cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Celebrating DNA's Repair Crew

This year, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Tomas Lindahl, Aziz Sancar, and Paul Modrich for their seminal studies of the mechanisms by which cells from bacteria to man repair DNA damage that is generated by normal cellular metabolism and stress from the environment. These studies beautifully illustrate the remarkable power of DNA repair to influence life from evolution through disease susceptibility.
Social Interaction and Employee Health

With social interaction, quantity does not equal quality. Persons may have frequent negative social interactions with other persons, such that the interactions are socially undermining, rather than socially supportive. Rook (1984) used regression analysis to demonstrate how negative social interactions impact upon well-being outcomes more powerfully and more consistently than do positive social interactions. Building upon Rook’s work, the present research examines a workplace weight loss intervention and demonstrates the power of socially supportive communication in measures of weight loss and healthy lifestyle changes. Management implications are discussed.
Selective inhibition of transient K+ current by La3+ in crab peptide-secretory neurons.

Selective inhibition of transient K+ current by La3+ in crab peptide-secretory neurons. Although divalent cations and lanthides are well-known inhibitors of voltage-dependent Ca2+ currents (I Ca), ...
A Diplomatic Disaster: The Mexican Mission of Anthony Butler, 1829-1834

On Christmas Day, 1829, in a room in the National Palace in Mexico City, Joel Roberts Poinsett received official Mexican acknowledgement of his resignation as the United States minister to Mexico. Two days earlier, Poinsett had requested his passport, and this meeting was merely a diplomatic formality. Across the table from Poinsett were Lucas Alaman, Pedro Velez, and Luis Quintanar, representing General Anastasio Bustamante, who on December 23 had forcefully ousted Vincente Guerrero from the Mexican presidency. Alaman, Velez, and Quintanar were serving as an interim executive body until Bustamante's impending entry into the capital. The gathering was a cordial one, at which time Poinsett and Alaman in particular expressed admiration for one another. Such had not been the case in their previous dealings.
Aminoacylation of initiator methionyl-tRNA(i) under conditions inhibitory to initiation of protein synthesis.

Inhibition of protein synthesis in perfused rat liver deprived of either methionine or tryptophan results from a defect in peptide-chain initiation. Similarly, the decreased rate of protein synthes...
Dimensions of adversity, physiological reactivity, and externalizing psychopathology in adolescence: deprivation and threat

OBJECTIVE: Dysregulation of autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function is a putative intermediate phenotype linking childhood adversity (CA) with later psychopathology. However, associations of CAs with autonomic nervous system and HPA-axis function vary widely across studies. Here, we test a novel conceptual model discriminating between distinct forms of CA (deprivation and threat) and examine their independent associations with physiological reactivity and psychopathology. METHODS: Adolescents (N = 169; mean [SD] age, 14.9 [1.4] years) with a range of interpersonal violence (e.g., maltreatment, community violence) and poverty exposure participated in the Trier Social Stress test (TSST). During the TSST, electrocardiogram, impedance cardiograph, salivary cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate data were collected. We compared the associations of poverty (an indicator of deprivation) and interpersonal violence (an indicator of threat) on sympathetic, parasympathetic, and HPA-axis reactivity to the TSST, and assessed whether these differences mediated the association of adversity with internalizing and externalizing symptoms. RESULTS: Exposure to poverty and interpersonal violence was associated with psychopathology. Interpersonal violence, adjusting for poverty, was associated with blunted sympathetic (β = 1.44, p =.050) and HPA-axis reactivity (β = -.09; p =.021). Blunted cortisol reactivity mediated the association of interpersonal violence with externalizing, but not internalizing, psychopathology. In contrast, poverty was not associated with physiological reactivity after adjusting for interpersonal violence. CONCLUSIONS: We provide evidence for distinct neurobiological mechanisms through which adversity related to poverty and interpersonal violence is associated with psychopathology in adolescence. Distinguishing distinct pathways through which adversity influences mental health has implications for preventive interventions targeting youths exposed to childhood adversity. Language: en
Maintenance eculizumab dose adjustment in the treatment of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is caused by a disorder in complement regulation, which leads to leukocyte and platelet activation, thrombotic microangiopathy, and subsequent end‐organ damage 1. It is distinguished from typical hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in that it lacks coexisting disease such as Shiga‐toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Streptococcus pneumoniae 2. Common causes of atypical HUS include complement gene mutations, which the majority of patients who suffer from aHUS carry, while antibodies to complement factor H have also been implicated in a smaller subset of patients 3, 4. Classic laboratory findings include hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury 5. Atypical HUS is distinguished from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) by its lack of reduction in activity of ADAMTS13. Untreated aHUS is associated with permanent renal dysfunction, high recurrence rate, and high mortality 6. Historically, prognosis was poor: studies showed that 33–40% of patients progressed to ESRD or death during the first clinical manifestation 3. Within 1 year of diagnosis, up to 65% of patients managed with plasma exchange (PEX) suffered permanent renal damage, progressed to ESRD, or died 7. The elucidation of the pathogenesis from uncontrolled activation of the alternative complement pathway, resulting in formation of the membrane attack complex (MAC) C5b‐9 8 has ultimately led to treatment with eculizumab, a monoclonal IgG antibody that binds to C5 and prevents subsequent formation of terminal complement 9. Benefit from eculizumab was initially demonstrated in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) 10 and subsequently in the treatment of aHUS 11, 12. Dosing of eculizumab in the treatment of aHUS is 900 mg IV weekly for induction for 4 weeks followed by maintenance at 1200 mg IV every 2 weeks 13. These recommended doses were extrapolated from the data in PNH, as the frequency of aHUS did not allow more specific investigation prior to approval of the agent. Dosing that adequately controls complement activation is necessary to achieve optimal outcomes for patients.
Out-of-field doses and neutron dose equivalents for electron beams from modern Varian and Elekta linear accelerators

Out-of-field doses from radiotherapy can cause harmful side effects or eventually lead to secondary cancers. Scattered doses outside the applicator field, neutron source strength values, and neutron dose equivalents have not been broadly investigated for high-energy electron beams. To better understand the extent of these exposures, we measured out-of-field dose characteristics of electron applicators for high-energy electron beams on two Varian 21iXs, a Varian TrueBeam, and an Elekta Versa HD operating at various energy levels. Out-of-field dose profiles and percent depth-dose curves were measured in a Wellhofer water phantom using a Farmer ion chamber. Neutron dose was assessed using a combination of moderator buckets and gold activation foils placed on the treatment couch at various locations in the patient plane on both the Varian 21iX and Elekta Versa HD linear accelerators. Our findings showed that out-of-field electron doses were highest for the highest electron energies. These doses typically decreased with increasing distance from the field edge but showed substantial increases over some distance ranges. The Elekta linear accelerator had higher electron out-of-field doses than the Varian units examined, and the Elekta dose profiles exhibited a second dose peak about 20 to 30 cm from central-axis, which was found to be higher than typical out-of-field doses from photon beams. Electron doses decreased sharply with depth before becoming nearly constant; the dose was found to decrease to a depth of approximately E(MeV)/4 in cm. With respect to neutron dosimetry, Q values and neutron dose equivalents increased with electron beam energy. Neutron contamination from electron beams was found to be much lower than that from photon beams. Even though the neutron dose equivalent for electron beams represented a small portion of neutron doses observed under photon beams, neutron doses from electron beams may need to be considered for special cases.
The Role of Patient Characteristics on the Choice of Unicompartmental versus Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With Medial Osteoarthritis.

Abstract Background Medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are both viable treatment options for medial osteoarthritis (OA). However, it remains unclear when to choose for which arthroplasty treatment. Goals of this study were therefore to (1) compare outcomes after both treatments and (2) assess which treatment has superior outcomes in different patient subgroups. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, 166 patients received the RESTORIS MCK Medial UKA and 63 patients the Vanguard TKA and were radiographically matched on isolated medial OA. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index scores were collected preoperatively and postoperatively (mean: 3.0 years, range: 2.0-5.0 years). Results Preoperatively, no differences were observed, but medial UKA patients reported better functional outcomes than TKA (89.7 ± 13.6 vs 81.2 ± 18.0, P = .001) at follow-up.Better functional outcomes were noted after medial UKA in patients younger than age 70 years (89.5 ± 14.2 vs 78.6 ± 20.0, P = .001), with body mass index below 30 (90.3 ± 11.4 vs 83.6 ± 14.9, P = .005), with body mass index above 30 (88.3 ± 17.5 vs 78.8 ± 21.0, P = .034) and in females (90.6 ± 11.0 vs 78.1 ± 19.4, P = .001) when compared with TKA. No differences were found in males and older patients between both arthroplasties. Conclusion Superior functional outcomes were noted after medial UKA over TKA in patients presenting with medial OA with these prostheses. Subgroup analyses suggest that medial UKA is the preferred treatment in younger patients and females while no differences were noted in older patients and males after medial UKA and TKA. This might help the orthopedic surgeon in individualizing arthroplasty treatment for patients with medial OA.
Inference in Semi-Parametric Dynamic Models for Repeated Count Data

Summary This paper deals with a longitudinal semi-parametric regression model in a generalised linear model setup for repeated count data collected from a large number of independent individuals. To accommodate the longitudinal correlations, we consider a dynamic model for repeated counts which has decaying auto-correlations as the time lag increases between the repeated responses. The semi-parametric regression function involved in the model contains a specified regression function in some suitable time-dependent covariates and a non-parametric function in some other time-dependent covariates. As far as the inference is concerned, because the non-parametric function is of secondary interest, we estimate this function consistently using the independence assumption-based well-known quasi-likelihood approach. Next, the proposed longitudinal correlation structure and the estimate of the non-parametric function are used to develop a semi-parametric generalised quasi-likelihood approach for consistent and efficient estimation of the regression effects in the parametric regression function. The finite sample performance of the proposed estimation approach is examined through an intensive simulation study based on both large and small samples. Both balanced and unbalanced cluster sizes are incorporated in the simulation study. The asymptotic performances of the estimators are given. The estimation methodology is illustrated by reanalysing the well-known health care utilisation data consisting of counts of yearly visits to a physician by 180 individuals for four years and several important primary and secondary covariates.
Staircase modulation of modular multilevel converters with minimal total harmonic distortion and maximal number of output voltage levels

This paper proposes a generalized staircase modulation method for modular multilevel converters (MMCs). Compared to high-frequency modulations, the staircase modulation has a lower switching frequency and losses, and lower dV/dt stresses for power electronics devices. By using Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions, this paper proposes a method with rigorous proof to calculate the switching angles that is computationally efficient and achieves global minimal total harmonic distortion (THD) of phase voltages within the entire modulation index range. This method produces the maximal number of voltage levels (i.e., 2n+1, where n is the number of submodules in each arm) to further reduce the THD. Capacitor voltage balancing control is incorporated in the staircase modulation scheme. Simulation results validate the analysis.
Nutritional composition of Sprengel's sedge (Carex sprengelii)

Meehan, M. A., DeKeyser, E. S., Sedivec, K. K. and Norland, J. E. 2012. Nutritional composition of Sprengel's sedge ( Carex sprengelii ). Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 867–871. Sprengel's sedge (Carex sprengelii) has been documented as a primary graminoid species in riparian woodlands and forested areas of the northern Plains. Currently, there is no documentation of the nutrient content of Sprengel's sedge. The objective of this study was to determine the nutritional value of Sprengel's sedge of riparian woodlands in eastern North Dakota. Plants were clipped to 2.5 cm from the soil surface at 2-wk intervals during the growing seasons of 2009 and 2010. Multiple whole-plant samples were collected from five randomly selected sites at two different locations during each collection period. Plant tissue was analyzed for crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), calcium, and phosphorus. The CP concentrations declined from over 20% in May to under 1...
Methods for Nano-Crystals Preparation

Nanocrystals have the potential to address challenges in very different fields like production of computer chips, delivering drugs of low water solubility, cosmetic research and products, biotechnology, catalysis and textile. In this review, we highlight the industrially relevant technologies, milling, high-pressure homogenization and recent advances in the development of these methods for nanocrystal preparation. The paper summarizes the most up-to-date information and developments available for conventional nanocrystal preparation methods such as antisolvent precipitation, supercritical fluid technology, emulsion method, Impinging Jet Crystallization and spray drying. Finally, we also reviewed recent developments in preparing a nanosized particle of drug crystals using patterned self-assembled monolayers, microfluidic devices and nano confinement in nanoporous material. The present article also describes the merits and demerits of these methods, scale up issues and application in drug delivery of nanocrystals prepared by different methods.
Use of minimally invasive spine surgical instruments for the treatment of bone tumors.

Introduction: Orthopedic oncologists often encounter patients with minor bony lesions that are difficult to access surgically and therefore require large exposures out of proportion to the severity...
Weyl and Clifford Algebras

We have seen that just changing commutators to anticommutators takes the harmonic oscillator quantum system to a very different one (the fermionic oscillator), with this new system having in many ways a parallel structure.
The Effect of High Fidelity Simulators on Knowledge Retention and Skill Self Efficacy in Pediatric Advanced Life Support Courses in a Rural State

Abstract Purpose Rural health care providers (HCPs) care for millions of Americans despite challenges. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) provides rural HCPs training in assessment and interventions for critically ill/injured pediatric patients (American Heart Association, 2015). The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of integration of high fidelity simulators into PALS courses in a rural setting. Design and Methods Participants were randomized by course to control or experimental PALS conditions where the control group received PALS with low fidelity static manikins (LFM) and the experimental group received PALS with high-fidelity simulators (HFS). Multiple level modeling (MLM) was used to examine participants time-to-task on pre-identified skills on PALS core case scenarios during testing on the last day of the course. MLM also was used to examine the differences in PALS knowledge and skills self-efficacy (SEI) between control and experimental groups at course end and six months later. Results The experimental and control groups had similar scores on the PALS post course knowledge exam, however the skill performance of the experimental group on time-to-task in core case scenarios was significantly better when compared to the control group (p = 0.05). A decrease in knowledge exam scores and SEI scores occurred in both groups over time, however the control group had significantly greater declines in PALS written exam (p = 0.042) and SEI (p = 0.003). Conclusions and Practice Implications Integration of HFS into PALS may increase HCPs' ability to recall valuable knowledge when seconds matter most. Further research in long-term recall of knowledge and retention of skills following PALS training is needed.
A meta-analytic review of competitive aggressiveness research

Abstract Competitive aggressiveness has been at the center of competitive dynamics literature for decades, however there is no consensus as to its primary drivers and performance consequences. Thus, we present the results of a meta-analysis of the antecedents to and consequences of competitive aggressiveness using three aggressiveness components—competitive volume, complexity, and heterogeneity. Leveraging the awareness, motivation, capability framework as a guide of the drivers of competitive aggressiveness, we find that greater organizational size and age, lower slack resources and prior performance, greater market growth, lower market concentration, and more heterogeneous top management teams lead to more aggressive actions. In addition, we found that among the different components of aggressiveness competitive volume improved operating performance.
Normal Thymocyte Egress, T Cell Trafficking, and CD4+ T Cell Homeostasis Require Interactions between RGS Proteins and Gαi2.

Adaptive immunity depends on mature thymocytes leaving the thymus to enter the bloodstream and the trafficking of T cells through lymphoid organs. Both of these require heterotrimeric Gα i protein signaling, whose intensity and duration are controlled by the regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins. In this study, we show that RGS protein/Gα i2 interactions are essential for normal thymocyte egress, T cell trafficking, and homeostasis. Mature thymocytes with a Gα i2 mutation that disables RGS protein binding accumulated in the perivascular channels of thymic corticomedullary venules. Severe reductions in peripheral naive CD4 + T cells and regulatory T cells occurred. The mutant CD4 + T cells adhered poorly to high endothelial venules and exhibited defects in lymph node entrance and egress. The kinetics of chemokine receptor signaling were disturbed, including chemokine- induced integrin activation. Despite the thymic and lymph node egress defects, sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling was not obviously perturbed. This study reveals how RGS proteins modulate Gα i2 signaling to facilitate thymocyte egress and T cell trafficking.
Strategy study on popularization for Thai Stars on Sina Weibo

Thai stars are now popular in Chinese TV screens. Some of them use social media to interact with their fans and have created business opportunities. This research studies the case of Pchy (Witwisit Hiranyawonkul), a famous Thai star and her Weibo account (@Pchy_小 P). The quantitate part of the research is based on the AISAS model in social media marketing. The performance of the Weibo of the Thai star is compared with those of the Chinese stars in terms of "Attention", "Interest", "Search", "Action" and "Share". It is found that the Thai star needs to improve in the stage of "Attention". In the qualitative part of the research, through interview with the star, her agent and fans, ways of improving the Weibo performance are explored in the above mentioned five areas.
Valuing Knowledge Management Behaviors: Linking KM Behaviors to Strategic Performance Measures

This chapter focuses on the development of quantitative measurement methods to support management policies and practices that drive the growth and development of intangible assets. The central proposition is that a valid measurement program will promote increased productivity through better workflow and accountability. The chapter pays particular attention to the role that human capital and knowledge management data play in that picture. Growing an organization’s intangible asset base necessitates resource allocation and the optimization of multiple asset categories along with a sound design and execution of specific management policies and practices. These requirements necessitate a clearly defined measurement method and model that is subscribed to by all parties.
Systems which possess g - and h -representations

Examples are given concerning the range of applicability of recent representation results that provide a means of studying the input-output properties of nonlinear systems in terms of the familiar impulse-response concept, and which extend the concept of integral transformation to nonlinear maps. We show that such representations, which we call “g-” and “h-representations,” exist for important classes of systems governed by nonlinear integral equations. In particular, it is proved that a large class of maps that have Volterra series representations also have these representations.
HTLV-I Tax

Human T-cell Leukemia Virus type I (HTLV-I) is a human retrovirus that causes disease mainly in the Mediterranean and south tropical areas such as Southern Europe, Middle East, Japan, Philippines, South America, Caribbean and Central Africa1, 2. It is spread from mother to child perinatally or by breast feeding. Transfer from one individual to another can also occur by sexual contact and infected blood. Although it is asymptomatic in the vast majority of the population, a relatively small (< 4%) but still significant number of individuals develops after several years from the onset of the infection, a severe adult T cell leukemia (ATL)3 or the so-called tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP)4, also known as a HTLV-I associated myelopathy (HAM), a neurological disorder characterized by a slow and progressive demyelination of the peripheral nerves and causing paraparesis and spasticity of the lower extremities. Moreover, HTLV-I can also cause a severe granulocytosis and eosinophilia5 and in some cases an autoimmune chronic athritis6.
A Comparison of the Corrosion Response of Zinc-Rich Coatings with and Without Presence of Carbon Nanotubes Under Erosion and Corrosion Conditions

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests were conducted on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) enriched zinc-rich epoxy coating and a commercial zinc-rich coating. Coating performances were examined after ...
A Transform Domain Implementation of Sparse Representation Method for Robust Face Recognition

Recently, a new discriminative sparse representation method for robust face recognition via $$\textit{l}_2$$ regularization (NDSRFR) was reported. In this contribution, a transform domain (TDNDSRFR) is presented. The discrete cosine transform implementation of the TDNDSRFR is given and shown to maintain the recognition accuracy of the NDSRFR while yielding considerable reduction in the computational complexity and storage requirements. Also, a technique that selects the balance parameter is introduced. Extensive simulations were performed on six face databases, namely, ORL, YALE, FERET, FEI, Cropped AR, and Georgia Tech, and sample results are given which confirm the enhanced properties of the TDNDSRFR.
Reflections on the Intersection of Student Activism and Structural Competency Training in a New Medical School Curriculum

White Coats for Black Lives (WC4BL) is a national medical student movement that aims to affirm the role of medical professionals in combating racism and racial disparities in medicine. The WC4BL chapter at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), has focused its efforts on community engagement, local and national political activism, and medical education reform. As part of the inaugural class studying under the Bridges Curriculum at the UCSF School of Medicine, five UCSF WC4BL members provide perspectives on their first year of medical education, the integration of structural competency into the curriculum, and how their involvement with WC4BL has impacted and enriched their experiences. In addition, two faculty members from the UCSF Department of Anthropology, History, and Social Medicine who were involved in the introduction of structural competency and other content addressing racialized health and healthcare disparities describe the process of developing and implementing this new curriculum. Collectively, reflections of trainees and faculty offer a multi-perspectival understanding of the experiences and lessons learned from the introduction of structural competency curricula into medical education.
Transition metal-free strategies for the stereoselective construction of spirocyclopropyl oxindoles

Abstract The spirocyclopropyl oxindole motif is an important architectural subunit as a well-established pharmacophore that is present in many biologically active natural products and small molecules with applications across a wide array of therapeutic areas. As a result, efforts toward the stereoselective assembly of this core framework have played a role in the recent resurgence of metal-free cycloaddition strategies. This review covers those recent transition metal-free approaches to the spirocyclopropyl oxindole framework proceeding with high levels of diastereoselectivity as classified into three reagent-based classifications: 1) cyclopropanations employing diazo compounds, 2) PL3-mediated cyclopropanations, and 3) organocatalyzed formal [2 + 1]-cycloadditions.
Functional analysis of glycosylation using Drosophila melanogaster

The glycosylation of proteins and lipids has various essential roles in a diverse range of biological processes, including embryogenesis, organ development, neurogenesis, maintenance of homeostasis, immune response, and tumorigenesis. Drosophila melanogaster is one of the representative multicellular model organisms, which have many useful genetic manipulation tools; it is used in developmental biology as well as classical and molecular genetics. Glycobiology is not an exception and many studies using Drosophila have been performed in this field to clarify novel functions of glycans. Recently, genome-wide screening and functional analyses were performed in whole body, wings, eyes, neuromuscular junctions, and immune organs. Furthermore, detailed studies with Drosophila mutants of glycosyltransferases, nucleotide sugar transporters, and glycosidases revealed novel functions of N-linked glycans, glycosaminoglycans, glycolipids, and O-linked glycans including mucin type O-glycan, O-Fuc, O-Man, and O-GlcNAc. As many of these functions are common between Drosophila and humans, these mutants represent good models for human disease. In this review, recent studies of glycan functions using Drosophila are summarized.
An economic analysis of prophylactic lymphovenous anastomosis among breast cancer patients receiving mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection

Background and objectives Prophylactic lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) has been shown to decrease the incidence of postoperative lymphedema among patients receiving mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). However, the economic impact of this intervention on overall healthcare costs has not been adequately studied and insurance reimbursement for lymphedema treatment is limited resulting in substantial out-of-pocket patient expenses. Methods We performed a cost-minimization decision analysis from the societal perspective to assess two different patient scenarios: (a) mastectomy with ALND alone, (b) mastectomy with ALND and prophylactic LVA. Results The annual cost of lymphedema-related care is estimated to be $5,691.88 ($3,160.52 direct, $2,531.36 indirect). If all patients undergoing mastectomy with ALND undergo prophylactic LVA, the average expected lifetime cost per patient in the entire population (whether or not they develop lymphedema) is approximately $6,295.61, compared to $13,942.26 if no patients in the same population receive prophylactic LVA. Conclusions Prophylactic LVA is economically preferred over mastectomy and ALND alone from a cost minimization perspective, and results in an average of $7,646.65 (45.2%) cost saving per patient over the course of their lifetime.
G104(P) CRIT: children receiving immunosuppressive therapy: a cross-speciality review of practice at a tertiary children’s hospital

Aims Immunosuppression has become integral to the management of a wide range of childhood illness. Although total numbers of children and young people (CYP) on immunosuppression is unknown, they are thought to be increasing. Multiple paediatric sub-specialities initiate and monitor different immunosuppressive therapies with anecdotal variation in prescribing and monitoring practices. To understand existing variations in care, we undertook a retrospective review, focussing on: Number of CYP on immunosuppression; Drug monitoring and antimicrobial prophylaxis; Numbers of serious infections. Methods CYP attending our hospital on immunosuppressive medication were identified from speciality teams (excluding immunology/oncology patients). Immunosuppressive agents were defined as: Long–term/high–dose steroids Cytotoxic drugs Biologic agents/monoclonal antibodies Data were collected on a representative sample of patients under each speciality: Diagnosis; Current/past immunosuppression; Current/past antimicrobial prophylaxis; Consideration of risk for specific infections; Serious infective episodes. Existing speciality/departmental guidance on prescribing, monitoring and surveillance was collected. Results 416 CYP on immunosuppression identified; data were collected on 77 (18.5%), with cross-speciality representation. 47/77 children are currently prescribed ≥2 agents with 8/77 presently off immunosuppression. 46/77 were not prescribed prophylaxis at any point. In those who were, cotrimoxazole (n=28) was commonest. 54/77 patients had past VZV exposure documented or tested. 7/77 patients attended after chickenpox exposure; 2 required admission for treatment. 10/77 patients were hospitalised for possible bacterial infection; none had proven bacteraemia but 2 developed cryptosporidiosis. All patients had FBC checked with varying frequency (weekly–once only). 14/77 developed lymphopaenia; of these, 8 had subsets checked. There was no clear relationship between speciality and monitoring frequency. Two specialities were able to provide departmental guidance for the management of intercurrent infection. Conclusions There is a large population of CYP on a wide range of immunosuppression. There is inter-speciality variation in the agents prescribed, monitoring schedules, infection risk stratification and antimicrobial prophylaxis. Departmental protocols are uncommon and not readily accessible outside of speciality or hospital, making out-of-hours decisions unnecessarily challenging. This wide variation in practice and lack of evidence-based guidance is unacceptable. Regional immunosuppression guidance may improve the quality of care offered to immunosuppressed children in our region.
Least Squares Estimation for the Gauss–Markov Model

Now that we have determined which functions cTβ in a linear model {y, Xβ} can be estimated unbiasedly, we can consider how we might actually estimate them. This chapter presents the estimation method known as least squares. Least squares estimation involves finding a value of β that minimizes the distance between y and Xβ, as measured by the squared length of the vector y −Xβ. Although this seems like it should lead to reasonable estimators of the elements of Xβ, it is not obvious that it will lead to estimators of all estimable functions cTβ that are optimal in any sense. It is shown in this chapter that the least squares estimator of any estimable function cTβ associated with the model {y, Xβ} is linear and unbiased under that model, and that it is, in fact, the “best” (minimum variance) linear unbiased estimator of cTβ under the Gauss–Markov model {y, Xβ, σ2I}. It is also shown that if the mean structure of the model is reparameterized, the least squares estimators of estimable functions are materially unaffected.
A Method for Organoid Transplantation and Whole-Mount Visualization of Post-Engraftment Vascularization

As the field of organoid development matures, the need to transplant organoids to evaluate and characterize their functionality grows. Decades of research developing islet organoid transplantation for the treatment of type 1 diabetes can contribute substantially to accelerating diverse tissue organoid transplantation. Biomaterials-based organoid delivery methods offer the potential to maximize organoid survival and engraftment. In this protocol, we describe a vasculogenic degradable hydrogel vehicle and a method to deliver organoids to intraperitoneal tissue. Further, we describe a method to fluorescently label and image functional vasculature within the graft as a tool to investigate organoid engraftment.
Large-scale cellular-resolution imaging of neural activity in freely behaving mice

Abstract Miniaturized microscopes for head-mounted fluorescence imaging are powerful tools for visualizing neural activity during naturalistic behaviors, but the restricted field of view of first-generation ‘miniscopes’ limits the size of neural populations accessible for imaging. Here we describe a novel miniaturized mesoscope offering cellular-resolution imaging over areas spanning several millimeters in freely moving mice. This system enables comprehensive visualization of activity across entire brain regions or interactions across areas.
Parental relationship status and age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis of their child.

A reliable autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis can occur as early as 18 months; however, the average age at diagnosis in the United States is over 2 years later. While there are numerous well-...
Bad Seeds: Evaluating Lexical Methods for Bias Measurement

A common factor in bias measurement methods is the use of hand-curated seed lexicons, but there remains little guidance for their selection. We gather seeds used in prior work, documenting their common sources and rationales, and in case studies of three English-language corpora, we enumerate the different types of social biases and linguistic features that, once encoded in the seeds, can affect subsequent bias measurements. Seeds developed in one context are often re-used in other contexts, but documentation and evaluation remain necessary precursors to relying on seeds for sensitive measurements.
Collaborating for Organizational Innovation: Networking Across the City

Open innovation ecosystems play an important role in corporate and product innovation and contribute to the success of economic development at the municipal level, yet there is little research on the factors driving innovative behavior within a municipal innovation ecosystem (MIE). This study explores how the interpersonal and intrapersonal resources of the individuals involved contribute to innovative behavior within a city’s innovation ecosystem.This study used a mixed-method approach to build a novel framework to examine innovative behavior in the Mobile, AL municipality. A moderated mediation model was tested using PLS-SEM. The findings presented in this study introduce new constructs and measurements related to assessing innovation at the individual level in a municipality. The results suggest that innovative behavior is impacted by personal resources and that social events where people and businesses interact contribute to both inter-organizational innovation and the municipal innovation ecosystem.
Phosphatidylinositol kinase in rat kidney cortex. II. Subcellular distribution and kinetic properties.

Abstract An enzyme, phosphatidylinositol kinase, that catalyzes the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol by ATP to form diphosphoinositide has been found to be predominantly localized in the microsomal fraction from rat kidney cortex. The enzyme was completely dependent upon added Mg ++ or Mn ++ for activity and was inhibited by Ca ++ or Cu ++ . It was activated by dithiothreitol, 2-mercaptoethanol and reduced glutathione, and was inhibited by HgCl 2 , N -ethylmaleimide and p -chloromercuri-benzoate. Both reaction products, ADP and DPI, were found to reduce the enzyme activity. The formation of diphosphoinositide was markedly stimulated by the addition of a nonionic detergent, Cutscum, to the incubation medium. The enzyme can be rendered soluble by treatment of the microsomal fraction with 0.2% Cutscum. Some kinetic properties of the enzyme are also described.
Growth and fragmentation of the Andean foreland basin during eastward advance of fold-thrust deformation, Puna plateau and Eastern Cordillera, northern Argentina

[1] The fault-bounded Cianzo basin represents a Cenozoic depocenter between the Puna plateau and Eastern Cordillera of northern Argentina. Analysis of fold-thrust relationships, nonmarine sedimentation, and detrital provenance at 23–24°S helps constrain the origin, interconnectedness, and subsequent uplift and exhumation of the Cianzo basin, a potential analog for intermontane hinterland basins in the Andes. Structural mapping reveals a plunging syncline within the >6000-m-thick, upward coarsening Cenozoic clastic succession in the shared footwall of the N-striking, E-directed Cianzo thrust fault and transverse, NE-striking Hornocal fault. Growth strata within upper Miocene levels indicate syncontractional accumulation adjacent to the Hornocal fault. Measured stratigraphic sections show upsection changes from (1) paleosol-rich, distal-fluvial sandstones (∼400 m Paleocene-Eocene Santa Barbara Subgroup) to (2) braided fluvial sandstones and mudstones (∼1400 m upper Eocene-Oligocene Casa Grande Formation) to (3) distributary fluvial megafan sandstones and conglomerates (∼3300 m upper Oligocene-Miocene Rio Grande Formation) to (4) alluvial fan conglomerates (∼1600 m upper Miocene Pisungo Formation). The 40Ar/39Ar geochronological results for interbedded tuffs indicate continuous Rio Grande deposition from at least 16.34 ± 0.71 to 9.69 ± 0.05 Ma. Sandstone petrographic results define distinct upsection trends in lithic and feldspar content, potentially distinguishing the Western Cordillera magmatic arc from Puna-Eastern Cordillera thrust-belt sources. In addition to growth stratal relationships and 40Ar/39Ar ages, conglomerate clast compositions reflect distinct lithologic differences, constraining activation of the Cianzo thrust and coeval reverse slip on the reactivated (inverted) Hornocal fault. Finally, detrital zircon U-Pb ages, paleocurrents, and facies patterns distinguish local from distal sources, revealing a systematic forelandward (eastward) advance of Eocene through upper Miocene fold-thrust deformation.
Real-Time Experimental Investigation on Dynamic Failure of Sandwich Structures and Layered Materials

We present a systematic experimental investigation of the generation and subsequent evolution of dynamic failure modes in sandwich structures and layered materials subjected to out-of-plane low-speed impact. Model sandwich specimens involving a compliant polymer core sandwiched between two metal layers and other model layered materials were designed to simulate failure evolution mechanisms in real sandwich structures and layered materials. High-speed photography and dynamic photoelasticity were utilized to study the nature and sequence of such failure modes. In all cases, inter-layer (interfacial) cracks appeared first. These cracks were shear-dominated and were often intersonic even under moderate impact speeds. The transition from inter-layer crack growth to intra-layer crack formation was also observed. The shear inter-layer cracks kinked into the core layer, propagated as opening-dominated intra-layer cracks and eventually branched as they attained high enough growth speeds causing brittle core fragmentation. In-depth failure mechanics experiments on the dynamic crack branching, crack kinking and penetration at a weak interface, interfacial debonding ahead of a main incident crack were also conducted to understand the physical insight of the dynamic failure modes and their transition observed from sandwich structures and layered materials.
Subcellular imaging of calcium exchange in cultured cells with ion microscopy

Calcium to calcium exchange between intracellular and extracellular pools has been imaged directly in individual cells using stable 44Ca (98.78% enrichment) in the nutrient medium and an isotopic imaging technique, ion microscopy. Observations were made by imaging mass 40 to determine the native intracellular calcium (40Ca), and mass 44 to localize the 44Ca from the extracellular medium that exchanged with cellular calcium. LLC-PK1 porcine kidney epithelial cells were exposed to the nutrient medium with 1.87 mM stable 44Ca for 0, 1, 2, 5, 8, 20, 60 and 90 min, and cryogenically prepared prior to ion microscopic analysis. The cell nucleus, the Golgi region and the remaining cell cytoplasm could be spatially resolved to within about 0.5 microns using the ion microscope. On the basis of the kinetics of 40Ca to 44Ca exchange it was observed that all three compartments had a rapidly exchanging pool of calcium, which took about 2 min to exchange. A moderately rapidly exchanging pool of calcium was identified between 2 and 20 min of calcium exchange. The cells had exchanged about 50% of their total internal calcium with the external calcium in less than 20 min. The remaining 50% of the cellular calcium could be classified as a slowly exchanging pool. Isotopic images of 39K and 23Na were recorded along with 40Ca and 44Ca images to assess the health status of the cell. Isotopic imaging has the unique ability to distinguish intracellular calcium from the extracellular calcium that enters cells and has enormous potential for studies of calcium transport under physiological and pathological conditions.
Geochemistry of an Abandoned Landfill Containing Coal Combustion Waste: Implications for Remediation

The 488-D Ash Basin (488-DAB) is an unlined, earthen landfill containing approximately one million tons of dry ash and coal reject material at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site, SC. The pyritic nature of the coal rejects has resulted in the formation of acidic drainage (AD), which has contributed to groundwater deterioration and threatened biota in adjacent wetlands. Establishment of a dry cover is being examined as a remedial alternative for reducing AD generation within this system by minimizing the contact of oxygen and water to the waste material. To determine the potential benefit of a cover on pore water chemistry, a series of flow-through column experiments were performed under varying environmental conditions using materials from the site. The experiment was designed to demonstrate the influence of temperature, gaseous composition (dissolved nitrogen vs. oxygen), and flow regime (continuous flow vs. episodic wetting/drying) on effluent chemistry. Results indicated that the fluid composition (e.g., pH, redox, elemental composition) was closely associated to dissolved and/or gaseous oxygen content and wetting regime. Given these conditions, the use of a dry cover could reduce the production of acid lechate over time, pending that it retards or eliminates fluid and oxygen transport to the subsurface.
A search for small solar flares with BATSE

The Burst and Transient Source Experiment on board the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory is being used to measure solar flares. The Large Area Detectors are well suited for studies of small flares. We are searching the BATSE LAD data for solar flares with an automated algorithm. In this search we have detected solar flares an order of magnitude smaller than those detected by a visual search of the data. The results are consistent with the differential distribution of peak flare rates measured by other researchers. These results also show that the frequency of the smallest flares observed by BATSE can be predicted from the frequency of larger flares. We also present results on the factors limiting the sensitivity of the search.
Safety of thrust joint manipulation in the thoracic spine: a systematic review

AbstractBackground:There appears to be very little in the research literature on the safety of thrust joint manipulation (TJM) when applied to the thoracic spine.Purpose:To retrospectively analyze all available documented case reports in the literature describing patients who had experienced severe adverse events (AE) after receiving TJM to their thoracic spine.Data Sources:Case reports published in peer reviewed journals were searched in Medline (using Ovid Technologies, Inc.), Science Direct, Web of Science, PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database), Index of Chiropractic literature, AMED (Allied and Alternative Medicine Database), PubMed and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINHAL) from January 1950 to February 2015.Study Selection:Case reports were included if they: (1) were peer-reviewed; (2) were published between 1950 and 2015; (3) provided case reports or case series; and (4) had TJM as an intervention. Articles were excluded if: (1) the AE occurred without TJM (e.g. spontaneous); ...