cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reproducibility in the hematology laboratory: one-stage prothrombin times.

The one-stage prothrombin time test was analyzed to study the influence on the total variance of within-run variation and among-run (day) variation over 10 nonconsecutive days, difference between fibrometers, and variation among four commercially available thromboplastins. The variation among thromboplastins was found to be a major component of the total variance. Among-run (day) variance, difference between fibrometers, and a thromboplastin-run (day) interaction were each found to be statistically significant, but their influence was relatively small compared with that of thromboplastin variance. These influences were more apparent when a plasma with a prolonged clotting time was used.
On the Possibility of Passivation of Si(100) by Adsorption of Group-VI Atoms

The possibility of passivating the Si(100) surface by adsorption of Group-VI atoms (S and Se) is investigated through first-principles calculations. The structure of the ideal (1x1) configuration with the Si surface dangling bonds saturated by full monolayer coverage is examined in detail. The Group-VI adsorbates form covalent bonds to the substrate with bond-lengths very close to the sums of the covalent radii. The bond-angles are larger than in bulk configurations of the Group-VI elements. The ideal (lxl) configuration gives rise to a surface electronic state with large dispersion spanning the entire band-gap of Si. Deviations from this configuration by in-phase or out-of-phase tilting of the adsorbate atoms result in energy costs which can give qualitative information on the relative strength of adsorbate-adsorbate and adsorbate-substrate interactions.
A Survey on HVDC Transmission with Modular Multilevel Converters

HVDC transmission with modular multilevel converter(MMC),a new generation of dc transmission technology,has been rapidly growing.This paper,firstly,compares the MMCHVDC with the traditional HVDC and VSC-HVDC to demonstrate the superior performance of the MMC-HVDC,Secondly,a comprehensive analysis is made in the aspects of topology structure and working principle with a focus on the technical characteristics and key technology of the MMC.Comparisons and analyses are made on the different control strategies,the advantages,and the disadvantages,and the specific applicable occasions.In addition,the paper reviews recent research and the engineering applications of the MMC-HVDC at home and abroad,concluding that the MMC-HVDC has a wide prospect of applications and it is an important developing direction of HVDC in the future.
Sexual Impotence: The Overlooked Complication of a Second Renal Transplant

Abstractincidence of sexual impotence in 20 men who have received at least 2 kidney transplants was 65 per cent compared to 10 per cent after the first transplant. The impotence was transient (2 to 4 months) in both affected men after the first transplant but permanent (2 to 10 years) in 6 men after the second operation. We attribute this increased percentage of impotence to the second end-to-end arterial anastomosis that requires division of the internal iliac arteries. We suggest that the second transplant be placed end-to-side into the common iliac artery.
Hustle and Brand: The Sociotechnical Shaping of Influence:

While social media platforms are often assumed to be sites of speaking, they are also important sites of knowing, where businesses use content produced by individuals in order to understand markets...
Empress Elisabeth (‘Sisi’) of Austria and Patriotic Fashionism

In this article, Christopher VanDemark explores the intersections between nationalism, fashion, and the royal figure in Hungary between 1857 and the Compromise of 1867. Focusing on aesthetics as a vehicle for feminine power at a critical junction in Hungarian history, VanDemark contextualizes Empress Elisabeth’s role in engendering a revised political schema in the Habsburg sphere. Foreseeing the power of emblematic politics, the young Empress adeptly situated herself between the Hungarians and the Austrians to recast the Hungarian martyrology narrative promulgated after the failed revolution of 1848. Eminent Hungarian newspapers such as the Pesti Naplo , Pester Lloyd , and the Vasarnapi Ujs ag form the backbone of this article, as publications such as these facilitated the dissemination of patriotic sentiment while simultaneously exulting the efficacy of symbolic fashions. The topic of study engages with contemporary works on nationalism, which emphasize gender and aesthetics, and contributes to the emerging body of scholarship on important women in Hungarian history. Seminal texts by Catherine Brice, Sara Maza, Abby Zanger, and Lynn Hunt compliment the wider objective of this brief analysis, namely, the notion that the Queen’s body can both enhance and reform monarchical power within a nineteenth-century milieu.
Cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide from Alligator mississippiensis has antibacterial activity against multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumanii and Klebsiella pneumoniae

Alligator mississippiensis (American alligator), a member of order Crocodilia, lives in bacteria-laden environments but is not often known to succumb to bacterial infections. Their serum has been shown to have antibacterial activity beyond that of human serum, and it is believed that this activity is partially due to cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs). CAMPs are produced by many organisms as part of the innate immune system. CAMPs are attractive possible therapies against multi-drug resistant bacteria, such as those found in biofilm-infected war wounds, because they seldom cause genetic resistance in bacteria and are effective against antibiotic resistant bacteria. In this work, we identified, synthesized, and characterized a cathelicidin and two shorter fragments from the American alligator. We discovered the cathelicidin using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) alignment and by comparing A. mississippiensis expressed sequence tags (ESTs) with propeptide cathelicidins of other reptiles. We analyzed the structure using bioinformatics tools and circular dichroism and predicted that the full-length cathelicidin peptide has a mixed structure, with an N-terminal α-helix and a center Pro hinge. In minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays, it was determined that the cathelicidin and the two shorter fragments have strong activity against multiple Gram-negative bacteria, including clinical isolates of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Using the ethidium bromide uptake assay, it was found that these peptides permeabilize the bacterial membrane and are less sensitive to salt inhibition than many other known CAMPs. The alligator cathelicidin peptides were not hemolytic against sheep red blood cells at 300 μg/ml and were not significantly cytotoxic against A549 human lung epithelial cells after 24 h exposure in 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. These alligator cathelicidin peptides have activity similar to other CAMPs from reptiles such as NA-CATH. It is possible that the alligator cathelicidins play an important role in the innate immune response of A. mississippiensis, similar to LL-37 in humans. In addition, due to their activities against MDR bacteria and lack of cytotoxicity, the AM-CATH peptides could be an attractive platform for further development as a potential therapeutic.
Biogeography predicts macro-evolutionary patterning of gestural display complexity in a passerine family

Gestural displays are incorporated into the signaling repertoire of numerous animal species. These displays range from complex signals that involve impressive and challenging maneuvers, to simpler displays or no gesture at all. The factors that drive this evolution remain largely unclear, and we therefore investigate this issue in New World blackbirds by testing how factors related to a species' geographical distribution and social mating system predict macro-evolutionary patterns of display elaboration. We report that species inhabiting temperate regions produce more complex displays than species living in tropical regions, and we attribute this to (i) ecological factors that increase the competitiveness of the social environment in temperate regions, and (ii) different evolutionary and geological contexts under which species in temperate and tropical regions evolved. Meanwhile, we find no evidence that social mating system predicts species differences in display complexity, which is consistent with the idea that gestural displays evolve independently of social mating system. Together, these results offer some of the first insight into the role played by geographic factors and evolutionary context in the evolution of the remarkable physical displays of birds and other vertebrates.
Mechanical performance of particulate-reinforced Al metal-matrix composites (MMCs) and Al metal-matrix nano-composites (MMNCs)

The metal-matrix composites/nano-composites (MMCs/MMNCs) reinforced with hard ceramic particulates have received a tremendous attention due to their potential improvements in physical and mechanical performances. In the present work, we have comprehensively collected currently available experimental data sets of Al-based MMCs/MMNCs and have carried out thorough analyses to quantitatively address the impacts of the reinforcement volume fractions, reinforcement particle sizes, and metal-matrix grain sizes on their mechanical properties including the yield strength, ultimate strength, and strain to failure of composites. We also performed a quantitative analysis on the strengthening mechanisms of Al MMNCs to reveal that the grain refinement can play a major role in increasing the strength of composites. Al-based MMC or MMNC materials generally exhibited an indirect relationship between the strength increase and strain-to-failure increase. The results include a critical comparison for the mechanical performance of particulate-reinforced composites for both pure and alloyed Al matrices to elucidate the contemporary status of Al MMC and MMNC materials.
Sex and rigor: the TGF-β blood pressure affair.

renal transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Renal TGF-β1 protein expression increased along with blood pressure in male Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rats in response to a high-sodium diet ([6][1]), and in male stroke-prone spontaneously
Reversible-deactivation anionic alternating ring-opening copolymerization of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides: access to orthogonally functionalizable multiblock aliphatic polyesters

The alternating copolymerization of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides is an increasingly popular route to aliphatic polyesters that are of interest as biodegradable replacements for petroleum-based polymers and for use in the biomedical field. However, broad and bimodal molecular weight distributions in these polymerizations continues to be an issue, limiting synthesis of multiblock copolymers. By use of a bifunctional catalytic system, the reversible-deactivation anionic alternating ring-opening copolymerization of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides gives unimodal polymers with Đ values generally less than 1.07. This allowed for the formation of well-defined triblock copolymers. Additionally, by incorporating both aldehyde and alkene functionalities into the polymer, orthogonal post-polymerization modification was achieved, giving access to well-defined highly modifiable aliphatic polyesters.
“Dites le mei, si ferez bien”: Fallen Language and Animal Communication in Bisclavret

Many medieval writers identified language as that faculty which separated humans from the rest of God’s creation. Yet human language can be unreliable, subject to interpretive difficulties and used to obscure or distort truth rather than to convey it transparently. Marie de France highlights the problem of language in her twelfth-century lai Bisclavret, in which a treacherous wife uses verbal blandishments to trap her werewolf husband in canine form. Paradoxically, the possession of reason, with the concomitant ability to signify, also produces our capacity to deceive and be deceived through language. Bisclavret’s mute canine communicative strategies are revealed as better mediators of truth than human verbal language, calling into question its status as the privileged form of communication.
Pseudophakic Bullous Keratopathy: Relationship to Preoperative Corneal Endothelial Status

Pseudophakic bullous keratopathy is one of the complications of intraocular lens implantation. A knowledge of the preoperative status of corneal endothelium may help to minimize the incidence of this complication. The preoperative corneal endothelial status of 118 eyes of 102 patients who received Worst-Medallion intraocular lenses more than five years ago was analyzed retrospectively. This data was then correlated with the postoperative clinical status of the cornea. Twelve eyes (10%) underwent penetrating keratoplasty for irreversible corneal edema, and 28 of the remaining eyes (22%) had clinical evidence of peripheral corneal edema. No correlation was found between the preoperative endothelial cell density or the degree of postoperative cell loss and the development of corneal edema. Significant correlation was found between variation in cell size (pleomorphism) and the development of postoperative corneal edema. Greater density of precipitates on endothelium and abnormality in cell shape postoperatively were also frequently seen in corneas that developed edema subsequently.
MORPHOGENESIS OF PHOTORECEPTOR CELLS IN THE VERTEBRATE RETINA: VIEWED BY SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY.

Publisher Summary Retinal photoreceptor cell development has been documented by means of light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Recently, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been utilized to observe the surface of the sensory retina during morphogenesis. Photoreceptors are the last cell type to differentiate within the sensory retina and their development occurs at different rates among various species. Differentiation lags at the periphery when compared to the posterior sensory retina. Regardless of species or photoreceptor type, the overall sequence of morphogenetic events is comparable. The appearance of the developing photoreceptor proper is represented by a spherical process from an underlying neuroblast cell that extends into the cavity between the epithelial layers of the optic cup. This extension is known as the inner segment. Maturity of the photoreceptor proper is indicated by the establishment of a cylindrical outer segment, which encloses the stacks of membranous discs containing photopigments. This chapter reviews the chronology of topographical changes that occurs during photoreceptor cell morphogenesis in a mammalian and non-mammalian retina.
Newborn Circumcision Techniques

This chapter reviews the steps in neonatal circumcision using the three major devices used in the USA, the Mogen clamp, the Gomco® clamp, and the PlastiBell®, and one emerging device, the AccuCirc™. While each technique has its advantages and disadvantages, in the hands of a skilled operator, each produces essentially the same result. Thus, at the end of the day, the practitioner should use the technique that he or she is most familiar with.
Toward an agent-based ecological model of the triple-helix theory of innovation dynamics

Regional governments face challenges for economic growth while operating under significant budgetary constraints. Although empirical studies and statistical models are valuable tools for evaluating the impacts of economic policy on such systems, they focus on deterministic representations of system processes while avoiding social and environmental relationships. In this work, we propose economy conceptual model of an agent-based simulation of an innovation ecosystem using the Overview, Design concepts, and Details protocol (ODD). This model exposes several endogenous roles and parameters which are not captured in deterministic representations of such systems and offers a specification of regional innovation systems in terms of social cooperation and competition between populations of investigators.
Radioactive Heritage: The Universal Value of Chernobyl as a Dark Heritage Site:

In 1986, the world witnessed the worst nuclear power accident in history at Chernobyl. Today, Chernobyl has become a popular site for dark tourism. This autoethnographic study seeks to determine wh...
Frequency-domain electromagnetic sensing of leaching in a Californian substratum

Frequency-domain electromagnetic sensing can be an effective tool for ascertaining subsurface water dynamics. In California, the paucity of available irrigation water, recurrence of drought and presence of indigenous salts within the geological parent materials affect crop health. Subsurface leaching variability analyses were performed using dual dipolar induction surveys and stochastic computations to determine salinity conditions conducive to plant growth. Soils in the study area had randomly variable salinity with elevated salt levels within the substratum. The salinity values were mostly above 300 mS m−1 and some areas exceeded the 1500 mS m−1 level. The leaching conditions across the fields varied generally from 5 to 50%. Both variables showed slightly positive skewness with minutely asymmetrical tailing. The salinity distribution had less peakedness than the leaching distribution. Albeit with spatially dependent variability and skewness, the distribution patterns had low errors. There was a strong and significant correlation (r = 0.939 at P < 0.05) between the observed and predicted conductivity data. The leaching variables exhibited directional dependence along vertical and horizontal gradients. Spatial increase in salinity within the substratum conformed to salt leaching and water percolation processes. All observed salinity values within the substratum exceeded salt tolerance threshold limits for major crops and favorable leaching conditions were observed at low salinity levels. Sustainability of agriculture in California is heavily dependent on adequate water use planning and our approach of leaching variability analyses can facilitate water management and crop production by assessing removal of superfluous salts from the soil substratum.
Material Genome Explorations and New Phases of Two-Dimensional MoS2, WS2, and ReS2 Monolayers

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides have attracted intense interests in recent years. Existing studies have fully explored the properties of their ground-state structures, but their global energy landscapes are still not well understood. The global energy landscape is important for understanding the experimental synthesis and thermal dynamic properties as well as for discovering new phases. This work uses material genome techniques (huge global search and data mining) to explore the global energy landscapes and new phases of two-dimensional MoS2, WS2, and ReS2 monolayers at ab initio level. Our results show that their energy landscapes have two or three major funnels, each of which consists of a few local minima with hexagonal, octahedral, quadrilateral, nanoribbon structures as well as their distorted and hybrid structures. The global-minimum structures are confined in deep funnels while the higher-energy minima stay in flat funnels and can transform to other minima at high temperatures. A f...
Depressive Symptoms and the Buffering Effect of Resilience on Widowhood by Gender.

Background and objectives Spousal loss is a stressful life event that often results in significant depressive symptoms, with men often experiencing more significant depressive symptoms than women. Recent research suggests that psychological resilience may play a role in shaping how well people recover from the loss of a spouse. This study examined the moderating effect of resilience on widowhood in relation to changes in depressive symptoms for men and women. Research design and methods This study used data from the Health and Retirement Study to examine a change in depressive symptoms for men and women who experience spousal loss compared to those who remain continuously married (N = 5,626). We used the Simplified Resilience Score, which is based on measures drawn from the psychosocial and lifestyle questionnaire. Ordinary least squares regression was used to assess depression following reported spousal loss for widows relative to their continuously married counterparts. Results Results show resilience moderated depressive symptoms following spousal loss, but these effects varied by gender. Resilience was significantly and negatively associated with depressive symptoms for married but not for widowed women. However, for widowed men, resilience was significantly and negatively associated with depressive symptoms, and a high resilience score buffered the effect of widowhood. Discussion and implications Our study suggests that having high levels of resilience prior to spousal loss may help offset persistent depressive symptoms, especially for men. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.
On Intraspecific and Interspecific Variation in Teleost Scleral Ossification

Scleral ossicles are bony elements found along the eyes of many fishes, amphibians, and reptiles. These bones provide a superficial layer of support to the eye and may facilitate visual acuity. Previous research has shown that scleral ossicle diversity is generally limited among teleosts, but that scleral ossicles have been lost numerous times among teleosts inhabiting benthopelagic habitats (Franz-Odendaal. Anat Rec 291 (2008) 161-168). In this study, we further investigate these patterns of intraspecific and interspecific variation by examining eyes from multiple individuals of 10 riverine teleosts native to Kentucky as well as one population of the Mexican blind cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus, and by re-analyzing a quantitative database of scleral ossicle number and depth preference from over 100 teleosts using newly resolved teleost phylogenies. Consistent with the limited diversity of most teleost families, we find that intraspecific variation in scleral ossicle number and size is virtually nonexistent among the species sampled, although we do find evidence of additional interspecific variation among the Cyprinodontiformes, as well as dramatic intrapopulation variation among cavefish from Chica Cave. Although our data replicates the negative relationship between scleral ossicle number and the depth preference previously found among teleosts (Franz-Odendaal. Anat Rec 291 (2008) 161-168), even when accounting for phylogenetic relationships, our results further reveal that this relationship is relatively weak. We conclude that further sampling may reveal additional interspecific and even intraspecific variation among some groups of teleosts, and that depth could serve as a proxy for other life history traits that more directly influence teleost scleral ossicle diversity such as prey-capture strategies. Anat Rec, 302:1238-1249, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Recruiting phobic research subjects: effectiveness and cost.

Abstract Efficiently enrolling subjects is one of the most important and difficult aspects of a clinical trial. This prospective study evaluated strategies used in the recruitment of 144 dental injection phobics for a clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of combining alprazolam with exposure therapy. Three types of recruitment strategies were evaluated: paid advertising, free publicity, and professional referral. Sixty-three percent of subjects were enrolled using paid advertising (the majority of them from bus advertisements [27.0%], posters on the University of Washington campus [20.1%], and newspaper advertisements [13.2%]). Free publicity (eg, television coverage, word of mouth) yielded 18.8% of enrolled subjects and professionaL referrals 14.6% of subjects. The average cost (1996 dollars) of enrolling 1 subject was $79. Bus and poster advertising attracted more initial contacts and yielded the greatest enrollment.
Educating Nurses to Use a Brief Tobacco Cessation Intervention With Patients on a Mood Disorder Unit in a Midwestern U.S. Hospital.

Background Evidence shows that smoking cessation interventions are effective in reducing individual's smoking behavior. Despite tobacco cessation efforts, individuals with mental illness smoke more than do members of the general population. Objective This study's objective was to determine whether educating nurses to use an evidence-based brief tobacco intervention would improve educating patients on smoking cessation and lead to more patients accepting nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Methods This study was conducted on a 28-bed mood disorder unit of a Midwestern U.S. psychiatric teaching hospital and used a pre/postchart review. Fourteen nurses participated in the education program that included a PowerPoint presentation, handouts, and weekly e-mails. Results Eight weeks after the educational program, statistically significant increases were found in nurses' electronic health record documentation of providing patient education on smoking cessation and patients' acceptance of NRT. Conclusions This study's education program was successful in promoting smoking cessation education among psychiatric nurses, with an increase of patients accepting NRT. Implications for nursing Training nurses to use a brief tobacco intervention proved to be an effective short-term method for addressing the high rate of smoking among a group of psychiatric patients.
Fleur rebelle , fleur royale : the friendship of Lady Oscar and Marie Antoinette in The Rose of Versailles

This article examines the friendship between Oscar Francois de Jarjayes and Queen Marie Antoinette in the anime version of Riyoko Ikeda’s the Rose of Versailles. Oscar is born female but is raised male and becomes Commander of the Queen’s Royal Guards. The intended shōjo (young girl) audience identifies with both characters. Current scholarship mainly focuses on Oscar’s character, but this study places equal emphasis on Marie Antoinette, since the anime humanizes her character and demonstrates how the Queen’s interactions with Oscar bring out the noble elements of her disposition. The characters grow together and then apart against the backdrop of the French Revolution, with the Revolution standing as a metaphor for the internal struggle Oscar faces when grappling with her gender identity. Marie Antoinette supports and validates Oscar, but the friendship ends when Oscar identifies with the Revolution and the Queen refuses any compromise to the power of the Crown. Oscar’s ultimate rejection of her class and her alliance with the Revolution corresponds directly to the questioning of her gender identity and her ultimate self-acceptance. By contrast, Marie Antoinette’s final self-affirmation comes not through rebellion but through staunch confirmation of royal authority. The process of self-definition is what leads to the downfall of both Oscar and Marie Antoinette, with the former meeting a noble death in the taking of the Bastille, and the latter dying at the guillotine in tragedy and disgrace but redeemed slightly by her friendship with, and memories of, Oscar.
Molecular mechanisms of gating in the calcium-activated chloride channel bestrophin

Bestrophin (BEST1-4 in humans) channels are ligand gated chloride (Cl-) channels that are activated by calcium (Ca2+). Mutations in BEST1 cause retinal degenerative diseases. Partly because these channels have no sequence or structural similarity to other ion channels, the molecular mechanisms underlying gating are unknown. Here, we present a series of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of chicken BEST1, determined at 3.1 Angstrom resolution or better, that represent the principal gating states of the channel. Unlike other channels, opening of the pore is due to the repositioning of tethered pore-lining helices within a surrounding protein shell that dramatically widens a neck of the pore through a concertina of amino acid rearrangements within the protein core. The neck serves as both the activation and the inactivation gate. The binding of Ca2+ to a cytosolic domain instigates pore opening and the structures reveal that, unlike voltage-gated Na+ and K+ channels, similar molecular rearrangements are responsible for inactivation and deactivation. A single aperture within the 95 Angstrom-long opened pore separates the cytosol from the extracellular milieu and controls anion permeability. The studies define the basis for Ca2+-activated Cl- channel function and reveal a new molecular paradigm for gating in ligand-gated ion channels.
Origins of broadband vibration attenuation empowered by optimized viscoelastic metamaterial inclusions

Abstract Many engineering applications involve slender tubular structures subjected to potentially harmful vibrations that must be damped to sustain the working life of the system. This research takes recent experimental observations involving cylindrical metamaterials, ideal for such tubular structures, and uncovers the precise working mechanisms that trigger broadband vibration damping when embedded into cylindrical structural systems. An analytical model of the viscoelastic inclusions is first enhanced, drawing in part from recent studies. Then a new optimization approach is established based on a genetic algorithm. Following verification by finite element simulations and validation by experimental data, the optimized inclusions are scrutinized for the characteristics that culminate in exceptional damping of the host tube vibrations. The frequencies at which broadband vibration damping is achieved are found to coincide closely with the lowest order eigenfrequencies related to eigenmodes involving translational motion of the metamaterial core layer. The Young’s modulus of annular and radially arrayed beam layers of the metamaterial is discovered to mostly influence frequency band where such modes occur, and a straightforward expression for the eigenfrequency relationships is uncovered. The design parameter relations and influences on the metamaterial response uncovered in this work help guide metamaterial formulations that maximize vibration attenuation of tubular structures.
One man’s trash-another man’s treasure: fecal transplantation

Discovery of immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized the field of oncology. Immune checkpoints play a key role in maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmunity. Under normal situation, immune responses are regulated by a balance between co-stimulatory and inhibitory signals referred to as “immune checkpoints”.
We Need More Research on Unethical Leadership Behavior in Public Organizations

There is a growing interest among Public Administration (PA) scholars in empirically assessing the impact of ethical leadership in public organizations. Recent studies have found that ethical leade...
Immediate Release of Vitreomacular Traction After Pneumatic Vitreolysis Followed by the Drinking Bird Technique

Purpose:To report a case of release of vitreomacular traction (VMT) in a patient with a full thickness macular hole (FTMH) immediately following pneumatic vitreolysis (PV) combined with head bobbin...
Probing the Mechanism of Structure-Switching Aptamer Assembly by Super-Resolution Localization of Individual DNA Molecules

Oligonucleotide aptamers can be converted into structure-switching biosensors by incorporating a short, typically labeled oligonucleotide that is complementary to the analyte-binding region. Binding of a target analyte can disrupt the hybridization equilibrium between the aptamer and the labeled-complementary oligo producing a concentration-dependent signal for target-analyte sensing. Despite its importance in the performance of a biosensor, the mechanism of analyte-response of most structure-switching aptamers is not well understood. In this work, we employ single-molecule fluorescence imaging to investigate the competitive kinetics of association of a labeled complementary oligonucleotide and a target analyte, l-tyrosinamide (L-Tym), interacting with an L-Tym-binding aptamer. The complementary readout strand is fluorescently labeled, allowing us to measure its hybridization kinetics with individual aptamers immobilized on a surface and located with super-resolution techniques; the small-molecule L-Tym analyte is not labeled in order to avoid having an attached dye molecule impact its interactions with the aptamer. We measure the association kinetics of unlabeled L-Tym by detecting its influence on the hybridization of the labeled complementary strand. We find that L-Tym slows the association rate of the complementary strand with the aptamer but does not impact its dissociation rate, suggesting an SN1-like mechanism where the complementary strand must dissociate before L-Tym can bind. The competitive model revealed a slow association rate between L-Tym and the aptamer, producing a long-lived L-Tym-aptamer complex that blocks hybridization with the labeled complementary strand. These results provide insight about the kinetics and mechanism of analyte recognition in this structure-switching aptamer, and the methodology provides a general means of measuring the rates of unlabeled-analyte binding kinetics in aptamer-based biosensors.
Catheter Balloon-Trauma: Design, Development and Ex-Vivo Studies Using Intact Human Penis Specimens

Objective To present a novel urethral catheter design with a pilot balloon to reduce intraurethral retention balloon inflation pressures and to provide a visual alert during catheter placement. Methods We manufactured our pilot balloon prototype from both molded and extruded silicone components. Various pilot balloon thicknesses were tested in order to determine the ideal compliance. We studied the filling pressures of the retention balloon of our prototype in a mechanical urethral model. The prototype catheter was then tested in ex-vivo human penis specimens obtained from gender affirming surgery and changes in the size of the retention balloon were measured under fluoroscopy. Results The thickness of the pilot balloon was directly related to the inflation pressure of the retention balloon in the mechanical urethral model. The thickness chosen for the pilot balloon in our prototype was based on a retention balloon pressure of 70 kPa. In the ex-vivo human penis model, the presence of the pilot balloon resulted in a 40% reduction in the cross-sectional area of the retention balloon compared to a standard urinary catheter. Conclusion The prototype urinary catheter appears to decrease the filling pressure and size of an improperly positioned retention balloon inside a urethra. This can potentially reduce the risk of iatrogenic urethral catheter injuries. In addition, the prototype urinary catheter may act as a visual warning sign for the healthcare practitioner.
Plain Talk About Health: Linguistic Aspects of Mediation between Amish and Mennonites and Health Care Professionals

As the population of Amish and Old Order Mennonites grows exponentially, so are the contacts between Plain people and medical professionals increasing. All Plain adults are bilingual; however, the fact that the primary everyday language for most is Pennsylvania Dutch is important for understanding how they navigate the health care system. In this article I give an overview of language-related questions involved in communication between Plain people and health care providers with a focus on three areas: translation, interpretation, and patterns of language use. Much of the information I present in this article is drawn from my experience as an interpreter and cultural mediator for Plain people in a number of different public spheres, mainly health care.
Use of functional linear models to detect associations between characteristics of walking and continuous responses using accelerometry data

Various methods exist to measure physical activity. Subjective methods, such as diaries and surveys, are relatively inexpensive ways of measuring one’s physical activity; however, they are prone to measurement error and bias due to self-reporting. Wearable accelerometers offer a non-invasive and objective measure of one’s physical activity and are now widely used in observational studies. Accelerometers record high frequency data and each produce an unlabeled time series at the sub-second level. An important activity to identify from the data collected is walking, since it is often the only form of activity for certain populations. Currently, most methods use an activity summary which ignores the nuances of walking data. We propose methodology to model specific continuous responses with a functional linear model utilizing spectra obtained from the local fast Fourier transform (FFT) of walking as a predictor. Utilizing prior knowledge of the mechanics of walking, we incorporate this as additional information for the structure of our transformed walking spectra. The methods were applied to the in-the-laboratory data obtained from the Developmental Epidemiologic Cohort Study (DECOS).
Prop It up or Let It Fall? K-12 Schooling in and after COVID-19

The COVID-19 moment is one of uncertainty and vulnerability, across all sectors and populations. Even as many countries are gradually re-opening, we see infection rates continuing to rise and antic...
Association between time of delivery and composite adverse outcomes in pregnancies complicated by diabetes.

To compare the composite neonatal and maternal adverse outcomes among women with diabetes who labor and deliver at 37–41 weeks at distinct time shifts.This population-based retrospective cohort stu...
Effects of concentrated ambient ultrafine particulate matter on hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease in the 3xTgAD mouse model.

Abstract Background Exposure to air pollution has been identified as a possible environmental contributor to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) risk. As the number of people with AD worldwide continues to rise, it becomes vital to understand the nature of this potential gene-environment interaction. This study assessed the effects of short-term exposures to concentrated ambient ultrafine particulates (UFP, Methods Two cohorts of aged (12.5–14 months) 3xTgAD and NTg mice were exposed to concentrated ambient UFP or filtered air for 2 weeks (4-h/day, 4 days/week). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and brain tissue were collected twenty-four hours following the last exposure to evaluate lung inflammation, tau pathology, amyloid-β pathology, and glial cell morphology. Results No exposure- or genotype-related changes were found with any of the measures of lung inflammation or in the hippocampal staining density of astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein. The microglia marker, ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1, and amyloid-β marker, 6E10, exhibited significant genotype by exposure interactions such that levels were lower in the UFP-exposed as compared to filtered air-exposed 3xTgAD mice. When microglia morphology was assessed by Sholl analysis, microglia from both NTg mouse groups were ramified. The 3xTgAD air-exposed mice had the most ameboid microglia, while the 3xTgAD UFP-exposed mice had microglia that were comparatively more ramified. The 3xTgAD air-exposed mice had more plaques per region of interest as measured by Congo red staining as well as more plaque-associated microglia than the 3xTgAD UFP-exposed mice. The number of non-plaque-associated microglia was not affected by genotype or exposure. Levels of soluble and insoluble human amyloid-β42 protein were measured in both 3xTgAD groups and no exposure effect was found. In contrast, UFP-exposure led to significant elevations in phosphorylated tau in 3xTgAD mice as compared to those that were exposed to air, as measured by pT205 staining. Conclusions Exposure to environmentally relevant levels of ultrafine particulates led to changes in tau phosphorylation and microglial morphology in the absence of overt lung inflammation. Such changes highlight the need to develop greater mechanistic understanding of the link between air pollution exposure and Alzheimer’s disease.
Continuous Level-k Mechanism Design

In de Clippel, Saran, and Serrano (2019), it is shown that, perhaps surprisingly, the set of implementable social choice functions is essentially the same whether agents have bounded depth of reasoning or rational expectations. The picture is quite different when taking into account the possibility of small modeling mistakes. While continuous strict implementation becomes very demanding (Oury and Tercieux (2012) – OT), continuity in level-k implementation obtains essentially for free. A decomposition of the conditions implied by the OT implementation notion confirms that it is the use of equilibrium, and not continuity per se, that is responsible for the difference.
Peer-to-Peer Social Media Communication About Dietary Supplements Used for Weight Loss and Sports Performance Among Military Personnel: Pilot Content Analysis of 11 Years of Posts on Reddit.

Background: Over 60% of military personnel in the United States currently use dietary supplements. Two types of dietary supplements, weight loss and sports performance (WLSP) supplements, are commonly used by military personnel despite the associated serious adverse effects such as dehydration and stroke. Objective: To understand peer-to-peer communication about WLSP supplements among military personnel, we conducted a pilot study using the social media website, Reddit. Methods: A total of 64 relevant posts and 243 comments from 2009 to 2019 were collected from 6 military subreddits. The posts were coded for year of posting, subreddit, and content consistent with the following themes: resources about supplement safety and regulation, discernability of supplement use through drug testing, serious adverse effects, brand names or identifiers, and reasons for supplement use. Results: A primary concern posted by personnel who used supplements was uncertainty about the supplements that were not detectable on a drug test. Supplements to improve workout performance were the most frequently used. Conclusions: Our pilot study suggests that military personnel may seek out peer advice about WLSP supplements on Reddit and spread misinformation about the safety and effectiveness of these products through this platform. Future directions for the monitoring of WLSP supplement use in military personnel are discussed.
Content-Based Instruction: Myth or Reality in the Indian Context

How to teach English as a foreign (second?) language contextually and efficiently is a matter of great concern to every teacher in India. The content-based instruction (CBI) is an approach that advocates the teaching of English through specific content with emphasis on real life issues content that would suit learners’ needs and interests. That Indian learners of English have not been able to use English as efficiently as expected proves that all earlier approaches or methods are inappropriate in the Indian context. It might perhaps be due to the fact that these approaches and methods attempt to teach English sans contents. The present study’s hypotheses are that acquisition of new knowledge is as fundamental to learning as acquisition of language (English) and that acquisition of new knowledge is a medium for acquisition of language (English). New knowledge is the hard skills in which students major for their degree. It concludes that integration of content and language presents insurmountable difficulties in Indian classroom since CBI treats language as a medium for learning content and content as a resource for learning language.
Genetic Relationships in the Toxin-Producing Fungal Endophyte, Alternaria oxytropis Using Polyketide Synthase and Non-Ribosomal Peptide Synthase Genes

The legume Oxytropis sericea hosts a fungal endophyte, Alternaria oxytropis, which produces secondary metabolites (SM), including the toxin swainsonine. Polyketide synthase (PKS) and non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS) enzymes are associated with biosynthesis of fungal SM. To better understand the origins of the SM, an unannotated genome of A. oxytropis was assessed for protein sequences similar to known PKS and NRPS enzymes of fungi. Contigs exhibiting identity with known genes were analyzed at nucleotide and protein levels using available databases. Software were used to identify PKS and NRPS domains and predict identity and function. Confirmation of sequence for selected gene sequences was accomplished using PCR. Thirteen PKS, 5 NRPS, and 4 PKS-NRPS hybrids were identified and characterized with functions including swainsonine and melanin biosynthesis. Phylogenetic relationships among closest amino acid matches with Alternaria spp. were identified for seven highly conserved PKS and NRPS, including melanin synthesis. Three PKS and NRPS were most closely related to other fungi within the Pleosporaceae family, while five PKS and PKS-NRPS were closely related to fungi in the Pleosporales order. However, seven PKS and PKS-NRPS showed no identity with fungi in the Pleosporales or the class Dothideomycetes, suggesting a different evolutionary origin for those genes.
From Crime to Care - On the Front Lines of Decarceration.

From Crime to Care Many clinicians are working on the front lines of decarceration, supporting and treating patients who might once have been incarcerated. Models for decarceration involving proble...
The Qu'Ran, Radical Islam, and the Possibility of a Moderate Exegesis

The paper examines the possibility of a moderate exegesis of the Qur’an — investigating the possibility of a version of Islam that is true to the Qur’an, yet compatible with a pluralistic modern world. The theory of exegetical methodologies are compared to interpretations of the nature of the Qur’an and examined for possible points of reconciliation. Does an exegetical approach to the Qur’an exist, such that there is the possibility of a pure Islam that is compatible with multiple, and differing, cultural and religious experiences? Does the text of the Qur’an lend itself to a religious creed and practice that can co-exist with other cultures? This paper examines the possibility that the Qur’an can be legitimately interpreted in such a way that it can co-exist in a pluralistic and free society.
Digital Control at Stanford

In this paper the two Stanford courses of one quarter (10 weeks) each covering the material of "Digital Control of Dynamic Systems" by the authors (Franklin and Powell, 1980) are described. The courses have neither homework nor exams but are based on laboratories using IBM PC computers with locally designed and constructed analog plants. Rather formal reports are also required, covering the seven labs on digital filters, control design by transform methods, control design by state space methods, and quantization effects in course I (4-unit credit) and identification, Kalman filters and LQG design in course II (3 units). The courses are taught several times per year by faculty from EE, ME and AA, and satisfy degree requirements in each of these departments; the students are mainly first year graduate students from these departments with a few undergraduates.
In the Gray Zone in the Fragile X Gene: What are the Key Unanswered Clinical and Biological Questions?

Smaller expansions (41–54 CGG repeats) in the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene are termed “gray zone” alleles. Only recently has interest in these expansions increased due to reporting of phenotypes unique to gray zone carriers or similar to those seen in individuals with larger expansions. As minimal research has focused on gray zone expansions, this paper asks several questions related to this topic. These include the following: What is the definition of the gray zone? Is there a risk of developing neurological signs in these carriers? Are there secondary gene effects that impact gray zone alleles or a biologic advantage to carrying these repeats? How do we counsel patients with gray zone expansions? The answers to these questions will help to determine the significance of these expansions and provide needed information to the research community and clinicians.