cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Canavanine on the Growth of Cells from Suspension Cultures and on Intergeneric Heterokaryocytes of Canavanine Sensitive and Tolerant Plants1)1)NRCC NO. 14920

Summary Through application of the polyethylene glycol method, protoplasts of canavanine sensitive soybean cell cultures were fused with canavanine tolerant protoplasts from alfalfa, Caragana, and sweet clover. Within several days of culture the fusion products, heterokaryocytes, divided and developed into small cell clusters. The heterokaryocytes exhibited a sensitivity to canavanine as strong as soybean protoplasts. The results indicate that protoplasts from cultured soybean cells and from mature leaves of alfalfa, Caragana,and sweet clover when fused do not generate an incompatibility which would prevent cell division. The reaction pattern of the heterokaryocytes appeared to be determined by the soybean partner.
Infectious keratitis after laser vision correction: Incidence and risk factors.

Purpose To describe the incidence and risk factors associated with microbial keratitis in a large population of laser vision correction (LVC) patients. Setting Optical Express centers, Glasgow, United Kingdom. Design Retrospective case series. Methods Records were searched to identify all cases of presumed microbial keratitis after LVC between January 1, 2008, and April 1, 2015. Consecutive patients having primary or enhancement LVC during that time served as controls. Data on preoperative age, sex, refraction, procedure, and surgery specifics were collected. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used, and hazard ratios were calculated. Results Definite or probable microbial keratitis occurred in 26 of 564 165 eyes after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and in 11 of 81 792 eyes after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) during the study period, for an overall incidence of 0.0046% (1 case per 21 697 procedures) after LASIK and 0.0013% (1 case per 7434 procedures) after PRK. A multivariate analysis found that those having PRK had a significantly higher incidence of microbial keratitis than those having LASIK (hazard ratio, 2.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.42-6.00; P = .004). No other analyzed factors were significant. Conclusion Although the incidence of infectious keratitis was higher after PRK, the overall risk after any LVC procedure was very low.
Invadosomes are coming: new insights into function and disease relevance

Invadopodia and podosomes are discrete, actin-based molecular protrusions that form in cancer cells and normal cells, respectively, in response to diverse signaling pathways and extracellular matrix cues. Although they participate in a host of different cellular processes, they share a common functional theme of controlling pericellular proteolytic activity, which sets them apart from other structures that function in migration and adhesion, including focal adhesions, lamellipodia, and filopodia. In this review, we highlight research that explores the function of these complex structures, including roles for podosomes in embryonic and postnatal development, in angiogenesis and remodeling of the vasculature, in maturation of the postsynaptic membrane, in antigen sampling and recognition, and in cell-cell fusion mechanisms, as well as the involvement of invadopodia at multiple steps of the metastatic cascade, and how all of this may apply in the treatment of human disease states. Finally, we explore recent research that implicates a novel role for exosomes and microvesicles in invadopodia-dependent and invadopodia-independent mechanisms of invasion, respectively.
EarlyR genomic signature to predict pathological complete response following neoadjuvant anthracycline-taxane chemotherapy in estrogen-receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer.

579Background: EarlyR is a prognostic signature computed from expression values of ESPL1, SPAG5, MKI67, PLK1 and PGR that stratifies ER+ breast cancer (BC) into EarlyRLow, EarlyRInt, and EarlyRHigh...
Cerebral Veins and Venous Sinuses

Despite wide anatomical variability in venous drainage of the brain's cortex, this article summarizes key cortical veins familiar especially to neurosurgeons. Using simple schematics, the author describes the system of venous sinuses draining the cranium in detail, with comments about common variants.
Athlete Testing, Analytical Procedures, and Adverse Analytical Findings

Abstract The World Anti-Doping Code is designed to keep sports free of performance-enhancing drugs. The World Anti-Doping Agency has strict procedures to insure fair assessment of biological specimens from athletes based on scientific research, best clinical chemistry practices, and contemporary investigative procedures. This chapter evaluates analytical techniques, discusses ways by which athletes attempt to avoid detection of drug use, reviews the procedures for evaluation of a positive drug test (an Adverse Analytical Finding), and provides an overview on the consequences of confirmed drug use. A few of the most egregious examples of doping cases such as government-sponsored cheating at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi are presented.
Ergot Alkaloid Biosynthesis in the Maize (Zea mays) Ergot Fungus Claviceps gigantea.

Biosynthesis of the dihydrogenated forms of ergot alkaloids is of interest because many of the ergot alkaloids used as pharmaceuticals may be derived from dihydrolysergic acid (DHLA) or its precursor dihydrolysergol. The maize (Zea mays) ergot pathogen Claviceps gigantea has been reported to produce dihydrolysergol, a hydroxylated derivative of the common ergot alkaloid festuclavine. We hypothesized expression of C. gigantea cloA in a festuclavine-accumulating mutant of the fungus Neosartorya fumigata would yield dihydrolysergol because the P450 monooxygenase CloA from other fungi performs similar oxidation reactions. We engineered such a strain, and high performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses demonstrated the modified strain produced DHLA, the fully oxidized product of dihydrolysergol. Accumulation of high concentrations of DHLA in field-collected C. gigantea sclerotia and discovery of a mutation in the gene lpsA, downstream from DHLA formation, supported o...
Accurate model to predict performance of coherent optical transponder

Coherent optical transponder is ubiquitous and dominant in long-haul optical network. Bit error rate (BER) versus optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) determines the transmission distance for coherent optical transponder. However, a complicated setup is needed for this measurement, which limits this measurement to laboratory environment. We have developed an accurate model to predict BER versus OSNR at various receiver optical power (ROP) under assumption of additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). The model has three parameters, which are related to noise floor, filter mismatching, and OSNR value without noise loading. We determined the first two parameters through curve fitting of BER vs. ROP curve. We determined the third parameters through design verification test (DVT). We validated the model over 100 channels within extended C band. Furthermore, we expanded the model to high modulation format 16- ary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). We investigated the influence of high baud rate, like 45G, 56G, 64G and 86G. The model works well for both high modulation format and high baud rate. The influence of baud rate on the fitting parameters are discussed. Since one can measure BER versus ROP using built-in components of coherent optical transponder, BER versus OSNR can be monitored during in-field deployment based on this accurate model. In addition, one can monitor OSNR based on BER reversely. No extra hardware or DSP processing algorithm is needed for this OSNR monitoring scheme. The monitoring accuracy is further improved with consideration of chromatic dispersion (CD), polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and nonlinearity impairment.
A Kirigami-inspired, extremely stretchable, high areal-coverage micro-supercapacitor patch

We present an extremely stretchable micro-supercapacitor patch (reversible stretchability >282.5%, with <2% change in capacitance retention) with high areal-coverage of functional electronic components (76.2%). Our device is 2.4–9.4 times more stretchable than the state-of-the-art stretchable supercapacitors using the Accordion construct, and enjoys 4 times higher areal-coverage than the previously reported stretchable supercapacitors with the Island-Bridge construct. The Kirigami-inspired design is the key to both high stretchability and high areal-coverage. We envision our stretchable micro-supercapacitor patch (and other power-supply microdevices with a similar design) to be highly desirable in future flexible, stretchable, and wearable systems.
A deep learning framework to discern and count microscopic nematode eggs

In order to identify and control the menace of destructive pests via microscopic image-based identification state-of-the art deep learning architecture is demonstrated on the parasitic worm, the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines. Soybean yield loss is negatively correlated with the density of SCN eggs that are present in the soil. While there has been progress in automating extraction of egg-filled cysts and eggs from soil samples counting SCN eggs obtained from soil samples using computer vision techniques has proven to be an extremely difficult challenge. Here we show that a deep learning architecture developed for rare object identification in clutter-filled images can identify and count the SCN eggs. The architecture is trained with expert-labeled data to effectively build a machine learning model for quantifying SCN eggs via microscopic image analysis. We show dramatic improvements in the quantification time of eggs while maintaining human-level accuracy and avoiding inter-rater and intra-rater variabilities. The nematode eggs are correctly identified even in complex, debris-filled images that are often difficult for experts to identify quickly. Our results illustrate the remarkable promise of applying deep learning approaches to phenotyping for pest assessment and management.
Increasing Across-Session Variability of Leisure Activity Selection for Children With Autism

Repetitive or stereotyped patterns of responding are a defining characteristic of autism. These repetitive patterns of responding often extend to leisure or free time during which an individual may engage in a limited range of activities, resulting in missed opportunities to contact other potential
Uptake and metabolism of catecholamines by the human red blood cell.

The uptake and metabolism of 14C-labeled norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) by the human red blood cell (RBC) was studied in platelet-free blood in vitro. RBC incubated at 37° C. accumulated NE and E against a concentration gradient and reached an equilibrium distribution ratio, intracellular-extracellular concentration, of about 2 at 2 hours. Uptake was temperature dependent and saturable, both phenomena characterizing an active transport system. During the incubation period, increasing concentration of metabolites, identified as the O-methyl derivative of NE and E, respectively, appeared both in the RBC and in plasma, the concentration of the metabolite in the RBC always exceeding that in the plasma at any given point in time. Treatment with iodoacetate or quinidine resulted in increased ratios of intracellular to extracellular concentration of NE, while ethylenediaminetetraacetate decreased this ratio. Conversely, drugs known to interfere with the uptake and release of catecholamines in the adrenergiC neuron and blood platelet were without effect on the ratio of intracellular to extracellular concentration in the red cell.
Update in Perioperative Medicine

intraoperative OR postoperative OR perioperative AND complication OR event. We excluded articles related to transplantation, cardiac, and pediatric surgery. We ran this search monthly during the eligible period and selected studies that were methodologically sound, were of interest to practicing internists, addressed common and morbid postoperative outcomes, and could potentially change the approach to diagnosis, risk stratification, or prevention of postoperative medical complications. Each author inde- pendently generated a list of articles for potential inclusion; we determined the final list by consensus. We consider here 5 broad topic areas: cardiac risk stratification and risk reduction strategies, preoperative pulmonary evaluation, venous thromboembolism prophy- laxis, diabetes mellitus, and postoperative delirium.
An optical Bragg scattering readout for nano-mechanical resonances of GaN nanowire arrays

We report the use of optical Bragg scattering and homodyne interferometry to simultaneously measure all the first order cantilever-mode mechanical resonance frequencies and quality factors (Q) of gallium nitride nanowires (GaN NWs) in periodic selected-area growth arrays. Hexagonal 2D arrays of GaN NWs with pitch spacings of 350–1100 nm were designed and prepared to allow optical Bragg scattering of 632.8 nm laser light. The NWs studied have diameters ranging from 100 to 300 nm, lengths from 3 to 10 μm, resonance frequencies between 1 and 10 MHz, Q-values near 10 000 at 300 K, and Young's modulus of 310 ± 45 GPa. The optical system can detect the thermally induced Brownian mechanical motion of the NWs and driven NW motion and allows the simultaneous monitoring of hundreds of mechanical resonators with a single laser beam. The read-out system allows large arrays of NWs to be characterized and, upon mapping the resonance frequencies to individual array elements, to be applied as, e.g., spatially resolved temperature and mass sensors.We report the use of optical Bragg scattering and homodyne interferometry to simultaneously measure all the first order cantilever-mode mechanical resonance frequencies and quality factors (Q) of gallium nitride nanowires (GaN NWs) in periodic selected-area growth arrays. Hexagonal 2D arrays of GaN NWs with pitch spacings of 350–1100 nm were designed and prepared to allow optical Bragg scattering of 632.8 nm laser light. The NWs studied have diameters ranging from 100 to 300 nm, lengths from 3 to 10 μm, resonance frequencies between 1 and 10 MHz, Q-values near 10 000 at 300 K, and Young's modulus of 310 ± 45 GPa. The optical system can detect the thermally induced Brownian mechanical motion of the NWs and driven NW motion and allows the simultaneous monitoring of hundreds of mechanical resonators with a single laser beam. The read-out system allows large arrays of NWs to be characterized and, upon mapping the resonance frequencies to individual array elements, to be applied as, e.g., spatially resolved te...
Perspective on “Metastable Pitting of Stainless Steel,” G.S. Frankel, L. Stockert, F. Hunkeler, H. Boehni, Corrosion 43, 7 (1987): p. 429-436

Abstract:Metastable pitting is a phenomenon that many passive metals exhibit in aggressive solutions at low potentials. Furthermore, it is accepted that stable pits experience a metastable stage pr...
Avoiding the Issue: University Students’ Reponses to NFL Players’ National Anthem Protests

This article examines how 32 mostly white university students understand the NFL players’ protests. We argue students processed the protests (and protesters) through a racialized lens of whiteness that led to two modes of interpreting the protests: the protests are unpatriotic and the protests are patriotic. These categories are primarily based on how students account for African-American NFL players’ resistance to white supremacy and their own whiteness. We propose these student’s responses demonstrate a denial and avoidance of race, which many understand as a personal experience with racism, even when discussing a racially charged protest movement. Further, competing discourses of patriotism animate their positions on the protests, but also limit their understandings of the protests and the operation of white supremacy.
Mathematical Modeling in a Feast of Rabbits.

highlighting the need for the mathematics cur riculum in grades 9-12 to include "the refinement and extension of methods of mathematical problem solving," the Curriculum and Evaluation Stan dards for School Mathematics (NCTM 1989) notes that students should be able to "apply the process of mathematical modeling to real-world problem situations" (p. 137). Commenting on this statement, Swetz (1991) stressed that mathematical modeling must be "taught as a process" and not considered as "merely a collection of interesting problems and solution schemes" (p. 358). One of the difficulties faced by teachers in grades 9-12 in teaching mathematical modeling as a process is that modeling activities are often com plex and lengthy to establish. All too often they offer insufficient opportunities for reinforcing cru cial but intangible parts of the process, such as "interpreting the problem mathematically" and "employing the theories and tools of mathematics to obtain a solution to the problem" (Swetz 1991,358). What follows is a pedagogical approach designed to increase opportunities for students to engage in mathematical modeling but reduce the time needed by the teacher to reestablish the background for the problem. This approach uses the same real problem but varies the conditions or constraints on the prob lem in a number of ways. From a teaching-learning perspective it not only follows the initial explo ration of the problem but is an extension of it.
Cracking the Graph Routes in WirelessHART Networks

As a key response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IEEE 802.15.4-based wireless sensor-actuator network (WSAN) technology is gaining rapid adoption in process industries because of its advantage in lowering deployment and maintenance cost and effort in industrial facilities, such as steel mills, oil refineries, and chemical plants. Although most industrial applications operate at low data rates, they often require their underlying networks to provide real-time and reliable data deliveries in harsh industrial environments. IEEE 802.15.4-based WSANs are appealing for use in industrial networks, since they operate at low-power and can be manufactured inexpensively. To meet the stringent real-time and reliability requirements, WSANs, such as WirelessHART networks, make a set of unique design choices such as employing the Time Slotted Channel Hopping (TSCH) and graph routing that distinguish themselves from traditional wireless sensor networks designed for best effort services. However, the security aspects of this increasingly important class of wireless networks are insufficiently investigated in the literature. Our recent work shows that an attacker can reverse engineer the TSCH channel hopping sequences by silently observing the channel activities and put the network in danger of selective jamming attacks, where the attacker jams only the transmission of interest on its specific communication channel in its specific time slot, which makes the attacks energy-efficient and hardly detectable. A critical step for an attacker to launch selective jamming is to identify the routing paths. Our study shows that an attacker can crack the routes used by the graph routing in WirelessHART networks by silently observing the packet transmission activities. In this poster proposal, we present a vulnerability analysis and our case study performed on a 50-device physical testbed using a publicly accessible WirelessHART implementation.
Ultrastructural Changes in Hamster Tracheal Ring Cultures Exposed to Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Abstract Ultrastructural studies of lung biopsies in this laboratory from 2 children with chronic respiratory disease and elevated titers to Mycoplasma pneumoniae showed increased pleomorphic lysosomes in alveolar macrophages. This suggested that intracellular digestion might be an important feature of mycoplasma infection and an in vitro study was undertaken. Tracheal ring cultures from 35 Syrian hamsters were exposed to Clyde M129 strain of M pneumoniae. Controls consisted of untreated tracheal rings from the same animals. Both groups were subjected to light, fluorescent, and electron microscopy. Cultures exposed to virulent mycoplasma exhibited specific immunofluorescence at mucosal surfaces and in the submucosa. Mucosal cytopathic changes and submucosal necrosis were prominent. Submucosal macrophages contained increased numbers of lysosomes, some of which contained mycoplasma-like forms. If Mycoplasma pneumoniae are ingested by macrophages, this would provide a mechanism through which immune phenomena could occur and would partially explain the prominent peribronchial lymphocytic accumulation of human mycoplasma infection.
One Year of #GamerGate: The Shared Twitter Link as Emblem of Masculinist Gamer Identity:

Since the #GamerGate controversy erupted in 2014, anti-feminist gamers continue to lash out at feminists and supporters of progressive and inclusive gaming content. A key strategy in this discourse...
Technical success and long‐term outcomes after anomalous right coronary artery stenting with cardiac computed tomography angiography correlation

Introduction Anomalous origin of coronary arteries has been observed in about 0.35-2.10% of the population. Patients with anomalous right coronary artery (ARCA) may present with significant symptoms, arrhythmias or ACS, and at times sudden death. Traditionally, surgical correction has been the recommended treatment. However, these may be technically challenging, and bypass grafting for such anomalies has the potential for graft failure because of competitive flow. We sought to determine the intermediate and long-term outcomes of drug-eluting stent placement for patients with symptomatic ARCA. We also looked at angiographic findings suggestive of interarterial course as confirmed by subsequent computed tomography (CT) findings. Methods Between January 2005 and December 2012, we enrolled 11 patients for elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of ARCA in a single center, prospective, nonrandomized fashion. Patients were followed up in clinic at 1 week, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year, and then annually or more frequently if needed. All patients underwent a cardiac CT, as well as functional stress testing when needed to assess for recurrence of disease. Results All 11 of our patients, who presented with significant symptomatic stenosis with an ARCA, were successfully treated with PCI. Mean follow-up duration was 8.5 years. The only two deaths during follow-up were related to noncardiac causes (sepsis), with a mortality rate of 18.2%. Two patients had a positive functional study and on subsequent coronary angiography, one of them had significant in-stent restenosis (target lesion revascularization of 9.1%) and one distal to the stent (target vessel revascularization 9.1%). We found the observation of a "slit-like lesion" on angiography to have a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 86% for the diagnosis of interarterial course of the anomalous vessel seen on subsequent CT. Conclusions Our study results suggest that PCI of ARCA is an effective and low-risk alternative to surgical correction, with good procedural success and long-term outcomes. It can provide symptomatic relief in such patients and may reduce the risk of sudden death in younger patients, without the inherent risks associated with surgical repair.
UVA and UVB elicit distinct mutational signatures in melanoma

ABSTRACT It is difficult to discern the relative contributions of ultraviolet-A (UVA; 320-400nm) and ultraviolet-B (UVB; 280-320nm) radiation to human melanoma development. Here, we compared the tumorigenic consequences of a single UVA or UVB exposure in mouse models predisposed to Braf- or Nras-mutant melanoma. Exposures approximated the amount of UVA or UVB energy contained in ∼40 minutes of summer sunlight. While UVA accelerated melanoma onset in a subset of mice, UVB universally reduced tumor latency and induced gene mutations relevant to the human disease. Genomic analyses uncovered distinct mutational signatures specific to each UV spectrum. The UVB-specific signature was biased for mutations on the untranscribed DNA strand and closely mirrored mutational signatures enriched in human cutaneous melanoma. The UVA-specific signature mimicked SBS51, a mutational signature found in human uveal melanoma. Distinctions in the trinucleotide patterns of the UVA and UVB signatures suggest that cytosine deamination plays a key role in UVB-mediated melanomagenesis.
Diagnostic and interventional magnetic resonance neurography diagnosis of brachytherapy seed-mediated pudendal nerve injury: a case report

Injury to the pudendal nerve in men presents with pain, paresthesia, or numbness of the perineum, and/or scrotum, and/or penis. There is evidence implicating the brachytherapy seeds used to treat prostate cancer as source of pudendal nerve injury. Compared to surgical prostatectomy, brachytherapy has the advantage of being less invasive, but seeds may not only lead to well-established complications such as urinary, bowel, and erectile dysfunction, but also injury to the sensory branches of the pudendal nerve. We report and document a case of pudendal nerve injury secondary to brachytherapy seeds diagnosed with magnetic resonance (MR) neurography, nerve blocks, and histopathological examination; and successful treatment via sensory branch neurectomy.
Evaluation of Validity and Specificity of the Cottle Maneuver in Diagnosis of Nasal Valve Collapse.

BACKGROUND Despite the widespread use of the Cottle maneuver as a finding to define nasal valve collapse, no studies have confirmed the association between a positive Cottle maneuver and need for nasal valve repair. This study demonstrates the low construct validity of the Cottle maneuver. METHODS One hundred healthy volunteer students and employees at Boston Medical Center were recruited for this study. Participants were asked to evaluate their breathing on a 10-point scale, rating their subjective airflow in each nostril while occluding the contralateral nostril, where 0 indicated complete obstruction and 10 indicated complete patency. Following the baseline ratings, participants were asked to rate their breathing once again while examiners preformed the Cottle and modified Cottle maneuvers. RESULTS Overall, 97 percent of participants reported improved airflow in each nostril following the Cottle maneuver (p < 0.00001); 98 percent reported improved airflow in each nostril following the modified Cottle maneuver (p < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS If the clinical consensus regarding the observed improvement in nasal airflow is to be followed, nearly all the participants recruited are experiencing some surgically correctable nasal obstruction. Given the population from which our cohort was collected-students and residents from a medical campus-such a conclusion seems extremely unlikely. We believe the more likely explanation for the high positive test rate is flawed assumptions of the Cottle and modified Cottle maneuvers. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic, V.
Childhood cancer survivors: The integral role of the cardiologist and cardiovascular imaging.

Importance With 80% of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) alive 30 years after diagnosis, preventable causes of death, such as cardiovascular disease resulting from initial cancer therapy, becomes an important metric. This leads to a more pronounced role for cardiologists in the care of CCS. Observations While routine cardiovascular screening has been traditionally performed by the hematologist/oncologist or primary care provider, our understanding of cardiovascular disease in CCS has advanced. The measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) can now be complemented with additional assessments of strain, LV mass, right ventricular function, diastolic function, valve function, the pericardium, coronary perfusion, and biomarkers. Risk factor modification, prophylaxis, and timing of treatment are also critical. Conclusions and Relevance Early cardiovascular screening and treatment in asymptomatic CCS can be nuanced and complex. As a result, there is a renewed opportunity for the cardiologist to play an integral role in the care of CCS. Key Points Question/Purpose: Review cardiovascular disease and the role of the cardiologist in the care of asymptomatic childhood cancer survivors (CCS). Findings: Cardiovascular care in CCS benefits from a multi-faceted approach that does not overly rely on LVEF. Meaning: Adequate screening and treatment of cardiovascular disease in asymptomatic CCS may often be optimized by the involvement of a cardiologist.
Social dynamics in an isolated, confined, and extreme workplace.

There can be few indoor workplaces that are more subject to the meteorological and atmospheric conditions of their locations than permanent stations on the high, inland polar plateau of Antarctica. The US Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is such a workplace, totally isolated during the 8–9 months of the austral winter, more than 800 miles (1287 km) from the nearest other human habitation. The wintering party at the South Pole must deal with all the demands and stressors of an isolated, confined, and extreme environment without the prospect of relief from the outside world. In 1975, the seventeen men chosen to winter at the South Pole had an additional challenge. In February, as the austral winter was about to begin, a new geodesic-domed research station had just been completed. The station was the first of its kind, and the vagaries of its design and construction would be significant factors in the health and well-being of station residents as winter progressed. Potential physical and psychological problems from isolation literature are commented upon, and some significant events from this noteworthy winter are described. In addition, supporting quantitative data from current research at South Pole are used to better understand these events.
Respiratory setback associated with extubation failure in extremely preterm infants.

Background and objectives Extubation failure in preterm infants is associated with an increased risk of mortality and morbidity. There is limited evidence to suggest if the increased morbidities are due to inherent differences among infants who fail or succeed; or whether these are due to a true respiratory setback among those who fail extubation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the respiratory status of infants who fail extubation and to assess the time taken for these infants to achieve pre-extubation respiratory status. Methods This was a retrospective study of infants with birth weight ≤ 1250 g who were born between January 2009 and December 2016. Infants were eligible if they failed first elective extubation. Extubation failure was defined as need for re-intubation within 5 days of extubation. Ventilator settings, blood gas parameters, respiratory severity score (RSS), and ventilation index (VI) were used to assess the respiratory status of infants. Results Out of 384 infants, 76% were successful and 24% failed extubation. Among those who failed extubation 91%, 77%, and 56% infants remained intubated at 24 h, 72 h, and 7 days, respectively. Respiratory status was worse at 24 and 72 h after re-intubation when compared to pre-extubation levels. The median times for RSS and VI to reach pre-extubation levels were 4 and 7 days, respectively. Conclusion Among preterm infants, failed elective extubation is associated with a significant setback in the respiratory status. Infants who fail an extubation attempt may not achieve pre-extubation respiratory status for many days after reintubation.
Machine learning approaches to identify sleep genes

Genetics impacts sleep, yet, the molecular mechanisms underlying sleep regulation remain elusive. We built machine learning (ML) models to predict genes based on their similarity to known sleep genes. Using a manually curated list of 109 labeled sleep genes, we trained a prediction model on thousands of published datasets, representing circadian, immune, sleep deprivation, and many other processes. Our predictions fit with prior knowledge of sleep regulation and also identify several key genes/pathways to pursue in follow-up studies. We tested one of our findings, the NF-κB pathway, and showed that its genetic alteration affects sleep duration in mice. Our study highlights the power of ML to integrate prior knowledge and genome-wide data to study genetic regulation of sleep and other complex behaviors.
Book Review: iPhone and iOS Forensic: Investigation, Analysis and Mobile Security for Apple iPhone, iPad and iOS Devices

Hoog, A., and Strzempka, K. (2011). iPhone and iOS Forensic: Investigation, Analysis and Mobile Security for Apple iPhone, iPad and iOS Devices. Syngress, Elsevier, xv + 310 pages; ISBN-10: 1597496596; ISBN-13: 978-1597496599, $69.95 Reviewed by Simson Garfinkel, Naval Postgraduate School In April 2011 news outlets around the world revealed shocking news about Apple’s iPhone: for reasons that were not apparently clear, every iPhone contained a small SQLite database that logged where and when the user had been whenever the phone was turned on, and those records went back for pretty much as long as the user had owned their phone. Apple eventually declared that the data cache was the result of a bug and issued a software update to prune the database (it had previously grown without limit). Privacy activists rejoiced that their beloved iPhones were once again trustworthy. But forensics examiners just shook their heads: many had known about the iPhone’s tracking capabilities for more than a year and had kept quiet. They had made good use of that data. Apple’s pro-privacy patch was actually a setback for law enforcement. (see PDF for full review)
Optical and electrical testing of latchup in I/O interface circuits

Backside light emission and electrical measurements were used to evaluate the susceptibility to latchup of externally cabled I/O pins for a 0.13 µm technology generation [1,2] test chip, which was designed in a flip-chip package. Case studies of several Inputs/Outputs (I/Os) are shown along with conclusions regarding layout and floorplanning to ensure the robustness to various types of latchup trigger events.
The Sorrows of the Prince Charming: The Tragic Life of Crown Prince Rudolf

The Crown Prince Rudolf (1858-1889) was the heir of Franz Joseph I, emperor of Austria, and his wife Elizabeth of Bavaria, the beauty of Europe. He was famous for his love affair with the then 17-year-old Baroness Mary Vetsera and their double-suicide in Mayerling. The death of the young and charming prince appalled turn-of-the-century Vienna. This paper briefly examines the life and death of the prince, which include his relationship with his family, his personal goals and pursuits, and his romantic involvement with Mary Vetsera.
Silastic Surgical Stent and Dilator for use with the Singer-Blom Voice Restoration Procedure:

A Silastic surgical stent with an indwelling No. 2 Dacron polyester suture and a Silastic dilator have been designed for use in conjunction with Singer and Blom's tracheoesophageal puncture technique for voice restoration. The surgical stent is used to form the tracheoesophageal fistula; the Silastic dilator is sent home with each patient to be used as an atraumatic dilator if the puncture site becomes too small to allow for the insertion of the Singer-Blom voice prosthesis.
Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Regulates Endogenous RUNX2 Activity in Endothelial Cells through a Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/ERK-dependent and Akt-independent Signaling Pathway

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is an angiogenic and oncogenic factor that activates signal transduction pathways involved in the expression of transcriptional regulators of tumorigenesis. RUNX2, a member of the Ig-loop family of transcription factors is expressed in vascular endothelial cells (EC) and regulates EC migration, invasion, and proliferation. Here we show that IGF-1 and its receptor regulate post-translational changes in RUNX2 to activate DNA binding in proliferating EC. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, LY294002, reduced both basal and IGF-1-stimulated RUNX2 DNA binding activity in the absence of changes in RUNX2 protein as did the overexpression of the phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate phosphatase, confirming that PI3K signaling mediates RUNX2 activation. IGF-1 increased ERK1/2 activation, which was abrogated by the inhibition of PI3K, thus linking these two pathways in EC. Treatment with U0126, which inhibits ERK1/2 activation, reduced IGF-1-stimulated RUNX2 DNA binding without affecting RUNX2 protein levels. Overexpression of constitutively active MKK1 increased RUNX2 DNA binding and phosphorylation. No additive effects of PI3K or ERK inhibitors on DNA binding were evident. Surprisingly, these IGF-1-mediated effects on RUNX2 were not regulated by Akt phosphorylation, a common downstream target of PI3K, as determined by pharmacological or genetic inhibition. However, an inhibitor of the p21-activated protein kinase-1, glutathione S-transferase-Pak1-(83–149), inhibited both basal and IGF-1-stimulated RUNX2 DNA binding, suggesting that Pak1 mediates IGF-1 signaling to increase RUNX2 activity. These results indicate that the angiogenic growth factor, IGF-1, can regulate RUNX2 DNA binding through sequential activation of the PI3K/Pak1 and ERK1/2 signaling cascade.
RAG1 and RAG2 Form a Stable Postcleavage Synaptic Complex with DNA Containing Signal Ends in V(D)J Recombination

During V(D)J recombination, RAG1 and RAG2 cleave DNA adjacent to highly conserved recombination signals, but nothing is known about the protein-DNA complexes that exist after cleavage. Using a properly regulated in vitro V(D)J cleavage system, together with nuclease sensitivity, mobility shift, and immunoprecipitation experiments, we provide evidence that a stable complex is formed postcleavage between synapsed recombination signals. This complex includes the proteins RAG1, RAG2, HMG-1 or the closely related HMG-2 protein, and the components of the DNA-dependent protein kinase. The existence of such a stable complex explains a number of in vivo observations and suggests that remodeling of postcleavage synaptic complexes is an important step in the resolution of signal ends in V(D)J recombination.
Temporal sequence of prolactin actions on phospholipid biosynthesis in mouse mammary gland explants.

Studies were carried out to determine the effect of PRL on the metabolic fate of 32PO4 in cultured mammary gland explants derived from 12 to 14-day pregnant mice. Explants were initially cultured for 24–36 h with 10−7 M cortisol and 1 μg/ml insulin. PRL (1 μg/ml) was then added to certain of the cultures and incubation continued for 2–24 h. Tissues were pulse labeled with 5 μCi/ml 32PO4 during the final 2 h of culture. Tissues were fractionated by the method of Bligh-Dyer. Radioactivity was determined in the organic fraction (containing phospholipids), the aqueous fraction, and an insoluble fraction containing macromolecules. In all these fractions, PRL effected a greater than 2-fold increase in radioactivity content; the onset of the PRL responses was 8–12 h after PRL exposure and PRL effected responses at concentrations of 2.5 ng/ml and above. The enhanced rate of 32P incorporation in the macromolecular fraction was found to occur in both the RNA and phosphoproteins in that fraction. As determined by TL...
Multi-site spatially diverse demodulation of HF propagated signals

This paper discusses a project to develop and evaluate multi-site combination algorithms to improve demodulation of high frequency (HF) signals. The approach to achieve this goal includes (1) implementing a single-site MS110B serial demodulator, (2) calculating quality metrics at various points in the demodulation process, and (3) collecting on-air skywave propagated signal samples with known content for thorough algorithm evaluation. Both simulated and experimental results show that combining the complex raw symbols prior to hard decision and combining the pre-FEC corrected bits yield the highest gain. The latter is especially attractive due to the lower amount of data necessarily communicated to a multi-site demodulator. In addition, using a measure of the bit disagreement between sites as a soft decision into the FEC decoder improves the performance of the error correction on the combined result.
Efficient technique for analysis of printed microwave circuits using characteristic basis functions

An efficient technique for the analysis of microwave circuits and antennas etched on a layered medium is presented. The proposed method, based on the recently introduced equivalent medium approach, yields accurate results and yet reduces computational time in comparison with the conventional method of moments algorithm. A numerical example which demonstrates the accuracy and numerical efficiency of the proposed technique is included.
Closing Gaps in International Knowledge and Participation: News Attention, Online Expression, and the 2010 Haiti Earthquake

The effects of international news have been relatively underexamined despite evidence that socioeconomic-based gaps in knowledge and participation tend to be the widest for foreign news. This study investigated international news use, online expression, foreign affairs knowledge, and monetary donations in the context of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Regression analysis of national survey data found that high levels of attention to news about the disaster narrowed the knowledge gap for foreign news questions. Also, attention to news about the earthquake was the strongest predictor of monetary donation to the relief effort after controls and was more than twice as likely as income to predict donation. Three measures of online expression (exchanging information about the Haiti earthquake via social media website, e-mail, and text message) also produced positive independent associations with donation, and produced a complementary effect with news attention when interaction terms were considered.
Mobile self-splicing group I introns from the psbA gene of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: highly efficient homing of an exogenous intron containing its own promoter

Introns 2 and 4 of the psbA gene of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplasts (Cr.psbA2 and Cr.psbA4, respectively) contain large free-standing open reading frames (ORFs). We used transformation of an intronless-psbA strain (IL) to test whether these introns undergo homing. Each intron, plus short exon sequences, was cloned into a chloroplast expression vector in both orientations and then cotransformed into IL along with a spectinomycin resistance marker (16S rrn). For Cr.psbA2, the sense construct gave nearly 100% cointegration of the intron whereas the antisense construct gave 0%, consistent with homing. For Cr.psbA4, however, both orientations produced highly efficient cointegration of the intron. Efficient cointegration of Cr.psbA4 also occurred when the intron was introduced as a restriction fragment lacking any known promoter. Deletion of most of the ORF, however, abolished cointegration of the intron, consistent with homing. The Cr.psbA4 constructs also contained a 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea resistance marker in exon 5, which was always present when the intron integrated, thus demonstrating exon coconversion. Remarkably, primary selection for this marker gave >100-fold more transformants (>10,000/microgram of DNA) than did the spectinomycin resistance marker. A trans homing assay was developed for Cr.psbA4; the ORF-minus intron integrated when the ORF was cotransformed on a separate plasmid. This assay was used to identify an intronic region between bp -88 and -194 (relative to the ORF) that stimulated homing and contained a possible bacterial (-10, -35)-type promoter. Primer extension analysis detected a transcript that could originate from this promoter. Thus, this mobile, self-splicing intron also contains its own promoter for ORF expression. The implications of these results for horizontal intron transfer and organelle transformation are discussed.
A noise reduction method for chaotic systems

Abstract A method is presented which can reduce the noise of a chaotic orbit on an attractor by more than ten orders of magnitude. This method is simple and fast: its performance is analyzed for several two-dimensional systems at moderate noise levels, including the Ikeda map. For this analysis, the underlying maps are assumed to be known.
X ray study of the atomic structure of amorphous hydrogenated silicon and germanium

Abstract The interference function as well as the radial distribution function of pure a.Ge are compared to those of two hydrogenated samples. One is a glow discharge prepared a.Si(I−x)Hx where x has been estimated to be equal to 33%. The other is a chemically prepared a.GeI−x)Hx with x equal to 66%. The progressive hydrogenation effect on the local order is studied on the coordination of Si and Ge first neighbours and the distribution of the successive pair distances especially in the interval where they depend on the dihedral angle distribution.
Effect of Phosphate Supplements on Cavitation in Hamsters Infected with Caries-Conducive Streptococci

Anticavitation findings from this study on the administration of phosphated compounds in a caries-inducing ration to hamsters coincide with the findings of other investigations in rats, but indicate that a regimen of phosphate supplements tends to lose its retarding effect on cavitation unless administered continuously.
Housing temperature-induced stress drives therapeutic resistance in murine tumour models through β2-adrenergic receptor activation

Cancer research relies heavily on murine models for evaluating the anti-tumour efficacy of therapies. Here we show that the sensitivity of several pancreatic tumour models to cytotoxic therapies is significantly increased when mice are housed at a thermoneutral ambient temperature of 30 °C compared with the standard temperature of 22 °C. Further, we find that baseline levels of norepinephrine as well as the levels of several anti-apoptotic molecules are elevated in tumours from mice housed at 22 °C. The sensitivity of tumours to cytotoxic therapies is also enhanced by administering a β-adrenergic receptor antagonist to mice housed at 22 °C. These data demonstrate that standard housing causes a degree of cold stress sufficient to impact the signalling pathways related to tumour-cell survival and affect the outcome of pre-clinical experiments. Furthermore, these data highlight the significant role of host physiological factors in regulating the sensitivity of tumours to therapy.
Mechanism of Dexamethasone Inhibition of Neutrophil- Induced Neutrophil (Pmn) Migration Upon Exposure To Lipopolysaccharide in Vitro: Role of Interleukin-8 † 1415

Mechanism of Dexamethasone Inhibition of Neutrophil- Induced Neutrophil (Pmn) Migration Upon Exposure To Lipopolysaccharide in Vitro: Role of Interleukin-8 † 1415
Panorama dos órgãos envolvidos no sistema de segurança sanitária dos Estados Unidos da América

O sistema de saude americano visa a unir dois aspectos: a economia de mercado no setor privado e um sistema de saude que nao se restringe aos mais privilegiados. O FDA tem uma estrutura montada para protecao a saude desenvolvida atraves da fiscalizacao de produtos e da fiscalizacao de condutas. As acoes desenvolvidas sao: procedimentos relativos a aprova- cao de um novo produto; remocao e confisco de produto ilegal; provocacao judicial com pedido de medida cautelar; e representacao ao Departamento de Justica para instauracao de processo criminal. Muitos casos sao resolvidos, ainda, em processo quase judicial, por meio de um Termo de Ajuste de Conduta.