cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Innate immunity induced by composition-dependent RIG-I recognition of hepatitis C virus RNA

Innate immunity is an important defence against infection by viruses, triggered by host recognition of 'PAMPS', or pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Saito et al. have now identified a conserved poly-uridine motif in the 3´ non-transcribed region of the hepatitis C virus genome as the relevant PAMP for detection by the RNA helicase RIG-I, a protein previously shown to have an essential function in double-stranded RNA-induced innate antiviral responses. Innate immune defences are essential for the control of virus infection and are triggered through host recognition of viral macromolecular motifs known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)1. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an RNA virus that replicates in the liver, and infects 200 million people worldwide2. Infection is regulated by hepatic immune defences triggered by the cellular RIG-I helicase. RIG-I binds PAMP RNA and signals interferon regulatory factor 3 activation to induce the expression of interferon-α/β and antiviral/interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) that limit infection3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. Here we identify the polyuridine motif of the HCV genome 3′ non-translated region and its replication intermediate as the PAMP substrate of RIG-I, and show that this and similar homopolyuridine or homopolyriboadenine motifs present in the genomes of RNA viruses are the chief feature of RIG-I recognition and immune triggering in human and murine cells8. 5′ terminal triphosphate on the PAMP RNA was necessary but not sufficient for RIG-I binding, which was primarily dependent on homopolymeric ribonucleotide composition, linear structure and length. The HCV PAMP RNA stimulated RIG-I-dependent signalling to induce a hepatic innate immune response in vivo, and triggered interferon and ISG expression to suppress HCV infection in vitro. These results provide a conceptual advance by defining specific homopolymeric RNA motifs within the genome of HCV and other RNA viruses as the PAMP substrate of RIG-I, and demonstrate immunogenic features of the PAMP–RIG-I interaction that could be used as an immune adjuvant for vaccine and immunotherapy approaches.
Analysis of disordered materials using total scattering and the atomic pair distribution function

Without a doubt, our ability to determine the atomic structure of complex materials has revolutionized our understanding of these materials over the last decades. Neutron scattering with its unique abilities has contributed greatly to this success. The range of applications of neutron scattering in geosciences are apparent when reading through this volume of Reviews in Mineralogy & Geochemistry. Usual structure determination, the realm of crystallography, is based on the analysis of Bragg intensities. In this article we want to look beyond or underneath the Bragg peaks and discuss the atomic pair distribution function (PDF) method as an approach to more fully understand the atomic structure of complex materials, from the local to the medium range all the way to the long range structure of the material. As mentioned above, structure determination is commonly based on the analysis of Bragg peaks either using single crystal diffraction (Ross and Hoffman 2006, this volume) or powder diffraction (Harrison 2006, this volume). However, one needs to keep in mind, that the structure resulting from Bragg scattering is only the long range average structure of the material. Many materials owe their interesting properties to defects within the material and obviously a complete structural picture and understanding of the properties will require knowledge of the “true” atomic structure. Geological samples are no exception and in fact are among the most complex systems known. Deviations from the average structure, e.g., in form of defects, manifest themselves as diffuse scattering. This is illustrated in an example shown in Figure 1⇓. Two 2D structures have been simulated; both have the same lattice parameters, contain one atomic site in the unit cell as well as contain a total of 30% vacant sites. The difference is the vacancy ordering. Figure 1a⇓ shows the structure with a …
Analysis of instruments measuring nurses’ attitudes towards research utilization: a systematic review

Title. Analysis of instruments measuring nurses’ attitudes towards research utilization: a systematic review Aim. This paper is a report of a systematic review describing instruments used to measure nurses’ attitudes towards research utilization. Background. Researchers need to have the tools to measure nurses’ attitudes. However, limited literature critically analyses instruments and the concepts that comprise nurses’ attitudes towards research utilization. Data sources. A search of the literature from 1982 to 2007 was performed using the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Health and Psychosocial Instruments, PubMed and MEDLINE data bases. The search terms were nursing research, research utilization, instruments, and nurses’ attitudes. A total of 186 sources were identified, of which 25 were reviewed. Methods. Fourteen instruments met the criteria for in-depth critical analysis of psychometric properties and concepts, and were included in the final review. Each instrument item was judged to be relevant to direct, indirect, persuasive and overall research utilization as defined by Estabrooks. Instruments were arranged from the strongest to the weakest reliability of the subscales to determine the instrument with the strongest psychometric properties. Results. Indirect and overall research utilization was measured by all of the instruments. Ten instruments measured direct research utilization and nine instruments measured persuasive research utilization. The Research Utilization in Nursing Survey by Estabrooks, as adapted by Kenny, was an instrument with strong psychometric properties measuring all four concepts of nurses’ attitudes towards using and participating in research and was clinically feasible. Conclusion. Many published instruments are available for use by nurse researchers to measure nurses’ attitude towards research utilization, but only one has been subjected to rigorous testing: the Research Utilization in Nursing Survey by Estabrooks.
Parent cultural adaptation and child functioning in culturally diverse, urban families of preschoolers

Parent cultural adaptation and preschool behavioral and socioemotional functioning were examined in a community sample of urban families from diverse cultural backgrounds. Participants were 130 families of children (mean age = 4.1 years) attending eight public Pre-Kindergarten programs in urban communities. Parents completed a measure of cultural adaptation that taps into acculturation and enculturation, and teachers reported on children's externalizing problems, internalizing problems and adaptive behavior in the classroom. Parents' ethnic identity was a significant predictor of children's functioning. The retention of parents' culture of origin and specific aspects of acculturation are related to positive outcomes in a sample of culturally diverse families of preschoolers living in urban communities. Bicultural parents (those with high ethnic and US American identity) had children with lower levels of internalizing problems and higher levels of adaptive behavior relative to parents who were not bicultural. Implications for enhancing positive child outcomes through the promotion of parental ethnic identity are discussed.
Synthesis, Air Stability, Photobleaching, and DFT Modeling of Blue Light Emitting Platinum CCC-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Pincer Complexes

The recently reported metalation/transmetalation route for the synthesis of CCC-bis(NHC) pincer ligand supported transition-metal complexes was extended to Pt. 2-(1,3-Bis(N-butylimidazol-2-ylidene)phenylene)(chloro)platinum(II) (1) and its bromo analogue 2 were synthesized and characterized. X-ray crystal structure determinations revealed complexes 1 and 2 to have distorted-square-planar configurations around the metal. Photophysical and thermal properties of these complexes are reported, and their extended photostability in air is discussed and contrasted. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) computations of the ground state and various low-lying excited states have revealed admixing of Pt 5d orbitals and the ligand π* orbitals for both the ground state and the low-lying excited states of complex 1, indicating the low-lying states to be a mixture of metal-to-ligand charge-transfer and ligand-centered transition (MLCT-LC). Somewhat surprisingly, the compute...
Future navy application of wide bandgap power semiconductor devices

An assessment of future U.S. Navy electrical power requirements is presented to identify wide bandgap power device application opportunities, issues, and challenges. An emphasis is placed on blocking voltage and the potential of wide bandgap power semiconductor devices to enable higher voltage machines that can meet the U.S. Navy's future electrical power challenges. Estimates of the blocking voltage and power requirements are made for various power systems envisioned for future shipboard application. Blocking voltage estimates are made using a simplified stress level analysis to illustrate the basic concepts underlying power semiconductor device application in U.S. Navy shipboard systems.
Calculations of magnetic field for the end design of the RHIC arc dipole

This paper describes the results of a 3D calculation of the magnetic field in the end region of the RHIC arc dipole magnet. Multipole harmonics are obtained in the end regions of the magnet. Comparisons of these harmonics are made to the measurements of harmonics on the actual magnets. >
The configuration development and integration of the TPX device

The TPX configuration was designed to meet the physics objectives and subsystem requirements in an arrangement that allowed access for remote maintenance. The steady state operations of TPX favored the use of superconducting magnets for both the toroidal and poloidal field systems. The desire to react the TF centering and overturning forces in a simplified wedged system lead to a TF case concept incorporating "two-coil" TF modules in a 90/spl deg/ four-coil quadrant arrangement. Low ripple and tangential plasma access to accommodate TFTR neutral beams were leading factors in determining the size and number of TF coils. The need for a large amount of space for the divertor and first wall component coolant services further influenced the shaping of the vacuum vessel. Additional configuration influences included: low activation considerations, divertor pumping, remote maintenance requirements, service access and compatibility with the existing TFTR text cell facility. The TPX configuration development and integration process has evolved through the conceptual design period and is now ready to enter the Preliminary Design Phase of the project. This paper describes the status of the configuration development and integration of the major TPX tokamak subsystems components.
Power Optimization Techniques for SRAM-Based FPGAs

In this work, the authors aim to improve the power efficiency of FPGAs by proposing two power reduction techniques: the authors present a low-penalty optimization technique to reduce leakage power consumption in FPGA logic blocks by exploiting the variance in LUT utilization across different designs (Mondal and Memik, (2005)), and presents a dual-Vdd-dual-Vt routing architecture to reduce interconnect power consumption by using two levels of Vdd and Vt (Mondal and Memik, (2005))
Worsening Trends in the Management and Treatment of Back Pain

Importance Back pain treatment is costly and frequently includes overuse of treatments that are unsupported by clinical guidelines. Few studies have evaluated recent national trends in guideline adherence of spine-related care. Objective To characterize the treatment of back pain from January 1, 1999, through December 26, 2010. Design, Setting, and Patients Using nationally representative data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, we studied outpatient visits with a chief symptom and/or primary diagnosis of back or neck pain, as well as those with secondary symptoms and diagnoses of back or neck pain. We excluded visits with concomitant “red flags,” including fever, neurologic symptoms, or cancer. Results were analyzed using logistic regression adjusted for patient and health care professional characteristics and weighted to reflect national estimates. We also present adjusted results stratified by symptom duration and whether the health care professional was the primary care physician (PCP). Main Outcomes and Measures We assessed imaging, narcotics, and referrals to physicians (guideline discordant indicators). In addition, we evaluated use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or acetaminophen and referrals to physical therapy (guideline concordant indicators). Results We identified 23 918 visits for spine problems, representing an estimated 440 million visits. Approximately 58% of patients were female. Mean age increased from 49 to 53 years ( P P P P P Conclusions and Relevance Despite numerous published clinical guidelines, management of back pain has relied increasingly on guideline discordant care. Improvements in the management of spine-related disease represent an area of potential cost savings for the health care system with the potential for improving the quality of care.
Pediatric Hematuria and Thin Basement Membrane Nephropathy: What Is It and What Does It Mean?

Hematuria is seen frequently in the pediatric population and may signal either benign or serious renal patholosis. A significant proportion of children with asymptomatic hematuria will have thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN), a benign disorder, yet there is little information about this entity outside the nephrology literature. This article is designed to provide an information base for pediatric practitioners to assist them in making appropriate decisions regarding diagnosis and care. A review of experience over a decade with 9 children with biopsy-proven TBMN, including follow-up to the present; is presented. In addition, review of literature regarding TBMN, Alport's and Berger's syndromes, which comprise the major clinical entities associated with asymptomatic pediatric hematuria, is presented. Each patient was evaluated for asymptomatic, documented and persistent hematuria. Renal biopsy was performed after clinical evaluation and follow-up. TBMN and Berger's disease (IgA nephropathy) are separable only by renal biopsy results; TBMN is benign and IgA nephropathy may be progressive, mandating referral to a nephrologist. The prognosis of TBMN is excellent.
Set size and repetition in the picture--word interference paradigm: implications for models of naming.

Caramazza and Costa (Cognition 75 (2000) B51) reported results which demonstrate that a semantically related word distractor interferes in picture naming even when it is not in the response set and there is no possibility for mediated interference. They interpreted the results to be problematic for the model of lexical access proposed by Levelt, Roelofs, and Meyer (Behavioral and Brain Sciences 22 (1999) 1). Roelofs (this issue) argues that those results are not inconsistent with Levelt et al.’s model when certain new assumptions about the mechanism of lexical selection are considered. Here we show that even with these assumptions the model still makes the wrong predictions. We report new results which demonstrate that the semantic interference and facilitation effects that are obtained respectively in the basic-level and category-level naming variants of the picture‐word interference paradigm are not the result of response set size and response repetitions. q 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Effect of pore structure on electrical resistivity in carbonates

The electrical resistivity log has proven to be a powerful tool for lithology discrimination, correlation, porosity evaluation, hydrocarbon indication, and calculation of water saturation. Carbonate rocks develop a variety of pore types that can span several orders of magnitude in size and complexity. A link between the electrical resistivity and the carbonate pore structure has been inferred, although no detailed understanding of this relationship exists. Seventy-one plugs from outcrops and boreholes of carbonates from five different areas and ages were measured for electrical resistivity properties and quantitatively analyzed for pore structure using digital image analysis from thin sections. The analysis shows that in addition to porosity, the combined effect of microporosity, pore network complexity, pore size of the macropores, and absolute number of pores are all influential for the flow of electric charge. Samples with small pores and an intricate pore network have a low cementation factor, whereas samples with large pores and a simple pore network have high values for cementation factor. Samples with separate-vug porosity have the highest cementation factor. The results reveal that (1) in carbonate rocks, both pore structure and the absolute number of pores (and pore connections) seem more important in controlling the electrical resistivity, instead of the size of the pore throats, as suggested by previous modeling studies; (2) samples with high resistivity can have high permeability; large simple pores facilitate flow of fluid, but fewer numbers of pores limit the flow of electric charge; and (3) pore-structure characteristics can be estimated from electrical resistivity data and used to improve permeability estimates and refine calculations of water saturation.
THE EFFECT OF VENOUS STASIS ON INTRAOSSEOUS PRESSURE AND LONGITUDINAL BONE GROWTH IN THE DOG.

Epiphyseal and diaphyseal intramedullary pressures and saphenous venous pressures were determined in the hind limbs of normal growing dogs, growing dogs with femoral arteriovenous fistulae, and growing dogs with selected venous ligations. Depending on the veins ligated, unilateral or bilateral passive venous stasis was produced, but neither caused increased bone growth. An arteriovenous fistula induced increased bone growth and was associated with equalization of epiphyseal and diaphyseal intramedullary pressures and with a greater than normal increase in these pressures between the first and second readings. In normal animals, the intramedullary pressures change with growth.
Teaching professionalism in orthopaedic residency.

Two residents, wearing white coats with their names and "Department of Orthopaedics" conspicuously embroidered on them, boarded a hospital elevator crowded with physicians, employees, and visitors. In a clearly audible voice, one resident began a story: "You should have seen the patient I saw in my clinic the other day. She was beautiful! I should send her to see Dr. W. He would love to see her!" This comment drew the undivided attention of everyone in the elevator and cast a ghastly silence over the rest of the ride. In recent years, interest has expanded regarding professionalism and its importance in medicine and surgery1-5. Orthopaedic surgery is no exception, as the topic has recently reached prominence in our literature and policies1,3,6,7. It is unlikely that professionalism is a universal and innate characteristic of college students entering medical school, yet it becomes a necessary value in medical practice. Somewhere in the ongoing process of medical education, the issue must be addressed.
Evaluation of anaerobic growth of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis in tomato juice

Conditions responsible for growth and pH elevation by selected strains of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis were studied in order to assess the potential hazard of metabiosis occurring between Clostridium botulinum and mesophilic Bacillus species in aseptically packaged tomato juice. The effects of the initial tomato juice pH on the growth of these Bacillus strains were evaluated. Cultures of B. licheniformis previously identified by Fields et al. (6) were reclassified as B. subtilis because none grew under strict anaerobic conditions nor used propionate. B. subtilis did not grow under strict anaerobic conditions but could use oxygen if present in the environment. None of the B. subtilis or B. licheniformis strains grew at pH 4.0 or 4.2. Only B. subtilis 075-T-09 and B. licheniformis 64-83-46 strains isolated from acidic foods were able to grow at pH 4.4 in tomato juice. Anaerobically, B. licheniformis strains did not grow in tomato juice or tomato juice with added nitrate and thiamine and even...
Complications of the Small-Carrion penile prosthesis: long-term followup.

AbstractLong-term followup for a minimum of 3 years in 150 patients who had a Small-Carrion penile prosthesis was reviewed. Early and late complications related to the penile prosthesis itself, as well as the effect on urine outflow, are presented.
Brassinosteroid Signal Transduction and Action

Brassinosteroids (BRs1) are endogenous plant growth-promoting hormones that are found throughout the plant kingdom in seeds, pollen and young vegetative tissue, functioning at nanomolar concentrations to influence cellular expansion and proliferation (13, 34, 43). BRs also interact with other plant hormones and environmental factors to regulate the overall form and function of the plant, and examination of the phenotype of mutants affected in BR biosynthesis or signaling provides genetic evidence that BRs are essential for normal organ elongation, vascular differentiation, male fertility, timing of senescence, leaf development and responses to light (1). The biosynthesis and metabolism of BRs are covered in detail in chapter B6. Here, the rapid acceleration in our understanding of BR signal transduction is discussed along with studies on BR-regulated gene expression. The impact of these studies on clarifying the physiological mode of action of BRs will also be considered.
A Rare Cause of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: Fusobacterium Infection—A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare syndrome characterized by excessive activation of the immune system. Bacterial infections are very rare precipitants of this disease. A 19-year-old gentleman presented with headache, fatigue, and malaise. He was found to be hypotensive, tachycardic, and febrile. Broad spectrum antibiotics were initiated, and a lumbar puncture ruled out meningitis. Patient progressively developed shock that required use of vasopressors, as well as renal and respiratory failure. Blood cultures grew Fusobacterium necrophorum. Given continued fevers despite appropriate antimicrobials, a bone marrow biopsy was performed revealing increased histiocytes with hemophagocytosis. Dexamethasone was added with dramatic clinical improvement. Our case highlights Fusobacterium as a rare precipitant of HLH and proves that a high index of clinical suspicion is crucial for early diagnosis of HLH, allowing for prompt initiation of HLH-specific immunosuppressive therapy that can be life-saving.
Embryonic Development of the Squid

There has been such a considerable expansion of our knowledge of squid embryology since the first edition of this book was written that a complete review of the literature is impossible. The scientific importance and the commercial value of squids have prompted an increased interest in all aspects of squid biology; embryology has followed this trend. The reader is particularly referred to the reviews of Arnold (1974), Arnold and Williams-Arnold (1976), Fioroni and Meister (1974), Boletzky (1987, 1988), Segmuller, M. and Marthy (1989), and the comments of Marthy (1982) for an idea of the status of experimental investigations of the cephalopods and theories on the regulation of ontogeny, as well as some of the outstanding questions concerning development. What follows here is a brief description of the embryonic development of the squid; no survey of the vast literature is attempted. See Arnold (1974) for a fairly extensive list of references for major sources of embryonic information.
A Suite of Tools for Biologists That Improve Accessibility and Visualization of Large Systems Genetics Datasets: Applications to the Hybrid Mouse Diversity Panel

In this chapter we address the recent explosion in large multilevel population studies such as the METSIM study in humans as well as large panels of animal models such as the Hybrid Mouse Diversity Panel or the BXD set of recombinant inbred strains. These studies have harnessed the increasing affordability of large-scale high-throughput profiling to gather massive quantities of data. These datasets, spread across different -omics levels (genome, transcriptome, etc.), different tissues (e.g. heart, plasma, bone) and different environmental factors (e.g. diet, drugs) each individually have led to a number of novel findings relevant to a variety of complex diseases and other phenotypes. The analysis of these results, however, is often limited to individuals with a comprehensive understanding of database languages such as SQL. In this chapter, we describe the development of a GUI-based database analysis suite, using the Hybrid Mouse Diversity Panel as an example to lay out a series of methods for visualization and integration of large systems genetics datasets. The database is based on the Shiny suite of tools in R, and is transferrable to other SQL-based datasets.
Role of Aberrant α-Synuclein–Membrane Interactions in Parkinson’s Disease

A neuropathologic hallmark of Parkinson’s disease is the presence in post-mortem brains of Lewy body inclusions enriched with fibrillar forms of the presynaptic protein α-synuclein (α-syn). α-Syn is natively unfolded in aqueous solution but forms amyloid-like fibrils upon prolonged incubation in physiologic buffers, and it adopts an amphipathic α-helical structure when bound to phospholipid membranes. Although membrane association appears to be critical for the protein’s normal function in modulating neurotransmission, it can also stimulate the formation of potentially toxic α-syn oligomers, particularly when the protein binds the membrane via a partially formed α-helix that leaves the central hydrophobic domain exposed and available to interact with neighboring α-syn molecules. Evidence suggests that α-syn aggregation at the membrane surface results in disruption of the phospholipid bilayer. Aberrant α-syn-membrane interactions may contribute to various mechanisms of α-syn neurotoxicity, including impairment of ER-Golgi trafficking, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the spread of α-syn neuropathology via a prion-like mechanism.
DNA Methylation Assessment from Human Slow- and Fast-Twitch Skeletal Muscle Fibers

This study validates a low-DNA input reduced representation bisulfite sequencing method for human muscle biopsy samples to investigate the methylation patterns at a fiber type-specific level. These...
Production and Release of Positron Emitters from Water-Moderated Power Reactors

A significant amount of radioactivity is pro-duced via secondary nuclear reactions in the water which circulates through the core of a power reactor. The most important reactions are those which pr...
DC-link RMS current reduction by increasing paralleled 3-phase inverter module number for segmented traction drive

This paper presents a 3-phase dc-link capacitor RMS current reduction method by increasing paralleled inverter module number for segmented traction drive. Compared with the existing 2-module paralleled system, this paper investigates increasing paralleled module number can further reduce the value of dc-link capacitor RMS current. The results show that 2 paralleled modules can reduce ∼45% and 3 paralleled modules with ∼55% reduction, 4 modules with ∼70% reduction, 5 modules with ∼75% reduction, 6 modules ∼80% reduction, respectively, with the proper interleaving scheme control. A series of PLECS simulation model are built to verify the proposed idea. Finally, 6 kW prototypes are developed with 3 modules. The experimental results are almost consistent with the simulation results.
Sociology and Its Publics: Reframing Engagement and Revitalizing the Field: 2016 Midwest Sociological Society Presidential Address

ABSTRACTThis article outlines how sociologists can and do engage a range of general, nonacademic public audiences, organizations, and interests. It begins with a discussion and critique of the notion of public sociology that emerged from Michael Burawoy’s 2004 American Sociological Association (ASA) presidency and draws upon recent commentaries and classical theories to formulate a more pluralist vision of sociology’s publics. The article concludes by arguing that embracing a multidimensional vision of the relationships between sociology and its publics not only provides a foundation for better public engagement, but also can help renew and revitalize of sociology.
Robotic Pelvic Lymphadenectomy: Standard and Extended Techniques

Robotic pelvic lymphadenectomy is a routine staging procedure performed at the time of robotic radical prostatectomy for men at risk for nodal metastases. The procedure is safe and reproducible with limited complications and provides important risk stratification information that helps stratify patients by risk of biochemical and clinical progression. Patients with limited lymph node metastases may do well after surgery alone and be observed closely. Those with higher volume lymph node metastases or N1 disease and biochemical recurrence may benefit from androgen deprivation therapy or radiation therapy or the combination.
Syncope workup: Greater yield in select trauma population

Abstract Background There is great variation in practice regarding the assessment of trauma patients who present with syncope. The purpose of this study was to determine the yield of screening studies (electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and carotid duplex) and define characteristics to identify groups that may benefit from these investigations. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all trauma patients from 2003 to 2015 who received a carotid duplex as part of a syncope evaluation at our urban Level 1 Trauma Center. Demographics, clinical findings as well as interventions undertaken (ie: placement of defibrillators/pacemakers) as a result of the syncope evaluation were collected. Data analysis was performed with STATA 14 and relationships between comorbidities, positive findings and interventions were assessed. Significance was assumed for p Results 736 trauma patients were included in the study. The most common mechanism of injury was fall (592, 82%). A history of congestive heart failure (CHF) and/or coronary artery disease (CAD) and age ≥ 65 were significantly associated with abnormal ECG and ECHO findings, but not with severe carotid stenosis. Elevated Injury Severity Scale (ISS) was significantly associated with an abnormal ECHO on both univariate and multivariate analysis. An abnormal ECG was predictive of an abnormal ECHO (p = 0.02). Ten patients (1.4%) underwent placement of a defibrillator and/or pacemaker, all of whom reported having CHF. Only 11 patients (1.7%) had severe carotid stenosis (>70%) requiring intervention. Conclusion The screening studies used in a syncope evaluation have low yield in the general trauma population. Carotid duplex should not be routinely performed. Cardiac evaluation should be tailored to individuals with cardiac comorbidities, older age and elevated ISS. An ECG should be used as initial screening in this patient cohort.
Evaluation of the long-range tritium migration from the cavity of the Kristall underground nuclear explosion

The tritium concentration in water samples taken in Yakutsk, Udachnyi town, some rivers, and drainage brines of the Udachnaya diamond-bearing pipe was determined. The tritium concentration in drainage brines of the Udachnaya diamond-bearing pipe virtually coincides with the background values. The study performed shows that there is no tritium migration from the cavity of the Kristall underground nuclear explosion to drainage brines of the Udachnaya diamond-bearing pipe.
Direct Measurement of Long-Range Interaction Forces Between a Single Bacterium and a Substrate Using an Optical Trap

As discussed in Chapter 2, stable adhesion of a bacterium on a surface requires the following events: transport to the surface, attachment to the surface, and subsequent resistance to detachment. In general, long-range forces (including macromolecular bridging) govern the probability of cell attachment to a surface, whereas short-range forces govern the strength of the ultimate adhesion. Brownian motion, convection or cell motility must transport the cell over any energy barrier created by repulsive forces. The magnitude of these forces need not be large to repel a Brownian particle from a surface. We can roughly estimate the force acting over a certain range that would create an insurmountable potential energy barrier for a Brownian particle as follows: The probability of crossing the energy barrier through energy fluctuations scales with the factor, exp(−o max /kT),where k is Boltzmann’s constant (1.38×10−23 J/K), and T is absolute temperature (~300 K);19 therefore, an energy barrier of 10 kT would be sufficient to prevent attachment of a Brownian particle. Assuming the repulsive forces act over a range of around 50 nanometers, then only about one picoNewton (10−12 Newtons) of force is required to create the 10 kT of work.
Abstract IA03: Detection of tumor DNA in the saliva and plasma of patients with HNSCC

To explore the potential of tumor-specific DNA as a biomarker for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), we queried DNA from saliva or plasma of 93 HNSCC patients. We searched for somatic mutations or human papillomavirus genes, collectively referred to as tumor DNA. When both plasma and saliva were tested, tumor DNA was detected in 96% of 47 patients. The fractions of patients with detectable tumor DNA in early and late-stage disease were 100% (n = 10) and 95% (n = 37), respectively. When segregated by site, tumor DNA was detected in 100% (n = 15), 91% (n = 22), 100% (n = 7), and 100% (n = 3) of patients with tumors of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx, respectively. In saliva, tumor DNA was found in 100% of patients with oral cavity cancers and in 47 to 70% of patients with cancers of the other sites. In plasma, tumor DNA was found in 80% of patients with oral cavity cancers, and in 86 to 100% of patients with cancers of the other sites. Thus, saliva is preferentially enriched for tumor DNA from the oral cavity, whereas plasma is preferentially enriched for tumor DNA from the other sites. Tumor DNA in saliva was found postsurgically in three patients before clinical diagnosis of recurrence, but in none of the five patients without recurrence. Tumor DNA in the saliva and plasma appears to be a potentially valuable biomarker for detection of HNSCC. Citation Format: Nishant Agrawal. Detection of tumor DNA in the saliva and plasma of patients with HNSCC [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; April 23-25, 2017; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2017;23(23_Suppl):Abstract nr IA03.
Reward learning impairment and avoidance and rumination responses at the end of Engage therapy of late-life depression.

OBJECTIVES This study examined the association between reward processing, as measured by performance on the probabilistic reversal learning (PRL) task and avoidance/rumination in depressed older adults treated with Engage, a psychotherapy that uses "reward exposure" to increase behavioral activation. METHODS Thirty older adults with major depression received 9 weeks of Engage treatment. At baseline and treatment end, the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) was used to assess depression severity and the Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) to assess behavioral activation and avoidance/rumination. Participants completed the PRL task at baseline and at treatment end. The PRL requires participants to learn stimulus-reward contingencies through trial and error, and switch strategies when the contingencies unexpectedly change. RESULTS At the end of Engage treatment, the severity of depression was lower (HAM-D: t(19) = -7.67, P < .001) and behavioral activation was higher (BADS: t(19) = 2.23, P = .02) compared to baseline. Response time following all switches (r(19) = -0.63, P = .003) and error switches (r(19) = -0.57, P = .01) at baseline was negatively associated with the BADS avoidance/rumination subscale score at the end of Engage treatment. CONCLUSIONS Impaired reward learning, evidenced by slower response following all switches and error switches, contributes to avoidant, ruminative behavior at the end of Engage therapy even when depression improves. Understanding reward processing abnormalities of avoidance and rumination may improve the timing and targeting of interventions for these symptoms, whose persistence compromises quality of life and increases the risk of depression relapse.
Role of central melanocortin signaling in eating disorders.

Melanocortins are derived from posttranslational processing of the precursor protein pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). The central melanocortinergic system consists of endogenous agonist alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, the naturally occurring antagonist Agouti-related protein (AGRP), and two melanocortin receptors (MC3R, MC4R). Activation of central melanocortin receptors inhibits feeding and leads to weight loss, whereas blockade of the central melanocortin signaling pathway increases food consumption and promotes weight gain. This review will focus on the role of central melanocortin signaling in eating behavior and will evaluate studies of the neural pathways of POMC and AGRP systems, the effects of the central melanocortinergic system on food intake and body weight, and the regulation of hypothalamic POMC and AGRP neurons in response to altered feeding state and energy balance. In addition, this review will explore what is known about the interplay between the central melanocortinergic system and peripheral signals of energy homeostasis, i.e., leptin and glucocorticoids. Furthermore, evidence will be presented that genetic defects within the melanocortin signaling system are involved in determining susceptibility to obesity and anorexia in humans, and the therapeutic potential of melanocortin agonists and antagonists in the treatment of these disorders will be discussed.
Ultrasonic Measurement Models

In the previous chapters, we have developed the expressions needed to describe separately the generation, propagation, transmission, diffraction, attenuation, scattering, and reception processes that are contained in an ultrasonic experiment. In this chapter, we will combine all of these elements together into a single model of the entire measurement process.
Dehiscence and embolization of CorMatrix tricuspid valve replacement in the setting of infective endocarditis: a case report.

Background Due to increased morbidity and mortality, prosthetic valve infective endocarditis (IE) with dehiscence requires urgent intervention. Early identification and therapy may prevent embolization. Case summary A 27-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of hepatitis C, intravenous drug abuse, and tricuspid valve (TV) replacement was admitted for recurrent IE. She was found to have bacteraemia and fungaemia, and empiric antibiotics were initiated. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) revealed a mobile 'mass' on the TV and dehiscence. The patient developed cardiogenic shock and repeat TTE showed a ruptured TV and absence of the 'mass', suspicious of embolization. She underwent emergent surgery with TV replacement using a Biocor valve and retrieval of the old CorMatrix valve found in the right mid pulmonary artery (PA). The patient was successfully weaned off inotropic agents and completed a prolonged course of antibiotics and anti-fungals. Discussion The multi-disciplinary decision on timing of surgical intervention was challenging, especially due to ongoing mycobacterial infection that increased operative risk. With clinical deterioration, urgent surgery was performed revealing an embolized prosthetic valve in the PA. New surgical options for TV replacement in IE with extracellular-based material have shown promising outcomes with little reported data of long term complications. This case demonstrates a rare occurrence of embolized CorMatrix TV and highlights the challenge in timing of appropriate surgical intervention in a septic patient with thrombocytopenia.
Carts in the Hallway: Cataloging and Special Collections–A Partnership for Success

The purpose of the article is to demonstrate how Binghamton University Libraries has changed the workflows and channels of communication between Special Collections and the Technical Services Depar...
Beneath the Surface of the Abortion Dispute

Feminist theory and politics have emerged from within two great traditions in Western moral, political, and social thought.1 They have emerged from liberalism, which assumes that conflicts between the timeless and universal natural rights of rational individuals should be adjudicated within the free market of social contracts. And they have emerged from Marxism, which assumes that conflicts between the socially determined needs of “animals who labor” are created by divisions of labor in the social relations of production.
Energy-Mediated Machinery Drives Cellular Mechanical Allostasis

Allostasis is a fundamental biological process through which living organisms achieve stability via physiological or behavioral changes to protect against internal and external stresses, and ultimately better adapt to the local environment. However, an full understanding of cellular-level allostasis is far from developed. By employing an integrated micromechanical tool capable of applying controlled mechanical stress on an individual cell and simultaneously reporting dynamic information of subcellular mechanics, individual cell allostasis is observed to occur through a biphasic process; cellular mechanics tends to restore to a stable state through a mechanoadaptative process with excitative biophysical activity followed by a decaying adaptive phase. Based on these observations, it is found that cellular allostasis occurs through a complex balance of subcellular energy and cellular mechanics; upon a transient and local physical stimulation, cells trigger an allostatic state that maximizes energy and overcomes a mechanical "energy barrier" followed by a relaxation state that reaches its mechanobiological stabilization and energy minimization. Discoveries of energy-driven cellular machinery and conserved mechanotransductive pathways underscore the critical role of force-sensitive cytoskeleton equilibrium in cellular allostasis. This highlight the biophysical origin of cellular mechanical allostasis, providing subcellular methods to understand the etiology and progression of certain diseases or aging.
Famine, Memory, and Politics in the Post-Soviet Space: Contrasting Echoes of Collectivization in Ukraine and Kazakhstan

Stalin’s collectivization campaigns and the associated famine killed millions in Ukraine and Kazakhstan, yet the two countries commemorate the events quite differently. In Ukraine, the Holodomor (death by hunger) occupies a prominent place in the public sphere and is remembered most frequently as a genocidal policy against the Ukrainian nation. In Kazakhstan, the famine takes up little space in the public arena, and officials remain reluctant to call it a genocide. This article explores these differences using two models explaining variation in the politics of memory: one emphasizing the instrumental calculations of political elites and the other emphasizing the historical and cultural constraints that frame contemporary debates. These two models complement each other rather than compete. The contest over the famine in Ukraine was in part a consequence of eastern and western Ukraine’s differing histories, but it intensified when governing politicians deployed the memory of the famine instrumentally in the 2000s. In Kazakhstan, political calculations led the regime to emphasize unity and stability over divisive debates about the past, but historical factors made depoliticizing the famine feasible.
Strategic Design of Antimicrobial Hydrogels Containing Biomimetic Additives for Enhanced Matrix Responsiveness and HDFa Wound Healing Rates

Supramolecular nanocomposite materials have emerged as a leading interdisciplinary research area that exploits synergistic relationships at the nanoscale to enhance the properties (mechanical and c...
Molecular mechanisms of eukaryotic origin initiation, replication fork progression, and chromatin maintenance.

Eukaryotic DNA replication is a highly dynamic and tightly regulated process. Replication involves several dozens of replication proteins, including the initiators ORC and Cdc6, replicative CMG helicase, DNA polymerase α-primase, leading-strand DNA polymerase e, and lagging-strand DNA polymerase δ. These proteins work together in a spatially and temporally controlled manner to synthesize new DNA from the parental DNA templates. During DNA replication, epigenetic information imprinted on DNA and histone proteins is also copied to the daughter DNA to maintain the chromatin status. DNA methyltransferase 1 is primarily responsible for copying the parental DNA methylation pattern into the nascent DNA. Epigenetic information encoded in histones is transferred via a more complex and less well-understood process termed replication-couple nucleosome assembly. Here, we summarize the most recent structural and biochemical insights into DNA replication initiation, replication fork elongation, chromatin assembly and maintenance, and related regulatory mechanisms.
Economic Structure Affects Social Distancing Partially Mediated by Anxiety during COVID-19 Pandemic

People in the pandemic adopt social distancing to slow down the spread of COVID-19 Beyond the micro-level factors like income and occupation, we find that the
Person- and System-Focused Prevention in Preparing Youth to Navigate an Uncertain Work Future:

In this article, we discuss the integration of prevention science and vocational psychology for person- and system-focused prevention with a critical social justice agenda. More specifically, we fo...
The memory phenomenon in contemporary historical writing: How the interest in memory has influenced our understanding of history: by Patrick H. Hutton, New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 2016, xii+234 pp., €32 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-349-69737-3

‘What began as autopsy ended in inspiration,’ writes Patrick H. Hutton in the final pages of The Memory Phenomenon in Contemporary Historical Writing (p. 204). The book recaptures the dynamic inter...
Effect of Particle Spreading Dynamics on Powder Bed Quality in Metal Additive Manufacturing

Powder spreading precedes creation of every new layer in powder bed additive manufacturing (AM). The powder spreading process can lead to powder layer defects such as porosity, poor surface roughness and particle segregation. Therefore, the creation of homogeneous layers is the first task for optimal part printing. Discrete element methods (DEM) powder spreading simulations are typically limited to a single layer and/or small number of particles. Therefore, results from such model configurations may not be generalized to multiple layer processes. In this study, a computationally efficient multi-layer powder spreading DEM simulation model is proposed. The model is calibrated experimentally using static Angle of Repose measurements. The adhesion model parameter, cohesive energy density is related to adhesive surface energy and strain energy release rate parameters. The model results show that interaction between particle and the powder spreading rake leads to noticeable variation in packing density, surface roughness, dynamic angle of repose (AOR), particle size distribution, and particle segregation. The powder model is experimentally validated using a recoater spreading rig to measure the dynamic AOR at spreading speeds consistent with recoating speeds and layer heights used in AM processes.