cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultrastructural examination of corneal epithelium of spontaneously obese, hyperglycemic rats.

PURPOSE. Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats spontaneously become obese and hyperglycemic with age. We investigated whether the development of hyperglycemia would alter the ultrastructure of the corneal epithelium. METHODS. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) were used to examine the morphology of corneal epithelial cells. Fourteen OLETF rats were evaluated, and 9 Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats were used as control. Non-hyperglycemic OLETF rats served as controls. RESULTS. SEM showed exfoliative changes in the surface of the central corneal epithelium of the hyperglycemic OLETF rats. These superficial epithelial cells were irregular in shape as compared to polygonal shapes of those of LETO and non-hyperglycemic OLETF rats. The mean anterior surface area of individual superficial epithelial cells was significantly smaller in the hyperglycemic OLETF than that of the LETO or the non-hyperglycemic OLETF rats. Central protrusion(s) could be found in some of the super...
Local Hydrogel Release of Recombinant TIMP-3 Attenuates Adverse Left Ventricular Remodeling After Experimental Myocardial Infarction

An imbalance between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) contributes to the left ventricle (LV) remodeling that occurs after myocardial infarction (MI). However, translation of these observations into a clinically relevant, therapeutic strategy remains to be established. The present study investigated targeted TIMP augmentation through regional injection of a degradable hyaluronic acid hydrogel containing recombinant TIMP-3 (rTIMP-3) in a large animal model. MI was induced in pigs by coronary ligation. Animals were then randomized to receive targeted hydrogel/rTIMP-3, hydrogel alone, or saline injection and followed for 14 days. Instrumented pigs with no MI induction served as referent controls. Multimodal imaging (fluoroscopy/ echocardiography/magnetic resonance imaging) revealed that LV ejection fraction was improved, LV dilation was reduced, and MI expansion was attenuated in the animals treated with rTIMP-3 compared to all other controls. A marked reduction in proinflammatory cytokines and increased smooth muscle actin content indicative of myofibroblast proliferation occurred in the MI region with hydrogel/rTIMP-3 injections. These results provide the first proof of concept that regional sustained delivery of an MMP inhibitor can effectively interrupt adverse post-MI remodeling.
Regime Change and Revolutionary Entrepreneurs

I develop a model of regime change to study how a revolutionary vanguard may use violence to coordinate and mobilize members of a mass public by convincing them that the level of anti-government sentiment in society is high. The model is consistent with unexpectedly successful violence by vanguards sparking revolution, but also suggests that the relationship between vanguards and the micro-foundations of revolution is complicated and subtle. The model has multiple equilibria, some where revolution is relatively likely and some where it is relative unlikely or impossible. Within an equilibrium, structural factors affect the likelihood of revolution. Nonetheless, if two identical societies play different equilibria, they have very different likelihoods of experiencing revolution, creating a problem for empirical work seeking to identify the root causes of political violence. This fact also suggests that standard empirical arguments about the importance of revolutionary vanguards may be problematic. In equilibrium, there are selection effects—even controlling for all relevant structural factors, vanguards arise only in those societies that are particularly likely to have successful regime change even in the absence of a vanguard. Finally, on the purely theoretical side, the model studied here is closely related to a global game, yet generates multiple equilibria regardless of informational assumptions. This multiplicity result helps to clarify the substantive content of the technical assumptions underlying uniqueness results in the applied literature on global games of regime change.
Three-body final state interaction in η →3 π

We present an unitary dispersive model for the $$\eta \to 3 \pi$$ decay process based upon the Khuri-Treiman equations which are solved by means of the Pasquier inversion method. The description of the hadronic final-state interactions for the $$\eta \to 3\pi$$ decay is essential to reproduce the available data and to understand the existing discrepancies between Dalitz plot parameters from experiment and chiral perturbation theory. Our approach incorporates substraction constants that are fixed by fitting the recent high-statistics WASA-at-COSY data for $$\eta \to \pi^+ \pi^- \pi^0$$. Based on the parameters obtained we predict the slope parameter for the neutral channel to be $$\alpha=-0.022\pm 0.004$$. Through matching to next-to-leading order chiral perturbation theory we estimate the quark mass double ratio to be $$Q=21.4 \pm 0.4$$.
Effects of community-based exercise in children with severe burns: A randomized trial

OBJECTIVE: To counteract long-lasting muscle break down, muscle weakness, and poor physical fitness resulting from severe burns, we recommend a 12-week in-hospital exercise training rehabilitation program. Unfortunately, this in-hospital training program requires time away from home, family, school or work. This study was undertaken to evaluate an alternative exercise rehabilitation strategy involving a 12-week community-based exercise training rehabilitation program (COMBEX) carried out at or near the patient and caretaker's home. STUDY DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Pediatric patients (7-18 years) with ≥30% of total body surface area (TBSA) burns were randomized to participate in COMBEX (N=12) or an outpatient exercise program (EX) at the hospital (N=22). Both programs were started after hospital discharge and consisted of 12 weeks of progressive resistive and aerobic exercise. COMBEX was performed in community fitness centers near the patients' home. Endpoints were assessed at discharge (pre-exercise) and after the 12-week program. Primary endpoints were lean body mass (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), muscle strength (isokinetic dynamometry), and peak aerobic capacity (indirect calorimetry). RESULTS: Demographics, length of hospitalization, and TBSA burned were comparable between groups (P>0.05). Both groups exhibited a significant (P≤0.01 for all) increase (mean±SEM) in lean muscle mass (EX: 6.9±1.7%; COMBEX: 6.5±1.1%), muscle strength (EX: 67.1±7.0%; COMBEX: 49.9±6.8%), and peak aerobic capacity (EX: 35.5±4.0%; COMBEX: 46.9±7.7%). Furthermore, the magnitude of these increases were not different between groups (P>0.12). CONCLUSIONS: Both EX and COMBEX are efficacious in improving lean mass, strength, and cardiopulmonary capacity in severely burned children. Language: en
Retinoic acid increases elastin in neonatal rat lung fibroblast cultures

The factors that regulate elastin synthesis during pulmonary alveolar septal formation have not been identified. Because maximal alveolar elastin synthesis occurs over a relatively brief period (po...
Abstract 5596: Linkage between the lipogenic pathway and the progression of breast carcinomas.

Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is a lipogenic enzyme responsible for the novo synthesis of fatty acids (FAs) from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA in a NADPH dependent manner in cells. FAs are essential constituents of all biological membranes lipids and are important substrates for energy metabolism. While normal cells (except liver and adiposities) express low levels of FASN and have low to undetectable levels of FASN enzymatic activity, FASN expression and activity is observed in a vast majority of human cancers. Whether the increase in FASN is merely a consequence of disease progression or it is a “metabolic oncogene” that drives disease progression remains unclear. Here, we undoubtedly demonstrated that knockdown FASN results in inhibition of tumor formation and angiogenesis in athymic nude mice. Moreover, the histopathological features of the FASN knockdown remaining tissue in vivo appear globular, well differentiated with low nuclear grade compared to the control tumors, which appear invasive, undifferentiated, and of high nuclear grade. When tissues where stained for Ki-67, Vimentin and E-Cadherin the classical mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) was observed in the tissue derived from FASN knockdown tumors. Our studies establish a possible role for FASN as a “metabolic oncogene” in breast cancer. Given the data presented here, we propose that FASN is a perfect marker to develop personalized targeted therapy. Citation Format: Anatilde M. Gonzalez-Guerrico, Cheol Park-Hong, Celina Kleer, Ingrid Espinoza, Ruth Lupu. Linkage between the lipogenic pathway and the progression of breast carcinomas. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5596. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5596
Pathogenesis of epilepsy: the role of excitatory amino acids.

BACKGROUND The clinical and electroencephalographic features of seizures in children differ considerably from those in adults. Recently there has been an increased interest in the biological basis for the unique clinical and electroencephalographic features of childhood epilepsy. It is now clear that studies in adult animals can not be extrapolated to the immature animal.
Microsurgical anatomy of the supratentorial arachnoidal trabecular membranes and cisterns.

Abstract We examined the microsurgical anatomy of the supratentorial subarachnoid cisterns with a surgical microscope in 20 brains prepared using the immersion technique. The adult brains were immersed in Ringer's solution and air was injected into the subarachnoid cisterns while the brains remained submerged in solution. We identified nine trabecular membranes that limit the 15 cisterns. We specifically looked at the anatomical relationship between the supratentorial trabecular membranes and cisterns to their corresponding vessels and cranial nerves. The cistern divisions and the dispositions of trabecular membranes were closely related to the vascular division patterns of the principal brain arteries. A clear and thorough understanding of the neuroanatomical structures of the subarachnoid cisterns is important because they provide natural pathways to neurovascular and cranial nerve structures. These pathways allow access to intracranial arteries, veins, and nerves during microvascular procedures without disturbing surrounding important brain structures.
Reevaluation of pathogenesis of epituberculosis in infants and children with tuberculosis

OBJECT We try to reevaluate the pathogenesis of epituberculosis in infants and children with tuberculosis, because most studies on epituberculosis were done more than 50 years ago. SUBJECT AND METHODS Nineteen children (less than 1 y/o: 12, 1 y/o: 2, 2 y/o: 3, and 4 y/o: 2) were studied by CT imaging and bronchofiberscopy in addition to gastric Mycobacterium tuberculosis examination and regular chest XP. RESULTS In 13 of total 19 patients (68%), lobar or segmental epituberculosis occured after starting antituberculous chemotherapy, including a case in which epituberculosis of right upper lobe was recognized at the time of diagnosis of tuberculosis and after starting chemotherapy, epituberculosis of right middle lobe was observed. CT imaging revealed that all 19 patients had enlargement of mediastinal and/or hilar lymphonodes compressing neighboring bronchi, and 16 of total 19 patients (84%) demonstrated relevant parenchymal infiltration. Gastric Mycobacterium tuberculosis was positive in 15 out of 19 patients (79%). Bronchofiberscopy was done in 16 patients, and it demonstrated mass lesion of various size on the bronchial wall in 13 patients (81%). CONCLUSION The present study demonstrated that epituberculosis predominantly occured in tuberculosis infants less than one year old, which was different from the previous reports. The CT imaging also makes clear that epituberculosis may be the atelectasis of lobe or segment which occurs mostly due to compression of bronchi by the enlargement of mediastinal and/or hilar lymphonodes and their early exacerbation after starting chemotherapy. Bronchofiberscopy also elucidated that bronchial wall mass lesion resulted from perforation of lynphonodes may partially contribute to the formation of epituberculosis.
Metabolic and membrane aspects of gastric H+ transport.

Metabolic properties of dog gastric mucosa, investigated by substrate level measurements, implicate the Krebs cycle as the major energy-yielding metabolic pathway but are equivocal in terms of an ATP-based H+ secretion. Purification of gastric membranes by centrifugation and free flow electrophoresis results in a class of membrane vesicles enriched in K+-ATPase and capable of ATP-energized H+ uptake. Immunohistochemistry shows these to be derived from the parietal cell. H+ uptake by the vesicles is accompanied by K+ efflux, and movement of either ion is not potential-coupled. The simplest interpretation of these transport studies is uptake of KCl by the vesicles by passive diffusion followed by active H+:K+ exchange. In some respects, however, this model fails to conform to the expectations from in vitro studies. It may be, therefore, that another pump (i.e., redox) or another membrane component (i.e., Cl- conductance) is lost during purification. The properties of the vesicles are such, however, as to establish their role in H+ secretion by the stomach.
Technical Aspects of Mouse Intracranial Aneurysm Model

Subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by the rupture of intracranial aneurysms results in catastrophic consequences with high morbidity and mortality. Mouse models of intracranial aneurysm help to improve our understanding of mechanisms for aneurysmal formation and rupture. Intracranial aneurysms can be induced by a combination of hypertension and a single injection of elastase into the cerebrospinal fluid in mice. In this model, subarachnoid hemorrhage due to aneurysmal rupture can be detected by a daily neurological examination. Our model will allow a better understanding of mechanisms of aneurysmal formation and rupture. Studies on the efficacy of pharmacological treatment on aneurysms are now conceivable to prevent aneurysmal rupture.
Using fluorescence lifetime microscopy to study the subcellular localization of anthocyanins.

Summary Anthocyanins are flavonoid pigments that accumulate in most seed plants. They are synthesized in the cytoplasm but accumulate inside the vacuoles. Anthocyanins are pigmented at the lower vacuolar pH, but in the cytoplasm they can be visualized based on their fluorescence properties. Thus, anthocyanins provide an ideal system for the development of new methods to investigate cytoplasmic pools and association with other molecular components. We have analyzed the fluorescence decay of anthocyanins by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), in both in vitro and in vivo conditions, using wild type and mutant Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. Within plant cells, the amplitude-weighted mean fluorescence lifetime (τm) correlated with distinct subcellular localizations of anthocyanins. The vacuolar pool of anthocyanins exhibited shorter τm than the cytoplasmic pool. Consistently, lowering the pH of anthocyanins in solution shortened their fluorescence decay. We propose that FLIM is a useful tool for understanding the trafficking of anthocyanins and potentially, for estimating vacuolar pH inside intact plant cells. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Cherenkov light production from the α-emitting decay chains of 223 Ra, 212 Pb, and 149 Tb for Cherenkov Luminescence Imaging.

Cherenkov Luminescence Imaging (CLI) is a new method to image radioactive therapeutic and diagnostic agents, primarily in preclinical studies. This study used Geant4 and Python to generate the predicted Cherenkov light production as a function of time for a set of isotopic chains of interest for targeted alpha therapy: 223Ra, 212Pb, and 149Tb. All are shown to produce substantial Cherenkov light, though time delays between initial decays and the production of Cherenkov light requires caution in interpreting CLI.
Glaring Chemical Errors Persist for Years on Wikipedia

This letter is a response to an article (J. Chem. Educ. 2011, 88, 769–771) about incorporating Wikipedia into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum. Though Wikipedia does not require the vetting of submitted material, it is undoubtedly a major resource for the 21st century chemist. Unfortunately, many errors in chemical structure are present in Wikipedia chemistry articles. Even when these mistakes are discovered and reported, articles are sometimes subsequently left uncorrected. In order to be a more useful resource, particularly for undergraduate learning, Wikipedia depends on timely fact-checking and editing by the chemical community.
Phenotypic distribution models corroborate species distribution models: A shift in the role and prevalence of a dominant prairie grass in response to climate change

Phenotypic distribution within species can vary widely across environmental gradients but forecasts of species' responses to environmental change often assume species respond homogenously across their ranges. We compared predictions from species and phenotype distribution models under future climate scenarios for Andropogon gerardii, a widely distributed, dominant grass found throughout the central United States. Phenotype data on aboveground biomass, height, leaf width, and chlorophyll content were obtained from 33 populations spanning a ~1000 km gradient that encompassed the majority of the species' environmental range. Species and phenotype distribution models were trained using current climate conditions and projected to future climate scenarios. We used permutation procedures to infer the most important variable for each model. The species-level response to climate was most sensitive to maximum temperature of the hottest month, but phenotypic variables were most sensitive to mean annual precipitation. The phenotype distribution models predict that A. gerardii could be largely functionally eliminated from where this species currently dominates, with biomass and height declining by up to ~60% and leaf width by ~20%. By the 2070s, the core area of highest suitability for A. gerardii is projected to shift up to ~700 km northeastward. Further, short-statured phenotypes found in the present-day short grass prairies on the western periphery of the species' range will become favored in the current core ~800 km eastward of their current location. Combined, species and phenotype models predict this currently dominant prairie grass will decline in prevalence and stature. Thus, sourcing plant material for grassland restoration and forage should consider changes in the phenotype that will be favored under future climate conditions. Phenotype distribution models account for the role of intraspecific variation in determining responses to anticipated climate change and thereby complement predictions from species distributions models in guiding climate adaptation strategies.
MCNP6 simulated performance of Micro-Pocket Fission Detectors (MPFDs) in the Transient REActor Test (TREAT) facility

Abstract Micro-Pocket Fission Detectors (MPFDs) are under development for in-core neutron flux measurements at the Transient REActor Test facility (TREAT) and in other experiments at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The sensitivity of MPFDs to the energy dependent neutron flux at TREAT has been determined for 0.0300-μm thick active material coatings of 242 Pu, 232 Th, natural uranium, and 93% enriched 235 U. Self-shielding effects in the active material of the MPFD was also confirmed to be negligible. Finally, fission fragment energy deposition was found to be in conformance with previously reported results.
Clinical Practice Guidelines: A Primer on Development and Dissemination

Trustworthy clinical practice guidelines should be based on a systematic review of the literature, provide ratings of the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations, consider patient values, and be developed by a multidisciplinary panel of experts. The quality of evidence reflects our certainty that the evidence warrants a particular action. Transforming evidence into a decision requires consideration of the quality of evidence, balance of benefits and harms, patients' values, available resources, feasibility of the intervention, acceptability by stakeholders, and effect on health equity. Empirical evidence shows that adherence to guidelines improves patient outcomes; however, adherence to guidelines is variable. Therefore, guidelines require active dissemination and innovative implementation strategies.
Towards an Aesthetics of Touch

In this paper we explore an interdisciplinary approach towards an aesthetics of touch. Research into the role of the body has become increasingly prevalent in fields ranging from philosophy of mind to human-computer interaction. At the same time, haptic technology has becoming ubiquitous within personalized devices and wearables. Despite this, touch remains largely under-explored within contemporary aesthetics. We firstly outline what might be gained from artistic practices that acknowledge a multisensory model of perception. Secondly, we discuss the difficulties of arriving at a standardized taxonomy for touch-based aesthetics and why this endeavor may not be fruitful. Finally, we outline an approach based on first-person felt experiences, drawing on creative practice research involving computational technology within the fields of somatics, dance, and music.
Desmodus rotundus murinus (Vampire bat)

The specimens (one male and one female) were collected in Vera Cruz, Mexico by Mr. Robert Dooley, Houston Zoological Garden, Houston, Texas, USA. Lung cultures were used for karyological studies.
Teaching Transition Self-Determination Knowledge and Skills Using the ME! Bell Ringers:

Special education teachers report lack of time and a shortage of appropriate curricula as reasons impeding implementation of transition education in their classrooms. However, research indicates school and postschool outcomes of students with disabilities improve significantly with transition instruction. The ME! Lessons for Teaching Self-Awareness and Self-Advocacy materials and activities were developed to teach students to understand their disability and abilities, rights and responsibilities, and self-advocacy skills, which are all critical self-determination components. This article details a time-efficient means to teach the essence of the ME! Lessons using ME! Bell Ringers, which include instruction in self-advocacy, student involvement in individualized education program (IEP), and disability awareness, using 10-min lessons that can be taught at the beginning of class in a daily or weekly format.
Associations of Specific HLA-C Loci and Sociodemographic Factors with the Prevalence of Type I psoriasis inIraqi patients.

Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune inflammatory disease of human skin with unknown etiology and for which there is no cure. It is believed to be genetically and immunologically conditioned and has major negative impact on life’s quality.To determine the impact of inheritance of specific HLA-C loci and some sociodemographic factors on the susceptibility to early onset psoriasis (Type I).Current study includes psoriatic group involve 76 patients (type I) and a match apparently healthy group comprise 87 persons as a control. A PCR based method (low resolution sequence specific primer. PCR-SSP) used to detect CW6, CW7 and CW17 genotypes after inform consent. Current study shows that the CW6 and Cw7 allele significantly associated with early onset psoriasis, while cw17 shows no significant association. There is also higher percentage of patient were in urban than rural resident, with no significant association between smoking and type I psoriasis. Both of CW6 and CW7 genotypes increase the risk of early onset psoriasis. While rural residency decreases the chance of getting type I psoriasis. Furthermore, lack of association with smoking cannot mitigate the effect of passive smoking.
ZNFX-1 Engages Argonaute Proteins to Promote the Stable Inheritance of Epigenetic States in C. Elegans

The capacity to adopt durable new gene expression states, and hence stable heritable and distinct physical properties, underlies the remarkable diversity of somatic cell types in multicellular animals. It is less clear, however, to what extent changes in gene expression states, epigenetic changes as opposed to DNA mutations, drive heritable change within the germline. In C. elegans, transgenes can stably and heritably adopt active or silent expression states, affording the opportunity to search for factors that control epigenetic inheritance. Here, we identify ZNFX-1 as a protein required for the stable transgenerational inheritance of both silent and active gene expression states. ZNFX-1 localizes within perinuclear nuage and interacts with at least three different Argonaute systems that together mediate transcriptome-wide surveillance of germline gene expression. Our findings implicate ZNFX-1 as a deeply conserved metazoan protein that promotes the inheritance of gene expression states.
Signaling mechanisms for the activation of an embryonic gene program during the hypertrophy of cardiac ventricular muscle.

To study the signaling mechanisms which mediate ventricular hypertrophy, we utilized the induction of the ANF gene as a marker of the hypertrophic response. The induction of the atrial natriuretic factor gene (ANF) is one of the most conserved features of ventricular hypertrophy, occurring in multiple species (mouse, rat, hamster, canine, and human) in response to diverse stimuli (hormonal, mechanical, pressure/volume overload, genetic, IHSS, hypertension, etc.). The ANF gene is expressed in both the atrial and ventricular compartments during embryonic development, but shortly after birth ANF expression is down-regulated to negligible levels in the adult myocardium. Since the reactivation of ANF gene expression in the hypertrophied ventricle is a hallmark of the activation of an embryonic gene program, it has also become of interest to determine if similar mechanisms activate ANF expression during hypertrophy and the initial stages of cardiogenesis. A combination of co-transfection, microinjection, and transgenic approaches has been coupled to well characterized cultured cell systems and in vivo murine models employing normal and transgenic mice. The microinjection of oncogenic RAS proteins into living myocardial cells does not lead to the activation of cell proliferation, but activates ANF gene expression, as assessed by immunofluorescence. Co-transfection of mutant and wild-type RAS expression vectors with a ANF-luciferase fusion gene supports a direct effect of activated RAS on ANF gene transcription. Co-transfection of a dominant negative RAS vector effectively inhibits the induction of the ANF gene during α adrenergic mediated hypertrophy of ventricular muscle cells, thereby establishing that a RAS-mediated pathway is required for ANF induction. Studies in transgenic mice have suggested that the cis sequences within the ANF gene which control atrial specificity and inducibility during in vivo hypertrophy can be segregated. Transient assays in cultured ventricular cells transfected with a series of ANF-luciferase fusion genes have identified a 638 bp fragment of the ANF promoter which can confer inducibility during α adrenergic agonist and endothelin-1-mediated hypertrophy of cultured neonatal rat ventricular cells. Recent studies have systematically mutated the Egr-1; CRE; AP-1; AP-2; and A-T-rich sites within a 323 bp ANF gene fragment that mediates inducibility, to identify the cis regulatory elements and their correspondng factors that control ANF expression during myocardial cell hypertrophy. These and related studies will be discussed in the context of elucidating the molecular signals which control ANF gene expression during this important adaptive response of the myocardium.
Identification of a New Haplotype of 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' in Solanum tuberosum.

In 2017, potato tubers suspected of being infected with the bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ were received from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the United States. ...
Untersuchungen über Fett‐Eiweiß‐Komplexe in Cerealien I: Isolierung eines Proteolipids aus Weizen, Roggen und Hafer, 1. Mitteilung

Nach der Diskussion bisher erschienener Veroffentlichungen uber Fett-Eiweis-Komplexe beschreiben die Verfasser Versuche zur Isolierung eines Lipoproteids aus Getreidemehlen durch Extraktion mit Methanol/Chloroform und anschliesendes Behandeln mit Wasser. Die Elementaranlyse ergibt reproduzierbare N- und P-Werte. Chromatographisch und elektrophoretisch zeigt der Fett-Eiweis-Korper das Verhalten eines einheitlichen Stoffes.
Posterior mediastinal cystic teratoma surrounded by fat in a 13 month old boy. Value of magnetic resonance imaging.

A 13 month old boy had a large left sided posterior cystic mass initially thought to be in lung. MRI showed the cystic mass to be surrounded by fat. A benign mediastinal teratoma was removed
The Materiality of Accounting Errors: Evidence from SEC Comment Letters and Implications for Research Proxies

To gain unique insights into the materiality judgments of financial statement preparers, we examine firms’ responses to SEC comment letters that inquire about accounting error materiality. We document that preparers typically use multiple quantitative benchmarks in their materiality analyses and frequently acknowledge departures from the traditional “5 percent of earnings” rule of thumb when deeming errors immaterial. These departures are explained by asserting that the benchmark hurdle is abnormally low and/or that the error does not consistently exceed the hurdle across affected periods. We also document substantial variation in the extent to which qualitative factors are mentioned as considerations. Leveraging these comment letter insights, we propose and test a parsimonious model of materiality judgments that uses data commonly available to researchers. Our tests affirm that a materiality benchmark based on the three-year average of earnings predicts actual materiality judgments better than quantitative proxies used in prior research. Further, we find that including both a control for financial statement misclassification errors and the existence of multiple errors dramatically improves model explanatory power. Our findings shed new light on firms’ complex and nuanced materiality evaluations and help to improve the materiality proxies used in empirical archival research.
Effective Third-Order Nonlinearities in Metallic Refractory Titanium Nitride Thin Films

Nanophotonic devices offer an unprecedented ability to concentrate light into small volumes which can greatly increase nonlinear effects. However, traditional plasmonic materials suffer from low damage thresholds and are not compatible with standard semiconductor technology. Here we study the nonlinear optical properties in the novel refractory plasmonic material titanium nitride using the Z-scan method at 1550 nm and 780 nm. We compare the extracted nonlinear parameters for TiN with previous works on noble metals and note a similarly large nonlinear optical response. However, TiN films have been shown to exhibit a damage threshold up to an order of magnitude higher than gold films of a similar thickness, while also being robust, cost-efficient, bio- and CMOS-compatible. Together, these properties make TiN a promising material for metal-based nonlinear optics.
Trace and bulk organics removal during ozone-biofiltration treatment for potable reuse applications.

This study investigated impact of ozone/biological activated carbon (BAC) filtration design and operational parameters on contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) and bulk organics removal over 450 days of operation. Two parallel BAC filters with identical media and influent were maintained, each at a different empty bed contact time of 10 and 20 min. This study captured the CEC removal performance of a BAC filter over an extended operational period after treating 65,000 bed volumes. Ozone system was operated at ozone dose to TOC ratio range of 0.9-2. Biofilter with lower EBCT (10 min) and exhausted media resulted in poor removals of Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), sucralose, meprobamate, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), and cotinine. Biofilter with higher EBCT (20 min) and remaining adsorptive effects resulted in significant (84% or more) removal of all CECs that were detected in the ozonated effluent. Increasing both ozone dose and BAC EBCT resulted in increased removal of UV absorbance (UVA254 ). The evaluation of impact of ozone:TOC ratio and BAC EBCT on CEC removal, bulk organics (TOC), and UVA254 performed in this study confirmed the importance of these two parameters on overall success of nonreverse osmosis (RO) potable reuse projects. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Ozone-BAC biofiltration is feasible strategy for indirect potable reuse water reclamation. Ozone-BAC empty bed contact time is a critical design parameter. Adsorption and biodegradation are both important mechanisms for trace organic contaminant removal in BAC.
A Century of Piracy Treaties: An Overview for the Future

This review of treaties and agreements dealing with piracy over the last century (1918–2018) will emphasize major advances, showing how approaches to the problem have been modified and what different initiatives may mean for the future. Discussion of draft piracy codes will be followed by a review of the Treaty Relating to the Use of Submarines (1922), the Convention on Duties and Rights of States in the Event of Civil Strife (1928) and the Nyon Agreement (1937). Relevant provisions in the International Law Commission Draft (1956) and the Geneva Convention on the High Seas (1958) will be considered, as will piracy provisions of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (1988) and its Protocol. A showcasing of Asian agreements (early cooperative frameworks and the 1985 Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia) will be followed by sections dealing with African agreements (the 2009 Djibouti Code of Conduct, the Jeddah Amendment of 2017, and the 2013 Code of Conduct).
MiNo: The Chrome Web Browser Add-on Application to Block the Hidden Cryptocurrency Mining Activities

Cryptocurrencies are the digital currencies designed to replace the regular cash money while taking place in our daily lives especially for the last couple of years. Mining cryptocurrencies are one of the popular ways to have them and make a profit due to unstable values in the market. This attracts attackers to utilize malware on internet users’ computer resources, also known as cryptojacking, to mine cryptocurrencies. Cryptojacking started to be a major issue in the internet world. In this case, we developed MiNo, a web browser add-on application to detect these malicious mining activities running without the user’s permission or knowledge. This add-on provides security and efficiency for the computer resources of the internet users. MiNo designed and developed with double-layer protection which makes it ahead of its competitors in the market.
In-silico analysis to identify the role of MEN1 missense mutations in breast cancer

Background: The multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) gene located on chromosome 11q13 encodes menin protein. Previously reported mutations were thought to result in loss of function of menin ...
Memory drives the formation of animal home ranges: evidence from a reintroduction

Abstract Most animals live in a characteristic home range, a space-use pattern thought to emerge from the benefits of memory-based movements; however, a general model for characterizing and predicting their formation in the absence of territoriality has been lacking. Here, we use a mechanistic movement model to quantify the role of memory in the movements of a large mammal reintroduced into a novel environment, and to predict observed patterns of home range emergence. We show that an interplay between memory and resource preferences is the primary process influencing the movements of reintroduced roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Our memory-based model fitted with empirical data successfully predicts the formation of home ranges, as well as emerging properties of movement and revisits observed in the reintroduced animals. These results provide a quantitative framework for combining memory-based movements, resource preference and the emergence of home ranges in nature.
Living transnationally between Japan and Brazil: Routes over roots: by Sarah LeBaron von Baeyer, Lanham, Maryland, Lexington Books, 2020, xii, 243 pp., US$95.00 (Hardcover), ISBN 987-1-4985-8036-6

In this comprehensive book, Sarah LeBaron von Baeyer offers an invaluable update to the literature on Nikkei (i.e. Japanese Brazilian) migrants in particular and to the study of Japan’s minority gr...
Impact of Social Media on Self-Referral Patterns for Living Kidney Donation

Background As the organ-shortage crisis continues to worsen, many patients in need of a kidney transplant have turned to social media to find a living donor. The effect of social media on living kidney donation is not known. The goal of this study is to investigate the influence of social media on those interested in donating a kidney. Methods Self-referrals for living kidney donation from December 2016 to March 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Age, sex, race, and relationship of individuals petitioned through social media (SM) were compared with those petitioned through verbal communication (VC). Data were analyzed using chi-squared tests, with z tests of column proportions, and multivariable logistic regression. Results A total of 7817 individuals (53% SM, 36% VC, and 10% other) were self-referred for living kidney donation. The analysis sample included 6737 adults petitioned through SM (n=3999) or VC (n=2738). Half (n=3933) of the individuals reported an altruistic relationship, and 94% of these respondents were petitioned through SM. Although univariate analyses indicated that SM respondents were younger, more likely female, more likely White, and more likely to have directed altruistic intent than those petitioned through VC (all P Conclusions The use of SM to petition living kidney donors is prevalent and accounts for a greater proportion of respondents compared with VC. SM respondents tend to be younger, female, and altruistic compared with VC. Directed altruistic interest in kidney donation is almost exclusively generated through SM.
Disorder Atlas: a web service for the proteome-based interpretation of intrinsic disorder predictions

Disorder Atlas is a web-based service that facilitates the interpretation of intrinsic disorder predictions using proteome-based descriptive statistics. This service is also equipped to facilitate large-scale systematic exploratory searches for proteins encompassing disorder features of interest, and further allows users to browse the prevalence of multiple disorder features at the proteome level. Disorder Atlas is freely available for non-commercial users at http://www.disorderatlas.org.
Sign Restrictions in Bayesian Favars with an Application to Monetary Policy Shocks

We propose a novel identification strategy of imposing sign restrictions directly on the impulse responses of a large set of variables in a Bayesian factor-augmented vector autoregression. We conceptualize and formalize conditions under which every additional sign restriction imposed can be qualified as either relevant or irrelevant for structural identification up to a limiting case of point identification. Deriving exact conditions we establish that, (i) in a two dimensional factor model only two out of potentially infinite sign restrictions are relevant and (ii) in contrast, in cases of higher dimension every additional sign restriction can be relevant improving structural identification. The latter result can render our approach a blessing in high dimensions. In an empirical application for the US economy we identify monetary policy shocks imposing conventional wisdom and find modest real effects avoiding various unreasonable responses specifically present and pronounced combining standard recursive identification with FAVARs.Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.
Infraoptic anterior cerebral artery or carotid-anterior cerebral artery anastomosis: A very rare embryological variation. Case series and review of literature.

Abstract Purpose An infraoptic course of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) is a rare cerebrovascular variation that can be associated with anterior communicating artery aneurysm. The purpose of this study is: 1. Describe infraoptic ACA or Carotid-ACA anastomosis. 2. Discuss the embryology. 3. Demonstrate this rare variation on CT/MR angiography. 4. Discuss its clinical significance. 5. Understand the anatomy for appropriate management of associated vascular pathology (Anterior communicating aneurysm). 6. Literature review. Methods We describe 2 cases with CT/MR angiographic findings of this rare vascular variation along with review of embryology and literature. Results and conclusion Generally, ACA arises from the internal carotid artery (ICA) terminus and runs medially superior to the optic nerves and communicates with contralateral ACA through the anterior communicating artery. An infraoptic course of the A1 segment of the ACA is associated with a low ICA bifurcation, usually located intradurally at or just above the level of the origin of the ophthalmic artery. Rarely, infraoptic origins of A1 are proximal or at the level of origin of the ophthalmic arteries and arise below the optic strut possibly extradurally. Abberant ACA course has been shown to be associated with aneurysms which needs prompt recognition, to allow optimum treatment planning (surgical/endovascular). Our first case has bilateral infraoptic ACA seen on CT angiography. The second case has ipsilateral (right) infraoptic ACA with associated anterior communicating artery aneurysm.
Pollinators mediate floral microbial diversity and microbial network under agrochemical disturbance

How pollinators mediate microbiome assembly in the anthosphere is a major unresolved question of theoretical and applied importance in the face of anthropogenic disturbance. We addressed this question by linking visitation of diverse pollinator functional groups (bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles, true bugs and other taxa) to the key properties of the floral microbiome (microbial α- and β-diversity and microbial network) under agrochemical disturbance, using a field experiment of bactericide and fungicide treatments on cultivated strawberries that differ in flower abundance. Structural equation modelling was used to link agrochemical disturbance and flower abundance to pollinator visitation to floral microbiome properties. Our results revealed that (i) pollinator visitation influenced the α- and β-diversity and network centrality of the floral microbiome, with different pollinator functional groups affecting different microbiome properties; (ii) flower abundance influenced the floral microbiome both directly by governing the source pool of microbes and indirectly by enhancing pollinator visitation; and (iii) agrochemical disturbance affected the floral microbiome primarily directly by fungicide, and less so indirectly via pollinator visitation. These findings improve the mechanistic understanding of floral microbiome assembly, and may be generalizable to many other plants that are visited by diverse insect pollinators in natural and managed ecosystems.
Neurophysiological and Behavioral Analysis in Xenopus

Because of its resilience to hypoxia and trauma, the frog has long been a favored preparation of neurophysiologists. Its use has led to the discovery of many fundamental properties of neurons and neural circuits. Neurophysiologists were originally attracted to Xenopus embryos, tadpoles, and frogs because of their ready availability, their external development, and the anatomical accessibility and relatively simple neural circuitry of the Xenopus visual, locomotory, and vocalization systems. Nowadays, the sequencing of Xenopus genomes and the panoply of tools for manipulating gene expression have created new opportunities for neurophysiologists to address the molecular underpinnings of how neurons generate behaviors in a vertebrate. Here, we introduce protocols for harnessing the power of Xenopus for performing electrophysiological studies of neural circuitry in the developing optic tectum and spinal cord, as well as in vocalization, and for studying the ontogeny of locomotory behavior.
White Matter Supervoxel Segmentation by Axial DP-Means Clustering

A powerful aspect of diffusion MR imaging is the ability to reconstruct fiber orientations in brain white matter; however, the application of traditional learning algorithms is challenging due to the directional nature of the data. In this paper, we present an algorithmic approach to clustering such spatial and orientation data and apply it to brain white matter supervoxel segmentation. This approach is an extension of the DP-means algorithm to support axial data, and we present its theoretical connection to probabilistic models, including the Gaussian and Watson distributions. We evaluate our method with the analysis of synthetic data and an application to diffusion tensor atlas segmentation. We find our approach to be efficient and effective for the automatic extraction of regions of interest that respect the structure of brain white matter. The resulting supervoxel segmentation could be used to map regional anatomical changes in clinical studies or serve as a domain for more complex modeling.
Identification of a Carboxylic Acid Metabolite from the Catabolism of Fluoranthene by a Mycobacterium sp

A Mycobacterium sp. previously isolated from oil-contaminated estuarine sediments was capable of extensively mineralizing the high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fluoranthene. A carboxylic acid metabolite accumulated and was isolated by thin-layer and high-pressure liquid chromatographic analyses of ethyl acetate extracts from acidified culture media. The metabolite reached a maximum concentration of approximately 0.65% after 24 h of incubation. On the basis of comparisons with authentic compound in which we used UV and fluorescence spectrophotometry and Rf values, as well as mass spectral and proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectral analyses, the metabolite was identified as 9-fluorenone-1-carboxylic acid. This is the first report in a microbial system of a fluoranthene metabolite in which significant degradation of one of the aromatic rings has occurred.