cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A role for vector control in dengue vaccine programs

Development and deployment of a successful dengue virus (DENV) vaccine has confounded research and pharmaceutical entities owing to the complex nature of DENV immunity and concerns over exacerbating the risk of DENV hemorrhagic fever (DHF) as a consequence of vaccination. Thus, consensus is growing that a combination of mitigation strategies will be needed for DENV to be successfully controlled, likely involving some form of vector control to enhance a vaccine program. We present here a deterministic compartmental model to illustrate that vector control may enhance vaccination campaigns with imperfect coverage and efficacy. Though we recognize the costs and challenges associated with continuous control programs, simultaneous application of vector control methods coincident with vaccine roll out can have a positive effect by further reducing the number of human cases. The success of such an integrative strategy is predicated on closing gaps in our understanding of the DENV transmission cycle in hyperedemic locations.
The Effect of Chain Length Distribution on Elastomeric Properties. III. Non-Random Networks Prepared with a Partially Vinyl-Selective Bis(Alkylperoxy)Diisopropylbenzene

Abstract The reactant α,α′-bis(t-butylperoxy)diisopropylbenzene was used to crosslink PDMS polymers containing vinyl side groups with varying degrees of segregation along the chains. On the basis of the elongation moduli of the resulting networks, this reactant was found to be moderately selective for vinyl groups, falling approximately midway between the essentially non-selective benzoyl peroxide and γ-radiation and a highly selective silicon hydride crosslinking agent. As expected, a significant amount of the selectivity was lost at longer reaction time. Placing crosslinks in close proximity decreases the effective degree of crosslinking, and may affect the swelling response more than the modulus in elongation.
Abstract 2354: Prospective Determination of %NODS (Not consistent with Organic Deficit of Stroke) Likelihood with Resultant rt-PA Safety and Functional Outcome

Objective: To assess safety and functional outcomes of rt-PA patients prospectively assigned a high %NODS score. NODS include mimics, functional overlay and complex presentations of mild symptoms. Background: Evidence exists that mimics may be safe to treat but the act of giving rt-PA often results in a stroke diagnosis. Additionally, patients with ICH are unlikely to be coded as non-strokes. Attempts to assess mimics are usually done retrospectively, however after treatment there is often uncertainty in classification of patients as ‘NODS’ or ‘True Stroke.’ Prospective designations of such may not be recorded. To our knowledge, this is the first outcome study for patients prospectively labeled with a high %NODS score prior to rt-PA treatment. Methods: We reviewed the UCSD SPOTRIAS database, (8/09-Present) for patients prospectively defined as NODS (% likelihood that deficits are Not consistent with Organic Deficits of Stroke) ≥75% and NODS≥50%. Baseline characteristics, safety (SxICH), and outcome (90-day mRS(0-2)) were compared to ‘True Strokes’ (NODS≤25%). Continuous variables were compared using Wilcoxon-Rank Sum. Categorical variables were compared with Fisher9s Exact. Results: There were 114 9True Strokes9, 7 NODS≥75%, and 12 NODS≥50%. Mean age was 70.7, 51.9 (p=0.0064) and 51.1 years (p 0.999). Baseline NIHSS was 11.5, 7.7 (p=0.36) and 6.6 (p=0.08). Outcomes were adjusted for baseline mRS. Home d/c was 40.95%, 71.4% and 66.7%. 90-day mRS(0-2) was 50%, 66.7% and 70%. Ambulance use was 85.1%, 57.1% and 58.3%. SxICH was 6.2%, 0%, 0%. Timelines were similar except for “Onset to Arrival” (74min, 42min, 61min), and “CT to decision” (22min, 43min, 38min). Conclusions: Small numbers precluded statistical significance, but absolute numbers were of clinical interest. NODS patients were younger, had less prior deficit, had milder strokes, activated EMS less frequently (possibly due to mild or less “real” deficit), had better 90-day mRS, less ICH, shorter 9onset-arrival9 (perhaps arriving earlier due to improved recognition, increased fear of true or perceived deficit, or even EMS issues) but longer 9CT-decision9 (perhaps requiring more time to consider pros and cons of rt-PA therapy). This intriguing exploratory analysis serves to generate hypotheses for our subsequent larger studies. If verified, high %NODS score patients may be considered safe for rt-PA therapy.
Perspective taking and the coordination of meaning in language use

Publisher Summary Language use requires coordination to be successful, because language can be ambiguous. Thus, speakers and listeners will often have to adapt their behavior to their interlocutor to avoid misunderstanding. This chapter discusses audience design hypothesis, or the design hypothesis for short. This hypothesis assumes that speakers and listeners achieve success in communication because they maintain detailed models of what the other person knows, and speak and understand against these models. Speakers adapt some aspects of their speech to characteristics of their listeners. Adults often speak to small children using motherese, a form of speech containing exaggerated prosody, a higher pitch, and simplified syntax. Speakers change their speaking register or style depending upon the social identity of their addressees. Casual observation reveals that bilinguals often mix languages when talking to other bilinguals, but tend to use a single language when speaking to monolinguals. And developmental psychologists such as Piaget have observed that the speech of children becomes less egocentric and more listener-centered as they mature.
Formation, Characterization, and O-O Bond Activation of a Peroxomanganese(III) Complex Supported by a Cross-Clamped Cyclam Ligand.

Although there have been reports describing the nucleophilic reactivity of peroxomanganese(III) intermediates, as well as their conversion to high-valent oxo-bridged dimers, it remains a challenge to activate peroxomanganese(III) species for conversion to high-valent, mononuclear manganese complexes. Herein, we report the generation, characterization, and activation of a peroxomanganese(III) adduct supported by the cross-clamped, macrocyclic Me2EBC ligand (4,11-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane). This ligand is known to support high-valent, mononuclear MnIV species with well-defined spectroscopic properties, which provides an opportunity to identify mononuclear MnIV products from O–O bond activation of the corresponding MnIII–peroxo adduct. The peroxomanganese(III) intermediate, [MnIII(O2)(Me2EBC)]+, was prepared at low-temperature by the addition of KO2 to [MnII(Cl)2(Me2EBC)] in CH2Cl2, and this complex was characterized by electronic absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), an...
Characterization of GTP and aminoacyl-tRNA binding to eukaryotic initiation factor 2 and elongation factor 1

Eukaryotic protein synthesis requires two protein factors which bind aminoacyl-tRNA in a GTP-dependent manner. One, initiation factor 2 (eIF-2), binds only the initiator Met-tRNA{dollar}{bsol}sb{lcub}{bsol}rm i{rcub}{dollar} and carries it to the 40S subunit of the ribosome. The other, elongation factor 1a (EF-1a) binds all other aminoacyl-tRNAs to the elongating 80S ribosome. The goal of this thesis is to characterize the structural aspects of these proteins. EF-1a is similar to the amino acid level to Escherichia coli EF-Tu, a protein for which the X-ray crystal structure is known. The limited trypsin cleavage used for the EF-Tu crystal structure was performed on EF-1a. The catalytic activity as measured by several assays is reduced, the binding of the ribosome and aminoacyl-tRNA is partially maintained and GRP binding is near wild type. The aminoacyl-tRNA binding site has been localized on EF-1a by chemical crosslinking using three tRNA species and two crosslinking reagents, trans-diaminedicholoro platium (II) and diepoxybutane. The aminoacyl binding region has been determined by crosslinking of N{dollar}{bsol}sp{lcub}{bsol}epsilon{rcub}{dollar}-bromoacetyl-Lys-tRNA. A model for the structure of EF-1a is proposed. When the crosslinking results are compared to this model, all the reactive residues appear to be on one face of the molecule. Studies of aminoacyl-tRNA protection of EF-1a from protease digestion support these results. The initiation factor eIF-2 is less well characterized than the elongation factor. The protein contains three subunits. The {dollar}{bsol}beta{dollar} and {dollar}{bsol}gamma{dollar} subunits and two proteins which have been proposed to interact with eIF-2 have been partially sequenced at the amino acid level. To determine the function of the subunits of eIF-2, subunit deficient forms were used in the three in vitro assays. The results implicate a role for the {dollar}{bsol}beta{dollar} subunit in both Met-tRNA{dollar}{bsol}sb {lcub}{bsol}rm i{rcub}{dollar} and GTP binding, and the possibility of a shared GTP site between the {dollar}{bsol}beta{dollar} and {dollar}{bsol}gamma{dollar} subunits. GTP crosslinking and affinity labeling indicate only the {dollar}{bsol}beta{dollar} subunit in GTP binding. Met-tRNA{dollar}{bsol}sb{lcub}{bsol}rm i{rcub}{dollar} crosslinking indicates the {dollar}{bsol}beta{dollar} ands {dollar}{bsol}gamma{dollar} subunits both participate in binding.
Epidemic Survey of Nongonococcal Urethritis from 1996 to 2004

Objective To investigate the incidence trend and prevalence characteristics of nongonococcal urethritis(NGU) from 1996 to 2004 in Liuzhou City and provide the reference for developing a responsive strategy of disease control. Methods Summing up,comparing and analyzing 36,585 cases collected by surveillance from 1996 to 2004. Results The incidences of NGU in 1996 and 1999 are 47.58/100,000 and 110.67/100,000 respectively. However,the incidence of NGU reached by 195.12/100,000 in 2002 and dropped to 156.68/100,000 in 2004. Conclusion The increase of incidence of NGU should be attached the importance and more prevention and management of the sexually transmitted diseases and NGU epidemic should be strengthened in future.
Analysis on sanitary conditions of swimming pool water in Dalian city in the summer of 2013

Objective To understand the water quality of swimming pools in Dalian city in the summer of 2013, provide the scientific evidence for the further health management of swimming pools. Methods The levels of total bacterial count, coliform group,turbidity, pH value, free residual chlorine and urea were detected according to the Hygienic standard and test method for public places(GB/T18204-2000) and the Standard examination methods for drinking water(GB/T 5750-2006), the Hygienic standard for swimming place(GB 9667-1996) was applied to evaluate the water quality. Results A total of 203 water samples were detected, and 151 samples were qualified for all indexes with the qualified rate of 74.38%. The qualified rate of turbidity and urea was 100.00% and 98.03%, while total bacterial count, Coliform group count and urea was 99.01%, 99.01% and 89.16%, respectively. The qualified rate of free chlorine residual(84.73%) was the lowest. There were no significant differences in qualified rates among three types of swimming pool(fitness centers, four or five star hotels and schools). Conclusion The sanitary situation of water quality of swimming pools in Dalian City is not optimistic. It is necessary to strengthen health surveillance and water disinfection.
Cold exposure during military operations: effects on anaerobic performance.

This study examined the effects of military field operations (MFO) under different environmental conditions on anaerobic performance. US Marines were tested in the field under the following conditi...
Moving up in the rankings

The globalization of university-based engineering education and research is associated with the creation of national and international "brands" by leading research universities. Such branding is reflected in rankings of universities and their programs. High brand visibility appears to lead to high rankings and vice versa. This paper explores this phenomenon for university-based engineering programs. Attributes associated with ranking systems are discussed and universities' abilities to influence these attributes are considered. Both moving up in the rankings and sustaining highly ranked positions are discussed. These issues are addressed both in general and for the specific case of Georgia Tech. Three fundamental conclusions are reached: research and education continue to be the key to universities achieving world class status and economic development for key stakeholders: size provides universities with the resources and abilities to pursue strategies that lead to increasing recognition: and vision and leadership both attract resources and enable the focus needed to achieve the highest levels of recognition.
Prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal spinal injuries in the sport of artificial track luge

Summary Purpose The purpose of the study was to determine the frequency, location, type and severity of injuries to segmental regions of spine sustained by international luge athletes and conservative musculoskeletal approaches used to treat their injuries. Methods Retrospective, self-reported injury and treatment data related to the purpose of this study were collected using a multi-language survey distributed to international luge athletes. Using Facebook contacts of luge athletes known to the principal investigator, Internet links to the survey (Qualtrics L.L.C., Provo, UT) were distributed to 150 athletes who were at least 18 years old and competed in the general class of luge (100 men, 50 women) via e-mail. Results There were 64 respondents (42.7%). The annual rate of musculoskeletal injuries of the spine was 0.13 injuries per athlete per year. The most common musculoskeletal spinal injuries were sprains/strains (n = 24, 47.1%) and intervertebral disc injuries (n = 22, 43.1%). The majority of musculoskeletal spinal injuries were rated as mild to moderate in severity (69.1%) and persisted for more than 6 months (87.3%), making them chronic in nature. At least two-thirds of the injured athletes reported using massage, physical therapy, exercise or a form of complementary and alternative medicine (chiropractic or acupuncture) for their musculoskeletal spinal injuries. Of those athletes receiving chiropractic care for their musculoskeletal spinal injuries, perceived effectiveness of symptom relief for cervical and thoracic treatments was 100%, while perceived effectiveness of symptom relief for lumbar treatments was 86.7%. Conclusion The majority of responding luge athletes (51.6%) experienced a musculoskeletal spinal injury during their career. Musculoskeletal spinal injuries were chronic in nature, mild to moderate in severity and predominately occurred in the lumbar and cervical spinal segments. Sprain/strain and intervertebral disc injures were the most commonly reported musculoskeletal spinal injuries. The role of chiropractic care as a cost-effective, conservative treatment modality for luge athletes requires further research and clinical consideration.
Dye Laser Statistics in the Presence of Colored Noise Pump Fluctuations

As has been demonstrated in recent experiments,1,2 the output of the dye laser excited near threshold exhibits very unusual statistical properties. The divergence of relative intensity fluctuations /2 as the excitation approaches the threshold, unexplained by the conventional laser theory that includes only additive fluctuations, can be understood as arising due to fluctuations in the pump parameter itself. A theory modeling the multiplicative pump fluctuations as Gaussian white noise,3 although successful in explaining some of the results of ref. 1, fails to agree with experiments for excitations away from threshold. Since fluctuations, arising due to physical processes, always have a finite correlation time associated with them, the approximation of setting this time to zero (white noise) would be expected to be inaccurate for laser excitations away from threshold. One must then take into account the colored noise character of the fluctuations. It is the purpose of this paper to present a theory that models the pump fluctuations on an Ornstein Uhlenbeck process. As we have shown elsewhere4, this model successfully explains the experimental results of Short et. al for excitations near to and away from threshold.
SAR11 Bacteria: The Most Abundant Plankton in the Oceans.

SAR11 is a group of small, carbon-oxidizing bacteria that reach a global estimated population size of 2.4×1028 cells—approximately 25% of all plankton. They are found throughout the oceans but reach their largest numbers in stratified, oligotrophic gyres, which are an expanding habitat in the warming oceans. SAR11 likely had a Precambrian origin and, over geological time, evolved into the niche of harvesting labile, low-molecular-weight dissolved organic matter (DOM). SAR11 cells are minimal in size and complexity, a phenomenon known as streamlining that is thought to benefit them by lowering the material costs of replication and maximizing transport functions that are essential to competition at ultralow nutrient concentrations. One of the surprises in SAR11 metabolism is their ability to both oxidize and produce a variety of volatile organic compounds that can diffuse into the atmosphere. SAR11 cells divide slowly and lack many forms of regulation commonly used by bacterial cells to adjust to changing e...
Clotting Factor VIII Overexpression Shows Signs of ER Stress but Does Not Cause Toxicity upon Gene Transfer

Hemophilia A is the X-linked bleeding disorder resulting from the loss of functional clotting factor VIII (FVIII). Hemophilia A patients with severe disease ( Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Expression of lncRNAs in Low-Grade Gliomas and Glioblastoma Multiforme: An In Silico Analysis.

Background Each year, over 16,000 patients die from malignant brain cancer in the US. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently been shown to play critical roles in regulating neurogenesis and brain tumor progression. To better understand the role of lncRNAs in brain cancer, we performed a global analysis to identify and characterize all annotated and novel lncRNAs in both grade II and III gliomas as well as grade IV glioblastomas (glioblastoma multiforme [GBM]). Methods and Findings We determined the expression of all lncRNAs in over 650 brain cancer and 70 normal brain tissue RNA sequencing datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and other publicly available datasets. We identified 611 induced and 677 repressed lncRNAs in glial tumors relative to normal brains. Hundreds of lncRNAs were specifically expressed in each of the three lower grade glioma (LGG) subtypes (IDH1/2 wt, IDH1/2 mut, and IDH1/2 mut 1p19q codeletion) and the four subtypes of GBMs (classical, mesenchymal, neural, and proneural). Overlap between the subtype-specific lncRNAs in GBMs and LGGs demonstrated similarities between mesenchymal GBMs and IDH1/2 wt LGGs, with 2-fold higher overlap than would be expected by random chance. Using a multivariate Cox regression survival model, we identified 584 and 282 lncRNAs that were associated with a poor and good prognosis, respectively, in GBM patients. We developed a survival algorithm for LGGs based on the expression of 64 lncRNAs that was associated with patient prognosis in a test set (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.168, 95% CI = 1.765–2.807, p < 0.001) and validation set (HR = 1.921, 95% CI = 1.333–2.767, p < 0.001) of patients from TCGA. The main limitations of this study are that further work is needed to investigate the clinical relevance of our findings, and that validation in an independent dataset is needed to determine the robustness of our survival algorithm. Conclusions This work identifies a panel of lncRNAs that appear to be prognostic in gliomas and provides a critical resource for future studies examining the role of lncRNAs in brain cancers.
Chemical Composition and Molecular Parameters of Purified Plasma Proteins

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the delineation of the purified plasma proteins, and the chemical composition and molecular parameters of plasma proteins. As fluctuating components of a dynamic, circulating system, the plasma proteins have always defied characterization and purification by any single method. Plasma, as the greatest single source of proteins of widespread interest, has challenged the protein chemist and prompted the development of new fractionation schemes such as the cold-ethanol method, and physical chemical techniques such as boundary and zone electrophoresis. Some plasma proteins such as complement, properdin, erythropoietin, and the isohemagglutinins are best detected by a biological property and have yet to be isolated in reasonably pure and identifiable form. Others such as serum albumin, the α 1 -acid glycoprotein, and ceruloplasmin are crystallizable and rather sharply definable.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Host Immune Response in the Skin of Chickens Infected with Marek's Disease Virus.

Abstract Marek's disease virus (MDV), a highly cell-associated oncogenic α-herpesvirus, is the causative agent of T cell lymphoma and neuropathic disease called Marek's disease. The skin is the only anatomical site where infectious enveloped cell-free virions are produced and shed into the environment. Studies have demonstrated that MDV infection induces immunological responses within the skin, including the release of cytokines and the recruitment of T lymphocytes. The host immune response, however, is not sufficient to block replication and shedding of the virus particles from the skin. In this study, we examined the gene expression profiling in the skin tissues of MDV-infected chickens to identify viral-induced alterations in the host gene expression pattern. To identify these genes in an unbiased and comprehensive manner, we performed RNA-seq on skin samples of MDV-infected chickens at 10, 20, and 30 days postinfection (dpi). We identified 820, 1,333, and 1,571 upregulated genes in the skin of MDV-inf...
Perceptions of severe storms, climate change, ecological structures and resiliency three years post-hurricane Sandy in New Jersey

Global warming is leading to increased frequency and severity of storms that are associated with flooding, increasing the risk to urban, coastal populations. This study examined perceptions of the relationship between severe storms, sea level rise, climate change and ecological barriers by a vulnerable environmental justice population in New Jersey. Patients using New Jersey’s Federally Qualified Health Centers were interviewed after Hurricane [Superstorm] Sandy because it is essential to understand the perceptions of uninsured, underinsured, and economically challenged people to better develop a resiliency strategy for the most vulnerable people. Patients (N = 355) using 6 centers were interviewed using a structured interview form. Patients were interviewed in the order they entered the reception area, in either English or Spanish. Respondents were asked to rate their agreement with environmental statements. Respondents 1) agreed with experts that “severe storms were due to climate change”, “storms will come more often”, and that “flooding was due to sea level rise”, 2) did not agree as strongly that “climate change was due to human activity”, 3) were neutral for statements that “Sandy damages were due to loss of dunes or salt marshes”. 4) did not differ as a function of ethnic/racial categories, and 5) showed few gender differences. It is imperative that the public understand that climate change and sea level rise are occurring so that they support community programs (and funding) to prepare for increased frequency of storms and coastal flooding. The lack of high ratings for the role of dunes and marshes in preventing flooding indicates a lack of understanding that ecological structures protect coasts, and suggests a lack of support for management actions to restore dunes as part of a coastal preparedness strategy. Perceptions that do not support a public policy of coastal zone management to protect coastlines can lead to increased flooding, extensive property damages, and injuries or loss of life.
Evaluation of Bacteriuria Treatment and Follow-up Initiated in the Emergency Department at a Veterans Affairs Hospital.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the treatment and follow-up of bacteriuria in the emergency department (ED). Objective: The primary objective was to determine the frequency of patients disc...
Political Intrigue in the Bible: Esther

This chapter discusses the political intrigue in the Bible, which is a sacred document to millions of people; it expresses supernatural elements of faith that do not admit of any natural explanations. At the same time, however, some of the great narratives in the Bible do appear to be plausible reconstructions of real events. The chapter presents an analysis of Esther, a book of the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament, in which God is never mentioned. If the political machinations are to be analyzed strictly with secular terms, the story, nonetheless, has religious overtones—especially for Jews, for whom it serves as the basis for the holiday of Purim. The chapter provides an overview of the elementary game theory to aid the strategic exegesis of Esther and to illustrate the application of game theory to the analysis of political conflict. Players in games are assumed to think carefully about their choices and the possible choices of other players. Game theory is a tool ideally suited for penetrating the complex decision-making situations often described in the Bible.
Behavioral Growth Theory: A Neoclassical Approach

How do material norms and aspirations on which individual judgments of well-being are based affect the growth dynamics of an economy? Do economies that weigh very highly of these norms grow differently from those economies that values these norms differently? This paper attempts to answer these questions by building a growth model, where individual not only care for its consumption but also evaluates its consumption with its perceived level of ideal consumption. We show that it is best for the economy that individuals ignore material aspirations when the economy is growing, whereas they should highly care about their material aspiration when the economy is depleting. We also show that role of individual’s outlook is underestimated in contemporary growth theories.
Highly visible sepsis publications from 2012 to 2017: Analysis and comparison of altmetrics and bibliometrics.

Abstract Purpose: We sought to delineate highly visible publications related to sepsis. Within these subsets, elements of altmetrics performance, including mentions on Twitter, and the correlation between altmetrics and conventional citation counts were ascertained. Materials and Methods: Three subsets of sepsis publications from 2012 to 2017 were synthesized by the overall Altmetric.com attention score, number of mentions by unique Twitter users, and conventional citation counts. For these subsets, geolocated Twitter activity was plotted on a choropleth, the lag between publication date and altmetrics mentions was characterized, and correlations were examined between altmetrics performance and normalized conventional citation counts. Results: Of 57,152 PubMed query results, Altmetric.com data was available for 28,344 (49.6%). The top 50 publications by Altmetric.com attention score and Twitter attention represented a mix of original research and other types of work, garnering attention from Twitter users in 143 countries that was highly contemporaneous with publication. Altmetrics performance and conventional citation counts were poorly correlated. Conclusions: While unreliable to gauge impact or future citation potential, altmetrics may be valuable for parties who wish to detect and drive public awareness of research findings and may enable researchers to dynamically explore the reach of their work in novel dimensions.
Ginsenoside Rb1 Blocks Ritonavir-Induced Oxidative Stress and eNOS Downregulation through Activation of Estrogen Receptor-Beta and Upregulation of SOD in Human Endothelial Cells

We have previously shown that ritonavir (RTV), a highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) drug, can cause endothelial dysfunction through oxidative stress. Several antioxidants including ginsenoside Rb1, a compound with antioxidant effect, can effectively block this side effect of RTV in endothelial cells. In the current study, we explored a mechanism by which ginsenoside Rb1 could protect these cells via binding of estrogen receptors (ERs). We found that several human endothelial cell lines differentially expressed ER-β and had very low levels of ER-α. RTV treatment significantly increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased the expression of endothelial nitric oxidase synthase (eNOS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in HUVECs, while Rb1 effectively blocked these effects of RTV. These effects of Rb1 were effectively inhibited by silencing ER-β, indicating that ginsenoside Rb1 requires ER-β for its antioxidant activity in inhibiting the deleterious effect of RTV in human endothelial cells. Furthermore, Rb1 specifically activated ER-β transactivation activity by ER-β luciferase reporter assay. Rb1 competitively bound to ER-β, which was determined by the high sensitive fluorescent polarization assay.
Optimizing Resting Behavior in Lactating Dairy Cows Through Freestall Design.

This article provides information necessary to assist in creation of freestall facilities in which cows thrive through designs that optimize the resting behavior of dairy cattle and provide a safe, comfortable, clean, and dry place to lie down with easy access to feed and water. Comfortable stalls require a deep-bedded surface, affording cows the cushion they need to lie down for 12 hours per day and the traction necessary to facilitate rising and lying movements. Stalls should be sized to accommodate cows using them and prevent obstructions to lunge and bob areas and impediments to normal rising and lying movements.
Abatement of gaseous volatile organic compounds: A process perspective

Abstract Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a class of liquid compounds with low saturation vapor pressures, which enables them to change phases even at ambient conditions. This causes a huge problem when it comes to emissions. A large portion of VOCs cause catastrophic health effects such as cancer or liver damage even at very low concentrations (ppm), and the control of these compounds is vital in ensuring good air quality. Many VOCs are used in common household implements such as wood finishes or paints and can even be emitted off improperly ventilated cooking. This significantly alters indoor air quality, and as such, a large portion of research into these compounds have focused on indoor air. On the other hand, their widespread use as solvents in most industries along with their emission rates from vehicular exhausts results in contamination of outdoor air as well. The combination of these VOCs and NOx pollutants tends to cause ground level ozone formation, which has a large bio-toxicity and causes the formation of a smog. Densely populated cities have also seen a sharp rise in VOC emissions due to the increase in both vehicular traffic and industrialization. A myriad of options is available for the abatement of VOCs, and they are similar to other pollution control strategies. These methods can be broadly be classified into destruction, separation and hybrid methods. This review discusses the different perspectives to be considered for this scenario, along with descriptions of the different methods available to the industry, along with some novel technologies that have been introduced recently. The influential parameters for each method have been investigated, along with optimum catalyst/material selection. In addition to this, a mathematical modeling perspective has also been examined, with significance to simulation studies performed for the control of VOC emission technologies.
The Evolution and Persistence of NATO

NATO’s participation in the four conflicts analyzed in the preceding chapters revealed the major strengths and weaknesses of the alliance in combat, as well as the advantages to the United States’ efforts to engage NATO. Despite an almost across-the-board reduction in domestic resources, the allies undertook several new initiatives in the inter-conflict periods to improve the alliance’s political and military infrastructure. Some of these efforts to streamline NATO resources reflected the defense budget cuts of many of the European allies and changing domestic and international priorities. Other changes resulted from the recognition of a new security environment and the need for a modernization of capabilities. NATO’s reforms of existing programs, establishment of new initiatives, expanding membership and non-NATO state partnerships, and summit declarations further reflected the alliance’s attempts to evolve and persist in the post-Cold War environment. This chapter analyzes the ways in which the alliance responded to these watershed moments in the inter-conflict periods. In addition to exercising a substantial influence during the four conflicts, the United States significantly impacted the inter-conflict development of the alliance. This allows for a more complete understanding of NATO’s evolution and fills important gaps in the existing perspectives on alliance persistence.
Discrepancy Between Internal and External Intracranial Pressure Transducers: Quantification of an Old Source of Error in EVDs?

Background Intracranial pressure monitoring remains the foundation for prevention of secondary injury after traumatic brain injury and is most commonly performed using an external ventricular drain or intraparenchymal pressure monitor. The Integra Flex ventricular catheter combines an external ventricular catheter with a pressure transducer embedded in the tip of the catheter to allow continuous pressure readings while simultaneously draining cerebrospinal fluid. Discrepancies between measurements from the continuously reported internal pressure transducer and intermittently assessed and externally transduced ventricular drain prompted an analysis and characterization of pressures transduced from the same ventricular source. Methods More than 500 hours of high-resolution (125 Hz) continuous recordings were manually reviewed to identify 73 hours of simultaneous measurements (clamped external ventricular drain) from internal and external transducers in patients with traumatic brain injury. Results A significant positive bias was found in pressure readings obtained from external relative to internal measurements. The 2 methods of measurement generally correlated poorly with each other and variably. Although proportional bias was found with Bland-Altman analysis, coherence revealed rare shifts in the external transducer as a major source of discrepancy. Infrequent changes in the 0-level of the external transducer were found to be the primary source of discrepancy. Relative to the observed differences, no significant trend was observed over time between the 2 modalities. Conclusions This study suggests that the internal pressure transducer may be a more reliable estimate of intracranial pressure relative to bedside external transducers due to the inherent behavioral requirement of leveling.
Perceptions of Legal and Extralegal Punishments for Sexual Harassment in the ‘MeToo’ Era

The current study investigates a sample of American university students’ (n = 304) perceptions of legal and extralegal punishments for Kevin Spacey, Matte Lauer, and Roy Moore in the initial days o...
Advances in imaging and analysis of 4 fluorescent components through the rat cortical column

Abstract Background Immunofluorescent staining coupled with axial optical sectioning allows for assessment of native three-dimensional structure of brain tissue. Typical challenges of analyzing network structure include limitations driven by magnification/field of view, spatial resolution, tissue thickness, staining quality of dense cell types, data quantifiability and the quantity of simultaneous staining targets. New Method This manuscript demonstrates many methodological advancements. Software-aided alignment of the cortical slice and stereotaxic atlas maximizes ROI-identification accuracy. Tissue compression during antigen retrieval enhances epitope availability without damaging tissue. A thorough factorial experiment focusing on Smi-311 staining highlights the enhancements in image quality from our extended staining protocol. Mosaic scanning techniques and subsequent four-channel alignment ensures high data quality. Results Cortical column datasets [800μm x 3000μm x 70μm] utilizing sequential optical sectioning were successfully generated from three rats. Each rat provided three coronal sections in each of two regions, M1 and S1BF, from which data cubes were generated per hemisphere, totaling 36 high-magnification four-color datasets. Comparison with Existing Method(s) Typical confocal assessments of brain tissue do not utilize such thick tissue slices nor collect entire cortical columns from the cortical surface to the grey/white interface at a resolution that can map fine filamentous processes. The simultaneous collection of our four specific structural markers - neuronal, astrocytic, vascular and nuclear – is novel and the quantitative optimization of staining protocols through a factorial design rare. Conclusions Building upon this preliminary success in protocol development, future work will encompass volumetric modeling and quantitative analysis of regional network architecture.
A Prototype Novel Zero-IF Non-Contact Respiration Monitor Using Software Defined Radio (SDR)

We report a novel and robust non-contact vital signs (NCVS) sensor system capable of accurately monitoring the breathing rates (BR) of a human subject up to 1.8 m away. The NCVS sensor system is designed using an SDR (software defined radio) technology with a commercially available NI-2901 2-Channel SDR box that can operate from 70 MHz to 6 GHz, along with low-cost log-periodic dipole antennas (LPDA) and LabVIEW programming for signal processing to extract real-time vital signs data by direct-downconversion (i.e., zero-IF receiver). Statistical analysis of a large number of NCVS datasets shows the breathing rate readings are accurate, and consistently within 1 BPM (Breath-per-Minute) vs. data obtained from contact-based respiration belt. The experimental results validate the attractiveness and feasibility of this SDR-enabled NCVS sensor system for continuous remote monitoring of human BR for potential clinical and telemedicine applications. This work, to our best knowledge, reports and demonstrates the world’s first robust SDR-based zero-IF non-contact respiration monitor.
An Electrokinetically-Driven Microchip for Rapid Entrapment and Detection of Nanovesicles

Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) has been widely used as a label-free and rapid characterization method for the analysis of cells in clinical research. However, the related work on exosomes (40-150 nm) and the particles of similar size has not yet been reported. In this study, we developed a new Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) device to rapidly entrap a cluster of sub-micron particles, including polystyrene beads, liposomes, and small extracellular vesicles (exosomes), utilizing an insulator-based dielectrophoresis (iDEP) scheme followed by measuring their impedance utilizing an integrated electrical impedance sensor. This technique provides a label-free, fast, and non-invasive tool for the detection of bionanoparticles based on their unique dielectric properties. In the future, this device could potentially be applied to the characterization of pathogenic exosomes and viruses of similar size, and thus, be evolved as a powerful tool for early disease diagnosis and prognosis.
Statins as a Medical Adjunct in the Surgical Management of Chronic Subdural Hematomas.

Background By stabilizing immature leaky vessel formation in neomembranes, statin drugs have been suggested as a nonsurgical treatment option for chronic subdural hematomas (cSDH). Statin therapy seems to reduce conservatively managed cSDH volume. However, the usefulness of these medications in supplementing surgical treatment is unknown. Objective To investigate the effect of concurrent statin therapy on outcomes after surgical treatment of cSDH. Methods A retrospective single-institution cohort study of surgically managed patients with convexity cSDH between 2009 and 2019 was conducted. Patients receiving this diagnosis who underwent surgical decompression were included, and those without follow-up scans were excluded. Demographic, clinical, and radiographic variables were collected. cSDH size was defined as maximum radial thickness in millimeters on axial computed tomography of the head. Multivariable linear regression was performed to identify factors (including statin use) that were associated with preoperative to follow-up cSDH size change. Results Overall, 111 patients, including 36 patients taking statins on admission, were evaluated. Median time to follow-up postoperative imaging was 30 days (interquartile range, 17–42 days). Patients on statins were older (median, 75 years, range, 68–78.25 years vs. 69 years, range, 59–7 years; P = 0.006) and reported more antiplatelet use (67% vs. 28%; P Conclusions Statin use is associated with improved cSDH size postoperatively. Statin drugs might represent a low-cost and low-risk supplement to the surgical management for patients with cSDH.
Examining feedback mechanisms of postural control in Chiari Malformation by average wavelet coefficient decomposition and the Hurst exponent.

Abstract Background Chiari Malformation (CM) is a congenital disorder occurring when the cerebellar tonsils descend into the foramen magnum, inhibiting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow, causing headaches, dizziness, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, and loss of neuromuscular coordination. While there is no cure, surgical decompression of the hindbrain is used to alleviate symptoms. Loss of postural control is a main symptom reported by these patients; however, no study has examined postural stability in this cohort of patients. Research question Do patients with CM exhibit impaired postural stability compared to healthy controls?. Methods Twelve female participants diagnosed with CM performed a postural stability test where six participants had undergone decompression (CM-D) surgery while six had not (CM-ND). Participants stood in Romberg fashion on an AMTI force plate according to an IRB-approved protocol. Postural stability measures were quantified by computing Hurst exponents. These values were determined from the Average Wavelet Coefficient method using a level 12 Symlet-2 wavelet to analyze anterior-posterior (AP) center-ofpressure (COP) trajectories in MATLAB. Identical procedures and analyses were performed on healthy control participants with no known neuromuscular disorders. Results CM participants displayed significantly impaired postural stability compared to healthy controls (p = 0.0002). CM-D participants displayed significantly impaired postural stability compared to CM-ND (p = 0.002). CM-D and CM-ND both displayed significantly impaired postural stability compared to controls (p Significance Loss of postural stability is considered a main symptom of CM, however no study has previously quantified human postural control in this cohort of patients. Quantifying this relationship can provide further insight to neurologists studying the disorder and to therapists planning rehabilitation and pain relief methods.
Anesthetic Management of Resection of Metastatic Occipital Malignancy in a Patient With Fontan Physiology.

Significant advances in surgical management have allowed patients with congenital heart disease to survive to adulthood. Often, these patients present for non-cardiac surgeries, including patients who have undergone the three-staged Fontan repair for congenital single ventricle. The primary aim in the anesthetic management of adult patients with Fontan physiology is to maintain adequate venous pressure, low pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and normal contractility to maintain the cardiac output. We present the case of a 26-year-old female with Fontan physiology following a three-staged Fontan repair for tricuspid atresia who underwent a stealth-guided left occipital craniotomy for the palliative resection of a metastatic brain tumor. This case highlights the importance of understanding Fontan physiology and its implications in the anesthetic management of a patient undergoing an open craniotomy. These patients require a high central venous pressure and low PVR to maintain optimum venous return to the left atrium. A rise in PVR can result in the shunting of the deoxygenated blood from the Fontan shunt to the systemic circulation. Hence, alpha agonists and high airway pressure are to be avoided. To minimize the risk of perioperative mortality, there is an increased need to optimize systemic to pulmonary blood flow ratios and maintain normal arterial saturation and euvolemic fluid status.
On the robustness of most probable explanations

In Bayesian networks, a Most Probable Explanation (MPE) is a complete variable instantiation with the highest probability given the current evidence. In this paper, we discuss the problem of finding robustness conditions of the MPE under single parameter changes. Specifically, we ask the question: How much change in a single network parameter can we afford to apply while keeping the MPE unchanged? We will describe a procedure, which is the first of its kind, that computes this answer for all parameters in the Bayesian network in time O(n exp(w)), where n is the number of network variables and w is its treewidth.
MarineTech Project : attracting students towards math and science careers in shipbuilding and repair industry

Low enrollment and high attrition rates in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) based degree programs have created a shortage of workforce in industries such as shipbuilding and repair that are important for national security. Part of this problem can be attributed to pedagogical issues such as lack of engaging hands-on activities used for math and science instruction in middle and high schools. Another reason for this is that the teachers are not trained in taking an integrated approach to teaching math and science. This has led to large-scale flight and attrition from STEM-based career tracks. Consequently, engineering and engineering technology programs throughout the nation have observed declining graduation rates and quality of incoming students. To engage students' interest in STEM-based careers, it is important that students establish a link between the math and science instruction and its application to solve real-life problems early in their learning experience. Project-based activities have a proven record as a pedagogical method. Effectiveness of this pedagogy has been supported by research in the acquisition and retention of knowledge. The MarineTech Project funded by the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia and supported by the shipbuilding and repair industry has attempted to address the quality of STEM education in Virginia by developing project-based learning kits and providing professional development training in the use of these kits. The project also provided teacher training in 21 st century skills and integrated math and science education while increasing awareness of teachers about the shipbuilding and repair industry. The paper presents the motivation behind developing these project-based learning (PBL) modules, issues related to implementation, and results from student and teacher workshops.