cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Time- and Compartment-Specific Activation of Lung Macrophages in Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension

Studies in various animal models suggest an important role for pulmonary macrophages in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Yet, the molecular mechanisms characterizing the functional macrophage phenotype relative to time and pulmonary localization and compartmentalization remain largely unknown. In this study, we used a hypoxic murine model of PH in combination with FACS to quantify and isolate lung macrophages from two compartments over time and characterize their programing via RNA sequencing approaches. In response to hypoxia, we found an early increase in macrophage number that was restricted to the interstitial/perivascular compartment, without recruitment of macrophages to the alveolar compartment or changes in the number of resident alveolar macrophages. Principal component analysis demonstrated significant differences in overall gene expression between alveolar and interstitial macrophages (IMs) at baseline and after 4 and 14 d hypoxic exposure. Alveolar macrophages at both day 4 and 14 and IMs at day 4 shared a conserved hypoxia program characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction, proinflammatory gene activation, and mTORC1 signaling, whereas IMs at day 14 demonstrated a unique anti-inflammatory/proreparative programming state. We conclude that the pathogenesis of vascular remodeling in hypoxic PH involves an early compartment-independent activation of lung macrophages toward a conserved hypoxia program, with the development of compartment-specific programs later in the course of the disease. Thus, harnessing time- and compartment-specific differences in lung macrophage polarization needs to be considered in the therapeutic targeting of macrophages in hypoxic PH and potentially other inflammatory lung diseases.
Abstract 294: Atrogin-1 Is Required for Atrophic Remodeling of the Heart

The heart adapts to changes in load by remodeling both metabolically and structurally. During this process, cardiomyocytes break down unnecessary or damaged proteins and use the resulting amino acids for the synthesis of new proteins and/or energy provision. Protein degradation via the ubiquitin proteasome system is controlled by ubiquitin ligases, which determine the specific proteins to be degraded. Atrogin-1 is a muscle specific ubiquitin ligase required for skeletal muscle atrophy, and over-expressing Atrogin-1 inhibits the development of cardiac hypertrophy. We tested the hypothesis that Atrogin-1 is required for atrophic remodeling of the unloaded heart. Hearts from wild type (WT) and Atrogin-1 -/- mice were subjected to mechanical unloading by heterotopic transplantation. In WT hearts, seven days of unloading significantly reduced heart weight and myocyte cross-sectional area, while hearts lacking Atrogin-1 significantly hypertrophied. Conventional markers of atrophic remodeling, such as the reactivation of the fetal gene program were detected in both WT and Atrogin-1 -/-transplanted hearts. Proteasome activity and markers of autophagy were increased after unloading, although not significantly different between WT and Atrogin-1 -/- hearts. Pathways regulating protein synthesis were enhanced in the absence of Atrogin-1; there was an increase in activated Akt and its downstream pathway including mTOR, 4E-BP1, and p70 S6 kinase. Additionally, calcinuerin, a known target of Atrogin-1 involved in hypertrophy and protein synthesis, was upregulated in unloaded Atrogin-1 deficient hearts. Consequently, μunloaded” cardiomyocytes lacking Atrogin-1 in vitro exhibit increased basal rates of protein synthesis. While inhibition of calcineurin decreased rates of protein synthesis in unloaded cardiomyocytes in the absence of Atrogin-1, protein synthesis rates were still higher than in WT unloaded cardiomyocytes. These results suggest that more than one pathway regulating protein synthesis is controlled by Atrogin-1 in the heart. Furthermore, the data provide evidence that Atrogin-1 not only enhances protein degradation, but also keeps protein synthesis in check. Thus Atrogin-1 has a duel role in regulating cardiac mass.
Abstract B43: ADAM12 is a novel regulator of stem-like cells in triple-negative breast cancer

High expression of metalloprotease ADAM12 is associated with increased metastasis in triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) and is an independent prognostic factor of chemoresistance in TNBC. ADAM12 is up-regulated in the claudin-low subtype of breast tumors and in the mesenchymal stem-like subtype of TNBC. Furthermore, expression of ADAM12 is elevated in post-therapy tumors. The goal of our study was to examine whether ADAM12 may serve as a marker or a therapeutic target in cells with enhanced metastatic cancer stem cell phenotype, using two representative TNBC cell lines with aggressive and metastatic phenotype, SUM159PT and Hs578T. We found that sorted cell subpopulations with the highest cell surface expression of ADAM12 had increased expression of cancer stem cell markers, decreased proliferation rates in 2-D cultures, and increased ability to form mammospheres under suspension conditions. ADAM12 knockdown decreased mammosphere formation, increased apoptotic cell death upon detachment, and decreased cell migration and invasion. ADAM12 knockdown also decreased the population of CD44+/CD24- cells and ALDEFLUOR+ cells and reduced tumor formation in mice in vivo, suggesting that ADAM12 might be necessary for maintaining cancer stem cell phenotype of TNBC cells. To get insight into molecular pathways modulated by ADAM12, we performed RNA sequencing in cells with inducible knockdown of ADAM12 and identified several candidate pathways. Our results indicate that ADAM12 is a novel regulator of the plasticity of TNBC stem cells and it may serve as a future target in anti-metastatic breast cancer therapies. Citation Format: Yue Qi, Sara Duhachek-Muggy, Hui Li, Linda Alyahya, Randi Wise, Anna Zolkiewska. ADAM12 is a novel regulator of stem-like cells in triple-negative breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Metastasis; 2015 Nov 30-Dec 3; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(7 Suppl):Abstract nr B43.
Hazard-based regional loss estimation considering hurricane intensity, size and sea surface temperature change

This paper presents a methodology to probabilistically estimate regional hurricane loss considering both hurricane intensity and size, as well as projected sea surface temperature change as a funct...
Practice Patterns and Outcomes in Elderly Stage I Non-Small-cell Lung Cancer: A 2004 to 2012 SEER Analysis.

Abstract Background We reviewed the population-based treatment patterns and outcomes for elderly patients with stage I non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated from 2004 to 2012. Patients and Methods Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, we identified biopsy-proven stage I NSCLC cases diagnosed from 2004 to 2012. The patients were divided into 5-year age subsets (60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, and ≥ 90 years). The demographic data, therapy, and survival were compared by year. Trends in overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and practice patterns were analyzed. Results A total of 62,213 cases were identified. The use of surgery declined sharply with age. Patients aged 60 to 64 years had a surgical rate of 81% compared with 21% for those aged ≥ 90 years (P Conclusion With advancing age, radiation replaces surgery as the most used treatment for early-stage NSCLC. OS and CSS have improved significantly for elderly stage I NSCLC patients treated with radiation alone during a timeline concurrent with the widespread adoption of stereotactic body radiation therapy. Dedicated prospective studies are indicated, because these findings are limited by the inherent biases of using the SEER database alone.
Using Rhetorical/Relational Goal Theory to Examine College Students’ Impressions of Their Instructors

Guided by rhetorical/relational goal theory, the purpose of this study was to examine whether students’ impressions of their instructors’ credibility, attraction, and homophily are influenced by four specific rhetorical and relational communication behaviors that instructors use when communicating with their students in the classroom. Participants were 193 undergraduate students enrolled in a variety of introductory communication courses at a large mid-Atlantic university. Using a series of multiple regression analyses, it was found that (a) clarity emerged as the sole indicator of instructor competence, trustworthiness, and task attraction; (b) clarity and confirmation emerged as indicators of goodwill; and (c) humor and confirmation emerged as indicators of social attraction and attitude homophily.
Abstract 12897: The Synergistic Effects of Fatigue and Depression on Use of Medical Services in Patients With Heart Failure

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is an expensive clinical condition, which imparts a considerable burden on patients and society. Fatigue and depression are the most common physical and psychological symptoms, and together may have more impact on use of medical services than one symptom alone. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that fatigue and depression would have the synergistic effects on use of different medical services controlling for common covariates. Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis of a university medical center electronic database (N = 582, mean age 63 ± 14 years, 54% males). Data were collected on fatigue, depression, covariates (i.e., sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, vital signs, laboratory tests [serum troponin, albumin, triglycerides, creatinine, sodium, hemoglobin, monocytes, and neutrophils], and medication [beta-blockers, antidepressants, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors]), and frequency of medical service use based on CPT codes. Patients were categorized into one of four symptom groups based on ICD-9 codes: no symptom, fatigue only, depression only, and fatigue and depression. General linear regression was used to analyze the data. Results: The mean number of total medical service use was 96.5 ± 84.3 over 3 years. The mean number in the fatigue and depression group (152.6 ± 103.4) was greater than the fatigue only (122.9 ± 97.9, p = .016), depression only (84.3 ± 62.0, p Conclusion: Fatigue and depression showed synergistic impact on the number of total medical service use. Clinicians should assess and manage fatigue and depression together and provide interventions to manage them effectively to assist in reducing medical service use.
A multimodal antiretroviral protein.

APOBEC3G is an antiviral protein that has long been known to inhibit retrovirus replication by hypermutating viral DNA. An additional mechanism is now identified, in which APOBEC3G binds to the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, inhibiting viral DNA synthesis.
Abstract 1313: Pro-atherogenic Effects Of Lipid Peroxidation Products: Role Of The Unfolded Protein Response

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) are associated with atherosclerosis. Expression of UPR target genes such as activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) and ATF4 is markedly increased in human atherosclerotic lesions. Staining for these proteins co-localizes with the staining with antibodies that recognize the aldehydic epitopes of oxidized LDL, suggesting that lipid-derived aldehydes could be involved in mediating ER stress and UPR. We examined the role of phospholipid aldehyde, 1-palmitoyl-2-(5-oxovaleroyl)- sn -glycero-3-phosphocholine (POVPC), unsaturated lipid-derived aldehydes- 4-hydroxy, trans -2-nonenal (HNE) and acrolein in the induction of ER-stress and UPR in human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) and human umbical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). POVPC, HNE and acrolein (10 –25 μM) increased the phosphorylation of eIF2α (eukaryotic initiation factor-2α) by 1.5–5 fold (P 25 fold (P sn -glycero-3-phosphocholine (PHVPC) inhibited JNK activation by 74 ± 14 % (P
Heparin-induced tau filaments are structurally heterogeneous and differ from Alzheimer's disease filaments

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of tau filaments in the brain whose structure was recently solved. The formation of AD filaments is routinely modeled in vitro by mixing tau with heparin. This study shows that heparin-induced tau filaments are markedly different from the AD filaments and are highly heterogeneous.
Autophagy and Cancer

Abstract Autophagy is the process by which proteins and other cellular material, including mitochondria and damaged organelles, is delivered to the lysosome. Autophagy is important in many diseases and in normal biology. Although its roles in cancer are context dependent and sometimes opposing, the deliberate targeting of autophagy for cancer therapy is already being tested in clinical trials. The complicated and sometimes contradictory roles of autophagy in cancer make it especially important that we understand the biological mechanisms by which autophagy affects tumor behavior.
ViDeTTe Interactive Notebooks

Interactive notebooks allow the use of popular languages, such as python, for composing data analytics projects. The interface they provide, enables data scientists to import data, analyze them and compose the results into easily readable report-like web pages, that can contain re-runnable code, visualizations and textual description of the entire process, all in one place. Scientists can then share such pages with other users in order to present their findings, collaborate and further explore the underlying data.However, as we show in this work, interactive notebooks lack in interactivity for the reader of the resulting notebook. Users can rerun or extend the code included in a notebook but cannot directly interact with the generated visualizations in order to trigger additional computation and further explore the underlying data. This means that only code-literate readers can further interact with and extend such notebooks, while the rest can only passively read the provided report. This comes in stark contrast to OLAP data cube interfaces, which utilize user interaction to trigger additional data exploratory capabilities. Adding OLAP-like reactive functionality in notebooks further increases the required technical expertise as event-driven logic has to be added by the data analyst.To address these issues, we propose ViDeTTe1, an engine that enhances notebooks with capabilities that benefit both data scientists and non-technical notebook readers. ViDeTTe uses a declarative language that simplifies data retrieval and data visualization for analysts. The generated visualizations are capable of collecting the reader's input and reacting to it. As the user interacts with the visualizations, ViDeTTe identifies subsequent parts of the notebook that depend on the user's input, causes reevaluation of the affected computations and propagates changes to the visualization units. By doing this, ViDeTTe offers enhanced data exploratory capabilities to readers, without requiring any coding skills, while at the same time lowering the technical expertise needed for the development of reactive notebooks.
Physical Processes for Magnetospheric Substorm Expansion Onsets

A major challenge in magnetospheric research is to identify the physical processes for magnetospheric substorm expansion onsets. Recent abundance of observations from Geotail, Cluster, and Themis missions has added impetus to substorm research. Observations that are linked to substorm expansion onsets are discussed. Topics encompassed in this review are (1) the external conditions in the solar wind for substorm onset, (2) observations prior to onset, (3) observations immediately after onset, (4) time history approach, and (5) system-wide approach that can reveal general characteristics of the physical processes for onset. The implications for the substorm onset processes are discussed based on these observations.
Ash Cements Stabilized by Supercritical Co2 Carbonation for Tailings Pond Overlayer

Estonia possesses large oil shale deposits. The kukersite shale, located in the northeastern part of the country, is arguably the most important mineral resource of Estonia. There are two principal deposits; the Estonian and the Tapa. The former has a productive seam thickness that varies from 2.7-3.0 m in the northern part of the deposit to 1.4-2.0 m in the southern and western parts. The Tapa deposit is situated southwest of the Estonian deposit with a seam depth of 60-170 m below the surface. This seam has a maximum thickness 2.0-2.3 m in the central part of the deposit. This deposit is not currently in use. These two deposits cover a combined area of about 5000 km2.
Pregnancy Prevention from the Teen Perspective

One hundred and five teens from primary and secondary pregnancy prevention programs attended focus group interviews. This article reports teens' perceptions of the factors that contribute to adolescent pregnancy and the steps that can be taken to prevent early childbearing. Lack of knowledge and accessibility to contraceptives as well as unfulfilled emotional needs were considered crucial factors. Suggestions for service delivery from findings are explored.
Self-Evaluation Maintenance and Evolution

One model that has helped to guide research in which social comparison is central is the self- evaluation maintenance (SEM) model. In this chapter we attempt to place the model in evolutionary context. To do this we review the SEM model and some of its basic predictions. We then review some recent speculations regarding the origins of self-evaluative feelings. We also add our own speculation about a social performance ecology that may have emerged late in human evolutionary history and could plausibly have led to a sharpening of the comparison and reflection processes that are at the heart of the SEM model. The goal of this exercise is to explore the heuristic potential of placing models of social comparison in an evolutionary framework. Accordingly, we conclude by examining the intellectual gains that follow from asking whether SEM processes represent a specific adaptation to cooperative group living.
Reconstruction of Preauricular Wounds Using a Flipped Island Pedicle Flap.

Background Island pedicle flaps (IPFs) are a frequently used reconstructive option in dermatologic surgery. With variations in its execution, the flap can be used for an assortment of facial defects. Objective To describe the execution of a flipped IPF for the reconstruction of medium to large preauricular wounds after Mohs micrographic surgery. Materials and methods An analysis of the flipped IPF reconstruction of 12 preauricular defects is presented. Patient demographics, surgical defects, aesthetic outcomes, and complications are described. Results Twelve patients with 12 preauricular tumors (9 basal cell carcinomas, 2 squamous cell carcinomas, and 1 malignant melanoma) were treated using Mohs micrographic surgery. A flipped IPF reconstruction was successfully used with good cosmetic outcomes and no complications in all 12 patients. Conclusion In this series, the authors demonstrate the effective use of flipped IPFs for the reconstruction of medium to large preauricular defects with good aesthetic outcomes and no complications.
Optimal Distinctiveness Applied to Trending Smartphone Case Colors

Smartphone cases have become trendy personal statements. The aim of this study was to color forecast smartphone cases using Trickle Down Theory and Optimal Distinctiveness Theory to determine possible social-psychological meanings associated with selected trending smartphone case colors. A 2017 Spring forecast was determined using observational counting of smartphone case colors from a sample size of 559 men and women at a southeastern university in the fall of 2016. The most frequently observed smartphone case colors were black (30%) and blue (22%) compared to yellow (1%). Black and blue smartphone case colors were associated with individuals who may seek inclusion within their university community. The scarcity of yellow smartphone cases suggest individuals with this color may seek distinction from others. This study gives insight into how smartphone case colors can be used to determine an individual's social identity and consumer behavior preferences.
Why Story Matters: A Review of Narrative in Serious Games:

Literature has shown that immersive learning environments such as digital educational games and simulations often incorporate storytelling elements in their designs as narrative can be an effective...
Phytophthora infestans RNA virus 2, a novel RNA virus from Phytophthora infestans, does not belong to any known virus group.

Phytophthora infestans is the causal agent of potato and tomato late blight. In this study, we obtained the complete genome sequence of a novel RNA virus from this plant pathogen, tentatively named “Phytophthora infestans RNA virus 2” (PiRV-2). The PiRV-2 genome is 11,170 nt in length and lacks a polyA tail. It contains a single large open reading frame (ORF) with short 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions. The ORF is predicted to encode a polyprotein of 3710 aa (calculated molecular weight, 410.94 kDa). This virus lacks significant similarity to any other known viruses, even in the conserved RNA-dependent RNA polymerase region. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that it did not cluster with any known virus group. We conclude that PiRV-2 belongs to a new virus family yet to be described. This virus was found to be faithfully transmitted through asexual reproduction.
Joint Media Engagement between Parents and Preschoolers in the U.S., China, and Taiwan

Global app marketplaces make families in foreign countries easily accessible to developers, but most scholarship on joint media engagement (JME) between parents and children reports on data from participants in Western contexts. We conducted an observational lab study to examine how preschoolers (age 3-5) and parents (N=74) from three different regions of the world (communities in China, Taiwan, and the United States) engage with two types of tablet games: an instructional game with goals and an exploratory, open-ended game. We found systematic differences among groups and between games. For example, parents from China and Taiwan frequently picked up their child's hand and used it as a tool to engage with the screen, a practice parents in our U.S. sample did not employ. Dyads from all three samples exhibited more warmth when playing an instructional game than an exploratory one. Our results suggest that characteristics of the populations we sampled interact with design features, that is, the same design prompted opposing behaviors in different groups. We conclude that it may be useful to examine goal-free and goal-oriented JME as separate constructs, that design choices influence the roles parents adopt during JME, and that the range of behaviors we observed complicate the prevailing research narrative of what positive and productive JME looks like.
The Effect of Temperature and Humidity on the Reaction of Ozone with Combustion Soot: Implications for Reactivity near the Tropopause

The effect of temperature (296–238 K) on the reaction of combustion soot (n-hexane) with ozone at low concentration (6–8 ppm) has been measured. Long optical path FTIR spectroscopy has revealed the rate law for ozone loss beyond initial stages, second order in O3, to be the same over this range of conditions. The reaction rate is 3.5 times lower at 238 K than at 296 K, and reveals an activation energy of 12.9 ± 0.5 kJ mol−1. The effect of humidity on the reaction has been estimated using its recently determined rate law dependence (p0.2). These data, differing from O3 reaction kinetics obtained from other types of carbonaceous particles used as surrogates for atmospheric soot, have implications for the role of combustion soot in atmospheric chemistry. Any involvement of aircraft soot in ozone depletion near the tropopause, for example, should be estimated using these temperature and humidity dependences.
Interfacing with amtrak.com to provide a meaningful systems development project

Formulating meaningful systems development projects for the undergraduate computer science/computer information systems curriculum is often an arduous task. Constraints include project size, duration, and complexity, plus a wide spectrum of student abilities and experience. This Nifty Assignment outlines a project that aims to meet these constraints while providing a "real-world" application for students to practice their system development methodologies skills.
Cloud-Based Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery and Registries

As healthcare evolves and increasingly utilizes electronic records, there is an increasing demand and desire to centralize data to learn from the vast amounts of clinical experience across centers. Still, one of the most significant challenges remains how to effectively gather and integrate such data into registries, using a method that ensures quality, reliability, and privacy. This challenge can create significant overhead and burden. In this chapter, we provide an in-depth review of the development of a registry focused on stereotactic and functional neurosurgery, reviewing key elements, needs, and challenges that require consideration for all such registries. Such developments, registries, and integrations are critical to amassing sufficiently experience and knowledge across centers to significant advance the field.
Utility of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging in the risk stratification of men with Grade Group 1 prostate cancer on active surveillance.

OBJECTIVE To assess if the adoption of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) in active surveillance (AS) has improved the identification of occult higher-grade prostate cancer (PCa). PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively identified men from the Johns Hopkins AS registry enrolled since 2013 (year of mpMRI adoption) with Grade Group (GG) 1 PCa and who underwent a single mpMRI. Men in this group were dichotomised by the presence (n = 207) or absence (negative mpMRI, n = 225) of one or more lesions with a Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score of ≥ 3. Both groups were compared to a third cohort of men with GG1 PCa enrolled in AS prior to 2013 (pre-mpMRI era, n = 669). The risk of upgrading to GG ≥ 2 PCa on follow-up biopsies (performed with or without MRI targeting) was evaluated among the groups using survival analysis. RESULTS Men in both mpMRI groups underwent a median (interquartile range [IQR]) of 2 (2-3) biopsies separated by a median (IQR) interval of 13 (12-16) months, whereas men in the pre-MRI era underwent a median (IQR) of 3 (2-5) biopsies, separated by a median (IQR) interval of 12 (12-14) months. The 2- and 4-year upgrade-free survival rates were 93% and 83%, 74% and 59%; and, 87% and 76% for the negative mpMRI, PI-RADS ≥ 3, and pre-mpMRI-era groups, respectively (P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, both mpMRI groups had significantly different risk of upgrading compared to pre-mpMRI-era group (negative mpMRI group: hazard ratio [HR] 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39-0.95, P = 0.03; PI-RADS ≥ 3 group: HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.36-2.82, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS mpMRI improves the risk stratification of men on AS and should be used to aid enrolment and monitoring decisions.
Exclusion-Enrichment Effect in Ionic Transistors.

A simple model of a nanofluidic transistor consisting of a uniformly charged central section between a pair of plane parallel walls is considered. The linearized Poisson–Boltzmann equation correspo...
Exploring stress, coping, and health outcomes among social workers

The continued prevalence and severity of stress among social workers, despite previous efforts to address the phenomenon, implies that current prevention and intervention strategies are ineffective...
A Spherical Rendering of Deviant Information Resilience

This theoretical exploration describes the social and technical features that, together, play a role in the resilience of deviant ideas in contemporary society. It argues, specifically, that two di...
HiFive: A normalization approach for higher-resolution HiC and 5C chromosome conformation data analysis

While sequencing-based proximity assays have established many megabase-scale features of chromosome organization, experimental noise and biases have left finer-scale organization poorly understood. We developed HiFive, an empirically-driven probabilistic modeling approach for normalizing and analyzing HiC and 5C data. HiFive allows reconstruction of chromatin structural features at higher resolution than previously described and meets or outperforms other approaches. With novel feature detection, denoising, and efficient algorithms, HiFive enables utilization of these data with a fraction of the computational power and time without sacrificing resolution. Using HiFive, we demonstrate transcriptionally-associated differential spatial organization of the mouse genome.
Large-Scale Shake Table Tests on a Shallow Foundation in Liquefiable Soils

AbstractThe significant damage observed during recent earthquakes resulting from liquefaction of shallow saturated soil deposits beneath structures has illustrated the need for further research in ...
Prevalence and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Bacterial Isolates From Dogs With Ulcerative Keratitis in Midwestern United States.

The objective of this study was to describe bacterial culture and antibiotic susceptibility results in 476 dogs presenting with suspected bacterial keratitis in Iowa and surrounding Midwestern states, further detailing trends in patient characteristics, seasonality, and antimicrobial resistance. Corneal swabs yielded 465 bacterial isolates and 220 cultures (46.2%) with no apparent growth (0-5 isolates per culture). The most frequent bacterial genera were Staphylococcus (32.3%), Streptococcus (19.1%), and Pseudomonas (12.5%), while the most common bacterial species were Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (26.7%), Streptococcus canis (12%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7.5%). Compared to mixed-breed dogs, canine breeds most likely to be examined for ulcerative keratitis included Boston terrier, Cavalier King Charles spaniel, miniature pinscher, pug, rat terrier, Saint Bernard, shih tzu, and silky terriers. In summer, the likelihood to yield a negative culture was reduced while the likelihood to culture Pseudomonas species was increased. Bacteria considered multidrug resistant (MDR, resistant to ≥ 3 antibiotic classes) represented 20% of all canine isolates and were most prevalent for Staphylococcus species (33%). Analarming, escalating trend of MDR prevalence was noted between 2016 (5%) and 2020 (34%). Individual ophthalmic preparations (ie, single antibiotics or commercially available antibiotic combinations) with highest efficacy against all bacterial isolates included chloramphenicol (83%), ceftiofur (79%), amikacin (77%), neomycin-polymyxin B-bacitracin (77%), and gentamicin (74%). Efficacy of systemic antibiotics and combinations of ophthalmic preparations was also evaluated. Based on the present findings, triple antibiotic (Neo-Poly-Bac) is recommended as empirical monotherapy for prophylactic antibiotic therapy in dogs with simple corneal ulcers, while a chloramphenicol-ciprofloxacin combination is empirically recommended for therapeutic management of infected corneal ulcers pending culture and susceptibility results. Pending culture and susceptibility results, appropriate selection of empiric antibiotic therapy is important to enhance therapeutic outcome and reduce antibacterial resistance in dogs with corneal ulceration.
Design and Estimation for the Population Prevalence of Infectious Diseases

Understanding the prevalence of infections in the population of interest is critical for making data-driven public health responses to infectious disease outbreaks. Accurate prevalence estimates, however, can be difficult to calculate due to a combination of low population prevalence, imperfect diagnostic tests, and limited testing resources. In addition, strategies based on convenience samples that target only symptomatic or high-risk individuals will yield biased estimates of the population prevalence. We present Bayesian multilevel regression and poststratification models that incorporate probability sampling designs, the sensitivity and specificity of a diagnostic test, and specimen pooling to obtain unbiased prevalence estimates. These models easily incorporate all available prior information and can yield reasonable inferences even with very low base rates and limited testing resources. We examine the performance of these models with an extensive numerical study that varies the sampling design, sample size, true prevalence, and pool size. We also demonstrate the relative robustness of the models to key prior distribution assumptions via sensitivity analyses.
Pediatric adaptions are needed to improve the diagnostic accuracy of thyroid ultrasound using TI-RADS.

Abstract Background/Purpose Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) is validated in adults but not yet in children. The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of TI-RADS in predicting thyroid malignancy for pediatric nodules, and to compare the diagnostic accuracy to the current American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines. Methods A single institution retrospective review was performed of patients younger than 21 years who underwent thyroid nodule fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Two radiologists were blinded to the pathology and independently classified all biopsied thyroid nodules based on TI-RADS. ATA and TI-RADS guidelines were analyzed to determine the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of both scoring systems. Results 115 patients (median age 15.5 years, 90 females) with 138 nodules were scored using TI-RADS. There was moderate inter-rater agreement between radiologists (Kappa = 0.51; p Conclusions Using TI-RADS for diagnostic management of pediatric thyroid nodules improves accuracy in predicting malignancy.
Immigrants at the Margins: Law, Race, and Exclusion in Southern Europe

1. Introduction 2. Legal framework and the wayward 'legs of law' 3. 'Useful invaders': the economics of alterite 4. Integrating the other 5. The everyday dynamics of exclusion: work, health, and housing 6. Fuel on the fire: politics, crime, and racialization 7. Conclusion: immigrants and other strangers in the global marketplace.
Chapter 9. Antithrombotic Agents

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the various aspects of antithrombic agents. The medical problem of thrombosis encompasses three distinct physiological processes, platelet aggregation, coagulation and fibrinolysis. Both aspirin and indomethacin administered to human subjects abolished platelet prostaglandin production as well as the second wave of epinephrine induced platelet aggregation (PA). The duration of the effect on prostaglandin production matched the duration of the effect on PA. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents exert their antihemostatic or antithrombotic effects through disruption of platelet prostaglandin production. Three new synthetic anti-inflammatory agents have been reported, which possess activity against collagen induced PA. Flurbiprofen was effective in vitro in human, rat, and rabbit platelet rich plasma, and in rats and rabbits following in vivo dosing. Flurbiprofen did not affect platelet cyclic AMP levels but was capable of inhibiting platelet release of serotonin. It was effective in several other in vivo animal models, which included the protection of mice from lethal thromboembolism resulting from collagen infusion. A variety of pyrimidopyrimidines and thienopyrimidines have also been shown to inhibit the primary phase of ADP-induced PA and to demonstrate activity in animal models of thrombosis.
A performance study of InfiniBand fourteen data rate (FDR)

This paper evaluates the performance of Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) using the InfiniBand Fourteen Data Rate (FDR) Channel Adapter (CA). InfiniBand RDMA allows applications to move data directly between nodes without kernel intervention or extra data copying. While RDMA transfer is fast, this study shows that performance can be hindered by factors such as message buffer misalignment, inefficient work request signaling, cache limitations, and inefficient CPU and NUMA memory access. This paper presents recommendations for achieving optimal performance when using the RDMA_WRITE_WITH_IMM verb. We are able to improve performance by up to 40% in some cases with no extra overhead. In addition, we develop a formula to predict the best combination of user-level RDMA operational parameters which will generate the nearly best performance and bypass the CA cache limitation. Verification of our formula reveals that our prediction is accurate within a 1% margin.
The effect of hosting the Olympics on national image: An analysis of US newspaper coverage of host countries with reputation problems

Does hosting the Olympic games boost the image of a country from a problematic to a more positive one? This study examines how three American newspapers covered four Olympics host countries whose reputations, based on historical records, have come into question. Newspaper articles published before and after the games were analyzed in terms of visibility, valence and the overarching framework of news stories. The findings suggest that the host countries received less attention from the US press after the games. The results also showed a decline in the negative coverage of the four host countries after the games, accompanied by a rise in stories with a more positive slant. The politics frame dominated the coverage across the four Olympiad before and after the games. The findings suggest that the Olympics can indeed be harnessed as a tool with which to repair a host country’s image in the world community.
FIELD ANALYSIS OF TORSIONLESS BRIDGE GRIDS

Exact solutions are found for rationally based mathematical models for rectangular grids with simple end supports and flexible side supports. The solutions are valid for general loadings and are in the form of double finite Fourier series. An exact micro discrete field approach is used. The mathematical model is a partial difference equation for the unknown nodal moments and deflections. Solutions are given for nonprismatic membered, regular grids in which the identical boundary stringers are: (1) different from interior stringers; and (2) identical to interior stringers.
Quality of ambulatory care for women and men in the Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

BACKGROUND: Gender differences in inpatient quality of care are well known. However, whether men and women receive equivalent ambulatory care is less well understood. OBJECTIVE: To study gender differences in quality of care for patients receiving primary care in the Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System. DESIGN: Cross-sectional samples of VA enrollees during fiscal years 1999 to 2000. PARTICIPANTS: Samples of 6,442 to 86,405 men and women treated at VA facilities for whom at least 1 of 9 quality measures was available. MEASUREMENTS: Appropriate general preventive services (pneumococcal vaccination, influenza vaccination, colorectal cancer screening), and specific services for diabetes (annual hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] testing, good glycemic control, annual diabetic eye exam), hypertension (good blood pressure control), or prior myocardial infarction (use of β-blockers or aspirin). RESULTS: In adjusted analyses, there were no substantial gender differences in rates of appropriate care. For women compared with men, the adjusted relative risk for appropriate care ranged from 0.96 for blood pressure control (95% confidence interval: 0.93 to 0.99; P=.02) to 1.05 for HbA1c≤8.0% (95% confidence interval: 1.03 to 1.07; P<.01). Analyses stratified by age demonstrated equivalent care between men and women in 9 of the 14 subgroups evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: In this large national health care system that predominantly serves men, the quality of ambulatory care is equivalent for women and men on numerous measures.
Delayed release pancrelipase for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency associated with cystic fibrosis

Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is the only treatment for malabsorption in cystic fibrosis (CF) caused by pancreatic insufficiency (PI). PI occurs in approximately 85% of patients with CF. PERT overcomes some, but not all the signs and symptoms of malabsorption. Clinical parameters such as growth, abdominal pain, diarrhea and gassiness, commonly used to adjust PERT dosing, are shown not to be good indicators of their effectiveness. The FDA does not provide oversight of preparations of pancreatic enzymes consistent with the oversight it provides for all other drugs. The FDA intends to rectify this situation. Measures of the effectiveness of PERT are limited to the coefficient of fat absorption, a difficult and unpleasant exercise for patients.
The Sun among the stars: what stars indicate about solar variability.

We briefly review the kinds of solar-like phenomena seen on other solar-type stars, including chromospheric and coronal activity, spots, and magnetic fields. The stages of evolution of a one solar mass star are described, particularly with respect to the levels of magnetic activity that characterize those phases. Finally, we examine evidence for long-term variability in solar-like stars. In hyperactive cases, variability with time scales near 50 years are seen, but magnetic field generation is highly non-linear in this regime: this may reflect the decay time of active regions, not a true cycle.
Using Model-Based Inference to Select a Predictive Growth Curve for Farmed Tilapia

AbstractAquaculture presents a unique challenge to the modeling of fish growth, because the main objective is to accelerate growth for profit. Growth patterns of captive fish in well-fed conditions will diverge from that found in wild fish. For a fish-farming enterprise, overestimating growth will lead to expectations for revenue and profit that will not be realized. Underestimating growth will lead to planning for later harvest than is optimal and the unnecessary additional cost of feeding. We evaluated the performance of four candidate models—Gompertz, logistic, quadratic, and von Bertalanffy—in predicting the growth of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Each model was fitted to 20 weight-at-age data sets collected from five demonstration farms in Ghana over a 5-month period. We used the Akaike information criterion adjusted for small sample size and model weights to assess model fit. We also assessed predictive performance by comparing predicted to actual growth observed over the last month of the exp...
Coupling snowpack and groundwater dynamics to interpret historical streamflow trends in the western United States

A key challenge for resource and land managers is predicting the consequences of climate warming on streamflow and water resources. During the last century in the western United States, significant reductions in snowpack and earlier snowmelt have led to an increase in the fraction of annual streamflow during winter and a decline in the summer. Previous work has identified elevation as it relates to snowpack dynamics as the primary control on streamflow sensitivity to warming. But along with changes in the timing of snowpack accumulation and melt, summer streamflows are also sensitive to intrinsic, geologically mediated differences in the efficiency of landscapes in transforming recharge (either as rain or snow) into discharge; we term this latter factor drainage efficiency. Here we explore the conjunction of drainage efficiency and snowpack dynamics in interpreting retrospective trends in summer streamflow during 1950–2010 using daily streamflow from 81 watersheds across the western United States. The recession constant (k) and fraction of precipitation falling as snow (Sf) were used as metrics of deep groundwater and overall precipitation regime (rain and/or snow), respectively. This conjunctive analysis indicates that summer streamflows in watersheds that drain slowly from deep groundwater and receive precipitation as snow are most sensitive to climate warming. During the spring, however, watersheds that drain rapidly and receive precipitation as snow are most sensitive to climate warming. Our results indicate that not all trends in western United States are associated with changes in snowpack dynamics; we observe declining streamflow in late fall and winter in rain-dominated watersheds as well. These empirical findings support both theory and hydrologic modelling and have implications for how streamflow sensitivity to warming is interpreted across broad regions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dietary Soy Protein Isolate Ameliorates Atherosclerotic Lesions in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice Potentially by Inhibiting Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Expression

Soy-based diets reportedly protect against the development of atherosclerosis; however, the underlying mechanism(s) for this protection remains unknown. In this report, the mechanism(s) contributing to the atheroprotective effects of a soy-based diet was addressed using the apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE-/-) mice fed soy protein isolate (SPI) associated with or without phytochemicals (SPI+ and SPI-, respectively) or casein (CAS). Reduced atherosclerotic lesions were observed in aortic sinus and enface analyses of the descending aorta in SPI+- or SPI(-)-fed apoE-/- mice compared with CAS-fed mice. SPI+-fed mice showed 20% fewer lesions compared with SPI(-)-fed mice. Plasma lipid profiles did not differ among the 3 groups, suggesting alternative mechanism(s) could have contributed to the atheroprotective effect of soy-based diets. Real-time quantitative PCR analyses of proximal aorta showed reduced expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a monocyte chemokine, in mice fed both soy-based diets compared with the CAS-fed mice. These findings paralleled the reduced number of macrophages observed in the lesion site in the aorta of SPI+- or SPI(-)-fed mice compared with CAS-fed mice. In an in vitro LPS-induced inflammation model, soy isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, and equol alone or in combination) dose dependently inhibited LPS-induced MCP-1 secretion by macrophages, suggesting a role for soy isoflavones for the protective in vivo effects. Collectively, these findings suggest that the reduction in atherosclerotic lesions observed in mice fed the soy-based diet is mediated in part by inhibition of MCP-1 that could result in reduced monocyte migration, an early event during atherogenesis.
Distinct Muscarinic Receptor Subtypes Suppress Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Responses in Cortical Neurons

Kimura, Fumitaka and Robert W. Baughman. Distinct muscarinic receptor subtypes suppress excitatory and inhibitory synaptic responses in cortical neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 709–716, 1997. Simulta...
Self-recovered InGaAs single photon avalanche detector with patterned Zn-diffused structure

In conventional InGaAs/InP single photon avalanche detectors, zinc diffusion is used to define the multiplication junction to reduce the dark count and maximize the detection efficiency. The device performance is very sensitive to process variations, and the diffusion process must be carefully calibrated and analyzed to minimize any edge breakdown effects. Here we present a much simpler design utilizing patterned zinc diffusion rings. The processing is simplified - a single diffusion compared to two diffusions in a conventional device; and the device performance is not as critical to the processing variations. The diffusion is performed on a self-quenching self-recovering epitaxial structure, resulting in free-running single photon detection efficiencies of 20% at 140 K, with a dark count rate of 8 kHz for a 22μm diameter device.
Early Weanling and Precocious Development of Small Intestine in Rats: Genetic, Dietary or Hormonal Control

Early Weanling and Precocious Development of Small Intestine in Rats: Genetic, Dietary or Hormonal Control