cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of clenbuterol on tracheal mucociliary transport in horses undergoing simulated long-distance transportation.

Background Pneumonia is observed in horses after long-distance transportation in association with confinement of head position leading to reduction in tracheal mucociliary clearance rate (TMCR). Hypothesis/Objectives Clenbuterol, a beta-2 agonist shown to increase TMCR in the horse, will ameliorate the effects of a fixed elevated head position on large airway contamination and inflammation in a model of long-distance transportation model. Animals Six adult horses. Methods A cross-over designed prospective study. Horses were maintained with a fixed elevated head position for 48 hours to simulate long-distance transport, and treated with clenbuterol (0.8 μg/kg PO q12h) or a placebo starting 12 hours before simulated transportation. TMCR was measured using a charcoal clearance technique. Data were collected at baseline and 48 hours, and included TMCR, tracheal wash cytology and quantitative culture, rectal temperature, CBC, fibrinogen, and serum TNFα, IL-10, and IL-2 levels. There was a 18–21 day washout between study arms, and data were analyzed using regression analysis and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Results Tracheal mucociliary clearance rate was significantly decreased after transportation in both treatment (P = .002) and placebo (P = .03) groups. There was a significant effect of treatment on TMCR, with the treatment group showing half the reduction in TMCR compared with the placebo group (P = .002). Other significant differences between before- and after-transportation samples occurred for serum fibrinogen, peripheral eosinophil count, quantitative culture, tracheal bacteria, and degenerate neutrophils, though no treatment effect was found. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Treatment with clenbuterol modestly attenuates the deleterious effects of this long-distance transportation model on tracheal mucociliary clearance.
Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Anatoxin-a

I Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), desorptlon chemical Ionization/mass spectrometry (DCl/MS), and thermospray/mass spectrometry (TSP/MS) were evaluated for the detection of a low-molecular weight biological toxin, anatoxln-a. The lowest detection limit was obtained using isobutane or ammonia DClIMS. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was used to enhance the selectivity and sensitivity of the analysis. The detection limit for the pure material is 10 pg, and 100 pg of the toxin can be analyzed directly from urine using DCI/MS/MS.
Nanobiophotonics and Bioasics for Biomedical Innovations

In this talk, I will discuss quantitative biology and medicine by nanobiophotonics and BioASICs. Using new paradigms of biological inspiration and understanding of electron transfer mechanism in biological systems, we have created quantized Plasmon Resonance Energy Transfer (PRET) nanospectroscopy for molecular imaging of living cells (Fig. 1). For the remote optical control of gene regulation and protein expression, we have developed Oligonucleotides on a Nanoplasmonic Carrier Optical Switch (ONCOS). ONCOS allows on-demand gene silencing with nanometer-scale spatial resolution and localized temperature disturbance in living cells. The ONCOS and PRET will be used for experimental system biology, molecular/cellular diagnostics, and therapeutic applications since it will provide us precise spatial and temporal information of living cellular mechanism. Bionanophotonic molecular ruler is accomplished to measure the dynamics of DNA and protein interactions. In-vivo Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) probes, in-vitro integrated nanofluidic SERS, and optofluidic microprocessors are developed for label-free molecular diagnostics and drug discovery. In order to accomplish physiologically relevant cell culture platforms, we have developed Biological Application Specific Integrated Circuits (BioASICs) for patch clamp array (Fig. 2) single cell biophysics, quantitative cell biology, and cell-based diagnostics by connecting novel microfluidics and nanofluidic circuits, which can impact on high-speed and high-content repeatable biology, quantitative medicine, and biophysics in new ways. We are creating a library of these "building blocks" to develop innovative single cell array, physiologically relevant dynamic cell culture array (Fig. 3), and biological microprocessors with integrated optical controls and detections capability.
Spatial heterogeneity of understory vegetation and soil in an Alaskan upland boreal forest fire chronosequence

In this study we characterized spatial heterogeneity of soil carbon and nitrogen pools, soil moisture, and soil pH of the first 15 cm of the soil profile; depth of the organic horizon; forest floor covers; and understory vegetation abundances in three sites (1999, 1987 and 1920 wildfires) of a boreal forest chronosequence of interior Alaska. We also investigated the cross-dependence between understory vegetation distribution and soil characteristics. Our results showed higher microbial respiration rates and microbial biomass in the oldest site and greater net N mineralization rates in the mid-successional site. Although spatial heterogeneity was absent at the scale studied for the majority of soil variables (60%), understory vegetation abundances and forest floor cover, spatial heterogeneity decreased with time after fire for the depth of organic horizon, soil microbial biomass, N mineralization rates and feathermoss cover. Our results also showed that increasing time after fire decreased the number of correlations between understory vegetation and soil characteristics while it increased between forest floor covers and soil characteristics. Overall, our study suggest that fire initially creates a patchy mosaic of forest floor cover, from fire hot spots, where high intensity burning exposes mineral soil, to practically unburned areas with intact mosses and lichens. As time since fire passes, forest floor cover and soil characteristics tend to become more uniform as understory species fill in severely burned areas.
Submucosal lymphangioma of the maxillary sinus.

Documented cases of lymphangioma involving the sinus are rare. A review of the literature revealed that Watson and McCarthy 1 evaluated 1,363 angiomatous tumors, of which 41 (3%), were lymphangiomas. No case reports were found from the 1940s to the 1970s. Afshin and Sharmin 2 and Tyldesley and Littlewood 3 documented hemangiomas of the maxillary sinus. Price 4 later reported a cystic lymphangioma of the maxillary sinus. The purpose of this paper is to report on a lymphangioma of the maxillary sinus, which is a very rare anatomic location.
Polynomial particular solutions based boundary element analysis of acoustic eigenfrequency problems

The boundary element formulation for acoustic eigenfrequency analysis based on treating the forcing function, in the governing differential equation, as an initially unknown distributed source within the domain is presented. The volume integral due to this distributed source is eliminated by approximating the internal source by global interpolation and polynomial function representations and finding particular solutions for the governing, inhomogeneous equations. The resulting non-symmetric system matrix is solved by using Arnoldi's algorithm, modified to take advantage of the special structure of the substructured boundary element method. The techniques described here are embedded in a computer program GPBEST, and the numerical results are obtained by using this computer code.
A Long-Duration (118-day) Backpacking Trip (2669 km) Normalizes Lipids Without Medication: A Case Study

Abstract Objective.—To evaluate the effects of a long-distance backpacking trip on body composition, weight, blood lipids, and lipoproteins. Methods.—Single-subject (male, aged 49 years) study of an experienced backpacker who hiked 118 days on the Appalachian Trail. Outcome measures that were assessed pre-hike and post-hike included body fat (%) by hydrostatic weighing and skinfold assessment, height and weight, body mass index (BMI), circumference measurements (umbilicus, anterior suprailiac, maximum hip, greater trochanter, minimum waist, umbilicus/anterior suprailiac ratio), and blood pressure (systolic and diastolic at rest and peak). Dietary analyses (total kilocalories, protein, carbohydrate, fat, cholesterol, saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, dietary fiber) were conducted pre-hike, on days 54 through 56, and on days 98 through 100. Blood lipids and lipoproteins (triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein) were measured pre-hike, on day 89, and post-hike....
Computational studies and peptidomimetic design for the human p53–MDM2 complex

The interaction between human p53 and MDM2 is a key event in controlling cell growth. Many studies have suggested that a p53 mimic would be sufficient to inhibit MDM2 to reduce cell growth in cancerous tissue. In order to design a potent p53 mimic, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to examine the binding interface and the effect of mutating key residues in the human p53-MDM2 complex. The Generalized Born surface area (GBSA) method was used to estimate free energies of binding, and a computational alanine-scanning approach was used to calculate the relative effects in the free energy of binding for key mutations. Our calculations determine the free energy of binding for a model p53-MDM2 complex to be -7.4 kcal/mol, which is in very good agreement with the experimentally determined values (-6.6--8.8 kcal/mol). The alanine-scanning results are in good agreement with experimental data and calculations by other groups. We have used the information from our studies of human p53-MDM2 to design a beta-peptide mimic of p53. MD simulations of the mimic bound to MDM2 estimate a free energy of binding of -8.8 kcal/mol. We have also applied alanine scanning to the mimic-MDM2 complex and reveal which mutations are most likely to alter the binding affinity, possibly giving rise to escape mutants. The mimic was compared to nutlins, a new class of inhibitors that block the formation of the p53-MDM2 complex. There are interesting similarities between the nutlins and our mimic, and the differences point to ways that both inhibitors may be improved. Finally, an additional hydrophobic pocket is noted in the interior of MDM2. It may be possible to design new inhibitors to take advantage of that pocket.
Community Foundation Development and Social Capital

The recent worldwide growth of community foundations presents new opportunities for community-based social change. Realizing that promise requires that community foundations sustain the charitable ...
Three-Dimensional Imaging of HIV-1 Virological Synapses Reveals Membrane Architectures Involved in Virus Transmission

HIV transmission efficiency is greatly increased when viruses are transmitted at virological synapses formed between infected and uninfected cells. We have previously shown that virological synapses formed between HIV-pulsed mature dendritic cells (DCs) and uninfected T cells contain interdigitated membrane surfaces, with T cell filopodia extending toward virions sequestered deep inside invaginations formed on the DC membrane. To explore membrane structural changes relevant to HIV transmission across other types of intercellular conjugates, we used a combination of light and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) to determine the three-dimensional (3D) architectures of contact regions between HIV-1-infected CD4+ T cells and either uninfected human CD4+ T cells or human fetal astrocytes. We present evidence that in each case, membrane extensions that originate from the uninfected cells, either as membrane sheets or filopodial bridges, are present and may be involved in HIV transmission from infected to uninfected cells. We show that individual virions are distributed along the length of astrocyte filopodia, suggesting that virus transfer to the astrocytes is mediated, at least in part, by processes originating from the astrocyte itself. Mechanisms that selectively disrupt the polarization and formation of such membrane extensions could thus represent a possible target for reducing viral spread. IMPORTANCE Our findings lead to new insights into unique aspects of HIV transmission in the brain and at T cell-T cell synapses, which are thought to be a predominant mode of rapid HIV transmission early in the infection process.
Cyclization–endoperoxidation cascade reactions of dienes mediated by a pyrylium photoredox catalyst

Triarylpyrylium salts were employed as single electron photooxidants to catalyze a cyclization–endoperoxidation cascade of dienes. The transformation is presumed to proceed via the intermediacy of diene cation radicals. The nature of the diene component was investigated in this context to determine the structural requirements necessary for successful reactivity. Several unique endoperoxide structures were synthesized in yields up to 79%.
Zeros of f(z) = (az-b) n pm (cz-d) n

The zeros of f(z) = (az - b)^{n} \pm (cz - d)^{n} are found to lie on a circle of radius |(ad - cb)/(|a|^{2} - |c|^{2})| with its center at z = (a^{\ast}b - c^{\ast}d)/(|a|^{2} - |c|^{2}) , where a, b, c , and d are complex numbers and n is assumed real. When |a| = |c| the locus of the zeros is a straight line perpendicular to the line joining the points b/a and b/c and intersecting it at z = 0.5(b/a + d/c) . The zeros are found analytically and constructed geometrically.
Gelonin is an unusual DNA glycosylase that removes adenine from single-stranded DNA, normal base pairs and mismatches.

We reported that plant ribosome inactivating proteins (RIP) have a unique DNA glycosylase activity that removes adenine from single-stranded DNA (Nicolas, E., Beggs, J. M., Haltiwanger, B. M., and Taraschi, T. F. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 17216–17220). In this investigation, we further characterized the interaction of the RIP gelonin with single-stranded oligonucleotides and investigated its activity on double-stranded oligonucleotides. At physiological pH, zinc and β-mercaptoethanol stimulated the adenine DNA glycosylase activity of gelonin. Under these conditions, gelonin catalytically removed adenine from single-stranded DNA and, albeit to a lesser extent, from normal base pairs and mismatches in duplex DNA. Also unprecedented was the finding that activity on single-stranded and double-stranded oligonucleotides containing multiple adenines generated unstable products with several abasic sites, producing strand breakage and duplex melting, respectively. The results from competition experiments suggested similar interactions between gelonin's DNA-binding domain and oligonucleotides with and without adenine. A re-examination of the classification of gelonin as a DNA glycosylase/AP lyase using the borohydride trapping assay revealed that gelonin was similar to the DNA glycosylase MutY: both enzymes are monofunctional glycosylases, which are trappable to their DNA substrates. The k catfor the removal of adenine from single-stranded DNA was close to the values observed with multisubstrate DNA glycosylases, suggesting that the activity of RIPs on DNA may be physiologically relevant.
A Non-Classical Marketing Approach For Classical Music Performing Organizations: An Empirical Perspective

In the last two decades, classical music performing art organizations have been eagerly searching for ways to attract younger audiences and enhance attendance at their live concerts. It seems that their classical marketing approaches are not achieving their goals, and a new and more aggressive approach is in order. The study surveyed a sample of 664 adult individuals in the Inland Empire region of Southern California regarding their attendance patterns to, attitudes towards, and preferences for classical music concerts in general and Riverside County Philharmonic performances in particular. Findings were analyzed and recommendations were made for classical music performing organizations to enhance their marketing strategies and tactics.
Adrenal Function in Cockerels1

Corticosterone concentration, as determined by a validated fluorometric method, in adrenal vein effluent plasma of adenohypophysectomized cockerels was partially maintained, at 37% of control. Similar results were obtained from incubation of adrenal slices of both intact and adenohypophysectomized cockerels in vitro. Steroid concentration in adrenal vein plasma decreased sharply in both groups of cockerels following Metopirone treatment. Arginine vasotocin had no adrenocorticotrophic effect upon either group. Corticosterone concentration increased after 1 hr of surgical stress in adrenal plasma of adenohypophysectomized cockerels but decreased after 4 hr of surgical stress. The adrenals of intact cockerels responded positively in both cases. Treatment with dexamethasone phosphate eliminated corticosterone from adrenal vein plasma of both groups of cockerels, but failed to inhibit corticosterone synthesis from endogenous precursors at 3 different dose levels in incubated adrenal slices of intact cockerels....
A BIOPHYSICAL PROCESS-BASED ESTIMATE OF GLOBAL LAND SURFACE EVAPORATION USING SATELLITE AND ANCILLARY DATA

The rich history and many fundamental investigations of the global land surface evaporation can be found in Korzun (1978), and Korzun’s monograph can also provide an appreciation of the care and the effort involved in such investigations. Recent contributions include those by Willmott et al. (1985), Henning (1989), Mintz and Walker (1993) and Oki et al. (1995). These investigations, except for Oki et al. (1995), are based upon long-term average surface meteorological observations and, in some cases, river runoff data.
Modeling the Sensitivity of Field Surveys for Detection of Environmental DNA (eDNA)

The environmental DNA (eDNA) method is the practice of collecting environmental samples and analyzing them for the presence of a genetic marker specific to a target species. Little is known about the sensitivity of the eDNA method. Sensitivity is the probability that the target marker will be detected if it is present in the water body. Methods and tools are needed to assess the sensitivity of sampling protocols, design eDNA surveys, and interpret survey results. In this study, the sensitivity of the eDNA method is modeled as a function of ambient target marker concentration. The model accounts for five steps of sample collection and analysis, including: 1) collection of a filtered water sample from the source; 2) extraction of DNA from the filter and isolation in a purified elution; 3) removal of aliquots from the elution for use in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay; 4) PCR; and 5) genetic sequencing. The model is applicable to any target species. For demonstration purposes, the model is parameterized for bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix) assuming sampling protocols used in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS). Simulation results show that eDNA surveys have a high false negative rate at low concentrations of the genetic marker. This is attributed to processing of water samples and division of the extraction elution in preparation for the PCR assay. Increases in field survey sensitivity can be achieved by increasing sample volume, sample number, and PCR replicates. Increasing sample volume yields the greatest increase in sensitivity. It is recommended that investigators estimate and communicate the sensitivity of eDNA surveys to help facilitate interpretation of eDNA survey results. In the absence of such information, it is difficult to evaluate the results of surveys in which no water samples test positive for the target marker. It is also recommended that invasive species managers articulate concentration-based sensitivity objectives for eDNA surveys. In the absence of such information, it is difficult to design appropriate sampling protocols. The model provides insights into how sampling protocols can be designed or modified to achieve these sensitivity objectives.
Changes in glucose transporters in muscle in response to exercise

The mechanism underlying the increase in glucose uptake in response to muscular contraction is not known, although it has been established that the change does not require insulin. It is our hypoth...
COMPARISON OF DRUG COATED BALLOONS AND DRUG ELUTING STENTS IN IN-STENT RESTENOSIS: A META ANALYSIS

The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the clinical and angiographic variables in patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR) treated with either drug-coated balloon (DCB) or with a drug eluting stent (DES). A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed and EMBASE database for trials
Industrial applications of pulsed terahertz radiation

Terahertz pulsed applications have long been thought to be a physics laboratory tool. In this paper I discuss recent advancements in bring terahertz sensors in real world practical applications in industry.
The road from serfdom: economic storytelling and narratives of India in the rise of neoliberalism

AbstractStudies of neoliberalism’s rise in the second half of the twentieth century have focused on influential US and European thinkers and global economic institutions. They rarely mention India. This article argues that, in the 1950s and early 1960s, Nehru’s India served as both a central laboratory and a discursive field for international economists debating the proper role of the state in economic development. US economists like John Kenneth Galbraith held up India planning as a proxy for the ‘American way’ of capitalism in Asia; neoliberal economists like Milton Friedman and B.R. Shenoy excoriated Nehru’s ‘road to socialism.’ As India’s economy stumbled in the late 1960s, neoliberal economists used Indian foundations to build an empirical and rhetorical case against scientific planning. Their cautionary tales about India’s ‘Permit-License-Raj’ helped to construct and sustain the project of delegitimizing state action and celebrating markets.
Performance Before and After Discontinued Operations

Discontinuing an operation is a major decision for a manager, and requires approval from the board of directors. We provide valuable insights into these strategic choices. First, we document changes in reports of discontinued operations in recent decades. There is a major increase in divestitures after the implementation of new SFAS statements in 1998 and 2002. After the change in reporting requirements, the portion of firms discontinuing operations more than doubles in almost one-third of the industries that we analyze. Second, we use three multinominal logit models to determine the reasons for discontinuing an operation, and to gain insight into the signs and magnitudes of the reports. Three factors have the strongest effect on the decision. The firms that divest are unusually widely diversified, have high financial leverage, and have low values of Tobin’s Q. Undervalued firms are particularly likely to discontinue negative valued operations. Tightening corporate focus and improving performance seem to be very powerful motives for discontinuing an operation. Firms that divest often have also recently made large acquisitions, employ low levels of R&D and advertising, and slow historical sales growth. Finally, we examine operating efficiency after a discontinuation, and find evidence of marginal improvement in performance. Tobin’s Q rises, suggesting that markets approve. Revenue growth is better than for typical firms, and there is some evidence that operating profit margins improve. Overall, our results suggest that firms that discontinue an operation experience below average performance before, and improve marginally after, and markets reward them for these changes.
Surveillance of population exposed to rabies and host animals in Anhui province,2005- 2012

Objective To describe the epidemiological characteristics,post-exposure treatment,animal carrying the rabies virus and immunization.Methods Collecting and analyzing the data from five surveillance sites in Anhui province from 2005 to 2012.Results The number of population exposed to rabies increased year by year with more male than female.Dog was the main attacking animal.The level Ⅱ and Ⅲ were the main exposure level.The 81.8percent of population selected to be deal with the wound and 88.9 percent of population selected post-exposure vaccinations in rabies-clinics,but only 3.2 percent of population received passive immunization.Dogs and cats had a low rate of immunization.Rabies virus positive rate in dogs was increasing year by year since 2008.Conclusion Treatment correctly of the wound and improving the rate of post-exposure vaccination,especially passive immunization after the Ⅲ exposure.Strengthen the management of dogs and reduce the rabies exposure.
Techniques to Decipher Molecular Diversity by Phage Display

Combinatorial phage display technology may be applied to decipher the molecular diversity of peptide binding specificity to isolated proteins, purified antibodies, cell surfaces, intracellular/cyto-domains, and blood vessels in vivo. The application of such a strategy ranges from identifying receptor-ligand pairs and antigen binding sites to understanding the progression of diseases by their differential expression patterns and developing therapeutic targeting strategies. Different strategies can be used to isolate peptides from diverse libraries displayed on the surface of bacteriophage by exposing the library to a target molecule or organ, washing away nonbinding phage, eluting and amplifying the bound phage for multiple round use, and then analyzing the peptide sequences of the enriched phage. The following methods first outline the construction of a phage library and then delineate various in vitro and in vivo biopanning applications to probe isolated integrins, purified antibodies, cell surface molecules, and vascular endothelial cells.
Airport security and screening satisfaction: A case study of U.S.

The study analyzes the perception of airport safety by travelers, and how it is related to satisfaction with passenger screening experiences and the perception of public transit safety. It uses the Omnibus Household Survey data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics and estimates a structural equations model. It finds a positive relationship between Screening Satisfaction and Screening Safety and a positive relationship between the perception of Public Transit Safety and Screening Safety. A lack of experience with using public transit is also found to contribute to travelers perceiving lower levels of Screening Safety at airports, and females compared to males perceive a lower level of Screening Safety. Finally, the study finds causality from a traveler’s satisfaction with the screening process to safety perception.
Receptors for Interleukin-3 (IL-3) and Growth Hormone Mediate an IL-6-Type Transcriptional Induction in the Presence of JAK2 or STAT3

To determine the specificity of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) protein activation by box 3 motif-deficient hematopoietin receptors, expression vectors encoding the receptors for growth hormone, interleukin-3 (IL-3), and IL-4 were transiently transfected into COS-1 cells, together with expression vectors for Janus kinases (JAKs) and STAT proteins. Each receptor mediated a dose-dependent activation of STAT1 and STAT3, and for IL-3R and GHR this process was enhanced by JAK2. The data suggest that a box 3 motif in the cytoplasmic domain of the signal-transducing receptor subunit was not absolutely required for linking the receptor to the JAK/STAT pathway. Transfection of the receptors, in combination with STAT3, into HepG2 cells reconstituted a cytokine-dependent stimulation of gene transcription through IL-6 response elements, providing evidence for a functional role of STAT3 in controlling gene expression.
The Ties that Bind: Do Group Associations among Legislators Matter for Political Parties?

Despite strong political party unity found in new democracies, many of the party systems in post-Communist Central and Eastern Europe are ‘quasi-institutionalized’ at best. If political parties are comparatively weak, what labels or identities bind legislators together, and to what extent do these strengthen or undermine party loyalty? Using semi-structured interviews with Polish politicians, the East European Parliamentarian and Candidate Data (EAST PaC), the novel Members of Parliament Affiliations Data (MPAD) for Poland, and roll-call votes (1997–2007), I show that loyalty among MPs sharing nonpartisan group identities or characteristics is important to the foundation of party labels, and has a significant impact on party loyalty.
Semantic Filtering for Social Data

More than a billion users on the Web are on social networks sharing and consuming short and real-time updates. Consumers of social data face information overload. Although information filtering can help, challenges that are specific to the short-text and real-time nature of social networks must be addressed. Knowledge bases -- particularly those derived from crowd-sourced platforms such as Wikipedia -- can be harnessed for building an intelligent and effective information-filtering system for social networks.
GEOMETRICAL ASPECTS OF ABSTRACT SPACES

Two basic ideas that we learn in geometry are those of length of a line segment and angle between lines. We have already seen how to extend these ideas to the standard vector spaces. The objective of this chapter is to extend these powerful ideas to general linear spaces. A surprising number of concepts and techniques that we learned in a standard setting can be carried over, almost word for word, to more general vector spaces. Once this is accomplished, we will be able to use our geometrical intuition in entirely new ways. For example, we will be able to have notions of size (length) and perpendicularity for nonstandard vectors such as functions in a function space. We will be able to give a sensible meaning to the size of the error incurred in solving a linear system with finite-precision arithmetic. We shall see that there are many more applications of this abstraction.
Oral, frozen fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) capsules for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been shown to be safe and effective in treating refractory or relapsing C. difficile infection (CDI), but its use has been limited by practical barriers. We recently reported a small preliminary feasibility study using orally administered frozen fecal capsules. Following these early results, we now report our clinical experience in a large cohort with structured follow-up. We prospectively followed a cohort of patients with recurrent or refractory CDI who were treated with frozen, encapsulated FMT at our institution. The primary endpoint was defined as clinical resolution whilst off antibiotics for CDI at 8 weeks after last capsule ingestion. Safety was defined as any FMT-related adverse event grade 2 or above. Overall, 180 patients aged 7–95 years with a minimal follow-up of 8 weeks were included in the analysis. CDI resolved in 82 % of patients after a single treatment, rising to a 91 % cure rate with two treatments. Three adverse events Grade 2 or above, deemed related or possibly related to FMT, were observed. We confirm the effectiveness and safety of oral administration of frozen encapsulated fecal material, prepared from unrelated donors, in treating recurrent CDI. Randomized studies and FMT registries are still needed to ascertain long-term safety.
Environmental chemicals and preterm birth: Biological mechanisms and the state of the science.

Preterm birth is a significant worldwide health problem of uncertain origins. The extant body of literature examining environmental contaminant exposures in relation to preterm birth is extensive but results remain ambiguous for most organic pollutants, metals and metalloids, and air pollutants. In the present review, we examine recent epidemiologic studies investigating these associations and identify advances and the state of the science. Additionally, we highlight biological mechanisms of action in the pathway between chemical exposures and preterm birth, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and endocrine disruption, that deserve more attention in this context. Important advances have been made in the study of the environment and preterm birth, particularly in regard to exposure assessment methods, exploration of effect modification by co-morbidities and exposures, and in identification of windows of vulnerability during gestation. There is strong evidence for an association between maternal exposure to some persistent pesticides, lead, and fine particulate matter, but data on other contaminants is sparse and only suggestive trends can be noted. Beyond replicating current findings, further work must be done to improve understanding of mechanisms underlying the associations observed between environmental chemical exposures and preterm birth. By examining windows of vulnerability, disaggregating preterm birth by phenotypes, and measuring biomarkers of mechanistic pathways in these epidemiologic studies, we can improve our ability to detect associations with exposure, provide additional evidence for causality in an observational setting, and identify opportunities for intervention.
Elevator-Like Mechanism of Transport in the EIIC Glucose Superfamily of Transporters

The phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS) is crucial for sugar uptake in bacteria. It has a membrane embedded component, EIIC, that translocates a sugar from the extracellular to the intracellular side of the cell. Before the sugar is released into the cytosol, a cytosolic EIIB protein binds to EIIC and transfers a phosphate group to the incoming sugar that prevents the sugar from escaping the cell and at the same time primes the sugar for entering metabolic cycles. Little is known concerning how EIICs recognize and transport carbohydrates or how an EIIC coordinates with EIIB to achieve phosphate transfer. Crystal structures of a maltose transporter bcMalT[1] and a N-diacetylchitobiose transporter bcChbC[2] were solved recently, and the two structures appear to be in different states of a transport cycle: bcMalT in an outward facing state and bcChbC in an inward facing state. The bcChbC structure provides a template to build a model of bcMalT in an inward facing state, and vise versa. To examine the models, we designed pairs of cysteine residues that are distant in the crystal structures but are predicted to move close to each other in the alternate conformation. Several pairs of cysteines in in both bcMalT and bcChbC can be crosslinked by micromolar concentrations of mercury, indicating that these residues can move close to each other. We then solved the structure of the T280C/E54C bcMalT double cysteine mutant in the crosslinked state to 3.6 A resolution, and the structure is indeed in an inward-facing conformation. The new structure illustrates the large-scale movement of a structurally conserved domain in bcMalT, and shows that EIIC employs an elevator-like mechanism for substrate translocation. Further analyses suggest how the inward facing conformation could interact with an EIIB protein to achieve phosphate transfer. The structures also provide a solid starting point for investigating the dynamics of the EIIC protein using spectroscopic approaches.Reference[1]. Mccoy JG, Ren Z, Stanevich V, et al. The Structure of a Sugar Transporter of the Glucose EIIC Superfamily Provides Insight into the Elevator Mechanism of Membrane Transport. Structure. 2016;24(6):956-64.[2]. Cao Y, Jin X, Levin EJ, et al. Crystal structure of a phosphorylation-coupled saccharide transporter. Nature. 2011;473(7345):50-4.
Frequency selective MEMS microphone based on a bioinspired spiral-shaped acoustic resonator

Acoustic sensors that can detect specific sounds in everyday environments are of growing interest. Our approach to enable a low-power signal recognition system is to create a frequency-selective microphone that is tuned to match a frequency of interest. We present a frequency-selective MEMS microphone achieved by utilizing spiral-shaped acoustic resonators inspired by the spiral-shaped structures found in the human ear. The resonators were fabricated by 3D-printing and easily integrated with our test circuit board. Here, we demonstrate simulation results investigating the effect of output aperture locations, and experimental results achieving a 2.7× increase in sensitivity at the 430 Hz resonance frequency.
The Number of Refusals for Donor Organ Quality Does Not Impact Heart Transplant Outcomes in Children

Background Waitlist mortality is more than 12% for pediatric heart transplantation, with strikingly high rates of organ refusal, many of which are due to donor quality. However, some centers use these organs despite refusals by other centers for donor quality. We hypothesize that the number of refusals for donor quality (RDQ) does not affect pediatric heart transplantation outcomes. Methods Pediatric heart transplants from 2000 to 2015 were identified using the United Network for Organ Sharing database and were matched against the potential transplant recipients dataset with donor refusal codes. Refusals for donor quality were counted for each organ. The population was divided into two groups: RDQ-low (0 to 3 RDQs, n = 3,404) and RDQ-high (>3 RDQs, n = 1,585). Posttransplant outcomes of both cohorts were analyzed. Results Of 4,989 pediatric heart transplants, 75% (n = 3,770) had 1 or more RDQ (median 3 RDQ; interquartile range, 1 to 7). The RDQ-lower group (0 to 3 RDQs) and the RDQ-higher group (>3 RDQ) had similar posttransplant survival ( p = 0.41) and freedom from retransplantation ( p = 0.37). Both groups had similar posttransplant survival even for high-risk recipient cohorts: adolescents ( p = 0.06), congenital heart disease ( p = 0.87), retransplantation ( p = 0.47), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ( p = 0.61), mechanical ventilation ( p = 0.24), and poor renal function at transplant ( p = 0.46). In addition, recipient subgroups who had donors with increasing number of RDQ (>6, >9, >12, and >15 RDQ) also had similar posttransplant survival compared with the RDQ-low group ( p = 0.63, p = 0.62, p = 0.92, and p = 0.50, respectively). Conclusions The outcome of pediatric heart transplantation is not affected by the number of RDQ, even for high-risk recipients. The use and interpretation of donor quality refusal code should be considered carefully while selecting or refusing donors in this era of supply and demand mismatch.
An empirical investigation of factors influencing corporate tax-motivated income shifting

There is a growing literature attempting to understand how firms react to tax incentives. A few papers examine how firms plan for anticipated statutory income tax rate reductions. Collectively this research investigates what types of income firms shift across time to reduce their tax payments. However prior research investigating which firms shift income across time has generated incomplete and inconsistent findings. This dissertation identifies which types of firms are more likely to engage in tax-motivated shifting. It addresses the inconsistent findings of prior research and it examines the extent to which firms that shift income consider the costs their shifting imposes on their customers. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 reduced corporate tax rates over two tax years. Firms should have deferred income during the rate reduction phase-in period only if the tax benefits of deferral exceeded the cost of reducing financial accounting income plus the costs the shifting firm imposed on its customers. The hypotheses tested include: (1) firms facing greater tax rate reductions defer more income than firms facing smaller tax rate reductions; (2) larger firms defer relatively more income than smaller firms because the latter are less sophisticated tax planners; (3) sellers of nondurable goods defer more gross profit than sellers of durable goods because the latter impose higher tax costs on their customers; and (4) firms with higher market power shift more gross profit than firms with lower market power because the former can force their customers to absorb some of the costs of shifting income. There is no evidence that firms facing larger tax rate decreases defer more income than firms facing lower tax rate decreases. In addition this research shows that larger firms defer relatively less income than smaller firms. Also this study finds evidence that sellers of nondurable goods defer more gross profit than sellers of durable goods. This result is consistent with shifting firms considering the tax position of their customers when deciding whether to engage in tax-motivated income shifting. Finally there is some evidence that firms with relatively higher market power shift more income than firms with less market power.
Return to Play After Shoulder Stabilization

Glenohumeral instability makes up the majority of serious shoulder injuries in football players. These injuries most frequently occur during the competitive season and are especially common in goalkeepers. Young athletes are at an increased risk of recurrent dislocation and may be surgically managed to reduce the rate of instability. Traditional open as well as arthroscopic Bankart repairs have excellent results with excellent rate of return to play. In the presence of significant glenoid bone loss, bone block procedures such as the Latarjet technique have been successfully utilized. Unlike other sport activities which may involve more direct physical contact and overhead activities (rugby, American football), outfield football players can often return to unrestricted play much sooner at 12 weeks. The clinician should consider the pathologic changes, position-specific demands, and the athlete’s motivation when counseling the player about the most appropriate management options.
Robot-assisted laparoscopic common sheath ureteral reimplantation in duplex ureters: LUAA technique tips for optimal outcomes

Summary Objective To describe surgical tips for robot-assisted laparoscopic (RAL) common sheath ureteral reimplantation using the previously reported LUAA technique in patients with duplex renal collecting systems, and to assess the efficacy of this technique by reviewing operative outcomes in a single-institution case series. Methods We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of patients with duplicated collecting systems and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) who underwent RAL extravesical common sheath ureteral reimplantation at a single medical center from 2010 to 2017. We included all duplex ureters requiring antireflux surgery. A standardized technique (LUAA) was used in each case, with additional tips used as described herein: a) careful common sheath ureteral mobilization, b) wide detrusorotomy with adequate detrusor flap elevation from the mucosa, and c) appropriate tension during tunnel detrusorraphy. Patient demographics, perioperative data, and follow-up imaging were reviewed. Radiographic resolution was defined as absence of VUR on voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) performed 4 months postoperatively. Only patients undergoing ureteral reimplantation for VUR were included. Those with ureterovesical junction obstruction were excluded. Results A total of 13 patients underwent RAL common sheath ureteral reimplantation, with three bilateral cases for a total of 16 duplicated ureters reimplanted. Mean age at surgery was 3.64 ± 1.04 years. Mean operative time was 125.1 ± 30.73 min in unilateral cases and 200 ± 51.18 in bilateral cases. Complete resolution of VUR was achieved in 14 of 16 ureters (87.50%). There were no high-grade complications (III V on the Clavien-Dindo scale). There were two grade II complications in our cohort, with a mean follow-up of 17.18 ± 18.41 months. Conclusions We report a radiographic success rate of 87.50% for RAL common sheath ureteral reimplantation in children with duplicated ureters, using the LUAA technique with several additional technical considerations. In our experience, careful mobilization of the ureter to preserve vascularity, a wide detrusorotomy to adequately elevate the detrusor flaps, and appropriate tension during detrusorraphy are essential components to optimize outcomes and prevent complications.
An Info-Centric Trajectory Planner for Unmanned Ground Vehicles

We present a pseudospectral (PS) optimal control framework for autonomous trajectory planning and control of an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) with real-time information updates. The algorithm is introduced and implemented on a collection of motion planning scenarios with varying levels of information. The UGV mission is to traverse from an initial start point and reach the target point in minimum time, with maximum robustness, while avoiding both static and dynamic obstacles. This is achieved by computing the control solution that solves the initial planning problem by minimizing a cost function while satisfying dynamical and environmental constraints based on the initial global knowledge of the area. To overcome the problem of incomplete global knowledge and a dynamic environment, the UGV uses its sensors to map the locally detected changes in the environment and continuously updates its global map. At each information update, the optimal control is recomputed and implemented. Simulation results illustrate the performance of the planner under varying levels of information.
Opioid peptides as modulators of cyclic AMP levels.

One of the most clearly defined biochemical actions of the opiates is the receptor mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase. Collier and Roy (1974) showed that cAMP accumulation in rat brain homogenates is inhibited by opiates, that the inhibition is blocked by the specific inhibitor, naloxone, and that the potencies of a series of opiate agonists as blockers of cAMP formation are similar to their potencies as analgesic agents. Soon thereafter, Sharma, et al, (1975a) found that the adenylate cyclase of neuroblastoma X glioma cell (NG108-15) membranes is in hibited by opiates in a similar, receptor mediated, fashion. The neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cell NG108-15 homogenates provide an easily accessible source of opiate receptors (KLEE and NIRENBERG, 197 4) which remain coupled to adenylate cyclase more tenuously than those in brain homogenates seem to be. The NG108-15 system is therefore more easily reproducible (VAN INWAGEN, et al, 1975). In a parallel series of studies, Traber, et al, (1975a), using the same neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cell line, have also shown that opiates decrease cellular cAMP levels.
Toward a Gendered Social Bond/Male Peer Support Theory of University Woman Abuse

Despite many calls for integrated woman abuse theories, few have made any such attempts. Taking as a starting point that gender blind and conservative theories may still have some value, Hirschi's social bond theory is examined with insights from feminist male peer support theory and other critical perspectives. The goal is not a formal new theory but rather a heuristic designed to show the value of adding feminist insight to gender blind theory. Hirschi is turned upside down here with an argument that attachment and involvement with conven- tional peers may in fact promulgate violence against women on college campuses when it is noted that conventional institutions are patriarchal and part of a rape culture. University groups (social fraternities, sports teams, etc.) may enforce adherence through homophobia and group pressure, while promoting a hypermasculine culture that encourages men to use coercion and force to increase their count of sexual encounters.
Variables in mathematics education

This paper suggests that consistently referring to variables as placeholders is an effective countermeasure for addressing a number of the difficulties students' encounter in learning mathematics. The suggestion is supported by examples discussing ways in which variables are used to express unknown quantities, define functions and express other universal statements, and serve as generic elements in mathematical discourse. In addition, making greater use of the term "dummy variable" and phrasing statements both with and without variables may help students avoid mistakes that result from misinterpreting the scope of a bound variable.