cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of Bacterial Interactions in the Colonization of Oral Surfaces by Actinomyces viscosus

The effects of several microbial residents of human oral cavities on the attachment of Actinomyces viscosus T14V to tooth surfaces were assessed by using the saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (sHA) in vitro system. Attachment to sHA by A. viscosus T14V was not inhibited in the presence of Streptococcus mutans GS5, either in the presence or absence of sucrose. Precoating sHA beads with S. mutans in the presence of sucrose also did not retard strain T14V attachment. However, the presence of Streptococcus sanguis M5 during strain T14V attachment markedly inhibited the interaction of A. viscosus T14V with sHA, whereas another S. sanguis strain, strain G9B, produced relatively weak inhibition. The inhibitory effect of S. sanguis M5 appeared to result from the direct interaction of this organism with A. viscosus T14V. Conversely, the presence of strain T14V markedly increased the attachment of S. sanguis M5 to sHA while partially inhibiting the attachment of S. sanguis G9B. Moreover, sHA beads precoated with A. viscosus T14V bound much higher levels of S. sanguis M5 relative to uncoated sHA, whereas S. sanguis G9B attachment was only weakly inhibited. It was also observed that sHA beads precoated with either S. sanguis M5 or G9B inhibited subsequent attachment by strain T14V. These results suggest the possibility that the attachment sites for both S. sanguis strains partially overlap those for A. viscosus T14V. Streptococcus mitis weakly inhibited attachment of strain T14V to sHA, and both Streptococcus salivarius and Lactobacillus casei had little effect on attachment. In addition, both a radioisotope attachment assay and fluorescent microscopy demonstrated no significant attachment of A. viscosus T14V to human epithelial cells.
Flexible Needle Steering System for Percutaneous Access to Deep Zones of the Brain

The authors describe a minimally invasive flexible needle-steering system to access deep areas of the brain. The design exploits the inherent bending of a beveled-tip needle when passing through tissue. Precise control of the rotation of the needle allows for an unlimited variety of trajectories. Potential advantages to this system include the possibility of catheter-based therapy delivery within the brain with minimal trauma to surrounding structures, and the ability to navigate around critical cerebral structures to reach deep zones within the brainstem, thalamus or other subcortical regions.
Drugging Chromatin in Cancer: Recent Advances and Novel Approaches

Chromatin regulatory mechanisms play a major role in the control of gene expression programs during normal development and are disrupted in specific disease states, particularly in cancer. Important mediators of chromatin regulatory processes can broadly be classified into writers, erasers, and readers of covalent chromatin modifications that modulate eukaryotic gene transcription and maintain the integrity of the genome. The reversibility and disease-specific nature of these chromatin states make these regulators attractive therapeutic targets. As such, there is an ever-increasing number of candidate therapies aimed at targeting cancer-associated chromatin states that are in various stages of preclinical and clinical development. In this review, we discuss recent advances that have been made in the rational therapeutic targeting of chromatin regulatory mechanisms and highlight certain cancers where there is a specific rationale to assess these therapeutic approaches.
Tumor-derived alpha-fetoprotein (tAFP) causes immune and metabolic dysfunction in monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

Meeting abstracts Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is an oncofetal antigen expressed by over 50% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors. AFP-L3 is the major isoform present in the serum of HCC patients and is associated with poor patient prognosis. While HCC tumor-derived AFP (tAFP) contains >80% of AFP-
Models for Investigating How Dietary Restriction Retards Aging: The Adaptation Hypothesis

The studies reported by McCay et al. (1935) that dietary restriction (DR) initiated in early youth of rats extends both average and maximum life spans have been extended by numerous investigators (for comprehensive review see Weindruch and Walford 1988). Figure 22.1 schematizes the field of DR from both historical and conceptual standpoints. While there is a rough correlation between the time line and the “events” listed to the right of the time line in Fig. 22.1, I have made exceptions in order to improve the conceptual groupings [for example, Sacher (1977), Williams et al. (1987), and Hibbs and Walford (1989) all contributed to survival curve analysis, but at quite different periods]. From 1935 until the early 1970s essentially all studies of DR concerned its effect(s) on survival and/or diseases, especially tumors. From about 1972 on, and beginning with assessment of the effects of DR on the immune system (Walford et al. 1972, 1974), a major preoccupation of investigators has been with documenting the physiologic and “biomarker” effects of DR. Since the mid 1980s, the main emphasis has been the search for mechanisms. However, important studies are still ongoing in all these areas.
The Real Reasons Why the Germans are Wrong About Greece

The paper supports the 2015 bailout for Greece in the amount of some 86 billion Euro but it also argues that all international lenders should take a haircut of some 33% to bring Greek debt to a more sustainable level and that the focus for the future should be more on rebuilding the Greek economy and less on austerity.
Effect of Synbiotic Therapy on Gut–Derived Uremic Toxins and the Intestinal Microbiome in Patients with CKD

The gastrointestinal tract houses a large community of microbes (microbiome), which plays a major role in micronutrient and immune homeostasis, energy metabolism, and host defenses against pathogens ([1][1],[2][2]). Composition and function of the microbiome are shaped by the biochemical and
Reversal of advanced atherosclerosis in Rhesus monkeys: Part 1. Light-microscopic studies☆

Abstract The regression of atherosclerotic lesions in Rhesus monkeys was evaluated by means of a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet with or without N-γ-phenylpropyl-N-benzyloxy acetamide (W-1372). Moderate to severe aortic and coronary atherosclerosis was induced by feeding 4 groups of male monkeys a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet for 18 months, after which the first group was autopsied for assessment of the lesions. During a subsequent 18-month regression period, the second group of animals was fed a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet with W-1372, and the third group the low-fat, low-cholesterol diet without W-1372. A pair of monkeys (the fourth “group”) was fed an atherogenic diet throughout the experiment. Serum cholesterol, which increased about 5-fold during the induction period, returned to baseline values or below in the 2 treated groups. Evidence of regression of lesions was obtained in both these groups, but was most noticeable in the monkeys fed the low-fat, low-cholesterol diet without W-1372. The aortas of the animals treated with the low-fat, low-cholesterol diet with or without W-1372 showed about two-thirds as many lesions which were on the average about half as severe as those in the animals killed at 18 months. The coronary artery lesions showed a similar contrast, with the treated groups having about one-third to one-half as many lesions which were about one-half to two-thirds as severe. In both locations the differences in frequency and severity of arterial lesions were statistically significant when the reference group killed at 18 months was compared with the group treated with the low-fat, low-cholesterol diet without W-1372.
Simple, Quantitative Headspace Analysis by Cryoadsorption on a Short Alumina PLOT Column

The use of purge and trap methods for sampling volatile organic compounds prior to chromatographic analysis is a mature technology. Application to low volatility compounds has been far less facile and sensitive. Especially problematic has been applications that require precise quantitative analysis and analyses as a function of sample temperature, especially for low volatility analytes. In this paper, we have applied short lengths of alumina-coated PLOT columns as purge traps and operate the traps at low temperature during the collection cycles to improve efficiency in a method called cryoadsorption. We have applied the method as a function of temperature to a medium volatility solid, coumarin, as a demonstration, with further application to the pure explosive compound 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and the practical explosive C-4. We estimate that by use of mass spectrometry, the sampling method discussed in this paper can provide a detection limit of 0.0019 μg TNT per gram of substrate (determined with a 60 min sweep with the sample held at 60°C). Moreover, for quantitative results, we can achieve a percent standard deviation (coefficient of variation) of 10% with samples as low as 0.064 μg TNT per gram of substrate.
Psychoanalytic Understanding of Repeated In-Vitro Fertilization Trials, Failures,and Repetition Compulsion

Rapid advances in reproductive technologies confront us with the need to understand the complex psychological impact on participating parties. Understanding of repetition compulsion and psychoanalytic understanding of repeated IVF trials and failures is an important dynamic in some of the patients who resort to these methods. The discussion of two detailed case histories, illustrate how infertility traumata were re-experienced compulsively during the course of treatment. The unconscious self-induced traumatization resulted from the compulsion to repeat an earlier repressed trauma. The denial of multiple and repeated failures illustrate a complex compilation of several unprocessed losses that the individuals have yet to finish mourning. In addition, the lack of acceptance of a failure to conceive presented itself as a technical challenge offering an understanding of repeated past experiences in the context of the transference and counter transference paradigm. Each new IVF cycle followed the unprocessed mourning of a loss with persistence to repeat. The repeating of the past experiences over and over in a rather fast-paced use of ARTs shows the strong evidence for dynamic repetition compulsion phenomena. The denial of the failure to conceive can linger on, becoming a long process with unfinished mourning throughout the life cycle. There is a need for psychoanalytic thinking and understanding of psychological implications of the use of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
Abstract 5103: Analysis of the role of “ATM” through “omics” analysis

The human genetic disease, ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) is characterized by exquisite radiation sensitivity, neurological degeneration, immune deficiencies, genetic instability and predisposition to cancer. Furthermore, cells from patients with AT show disruption of the DNA damage response (DDR), a global signaling network that senses damage and coordinates cellular responses that include cell cycle regulation, transcription, DNA repair processes and apoptosis. Previously, AT5BIVA cells have been was established by SV40 immortalization of fibroblasts derived from an AT group D patient. We derived ATCL8 cells line was then derived by transfecting AT5BIVA with a vector carrying expressing the full- length wild type ATM. ATCL8 cells are and was found to be less sensitive to radiation resistant (D0=1.7 Gy) as compared tothan are the parental cell line AT5BIVA cells (D0=0.7 Gy). We have used a systems approach to understand compare the baseline changes that occur at the genomics, proteomics and metabolomic levels in these two near isogenic cell lines and integrate the information to understand the correlation. The. mMicroarray analysies wereas carried performed out to compare investigate basal level changes in gene expression. between AT5BIVA and ATCL8. The p Proteomics analysies for the same system was donewere performed using a 2-D gels and mass spectrometry approach. Finally, metabolomic profilesing was performed were obtained using UPLC-ESI-TOF mass spectrometry followed by multivariate data analysis using (SIMCA-P and random forest) software. The mMetabolites which were found observed to be significantly different in ATCL8 as compared to AT5BIVA were then subjected to functional pathway analysies using the ingenuity software. The proteomics and the microarray data were then scored for the presence of proteins and genes which were a part of the predominant signaling pathways in the two cell lines as determined by metabolomic analysis. The model system used in this study involves studyingof basal level changes in expression resulting from perturbations in a single gene and our results demonstrate the feasibility of such an the approach to correlate the changes found at all three levels of expression. The findings will be discussed in the context of the “AT” phenotype will be discussed. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5103.
Cyclosporin-A to Prevent Graft-Versus-Host Disease: A Pilot Study in 22 Patients Receiving Allogeneic Marrow Transplants

Cyclosporin-A (CsA) was given to 22 patients who received allogeneic bone marrow transplants as therapy for aplastic anemia and hematologic malignancies. The drug was given daily for 180 days starting with the day of marrow infusion. Engraftment was not impaired and myelotoxicity was not observed. Cutaneous graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) developed in five patients and all either spontaneously resolved or promptly responded to therapy with steroids. Five patients developed systemic GVHD and all responded to therapy with steroids, but only two survived. Interstitial pneumonia was seen in six patients and was fatal in all of them. Liver function abnormalities were seen in 14 patients but could not positively be correlated with CsA administration. Renal function abnormalities were seen in 17 patients. Amphotericin-B therapy contributed significantly to the renal failure. Serum levels of CsA, measured by radioimmunoassay, could not be correlated with the presence of liver or renal function abnormalities. Overall survival so far has been 50.0%. Second malignancies were not observed, but one patient relapsed with leukemia at 343 days.
TU-FG-209-03: Exploring the Maximum Count Rate Capabilities of Photon Counting Arrays Based On Polycrystalline Silicon

Purpose: Photon counting arrays (PCAs) offer several advantages over conventional, fluence-integrating x-ray imagers, such as improved contrast by means of energy windowing. For that reason, we are exploring the feasibility and performance of PCA pixel circuitry based on polycrystalline silicon. This material, unlike the crystalline silicon commonly used in photon counting detectors, lends itself toward the economic manufacture of radiation tolerant, monolithic large area (e.g., ∼43×43 cm2) devices. In this presentation, exploration of maximum count rate, a critical performance parameter for such devices, is reported. Methods: Count rate performance for a variety of pixel circuit designs was explored through detailed circuit simulations over a wide range of parameters (including pixel pitch and operating conditions) with the additional goal of preserving good energy resolution. The count rate simulations assume input events corresponding to a 72 kVp x-ray spectrum with 20 mm Al filtration interacting with a CZT detector at various input flux rates. Output count rates are determined at various photon energy threshold levels, and the percentage of counts lost (e.g., due to deadtime or pile-up) is calculated from the ratio of output to input counts. The energy resolution simulations involve thermal and flicker noise originating from each circuit element in a design. Results: Circuit designs compatible with pixel pitches ranging from 250 to 1000 µm that allow count rates over a megacount per second per pixel appear feasible. Such rates are expected to be suitable for radiographic and fluoroscopic imaging. Results for the analog front-end circuitry of the pixels show that acceptable energy resolution can also be achieved. Conclusion: PCAs created using polycrystalline silicon have the potential to offer monolithic large-area detectors with count rate performance comparable to those of crystalline silicon detectors. Further improvement through detailed circuit simulations and prototyping is expected. Partially supported by NIH grant R01-EB000558. This work was partially supported by NIH grant no. R01-EB000558.
A 2.8–4.3GHz wideband fractional-N sub-sampling synthesizer with −112.5dBc/Hz in-band phase noise

A 2.8–4.3GHz low noise fractional-N subsampling frequency synthesizer in 40nm CMOS technology is presented in this paper. The reference sampling clock is modulated by a 10-bit edge modulator to achieve fractional phase lock. A novel fast two-step background calibration is used to correct gain errors in the edge modulator, reducing fractional spurs. For a 3.75GHz carrier, the synthesizer achieves 376fs rms jitter with a worst case fractional spur of −48.3dBc. The in-band phase noise at 200kHz offset is −112.5dBc/Hz. The system consumes a total power of 9.18mW from a 1.1V supply and occupies an area of 0.41mm2.
Anaphora: Poetics of Laceration

This chapter studies the perpetually displaced search for sense as it is manifested in the linguistic/corporeal sadomasochism of Cuban novelist Severo Sarduy’s novel Cobra in connection to the self-flagellating writings of Ignacio de Loyola, particularly his Ejercicios espirituales. It is from this perspective that this chapter examines two dimensions that run through the work of Loyola and Sarduy: tragic tension and writerly theatricality. In both cases, that tension and that theatricality lie in the fact that their writings develop in a merely writerly atmosphere, an atmosphere of invention of a language that aspires, in its prodigious proliferation, to conjure up a plenitude, and that in turn suspects itself of being always inconclusive, unrealizable.
Benefits and Costs for the United States

The United States became a world banker in the twentieth century, and has retained this distinction because of the many international financial and banking functions it performs for itself as well as for the rest of the world. We have already examined these functions in various connections. However, it would be well to review them with the objective of establishing a basis for appraising the balance between the benefits derived and costs incurred by the United States in discharging its role as world banker.
Circuit optimization predicts dynamic networks for chemosensory orientation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

The connectivity of the nervous system of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been described completely, but the analysis of the neuronal basis of behavior in this system is just beginning. Here, we used an optimization algorithm to search for patterns of connectivity sufficient to compute the sensorimotor transformation underlying C. elegans chemotaxis, a simple form of spatial orientation behavior in which turning probability is modulated by the rate of change of chemical concentration. Optimization produced differentiator networks with inhibitory feedback among all neurons. Further analysis showed that feedback regulates the latency between sensory input and behavior. Common patterns of connectivity between the model and biological networks suggest new functions for previously identified connections in the C. elegans nervous system.
Perspectives on Bioluminescence Mechanisms

The molecular mechanisms of the bioluminescence systems of the firefly, bacteria and those utilizing imidazopyrazinone luciferins such as coelenterazine are gradually being uncovered using modern biophysical methods such as dynamic (ns-ps) fluorescence spectroscopy, NMR, X-ray crystallography and computational chemistry. The chemical structures of all reactants are well defined, and the spatial structures of the luciferases are providing important insight into interactions within the active cavity. It is generally accepted that the firefly and coelenterazine systems, although proceeding by different chemistries, both generate a dioxetanone high-energy species that undergoes decarboxylation to form directly the product in its S1 state, the bioluminescence emitter. More work is still needed to establish the structure of the products completely. In spite of the bacterial system receiving the most research attention, the chemical pathway for excitation remains mysterious except that it is clearly not by a decarboxylation. Both the coelenterazine and bacterial systems have in common of being able to employ "antenna proteins," lumazine protein and the green-fluorescent protein, for tuning the color of the bioluminescence. Spatial structure information has been most valuable in informing the mechanism of the Ca2+ -regulated photoproteins and the antenna protein interactions.
A longer vernal window: the role of winter coldness and snowpack in driving spring transitions and lags

Climate change is altering the timing and duration of the vernal window, a period that marks the end of winter and the start of the growing season when rapid transitions in ecosystem energy, water, nutrient, and carbon dynamics take place. Research on this period typically captures only a portion of the ecosystem in transition and focuses largely on the dates by which the system wakes up. Previous work has not addressed lags between transitions that represent delays in energy, water, nutrient, and carbon flows. The objectives of this study were to establish the sequence of physical and biogeochemical transitions and lags during the vernal window period and to understand how climate change may alter them. We synthesized observations from a statewide sensor network in New Hampshire, USA, that concurrently monitored climate, snow, soils, and streams over a three-year period and supplemented these observations with climate reanalysis data, snow data assimilation model output, and satellite spectral data. We found that some of the transitions that occurred within the vernal window were sequential, with air temperatures warming prior to snow melt, which preceded forest canopy closure. Other transitions were simultaneous with one another and had zero-length lags, such as snowpack disappearance, rapid soil warming, and peak stream discharge. We modeled lags as a function of both winter coldness and snow depth, both of which are expected to decline with climate change. Warmer winters with less snow resulted in longer lags and a more protracted vernal window. This lengthening of individual lags and of the entire vernal window carries important consequences for the thermodynamics and biogeochemistry of ecosystems, both during the winter-to-spring transition and throughout the rest of the year.
Two biomechanical strategies for locomotor adaptation to split-belt treadmill walking in subjects with and without transtibial amputation

Locomotor adaptation is commonly studied using split-belt treadmill walking, in which each foot is placed on a belt moving at a different speed. As subjects adapt to split-belt walking, they reduce metabolic power, but the biomechanical mechanism behind this improved efficiency is unknown. Analyzing mechanical work performed by the legs and joints during split-belt adaptation could reveal this mechanism. Because ankle work in the step-to-step transition is more efficient than hip work, we hypothesized that control subjects would reduce hip work on the fast belt and increase ankle work during the step-to-step transition as they adapted. We further hypothesized that subjects with unilateral, trans-tibial amputation would instead increase propulsive work from their intact leg on the slow belt. Control subjects reduced hip work and shifted more ankle work to the step-to-step transition, supporting our hypothesis. Contrary to our second hypothesis, intact leg work, ankle work and hip work in amputees were unchanged during adaptation. Furthermore, all subjects increased collisional energy loss on the fast belt, but did not increase propulsive work. This was possible because subjects moved further backward during fast leg single support in late adaptation than in early adaptation, compensating by reducing backward movement in slow leg single support. In summary, subjects used two strategies to improve mechanical efficiency in split-belt walking adaptation: a CoM displacement strategy that allows for less forward propulsion on the fast belt; and, an ankle timing strategy that allows efficient ankle work in the step-to-step transition to increase while reducing inefficient hip work.
Alzheimer's disease: The next frontier-Special Report 2017

Abstract In the history of medicine, one means to progress is when we make the decision that our assumptions and definitions of disease are no longer consistent with the scientific evidence, and no longer serve our health care needs. The arc of scientific progress is now requiring a change in how we diagnose Alzheimer's disease. Both the National Institute on Aging—Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA) 2011 workgroup and the International Work Group (IWG) have proposed guidelines that use detectable measures of biological changes in the brain, commonly known as biological markers, or biomarkers, as part of the diagnosis. This Special Report examines how the development and validation of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers—including those detectable in the blood or cerebral spinal fluid, or through neuroimaging—is a top research priority. This has the potential to markedly change how we diagnose Alzheimer's disease and, as a result, how we count the number of people with this disease. As research advances a biomarker-based method for diagnosis and treatment at the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease, we envision a future in which Alzheimer's disease is placed in the same category as other chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes, which can be readily identified with biomarkers and treated before irrevocable disability occurs.
What I Wish I'd Known About Legal Writing

Here are four things I wish I'd know about legal writing. I went to law school thinking law was primarily an oral profession -- that lawyers mostly talked. I was surprised, once I got into practice, at how much writing lawyers did. I wish I'd known that law was a writing profession, that mastering legal writing would take time, that the time demands of practice would hamper improvement, and that there were excellent sources on legal writing available.
Numerical simulation of passivated long-wave IR HgCdTe surfaces and their effect on detector performance

Although HgCdTe imagers are a well-established technology, photodetectors fabricated using the same process still yield a large variation in their performance characteristics, largely stemming from hard-to-control pecu- liarities at the interface between the surface passivation and the active region of each photodiode. This work investigates the dark current characteristics of long-wave IR (cutoff wavelength of 10um) Hg0.774Cd0.226Te mesa photodiodes, which have been passivated with a CdTe film. We use a 2-D model of a p-on-n device structure to study how interface states and Cadmium diffusion at the passivation interface can influence the photodiode dark current.
Positive Youth Development: Developing, Implementing, and Sustaining Music-Based Services for Emerging Adults Experiencing Homelessness:

Research suggests that comprehensive services that consider the complex and interconnected needs of emerging adults experiencing homelessness may be more effective than interventions with a singula...
Elastic and inelastic scattering of 0.8 GeV protons from 20Ne and 22Ne.

Angular distributions for the elastic and inelastic scattering of 0.8 GeV protons from /sup 20/Ne and /sup 22/Ne are presented. Cross sections for protons exciting states up to about 14 MeV were measured using a high resolution spectrometer. Coupled-channels analyses of scattering cross sections for the 0/sup +/, 2/sup +/, 4/sup +/, and 6/sup +/ states in the ground-state rotational band, possible 2/sup -/, 3/sup -/, and 5/sup -/ members of a K/sup ..pi../ = 2/sup -/ octupole band, and possible 1/sup -/, 3/sup -/, and 5/sup -/ members of a K/sup ..pi../ = 0/sup -/ octupole band in /sup 20/Ne were performed. Also reported are coupled-channels analyses of the experimental angular distributions in /sup 22/Ne for the 0/sup +/, 2/sup +/, and 4/sup +/ states in the ground-state band, the K/sup ..pi../ = 2/sup +/ ..gamma..-vibrational band members, and the 2/sup -/ and 3/sup -/ members of a K/sup ..pi../ = 2/sup -/ octupole band. Deformation parameters for states not in the ground-state rotational bands are obtained from a distorted-wave Born approximation analysis of these data. Multipole moments inferred from the deformed optical potentials are compared with moments obtained with electromagnetic measurements, low-energy proton, deuteron, /sup 3/He, and /supmore » 4/He scattering, and shell-model calculations.« less
WordPress+Qualtrics: A Plugin Supporting Research and New Pedagogy to Develop Personal Sustainability via 360° Evaluation

Fostering deep and meaningful self-reflection that leads to action, growth, and personal change among students challenges professors of large classes. Over 280 students in a single lecture course on critical thinking were asked to take part in a selfanalysis and also were provided multisource (360°) feedback. The combination of personalized feedback from the self and from known others appears to facilitate processes related to self-insight and developmental goal setting. This pedagogical approach would not have been possible without the development of software integrating WordPress, a popular, free, opensource content management system (CMS), with Qualtrics, an online survey tool. This paper describes how this technology served both as a pedagogical tool, as well as a research tool.
Differential Diagnosis of Vasovagal Syncope: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia

Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a syndrome defined as an increase in heart rate (HR) of ≥30 bpm within 10 min of assuming an upright posture in the absence of orthostatic hypotension (decrease in blood pressure (BP) >20/10 mmHg). The prevalence of POTS has been estimated as 500,000–3,000,000 patients in the USA. Because it affects mainly women between 13 and 50 years of age, the impact on productivity at work and lifestyle can be devastating. Considerable clinical overlap exists between POTS and vasovagal syncope (VVS) with patients experiencing similar orthostatic symptoms related to insufficient adaptation to blood volume shifts during upright posture. Nevertheless, differences emerge during head up tilt table testing. In patients with POTS, during upright tilt, sympathetic tone increases, there is an early and sustained tachycardia, and patients complain of presyncope without frank syncope. In contrast, patients with VVS experience delayed symptoms and abrupt drops in BP and HR and are more likely to lose consciousness. Treatment of POTS includes exercise and medications directed at decreasing sympathetic tone or increasing blood volume.
Trauma treatment for veterans in buprenorphine maintenance treatment for opioid use disorder.

Abstract Introduction Opioid use disorder (OUD) rates are high among veterans. PTSD is also prevalent among veterans; those with comorbidity have worse outcomes than those without comorbidity. This study assessed buprenorphine retention rates in veterans initiating OUD treatment, comparing veterans without PTSD to veterans with PTSD who were receiving versus not receiving concurrent trauma treatment. Methods This retrospective chart review examined consecutive referrals to buprenorphine maintenance (N = 140). PTSD diagnosis was identified by chart review and retention was defined as continuous buprenorphine maintenance 6-months post-admission. Logistic regression analyses compared buprenorphine retention for veterans without PTSD and PTSD-diagnosed veterans who received concurrent trauma treatment to a reference group of PTSD-diagnosed veterans who did not receive trauma treatment. Models adjusted for opioid type, age, and service-connected status. Results Sixty-seven (47.9%) buprenorphine-seeking veterans carried a PTSD diagnosis; only 31.3% (n = 21) received trauma treatment while in buprenorphine maintenance, with 11.9% (n = 8) receiving evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD. Among PTSD-diagnosed veterans who received trauma treatment, 90.5% (n = 19/21) were in buprenorphine maintenance at 6-months, compared to 23.9% (n = 11/46) of PTSD-diagnosed veterans without trauma treatment, and 46.6% (n = 34/73) of veterans without PTSD. In the full model, veterans with trauma treatment had 43.36 times greater odds of remaining in buprenorphine treatment than the reference group. Conclusions Most PTSD-diagnosed veterans in buprenorphine treatment were not receiving trauma treatment. Those receiving concurrent trauma treatment had better retention, suggesting OUD and trauma can be simultaneously addressed. Future clinical trials should investigate trauma-focused treatment for veterans with comorbid PTSD who are seeking buprenorphine for OUD.
Manifestations of Weak O-H···F Hydrogen Bonding in M(H2O) n(B12F12) Salt Hydrates: Unusually Sharp Fourier Transform Infrared ν(OH) Bands and Latent Porosity (M = Mg-Ba, Co, Ni, Zn).

Eight M(H2O)n(Z) salt hydrates were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (Z2– = B12F122–): M = Ca, Sr, n = 7; M = Mg, Co, Ni, Zn, n = 6; M = Ba, n = 4, 5. Weak O–H···F hydrogen bonding...
Method of Riemann surfaces for an inverse antiplane problem in an n-connected domain

ABSTRACTAn inverse problem of the theory of harmonic functions for an n-connected domain is analyzed. The problem is equivalent to a problem of antiplane elasticity on determination of the profiles...
Microvascular Reconstruction of the Nose with the Radial Forearm Flap: A 17-Year Experience in 47 Patients.

Background Microvascular reconstruction of the nose was pioneered in China in the early 1970s using the radial forearm flap. Since then, different flaps, methods, and flap designs have been used to improve outcomes. Microvascular tissue transfer has become the first step of multistage reconstruction, which includes rebuilding the nasal framework, transferring a forehead flap for external skin coverage, and sculpting the nose for improved appearance and breathing. In this article, the authors present their long-term experience in microvascular reconstruction of the nose using the infolded radial forearm flap for full-thickness nasal defects, and a single circumferential flap for inner lining only. Methods Fifty microvascular nasal reconstruction procedures were performed on 47 patients between 2000 and 2017 using the radial forearm flap. The reconstructions included total/subtotal nasal defects using a trapezoid-shaped forearm flap folded in one or two planes, and a rectangular flap positioned internally and circumferentially for lining only. The nasal defects were caused by cancer resection, trauma, infection, cocaine abuse, and failed attempts at nasal reconstruction. Results Forty-seven flaps were transferred successfully for nasal reconstruction, with two immediate failures (4 percent) caused by flap insetting complications and one late loss. Forty-six patients completed the multistage nasal reconstruction. Follow-up was 1 to 17 years (average, 6 years). Conclusion The radial forearm flap infolding technique is the authors' method of choice for microvascular reconstruction of the nose because it allows placement of a primary dorsal cartilage graft for optimal vascularization, and uses the excess dorsal skin during forehead resurfacing to modify the lining inset and shape the nostrils. Clinical question/level of evidence Therapeutic, IV.
A clinicopathologic study of endometrial cancer metastatic to bone: Identification of microsatellite instability improves treatment strategies.

Abstract Metastasis to bone (BM) is an uncommon manifestation of advanced endometrial cancer (EC). The present study will review the clinicopathologic features of a cohort of patients with EC and BM. We conducted a multi-center retrospective review of patients with EC and BM. Demographic and clinical information was extracted from the medical records. Survival outcomes were determined using Kaplan-Meier Curves. Final analysis included 10 patients. The median age was 65 years (range 31–71). 80% had FIGO stage III/IV disease. The most common site of BM was the spine (66%). All patients presented with extraosseous dissemination at the time of diagnosis of BM and 70% were found to have multiple sites of BM. 80% of patients were diagnosed with BM in the recurrent setting. The median time to diagnosis of bone recurrence was 14 months (range: 0–44). Median survival after diagnosis of BM was 11 months (range: 1–22 months). Patients with endometrioid histology and single site of bone metastasis experienced improved survival (p = 0.04 and p = 0.05, respectively). Eight patients had immunohistochemistry or molecular tumor profiles available for review. Seven of these patients (87.5%) were found to have microsatellite instability (MSI). The most common mutation was hypermethylation of MLH-1 (43%). To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating a correlation between MSI and metastasis to bone. The identification of BM in EC is uncommon, but will alter treatment strategies and dramatically impact prognosis. Molecular tumor profiling should be performed to identify targeted therapy options and optimize adjuvant treatment strategies.
Exploring Performance Characteristics of the Optane 3D Xpoint Storage Technology

Intel’s Optane solid-state nonvolatile storage device is constructed using their new 3D Xpoint technology. Although it is claimed that this technology can deliver substantial performance improvements compared to NAND-based storage systems, its performance characteristics have not been well studied. In this study, intensive experiments and measurements have been carried out to extract the intrinsic performance characteristics of the Optane SSD, including the basic I/O performance behavior, advanced interleaving technology, performance consistency under a highly intensive I/O workload, influence of unaligned request size, elimination of write-driven garbage collection, read disturb issues, and tail latency problem. The performance is compared to that of a conventional NAND SSD to indicate the performance difference of the Optane SSD in each scenario. In addition, by using TPC-H, a read-intensive benchmark, a database system’s performance has been studied on our target storage devices to quantify the potential benefits of the Optane SSD to a real application. Finally, the performance impact of hybrid Optane and NAND SSD storage systems on a database application has been investigated.
Data Science and Graduate Nursing Education: A Critical Literature Review.

Background The emergence of big data and data science offers unprecedented opportunities for accelerating scientific advances in nursing, yet current nursing curricula are not adequate to prepare students to leverage those opportunities. Purpose The purpose of this review was to describe current strategies that can be used to educate graduate nurses about data science methods as well as facilitators and challenges to adopting those strategies. Method We conducted a critical literature review of papers addressing data science and graduate nursing education. Results Ten articles were included in this review. The most common strategy was the integration of data science methods into existing courses throughout the graduate nursing curricula. A major facilitator was interdisciplinary collaboration between nursing faculty and colleagues in other disciplines. Conclusion The findings provide strategies that can be used to prepare graduate nurses to work in data science teams to shape big data research and optimize patient outcomes.
Reduced Desmosomal Cadherin Levels in Genital Epithelium of Postmenopausal Women Also Develop in Ovariectomized Mice with Increased Susceptibility to Viral and Bacterial Genital Pathogens

Background: The genitourinary syndrome of menopause affects about half of all women in menopause and includes symptoms of vaginal burning, dyspareunia, and urinary urgency. These symptoms stem from lower serum estrogen levels in postmenopausal women that cause reduced tissue elasticity and other genital tract changes. While the hypoestrogenemia induced in reproductive age women using the progestin-only contraceptive depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) decreases genital levels of the cell-cell adhesion molecules desmoglein-1 (DSG1) and desmocollin-1 (DSC1) and impairs genital epithelial barrier function, relevance of these findings to postmenopausal women is uncertain. Methods: We compared ectocervical DSG1 and DSC1 levels in premenopausal vs. postmenopausal women. Using ovariectomized mice to model the hypoestrogenic state in postmenopausal women, we explored effects of reduced ovarian function on genital epithelial integrity barrier function and genital pathogen susceptibility. Findings: Compared to premenopausal women, ectocervical tissue from women in menopause had significantly lower levels of DSG1 and DSC1. Likewise, Dsg1 and Dsc1 levels were significantly reduced in OVX mice vs. estrus-stage mice. Consistent with these data, DMPA-treated and OVX mice displayed significant compromise of genital epithelial barrier function and compared to estrus-stage mice or OVX mice treated with estrogen, were more susceptible to genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infection and less effectively cleared genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Interpretation: Our studies identify analogously reduced genital epithelial integrity in postmenopausal women and OVX mice and indicate that reduced ovarian function alters host response to bacterial and viral pathogens. Our results also spotlight the need to resolve if weakened genital epithelial integrity in postmenopausal women represents an important risk factor for genital infection. Funding Statement: This work was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD094634) and Stanford University School of Medicine. Declaration of Interests: Authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: Prior to induction, all proposed mice studies were approved by the Stanford University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Steroid Responsive Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Related Inflammation without Brain Biopsy (P2.7-008)

Objective: To present a rare case of steroid responsive Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy-related Inflammation (CAARI) where diagnosis and treatment were made without brain biopsy. Background: CAARI is a new subset of cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Clinically it presents with acute/subacute cognitive decline, focal neurologic deficits and headache without hemorrhage. The diagnosis and treatment of CAARI are still being elucidated, but diagnosis has previously been made with brain biopsy. Design/Methods: An 88 year old woman presented with word finding difficulty and headache. Non-contrast CT head showed large regions of vasogenic edema in the right frontal and left parietal lobes. Dexamethasone 4 mg every 6 hours was started for presumed cerebral metastasis with improvement in symptoms. MRI brain was consistent with CAARI. Aphasia resolved within a day. The patient was discharged on a tapering dose of oral steroids but returned after 2 weeks with headache and worsening confusion despite improved MRI. Symptoms again improved with pulse dose steroids. Results: MRI brain with/without contrast showed large regions of T2/FLAIR hyperintensity within the right frontal, left parietal and left temporal lobes with hyperemic enhancement. There were innumerable cortical microhemorrhages consistent with amyloid angiopathy. The constellation of findings was compatible with a diagnosis of CAARI. Repeat MRI brain after 3 weeks of treatment showed decreased size and extent of abnormal regions. CSF analysis detected reduced A-beta 42 to Total-tau index with elevated phospho-tau, consistent with Alzheimer’s disease. Conclusions: Based on the patient’s age, clinical and diagnostic features suggestive of CAARI, the decision was made not to pursue brain biopsy. Our patient’s clinical and radiographic improvement with steroids confirmed the diagnosis without requiring invasive brain biopsy. On tapering steroids there was recurrence of symptoms; the duration of immunosuppressive treatment is yet to be determined. Unlike traditional amyloid angiopathy, this is a treatable condition. Disclosure: Dr. Kaur has nothing to disclose. Dr. Goswami has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shafqat has nothing to disclose. Dr. Maselli has nothing to disclose. Dr. Thomas has nothing to disclose.
Examining the productivity growth of agricultural cooperatives: The biennial malmquist index approach

Abstract This study examines the productivity of agricultural cooperatives in the United States using the biennial Malmquist productivity index (BMI) under variable returns to scale. The BMI avoids numerical infeasibilities that can occur under the variable returns to scale assumption. The BMI is decomposed into efficiency change and technical change to evaluate the productivity growth of agricultural cooperatives. Overall, agricultural cooperatives increased productivity by 34 % from 2005 to 2014 of which -2 % was technical efficiency change and 37 % was technical change. Technical change was the source of productivity growth rather than efficiency change that actually regressed. Agricultural cooperatives can achieve higher productivity by increasing managerial efficiency and investing in technology. Productivity, efficiency change, and technical change were examined based on the size of agricultural cooperatives. While these measures varied across years, they remained relatively stable across the size of agricultural cooperatives.