cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correlation of Promoter Hyper-methylation of O~6-methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase Gene and the Risk for Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIM:To analyze whether promoter methylation of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase(MGMT)gene is associated with the risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC),and to evaluate the clinical significance in the screening and early diagnosis of ESCC.MATERIALS AND METHODS:91 patients with newly diagnosed,untreated esophageal cancer were recruited in the present study.Esophageal cancer tissues,tissues adjacent to the tumors and peripheral blood were collected to determine CpG island hypermethylation of the promoter.Methylation specific PCR(MSP)was used to examine the methylation status of MGMT gene,total mRNA was extracted from esophageal cancer tissues and tissues adjacent to the tumors,expression levels of MGMT gene were measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR.RESULTS:The risk for ESCC showed significant correlation to promoter hypermethylation of MGMT gene(OR=7.750,95%CI=2.736～21.955).There was no significant correlation between methylation status and mRNA level.Hypermethylation of MGMT gene in plasma from ESCC patients was significantly correlated to that in tumor tissue(P0.01).The detection rate of CpG island hypermethylation of MGMT promoter in plasma was moderately correlated with that in tumor tissue(Kappa=0.603,P0.01).CONCLUSION:This study suggested that CpG island hyper-methylation of MGMT gene was associated with an enhanced risk for ESCC.Detection of the aberrant methylation in the promoter of MGMT gene from ESCC patient plasma might provide valuable information for the screening and early diagnosis of ESCC.
Effect of Left Versus Right Radial Artery Approach for Coronary Angiography on Radiation Parameters in Patients With Predictors of Transradial Access Failure.

Left transradial approach (TRA) for coronary angiography is associated with lower radiation parameters than right TRA in an all-comers population. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of left versus right TRA on radiation parameters in patients with predictors of TRA failure. Patients with predictors of TRA failure (≥3 of 4 following criteria: age ≥70 years, female gender, height ≤64 inches, and hypertension) referred to TRA operators were randomized to either right (n = 50) or left (n = 50) TRA, whereas those referred to transfemoral approach (TFA) operators were enrolled in a prospective registry (n = 50). The primary end point was the radiation measure of dose-area product (DAP). In an intention-to-treat analysis, DAP (34.1 Gy·cm 2 [24.9 to 45.6] vs 41.9 Gy·cm 2 [27.3 to 58.0], p = 0.08), fluoroscopy time (3.7 minutes [2.4 to 6.3] vs 5.6 minutes [3.1 to 8.7], p = 0.07), and operator radiation exposure (516 μR [275 to 967] vs 730 μR [503 to 1,165], p = 0.06) were not significantly different between left and right TRA, but total dose (411 mGy [310 to 592] vs 537 mGy [368 to 780], p = 0.03) was significantly lower with left versus right TRA. Radiation parameters were lowest in the TFA cohort (DAP 24.5 Gy·cm 2 [15.7 to 33.2], p
Severe intravascular hemolysis after aortic valve replacement: reversal by left ventricular apico-abdominal aortic composite conduit.

Severe intravascular hemolysis developed following aortic valve replacement with a No. 17 Bjork-Shiley prosthesis in a patient with a diminutive aortic annulus. At reoperation, a residual gradient of 54 mm. Hg and no evidence of perivalvular leak were found. A second left ventricular outflow tract between the apex and the supraceliac abdominal aorta was fashioned with a special rigid (Pyrolite) prosthesis and a heterograft volved composite conduit. The gradient was reduced to 5 mm. Hg and hemolysis was reversed. We have now created double-outlet left ventricles for primary or recurrent left ventricular Outflow tract obstructions of various etiologies in 13 other pediatric and adult patients. The longest follow-up is approaching 18 months. All gradients have been sharply reduced and all patients are asymptomatic.
Development and psychometric evaluation of the reciprocal empowerment scale.

This article reports on the development and evaluation of the Reciprocal Empowerment Scale (RES) which was designed to measure empowerment in the context of the leader-follower relationship in organizational settings. The instrument was developed through a process of retroductive triangulation of theoretical and empirical empowerment literature and results of a qualitative study. Deletion of items not considered valid by a panel of expert judges brought the content validity index to .97. An internal consistency reliability coefficient alpha of .95 was achieved for the RES. Subscale coefficients of .82 to .95 were obtained. Convergent and divergent validity and freedom from social desirability response bias were supported. Principal component extraction with oblique rotation resulted in a three-factor solution: reciprocity, synergy, and ownership. With further testing, the RES should prove useful for nursing administration research and practice.
Surgery for epilepsy

Surgical options for medically uncontrolled seizures include cortical resection corpus callosotomy, hemispherectomy, and stereotaxic lesions. Cortical resection, usually temporal lobectomy, is most widely used and most likely to effect cure in carefully selected patients. The selection criteria, methods of evaluation (including invasive recording techniques), indications, complications, and results of these various procedures are discussed.
Role of Gfi1 Transcription Factor in Myeloma Cells Growth and Survival

RationalMultiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy that is the second most common hematologic malignancy and is currently incurable for the overwhelming majority of patients. We reported tha...
Validación de un material y un modelo pedagógico con contenido en valores para su aplicación en contextos educativos no formales

En este estudio se ha evaluado cualitativamente un recurso didactico piloto y un modelo de capacitacion alternativo que pueden servir como guia para disenar materiales y experiencias educativas valiosas dentro de la educacion no formal referida a valores sociales democraticos y comportamientos civicos. Las tecnicas utilizadas para la evaluacion han sido los grupos focales y el analisis DAFO. Los resultados indican que tanto el material utilizado como el tipo de capacitacion son validos para el objetivo educativo propuesto. Del material destaca que en las ilustraciones muestre situaciones cotidianas y la alternancia de situaciones conflictivas y comportamientos civicos. De la metodologia de capacitacion resalta el ambiente participativo que repercute en una mayor motivacion. Como limitacion se senala el escaso seguimiento ofrecido a las personas que replican los talleres y la necesidad de abordar el proyecto desde una perspectiva mas generica y global para abarcar una tematica mucho mas amplia.
Age and Sex Distributions of Age-Related Biomarker Values in Healthy Older Adults from the Long Life Family Study.

Objectives To determine reference values for laboratory tests in individuals aged 85 and older. Design Cross-sectional cohort study. Setting International. Participants Long Life Family Study (LLFS) participants (N~5,000, age: range 25–110, median 67, 45% male). Measurements Serum biomarkers were selected based on association with aging-related diseases and included complete blood count, lipids (triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol), 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and D3, vitamin D epi-isomer, diabetes mellitus–related biomarkers (adiponectin, insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1, glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, soluble receptor for advanced glycation endproduct), kidney disease–related biomarkers (albumin, creatinine, cystatin), endocrine biomarkers (dehydroepiandrosterone, sex-hormone binding globulin, testosterone), markers of inflammation (interleukin 6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide), ferritin, and transferrin. Results Of 38 measured biomarkers, 34 were significantly correlated with age. Summary statistics were generated for all biomarkers according to sex and 5-year age increments from 50 and up after excluding participants with diseases and treatments that were associated with biomarkers. A biomarker data set was also generated that will be useful for other investigators seeking to compare biomarker levels between studies. Conclusion Levels of several biomarkers change with older age in healthy individuals. The descriptive statistics identified herein will be useful in future studies and, if replicated in additional studies, might also become useful in clinical practice. The availability of the reference data set will facilitate appropriate calibration of biomarkers measured in different laboratories.
Biphasic organo-bioceramic fibrous composite as a biomimetic extracellular matrix for bone tissue regeneration.

Abstract In bone tissue engineering, the organo-ceramic composite, electrospun polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite (PCL/HA) scaffold has the potential to support cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and homeostasis. Here, we report the effect of PCL/HA scaffold in tissue regeneration using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). We characterized the scaffold by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and assessed its biocompatibility. PCL/HA composite is superior as a scaffold compared to PCL alone. Furthermore, increasing HA content (5-10%) was more efficacious in supporting cell-scaffold attachment, expression of ECM molecules and proliferation. These results suggest that PCL/HA is useful as a scaffold for tissue regeneration.
Self-esteem and public self-consciousness moderate the emotional impact of expressive writing about experiences with bias

Abstract Expressive autobiographical writing has generally been shown to have positive psychological effects, as well as health benefits. The current study examined whether dispositional factors moderate the emotional benefits of expressive writing about personal experiences with social bias. Participants (N = 154 undergraduate students) completed personality measures one week prior to writing about a personal experience being the target of bias. Results indicated that self-esteem, public self-consciousness, and need for cognition may play an important role in predicting individuals' reactions to communicating their own experience with social bias. Specifically, higher scores on the Public Self-Consciousness Scale were correlated with more negative emotions (measured with the PANAS), whereas higher scores on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were correlated with more positive emotions. Higher scores on the Need for Cognition Scale were associated with heightened positive and negative reactions. Thus, personality variables appear to be an important moderator of the short-term outcomes of expressive writing.
Grain size-dependent crystal plasticity constitutive model for polycrystal materials

Consideration of a core and mantle configuration for individual grains is a prominent method to capture the grain size-dependence in the constitutive models for polycrystal material. The mantle represents a region of the grain volume near the grain boundary where mechanical deformation is influenced by the grain boundaries, while the core represents the inner region of the grain volume. The grain size-dependence is then realized by assigning a set of values for the mechanical properties in the mantle that are different from those of the core region. However, these values for the mechanical properties of the mantle region are typically chosen arbitrarily, guided solely by the quality of the agreement between a model's predicted stress-strain behavior with that obtained experimentally. In the present study, a physics-based method to develop the grain size-dependent crystal plasticity constitutive model on the core and mantle configuration for polycrystal materials is presented. The method is based on the assumption that any resistance to dislocation nucleation and motion in a material manifests as an increase in yield strength and a decrease in strain-hardening modulus, and the mutual relationship between yield strength and strain-hardening is an inherent material property that determines the plasticity of that specific material. Accordingly, the same single crystal plasticity constitutive model that describes the behavior of the material under loading can be used to capture the increased resistance to dislocation nucleation and motion in the grain boundary influence region. The physics-based modeling is facilitated by introducing a shear flow strain distribution in the phenomenological formulation and a pile-up of dislocation density distribution in the dislocation based formulation, such that, the resulting variations in the yield strength and the strain-hardening modulus are identical to that produced by the increased resistance in the grain boundary influence region. Thus, the increase in strength and the decrease in the strain-hardening modulus, determined as spatially varying local material properties in the mantle, are mutually related through the grain size-independent inherent plastic properties specific to the material. A simplified model that considers the grain boundary effect averaged over the grain volume is also developed under this general framework. Implementation of this simplified model is demonstrated by considering the case of a power law flow rule and a hyperbolic-secant hardening rule for the phenomenological formulation, and Taylor strength relation for the dislocation based formulation. Finally, the grain size-dependent constitutive model is validated by comparing the predicted stress-strain behavior of polycrystal copper samples under uniaxial loading with experimental results.
Comparing Statewide and Single-center Data to Predict High-frequency Emergency Department Utilization Among Patients With Asthma Exacerbation.

BACKGROUND Previous studies examining high-frequency emergency department (ED) utilization have primarily used single-center data, potentially leading to ascertainment bias if patients visit multiple centers. The goals of this study were 1) to create a predictive model to prospectively identify patients at risk of high-frequency ED utilization for asthma and 2) to examine how that model differed using statewide versus single-center data. METHODS To track ED visits within a state, we analyzed 2011 to 2013 data from the New York State Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Emergency Department Databases. The first year of data (2011) was used to determine prior utilization, 2012 was used to identify index ED visits for asthma and for demographics, and 2013 was used for outcome ascertainment. High-frequency utilization was defined as 4+ ED visits for asthma within 1 year after the index visit. We performed analyses separately for children (age < 21 years) and adults and constructed two models: one included all statewide (multicenter) visits and the other was restricted to index hospital (single-center) visits. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed from potential predictors selected a priori. The final model was chosen by evaluating model performance using Akaike's Information Criterion scores, 10-fold cross-validation, and receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS Among children, high-frequency ED utilization for asthma was observed in 2,417 of 94,258 (2.56%) using all statewide visits, compared to 1,853 of 94,258 (1.97%) for index hospital visits only. Among adults, the corresponding results were 7,779 of 159,874 (4.87%) and 5,053 of 159,874 (3.16%), respectively. In the multicenter visit model, the area under the curve (AUC) from 10-fold cross-validation for children was 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.69-0.72), compared to 0.71 (95% CI = 0.69-0.72) in the single-center visit model. The corresponding AUC results for adults were 0.76 (95% CI = 0.76-0.77) and 0.76 (95% CI = 0.75-0.77), respectively. CONCLUSION Data available at the index ED visit can predict subsequent high-frequency utilization for asthma with AUC ranging from 0.70 to 0.76. Model accuracy was similar regardless of whether outcome ascertainment included all statewide visits (multicenter) or was limited to the index hospital (single-center).
Association between Actual and Perceived Obesity Weaker among Black than White Children.

Although actual obesity is expected to be associated with perceived overweight, some recent studies in adults have suggested that this link may be smaller for Blacks than Whites. It is unknown, however, whether the same trend holds for children or not. This study explored the heterogeneity of the association between actual and perceived obesity in a national sample of American children by race, gender, and their intersection. Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC), 2009–2010, is a national study of children 17 years or less in the United States. This analysis included a total number of 8860 children, including 6581 (74.28%) White and 2279 (25.72%) Black children. Actual obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than 95% of the age- and gender-percentile, was the independent variable. Perceived overweight was the main outcome. We ran linear regression models with and without interaction terms between race, gender, and actual obesity. We also ran race- and gender-specific linear regression models. In the pooled sample, actual obesity was positively associated with perceived overweight. We found an interaction between race and obesity, suggesting stronger association between actual obesity and perceived overweight for White than Black children. Gender or intersection of race and gender did not alter the association between actual obesity and perceived overweight. The link between actual obesity and perceived overweight depends on race of the child. Inaccurately perceived weight may be one of many mechanisms behind the disproportionately higher rate of obesity burden among Black children in the United States. As perceived overweight plays a salient role for weight control behaviors, Black children with obesity may need some help to perceive themselves as obese. Training programs should target Blacks to increase the accuracy of their weight and body size evaluation and perception as an essential step for reducing the burden of obesity among Black children.
Targeting ALK in pediatric RMS does not induce antitumor activity in vivo

The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) has been demonstrated to be a valid clinical target in diseases such as anaplastic large cell lymphoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Recent studies have indicated that ALK is overexpressed in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and hence we hypothesized that this kinase may be a suitable candidate for therapeutic intervention in this tumor. We evaluated the expression of ALK in a panel of pediatric RMS cell lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDX), and sensitivity to ALK inhibitors was assessed both in vitro and in vivo. Essentially, all RMS lines were sensitive to crizotinib, NVP-TAE684 or LDK-378 in vitro, and molecular analyses demonstrated inhibition of RMS cell proliferation following siRNA-mediated reduction of ALK expression. However, in vivo PDX studies using ALK kinase inhibitors demonstrated no antitumor activity when used as single agents or when combined with standard of care therapy (vincristine, actinomycin D and cyclophosphamide). More alarmingly, however, crizotinib actually accelerated the growth of these tumors in vivo. While ALK appears to be a relevant target in RMS in vitro, targeting this kinase in vivo yields no therapeutic efficacy, warranting extreme caution when considering the use of these agents in pediatric RMS patients.
Performance comparison of ultra-ultra high resolution collimators to low-energy high resolution collimators

2409 Objectives We compared the performance of a unique ultra-ultra high resolution (UUHR) collimator to that of a low-energy high resolution (LEHR) collimator. The UUHR collimator was designed to accommodate SPECT scanning in a biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) environment where a containment tube spanning the BSL-4 area and the imaging room limits the SPECT orbit. Methods We measured the system spatial resolution (FWHM) and the collimator sensitivity following the NEMA performance standard. Reconstructed SPECT image resolution was determined using three 99mTc point sources inside the containment tube. In addition, we acquired SPECT images of a Jaszczak resolution phantom (Data Spectrum, Hillsborough NC) containing hot spheres to measure recovery coefficients. Results Resolution degradation at increasing distance from the collimators was less for UUHR collimators than for LEHR collimators. With UUHR collimators, we achieved a similar resolution at 35 cm as with LEHR collimators at 20 cm. Collimator sensitivity at 10 cm was 56.4 cpm/µCi (UUHR) and 168 cpm/μCi (LEHR). At a 33-cm radius orbit, the SPECT resolution of a central point source was 10.6 mm (transaxial) and 11.2 mm (axial) with UUHR collimators, whereas resolution deteriorated to 17.3 mm (transaxial) and 18.8 mm (axial) with LEHR collimators. The two largest of six total groups of rods in the resolution phantom were resolved in UUHR-collimated images but not in the LEHR-collimated images. Recovery coefficients for a 25-mm diameter sphere were 1.02 (UUHR collimators) and 0.72 (LEHR collimators). Conclusions By using UUHR collimators, we achieved a SPECT resolution of about 10-12 mm FWHM in our BSL-4 setting, which is similar to the resolution typically obtained in clinical settings using LEHR collimators. However, the improvement in spatial resolution with UUHR collimators comes at the price of reduced sensitivity compared to LEHR collimators. Research Support This work was performed under Battelle Memorial contract HHSN272200200016I with NIAID
Preliminary ageing tests on a superconducting cable dielectric

A lifetime of at least 25 years must be established for the commercial acceptance of the superconducting power cable that is under development. Establishment of lifetime requires accelerated testing. Limits to the degree of frequency acceleration are examined and frequency-accelerated ageing tests on a sample of the cable dielectric system are described. The sample was stressed at 10 MV/m with the dielectric impregnated with supercritical helium gas at 8 K and a density of 110 kg/m3 for an equivalent 60 Hz time period of 531 days. During this period the partial discharge inception stress declined from 12.3 MV/m to 7.1 MV/m. Examination of the sample after the test revealed erosion of the vapor-deposited aluminum layer on the screen tapes.
Defining Adequate Quality and Safety Metrics for Burn Care

While current evidence-based practices might be applicable to caring for patients with routine diseases and common injury patterns, their application to burn care is less clear. Quality metrics created for large patient populations have failed to account for diseases that are not included in landmark research. Tasked to provide not only medically appropriate but also high-quality and cost-effective care for patients, burn clinicians must find a balance between patient-specific quality metrics and external quality metrics.
Providing an integrated software development environment for undergraduate software engineering courses

Modern team based, collaborative software development requires not only technical expertise from team members, but also interpersonal communication skills, teamwork skills, and management skills from them. Group projects, as important educational components, are used for teaching our students various teamwork skills. However, the importance of supplying students with a 'real-world' teamwork environment is largely ignored in these academic group software development projects. In this paper, we present an integrated software development environment that consists of a set of carefully selected, industrial strength, open-source software tools to facilitate many aspects of team software development. The experience gained in using this environment will better prepare students for future employment.
The Role of Interfacial Processes in Adhesion

The interfacial processes that influence adhesion are examined. These are the microscopic processes (wetting, adsorption and charge transfer) and the macroscopic processes (elastic energy storage, the elimination of voids, and dissipation of energy during separation). Some novel components of this treatment are: A discussion of the thermodynamic nature of an interface under tension; the heat capacity of the interfacial region; the wetting of a polymer by a liquid that swells it; the storage of elastic energy in the region of the interface; the range of conditions under which craze material will contain two-component fibrils. A condition which will lead to high, practical, interfacial adhesion strength is that craze fibrils should contain strands of both polymeric species, bridging interfacial crazes. If grafting and chemisorption are absent, this condition should exist only for a narrow range of matching of properties of the two phases.
Field verification of analytical at-a-station hydraulic-geometry relations

Abstract We used data from 109 surveyed cross sections at 34 reaches of New Zealand rivers ranging in bankfull width from 8 to 234 m, each with 4–13 measured flows, to compare regression-derived at-a-station hydraulic geometry (AHG) coefficients and exponents to the coefficients and exponents predicted by Dingman’s (2007) analytical AHG relations. The analytical geometrical relations depend on measured values of 1) bankfull width, 2) bankfull maximum depth, and 3) a geometric exponent fit to the measured cross section. Because of data limitations and the lack of a generally applicable analytical hydraulic relation, the hydraulic relation is here represented by an empirical power-law relation between depth and velocity developed at each section. The fits between the quasi-analytical and empirical values of the AHG coefficients and exponents are highly statistically significant, with intercepts near 0 and slopes near 1, validating Dingman’s original analytical relations. This confirmation of the physical basis underlying empirically-observed AHG relations, along with some statistically-significant relations among the quantities that determine AHG coefficients and exponents that are not predicted by theory, may be useful for estimating AHG relations from remotely-sensed or partial information.
Diastereoselectivities in Reductions of α-Alkoxy Ketones Are Not Always Correlated to Chelation-Induced Rate Acceleration

The chelation-control model is used to predict stereochemical outcomes of many organometallic reactions. Diastereoselectivity arises due to reaction with a chelated intermediate with sterically differentiated faces. Earlier studies with dimethylmagnesium established that the chelated intermediate is a minor component of the reaction mixture, so reaction with the chelated intermediate must be faster than reaction with a non-chelated intermediate. High diastereoselectivity and chelation-induced rate acceleration are correlated with some hydride reducing agents. There are examples in which diastereoselectivity is high, but chelation-induced rate acceleration is not observed, however. In other cases, chelation-induced rate acceleration is observed, but diastereoselectivity remains low. These experiments illustrate that a revision to the chelation-control model is needed.
CEO Narcissism, Human Capital, and Firm Value

Clinically-established defining characteristics of narcissists suggest CEO narcissism likely impacts firm value through human capital channels. Consistent with classic narcissist traits of undervaluing people and lacking empathy influencing CEO decisions, we find narcissistic CEOs are more likely to initiate layoffs, do so after less severe downturns in performance, and put less weight on potential human capital losses when making layoff decisions. Event study results imply narcissistic CEOs destroy value through suboptimal layoff decisions in high human capital intensity industries. Defining characteristics of narcissism also suggest CEO narcissism likely impacts firm value through an executive human capital channel. We find turnover of non-CEO executives with pay closer to their CEO’s is greater under narcissistic CEOs, and stock price reactions to these departures are more negative the longer their tenure. Event study results for CEO departures imply a negative net impact of CEO narcissism on firm value through both human capital channels.
New approach to moisture accumulation assessment

Abstract We suggest an innovative approach to simulate moisture buildup on structures with arbitrary geometries and different surface adhesion characteristics. Using 3D particle physics, rain, snow and freezing rain buildup on flat and cylindrical surfaces was assessed. The numerically simulated moisture accumulations were subsequently successfully verified experimentally through a series of outdoor and indoor moisture accumulation experiments. We also conducted molecular dynamics simulations to assess how hydrogen bonds influence snow and rain adhesion on high and low energy substrates. The simulations supported the experimental observations, namely that freezing rain results in increased moisture adhesion and accumulation due to the spreading of the water droplets, resulting in more hydrogen bonds between water droplets and substrates than snow.
Composition of the Intranuclear Inclusions of Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with a premutation repeat expansion (55-200 CGG repeats) in the 5' noncoding region of the FMR1 gene. Solitary intranuclear inclusions within FXTAS neurons and astrocytes constitute a hallmark of the disorder, yet our understanding of how and why these bodies form is limited. Here, we have discovered that FXTAS inclusions emit a distinct autofluorescence spectrum, which forms the basis of a novel, unbiased method for isolating FXTAS inclusions by preparative fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Using a combination of autofluorescence-based FACS and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based proteomics, we have identified more than two hundred proteins that are enriched within the inclusions relative to FXTAS whole nuclei. Whereas no single protein species dominates inclusion composition, highly enriched levels of conjugated small ubiquitin-related modifier 2 (SUMO 2) protein and p62/sequestosome-1 (p62/SQSTM1) protein were found within the inclusions. Many additional proteins involved with RNA binding, protein turnover, and DNA damage repair were enriched within inclusions relative to total nuclear protein. The current analysis has also allowed the first direct detection, through peptide sequencing, of endogenous FMRpolyG peptide, the product of repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation of the FMR1 mRNA. However, this peptide was found only at extremely low levels and not within whole FXTAS nuclear preparations, raising the question whether endogenous RAN products exist at quantities sufficient to contribute to FXTAS pathogenesis. The abundance of the inclusion-associated ubiquitin- and SUMO-based modifiers supports a model for inclusion formation as the result of increased protein loads and elevated oxidative stress leading to maladaptive autophagy. These results highlight the need to further investigate FXTAS pathogenesis in the context of endogenous systems.
International Law under a new Digital Dimension

This working paper is divided into three sections that provide the relevant knowledge and innovative arguments of the internal organization of the International Tribunal for the Internet. It is significant noted that the innovative proposal is a result of the challenges that international law has been suffering from the new digital dimensions provided by the Internet and Electronic Commerce, including a General Assembly, the General Secretariat, the Judge’s Chamber, the Chamber of Prosecutors, the International Association of Lawyers, and the Diplomats of the Tribunal. This article in fact has as its main objective to present the organizational structure formulated by the author to create an International Tribunal for the Internet. All therefore to be established due to the challenges that the jurisdictions of the national and regional spaces confront to apply their judicial decisions and laws in the international dimension of the Internet.
Community and home care for mentally ill older adults

Abstract America’s population of adults age 65 and older is projected to increase from 40.3 million to 72.1 million between the years 2010 and 2030. This increase has ignited the ongoing discussion around creating effective mechanisms and sufficient resources for older adults suffering from a range of mental health needs, both in community and residential care settings. Although the percentage of older adults with a diagnosable mental disorder is lower than those in younger age groups, they often present with comorbid physical and cognitive challenges that make treatment more complicated. Effective strategies to support the mental health of older adults in both home and residential community settings will go far in helping older adults age successfully and access needed mental health support.
Neurology and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Gathering Data for an Informed Response

Abstract Purpose of review: The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is one of the greatest medical crises faced by our current generation of healthcare providers. While much remains to be learned about the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2, there is both historical precedent from other coronaviruses and a growing number of case reports and series that point to neurological consequences of COVID-19. Recent findings: Olfactory/taste disturbances and increased risk of strokes and encephalopathies have emerged as potential consequences of COVID-19 infection. Evidence regarding whether these sequelae result indirectly from systemic infection or directly from neuroinvasion by SARS-CoV-2 is emerging. Summary: This review summarizes the current understanding of SARS-CoV-2 placed in context with our knowledge of other human coronaviruses. Evidence and data regarding neurological sequelae of COVID-19 and the neuroinvasive potential of human coronaviruses are provided along with a summary of patient registries of interest to the Neurology community.
Medical Missions: Engaging the Five Senses with Eternal Intentions.

ABSTRACT Participating in medical mission work can have incomparable spiritual value. Experiencing a foreign culture via sounds, sights, tastes, smells, and textures is a unique avenue for caring for people's physical needs that opens opportunities for spiritually-focused interactions. Nurses can gain cultural competency and humility as they help envision future ministry possibilities with local residents and mission team members. Practical preparation suggestions and a reading list are provided.
Emission of Axions in strongly magnetized star

We show that the axion decay constant does not get any correction at any order by external magnetic fields. On the other hand, in the context of the Wilsonian effective action under external magnetic fields, the axial currents get a finite correction. We then calculate the effect of strong magnetic fields $B>10^{18}G$ on the axion-nucleon coupling and find that if $B\gtrsim 10^{20}~G$ in strongly magnetized neutron and white dwarf stars, the emission rate of axions is enhanced by several orders of magnitude.
Roadmap: one anesthesiology department's strategic approach to COVID-19.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The COVID-19 pandemic has driven transformation in every aspect of the healthcare delivery system. The unpredictable onset and magnitude of COVID-19 infections resulted in wide gaps in preparedness for healthcare systems. The development of protocols to address both scarcity of resources and staff protection continues to be essential for risk mitigation. RECENT FINDINGS: The northeast region of the United States had a rapid early surge of COVID-19 infections leading to the exhaustion of critical care capacity. In addition, northeastern hospitals experienced decrease in elective surgical interventions, including organ transplantation. Limited availability of COVID-19 testing and personal protective equipment further fueled the pandemic. This commentary highlights a comprehensive innovative approach to addressing the operating room and hospital demands, as well as the shortages in resources and staffing during the pandemic. SUMMARY: The VCU Department of Anesthesiology operated at 40% of its regular operating room volume throughout the COVID-19 pandemic because of the increased demand from emergency cases. The delay in the peak surge allowed Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Anesthesiology to develop a comprehensive infrastructure resulting in resulting is maximal workforce risk mitigation.
English Language Proficiency Testing in Asia: A New Paradigm Bridging Global and Local Contexts: by Lily I-Wen Su, Cyril J. Weir and Jessica R. W. Wu, Routledge, 2020, xxxii + 230 pp., $160 (hardback), ISBN: 9780815368717

When it comes to English language proficiency tests, global tests developed by testing companies such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Tes...
Examining Response to Negative Life Events Through Fitness Tracker Data.

Negative life events, such as the death of a loved one, are an unavoidable part of life. These events can be overwhelmingly stressful and may lead to the development of mental health disorders. To mitigate these adverse developments, prior literature has utilized measures of psychological responses to negative life events to better understand their effects on mental health. However, psychological changes represent only one aspect of an individual’s potential response. We posit measuring additional dimensions of health, such as physical health, may also be beneficial, as physical health itself may be affected by negative life events and measuring its response could provide context to changes in mental health. Therefore, the primary aim of this work was to quantify how an individual's physical health changes in response to negative life events by testing for deviations in their physiological and behavioral state (PB-state). After capturing post-event, PB-state responses, our second aim sought to contextualize changes within known factors of psychological response to negative life events, namely coping strategies. To do so, we utilized a cohort of professionals across the United States monitored for one year and who experienced a negative life event while under observation. Garmin Vivosmart-3 devices provided a multidimensional representation of one’s PB-state by collecting measures of resting heart rate, physical activity, and sleep. To test for deviations in PB-state following negative life events, One-Class Support Vector Machines were trained on a window of time prior to the event, which established a PB-state baseline. The model then evaluated participant's PB-state on the day of the life event and each day that followed, assigning each day a level of deviance relative to the participant's baseline. Resulting response curves were then examined in association with the use of various coping strategies using Bayesian gamma-hurdle regression models. The results from our objectives suggest that physical determinants of health also deviate in response to negative life events and that these deviations can be mitigated through different coping strategies. Taken together, these observations stress the need to examine physical determinants of health alongside psychological determinants when investigating the effects of negative life events.
COVID-19 in the Clinic: Aerosol Containment Mask for Endoscopic Otolaryngologic Clinic Procedures.

ObjectiveTo create an aerosol containment mask (ACM) that contains aerosols during common otolaryngologic endoscopic procedures while protecting patients from environmental aerosols.Study DesignBen...
The influence of parental guidance on video game performance, exploration, and cortical activity in 5-year-old children

Abstract Digital games are a part of children’s everyday life. Parental guidance may influence what children learn from digital games, but children also often play digital games alone. There is a need to study learning from digital games in the presence and absence of parental guidance. We compared exploration and learning to play the video game Rock Band 3 over 10 weeks at home in parent-guided (n = 25) and self-directed (n = 25) groups, relative to a control group (n = 27). We recorded the electroencephalogram (EEG) at rest to add to our understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms involved in adapting to these learning experiences. Children in the parent-guided group explored the learning space more than children in the self-directed group, and children in the parent-guided group showed a greater capacity to learn to play a new song relative to the control group. However, improvement in performance was comparable for children in the parent-guided and self-directed groups. Learning to play the game induced change in the brain for both the parent-guided and self-directed groups. However, children in the parent-guided group showed lower EEG power relative to pre-study levels, and children in the self-directed group showed higher EEG power relative to pre-study levels. Findings shed new light on the neurophysiological mechanisms involved in adapting to learning experiences and inform our understanding of learning from digital games with and without parental guidance.
On the identification of property based generalizations in microdata anonymization

Majority of the search algorithms in microdata anonymization restrict themselves to a single privacy property and a single criteria to optimize. The solutions obtained are therefore of limited application since adherence to multiple privacy models is required to impede different forms of privacy attacks. Towards this end, we propose the concept of a property based generalization (PBG) to capture the nondominance relationships that appear when multiple objectives are to be met in an anonymization process. We propose an evolutionary algorithm that can identify a representative subset of the set of PBGs for the purpose of decision making.
Multidimensional Inequalities in Health Care Distribution in Provincial China: A Case Study of Henan Province

This paper analyses multidimensional inequalities in health care distribution for Henan Province in central China. The paper has two objectives: (1) examining the multi-scale health care inequality in Henan from two dimensions, urban-rural and core-periphery and (2) revealing the spatial effects of China's multiple transitions, provincial development strategies, and local economic development on health care distribution. The authors used geographic information systems-based spatial statistical methods to detect the spatial-temporal variation of health care distribution, and applied geographically weighted regression to reveal the effects of multiple transitions on the health care sector. The results illustrate that urban-rural and core-periphery gaps in Henan are still significant even though health care reforms and recent provincial policies have improved the access of rural and peripheral areas to health care. Health care inequality is sensitive to geographical scale and clustering, and spatial patterns of health care are shaped by the interwoven forces at national, provincial, and local scales.
A Conversation With Uri Treisman

Dr. Uri Treisman, professor of mathematics and public affairs at The University of Texas at Austin and the director of the Charles A. Dana Center, has deep and active roots in mathematics and mathematics education. Dr. Treisman is well known for his early work at the University of California at Berkeley, where he developed the Calculus Workshop Model in response to differential outcomes in Calculus among African American, white, and Asian students. His continuing work in mathematics education, particularly his impact on equity in the field and his current work focusing on mathematics teaching and learning in community colleges was reflected in his remarks on September 29, 2012, during the annual Program in Mathematics Colloquium Series. Dr. Treisman had initially planned to give a talk on the technical aspects of scaling educational innovations, but seeing that the audience was composed largely of young teachers and teachers-to-be, he instead gave an impromptu talk on teaching mathematics. This is an edited version of those remarks. —Ed.
Systematic approach to the modeling and control of hybrid electric vehicle powertrains

Hybrid electric vehicle powertrains, especially those based on the power-split architecture, are complex dynamic systems that must be modeled in a systematic way in order to fully exploit an organized approach to control design. Much of the existing literature focuses on a high-level treatment of the modeling topic, typically emphasizing steady-state behavior. The present paper is motivated by the need for a general approach to lower-level dynamic modeling that can be applied for analysis, control and simulation of vehicles that feature the power-split architecture. A dynamic model and an associated integral controller are first developed in symbolic form. The resulting general formulation is then specialized in order to perform numerical simulations. Particular attention is devoted to an orderly method for computing controller feedback gains.
A novel p75NTR signaling pathway promotes survival, not death, of immunopurified neocortical subplate neurons.

Subplate neurons of mammalian neocortex undergo pronounced cell death postnatally, long after they have matured and become incorporated into functional cortical circuits. They express the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), which is known to signal cell death in some types of neurons via the activation of sphingomyelinase and the concomitant increase in the sphingolipid ceramide. To evaluate the role of p75NTR in subplate neurons, they were immunopurified and cultured in vitro . Contrary to its known function as a death receptor, ligand binding to p75NTR promotes subplate neuron survival. Moreover, p75NTR-dependent survival is blocked by inhibition of ceramide synthesis and rescued by addition of its precursor sphingomyelin. Inhibition of Trk signaling does not block survival, nor is Trk signaling alone sufficient to promote survival. Thus, ligand-dependent p75NTR regulation of the ceramide pathway mediates survival in certain neurons and may represent an important target for neuroprotective drugs in degenerative diseases involving p75NTR-expressing neurons, such as Alzheimer9s disease.
Physical modes of thin-film PV degradation

We discuss physical modes of degradation related to the small thickness and lack of crystallinity in thin-film PV. We discriminate between 1) uniform material degradation through defect generation, light-induced diffusion, and electro-migration; 2) nonuniform degradation through ohmic or non-ohmic shunts; 3) metal contact deterioration. The first can equally apply to bulk and thin-film PV. Two others are specific to thin-film PV.