cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Positional plasticity in regenerating Amybstoma mexicanum limbs is associated with cell proliferation and pathways of cellular differentiation

The endogenous ability to dedifferentiate, re-pattern, and re-differentiate adult cells to repair or replace damaged or missing structures is exclusive to only a few tetrapod species. The Mexican axolotl is one example of these species, having the capacity to regenerate multiple adult structures including their limbs by generating a group of progenitor cells, known as the blastema, which acquire pattern and differentiate into the missing tissues. The formation of a limb regenerate is dependent on cells in the connective tissues that retain memory of their original position in the limb, and use this information to generate the pattern of the missing structure. Observations from recent and historic studies suggest that blastema cells vary in their potential to pattern distal structures during the regeneration process; some cells are plastic and can be reprogrammed to obtain new positional information while others are stable. Our previous studies showed that positional information has temporal and spatial components of variation; early bud (EB) and apical late bud (LB) blastema cells are plastic while basal-LB cells are stable. To identify the potential cellular and molecular basis of this variation, we compared these three cell populations using histological and transcriptional approaches. Histologically, the basal-LB sample showed greater tissue organization than the EB and apical-LB samples. We also observed that cell proliferation was more abundant in EB and apical-LB tissue when compared to basal-LB and mature stump tissue. Lastly, we found that genes associated with cellular differentiation were expressed more highly in the basal-LB samples. Our results characterize histological and transcriptional differences between EB and apical-LB tissue compared to basal-LB tissue. Combined with our results from a previous study, we hypothesize that the stability of positional information is associated with tissue organization, cell proliferation, and pathways of cellular differentiation.
Unilateral Shifts in Wavelet Theory and Algorithm

The construction of wavelets is usually derived through a multiresolution analysis and formulated as a pair of quadrature mirror filters {h(n), g(n)} In this construction there is a shift structure of subspaces associated with the dilation operator, which is a bilateral shift of infinite multiplicity. We show that associated with each wavelet construction through multiresolution analysis are two unilateral shifts of infinite multiplicity on ι 2(ℤ). The generating wandering subspaces of these shifts, as well as the shifts themselves, are given in terms of the functions h(n) and g(n) The two shifts are duals of each other in a way that allows us to decompose l 2(ℤ) into the direct sum of the two generating wandering subspaces. It is shown that the decomposition of functions via the first of these two unilateral shifts is equivalent to the algorithm used in the wavelet transform. Thus, we provide a Hilbert space setting for the wavelet algorithm, often referred to as the discrete wavelet transform.
Listeromyces Insignis Refound

Listeromyces insignis Penzig & Saccardo is illustrated and redescribed from the type collection from Java and from material collected recently in Hawaii. In pure culture, the fungus produces typica...
Design for Resilience in Autonomous Systems: Lessons Learned from Controlled Flight into Stall Accidents

Resilience is the means to extend the design reliability of a system beyond the design assurance achieved by the technology. In the case of supervised autonomous systems, resilience can be achieved by the intervention of a human operator when the autonomous system creates an undesired state. This paper describes a detailed analysis of the requirements and the design for intervention in the operation of an autonomous function on a modern airliner. The analysis derives the requirements for the intervention task from an analysis of the six step scenario leading to the Controlled Flight into Stall (CFIS) accidents. Some of the requirements that cannot be performed adequately by the human operator (i.e. monitoring for rare events, complex calculations, and correlation of disparate data) are automated in a stand-alone device on the flight deck. The functional design of this intervention support device, known as the Paranoid Pilot Associate, is described. Limitations and implications of the design are discussed.
Retinal pigment epithelial integrity is compromised in the developing albino mouse retina

In the developing murine eye, melanin synthesis in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) coincides with neurogenesis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Disruption of pigmentation in the albino RPE is associated with delayed neurogenesis in the ventrotemporal retina, the source of ipsilateral RGCs, and a reduced ipsilateral RGC projection. To begin to unravel how melanogenesis and the RPE regulate RGC neurogenesis and cell subpopulation specification, we compared the features of albino and pigmented mouse RPE cells during the period of RGC neurogenesis (embryonic day, E, 12.5 to 18.5) when the RPE is closely apposed to developing RGC precursors. At E12.5 and E15.5, although albino and pigmented RPE cells express RPE markers Otx2 and Mitf similarly, albino RPE cells are irregularly shaped and have fewer melanosomes compared with pigmented RPE cells. The adherens junction protein P-cadherin appears loosely distributed within the albino RPE cells rather than tightly localized on the cell membrane, as in pigmented RPE. Connexin 43 (gap junction protein) is expressed in pigmented and albino RPE cells at E13.5 but at E15.5 albino RPE cells have fewer small connexin 43 puncta, and a larger fraction of phosphorylated connexin 43 at serine 368. These results suggest that the lack of pigment in the RPE results in impaired RPE cell integrity and communication via gap junctions between RPE and neural retina during RGC neurogenesis. Our findings should pave the way for further investigation of the role of RPE in regulating RGC development toward achieving proper RGC axon decussation. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:3696-3716, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Protocol for the Detection of Treponema pallidum in Paraffin-Embedded Specimens

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks are routinely used for histopathological examination and are also useful for specific pathogen detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). FFPE tissue is stable at ambient temperature for an extended period of time and relatively easy to transport compared to fresh tissue, which has to be processed or frozen immediately. In addition, archival material is an invaluable source for retrospective molecular and clinical investigation. This chapter describes detailed procedures for nucleic acid extraction and PCR detection of Treponema pallidum using FFPE tissue.
Effects of levodopa on the bladder outlet.

AbstractLower urinary tract function was studied in patients with Parkinson’s disease. A significant proportion of patients receiving levodopa manifested clinical and radiological evidence of bladder outlet obstruction. We believe that neuropharmacologic bladder neck obstruction may be caused by the alpha-adrenergic properties of the metabolites of levodopa.
Micropropagation of Juglans cinerea L. (Butternut)

The genus Juglans L. (family Juglandaceae) comprises about 20 species of deciduous trees. These monoecious trees are native to North and South America, and from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia (Bailey and Bailey 1976). They are grown as ornamentals, for the edible nuts, and some species for the fine-grained wood highly valued for furniture, veneer, gunstocks, and cabinet work. The Persian walnut (J. regia L.) is the most horticulturally developed and widely cultivated species for nut production (McGranahan and Leslie 1990). Worldwide production of walnuts in 1992 was listed at 918 180 metric tons, with the United States accounting for approximately 20% of world production at 181 400 metric tons (FAO 1992). Black walnut (J. nigra L.) is one of the most valuable hardwoods produced in the United States (Williams 1990). Eastern black walnut is also grown for the edible nuts, but it is the species valued economically for its high quality wood, prized for fine furniture, gunstocks, cabinets, and veneer.
Fortune Monitor or Fortune Teller: Understanding the Connection between Interaction Patterns and Financial Status

We have deployed mobile phones to more than 100participants in a community split into two phases. In this paper, we use this unique dataset to study the correlation between users' call and Bluetooth face-to-face interaction patterns, and their financial status. We show that such correlation exists on an individual level. We find that the interaction diversity measure correlates more strongly with individual's financial status compared with other social behavior measures such as the number of contacts and length of interactions, and it is much less sensitive to personality variance. We also discuss in this paper the long-lasting sociological theory that a diverse relationship leads to a more successful financial status. Our evidence tends to support a behavioral and psychological oriented theory opposite to the prevailing arguments: Social diversity exhibited by our participants are influenced by their income as well.
An ergonomie design for 3Tesla MRI neck coil

An ergonomie design is explored for its potential usage in MRI surface neek coil array on a electrotextile material. A single loop surface coil for carotid artery MR imaging is designed, studied, fabricated and measured as a preliminary step for RF coil array system using electrotextile material. Comprehensive simulation with simplified human head model and detailed human head model near the coil is conducted. In simulation, two slices of silver loop are used to model the coil with electrotextile material that achieves similar result to the copper coil.
Basic Methodology for Multiple Population Stochastic Models

This chapter generalizes the basic theoretical tools developed in Chapter 3 for single population stochastic models to the case of multiple population models. These tools also are considered extensively in the leading texts on applied stochastic processes, including [4, 9, 12, 82]. Jacquez [28] illustrates their use in a standard compartmental context.
Impact of Reflective Assessment on Student Learning: Best-Evidence Synthesis from Twelve Quantitative Studies

Formative assessment involves feedback to teachers for informing instruction and also feedback to students for directing their own learning. Early research on formative assessment showed independence from any particular theoretical foundation. Self-regulated learning theory provides a helpful construct for organizing formative assessment through familiar classroom practices, including provision of feedback, strategy use, and metacognition. One way to integrate reflective activities is with reflective assessment, which emphasizes gathering feedback through questioning, writing, and discussing. Ten studies were analyzed using best-evidence methodology to show the effects of reflective assessment on student performance of posttest and retention tests. Weighted mean effect sizes ranged from .28 to .37. Results suggest additional investigations into the use of reflection for improving student learning and other outcomes.
Social Media Impact of the Food and Drug Administration's Drug Safety Communication Messaging About Zolpidem: Mixed-Methods Analysis

Background: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues drug safety communications (DSCs) to health care professionals, patients, and the public when safety issues emerge related to FDA-approved drug products. These safety messages are disseminated through social media to ensure broad uptake. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the social media dissemination of 2 DSCs released in 2013 for the sleep aid zolpidem. Methods: We used the MedWatcher Social program and the DataSift historic query tool to aggregate Twitter and Facebook posts from October 1, 2012 through August 31, 2013, a period beginning approximately 3 months before the first DSC and ending 3 months after the second. Posts were categorized as (1) junk, (2) mention, and (3) adverse event (AE) based on a score between –0.2 (completely unrelated) to 1 (perfectly related). We also looked at Google Trends data and Wikipedia edits for the same time period. Google Trends search volume is scaled on a range of 0 to 100 and includes “Related queries” during the relevant time periods. An interrupted time series (ITS) analysis assessed the impact of DSCs on the counts of posts with specific mention of zolpidem-containing products. Chow tests for known structural breaks were conducted on data from Twitter, Facebook, and Google Trends. Finally, Wikipedia edits were pulled from the website’s editorial history, which lists all revisions to a given page and the editor’s identity. Results: In total, 174,286 Twitter posts and 59,641 Facebook posts met entry criteria. Of those, 16.63% (28,989/174,286) of Twitter posts and 25.91% (15,453/59,641) of Facebook posts were labeled as junk and excluded. AEs and mentions represented 9.21% (16,051/174,286) and 74.16% (129,246/174,286) of Twitter posts and 5.11% (3,050/59,641) and 68.98% (41,138/59,641) of Facebook posts, respectively. Total daily counts of posts about zolpidem-containing products increased on Twitter and Facebook on the day of the first DSC; Google searches increased on the week of the first DSC. ITS analyses demonstrated variability but pointed to an increase in interest around the first DSC. Chow tests were significant (P<.0001) for both DSCs on Facebook and Twitter, but only the first DSC on Google Trends. Wikipedia edits occurred soon after each DSC release, citing news articles rather than the DSC itself and presenting content that needed subsequent revisions for accuracy. Conclusions: Social media offers challenges and opportunities for dissemination of the DSC messages. The FDA could consider strategies for more actively disseminating DSC safety information through social media platforms, particularly when announcements require updating. The FDA may also benefit from directly contributing content to websites like Wikipedia that are frequently accessed for drug-related information. [JMIR Public Health Surveill 2018;4(1):e1]
Adolescent Coping Strategies in the Emergency Department.

Objectives The objective of this study was to describe coping mechanisms used by adolescents during emergency treatment. Methods A convenience sample of adolescent patients (aged 12-18 years) was surveyed in our large (87,000 annual visits) urban academic pediatric emergency department (ED) with an adapted Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences survey. Parents were surveyed about their perceptions of their child's coping mechanisms. Participants were excluded if they were non-English speaking, in police custody, had altered mental status, or were hemodynamically unstable. Results Of the 123 adolescents approached, 93 participated (response rate, 76%) and 80 completed the survey (completion rate, 86%). Sixty percent were female, and the mean (SD) age was 15 (2) years. Most respondents were non-Hispanic black (62%). Adolescents presented for acute complaints (48%); chronic worsening problems (33%); and injury from an accident or assault (19%). While in the ED, 62% felt safe, 56% reported boredom, and 94% felt supported by their parents. Adolescents reported that listening to music (82%), sleeping (76%), and focusing on getting better (75%) would minimize their stress in the ED. A total of 50 parents completed the survey. There was 79% agreement between parents and adolescents regarding adolescents listening to music to cope in the ED. There was 72% agreement between parents and adolescents in regard to parental support. Conclusions In this urban ED, parental involvement and listening to music were the most common coping strategies adolescents used during an ED visit. Attempts to improve patient-centered care should address opportunities for parental support and mechanisms for adolescents to listen to music.
Estimating the Impact of Shuttle Launches on Regional Economic Activity

Abstract The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of public investment in space programs on the regional economic activity in the areas host to the program launch operations. I implement an econometric strategy that takes the timing of the Shuttle program retirement as a natural experiment to investigate the role of public investment in space as a driver of regional economic activity. I rely on a technique known as the synthetic control method to estimate the counterfactual outcomes for the Space Coast. Comparing the observed outcomes with the estimated counterfactual outcomes provides evidence of large spillover effects of the Shuttle program in the economy of the Space Coast. My results suggest that discontinuing the Shuttle program made payroll in Brevard County on average $824 million lower than the counterfactual outcome for every year since the final Shuttle mission, for a cumulative reduction in payroll of $3.3 billion below potential by 2015. In percentage terms, payroll grew at an average annual rate of 1.88% where its counterfactual growth rate was 5.25%. Evidence on employment suggests employment growth of 0.43% annually relative to counterfactual employment growth of 1.6%, keeping the recovery from the Great Recession anemic. Together, these estimates provide strong evidence that public investment in space is a boon for economic activity. The implications for space policy with this evidence are clear: public investment in space generates large and significant regional economic activity that needs to be taken into account when considering the costs and benefits of the investment. Further implications of the evidence for regional planners and firm managers are discussed.
The Range of Postsecondary Options and Thinking About the Differences Between High School and College

In the not too distant past, college was reserved for those who were exceptionally academically gifted or wealthy. Times have changed, and some post-high school training is now generally necessary to enter the workforce. In many communities, attending college immediately following high school is the norm and is considered the expected developmental path for many young people. Parents, teachers, coaches, and even physicians often assume that young people want to go to college, and that they should do so right away. Students and families may resist deviating from this path, as many tend to want to stay in step with their peers. They may also feel pressure to attend a parent’s alma mater, or to follow a similar path as older siblings or extended family members. However, not every student is cut out for college, and others benefit from careful planning to facilitate a successful transition. It is important for family and medical providers to understand this and to be receptive to considering alternate pathways.
Posterior Ligamentous Reinforcement of the Upper Instrumented Vertebrae +1 Does Not Decrease Proximal Junctional Kyphosis in Adult Spinal Deformity

Study Design:Retrospective cohort study.Objectives:Violation of the posterior soft tissues is believed to contribute to the development of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK). Biomechanical and clin...
Synovial butorphanol concentrations and mechanical nociceptive thresholds after intravenous regional limb perfusion in standing sedated horses.

Objective To determine synovial butorphanol concentrations and mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) changes after butorphanol intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP). Study design Experimental ANIMALS: Six adult horses. Methods Cephalic IVRLP was performed with 10 mg butorphanol in sedated horses with a wide rubber tourniquet and a total volume of 30 mL. Radiocarpal synovial fluid and serum concentrations along with MNT were evaluated prior to and 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours after IVRLP. Butorphanol concentrations were determined with liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry positive electrospray ionization. Results Butorphanol concentrations reached mean (SD) peak concentrations of 9.47 ng/mL (±12.00) in synovial fluid and 3.89 ng/mL (3.29) in serum 30 minutes after IVRLP. Concentrations remained above baseline for 4 hours in synovial fluid (P ≤ .017) and for 2 hours in serum (P ≤ .016). The only difference in MNT was detected 1 hour after IVRLP, when MNT were higher in controls than in treated horses (P = .047). Conclusion Butorphanol IVRLP seemed well tolerated and resulted in measurable levels of butorphanol in the radiocarpal synovial fluid of five of six horses. Clinical significance Intravenous regional limb perfusion appears to be a viable alternative to administer butorphanol, but additional investigation is required to evaluate the dose and local concentrations required for analgesia.
Are surgeons behind the scientific eight ball: Delayed acquisition of the NIH K08 mentored career development award.

Abstract Background Surgery residents complete their research training early in residency. Non-surgical trainees typically have research incorporated toward the last two years of their fellowship, conferring an advantage to apply for grants with recent research experience and preliminary data. Methods The NIH RePORTER database was queried for K08 awardees trained in medicine, pediatrics, and surgery from 2013 to 2017. 406 K08 recipients were identified and time from completion of clinical training to achieving a K08 award was measured. Data were compared using ANOVA and expressed as mean. P Results Surgeons took longer to obtain a K08 than those trained in internal medicine (surgery = 3.7 years, internal medicine = 2.58 years p Conclusions Surgeons take longer to achieve a K08 award than clinicians trained in internal medicine, possibly due to an inherent disadvantage in training structure.
Contributions of tourism-based Marine Conservation Agreements to natural resource management in Fiji

Abstract The marine environment is vital for Fiji's tourism sector, yet industry and community partnerships to conserve it have largely gone unrecognised. A study from March to October 2017 documented the extent and scale to which ‘Marine Conservation Agreements’ (MCAs) between tourism operators and indigenous, resource owning communities are used in Fiji, and their contribution to biodiversity conservation and fisheries management. More than half of operators (69.1%) interviewed had been involved, were involved, or were becoming involved, in some form of MCA, focused on temporary or permanent no-take Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). MPAs established through MCAs covered an estimated 26,625 ha, of which 21,000 ha comprised deep water and offshore reefs within two large marine reserves, and 5625 ha comprised mostly nearshore shallow fringing reefs and slopes. Only 28% of tourism-based MCAs included explicit economic incentives to the resource owners such as some level of payment, provision of infrastructure, or employment opportunities directly related to marine conservation. The remaining 72% supplied broader benefits such as sustainable marine resources or general employment in the tourism sector. Although MCAs are in place in Fiji with implied and not formal or explicit conditionality, they contribute to natural resource management and should be counted in global biodiversity targets.
Discovery of a Highly Selective Sigma-2 Receptor Ligand, 1-(4-(6,7-Dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl)butyl)-3-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2(3H)-one (CM398), with Drug-Like Properties and Antinociceptive Effects In Vivo.

The sigma-2 receptor has been cloned and identified as Tmem97, which is a transmembrane protein involved in intracellular Ca2+ regulation and cholesterol homeostasis. Since its discovery, the sigma-2 receptor has been an extremely controversial target, and many efforts have been made to elucidate the functional role of this receptor during physiological and pathological conditions. Recently, this receptor has been proposed as a potential target to treat neuropathic pain due to the ability of sigma-2 receptor agonists to relieve mechanical hyperalgesia in mice model of chronic pain. In the present work, we developed a highly selective sigma-2 receptor ligand (sigma-1/sigma-2 selectivity ratio > 1000), 1-(4-(6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl)butyl)-3-methyl-1H- benzo[d]imidazol-2(3H)-one (CM398), with an encouraging in vitro and in vivo pharmacological profile in rodents. In particular, radioligand binding studies demonstrated that CM398 had preferential affinity for sigma-2 receptor compared with sigma-1 receptor and at least four other neurotransmitter receptors sites, including the norepinephrine transporter. Following oral administration, CM398 showed rapid absorption and peak plasma concentration (Cmax) occurred within 10 min of dosing. Moreover, the compound showed adequate, absolute oral bioavailability of 29.0%. Finally, CM398 showed promising anti-inflammatory analgesic effects in the formalin model of inflammatory pain in mice. The results collected in this study provide more evidence that selective sigma-2 receptor ligands can be useful tools in the development of novel pain therapeutics and altogether, these data suggest that CM398 is a suitable lead candidate for further evaluation.
Peripheral and Semi-Peripheral Community: A New Design Challenge for Learning at Scale

Existing attempts to foster a greater sense of community in online education have largely focused on direct interactions among students in peer review, forums, and other mechanisms. In this paper, we pose a new design challenge for learning at scale: peripheral community. Peripheral community is the sense of community derived from peripheral interactions in which a student has visibility into others' behaviors without a direct, intentional interaction occurring between the students. We argue for the value of peripheral community by examining opportunities for such visibility in residential learning environments. We then explore possible ways to supply peripheral community, both in the form of new initiatives and in reinterpretations of existing interventions as fostering peripheral community.
Integrating Intersectionality Into the Exposome Paradigm: A Novel Approach to Racial Inequities in Uterine Fibroids.

Intersectionality is a critical theoretical framework that emphasizes the influence of intersecting systems of oppression on the lived experiences of people marginalized by inequity. Although appli...
Scalable Heterogeneous Execution of a Coupled-Cluster Model with Perturbative Triples

The CCSD(T) coupled-cluster model with perturbative triples is considered a gold standard for computational modeling of the correlated behavior of electrons in molecular systems. A fundamental constraint is the relatively small global-memory capacity in GPUs compared to the main-memory capacity on host nodes, necessitating relatively smaller tile sizes for high-dimensional tensor contractions in NWChem’s GPU-accelerated implementation of the CCSD(T) method. A coordinated redesign is described to address this limitation and associated data movement overheads, including a novel fused GPU kernel for a set of tensor contractions, along with inter-node communication optimization and data caching. The new implementation of GPU-accelerated CCSD(T) improves overall performance by $3.4 \times$. Finally, we discuss the trade-offs in using this fused algorithm on current and future supercomputing platforms.
Undervaluation of Employee Satisfaction

Prior literature has shown that companies in Fortune’s list of 100 best companies (BCs) to work for in the United States earn positive abnormal returns in the period after the list is published. This article assesses to what extent the prior performance of stocks is related to this anomaly. The authors find that these abnormal returns are indeed confined to a subset of BCs that performed poorly over the previous two years. Specifically, during the 1998–2017 period, a value-weighted portfolio of loser BCs earns an annualized three-factor alpha of 12.65% in the subsequent year, while the same figure for other BCs is an insignificant 1.11%. They also find that hedge funds hold more underappreciated BCs in their portfolios in comparison to other BCs, but other institutional investors do not. These findings are consistent with the view that mispricing forms over time and support the hypothesis that undervaluing human capital plays a vital role in the BC anomaly. TOPICS:Security analysis and valuation, ESG investing, performance measurement Key Findings ▪ The positive abnormal returns of Fortune’s 100 best companies (BCs) to work for in the United States is confined to a subset of BCs that had comparatively poor stock returns (i.e., underappreciated BCs) over the previous two years. ▪ One hundred dollars invested in a value-weighted portfolio of underappreciated BCs would have grown to $3,411.96 from February 1998 to March 2018. In comparison, it would have been worth $442.36 if it had been invested in a value-weighted portfolio of other BCs. For reference, $100 invested in the S&P 500 Index would have grown to $269.40 over the same period. ▪ Hedge fund ownership is higher for underappreciated BCs in comparison to other BCs. In contrast, other institutional investors hold fewer underappreciated BCs than other BCs.
Exploring experiences of COVID-19-positive individuals from social media posts.

Aims This study aimed to explore the experience of individuals who claimed to be COVID-19 positive via their Twitter feeds. Background Public social media data are valuable to understanding people's experiences of public health phenomena. To improve care to those with COVID-19, this study explored themes from Twitter feeds, generated by individuals who self-identified as COVID-19 positive. Design This study utilized a descriptive design for text analysis for social media data. Methods This study analysed social media text retrieved by tweets of individuals in the United States who self-reported being COVID-19 positive and posted on Twitter in English between April 2, 2020, and April 24, 2020. In extracting embedded topics from tweets, we applied topic modelling approach based on latent Dirichlet allocation and visualized the results via LDAvis, a related web-based interactive visualization tool. Results Three themes were mined from 721 eligible tweets: (i) recognizing the seriousness of the condition in COVID-19 pandemic; (ii) having symptoms of being COVID-19 positive; and (iii) sharing the journey of being COVID-19 positive. Conclusion Leveraging the knowledge and context of study themes, we present experiences that may better reflect patient needs while experiencing COVID-19. The findings offer more descriptive support for public health nursing and other translational public health efforts during a global pandemic.
Immune Homeostasis: Activation and Downregulation of NF-κB

This chapter broadly introduces the innate and adaptive immune system, focusing on the critical role of the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) family of transcription factors. While NF-κB was originally discovered 25 years ago as a regulator of κ light chain in B cells, research in the topic has diversified enormously and NF-κB has since been the focus of extensive research in multiple areas of biomedical science. Today, a search in PubMed using “NF-κB” alone results in more than 60,000 hits. The transcription factor controls the expression of multiple genes that are involved in regulating inflammation and shaping the immune response. Therefore in order to avoid autoimmunity, it is essential that the activation of NF-κB be tightly regulated so as to limit both the duration and magnitude of the immune response. This chapter explores broader themes that have emerged for NF-κB activation, and the possible role of regulatory ubiquitination in NF-κB activation.
Indications and General Oncologic Principles

The management of cancer is a primary focus not only for the general surgeon but also for surgeons in many specialty areas. Despite the significant improvements in multimodality treatment over the last several decades, the extirpation of solid tumors continues to be the primary method of treating patients with cancer. Currently, neoadjuvant applications of chemotherapy and radiation are used to shrink tumor size or to “sterilize” the systemic circulation before removal of bulk tumors. The improvement in the cancer patient is still dependent on the ability to remove solid cancers, because the consequence of leaving residual tumor in place is incurability. The primary indication for any diagnostic modality is to obtain information that may provide pathologic certainty and data relating to the stage of the cancer. The current edition of the tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) staging manual2 developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer provides staging strategies that relate to most solid tumors. Although laparoscopy is not considered a primary modality of staging for most abdominal tumors, endoscopic staging is built on the sound principles gained during the era when exploratory laparotomy was the diagnostic and staging mainstay for the surgeon.
Stereochemistry of nucleic acid constituents

The crystal structure of cytidylic acid b, ‡ cytidine-3′-phosphate, has been refined by the method of full matrix least-squares to an R factor of 0·045, R = Σ | F o | − Σ | F c |/ Σ | F o | where | F o | and | F c | are respectively the observed and calculated diffraction amplitudes. The nucleotide is found to exist as a zwitter ion. The cytosine ring is slightly nonplanar, with N (3) protonated. The ribose ring is puckered with C (2′) -endo, and displaced (on the same side of C (5′) ) about 0·6 A from the plane of the remaining ring atoms. These latter appear to deviate slightly from a plane. Because the base in nucleic acids need not necessarily be planar and because C (1′) can be significantly displaced from the least-squares plane of the base, we suggest that the definition of the torsion angle Φ CN defined by Donohue & Trueblood (1960) , be modified as follows. The torsion angle Φ CN of the bond C (1′) −N is the angle formed by the projection of C (1′) −O (1′) relative to the projection of N (1′) −C (6) (in pyrimidine ring) and N (9) −C (8) (in purine ring) when viewed along C (1′) −N. This angle is taken as zero when O (1′) is anti-planar to C (2) of the pyrimidine or C (4) of the purine ring, and positive angles are taken as those measured in a clockwise direction when viewing from C (1′) to N. For this structure Φ CN = −42·1° and the conformation anti . All 14 hydrogen atoms in the structure appear in a ΔF synthesis and their parameters have also been refined. Several of the hydrogen isotropic thermal parameters have an anomalously low value. The standard deviation of the atomic co-ordinates from the least-squares refinement are P = 0·0011 A, O = 0·0036 A, N = 0·0042 A, C = 0·005 A and H = 0·06 A.
Robust Semivariogram Estimation in the Presence of Influential Spatial Data Values

Semivariogram modeling is central to the prediction of point values and areal averages of geostatistical random fields. Additionally, estimates of semivariogram model parameters themselves are of intrinsic interest because of the information they provide about spatial dependence across a region. The fitting of semivariogram models is in turn critically dependent on the shape of sample semivariogram plots. Basu et al. (1995) document that the presence of influential spatial data values can seriously distort sample semivariogram plots and can affect both the choice of semivariogram models and the estimation of model parameters. Moreover, they found that the application of some of the more popular robust methods to data files containing influential data does not always satisfactorily accommodate these influential observations. In this paper, we discuss several robust estimators of semivariogram values that aid in the identification and accommodation of influential spatial data values and that can be used with very large data sets where it is sometimes prohibitive to interactively investigate the presence of influential observations.
Energy-Privacy trade-offs in VLSI computations

VLSI circuits are open to sidechannel attacks which disclose information about its internal state to an adversary. Privacy is a design attribute to quantify the circuit’s resistance and resilience to sidechannel attacks. There has been some recent work in cryptography to capture the notion of privacy in circuits. Several constructions to transform a circuit into a private circuit have also been proposed. In this paper, we quantify the energy cost of providing privacy. We use the classical area-time-energy VLSI complexity theory techniques to prove lower bounds on the energy of any VLSI computation for a given function f parametrized by its privacy P (Privacy P or a P-private circuit implies that at least P bits of the circuit need to be observed to derive a single bit of information about an internal node). The main result establishes a lower bound of Ω(t2n2) on the E or ET or AT2 product of any t-private computation of an n-bit multiplier or shifter. Incidentally, the privacy transformation proposed by Ishai et al [6] will generate n-bit multiplier and shifter with matching energy, energy-time, and AT2 characteristics establishing that these lower bounds are tight. The privacy of the base design, without any privacy enhancement techniques, is t = 1. Hence this demonstrates that the privacy comes at a quadratic multiplicative factor energy cost, which can be significant for portable, energy-starved applications such as Smart card. We further introduce the notion of information splitting secret sharing based privacy enhancement techniques. The lower bound on the energy for this case improves to Ω(Pn2), a factor P improvement.
A Modified Differential Pickup Reflection Probe

In the eddy current inspection of multi-layered structures in aircrafts, the detection of flaws in the subsurface layers is a significant challenge and requires very sensitive probes. These flaws are often present in the vicinity of edges of the structures and hence the inspection probe should also be capable of discriminating the defect signal from the edge signal. Edges in samples under inspection give rise to very large eddy current signals thereby masking any signals that the probe may detect from a flaw close to the edge. This is referred to as the edge effect, differential flux signal on inside and outside of the driver coil. A thin ferromagnetic shield around the probe coil is included to enhance the sensitivity of this probe.
Using electron microscopy to understand functional mechanisms of chromosome alignment on the mitotic spindle.

Publisher Summary This chapter illustrates the ways cellular electron microscopy has been effectively employed to elucidate the mechanisms of mitotic function. The studies covered in the chapter are since 1971, and have used a range of techniques including serial-section analysis, correlative light and electron microscopy, immuno-electron microscopy, electron tomography, highpressure freezing followed by freeze-substitution, and imaging of isolated molecular components. The chapter emphasizes on the rationale for the use of a particular technique and the reason that makes the question addressed by the study important for understanding mitosis. It provides an insight into the ways in which cellular electron microscopy can be effectively employed to study the functional mechanisms of mitosis and other cellular processes. It also reviews the examples of studies in which transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods have been successfully used to address questions concerning the structure and function of the mitotic apparatus in vertebrate cells, along with describing one study of kinetochore microtubules (kMTs) in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans .
Peripheral Nerve Amyloidosis: Phenotype, Natural History, And Autonomic Dysfunction In Inherited Versus Acquired Subtypes (S36.008)

Objective: To compare laboratory and clinical phenotypes of primary (AL) amyloid neuropathy (AN) versus V30M and other TTR mutations. Background: AN is a devastating condition predominantly involving autonomic and somatic C fibers. While inherited and acquired forms of amyloid neuropathy have been described individually in detail, a formal comparison of the phenotype and natural history, including results of standardized autonomic and neurophysiologic tests, has not been reported. Methods: We reviewed clinical features, disease course, laboratory studies, and neurophysiologic test results in patients with AN seen at Mayo Clinic Rochester between 1993 and 2013 who underwent standardized autonomic testing. A historical cohort model was used, with an index date assigned to each patient based on the time of the inaugural symptoms of amyloidosis. Results: 63 AL and 47 TTR cases (V30M, n=20; non-V30M, n=20; unknown, n=7) were identified. There was longer survival and longer time to diagnosis in TTR compared to AL. Cardiac involvement occurred more frequently in the first 2 years in AL amyloid, but more often later on in TTR amyloid. Gastrointestinal, constitutional symptoms, and orthostatic intolerance had greater incidence in AL amyloid throughout the disease course. Neuropathy in TTR was more severe - higher CASS score, greater incidence of weakness, and reduced nerve conduction studies. Longer survival was predicted by the absence of cardiac, gastrointestinal, and constitutional involvement in the first year after symptom onset, and by normal cardiovagal responses. Compared to other TTR mutations, V30M cases more often reported distal paresthesias at onset and had lower distal QSART volumes. Conclusions: Our results delineate differences in clinical phenotype, natural history, and autonomic involvement between amyloid subtypes in AN. Earlier non-neuronal involvement was associated with poorer prognosis irrespective of amyloid type, but was more often seen in AL amyloid. Disclosure: Dr. Loavenbruck has nothing to disclose. Dr. Singer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sandroni has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mauermann has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dyck has nothing to disclose. Dr. Low has received personal compensation for activities with Chelsea, Pfizer Inc., and WR Medical Inc. as a consultant. Dr. Low has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Autonomic Neuroscience.
Speech enhancement based on the generalized dual excitation model with adaptive analysis window

In this paper, we describe a generalized dual excitation (GDE) speech model that is more accurate in its characterization than the dual excitation (DE) model in that it takes into account pitch variations. This model, together with an analysis window whose length varies adaptively according to the changing characteristics of speech, forms the backbone of a new speech enhancement system. Informal comparisons of the GDE system with the traditional systems have shown a clear preference for the former.
Atypical Optic Neuritis

Classic demyelinative optic neuritis is associated with multiple sclerosis and typically carries a good prognosis for visual recovery. This disorder is well characterized with respect to its presentation and clinical features by baseline data obtained through the optic neuritis treatment trial and numerous other studies. Atypical optic neuritis entails clinical manifestations that deviate from this classic pattern of features. Clinical signs and symptoms that deviate from the typical presentation should prompt consideration of less common etiologies. Atypical features to consider include lack of pain, simultaneous or near-simultaneous onset, lack of response to or relapse upon tapering from corticosteroids, or optic nerve head or peripapillary hemorrhages. The most important alternative etiologies to consider and the steps towards their respective diagnostic evaluations are suggested for these atypical features.
Conformation dependence of the CαDα stretch mode in peptides. II. Explicitly hydrated alanine peptide structures

Our previous studies of the potential utility of the CαDα stretch frequency, ν(CD), as a tool for determining conformation in peptide systems (Mirkin and Krimm, J Phys Chem A 2004, 108, 10923–10924; 2007, 111, 5300–5303) dealt with the spectroscopic characteristics of isolated alanine peptides with αR, β, and polyproline II structures. We have now extended these ab initio calculations to include various explicit-water environments interacting with such conformers. We find that the structure-discriminating feature of this technique is in fact enhanced as a result of the conformation-specific interactions of the bonding waters, in part due to our finding (Mirkin and Krimm, J Phys Chem B 2008, 112, 15268) that CαDα…O(water) hydrogen bonds can be present in addition to those expected between water and the CO and NH of the peptide groups. In fact, ν(CD) is hardly affected by the latter bonding but can be shifted by up to 70 cm−1 by the former hydrogen bonds. We also discuss the factors that will have to be considered in developing the molecular dynamics (MD) treatment needed to satisfactorily take account of the influence of outer water layers on the structure of the first-layer water molecules that hydrogen bond to the peptide backbone. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 91: 791–800, 2009. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Pregnancy is not a sufficient indicator for trauma team activation.

BACKGROUND Trauma complicates 6% to 7% of all pregnancies. Adverse outcomes are rare when monitoring is normal and early warning signs absent. Trauma systems often use pregnancy as the sole criterion (PSC) for partial trauma team activation. This study compares outcomes of pregnant patients presenting with PSC versus other physiologic, mechanistic, or anatomic (OPMA) activation criteria. METHODS Three hundred fifty-two consecutive obstetric partial trauma team activation patients (2000-2005) were grouped by length of gestation and evaluated for activation criteria and early maternal and fetal outcomes. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. RESULTS Patients ranged in age from 16 to 44 (mean age, 28 +/- 6.4) and in weeks gestation between 1 and 40 weeks (mean, 25 +/- 8 weeks). Eighty-two percent had been in vehicle crashes. One hundred eighty-eight (58%) were activated based on PSC and 137 on OPMA. No PSC patient had injuries sufficient to warrant trauma service admission. Ninety-four percent of all PSCs of <20 weeks were discharged home from the emergency department. There were no maternal mortalities. There were four fetal mortalities; two pregnancies were terminally compromised before the trauma event. No patient in the PSC group required admission to the trauma service. There were seven cases of abruption (2%) and 18 cases of vaginal bleeding or discharge (6%). No case of vaginal bleeding or abruption in the first 20 weeks was hypotensive at the scene or on arrival. CONCLUSION In this study, pregnancy was not an independent predictor of the need for trauma team activation. Standard OPMA trauma activation criteria apply equally to pregnant and nonpregnant patients. These data provide support for more judicious allocation of scarce trauma systems resources.