-grade Latina students were randomly assigned to engage in an 18-week group counseling curriculum consisting of culturally meaningful readings, discussions, and physical activities involving Latino literature and dance (n = 10) or to attend character enrichment, serving as the active control (n = 10). A two-group quasi-experimental analysis using non-parametric tests indicated a significant improvement in literacy grades but limited change in personal and social development among intervention participants. No significant differences in literacy grades were found between intervention and active control groups. Feasibility and service outcomes were examined through completion of group leader checklists, student and educator surveys, and semi-structured interviews with parents. Findings warrant further examination of emp...
Separation and identification of antidepressants by acrylate-based monolithic column capillary electrochromatography with UV detection.

This paper details a method for separation and identification of six antidepressant compounds using an acrylate-based porous monolithic capillary. Detection takes place using CEC coupled with UV or mass spectrometric detection. The CEC-UV method provides an effective and efficient method for the separation and identification of the analytes. Spiked urine samples were utilized to check method capability, and a liquid–liquid extraction procedure was developed to perform sample extraction. Detection limits ranged from 10 to 30 ng/mL.
Validation of magnetic resonance concentration measurements with adiabatic wall temperature measurements

Adiabatic wall temperature measurements were obtained in a high subsonic Mach number airflow experiment and compared with concentration measurements near the surface from a low-speed liquid flow experiment. Excellent agreement between the temperature and concentration measurements validates the investigation of turbulent mixing phenomena in compressible gas flows through the study of incompressible liquid flows with magnetic resonance techniques.
Imaging of virtual reality induced brain activity modulation during burn wound care using brain perfusion SPECT

1801 Objectives The purpose of this study is to understand the impact of virtual reality (VR) distraction on subjective pain perception and to compare brain perfusion pattern during burn wound care-induced maximal pain in two conditions (VR versus baseline), aiming to investigate how VR distraction analgesia modulates brain activation. Methods With IRB approval, four burn victims (3 males, 1 female) were studied after informed consent. All patients underwent identical wound care on two consecutive days - once with standard analgesia and adjunctive immersive and interactive VR, and once with standard analgesia alone. Tc-99m ECD was injected during wound care when peak pain occurred. Subjective perception of pain intensity on 0-10 scale, time spent thinking about pain, pain unpleasantness, and "fun", as well as opioid equivalent usage were documented. Automated analysis of VR and non-VR brain perfusion SPECT was performed with Neurostat (Minoshima, University of Washington Radiology, www.rad.washington.edu) at the subject and group level. Subtraction analysis (VR - non-VR) was performed at the group level. Results For the VR and non-VR conditions, respectively, mean group scores for pain intensity (9.0, 8.8), time spent thinking about pain (5.2, 10.0), pain unpleasantness (5.2, 6.2), fun (6.0, 2.5), and opioid equivalents (7.4, 11.5) were observed. Subtraction group analysis demonstrates VR- induced modulation of brain activity with activation in the right medial frontal lobe extending to the anterior insula and right caudate, and activation within the right occipital and bilateral heteromodal auditory cortex and periaqueductal gray matter (Figure.1), while there is suppression in the cerebellum. Conclusions Our findings suggest VR is associated with overall decreased perception of pain. This is induced by modulation of brain activity through multi sensory activation and most notably stimulation of the periaqueductal gray matter in the upper brain stem.
Antagonism between Formulations of Different Bacillus thuringiensis Subspecies in Heliothis virescens and Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Interactions between formulations of the aizawai and kurstaki subspecies of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner were evaluated by bioassay in Heliothis virescens (F.) and Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). In preliminary experiments, a formulation of subspecies aizawai, Xentari AS®, had significantly (P < 0.05) higher median lethal concentrations (LC50s) in both insect species than formulations based on subspecies kurstaki. Helicoverpa zea was significantly (P < 0.05) more susceptible than H. virescens to one formulation of subspecies kurstaki (Dipel ES®), but the two insects did not differ in susceptibility to Xentari AS® or to a second formulation of subspecies kurstaki (Dipel 6AF®). In H. virescens, Xentari AS® was additive with Dipel 6AF® and significantly (P< 0.05) antagonistic with Dipel ES® and with a third formulation of subspecies kurstaki, Dipel 48A®. In H. zea, Xentari AS® was significantly antagonistic with all three formulations of subspecies kurstaki. This suggests that certain toxin combinations from B....
Structural Synthesis with Buckling Constraints

The synthesis technique was used to minimize the weight, by sizing the members, of a three-bar planar truss that is subject to a multiplicity of mechanical and thermal loads. A sample problem shows how this technique is used in order to achieve a minimum weight design for a particular combination of material and configuration. For nine combinations of material and configuration, all subject to the same multiple load conditions, the minimum weight designs are compared both in cases in which buckling is an active constraint and in which buckling is not an active constraint. The incorrect selection of material and configuration can cause a substantial weight penalty, and the influence of buckling can cause a shift in the optimum material and configuration selection.
Sedation in Pediatric Critically Ill Patients

Critically ill pediatric patients require sedation and analgesia in the same extent than their adult pairs. Differently from a widespread misconception, children probably have an increased pain and discomfort experience with respect to older patients, and this level of stress is inversely associated with pediatric patients’ age. An adequate level of sedation and analgesia in children has important consequences in their eventual neurodevelopmental outcomes: either excessive stress or prolonged sedative infusion can have significant impact in children’s future pain perception and intellectual capacities. Finally, the issue of drug tolerance and withdrawal syndrome is as frequent as occurring in about the totality of patients who receive benzodiazepines and opioids for more than 48 h. In this chapter, all these aspects are reviewed with a special focus on the most commonly administered sedatives, analgesic drugs (opioids and non-opioids), and non-pharmacologic approach to analgesia in children. Specific pediatric doses, routes, and modality of administration and side effects are detailed. Furthermore, every subchapter, when available, remarks what is the specific application in the newborn patient. A very important section will be dedicated to adjunctive therapies (i.e., alpha2 receptor agonists and neuromuscular blockers) that have become very important in modern management of pediatric sedation/analgesia in the light of sparing the dose and the duration of main sedative agents.
Tissue-Resident Memory CD8+ T Cells: From Phenotype to Function.

Tissue resident memory CD8+ T cells are an important first line of defense from infection in peripheral non-lymphoid tissues, such as the mucosal tissues of the respiratory, digestive, and uro-genital tracts. This memory T cell subset is established late during resolution of primary infection of those tissues, has a distinct genetic signature, and is often defined by the cell surface expression of CD69, CD103, CD49a, and CD44 in both mouse and human studies. The stimuli that program or imprint the unique gene expression and cell surface phenotypes on TRM are beginning to be defined, but much work remains to be done. It is not clear for example when and where the TRM precursors receive these signals, and there is evidence that supports imprinting in both the lymph node and the peripheral tissue sites. In most studies, expression of CD49a, CD103, and CD69 on T cells in the tissues appears relatively late in the response, suggesting there are precise environmental cues that are not present at the height of the acute response. CD49a and CD103 are not merely biomarkers of TRM, they confer substrate specificities for cell adhesion to collagen and E-cadherin, respectively. Yet, little attention has been paid to how expression affects the positioning of TRM in the peripheral tissues. CD103 and CD49a are not mutually exclusive, and not always co-expressed, though whether they can compensate for one another is unknown. In fact they may define different subsets of TRM in certain tissues. For instance, while CD49a+ CD8+ memory T cells can be found in almost all peripheral tissues, CD103 appears to be more restricted. In this review, we discuss the evidence for how these hallmarks of TRM affect positioning of T cells in peripheral sites, how CD49a and CD103 differ in expression and function, and why they are important for immune protection conferred by TRM in mucosal tissues such as the respiratory tract.
Learning To Parse

A strong claim about human sentence comprehension is that the processing mechanism is fully innate and applies differently to different languages only to the extent that their grammars differ. If so, there is hope for an explanatory project which attributes all parsing “strategies” to fundamental design characteristics of the parsing device. However, the whole explanatory program is in peril because of the discovery (Cuetos & Mitchell, 1988) that Late Closure is not universal: Spanish, and also Dutch and other languages, favor Early Closure (high attachment) where English favors Late Closure flow attachment). I argue that the universal parser can weather this storm. Exceptions to Late Closure in Spanish and other languages are observed only in one construction (a relative clause attaching into a complex noun phrase [NP]), which is borderline in English too. For other constructions, low attachment is preferred in all languages tested. I propose that what differentiates the complex NP construction is the heaviness of the attachee compared to that of the host configuration. A relative clause is a heavy attachee, and the lower NP alone is small as a host; the relative is therefore better balanced if the whole complex NP is its host. A wide range of facts is accounted for by the principle that a constituent likes to have a sister of its own size. Light constituents will tend to attach low, and heavy ones to attach high, since larger constituents are dominated by higher nodes. A preference for balanced weight is familiar from work on prosodic phrasing. I suggest, therefore, that prosodic processing occurs in parallel with syntactic processing (even in reading) and influences structural ambiguity resolution. Height of attachment ambiguities are resolved by the prosodically motivated same-size-sister constraint. The exceptional behavior of English may be due to its prosodic packaging of a relative pronoun with the adjacent noun, overriding the balance tendency. If this explanation is correct, it is possible that all cross-language variations in parsing preferences are due to cross-language variations in the prosodic component of the competence grammar.
Relationships among Reactants

A CHEMICAL REACTION GENERALLY INVOLVES rearrangement of the electron structures about atomic cores. Bonds between atoms may be broken and reformed. One or more elementary processes may be involved.
GETTING HELP FROM COURSE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE TO TEACH A LARGE-ENROLLMENT INTRODUCTORY GEOLOGY CLASS

Course management software allows instructors to introduce an Internet-based component to their classroom teaching even without any prior knowledge of HTML language. I used one of the most widely available software, WebCT, for two introductory geology classes of approximately 250 students each at Iowa State University in fall 2001. The software is easy to use and I established a variety of content and communication tools in less than a day, using the procedure described in the paper. Student responses to the use of WebCT were in general positive and they especially liked the opportunity to communicate with me, to keep track of their assignments with the “Calendar” tool, and to view their grades online. Students who earned good grades in the class are also the ones that made more extensive use of WebCT, especially with the “Discussion” tool. However, it cannot yet be demonstrated that the use of WebCT helps learning in a measurable way.
Cellular Mechanisms to Respond to Cadmium Exposure: Ubiquitin Ligases

Cadmium is increasingly used in industrial processes and is therefore becoming a mounting threat to the environment and human health. Ubiquitination has emerged as an important regulation mechanism in many processes, so it is no surprise that this protein modification plays a central role in the cellular response to cadmium exposure. The key enzymes in the process of ubiquitination are the E3 ubiquitin ligases due to their ability to confer substrate specificity. We present an overview of the roles of three such E3 ubiquitin ligases during cadmium stress in yeast and human cells. We discuss substrates and regulatory mechanisms of budding yeast SCFMet30, fission yeast SCFPof1, and the mammalian Cul3/Keap1 ligase. The similarities and differences of these ubiquitin ligases that coordinate the cadmium stress response in yeast and human will be highlighted to describe the different mechanisms for cadmium sensing and detoxification.
A Computational Approach to Statistics

There has been much controversy over the question what computational arrangements are best suited to statistical computing. Many packages have been offered for this purpose, with the developers sometimes advocating their exclusive use. Opponents, in turn, have argued that the idea of a statistical package is unsound per se since it encourages routine application of standard analyses for hypothesis testing, estimating, and so on.
Life Events and Child Abuse: A Controlled Study

This presentation covers a small section of the social assessment of child abusing families in Athens, and it is a part of a large research project carried out by the Institute of Child Health.
Disorders of the Acid-Base Status

Essentially all pediatric disorders, if severe enough, can lead to acid-base disturbances directly, as a result of therapy, or both. Acid-base disorders need to be anticipated in all critically ill patients. Proactive monitoring of the acid-base status will allow the early recognition of derangements and the prevention of what could become a life-threatening state. Acidosis is the most common acid-base derangement in the intensive care unit (ICU), with metabolic acidosis potentially indicating a more severe course and worse outcome. A pH of <7.2 merely indicates a primary acidosis- inducing disorder. Further assessment of the type of acidosis and the presence of a mixed acid-base disorder requires measurement of pCO2, serum bicarbonate, albumin, and calculation of the anion gap. The most commonly encountered causes of metabolic acidoses in the ICU are renal insufficiency, sepsis, and DKA, while acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and severe status asthmaticus are the usual suspects in respiratory acidoses. Alkalosis, on the other hand, is less common in the ICU. Fluid status derangements and, especially, gastric fluid depletion are the usual underlying causes of metabolic alkaloses, whereas rapid respiration secondary to lung diseases, excessive mechanical ventilation, pain, or central nervous system processes are the common causes of respiratory alkaloses. In the ICU, identification of acid-base derangements is followed by timely stabilization of the patient irrespective of the underlying cause. Depending on the severity of the derangement and the patient’s response to the stabilizing interventions, the underlying cause might also need to be aggressively sought and emergently reversed. Identification of the underlying cause(s) of the acid-base disorder at hand may be the final step in the management of these patients, but plays an important role both in the prevention of worsening of the derangement and other complications as well as in the determination of the patient’s overall prognosis.
The Influence of Niacin and Nicotinamide on in Vivo Carcinogenesis

Data concerning effects of the essential vitamin niacin and its active form nicotinamide were evaluated. Dietary deficiencies and excesses of these nutrients by themselves do not appear to exert any influence on in vivo carcinogenesis in animals. Varying results were produced when nicotinamide was administered at pharmacologic doses concurrently with or following carcinogen administration to mice or rats. Some investigators found significantly increased tumor formation, whereas others reported a decreased effect or no effect. Epidemiologic studies have not investigated the relationship between niacin deficiency or excess and carcinogenesis in humans.
Tuning core–shell interactions in tungsten carbide–Pt nanoparticles for the hydrogen evolution reaction

Platinum (Pt) is among the best electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), a potentially fossil-free route for hydrogen production. Reduction in Pt loading and overall catalyst cost, without sacrificing catalytic activity, can be achieved by the synthesis of stable core-shell nanoparticles of transition-metal carbides and Pt. We employ density-functional theory (DFT) calculations to study and contrast the suitability of the α and β phases of tungsten carbide (WC) as support (core) materials for Pt shells. We examine the thermodynamic stability of 1-2 layers of Pt on α- and β-WC surfaces, carefully accounting for the delicate balance between epitaxial mismatch strains and chemical bonding between cores and shells. We also study the effects of alloying β-WC with Ti to modulate the stability and electronic structure of the core-shell structures. We compare the electronic structures of Pt overlayers supported on α-WC and β-TixW1-xC surfaces and compare their activities for HER using the hydrogen binding energy as a descriptor of catalytic activity. Our studies reveal that moderate Ti doping of the metastable β-WC phase significantly improves its stability and, with merely two layers of Pt loading, HER activity comparable or superior to Pt(111) can be attained. Overall, our results provide detailed insight into experimental observations of the excellent stability and high catalytic activity of β-TixW1-xC@Pt core-shell nanoparticles.
Current concepts and recent advances in understanding and managing lumbar spine stenosis.

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a degenerative process that is extremely frequent in today’s aging population. It can result in impingement on the nerves of the cauda equina or on the thecal sac itself, and lead to debilitating symptoms such as severe leg pain, or restriction in the perimeter of ambulation, both resulting in dependency in daily activities. The impact of the disease is global and includes financial repercussions because of its involvement in the active work force group. Risk factors for the disease include some comorbidities such as obesity or smoking, daily habits such as an active lifestyle, but also genetic factors that are not completely elucidated yet. The diagnosis of lumbar stenosis can be difficult, and involves a combination of radiological and clinical findings. Treatment ranges from conservative measures with physical therapy and core strengthening, to steroid injections in the facet joints or epidural space, to a more radical solution with surgical decompression. The evidence available in the literature regarding the causes, diagnosis and treatment of lumbar spine stenosis can be confusing, as no level I recommendations can be provided yet based on current data. The aim of this manuscript is to provide a comprehensive and updated summary to the reader addressing the multiple aspects of this disease.
117 Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy as a primary manifestation of lupus in a pregnant patient a rare and an atypical presentation

Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with several neuropsychiatric syndromes involving both the central and peripheral nervous systems. These syndromes are related with SLE progression and thus, are rarely present at the onset of disease. We are reporting a rare case of acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) as the first manifestation of SLE in a previously asymptomatic patient. Methods Not applicable as it is a clinical vignette The abstract for clinical vignette is uploaded as a separate document Results Not applicable as it is a clinical vignette The abstract for clinical vignette is uploaded as a separate document Conclusions Symptoms of AIDP frequently start in lower extremities, yet in about 10% of patients, arm or facial muscle weakness can be the initial presentation. CSF analysis typically revealed an elevated protein with a normal white cell count; however, a normal CSF protein is observed in one-third to one-half of patients when tested early in the disease course. Our patient had upper extremity weakness as well as initial negative CSF findings, which led to the delay in diagnosis. It is imperative to have a sound knowledge of the typical as well as atypical neurological manifestations of SLE to reduce the morbidity and mortality rate of patients. Funding Source(s): None
High Empire: The Glory Days of Early Medieval Eastern Asia

The period from 550 to 960 was a glorious age for East Asia. China reunited under the short-lived but high-achieving Sui Dynasty. China’s Tang Dynasty was an international empire of riches and intellectual progress. The Silk Road (actually a number of caravan trails) was fully open to commerce. Military action followed, leading to China dramatically confronting the western world-system in the Battle of Talas River in 751; China lost to expanding Islam, setting permanent western limits to Chinese control. Vietnam, Japan and Korea fully entered the East Asian world-system, with active trade, commerce, communication, and city-building. The period started in a time of harsh climate, cold and dry, but this did not stop and may have encouraged consolidation and state formation. Climate warmed, and by 960 the Medieval Warm Period was under way. It came after the collapse of Tang, but early fluctuations were associated with Tang’s fall and with changes in Korea and Japan.
Fake News, Propaganda, and Plain Old Lies: How to Find Trustworthy Information in the Digital Age

This book is set up essentially as a textbook for students trying to navigate the dizzying world of information, misinformation, and disinformation online. It provides chapters on why being able to...
Integrated primary care behavioral health services in college health: Results from a national survey of health center administrators.

The present study investigates the organization of primary care behavioral health within student health centers and assesses the relationship between organizational structure and practice integrati...