cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monozygotic twin delivery following reduction from quadramniotic‐dichorionic gestation established after ICSI and embryo transfer: Case report

We report the delivery of healthy monozygous (MZ) twins in a 31 year-old nulligravida following gonadotrophin ovulation induction, ICSI, assisted hatching and fresh embryo transfer. Although a sonogram on day 35 confirmed that two of four transferred embryos had implanted, a second transvaginal sonogram 1 week later showed each gestational sac had two conceptuses-all four were associated with distinct amniotic compartments. Cardiac activity was observed in all four embryos. At 12 weeks and 5 days gestation, chorionic villus sampling was performed on fetuses 1 and 2 which were euploid for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y via fluorescence in-situ hybridization analysis. Subsequent KCl injection into sacs 3 and 4 resulted in asystole for these fetuses, while cardiac activity in sacs 1 and 2 remained unchanged after reduction. A twin vaginal delivery occurred at 36 weeks gestation, resulting in the birth of two male infants and one placenta. This case represents the first known report of human quadruplet pregnancy consisting of two MZ twin sets conceived by assisted reproductive techniques. Our report reviews proposed mechanisms for explaining twinning, with special emphasis on zona pellucida micromanipulation and subsequent MZ twin induction.
Effects of ouabain on the left ventricular response to atrial pacing in patients with angina pectoris

Abstract The hemodynamic response of the left ventricle to rapid atrial pacing was evaluated in 11 patients with angiographically proved coronary arterial disease. A depression in the pumping performance of the left ventricle (defined here as a rise in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure accompanied by a fall in stroke work) was found in 2 of 10 patients during pacing and in 3 of 6 patients 1 minute after pacing. In the control state, ouabain increased the performance of the left ventricle as a muscle, as evidenced by a rise in dp/dt and a fall in end-diastolic pressure in 7 of 11 patients, but the glycoside did not affect significantly the pumping performance of the left ventricle. During pacing ouabain did not alter significantly any of the hemodynamic indexes measured. Among the 9 patients who experienced angina with pacing, the heart rate and the left ventricular pressurerate product at which pain occurred were not changed by the administration of ouabain. Thus, atrial pacing causes a decrease in left ventricular performance in some but not all patients with coronary arterial disease, and although ouabain improves some indexes of left ventricular function during the control state, the drug does not prevent or delay the onset of angina.
Anterior Inferotemporal Neurons of Monkeys Engaged in Object Recognition Can be Highly Sensitive to Object Retinal Position

Visual object recognition is computationally difficult because changes in an object's position, distance, pose, or setting may cause it to produce a different retinal image on each encounter. To ro...
A transient cell-shielding method for viable MSC delivery within hydrophobic scaffolds polymerized in situ.

Cell-based therapies have emerged as promising approaches for regenerative medicine. Hydrophobic poly(ester urethane)s offer the advantages of robust mechanical properties, cell attachment without the use of peptides, and controlled degradation by oxidative and hydrolytic mechanisms. However, the application of injectable hydrophobic polymers to cell delivery is limited by the challenges of protecting cells from reaction products and creating a macroporous architecture post-cure. We designed injectable carriers for cell delivery derived from reactive, hydrophobic polyisocyanate and polyester triol precursors. To overcome cell death caused by reaction products from in situ polymerization, we encapsulated bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) in fastdegrading, oxidized alginate beads prior to mixing with the hydrophobic precursors. Cells survived the polymerization at >70% viability, and rapid dissolution of oxidized alginate beads after the scaffold cured created interconnected macropores that facilitated cellular adhesion to the scaffold in vitro. Applying this injectable system to deliver BMSCs to rat excisional skin wounds showed that the scaffolds supported survival of transplanted cells and infiltration of host cells, which improved new tissue formation compared to both implanted, pre-formed scaffolds seeded with cells and acellular controls. Our design is the first to enable injectable delivery of settable, hydrophobic scaffolds where cell encapsulation provides a mechanism for both temporary cytoprotection during polymerization and rapid formation of macropores post-polymerization. This simple approach provides potential advantages for cell delivery relative to hydrogel technologies, which have weaker mechanical properties and require incorporation of peptides to achieve cell adhesion and degradability.
Comparison of Different Agonists and Antagonists of Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone for Receptor-Binding Ability to Rat Pituitary and Human Breast Cancer Membranes*

A sensitive multipoint assay capable of measuring receptors for LHRH and its analogs using 5–10 μg membrane protein/incubation tube was used to determine binding characteristics of different agonists and antagonists of LHRH in membranes of male rat pituitary and human breast cancer specimens. This method also permitted Scatchard analysis of the receptor binding in pellet fractions of human breast cancer biopsies remaining from estrogen and progesterone receptor assays. The potent agonist [D-Trp6]LHRH bound to at least two classes of receptor sites, one with high affinity and one with low affinity in both rat pituitary and human breast cancer samples. The analysis of displacement curves of LHRH by agonists and antagonists showed that LHRH also bound to two classes of receptor sites in pituitary and one receptor site with lower affinity in human breast cancer membranes. Among the antagonists synthesized in our laboratory, SB-030, SB-077, SB-088, and SB-090 appeared to be the most potent in displacing labele...
Effects of Antidiabetic and Antihyperlipidemic Agents on C-Reactive Protein

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Central to type 2 DM is insulin resistance, a proinflammatory, hypercoagulable state that predisposes patients to develop cardiovascular disease and that is associated with risk factors for atherosclerosis including dyslipidemia, hypertension, inflammation, and altered hemostasis. Atherosclerosis is recognized as a chronic inflammatory disease of the arteries. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase response protein that is considered both a marker of inflammation and a predictor of cardiovascular events including myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and sudden cardiac death. Evidence indicates that CRP has a direct proatherogenic effect through up-regulation of angiotensin II type 1 receptors and through the stimulation of other proinflammatory factors. Patients with type 2 DM tend to have higher CRP concentrations than do those without it, suggesting an increased role of inflammation in the accelerated atherosclerosis seen in these patients. Reducing CRP concentrations through lifestyle changes or pharmacotherapeutics could have clinical benefit; long-term studies are needed to determine whether reductions in CRP concentrations translate into improved cardiovascular outcomes. Because glucose and lipid levels as well as CRP concentrations are often elevated in patients with type 2 DM, an agent that positively affects multiple cardiovascular risk factors would be most beneficial. This article reviews available data on antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic agents that reduce CRP concentrations in addition to their primary effect of lowering glucose or lipid levels.
Identification of Small-Molecule Inhibitors against Meso -2, 6-Diaminopimelate Dehydrogenase from Porphyromonas gingivalis

Species-specific antimicrobial therapy has the potential to combat the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance and alteration of the human microbiome. We therefore set out to demonstrate the beginning of a pathogen-selective drug discovery method using the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis as a model. Through our knowledge of metabolic networks and essential genes we identified a “druggable” essential target, meso-diaminopimelate dehydrogenase, which is found in a limited number of species. We adopted a high-throughput virtual screen method on the ZINC chemical library to select a group of potential small-molecule inhibitors. Meso-diaminopimelate dehydrogenase from P. gingivalis was first expressed and purified in Escherichia coli then characterized for enzymatic inhibitor screening studies. Several inhibitors with similar structural scaffolds containing a sulfonamide core and aromatic substituents showed dose-dependent inhibition. These compounds were further assayed showing reasonable whole-cell activity and the inhibition mechanism was determined. We conclude that the establishment of this target and screening strategy provides a model for the future development of new antimicrobials.
From mental power to muscle power—gaining strength by using the mind

The purposes of this project were to determine mental training-induced strength gains (without performing physical exercises) in the little finger abductor as well as in the elbow flexor muscles, which are frequently used during daily living, and to quantify cortical signals that mediate maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) of the two muscle groups. Thirty young, healthy volunteers participated in the study. The first group (N = 8) was trained to perform "mental contractions" of little finger abduction (ABD); the second group (N = 8) performed mental contractions of elbow (ELB) flexion; and the third group (N = 8) was not trained but participated in all measurements and served as a control group. Finally, six volunteers performed training of physical maximal finger abductions. Training lasted for 12 weeks (15 min per day, 5 days per week). At the end of training, we found that the ABD group had increased their finger abduction strength by 35% (P < 0.005) and the ELB group augmented their elbow flexion strength by 13.5% (P < 0.001). The physical training group increased the finger abduction strength by 53% (P < 0.01). The control group showed no significant changes in strength for either finger abduction or elbow flexion tasks. The improvement in muscle strength for trained groups was accompanied by significant increases in electroencephalogram-derived cortical potential, a measure previously shown to be directly related to control of voluntary muscle contractions. We conclude that the mental training employed by this study enhances the cortical output signal, which drives the muscles to a higher activation level and increases strength.
Lower Class Negro Mothers' Aspirations for their Children

The data givern in this paper support thle lhypothesis that it is possil)le to distinguisli different subgroups along the Neg, ro lo\ver class continluumi. Given the importanice of the Negro motlher in the lower class Negro family, hel- values and aspirations for lher children are very influenitial for her childreni's future. Signiificant differenices were found in the responses of "lowNr status" and "high statuis" lower class motlhers to questions concernilng
Anticonvulsants in Neuropsychiatry

The effects that antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have on the neural membrane and on neurotransmitter receptors give these agents invaluable properties for treatment of a broad variety of neuropsychiatric disorders in addition to seizures and neuropathic pain [17]. Accordingly, AEDs should be more accurately considered as neuromodulatory drugs than strictly as anticonvulsants.
UV-Vis Absorbance of Selenium and of Tellurium Vapor at 1133 K

The optical density of the vapor over both pure selenium and of pure tellurium at 1133 K and between 230 and 600 nm was measured as a function of the temperature of liquid samples between the melting point and about 800 K. Beer’s law constants are tabulated at 18 wavelengths between 232.6 and 600 nm, including six between 232.6 and 247.4 nm where SeTe(g) absorbance peaks have been reported. These data are used in a subsequent study of Se-Te liquids.
Pitfall of laparoscopic colectomy: An unrecognized synchronous cancer

This case report describes near-obstructing sigmoid colon cancer resected using the laparoscopic-assisted technique. An unrecognized, synchronous cecal cancer caused an early postoperative bowel obstruction. The authors review the incidence of synchronous colon lesions and the need for preoperative and intraoperative evaluation of the entire colon, especially with the use of the laparoscopic technique.
Chemically Reversible Reactions of Hydrogen Sulfide with Metal Phthalocyanines

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important signaling molecule that exerts action on various bioinorganic targets. Despite this importance, few studies have investigated the differential reactivity of the physiologically relevant H2S and HS– protonation states with metal complexes. Here we report the distinct reactivity of H2S and HS– with zinc(II) and cobalt(II) phthalocyanine (Pc) complexes and highlight the chemical reversibility and cyclability of each metal. ZnPc reacts with HS–, but not H2S, to generate [ZnPc-SH]−, which can be converted back to ZnPc by protonation. CoPc reacts with HS–, but not H2S, to form [CoIPc]−, which can be reoxidized to CoPc by air. Taken together, these results demonstrate the chemically reversible reaction of HS– with metal phthalocyanine complexes and highlight the importance of H2S protonation state in understanding the reactivity profile of H2S with biologically relevant metal scaffolds.
Messy Problem-Exploring through Video in First-Year Writing: Assessing What Counts

In this article, we argue that writing instructors might support students in messy problem-exploring through multimodal composition assignments like video composition, and in particular, through careful attention to assessment practices. Through reflective analysis of one teacher's experiences with video composition in first-year writing, we suggest that ongoing formative reflection might be useful for prompting and extending problem-exploring within digital composition. We reflect specifically on Angie's interpretations of her students’ experiences with problem-exploring through video, we narrate how we came to see the limitations of product-focused assessment, and we offer a revised model of ongoing formative assessment.
Epidemic analysis of hand- foot- mouth disease in Dunhua city 2009- 2012

Objective To study epidemiological trends of hand- foot- mouth disease( HFMD) in Dunhua from 2009 to 2012,provide a reliable basis of formulating measures for preventing HFMD. Methods According to the annual report of epidemic situation for infection disease,the epidemiologic characteristics and distribution of time,regional and population of HFMD from 2009- 2012 were analyzed. Results A total of 1 431 cases with HFMD were found from 2009 to 2012 in Dunhua. The incidence of HFMD was 74. 25 /100 000,one case died. There were HFMD reports both in city and village,and the percentage of village report was 60. 38%. Disease mainly concentrated in June and September,the cases displayed unimodal distribution with the peak in July. There were 823 male cases and 608 female cases,concentrated in children under 6 years old,occupying for 94. 76% 。The highest risk population were scattered and preschool children,occupying for 94. 48%. Conclusion Outbreak of hand- foot- mouth disease in Dunhua city is in a high incidence of level. Severe cases of HEV71 virus infection. It's suggested to establish a linkage mechanism of health,education and other departments,pay close attention to key areas( nurseries and schools) and key population. The government should take comprehensive epidemiological prevention and control measures that can effectively reduce the HFMD.
Online Calibration of Polytomous Items Under the Generalized Partial Credit Model.

Online calibration is a technology-enhanced architecture for item calibration in computerized adaptive tests (CATs). Many CATs are administered continuously over a long term and rely on large item banks. To ensure test validity, these item banks need to be frequently replenished with new items, and these new items need to be pretested before being used operationally. Online calibration dynamically embeds pretest items in operational tests and calibrates their parameters as response data are gradually obtained through the continuous test administration. This study extends existing formulas, procedures, and algorithms for dichotomous item response theory models to the generalized partial credit model, a popular model for items scored in more than two categories. A simulation study was conducted to investigate the developed algorithms and procedures under a variety of conditions, including two estimation algorithms, three pretest item selection methods, three seeding locations, two numbers of score categorie...
Glutamate transport and not cellular content modulates paracellular permeability in LLC-PK1-F+ cells

Uptake of glutamate modulates two cellular processes: 1) glutamine flux through the cellular glutaminase (GA) and 2) paracellular permeability (PP). Because both responses are the result of a decreased glutamate uptake, the present study was designed to determine whether the transport step or resulting fall in cellular glutamate modulates PP. To do so, advantage was taken of the ability of D-glutamate to competitively displace the natural L-isomer yet maintain transporter activity at or even above that normally occurring with L-glutamate. As a consequence cellular L-glutamate would fall while transporter fluxes remained. Accordingly, LLC-PK1-F+ cells were grown to confluent monolayers on porous supports in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing 50 microM L-glutamate and 1.8 mM L-glutamine with and without 1 mM D-glutamate. After a 90-min exposure to D-glutamate monolayer, L-glutamate content had fallen 38%. D-Glutamate was transported in place of the L-isomer as evidenced by the accumulation of L-glutamate in the media and uptake of the D-isomer. Although GA activation occurs as the result of the fall in cellular L-glutamate, PP did not increase; in fact, it slightly decreased as evidenced by an increased electrical resistance (from 180 +/- 12 to 210 +/- 10 omega x cm2, P < 0.02) and reduction in L-[(14)C]glucose permeability (2.72 +/- 0.75 to 2.28 +/- 0.37%, P = 0.10). Thus glutamate transporter activity and associated ionic fluxes rather than the fall in cellular glutamate and GA activation appear to play the critical role in modulating PP.
Early experience with the Penumbra SMART coil in the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms: Safety and efficacy.

BackgroundPenumbra SMART coils differ from traditional microcoils used for endovascular coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) in that they (1) become progressively softer from their dis...
A Review of Condensation Frosting

abstractThe accretion of ice and frost on various infrastructure is ubiquitous in cold and humid environments, causing economic losses amounting to billions of dollars every year worldwide. The past couple of decades have seen unprecedented advances in the fields of surface chemistry and micro/nanofabrication, enabling the development of hydrophobic and superhydrophobic surfaces that promote facile deicing and/or passive anti-icing. However, in the light of new discoveries regarding the incipient stages of frost formation, it is becoming increasingly clear that the problems of icing and frosting are not one and the same. Thus, passive anti-icing strategies do not exhibit anti-frosting behavior, and the development of passive anti-frosting surfaces remains an unsolved problem. In this review, we provide a critical discussion of condensation frosting and show how the emerging new phenomena of frost halos, interdroplet ice bridges, and dry zones that comprise the incipient stages of frosting set it apart fro...
Review: In adults with asthma, vitamin D3 reduces rate of severe exacerbation but does not improve symptoms

Source Citation Martineau AR, Cates CJ, Urashima M, et al. Vitamin D for the management of asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;9:CD011511. 27595415
CRT-100.37 Clinical and Angiographic Characteristics as Well as In-Hospital Outcomes of Patients With Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Transferred From Non-PCI Capable Facility

Patients with ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction who were transferred from non-PCI capable facility tend to have worse clinical outcomes compared to those who directly arrived at PCI capable facility from the field. Patients with non-ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) may
The influence of childhood polyvictimization on disordered eating symptoms in emerging adulthood.

Children who endure multiple victimization experiences, or "polyvictims," are vulnerable to maladaptive outcomes. Yet, little research exists evaluating the relationship between childhood polyvictimization and disordered eating symptoms (DES) in emerging adulthood. The current study examines the relationship between childhood polyvictimization and DES in emerging adults. Data were collected from 288 participants across two universities using online self-report measures. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed a significant positive relationship between number of childhood victimization experiences and DES in young adulthood (s=0.14; p=0.016). Female participants were more likely to demonstrate DES (s=0.14; p=0.008). Further, high levels of emotion dysregulation during young adulthood were associated with more DES (s=0.33; p<0.001). Findings suggest that exposure to victimization experiences in childhood increases individuals' risk for exhibiting DES in young adulthood. Results also highlight the strong relationship between individuals' emotion regulation abilities and the presence of DES. Findings align with the theory that children who have endured high levels of victimization often feel overwhelmed by their emotions and circumstances, demonstrate emotion regulation difficulties, and may rely on maladaptive coping strategies, including disordered eating, to manage adversities. Study results emphasize the importance of considering victimization history when working with emerging adults displaying disordered eating symptomatology.
Zero Tolerance for Sexual Harassment in Cardiology: Moving From #MeToo to #MeNeither

![Figure][1] ![Figure][1] The “#MeToo” movement has galvanized the nation, and the world for that matter, around the breadth and scope of sexual harassment and violence, particularly in the workplace. Countless victims are speaking up, finding strength, and hopefully healing by
The Effect of Weather Systems in Hazmat Transportation Modeling

The existence of weather systems has two major effects on modeling a hazmat transportation system. First, it may change the accident probabilities and the traveling parameters (e.g., travel speed); and second, it may affect the modeling of the consequences of an accident (e.g., the dispersion of pollutants). Therefore, weather systems can dynamically affect the key parameters to be considered in hazmat route analysis and selection: accident probability, risk, equity and cost. This chapter reviews significant research on modeling the transportation of hazardous materials in the presence of weather systems.
A software engineering code obfuscation project

In the Spring term of 2003, I taught the upper level computer science major class CS 400 Software Engineering at Mount Mercy College for the first time. Rather than present a series of formulas of software creation metrics and diagrams of software development strategies, I decided to have the students build a significant and useful project. My choice was to have them build a code obfuscation program in the language Java. This choice of language was due to the many methods available to perform String processing, which is essentially what the project was. This paper is a report on that project as well as an announcement of the open source availability of the code.Our first step was to write a series of coding specifications for the project, and cover enough of the Unified Modeling Language (UML) so that we had a common set of conditions and a common language used to represent the design. The class was split into two groups of five and the project went through four iterations. For each iteration, there were two separate parts and at the start, each group was given a description of the requirements for one part of the iteration. The group then wrote the specifications for that part and then each handed the other their specifications, so each group wrote code conforming to the other group's written specifications. At the end, each group was required to submit complete formal documentation for all their code and the groups submitted a working copy of the code obfuscator containing the code integrated from both teams. Over 100 pages of documentation were submitted and the final program is estimates to be over 10,000 lines of code, which includes internal documentation.
Conclusion: A New Theory of Pre-Modern or Proto-Racism

The Conclusion elaborates on a new theory of pre-modern racism, demonstrating the metaphysical rather than biological underpinnings of Renaissance Europeans’ proto-racist ideology while underscoring how such logic, applied to Jews and Turks (as well as those defined as “black”), drew upon authorities that were uniformly theological, philosophical, or allegorical. Rather than privileging assumptions based in a so-called biological determinism, I show that proto-racism instead assumed a sort of metaphysical determinism. Spirit affected one’s nature and vice versa. Whether chosen or cursed by God, then, a race’s purported heritable predispositions in rational capacity and moral character were believed to be governed by metaphysical causes and a correlation between soul, body, and mind. As such, external bodily traits, including skin color, were believed to reveal one’s essential nature, particularly in intellectual and moral terms. Aristotelian and Galenic metaphysical discourse was subsumed and subordinated under religious logic, including biblical blessings and curses, which along with moral allegories prompted physiognomic interpretations of race. Meanwhile, because blood was conceived as vehicle for the soul, the blood of some races was assumed to be spiritually cursed. Nationalist impulses then prompted obsessions with purity of blood, religion, race, and nation in a period in which these were overlapping categories. This discussion concludes by arguing that such metaphysically determinist racism persisted, however later disguised or supplemented by pseudo-scientific quackery, particularly in Nazi anti-Semitism.
Sequential Infiltration Synthesis of Al 2 O 3 in Polyethersulfone Membranes

We report the sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) into polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes to form hybrid nanocomposites. SIS relies on chemical interactions between precursor vapors and polymer functional groups, and enables nucleation and growth of inorganic materials to controlled depth. Using in situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and ellipsometry measurements, we demonstrate that trimethylaluminum associates with the sulfonyl groups in PES, extending the library of SIS-modified polymer nanocomposites to a previously undescribed polymer system and new application space: PES UF membranes. Depth-profiled x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the trimethylaluminum purge time dictates the extent of Al2O3 infiltration. Energy dispersive spectroscopy revealed the differences between SIS and atomic layer deposition in the membranes. This work demonstrates the viability of SIS to access the entire macroporous volume of PES UF membranes.
Self-Assembling Peptide Gels for 3D Prostate Cancer Spheroid Culture.

Progress in prostate cancer research is presently limited by a shortage of reliable in vitro model systems. The authors describe a novel self-assembling peptide, bQ13, which forms nanofibers and gels useful for the 3D culture of prostate cancer spheroids, with improved cytocompatibility compared to related fibrillizing peptides. The mechanical properties of bQ13 gels can be controlled by adjusting peptide concentration, with storage moduli ranging between 1 and 10 kPa. bQ13's ability to remain soluble at mildly basic pH considerably improved the viability of encapsulated cells compared to other self-assembling nanofiber-forming peptides. LNCaP cells formed spheroids in bQ13 gels with similar morphologies and sizes to those formed in Matrigel or RADA16-I. Moreover, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is produced by LNCaP cells in all matrices, and PSA production is more responsive to enzalutamide treatment in bQ13 gels than in other fibrillized peptide gels. bQ13 represents an attractive platform for further tailoring within 3D cell culture systems.
Coherency detection of generators using recurrence quantification analysis

Abstract A novel model-free method for detecting coherency of generators in power systems by means of the Wavelet Packet Decomposition (WPD) and the Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) is developed. The time-series rotor angles of generators are used in this approach to detect coherent group of generators. Noise is a critical issue that needs to be considered when evaluating the performance of the coherency detection methods based on monitored data. Coherent groups of generators are detected under different disturbances and the results appear to be robust in the presence of noise. Simulation data from a 29-machine 179-bus system model are applied and results based on this method presented.
Abstract 2690: Massively parallel multiplexed methods to screen hundreds of barcoded cancer cell line models with small molecules or genetic perturbations using next-generation sequencing

Phenotypic screening is a valuable tool to identify compounds to treat cancer, but is limited as it is time and resource intensive to screen hundreds of cancer cell lines. In order to increase the throughput of phenotypic screening, we set out to expand and further develop the PRISM method (Profiling Relative Inhibition Simultaneously in Mixtures) [Yu et al., 2016]. PRISM is a method to barcode cell lines with a unique 24 nucleotide barcode and mix them together to screen simultaneously in a pool, decreasing the time and cost of screening. The previously described PRISM method was limited in that it used only 100 adherent cell lines of one cancer model context, it required the use of a highly specialized Luminex bead-based detection system, and it was only applicable to small molecule screening. Here we report on the expansion of our barcoded cell line collection to 800 cancer cell lines of over 45 lineages, an improved method called PRISMseq using next-generation sequencing, and a novel method to perform genetic perturbations in 500 cancer cell lines simultaneously called PRISPR (PRISM/CRISPR). PRISMseq allows for assaying compound cell line sensitivity profiles in a large pool of hundreds of cell lines and detecting the DNA barcodes using next-generation sequencing (NGS). We recapitulate the known biology for established oncology drugs like the BRAF, EGFR, BCR-ABL and MDM2 inhibitor classes using this method with our cell line panel. We also further extended this method to be applicable to genetic perturbation using CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of individual genes concurrently in hundreds of cancer cell lines. We are able to recover expected biomarkers or genetic dependencies for our CRISPR/Cas9 validation reagents. This expanded PRISM profiling approach increases statistical power due to the addition of cancer contexts in our cell line collection, and improves versatility by enabling the screening of both small molecules and genetic perturbations. We believe that this method has overcome the limitations of the original PRISM method. It has also overcome the limitations of phenotypic screening, as the resources required to screen hundreds of cell lines has been decreased by orders of magnitude. Citation Format: Samantha Bender, Cong Zhu, Li Wang, Michael Rothberg, Joshua Dempster, Brenton Paolella, Mustafa Kocak, Massami Laird, Jordan Rossen, Karolina Stumbraite, Jordan Bryan, Vickie Wang, John Doench, Francisca Vazquez, Aviad Tsherniak, Todd Golub, Jennifer Roth. Massively parallel multiplexed methods to screen hundreds of barcoded cancer cell line models with small molecules or genetic perturbations using next-generation sequencing [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2690.
Renal sympathetic denervation in addition to pulmonary vein isolation reduces the recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation: an updated meta-analysis of randomized control trials

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide. The sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in initiation and maintenance of AF. Recent studies have shown that renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) reduced AF recurrences after conventional pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Studies that have evaluated the role of RSD as an adjuvant to PVI have included different patient populations, ablation strategies, and follow-up approaches. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the potential incremental impact of RSD to PVI. We searched the databases of MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to January 2020. Included studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the recurrence rates of AF in patients who underwent PVI and RSD versus PVI alone. Data from each study were combined using the random effects model to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Three RCTs consisted of four different studies during 2014–2020 involving 451 AF patients (223 patients underwent PVI alone and 228 patients underwent PVI with RSD) were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with PVI alone, the PVI with RSD group had a significantly lower risk of AF recurrence (pooled OR = 0.63, 95%CI 0.50–0.80, p < 0.001, I2 = 0.0%). There was no publication bias observed in funnel plot as well as no small-study effect observed in Egger’s test. Our systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated a significant reduction of AF recurrence in select hypertensive patients who underwent RSD in addition to PVI compared with PVI alone. Larger studies are needed to validate the benefits of this approach in other AF populations and across different ablation strategies.
Integrating deep learning with microfluidics for biophysical classification of sickle red blood cells

Abstract Sickle cell disease (SCD), a group of inherited blood disorders with significant morbidity and early mortality, affects a sizeable global demographic largely of African and Indian descent. It is manifested in a mutated form of hemoglobin that distorts the red blood cells into a characteristic sickle shape with altered biophysical properties. Sickle red blood cells (sRBCs) show heightened adhesive interactions with inflamed endothelium, triggering obstruction of blood vessels and painful vaso-occlusive crisis events. Numerous studies have reported microfluidic-assay-based disease monitoring tools which rely on quantifying adhesion characteristics of adhered sRBCs from high resolution channel images. The current workflow for analyzing images from these assays relies on manual cell counting and detailed morphological characterization by a specially trained worker, which is time and labor intensive. Moreover manual counts by different individuals are prone to artifacts due to user bias. We present here a standardized and reproducible image analysis workflow designed to tackle these issues, using a two part deep neural network architecture that works in tandem for automatic, fast and reliable segmentation and classification into subtypes of adhered cell images. Our training utilized an exhaustive data set of images generated by the SCD BioChip, a microfluidic assay which injects clinical whole blood samples into protein-functionalized microchannels, mimicking physiological conditions in the microvasculature. The automated image analysis performs robustly in comparison to human classification: accuracies were similar to or better than those of the trained personnel, while the overall analysis time was improved by two orders of magnitude.
Super(antigen) target for SARS-CoV-2.

This preprint further characterizes a superantigen motif identified in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and evaluates a monoclonal antibody targeting this region that can neutralize live virus.
Terminus Unleashed: Divine Antecedents of Contemporary Borders

Terminus is the ancient Roman god of borders and protector of boundary stones. This paper connects the era in which this figure initially played an important role with the present way in which bord...
Variation among hospitals in the continuity of care for older hospitalized patients: a cross-sectional cohort study

BACKGROUND Little is known about how continuity of care for hospitalized patients varies among hospitals. We describe the number of different general internal medicine physicians seeing hospitalized patients during a medical admission and how that varies by hospital. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of a national 20% sample of Medicare inpatients from 01/01/16 to 12/31/18. In patients with routine medical admissions (length of stay of 3-6 days, no Intensive Care Unit stay, and seen by only one generalist per day), we assessed odds of receiving all generalist care from one generalist. We calculated rates for each hospital, adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics in a multi-level logistic regression model. RESULTS Among routine medical admissions with 3- to 6-day stays, only 43.1% received all their generalist care from the same physician. In those with a 3-day stay, 50.1% had one generalist providing care vs. 30.8% in those with a 6-day stay. In a two-level (admission and hospital) logistic regression model controlling for patient characteristics and length of stay, the odds of seeing just one generalist did not vary greatly by patient characteristics such as age, race/ethnicity, comorbidity or reason for admission. There were large variations in continuity of care among different hospitals and geographic areas. In the highest decile of hospitals, the adjusted mean percentage of patients receiving all generalist care from one physician was > 84.1%, vs. < 24.1% in the lowest decile. This large degree of variation persisted when hospitals were stratified by size, ownership, location or teaching status. CONCLUSIONS Continuity of care provided by generalist physicians to medical inpatients varies widely among hospitals. The impact of this variation on quality of care is unknown.
Moderating Effects of Race and Preoperative Comorbidity on Surgical Mortality in Infants

ABSTRACT Background We sought to investigate the risk of pediatric surgical mortality associated with the combined effects of key preoperative comorbidities and race. Methods We performed a retrospective study that included infants who underwent inpatient surgical procedures between 2012 and 2017 and were entered into the NSQIP-P registry. We assessed additive moderation by estimating the proportion of mortality risk attributable to the combined effects of race and the presence of a preoperative comorbidity (attributable proportion [AP]). Results The study group was comprised of 58466 surgical cases, of whom 15711(26.9%) were neonates and 42755(73.1%) older infants. Among neonates, a history of prematurity carried a poorer prognosis in black babies than their white peers (OR:1.53, 95%CI:1.20,1.95). Additionally, there was evidence of additive moderation by race on the association between prematurity and postoperative mortality (AP: 23.9%; 95%CI: 3.8,43.9, P value = 0.020). In older infants, presence of preoperative sepsis carried almost two times higher risk of mortality for black patients than their white counterparts (OR:1.81; 95%CI:1.21,2.73). This explained 38.4% of mortality cases in black patients with preoperative sepsis (95%CI:14.0,62.7; P = 0.002). A history of prematurity also carried a greater risk of mortality in older infants of black race (OR:1.69; 95%CI: 1.27, 2.24), accounting for 24.2% of mortality cases (AP:24.2%; 95%CI:0.90, 47.5, P = 0.041). Conclusions We quantified the surgical burden of mortality resulting from the differential impact of key comorbidities on black neonates and infants. Our data suggest that race-specific interventions to mitigate the incidence of the identified comorbidities could narrow the racial disparities in post surgical mortality.
Recipes for Standardized Capital Projects’ Performance Success

AbstractCurrently, facility design standardization is a well-established and quotidian strategy, especially in the manufacturing and shipbuilding industries. Even so, the construction industry, spe...
Taiwan: A Possible Offshore Tax Haven for Chinese Wealth?

In this article, the author discusses the possibility of Taiwan becoming an offshore tax haven for China’s hidden wealth as Hong Kong joins the common reporting standard.
Solar wind origin of Ar-36 on Venus

An examination is conducted concerning the circumstances under which the difference between earth and Venus (and Mars) fits naturally into theories in which the terrestrial planets formed by the gradual sweeping up of planetesimals in an essentially gas-free protoplanetary swarm. The primary purpose of the reported investigation is to use observational data to define restrictions on planetary formation theories that would be imposed if most of Venus' inert gases come from the solar wind. The observational data support the suggestion that the abundances of Ar, Kr, and Xe on Venus have been augmented by a component of solar composition. Solar wind implantation at an early stage of accumulation provides a natural way of producing the observed extreme heliocentric distribution of this component, provided that accumulation occurred after dissipation of solar gas from the solar nebula
The Foreclosure Purchase by the Equity of Redemption Holder or Other Junior Interests: When Should Principles of Fairness and Morality Trump Normal Priority Rules?

This article explores an issue that is uniquely suited to Dale Whitman's powerful analytical mind and his intuitive moral and ethical sensibilities - when should the core maxim of mortgage law, namely that a properly conducted foreclosure of a senior lien terminates junior interests - yield to higher principles of fairness and morality? When the holder of the equity of redemption directly or indirectly purchases at either a mortgage sale or tax sale, survival or revival of junior liens and other junior interests is the norm. This is the case even though time-honored foreclosure principles dictate that a valid foreclosure produces a title free and clear of junior interests. In this situation, compelling concepts of morality, fairness and the prevention of unjust enrichment overcome a strong presumption that normal lien priority rules should govern. Overall, courts and the Restatement reach the correct result in this context. On the other hand, when the purchaser at a tax sale is a mortgagee or other junior interest, courts improperly invoke morality and fairness concepts to justify survival and revival. Here the purchaser does not act unethically and there are no valid moral or fairness arguments for departing from normal priority rules, so modern courts should follow the Restatement approach.
A Microcomputer Model for Irrigation System Evaluation

ICEASE (Irrigation Cost Estimator and System Evaluator) is a microcomputer model designed and developed to meet the need for conducting economic evaluation of adjustments to irrigation systems and management techniques to improve the use of irrigated water. ICEASE can calculate the annual operating costs for irrigation systems and has five options that can be used to economically evaluate improvements in the pumping plant or the way the irrigation system is used for crop production.
Overexpression, purification, and characterization of recombinant human 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate synthetase isozymes I and II

Human 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate synthetase isozymes I and II (PRSI and PRSII) have been isolated independently and characterized in pure form. cDNAs for PRSI and PRSII were overexpressed in an Escherichia coli strain which lacks the bacterial 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate synthetase. The recombinant isoforms were purified to virtual homogeneity with specific activities of 25.0 and 35.7 units/mg, respectively, values which are 5-10-fold higher than any previously reported for this enzyme from human sources. Despite 95% amino acid sequence identity, the isoforms differed significantly in several physical and kinetic properties. PRSII was more sensitive to heat inactivation at 55 degrees C and more susceptible to disaggregation to inactive forms in the absence of Mg2+ and ATP than was PRSI. The isoforms were separable on the basis of isoelectric point. PRSI and PRSII also differed significantly in Km values for MgATP and ribose 5-phosphate, pH optima, and Mg2+ and Pi activation curves. PRSII was less sensitive to feedback inhibition by purine nucleotides and more sensitive to inhibition by 2,3-diphosphoglycerate than PRSI. Differences in kinetic properties between PRSI and PRSII are consistent with the suggestion that PRSII predominates in rapidly proliferating cells.
Co‐located MIMO OFDM

This chapter focuses on the co‐located multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) systems‐orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing (OFDM) receiver design in both time‐invariant and time‐varying channels. With co‐located transmitters, various space time coding approaches could be adopted to either improve the system performance or increase the bandwidth efficiency. The chapter presents a noniterative and an iterative ICI‐ignorant MIMO‐OFDM receiver. By ignoring the ICI, data detection is carried on each OFDM subcarrier individually. The chapter describes an ICI‐progressive MIMO‐OFDM receiver, which is a counterpart of the progressive receiver. It discusses an initialization method to the ICI‐progressive MIMO‐OFDM receiver. The chapter also talks about ICI‐aware MIMO‐OFDM system model, and presents the SPACE08 and MACE10 experimental results.
Examining the Career Decision Self-Efficacy and Career Maturity of Community College and First-Generation Students:

This study examined the career decision self-efficacy (CDSE) and career maturity of 268 first-generation baccalaureate and community college student participants. Three independent variables were a...
Correspondence of the Gardner and van Genuchten–Mualem relative permeability function parameters

The Gardner and van Genuchten models of relativepermeability are widely used in analytical and numerical solutions toflow problems. However, the applicab ility of the Gardner model to realproblems is usually limited, because empirical relative permeability datato calibrate the model are not routinely available. In contrast, vanGenuchten parameters can be estimated using more routinely availablematric potential and saturation data. However, the van Genuchten model isnot amenable to analytical solutions. In this paper, we introducegeneralized conversion formulae that reconcile these two models. Ingeneral, we find that the Gardner parameter alpha G is related to the vanGenuchten parameters alpha vG and n by alpha G=alpha vG ~; 1:3 n. Thisconversion rule will allow direct recasting of Gardner-based analyticalsolutions in the van Genuchten parameter space. The validity of theproposed formulae was tested by comparing the predicted relativepermeability of various porous media with measured values.