cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic Characterization of Normal and Neoplastic Canine Endothelial Cells by Lectin Histochemistry

Cell surface glycoconjugate expression of endothelial cells in canine cutaneous hemangiomas and hemangiosarcomas was compared to normal cutaneous endothelial cells using eight different lectins (with and without neuraminidase pretreatment) in an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. Direct comparison of lectin binding pattern of neoplastic endothelial cells with adjacent normal endothelial cells revealed minor changes in the binding intensity of several lectins (enhanced: Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA); reduced: Griffonia sim- plicfolia-I (GS-I), Ricinus communis agglutinin-I (RCA-I), Soybean agglutinin after neuraminidase pretreatment (Neu-SBA), and Wheat germ agglutinin after neuraminidase treatment (Neu-WGA)). Neoplastic endothelial cells in some tumors exhibited varying binding of Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I; not binding to normal canine endothelial cells) and no Soybean agglutinin (SBA) binding (variably binding to normal endothelial cells in small cutaneous vessels). Lectin binding of neoplastic cells was rather heterogenous within one tumor compared to the uniform binding pattern of normal endothelial cells. These lectin binding studies demonstrate the phe- notypic heterogeneity of neoplastic endothelial cells, indicating changes of cell surface glycosylation during neoplastic transformation.
New high‐speed tensile tester for polymer films

Design characteristics are described of a rotating-wheel tensile tester suitable for stressing a vertical specimen with a force of 115 kg. through a distance of 15 cm. in a velocity range of 10 to 730 m./min. with no more than 1% loss in velocity, thereby assuring constant speed of grip separation. Provision is made for specimens up to 7.5 cm. width in order to achieve multiaxial distributions of stresses which are important in bag failure and leading to the determination of critical strain rates. Instrumentation provides reliable triggering of stress and strain traces on a double-beam oscilloscope. Straight-line travel of the moveable specimen grip is assured by the use of tracks which restrain horizontal motions without hindering the desired vertical motion.
Reorganizing Leaders’ Time: Does It Create Better Schools for Students?:

Effective schools research gave birth to a new role for principals: instructional leader. Recent studies have suggested the relationship between strong school instructional leadership and higher student achievement. Skeptics question whether the principal’s job is realistic and reasonable, with its emphasis on instructional leadership, multiple managerial responsibilities, and conflicting time demands. A more crucial question is, can the job allow the principal more time for instructional pursuits to provide greater impact on student learning? The answer to which this article explores.
The vascular actions of relaxin.

Relaxin is emerging as a hormone with important vascular actions. Much of our recently gained knowledge of relaxin in this context has stemmed from investigations of maternal vascular adaptations to pregnancy in which the hormone is turning out to be an important mediator. This chapter is separated into three parts. In Part 1, we discuss relaxin in the setting of normal vascular function and focus on systemic hemodynamics and arterial mechanical properties, renal and other peripheral circulations, angiogenesis, as well as the cellular mechanisms of the vasodilatory actions of relaxin. In this section, we also summarize the evidence for an arterial-derived relaxin ligand-receptor system. In Part 2, we present relaxin in the context of vascular dysfunction and the implications for relaxin as a therapeutic agent in renal and cardiac diseases, ischemia and reperfusion injury, pulmonary hypertension, vascular inflammation and preeclampsia. Finally, in Part 3, we highlight some of the controversies and unresolved issues, as well as suggest a general direction for future relaxin research that is urgendy needed.
Passive leg raising for predicting fluid responsiveness: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The passive leg raising (PLR) test has been proposed to predict fluid responsiveness in patients with acute circulatory failure. We reviewed and meta-analysed the studies that investigated the PLR-induced changes in cardiac output (CO) or surrogates and the PLR-induced changes in arterial pulse pressure (PP) as predictors of fluid responsiveness.
Alpha-Synuclein Expression Restricts RNA Viral Infections in the Brain

We have discovered that native, neuronal expression of alpha-synuclein (Asyn) inhibits viral infection, injury, and disease in the central nervous system (CNS). Enveloped RNA viruses, such as West Nile virus (WNV), invade the CNS and cause encephalitis, yet little is known about the innate neuron-specific inhibitors of viral infections in the CNS. Following WNV infection of primary neurons, we found that Asyn protein expression is increased. The infectious titer of WNV and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) TC83 in the brains of Asyn-knockout mice exhibited a mean increase of 104.5 infectious viral particles compared to the titers in wild-type and heterozygote littermates. Asyn-knockout mice also exhibited significantly increased virus-induced mortality compared to Asyn heterozygote or homozygote control mice. Virus-induced Asyn localized to perinuclear, neuronal regions expressing viral envelope protein and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated trafficking protein Rab1. In Asyn-knockout primary neuronal cultures, the levels of expression of ER signaling pathways, known to support WNV replication, were significantly elevated before and during viral infection compared to those in Asyn-expressing primary neuronal cultures. We propose a model in which virus-induced Asyn localizes to ER-derived membranes, modulates virus-induced ER stress signaling, and inhibits viral replication, growth, and injury in the CNS. These data provide a novel and important functional role for the expression of native alpha-synuclein, a protein that is closely associated with the development of Parkinson's disease. IMPORTANCE Neuroinvasive viruses such as West Nile virus are able to infect neurons and cause severe disease, such as encephalitis, or infection of brain tissue. Following viral infection in the central nervous system, only select neurons are infected, implying that neurons exhibit innate resistance to viral infections. We discovered that native neuronal expression of alpha-synuclein inhibited viral infection in the central nervous system. When the gene for alpha-synuclein was deleted, mice exhibited significantly decreased survival, markedly increased viral growth in the brain, and evidence of increased neuron injury. Virus-induced alpha-synuclein localized to intracellular neuron membranes, and in the absence of alpha-synuclein expression, specific endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling events were significantly increased. We describe a new neuron-specific inhibitor of viral infections in the central nervous system. Given the importance of alpha-synuclein as a cause of Parkinson's disease, these data also ascribe a novel functional role for the native expression of alpha-synuclein in the CNS.
Myosin content of individual human muscle fibers isolated by laser capture microdissection

Muscle fiber composition correlates with insulin resistance, and exercise training can increase slow-twitch (type I) fibers and, thereby, mitigate diabetes risk. Human skeletal muscle is made up of three distinct fiber types, but muscle contains many more isoforms of myosin heavy and light chains, which are coded by 15 and 11 different genes, respectively. Laser capture microdissection techniques allow assessment of mRNA and protein content in individual fibers. We found that specific human fiber types contain different mixtures of myosin heavy and light chains. Fast-twitch (type IIx) fibers consistently contained myosin heavy chains 1, 2, and 4 and myosin light chain 1. Type I fibers always contained myosin heavy chains 6 and 7 (MYH6 and MYH7) and myosin light chain 3 (MYL3), whereas MYH6, MYH7, and MYL3 were nearly absent from type IIx fibers. In contrast to cardiomyocytes, where MYH6 (also known as α-myosin heavy chain) is seen solely in fast-twitch cells, only slow-twitch fibers of skeletal muscle contained MYH6. Classical fast myosin heavy chains (MHC1, MHC2, and MHC4) were present in variable proportions in all fiber types, but significant MYH6 and MYH7 expression indicated slow-twitch phenotype, and the absence of these two isoforms determined a fast-twitch phenotype. The mixed myosin heavy and light chain content of type IIa fibers was consistent with its role as a transition between fast and slow phenotypes. These new observations suggest that the presence or absence of MYH6 and MYH7 proteins dictates the slow- or fast-twitch phenotype in skeletal muscle.
BONE LOSS: ACCOMMODATING A GROWING VOID

The rising number of primary total hip arthroplasty procedures being performed annually is assoaced with a concomitant increasing burden of revision total hip surgery. Acetabular and/or femoral bone loss encountered at the time of revison surgery can present a challenging problem. This brief review defines methods by which to classfiy bone loss patterns, presents options for treatment, and reports on clinical outcomes of different treatment.
Computational Simulation of Progressive Fracture in Stitched J-Stiffened Composite Shear Panels in the Postbuckling Range

Progressive damage and fracture of stitched JStiffened composite panels under shear loading is evaluated via computational simulation. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate a new methodology that scales up constituent material properties, stress and strain limits to the structure level, to evaluate the overall damage and fracture propagation for stitched laminates. Stiffened panels with different lay-up configurations are simulated for various damage stages, including damage initiation, growth, accumulation, and progression to fracture. Postbuckling analysis is also included to evaluate progressive fracture characteristics after local buckling of the skin. Results are compared with experimental data from the literature.
Transmission of Beauveria bassiana within Nests of Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Laboratory

This study evaluated transmission of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. within populations of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. Treabnents consisted of populations of B. bassialla-infected ants mixed with untreated ants in laboratory colonies. In the absence of soil, survival of untreated ants decreased with increasing percentage of infected ants in the populations. In the presence of soil, no significant differences were observed in the survival of the untreated ants. Differences in ant infection in experiments with and without soil were not caused by differences in infectivity of conidia produced on cadavers. The transmission of the disease within the colony is decreased by the presence of soil. Reliance on transmission of B. bassiana within the nest initiated by infection of a small proportion of the population may not be a viable strategy for control of fire ant colonies with B. bassialla .
Getting Our Children to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

Parents, families and schools play key roles in influencing the eating habits of children. This article reviews several factors that can influence the intake of fruits and vegetables in children. Families that eat together have better overall diets, including intakes of fruits and vegetables. When parents serve as positive role models and make fruits and vegetables more available and accessible to children intakes increase. Schools, through their food and nutrition programs, have increased the amounts of fruits and vegetables offered to children. Assisting parents with simple messages about increasing fruits and vegetables in the home and at meal time for their children can improve health and reduce disease risk.
Probing Surface Concentration of Cyclic/Linear Blend Films Using Surface Layer MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

Surface layer matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SL-MALDI-TOF MS) is a powerful new surface sensitive technique to quantify the surface concentration of multicomponent polymer films with enrichment of one component at the surface. Its capabilities are demonstrated for the novel case of a blend of cyclic polystyrene with linear polystyrene, in which we find the composition of linear chains enriched at the surface after annealing, contrary to the expectation of a self-consistent field theory. The probing depth was confirmed to be monomolecular, which for these short chains is less than 2 nm, even though material at a much greater depth is removed by the analysis.
Research on Transformer Magnetic Bias and Eliminating Method in Push-Pull PWM Converter

In this paper,the causes of transformer magnetic bias in push-pull PWM converter are presented.Some e-liminating methods are proposed.The advantages and disadvantages of SG3525 voltage mode controller and UC3846 cur-rent-mode controller are analyzed.The experimental verifications from 1kW push-pull PWM converter operating at 40kHz are given and experimental results verify these solutions practicable.
Microbiology and antibiotics in infectious abdominal emergencies.

Summary The appropriate treatment of intra-abdominal infection is often confusing and controversial. Much of the controversy is due to the availability of a substantial number of newer, broad-spectrum antimicrobials. An understanding of the spectrum of activity, toxicity, and clinical efficacy of these drugs is critical in the selection of therapy for the treatment of intraabdominal sepsis.
Minimally invasive partial nephrectomy feasible in morbidly obese

BROwN JA. Minimally invasive partial nephrectomy feasible in morbidly obese? Can J Urol 2014;21(1):7150. they appropriately caution the lower volume and less experienced surgeon. Given their laparoscopic cohort was earlier in a sequential series and comprised of easier tumors with lower RENAL nephrometry scores, we are unable to determine the relative safety and efficacy of the two surgical approaches or the safety of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in patients with nephrometry scores > 6. Should these or other robotic surgeons further treat larger or increasingly complex renal tumors, it is important that randomized trials against open partial nephrectomy be performed to determine if the results of robotic partial nephrectomy, and at what nephrometry score and surgical volume threshold, justify the less invasive approach. Reynolds et al retrospectively review the results of 184 patients undergoing either laparoscopic (n = 109) or robotic-assisted laparoscopic (n = 75) partial nephrectomy.1 Their aim was to assess the feasibility of these approaches in patients with class I to III obesity. The median body mass index was 31, tumor diameter 2.9 cm, operative time 218 minutes and ischemic time 23.5 minutes, and the two high volume surgeons involved were able to effectively resect these small renal masses with a median blood loss of 150 mL and a positive surgical margin rate of 3.3%. Obesity, even class III obesity, did not lead to a decrement in perioperative or pathologic outcomes, while RENAL nephrometry score greater than or equal to 8 did. The authors recommend that morbid obesity not be an exclusionary criteria for minimally invasive partial nephrectomy. As the two surgeons involved in this study had relatively high surgical volumes, averaging nearly 11 and 9 cases per year,
Values of Polynomials over Integral Domains

It is well known that no nonconstant polynomial with integer coefficients can take on only prime values. We isolate the property of the integers that accounts for this, and give several examples of integral domains for which there are polynomials that only take on unit or prime values. Throughout this note, we let R denote an arbitrary UFD (unique factorization domain) that is not a field. Of course, R must be infinite. As is well known, any nonconstant polynomial with integer coefficients cannot take on only prime values. We may ask what property of the integers Z accounts for this. Here is the answer.
Influence of tetrodotoxin inactivation of the central nucleus of the amygdala on sleep and arousal.

Study objectives To determine the effects of temporary functional inactivation of the central nucleus of the amygdala on sleep and on activity in an arousing environment, an open field. Design Rats were implanted with electrodes for recording the electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG), and with guide cannulae aimed into CNA. Sleep was recorded for 22 h (10 h light, 12 h dark) following microinjections of tetrodotoxin (TTX: 5.0 ng/0.2 microl given unilaterally [TTXUH] or bilaterally [TTXBH], and 2.5 ng/0.1 microl given bilaterally [TTXBL]) or saline (SAL) alone on separate days. Activity during 1 h in an OF was recorded after microinjections of TTXBH and SAL. Setting NA. Patients or participants Three-month-old Wistar rats (n=12). Interventions Functional inactivation of the central nucleus of the amygdala with TTX. Measurements and results Compared to SAL, all TTX microinjections significantly shortened NREM latency, but did not alter total NREM during either light or dark periods. During the light period, TTXBH significantly reduced total REM and REM episode number, and TTXBL decreased REM episode number. All TTX microinjections increased EEG slow wave activity (0.5-4 Hz, SWA) during wakefulness, NREM and REM. Activity in OF was decreased after TTXBH compared to SAL. Conclusions Functional lesions of the amygdala, including the central nucleus of the amygdala, decreased REM sleep and reduced arousal, as indicated by shortened NREM latency and decreased activity in an arousing environment. These findings suggest that the amygdala plays a broad role in modulating spontaneous sleep and wakefulness and in modulating responsiveness in arousing situations.
Pedagogy of Perplexity: Reimagining the Role of the Poetic in Education

If we are to imagine education as the practice of turning the soul, we must have some point of orientation in mind: it cannot be merely a turn for turning’s sake. For Socrates, this point is the form of the good, which “gives truth to the things known and the power to know to the knower.”1 It is for this reason, perhaps, that Socrates found himself compelled (if begrudgingly) to banish poetry from the kallipolis: our engagement with the poetic rarely yields the kind of propositional knowledge that might be attained via the exercise of the faculty of reason through the practice of dialectic. This project, following humbly in the footsteps of Eduardo Duarte’s Being and Learning, is an attempt to resist that compulsion by thinking about the role of the poetic in education, specifically in terms of its capacity to orient the soul in a different direction. I will argue that an encounter with the poetic can both incite and sustain an experience of puzzlement, which might engender a state of waiting, and can cultivate the practice of meditative thought. In doing so, I hope to free the poetic from the demands of reason and open up an educational space, external to the sphere of “truth-as-certainty,” in which the poetic might dwell. In other words, it is an attempt to imagine what it might be like (and perhaps even suggest that, in our commodity-oriented world, increasingly fraught with a pervasive and pernicious anthropocentrism, it might indeed be time) to expand the purview of education such that it encompasses not only the practice of calculative thinking, but also the practice of meditative thinking as well. It is an attempt to welcome poetry back into the kallipolis with open arms.
Cystometric properties of ileum and right colon after bladder augmentation, substitution or replacement.

AbstractCystometric studies were performed on 38 patients who had undergone augmentation, substitution or replacement enterocystoplasty. These studies were done to determine the choice of bowel segment to augment or replace the detrusor and the shape in which the bowel segment should be reconstructed. Eleven patients underwent tubular and 10 detubularized right colon cystoplasty, while 10 underwent tubular (Carney bladder) and 7 detubularized ileocystoplasty. Compliance curves were normal in nearly all patients except those who underwent tubular ileocystoplasty. Cystoplasty contractions were more common with tubular cystoplasty. These contractions appeared at a lower bladder capacity and were higher in amplitude in tubular cystoplasty patients. Detubularizing the bowel for bladder reconstruction appears to create a better low pressure capacitor with better compliance and fewer high pressure cystoplasty contractions.
The Political Origins of Durable Authoritarianism

The end of authoritarianism has long been forecast but has yet to come (Pye 1990). In the 1990s, it was hoped that the wave of democratic change would continue unabated. Autocrats, it appeared, were trapped between political bankruptcy, on one side, and precarious liberalization, on the other. Those who excluded the public from national politics had no legitimating ideology and could only defend themselves as provisional stewards of the nation (O'Donnell and Schmitter 1986: 15). If they sought to prolong their rule indefinitely, they had to resort to elections and other democratic procedures, thereby adopting the mantle of republicanism even as they eschewed its fundamentals (Fukuyama 1989; Zakaria 1997). Anecdotally, both premises found dramatic support. After regime-initiated elections in the Philippines (1986), Chile (1988), Poland (1989), and Nicaragua (1990) ended in opposition victories, Huntington remarked that “liberalized authoritarianism is not a stable equilibrium; the halfway house does not stand” (1991: 174–175). But elsewhere, the “halfway house” had become a fortress – not a way station but a way of life. By 2001, five dozen regimes blended liberalization with repression and signified the durability of authoritarianism during a period that had augured global democracy. As autocratic incumbents learned to garb themselves in elections and thereby entrenched themselves further, the trend toward electoral democracy slowed. From 1987 to 1996, the world witnessed a gain of fifty-two electoral democracies (from 66 to 118). Over the next nine years, the rate of democratization slowed considerably, netting only four electoral democracies (Freedom House 2006).
Ataxia (Familial Cerebellar) with Muscle CoQ 10 Deficiency

Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ 10 or ubiquinone) is a lipid-soluble molecule with multiple cellular functions including transport of electrons in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Deficiencies of CoQ 10 are generally autosomal recessive, often present with cerebellar ataxia and atrophy, and are important to diagnose as they often respond to oral CoQ 10 supplementation.
Parse tree fragmentation of ungrammatical sentences

Ungrammatical sentences present challenges for statistical parsers because the well-formed trees they produce may not be appropriate for these sentences. We introduce a framework for reviewing the parses of ungrammatical sentences and extracting the coherent parts whose syntactic analyses make sense. We call this task parse tree fragmentation. In this paper, we propose a training methodology for fragmenting parse trees without using a task-specific annotated corpus. We also propose some fragmentation strategies and compare their performance on an extrinsic task - fluency judgments in two domains: English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) and machine translation (MT). Experimental results show that the proposed fragmentation strategies are competitive with existing methods for making fluency judgments; they also suggest that the overall framework is a promising way to handle syntactically unusual sentences.
Managing Alaska’s National Parks in an era of uncertainty: an evaluation of scenario planning workshops

Scenario planning is a flexible tool used to assess a broad range of plausible, relevant, divergent, and challenging futures, for short-term responses and long-term planning. Scenario planning has gained popularity in natural resource management for addressing uncertainties associated with climate change, but the literature contains few retrospective assessments of scenario planning. In this paper, we use a case study of a climate change scenario planning process conducted by National Park Service in Alaska to evaluate this tool and its outcomes. Five planning workshops, each addressing an Inventory and Monitoring Network in Alaska, were held between 2010 and 2012. In 2015, we conducted 30 interviews with workshop participants to evaluate the outcomes of these workshops. Participants described individual outcomes, including increased knowledge of climate change, increased awareness of uncertainty, and the ability to learn from others across disciplines and backgrounds. Challenges include ensuring adequate feedback and follow-through after the initial process, making products tangible and meaningful to participants, and providing specific mechanisms for applying the process beyond the workshop. The evaluation showed that the workshops were well organized and facilitated, and that they fostered individual learning and helped participants develop adaptive capacity. Suggestions for improvement included institutionalizing the process so that it can have more impact at the organizational level, and recognizing and preparing for the challenges of co-production of knowledge.
Differential item functioning of the patient-reported outcomes information system (PROMIS®) pain interference item bank by language (Spanish versus English)

Background About 70% of Latinos, 5 years old or older, in the United States speak Spanish at home. Measurement equivalence of the PROMIS® pain interference (PI) item bank by language of administration (English versus Spanish) has not been evaluated.
DMF-Activated Chlorosilane Chemistry: Molybdenum-Catalyzed Reactions of R3SiH, DMF and R′3SiCl to Initially Form R′3SiOSiR′3 and R3SiCl

Abstract The room temperature reactions between R3SiH (R3 = Et3, PhMe2, Ph2Me) and R′3SiCl (R′3 = Me3, PhMe2, Ph2Me), with an excess of dimethylformamide (DMF) in the presence of (Me3N)Mo(CO)5 as a catalyst, result in the initial formation of R3SiCl, R′3SiOSiR′3 and Me3N as detected by 29Si, 13C, 1H NMR spectroscopy and GC/MS. As the reaction proceeds, the more so if the reaction temperature is raised, mixed disiloxanes R3SiOSiR′3 and ultimately lesser amounts of R3SiOSiR3 may be detected. A mechanism involving the activation of chlorosilanes by the nucleophilic DMF is proposed to produce transient imminium siloxy ion pairs, [Me2N CHCl]+[R′3SiO]− ⇌ [Me2N CH(OSiR′3)]+Cl− which react with R3SiH to form Me2NCH2OSiR′3 and R3SiCl. A secondary reaction of Me2NCH2OSiR′3 with R′3SiCl produces the symmetrical disiloxane R′3SiOSiR′3 and ClCH2NMe2. The final stage of the reaction is the reduction of ClCH2NMe2 by R3SiH, a reaction which is reported for the first time. The newly created chlorosilane R3SiCl can become involved in the initial DMF activation chemistry thereby forming the other disiloxanes observed as the reaction proceeds.
Perceptions of genetic testing among patients undergoing genetic counseling.

e13107Background: The utility of genetic testing for germline mutations in high-penetrance cancer susceptibility genes is well established. However, the clinical utility of mutations in more moderate-penetrance genes is less clear. The aim of this study was to examine factors that motivate patients to choose panel testing over traditional BRCA1/2 testing and if the perception of utility is consistent between patients and genetic counselors. Methods: Adults presenting for genetic counseling at an academic center were invited to complete a survey to identify psychological, medical and social factors which influence patient decision-making. Additional variables included age, personal and family history of cancer, and previous knowledge of BRCA1/2 and panel testing. Genetic counselors completed a survey indicating how strongly they felt the individual would benefit from panel testing, rated on a scale from 1 (little benefit) to 5 (strong benefit). Results: Forty-one women completed surveys, 36 (87.8%) with a ...
Necdin-deficient mice do not show lethality or the obesity and infertility of Prader-Willi syndrome.

Necdin-deficient mice do not show lethality or the obesity and infertility of Prader-Willi syndrome
Information affordances: Studying the information processing activities of the core Occupy actors on Twitter

Emergent social movements benefit from technologies that support the information activities that core actors perform to achieve the goals of the movement. Starting with an information-centric perspective, we use the theoretical lens of information processing, to examine the roles of Twitter affordances during the Occupy movement in solving information problems. Our data is a corpus of tweets from the core actors of the movement, as identified by our extended 1/9/90 rule. Using inferential statistics and network visualization, we show how different Twitter affordances act as mechanisms to resolve information problems in many different ways. Our network visualization shows the ecology of the interactions amongst the core actors, and between the core actors and the public. Our work contributes to the discussion around recent social movements on Twitter and advances the theory of information processing.
Adolescents' perceptions of flavored tobacco products, including E-cigarettes: A qualitative study to inform FDA tobacco education efforts through videogames

Abstract Introduction Flavored tobacco products have been shown to appeal to youth, however tobacco control strategies have traditionally not focused on these products. To inform the adaptation of an existing videogame to focus on the prevention of flavored tobacco product use, this study explored adolescents' perceptions, beliefs, and social norms surrounding these products, including flavored e-cigarettes. Methods We conducted and analyzed transcripts from seven focus groups with 11–17-year-old adolescents (n = 33) from after-school programs in CT and CA in 2016. Participants discussed flavored tobacco product beliefs and experiences, and how these compared to traditional cigarettes. Results Thematic analysis of transcripts revealed that participants could name flavors in tobacco products, even though few discussed first-hand experience with the products. Most groups perceived that flavored tobacco product and flavored e-cigarette use facilitated peer approval and acceptance. All groups discussed how youth could easily access flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Flavoring was a salient aspect of e-cigarette advertisements; however the groups did not recall exposure to other types of flavored tobacco product counter-marketing. Conclusions These data can help inform the development of tobacco control strategies, novel interventions (such as videogames), and future FDA efforts to prevent adolescent tobacco product use through education and risk communication.
Frailty risk in hospitalised older adults with and without diabetes mellitus.

Background: Research indicates that diabetes mellitus (DM) may be a risk factor for frailty and individuals with DM are more likely to be frail than individuals without DM; however, there is limited research in hospitalised older adults. Objectives: To determine the extent of frailty in hospitalised older adults with and without DM using a 16-item Frailty Risk Score (FRS) and assess the role of frailty in predicting 30-day rehospitalisation, discharge to an institution and in-hospital mortality. Methods: The study was a retrospective, cohort, correlational design and secondary analysis of a data set consisting of electronic health record data. The sample was older adults hospitalised on medicine units. Logistic regression was performed for 30-day rehospitalisation and discharge location. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to analyse time to in-hospital death and weighted using propensity scores. Results: Of 278 hospitalised older adults, 49% had DM, and the mean FRS was not significantly different by DM status (9.6 vs. 9.1, p = 0.07). For 30-day rehospitalisation, increased FRS was associated with significantly increased odds of rehospitalisation (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI [1.01, 1.51], p = 0.04). Although 81% were admitted from home, 57% were discharged home and 43% to an institution. An increased FRS was associated with increased odds of discharge to an institution (AOR = 1.48, 95% CI [1.26, 1.74], p Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus and frailty were highly prevalent; the mean FRS was not significantly different by DM status. Although increased frailty was significantly associated with rehospitalisation and discharge to an institution, only DM was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. Relevance to clinical practice: Frailty assessment may augment clinical assessment and facilitate tailoring care and determining optimal outcomes in patients with and without DM.
Prediction of optical band gap of β-(AlxGa1-x)2O3 using material informatics

Abstract In this study, the optical band gap of β-(AlxGa1-x)2O3 versus the Al composition x is predicted using principal component regression and a Gaussian stochastic process. Properties were sourced from other mature Al-alloyed compound semiconductors to form a band gap model. It is found that the electronic band gap, the thermal conductivity, and the Al composition have the greatest influences on the optical band gap. A final relation is generated from a hybrid informatics approach combining information gained from multiple models. The optical band gap of β-(AlxGa1-x)2O3 versus the Al composition is predicted and agrees well with measured optical band gap.
Enzyme-Polyethylene Glycol Adducts: Modified Enzymes with Unique Properties

There are many clinical disorders which, in theory might be treated by the use of appropriate enzymes. However, there are serious problems associated with enzyme therapy. First, inadequate amounts of human enzymes are available; and most foreign enzymes are immunogenic in humans. They can be administered only a few times. Second, the circulating life in the blood may be very short even on the first injection (often a matter of a few minutes). And third, the cost of highly purified enzymes may be too great to allow general use.
Affinity maturation of single-domain antibodies by yeast surface display

Although single-domain antibodies derived from libraries prepared either after animal immunization or naive animals generally exhibit reasonable affinity, it is often desirable to further improve their affinity. This chapter describes protocols for improving the affinity of single-domain antibodies using quantitative library sorting by yeast surface display. An example is included where we also exploit a complementary strength of phage display in generating larger sequence diversity prior to library sorting with yeast surface display.
Women's Psychospiritual Paths Before, During, and After Finding It Difficult to Pray to a Male God

In this brief excerpt from a dialogue, the novelist Alice Walker (1982) captures an important shift in perspective that one woman, Shug, has already undertaken and is gently leading another woman, Celie, to consider. Shug’s perspective is that of a black woman who is aware of the use of religious images in a specific cultural context, namely, the image of a white, male God, in a white, male-dominated society. Research in cultural anthropology (Eisler, 1987; Lerner, 1986; Stone, 1976) and writings by black (Cone, 1970; Jones, 1987) and feminist theologians (Geller, 1983; Ronan, Taussig, & Cady, 1986; Spretnak, 1982) suggest that changes in images of the divine often reflect changes in individual and cultural psychologies. Jones (1987, p. ix) writes: “Especially the concept of God, when it is alien, can hold one, mind and body, in bondage to a distorted understanding of one’s own true selfhood, one’s own humanity, and in the case of Black people, the meaning of one’s own blackness.”
Analog and Digital Signals

“Digital” has been the buzz word for the last couple of decades. The latest and greatest electronic devices have been marketed as digital and cardiology equipment has been no exception. “Analog” has the connotation of being old and outdated, while “digital” has been associated with new and advanced. What do these terms actually mean and is one really better than the other? By the end of the chapter, the reader should know what analog and digital signals are, their respective characteristics, and the advantages and disadvantages of both signal types. The reader will also understand the fundamentals of sampling, including the trade-offs of high sampling rates and high amplitude resolution, and the distortion that is possible with low sampling rates and low amplitude resolution.
Infrared Spectroscopy of High-Area Catalytic Surfaces

Infrared spectroscopy has proven to be an enormously useful technique for obtaining information about the structure of catalysts and species adsorbed on catalyst surfaces. The widespread application of the method is a consequence of the ease with which samples can be prepared and analyzed, and the absence of a need for complex workup of the spectral data prior to interpretation. A further attraction is that spectra can readily be taken at high temperatures and pressures, and under conditions at which catalysts are used in industrial practice.
Online and Handwritten Homework in Calculus for STEM Majors

Calculus is an essential intellectual gateway and initiation in the education of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students. In this study, graded online computer homework wa...
Cytoplasmic FOXO1 identifies a novel disease-activity associated B cell phenotype in SLE.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a manifestation of hyperactivated lymphocytes and results, in part, from the loss of normal tolerance checkpoints. FOXO1 is a transcription factor involved at critical early and late B cell development checkpoints; however, its role in regulating peripheral B cell tolerance is not fully understood. We have applied our published approach for using imaging flow cytometry to study native FOXO1 localisation in human lymphocytes to peripheral blood samples from healthy individuals versus patients with SLE. We report, here, on dramatic cytoplasmic localisation of FOXO1 in two peripheral B cell SLE subsets: IgD-CD27+ (class-switched memory) B cells and IgD-CD27- (atypical memory) B cells. The latter, so-called ‘Double Negative’ (DN) B cells have previously been shown to be increased in SLE and enriched in autoreactive clones. Cytoplasmic-predominant FOXO1 (CytoFOX) B cells are significantly increased in patients with SLE as compared to healthy controls, and the levels of CytoFoOX DN B cells correlate directly with SLE disease activity. The highest abundance of CytoFox DN B cells was observed in African American females with SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)≥6. The phenotype of CytoFOX DN B cells in SLE includes uniquely low CD20 expression and high granularity/side scatter. As FOXO1 phosphorylation downstream of B cell receptor-dependent signalling is required for nuclear exclusion, CytoFOX B cells likely represent a high state of B cell activation with excess signalling and/or loss of phosphatase activity. We hypothesise that CytoFOX B cells in lupus represent a novel biomarker for the expansion of pathological, autoreactive B cells which may provide new insights into the pathophysiology of SLE.
Coalescence of residual histotripsy cavitation nuclei using low-gain regions of the therapy beam during electronic focal steering

Following collapse of a histotripsy cloud, residual microbubbles may persist for seconds, distributed throughout the focus. Their presence can attenuate and scatter subsequent pulses, hindering treatment speed and homogeneity. Previous studies have demonstrated use of separate low-amplitude (~1 MPa) pulses interleaved with histotripsy pulses to drive bubble coalescence (BC), significantly improving treatment speed without sacrificing homogeneity. We propose that by using electronic focal steering (EFS) to direct the therapy focus throughout specially-designed EFS sequences, it is possible to use low-gain regions of the therapy beam to accomplish BC during EFS without any additional acoustic sequence. First, to establish proof of principle for an isolated focus, a 50-foci EFS sequence was constructed with the first position isolated near the geometric focus and remaining positions distributed post-focally. EFS sequences were evaluated in tissue-mimicking phantoms with gas concentrations of 20% and 100% with respect to saturation. Results using an isolated focus demonstrated that at 20% gas concentration, 49 EFS pulses were sufficient to achieve BC in all samples for pulse repetition frequency (PRF) ⩽ 800 Hz and 84.1% ± 3.0% of samples at 5 kHz PRF. For phantoms prepared with 100% gas concentration, BC was achieved by 49 EFS pulses in 39.2% ± 4.7% of samples at 50 Hz PRF and 63.4% ± 15.3% of samples at 5 kHz. To show feasibility of using the EFS-BC method to ablate a large volume quickly, a 1000-foci EFS sequence covering a volume of approximately 27 ml was tested. Results indicate that the BC effect was similarly present. A treatment rate of 27 ± 6 ml min-1 was achieved, which is signficantly faster than standard histotripsy and ultrasound thermal ablation. This study demonstrates that histotripsy with EFS can achieve BC without employing a separate acoustic sequence which has the potential to accelerate large-volume ablation while minimizing energy deposition.
Religion, toleration, and religious liberty in republican empire

ABSTRACTThe essay considers the nature and extent of toleration extended by Roman authorities to the religious pluralism of the empire. Roman legal instruments and works of law and political theory identify religion not as a concern of individuals but communities, and above all of juridically-constituted communities. As a related matter, classical and Christian Latin employs the language of political belonging, most notably that of republican citizenship, as its dominant apparatus for discussing religious affiliation. These related conceptual apparatus placed considerable limits on Romans’ ability to afford liberty in matters of religion to individuals.
Single molecule glycosylase studies with engineered 8-oxoguanine DNA damage sites show functional defects of a MUTYH polyposis variant.

Proper repair of oxidatively damaged DNA bases is essential to maintain genome stability. 8-Oxoguanine (7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine, 8-oxoG) is a dangerous DNA lesion because it can mispair with adenine (A) during replication resulting in guanine to thymine transversion mutations. MUTYH DNA glycosylase is responsible for recognizing and removing the adenine from 8-oxoG:adenine (8-oxoG:A) sites. Biallelic mutations in the MUTYH gene predispose individuals to MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP), and the most commonly observed mutation in some MAP populations is Y165C. Tyr165 is a ‘wedge’ residue that intercalates into the DNA duplex in the lesion bound state. Here, we utilize single molecule fluorescence microscopy to visualize the real-time search behavior of Escherichia coli and Mus musculus MUTYH WT and wedge variant orthologs on DNA tightropes that contain 8-oxoG:A, 8-oxoG:cytosine, or apurinic product analog sites. We observe that MUTYH WT is able to efficiently find 8-oxoG:A damage and form highly stable bound complexes. In contrast, MUTYH Y150C shows decreased binding lifetimes on undamaged DNA and fails to form a stable lesion recognition complex at damage sites. These findings suggest that MUTYH does not rely upon the wedge residue for damage site recognition, but this residue stabilizes the lesion recognition complex.
Insights into microbiome research 5: Mapping is first but function must come next.

Several efforts identifying differential bacterial prevalence in the gut of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have been reported and many more are underway. While these are critical first steps in d...
Report of the Committee on Intramural Sport, Athletic Research Society, December 27, 1918

(1918). Report of the Committee on Intramural Sport, Athletic Research Society, December 27, 1918. American Physical Education Review: Vol. 23, No. 4, pp. 199-212.
Salvage Therapy for Local Progression following Definitive Therapy for Skull Base Chordomas: Is There a Role of Stereotactic Radiosurgery?

Objective The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with improved tumor control at individual sites of recurrence and to define the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the management of local or distant progression following prior radiotherapy. Study Design Clinical data of patients with recurrent skull base chordoma following prior radiotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. Setting and Participants This is a single-center retrospective study including 16 patients from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, Texas, United States. Main Outcome Measures Each site of recurrence was considered independently, and the primary outcome was freedom from treatment site progression (FFTSP). Results There were 40 episodes of either local or distant progression treated in 16 patients with skull base chordoma. Tumor recurrence was classified as either local, distant, or both local and distant involving the skull base, spinal column, or leptomeninges. Patients were treated with repeat surgical resection (n = 16), SRS (n = 21), or chemotherapy (n = 25). In multivariate analysis, SRS was the only treatment modality associated with improved FFTSP (p = 0.006). For tumors treated with SRS, there was no evidence of tumor progression or adverse radiation events. Other factors associated with worse FFTSP included the number of progressive episodes (>3), tumor histology, and leptomeningeal disease. Conclusions For local recurrence following prior radiotherapy, SRS was associated with improved FFTSP. SRS may represent an effective palliative treatment offering durable tumor control at the treated site without significant treatment-related morbidity.
MANAGEMENT OF AN OLDER ADULT WITH ANOMALOUS LEFT CORONARY ARTERY FROM THE PULMONARY ARTERY

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital anomaly with infrequent survival to adulthood. A 57-year-old woman with metabolic syndrome presented to the emergency department with exertional fatigue. Echocardiogram demonstrated an enlarged right coronary
Impact of hemoglobin level and self-reported symptom burden in patients with lung cancer.

e17692 Background: There has been limited research defining the differences between the effects of liberal (8-10 g/dL) and restrictive (7-8 g/dL) transfusion hemoglobin thresholds on outcomes of am...