cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 2334: TWIST1, a B-RAF effector, promotes melanoma cell invasion

Metastatic melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and a paradigm for highly aggressive, chemotherapy-resistant tumors. Therefore, determining the factors impacting melanoma advancement toward metastasis is an important and clinically-relevant task. The TWIST1 protein is up-regulated in melanoma and its expression correlates strongly with poor clinical prognosis. We tested the role of high TWIST1 expression in traits associated with the progression of melanoma, as well as sought to delineate the mechanism underlying TWIST1 up-regulation. Our data shows that TWIST1 protein levels are higher in melanoma cells, especially invasive lines, compared to normal melanocytes. To evaluate the biological relevance of TWIST1 expression, we generated invasive melanoma cell lines depleted of TWIST1 by shRNA and non-invasive melanoma cell lines which constitutively overexpress TWIST1. First, we utilized these cell lines in standard Matrigel invasion assays through boyden chambers. Depletion of TWIST1 in several invasive melanoma cell lines significantly reduces Matrigel invasion by approximately 40-50%. The inverse phenotype is apparent when TWIST1 is overexpressed in low TWIST1-expressing, non-invasive melanoma cell lines. Additionally, we tested the effect of altered Twist expression in 3D collagen spheroid outgrowth assays, which mimic both tumor architecture and the in vivo collagen-rich dermal layer. We have found significant reduction of spheroid outgrowth when invasive cell lines are depleted for TWIST1 as well as increases in outgrowth when non-invasive cells overexpress TWIST1. Alterations to spheroid outgrowth were not as a result of apoptotic changes or proliferative rate as assessed by live/dead and EdU staining. Importantly, the mechanisms regulating high TWIST1 expression in melanoma are unclear. A comparison between wild-type and mutant B-RAF melanoma cell lines demonstrates that TWIST1 is more highly expressed in mutant B-RAF cells. We have found that disruption of B-RAF/MEK signaling, through siRNA/shRNA knockdown or pharmacological inhibition, strongly represses TWIST1 at the mRNA and protein level. An area of active investigation is the determination of the transcription factor responsible for TWIST1 regulation downstream of mutant B-RAF in melanoma. The data generated from these studies will allow for a greater understanding of the role and regulation of TWIST1 during the progression of melanoma towards metastasis. In addition, it may highlight TWIST1 as an attractive molecule/pathway for novel targeted therapies for melanoma. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2334. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2334
Single-shot x-ray phase contrast imaging with an algorithmic approach using spectral detection

X-ray phase contrast imaging has been investigated during the last two decades for potential benefits in soft tissue imaging. Long imaging time, high radiation dose and general measurement complexity involving motion of x-ray optical components have prevented the clinical translation of these methods. In all existing popular phase contrast imaging methods, multiple measurements per projection angle involving motion of optical components are required to achieve quantitatively accurate estimation of absorption, phase and differential phase. Recently we proposed an algorithmic approach to use spectral detection data in a phase contrast imaging setup to obtain absorption, phase and differential phase in a single-step. Our generic approach has been shown via simulations in all three types of phase contrast imaging: propagation, coded aperture and grating interferometry. While other groups have used spectral detector in phase contrast imaging setups, our proposed method is unique in outlining an approach to use this spectral data to simplify phase contrast imaging. In this abstract we show the first experimental proof of our single-shot phase retrieval using a Medipix3 photon counting detector in an edge illumination aperture (also referred to as coded aperture) phase contrast set up as well as for a free space propagation setup. Our preliminary results validate our new transport equation for edge illumination PCI and our spectral phase retrieval algorithm for both PCI methods being investigated. Comparison with simulations also point to excellent performance of Medipix3 built-in charge sharing correction mechanism.
Use of Mobile Health Applications for Health-Seeking Behavior Among US Adults

This study explores the use of mobile health applications (mHealth apps) on smartphones or tablets for health-seeking behavior among US adults. Data was obtained from cycle 4 of the 4th edition of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 4). Weighted multivariate logistic regression models examined predictors of 1) having mHealth apps, 2) usefulness of mHealth apps in achieving health behavior goals, 3) helpfulness in medical care decision-making, and 4) asking a physician new questions or seeking a second opinion. Using the Andersen Model of health services utilization, independent variables of interest were grouped under predisposing factors (age, gender, race, ethnicity, and marital status), enabling factors (education, employment, income, regular provider, health insurance, and rural/urban location of residence), and need factors (general health, confidence in their ability to take care of health, Body Mass Index, smoking status, and number of comorbidities). In a national sample of adults who had smartphones or tablets, 36 % had mHealth apps on their devices. Among those with apps, 60 % reported the usefulness of mHealth apps in achieving health behavior goals, 35 % reported their helpfulness for medical care decision-making, and 38 % reported their usefulness in asking their physicians new questions or seeking a second opinion. The multivariate models revealed that respondents were more likely to have mHealth apps if they had more education, health insurance, were confident in their ability to take good care of themselves, or had comorbidities, and were less likely to have them if they were older, had higher income, or lived in rural areas. In terms of usefulness of mHealth apps, those who were older and had higher income were less likely to report their usefulness in achieving health behavior goals. Those who were older, African American, and had confidence in their ability to take care of their health were more likely to respond that the mHealth apps were helpful in making a medical care decision and asking their physicians new questions or for a second opinion. Potentially, mHealth apps may reduce the burden on primary care, reduce costs, and improve the quality of care. However, several personal-level factors were associated with having mHealth apps and their perceived helpfulness among their users, indicating a multidimensional digital divide in the population of US adults.
Advance on Intervention Research of Metabolic Syndrome

International diabetes federation(IDF) defined the metabolic syndrome as the main components from obesity,atherogenic dyslipidaemia,hypertension and hyperglycemia.The central obesity is a prerequisite for the diagnosis of the syndrome.At present,the intervention research is aimed at the main components of the syndrome,such as losing weight,treating obesity,improving lipid abnormalities,lowering blood pressure,and improving glucose metabolism.The main measures purpose to change the lifestyle,including health education,diet intervention,exercise intervention,and all of above as the intensified lifestyle intervention.Drug therapy is always used by clinical evidences in people whose lifestyle changes are not adequate and who are considered to be at high risk for cardiovascular diseases.
Push it to the limit: Characterizing the convergence of common sequences of basis sets for intermolecular interactions as described by density functional theory

With the aim of systematically characterizing the convergence of common families of basis sets such that general recommendations for basis sets can be made, we have tested a wide variety of basis sets against complete-basis binding energies across the S22 set of intermolecular interactions—noncovalent interactions of small and medium-sized molecules consisting of first- and second-row atoms—with three distinct density functional approximations: SPW92, a form of local-density approximation; B3LYP, a global hybrid generalized gradient approximation; and B97M-V, a meta-generalized gradient approximation with nonlocal correlation. We have found that it is remarkably difficult to reach the basis set limit; for the methods and systems examined, the most complete basis is Jensen’s pc-4. The Dunning correlation-consistent sequence of basis sets converges slowly relative to the Jensen sequence. The Karlsruhe basis sets are quite cost effective, particularly when a correction for basis set superposition error is applied: counterpoise-corrected def2-SVPD binding energies are better than corresponding energies computed in comparably sized Dunning and Jensen bases, and on par with uncorrected results in basis sets 3-4 times larger. These trends are exhibited regardless of the level of density functional approximation employed. A sense of the magnitude of the intrinsic incompleteness error of each basis set not only provides a foundation for guiding basis set choice in future studies but also facilitates quantitative comparison of existing studies on similar types of systems.
Gregory N. Bell v. United States of America, Brief of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as Amicus Curiae in Support of Petitioner

Punishing a defendant for acquitted crimes undermines the essential role of the jury. See e.g., Barry L. Johnson, The Puzzling Persistence of Acquitted Conduct in Federal Sentencing, and What Can Be Done About It, 49 Suffolk U. L. Rev. 1, 26 (2016); and Orhun Hakan Yalincak, Critical Analysis of Acquitted Conduct Sentencing in the U.S.: “Kafka-Esque,” “Repugnant,” “Uniquely Malevolent” and “Pernicious”?, 54 Santa Clara L. Rev. 675, 723 (2014). The use of acquitted crimes to calculate an initial Guidelines range deprives a defendant of his Sixth Amendment right to a sentence wholly authorized by the jury's verdict, from which a judge's authority to sentence derives. James J. Bilsborrow, Sentencing Acquitted Conduct to the Post-Booker Dustbin, 49 Wm. & Mary L. Rev. 289, 333 (2007). The use of acquitted conduct in enhanced sentencing ignores the Court's unequivocal pronouncements in Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338 (2007), and again in Southern Union Co. v. United States, 132 S.Ct. 2344 (2012), that any sentence must be based solely upon the facts found by the jury or admitted by the defendant.The use of conduct of which a defendant was acquitted in the same trial to increase the sentencing Guidelines range violates the Sixth Amendment. A fact that increases a mandatory minimum sentence, no less than a fact that increases a maximum sentence, is an offense element that jurors must find beyond a reasonable doubt, because the Sixth Amendment does not allow a judge, absent a jury, to find any fact that “alter[s] the prescribed range of sentences to which a defendant is exposed and do[es] so in a manner that aggravates the punishment.” Alleyne v. United States, 133 S.Ct. 2151, 2161 n.2 (2013). Although advisory, the Guidelines continue to have “force as the framework for sentencing,” Peugh v. United States, 133 S.Ct. 2072, 2083 (2013), and are the “starting point and the initial benchmark” for all sentence determination, Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 49 (2007). Correct calculation of the Guidelines range is the required first step in sentencing a convicted defendant. Id. Improper calculation by including acquitted conduct rejected by the jury constitutes procedural error. Lower courts are bound by their post-Watts acquitted conduct precedent, even though the validity of those decisions is highly questionable in light of the Court’s more recent Sixth Amendment jurisprudence. This Court should exercise its prerogative and use this case to clarify that the Sixth Amendment does not permit the use of acquitted conduct to increase a defendant’s sentencing guidelines range.
Sailings and Services

At the very core of a shipping line’s business stand the routes and ports served. Such services do much to shape the character of the enterprise, for they determine the cargoes to be carried, the types of ships required, the conditions under which ships served and were manned, and the agency business needed. A feature of Blue Funnel operations has always been the enduring and relatively concentrated character of its services. Virtually without exception the Company confined itself to operating regular liners; only rarely were Blue Funnel ships chartered to other lines or were alien vessels chartered by Blue Funnel. These liners carried cargo, with only a limited involvement in passenger traffic, and they traded primarily between the United Kingdom and the Far East via the Suez Canal. Endeavours in other directions, such as the Australian and American trades and the various local and feeder trades in which Ocean became involved never played more than supporting roles to the leading Far Eastern business.
Extending Marketing Technology into a New Frontier-Diffusing Municipal Technology

Cities are becoming pinched in an ever tightening squeeze of demand for increased services and a cry for lower taxes. One way out of this dilemma is to increase the efficiency of existing services. The transfer of technology to municipal markets could be a means of accomplishing this task.
The Aftermath of United States v. Texas: Rediscovering Deferred Action

On June 23, 2016, the Supreme Court issued a 4-4 ruling in the immigration case of United States v. Texas, blocking two “deferred action” programs announced by President Obama on November 20, 2014: extended Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA Plus) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Legal Residents (DAPA). The 4-4 ruling by the justices creates a non-precedential non-decision, upholding an injunction placed by a panel of federal judges in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. While the future of these programs remains uncertain in the long term, the immediate effects are pronounced, as millions of qualifying young people (“Dreamers”) and parents who would have been able to request deferred action programs are unable to do so in the foreseeable future. The outcome of the ruling highlights the need for greater information about existing prosecutorial discretion tools, including a longstanding deferred action program on which DACA and DAPA are based.This essay examines 185 deferred action cases processed by the United States Citizenship Immigration Services (USCIS), a unit within Department Homeland Security (DHS or Department). While previous scholarship examines deferred action historically and in depth, this is the first piece to review cases under the Department’s current enforcement policy. The author’s goal is to provide advocates and policymakers with accurate information about the deferred action program outside of DACA (and what would have been DACA Plus and DAPA) and to facilitate a dialogue about the possibilities of advancing a robust deferred action policy for Dreamers, parents and others who present humanitarian equities. A second goal of this essay is to (re)address the continued transparency challenges faced by the deferred action program and recommendations for moving forward. Beyond the scope of this essay is an analysis of whether certain noncitizens may be currently eligible for relief outside of deferred action or a discussion on those who should qualify for immigration status under unrealized but critical legislative reforms.
Análisis Comparativo de Investigación Científica con un Modelo Independiente del Lenguaje a través de Múltiples Colecciones

This paper addresses the problem of scientific research analysis across multiple research literature collections. We use topic modeling in three novel comparative tasks: (1) unsupervised discovery and comparison of scientific topics across multiple disciplines; (2) comparison of topics within the same discipline; (3) analysis of topic evolution over time within and across disciplines and trend analysis.
A Content Analysis of Images of Novice Teacher Induction: First-Semester Themes

The powerful nature of novice teachers’ experiences in their first years of teaching has been well documented. However, the variance in novices’ initial immersion in the school environment is largely dependent on perceived personal and professional support as well as the environmental inducements that lend to novice teachers’ success in the classroom. For the purposes of this study, 72 participating novices, who were participants in an alternative certification program, drew representations of their current teaching environments. Of the 72 initial participants’ pictures, 58 were used in this content analysis. The interrater analysis involving multiple documentation of codes between and among researches, revealed five themes from the novices’ pictures: (a) concerns about students, (b) overwhelmed and struggling, (c) relationships with others, (d) concerns about education quality and excessive accountability, and (e) issues with administration. Implications are provided.
Simple Technique of Circular Stapled Anastomosis in Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy

Abstract Background: Advent of minimally-invasive esophagectomy necessitated the incorporation of stapled anastomotic techniques especially for intrathoracic anastomosis. We present our approach to the Ivor Lewis esophagectomy highlighting a simple modification in the anastomotic technique and review our experience with anastomotic outcomes. Methods: With IRB approval, patients who underwent Ivor Lewis esophagectomy with circular-stapled end-to-end anastomosis (EEA) were identified, divided into three equal sequential cohorts (A, B, and C), and compared for perioperative outcome. Cohorts were divided in a chronological order to have equal number of patients in each group. Results: Seventy-five patients underwent Ivor Lewis esophagectomy with circular stapled (EEA-25/28) anastomosis. Group A had longer median postoperative hospital stay and median postoperative ICU stay compared to Groups B and C. Ten patients (13%) had anastomotic leak—one patient required redo-anastomosis and other patients were managed ...
Child Witness to Violence

This article is an updated version of the previous edition article by Marilyn Augustyn, Barry Zuckerman, volume 1, pp. 616–620, © 2008, Elsevier Inc.
Travel-time inversion for laterally inhomogeneous crustal velocity models

abstract The realistic interpretation of seismic travel-time data from structurally complex areas, and the accurate location of earthquake hypocenters in such areas, require seismic ray computations for laterally inhomogeneous velocity models. Numerical simulation of the ray differential equations provides a practical means of performing the necessary calculations. A least-squares scheme is used to obtain models which fit travel-time data and are consistent with geological data. Laterally inhomogeneous velocity models are obtained for travel-time data from explosions for two areas in California: the Bear Valley area, 40 km southeast of Hollister and the Borrego Mountain area, 160 km northeast of San Diego. Both regions are characterized by a substantial lateral variation of seismic velocity, and the derived models exhibit most of the significant structural features of the areas. An algorithm for the direct solution of ray boundary value problems, based on the iterative solution of a tridiagonal set of simultaneous equations, allows for the input of geophysical intuition in finding the rays between a source and a station.
Twitter Power and Sport-Fan Loyalty: The Moderating Effects of Twitter

Sport fans who have formed strong connections to their favorite team may be termed loyal fans. One popular communication tool for such fans is Twitter, which has been found to be an important medium for sharing news and events, yet few studies have examined the moderating of Twitter use in a sport context. Adopting the relational approach examining the determinants of sport-fan loyalty, this study examined how Twitter use moderates the building of fan loyalty. Findings revealed that team attraction, team trust, and team involvement are positively related to team attachment. While team attachment was found to positively influence fan loyalty, sport fans’ Twitter use was found to significantly reinforce their loyalty. Specific implications for both theory and practice are discussed.
Revealing the biography of a hidden medieval manuscript using synchrotron and conventional imaging techniques

Reading the content of hidden texts from ancient manuscripts has become an increasingly important endeavor thanks to the variety of non-destructive analytical tools and image processing routines available for this task. In this study, portable macro X-Ray Fluorescence (MA-XRF-tube), Visible Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) together with Synchrotron based macro X-Ray Fluorescence (MA-XRF-SR) are combined with signal processing methods to reveal the biography of a degraded manuscript recycled as binding material for a 16th century printed edition of Hesiod's Works and Days. The analytical techniques allow visualizing the hidden text, revealing passages from the Institutes Justinian, a 6th century A.D codification of the Roman Law, with further marginal comments on medieval Canon Law. In addition, the identification of the materials (e.g. pigments, inks) part of the original manuscript together with their sequence of use are revealed: i) the preparation of the parchment using a Ca-based preparation layer, ii) drawing of ruled guide lines, using a Pb-based pen or ink, iii) writing of the main text using a rich Fe-gall ink with modulating color pigments (Hg-, Cu- and Pb- based) and iv) addition of two types of comments to the main text, one of the ink used for the comments being a Fe-gall ink rich in Cu.
Holding Providers Accountable for Health Care Outcomes

Federal public reporting and payment programs have increasingly emphasized the measurement of outcomes (such as readmission, health care-associated infections, and mortality). Yet, the criteria for assessing whether outcome measures are accurate and valid enough to use for public reporting, payment, and accreditation are not well-defined. An outcome measure should be used only if the outcome can be influenced substantially by providers (that is, a strong process-outcome link exists) and statistical adjustment can be made for differences in patient populations across providers so that differences in outcomes are truly attributable to differences in the care provided. Validly distinguishing differences in quality of care across providers requires precision in both the design of the outcome measure and the actual recording of all the measure's elements. Four criteria are proposed to assess outcome measures. First, strong evidence should exist that good medical care leads to improvement in the outcome within the time period for the measure. Second, the outcome should be measurable with a high degree of precision. Third, the risk-adjustment methodology should include and accurately measure the risk factors most strongly associated with the outcome. Fourth, implementation of the outcome measure must have little chance of inducing unintended adverse consequences. These criteria were applied to 10 outcome measures currently used or proposed for accountability programs. Three measures met all 4 criteria; 5, including all 4 claims-based 30-day mortality measures, failed to meet 1 or more criteria. Patient-reported outcome measures are problematic, because low response rates may cause bias. These findings raise concerns and suggest the need for a national dialogue about how to judge outcome measures currently in use or proposed for the future.
Combining remote ischemic preconditioning and aerobic exercise: a novel adaptation of blood flow restriction exercise.

Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) can attenuate tissue damage sustained by ischemia-reperfusion injury. Blood flow restriction exercise (BFRE) restricts blood flow to exercising muscles. We im...
Statin Prescribing in the Elderly: Special Considerations

Our aim was to examine the current evidence behind prescribing statins to individuals over 65 years of age with emphasis on those older than 75. Individuals over 75 years of age may often have multiple comorbidities and take many medications. Additionally, they are often underrepresented in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of statins in older populations. While results of RCTs demonstrate the benefit of statin therapy in both primary and secondary prevention patients, clinicians must more carefully consider adverse effects and drug–drug interactions before prescribing statin therapy as well as determining the intensity in older individuals. Four primary prevention trials support statins for primary prevention following a clinician–patient risk discussion. Of these, JUPITER and HOPE-3 studied participants 70 years of age and over who derived benefit. However, in those over 85 years, available information is inadequate to guide decisions regarding statin therapy. Documented statin adverse effects include new onset diabetes, myopathy, and medication interactions. Although cognitive decline has been reported anecdotally, its incidence was comparable to placebo in two RCTs with validated cognitive evaluations. Concerns about significant liver and kidney injury with statins were not corroborated in RCTs. For most patients, the potential for reducing ASCVD risk outweighs possible adverse effects; however, in the elderly, the impact of drug treatment on cognition, musculoskeletal ability, and independence must be heavily weighed. Given the limited high quality evidence for primary prevention in individuals over 75 years of age, neither the ACC–AHA nor USPSTF cholesterol guidelines recommend statin therapy for primary prevention in this patient population. If prescribed, physician judgment and shared decision-making are crucial. To aid clinicians, imaging studies of subclinical atherosclerosis may improve specificity of statin therapy to prevent ASCVD in the elderly in primary prevention.
Identification of the active region of the DNA synthesis inhibitory gene P21Sdi1/CIP1/WAF1

The cloning of the negative growth regulatory gene, p21Sdi1, has led to the convergence of the fields of cellular senescence, cell cycle regulation and tumor suppression. This gene was first cloned as an inhibitor of DNA synthesis that was overexpressed in terminally non-dividing senescent human fibroblasts (SD11) and later as a p53 transactivated gene (WAF1) and a Cdk-interacting protein (CIP1, p21) that inhibited cyclin-dependent kinase activity. To identify the active region(s) of p21Sdi1, cDNA constructs encoding various deleted forms of the protein were analyzed. Amino acids 22-71 were found to be the minimal region required for DNA synthesis inhibition. Amino acids 49-71 were involved in binding to Cdk2, and constructs deleted in this region expressed proteins that were unable to inhibit Cdk2 kinase activity in vitro. The latter stretch of amino acids shared sequence similarity with amino acids 60-76 of the p27Kip1 protein, another Cdk inhibitor. Point mutations made in p21Sdi1 in this region confirmed that amino acids common to both proteins were involved in DNA synthesis inhibition. Additionally, a chimeric protein, in which amino acids 49-65 of p21Sdi1 were substituted with amino acids 60-76 of p27Kip1, had almost the same DNA synthesis inhibitory activity as the wild-type protein. The results indicate that the region of sequence similarity between p21Sdi1 and p27Kip1 encodes an inhibitory motif characteristic of this family of Cdk inhibitors.
Feeding and growth characteristics of human milk-fed infants.

Anthropometric measurements, milk intake, and nursing frequency data of 50 exclusively breast-fed infants were analyzed to determine the existence, extent, and nature of relationships among nursing frequency, quantity of milk consumed, and growth characteristics. In comparison with the National Center for Health Statistics growth standards, anthropometric measures for all infants fell within the 10th and 95th standard percentiles for the following growth parameters: Mean lengths ranged from 54 ±2.5 cm at 2 weeks to 64 ± 1.6 cm at 16 weeks; mean weights ranged from 3,735 ± 526 gm to 6,326 ± 633 gm; mean head circumferences ranged from 36 ±1.2 cm to 41 ±1.0 cm. Significant associations were observed for milk intake with weight and length measures. Strength of association, however, was highly variable across age categories, ranging from 0.32 to 0.71 for weight and 0.16 to 0.70 for length. The coefficients indicate that 10% to 50% of the total variance in weight and 3% to 49% of total variance in length could be ascribable to milk intake. Average milk intakes were significantly correlated with infant length and weight at 2, 6, and 12 weeks. Average frequency of nursing was positively associated with infant weight at 12 weeks. Increases in average milk intakes between 2 and 4 weeks were significantly related to increases in length for the same period. Likewise, an increase in average milk intake between 8 and 12 weeks was associated with a corresponding change in mean length. A significant relationship was observed between an increase in average milk intake for the interval 6 to 12 weeks, with a corresponding average increase in weight. Considerable variation was noted among subjects for average milk intake and nursing frequency. The average daily number of nursings significantly decreased with age. Data indicate the importance of assessing feeding characteristics of the nursing dyad when adequacy of lactation is being considered.
Estimating Myofiber Size With Electrical Impedance Myography: a Study In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis MICE.

Introduction A method for quantifying myofiber size noninvasively would find wide use, including primary diagnosis and evaluating response to therapy. Methods Using prediction algorithms, including the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, we applied multifrequency electrical impedance myography (EIM) to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis superoxide dismutase 1 G93A mice of different ages and assessed myofiber size histologically. Results Multifrequency EIM data provided highly accurate predictions of myofiber size, with a root mean squared error (RMSE) of only 14% in mean myofiber area (corresponding to ± 207 µm2 for a mean area of 1,488 µm2 ) and an RMSE of only 8.8% in predicting the coefficient of variation in fiber size distribution. Discussion This impedance-based approach provides predictive variables to assess myofiber size and distribution with good accuracy, particularly in diseases in which myofiber atrophy is the predominant histological feature, without the requirement for biopsy or burdensome quantification. Muscle Nerve 58: 713-717, 2018.
Ontogeny of urea and ammonia transporters in mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) early life stages

Abstract The mechanism(s) of ammonia and urea excretion in freshwater fish have received considerable attention; however, parallel investigations of seawater fish, specifically in the early life stages are scarce. The first objective of this study was to evaluate the patterns of ammonia and urea excretion in mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) up to 102 hours post fertilization (hpf). Similar to other teleosts, mahi embryos are ureotelic before hatch and gradually switch to being ammoniotelic around the time of hatch. The second objective was to characterize mRNA levels of ammonia transporters (Rhag, Rhbg, Rhcg1 and Rhcg2), as well as urea transporter (UT) and sodium hydrogen exchangers (NHE3 and NHE2) during mahi development. As predicted, the mRNA levels of the Rhesus glycoprotein (Rh) genes, especially Rhag, Rhbg and the UT gene were highly consistent with the ontogeny of ammonia and urea excretion rates. Further, the localization of each transporter was examined in larvae collected at 60 and 102 hpf using in situ hybridization. Rhag was expressed in the gills, yolk sac, and operculum. Rhbg was expressed in the gills and upper mouth. Rhcg1 and NHE3 were co-localized in the sub-operculum, and Rhcg2 was expressed in the skin. Together, these results indicate that urea excretion is critical for ammonia detoxification during embryonic development and that Rh proteins are involved in ammonia excretion via gills and yolk sac, possibly facilitated by NHE3.
PROSTATE VAPORIZATION BY DIODE LASER FOR PATIENTS WITH BENIGN PROSTATIC ENLARGEMENT

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to study the efficacy of diode laser prostatectomy in patients infected with benign prostatic enlargement. Methods: A total of 62 men were included in our prospective clinical study from August 2017 to January 2018. The size of their prostates (ml) was ranged from 38 to 65, digital rectal examination for all patients was revealed the features of benign prostatic enlargement, prostate-specific antigen was ranged from 0.3 to 14 ng/ml, underwent laser prostatectomy (Diode laser). Results: The study included 62 men with 67.82±7.57 years. After the operation, the median maximum flow rate (Qmax) was increased 11–22 ml/s and the increment was highly significant (p<0.001), and median international prostate symptom score was highly significantly reduced from 19 to 10 (p<0.001). In addition, median residual volume was highly significantly reduced from 169.5 to 77 ml (p<0.001). Mean duration of operation was 67.82±7.57 min. The duration of catheterization with a mean of 1.16±0.45 days. Most patients required only 1 day of hospital stay postoperatively. No one developed post-operative bleeding, erectile dysfunction was reported in a single patient (1.6%), urinary incontinence in one patient (1.6%), and urinary tract infection was the most frequent post-operative complication being reported in 11.3%. Conclusion: Diode laser for the treatment of prostate is easily applicable, cheap and provides good ablation with low morbidity.
PrEP and sexual well-being: a qualitative study on PrEP, sexuality of MSM, and patient-provider relationships

Most new diagnoses of HIV in the United States are among men who have sex with men (MSM). Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication that mitigates risk of HIV acquisition and requires regular STI testing and prescription refills with PrEP providers. Because PrEP care monitors sexual behavior, there is a need to understand how PrEP providers approach sexual health care for MSM patients. In this study, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 MSM in Atlanta, Georgia with current or past prescriptions for PrEP. Data were analyzed with thematic analysis using four major steps: (1) code and codebook development, (2) assigning codes to segments of interviews, (3) code-based and comparative analysis methods, and (4) developing thematic findings. Findings from interviews about changes in sexuality while using PrEP include decreased anxiety surrounding sex, increased feelings of control over personal health, and experiencing less stigma towards sexual partners with HIV. Participants indicated needs for tailored health advice based on individual sexual preferences, sexual health care free from stereotypical assumptions, and improved access to PrEP providers identifying as gay men or who practice in LGBT-friendly settings. Study findings support a call for a gain-frame approach to sexual health in PrEP care for MSM.
Systems Evaluation of Subsonic Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Concepts for NASA N+3 Goals and Conceptual Aircraft Sizing

The air-travel demand is anticipated to grow in future and therefore the worldwide airtraffic is forecast to increase significantly. This growth in demand further increases the concerns pertaining to environmental and human health, which results in stringent aviation policies. Emission regulations have been set for the aviation sector to reduce its climate change impacts, and these support the efforts to meet the goals of the UN’s Paris treaty on climate change. The aviation sector is exploring sustainable and improved technologies to become more energy and cost efficient. Along these lines, NASA has developed the concept of ‘N+i’ goals to decrease fuel consumption, noise, and landing and take-off (LTO) oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions, and to enhance aircraft performance. The ‘N+3’ represents three technology generations into the future, where ‘N’ represents the current aircraft generation, with a forecasted technology readiness level 4-6, in year 2025 timeframe which will enable year 2035 service-entry. To meet NASA’s N+3 goals, significant improvements must be made in the air transportation system, airframe, mission design, and propulsion systems. A pivotal element to achieve these goals, is the propulsion system. This is because the role of propulsion system can be crucial in reducing emissions, noise, and fuel burn. This work evaluates the N+3 concepts in detail, based on the systems engineering approaches and selects the best of those concepts. A detailed analysis is presented for phase one of such a project using Georgia Institute of Technology’s Integrated Product-Process Development (IPPD) method. This work finds that the NASA N3-X turbo-electric distributed propulsion (TeDP) is the best concept for meeting the NASA N+3 goals, based on the systems engineering approach.
Study progress of insulin-like growth factor receptor type 1 gene mutation and short stature

Insulin-like growth factor receptor type 1(IGF-1R) is the receptor cascade effect molecules of IGF signaling pathways in the hypothalamus-pituitary-growth hormone axis.In recent years, IGF-1R gene mutation of short stature case reports increased year by year, now the progress of IGF-1R gene defects in short stature for clinicians was summarized. Key words: Insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor; Short stature; Growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor axis; Insulin-like growth factor pathway
Cognition as a Social Skill

Much contemporary social epistemology takes as its starting point individuals with sophisticated propositional attitudes and considers (i) how those individuals depend on each other to gain (or los...
MUC2MUC5B and TOLLIP variants: no association with disease progression and survival in an IPF cohort

The MUC5B variant rs35705950 is a key genetic risk factor for IPF, and has been associated with a more benign disease course. MUC2 rs7934606, and gene variants in TOLLIP, both located at the same locus as MUC5B, have also been associated with IPF in genome wide association studies. TOLLIP rs5743890 has been associated with mortality and TOLLIP rs3750920 with differential responses to treatment in IPF. Our aim was to evaluate the association between these variants and IPF disease progression and survival. DNA was collected from 299 Caucasian IPF patients with a minimum of 6 months follow-up lung function. Baseline composite physiologic index (CPI = 91.0-(0.65 x DLCO % predicted)–(0.53 x FVC % predicted)+(0.34 x FEV1 % predicted)) was used as a marker of disease severity. Mixed effect model analysis for decline in lung function was performed. Time to all-cause mortality was also evaluated using proportional hazards analysis. None of the tested SNPs were significantly associated with decline in any of the measures of lung function: FVC, DLCO, FEV1 and KCO. Univariate and multivariate analysis, including age, gender, smoking history, treatment with pirfenidone/nintedanib, and CPI, showed that none of the tested SNPs were associated with survival. In our cohort, genetic variants in MUC2, MUC5B and TOLLIP were not associated with survival or lung function decline in IPF although our study may not have had the power to detect weak associations, our results suggest that these variants are not strongly related to IPF prognosis. Further study is needed to clarify the key genetic risk factors of disease progression/mortality in the MUC2/MUC5B/TOLLIP genetic region in IPF.
Primary Central Sleep Apnea

Idiopathic or primary central sleep apnea is a rare sleep breathing disorder characterized by periodic episodes of apnea or hypopnea resulting from absent or decreased inspiratory effort due to decreased central neural input to the respiratory motor neurons. Primary central sleep apnea is a diagnosis of exclusion—heart failure, neuromuscular disease, medications, opioids, and central disorders like stroke or brain tumors must be excluded. Primary central sleep apnea patients usually present with complaints of witnessed apneas, restless sleep, insomnia, and/or excessive daytime sleepiness. The diagnosis is confirmed with a polysomnography. Treatment options include positive airway pressure devices, pharmacologic therapy, oxygen, and/or carbon dioxide gas supplementation.
Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 Using Group VII Metal Catalysts

Anthropogenic CO2 emissions, primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels, are driving climate change at an alarming rate. Our current dependence on carbon-based fuels has motivated research interest in the capture and catalytic reduction of carbon dioxide back to liquid fuels. Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide has been intensely researched over the past decade. Here, some of the important contributions made to this field over the past decade using the Group VII transition metal bipyridine catalysts are reviewed. Strategies to further our mechanistic understanding of the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO are described.
GaAs Abrupt Junction Mitatt and Tunnett

We report a theoretical investigation on the GaAs abrupt pn junction diodes to be operated in the MITATT or TUNNETT mode from 100 GHz to 800 GHz. No maximum frequency limitation is found due to the effect of injection pulse width. The experimental results by Nishizawa et.al., are in agreement with the theory. Our results indicate that GaAs MITTATs or TUNNETTs can operate with significant efficiency, around 5%, at least up to 500 GHz.
Training with Agency-Inspired Feedback from an Instrumented Glove to Improve Functional Grasp Performance

Sensory feedback from wearables can be effective to learn better movement through enhanced information and engagement. Facilitating greater user cognition during movement practice is critical to accelerate gains in motor function during rehabilitation following brain or spinal cord trauma. This preliminary study presents an approach using an instrumented glove to leverage sense of agency, or perception of control, to provide training feedback for functional grasp. Seventeen able-bodied subjects underwent training and testing with a custom-built sensor glove prototype from our laboratory. The glove utilizes onboard force and flex sensors to provide inputs to an artificial neural network that predicts achievement of “secure” grasp. Onboard visual and audio feedback was provided during training with progressively shorter time delay to induce greater agency by intentional binding, or perceived compression in time between an action (grasp) and sensory consequence (feedback). After training, subjects demonstrated a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in movement pathlength and completion time for a functional task involving grasp-move-place of a small object. Future work will include a model-based algorithm to compute secure grasp, virtual reality immersion, and testing with clinical populations.
Transforming growth factor-β2-mediated mesenchymal transition in lens epithelial cells is repressed in the absence of RAGE

Transforming growth factor-β2 (TGFβ2)-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lens epithelial cells (LECs) has been implicated in fibrosis associated with secondary cataracts. In this study, we investigated whether the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) plays a role in TGFβ2-mediated EMT in LECs. Unlike in the LECs from wild-type mice, TGFβ2 failed to elicit an EMT response in LECs from RAGE knockout mice. The lack of RAGE also diminished TGFβ2-mediated Smad signaling. In addition, treatment with TGFβ2 increased IL-6 levels in LECs from wild-type mice but not in those from RAGE knockout mice. Treatment of human LECs with the RAGE inhibitor FPS-ZM1 reduced TGFβ2-mediated Smad signaling and the EMT response. Unlike that in wild-type lenses, the removal of fiber cell tissue in RAGE knockout lenses did not result in elevated levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin (FN), and integrin β1 in capsule-adherent LECs. Taken together, these results suggest that TGFβ2 signaling is intricately linked to RAGE. Targeting RAGE could be explored as a therapeutic strategy against secondary cataracts.
Actinomyces of the reconstructed breast: A case report

Abstract Actinomyces species has been described as a rare cause of primary breast, abdominal, and cutaneous infections, and can present as recurrent abscesses, tissue fibrosis, and fistulous draining sinuses, particularly in the setting of immune compromise. We present a case of a 48-year-old woman who underwent bilateral mastectomy with muscle sparing transverse rectus abdominus muscle free flap reconstruction thirteen years prior and developed recurrent abscesses in her reconstructed breast, ultimately attributable to chronic infection with Actinomyces. This is the first reported case of Actinomyces infection in the autologously reconstructed breast. Definitive treatment included surgical mastotomy and debridement with vacuum assisted wound closure and prolonged course of intravenous (IV) ampicillin-sulbactam followed by oral amoxicillin-clavulanate. Actinomyces infection of the breast may present as recurrent abscesses and requires a high index of suspicion to preserve the architecture of the autologously reconstructed breast.
P-Geometries of Rank 3

Under minor extra assumptions, we classify P-geometries of rank 3. Previously, a classification was known only for flag-transitive P-geometries.
Society for Personality Assessment

The Society for Personality Assessment, initially incorporated as the Rorschach Institute, was founded by Bruno Klopfer and his students in 1938 in Essex County, New Jersey. The organization was renamed the Society for Personality Assessment in 1971 to reflect the breadth of its mission, which is the furtherance of personality assessment and the ethical and legal use of these concepts and methods. Currently in its eighth decade, the society, an international and national organization, has more than 1,500 members and has developed a wide range of scholarly and educational activities devoted to the advancement of personality assessment. Keywords: assessment psychology; personality assessment; psychology organization; testing
Truck Use on Texas Toll Roads

Metropolitan toll roads are a popular source of non-traditional funded highway investment, targeting automobile users. Toll rates have been traditionally derived from traffic and revenue (T&R) studies, which appear unable to accurately estimate truck demand even when a toll road offers an alternative route segment to interstate trucking. This paper examines the current failure of Texas toll road SH-130 to attract truckers from IH-35 in Austin, one of the most congested Texas corridors. CT-VCOST, a comprehensive vehicle operating cost toolkit, was used to calculate truck operating costs on both highways to investigate why few truckers are using the toll facility and whether the decision is based on toll rates or other factors.
The football player and the infinite series

This is the text of an expository talk given at the May 1997 Detroit meeting of the American Mathematical Society. It is a tale of a famous football player and a subtle problem he posed about the uniform convergence of Dirichlet series. Hiding in the background is the theory of analytic functions of an infinite number of variables.