cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DNA single-strand lesions due to 'sunlight' and UV light: a comparison of their induction in Chinese hamster and human cells, and their fate in Chinese hamster cells.

— It has been shown that the lethal properties of germicidal UV light (254 nm) and sunlight-simulating near UV light are qualitatively different (Elkind et al., 1978). Further to compare these two radiations, the induction of single-strand DNA breaks (i.e. frank breaks plus alkali-labile lesions) was measured in two cell lines. Equal numbers of breaks in Chinese hamster cells require a dose of UV 5.5% of a near UV dose but in HeLa cells a UV dose of 7.6% of a near-UV dose is required. The rate of break production by these radiations is about 1/10-th of that due to X-rays when a comparison is made on an equal killing dose basis. The inventory of breaks in Chinese hamster cells was also followed and was found to be characteristically different for UV compared to near UV light. These data indicate that significant differences exist, at a molecular level, in the effects produced by ultraviolet and sunlight-simulating light, and further emphasize the need for caution in attempting to extrapolate from observed molecular or biological effects due to the former to those to be expected from the latter.
Tactile Feedback Induces Reduced Grasping Force in Robot-Assisted Surgery

Robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery has gained widespread use over the past decade, but the technique is currently operated in the absence of haptic feedback during tissue manipulation. We have developed a complete tactile feedback system, consisting of a piezoresistive force sensor, control system, and pneumatic balloon tactile display, and mounted directly onto a da Vinci surgical robotic system. To evaluate the effect of tactile feedback on robotic manipulation, a group of novices (n = 16) and experts ( n = 4) were asked to perform three blocks of peg transfer tasks with the tactile feedback system in place. Force generated at the end-effectors was measured in all three blocks, but tactile feedback was active only during the middle block. All subjects used higher force when the feedback system was inactive. When active, subjects immediately used substantially less force and still maintained appropriate grip during the task. After the system was again turned off, grip force increased significantly to prefeedback levels. These results demonstrate that robotic manipulations without tactile feedback are done with more force than needed to grasp objects. Therefore, the addition of tactile feedback allows the surgeon to grasp with less force, and may improve control of the robotic system and handling of tissues and other objects.
Carbohydrate Nutrition Differs by Diabetes Status and Is Associated with Dyslipidemia in Boston Puerto Rican Adults without Diabetes

Puerto Rican adults have a greater prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and lower HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) than the general U.S. population. Carbohydrate nutrition may play a role in this disparity. Cross-sectional analyses included data from 1219 Puerto Ricans aged 45–75 y enrolled in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study. Using the Pearson chi-square test and ANCOVA, lifestyle characteristics and dietary intake, as assessed by semiquantitative FFQ, were compared by T2D status based on fasting plasma glucose concentration and medication use. Food source rankings for carbohydrate, dietary glycemic load (GL), and fiber were obtained using the SAS procedure PROC RANK. Geometric mean plasma HDL-C and TG concentrations were compared across quintiles of dietary carbohydrate, glycemic index (GI), GL, and fiber by using ANCOVA and tests for linear trend. In multivariable analyses, individuals with T2D (39.5%) had lower dietary carbohydrate, GL, and total sugar intake from lower intake of sugar, fruit drinks, and soda compared with those without T2D. In individuals without T2D, dietary carbohydrate and GL were inversely associated with HDL-C (P < 0.0001). Associations between dietary fiber and HDL-C were confounded by carbohydrate intake, apparently from concurrent consumption of legumes with white rice, a refined carbohydrate food. No associations were observed between carbohydrate, dietary GI, GL, or fiber and TG. In conclusion, individuals with T2D showed evidence of dietary modification. Among those without diabetes, a high intake of refined carbohydrates was associated with decreased HDL-C. Longitudinal research on carbohydrate nutrition in relation to diabetes risk factors and blood lipids in Puerto Ricans is warranted.
Differences in patients' perceived helpfulness of depression treatment provided by general medical providers and specialty mental health providers.

Abstract Objective This study examined the differences in the level of perceived helpfulness of treatments received for a major depressive episode (MDE) from a general medical provider only, a specialty mental health provider only or both. Method This study examined a sample of 8900 respondents from the 2008–2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health aged 18–64 who had past 12-month MDE (based on criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth edition) and received treatment for depression. Generalized ordered logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the association between the type of treatment providers and perceived helpfulness of depression treatment. Results Adults who received depression treatment from either specialty mental health providers alone or from both specialty mental health providers and general medical providers in the past year were more likely to report that treatment helped them. The differences persisted after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, comorbid health conditions, receipt of depression medication and severity of depression (adjusted odds ratios across level of perceived helpfulness ranged from 1.63 to 3.96). Conclusions This finding calls for greater attention to factors associated with provider type and organizational context that may contribute to differences in perceived helpfulness of depression treatment.
Toward quantifying the usage costs of human immunity: Altered metabolic rates and hormone levels during acute immune activation in men.

There is a paucity of data on the energetic demands of human immune functions, despite the fact that both clinical medicine and evolutionary biology would benefit from further clarification of these costs. To better under- stand the energetic requirements of mounting a mild immune response, as well as some of the major hormonal changes underlying these metabolic changes, we examined changes in resting metabolic rate (RMR) and hormones during and after respiratory tract infection in young adult men. An epidemiologic passive detection design was used to recruit 25 nonfebrile subjects naturally infected with respiratory tract pathogens. Symptomology, percent body fat, RMR, salivary testosterone and cortisol, and other information were collected at a minimum of three time points during and after con- valescence. Comparisons of the differences in RMR, testosterone, and cortisol between sampling days within individual cases were made using paired t-tests. Participants experienced 8% higher RMR during illness, and a subset of these men experienced a mean increase greater than 14%. The participants also experienced 10% lower testosterone levels during illness, and a subset of these participants experienced a mean decrease of 30%, although cortisol levels did not change significantly. These results document elevated RMR following natural pathogen exposure in adult humans, demonstrating that even mild immune reactions can elicit significant increases in energy expenditure. Understanding the costs of immunity and the immunomodulatory actions of hormones are central to understanding the role of immu- nity in human life history evolution. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 22:546-556, 2010. ' 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
TEACHERS PEDAGOGICAL BELIEFS AND THE STANDARDS FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING

ABSTRACT: This study examined Midwestern foreign language teachers‘ (n = 613) responses to the Foreign Language Education Questionnaire (FLEQ) in order to determine the extent to which their beliefs are consistent with major constructs underlying the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century. Additionally, respondents rated their familiarity with the standards and provided background information that was used to identify factors that influence their beliefs. The purpose of this study was to provide direction for teacher education, in-service professional development, and future research. Analysis of the data suggests that the teachers believe that foreign language instruction should be delivered in the target language, available to all students, consonant with the “Weave of Curricular Elements,” included in early elementary school curriculum, and within the coverage model. Generally, the teachers felt somewhat familiar with the standards. Factors that have an impact on their beliefs include urban versus rural location, membership in professional organizations, gender, percentage of teaching assignment in a foreign language, highest educational degree earned, and private versus public school.
Detection and identification of nonlinearities by amplitude and frequency modulation analysis

Abstract This paper presents an amplitude and frequency modulation method (AFMM) for extracting characteristics of nonlinear systems and intermittent transient responses by processing stationary/transient responses using the empirical mode decomposition, Hilbert–Huang transform (HHT), and nonlinear dynamic characteristics derived from perturbation analysis. A sliding-window fitting (SWF) method is derived and used to show the physical implications of the proposed method and other methods for data processing and transformation. Similar to the wavelet transform, the SWF uses windowed regular harmonics and function orthogonality to extract time-localized regular and/or distorted harmonics, and then the amplitude and frequency modulations of the harmonics are used to identify system nonlinearities. On the other hand, the HHT uses the apparent time scales revealed by the signal's local maxima and minima and cubic splines of the extrema to sequentially sift components of different time scales, starting from high-frequency to low-frequency ones. Because HHT does not use predetermined basis functions and function orthogonality for component extraction, it provides more accurate instant amplitudes and frequencies of extracted components for accurate estimation of system characteristics and nonlinearities. Moreover, because the first component extracted by HHT contains all original discontinuities, its time-varying amplitude and frequency are excellent indicators for pinpointing times and locations of impulsive external loads. However, the discontinuity-induced Gibbs’ phenomenon makes HHT analysis inaccurate around the two data ends. On the other hand, the SWF analysis is not affected by Gibbs’ phenomenon, but it cannot extract accurate time-varying frequencies and amplitudes because of the use of predetermined basis functions, function orthogonality, and windowed curve fitting for component extraction. Numerical results show that the proposed AFMM can provide accurate estimation of softening and hardening effects, different orders of nonlinearity, linear and nonlinear system parameters, and time instants of intermittent transient responses.
Does calmodulin play a functional role in phototransduction

Molday and Hsu review results from in vitro experiments, which indicate that Ca-bound calmodulin reduces the cGMP sensitivity of the cyclic nucleotide-gated channel of photoreceptor cells, and speculate about the role they might play in the recovery of the light response. We discuss results from in vivo experiments that argue against the participation of Ca-calmodulin in photorecovery.
Characterization of a Ferrous Iron-Responsive Two-Component System in Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI), an opportunistic pathogen that is commonly found in the human upper respiratory tract, has only four identified two-component signal transduction systems. One of these, an ortholog to the QseBC (quorum-sensing Escherichia coli) system, was characterized. This system, designated firRS, was found to be transcribed in an operon with a gene encoding a small, predicted periplasmic protein with an unknown function, ygiW. The ygiW-firRS operon exhibited a unique feature with an attenuator present between ygiW and firR that caused the ygiW transcript level to be 6-fold higher than the ygiW-firRS transcript level. FirRS induced expression of ygiW and firR, demonstrating that FirR is an autoactivator. Unlike the QseBC system of E. coli, FirRS does not respond to epinephrine or norepinephrine. FirRS signal transduction was stimulated when NTHI cultures were exposed to ferrous iron or zinc but was unresponsive to ferric iron. Notably, the ferrous iron-responsive activation only occurred when a putative iron-binding site in FirS and the key phosphorylation aspartate in FirR were intact. FirRS was also activated when cultures were exposed to cold shock. Mutants in ygiW, firR, and firS were attenuated during pulmonary infection, but not otitis media. These data demonstrate that the H. influenzae strain 2019 FirRS is a two-component regulatory system that senses ferrous iron and autoregulates its own operon.
Pharmacotherapeutic Issues for Women of Childbearing Age with Epilepsy

James W McAuleyBSPharm PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Administration and Neurology, Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine, The Ohio State UniversityOBJECTIVE:To provide an overview of key pharmacotherapeutic issues in epilepsy for the woman of childbearing potential.DATA SOURCES:A MEDLINE search (1966–1997) was done to identify pertinent literature. Chapters in epilepsy textbooks, pregnancy registries, and their respective bibliographies were also evaluated.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:All identifiable sources written in English were evaluated.DATA SYNTHESIS:Epilepsy is a common neurologic disorder. It is estimated that nearly 1 million American women of childbearing age have epilepsy. There are many women's health issues in epilepsy. These include menstrual cycle influences on seizure activity, contraceptive–antiepileptic drug interactions, pharmacokinetic changes during pregnancy, teratogenicity of antiepileptic drugs, breast-feeding, and quality of life. These issues challenge bot...
Stem Cells, Regenerative Medicine, and Animal Models of Disease

The field of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine is rapidly moving toward translation to clinical practice, and in doing so has become even more dependent on animal donors and hosts for generating cellular reagents and assaying their potential therapeutic efficacy in models of human disease. Advances in cell culture technologies have revealed a remarkable plasticity of stem cells from embryonic and adult tissues, and transplantation models are now needed to test the ability of these cells to protect at-risk cells and replace cells lost to injury or disease. With such a mandate, issues related to acceptable sources and controversial (e.g., chimeric) models have challenged the field to provide justification of their potential efficacy before the passage of new restrictions that may curb anticipated breakthroughs. Progress from the use of both in vitro and in vivo regenerative medicine models already offers hope both for the facilitation of stem cell phenotyping in recursive gene expression profile models and for the use of stem cells as powerful new therapeutic reagents for cancer, stroke, Parkinson's, and other challenging human diseases that result in movement disorders. This article describes research in support of the following three objectives: (1) To discover the best stem or progenitor cell in vitro protocols for isolating, expanding, and priming these cells to facilitate their massive propagation into just the right type of neuronal precursor cell for protection or replacement protocols for brain injury or disease, including those that affect movement such as Parkinson's disease and stroke; (2) To discover biogenic factors--compounds that affect stem/progenitor cells (e.g., from high-throughput screening and other bioassay approaches)--that will encourage reactive cell genesis, survival, selected differentiation, and restoration of connectivity in central nervous system movement and other disorders; and (3) To establish the best animal models of human disease and injury, using both small and large animals, for testing new regenerative medicine therapeutics.
A cooperative assessment strategy for evaluating school-aged children with language impairments.

The difficulty of obtaining adequate measures of intellectual and educational abilities in school-aged children with language impairments has long been a concern for educators. This report proposes a cooperative assessment strategy that serves to assist the interdisciplinary psychoeducational evaluation and planning team to function as a unit when assessing the student with a known or suspected language impairment by (a) agreeing on a theoretical framework that will guide the assessment process, (b) cooperating in planning an assessment strategy, (c) raising questions that should be answered during the assessment process, and (d) making cooperative decisions regarding test interpretation. Issues regarding operationalization of the concept are also discussed.
Inverted browser: a novel approach towards display symbiosis

In this paper we introduce the inverted browser, a novel approach to enable mobile users to view content from their personal devices on public displays. The inverted browser is a network service to start and control a browser that is then used to view the content. In contrast to a traditional Web browser, which runs on the client device and pulls content from a server, content is pushed to the inverted browser from a personal data source upon user input. This approach allows a wide variety of personal content to be viewed by facilitating symbiotic relationships between mobile devices and intelligent displays in the environment. Our initial inverted browser prototype is based on a Web services wrapper around a traditional Web browser. Our experiments show that the inverted browser approach is superior to other solutions in terms of user convenience, ease of use, energy consumption, and privacy, but interaction latencies need improvement.
Apical Recycling of the Gastric Parietal Cell H,K-ATPase

The gastric parietal cell was the first system where a regulated membrane recycling hypothesis was proposed as the principal means for moving molecular transporters between cellular compartments. Upon stimulation, massive membrane flow from an endosomal compartment of tubulovesicle membranes to the apical secretory surface places the ATP-driven pumps in position to secrete a solution of strong acid in collaboration with several other membrane transporters. This review focuses on the membrane recycling pathway and proteins that support the recruitment and redistribution of H,K-ATPase-rich membranes, including those involved in signal transduction, membrane targeting, docking, and fusing, in addition to the integral role of the actin cytoskeleton and its associated proteins in the process of membrane recycling. Although much of the evidence discussed here comes from parietal cell studies, other physiological transport systems, as well as less complex cellular and in vitro models, are examined and cited for generality of principle.
Kinetics of the aqueous‐phase reaction between ozone and 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol

A wetted-sphere absorber was used to measure absorption rates of ozone into aqueous-buffered solutions of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP). Gas consisting of approximately 2.5% ozone in oxygen was contacted with aqueous-buffered TCP solution flowing over a sphere in a laminar liquid film. Absorption data were obtained by measuring the change in the liquid-phase concentration of TCP from the inlet to the outlet of the absorber. A rigorous numerical model for this diffusion/reaction process was used to analyze the absorption data to determine the second-order rate constant of the reaction between ozone and TCP at 15–35°C and pH 2 and 7. The kinetic data indicate that the rate-limiting step for the reaction of aqueous TCP with ozone is the same at pH 2 and 7. Four reaction products that occur early in the reaction of ozone with aqueous TCP were identified by GCMS, including: 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol (TRCP), 4,6-dichlorocatechol (DCC), 2,6-dichlorohydroquinone (DCHQ), and 2,6-dichloroquinone (DCQ). Only DCHQ and DCQ occurred in significant concentrations. Over the pH range of 2 to 5, both DCHQ and DCQ were detected in the reacted solutions, while for pH 6 and 7 only DCHQ was detected. Carbon-13 NMR analysis shows that over longer ozone exposure times short-chain carboxylic acids are the dominant species in the reacted TCP solutions.
CEO Inside Debt and Audit Fees

We examine the impact of CEO inside debt on audit fees. Prior research finds that managerial ownership of debt (such as defined-benefit pensions and other deferred compensation) reduces debtholders' demand for accounting conservatism. One consequence of using less conservative accounting is an increased likelihood of GAAP violation, which in turn increases audit effort and audit fees. Thus the level of CEO inside debt may be positively associated with audit fees. However, to the extent that inside debt mitigates stockholder-debtholder conflicts, it is also possible that inside debt leads to decreased audit risk and lower audit fees. We find significant positive relations between inside debt and audit fees, suggesting that auditors consider inside debt as a factor that requires additional audit effort.
A comparison of neural network models for prediction of RF propagation loss

Neural networks have previously been shown to be a powerful tool when used for the prediction of RF propagation loss. In this paper, we present a comparison of the performance of propagation models based on multilayer perceptron networks, radial basis function networks, and conventional multiple linear regression techniques. The complexity of the neural prediction models is set based on the cross-validation principle, with the goal of achieving good generalization properties. A number of methods for selection of training examples are also compared. It is shown that, in most cases, neural prediction models can provide an improvement in performance over conventional empirical models.
Physical limits on kinesin-5 mediated chromosome congression in the smallest mitotic spindles

A characteristic feature of mitotic spindles is the congression of chromosomes near the spindle equator, a process mediated by dynamic kinetochore microtubules. A major challenge is to understand how precise, submicrometer-scale control of kinetochore micro-tubule dynamics is achieved in the smallest mitotic spindles, where the noisiness of microtubule assembly/disassembly will potentially act to overwhelm the spatial information that controls microtubule plus end-tip positioning to mediate congression. To better understand this fundamental limit, we conducted an integrated live fluorescence, electron microscopy, and modeling analysis of the polymorphic fungal pathogen Candida albicans, which contains one of the smallest known mitotic spindles (<1 μm). Previously, ScCin8p (kinesin-5 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was shown to mediate chromosome congression by promoting catastrophe of long kinetochore microtubules (kMTs). Using C. albicans yeast and hyphal kinesin-5 (Kip1p) heterozygotes (KIP1/kip1∆), we found that mutant spindles have longer kMTs than wild-type spindles, consistent with a less-organized spindle. By contrast, kinesin-8 heterozygous mutant (KIP3/kip3∆) spindles exhibited the same spindle organization as wild type. Of interest, spindle organization in the yeast and hyphal states was indistinguishable, even though yeast and hyphal cell lengths differ by two- to fivefold, demonstrating that spindle length regulation and chromosome congression are intrinsic to the spindle and largely independent of cell size. Together these results are consistent with a kinesin-5-mediated, length-dependent depolymerase activity that organizes chromosomes at the spindle equator in C. albicans to overcome fundamental noisiness in microtubule self-assembly. More generally, we define a dimensionless number that sets a fundamental physical limit for maintaining congression in small spindles in the face of assembly noise and find that C. albicans operates very close to this limit, which may explain why it has the smallest known mitotic spindle that still manifests the classic congression architecture.
Accelerated Dynamic MRI Reconstruction with Total Variation and Nuclear Norm Regularization

In this paper, we propose a novel compressive sensing model for dynamic MR reconstruction. With total variation (TV) and nuclear norm (NN) regularization, our method can utilize both spatial and temporal redundancy in dynamic MR images. Due to the non-smoothness and non-separability of TV and NN terms, it is difficult to optimize the primal problem. To address this issue, we propose a fast algorithm by solving a primal-dual form of the original problem. The ergodic convergence rate of the proposed method is \(\mathcal{O}(1/N)\) for N iterations. In comparison with six state-of-the-art methods, extensive experiments on single-coil and multi-coil dynamic MR data demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method in terms of both reconstruction accuracy and time complexity.
US Research on Asian Business: A Flawed Model

Increasingly, publication in the top US business research journals is being accepted as an indicator of excellence in research by management schools around the world. This is problematic for research on Asian business. The US management journals, most highly valued in evaluating academic success, have developed a very narrow focus. These journals are most receptive to articles that rely on theory that was developed in a US context, and thus may not be easily applicable to Asian business. They tend to define rigor in terms of the use of quantitative methods, and thus require the use of variables that are easily quantifiable (and data that is readily available). As a consequence, they limit the sorts of exploratory research that still may be most productive in helping us understand Asian business and management. Ironically, just as non-American institutions are increasingly relying on American management journals in evaluating the research performance of their faculty, there are growing qualms within the United States about the legitimacy of US management research enterprise.
A Brief Survey of Stochastic Electrodynamics

Stochastic electrodynamics and random electrodynamics are the names given to a particular version of classical electrodynamics. This purely classical theory is Lorentz’s classical electron theory(1) into which one introduces random electromagnetic radiation (classical zero-point radiation) as the boundary condition giving the homogeneous solution of Maxwell’s equations. The theory contains one adjustable parameter setting the scale of the random radiation, and this parameter is chosen in terms of Planck’s constant,h = 2πℏ. Many of the researchers(2–70) working on stochastic electrodynamics hope that it will provide an accurate description of atomic physics and replace or explain quantum theory. At the very least the theory makes available new tools for calculating van der Waals forces, and it deepens our understanding of the connections between classical and quantum theories.(71)
EHR Adoption and Patient Safety: The Role of EHR and Health Care Provider Characteristics

Health care providers are increasingly adopting EHR and expecting EHR to reduce medical errors and improve patient safety. However, the findings on the effect of EHR on patient safety have been mixed. In this paper, we investigate the factors moderating the relationship between EHR and patient safety. More specifically, we propose that EHR characteristics, including EHR certification, usability and privacy protection mechanism, and health care provider characteristics, including IT experience, stage of adoption, length of usage, and organization size, could influence the actual impact of EHR on patient safety.
Evaluation and Testing of n + 239Pu Nuclear Data for Revision 2 of ENDF/B-V

A major revision of the ENDF/B-V evaluation of neutron-induced nuclear data for 239Pu has been completed for neutron energies between 8 keV and 20 MeV. The most important changes to the evaluation ...
Directional Charge Transfer Mediated by Mid-Gap States: A Transient Absorption Spectroscopy Study of CdSe Quantum Dot/β-Pb0.33V2O5 Heterostructures

For solar energy conversion, not only must a semiconductor absorb incident solar radiation efficiently but also its photoexcited electron—hole pairs must further be separated and transported across interfaces. Charge transfer across interfaces requires consideration of both thermodynamic driving forces as well as the competing kinetics of multiple possible transfer, cooling, and recombination pathways. In this work, we demonstrate a novel strategy for extracting holes from photoexcited CdSe quantum dots (QDs) based on interfacing with β-Pb0.33V2O5 nanowires that have strategically positioned midgap states derived from the intercalating Pb2+ ions. Unlike midgap states derived from defects or dopants, the states utilized here are derived from the intrinsic crystal structure and are thus homogeneously distributed across the material. CdSe/β-Pb0.33V2O5 heterostructures were assembled using two distinct methods: successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) and linker-assisted assembly (LAA). Transien...
Effect of Fringe Benefit Tax on Wages: Evidence from India

Using a new tax on fringe benefits initiated in India in 2005, this paper seeks evidence for the hypothesis that the difference in higher marginal tax rates on wages, relative to lower rates on fringe benefits, induces a reallocation of the total compensation package toward fringe benefits. Firm-level panel data on employee total compensation and wages across all industries is used to link their marginal tax rate on fringe benefits and choice of compensation. The key finding is that a tax on fringe benefits only affects the wage allocation of highly paid employees relative to employees lower on the pay scale. Using my most conservative estimate, I find that an increase in fringe-tax by 1 percentage point increases wages by one percent. Another major finding in this paper is that fringes are heterogeneous in nature and their provision can be for enhancing the productivity of an employee. In provision of such productivity enhancing fringes the firms observes a hierarchy among its employees.
Bridging translation for acute kidney injury with better preclinical modeling of human disease

The current lack of effective therapeutics for patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) represents an important and unmet medical need. Given the importance of the clinical problem, it is time for us to take a few steps back and reexamine current practices. The focus of this review is to explore the extent to which failure of therapeutic translation from animal studies to human studies stems from deficiencies in the preclinical models of AKI. We will evaluate whether the preclinical models of AKI that are commonly used recapitulate the known pathophysiologies of AKI that are being modeled in humans, focusing on four common scenarios that are studied in clinical therapeutic intervention trials: cardiac surgery-induced AKI; contrast-induced AKI; cisplatin-induced AKI; and sepsis associated AKI. Based on our observations, we have identified a number of common limitations in current preclinical modeling of AKI that could be addressed. In the long term, we suggest that progress in developing better preclinical models of AKI will depend on developing a better understanding of human AKI. To this this end, we suggest that there is a need to develop greater in-depth molecular analyses of kidney biopsy tissues coupled with improved clinical and molecular classification of patients with AKI.
“She just told me to leave it”: Women's experiences discussing early elective IUD removal

Abstract Objective The objective of this study is to describe the thoughts and experiences of women who report discussing intrauterine device (IUD) removal within 9 months of insertion. Study design This is a qualitative study, consisting of semistructured individual interviews with 16 women who considered early elective IUD removal. We identified eligible participants via chart review. We analyzed interviews using a modified grounded theory approach. Results While pain and bleeding were prominent reasons for removal, women also discussed many other symptoms and concerns. Most women reported a strong desire to have a successful IUD experience, and all reported waiting for symptoms to resolve prior to their visit. Some women reported that providers supported their choice, while others reported that providers preferred that they continue the IUD despite symptoms and concerns. Some women reported providers' resistance or refusal to remove the IUDs. The women who reported that their providers were neutral about IUD removal more frequently expressed satisfaction with the visit. When the provider resisted removal, women felt frustrated, even as they acknowledged their doctor's good intentions. In several cases, this may have hurt the doctor–patient relationship. Conclusions When physicians resist early elective IUD removal, it may impact patient satisfaction and even jeopardize the doctor–patient relationship. Implications Though IUDs are highly effective and well-liked contraceptives, some patients choose to discontinue the method. Because provision of patient-centered contraceptive care includes IUD removal when requested, providers must ensure that their counseling is unbiased and that they do not place perceived or real barriers to IUD removal.
Hypoxia depresses CYP1A induction and enhances DNA damage, but has minimal effects on antioxidant responses in sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) larvae exposed to dispersed crude oil

The growing incidence of hypoxic regions in coastal areas receiving high volumes of anthropogenic discharges requires more focused risk assessment of multiple stressors. One area needing further study is the combined effect of hypoxia and oil exposure. This study examined the short-term sublethal effects of co-exposure to hypoxia and water accommodated fractions (WAF) and chemically enhanced WAFs (CEWAFs) of Southern Louisiana Crude oil on detoxification, antioxidant defenses and genotoxicity in early life stage sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus). CYP1A induction (evaluated by measuring EROD activity), activity of a number of key antioxidant enzymes (GST, GR, GPx, SOD, CAT, and GCL), levels of antioxidants (tGSH, GSH, and GSSG), evidence of lipid peroxidation (evaluated using the TBARS assay), and DNA damage (evaluated using the comet assay) provided a broad assessment of responses. Contaminant detoxification pathways induced by oil exposure were inhibited by co-exposure to hypoxia, indicating a maladaptive response. The interactive effects of oil and hypoxia on antioxidant defenses were mixed, but generally indicated less pronounced alterations, with significant increases in lipid peroxidation not observed. Hypoxia significantly enhanced DNA damage induced by oil exposure indicating the potential for significant deleterious effects post exposure. This study demonstrates the importance of considering hypoxia as an enhanced risk factor in assessing the effects of contaminants in areas where seasonal hypoxia may be prevalent.
Impacts of Private Prison Contracting on Inmate Time Served and Recidivism

I contribute new evidence on the impacts of private prison contracting by exploiting staggered prison capacity shocks in Mississippi between 1996 and 2004. I find that private prison inmates serve up to 90 additional days, which equals 7 percent of the average time served. The mechanism for this delayed release appears linked to the widespread use of conduct violations in private prisons. Despite the additional days served, I find no evidence that private prison inmates recidivate less. I nest both results in a theoretical model based on the typical private prison contract that pays a diem for each occupied bed.
Design of decentralized local controllers of spatially distributed systems by approximation of feedback kernels

This paper considers the problem of decentralized controllers for spatially distributed systems. The spatially distributed systems are assumed to have a network of control units and the decentralized design is solved by approximation of the feedback kernels. By first obtaining the full state feedback controllers corresponding to the centralized design, the individual feedback operators are numerically approximated by the product of static feedback gains with spatial delta functions representing the spatial distribution of the sensing devices. The resulting kernel approximation produces both the interconnection topology between the control units and their interconnection strengths. Since the feedback kernels are themselves based on quadratic control costs, then the kernel approximation method results in a suboptimal controller design with a significantly improved communication costs that reduces the information exchange between the control units. As a special case of a SISO system, the kernel approximation can also provide an optimal sensor location with respect to the energy of the resulting closed loop system. Extensive numerical studies for a diffusion partial differential equation (PDE) in one spatial dimension having four collocated actuator/sensor pairs along with the joint sensor and static gain optimization of a SISO diffusion PDE are included.
Transsphenoidal Approaches to Craniopharyngiomas

The surgical approach to craniopharyngioma (CP) treatment is complex. It is crucial to objectively define the advantages and limitations of each surgical option in terms of outcomes and risk of complications. The indications for and the success of transsphenoidal endoscopic approaches continue to expand, allowing for safe and efficient for tumor resection. Advancements in pre- and intraoperative imaging, microscopy, endoscopy, and refinements in medical management have all helped to improve patient outcomes for those harboring CPs. As the number and complexity of surgical tools increase, there is an increased need for attention to and consideration of the surgical approach itself. Not all approaches are appropriate for every CP, and the nuances of each individual case should guide the operative strategy.
Scaling of Heat Transfer and Temperature Distribution in Granular Flows in Rotating Drums

Accurate prediction of the time required to heat up granular materials to a target temperature is crucial for several processes. However, we do not have quantitative models to predict the average temperature or the temperature distribution of the particles. Here, we computationally investigate the scaling of heat transfer in granular flows in rotating drums. Based on our simulations, which include a wide range of system and material properties, we identify the appropriate characteristic time that is used to derive equations that predict the particles' average temperature and the particles' temperature distribution.
Risk Stratification by Urinary Prostate Cancer Gene 3 Testing Before Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Ultrasound Fusion-targeted Prostate Biopsy Among Men With No History of Biopsy

Objective To determine whether a combination of prostate cancer gene 3 (PCA3) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suspicion score (mSS) could further optimize detection of prostate cancer on MRI fusion-targeted biopsy (MRF-TB) among men with no history of biopsy. Materials and Methods We included in this study 187 men presenting to our institution between June 2012 and August 2014 who underwent multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) and PCA3 before MRF-TB. Biopsy results, stratified by biopsy indication and PCA3 score, were recorded. Receiver operating characteristics curves and multivariable logistic regressions were used to model the association of PCA3 and mSS with cancer detection on MRF-TB. Results PCA3 is associated with cancer detection on MRF-TB for men with no prior biopsies (area under the curve: 0.67, 95% confidence interval: 0.59-0.76). Using a cutoff of ≥35, PCA3 was associated with cancer risk among men with mSS 2-3 ( P = .004), but not among those with mSS 4-5 ( P = .340). The interaction of PCA3 and mSS demonstrated significantly higher discrimination for cancer than mSS alone (area under the curve: 0.83 vs 0.79, P = .0434). Conclusion Urinary PCA3 is associated with mSS and the detection of cancer on MRF-TB for men with no prior biopsies. PCA3 notably demonstrates a high negative predictive value among mSS 2-3. However, in the case of high-suspicion mpMRI, PCA3 is not associated with cancer detection on MRF-TB, adding little to cancer diagnosis. Further studies are needed to evaluate the utility of PCA3 in predicting cancer among men with normal mpMRI.
The Talking Cure and the Silent Treatment: Some Limits of “Discourse” as Speech

AbstractThis manuscript suggests that broad notions of “discourse” have morphed under cultural pressure into injunctions to “talk.” It inquires after the purposes of talk, particularly as remedy and practice in “deliberative democracy.” Since many of us do much of our talking in the classroom, it first asks what the academy teaches administrators about democratic talk and its purposes, what talk accompanies the professorial walk, and to what extent the classroom is a useful allegory for the polis. Next, the article discusses PA ’s prescriptions for talk in light of a (partial) taxonomy of silence, and an economy of listening. It considers whether the prescription for talk is likely to be appreciated, interpreted, and applied evenly across the political body, given historical experience. It also investigates silence as mode and sign of exclusion, withdrawal, and resistance, and suggests there is more to silence than the absence of talk. After asking how well we are listening to either talk or silence, I re...
Obedient Bellies: Hunger and Food Security in Ancient Mesopotamia

This essay argues that a broad survey of the evidence for hunger in ancient Mesopotamia shows that, while it was relatively rare in fact (if familiar enough in theory), the political management of hunger by early states points to its use in simulating their positions, in rhetoric and ideology, as providers of security and political membership as a rational economic choice. In fact, the social marginalization and moral pejorativization of the hungry points to these protections as “security theater” rather than security in fact.
Patient Perceptions of Primary Care-Based Skin Cancer Screening.

This analysis of a series of interviews seeks to better understand patient perceptions of primary care–based skin cancer screening.
The Efficacy of Tadalafil Daily vs on Demand in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

We present a review comparing the use of tadalafil daily vs on-demand for erectile dysfunction. We examined randomized controlled trials and observational studies that examined the use of tadalafil for at least 8 weeks of follow-up with the primary outcome of International Index for Erectile Dysfunction-Erectile Function domain. Eight studies that examined the desired dosing regimens were identified. Of these, 6 studies included the primary end point of 12 weeks. Those patients taking tadalafil daily for 12 weeks scored on average 1.82 points higher in International Index for Erectile Dysfunction-Erectile Function domain scores, although the difference may not be clinically significant ( Fig. 1 ).
Modeling Time-to-Acceptance for ISI-Indexed Journals in the Profession of Library and Information Science

There are many factors affecting review duration after a paper has been submitted to a journal. Developing a time-to-acceptance model of each journal for the whole time span from submission to acceptance can help researchers when they are selecting journals to publish research results, as well as help editors when they are optimizing workflow and strategy. Using ISI-indexed journals in the profession of library and information science as an example, this study aims to explore the possible patterns of time-to-acceptance for refereed articles. Based on the theories of maximum likelihood estimation, this article models probability distributions for the retrieved data through the R package fitdistrplus. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test is further used to determine if the distribution for each journal can be accepted.
POWERS forID: Personalized Online Weight and Exercise Response System for Individuals with Intellectual Disability: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Intellectual disability (ID) is characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. Adults with ID exhibit higher rates of obesity and poorer health status compared to the general population. Continuity of care and barriers to health-related activities may contribute to the poorer health status observed in this population. To address this problem, a tailored weight management online health information and communication technology platform, known as POWERSforID, was developed and is being tested to determine if this delivery mechanism can improve weight maintenance/weight loss in adults with ID. Obese adults with mild-to-moderate ID (n = 70) are randomized to the POWERS forID intervention or control group for a 24-week trial. Each group undergoes an assessment that includes body weight, waist circumference, and percent body fat at baseline and at weeks 6, 12, and 24. Physical activity barriers, healthy eating barriers, food frequency, and psychosocial wellbeing are measured at baseline and at weeks 12 and 24. Blood lipids are assessed at baseline and 24 weeks. Participants randomized to POWERS forID receive access to the POWERS forID website and calls from a health coach (weekly during weeks 1–12, biweekly during weeks 13–24). The health coach employs motivational interviewing techniques adapted for individuals with ID to promote behavior change. Participants randomized to the control group receive standard clinical weight-loss care. Differences in weight, waist circumference, blood lipids, percent body fat, and psychosocial self-report will be assessed. Barriers and facilitators of implementation as well as perception of study outcomes will be conducted via qualitative analysis. POWERS forID is a novel information and communication technology platform designed to address health needs for adults with ID. This article describes the development and components of POWERS forID. The overall aim is to assess usability and feasibility of POWERS forID for promoting weight loss for obese adults with ID over the course of a 24-week randomized control trial. Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03139760 . Registered on XXX
Anomalous vertebral arteries in Klippel-Feil syndrome with occipitalized atlas: CT angiography.

Abstract Klippel-Feil syndrome is an uncommon anomaly that may be asymptomatic. Early clinical signs such as restricted neck motion or short neck can be subtle and incorrectly treated as spasms. High incidence of associated craniovertebral junction (CVJ) anomalies such as occipitalized atlas predisposes them to serious neurologic complications requiring invasive procedures and surgeries. However, these often have anomalous vertebral artery course which is more prone to injury during CVJ procedures, and also sparsely known in radiology literature. We demonstrate the importance of computed tomography angiography in preprocedural planning to avoid catastrophic injury to anomalous vertebral artery at CVJ in such case.