cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single-Stranded RNAs Use RNAi to Potently and Allele-Selectively Inhibit Mutant Huntingtin Expression

Mutant huntingtin (HTT) protein causes Huntington disease (HD), an incurable neurological disorder. Silencing mutant HTT using nucleic acids would eliminate the root cause of HD. Developing nucleic acid drugs is challenging, and an ideal clinical approach to gene silencing would combine the simplicity of single-stranded antisense oligonucleotides with the efficiency of RNAi. Here, we describe RNAi by single-stranded siRNAs (ss-siRNAs). ss-siRNAs are potent (>100-fold more than unmodified RNA) and allele-selective (>30-fold) inhibitors of mutant HTT expression in cells derived from HD patients. Strategic placement of mismatched bases mimics micro-RNA recognition and optimizes discrimination between mutant and wild-type alleles. ss-siRNAs require Argonaute protein and function through the RNAi pathway. Intraventricular infusion of ss-siRNA produced selective silencing of the mutant HTT allele throughout the brain in a mouse HD model. These data demonstrate that chemically modified ss-siRNAs function through the RNAi pathway and provide allele-selective compounds for clinical development.
Microphysical and Geometrical Controls on the Pattern of Orographic Precipitation

Patterns of orographic precipitation can vary significantly both in time and space, and such variations must ultimately be related to mountain geometry, cloud microphysics, and synoptic conditions. Here an extension of the classic upslope model is presented, which incorporates an explicit representation in the vertical dimension, represents the finite growth time of hydrometeors, their downwind advection by the prevailing wind, and also allows for evaporation. For a simple mountain geometry the authors derive an analytical solution for the precipitation rate, which can be understood in terms of four nondimensional parameters. The finite growth time and slanting hydrometeor trajectories give rise to some interesting possibilities: a precipitation rate that maximizes at intermediate values of the horizontal wind speed, localized precipitation efficiencies in excess of 100%, and a reverse rain shadow with more precipitation falling on the leeward flank than on the windward flank.
Spermiophagy by the spermathecal epithelium of the salamander Eurycea cirrigera

The spermathecae of Eurycea cirrigera are exocrine glands in the cloaca that secrete a substance that bathes sperm stored in the lumen after mating and prior to oviposition. Many sperm remain in the spermathecae after oviposition, and the spermathecal epithelium becomes spermiophagic. Pseudopodia enclose sperm into endocytic vacuoles. The vacuoles become associated with primary lysosomes in the cytoplasm. Following formation of secondary lysosomes and resulting condensation of the sperm fragments, residual bodies are exocytized into the surrounding connective tissue stroma. By the start of the next breeding cycle, most sperm remaining from the previous mating have been degraded, but some sperm remain in the lumen, and the viability of these sperm is unknown.
An Efficient Pseudocodeword Search Algorithm for Linear Programming Decoding of LDPC Codes

In linear programming (LP) decoding of a low-density parity-check (LDPC) code one minimizes a linear functional, with coefficients related to log-likelihood ratios, over a relaxation of the polytope spanned by the codewords. In order to quantify LP decoding it is important to study vertexes of the relaxed polytope, so-called pseudocodewords. We propose a technique to heuristcally create a list of pseudocodewords close to the zero codeword and their distances. Our pseudocodeword-search algorithm starts by randomly choosing configuration of the noise. The configuration is modified through a discrete number of steps. Each step consists of two substeps: one applies an LP decoder to the noise-configuration deriving a pseudocodeword, and then finds configuration of the noise equidistant from the pseudocodeword and the zero codeword. The resulting noise configuration is used as an entry for the next step. The iterations converge rapidly to a pseudocodeword neighboring the zero codeword. Repeated many times, this procedure is characterized by the distribution function of the pseudocodeword effective distance. The efficiency of the procedure is demonstrated on examples of the Tanner code and Margulis codes operating over an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel.
Health information needs of Medicaid enrollees and medically underinsured.

Abstract A convenience sample of 349 inner-city black patients attending a public health ambulatory clinic were interviewed with regard to their health information needs and level of understanding of Medicaid's fee-for-service and prepaid programs. The 264 Medicaid enrollees were most knowledgeable of benefits available under fee-for-service. The 85 persons classified as “medically underinsured” were most concerned with the costs of care and long waiting times. Both groups cited quality of care as the most important factor influencing their selection of provider. The implications of the survey findings for nurses serving medically indigent patients in ambulatory settings are discussed.
Anaerobic lipoxygenase activity from Chlorella pyrenoidosa responsible for the cleavage of the 13-hydroperoxides of linoleic and linolenic acids

An enzyme from the alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa, previously identified as a hydroperoxide lyase (HPLS), cleaves the 13-hydroperoxide derivatives of linoleic and linolenic acids into a volatile C5 fragment and a C13 oxo-product, 13-oxo-9(Z), 11(E)tridecadienoic acid (13-OTA). Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) headspace analysis of the volatile products indicated the formation of pentane when the substrate was the 13-hydroperoxide derivative of linoleic acid, whereas a more complex mixture of hydrocarbons was formed when the 13-hydroperoxide derivative of linolenic acid was the substrate. Analysis of the nonvolatile products by GC/MS and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) indicated the formation of 13-OTA along with the 13-ketone derivative. This enzymatic activity was inhibited by oxygen but was restored with nitrogen. The enzymatic cleavage activity was coincidental in purified fractions with lipoxygenase activity that produced the 13- and 9-hydroperoxide derivatives of linolenic acid. The results suggest that the enzymatic cleavage activity in Chlorella pyrenoidosa was not a consequence of hydroperoxide lyase activity as previously thought, but was due to anaerobic lipoxygenase activity. This enzyme fraction was purified by (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 precipitation, gel filtration, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The purified enzyme has an approximate MW of 120 KDa and maximum activity at pH 8.0.
Dual action of the ezetimibe target Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the major cholesterol carrier in human blood, is the offending agent of coronary heart disease (CHD), which remains the leading cause of death in developed countries. Levels of blood cholesterol are mainly controlled by de novo biosynthesis, intestinal absorption and biliary/intestinal excretion. Statins, by inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, a rate-limiting enzyme in the pathway of cholesterol biosynthesis, lower plasma LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and reduce morbidity and mortality from CHD. In spite of these beneficial effects, considerable inter-individual variation exists in response to statin treatment and many patients receiving statin monotherapy do not achieve the LDL-C goal recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program [1]. Ezetimibe (commercially known as Zetia®) is the first member of a class of cholesterol-lowering agents that inhibit intestinal cholesterol absorption [2]. Following oral administration, the drug is rapidly glucuronidated in the intestine and undergoes extensive enterohepatic recirculation [3]. Both ezetimibe and its glucuronide are active in blocking cholesterol absorption [3]. Many clinical studies have demonstrated that ezetimibe monotherapy or coadministration of ezetimibe with a statin effectively lowers plasma total and LDL-C in primary hypercholesterolemic subjects [4], and even in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia [5].
Proteolysis Triggers Self-Assembly and Unmasks Innate Immune Function of a Human α-Defensin Peptide.

Human α-defensin 6 (HD6) is a unique peptide of the defensin family that provides innate immunity in the intestine by self-assembling to form higher-order oligomers that entrap bacteria and prevent host cell invasion. Here, we report critical steps in the self-assembly pathway of HD6. We demonstrate that HD6 is localized in secretory granules of small intestinal Paneth cells. HD6 is stored in these granules as an 81-residue propeptide (proHD6), and is recovered from ileal lumen as a 32-residue mature peptide. The propeptide neither forms higher-order oligomers, nor agglutinates bacteria, nor prevents Listeria monocytogenes invasion into epithelial cells. The Paneth cell granules also contain the protease trypsin, and trypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of proHD6 liberates mature HD6, unmasking its latent activities. This work illustrates a remarkable example of how nature utilizes a propeptide strategy to spatially and temporally control peptide self-assembly, and thereby initiates innate immune function in the human intestine.
Tharp’s theorems of metaphysics and the notion of necessary truth

Leslie Tharp proves three theorems concerning epistemic and metaphysical modality for conventional modal predicate logic: every truth is a priori equivalent to a necessary truth, every truth is necessarily equivalent to an a priori truth, and every truth is a priori equivalent to a contingent truth. Lloyd Humberstone has shown that these theorems also hold in the modal system Actuality Modal Logic (AML), the logic that results from the addition of the actuality operator to conventional modal logic. We show that Tharp’s theorems fail for the expressively equivalent Subjunctive Modal Logic (SML), the logic that was developed by Kai Wehmeier as an alternative to AML. We then argue that the existence of Tharp’s theorems for AML is due to a faulty interpretation of the notion of necessary truth, a feature that is not shared by SML. The paper concludes with an argument for the thesis that the existence of the distinction between truth at all worlds w and truth at all worlds w from the point of view of w as the actual world is an artifact owing to the interaction of the necessity and actuality operator.
The Potential Impact of Online/Distance Education for K-12 Special Education Students: A Meta-Analytic Investigation

The present meta-analysis is a comprehensive investigation of the effectiveness of online/distance educational opportunities on student achievement specifically for students with disabilities in grades K-12. An overall effect size of d = -.015 was calculated from 7 studies for a total of 54 different effect size measures, based on a sample of data from n = 24,031 participants. These results suggest that the achievement level of the typical students with disabilities did not differ from the achievement of students in the control group. However, further investigation indicates that students with disabilities experiencing online/distance education performed better than comparable students with disabilities who were in traditional face-to-face classrooms. Study demonstrates that sub-categories can be used to further the understanding of how the use of online/distance education could serve as one solution for shrinking the achievement gap for exceptional individuals. Implications and limitations are discussed.
Prevalence of Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits in Older Persons with and without Age-Related Macular Degeneration, by Multimodal Imaging.

Purpose To assess the prevalence of subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD) in older adults with healthy maculas and early and intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using multimodal imaging. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants A total of 651 subjects aged ≥60 years enrolled in the Alabama Study of Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration from primary care ophthalmology clinics. Methods Subjects were imaged using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) of the macula and optic nerve head (ONH), infrared reflectance, fundus autofluorescence, and color fundus photographs (CFP). Eyes were assessed for AMD presence and severity using the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) 9-step scale. Criteria for SDD presence were identification on ≥1 en face modality plus SD OCT or on ≥2 en face modalities if absent on SD OCT. Subretinal drusenoid deposits were considered present at the person level if present in 1 or both eyes. Main Outcome Measures Prevalence of SDD in participants with and without AMD. Results Overall prevalence of SDD was 32% (197/611), with 62% (122/197) affected in both eyes. Persons with SDD were older than those without SDD (70.6 vs. 68.7 years, P = 0.0002). Prevalence of SDD was 23% in subjects without AMD and 52% in subjects with AMD ( P Conclusions Subretinal drusenoid deposits are present in approximately one quarter of older adults with healthy maculae and in more than half of persons with early to intermediate AMD, even by stringent criteria. The prevalence of SDD is strongly associated with AMD presence and severity and increases with age, and its retinal topography including peripapillary involvement resembles that of rod photoreceptors. Consensus on SDD detection methods is recommended to advance our knowledge of this lesion and its clinical and biologic significance.
IRS Provides Grace Period for Taxpayers Using FSAs

In a practice article, Profs. Diane A. Riordan and Michael P. Riordan, and Molly G. Brown, discuss recent IRS guidance on flexible spending arrangements.
VffiRATIONALLY-SPECIFIC COLLISIONAL-RADIATIVE MODEL FOR NONEQUILIBRIUM NITROGEN PLASMAS

A new model is presented for the calculation of electron-impa ct electronic and vibronic rate coefficients in nitrogen plasmas. In this model, particular attention is paid to the influence of rotational levels which are shown to have a major effect on dissociation rates. Differences with several models proposed in the literature are analyzed. Comparisons are then presented of the results of this collisional-radiative model with measurements of the vibrational population distribution of the B state of N 2 in a nonequilibrium plasma. It is shown that the overpopulation with respect to equilibrium of the v = 13 state of N 2 B is equal to the square of the overpopulation of atomic nitrogen in the plasma. This conclusion bears important consequences for optical diagnostics as atomic nitrogen concentrations can be accurately measured by optical emission spectroscopy of the first positive (B-A) system ofN2.
Sintering of Glass Powder Packings with Metal Inclusions

The sintering of glass powder packings with metal inclusions has been studied using (a) a loading dilatometer, and (b) an in-situ SEM hot-stage. The addition of a small volume fraction of metal particles unexpectedly increases the sintering rate of the composite. With a further increase in the volume fraction of inclusions the sintering rate decreases rapidly to zero at a well-defined threshold. The in-situ sintering experiments have been used to observe the sintering mechanisms and to determine the parameters that contribute to this phenomenon: to assess the distribution of inclusions, and the nature of inclusion-inclusion and matrix-inclusion interaction. Predictions of the effective sintering rate are computed using a truss model with randomly distributed inclusions. The computations capture accurately the decrease in sintering rate (beyond the initial increase) with increasing volume fraction of inclusions. The initial increase is attributed to a reduction in viscosity of the glass due to chemical interaction with the metal.
An Attempt to Produce Hepatic Cirrhosis by a Diet Deficient in Vitamin B Complex

SummaryAdult male albino rats administered a vitamin B-complex deficient diet over a period of from 6 to 13 weeks failed to develop histologic evidence of hepatic cirrhosis, in spite of the fact that they did develop the usual signs of B-complex deficiency. Data as to food and water intake as well as weight changes are presented.
Comparison of 2 methods for detecting β-lactamases in milk

[Objective]To compare 2 methods for detectingβ-lactamases in milk,and find out a accurate,reliable and rapid method. [Methods]β-lactamases in 52 milk samples were detected by using Unisensor kit and cylinder plate methods.The detection rate of 2 methods were compared by the test. [Results]There was no significant difference of detection results between 2 methods(χ2=0.33,P0.05). [Conclusion]Two methods are available for the detection ofβ-lactamases in milk.
Intestinal Levels of Adenosine Triphosphate, Glutamatepyruvate Transaminase, and Lactic Dehydrogenase

Summary 1.Distribution data are presented for ATP in the small intestine of humans, rats, and hamsters. In the rat, the concentration of ATP in the small intestine was essentially unchanged with length. ATP within the small gut of the hamster was greatest in the section of ileum just before the terminal portion. 2.The distribution patterns of lactic dehydrogenase and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase within the small intestine are also presented and discussed in terms of possible relationship to transport events.
Modeling Common Carp Under-ice Movement Using Hierarchical Markov Simulation

Abstract Common carp is an invasive species in North American waters, disrupting ecological systems and replacing native species in water systems they enter. Mass removal by seining of this species from infected waters is a labor-intensive task that requires knowledge of their behavior and popular aggregation locations. It has been shown that carp tend to aggregate and slow down during winter months leaving them potentially vulnerable to seining. In 2010, Hennen used a fixed telemetry system to track carp movement during ice-cover periods and reported on their spatial distributions. Expanding on this work, we propose a model to describe the discrete movement of carp through a fixed telemetry system using a Bayesian Hierarchical Markov model.
Ecology of nonnative Siberian prawn ( Palaemon modestus ) in the lower Snake River, Washington, USA

We assessed the abundance, distribution, and ecology of the nonnative Siberian prawn Palaemon modestus in the lower Snake River, Washington, USA. Analysis of prawn passage abundance at three Snake River dams showed that populations are growing at exponential rates, especially at Little Goose Dam where over 464,000 prawns were collected in 2015. Monthly beam trawling during 2011–2013 provided information on prawn abundance and distribution in Lower Granite and Little Goose Reservoirs. Zero-inflated regression predicted that the probability of prawn presence increased with decreasing water velocity and increasing depth. Negative binomial models predicted higher catch rates of prawns in deeper water and in closer proximity to dams. Temporally, prawn densities decreased slightly in the summer, likely due to the mortality of older individuals, and then increased in autumn and winter with the emergence and recruitment of young of the year. Seasonal length frequencies showed that distinct juvenile and adult size classes exist throughout the year, suggesting prawns live from 1 to 2 years and may be able to reproduce multiple times during their life. Most juvenile prawns become reproductive adults in 1 year, and peak reproduction occurs from late July through October. Mean fecundity (189 eggs) and reproductive output (11.9 %) are similar to that in their native range. The current use of deep habitats by prawns likely makes them unavailable to most predators in the reservoirs. The distribution and role of Siberian prawns in the lower Snake River food web will probably continue to change as the population grows and warrants continued monitoring and investigation.
Ganglioside changes associated with temporal lobe epilepsy in the human hippocampus.

Abstract To understand better the molecular and cellular events associated with status epilepticus, a multifaceted analysis has begun on hippocampal tissues therapeutically removed from patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. In this first study, quantitative changes in major ganglioside species are reported, as well as the immunocytochemical localization on the ganglioside GD3 in epileptic human hippocampus. Although significant variations were found between patients, the pattern of change was consistent when compared to normal values obtained from an autopsied specimen and the literature. Total ganglioside content was reduced in epileptic hippocampi, which was attributable, in part, to pyramidal cell loss found in CA1 and CA3. In each case, the percentage of ganglioside GD3 was increased significantly, while ganglioside GD1a decreased. The former change is probably associated with reactive astrocytosis and the latter with loss of neuronal dendrites. Immunocytochemical localization revealed GD3 in the stratum radiatum and the subgranular layer of the dentate gyrus. In these areas, GD3 was present in punctate structures and astrocytes. These findings indicate that GD3 increases in selected areas of the sclerotic hippocampus and is presumably related to localized accumulation of reactive glial cells. Since gangliosides have a high affinity for calcium and localized increase in extracellular calcium could disrupt normal neuronal function, the localized increase in GD3 may not only denote reactive glial cells but may contribute directly to the altered, hyperexcitable condition of epilepsy.
Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy and Laparoscopic-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy

Vaginal hysterectomy has been shown to have the lowest complication rate, better cosmesis, and decreased cost compared with alternate routes of hysterectomy. However, there are times when a vaginal hysterectomy is not feasible and an open abdominal hysterectomy should be avoided. Minimally invasive surgery has evolved over the last several decades; with the improvement in optics and surgical instruments, laparoscopic hysterectomy is becoming increasingly common. A total laparoscopic hysterectomy is possible with proper training, including sound technique in laparoscopic suturing for closure of the vaginal cuff.
Distributed frequency synchronization and phase-difference tracking for Kuramoto oscillators and its application to islanded microgrids

This paper addresses the problem of asymptotical frequency synchronization and phase-difference tracking for Kuramoto oscillators with N distinct natural frequencies. Through the stability analysis of Kuramoto oscillators with distributed phase-difference tracking controllers, we discover that by controlling phase-difference tracking errors and their integrations, the individual frequencies can asymptotically synchronize to the average natural frequencies of the group and phase differences can asymptotically track the given references. We also extend the proposed phase-difference tracking control to islanded microgrids assuming there are local controllers maintaining the voltage stability, to achieve frequency synchronization and control angle differences of voltages. Simulations, including the numerical examples of a network of N = 4 Kuramoto oscillators and an islanded microgrid consisting of two frequency-droop controllers and two loads, are provided to verify the effectiveness of proposed control strategies.
The Effect of Autologous Serum on Lymphocyte Response to Human Leukemia Cells

The normal lymphocytes of 11 of 18 patients with acute leukemia in remission showed a positive blastogenic response in vitro to autologous leukemia cells. The effect of autologous serum on this response was studied to determine if there were factors which might abrogate or "block" this response. Serum obtained at diagnosis (i.e., during a tumor-bearing period) was compared with remission serum with the expectation of demonstrating a "blocking" effect of the former and no effect or perhaps even facilitation with the latter. However, this was not the case, and no consistent differences in blastogenesis in the presence of the two sera were seen. In addition, during the period of observation, there was little correlation between the presence or absence of in vitro response to autologous tumor and prognosis.
Leadership practices for healthy work environments.

IN 2005, THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CRITICAL-CARE NURSES (AACN) released its landmark document for creating and sustaining healthy work environments (HWEs) that advance nursing practice and enhance patient care quality and safety.1 The AACN identified six standards—skilled communication, true colla
AWARENESS ABOUT TOBACCO USE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS OF UTTARAKHAND

Background: Worldwide tobacco is the second most common cause of death. It is the biggest enemy of public health, still people smoke knowing well the consequences. In addition to the high public health costs of treating tobacco-caused diseases, tobacco kills people at the height of their productivity, depriving families of bread winners and nations of a healthy workforce. Tobacco addiction mostly starts at adolescence. Various reasons cited by adolescents being; peer pressure, stress or for fun. Research Question: What is the level of awareness regarding tobacco use among medical students? Objectives: To assess awareness about tobacco abuse among medical students of Uttarakhand. Study Design: Cross-Sectional epidemiological study. Settings and Participants: Medical and Dental students of all professionals excluding Interns of two Medical and two Dental colleges of Uttarakhand were selected for survey. Study Period: May 2008 to October 2008 Sample Size: 400 Medical and Dental students. Sampling Technique: Simple stratified random sampling. Study Variable: A predesigned, pretested, self-administered questionnaire was used for collecting information on Age, Sex, Socio-demographic profile, Knowledge and awareness regarding Tobacco use, etc. Statistical Analysis: Standard statistical package i.e. SPSS, Microsoft Excel. Results: Life time prevalence of tobacco use was found to be 31.75%, the most common reasons cited by students was peer pressure 33.7%. The level of awareness regarding the harmful effects of tobacco smoking was found to be 91.8%. Majority 68.3% of tobacco users think that media plays an important source for creating awareness about harmful effects of tobacco. 83.25% students are against tobacco advertisements and support ban, 84.75% on tobacco use in public place. 83.75% students surveyed believed that the preventive measures taken up by the Government are not sufficient.
From Radical Resistance to Quiet Subversion

Corporate structures are now so deeply embedded in American universities that intellectuals have finally been imprisoned by Max Weber’s “iron cage” of bureaucracy and engulfed by its “polar night of icy darkness.” Despite a plethora of books and articles on the corporate corruption of American higher education, these critiques of corporatization have been like Cassandra’s prophecies falling on the deaf ears of university faculty. Their manifest resignation is widely echoed in an ancillary genre of books on “the fall of the faculty” and “the last professors” as it is now indisputable that traditional forms of faculty organization, influence, and resistance have failed to even slow down the final stage of corporatization. Thus, as a disenchanted intellectual, I found myself maneuvering within my own institution to create a personal zone of independence and self-sufficiency outside the iron cage.
Agricultural Change Theory

Agricultural change refers not just to the evolution of agricultural technology, but to patterns emerging from regular changes in what, where, and how farmers cultivate. Its importance goes beyond amounts produced, costs and profits, and environmental effects; agricultural change is closely linked to various societal institutions and to population. The two most influential works on agricultural change both focus on relationships between farming and population: Malthus saw farm production as a key factor limiting population, while Boserup saw population increase as a stimulant to increased production with higher input costs. Little research has supported Malthus; more has supported Boserup although her model now appears to be oversimplified, neglecting social, economic, ecological, and political factors that shape agricultural change.
Neural Crest Stem-Like Cells Non-genetically Induced from Human Gingiva-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Facial Nerve Regeneration in Rats

Non-genetic induction of somatic cells into neural crest stem-like cells (NCSCs) is promising for potential cell-based therapies for post-traumatic peripheral nerve regeneration. Here, we report that human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) could be reproducibly and readily induced into NCSCs via non-genetic approaches. Compared to parental GMSCs, induced NCSC population had increased expression in NCSC-related genes and displayed robust differentiation into neuronal and Schwann-like cells. Knockdown of the expression of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), a critical mechanosensor and mechanotransducer, attenuated the expression of NCSC-related genes; specific blocking of RhoA/ROCK activity and non-muscle myosin II (NM II)-dependent contraction suppressed YAP1 and NCSC-related genes and concurrently abolished neural spheroid formation in NCSCs. Using a rat model of facial nerve defect, implantation of NCSC-laden nerve conduits promoted functional regeneration of the injured nerve. These promising findings demonstrate that induced NCSCs derived from GMSCs represent an easily accessible and promising source of neural stem-like cells for peripheral nerve regeneration.
Molecular and cellular identification of the immune response in peripheral ganglia following nerve injury.

Neuroinflammation accompanies neural trauma and most neurological diseases. Axotomy in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) leads to dramatic changes in the injured neuron: the cell body expresses a distinct set of genes known as regeneration-associated genes, the distal axonal segment degenerates and its debris is cleared, and the axons in the proximal segment form growth cones and extend neurites. These processes are orchestrated in part by immune and other non-neuronal cells. Macrophages in ganglia play an integral role in supporting regeneration. Here, we explore further the molecular and cellular components of the injury-induced immune response within peripheral ganglia. Adult male wild-type (WT) and Ccr2 −/− mice were subjected to a unilateral transection of the sciatic nerve and axotomy of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG). Antibody arrays were used to determine the expression of chemokines and cytokines in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and SCG. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry were utilized to identify the cellular composition of the injury-induced immune response within ganglia. Chemokine expression in the ganglia differed 48 h after nerve injury with a large increase in macrophage inflammatory protein-1γ in the SCG but not in the DRG, while C-C class chemokine ligand 2 was highly expressed in both ganglia. Differences between WT and Ccr2 −/− mice were also observed with increased C-C class chemokine ligand 6/C10 expression in the WT DRG compared to C-C class chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2)−/− DRG and increased CXCL5 expression in CCR2−/− SCG compared to WT. Diminished macrophage accumulation in the DRG and SCG of Ccr2 −/− mice was found compared to WT ganglia 7 days after nerve injury. Interestingly, neutrophils were found in the SCG but not in the DRG. Cytokine expression, measured 7 days after injury, differed between ganglion type and genotype. Macrophage activation was assayed by colabeling ganglia with the anti-inflammatory marker CD206 and the macrophage marker CD68, and an almost complete colocalization of the two markers was found in both ganglia. This study demonstrates both molecular and cellular differences in the nerve injury-induced immune response between DRG and SCG and between WT and Ccr2 −/− mice.
The survival and rejection of epithelium in experimental corneal transplants

Evidence is presented that the epithelium on a donor corneal allograft is neither sloughed off rapidly in the immediate postoperative period, nor is it even slowly replaced by recipient epithelium in the technically successful corneal transplant. Specific immunologic rejection of the surviving epithelium of a graft may take place long after transplantation, and is characterized by a linear defect consisting of dying epithelial cells and inflammatory cells, stainable by topical methylene blue or fluorescein, which defect migrates slowly across the entire surface of the graft until all donor epithelium has been destroyed.
Do People Move When They Say They Will? Inconsistencies in Individual Migration Behavior

Conventional theories of migration decision–making posit that there exists a simple, sequential link between residential satisfaction, mobility intentions and actual moving behavior. Past empirical work, however, has indicated substantial discrepancies between mobility intentions and behavior. This study investigates behavioral inconsistencies in migration using data drawn from the 1985, 1987 and 1989 rounds of the American Housing Survey (AHS). Mobility is inferred by comparing occupants of the same housing units in two consecutive surveys. The results show that a substantial number of people do not realize their intention to move and many move unexpectedly; with or without prior intentions to move, movers and stayers appear to differ significantly in terms of their sociodemographic characteristics. The extent to which individuals act consistently with their intentions also differs along with their attributes (e.g., tenure, age, education and gender). The paper discusses possible reasons for behavioral inconsistencies in migration based on recent developments in social psychological theories of human behavior.
Nutrition and Management of Early Weaned Pigs: Effect of Increased Nutrient Concentrations and (or) Supplemental Liquid Feeding

Four experiments involving a total of 304 crossbred pigs weaned at 3 to 4 weeks of age were conducted to examine the effect of feeding supplemental liquid milk two to three times daily at weaning and (or) of altering the nutrient composition of the weaning diet. In addition, the effects on postweaning performance of preconditioning young pigs to supplemental milk feeding in the farrowing house were determined. Performance immediately postweaning was poor and was characterized by low weight gains and low feed intakes for approximately 7 days. Increasing the protein and (or) energy concentrations in the weaning diet had no beneficial effect on pig performance in Exp. 1. Feeding supplemental cow's milk three times daily for 4 days postweaning and (or) adding fat to the dry weaning diet also had no beneficial effect on pig performance in Exp. 2. An added milk product to the diet did tend to improve feed efficiency in this experiment. In the third experiment, performance was not affected by supplemental liquid milk feeding three times daily for 7 days and twice daily for an additional 7 days. Additions of 30% nonfat dried milk to the dry diet offered ad libitum did result in improvement in pig performance. Preconditioning of young pigs to supplemental liquid feeding while still nursing the sow resulted in no beneficial response in pig performance immediately postweaning in Exp. 4.
Ensuring A Multicultural Educational Experience in Legal Education: Start With the Legal Writing Classroom

Legal educators have an obligation to educate the future generation of lawyers in a multicultural way by creating a learning environment in which the issues faced by minority communities are criticized, evaluated and challenged. This article discusses multicultural education, current efforts in the law school which positively impact the educational experience, some of the shortfalls in these efforts, the need for first-year integration of multicultural topics, and how an educator in the legal academy can ensure that her students receive a well-rounded multicultural educational experience. In particular, the article addresses creating a multicultural educational experience through the lens of a minority legal writing professor, whose role entails instructing students in small-section classes on predictive and persuasive writing over the course of the first two or three semesters of law school. The article concludes by making recommendations for how all legal educators can impact the pipeline to the legal profession by enhancing the law school experience through multicultural education.
Images of a Vanished Era, 1898–1924: The Photographs of Walter C. Schneider

Review of: "Images of a Vanished Era, 1898–1924: The Photographs of Walter C. Schneider," edited by Lucian Niemeyer.
The role of peer mindsets in students’ learning: An experimental study

Background Research indicates that implicit theories of intelligence, specifically growth mindset, are conducive to students' academic achievement and engagement. While much research has focused on the role of teachers and parents, it is unclear how implicit theories of intelligence operate in the peer context. Aims This study examined the effects of peers' mindsets on students' learning outcomes. We predicted that participants surrounded by peers endorsing a growth mindset would show increased learning outcomes; in contrast, such outcomes would be dampened for individuals in a fixed mindset peer context. We also expected that perceptions of peers' competence would serve as a mechanism underlying the effects of growth mindset. Sample A total of 134 undergraduate students (88 females) participated in the study. Students were of diverse ethnic background. Methods Participants were randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions where they interacted with trained confederates who endorsed either a growth or fixed mindset viewpoint. Confederates were trained to include specific phrases regarding the nature of ability in a conversation they had with the participants. Participants subsequently completed a problem-solving task and a survey. Results Participants who interacted with peers endorsing a growth (vs. fixed) mindset viewpoint showed increased task value on the problem-solving task. Perceptions of peers' competence mediated the relationship between a growth mindset peer context and participants' task value. Conclusions Findings provide preliminary evidence that peer mindsets can influence individuals' valuing of a task. As such, peers may be an important resource to be considered when designing growth mindset interventions.
Influence of eye pigmentation on retinal degeneration in P23H and S334ter mutant rhodopsin transgenic rats.

Abstract Dark-rearing has been found to slow the rate of retinal degeneration in albino P23H but not S334ter mutant rhodopsin transgenic (Tg) rats. Since eye pigmentation has the same protective slowing effect as dark-rearing in RCS rats, we examined whether eye pigmentation has a comparable slowing effect in the different mutant rhodopsin Tg rats. Different lines of albino P23H and S334ter Tg rats on the Sprague-Dawley (SD) background were bred to Long-Evans (LE) rats to produce pigmented Tg rats. These were compared to albino Tg rats at postnatal days of different ages using the outer nuclear layer (ONL) as a morphological measure of photoreceptor number and electroretinogram (ERG) a- and b-wave amplitudes as a measure of retinal function. When compared to albino P23H rats, pigmented P23H rats had a slower rate of degeneration as measured by greater ONL thicknesses and greater ERG a- and b-wave amplitudes. By contrast, pigmented S334ter rats showed no difference in ONL thicknesses or ERG a- and b-wave amplitudes when compared to their albino equivalents. Thus, degeneration of photoreceptors in P23H Tg rats is slowed by eye pigmentation as measured by ONL thickness, while it is not in the S334ter Tg rats. Eye pigmentation also protects functional changes in ERG a- and b-waves for the P23H lines, but not for the S334ter lines.
Do Lenders Influence Borrowers’ Mandatory Disclosures? Evidence From Redacted Credit Agreements

I examine whether lender incentives are related to the redaction or non-disclosure of potentially material information from credit agreements of public firms. Using a novel dataset, I find evidence that when lenders invest more in screening and monitoring the borrower or when lenders earn abnormal profits from the loan, credit agreements are more likely to have potentially material information redacted. Furthermore, consistent with the notion that the withholding of information from credit agreements gives current lenders an information advantage, I find that borrowers with redacted credit agreements are more likely to issue subsequent loans with the same lead arranger. Finally, a detailed analysis of credit agreements suggests that firms often withhold potentially material information without the Security and Exchange Commission’s granting a request for confidential treatment.
Still a “female problem”: a framing analysis of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in Chinese online news

Approximately 562 million women in China are at risk for cervical cancer, which is mainly triggered by persistent infections with human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is also responsible for the majorit...
Sirolimus Therapy and Risk of Late Cellular Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients with Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy

Purpose Traditionally, heart transplant (HT) patients with cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) are treated with a combination of calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) and sirolimus (SRL). Recent data suggest outcomes in patients with CAV may be improved by treatment with SRL and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), without CNI. However, this CNI free regimen for HT patients with renal dysfunction resulted in more rejection. Here we evaluated the relationship between risk of rejection and SRL use in CAV. Methods This is a single center, retrospective study of HT patients with CAV, transplanted between 6/2003 - 10/2018. From 357 HT patients, 39 with CAV treated with SRL were identified. Rejection included ISHLT grading ≥ 1R/1B requiring therapy. Incidence of post SRL conversion rejection was analyzed for 2 groups: SRL/CNI and SRL/MMF. Results Of 39 patients identified, 11 received SRL/MMF and 28 received SRL/CNI. Six of 11 patients in the SRL/MMF group developed cellular rejection after transition to SRL, compared to 3 of 28 in the SRL/CNI group (55% vs 11%, p = 0.004; Fig. 1). Four of 6 patients on SRL/MMF who developed post SRL transition rejection, had a history of previous rejection. However, those who did not experience late rejection also had no history of early rejections (66% vs 0%, p=0.045). The average level of SRL was 10.5 ng/ml +/- 1.1 in the group with post SRL rejection and 7.6 ng/mL +/- 1.9 in the group without (p = 0.01). The average dose of MMF was 1834 +/- 376 mg daily in the group with post SRL rejection and 2000 +/- 0 mg daily in the group without (p = 0.78). Conclusion In HT patients with CAV treated with CNI free regimen, despite therapeutic levels of SRL, there is a significant increase in the risk of cellular rejection not seen in those on SRL/CNI. In those on SRL/MMF therapy who experienced post SRL rejection, there was a higher incidence of pre-conversion rejection. Reduced dose CNI/SRL immunosuppression regimens need to be considered in CAV patients, especially those with a history of previous rejection.
The future of sensory processing sensitivity on planet Earth and beyond

Abstract The closing chapter of this volume takes a leap forward and deals with the future of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) on planet Earth and beyond. This chapter opens up with a discussion of space travel and off-world settlements in the context of SPS. It discusses some of the challenges for human adaption to the extreme conditions required of space travel, and describes both the benefits and issues related to space travel and other extreme conditions for highly sensitive persons. For example, enhanced empathy and ease with time in solitude are some of the features that may facilitate high SPS individuals’ adaptation to space missions and other-world settlements. The chapter also discusses some of the traits and characteristics that might be screened for in selecting individuals for explorations of extreme environments, such as space travel, and it also suggests strategies (such as meditation) that may be useful for all individuals, especially the highly sensitive, for coping with harsh environments. The chapter closes by returning back to Earth and highlighting some of the SPS-related features—such as peace, equality, creativity, resect for nature, and empathy—that may be useful as a guide for future societies on Earth, and perhaps also elsewhere.
OpenAltimetry - rapid analysis and visualization of Spaceborne altimeter data

NASA’s Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) carries a laser altimeter that fires 10,000 pulses per second towards Earth and records the travel time of individual photons to measure the elevation of the surface below. The volume of data produced by ICESat-2, nearly a TB per day, presents significant challenges for users wishing to efficiently explore the dataset. NASA’s National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC), which is responsible for archiving and distributing ICESat-2 data, provides search and subsetting services on mission data products, but providing interactive data discovery and visualization tools needed to assess data coverage and quality in a given area of interest is outside of NSIDC’s mandate. The OpenAltimetry project, a NASA-funded collaboration between NSIDC, UNAVCO and the University of California San Diego, has developed a web-based cyberinfrastructure platform that allows users to locate, visualize, and download ICESat-2 surface elevation data and photon clouds for any location on Earth, on demand. OpenAltimetry also provides access to elevations and waveforms for ICESat (the predecessor mission to ICESat-2). In addition, OpenAltimetry enables data access via APIs, opening opportunities for rapid access, experimentation, and computation via third party applications like Jupyter notebooks. OpenAltimetry emphasizes ease-of-use for new users and rapid access to entire altimetry datasets for experts and has been successful in meeting the needs of different user groups. In this paper we describe the principles that guided the design and development of the OpenAltimetry platform and provide a high-level overview of the cyberinfrastructure components of the system.