cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
API Design Reviews at Scale

The number of APIs produced by Google's various business units grew at an astounding rate over the last decade, the result of which was a user experience containing wild inconsistencies and usability problems. There was no single issue that dominated the usability problems; rather, users suffered a death from a thousand papercuts. A lightweight, scalable, distributed design review process was put into place that has improved our APIs and the efficacy of our many API designers. Challenges remain, but the API design reviews at scale program has started successfully.
Nonhuman Primate Dermatology

Clinical skin disease in the nonhuman primate (NHP) is common and generally similar in appearance, clinical approach, and therapy to that seen in other animals and humans. Because most skin diseases of NHP are potentially zoonotic, care must be taken when handling the animals. Traumatic injury to the skin with secondary bacterial infection is the most common condition seen clinically. Virus-induced skin disease is probably- the next most commonly seen, followed by mycotic infections, parasitisms, cancer, and miscellaneous rare conditions.
A lot of hard work, but doable: Pregnancy experiences of women with type-1 diabetes.

ABSTRACTDespite many medical advances, pregnant women with type-1 diabetes are still considered to be at high risk. Previous research suggests that physicians’ focus on strict glycemic control and negative outcomes can result in fear and uncertainty about undertaking pregnancy. The present study was designed to gain insight into the lived pregnancy experiences of women with type-1 diabetes and to solicit their thoughts on what health care providers could do to assist them to have a healthy pregnancy. Ten U.S. women with type-1 diabetes who were currently pregnant and/or had previously given birth participated in structured interviews. They described the hard work required to attain the strict glycemic control necessary during pregnancy to maintain their health and that of their fetus. However, they found diabetes and pregnancy to be a more positive and successful experience than they had anticipated. The results suggest that early diabetes education, pregnancy planning, and social support are important, y...
Prenatal Whole Genome Sequencing: An Argument for Professional Self-Regulation.

The prospect of sequencing a fetus's whole genome raises a number of fraught ethical concerns. Critics worry that new genetic techniques will enable parents to select particular traits in their chi...
Stroke Chameleons and Stroke Mimics in the Emergency Department.

We discuss the frequency of stroke misdiagnosis in the emergency department (ED), identify common diagnostic pitfalls, describe strategies to reduce diagnostic error, and detail ongoing research. The National Academy of Medicine has re-defined and highlighted the importance of diagnostic errors for patient safety. Recent rates of stroke under-diagnosis (false-negative cases, “stroke chameleons”) range from 2–26% and 30–43% for stroke over-diagnosis (false-positive cases, “stroke mimics”). Failure to diagnosis stroke can preclude time-sensitive treatments and has been associated with poor outcomes. Strategies have been developed to improve detection of posterior circulation stroke syndromes, but ongoing work is needed to reduce under-diagnosis in other atypical stroke presentations. The published rates of harm associated with stroke over-diagnosis, particularly thrombolysis of stroke mimics, remain low. Additional strategies to improve the accuracy of stroke diagnosis should focus on rapid clinical reasoning in the time-sensitive setting of acute ischemic stroke and identifying imperfections in the healthcare system which may contribute to diagnostic error.
Stigmatized Identities, Psychological Distress, and Physical Health: Intersections of Homelessness and Race

This study of a racially and ethnically diverse group of homeless adults examined the relationship between perceived homelessness stigma and psychological distress, physical health, and avoidance of services. We also explored independent and interactive effects of perceived racial stigma and homelessness stigma on these outcomes for members of racially stigmatized groups. Women (n = 73) and men (n = 65) experiencing homelessness (81 Persons of Color, 57 White) completed survey questions about stigma, mental and physical health, service avoidance, and background characteristics. Homelessness stigma predicted greater psychological distress, poorer physical health, and increased avoidance of services after controlling for gender, race, age, chronic mental illness status, and time homeless. For Persons of Color, perceived racial and homelessness stigma interacted in predicting outcomes: among those reporting low and moderate levels of racial stigma, homelessness stigma predicted psychological distress and poor health, whereas for those reporting high levels of racial stigma, psychological and physical health was poor regardless of the level of homelessness stigma. Additionally, perceived racial stigma from service providers predicted higher levels of service avoidance. Persons of Color also reported higher levels of racial stigma than did White respondents. Glaring racial disparities in homelessness make understanding and addressing the burdens of racism for individuals experiencing homelessness a social justice imperative. Our findings suggest that social stigma and the intersections among stigmatized identities are important for understanding health and health-related behaviors in this vulnerable population.
Theoretical Introduction to Discourse and the Body: Foucault, Butler, Queer Theory, and Transgender Studies

Beginning with basic philosophical distinctions that separate the mind from objects in the world, the author then moves to the philosophy of Michel Foucault, who argues that our understanding of sex arises from how different establishments (such as medical, psychological, and criminal) talk about it. This move demonstrates a major shift in philosophical understandings of sexual embodiment: from a natural “object” in the world to a focal point within “discourse”. Judith Butler develops this position further, arguing that our very experience of our bodies is especially mediated by “performativity”. Some critics from trans studies argue, however, that trans experience is eclipsed by those queer philosophies that understand our bodies to be entirely discursive or performative. Thus the question arises whether some aspects of sexual embodiment might indicate rudimentary experiences that exceed the limits of discourse and performativity.
Quantitative Genetic Analysis of Variation in Adult Stature: The Contribution of Path Analysis

In textbook discussions of quantitative inheritance, human adult stature is invariably cited as an example of a highly multi-factorial trait, normally distributed in given breeding groups, showing substantial genetic determination, and presenting no evidence of X-linked influence or other major gene effects (see Cavalli-Sforza and Bodmer, 1971). Although continuing research adds more detail to this picture, especially in revealing the contribution of nutrition and other environmental effects, the essential outline remains valid at the present time. In particular, attempts to detect somatic and X-linked major gene influence on adult stature have thus far yielded negative results (Fain, 1978).
Identification of resistance to Aspergillus flavus infection in cotton germplasm

Natural resistance in cottonseed to Aspergillus flavus infection has not been explored to date. A green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing A. flavus strain was used to assess the resistance of se...
Optical modulation with tunable hybrid metasurfaces

We present two compact tunable hybrid electronic-nanophotonic planar nanostructures to achieve efficient modulation of optical radiation. The reported designs are based on plasmonic and dielectric metasurfaces combined with graphene and indium tin oxide. Several new integrated nanophotonic components are envisioned based on the proposed devices, such as efficient electro-optical transmission and absorption modulators, new sensitive biosensors, and tunable photodetectors.
The clinical utility of a 30-minute neuropsychological assessment battery in inpatient stroke rehabilitation

Abstract Cognitive assessment is an important component of inpatient stroke rehabilitation. Few studies have empirically evaluated the clinical utility of specific neuropsychological measures in this setting. We investigated the psychometric properties and clinical utility of a 30-minute neuropsychological battery developed by the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the Canadian Stroke Network (CSN). Clinical data were analyzed from 100 individuals with mild-moderate stroke severity on an acute inpatient rehabilitation unit who completed the NINDS-CSN battery at admission. The battery comprised the Symbol-Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Trail Making Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Animal Naming, and the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised. We evaluated the battery's distribution of scores, frequency of impaired performance, internal consistency, and ability to predict rehabilitation gain and independence in cognitively-based instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) at discharge. Results indicated that the NINDS-CSN battery was sensitive to cognitive impairment, demonstrated moderately strong internal consistency, and predicted discharge IADL. The SDMT demonstrated the strongest sensitivity to impairment and predictive validity. The NINDS-CSN battery is a clinically useful assessment battery in acute inpatient stroke rehabilitation. Complex attention and processing speed performance may be most informative in predicting amount of rehabilitation gain and IADL functioning at discharge.
SEQUENCES OF MINIMAL FRACTIONS OF 2n DESIGNS OF RESOLUTION V

Abstract A minimal resolution V fraction of a 2n factorial design is a fraction with exactly 1 + n + (n/2) = (n2 + n + 2)/2 = N points from which we can estimate the mean, all n main effects and all (n/2) two factor interactions when the higher order interactions are suppressed from the model. Two obvious examples are the complete 22 factorial and the half replicate of the 25 factorial defined by I=± ABCDE.
Mutational landscape of uterine and ovarian carcinosarcomas.

5589Background: Carcinosarcomas (CS) of the uterus and ovary are highly aggressive neoplasms containing both carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. While an increasing body of evidence supports th...
Shear-thickening behavior of gelatinized waxy starch dispersions promoted by the starch molecular characteristics.

Abstract An unusual shear-thickening behavior was observed in 10% w/w gelatinized waxy potato and waxy corn starch dispersions at shear rates around 20 s−1. However, the phenomenon was not found in gelatinized dispersions of waxy rice. The aim of this study was to investigate reasons for the observed shear-thickening behavior as well as its relationship with the amylopectin molecular structure. This unique phenomenon only appears at a shear rate of about 20 s−1 during the increasing shear rate stage of the first cycle of a two-cycle steady shear flow test. After 7 d storage, the shear-thickening behavior of waxy potato starch dispersions disappeared, while it remained in waxy corn starch dispersions. A small strain temperature sweep test applied to waxy potato starch dispersions stored for 7 d showed a significant increase in the elastic behavior of dispersions at temperatures lower than 60 °C. This behavior was not observed on fresh and 7 d stored waxy corn and waxy rice dispersions. The study provides valuable information on a unique rheological behavior of waxy starch dispersions and its relationship to the amylopectin structure, thus opening opportunities for the design of novel foods with desired nutritional and textural properties.
Overcoming Barriers to Prescribing Buprenorphine for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: Recommendations from Rural Physicians.

Purpose The United States is in the midst of a severe opioid use disorder epidemic. Buprenorphine is an effective office-based treatment that can be prescribed by physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants with a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) waiver. However, many providers report barriers that keep them from either getting a DEA waiver or fully using it. The study team interviewed rural physicians successfully prescribing buprenorphine to identify strategies for overcoming commonly cited barriers for providing this service. Methods Interview candidates were randomly selected from a list of rurally located physicians with a DEA waiver to prescribe buprenorphine who reported treating high numbers of patients on a 2016 survey. Forty-three rural physicians, who were prescribing buprenorphine to a high number of patients, were interviewed about how they overcame prescribing barriers previously identified in that survey. Findings Interviewed physicians reported numerous ways to overcome common barriers to providing buprenorphine treatment in rural areas. Key recommendations included ways to (1) get started and maintain medication-assisted treatment, (2) minimize DEA intrusion and medication diversion, and (3) address the lack of mental health providers and stigma surrounding opioid use disorder (OUD). Overall, physicians found providing this service to be very rewarding. Conclusions Despite known barriers, rural physicians around the country have been successful in adding buprenorphine treatment to their practices. Nonprescribing providers can learn from the strategies used by successful prescribers to add this service.
UNIT 8.4 Application of Experimental Stressors in Laboratory Rodents

This unit presents eight separate stressor protocols for laboratory rodents. Stress induction is a critical element in the study of neural and neuroendocrine mechanisms involved in establishing and maintaining a state of stress. The first four procedures, immobilization, footshock, swimming, and noise, involve acute exposure to noxious stimuli. The next three procedures, social isolation, resident/intruder aggression, and maternal deprivation, induce social disruption by withdrawal from a group housing condition, attack within the unfamiliar territory of a dominant male, or segregation of a preweanling pup from its mother, respectively. The final procedure, sleep deprivation, involves passive denial of the opportunity to sleep. Support protocols are provided to address the need for environmental acclimation and calming procedures prior to any stress-related studies (including, for rats, handling of the animals as a calming measure) and to detail a simple method of quantifying the response to a given stressor by direct measurement of levels of the stress hormones adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone. Keywords: stress; rat; mouse; ACTH; corticosterone; anxiety
Malondialdehyde–Acetaldehyde Adducts and Antibody Responses in Rheumatoid Arthritis–Associated Interstitial Lung Disease

OBJECTIVE To compare serum anti-malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (anti-MAA) antibody levels and MAA expression in lung tissue from patients with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) to those found in controls. METHODS Anti-MAA antibody (IgA, IgM, IgG) concentrations were measured in patients with RA-ILD and compared to those of RA patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and RA patients without lung disease. Associations between anti-MAA antibody with RA-ILD were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Lung tissue from patients with RA-ILD, other ILD, or emphysema, and from controls (n = 3 per group) were stained for MAA, citrulline, macrophages (CD68), T cells (CD3), B cells (CD19/CD27), and extracellular matrix proteins (type II collagen, fibronectin, vimentin). Tissue expression and colocalization with MAA were quantified and compared. RESULTS Among 1,823 RA patients, 90 had prevalent RA-ILD. Serum IgA and IgM anti-MAA antibody concentrations were higher in RA-ILD than in RA with COPD or RA alone (P = 0.005). After adjustment for covariates, the highest quartiles of IgA anti-MAA antibody concentration (odds ratio 2.09 [95% confidence interval 1.11-3.90]) and IgM (odds ratio 2.23 [95% confidence interval 1.19-4.15]) were significantly associated with the presence of RA-ILD. MAA expression in RA-ILD lung tissue was greater than in tissue from all other groups (P < 0.001), and it colocalized with citrulline (r = 0.79), CD19+ B cells (r = 0.78), and extracellular matrix proteins (type II collagen [r = 0.72] and vimentin [r = 0.77]) to the greatest degree in RA-ILD. CONCLUSION Serum IgA and IgM anti-MAA antibody is associated with ILD among RA patients. MAA is highly expressed in RA-ILD lung tissue, where it colocalizes with other RA autoantigens, autoreactive B cells, and extracellular matrix proteins, highlighting its potential role in the pathogenesis of RA-ILD.
Epidermal growth factor induced upregulation of WISP-2 mRNA expression in breast tumor cells is mediated through EGFR-ER-α dependent pathways

4253 Purpose: WISP-2 (CCN5) is a Wnt-1-induced signaling protein identified as a member of CCN growth factor family. We have shown previously that WISP-2 is a serum, estrogen and progesterone-induced early responsive gene. Estrogen and progesterone-induced upregulations of this gene are mediated through ER-α and PR, respectively. Moreover, WISP-2 expression has been found to be associated with serum and estrogen-induced ER positive MCF-7 breast tumor cell proliferation, but not with the proliferation of ER negative normal mammary epithelial cells. As epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a mitogen for breast tumor cells and it has been proven that EGF occasionally cross-talks with ER-α to exert its activity, present study was undertaken to determine whether EGF induces WISP-2 mRNA expression in ER positive and ER negative breast tumor cell lines as well as in human mammary epithelial cells with or without ER transfected, and whether this effect is mediated through EGFR alone or EGFR-ER networking is essential. Materials and Methods: Experiments were performed using ER+-EGFR+ MCF-7, ER- and EGFR+ MDA-MB-231 breast tumor cells, and ER-α-transfected or vehicle transfected EGFR+ normal mammary epithelial cells. Effect of EGF on WISP-2 mRNA expression was determined using non-radioactive northern blot analyses. EGFR mediated regulation of WISP-2 expression was determined by silencing the EGFR expression using EGFR specific siRNA. Results: In the presence of 10 nM to 1 μM EGF for 24h WISP-2 mRNA expression was significantly increased in ER+ and EGFR+ MCF-7 breast tumor cells, while the effect of EGF was undetected in ER- but EGFR+ breast tumor cells as well as ER-α transfected EGFR+ normal mammary epithelial cells. Moreover, the up-regulatory effect of EGF on WISP-2 expression in MCF-7 cells was abolished by the blocking of EGFR expression using EGFR specific siRNAs. Conclusions: In summary this study indicates that EGF enhances WISP-2 mRNA expression in breast tumor cells but not in normal mammary epithelial cells and this upregulation is mediated through a complex EGFR-ER-α-signaling pathway.
The effect of trailing edge extensions on the performance of the Göttingen 797 and the Wortmann FX 63-137 aerofoil sections at Reynolds numbers between 3 x 10 5 and 1 x 10 6

The effect of trailing edge extensions was tested for the twodimensional Gottingen 797 and Wortmann FX 63-137 aerofoil sections with smooth surfaces at chord Reynolds numbers from 3 x 10 5 to 1 x 10 6 in the 8ft x 6ft low speed wind-tunnel at the Cranfield Institute of Technology. Force measurements were made on the basic aerofoil sections and with extension plates of 10% and 20% chord set tangential to the upper surface at the trailing edge. It was verified that the addition of an extension plate effectively brings about an increase of maximum lift coefficient and an improved lift-to-drag ratio for the Gottingen aerofoil section. However, the effect of the extension plate was small on the Wortmann aerofoil section.
Pilot Evaluation of Community-Based Vocal Health Screenings.

Summary Introduction Community-based health fairs can help identify at-risk populations, improve health literacy, and facilitate access to medical services. No community-based screenings specifically targeting vocal health were identified in the literature. The purpose of this study is to compare the results of community-based vocal health screenings across two populations: a group of community members with unknown risk of voice problems, and a group of actors belonging to a profession with a known increased risk of voice problems. Methods Vocal health screenings were conducted at two free, community-based health fair events in the Los Angeles area. One was open to the public, and one was organized specifically for actors who are members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. A total of 142 community members (94 nonactors and 48 actors) were administered a questionnaire on current vocal health and voice-related quality of life indices (Vocal Handicap Index-10, Vocal Fatigue Index), followed by review and discussion with a laryngologist or a speech pathologist trained in assessment and treatment of voice disorders. Results A significantly higher percentage of actors (55.1%) reported current voice problems than nonactors (33.0%; χ2 = 7.122, df = 1, P = 0.008). Additionally, as measured by the Vocal Fatigue Index 2 subscale, actors reported a greater amount of perceived pain with phonation than the nonactors. Despite over half of the actors reporting current voice concerns, only 7% reported having sought medical advice regarding these concerns. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that vocal health screenings can help identify persons with voice complaints. However, in order to determine if vocal health screenings help close prevalence-presentation gap and are useful to both medical professionals and participants, more research is needed.
Pars plana vitrectomy for myopic traction maculopathy

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) on myopic traction maculopathy (MTM). Methods The clinical data of 31 eyes of 29 patients with MTM diagnosed by time domain optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT) and slit-lamp ophthalmoscopy were retrospectively analyzed. The cases were divided into 2 groups according to the stage of MTM: 12 eyes of 10 patients at the early stage of MTM were in group 1 ; 19 eyes of patients at the most Advanced stage of MTM were in group 2. All of these eyes had undergone PPV with 10%-15% inert gas filling. The patients were followed post-operatively for 6 to 12 months with the average of 8 months, and the bes corrected visual acuity, reattachment of macular and retina was examined. Results The improvement rate of visual acuity after surgery for 6 months was 100% in group 1, and 63.2% in group 2 had (12/19); the visual acuity in group 1 was apparently better than that in group 2 (Z=-5. 477, P=0.000). The macular hole disappeared without exposure of the pigment epithelium in all eyes of Group 1, but only 3 eyes in Group 2. For Group 2 patients, 3 eyes had reattached retina with macular holes, and 3 eyes had detached retina with macular holes. The recovery of macular configuration in Group 1 was obviously better than that in Group 2 (Z= -4.318, P=0.000). Conclusion The surgical intervention of MTM before the formation of macular hole and retinal detachment may prevent the formation of macular holes. Key words: Myopia; degenerative/complications; Retina diseases/surgery; Vitrectomy
Trends in the Access and Cost of Photodynamic Therapy Among Medicare Beneficiaries in the United States, 2012-2017.

This cross-sectional study evaluates the geographical variation in the availability of photodynamic therapy for the Medicare population in the United States and characterizes the temporal trends of photodynamic therapy cost and use from 2012 to 2017.
Flow Characteristics of Axisymmetric Expansions

Characteristics of flow for four abrupt expansions with half angles of 15○, 30○, 45○, and 90○ have been determined by a combination of analytical and experimental means. The data, duly corrected for the errors inherent in the measuring technique, are checked, and the development of the force field is determined through the application of the momentum equation. The transformation of mean energy, the rate of production of turbulence, and the rate of dissipation of turbulence energy are determined. The evaluated head-loss results from the air-duct studies are checked by independent measurements in a water-pipe assembly. Because of the complex nature of the phenomena, it is not possible to express the results and the details of the flow characteristics in simple mathematical terms. Therefore, the kinetic energy of the mean motion, kinetic energy of turbulence, pressure distribution, turbulence production, and turbulence shear are presented in the form of their spatial distribution for all expansion angles. Although not affecting the maximum intensity that the turbulence attains, the boundary proximity to the separation surface had a striking effect on the production and diffusion of turbulence to approximately a 32○ separation angle; the smaller the angle of expansion, the earlier is the onset of diffusion. Beyond that angle, the effect is insignificant.
A three-dimensional thalamocortical dataset for characterizing brain heterogeneity

Neural microarchitecture is heterogeneous, varying both across and within brain regions. The consistent identification of regions of interest is one of the most critical aspects in examining neurocircuitry, as these structures serve as the vital landmarks with which to map brain pathways. Access to continuous, three-dimensional volumes that span multiple brain areas not only provides richer context for identifying such landmarks, but also enables a deeper probing of the microstructures within. Here, we describe a three-dimensional X-ray microtomography imaging dataset of a well-known and validated thalamocortical sample, encompassing a range of cortical and subcortical structures from the mouse brain . In doing so, we provide the field with access to a micron-scale anatomical imaging dataset ideal for studying heterogeneity of neural structure.
Illi Anna Heger’s Grammatical Futurity

Illi Anna Heger’s 2013 comic-zine, Xier packt xiesen Koffer, proffers new possibilities for gender-inclusive German language with the introduction of their gender-neutral pronouns: xier (personal p...
Epidemiology and risk stratification of minor head injuries in school-going children.

INTRODUCTION Head injuries occur commonly in children and can lead to concussion injuries. We aim to describe the epidemiology of head injuries among school-going children and identify predictors of brain concussions in Singapore. METHODS This is a retrospective study of children 7-16 years old who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) of KK Women's and Children's Hospital in Singapore with minor head injury between June 2017 and August 2018. Data including demographics, clinical presentation, ED and hospital management were collected using a standardised electronic template. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify early predictors for brain concussion. Concussion symptoms were defined as persistent symptoms after admission, need for inpatient intervention, or physician concerns necessitating neuroimaging. RESULTS Among 1,233 children (mean age, 6.6 years; 72.6% boys) analysed, the commonest mechanism was falls (64.6%). Headache and vomiting were the most common presenting symptoms. A total of 395 (32.0%) patients required admission, and 277 (22.5%) had symptoms of concussion. Older age (13-16 years old) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-2.08), children involved in road traffic accidents (aOR 2.12, CI 1.17-3.85) and a presenting complaint of headache (aOR 2.64, CI 1.99-3.50) were significantly associated with symptoms of concussion. CONCLUSION This study provides a detailed description of the pattern of head injuries among school-going children in Singapore. High risk patients may require closer monitoring to detect post-concussion syndrome early.
CD133 mRNA-transfected dendritic cells induce coordinated cytotoxic and helper T cell responses against breast cancer stem cells.

Breast cancer, a leading cause of death yearly, has been shown to be initiated and propagated by cancer stem cells. CD133, a cell surface antigen, has been shown to be present on cancer stem cells of many solid tumors, including breast cancer. A limitation to targeting CD133 is major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted presentation of epitopes, leading to activation of only one arm of the immune system: either CD4+ helper T cells or CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. Thus, we hypothesized that by creating an MHC-independent vaccination, we would give rise to a sustained immune response against CD133 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBCs). We transfected CD133 mRNA into dendritic cells and then tested this in animal models of TNBC. We showed in these models the activation of both CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and CD4+ helper T cells by dendritic cell vaccination with modified CD133 mRNA, with subsequent decrease in tumor growth. This study for the first time demonstrates in a syngeneic mouse model of TNBC that targeting CD133, in an MHC-independent manner, is an effective strategy against the cancer stem cell population, leading to tumor abrogation.
Molecular Changes in Prader-Willi Syndrome Neurons Reveals Clues About Increased Autism Susceptibility.

Background: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by hormonal dysregulation, obesity, intellectual disability, and behavioral problems. Most PWS cases are caused by paternal interstitial deletions of 15q11.2-q13.1, while a smaller number of cases are caused by chromosome 15 maternal uniparental disomy (PW-UPD). Children with PW-UPD are at higher risk for developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than the neurotypical population. In this study, we used expression analysis of PW-UPD neurons to try to identify the molecular cause for increased autism risk. Methods: Dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) from neurotypical control and PWS subjects were differentiated to neurons for mRNA sequencing. Significantly differentially expressed transcripts among all groups were identified. Downstream protein analysis including immunocytochemistry and immunoblots were performed to confirm the transcript level data and pathway enrichment findings. Results: We identified 9 transcripts outside of the PWS critical region (15q11.2-q13.1) that may contribute to core PWS phenotypes. Moreover, we discovered a global reduction in mitochondrial transcripts in the PW-UPD +ASD group. We also found decreased mitochondrial abundance along with mitochondrial aggregates in the cell body and neural projections of +ASD neurons. Conclusions: The 9 transcripts we identified common to all PWS subtypes may reveal PWS specific defects during neurodevelopment. Importantly, we found a global reduction in mitochondrial transcripts in PW-UPD +ASD neurons versus control and other PWS subtypes. We then confirmed mitochondrial defects in neurons from individuals with PWS at the cellular level. Quantification of this phenotype supports our hypothesis that the increased incidence of ASD in PW-UPD subjects may arise from mitochondrial defects in developing neurons.
Measurement of material isotopics and atom number ratio with α-particle spectroscopy for a NIFFTE fission Time Projection Chamber actinide target

Abstract We present the results of a measurement of isotopic concentrations and atomic number ratio of a double-sided actinide target using α -spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The double-sided actinide target, with predominantly 239Pu on one side and 235U on the other, was used in the fission Time Projection Chamber (fissionTPC) for a measurement of the neutron-induced fission cross-section ratio between the two isotopes. The measured atomic number ratio is needed to extract an absolute measurement fission cross-section ratio. The 239Pu/235U atom number ratio was measured with a combination of mass spectrometry and α -spectroscopy with a planar silicon detector achieving uncertainties of less than 1%. Different strategies for estimating isotopic concentration from the α -spectrum are presented to demonstrate the potential of these methods for non-destructive target assay. We found that a combination of fitting spectra with constraints from mass spectrometry, and summing counts in a region of the spectrum provided the most consistent results with the lowest uncertainty.
Case 57: A Motor Vehicle Accident

You, as an anesthesiologist, are called to the emergency room (ER) to evaluate six people who have been involved in a motor vehicle accident (MVA). The ER doctor is 30 min’ drive away. The mission hospital you are working in is in the Ivory Coast, a country on the west coast of Africa.
On deembedding of port discontinuities in full-wave CAD models of multiport circuits

A systematic numerical methodology is proposed for the accurate deembedding of multiport discontinuities in full-wave numerical models of multiconductor microwave and millimeter-wave passive structures and high-speed digital interconnects. The discussed methodology is based on the earlier-proposed short-open calibration (SOC) procedure. The latter being a numerical analog of the experimental transmission-thru-reflection technique provides a consistent removal of the feed networks of the device-under-test over a wide range of frequencies. The treatment of multiport topologies is achieved through the continuation of the original scalar SOC method into the vector space. The new vector SOC method is easily combined with integral-equation-based method-of-moments electromagnetic-field solvers and allows for substantial flexibility in the choice of excitation mechanisms. Such commonly used method-of-moments driving schemes as ports locally backed up by a vertical conducting wall, ungrounded-internal differential ports, and via-mounted ports can be accurately deembedded within the framework of the vector SOC. Several numerical experiments are provided to validate the proposed multiport deembedding methodology and demonstrate its application.
Evaluating incidence, prevalence, and treatment trends in adult men with hypogonadism in the United States

No extensive studies have investigated current diagnosis and treatment trends of hypogonadism (HG) in adult men in the United States. Using a comprehensive commercial insurance database, we surveyed current trends in incidence, prevalence, and treatment of hypogonadism in the United States. We analyzed insurance claims data from 2008-2017 using the IBM MarketScan™ Commercial Claims and Encounters database for men ≥18. Overall, we estimated annual incidence at 16.1 cases per 100,000 person-years, with the highest incidence seen among men 35-44 years at 21.5 cases per 100,000 person-years (IRR 1.83; 95% CI 1.63, 2.06, p < 0.001) and among those living in the Southern United States at 22.6 cases per 100,000 person-years (IRR 1.96; 95% CI 1.76, 2.18, p < 0.001). The prevalence of HG across the study period increased from 0.78% to 5.4%, while treatment rates decreased from 32.9% to 20.8%. These study findings provide a large-scale view of current diagnosis rates and treatment of hypogonadism in adult men in the United States. Despite the increase in prevalence of disease, there is an observed decline in treatment rates after diagnosis. Further investigations are needed to identify factors driving the observed decline in healthcare utilization among men with hypogonadism.
NATURAL KILLER CELLS ARE DISTINCT FROM LECTIN-DEPENDENT EFFECTOR CELLS IN MAN AS DETERMINED BY THE TWO-TARGET CONJUGATE SINGLE CELL ASSAY

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the relationship between natural killer (NK) and lectin-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (LDCC) effector cells. LDCC was first described in a murine system. In a study described in the chapter, allospecific cytotoxic T lymphocytes were seen to lose their specificity and lyse nonspecific (syngenic or xenogeneic) targets when the lectins concanavalin A (Con A) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA) were added to the CTL-target cell mixture. Nonimmune, normal lymphoid populations were not able to mediate LDCC. In another study described in the chapter, the discontinuous Percoll gradient method was used to enrich for NK effectors, large granular lymphocytes (LGL) which, along with nonenriched peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL), were used as effectors. Using the two-target conjugate assay, it was attempted to simultaneously bind a single lymphocyte to both an NK target and an LDCC target with lysis of one or more targets observed. If a single effector cell kills both NK and LDCC targets, then the single effector can be called both an NK and LDCC effector cell. Alternately, if a single effector kills only one or the other target but not both, then, with the necessary controls, it can be concluded that NK and LDCC effector cells are distinct.
Audiologic Aspects of Mental Retardation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the audiologic aspects of mental retardation. The chapter describes the literature in a chronological sequence within the structure of four major phases or areas of activity. The first phase, determination of the incidence of hearing impairment among the retarded, revealed that the retarded have a significantly higher incidence of hearing impairment than is found in the general population. This finding stresses the need for increased audiologic programming, including aural (re)habilitation. The second phase, methodological and intermethod comparison research resulted from the problems encountered in testing some retarded subjects. This research has resulted in improved audiologic assessment procedures for the retarded. The third phase of investigation includes a number of reliability and intramethod comparison studies. Research in this area has demonstrated considerable reliability of many of the audiologic procedures used with many retarded individuals. The fourth and most limited phase is concerned with the (re)habilitation of the hearing impaired retardate. Although program needs have been stressed, there have not been any major research or demonstration projects in this area.
The Darwinian Genetic Code: An Adaptation for Adapting?

The genetic code is a ubiquitous interface between inert genetic information and living organisms, as such it plays a fundamental role in defining the process of evolution. There have been many attempts to identify features of the code that are themselves adaptations. So far, the strongest evidence for an adaptive code is that the assignments of amino acids (encoded objects) to codons (coding units) appear to be organized so as to minimize the change in amino acid hydrophobicity that results from random mutations. One possibility not previously discussed is that this feature of the code may in fact represent an adaptation to maximize the efficiency of adaptive evolution, particularly given the maximized connectedness of protein fitness landscapes afforded by the redundancy of the code.
Traffic balancing via smart packets

The World Wide Web (WWW) has caught people's attention since its inception and today is a major source of traffic in the Internet. WWW traffic is typically asymmetric: servers receive small requests but answer with large number of packets. To ensure good service, WWW servers require a large egress bandwidth to the Internet. We propose an innovative approach to connect Web servers to the Internet via many outgoing connections. We employ cognitive packet networks to make packets learn which link provides the best quality for each client so as to balance the WWW traffic effectively. Egress bandwidth can easily be increased by increasing the number of links to the Internet. The paper describes our traffic engineering approach, an implementation model, a testbed platform in the context of the Linux kernel, and measurement data; these indicate the usefulness of our proposal.
Source and transport controls on the movement of nitrate to public supply wells in selected principal aquifers of the United States

[1] In 2003–2005, systematic studies in four contrasting hydrogeologic settings were undertaken to improve understanding of source and transport controls on nitrate movement to public supply wells (PSW) in principal aquifers of the United States. Chemical, isotopic, and age tracer data show that agricultural fertilizers and urban septic leachate were the primary sources of large nitrate concentrations in PSW capture zones at Modesto, California (Central Valley aquifer system) and York, Nebraska (High Plains aquifer). Urban septic leachate and fertilizer (possibly nonfarm) were the primary sources of large nitrate concentrations in PSW capture zones at Woodbury, Connecticut (glacial aquifer system), and Tampa, Florida (Floridan aquifer system), respectively. Nitrate fluxes to the water table were larger in agricultural settings than urban settings, indicating that it would be beneficial to reduce PSW capture zone areas in agricultural regions. Mixing calculations indicate that about 50 to 85% of the nitrate in water from the PSW could be from those modern anthropogenic sources, with the remainder coming from sources in old (>50 years) recharge or sources in young recharge in undisturbed settings such as forests. Excess N2 concentrations and age tracers showed that denitrification at Modesto occurred gradually (first-order rate constant of 0.02/a) in a thick reaction zone following a ∼30-year lag time after recharge. Denitrification generally was not an important nitrate sink at Woodbury. At York and Tampa, denitrification occurred rapidly (0.5 to 6/a) in thin reaction zones in fine-grained sediments that separated the anoxic PSW producing zones from overlying oxic, high-nitrate ground water. Particle tracking showed that a major pathway by which anthropogenic nitrate reached the York and Tampa PSW was by movement through long well screens crossing multiple hydrogeologic units (York) and by movement through karst features (Tampa), processes which reduced ground water residence times in the denitrifying zones. These results illustrate how PSW vulnerability to nitrate contamination depends on complex variations and interactions between contaminant sources, reaction rates, transit times, mixing, and perturbation of ground water flow in contrasting hydrogeologic settings.
Tolerance and the Politics of Identity in the European Union

Objectives The basic research problem in this article is whether hostility toward out-groups is a product of events or whether the degree of hostility toward out-groups exists independently of such events in the form of a generalized bigotry. Methods We examine two countries that experienced threatening violent events from an unassimilated minority in order to determine if their levels of intolerance increased in the period between two runs of the World Values Survey when these violent events occurred. This article also examines six additional EU countries that did not experience such violent events. Results In the six countries that did not experience violent events, the level of tolerance increased between the two waves of the World Values Survey while tolerance decreased in the two countries that experienced violent events. Conclusions The strongest factor in fostering intolerance toward out-groups is a perception of a violent, existential threat to one's way of life. Our analyses tentatively suggest the following factor may exacerbate levels of intolerance: the presence and strength of a nativist or populist party of identity mobilizing a rejection of out-groups.
Regio- and stereospecific oxidation of 9,10-dihydroanthracene and 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene by naphthalene dioxygenase: structure and absolute stereochemistry of metabolites.

The oxidation of 9,10-dihydroanthracene and 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene was examined with mutant and recombinant strains expressing naphthalene dioxygenase from Pseudomonas putida (NCIB 9816.4. Salicylate-induced cells of P. putida strain 9816/11 and isopropylthiogalactopyranoside-induced cells of Escherichia coli JM109(DE3)(pDTG141) oxidized 9,10-dihydroanthracene to (+)-cis-1R,2S)-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2,9,10-tetrahydroanthracene (> 95% relative yield; > 95% enantiomeric excess) as the major product. 9-Hydroxy-9,10-dihydroanthracene ( 95% enantiomeric excess) and (+)-(S)-9-hydroxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (30% relative yield). The major reaction catalyzed by naphthalene dioxygenase with 9,10-dihydroanthracene and 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene was stereospecific dihydroxylation in which both of the previously undescribed cis-diene diols were of R configuration at the benzylic center adjacent to the bridgehead carbon atom. The results suggest that for benzocylic substrates, the location of benzylic carbons influences the type of reaction(s) catalyzed by naphthalene dioxygenase.
A data brief on the Smithsonian Abyssal Volcanic Glass Data File

[1] It is well known that the compositions of glasses quenched by contact with seawater are a good guide to unmodified erupted liquid compositions. We present here an updated version of the Smithsonian Abyssal Volcanic Glass Data File (AVGDF) of the major and minor element compositions of such glasses mainly from seafloor spreading centers determined by electron microprobe analyses. These data help define the major and minor element compositions of the most abundant terrestrial volcanic rock. The AVGDF contains 9050 individual glass analyses along with the sample donor, latitude, longitude, depth, tectonic setting, ship-cruise-dredge, and the major and minor elements SiO2, Al2O3, FeO*, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O, TiO2, P2O5, and MnO (for some samples). The samples are from 664 Atlantic, 28 Caribbean, 89 Indian, and 1304 Pacific localities. These include dredge, submersible, DSDP and ODP sites. The data serve to (1) map out and model processes associated with magma generation and fractionation in the asthenosphere and lithosphere beneath seafloor spreading centers and (2) as an educational aide for exercises in the use of such data at the graduate and undergraduate levels in geochemistry, geophysics, and igneous petrology. The extensive polished sample collection is available on loan for additional petrographic (in reflected light) or microbeam analyses.
Gender role ideology and the gender based differences in earnings

Much of the research on gender differences in occupational earnings still focuses on human capital and the structure of the labor market. However, these variables rarely explain even half of the gender gap in earnings. Most research has examined the impact of gender role ideology as it impacts occupational choice, which indirectly can impact earnings. Using data from the National Opinion Research Center General Social Surveys, this research focuses on the relationship between attitudes about gender roles and two variables: (a) earnings, and (b) occupational positions held by women and men. Findings show that traditional gender-role ideology contributes to lower observed earnings for both males and females, independent of the influences of human capital characteristics, occupational context, and ascribed characteristics. Results support socialization as a partial explanation for the gender-based earnings differences and suggest that, to the extent that economic rewards are used to assess the value of gender role expectations, traditional gender role attitudes might continue to change and lead to relatively equal earnings among women and men.