cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Focal Cervical Spinal Cord Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis: Comparison of White Matter–Suppressed T1 Inversion Recovery Sequence versus Conventional STIR and Proton Density–Weighted Turbo Spin-Echo Sequences

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Conventional MR imaging of the cervical spinal cord in MS is challenged by numerous artifacts and interreader variability in lesion counts. This study compares the relatively novel WM-suppressed T1 inversion recovery sequence with STIR and proton density–weighted TSE sequences in the evaluation of cervical cord lesions in patients with MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective blinded analysis of cervical cord MR imaging examinations of 50 patients with MS was performed by 2 neuroradiologists. In each patient, the number of focal lesions and overall lesion conspicuity were measured in the STIR/proton density–weighted TSE and WM-suppressed T1 inversion recovery sequence groups. Independent side-by-side comparison was performed to categorize the discrepant lesions as either “definite” or “spurious.” Lesion contrast ratio and edge sharpness were independently calculated in each sequence. RESULTS: Substantial interreader agreement was noted on the WM-suppressed T1 inversion recovery sequence (κ = 0.82) compared with STIR/proton density–weighted TSE (κ = 0.52). Average lesion conspicuity was better on the WM-suppressed T1 inversion recovery sequence (conspicuity of 3.1/5.0 versus 3.7/5.0, P P CONCLUSIONS: There is better interreader consistency in the lesion count on the WM-suppressed T1 inversion recovery sequence compared with STIR/proton density–weighted TSE sequences. The focal cord lesions are visualized with better conspicuity due to better contrast ratio and edge sharpness. There are fewer spurious lesions on the WM-suppressed T1 inversion recovery sequence compared with STIR/proton density–weighted TSE. The WM-suppressed T1 inversion recovery sequence could potentially be substituted for either STIR or proton density–weighted TSE sequences in routine clinical protocols.
The Role of Urinary Diversion for Bladder Pain

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome is a complex urologic disorder often managed in a non-operative fashion, but patients with severe symptoms occasionally require surgical intervention. Several approaches to reconstruction have been reported, including trigone-sparing cystectomy with enterocystoplasty, simple cystectomy with diversion, and diversion without cystectomy. While a trigone-sparing approach offers the potential for spontaneous voiding, it leaves bladder and urethral tissue that can cause pain postoperatively. Final choice of surgery is based upon surgeon and patient preference. In recent years, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols modeled after colorectal surgery have been utilized for radical cystectomy postoperative management with success. These approaches can be used for cystectomy for non-malignant cases as well.
Hot flashes in postmenopausal women ameliorated by danazol

Six postmenopausal women with hot flashes were studed for two 8-week periods during which they received low-dose danazol (100 mg/24 hours) for one time interval and placebo for the other in a randomized double-blind manner. The patients recorded the number and severity of their hot flashes daily. On the last day of each period the patients were admitted to the research center overnight for an 8-hour monitoring of forehead skin temperatures and for continuous withdrawal of blood to determine 20-minute integrated levels of luteinizing hormone. Three of the six patients responded to danazol with a mean reduction of 88% in the number of hot flashes and a 53% decrease in the severity of hot flashes. Responders differed from nonresponders in that on treatment the frequency of nocturnal pulses of luteinizing hormone was reduced more (36.1% versus 14.4%), the increase in amplitude of the pulses was greater (+30.7% versus −11.8%), and the fall in the mean level of luteinizing hormone was more marked (19.0% versus 10.5%). The findings suggest that danazol may be a reasonable alternative to estrogen in the treatment of postmenopausal women with severe vasomotor symptoms.
Systemic Vascular Uptake of Epinephrine From the Lumbar Epidural Space in Parturients

Background and Objectives. To assess the systemic vascular uptake of epinephrine from the lumbar epidural space in parturients during epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery. Methods. Thirty-eight healthy patients were randomly divided into two equal groups. In one group, bupivacaine-epinephrine (5 μg/mL) mixture was used to produce lumbar epidural anesthesia to a T6 level; in the other group, bupivacaine 0.5%. Maternal venous plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations were measured before anesthesia (baseline), at a T6 sensory level and at delivery; and 10, 20, 30, and 50 minutes after delivery. Statistical comparisons were made using nonparametric analysis of variance at P Results. In the bupivacaine-epinephrine group, the plasma epinephrine concentration increased approximately fourfold at T6 sensory level compared to the baseline value or to the corresponding value in the bupivacaine group (P Conclusions. Epinephrine is absorbed from the epidural space and raises the maternal circulating epinephrine concentration. Maternal plasma norepinephrine concentration rises during lumbar epidural anesthesia regardless of epinephrine use.
The Assessment of New Products; Notes on a Theory Construction

Many of the current decision models in marketing are concerned with rationalistic theories. This is especially the case in the assessment of new products. Growing international competition, diffusion of innovative technologies and a shorter life cycle for many products have spurred considerable interest in developing decision models. The ultimate objective of these models is to determine which represents the most adequate venture for the firm.
Fixed Points of the Restricted Delaunay Triangulation Operator.

The restricted Delaunay triangulation can be conceived as an operator that takes as input a k-manifold (typically smooth) embedded in R^d and a set of points sampled with sufficient density on that manifold, and produces as output a k-dimensional triangulation of the manifold, the input points serving as its vertices. What happens if we feed that triangulation back into the operator, replacing the original manifold, while retaining the same set of input points? If k = 2 and the sample points are sufficiently dense, we obtain another triangulation of the manifold. Iterating this process, we soon reach an iteration for which the input and output triangulations are the same. We call this triangulation a fixed point of the restricted Delaunay triangulation operator. With this observation, and a new test for distinguishing "critical points" near the manifold from those near its medial axis, we develop a provably good surface reconstruction algorithm for R^3 with unusually modest sampling requirements. We develop a similar algorithm for constructing a simplicial complex that models a 2-manifold embedded in a high-dimensional space R^d, also with modest sampling requirements (especially compared to algorithms that depend on sliver exudation). The latter algorithm builds a non-manifold representation similar to the flow complex, but made solely of Delaunay simplices. The algorithm avoids the curse of dimensionality: its running time is polynomial, not exponential, in d.
An overview of kidney stone imaging techniques

Kidney stone imaging is an important diagnostic tool and initial step in deciding which therapeutic options to use for the management of kidney stones. Guidelines provided by the American College of Radiology, American Urological Association, and European Association of Urology differ regarding the optimal initial imaging modality to use to evaluate patients with suspected obstructive nephrolithiasis. Noncontrast CT of the abdomen and pelvis consistently provides the most accurate diagnosis but also exposes patients to ionizing radiation. Traditionally, ultrasonography has a lower sensitivity and specificity than CT, but does not require use of radiation. However, when these imaging modalities were compared in a randomized controlled trial they were found to have equivalent diagnostic accuracy within the emergency department. Both modalities have advantages and disadvantages. Kidney, ureter, bladder (KUB) plain film radiography is most helpful in evaluating for interval stone growth in patients with known stone disease, and is less useful in the setting of acute stones. MRI provides the possibility of 3D imaging without exposure to radiation, but it is costly and currently stones are difficult to visualize. Further developments are expected to enhance each imaging modality for the evaluation and treatment of kidney stones in the near future. A proposed algorithm for imaging patients with acute stones in light of the current guidelines and a randomized controlled trial could aid clinicians.
E-069 Fluoroscopy Time and Radiation Dose in Mechanical Thrombectomy: A Comparison of Techniques

Introduction/purpose Interventional stroke management has seen a period of explosive growth in the wake of recent trials demonstrating improved outcomes in patients who undergo timely and appropriate procedural management. The two most common interventional techniques involve the use of stent retrieval devices and suction aspiration. In the setting of demonstrable clinical benefit to the patient in these procedures, further exploration of intraprocedural radiation exposure to the patient and operator is warranted. While radiation exposure for the patient in any one procedure is unlikely to produce a clinically-evident adverse event, chronic exposure to the operator may carry significant risk. Our goal is to determine the difference, if any, in fluoroscopy time (FT) and dose area product (DAP) for the use of these devices. Materials and methods We examined data for interventional stroke management cases performed for M1 segment occlusions at Duke University Medical Center from the period of January 2014 to January 2016 with regards to fluoroscopy time and dose area product. Cases were subdivided into those only utilizing stent retrieval devices (SolitaireTM; Covidien, Dublin, Ireland) and those only utilizing suction aspiration devices (Penumbra®, Alameda, CA). Mean fluoroscopy time and dose area product, as well as standard deviations were calculated for each technique and compared using Student’s t-test. Results The fluoroscopy time and dose area product for interventional management of vascular occlusions using suction aspiration and stent retriever devices in a selected group of patients is given in the table. Conclusion Data from this limited subset of patients suggest a statistically significant difference in fluoroscopy time for mechanical thrombectomies performed with stent retrieval versus those performed with suction aspiration. No significant difference was seen in dose area product data. The difference in fluoroscopy time between the two techniques may reflect operator comfort rather than intrinsic differences between the two techniques. Notably, however, these data were obtained across multiple operators at our institution, so it may be plausible that these differences are generalizable to technique. It is important to again note that these differences in radiation exposure are unlikely to result in clinical effect in an individual patient, but differences in exposure to the operator over a career may be significant. Further exploration with larger patient samples is warranted. Disclosures P. Brown: None. M. Cobb: None. T. Smith: None. A. Zomorodi: None. L. Gonzalez: None.
TNF-α and sTNF-RII Are Associated with Pain Following Hip Fracture Surgery in Older Adults.

Objective To explore whether plasma inflammatory mediators on postoperative day 3 (POD3) are associated with pain scores in older adults after hip fracture surgery. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York. Subjects Forty patients age 60 years or older who presented with acute hip fracture at Mount Sinai Hospital between November 2011 and April 2013. Methods Plasma levels of six inflammatory mediators of the nuclear factor kappa B pathway were measured using blood collected on POD3. Self-reported pain scores (i.e., pain with resting, walking, and transferring) were assessed at baseline (prefracture) and on POD3. Linear regression models using log-transformed data were performed to determine associations between inflammatory mediators and postoperative pain. Results Interleukin 18 (IL-18) was positively associated with POD3 resting pain score in the unadjusted model (β = 0.66, P = 0.03). Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and soluble TNF receptor II (sTNF-RII) were positively associated with POD3 resting pain score in the adjusted model (β = 0.99, P = 0.03, and β = 0.86, P = 0.04, respectively). Moreover, TNF-α was positively associated with POD3 walking pain score in the adjusted model (β = 1.59, P = 0.05). Pain with transferring was not associated with these inflammatory mediators. Conclusions These findings suggest that TNF-α and its receptors may influence pain following hip fracture. Further study of the TNF-α pathway may inform future clinical applications that monitor and treat pain in the vulnerable elderly who are unable to accurately report pain.
Genetic and environmental contributions to age at menarche: Interactive effects of father absence and LIN28B

Abstract Substantial research and theory over a number of years have linked father absence to earlier age at menarche (AAM). More recent work has centered on explaining the relative genetic and environmental contributions to this correlation. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the combined effects of father absence and variation in the LIN28B gene on AAM. A sample of 300 women (age 18–25) successfully genotyped for two LIN28B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs364663 and rs314273) were used to test gene-environment interaction models. Results for both SNPs were consistent with the hypothesis that father absence would attenuate later AAM associated with LIN28B . Genetic index analysis of combined LIN28B SNPs showed that girls with at least one copy of the T/T genotype had later AAM if they were father present. Study strengths and the implications of GxE research for life history models are discussed.
Factional politics in the Iran–Iraq war

This article examines the domestic causes of the Iran–Iraq War. It delves into secret discussions among Iranian political and military elites during the conflict, their analyses of their own perfor...
Single rat muscle Na + channel mutation confers batrachotoxin autoresistance found in poison-dart frog Phyllobates terribilis

Poison-dart Phyllobates terribilis frogs sequester lethal amounts of steroidal alkaloid batrachotoxin (BTX) in their skin as a defense mechanism against predators. BTX targets voltage-gated Na+ channels and enables them to open persistently. How BTX autoresistance arises in such frogs remains a mystery. The BTX receptor has been delineated along the Na+ channel inner cavity, which is formed jointly by four S6 transmembrane segments from domains D1 to D4. Within the P. terribilis muscle Na+ channel, five amino acid (AA) substitutions have been identified at D1/S6 and D4/S6. We therefore investigated the role of these naturally occurring substitutions in BTX autoresistance by introducing them into rat Nav1.4 muscle Na+ channel, both individually and in combination. Our results showed that combination mutants containing an N1584T substitution all conferred a complete BTX-resistant phenotype when expressed in mammalian HEK293t cells. The single N1584T mutant also retained its functional integrity and became exceptionally resistant to 5 µM BTX, aside from a small residual BTX effect. Single and combination mutants with the other four S6 residues (S429A, I433V, A445D, and V1583I) all remained highly BTX sensitive. These findings, along with diverse BTX phenotypes of N1584K/A/D/T mutant channels, led us to conclude that the conserved N1584 residue is indispensable for BTX actions, probably functioning as an integral part of the BTX receptor. Thus, complete BTX autoresistance found in P. terribilis muscle Na+ channels could emerge primarily from a single AA substitution (asparagine→threonine) via a single nucleotide mutation (AAC→ACC).
Microspheres for Use in a Novel Electromagnetic Bioadhesion Testing System

A new Electromagnetic Force Transducer (EMFT) has been developed to quantify the bioadhesive interactions between polymer microsphere drug delivery systems and living tissue. The EMFT uses a calibrated electromagnet to detach a magnetic-loaded polymer microsphere from a tissue sample, and consequently the adhesive force experienced between the tissue and polymer is proportional to the current through the electromagnet. Various microsphere manufacturing techniques were evaluated for their ability to predictably and consistently produce ferro- and ferrimagnetic microspheres for use with the EMFT. Solvent-Evaporation techniques were used to produce single-walled microspheres from poly(styrene) (PS), poly-(caprolactone) (PCL), poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA), and poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) with 0-50% w/w loadings of ferrimagnetic iron oxide powder. A modified solvent-evaporation process was used to manufacture double-walled microspheres with alternating layers of PS and PLA. It has been demonstrated that ferrimagnetic iron oxide powder can be loaded exclusively in either of the polymers, and that polymer can be made to form either the outer layer or core of the microspheres. A modified Dip Inversion technique was used with moderate success to coat 50 μm glass spheres with PCL in hope of developing a suitable process to coat ferromagnetic metal microspheres in the future. Microspheres were characterized with electron and optical microscopy.
What Is ‘Hayek’?

How did the sacred texts of four malevolent individuals—Ayn Rand, Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich von Hayek and Murray Rothbard—construct a ‘free’ market religion which, in several countries, all but turned the State into their ‘subsidiary’? ‘Fascism’ (as defined and praised by Mises) overthrew democracy in Italy (1922), Spain (1923), Chile (1924, 1973), Poland (1926), Portugal (1926), Germany (1933), Austria (1934) and elsewhere. Hayek sought to overthrow the US Constitution and replace it by a sentence written by a dictator-promoting European aristocrat; while after the first bombing of the World Trade Centre, the tax-exempt Rothbard encouraged further terrorist attacks on the United States. His ‘accelerate the Climate of Hate’ ‘Outreach to the Redneck’—which sought to form an Austrian School Pact with para-militia groups—fuelled terrorists attacks in Oklahoma (Timothy McVeigh), South Carolina (Dylann Roof) and Norway (Anders Breivik).
Effect of Different Load Impedances on ESD Generators and ESD Generator SPICE Models

The electrostatic discharge (ESD) generator calibration described in IEC 61000-4-2 (2008) only specifies contact mode discharge waveforms for the discharge-into-ground scenario. However, the actual device under test input impedance often differs from a short. To study the effect of different load impedances, a test method for ESD generator discharge under different load impedances is proposed. The method only slightly modifies the present calibration setup. The data show that the peak current variation between different brands of ESD generators for nonshorted load impedances is within the tolerance range given by the standard for the peak current. On the other hand, when performing system-efficient ESD design simulations, the load impedance seen by the ESD generator models is also different than a short. Therefore, the discharge current of a variety of ESD generator models is simulated with different load impedances and compared with ESD generator measurement results, which allows the selection of a suitable ESD generator model.
Should Structured Exercise Be Promoted As a Model of Care? Dissemination of the Department of Veterans Affairs Gerofit Program.

Exercise provides a wide range of health-promoting benefits, but support is limited for clinical programs that use exercise as a means of health promotion. This stands in contrast to restorative or rehabilitative exercise, which is considered an essential medical service. We propose that there is a place for ongoing, structured wellness and health promotion programs, with exercise as the primary therapeutic focus. Such programs have long-lasting health benefits, are easily implementable, and are associated with high levels of participant satisfaction. We describe the dissemination and implementation of a long-standing exercise and health promotion program, Gerofit, for which significant gains in physical function that have been maintained over 5 years of follow-up, improvements in well-being, and a 10-year 25% survival benefit among program adherents have been documented. The program has been replicated at 6 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. The pooled characteristics of enrolled participants (n = 691) demonstrate substantial baseline functional impairment (usual gait speed 1.05 ± 0.3 m/s, 8-foot up and go 8.7 ± 6.7 seconds, 30-second chair stands 10.7 ± 5.1, 6-minute walk distance 404.31 ± 141.9 m), highlighting the need for such programs. Change scores over baseline for 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up are clinically and statistically significant (P < .05 all measures) and replicate findings from the parent program. Patient satisfaction ratings of high ranged from 88% to 94%. We describe the implementation process and present 1-year outcomes. We suggest that such programs be considered essential elements of healthcare systems.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: The Effects Are More Than Skin Deep.

Objectives To assess the psychosocial effects of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) diagnosis on the households of children with MRSA skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI). Study design We constructed and administered an interview to the primary caregiver within the home of a child with a history of MRSA SSTI. Results Seventy-six households were enrolled. Survey responses were analyzed and grouped into 4 themes: health behavior changes, disclosure, social interactions, and knowledge/awareness. The most common theme was disclosure; 91% of participants reported sharing their child's MRSA diagnosis with someone outside of the household. Forty-two percent of respondents reported a change in the manner in which household contacts interacted as a result of the index patient's MRSA diagnosis, including isolating the index patient from other children in the household. Many households reported adopting enhanced personal hygiene behaviors and environmental cleaning routines. Thirty-eight percent of participating households reported altering how they interact with people outside of their home, largely to avoid spreading MRSA to vulnerable individuals. In addition, many participants perceived that others regarded them with caution, especially at daycare, whereas other affected households were excluded from family gatherings. Conclusion Primary caregivers of children with MRSA SSTI reported changing their health behaviors, altering their interactions with people outside of their home, and feeling isolated by others in response to their child's MRSA diagnosis. The findings of our study highlight a need for community interventions and education to prevent the negative psychosocial repercussions associated with MRSA.
Control of radiative base recombination in the quantum cascade light-emitting transistor using quantum state overlap

The concept of the quantum cascade light-emitting transistor (QCLET) is proposed by incorporating periodic stages of quantum wells and barriers in the completely depleted base–collector junction of a heterojunction bipolar transistor. The radiative band-to-band base recombination in the QCLET is shown to be controllable using the base–collector voltage bias for a given emitter–base biasing condition. A self-consistent Schrodinger–Poisson Equation model is built to validate the idea of the QCLET. A GaAs-based QCLET is designed and fabricated. Control of radiative band-to-band base recombination is observed and characterized. By changing the voltage across the quantum cascade region in the QCLET, the alignment of quantum states in the cascade region creates a tunable barrier for electrons that allows or suppresses emitter-injected electron flow from the p-type base through the quantum cascade region into the collector. The field-dependent electron barrier in the base–collector junction manipulates the effective minority carrier lifetime in the base and controls the radiative base recombination process. Under different quantum cascade region biasing conditions, the radiative base recombination is measured and analyzed.
Skene’s Gland Calculi Produced by a Ureaplasma Urealyticum Infection

AbstractWe report a case of calculi in a Skene’s gland abscess produced by Ureaplasma urealyticum. The enzyme urease, produced by the Ureaplasma urealyticum, is thought to be the etiological factor in stone production, vaginitis and urethritis.
Influencing interaction: Does technology increase public participation on community journalism websites?:

Community media maintain a tradition of interaction, yet, few studies focus on digital operations at smaller publications. This study indicates direct communication matters more than technology to ...
Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies in North American Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Background Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) have been reported to occur in 7% to 10% of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but their clinical relevance remains unclear. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of ANCAs in a North American population with IPF and evaluate their clinical significance. Methods This was a retrospective study of two independent cohorts of patients diagnosed with IPF at the University of California San Francisco (discovery cohort) and the University of Chicago (replication cohort). Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and proteinase 3 (PR3) ANCAs were measured in all patients. Prevalence and associations of ANCAs with clinical characteristics and transplant-free survival were evaluated. Results A total of 14 of 353 (4.0%; 95% CI, 2.2-6.5) and 20 of 392 (5.1%; 95% CI, 3.1-7.8) patients with IPF were positive for ANCAs at the time of diagnosis in the discovery and replication cohorts, respectively. Among those positive for MPO antibodies, two of six (33%) in the discovery cohort and three of 12 (25%) in the replication cohort developed vasculitis. None of the patients who were PR3-positive developed vasculitis. Patients who were ANCA-positive were more likely to be women than patients who were ANCA-negative, and were more likely to have some ground-glass opacities on CT scan. In the combined cohort of 745 patients, median transplant-free survival was not significantly different in patients who were ANCA-positive vs ANCA-negative (P = .57). Conclusions ANCA positivity is uncommon in North American patients with IPF and not associated with baseline disease severity or transplant-free survival; however, a significant proportion of patients who are MPO-positive with IPF develop clinical vasculitis.
T cell–specific STAT3 deficiency abrogates lupus nephritis:

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 is a regulator of T-cell responses to external stimuli, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. We have previously shown that STAT3 is activated (phosphorylated) at high levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) T cells and mediates chemokine-induced migration and T:B cell interactions. Stattic, a small molecular STAT3 inhibitor, can partially ameliorate lupus nephritis in mice. To understand the role of STAT3 better in T-cell pathophysiology in lupus nephritis and its potential as a treatment target, we silenced its expression in T cells using a cd4-driven CRE-Flox model. We found that lupus-prone mice that do not express STAT3 in T cells did not develop lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, or glomerulonephritis. Moreover, the production of anti-dsDNA antibodies was decreased in these mice compared to controls. To dissect the mechanism, we also used a nephrotoxic serum model of nephritis. In this model, T cell-specific silencing of STAT3 resulted in amelioration of nephrotoxic serum-induced kidney damage. Taken together, our results suggest that in mouse models of autoimmune nephritis, T cell-specific silencing of STAT3 can hamper their ability to help B cells to produce autoantibodies and induce cell tissue infiltration. We propose that STAT3 inhibition in T cells represents a novel approach in the treatment of SLE and lupus nephritis in particular.
Overexpression of human wtTDP-43 causes impairment in hippocampal plasticity and behavioral deficits in CAMKII-tTa transgenic mouse model.

Abstract Aims The current study utilizes the adeno-associated viral gene transfer system in the CAMKIIα-tTA mouse model to overexpress human wild type TDP-43 (wtTDP-43) and α-synuclein (α-Syn) proteins. The co-existence of these proteins is evident in the pathology of neurodegenerative disorders such as frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), Parkinson disease (PD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Methods The novel bicistronic recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) serotype 9 drives wtTDP-43 and α-Syn expression in the hippocampus via “TetO” CMV promoter. Behavior, electrophysiology, and biochemical and histological assays were used to validate neuropathology. Results We report that overexpression of wtTDP-43 but not α-Syn contributes to hippocampal CA2–specific pyramidal neuronal loss and overall hippocampal atrophy. Further, we report a reduction of hippocampal long-term potentiation and decline in learning and memory performance of wtTDP-43 expressing mice. Elevated wtTDP-43 levels induced selective degeneration of Purkinje cell protein 4 (PCP-4) positive neurons while both wtTDP-43 and α-Syn expression reduced subsets of the glutamate receptor expression in the hippocampus. Conclusions Overall, our findings suggest the significant vulnerability of hippocampal neurons toward elevated wtTDP-43 levels possibly via PCP-4 and GluR-dependent calcium signaling pathways. Further, we report that wtTDP-43 expression induced selective CA2 subfield degeneration, contributing to the deterioration of the hippocampal-dependent cognitive phenotype.
Sphingosine Kinase 1 Is Required for Myristate-Induced TNFα Expression in Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Saturated fatty acids (SFA) have been known to trigger inflammatory signaling in metabolic tissues; however, the effects of specific SFAs in the intestinal epithelium have not been well studied. Several previous studies have implicated disruptions in sphingolipid metabolism by oversupply of SFAs in inflammatory process. Also, our previous studies have implicated sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) and its product sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) as having key roles in the regulation of inflammatory processes in the intestinal epithelium. Therefore, to define the role for specific SFAs in inflammatory responses in intestinal epithelial cells, we examined myristate (C14:0) and palmitate (C16:0). Myristate, but not palmitate, significantly induced the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and it was SK1-dependent. Interestingly, myristate-induced TNFα expression was not suppressed by inhibition of S1P receptors (S1PRs), hinting at a potential novel intracellular target of S1P. Additionally, myristate regulated the expression of TNFα via JNK activation in an SK1-dependent manner, suggesting a novel S1PR-independent target as a mediator between SK1 and JNK in response to myristate. Lastly, a myristate-enriched milk fat-based diet (MFBD) increased expression of TNFα in colon tissues and elevated the S1P to sphingosine ratio, demonstrating the potential of myristate-involved pathobiologies in intestinal tissues. Taken together our studies suggest that myristate regulates the expression of TNFα in the intestinal epithelium via regulation of SK1 and JNK.
The Relationship Between Immigration Status and Chronic Kidney Disease Risk Factors in Immigrants and US-Born Adults.

To understand the relationship between nativity and measures of kidney function including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). Seven waves of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001–2014) was analyzed. General linear regression methods were used to assess the relationship between eGFR, ACR and nativity (foreign-born vs. US-born). Models were adjusted for length of time in the US, demographic variables, comorbidities, lifestyle factors, and access to healthcare. There were 27,111 individuals representing 217,842,257 US adults included in the study. Approximately 26.1% were immigrants, with 40.4% of immigrants having resided < 15 years in the US. Among immigrants with < 15 years of residence, 51% were Hispanic, and 54.4% had high school or below education. After controlling for demographics and length of time in the US, immigrants were 26% more likely to have an ACR ≥ 30 mg/g (OR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08–1.47); however, after controlling for demographics, length of time, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors the results were no longer significant. Immigrants were significantly less likely to have an eGFR < 60 (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.36–0.50), which remained after adjustment (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61–0.93). Immigrants had significantly lower odds of having an eGFR < 60 compared to US-born adults. Additionally, immigrants with ≥ 15 years in the US had mean eGFR values that were less than immigrants < 15 years in the US, indicating that there is some decrease in kidney function as the length of US residence increases.
Area-minimizing ruled graphs and the Bernstein problem in the Heisenberg group

In this paper, we give a necessary and sufficient condition for a graphical strip in the Heisenberg group $\mathbb{H}$ to be area-minimizing in the slab $\{-1<x<1\}$. We show that our condition is necessary by introducing a family of deformations of graphical strips based on varying a vertical curve. We show that it is sufficient by showing that strips satisfying the condition have monotone epigraphs. We use this condition to show that any area-minimizing ruled entire intrinsic graph in the Heisenberg group is a vertical plane and to find a boundary curve that admits uncountably many fillings by area-minimizing surfaces.
Cryo-EM structure of the RNA-guided ribonuclease Cas12g

Cas12g, the type V–G CRISPR–Cas effector, is an RNA-guided ribonuclease that targets single-stranded RNA substrate. The CRISPR–Cas12g system offers a potential platform for transcriptome engineering and diagnostic applications. We determined the structures of Cas12g–guide RNA complexes in the absence and presence of target RNA by cryo-EM to a resolution of 3.1 A and 4.8 A, respectively. Cas12g adopts a bilobed structure with miniature REC2 and Nuc domains, whereas the guide RNAs fold into a flipped ‘F’ shape, which is primarily recognized by the REC lobe. Target RNA and the CRISPR RNA (crRNA) guide form a duplex that inserts into the central cavity between the REC and NUC lobes, inducing conformational changes in both lobes to activate Cas12g. The structural insights would facilitate the development of Cas12g-based applications. The cryo-EM structures of Cas12g in complex with sgRNA in the absence and presence of target RNA reveal that the duplex formed by target RNA and crRNA binds to a central channel of Cas12g, inducing its conformational change and activation.
Impact of early cholecystectomy on the readmission rate in patients with acute gallstone cholangitis: a retrospective single-centre study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The pathogenesis of acute cholangitis (AC) occurs with biliary obstruction followed by bacterial growth in the bile duct. The leading cause of AC is obstructing gallstones. There have been conflicting theories about the optimal timing for cholecystectomy following AC. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of early cholecystectomy on the 30-day readmission rate, 30-day mortality, 90-day readmission rate and the length of hospital stay. METHODS This retrospective study was performed between January 2015 and January 2021 in a high-volume tertiary referral teaching hospital. Included patients were 18 years or older with a definitive diagnosis of acute gallstone cholangitis who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with complete clearance of the bile duct as an index procedure. We divided the patients into two groups: patients who underwent ERCP alone and those who underwent ERCP with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) on the same admission (ERCP+LC). Data were extracted from electronic medical records. The primary endpoint of the study was the 30-day readmission rate. RESULTS A total of 114 patients with AC met the inclusion criteria of the study. The ERCP+LC group had significantly lower rates of 30-day readmission (2.2% vs 42.6%, p<0.001), 90-day readmission (2.2% vs 30.9%, p<0.001) and 30-day mortality (2.2% vs 16.2%, p=0.017) when compared with the ERCP group. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, patients in the ERCP+LC group had 90% lower odds of 30-day readmission compared with patients who did not undergo LC during admission (OR=0.1, 95% CI (0.032 to 0.313), p<0.001). CONCLUSION Performing LC on same day admission was associated with a decrease in 30-day and 90-day readmission rate as well as 30-day mortality.
Diversity Among American Medical Students by Parental Education: Improving Participation Rates for a Historically Underrepresented Community

The American Medical Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges are committed to enrolling more students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. Notwithstanding these assertions and those of individual programs, published research shows that medical students are far more often the children of highly educated parents. Given the significant upward redistribution of wealth that has been happening among Americans over the last several decades, this lack of diversity problem will likely increase. This paper uses empirical findings and related literature to propose a six part plan all medical programs can employ to increase diversity among their students by parental education.
POROUS PAVEMENT: RESEARCH; DEVELOPMENT; AND DEMONSTRATION

This paper discusses the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's porous pavement research program along with the economies, advantages, potential applications, and status and future research needs of porous pavements. Porous pavements are an available stormwater management technique which can be used on parking lots and low volume roadways to reduce both stormwater runoff volume and pollution. In addition, groundwater recharge is enhanced. Also, cost reductions result due to elimination of curbs, drains, and small sized storm sewers. Porous asphalt pavements consist of a relatively thin course of open graded asphalt mix over a deep base of large size crushed stones. Water can be stored in the crushed stone base until it can percolate into the subbase or drain laterally. Other porous pavement types include concrete lattice blocks and a porous concrete mix.
Improving weak ad-hoc retrieval by web assistance and data fusion

Users experience frustration when their reasonable queries retrieve no relevant documents. We call these weak queries and retrievals. Improving their effectiveness is an important issue in ad-hoc retrieval and will be most rewarding for these users. We offer an explanation (with experimental support) why data fusion of sufficiently different retrieval lists can improve weak query results. This approach requires sufficiently different retrieval lists for an ad-hoc query. We propose various ways of selecting salient terms from longer queries to probe the web, and define alternate queries from web results. Target retrievals by the original and alternate queries are combined. When compared with normal ad-hoc retrieval, web assistance and data fusion can improve weak query effectiveness by over 100%. Another benefit of this approach is that other queries also improve along with weak ones, unlike pseudo-relevance feedback which works mostly for non-weak queries.
General KKM Theorems for Abstract Convex Spaces

A general KKM type theorem for abstract convex spaces is obtained. This is applied to G-convex spaces and A-spaces. Further comments on related works are given.
T2-WEIGHTED MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING MEASUREMENTS OF OPTIC NERVE SHEATH DIAMETER IN DOGS WITH AND WITHOUT PRESUMED INTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSION

Intracranial hypertension is a cause of cerebral ischemia and neurologic deficits in dogs. Goals of this retrospective study were to test interobserver agreement for MRI measurements of optic nerve sheath diameter and associations between optic nerve sheath diameter, signalment data, and presumed intracranial hypertension status in a cohort of dogs. A veterinary radiologist interpreted scans of 100 dogs and dogs were assigned to groups based on presence or absence of at least two MRI characteristics of presumed intracranial hypertension. Two observers who were unaware of group status independently measured optic nerve diameter from transverse T2-weighted sequences. Mean optic nerve sheath diameter for all dogs was 3 mm (1-4 mm). The mean difference between observers was 0.3 mm (limits of agreement, -0.4 and 1.0 mm). There was no correlation between optic nerve sheath diameter and age for either observer (r = -0.06 to 0.00) but a moderate positive correlation was observed between optic nerve sheath diameter and body weight for both observers (r = 0.70-0.76). The 22 dogs with presumed intracranial hypertension weighed less than the 78 dogs without (P = 0.02) and were more often female (P = 0.04). Dogs with presumed intracranial hypertension had a larger ratio of optic nerve sheath diameter to body weight for each observer-side pair (P = 0.01-0.04) than dogs without. Findings indicated that the ratio of MRI optic nerve sheath diameter relative to body weight may be a repeatable predictor of intracranial hypertension in dogs.
Mandated Reporter Satisfaction With Child Protection More Good News for Workers

Mandated reporters are an important part of the system established to identify vulnerable children and help troubled families. This study reports the findings from 472 completed and returned surveys mailed to agencies and individuals representing 12 categories of mandated reporters in a western New York county. The results indicated that although the respondents were generally satisfied with child protection, those respondents whose expectations had not been met were the least satisfied.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE PERSISTENCE OF STRANDED OIL ON LOW ENERGY COASTS

ABSTRACT Mechanical dispersion by waves is usually considered to be the primary factor that controls the persistence of spilled oil reaching the coast. This assumption is accurate for stable coasts that are not subject to net erosion or accretion and beaches where oil would not be buried by onshore, offshore, or alongshore movement of sediments. On high energy coasts, oil can be rapidly buried or eroded, depending on the stage of beach changes. Similarly, oil stranded on coasts subject to rapid net accretion or erosion is likely to be buried or dispersed. Rapid shoreline changes can occur in areas of low wave energy, so wave energy levels cannot be used alone as an indicator of oil persistence. Sections of the North American Beaufort Sea coast are undergoing net long term changes on the order of 10 meters per year, despite the short (3 month) open water season and the small fetch areas. Beach migration or cliff retreat on these low energy coasts often has a net rate on the order of one meter per month. In...
THE EFFECTS OF LASER RADIATION ON TEETH, DENTAL PULP, AND ORAL MUCOSA OF EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS.

Abstract Twelve Syrian hamsters received 35 and 55 joule dosages of laser radiation, focused on the mandibular incisor and the lateral border of the tongue. Cavitation was produced in the enamel and dentine. Adjacent to the cavitation, normal-appearing enamel was replaced by a chalky white, amorphous substance in the 35 joule applications and by a smooth, glassy substance in the 55 joule applications. Reflected energy produced visible but less severe changes in the enamel of adjacent mandibular and maxillary incisors. Severe degenerative changes occurred in the dental pulps of irradiated incisors. Less severe pulpal degeneration was noted in the molar teeth at some distance from the laser focal point.
Corticospinal projections from the medial wall of the hemisphere

We injected wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase into different segments of the spinal cord in order to examine the topographic organization of corticospinal projections from the medial wall of the hemisphere. We observed that substantial projections to the spinal cord originate not only from the supplementary motor area (SMA) in area 6, but also from 2 regions within the cingulate sulcus. The distribution of labeled neurons following tracer injections into different spinal cord segments indicates that corticospinal projections from the SMA and from the 2 cingulate regions are somatotopically organized. These findings together with other recent anatomical observations suggest that the corticospinal projections from the medial wall of the hemisphere provide the basal ganglia and limbic system with a somatotopically organized access to spinal cord mechanisms.
Treating Depression and Substance Use: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Few integrated substance use and depression treatments have been developed for delivery in outpatient substance abuse treatment settings. To meet the call for more "transportable" interventions, we conducted a pilot study to test a group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression and substance use that was designed for delivery by outpatient substance abuse treatment counselors. Seventy-three outpatient clients were randomized to usual care enhanced with group CBT or usual care alone and assessed at three time points (baseline and 3 and 6 months postbaseline). Our results demonstrated that the treatment was acceptable and feasible for delivery by substance abuse treatment staff despite challenges with recruiting clients. Both depressive symptoms and substance use were reduced by the intervention but were not significantly different from the control group. These results suggest that further research is warranted to enhance the effectiveness of treatment for co-occurring disorders in these settings.
Hamiltonian model for the Brownian motion of a rigid rotor

Abstract We derive stochastic equations for the motion of a rigid rotor in a linear heat bath starting from a fully dynamical (Hamiltonian) description. We obtain a generalized Langevin equation for the angular velocity of the rotor in which the fluctuations in the torque arise from the initial conditions of the heat bath. The dissipation is in general nonlinear and is related to the fluctuations via a fluctuation-dissipation relation that is a natural consequence of our description. In the Langevin limit we show that our equations are equivalent to the phenomenological Euler-Langevin equations. However, whereas the latter are necessarily expressed in components referred to a body-fixed coordinate system, our representation is valid in an arbitrary system of axes and is in that sense more general. Finally, we also examine the reduction of our model to the rotational diffusion equation in the high viscosity limit. We show that this reduction can be carried out via standard methods of adiabatic elimination if our representation of the rotor equations of motion is used.