cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Findings of brain death with the use of carotid duplex ultrasonography

IntroductionBrain death is the complete and irreversible loss of cerebral and brain stem function. Although transcranial Doppler may be helpful in establishing the diagnosis, conventional carotid d...
Learning Principles in CBT

Abstract Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been widely applied to a diverse range of psychopathology. CBT, as it exists today, is a composite of techniques derived from behavioral, cognitive, and social learning theories. Behavioral learning principles underlie exposure therapy, one of the most efficacious interventions to date, as well as a handful of diverse CBT interventions, which apply principles of reinforcement to decrease maladaptive behaviors. Cognitive strategies within CBT utilize principles from theories of constructivism, attribution theory, and metacognition to aid clients in learning how thoughts impact feelings. Finally, social learning theory, which focuses on learning in the context of interpersonal relationships, interactions, and observations, plays a role in CBT, relying heavily upon both therapist instruction and the active role of the participant. This chapter provides an overview of how these learning theories guide CBT strategies, yielding considerations for both clinicians and researchers on how to enhance learning within CBT.
Computational Approaches and Pharmacogenomics Data Resources for Drug Repositioning

Large-scale data sets of cancer patients have been being generated due to the significantly reduced cost of sequencing full genome of individual patients using the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology. Comprehensive genomics data analysis revealed the diverse dysfunctional biomarkers of individual cancer patients, which are believed to be responsible for heterogeneous drug response. Thus precision medicine is becoming popular that aims to find the optimal treatments for individual patients based on their genomics profiling data. However, it is challenging to interpret the complicated and distinct genome mutation and variation patterns, and associate them to optimal treatments. Though a set of approaches and data resources have been reported to reposition FDA approved drugs and investigational drugs for specific diseases, novel and sophisticated computational approaches are needed urgently to reposition drugs for cancer subtypes or individual patients. In this study, some widely used computational approaches and pharmacogenomics data resources for repositioning optimal drugs are introduced and discussed, which aims to provide a general overview of the genomic data-driven drug repositioning, and help readers understand the topic conveniently.Key words: Precision medicine, Personalized medicine, Drug repositioning, Drug combination, Genetic medicine
Pd(II)-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular oxidative amination utilizing (+)-camphorsulfonic acid

Abstract An enantioselective Pd(II)-catalyzed intramolecular oxidative amination reaction was developed utilizing the commercially available chiral X-type ligand (1 S )-(+)-camphorsulfonic acid. The Wacker-type cyclization produced chiral indoline products with enantioselectivies up to 45% ee. Electronic structure calculations employing density functional theory support a trans- aminopalladation mechanism.
A Study on Log Analysis Approaches Using Sandia Dataset

Modern enterprises collect, process, and analyze security data from various system and network logs. Previous studies show that, handling large security datasets and detecting anomalies from those are key challenges faced by most of todays' enterprises. Unfortunately most security professionals are inexperienced at performing data analysis. In this paper, we study published works analyzing one publicly accessible log dataset (Sandia Dataset) published by Los Alamos National Laboratory. We evaluate their data analysis methodology as well as results and found significant flaws in most analysis methodologies.
A simevents model for hybrid traffic simulation

Intelligent transportation systems are typical Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) that combine physical components with cyber elements that include communication, information processing and control mechanisms for Connected Automated Vehicles (CAVs). To test and evaluate the efficiency of such systems, new simulation platforms are needed. In this paper, a SimEvents-based framework is introduced for hybrid traffic simulation at the microscopic level. This framework enables users to apply different control strategies for CAVs and carry out performance analysis of proposed algorithms by authoring customized discrete-event and hybrid systems based on MATLAB Discrete-Event System using object-oriented MATLAB. The framework spans multiple toolboxes including MATLAB, Simulink, and SimEvents.
History of the Evolution of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and the Predictive Value of Traditional Risk-Factor-Based Risk Assessment

The near epidemic rise in cardiovascular disease deaths in the early and middle twentieth century necessitated a more complete understanding of the risk factors for these illnesses. Through histologic examinations, animal studies, clinical and geographical observations and, ultimately, through large, prospective epidemiologic studies, the major traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease were discovered, which paved the way for successful public health programs and interventions over the past few decades. However, cardiovascular disease remains a formidable global health challenge, especially in developing countries, and the utility of traditional risk factors as targets of therapy does not equate to accuracy for disease prediction. As up to 20% of those affected by coronary heart disease have no traditional risk factors, and since risk factor levels between those with and without cardiovascular disease overlap significantly, individual risk factors are poor predictors of cardiovascular events. Global risk assessment in the form of multivariable equations, such as the Framingham Risk Score that incorporate multiple traditional risk factors, have improved accuracy and are well suited for population screening through office-based practices. Recently, many limitations of current risk assessment with modified Framingham algorithms have emerged, including poor calibration in various ethnic groups, misclassification of risk in young people and women, and potential missed opportunities for preventive efforts by focusing solely on short-term risk. While traditional risk factors will certainly form the cornerstone of future cardiovascular risk assessment strategies, their utility will be enhanced by newly developed algorithms or paradigms for their use, or by incorporating novel risk factors and emerging risk assessment technologies into risk assessment.
The Pure Theory of Spatial Markets

Spatial phenomena which had been topics in theoretical Geography and Location Economics were seen as common objects in the new Regional Science of the 1950s. A point of crystallization was the notion of spatial markets going back to Wilhelm Launhardt (1886), who perceived them, as market (and supply) areas. Market areas are territories in which a given firm is the nearest and ceteris paribus the cheapest and hence exclusive supplier. This essay develops a systematic theory of spatial markets. It is thus an expository, drawing on previous work of T.C. Koopmans, Martin Beckmann and others of the “efficient allocation” school. The underlying theme is the familiar one of showing how prices (indexed by location) obtained in competitive markets can guide allocation of resources in space, and the deviations from this optimum that occur under various types of institutions. While thus backward looking, spatial markets can still provide an organizing framework to our contemporary interest in innovation. When buyer and seller are not in the same place, distance intervenes and transaction costs for transportation and/or communication arise, ordinary market theory no longer applies, e.g., “law of the single price” is violated. We are then, faced with spatial markets. This is actually among the oldest subjects treated in location theory. In Von Thunen’s “Isolated State” land use, production and sales to a metropolitan market are investigated as functions of distance (Von Thunen 1826). Wilhelm Launhardt’s location theory is grounded on market areas as sets of exclusive sales in a territory surrounding a firm or localized industry (Launhardt 1886). In this paper we offer a modern perspective of the theory of spatial markets in perfect competition. We exclude spatial price policies under monopoly, which have a rich literature of their own (Greenhut and Ohta 1975; Beckmann 1976). Market strategies of oligopolists aimed at defence or penetration of market areas, in which pricing is confounded with locational choice are also beyond the scope of this paper. The pure theory of spatial markets considers only those questions that exist when locations are given. In essence, it is location theory without locational choice.
Considerations affecting selection of thrombolytic agents.

The data reviewed above show that the ideal thrombolytic or thrombolytic plus anticoagulant regimen does not exist. Nor is it clear to me that one regimen is unequivocally better than another in regards to clinical outcome. Publication of the full results of the ISIS-3 study and completion of the TAPS study, the GUSTO study, the TIMI-4 study plus others only now in the planning phases, should help. This review will not stay current very long. These data do, however, give some guides to certain circumstances in which one regimen might be preferred over others. If economics is a compelling issue, as it may be in public hospitals on a fixed budget or in the developing world, streptokinase may be the best choice. For early application of thrombolytic therapy, such as at the site of infarct occurrence and in automotive and aerial ambulances, anistreplase may be preferred because of its ease of administration. Previous administration of streptokinase or anistreplase (within the period of 48 h to 6 months after prior use) militate against their use as does a recent streptococcal infection. Heightened concerns about bleeding risk, except intracranially, in the absence of absolute contraindication of fibrinolytic therapy, e.g. remote gastrointestinal hemorrhage or the expected imminent need for an invasive procedure, may lead to preference for alteplase over streptokinase or anistreplase. On the other hand, heightened concerns about intracranial hemorrhage may lead to preference for streptokinase over alteplase or anistreplase. Alteplase may be preferred over non-fibrin-selective agents in the treatment of patients when administration is begun more than three hours after the presumed onset of infarction. These considerations notwithstanding, it is crucial that debates over the best choice of a regimen must not be allowed to prolong the time before administration of an effective thrombolytic agent to a patient with evolving Q-wave infarction who is a good candidate for this therapy. This review may also become dated in the not-too-distant future because of expected further advances in thrombolytic regimen. Application of new antithrombotic regimens was noted above. Future thrombolytic and antithrombotic regimens may be "cocktails" of one or more thrombolytic agents plus more powerful antithrombotic and antiplatelet agents. New generations of thrombolytic agents may replace the current first and second generation agents now used. Combination thrombolytic and anti-fibrin antibody agents and mutant tissue-type plasminogen activators with lower affinity for plasminogen activator inhibitor and longer half-lives are being developed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Novel delivery of antioxidant enzyme catalase to alveolar macrophages by Fc receptor-mediated endocytosis.

Excessive production of reactive oxygen species by alveolar macrophages (AMs) in response to inhaled toxic substances is a major cause of oxidative lung injury. Therapeutic approaches designed to protect the lungs from oxidative injury by administering native antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase have been suggested. However, problems associated with poor penetration of these enzymes to the intracellular target sites have limited their effective use. The present study reports a drug targeting method based on receptor-mediated endocytosis of the antioxidant enzyme catalase to the AMs. This method employs molecular conjugate consisting of a cognate moiety, in this case IgG which recognizes the macrophage Fc receptor, covalently linked to the enzyme catalase via the reversible disulfide linkage. The uptake efficiency of the enzyme conjugate and its protection against oxidative injury were evaluated microfluorometrically using the intracellular oxidative probe dichlorodihydrofluorescein BSA: anti BSA antibody complex (DCHF-IC), and the cell viability indicator propidium iodide. The DCHF-IC-stimulated macrophages exhibited a dose- and time-dependent increase in intracellular fluorescence with a half maximal response dose of approximately 120 µg/ml. Free catalase (50–500 U/ml) failed to inhibit the DCHF-IC-induced oxidative burst and had only a marginal protective effect on AM injury. In contrast, the catalase-IgG conjugate (50–500 U/ml) strongly inhibited both the DCHF-IC-induced oxidation and injury in a dose-dependent manner. Effective inhibition was shown to require both the antioxidant catalase moiety and the cognate moiety for the cell surface receptor. Specific internalization of the conjugate through the Fc receptor was also investigated by competitive inhibition using free IgG. Under this condition, the conjugate showed a much reduced protective effect on intracellular oxidation, indicating conjugate internalization through the Fc endocytosis pathway. Thus, the enzyme-IgG conjugate system may be used as an effective and selective means to deliver antioxidant enzymes to the intracellular oxidative targets of the AMs.
Special Issue: Grids and Web Services for e-Science: Editorials

This editorial describes four papers that summarize key Grid technology capabilities to support distributed e-Science applications. These papers discuss the Condor system supporting computing communities, the OGSA-DAI service interfaces for databases, the WS-I+ Grid Service profile and finally WS-GAF (the Web Service Grid Application Framework). We discuss the confluence of mainstream IT industry development and the very latest science and computer science research and urge the communities to reach consensus rapidly. Agreement on a set of core Web Service standards is essential to allow developers to build Grids and distributed business and science applications with some assurance that their investment will not be obviated by the changing Web Service frameworks. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predictors of Recurrent Hospitalizations and the Importance of These Hospitalizations for Subsequent Mortality After Incident Transient Ischemic Attack

Abstract Background We examined predictors of recurrent hospitalizations and the importance of these hospitalizations for subsequent mortality after incident transient ischemic attacks (TIA) that have not yet been investigated. Methods Adults hospitalized for TIA from 2000 through 2017 were examined for recurrent hospitalizations, days, and percentage of time spent hospitalized and long-term mortality. Results Of 266 patients hospitalized for TIA, 122 died, 212 had 826 anycondition hospitalization (59 from TIA-related conditions) corresponding to 3384 inpatient days during 1693 person-years of follow-up. Of 42 patient-level characteristics, age greater than or equal to 65 years (Incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-2.55), current smoking (IRR 2.15, 95% CI 1.39-3.33), concurrent heart failure (IRR 1.81, 95% CI 1.17-2.80) or anemia (IRR 1.90, 95% CI 1.40-2.48), and no prescription statin (IRR 1.45, 95% CI 1.04-2.03, P = .0289) emerged as significant predictors of anycondition rehospitalization. All these variables except heart failure remained significant predictors of TIA-related rehospitalizations. All-cause mortality was significantly increased after each hospitalization from anycondition (hazard ratio [HR] 1.32, 95% CI 1.26-1.39), TIA-related condition (HR 1.72; 95% CI 1.28-2.30), and per each day (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04-1.05) and per 1% of follow-up time spent hospitalized from anycondition (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.34-1.58). Conclusions Older age, current tobacco smoking, concurrent heart failure or anemia, and no prescription statin, easily measured patient-level characteristics, identifies patients with TIA at high risk for recurrent hospitalizations and the burden of these hospitalizations predicts subsequent mortality.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit discharge preparedness among families with limited english proficiency

We compared the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit discharge preparedness of families with and without Limited English Proficiency (LEP). We performed a retrospective analysis of discharged families. Each family’s discharge preparation was self-assessed on the day of discharge, and the discharging nurse assessed the family’s overall emotional and technical discharge preparedness all on 9-point Likert scales. Families were considered not prepared for discharge if they rated themselves or the nurse rated their preparedness as <7 on the Likert scale. Among 1307 discharged families, 90 had LEP. The odds of being prepared for discharge were the same for both groups (aOR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.27–1.41; p = 0.258). In multivariable analyses, families with LEP were less likely to be prepared with technical baby care skills (aOR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13–0.81). Families with LEP are at higher risk and may require special attention when preparing for NICU discharge.
Prevalence and Outcomes of Exposure to Catastrophic Events Among Athletic Trainers

Context Little is known about the prevalence of exposure to catastrophic events or how caring for athletes exposed to catastrophic events can influence burnout in athletic trainers (ATs). Objective...
When Is The Price Of A Drug Unjust? The Average Lifetime Earnings Standard.

The majority of Americans believe that lowering drug prices should be the top health care priority for the federal government. Yet drug costs as a proportion of the country’s medical expenditures h...
Responses of Salmonella typhimurium LT2, Vibrio harveyi, and Cryptosporidium parvum to UVB and UVA radiation

Abstract Conventional solar disinfection (SODIS) processes rely on UVA radiation due to exclusion of shorter wavelengths by common SODIS containers. Because of this, these processes are slow and could be improved by inclusion of UVB radiation, which has been reported to be more effective for microbial inactivation than UVA on a photon basis, but is typically present at lower spectral irradiance. To examine the potential for microbial inactivation resulting from exposure to solar UVB radiation at sea-level, experiments were conducted to define the UVB/UVA action and effectiveness spectra for Salmonella typhimurium LT2, Vibrio harveyi, and Cryptosporidium parvum, which are representative of three of the most prevalent waterborne pathogens globally. For each organism, the action spectrum was similar in shape to its corresponding DNA absorption spectrum, thereby suggesting that inactivation of these organisms by UVB irradiation was largely attributable to DNA damage. Modeling and measurements of ambient solar UVB spectral irradiance were compared, indicating a trend of model over-prediction of spectral irradiance by up to 20% on cloudless days. Effectiveness spectra for organism/location pairs were calculated as the product of the action spectra and calculated spectral irradiance to identify the most effective wavelengths for inactivation. For the organisms studied, maximum predicted effectiveness appeared at wavelengths between 318 and 330 nm. At 320 nm, the simulated inactivation of C. parvum in the top 20-cm of an outdoor swimming pool (mid-latitude location in summer) after one hour of exposure was approximately 6-log10 units. These results suggest that solar UVB irradiation could yield substantial inactivation of C. parvum in outdoor recreational waters, where these protozoan parasites are responsible for a large fraction of the disease burden among swimmers.
In Situ Analysis of Benzene, Ethylbenzene, Toluene, and Xylenes (BTEX) Using Fiber Optics

In situ analysis of ground water is an attractive alternative to conventional sampling and analysis methods, since it eliminates sample handling and chain-of-custody concerns. The prototype instrument recently developed by our research team uses remote laser-induced fluorescence (RLIF) to measure aromatic organics in situ. The work discussed here concerns the aromatic organics fraction of gasoline (benzene, toluene, and xylenes). RLIF can theoretically detect over half of the organics on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Priority Pollutants List. Typical analysis for these contaminants involves routine repetitive analysis, such as quarterly gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) on samples taken from wells. Such monitoring is labor intensive, requiring a sampling team as well as a laboratory. Samples for GC/MS often take many weeks for analysis, so that remedial action information is late in arriving. An analysis is needed that is quick, simple, and less costly, providing a look at the situation as it currently exists. The authors propose that routine GC/MS monitoring at characterized sites be replaced with RLIF measurements, supplemented with annual GC/MS analysis as a means of validation. Since RLIF analysis is nonspecific, this approach would be sound only at sites containing known aromatics as the contaminants of interest, or at sites where the aromatics concentration correlates with other problem compounds. Comparisons of RLIF and GC sensitivity for aromatic organics are discussed, with emphasis on the relative advantages and limitations of each method.
Symptoms among emerging adults with inflammatory bowel disease: a descriptive study.

Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are commonly diagnosed when they are between the ages of 18-29, a developmental period known as emerging adulthood. Typically, emerging adults are subsumed into the category of adults even though emerging adults have unique developmental needs. In this descriptive study of IBD in emerging adults, the aims were to (a) determine the prevalence of symptoms; (b) describe the severity of symptoms and their interference with daily activities; and (c) examine the association between individual symptom severity and presence of fatigue. Emerging adults with IBD were recruited using web-based convenience sampling. Sixty-one individuals met the inclusion criteria. They had a mean age of 24.7 and a disease duration of 6.4 years. The most prevalent symptoms reported were: fatigue (n = 44, 72.1%), abdominal cramps (n = 39, 63.9%), abdominal pain (n = 39, 63.9%), and diarrhea (n = 38, 62.3%). The symptom with the greatest severity and interference with daily activities was fatigue. Abdominal cramps, abdominal pain, diarrhea, passing gas, and abdominal tenderness were associated with fatigue when controlling for age, emerging adulthood, gender, time since diagnosis, and current steroid use. Among emerging adults with IBD, fatigue is the most prevalent symptom and is the symptom with the greatest severity and interference with daily activities. These results suggest a need for interventions aimed at reducing both fatigue and gastrointestinal symptoms among emerging adults with IBD.
The Sole Mycobacterium smegmatis MazF Toxin Targets tRNALys to Impart Highly Selective, Codon-Dependent Proteome Reprogramming

Survival of mycobacteria, both free-living and host-dependent pathogenic species, is dependent on their ability to evade being killed by the stresses they routinely encounter. Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are unique to bacteria and archaea and are thought to function as stress survival proteins. Here, we study the activity of the endoribonuclease toxin derived from the MazEF TA system in Mycobacterium smegmatis, designated MazEF-ms. We first enlisted a specialized RNA-seq method, 5' RNA-seq, to identify the primary RNA target(s) of the MazF-ms toxin. Just two tRNA species, tRNALys-UUU and tRNALys-CUU, were targeted for cleavage by MazF-ms at a single site within their anticodon sequence (UU↓U and CU↓U) to render these tRNAs nonfunctional for protein synthesis. The 5' RNA-seq dataset also revealed hallmarks of ribosome stalling predominantly at Lys AAA codons even though both Lys tRNAs were cleaved by MazF-ms. Stalled ribosomes were then cleaved on their 5' side by one or more RNases, resulting in very selective degradation of only those mRNAs harboring ribosomes stalled at Lys codons. This highly surgical, codon-dependent degradation of mRNA transcripts was validated using quantitative mass spectrometry of proteins that were newly synthesized during MazF-ms expression. The M. smegmatis proteome was altered as predicted, Lys AAA codon-rich proteins was downregulated while Lys AAA codon deficient proteins were upregulated. Analysis of specific subsets of proteins that were upregulated or downregulated was consistent with the growth-arrested phenotype of MazF-ms expressing cells. Curiously, the tRNA target and mechanism of action of MazF-ms paralleled that of one atypical MazF toxin in M. tuberculosis, suggesting manipulation of the levels of lysine tRNAs as the preferred conduit for reprogramming the proteomes via ribosome stalling at rare AAA codons in these GC-rich mycobacteria.
Perspective: A Sensible Approach to Speculative Automatic Parallelization

The promise of automatic parallelization, freeing programmers from the error-prone and time-consuming process of making efficient use of parallel processing resources, remains unrealized. For decades, the imprecision of memory analysis limited the applicability of non-speculative automatic parallelization. The introduction of speculative automatic parallelization overcame these applicability limitations, but, even in the case of no misspeculation, these speculative techniques exhibit high communication and bookkeeping costs for validation and commit. This paper presents Perspective, a speculative-DOALL parallelization framework that maintains the applicability of speculative techniques while approaching the efficiency of non-speculative ones. Unlike current approaches which subsequently apply speculative techniques to overcome the imprecision of memory analysis, Perspective combines a novel speculation-aware memory analyzer, new efficient speculative privatization methods, and a planning phase to select a minimal-cost set of parallelization-enabling transforms. By reducing speculative parallelization overheads in ways not possible with prior parallelization systems, Perspective obtains higher overall program speedup (23.0x for 12 general-purpose C/C++ programs running on a 28-core shared-memory commodity machine) than Privateer (11.5x), the prior automatic DOALL parallelization system with the highest applicability.
Inhibition of Pyk2 and Src activity improves Cx43 gap junction intercellular communication

Abstract Identification of proteins that interact with Cx43 has been instrumental in the understanding of gap junction (GJ) regulation. An in vitro phosphorylation screen identified that Protein tyrosine kinase 2 beta (Pyk2) phosphorylated purified Cx43CT and this led us to characterize the impact of this phosphorylation on Cx43 function. Mass spectrometry identified Pyk2 phosphorylates Cx43 residues Y247, Y265, Y267, and Y313. Western blot and immunofluorescence staining using HeLaCx43 cells, HEK 293 T cells, and neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) revealed Pyk2 can be activated by Src and active Pyk2 interacts with Cx43 at the plasma membrane. Overexpression of Pyk2 increases Cx43 phosphorylation and knock-down of Pyk2 decreases Cx43 phosphorylation, without affecting the level of active Src. In HeLaCx43 cells treated with PMA to activate Pyk2, a decrease in Cx43 GJ intercellular communication (GJIC) was observed when assayed by dye transfer. Moreover, PMA activation of Pyk2 could be inhibited by the small molecule PF4618433. This partially restored GJIC, and when paired with a Src inhibitor, returned GJIC to the no PMA control-level. The ability of Pyk2 and Src inhibitors to restore Cx43 function in the presence of PMA was also observed in NRVMs. Additionally, an animal model of myocardial infarction induced heart failure showed a higher level of active Pyk2 activity and increased interaction with Cx43 in ventricular myocytes. Src inhibitors have been used to reverse Cx43 remodeling and improve heart function after myocardial infarction; however, they alone could not fully restore proper Cx43 function. Our data suggest that Pyk2 may need to be inhibited, in addition to Src, to further (if not completely) reverse Cx43 remodeling and improve intercellular communication.
Collateral Circulation Testing of the Hand– Is it Relevant Now? A Narrative Review

Abstract Testing for collateral circulation of the hand before any radial artery procedure has been a subject of many controversies. Neither the Allen's test (AT) nor the plethysmography based Barbeau test, adequately and reliably test for collateral circulation. With growing interest in radial approaches for vascular procedures, its common use for arterial monitoring and blood gas sampling, there has been a growing interest in the relevance of assessing collateral hand circulation. Multiple studies now refute the utility of collateral testing, yet it continues to be propagated as an essential triaging assessment tool by educators. Allen's, or modified Allen tests (MAT) are operator dependent and often subjected to observational bias. Barbeau test is more objective, however, it fails to show added benefit in assessing pre-procedural patency. Despite studies questioning the validity of collateral circulation assessment, these tests continue to preclude radial approach. There is no standardization for being considered an abnormal test across literature and the significance of an abnormal test translating into a clinical outcome has not been investigated in prior studies. This may be attributed to the robust vascular supply of the hand, connections at the digital circulation level and vessel recruitment in an event of occlusion. We reviewed this topic extensively and make an argument that non-invasive collateral testing should be abandoned as a triage tool for radial artery procedures such as arterial punctures, arterial monitoring, and transradial vascular procedures.
Digital Pathology Initiatives and Experience of a Large Academic Institution During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.

CONTEXT.: Pathology practices have begun integrating digital pathology tools into their routine workflow. During 2020 the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged as a pandemic causing a global health crisis that significantly affected the world population in several areas, including medical practice, and pathology was no exception. OBJECTIVE.: To summarize our experience in implementing digital pathology for remote primary diagnosis, education and research during this pandemic. DESIGN.: We surveyed our pathologists (all subspecialized) and trainees to gather information about their use of digital pathology tools before and during the pandemic. Quality assurance and slide distribution data were also examined. RESULTS.: During the pandemic, the widespread usage of digital tools in our institution allowed a smooth transition of most clinical and academic activities into remote with no major disruptions. The number of pathologists using whole slide imaging (WSI) for primary diagnosis increased from 20 (62.5%) to 29 (90.6%) out of a total 32 (100 %) pathologists, excluding renal pathology and hematopathology, during the pandemic. Furthermore, the number of pathologists exclusively using WSI for primary diagnosis also increased from 2 (6.3%) to 5 (15.6%) during the pandemic from the total of 32 (100%) pathologists. From 35 (100%) survey responses from attending pathologists, 21 (65.6%) reported using WSI for remote primary diagnosis following the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services waiver. Of these 21 pathologists, 18 (87%) responded that if allowed, they will continue using WSI for remote primary diagnosis after the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS.: The pandemic served as a catalyst to pathologists adopting a digital workflow into their daily practice and realizing the logistic and technical advantages of such tools.
Citizen-Sourced Sightings and Underwater Photography Reveal Novel Insights About Green Sea Turtle Distribution and Ecology in Southern California

East Pacific (EP) green turtles (Chelonia mydas) have undergone substantial population recovery over the last two decades owing to holistic protection at nesting beaches and foraging areas. At the northern end of their range in southern California USA, green turtles have been seen in more areas and in greater numbers since 2014 than before as a result. A resident population of green turtles has established near La Jolla Shores (LJS), a protected site with daily marine tourism (e.g., kayakers, snorkelers, divers).To study this local aggregation, innovative and non-invasive methods were required because the traditional capture-recapture methods were infeasible due to public relations sensitivities. Green turtle habituation to humans at this site has created a unique opportunity for citizen-based science using underwater photography to document turtles and their surroundings. We obtained 309 usable photographs of local green turtles from members of the dive/snorkel community in LJS. Photos were taken from April 2016 to June 2019. Images were processed in Hotspotter—a patterned species instance recognition software— to identify seven individuals, five of which were consistently photographed throughout that period. These images helped infer minimum residency duration (MRD), seasonal differences in algal coverage on the carapace, habitat association, behavioral patterns, and diet. Mean MRD was 424 days (SE=131 days, calculated from entire population, n=7), during which turtles were active in 82.8% of the photographs; the remainder of the photographs depicted foraging (14.9%) or resting behavior (2.3%). Green turtles were seen foraging in water temperatures as low as 15.8°C, the lowest recorded temperature for foraging green turtles documented in literature. Additional opportunistic observational platforms were used to look at trends of increasing green turtle abundance in southern California since 2015 that supported the arrival of a new aggregation of green turtles in LJS. Our use of citizen-sourced photographs confirms the presence of a resident aggregation of green turtles in LJS. Existence of green turtles and other protected species in highly populated areas provide excellent opportunities to educate beachgoers and seafarers about conservation of these species. This study also highlights the value of citizen-based science in areas where traditional research techniques are ill-suited.
Abstract #1303: Mre11 differentially regulates homologes recombination and single-strand annealing subpathways in the repair of DNA double-strand break

Purpose/Objectives: Mre11, in a complex with Rad50 and NBS1, is critical in maintaining genome stability. In addition to its function in checkpoint, Mre11 may also involve in the recombinational repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Precise homologous recombinational repair (HR) and deletional single-strand annealing (SSA) are the two major recombinational repair subpathways. We hypothesize that Mre11 may regulate both HR and SSA processes. Materials/Methods: : 1) A single copy of SSA or HR reporter substrate with one I-SceI restriction endonuclease sites was stably integrated into the genome of human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. DNA DSBs were generated by transient expression of the I-SceI in HEK293. The HR- or SSA-mediated DSB repair events would restore GFP expression and were quantified by FACS analysis. 2) Mre11 expression was abolished using Mre11 siRNA. 3) Wildtype or mutant Mre11 which was siRNA-resistant were used in the SSA or HDR phonotypical rescue. 3) Cell cycle distribution and viability, which might influence repair processes, were also measured. Results: Mre11 knockdown resulted in a 1.8-fold decrease in HR (p Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 1303.
Ventricular Fibrillation: A Rare Initial Presentation of Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis.

Abstract Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis is a life-threatening complication of hyperthyroidism characterized by transient episodes of muscle paralysis and hypokalemia, commonly seen in Asian men. We ...
Association of plaque type with insulin resistance estimated by HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance).

Abstract Background Previous studies have reported that insulin resistance plays an important role in the burden of atherosclerosis. However, only limited studies have evaluated the association between the type of plaque and insulin resistance. HOMA-IR is the method used to assess β-cell function and insulin resistance using fasting glucose and fasting insulin levels. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis using the data from EVAPORATE trial (Effect of Vascepa on Improving Coronary Atherosclerosis in People with High Triglycerides Taking Statin Therapy) . We evaluated 72 patients with known coronary atherosclerosis, aged 30–85 years, 54% were male, 67% had diabetes, 44% were smokers, mean BMI 32.8 kg/m2. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) was performed using a multidetector CT scanner. Quantitative plaque assessment was performed using a semi-automated plaque analysis software (QAngio, Medis, Netherlands). Results In a univariate regression analysis, densely calcified plaque (DC), Fibrous plaque (F), total non-calcified plaque (NCP), and total plaque (TP) were associated with their baseline HOMA-IR. After adjusting for age, gender, diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, and past smoking, we estimate a 1 unit increase of HOMA-IR is associated with 12% higher fibrous plaque volume, p=0.029, and 17% higher DC plaque volume, p=0.045. Conclusion HOMA-IR is independently associated with fibrous, and dense calcified plaque.
Antibodies to discontinuous or conformationally sensitive epitopes on the gp120 glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 are highly prevalent in sera of infected humans.

We have used an indirect-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to quantitate the reactivity of sera from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected humans with native recombinant gp120 (HIV-1 IIIB or SF-2) or with the gp120 molecule (IIIB or SF-2) denatured by being boiled in the presence of dithiothreitol with or without sodium dodecyl sulfate. Denaturation of IIIB gp120 reduced the titers of sera from randomly selected donors by at least 100-fold, suggesting that the majority of cross-reactive anti-gp120 antibodies present are directed against discontinuous or otherwise conformationally sensitive epitopes. When SF-2 gp120 was used, four of eight serum samples reacted significantly with the denatured protein, albeit with ca. 3- to 50-fold reductions in titer. Only those sera reacting with denatured SF-2 gp120 bound significantly to solid-phase-adsorbed SF-2 V3 loop peptide, and none bound to IIIB V3 loop peptide. Almost all antibody binding to reduced SF-2 gp120 was blocked by preincubation with the SF-2 V3 loop peptide, as was about 50% of the binding to native SF-2 gp120. When sera from a laboratory worker or a chimpanzee infected with IIIB were tested, the pattern of reactivity was reversed, i.e., there was significant binding to reduced IIIB gp120, but not to reduced SF-2 gp120. Binding of these sera to reduced IIIB gp120 was 1 to 10% that to native IIIB gp120 and was substantially decreased by preincubation with IIIB (but not SF-2) V3 loop peptide. To analyze which discontinuous or conformational epitopes were predominant in HIV-1-positive sera, we prebound monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to IIIB gp120 and then added alkaline phosphatase-labelled HIV-1-positive sera. MAbs (such as 15e) that recognize discontinuous epitopes and compete directly with CD4 reduced HIV-1-positive sera binding by about 50%, whereas neutralizing MAbs to the C4, V2, and V3 domains of gp120 were either not inhibitory or only weakly so. Thus, antibodies to the discontinuous CD4-binding site on gp120 are prevalent in HIV-1-positive sera, antibodies to linear epitopes are less common, most of the antibodies to linear epitopes are directed against the V3 region, and most cross-reactive antibodies are directed against discontinuous epitopes, including regions involved in CD4 binding.
Salt of the River, Salt of the Earth: Politics, Science and Ecological Diplomacy in the Mexicali Valley (1961-1965)

Resumen es: En este articulo se examina la crisis de salinidad en el Valle de Mexicali. Las preguntas que hicieron los creadores de politicas y los cientificos de ca...
Investigation of the UMTS to GSM handover procedure

UMTS is a third generation (3G) mobile communications system, currently being standardized and developed by many mobile technology manufacturers and operators. Unlike the second generation systems such as GSM, which provide voice and low speed data services, 3G promises to provide high speed data as well as multiple-data rate services, which is opening doors to many exciting multimedia applications. The initial deployment of UMTS is expected to be in cities, providing islands of coverage. Therefore, effective handover from UMTS to GSM is imperative for mobiles when they roam out of UMTS coverage. The paper presents the results of system simulations which provide some insights into the conditions and parameters involved in inter-system handover from UMTS-FDD to GSM.
Measurement of very small (1-10 micron) X-ray focal spot intensity distributions

A method using high-magnification, high-resolution, digital radiographs of a precise edge to obtain quantitative estimates of focal spot dimensions has been developed. The X-ray intensity distribution is determined from the edge response. The method has been used to assess the relationship between focal spot size and tube potential (kVp) for an X-ray source in which the electron beam is focused with an electromagnetic device. >
Host Resistance Model to an Intracellular Pathogen

This unit describes a model for the determination of host resistance in mice using a Gram-positive intracellular bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes (LM), and discusses its broad use in immunotoxicological studies. The Basic Protocol provides detailed procedures for LM infection and sample analysis, including preparation and infection of mice with LM, recording of sickness behaviors in infected mice, and determination of viable LM numbers in the tissues from infected animals. The protocol also describes use of serum and tissue homogenates for assessment of cytokines. Additionally, background information on LM and LM infection is provided for better understanding and utilization of this model. The LM infection model is useful for the initial screening of possible modulation of immune responses, particularly innate immunity and type-1 cell-mediated immunity (CMI), by environmental factors, as well as for further investigation of the underlying mechanisms of environmental factor–induced changes in immunity. Keywords: Listeria monocytogenes (LM); Intracellular pathogen; Host resistance
Geographic routing without planarization

We present a new geographic routing algorithm, Greedy Distributed Spanning Tree Routing (GDSTR), that finds shorter routes and generates less maintenance traffic than previous algorithms. While geographic routing potentially scales well, it faces the problem of what to do at local dead ends where greedy forwarding fails. Existing geographic routing algorithms handle dead ends by planarizing the node connectivity graph and then using the right-hand rule to route around the resulting faces. GDSTR handles this situation differently by switching instead to routing on a spanning tree until it reaches a point where greedy forwarding can again make progress. In order to choose a direction on the tree that is most likely to make progress towards the destination, each GDSTR node maintains a summary of the area covered by the subtree below each of its tree neighbors. While GDSTR requires only one tree for correctness, it uses two for robustness and to give it an additional forwarding choice. Our simulations show that GDSTR finds shorter routes than geographic face routing algorithms: GDSTR's stretch is up to 20% less than the best existing algorithm in situations where dead ends are common. In addition, we show that GDSTR requires an order of magnitude less bandwidth to maintain its trees than CLDP, the only distributed planarization algorithm that is known to work with practical radio networks.
Neuromodulation of the crab pyloric central pattern generator by serotonergic/cholinergic proprioceptive afferents

In the stomatogastric nervous system of the crab, Cancer borealis, a set of 4 serotonergic/cholinergic proprioceptive neurons, called gastropyloric receptor (GPR) cells, have effects on the pyloric motor pattern. In a semi-intact foregut preparation, the GPR cells are not activated by movements of the pyloric filter; instead they respond to the slower movements of the gastric mill (Katz et al., 1989). Thus, their activity is not synchronized to the pyloric motor pattern. However, when the GPR cells are stimulated in an in vitro preparation in a manner that resembles their normal firing pattern, they produce dramatic effects on the pyloric motor pattern. These effects include: (1) a prolonged increase in the pyloric cycle frequency, (2) a momentary pause in the motor pattern, (3) transient inhibition of some motor neurons, (4) strong excitation of other motor neurons, and (5) altered phase relationships of the different components of the motor pattern. These changes in the motor pattern are due to direct effects of the GPR cells on neurons in the pyloric central pattern generator (CPG). All of the cells in the pyloric circuit appear to receive GPR input. However, only 2 neurons receive detectable rapid nicotinic synaptic potentials. The other neurons receive only slower neuromodulatory input from GPR stimulation. The neuromodulatory effects include burst enhancement, plateau potential enhancement, excitation, and inhibition. These modulatory effects are largely mimicked by bath- applied serotonin (5-HT). Thus, primary sensory neurons can alter the production of motor patterns by a CPG through a phase-independent mechanism; these proprioceptors do not need to fire at a precise time in the cycle to be effective because their effects are mediated through the slower actions of the neuromodulator 5-HT.