cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE ADIPOKINETIC ACTION OF POLYPEPTIDE AND AMINE HORMONES UPON THE ADIPOSE TISSUE OF VARIOUS ANIMAL SPECIES.

“ Adipok ine t icy, signifies the capacity of a sub-‘ stance to cause the release of triglyceridestored inadipose tissue, with subsequent transport of the mobilized lipid by the blood to other organs of the body. The concept that certain hormones possess adipokinetic activity’ was introduced by the investigations of Best, Barrett, and co-workers (1, 2), and of Stetten and Salcedo (3) during the period 1936-1944. These investigators described a redistribution of triglyceride from adipose tissue to the liver in rats and in mice injected with pituitary extract. Further research on this subject has proceeded in three phases : (a ) From 1949 to 1957, studies were made on the adipokinetic activity of various pituitary fractions, as measured by the capacity of each to cause an increase in the hepatic lipids of susceptible species2 (4-9). The production of fatty liver in certain species by epinephrine was also demonstrated (review [ 101). ( b ) I n 1956, Gordon and Cherkes (11) and Dole (12) presented evidence that triglyceride is mobilized from adipose tissue in the form of unesterified (free) fatty acids (FFA), which circulate as an albumin-FFA complex. It was then found that the catechol amines (11, 12) and certain pituitary hormones (13-15) cause an acute rise in circulating FFA level in intact animals of susceptible species. * Career Scientist of the Health Research Council of the City of New York under contract 1-1 18. Supported in part by PHS Research Grants A-6056, HE-05741, and HE-OOO52-16 from the National Institutes of Health, USPHS; and by Grant U-1017 from the Health Research Council of the City of New York. 1 The term “lipolytic artivity” is also in use to denote this property. 2 The differences in the responsiveness of various species to the adipokinetic hormones will be considered in detail in a subsequent section of this review. (c) Recent studies (1958-1962) have demonstrated that the catechol amines (16, 17), various pituitary polypeptides (14, 18-22), and the pancreatic polypeptide glucagon (23, 24) stimulate the production of FFA in vitro by the isolated adipose tissue of susceptible species. The in vitro technique has facilitated the identification (14, 18, 19, 21-25) and purification (21) of adipokinetic hormones and has made possible observations on the metabolic changes within adipose tissue following stimulation by these hormones (reviews
Progress of Molecularly Imprinted Monolithic Column for HPLC

The molecularly imprinted monolithic column is developed in HPLC,due to its simple preparation,high selectivity and low flow resistance.Its progress of the preparation,characteristic and mechanism are reviewed.
257 THE INFLUENCE OF ADVERSE DONOR FACTORS ON OUTCOME OF PEDIATRIC HEART TRANSPLANTATION - THE MARGINAL DONOR ALLOGRAFT

Background We sought to examine the influence of various marginal donor criteria on pediatric heart transplantation outcome. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 191 pediatric heart transplants performed in 174 patients from 1984 through 2003 at our institution. Recipients were grouped into four (0, 1, 2, and ≥ 3 marginal factors) based on number of donor marginal criteria. A marginal donor allograft was defined by at least one of the following criteria: hx of cardiac arrest, LVEF≤50%, positive hepatitis B or C serology, dopamine ≥ 10 mcg/kg/min, gender mismatch (female donor), age ≥ 34 yr, allograft ischemia time ≥ 6 hours and donor-recipient weight ratio ≤ 0.8 ≥ 2. Study endpoints were actuarial survival and freedom from rejection. A Cox proportional hazards model was used for statistical analysis. (Table) Conclusions Despite a trend in worse outcome the number of marginal donor criteria did not significantly impact the 1 and 3-year freedom from adverse events in pediatric heart transplantation justifying this strategy to increase the potential donor pool.
Hearing preservation in conservation surgery for vestibular schwannoma.

Objective To evaluate preservation of hearing in the resection of vestibular schwannomas. Study design A retrospective case review. Setting Tertiary-care medical center. Patients Forty-seven patients (25 men, 22 women) were studied; mean age was 46 years, mean tumor diameter 9.8 mm (range 3-30 mm.) Interventions All patients underwent resection of vestibular schwannomas by the middle cranial fossa (MCF) or the retrosigmoid (RS) approach. Main outcome measures Hearing preservation was classified by the criteria outlined by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery. Hearing was assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 month and 1 year. Facial function was graded according to the House-Brackmann scale. Minimum follow-up was 18 months. Results Hearing was preserved in 69% of patients who underwent the MCF approach but in only 33% of patients for whom the RS approach was used. The RS approach was used for larger tumors (mean diameter 15 mm) and the MCF procedure for smaller tumors (mean diameter 9 mm). One hundred percent of patients had facial function H/B grade II or better, regardless of approach. Conclusion Hearing function can be reliably preserved in a high percentage of selected patients undergoing resection of vestibular schwannoma.
Propofol Pretreatment Fails to Provide Neuroprotection Following a Surgically Induced Brain Injury Rat Model

Neurosurgical procedures are associated with unintentional damage to the brain during surgery, known as surgically induced brain injuries (SBI), which have been implicated in orchestrating structural and neurobehavioral deterioration. Propofol, an established hypnotic anesthetic agent, has been shown to ameliorate neuronal injury when given after injury in a number of experimental brain studies. We tested the hypothesis that propofol pretreatment confers neuroprotection against SBI and will reduce cerebral edema formation and neurobehavioral deficits in our rat population. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with low- and high-dose propofol 30 min before SBI. At 24 h post injury, brain water content and neurobehavioral assessment was conducted based on previously established models. In vehicle-treated rats, SBI resulted in significant cerebral edema and higher neurological deficit scores compared with sham-operated rats. Low- or high-dose propofol therapy neither reduced cerebral edema nor improved neurologic function. The results suggest that propofol pretreatment fails to provide neuroprotection in SBI rats. However, it is possible that a SBI model with less magnitude of injury or that propofol re-dosing, given the short-acting pharmacokinetic property of propofol, may be needed to provide definitive conclusions.
WE-AB-209-04: Biological Evaluation of Universal Multi-Criteria Optimization VMAT Prostate Plans

Purpose: In recent years Multi-Criteria Optimization (MCO) has become commercially available as a potential optimization method for intensity modulated and volumetric arc therapies (IMRT and VMAT). The purpose of our work is to develop a universal set of objectives and constraints to generate prostate cancer MCO plans with VMAT and evaluate them using biological metrics. Methods: We randomly selected ten prostate plans (two-arc VMAT) for patients with intermediate risk prostate cancer prescribed 75.6–79.2Gy to the prostate and seminal vesicles. We compared the plan scores to our clinical plans generated with standard IMRT optimization techniques. The planning target volumes (PTV) were 5–10 mm set-up margin expansion of the gross target volume. Using the same two arcs we generated MCO plans with a standard set of constraints and objectives using Raystation v4.5. The dose-volume histograms (DVH) for the (PTV), rectum and bladder were exported and used to calculate tumor control probability (TCP) and the complication-free tumor control probability P+ using biological models from the literature. We classified the plans by their level of difficulty based on the rectum-PTV overlap and develop MCO plans with similar levels of conformality as the clinical plans. Results: The P+ values of the MCO plans had an average of 86.4%±2.3% and were equivalent to the clinical plans (P+ average of 85.0%±2.1%, p-value=0.33). The MCO NTCP values for the rectum ranged from 0.7% to 20% and were highly correlated with rectum-PTV overlap. NTCP values for the bladder were less than 1% for all MCO plans. Conclusion: MCO VMAT prostate plans obtained with standardized objectives and constraints generate biologically equivalent plans to the clinical plans generated with standard optimization techniques.
Computational Exploration of the Li-Electrode|Electrolyte Interface in the Presence of a Nanometer Thick Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Layer.

ConspectusA nanometer thick passivation layer will spontaneously form on Li-metal in battery applications due to electrolyte reduction reactions. This passivation layer in rechargeable batteries must have “selective” transport properties: blocking electrons from attacking the electrolytes, while allowing Li+ ion to pass through so the electrochemical reactions can continue. The classical description of the electrochemical reaction, Li+ + e → Li0, occurring at the Li-metal|electrolyte interface is now complicated by the passivation layer and will reply on the coupling of electronic and ionic degrees of freedom in the layer. This passivation layer is called “solid electrolyte interphase (SEI)” and is considered as “the most important but the least understood in rechargeable Li-ion batteries,” partly due to the lack of understanding of its structure–property relationship. Predictive modeling, starting from the ab initio level, becomes an important tool to understand the nanoscale processes and materials prop...
Characteristic peripheral blood smear findings in disorders of cobalamin metabolism.

![Figure][1] A 7-month-old boy with a history of necrotizing enterocolitis and developmental delay was admitted for anemia (hemoglobin 4.8 g/dL) and thrombocytopenia (platelets 91 × 109/L) with normal white blood cell count (5.4 × 109/L), mean corpuscular volume 90.2 fL, lactate
Television During Meals in the First 4 Years of Life.

The development of children's mealtime television (TV) habits has not been well studied. We assessed whether mealtime TV habits established in infancy will persist into early childhood. We analyzed data collected through parent surveys at birth and at 6-month intervals from a randomized controlled trial. We used t-tests, χ2 tests, and a multivariable logistic regression to determine if family characteristics were associated with mealtime TV. A McNemar test was used to assess whether mealtime TV exposure changed over time. College-educated fathers and families with an annual income >$50 000 were associated with less-frequent TV exposure during children's mealtimes. It was found that 84% of children retained their level of exposure to TV during mealtimes from the first 24 months through 48 months of life. Clinicians should counsel families about mealtime TV use within the first 2 years of life because these habits seem to develop early and persist into at least early childhood.
Round-Efficient Concurrently Composable Secure Computation via a Robust Extraction Lemma

We consider the problem of constructing protocols for secure computation that achieve strong concurrent and composable notions of security in the plain model. Unfortunately UC-secure secure computation protocols are impossible in this setting, but the Angel-Based Composable Security notion offers a promising alternative. Until now, however, under standard (polynomial-time) assumptions, only protocols with polynomially many rounds were known to exist.
Antimatter plasma achieved

Since the discovery of the positron in 1932, physicists have routinely observed particles of antimatter in high energy collisions and radioactive decays. It has been only in the last few years, however, that progress has been made towards slowing these particles down and accumulating large numbers in the lab. Now C M Surko, M Leventhal and A Passner at ATT a sufficient number of positrons have been accumulated and cooled to a low enough temperature to create a positron plasma (Phys. Rev. Lett. 62 901).
Phase II trial evaluating imatinib (I) in patients (pts) with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC)

6057 Background: There is no standard treatment for ATC. Response to doxorubicin ranges between 5–22%; median survival ranges between 3–6 months. Affymetrix gene chip showed PDGFR overexpression in ATC. In p53 mutated/deficient ATC cell lines, c-Abl is overexpressed, and selective inhibition of c-Abl resulted in cytostatic effect. (I) inhibits tyrosine kinase activity of Bcr-Abl and PDGF. We hypothesize that ATC that overexpress PDGFR or Abl will respond to (I). Methods: Pts ≥ 18 years old with histologically confirmed ATC, overexpressing PDGFR or c-Abl by immunohistochemistry who had measurable disease were eligible. Pts must have Zubrod performance status ≤ 1, and adequate hepatic and renal function. Prior chemotherapy, chemoradiation, radiation therapy, or surgery must have been completed at least 28 days prior to registration. (I) was administered at 400mg orally twice daily without drug holiday. Response to treatment was assessed after every 8 weeks. Pts with complete response (CR)/partial responses ...
On k-full-view-coverage-algorithms in camera sensor networks

Many security and reliability applications require guaranteed k-coverage of an area at all times. As a result, k-coverage has attracted much attention in the past decade, but most of the previous work on k-coverage has focused on traditional scalar sensors instead of camera sensors. Camera sensors qualify as vector sensors because cameras from different positions can form various views of the target. The sensing quality of camera sensors depends on the angle between the facing direction of the target and the viewing direction of the camera. The concept of full-view coverage [1] is of great significance because it ensures both the detection and recognition of a target. A target experiences full-view coverage if, regardless of the direction it faces, it is always in view of a camera. At the same time, the camera's viewing direction should be sufficiently close to the direction the target faces [1]. This research intends to investigate a special case of k-coverage called k-full-view-coverage. This case is where the target is in an over-deployed camera sensor network and k disjoint subsets of cameras are able to provide full-view coverage of the target. The two proposed algorithms aim to k-full-view cover both a single target and a given area based on equilateral triangle displacement.
Addressing the Needs of Children With Complex Communication Needs and Their Partners in Areas of Poverty: To Haiti and Back

An estimated 1 billion people (15% of the world's population) experience a disability, such as a communication disability. Individuals with disabilities have an increased likelihood of living in po...
Strategic budgets in sequential elimination contests

We study a sequential elimination contest where contestants (e.g., campaigns) spend resources that are provided by strategic players called backers (e.g., donors). In the unique symmetric equilibrium, backers initially provide small budgets, increasing their contributions only if their contestant wins the preliminary round. If backers are only allowed to provide budgets at the start of the game, as opposed to before each round, spending is higher. When unspent resources are refunded to the backer, total spending is higher than when all resources are sunk costs. We also study an extension of the model with asymmetric players.
The Organization of Callosal Connections in Primates

Information is sent from one cerebral hemisphere to the other almost exclusively via the corpus callosum and the anterior commissure, with the corpus callosum forming the major pathway. The regions of cortex subserved by these two pathways vary across mammalian species, so that all of the interhemispheric connections in monotremes and marsupials are via the anterior commissure, and there is no corpus callosum (Ebner 1967; Heath and Jones 1971; Granger et al. 1985; Cusick and Kaas 1986). In eutherian (placental) mammals, however, most of cortex is subserved by the corpus callosum, and only temporal cortex is interconnected by axons coursing through the anterior commissure (Ebner and Myers 1965). In primates, only a limited region near the pole of the temporal lobe is subserved by the anterior commissure (Jouandet and Gazzaniga 1979; Pandya, et al. 1975; Zeki 1973). Thus, most of cortex depends on the corpus callosum for the transfer of information.
Microquasars: Black Holes (and Neutron Stars) of Stellar Mass in Our Galaxy

So far we have concentrated on supermassive black holes (\( 10^{5-10}\,\, \mathrm{M}_{\bigodot} \)) at the centers of galaxies. Except during merger events, we expect, at most, one of these per galaxy and with a mass of \( \sim10^{-3} \) of that galaxy’s spheroidal bulge mass. The existence of black holes much larger than this is very unlikely, both theoretically and observationally: there is no reasonable evolutionary scenario by which such an object could be made, and we have no observational evidence for such hypermassive objects.
East Africa in World War I: A Geographic Analysis

Most geographic analyses conducted during and after the First World War focused exclusively on the influence of physical geography on battles in Europe. In recent years, however, a growing body of research has emerged on the campaign fought in East Africa by the European powers, which includes the importance of the human landscape and environmental security. The war that raged across East Africa was linked strongly to competition for vital resources among Europe’s great powers and it illustrates the most problematic outcome of the environment–conflict nexus: i.e., interstate war. The scope of military geography has expanded and contemporary perspectives have advanced beyond describing the effects of the natural landscape on warfare. They include incisive analyses of the cultural landscape and how human geography shapes, and is shaped by conflict. This paper provides a military geographic perspective of the East African campaign, and analyzes how environmental factors and human geography dramatically influenced the course of this conflict. This paper will focus on salient aspects of physical and human geography that were decisive during the campaign. This analysis suggests that the region’s natural and human landscape inevitably compelled German and British forces to involve hundreds of thousands of Africans as soldiers and laborers; and that they suffered severe causalities and depredations because of this war.
Screening test method development for fracture resistance measurements in thin-gage titanium

Titanium sheet products in gages less than 12.5 mm are used for many lightweight, highly efficient structures. Since these materials are very expensive, in many cases their use requires that very careful attention be given to the prevention of crack growth and fracture. One result of this design approach is that minimum allowable fracture resistance values are specified for mill products; screening tests for quality assurance are required to certify that these minimum values of fracture resistance are met for each sheet of material. The dynamic tear (DT) test was developed for this purpose for heavier section materials (16 mm and thicker) for steels, aluminum alloys, and titanium alloys. Correlations of DT energy values with linear-elastic fracture mechanics parameters enables the determination of K I c values on a routine basis by methods that are quicker and less expensive than direct measurement of K I c . Additionally, the DT test can be used to measure fracture resistance properties of materials in the elastic-plastic and plastic ranges, which is not possible by linear-elastic methods. Past studies of the effect of specimen dimensions on measured DT energy values have shown that the fracture resistance of materials can be expressed in terms of a constant R p . Using the relationships developed for heavier section materials, a study involving several titanium alloys in thicknesses ranging from 2.5 to 12.7 mm showed that the fracture behavior of thin-section titanium alloys could be rationalized by these methods.
The prevalence of temporal bone fractures is high in horses with severe temporohyoid osteoarthropathy

Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy is a well-recognized cause of equine neurologic disease. Temporal bone fractures associated with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy have been recognized with CT, however, little information is available regarding these fractures. The aims of this retrospective analytical study were to assess the prevalence of these fractures and to describe the specific configurations and associated imaging and clinical features. Fracture of the temporal bone was identified with CT in 16 of 39 included horses. All fractures were unilateral, minimally displaced and extended through the temporal bone in a rostrodorsal to caudoventral orientation. Two fracture configurations were identified: in nine cases, the fracture extended the full width of the petrous pyramid into the cranial vault and in seven cases, the fracture only extended through the lateral part of the petrous temporal bone, not involving the cranial vault. Fusion of the temporohyoid joint was present in 13 of the 16 fracture cases. Quarter Horses were over-represented in the fractured population (14/16). All horses with fractures had ipsilateral neurologic deficits. Patient outcomes were not significantly different between temporohyoid osteoarthropathy horses with and without temporal bone fractures (P = 0.68). However, six of the nine patients with cranial vault involvement did not return to their previous use. Findings support previous studies indicating that temporal bones should be carefully assessed for concurrent fractures when temporohyoid osteoarthropathy is identified in CT images, especially when there is fusion of the temporohyoid joint. An improved awareness of specific fracture configurations will help with detection of these fractures.
Women and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Diagnosis and Implications for Treatment of Adolescents and Adults

We review the recent literature regarding the implications of gender on the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in women and adolescent females. We also discuss important clinical observations in treating this population. Growing research supports gender specificity in ASD symptom presentation. Differing phenotypes, psychiatric co-morbidities, and level of “camouflaging” (behavioral coping strategies to conceal symptoms for use in social situations) are thought to further contribute to the discrepancy in prevalence rates and resulting misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis in adolescent females and women. Both nosological and cultural factors appear to be contributing to differences in the diagnosis of ASD in women. These differences in presentation have important implications for late diagnosis, treatment of ASD, and the quality of life for women with autism.
Axially-segmented cylindrical array for intravascular shear wave imaging

We have fabricated a cylindrical intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) transducer array prototype capable of generating an acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) for shear wave elasticity imaging (SWEI). The prototype array was a 4-mm long, 2.5-mm diameter, 4 MHz PZT-8 tube, axially segmented into 12 elements on a 334 µm pitch. This transducer array was used in custom vessel phantoms and in ex vivo porcine artery experiments to investigate the potential for IVUS SWEI to distinguish soft lipid cores from stiffer surrounding tissues. By using this array transducer to generate a radially-directed ARFI “push”, and a Verasonics linear array probe to track displacements in planes parallel to the “push”, SWEI images of a vessel phantom with hard vessel walls and a soft inclusion were obtained. In tissue-mimicking phantoms, focusing the transducer array to a range of 5 mm generated ARFI displacements up to 1.36 and 1.76 times greater than unfocused excitations in the soft and stiff regions, respectively. The measured shear wave speed in the soft inclusion and stiff vessel wall was 0.97±0.59 m/s and 1.66±0.91 m/s, respectively, and was close to the calibrated measurements of 1.21±0.05 m/s and 1.56±0.05 m/s, respectively. A SWEI image of an ex vivo porcine renal artery was obtained using the prototype transducer and external tracking array, and showed an average shear wave speed of 3.97±1.12 m/s. These results demonstrate the potential of this IVUS array to enable SWEI, to quantifiably assess vulnerable vascular plaques.
A False Sense of Home Security — Exposing the Vulnerability in Away Mode of Smart Plugs

With smart and connected IoT systems becoming increasingly prevalent in homes and businesses, ensuring that their ‘smartness’ is up to the mark in making our lives secure is vital. This paper reveals the inadequacy of the ‘away mode’ of smart plugs–which is a feature meant to safeguard a user's home security by mimicking the on-off pattern of appliance usage when a user is away, e.g., on a vacation. Using statistical methods, we show that a third party attacker can easily extrapolate sensitive usage information by analyzing accessible data gained from these commercial, off-the-shelf smart plugs. We recommend that the developers of these smart plugs should focus on implementing rule-based, coordinated, and/or learning-based models to enhance the away-mode behavior of these smart plugs to improve their performance in obfuscating user absence.
Use of Directional Derivative in Locating Extrema.

IT IS possible to use the directional derivative effectively in locating relative extrema of a function of two variables. Why this method has been virtually over looked is a mystery. The criteria given in most texts, if given at all, for testing whether a critical point is a maximum or a minimum are usually developed from a Taylor's series for functions of two vari ables. It has been my experience that most first-year calculus students get lost some where in this development. The method I am going to propose employs methods used in functions of a single variable and hence is more meaningful, I've found, with such students. There are two approaches one can take. The first is to develop an expression for the second directional derivative and use this expression in each individual problem. The second is to use this expression for the second directional derivative to develop the previously mentioned criteria. We shall look at both approaches in the order stated. The directional derivative for a func tion of two variables, w = f(x, y), at the point (a, b) in a direction with the posi tive x-axis, is* defined as
Infection Rates After Microlaryngeal and Open Phonosurgery: The Role of Postoperative Antibiotics.

OBJECTIVE Although it is known that the airway has bacterial contamination that seeds the surgical site during microlaryngeal surgery, literature on the use of postoperative antibiotics is lacking. We performed a retrospective analysis of open phonosurgical and phonomicrosurgical cases at a single institution to assess whether use of postoperative antibiotics impacts the incidence of surgical site infections (SSI). METHODS In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed 228 phonomicrosurgery and 53 open phonosurgery cases performed for benign diseases. Surgeries were performed by two laryngologists between February 2016 and August 2018. The surgeons differ in their postoperative antibiotic regimens: no antibiotics versus a 5- to 7-day postoperative course. Data collected include demographics, medical comorbidities, type of benign laryngeal disease, and surgical procedure. The primary outcome measure was postoperative infection, defined as the patient requiring a new prescription for antibiotics, an extended course of antibiotics, or any mention of infection at follow-up/emergency visits within the first month postoperatively. RESULTS The overall rate of SSI was 3.1% and 0% for phonomicrosurgery and open phonosurgery cases, respectively. For phonomicrosurgery, there was no difference in the rate of SSI for patients who received or did not receive antibiotics perioperatively: 2.9% versus 3.2% (P = 0.99). Similarly, there was no difference in the infection rate for open phonosurgical cases. CONCLUSION Infection rates after endoscopic and open phonosurgery are low. In this study, we found no evidence to suggest a protective effect associated with postoperative use of antibiotics. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 130:1128-1131, 2020.
Modeling Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer

This chapter presents the generalized macroscopic (integral) and microscopic (differential) conservation equations for multiphase systems for both local-instance and averaged formulations. The instantaneous formulation requires a differential balance for each phase, combined with appropriate jump and boundary conditions to match the solution of these governing equations at the interfaces. The averaged formulations are obtained by averaging the governing conservation equations within a small time-interval (time average) or a small control volume (spatial average). The governing conservation equations for the multidimensional, multi-fluid, homogeneous, mixture and separated models are also discussed as well as area-averaged governing conservation equations for one-dimensional flows.
Environmental and Economic Trade-Offs of City Vehicle Fleet Electrification and Photovoltaic Installation in the U.S. PJM Interconnection

Several cities are considering both photovoltaic (PV) generation and electric vehicles (EVs). A city evaluating a transition to an EV fleet has different decision criteria than private actors. This...
Flagellar dynamics reveal large fluctuations and kinetic limit in the Escherichia coli chemotaxis network

Abstract Biochemical signaling networks allow living cells to adapt to a changing environment, but these networks must cope with unavoidable number fluctuations (“noise”) in their molecular constituents. Escherichia coli chemotaxis, by which bacteria modulate their random run/tumble swimming pattern to navigate their environment, is a paradigm for the role of noise in cell signaling. The key signaling protein, CheY, when activated by (reversible) phosphorylation, causes a switch in the rotational direction of the flagellar motors propelling the cell, leading to tumbling. CheY-P concentration, [CheY-P], is thus a measure of the chemotaxis network’s output, and temporal fluctuations in [CheY-P] provide a proxy for network noise. However, measuring these fluctuations in the single cell, at the relevant timescale of individual run and tumble events, remains a challenge. Here we quantify the short-timescale (0.5-5 s) fluctuations in [CheY-P] from the switching dynamics of individual flagella, observed using time-resolved fluorescence microscopy of optically trapped E. coli cells. This approach reveals large [CheY-P] fluctuations at steady state, which may play a critical role in driving flagellar switching and cell tumbling. A stochastic theoretical model, inspired by work on gene expression noise, points to CheY activation occurring in bursts, driving the large [CheY-P] fluctuations. When the network is stimulated chemically to higher activity, we observe a dramatic decrease in [CheY-P] fluctuations. Our stochastic model shows that an intrinsic kinetic ceiling on network activity places an upper limit on [CheY-P], which when encountered suppresses its fluctuations. This limit may also prevent cells from tumbling unproductively in steep gradients. Significance Statement Bacteria use intracellular signaling networks to navigate and adapt to their changing environment. These networks must cope with fluctuations in their molecular constituents, but the role this noise plays in cell behavior is not well understood. Here, we present a novel approach to quantify network noise in individual Escherichia coli cells. Our measurements show that the network exhibits larger-than-expected fluctuations when operating at a steady state; these fluctuations decrease dramatically when the network is activated by a chemical stimulus. A model inspired by gene expression noise studies recapitulates our findings and suggests that large fluctuations are driven by ‘bursts’ in signaling, drawing a parallel between the operating principles of gene regulatory and protein signaling networks.
A course-based undergraduate research experience examining neurodegeneration in Drosophila melanogaster teaches students to think, communicate, and perform like scientists

As educators strive to incorporate more active learning and inquiry-driven exercises into STEM curricula, Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) are becoming more common in undergraduate laboratory courses. Here we detail a CURE developed in an upper-level undergraduate genetics course at Yeshiva University, centered on the Drosophila melanogaster ortholog of the human neurodegeneration locus PLA2G6/PARK14. Drosophila PLA2G6 mutants exhibit symptoms of neurodegeneration, such as attenuated lifespan and decreased climbing ability with age, which can be replicated by neuron-specific knockdown of PLA2G6. To ask whether the neurodegeneration phenotype could be caused by loss of PLA2G6 in specific neuronal subtypes, students used GAL4-UAS to perform RNAi knockdown of PLA2G6 in subsets of neurons in the Drosophila central nervous system and measured age-dependent climbing ability. We organized our learning objectives for the CURE into three broad goals of having students think, communicate, and perform like scientists. To assess how well students achieved these goals, we developed a detailed rubric to analyze written lab reports, administered pre- and post-course surveys, and solicited written feedback. We observed striking gains related to all three learning goals, and students reported a high degree of satisfaction. We also observed significantly improved understanding of the scientific method by students in the CURE as compared to the prior year's non-CURE genetics lab students. Thus, this CURE can serve as a template to successfully engage students in novel research, improve understanding of the scientific process, and expose students to the use of Drosophila as a model for human neurodegenerative disease.
Contralateral Tongue Muscle Activation during Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation

ObjectiveThe effectiveness of upper airway stimulation via hypoglossal nerve stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea depends upon the pattern of tongue muscle activation produced. This study invest...
NUCLEAR-TO-NATURE LAND CONVERSION

Postnuclear land conversion has gained attention as more civilian nuclear power reactors reach their design life. To date, most former nuclear power plant sites have been converted into another pow...
Listening to Women: A Qualitative Analysis of Experiences after Complications from Mesh Mid-urethral Sling Surgery.

Objective To gain a detailed understanding of women's experiences after undergoing revision surgery for mesh mid-urethral sling (MUS) complications, qualitatively organize those experiences, and present insights as potential springboards for future research. Methods We conducted a series of semistructured focus groups and interviews of patients who had undergone mesh MUS revision surgery at a single tertiary referral institution. Discussions were recorded, transcribed, de-identified, and analyzed using deductive and inductive content analysis. Two researchers independently performed line-by-line coding and 2 additional researchers reviewed the codes and transcripts as an audit. Results Nineteen women participated in the study. Complications from mesh MUS surgery impacted participants psychologically, socially, sexually, and physically. Participants recounted that risks and alternatives to MUS surgery were understated during the informed consent process whereas benefits were overstated. Participants shared insights into negative and positive ways surgeons responded to postoperative complications and how their experiences impacted the patient-surgeon relationship. Conclusion The impact of complications from mesh MUS surgery is broad and can involve multiple domains of a woman's life. Improved pre-operative patient preparedness, empathetic response toward patients who present with complications, prompt referral to surgeons with experience in mesh MUS complications and multidisciplinary care will likely improve the patient experience and can serve as foci for future studies.
Skin, Hair, and Nail Supplements: Marketing and Labeling Concerns

Background and objective Dietary supplements advertised to “boost collagen” or for “skin, hair, and nail” health are becoming increasingly popular, despite a lack of evidence to support their use. These products are not regulated by the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and hence there is no centralized database listing current products. The goal of this study was to document and examine the labeling and marketing methods of these products. Methods Supplements including the words “glow,” “beauty,” “skin,” “hair,” or “nails” on the label were included in the sample. Seven stores within a 3-mile radius were included. Results A total of 176 unique supplements were identified. It was found that most products lacked independent testing; many utilized outdated daily values (DVs) of nutrients. Some had confusing dosing instructions, and most products made health-related marketing claims. Conclusion Dermatologists and primary care providers should be aware of the marketing claims commonly made by these products. Patients should be educated that these claims are generally not verified by independent testing agencies, the U.S. FDA, or by high-quality randomized control trials.
Novel variants in the stem cell niche factor WNT2B define the disease phenotype as a congenital enteropathy with ocular dysgenesis.

WNT2B is a member of the Wnt family, a group of signal transduction proteins involved in embryologic development and stem cell renewal and maintenance. We recently reported homozygous nonsense variants in WNT2B in three individuals with severe, neonatal-onset diarrhea, and intestinal failure. Here we present a fourth case, from a separate family, with neonatal diarrhea associated with novel compound heterozygous WNT2B variants. One of the two variants was a frameshift variant (c.423del [p.Phe141fs]), while the other was a missense change (c.722 G > A [p.G241D]) that we predict through homology modeling to be deleterious, disrupting post-translational acylation. This patient presented as a neonate with severe diet-induced (osmotic) diarrhea and growth failure resulting in dependence on parenteral nutrition. Her gastrointestinal histology revealed abnormal cellular architecture particularly in the stomach and colon, including oxyntic atrophy, abnormal distribution of enteroendocrine cells, and a paucity of colonic crypt glands. In addition to her gastrointestinal findings, she had bilateral corneal clouding and atypical genital development later identified as a testicular 46,XX difference/disorder of sexual development. Upon review of the previously reported cases, two others also had anterior segment ocular anomalies though none had atypical genital development. This growing case series suggests that variants in WNT2B are associated with an oculo-intestinal (and possibly gonadal) syndrome, due to the protein's putative involvement in multiple developmental and stem cell maintenance pathways.
Structure of the oscillon: The dynamics of attractive self-interaction

Real scalar fields with attractive self-interaction may form self-bound states, called oscillons. These dense objects are ubiquitous in leading theories of dark matter and inflation; of particular interest are long-lived oscillons which survive past 14 Gyr, offering dramatic astrophysical signatures into the present day. We introduce a new formalism for computing the properties of oscillons with improved accuracy, which we apply to study the internal structure of oscillons and to identify the physical mechanisms responsible for oscillon longevity. In particular, we show how imposing realistic boundary conditions naturally selects a near-minimally radiating solution and how oscillon longevity arises from its geometry. Furthermore, we introduce a natural vocabulary for the issue of oscillon stability, which we use to predict new features in oscillon evolution. This framework allows for new efficient algorithms, which we use to address questions of whether and to what extent long-lived oscillons are fine-tuned. Finally, we construct a family of potentials supporting ultra-long-lived oscillons, with lifetimes in excess of ${10}^{17}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{yr}$.
Nonideal polar residues in the core of the coiled coil of FtsLB are critical for modulating its stability and activation

Abstract The FtsLB complex is a critical regulator of bacterial cell division, acting as a switch that modulates cell wall reconstruction. Evidence indicates that FtsLB exists in either an off or on state which supports the corresponding activation state of the peptidoglycan synthase complex FtsWI. In Escherichia coli, residues within FtsLB that are critical for this activation are located in a region near the C-terminal end of the periplasmic coiled coil, raising questions about the precise role of this conserved domain in the mechanism. Here, we investigate an unusual cluster of polar amino acids occurring within the core of the coiled coil. These amino acids likely reduce the structural stability of the domain and thus may be important for governing conformational changes. We found that mutating these positions to hydrophobic residues increased the thermal stability of FtsLB but caused cell division defects, suggesting that the coiled-coil domain is an intentionally “detuned” structural element. In addition, suppressor mutations were identified within the polar cluster, indicating that the precise identity of the polar amino acids is important for fine-tuning the structural balance between the off and on states. Based on energetic and sequence propensity considerations, we propose a revised structural model of the tetrameric FtsLB (named the “Y-model”) in which the periplasmic domain splits into a pair of coiled-coil branches. In this configuration, the polar amino acids participate in packing within the core, but their hydrophilic terminal moieties remain more favorably exposed to water than in the original four-helix bundle model (“I-model”). The Y-model remains well structured during molecular dynamics simulations, unlike the I-model, and satisfies all known experimental constraints. For this reason, we propose the Y-model as the configuration of the coiled coil of FtsLB and that a shift in this architecture, dependent on its marginal stability, is involved in activating the complex during the process that triggers septal cell wall reconstruction.
Prevention of eating disorders: 2020 in review.

Fifteen prevention-related publications in Eating Disorders during 2020 are reviewed. Two models frame this analysis: (1) the Mental Health Intervention Spectrum: health promotion → types of preven...
Assessment of the Potential of Three Attritor-milled and Consolidated Nanostructured Materials for Sliding Wear-resistant Applications

This paper deals with the assessment of the potential of nanocrystalline tungsten carbide-cobalt (WCCo), titanium disilicide (TiSi 2 ) and titanium silicide (Ti 5 Si 3 ) for sliding wear-resistant applications. All the materials were milled in a laboratory attritor and the milled powders were consolidated using equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) process in three cases and chemical consolidation using polycarbosilane (allylhydridopolycarbosilane-AHPCS) in one case. The microhardness of each consolidated sample was measured using a Vickers hardness tester. The crystallite sizes of WCCo, Ti 5 Si 3 and TiSi 2 consolidates after ECAE and Ti5Si3 after attritor milling and prior to chemical consolidation were determined using X-ray diffraction and, the relationship between the crystallite size and microhardness in these cases was examined. The data on microhardness of all the samples was analyzed with reference to current literature to assess the potential of each consolidate for sliding wearresistant applications. The results indicate that attritor-milled Ti 5 Si 3 consolidated using polycarbosilane as the binder appears to have the best potential for sliding wear-resistant applications. The experimental data reported in this paper was obtained by former graduate students under the direction of the author at Lamar University.
Robust Gaussian JSCC Under the Near-Infinity Bandwidth Regime with Side Information at the Receiver

In this paper, minimum energy required to achieve a distortion-noise profile is studied for robust transmission of Gaussian sources over Gaussian channels when there is side information about the source at the receiver. The distortion-noise profile is a function indicating the maximum allowed distortion value for each channel noise level and side information quality, where neither are known at the transmitter. It is shown here that uncoded transmission is optimal for (inversely) linear profiles. Turning then to staircase profiles, a proposed coding scheme is studied to obtain an upper bound to the minimum energy needed. Conversely, a general family of lower bounds is derived for the minimum required energy and compared against the upper bound.
The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate.

Beginning with 21 US schools of education, the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) has created a network of education faculty who are differentiating the EdD from the PhD in order to...
Alkaline degradation of polysaccharides.

Publisher Summary Recently, the study of alkaline degradation has been re-opened, with the objective of using it as a means of determining the structures of oligo- and polysaccharides and of oxidized polysaccharides. That interest has indeed been rekindled is attested by the recent reviews on saccharinic acids: on the modification of monosaccharides in alkaline solution, and on the hot alkali stability of chemically-treated, cellulose fibers. Ether derivatives of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and alkali-sensitive glycosides' have been used as models in determining the effect of alkalis on oxygen-free solutions of polysaccharides and oxidized polysaccharides. Alkaline degradation of polysaccharides begins, in general, at the reducing end of the molecule and proceeds in a stepwise manner through the anhydroglycose chain. Consequently, an understanding of the effects of aqueous, alkaline solutions on the reducing end-group (or on modifications of it) is essential to comprehension of the mechanism of alkaline degradation. Reducing glycose units of polysaccharide chains will be transformed, in part, to their C2-epimers in alkaline solution. The classical transformation of Lobry de Bruyn and Alberda van Ekenstein is a base-catalyzed enolization giving an enediol, which may either revert to the starting aldose or be converted to epimers of the original aldose; they showed that the main product is the ketose. However, the ions may also be in equilibrium by prototropy, without transition through an enediol.