cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antibiotics Enhance Prevention and Eradication Efficacy of Cathodic-Voltage-Controlled Electrical Stimulation against Titanium-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms.

ABSTRACT Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) develops clinically, even with antibiotic treatment, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are predominant causes of these infections. Due to biofilm formation, antibiotic treatment for patients with PJI can perpetuate resistance, further complicating the use of noninvasive treatments. This study evaluated cathodic-voltage-controlled electrical stimulation (CVCES) of titanium, in combination with a clinically relevant antibiotic, to synergistically prevent MRSA and P. aeruginosa PJIs by inhibiting bacterial adherence or as a treatment for eradicating established biofilms. CVCES of −1.0 V, −1.5 V, or −1.8 V (versus Ag/AgCl), with or without vancomycin for MRSA or gentamicin for P. aeruginosa, was applied to sterile titanium incubated with cultures to evaluate prevention of attachment or eradication of preestablished biofilms. Treatments were 24 h long and included open-circuit potential controls, antibiotic alone, CVCES, and CVCES plus antibiotic. Biofilm-associated and planktonic CFU were enumerated. In general, CVCES at −1.8 V alone or with antibiotic completely eradicated biofilm-associated CFU for both strains, and these parameters were also highly effective against planktonic bacteria, resulting in a >6-log reduction in MRSA and no detectable planktonic P. aeruginosa. All CFU were reduced ∼3 to 5 logs from controls for prevention CVCES plus antibiotics at −1.0 V and −1.5 V against MRSA. Remarkably, there were no detectable P. aeruginosa CFU following prevention CVCES at −1.0 V or −1.5 V with gentamicin. Our results suggest that CVCES in combination with antibiotics may be an effective approach for prevention and treatment of PJI. IMPORTANCE Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) develop clinically in the presence of antibiotic therapies and are responsible for increased patient morbidity and rising health care costs. Many of these infections involve bacterial biofilm formation on orthopedic hardware, and it has been well established that these biofilms are refractory to most antibiotic treatments. Recent studies have focused on novel methods to prevent and eradicate infection. Cathodic-voltage-controlled electrical stimulation (CVCES) has previously been shown to be effective as a method for prevention and eradication of Gram-positive and Gram-negative infections. The present study revealed that the utility of CVCES for prevention and eradication of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is enhanced in the presence of clinically relevant antibiotics. The synergistic effects of CVCES and antibiotics are effective in a magnitude-dependent manner. The results of this study indicate a promising alternative method to current PJI mitigation techniques.
Improved operative and recovery times with mini-thoracotomy aortic valve replacement.

The small incisions of minimally invasive surgery have the proposed benefit of less surgical trauma, less pain, and faster recovery. This study was done to compare minimally invasive techniques for aortic valve replacement, including right anterior mini-thoracotomy and mini-sternotomy, to conventional sternotomy. We retrospectively reviewed 503 patients who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement at our institution from 2012 to 2015 using one of three techniques: 1) Mini-thoracotomy, 2) Mini-sternotomy, 3) Conventional sternotomy. Demographics, operative morbidity, mortality, and postoperative complications were compared. Of the 503 cases, 267 (53.1%) were mini-thoracotomy, 120 (23.8%) were mini-sternotomy, and 116 (23.1%) were conventional sternotomy. Mini-thoracotomy patients, compared to mini-sternotomy and conventional sternotomy, had significantly shorter bypass times [82 (IQ 67–113) minutes; vs. 117 (93.5–139.5); vs. 102.5 (85.5–132.5), respectively (p < 0.0001)], a lower incidence of prolonged ventilator support [3.75% vs. 9.17 and 12.9%, respectively (p = 0.0034)], and required significantly shorter ICU and postoperative stays, resulting in an overall shorter hospitalization [6 (IQ 5–9) days; vs. 7 (5–14.5); vs 9 (6–15.5), respectively (p < 0.05)]. Incidence of other postoperative complications were lower in the mini-thoracotomy group compared to mini-sternotomy and conventional sternotomy, without significance. Minimally invasive techniques trended towards better survival [mini-thoracotomy 1.5%, mini-sternotomy 1.67%, and conventional sternotomy 5.17% (p = 0.13)]. Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement approaches are safe, effective alternatives to conventional sternotomy. The mini-thoracotomy approach showed decreased operative times, decreased lengths of stay, decreased incidence of prolonged ventilator time, and a trend towards lower mortality when compared to mini-sternotomy and conventional sternotomy.
The utility of robotic assisted pancreas transplants - a single center retrospective study.

The prevalence of obesity within the diabetic population is on the rise. This development poses unique challenges for pancreas transplantation candidates as obese individuals are often denied access to transplant. The introduction of robotic approach to transplant has been shown to improve outcomes in obese patients. A single center retrospective review of pancreas transplant cases over a 4-year period ending December 2018 was performed. Patients undergoing robotic surgery were compared to their counterparts undergoing open transplant. 49 patients (10 robot, 39 open) received pancreas transplants over the study period. Mean age was 43.1 ± 7.5 vs. 42.8 ± 9.7 years. There were no significant differences in demographics except body mass index (33.7 ± 5.2 vs. 27.1 ± 6.6, P = 0.005). Operative duration (7.6 ± 1.6 vs. 5.3 ± 1.4, P < 0.001), and warm ischemia times [45.5 (IQR: 13.7) vs. 33 (7), P < 0.001] were longer in the robotic arm. There were no wound complications in the robotic approach patients. Graft (100% vs. 88%, P = 0.37) and patient survival (100% vs. 100%, P = 0.72) after 1 year were similar. Our findings suggest that robotic pancreas is both safe and effective in obese diabetic patients, without added risk of wound complications. Wide adoption of the technique is encouraged while long term follow-up of our recipients is awaited.
Minimizing Sexual Dysfunction in BPH Surgery

To review the prevalence and risks of sexual dysfunction associated with current treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia and to characterize techniques and methods to manage postoperative sexual dysfunction-related side effects. Current surgical therapies available for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia are associated with a substantial risk of both ejaculatory and erectile function. However, many of the novel minimally invasive treatment alternatives have demonstrated the ability to preserve postoperative sexual function to a better degree, all while providing significant relief of lower urinary tract symptoms in an equally safe and efficacious manner. Benign prostatic hyperplasia remains a highly prevalent disease among the aging population. While surgical treatments are often necessary to relieve bothersome urinary symptoms, these procedures are associated with an increased risk of sexual dysfunction. As such, there has been an increased interest in the development of minimally invasive therapies, such as the UroLift®, Rezum®, and Aquablation®, with the hopes of achieving similar symptomatic relief while maintaining sexual function. Aside from reporting lower rates of sexual dysfunction, these procedures have also demonstrated comparable safety, durability, and efficacy to current gold standard therapies. Some procedures can even be performed in an outpatient setting, avoiding the need for general anesthesia altogether. Overall, an individualized, shared decision-making approach is necessary to determine the ideal treatment option for each patient.
TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE AORTIC STENOSIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROVED RIGHT VENTRICULAR SYSTOLIC FUNCTION AND PULMONARY ARTERY PRESSURES

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is often present in patients with severe AS, however, the effects of TAVR in right ventricular (RV) systolic function and pulmonary hypertension (PH) in these patients post-TAVR remain unknown. Herein, we sought to investigate changes in the assessment of RV function and
Emotion socialization by parents and friends: Links with adolescent emotional adjustment

Abstract Emotion socialization influences adolescent emotional adjustment. Friendships provide a venue for emotion socialization, yet little research has compared emotion socialization processes with parents versus friends and how they correspond to adolescent outcomes. The present study examined parent and friend socialization of negative emotions in relation to adolescents' emotional coherence, emotion regulation, and internalizing symptoms. Thirty parent-adolescent-friend triads (13–18 years old; 60% female, 40% male) from the community participated. Study variables were measured with a multi-method approach, including observational data, heart rate variability, and self-report. Parents and friends evidenced disparate patterns of socialization responses and unique ties to adolescent outcomes, which has important clinical applications. Friends, as well as parents, are important and distinct socialization agents within the developmental context of adolescence.
Direct Current Electric Stimulation Alters the Frequency and the Distribution of Mitotic Cells in Planarians.

Background: The use of direct current electric stimulation (DCS) is an effective strategy to treat disease and enhance body functionality. Thus, treatment with DCS is an attractive biomedical alter...
Cases from Exclusion: Marital Choices, Motherhood, and Belonging

This article explores various tactics used by women to negotiate with the U.S. immigration regime during the exclusion era (1875–1943). Using archival case files from the U.S. Immigration and Natur...
Outcomes related to COVID-19 among people living with HIV: Cohort from a large academic center

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in nearly 8 million cases and close to 500,000 deaths globally Little is known about risk factors for favorable or adverse outcomes from COVID-19 among people living with HIV (PWH) Small case series have described outcomes for hospitalized PWH with COVID19 Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of PWH with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 from 2 HIV ambulatory clinics from March 1 to May 31, 2020 in a large urban academic center that serves a substantial proportion of underserved minorities Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were abstracted using a standardized data collection tool Bivariate analysis was performed to identify correlates of hospitalization Results: Among the clinic cohort of 1469 PWH, 94 (6 4%) were tested for SARSCoV- 2 and 40 (42 5%) were positive Fifty-percent were women, 65% were 50 years and older, 65% were black, 65% were former or active smokers, and 40% were active alcohol or substance users The majority (90%) were on ART and 87 5% had HIV viral suppression (50 years old (p=0 02);have CVD (p=0 003), DM (p=0 01), and CKD (p=0 02);or have multiple comorbidities (p=0 007) compared to those managed as outpatients Furthermore, incremental numbers of comorbidities were associated with hospitalization (p=0 009) A history of AIDS, black race, obesity, smoking, and substance use disorders were not associated with hospitalization or adverse outcome Conclusion: In this initial and to our knowledge largest cohort in an urban academic center, PWH with COVID-19 had favorable short-term outcomes The risk factors associated with hospitalization were older age and multiple non-HIV related comorbidities
The Three-Dimensional Morphology of Growing Dendrites

The processes controlling the morphology of dendrites have been of great interest to a wide range of communities, since they are examples of an out-of-equilibrium pattern forming system, there is a clear connection with battery failure processes, and their morphology sets the properties of many metallic alloys. We determine the three-dimensional morphology of free growing metallic dendrites using a novel X-ray tomographic technique that improves the temporal resolution by more than an order of magnitude compared to conventional techniques. These measurements show that the growth morphology of metallic dendrites is surprisingly different from that seen in model systems, the morphology is not self-similar with distance back from the tip, and that this morphology can have an unexpectedly strong influence on solute segregation in castings. These experiments also provide benchmark data that can be used to validate simulations of free dendritic growth.
Abstract 3505: Inhibition of PARP activity by BGB-290 potentiates efficacy of temozolomide in patient derived xenografts of glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive and fatal disease commonly treated with radiation and temozolomide (TMZ), but emergence of therapy resistance invariably limits treatment efficacy. Inhibition of Poly-ADP ribose polymerases 1 and 2 (PARP1/2) sensitizes GBM cells, and inhibitors of PARP are emerging as combination partners with TMZ. However, limited brain penetration precludes use of several promising PARP inhibitors in GBM. BGB-290 is a relatively new and potent PARP inhibitor that crosses the blood brain barrier with a brain to plasma ratio of ∼0.2. The focus of the present study was to evaluate antitumor effects of BGB-290, as single agent or in combination with TMZ, in patient derived GBM xenografts and glioma cell lines. In a biochemical assay, low doses (30-100 nM) of BGB-290 suppressed PARP activity, while single agent anti-tumor activity of BGB-290 was modest and restricted to concentrations above 3 μM. Combinations of 0.1 μM BGB-290 with 10 μM TMZ significantly diminished primary neurosphere formation in a patient-derived xenograft line, GBM12, decreasing relative neurosphere count to 3.1 ± 1.3% as compared to 9.2 ± 3.1% with TMZ alone, p = 0.03. Consistent with a mechanism involving disruption of DNA repair, treatment of GBM12 cells with TMZ and BGB-290 combination resulted in robust γH2AX foci formation and a synergistic increase in DNA damage signaling as compared to TMZ or BGB-290 alone. TMZ-sensitizing effects of BGB-290 were heterogeneous in TMZ-resistant (GBM12TMZ) sublines that were developed previously by in vivo selection of parental GBM12 with cyclical TMZ therapy. The average neurosphere formation across 4 resistant sublines lacking MGMT expression after 100 μM TMZ only was 75.3 ± 9.0% versus 14.9 ± 7.4% with TMZ and 0.1 μM BGB-290, p Citation Format: Shiv K. Gupta, Brett L. Carlson, Mark A. Schroeder, Katrina K. Bakken, Ann C. Tuma, Jann N. Sarkaria. Inhibition of PARP activity by BGB-290 potentiates efficacy of temozolomide in patient derived xenografts of glioblastoma multiforme. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3505. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3505
Increased GABAergic inhibition in the midline thalamus affects signaling and seizure spread in the hippocampus–prefrontal cortex pathway

Summary Purpose: The midline thalamus is an important component of the circuitry in limbic seizures, but it is unclear how synaptic modulation of the thalamus affects that circuitry. In this study, we wished to understand how synaptic modulation of the thalamus can affect interregional signaling and seizure spread in the limbic network. Methods: We examined the effect of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) modulation of the mediodorsal (MD) region of the thalamus on responses in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) by stimulation of the subiculum (SB). Muscimol, a GABAA agonist, was injected into the MD, and the effect on local responses to subiculum stimulation was examined. Evoked potentials were induced in the MD and the PFC by low-frequency stimulation of the SB, and seizures were generated in the subiculum by repeated 20-Hz stimulations. The effect of muscimol in the MD on the evoked potentials and seizures was measured. Key Findings: Thalamic responses to stimulation of the subiculum were reduced in the presence of muscimol. Reduction of the amplitudes of evoked potentials in the MD resulted in an attenuation of the late, thalamic components of the responses in the PFC, as well as of seizure durations. Significance: Activation of GABAA receptors in the midline thalamus not only causes changes within the thalamus, but it has broader effects on the limbic network. This work provides further evidence that synaptic modulation within the midline thalamus alters system excitability more broadly and reduces seizure activity.
PERSONAL TRANSITIONS AND MORAL CHANGE AFTER SOCIALISM: THE POLITICS OF REMEDIES IN RUSSIAN PUBLIC HEALTH

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, public health experts have charted the Russian nation's precipitous decline, as measured in indicators such as rapidly rising morbidity and mortality, and decreasing fertility (Field 1995). Newspaper articles, social science analyses, and demographic reports describe the nation as a \\'hole as being "ill"-most age groups are suffering from significant increases in diseases such as TB, hepatitis, cholera, syphilis and HIV. The birth rate has sunk below replacement level and in 1992 became outpaced by the death rate, leading to cries of alarm among nationalist observers that the Russian people are "dying OUt."l Not infrequently, these discourses speak directly to the question of where Russia is going, what and where the nation will be in the next generation, the next century. The heightened alarm raised by these indicators is captured in the headline of a recent Russian newspaper article that reads, "Russia has 1 00 years to live" IDerzhavina 1998).
Sexual Harassment in the Hotel Industry: The Need to Focus on Prevention

Although the extent of sexual harassment in the hotel industry is not fully known, recent research indicates that hotel employees experience more sexual harassment than do workers in society-at-large and that most of the harassment is perpetrated by co-workers. The author observes that the harm wrought by sexual harassment is high both in human terms and in total dollars lost and that employers' legal protection against liability is uncertain at best. She, therefore, suggests (1) that management's focus should be on prevention rather than on avoidance of law suits and (2) that educators in hospitality programs have a responsibility to challenge both students and industry representatives to discard sexual stereotypes and be steadfastly intolerant of sexual harassment.
A monolithic reduced-size Ku-band SPDT FET switch

A GaAs Ku-band monolithic single-pole double-throw (SPDT) FET switch has been designed and demonstrated. Small-signal insertion loss is less than 1.4 dB over a 14-GHz-to-18-GHz bandwidth with a VSWR (voltage standing-wave ratio) less than 1.5:1. The common terminal-to-off-channel isolation exceeds 18 dB. The switching is achieved with a -4.5-V signal on the gate of the on-channel FET with the other gate at 0 V. The switching current requirement is only the reverse bias gate leakage current (typically 3 mu A). Large-signal performance is similar with a -10-V control signal. The small chip size, 1.3 mm*1.3 mm*0.15 mm, permits more than 2300 monolithic switches to be fabricated on a single 3-in GaAs wafer. >
Genetic Analysis of a Unique Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) with a Primer Binding Site Complementary to tRNAMet Supports a Role for U5-PBS Stem-Loop RNA Structures in Initiation of HIV-1 Reverse Transcription

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) exclusively uses tRNA 3 Lys to initiate reverse transcription. A novel HIV-1 mutant which stably utilizes tRNA Met rather than tRNA 3 Lys as a primer was previously identified [HXB2(Met-AC] (S.-M. Kang, Z. Zhang, and C. D. Morrow, J. Virol. 71:207–217, 1997). Comparison of RNA secondary structures of the unique sequence (U5)-primer binding site (PBS) viral RNA genome alone or complexed with tRNA Met of HXB2(Met-AC) revealed structural motifs in common with the U5-PBS of the wild-type virus. In the current study, mutations were constructed to alter the U5-PBS structure and disrupt the U5-PBS-tRNA Met interaction of the virus derived from HXB2(Met-AC). All of the mutant viruses were infectious following transfection and coculture with SupT1 cells. Analysis of the initiation of reverse transcription revealed that some of the mutants were impaired compared to HXB2(Met-AC). The genetic stability of the PBS from each virus was determined following in vitro culture. Two mutant proviral constructs, one predicted to completely disrupt the stem-loop structure in U5 and the other predicted to destabilize contact regions of U5 with tRNA Met , reverted back to contain a PBS complementary to tRNA 3 Lys . All other mutants maintained a PBS complementary to tRNA Met after in vitro culture, although all contained multiple nucleotide substitutions within the U5-PBS from the starting proviral clones. Most interestingly, a viral mutant containing a 32-nucleotide deletion between nucleotides 142 and 173, encompassing regions in U5 which interact with tRNA Met , maintained a PBS complementary to tRNA Met following in vitro culture. All of the proviral clones recovered from this mutant, however, contained an additional 19-nucleotide insertion in U5. RNA modeling of the U5-PBS from this mutant demonstrated that the additional mutations present in U5 following culture restored RNA structures similar to those modeled from HXB2(Met-AC). These results provide strong genetic evidence that multiple sequence and structural elements in U5 in addition to the PBS are involved in the interaction with the tRNA used for initiation of reverse transcription.
Massive apoptosis in lymphoid organs in animal models for primary and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

The mechanism(s) responsible for generating the different forms of multiple sclerosis, primary progressive (PP) and secondary progressive (SP) versus relapsing-remitting (RR), is not well understood. Using myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) 92-106 , we have established animal models that mimic the different types of multiple sclerosis. A.SW mice develop PP or SP-experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) with large areas of demyelination and high titers of MOG antibody whereas SJL/J mice develop RR-EAE with perivascular T cells and mild demyelination. In A.SW progressive EAE, we found atrophy of the thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes with depletion of T and B cells and massive apoptosis, as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, terminal dUTP nick-end labeling, and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. To test whether lymphoid apoptosis itself contributes to disease progression, we injected SJL/J mice with apoptotic thymocytes. Injection of apoptotic cells resulted in greater than 20% of mice developing SP-EAE with ataxia. SJL/J mice with SP-EAE had large areas of demyelination, high MOG antibody titers and atrophic lymphoid organs. Spleen cells from mice with progressive EAE produced less interferon-γ than those from RR-EAE when stimulated with mitogen. We suggest that induction of lymphoid apoptosis alters the balance of Th1 versus Th2 immune responses and increases MOG antibody production, leading to exacerbation of demyelination and subsequent disease progression.
Slow Light Modes in Non-Magnetie Negative Refractive Index Waveguides

We demonstrate the possibility of slow light in strongly anisotropic dielectric waveguides. Sufficiently strong anisotropic response produces negative refractive index in the waveguide core, which enables low group velocity modes.
The accumulation of oxidized isoforms of chicken triosephosphate isomerase during aging and development.

Abstract Triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) from mammals undergoes two specific deamidations (Asn-15 and Asn-71) which destabilize the isologous dimer and lead to the degradation of the protein. In aging cells and tissues, the deamidated isoforms accumulate apparently due to age-related changes in protein turnover. Chicken TPI lacks one of these sites ( i.e. , Asn 71 → Lys), but also exhibits unstable isoforms. These isoforms are the result of the specific oxidations which occur both in vitro and in vivo . Electrophoretic analyses of various tissues from chicken show that the most oxidized isoform, which is present in adult tissues, is only present in small quantities in tissues of the newborn chick. Moreover, embryonic tissues contain almost exclusively the fully reduced form of TPI. Thus, it appears that oxidation rather than deamidation constitutes the first step in the degradation of avian TPI. TPI may be the first example of a protein which has evolved two different types of modifications (deamidation and oxidation) which trigger its degradation. The accumulation of both deamidated and oxidized isoforms in different species may provide clues to the underlying basis for the accumulation of modified proteins in aging.
Concordance and Discriminatory Power of Cough Measurement Devices for Individuals With Parkinson Disease

Background Dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia are two causes of morbidity in Parkinson disease (PD). In PD, impaired airway clearance can lead to penetration of foreign material, resulting in a high prevalence of aspiration pneumonia and death. This study examines three different devices for measurement of peak airflow during voluntary cough in healthy control subjects and those with PD. Two simple and low-cost devices for measuring peak cough airflow were compared with the “gold standard” pneumotachograph. Methods Thirty-five healthy control subjects and 35 individuals with PD produced voluntary cough at three perceived strengths (weak, moderate, and strong cough) for each of the three devices. Results A significant difference in mean peak cough airflow was demonstrated for disease ( F [1,56] = 4.0, P F [1,56] = 9.59, P Conclusions The analog and digital peak airflow meters are suitable alternatives to the gold standard pneumotachograph due to their low cost, portability, ease of use, and high sensitivity relative to normative peak cough airflows. Voluntary cough airflow measures may serve as a noninvasive means of screening for aspiration risk in target populations. Additionally, quantification of cough strength through use of predetermined limens for weak, moderate, and strong cough may assist clinicians in better describing and tracking cough strength as a contributing factor to aspiration risk.
Methods for Determining the Nutritive Value of Feather Meals

Abstract RAW feathers and other scleroproteins are high in protein but they are poorly digested unless the raw products are rendered susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis either by physical or chemical treatments (Davis et al., 1961). Raw feathers are steam cooked at various pressures and time periods in order to produce a digestible product. Properly hydrolyzed feathers contain approximately 85% crude protein of which 80% is digestible. This product is commonly referred to in the feed trade as hydrolyzed feather meal and is used as a source of protein in many mixed feeds. The quality of this product, for animal feeding, depends largely upon the efficiency of the hydrolytic process (Davis et al., 1961; Sullivan and Stephenson, 1957; Combs et al., 1959). A crude protein analysis does not distinguish between raw and hydrolyzed feathers and gives relatively little information about the quality of the product. A microscopic method (Brown and Fraps, 1944) …
Quantitative levels of C-reactive protein in cerebrospinal fluid in patients with bacterial meningitis and other conditions

We measured levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the cerebrospinal fluid in 145 children, using a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. The CRP levels in 49 patients with culture-proved bacterial meningitis ranged from 0 to 51,000 ng/ml (median 1460 ng/ml). In 33 patients with aseptic meningitis, values were much lower range 0 to 438 ng/ml; (median 17 ng/ml). In patients with CSF pleocytosis (>10 WBC/μl). CRP>100 ng/ml was 95% accurate in identifying those with bacterial meningitis. However, a few patients with bacterial meningitis and little or no CSF pleocytosis had low levels of CRP at admission. Among the 63 patients with nonmeningitic conditions, those with bacterial infections frequently (10 of 13 had CRP>100 ng/ml, Whereas CRP elevations were infrequent (seven (18%) of 40) in patients with viral infections and other conditions. CRP diffuses into the CSF as readily as other proteins, but in bacterial meningitis the CSF/serum ratio of CRP was lower than that of albumin and IgG. The measurement of CRP in CSF is potentially a very useful diagnostic tool, but certain inherent limitations must be recognized, because some patients may fall to mount a prompt inflammatory response.
Immobilization of the Laccases from Trametes versicolor and Streptomyces coelicolor on Single‐wall Carbon Nanotube Electrodes: A Molecular Dynamics Study

In this work, we investigate the immobilization of laccases from Trametes versicolor (TvL) and the small laccase (SLAC) from Streptomyces coelicolor on single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) surfaces. SLAC may potentially offer improved adsorption on the electrode, thus improving bioelectrocatalytic activity via direct electron transfer (DET). Laccase immobilization on SWCNTs is achieved non-covalently with a molecular tether (1-pyrene butanoic acid, succinimidyl ester) that forms an amide bond with an amine group on the laccase surface while the pyrene coordinates to the SWCNT by π–π stacking. In our approach, density functional theory calculations were first used to model the interaction energies between SWCNTs and pyrene to validate an empirical force field, thereafter applied in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In the simulated models, the SWCNT was placed near the region of the (type 1) Cu(T1) atom in the laccases, and in proximity to other regions where adsorption seems likely. Calculated interaction energies between the SWCNTs and laccases and distances between the SWCNT surface and the Cu(T1) atom have shown that SWCNTs adsorb more strongly to SLAC than to TvL, and that the separation between the SWCNTs and Cu(T1) atoms is smaller for SLAC than for TvL, having implications for improved DET.
On input semigroups of automata

In this paper, we consider the problem of what topological semigroups can serve as input semigroups of what (topological) automata. A semigroup is said to be admissible if it serves as an input semigroup of a non-trivial “strongly connected” automaton that has a distinguishable state (see Definition 2). For the discrete or the compact case, the class of all the admissible semigroups is fully characterized: a discrete or compact topological semigroup (I, m) is admissible if and only if there exists a closed congruence relationR such that the quotient semigroup (I/R, m R ) is non-trivial, right simple, and left unital. This work stems from Weeg's [10], who considered a similar problem in the discrete case.
Transcriptional Regulation of the Xenopus laevis Stromelysin-3 Gene by Thyroid Hormone Is Mediated by a DNA Element in the First Intron

The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) stromelysin-3 (ST3) (MMP11) was first isolated as a breast cancer-associated gene and is expressed in diverse human carcinomas and various developmental processes involving apoptosis. The Xenopus laevis ST3 is highly up-regulated by thyroid hormone (T3) during amphibian metamorphosis, and its expression is spatially and temporally correlated with apoptosis in different tissues. Furthermore, it has been shown in vivo and in organ cultures to play a critical role in regulating T3-induced epithelial cell death during intestinal metamorphosis. Earlier studies suggest that ST3 is a direct T3 response gene, although a thyroid hormone response element (TRE) was not found in the initial analysis of the ST3 promoter. Here, we have identified a strong TRE consisting of two nearly perfect direct repeats of the consensus nuclear hormone receptor binding element AGGTCA separated by 4 bp in the first intron of the Xenopus ST3 gene. We show that the heterodimers of T3 receptor (TR) and 9-cis-retinoic acid receptor bind to the TRE both in vitro and in vivo in the context of chromatin. Furthermore, T3 induces strong activation of the promoter through the intronic TRE. Interestingly, although the unliganded TR/9-cis-retinoic acid receptor was able to recruit corepressors to the promoter, it had little repressive effect on the promoter in vivo. These results suggest that the intronic TRE mediates the inductive effect of T3 and that promoter context plays an important role in gene repression by unliganded TR.
Vaccines to prevent chronic hepatitis C virus infection: current experimental and preclinical developments

There is considerable interest in developing prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for HCV, since there are approximately 200 million individuals persistently infected worldwide. It is in this setting that chronic viral infection leads to fibrosis and cirrhosis and the development of HCC. With the development of cell culture systems that permit HCV replication, one would anticipate rapid progress in evaluating vaccines that use attenuated or killed viral strains. Vaccine development will be difficult owing to the generation of quasi-species during natural infection and the lack of a small animal model to test vaccine efficiency on viral replication in the liver. Many approaches are worth pursuing, including the use of HCV proteins, DNA constructs, DCs, and whole viral vaccine formulations. There is a need to optimize delivery systems and adjuvants in an attempt to generate more robust CD8 + CTLs and CD4 + activity necessary to maintain and sustain a protective immune response like that observed following resolution of natural infection. Because of the magnitude of the problem and the burden on human health, the effort to develop a prophylactic and/or therapeutic vaccine for HCV is worth the many efforts of laboratories throughout the world.
Electromigration-aware routing for 3D ICs with stress-aware EM modeling

Electromigration (EM) has become a key reliability concern for nanometer IC designs. For 3D ICs, higher current density/temperature and TSV-induced thermal mechanical stress further exacerbate the EM issue compared to 2D ICs. In this paper, we analyze the root causes of EM for 3D IC signal nets, with consideration of current density, temperature, and TSV-induced thermal mechanical stress. We develop compact EM models for both DC and AC signal nets using detailed finite-element-analysis (FEA) and build EM library for mean-time-to-failure (MTTF). For AC signal nets, we convert AC current into equivalent DC current and model EM with it. One unique property of EM in 3D ICs is that, depending on the current direction, TSV-induced stress may degrade or improve the MTTF, thus routing plays an important role for EM mitigation. We suggest EM-aware routing algorithms for 3D ICs for the first time to our best knowledge, guided by our stress-aware EM modeling. Experimental result shows that our proposed approach improves EM-robustness of 3D IC benchmarks significantly, e.g., 66.4% less EM-violated grids with little sacrifice of conventional routing objectives.
Consumer Dissatisfaction: The Effect of Disconfirmed Expectancy on Perceived Product Performance

Four psychological theories are considered in determining the effects of disconfirmed expectations on perceived product performance and consumer satisfaction. Results reveal that too great a gap be...
A thermo-responsive protein treatment for dry eyes

Millions of Americans suffer from dry eye disease, and there are few effective therapies capable of treating these patients. A decade ago, an abundant protein component of human tears was discovered and named lacritin (Lacrt). Lacrt has prosecretory activity in the lacrimal gland and mitogenic activity at the corneal epithelium. Similar to other proteins placed on the ocular surface, the durability of its effect is limited by rapid tear turnover. Motivated by the rationale that a thermo-responsive coacervate containing Lacrt would have better retention upon administration, we have constructed and tested the activity of a thermo-responsive Lacrt fused to an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP). Inspired from the human tropoelastin protein, ELP protein polymers reversibly phase separate into viscous coacervates above a tunable transition temperature. This fusion construct exhibited the prosecretory function of native Lacrt as illustrated by its ability to stimulate β-hexosaminidase secretion from primary rabbit lacrimal gland acinar cells. It also increased tear secretion from non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a model of autoimmune dacryoadenitis, when administered via intra-lacrimal injection. Lacrt ELP fusion proteins undergo temperature-mediated assembly to form a depot inside the lacrimal gland. We propose that these Lacrt ELP fusion proteins represent a potential therapy for dry eye disease and the strategy of ELP-mediated phase separation may have applicability to other diseases of the ocular surface.
Effects of increasing Ca2+ channel-vesicle separation on facilitation at the crayfish inhibitory neuromuscular junction.

Abstract We investigated the mechanism of facilitation at the crayfish inhibitory neuromuscular junction before and after blocking P-type Ca 2+ channels. P-type channels have been shown to be closer to releasable synaptic vesicles than non-P-type channels at this synapse. Prior to the block of P-type channels, facilitation evoked by a train of 10 action potentials at 100 Hz was increased by application of 40 mM [Mg 2+ ] o , but decreased by pressure-injected EGTA. Blocking P-type channels with 5 nM ω-Aga IVA, which reduced total Ca 2+ influx and release to levels comparable to that recorded in 40 mM [Mg 2+ ] o , did not change the magnitude of facilitation. We explored whether this observation could be attributed to the buffer saturation model of facilitation, since increasing the Ca 2+ channel-vesicle separation could potentially enhance the role of endogenous buffers. The characteristics of facilitation in synapses treated with ω-Aga IVA were probed with broad action potentials in the presence of K + channel blockers. After Ca 2+ channel-vesicle separation was increased by ω-Aga IVA, facilitation probed with broad action potential was still decreased by EGTA injection and increased by 40 mM [Mg 2+ ] o . EGTA-AM perfusion was used to test the impact of EGTA over a range of concentration in ω-Aga IVA-poisoned preparations. The results showed a concentration dependent decrease in facilitation as EGTA concentration rose. Thus, probing facilitation with EGTA and reduced Ca 2+ influx showed that characteristics of facilitation are not changed after the role of endogenous buffer is enhanced by increasing Ca 2+ channel-vesicle separation. There is no clear indication that buffer saturation has become the dominant mechanism for facilitation after ω-Aga IVA poisoning. Finally, we sought correlation between residual Ca 2+ and the magnitude of facilitation. Using fluorescence transients of a low affinity Ca 2+ indicator, we calculated the ratio of fluorescence amplitude measured immediately before test pulse (residual Ca 2+ ) to that evoked during action potential (local Ca 2+ ). This ratio provides an estimate of relative changes between residual Ca 2+ and local Ca 2+ important for release. There is a significant increase in the ratio when Ca 2+ influx is reduced by 40 mM [Mg 2+ ] o . The magnitude of facilitation exhibited a clear and positive correlation with the ratio, regardless of separation between Ca 2+ channels and releasable vesicles. This correlation suggests the importance of relative changes between residual and local Ca 2+ and lends support to the residual Ca 2+ hypothesis of facilitation.
Isolated Granulocytic Sarcoma: Case Reports of Three Rare Presentations and Review

Abstract Granulocytic sarcomas are rare, extramedullary tumors composed of immature myeloid cells. Traditionally, these tumors present in patients with known leukemias; however, granulocytic sarcomas may present as an isolated finding in patients without known disease. As such, isolated granulocytic sarcomas may present a diagnostic challenge for clinicians taking care of the patient. Moreover, these tumors also create a therapeutic challenge for clinicians as they generally carry a poor prognosis and often have short-lived responses to systemic therapy with cytarabine-based chemotherapy. An improved understanding of the biology of granulocytic sarcomas may reveal targets accessible to some of the new biologically active agents being studied across oncology. This report of 3 usual presentations of granulocytic sarcomas and a brief review of the known pathophysiology reminds us that there is much work to do to improve outcomes for our patients.
Habitus, social fields, and circuits in rural science education

Schooling and science education are embedded within larger socio-cultural, political and economic contexts, influenced by global flows of capital, labor, ideas, and images. In this article we consider the ways in which ethnography traces the web of interactions (circuits), in a rural community and the ways that science inquiry was associated with character education. Our discussion examines the relationship between social fields, habitus, and meritocracy under new and ever-changing neoliberal conditions. These macro-level forces play out in everyday practices in the community and reveal schools, as well as science education, as sites for struggle.
Predictors of false negative axillary ultrasound in breast cancer

Abstract Background We sought to identify clinicopathologic factors related to false negative axillary ultrasound (AUS) results. Methods Patients with a clinically node-negative stage I–II breast cancer who also had a normal AUS were identified from our prospectively maintained database. All AUS studies were interpreted by dedicated breast radiologists as “normal” according to the absence of specific characteristics shown to be commonly associated with metastatic involvement. True- and false-negative AUS studies were compared statistically based on clinical, radiographic, and histologic parameters. Results Of the 118 patients with a normal AUS, 25 (21%) were ultimately found to be node-positive on pathologic assessment after axillary surgery. On bivariate analysis, primary tumor size and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) were found to be significantly different between true- and false-negative AUS. The average tumor size was smaller in the true-negative group compared with that in the false-negative group (16 versus 21 mm [ P P P = 0.0007). Conclusions AUS is a valuable tool that accurately predicted absence of axillary disease in 79% of patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer. AUS findings may be less accurate in the setting of LVI, and a negative AUS in patients with LVI should be interpreted cautiously.
The Cost of Fear

What should parents do when they detect indications of more predators nearby that might eat their babies? This scenario is commonly faced by parents in the wild, and the consequences are important. The number of offspring that organisms produce has a major influence on fitness and, when averaged across a population, affects whether this population will increase or decrease. Offspring production thus has critical implications for evolution via fitness, and ecology and conservation via demography. On page 1398 of this issue, Zanette et al. ( 1 ) show that the fear of predation can, by itself, strongly affect the number of offspring produced over an annual cycle by song sparrows (see the figure).
Functional integral for dual Yang-Mills theory

Abstract We obtain the general solution, Wμνa(B), to the Bianchi constraint equation, D μ (B)∗W μν a =0 , with Bμa a gauge field, Dμ(B) the gauge covariant derivative and Wμνa a covariant skew tensor. This solution enables us to find a functional integral representation for the dual transformed Yang-Mills theory.
Community Colleges Take Anthropology to the Community

Some anthropologists are good researchers, others gifted Writers, others good teachers, and others good speakers. Relatively few people can excel in all these areas. Community colleges use teaching and communicating as prime qualifications for promotion and tenure, with mastery of the discipline's content expected for all. While community college faculty usually do not have to "publish or perish," many are strongly urged to do public speaking and to write for the general public on a regular basis. Given this situation, we believe that anthropologists at community colleges and non-research educational institutions should be in the forefront of efforts to promote the perspectives and values of anthropology. One of the most important areas in which to do this is at the precollege level, although other opportunities to enhance the image of anthropology should not be overlooked either.
Composites Reinforced with Fibers of a Thermotropic Liquid Crystal Copolyester

Composites reinforced with a thermotropic liquid crystal copolyester fiber (Celanese Vectran) have been studied with regard to fiber properties and adhesion to the thermoplastic matrix. As-spun (AS) and heat-treated (HT) fibers have been characterized. Heat treatment increases the crystal-to-nematic transition by 40°C, increases the modulus by 18%, and doubles the strength. Composites made with Vectran fibers (HT) require processing at or below 275°C, since fiber properties reduce significantly above this tem perature, which corresponds to the transition for AS fibers Composites made with Vec tran fibers were found to have low transverse properties, independent of thermoplastic matrix. The matrix compositions tested were a bisphenol-A polycarbonate and liquid crys tal copolyester with the same monomers as the fiber. Small trials were also conducted with other thermoplastics. Specific fiber surface treatments, such as oxidation with ozone, did increase transverse properties, but values remained low compare...
Nursing the hybrid wave

This article briefly describes the development of an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) hybrid program in the community college setting. Discussion follows for integrating the hybrid learner into the ADN program and solving some distance-learning concerns. Best practices for faculty, administration, and students are presented with discussion of the need to increase the pool of RNs by providing nontraditional learning alternatives for motivated learners. This model has enjoyed success in this community college and should be adaptable to other community college environments.