cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Successful treatment of occupational delayed pressure urticaria and angioedema with omalizumab

Physical urticarias are present in approximately 17% of patients with chronic urticaria. 1 Most of the time delayed pressure urticaria and angioedema are associated with chronic spontaneous urticaria. This type of physical urticaria is usually nonpruritic, causes pressure-induced pain and burning 4 to 6 hours after exposure, and causes significant impairment in quality of life. It is a lymphocyte inflammatory condition associated with increased skin expression of tumor necrosis factor a and interleukin 3. 2 Constitutional symptoms may be present, such as fever, malaise, myalgias, arthralgias, and headaches. Laboratory analysis may reveal acute episodes of leukocytosis with a shift to the left and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level, which are biomarkers of the ongoing inflammatory process. Histamine1 and histamine2 antihistamines are not typically helpful, and oral corticosteroids usually work very well. 3,4 Dapsone can be a corticosteroid-sparing alternative. 5 Rarely has the use of omalizumab been reported to completely control delayed pressure urticaria and angioedema 6,7 because this condition is usually managed with daily corticosteroid administration. Omalizumab-depleting free circulating IgE reduces the ability of mast cells to express inflammatory processes mediated by the release of vasoactive substances present in the cytoplasmatic granules and also stabilizes the mast cell with the downregulation of the highaffinity IgE receptors. 8 In this letter, we present the successful
Heme oxygenase-1-derived bilirubin counteracts HIV protease inhibitor-mediated endothelial cell dysfunction.

Abstract The use of HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) has extended the duration and quality of life for HIV-positive individuals. However there is increasing concern that this antiviral therapy may promote premature cardiovascular disease by impairing endothelial cell (EC) function. In the present study, we investigated the effect of HIV PIs on EC function and determined if the enzyme heme oxygenase (HO-1) influences the biological action of these drugs. We found that three distinct PIs, including ritonavir, atazanavir, and lopinavir, stimulated the expression of HO-1 protein and mRNA. The induction of HO-1 was associated with an increase in NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS). PIs also stimulated HO-1 promoter activity and this was prevented by mutating the antioxidant responsive element or by overexpressing dominant-negative Nrf2. In addition, the PI-mediated induction of HO-1 was abolished by N-acetyl- l -cysteine and rotenone. Furthermore, PIs blocked EC proliferation and migration and stimulated the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and the adhesion of monocytes on ECs. Inhibition of HO-1 activity or expression potentiated the anti-proliferative and inflammatory actions of PIs which was reversed by bilirubin but not carbon monoxide. Alternatively, adenovirus-mediated overexpression of HO-1 attenuated the growth-inhibitory and inflammatory effect of PIs. In contrast, blocking HO-1 activity failed to modify the anti-migratory effect of the PIs. Thus, induction of HO-1 via the ROS–Nrf2 pathway in human ECs counteracts the anti-proliferative and inflammatory actions of PIs by generating bilirubin. Therapeutic approaches targeting HO-1 may provide a novel approach in preventing EC dysfunction and vascular disease in HIV-infected patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy.
Optimization of Microphone Locations for Acoustic Liner Impedance Eduction

Two impedance eduction methods are explored for use with data acquired in the NASA Langley Grazing Flow Impedance Tube. The first is an indirect method based on the convected Helmholtz equation, and the second is a direct method based on the Kumaresan and Tufts algorithm. Synthesized no-flow data, with random jitter to represent measurement error, are used to evaluate a number of possible microphone locations. Statistical approaches are used to evaluate the suitability of each set of microphone locations. Given the computational resources required, small sample statistics are employed for the indirect method. Since the direct method is much less computationally intensive, a Monte Carlo approach is employed to gather its statistics. A comparison of results achieved with full and reduced sets of microphone locations is used to determine which sets of microphone locations are acceptable. For the indirect method, each array that includes microphones in all three regions (upstream and downstream hard wall sections, and liner test section) provides acceptable results, even when as few as eight microphones are employed. The best arrays employ microphones well away from the leading and trailing edges of the liner. The direct method is constrained to use microphones opposite the liner. Although a number of arrays are acceptable, the optimum set employs 14 microphones positioned well away from the leading and trailing edges of the liner. The selected sets of microphone locations are also evaluated with data measured for ceramic tubular and perforate-over-honeycomb liners at three flow conditions (Mach 0.0, 0.3, and 0.5). They compare favorably with results attained using all 53 microphone locations. Although different optimum microphone locations are selected for the two impedance eduction methods, there is significant overlap. Thus, the union of these two microphone arrays is preferred, as it supports usage of both methods. This array contains 3 microphones in the upstream hard wall section, 14 microphones opposite the liner, and 3 microphones in the downstream hard wall section.
Medicine reconciliation on admission in a paediatric hospital setting

Background Medication reconciliation is an organisational practice designed to ensure patients9 pre-admission medicines are prescribed correctly upon admission to hospital. Multiple sources of information are needed to do this. This is the first study of its kind in Ireland to examine the role of medication reconciliation on admission in a paediatric hospital. Objectives To quantify the clinical significance of medication reconciliation in children on admission to hospital, to examine the availability and accuracy of different sources of pre-admission medication information and to investigate whether a successful strategy for medication reconciliation could be expanded to provide benefit for the Irish paediatric population. Methods A prospective observational study included paediatric inpatients admitted to pre-selected general medical wards between April and July 2011. Five different information sources were examined: healthcare record (HCR), patients9 own drugs (PODs), the parents, drug kardex, community pharmacy (CP). A pre-admission medication list was subsequently compiled and discrepancies extracted and analysed. The clinical significance of these discrepancies was determined by an expert multidisciplinary panel using the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCCMERP) classification of medication discrepancies. Results Forty patients were recruited to this study from pre-selected general medical wards over an 18 week period. Fifteen patients (37.5%) had at least one undocumented discrepancy on their drug kardex. Those patients on greater than four medicines and antiepileptic drug use were associated with a greater proportion of errors. Parents were the best source of medication history information (82.5%) followed by the drug kardex (65%), the CP (45%), the HCR (30%) and the patient9s own drugs (20%) respectively. Conclusions The introduction of medication reconciliation in children on admission to hospital has the potential to reduce discomfort and clinical deterioration by reducing unintended medication discrepancies. Patients in Ireland should be encouraged to bring their medicines into hospital with them to facilitate the medication reconciliation. Multiple sources should be consulted when obtaining medication histories.
Functional Connectivity of the Amygdala Is Disrupted in Preschool-Aged Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Objective The objective of this study was to determine whether functional connectivity of the amygdala is altered in preschool-age children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to assess the clinical relevance of observed alterations in amygdala connectivity. Method A resting-state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging study of the amygdala (and a parallel study of primary visual cortex) was conducted in 72 boys (mean age 3.5 years; n = 43 with ASD; n = 29 age-matched controls). Results The ASD group showed significantly weaker connectivity between the amygdala and several brain regions involved in social communication and repetitive behaviors, including bilateral medial prefrontal cortex, temporal lobes, and striatum ( p p p p Conclusion These findings indicate that preschool-age children with ASD have disrupted functional connectivity between the amygdala and regions of the brain important for social communication and language, which might be clinically relevant because weaker connectivity was associated with increased autism severity. Moreover, although amygdala connectivity was associated with behavioral domains that are diagnostic of ASD, altered connectivity of primary visual cortex was related to sensory hypersensitivity.
Multiple Transcripts Encode Full-Length Human Cytomegalovirus IE1 and IE2 Proteins during Lytic Infection

UNLABELLED Expression of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) IE1 and IE2 proteins is critical for the establishment of lytic infection and reactivation from viral latency. Defining the mechanisms controlling IE1 and IE2 expression is therefore important for understanding how HCMV regulates its replicative cycle. Here we identify several novel transcripts encoding full-length IE1 and IE2 proteins during HCMV lytic replication. Two of the alternative major immediate early (MIE) transcripts initiate in the first intron, intron A, of the previously defined MIE transcript, while others extend the 5' untranslated region. Each of the MIE transcripts associates with polyribosomes in infected cells and therefore contributes to IE1 and IE2 protein levels. Surprisingly, deletion of the core promoter region of the major immediate early promoter (MIEP) from a plasmid containing the MIE genomic locus did not completely abrogate IE1 and IE2 expression. Instead, deletion of the MIEP core promoter resulted in increased expression of alternative MIE transcripts, suggesting that the MIEP suppresses the activity of the alternative MIE promoters. While the canonical MIE mRNA was the most abundant transcript at immediate early times, the novel MIE transcripts accumulated to levels equivalent to that of the known MIE transcript later in infection. Using two HCMV recombinants, we found that sequences in intron A of the previously defined MIE transcript are required for efficient IE1 and IE2 expression and viral replication. Together, our results identify new regulatory sequences controlling IE1 and IE2 expression and suggest that multiple transcription units act in concert to regulate IE1 and IE2 expression during lytic infection. IMPORTANCE The HCMV IE1 and IE2 proteins are critical regulators of HCMV replication, both during primary infection and reactivation from viral latency. This study expands our understanding of the sequences controlling IE1 and IE2 expression by defining novel transcriptional units controlling the expression of full-length IE1 and IE2 proteins. Our results suggest that alternative promoters may allow for IE1 and IE2 expression when MIEP activity is limiting, as occurs in latently infected cells.
Novel indices for power quality measurement

Power quality indices and the corresponding measurement techniques are utilized to quantitatively present the quality of power supply, and characterize and compare the negative impacts of different disturbances to power networks. To overcome the limitations, deficiencies and difficulties of the practical application of power quality indices and measurement techniques in common use, a set of three new indices are proposed In this work to summarize the time varying waveform distortion in an intuitive, comprehensive and highly efficient way. Moreover, a novel time frequency transform is also developed for the first time to continuously and accurately monitor the instantaneous frequencies and amplitudes of specific signal components in the nonstationary power disturbance, and then update the PQ indices in real time.
Liver Transplantation for Hepatitis B in Early Adulthood: Analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing Database

Abstract Background Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has a mild course in most children that may delay initiation of treatment even when indicated. Unfortunately, a small number of cases can progress rapidly to cirrhosis, which may require liver transplantation (LT) in early adulthood. The aim of this study was to assess the characteristics of HBV-positive young adults who received LT and to evaluate post-transplant outcomes including patient and graft survival and differences between pre- and post-implementation of Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) prioritization. Methods The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database review was conducted from 1987 to 2012, and a retrospective analysis was performed on all young adult patients (ages 18–35 years) who underwent LT in the United States with a primary diagnosis of HBV or were seropositive for HBV surface antigen at time of LT. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess patient and graft survival in the pre-MELD and post-MELD eras. Factors associated with survival were identified through the use of Cox regression analysis. Results A total of 522 HBV-infected subjects were included. Average age at time of transplant was 28.4 ± 5.2 years; 60.9% were male, 48.6% were white, the mean body mass index was 25 ± 5.5 kg/m2, diabetes was present in 3.9%, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was present in 4.4%, and 10.4% were on dialysis prior to LT. Median follow-up after first LT was 48.2 months [12.5, 109]. During this time, 174 (33.3%) patients died with a mean age at the time of death of 31.6 ± 7.8 years, including 144 of 522 (28%) after the first LT, 26 of 74 (35%) after the second LT, and 4 of 12 (33%) after the third LT. The most common cause of death was graft failure (27.6%), followed by infection (16.6%). Overall, only 58% of patients were alive with their first LT at last follow-up. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed worse patient and graft survival after re-transplantation in comparison to initial LT. Three hundred thirty subjects were transplanted in the pre-MELD era and 192 were transplanted in post-MELD era. Obesity, HCC, shorter ventilation use, shorter cold ischemia time, and non-white donor race were significantly more common in the post-MELD era (all with P Conclusions LT in young adults for HBV has poor outcomes and can be associated with premature death. These findings should prompt more aggressive evaluation and treatment for HBV in young patients. Superior outcomes in the post-MELD era compared with the pre-MELD era may be attributed to pre-transplant factors, improved surgical technique, and better treatment options for HBV infection.
Smoking as a risk factor for breast reduction: An analysis of 13,503 cases

Summary Background Reduction mammaplasty is one of the most common reconstructive procedures performed by plastic surgeons. Over 100,000 procedures are performed annually. Although important for relieving the painful symptoms associated with macromastia, complication rates of this procedure are not insignificant. They are reported in up to half the cases. Reported risk factors for adverse outcomes include obesity, preoperative wound infection, and advanced American Society of Anesthesiologists status. Smoking has been described as a risk factor for breast reduction. There is disagreement in the literature regarding the effect of smoking on patient outcomes. To further describe and investigate smoking as a risk factor, we undertook the largest multicenter retrospective study on this subject. Methods Data on 13,984 patients was identified from the 2009–2014 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program . Smoker and nonsmoker cohorts were compared to assess unadjusted differences in demographics, comorbidities, intraoperative details, 30-day outcomes, and readmission rates. Univariate analysis was performed using chi-square or Fisher's exact and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. A multivariate logistic regression model was created to identify independent risk factors for complications and readmission. Odds ratios were computed at the 95% confidence interval. Results After adjusting for potential confounders, smokers had a higher likelihood of any wound complication (OR 1.72; p = 0.001) following reduction mammaplasty compared to nonsmokers. Conclusion Smoking has been shown to be a significant risk factor for wound complications following reduction mammaplasty. Comprehensive preoperative counseling and documentation should be performed with patients who smoke regarding the potential for increased risk of adverse outcomes.
Abstract 1555: Pan-cancer patterns of synthetic lethality: statistical modeling of gene dependency profiles

We present a methodology to fit statistical models of cell-viability profiles from RNAi-gene knockdowns. This method allows us to classify genes according to the degree of skewness in their viability distributions. The set of genes with the highest degree of skewness is highly enriched with many known oncogenes and tumor suppressors. We characterize many of these genes, compare them against the results of large sequencing efforts, and use them as inputs to a matrix-decomposition procedure that identifies the most salient cell viabilities shared by different cancer types. We catalog these pan-cancer patterns of synthetic lethality and characterize them by the genomic, transcriptional, and phenotypic features. This analysis provides a rich catalog of the most salient Achilles’ Heels of Pan-Cancer that can be helpful to identify new therapeutic strategies across cancers. Citation Format: Huwate Yeerna, Ramya Rangan, Andrew Aguirre, William Kim, Francisca Vazquez, Barbara Weir, Mahmoud Ghandi, Aviad Tsherniak, Jesse Boehm, William Hahn, Jill Mesirov, Pablo Tamayo. Pan-cancer patterns of synthetic lethality: statistical modeling of gene dependency profiles [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1555. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1555
Chapter 11 – Incorporating Animal-Assisted Interventions into Psychotherapy: Guidelines and Suggestions for Therapists

The objective of this chapter is to provide the reader with practical insight into how animals may be incorporated into a therapeutic practice. Within this context, the author will also provide suggested guidelines to assure quality control for both the client and the animal's safety. Case studies will be incorporated to illustrate how the interventions can be applied logically.
An improved pH mapping bandage with thread-based sensors for chronic wound monitoring

Threads have recently been demonstrated as thin and flexible substrates for diagnostics and wearable devices. These substrates provide flexible 3D integration with cloth using standard textile methods. Our group has recently demonstrated a pH mapping smart-bandage using thread-based polyaniline pH sensors for chronic wound monitoring. Here, we utilize high-surface area sensing regions to present an improved pH mapping bandage with more intimate wound contact and a faster response time compared to our previous work. Additionally, we condense our readout electronics into a 3D printed 25mm button form factor capable of easy integration with our thread-based sensors. We demonstrate our modified bandage's improved performance through sensitivity and response time measurements. Furthermore, we present pH measurements in spiked biological serum demonstrating that our bandage remains sensitive in complex biological environments.
Biomolecular Electronics: Structure ↔ Function Relationship

Biological microstructures perform a variety of electronic functions, some of which are unparalleled by current solid state technology. In addition, the size and energy requirements for these bioelectronic devices are substantially less and beyond the capability of current solid state technology. Two divergent and complementary approaches have emerged to accomplish the design of molecular electronic devices: the first is to essentially duplicate the powerful information processes of biological systems, while the second is to duplicate existing electronic functions using molecular components. Although the problems integral to both approaches are significant, they both are predicated on biological mechanisms and rely on the important relationship of structure ↔ function ↔ energy for molecular design.
Pollen Enzymes and Isoenzymes

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses few enzymes of plant tissues that have been sought without success in pollen or pollen tubes. Dehydrogenase (DH) activity has been reported for the pollen of many plant species. Glucose 6-phosphate DH and isocitrate DH activities were reported for lily pollen by Dickinson and Davies. Lipoamine DH activity was also recorded in several species. Studies of pollen oxidases have been restricted largely to the cytochrome oxidases, catalases, and peroxidases. The aminotransferase (AT) or transaminase activity of pollen grains has been studied in comparatively few species. Acidphosphatase (AP) has been studied more widely in pollen than any other enzyme, reflecting in part the ease and reliability of enzyme identification. Pollen slowly loses certain types of enzymatic activity during storage, but these cannot account for the rapid loss of viability of, for example, corn pollen.
The LiNbO 3 Slab Waveguide: A Platform for Terahertz Signal Generation, Detection, and Control

We provide an overview of the terahertz (THz) polaritonics system, an on-chip platform for the generation, detection, and control of THz-frequency electromagnetic waves. The “chip” is a thin slab of lithium niobate crystal whose nonlinear and electro-optic properties directly enable the functionality. We first discuss dielectric slab waveguiding, which determines THz wave behavior in the polaritonics system. We then cover the generation of broadband and narrowband THz waves with an ultrafast laser pulse. The next topic is time-resolved imaging, which lets us record movies of the THz waves as they propagate at the speed of light with sub-cycle temporal and λ/100 spatial resolution. The final experimental tool discussed is laser machining, which makes it possible to fabricate photonic elements directly in the lithium niobate slab. Using these techniques, we show THz waves interacting with a variety of microstructures including a mirror, diffraction grating, waveguide, interferometer, photonic crystal, and metal antenna. These structures enable wave steering, guiding, spectral and spatial filtering, amplitude modulation, field enhancement, and sub-wavelength field localization. The broad capability set makes the polaritonics platform a promising one for future high-speed devices in optical communications and computation. The field enhancement and control also makes this an excellent platform for nonlinear THz spectroscopy.
HREM Study of a Tetragonal → Monoclinic Martensitic Interface in a Y2O3-Stabilized ZrO2 Alloy

High resolution electron microscopy was used to study a martensitic interface in a Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 alloy. The interface was found to be dislocated; the dislocations have a component along t and are spaced ~14 (111) t planes. These dislocations are believed to be misfit or interface dislocations, present to relieve strains at the t/m interface. This interface thus cannot be the invariant plane strain interface calculated by the crystallographic theories of martensitic transformations.
Modeling larval dispersal and connectivity for Atlantic sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) in the Middle Atlantic Bight

Abstract Larval Atlantic sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) simulations in the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) from 2006 to 2012 were performed to investigate annual and inter-annual dispersal and connectivity patterns among stock regions. These simulations used a circulation model based on the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) and an individual-based larval model (IBM) that included larval behavior. The circulation model used realistic dynamical forcing (e.g., winds, tides, and open ocean boundary conditions), thermo-dynamical fluxes (e.g., solar radiations, sensible and latent heating), and hydrological forcing; the larval IBM included vertical swimming and sinking behaviour, temperature-dependent growth, and settlement. Simulated larvae that reach settlement size and suitable habitat in 45 days are considered ‘successful’, and two regions are considered ‘connected’ by larval dispersal when larvae successfully disperse from one region to the other. In general, simulated larval dispersal patterns varied seasonally (28% higher in September and October compared to May and June), among years (2007 through 2009 had 5% lower larval success during August and September compared to other years), and spatially, with larvae released from the northern regions like Long Island acting as a substantive larval source with 14% greater dispersal success and 15% greater connectivity with other regions than those released elsewhere. Over the seven years simulated, the MAB scallop stocks showed high rates of connectivity to regions to the south and more limited and variable connectivity to regions to the north. In species like sea scallops with limited adult mobility, larval dispersal supplies recruits, enables range expansion, and connects populations. Thus, appreciation of dispersal patterns are essential for fishery management of this economically valuable stock.
Drug-Induced Retinal Toxicity

Drug-induced retinal toxicity can occur from the use of systemic, intravitreal, or topical medications. Despite the presence of the blood-ocular barrier, the retina is vulnerable to toxic effects of systemic medications leading to dysfunction and retinal degeneration. These toxicities can be categorized as damage to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptor complex, vascular damage, ganglion cell or optic nerve damage, cystoid macular edema, crystalline retinopathy, uveitis, changes in color vision and electroretinography (ERG), and other miscellaneous effects.
Going Beyond Downstream Social Marketing: The Case of “Jamie’s Food Revolution”

Until the mid-1990s, much of the focus in social marketing was on individual behaviour change, the so-called downstream social marketing. In recent years, scholars have proposed a broadening of social marketing’s horizons beyond the individual to attempt to influence those that help shape the determinants of human behaviour, namely, the structural and immediate social environment. This broadening highlights the necessity to go upper stream in search of the causes of social problems (upstream social marketing).
Translation and cultural adaptation of parent-report developmental assessments: Improving rigor in methodology

Abstract Most parent-report autism screening and assessment tools are developed and validated in English. Tools developed in one language with a specific culture require translation and cultural adaptation for use with a culturally or linguistically different population. Traditional translation methods are not sufficient to maintain the validity of these tools in the new population. A more rigorous methodology that maintains linguistic, construct, and technical equivalence is recommended. This article summarizes the basic stages in this translation and cultural adaptation process along with descriptions and rationales for various possible strategies used to complete each stage. A quality appraisal checklist is provided to allow readers to systematically analyze the quality of a translation or to guide instrument developers in the translation process.
1449-P: Longitudinal Changes in Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and Risk of Diabetes: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN)

Low circulating levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), a putative marker of androgenicity, have been associated with poor glucose control in studies conducted primarily among post-menopausal women. However, the relation of long-term changes in endogenous SHBG to risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in women during and after the menopause transition is unclear. We aimed to assess the longitudinal associations between SHBG levels and risk of developing T2DM among such women. We included 3,060 participants in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) who were free of diabetes at baseline. SWAN is a longitudinal cohort study with up to 17 years of follow-up. SHBG levels were measured at 13 visits. Participants reported diagnosed diabetes status at all visits, and fasting glucose was measured at 8 follow-up visits. T2DM was defined based on self-report or fasting glucose levels. Women averaged 46 (SD=3) years of age at baseline. 311 women developed T2DM during follow-up. We used complementary log-log-based discrete time survival models anchored at baseline to estimate associations of longitudinal SHBG with incident T2DM. A 5-unit (nM) increase in time-varying SHBG was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.86 (95% CI 0.82, 0.90), for T2DM, after controlling for race-ethnicity, age, cycle day of blood draw, site, time-varying body mass index (BMI), testosterone, and baseline SHBG level. After adjusting for covariates, women in the lowest ((-92.0 - -1.1 nM/year) vs. highest quartile (0.7 - 42.1 nM/year) for time-invariant average rate of change per year in SHBG levels) had a HR of 5.18 (95% CI: 3.55,7.56). No association was observed for other quartiles in rate of change of SHBG with developing T2DM. Women with low levels of SHBG and/or decreases in SHBG levels were at increased risk to develop T2DM. Clinicians should be aware that declining levels of SHBG in mid-life women is strongly associated with developing T2DM, independent known T2DM risk factors. Disclosure M.M. Hedderson: None. C. Lee: None. A. Capra: None. J. Lee: None. P. Chang: None. E. Gold: None. E. Waetjen: None. L.A. Habel: None. S.R. El Khoudary: None. Funding National Institutes of Health
Rigidity of measures invariant under the action of a multiplicative semigroup of polynomial growth on $\T$

We prove that if a Borel probability measure (\mu) on (\T) is invariant under the action of a "large" multiplicative semigroup (lower logarithmic density is positive) and the action of the whole semigroup is ergodic then (\mu) is either Lebesgue or has finite support.
LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF TETRALOGY OF FALLOT WITH ABSENT PULMONARY VALVE: A STUDY FROM THE PEDIATRIC CARDIAC CARE CONSORTIUM

Management of tetralogy of Fallot and absent pulmonary valve (TOF/APV) is challenging and limited data are available on long-term survival after repair. This is a retrospective study of patients operated for TOF/APV between 1982 and 2003 in the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium (PCCC), a large US-
Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are a family of enzymes that function to terminate the action of the hormone …
Branched-chain amino acids, history of gestational diabetes, and breastfeeding: The Bogalusa Heart Study

Abstract Background and aims To examine the associations between history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and breastfeeding with branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and their metabolites in later life. Methods and results 638 women (mean age 48.0 y) who had participated in the Bogalusa Heart Study and substudies of pregnancy history had untargeted, ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy conducted by Metabolon© on serum samples. Metabolites were identified that were BCAA or associated with BCAA metabolic pathways. History of GDM at any pregnancy (self-reported, confirmed with medical records when possible) as well as breastfeeding were examined as predictors of BCAA using linear models, controlling for age, race, BMI, waist circumference, and menopausal status. None of the BCAA differed statistically by history of either GDM or breastfeeding, although absolute levels of each of the BCAA were higher with GDM and lower with breastfeeding. Of the 27 metabolites on the leucine, isoleucine and valine metabolism subpathway, 1-carboxyethylleucine, 1-carboxyethyvaline, and 3-hydroxy-2-ethylpropionate were higher in women with a history of GDM, but lower in women in women with a history of breastfeeding. Similar results were found for alpha-hydroxyisocaproate, 1-carboxyethylisoleucine, and N-acetylleucine. Conclusions GDM and breastfeeding are associated in opposite directions with several metabolites on the BCAA metabolic pathway.
Klingen $${\mathfrak {p}}^2$$ p 2 vectors for $$\mathrm{GSp}(4)$$ GSp ( 4 )

We calculate the dimensions of the spaces of invariant vectors under the Klingen congruence subgroup of level $${\mathfrak {p}}^2$$ for all irreducible, admissible representations of $$\mathrm{GSp}(4, F)$$ with trivial central character for F a $${\mathfrak {p}}$$ -adic field.
The Chemistry of Chlorophyll (With Special Reference to Foods)

Publisher Summary This chapter has attempted to survey those aspects of chlorophyll that should make an investigation into the changes more understandable or easier. It assumes a general approach, from which practical applications may be deduced. It presents a brief survey of the pertinent chemistry of chlorophyll, analytical methods used in its determination, and industrial and medical aspects of possible interest to the food industry. Chlorophylls a and b form, the common green matter of all higher and most lower photosynthetic plants, which is the most important are discussed. A variety of terms and structures native to chlorophyll chemistry has been appended in the chapter. The chapter discusses the possible utilization of chlorophyll as a raw material for industrial and pharmacological purposes.
The World Mission of the Christian Church

This chapter presents an outline and brief description of a new theological understanding of the mission of the church in this world in the light of the developments in theology over the past 75 years. These are ecumenism, concern for social liberation, interfaith dialogue, dialogue with science, and attention to the planet. Two basic moves respond to these issues: an ecclesiology explicitly formulated in dialogue with the world and placing the exigency of reconciliation near the center of mission intent.
Topological Field Theory with Haagerup Symmetry

We construct a (1+1)d topological field theory (TFT) whose topological defect lines (TDLs) realize the transparent Haagerup $\mathcal{H}_3$ fusion category. This TFT has six vacua, and each of the three non-invertible simple TDLs hosts three defect operators, giving rise to a total of 15 point-like operators. The TFT data -- three-point functions and lasso diagrams -- are determined by solving all the sphere four-point crossing equations and torus one-point modular invariance equations. We further verify that the Cardy states furnish a non-negative integer matrix representation under TDL fusion. Many of the constraints we derive are not limited to the this particular TFT with six vacua, and we leave open the question of whether the Haagerup $\mathcal{H}_3$ fusion category is realized in TFTs with two or four vacua. Finally, TFTs realizing the Haagerup $\mathcal{H}_1$ and $\mathcal{H}_2$ fusion categories can be obtained by gauging algebra objects. This note makes a modest offering in our pursuit of exotica and the quest for their eventual conformity.
Perplexing Infectious Etiology of a Case of Hypopituitarism and Central Diabetes Insipidus

Injury to the hypothalamus and both the anterior and posterior components of the pituitary gland is rare, but can result from infiltrative processes such as sarcoidosis, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, granulomatous with polyangiitis, and lymphocytic hypophysitis. Meningitis, pituitary infection, traumatic brain injury, and surgical instrumentation are other etiologies. A 40 year old man with mild cognitive impairment due to remote meningitis was evaluated for progressive somnolence. He was obtunded and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed 11 WBC with lymphocytic pleocytosis (90% lymphocytes), highly elevated protein of 588 mg/dL (ref range 12-60 mg/dL), and low glucose of 17 mg/dL (ref range 40-70 mg/dL). MRI Brain revealed basilar meningitis/rhombencephalitis and suspected infectious vasculitis induced right middle cerebral artery territory stroke. Of note, there was substantial T2 hyperintense signaling in the hypothalamus and pituitary areas, which has been reported with tuberculosis (TB), Coccidioidomycosis (Cocci), and the aforementioned etiologies. He received broad antimicrobials, including TB treatment and fluconazole. He developed sinus bradycardia, hypotension, hypoglycemia, and hypothermia. Labs demonstrated inappropriately normal TSH of 1.4 mclU/mL (ref range 0.35-4.94 mclU/mL), low free T4 (fT4) of 0.50 ng/dL (ref range 0.7-1.48 ng/dL) with repeat fT4 undetectably low the following day, and AM cortisol less than 0.5mcg/dL (ref range 4-22 mcg/dL). Levothyroxine and steroids were initiated. He then developed central diabetes insipidus (DI) for which DDAVP was initiated. Comprehensive infectious and autoimmune meningoencephalitis workup was unrevealing. Serum and CSF tests for Listeria PCR, Cocci antibody and antigen, and TB were negative upon multiple, serial checks spanning weeks. CSF analysis one month later showed improvement in protein level (106 mg/dL), but still with elevated WBC (10 WBCs, 98% lymphocytes). MRI one month later demonstrated improvement in edema and the areas of ischemia and vasculitis were less. His adrenal insufficiency and central DI were transient and improved, no longer requiring steroids or DDAVP. He remains on levothyroxine for central hypothyroidism. The MRI and CSF findings point to an infectious etiology for hypopituitarism and central DI. We suspect an indolent bacteria such as Listeria or a fungus, likely Cocci, or TB meningitis. Cocci seemed to provide a unifying explanation as it classically creates infarcts and causes vasculitis. However, serial CSF tests were negative for Cocci, as well as for TB and Listeria. Marked improvement on follow up MRI also makes TB meningitis less likely as imaging would not resolve so quickly. This is a mysterious case; he improved on broad antimicrobial therapy and is being monitored closely in the outpatient setting.
Neighborhood characteristics and psychiatric disorders in the aftermath of mass trauma: A representative study of New York City public school 4th-12th graders after 9/11.

Abstract Studies of the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and childhood/adolescent psychopathology in large samples examined one outcome only, and/or general (e.g., ‘psychological distress’) or aggregate (e.g., ‘any anxiety disorder’) measures of psychopathology. Thus, in the only representative sample of New York City public school 4th-12th graders (N = 8202) surveyed after the attacks of 9/11/2001, this study examined whether (1) indices of neighborhood Socioeconomic Status, Quality, and Safety and (2) neighborhood disadvantage (defined as multidimensional combinations of SES, Quality and Safety indicators) are associated with eight psychiatric disorders: posttraumatic stress disorder, separation anxiety disorder (SAD), agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, major depression, conduct disorder, and alcohol use disorder (AUD). (1) The odds ratios (OR) of psychiatric disorders were between 0.55 (AUD) and 1.55 (agoraphobia), in low and intermediate-low SES neighborhoods, respectively, between 0.50 (AUD) and 2.54 (agoraphobia) in low Quality neighborhoods, and between 0.52 (agoraphobia) and 0.65 (SAD) in low Safety neighborhoods. (2) In neighborhoods characterized by high disadvantage, the OR were between 0.42 (AUD) and 1.36 (SAD). This study suggests that neighborhood factors are important social determinants of childhood/adolescent psychopathology, even in the aftermath of mass trauma. At the community level, interventions on modifiable neighborhood characteristics and targeted resources allocation to high-risk contexts could have a cost-effective broad impact on children's mental health. At the individual-level, increased knowledge of the living environment during psychiatric assessment and treatment could improve mental health outcomes; for example, specific questions about neighborhood factors could be incorporated in DSM-5's Cultural Formulation Interview.
Outcomes in patients with known contrast allergy undergoing contrast-enhanced endourological procedures: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Intravenous administration of iodinated contrast agents carries the risk of allergic reaction, yet this risk is unclear with administration into the urinary tract. We sought to evaluate...
Evil Deeds in High Places: Christian America’s Moral Struggle with Watergate

David E. Settje’s Evil Deeds in High Places: Christian America’s Moral Struggle with Watergate sat on a table for weeks before I nerved myself to pick it up and begin reading. Richard Nixon’s presi...
Colloidal aggregation in anisotropic liquid crystal solvent

The mutual attraction between colloidal particles in an anisotropic fluid, such as the nematic liquid crystal phase, leads to the formation of hierarchical aggregate morphologies distinct from those that tend to form in isotropic fluids. Previously it was difficult to study this aggregation process for a large number of colloids due to the difficulty of achieving a well dispersed initial colloid distribution under good imaging conditions. In this paper, we report the use of a recently developed self-assembling colloidal system to investigate this process. Hollow, micron-scale colloids are formed in situ in the nematic phase and subsequently aggregate to produce fractal structures and colloidal gels, the structures of which are determined by colloid concentration and temperature quench depth through the isotropic to nematic phase transition point. This self-assembling colloidal system provides a unique method to study particle aggregation in liquid crystal over large length scales. We use fluorescence microscopy over a range of length scales to measure aggregate structure as a function of temperature quench depth, observe ageing mechanisms and explore the driving mechanisms in this unique system. Our analyses suggest that aggregate dynamics depend on a combination of Frank elasticity relaxation, spontaneous defect line annihilation and internal aggregate fracturing.
Vertical jump kinetics in young children

Research suggests a link between physical and cognitive development in children exists (Diamond, 2000, Krombholtz, 1997). Developmental experts believe that motor delays negatively influence future development (Gallahue, 1996). A common motor skill frequently observed in children is the vertical jump (VJ). Many VJ studies have assessed kinematic and kinetic performance variables and training techniques on adults. Several kinematic studies have assessed the vertical and horizontal jumping performance of young children. However, no kinetic studies of very young children performing a VJ have been published. The purpose of this study was to compare kinetic, performance, and temporal measures of kinetically more and less efficient 3-5 year old children performing two VJ techniques. Kinetic efficiency (KE) represented the magnitude, direction, and duration of the forwardbackward Y-forces.
Giant planar lipid bilayer: II. Conductance and interfacial effect of inhalation anesthetics

Abstract From the capacitance study of the oleylamine planar lipid bilayer, a model is proposed in which the interaction of anesthetics and bilayers occurs in two mechanisms: anesthetics adsorb on the bilayer/water interface at low anesthetic concentrations near the clinical level, saturate the interface as the concentrations increase, and then penetrate into the hydrophobic core at concentrations above the surface saturation. The present study measured the electrical conductance of the oleylamine bilayer. In the absence of anesthetics, the conductance was 3.2 × 10 −8 S·cm −2 at 293.15°K. In the low anesthetic concentration range below the point where the capacitance reached a limiting value of 0.58 μF·cm −2 ( A b , the conductance was little affected the anesthetics. When the anesthetic concentration exceeded the critical point, the conductance suddenly increased sharply. The conductance increase was analyzed by considering the following three factors: (1) ionized oleylamine molecules, (2) anesthetic molecules adsorbed on the bilayer surface, and (3) anesthetic molecules solvated into the bilayer core. In the absence of anesthetics, the theoretical value for the energy required for the Cl − ion to penetrate into the bilayer was estimated to be 1.56 × 10 5 J·mol −1 when an ion pair is not formed, and 8.07 × 10 4 J·mol −1 when an ion pair is formed with the ionized oleylamine molecule. At anesthetic concentrations lower than the critical point, decrease of relative permittivity at the interface by anesthetic molecules assists the penetration of Cl − ion into the bilayer core. When anesthetics molecules are adsorbed on the bilayer surface at saturation, the value was estimated to be 7.46 × 10 4 J·mol −1 . At supraclinical anesthetic concentrations above the surface saturation level, the presence of anesthetic molecules in the bilayer core further decreased the value to 7.043 × 10 4 J·mol −1 at maximum anesthetic concentration, above which the bilayer was destabilized (capacitance = 0.67 μF·cm −2 ). This is apparently caused by the increase in relative permittivity in the bilayer core. The dependency of the bilayer conductance on pH and anesthetic concentrations can be explained by the interfacial adsorption of inhalation anesthetics decreasing the relative permittivity of the interfacial region at clinical concentrations. The present result supports the two-process model prosed in the accompanying paper for the interaction of anesthetics with membranes.
Nash Dynamics in Congestion Games with Similar Resources

We study convergence of ?-Nash dynamics in congestion games when delay functions of all resources are similar. Delay functions are said to be similar if their values are within a polynomial factor at every congestion level. We show that for any ?> 0, an ?-Nash dynamics in symmetric congestion games with similar resources converge in steps polynomial in 1/? and the number of players are resources, yielding an FPTAS. Our result can be contrasted with that of Chien and Sinclair [3], which showed polynomial convergence result for symmetric congestion games where the delay functions have polynomially bounded jumps. Our assumption of similar delay functions is orthogonal to that of bounded jumps in that neither assumption implies the other. Our convergence result also hold for several natural variants of ?-Nash dynamics, including the most general polynomial liveness dynamics, where each player is given a chance to move frequently enough. We also extend our positive results to give an FPTAS for computing equilibrium in asymmetric games with similar resources, in which players share k distinct strategy spaces for any constant k. We complement our positive results by showing that computing an exact pure Nash equilibrium in symmetric congestion game with similar resources is PLS-complete. Furthermore, we show that for any ?> 0, all sequences of ?-Nash dynamics takes exponential steps to reach an approximate equilibrium in general congestion games with similar resources, as well as in symmetric congestion games with two groups of similar resources.