cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Concentrations of oligomers and polymers of proanthocyanidins in red and purple rice bran and their relationships to total phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity and whole grain color

Proanthocyanidins, a flavonoids subgroup, are proposed to have chronic disease modulation properties. With the eventual goal of enhancing rice phytonutrient concentrations, we investigated the genotypic variation of the concentrations of individual oligomers and polymers of proanthocyanidins in red and purple rice brans. A 4.3-fold variation in total proanthocyanidins (sum of oligomers and polymers) in the extractable fraction was found and the concentration was highly correlated with total phenolics, total flavonoids and antiradical capacity. Variation in the proportion of oligomers and polymers existed, with monomers to trimers, 4–6mers, 7–10mers and polymers accounting for 7, 18, 26.5 and 48.7%, respectively, of the total. The redness value a∗ of whole grain rice measured in CIE L∗a∗b∗ color space was negatively and positively correlated with extractable and non-extractable proanthocyanidins, respectively. The variation found indicates it is possible to select rice with bran containing high levels of total proanthocyanidins and specific degree of polymerization profiles.
Chaperonin 60 regulation of SOX9 ubiquitination mitigates the development of knee osteoarthritis.

Articular cartilage integrity loss is a prominently deleterious feature of osteoarthritis (OA). The mechanistic underlying the development of OA warrants characterization. Heat shock proteins (HSPs), members of the chaperone family, reportedly orchestrate tissue homeostasis and remodeling in response to detrimental stress. This study was undertaken to characterize the biological role of HSP60 in the pathogenesis of OA knee. Articular specimens from OA knee patients displayed severe articular damage histopathology concomitant with low HSP60 concentrations in cartilage and synovial fluid compared to non-OA patients. In vitro, a gain of HSP60 signaling counteracted the IL-1β-mediated suppression of mitochondrial biogenesis, chondrogenic transcription factor SOX9, and cartilage matrix expression of human chondrocytes cultures. Transgenic mice that overexpressed human HSP60 (TgHSP60) had higher chondrocyte proliferation and thicker articular cartilage than wild-type mice. In collagenase-induced OA knees, analyses of CatWalk, 2-deoxyglucose-probed fluorescence imaging, and μCT revealed that affected knees of TgHSP60 mice showed minor footprint irregularity, joint inflammation, and osteophyte formation. HSP60 overexpression also alleviated the histopathology of cartilage damage, synovial hypervascularization, and macrophage infiltration within joint lesions. Intra-articular administration of exogenous HSP60 ameliorated the pathogenesis of cartilage deterioration, synovitis, and osteophyte accumulation, thereby improving gait profiles of the collagenase-injured knees. HSP60 signaling maintains SOX9 levels by attenuating SOX9 hyper-ubiquitination of affected joints. Taken together, HSP60 deficiency in articular compartments was relevant to OA knee incidence. Sustained HSP60 signaling is favorable to mitigate the progression of OA. This study highlights the joint-anabolic actions of HSP60 and provides perspective on its therapeutic potential for OA.
Reducing cardiac deaths with hypolipidemic drugs.

PreviewWhile deaths due to coronary artery disease have declined in recent decades, the recommendation of new cutoff points for defining hypercholesterolemia and the introduction of new lip- id-lowering agents promise even greater reductions. In this article, Dr Naito shares his experience in the use of hypolipidemic agents, focusing on the rationale for treating persons at risk for coronary artery disease, the new National Institutes of Health cholesterol guidelines for defining persons at risk, and treatment with currently available cholesterol-lowering agents. Special attention is given to issues of patient compliance.
P06.12 Human il-36 gamma as an indicator of vaginal infection and promoter of mucosal inflammation

Introduction IL-36γ (also designated as IL-1F9) has been recently identified and belongs to the IL-1 family of cytokines. Despite expression of IL-36γ at other mucosal sites, it has not previously been reported in the vaginal or cervical epithelium. Overall, there is a paucity of information regarding the induction and physiological function of IL-36γ. Methods Utilising our human 3-D vaginal EC model, that more accurately recapitulates in vivo human vaginal tissue, we tested the hypothesis that IL-36γ induction in the vaginal epithelium is microbe-dependent by testing a panel of STI microbes and microbial products. To further investigate the induction and regulation of IL-36γ, 3-D vaginal EC were treated with poly (I:C), flagellin or FSL-1 for 24 h. Human 3-D cells were analysed by real-time qPCR analysis. Cell pellets and culture supernatants were also collected and analysed by IL-36γ ELISA, Western blot and cytometric bead array. Results Following exposure to STI pathogens (herpes simplex virus and bacterial vaginosis (BV)-associated bacteria) and specific microbial products, IL-36γ expression was significantly increased relative to untreated and Lactobacilli spp. bacteria in the vaginal EC model. All microbial products tested significantly (p Conclusion We show that human 3-D vaginal EC express IL-36γ and this cytokine is elicited in a microbe-dependent manner at this mucosal site. Furthermore, we demonstrate that IL-36γ is an important driver for epithelial activation and inflammation following infection with STI-related pathogens and BV-associated bacteria, as such this novel cytokine may play an important role in host defense in the vaginal epithelium. Disclosure of interest statement No pharmaceutical grants were received in the development of this study.
Immunogenetics of cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Purpose of reviewSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the prototypic autoimmune condition, often affecting multiple organ systems, including the skin. Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is distinct from SLE and may be skin limited or associated with systemic disease. Histopathologically, the hallm
Experience of Respect and Pain Management among Adult Patients with Sickle Cell Disease during Vaso-Occlusive Crisis.

Abstract BACKGROUND. Adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) have reported adversarial relationships with health professionals in qualitative studies, but there are no quantitative data. We sought to examine experiences of respect among patients with SCD seeking acute care for vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), and to relate these experiences to quality of pain management. METHODS. We surveyed 54 adult patients upon discharge from the Emergency Department (ED) at an urban academic medical center. We measured patient experience of respect using items from the Interpersonal Processes of Care Instrument and summed responses to form a ‘respect' scale from 0–100 (alpha 0.89). We measured pain management quality by asking patients whether doctors and nurses brought them their pain medicines as soon as they needed them and changed their pain medicines if they were not working (‘all' and ‘most' of the time were considered favorable responses while ‘some' or ‘none' of the time were considered unfavorable). RESULTS. Patients generally reported low levels of respect and poor pain management. A small proportion of patients reported (‘all of the time') that doctors and nurses seemed to care about them as a person (19%), listened carefully to what they had to say (17%), and took their concerns seriously (13%). A substantial proportion reported (‘all, ‘most' or ‘some of the time') that their doctors and nurses had a negative attitude towards them (63%), made them feel inferior (74%), made them feel as if they weren't welcome (65%) and behaved rudely towards them (50%). Only 34% of patients reported timely receipt of pain medication and 48% reported that ineffective medication was changed. Patient experience of respect and pain management quality were not significantly related to patient age, sex, or employment status; however patients seen more frequently in the ED reported less respect (mean respect scores 74.1, 62.7, and 54.6 for patients seen 15 times per year respectively, p=0.04). Patients who experienced lower respect also reported poorer pain management quality. Compared to patients who reported timely receipt of and changes in ineffective medication, patients who reported delays in receipt and no change in ineffective medication had lower respect scores (mean 71.9 vs. 53.9, p=0.001 for timely vs. delayed; 65.6 vs. 53.7 for change vs. no change). CONCLUSION. Interventions are needed to improve the experiences of adult patients with SCD who present to the ED with VOC. Further research is needed to determine the causes of poor experiences of respect and pain management, and to determine their further consequences.
DFT signal detection and channelization with a deep neural network modulation classifier

A system capable of detecting and classifying narrowband signals transmitted over the air at radio frequency is described. The system is composed of two parts: (1) a signal detector and channelizer; (2) a radio-frequency modulation classifier. The signal detector uses an FFT for band edge detection. The channelizer uses the estimated bands and FFT vector to create a variable number of resampled time-domain streams (1 for each band detected) that are put in a queue for classification. The classifier is a deep neural network trained to classify the modulations expected. Overall system architecture consisting of a GNU Radio front-end, a message queue, and a Tensorflow-based neural network is explained along with individual algorithms and training of the modulation classifier.
Notch Regulates Macrophage-Mediated Inflammation in Diabetic Wound Healing.

Macrophages are essential immune cells necessary for regulated inflammation during wound healing. Recent studies have identified that Notch plays a role in macrophage-mediated inflammation. Thus, we investigated the role of Notch signaling on wound macrophage phenotype and function during normal and diabetic wound healing. We found that Notch receptor and ligand expression are dynamic in wound macrophages during normal healing. Mice with a myeloid-specific Notch signaling defect (DNMAMLfloxedLyz2Cre+ ) demonstrated delayed early healing (days 1-3) and wound macrophages had decreased inflammatory gene expression. In our physiologic murine model of type 2 diabetes (T2D), Notch receptor expression was significantly increased in wound macrophages on day 6, following the initial inflammatory phase of wound healing, corresponding to increased inflammatory cytokine expression. This increase in Notch1 and Notch2 was also observed in human monocytes from patients with T2D. Further, in prediabetic mice with a genetic Notch signaling defect (DNMAMLfloxedLyz2Cre+ on a high-fat diet), improved wound healing was seen at late time points (days 6-7). These findings suggest that Notch is critical for the early inflammatory phase of wound healing and directs production of macrophage-dependent inflammatory mediators. These results identify that canonical Notch signaling is important in directing macrophage function in wound repair and define a translational target for the treatment of non-healing diabetic wounds.
SG-ADVISER mtDNA: a web server for mitochondrial DNA annotation with data from 200 samples of a healthy aging cohort.

Whole genome and exome sequencing usually include reads containing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Yet, state-of-the-art pipelines and services for human nuclear genome variant calling and annotation do not handle mitochondrial genome data appropriately. As a consequence, any researcher desiring to add mtDNA variant analysis to their investigations is forced to explore the literature for mtDNA pipelines, evaluate them, and implement their own instance of the desired tool. This task is far from trivial, and can be prohibitive for non-bioinformaticians. We have developed SG-ADVISER mtDNA, a web server to facilitate the analysis and interpretation of mtDNA genomic data coming from next generation sequencing (NGS) experiments. The server was built in the context of our SG-ADVISER framework and on top of the MtoolBox platform (Calabrese et al., Bioinformatics 30(21):3115–3117, 2014), and includes most of its functionalities (i.e., assembly of mitochondrial genomes, heteroplasmic fractions, haplogroup assignment, functional and prioritization analysis of mitochondrial variants) as well as a back-end and a front-end interface. The server has been tested with unpublished data from 200 individuals of a healthy aging cohort (Erikson et al., Cell 165(4):1002–1011, 2016) and their data is made publicly available here along with a preliminary analysis of the variants. We observed that individuals over ~90 years old carried low levels of heteroplasmic variants in their genomes. SG-ADVISER mtDNA is a fast and functional tool that allows for variant calling and annotation of human mtDNA data coming from NGS experiments. The server was built with simplicity in mind, and builds on our own experience in interpreting mtDNA variants in the context of sudden death and rare diseases. Our objective is to provide an interface for non-bioinformaticians aiming to acquire (or contrast) mtDNA annotations via MToolBox. SG-ADVISER web server is freely available to all users at https://genomics.scripps.edu/mtdna .
Evaluation of the addition of organic acids in the feed and/or water for broilers and the subsequent recovery of Salmonella Typhimurium from litter and ceca.

ABSTRACT Three separate broiler Salmonella Typhimurium challenge experiments were conducted evaluating efficacy of formic and propionic acid feed supplements to suppress environmental and cecal Salmonella Typhimurium prevalence. In experiment 1, broilers were provided feed with 1 kg/ton formic acid or 5 kg/ton propionic acid feed additives or a basal control diet. At the day of placement, half of the pens were inoculated with seeder chicks orally challenged with a marker strain of Salmonella Typhimurium and to yield challenged and adjacent nonchallenged pens. No differences in weekly litter samples or cecal Salmonella prevalence at 3 or 6 wk among feeding treatments were detected. In experiment 2, treatments were: 2 kg/ton propionic acid in feed, 1.0 mL/L formic acid in water, both propionic acid in feed and formic acid in water, and a basal control. Every pen was challenged with seeder chicks inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium. By 6 wk all pens maintained detectable litter Salmonella, and broilers provided both propionic acid in feed and formic acid in water had the lowest cecal recovery (35%), compared to the control (60%). In experiment 3, treatments were: formic acid at 4 or 6 kg/ton from wk 0 to 6 or for only the last wk, propionic acid at 5 or 10 kg/ton for only the last wk, and a basal control. Each pen was challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium inoculated seeder chicks. By 6 wk, broilers fed formic acid (4 kg/ton) for the entire growout had no Salmonella-positive ceca (0/30). All treatments that provided acid supplemented feed for only the last wk had 3–13% Salmonella-positive ceca. These experiments indicate that adding formic acid to broiler feed appears to prevent Salmonella colonization from challenge pens entering into the adjacent nonchallenge pens. Feeding formic acid (4 kg/ton) for 6 wk resulted in no recovery of Salmonella from ceca compared to the control prevalence of 17%.
Putting the System Into Performance Management Systems: A Review and Agenda for Performance Management Research:

It has been 13 years since the last comprehensive review of the performance management (PM) literature, and a lot has changed in both research and practice in that time. The current review updates ...
Neural Tissue Engineering

Injury to the nervous system leads to several debilitating long-term disabilities that can severely impair quality of life. Regenerative failure following injury is the primary cause of disability and is mainly attributed to the localized upregulation of nerve inhibitory molecules in the case of central nervous system (CNS) injuries, and the presence of inhibitory molecules along with the absence of structural support in the case of peripheral nervous system (PNS) injuries. While treatments using autografts and allografts do result in appreciable nerve regeneration in the case of peripheral nerve gaps, the same is not true of CNS injuries which are difficult to treat.
Is a Shared Past Possible? The Ethics and Practice of Archaeology in the Twenty-First Century

I take it for granted that archaeological stewardship should be based on dialogue between stakeholder groups. Some form of collaboration and consultation is at the heart of most attempts today to deal with long-term stewardship issues, whether it is the consultancy involved in the development of the Stonehenge management plan or the dialogues involving archaeologists, governments, and indigenous peoples throughout the world (e.g., Swidler et al. 1997). I also take it for granted that many guidelines and procedures have been discussed for such stewardship collaboration dealing with a wide range of issues, including the need to identify all potential stakeholders, provide time for consultation, evaluate varying cultural values regarding heritage, and assess economic implications (e.g., de la Torre 1997
Imaging Neurologic Manifestations of Oncologic Disease

This chapter presents an up-to-date overview of the imaging manifestations of major neurological conditions that occur in patients with systemic cancer. Conventional and advanced imaging techniques are discussed. Pitfalls in the neuroimaging of brain metastasis are presented, and an imaging approach to the patient with a newly detected brain mass is provided.
The Acute Impact of Hatha Yoga on Craving Among Smokers Attempting to Reduce or Quit

Introduction Despite negative effects of smoking, smokers have difficulty quitting, suggesting a need for additional strategies to help them quit. A single-session hatha yoga intervention acutely reduced craving among nicotine-deprived smokers not attempting to reduce or quit, yet it is unknown if it reduces craving among those attempting to change their smoking. Thus, this study tested the efficacy of a single-session hatha yoga intervention for acutely reducing craving among smokers attempting to reduce or quit smoking. Methods Data presented are part of a larger dissertation project. Participants were 55 community-recruited smokers (62% male) motivated to reduce or quit smoking randomized to one session of hatha yoga (n = 25) or wellness control (ie, reading educational materials about healthy lifestyle; n = 30) on their intervention day (ie, the day on which they began to reduce or quit smoking). Participants rated, "I have a desire for a cigarette right now," on a 7-point Likert scale immediately before and after the intervention. Results After statistically controlling for CO in breath, participant type, age, gender, race, and ethnicity, a significant Time × Condition interaction was found, F(1, 47) = 4.72, p = .035, ηp2 = .09, suggesting craving decreased at a greater rate in the hatha yoga condition relative to the wellness condition. Conclusions Results from this study add to a growing body of research demonstrating the potential clinical utility of hatha yoga as an adjunctive intervention tool for smoking cessation. Implications This is the first known study to test the impact of a single-session hatha yoga intervention on craving among adult smokers attempting to reduce or quit smoking. We found that 30 minutes of hatha yoga produced a greater reduction in craving compared to a 30-minute wellness control condition. This relationship was evident even after statistically accounting for other important variables (eg, gender). Results of this study add to a growing body of literature demonstrating the potential clinical utility of hatha yoga as an adjunctive intervention strategy for smoking cessation.
A virtual reality tool for measuring and shaping trunk compensation for persons with stroke: Design and initial feasibility testing.

Background: Compensatory movement, such as flexing the trunk during reaching, may negatively affect motor improvement during task-based practice for persons with stroke. Shaping, or incrementally d...
Human Development, Theories of

Relational developmental systems (RDS) models frame contemporary scholarship in human development – whether in infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, or late adulthood – and encourage investigations of variation both within time and across people in their trajectories of individual ↔ context relations using person-centered and change-sensitive methods. Accordingly, we contrast RDS theory-framed research with prior theoretical approaches, specifying implications of RDS theories for description, explanation, and optimization of development across the life span. We note implications for programs and policies and for promoting social justice among diverse individuals, families, and communities.
Physical, Chemical, and Microbial Quality of Floodwaters in Houston Following Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey brought more than 50 in. of rainfall to some areas of the Greater Houston Metro area (GHMA) starting on August 25, 2017; the Hurricane was also associated with damage to environmental infrastructure such as wastewater facilities, superfund sites, and leaks and spills from industrial and municipal facilities. This study collected post-Harvey water quality data in multiple streams for several weeks after the Hurricane. In addition to measuring impact, the study compared the observed concentrations of several physical, chemical, and microbial constituents and water properties to their historical counterparts in an effort to understand the water quality impacts of Harvey on the natural water systems within the GHMA. Unusual water quality findings such as low pH were observed that likely had acute and chronic effects on ecosystems including the loss of oyster populations in Galveston Bay. In-stream microbial concentrations, using E. coli as the indicator, were within historical norms typically reported for the GHMA. The observed levels of measured dissolved metals post Harvey, while relatively low, when multiplied by the significant volume of water discharged from bayous to Galveston Bay, meant the delivery of a substantial load of trace metals to the estuary. Specifically, the load in the particulate phase would be expected to accumulate and gradually repartition to the dissolved phase for a long period of time. Total metal concentrations, when elevated relative to their historical counterparts, could be associated with the presence of industrial activities. Overall, anthropogenic activities including the presence of hydraulic flood control structures, local runoff from industrialized areas, and active superfund sites were recognized as key factors affecting short-term acute water quality impacts. Watersheds with very little human alterations experienced minimal water quality changes and had relatively rapid recoveries post-Harvey.
Computationally-Robust and Efficient Prioritized Whole-Body Controller with Contact Constraints

In this paper, we devise methods for the multiobjective control of humanoid robots, a.k.a. prioritized whole-body controllers, that achieve efficiency and robustness in the algorithmic computations. We use a form of whole-body controllers that is very general via incorporating centroidal momentum dynamics, operational task priorities, contact reaction forces, and internal force constraints. First, we achieve efficiency by solving a quadratic program that only involves the floating base dynamics and the reaction forces. Second, we achieve computational robustness by relaxing task accelerations such that they comply with friction cone constraints. Finally, we incorporate methods for smooth contact transitions to enhance the control of dynamic locomotion behaviors. The proposed methods are demonstrated both in simulation and in real experiments using a passive-ankle bipedal robot.
Functional Interpretation of Coronary Stenoses by Cardiac CT and the Many Ways to Skin That Cat.

![Figure][1] ![Figure][1] Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography (CTA) has become an established diagnostic technique for the assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD). As a sensitive technique, it can reliably confirm the absence of CAD, but it has a low positive predictive
Exosomal markers (CD63 and CD9) expression and their prognostic significance using immunohistochemistry in right-sided and left-sided colon cancer.

182Background: Exosomes play pivotal roles in cancer progression, metastasis and chemoresistance. CD63 and CD9 are widely accepted exosomal markers. Their pattern of expression and prognostic signi...
“Dead Men Make Such Convenient Heroes”: The Use and Misuse of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy as Political Propaganda:

In American history and memory, few figures stand as prominently as Martin Luther King Jr. In the minds of countless Americans, he remains the consummate activist for civil rights and social justic...
Structure and Velocity Estimation of a Moving Object via Synthetic Persistence by a Network of Stationary Cameras

Data-based, exponentially converging observers are developed for a network of stationary cooperative cameras estimating the Euclidean distance to features on a moving object (and hence, the objects’ accurately scaled structure), without requiring the typical positive depth constraint and only requiring the object to remain in one camera’s field-of-view. The developed observers demonstrate that a synthetic persistent view of the object relative to each camera is sufficient to maintain distance estimates. A Lyapunov-based stability analysis demonstrates that the developed geometric approach enables the developed distance observers for each camera to exponentially converge using the synthetic image of the object features generated by neighboring cameras.
Long-term Follow-up After Radiation Therapy for Laryngeal Amyloidosis.

OBJECTIVES Laryngeal amyloidosis (LA) is a rare disease characterized by extracellular protein deposition within the larynx. Treatment is difficult due to the frequently submucosal and multifocal nature of disease. The mainstay of treatment is surgical resection; however, recurrence rates are high. Recently, use of radiotherapy (RT), either alone or postoperatively, for LA has been adapted from the management of extramedullary plasmacytoma and has been shown to provide local disease control. Here, we describe the experience with adjuvant RT for LA at our center. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case series. METHODS Retrospective study of patients with amyloidosis of the larynx, with or without other disease sites, seen at a tertiary academic center between 2011 and 2019. Outcomes included disease characteristics, recurrence rates, treatment modalities, and pre- and posttreatment voice handicap index (VHI)-10. RESULTS Ten patients met eligibility criteria. Mean follow-up time for all patients was 62.0 ± 41.0 months; mean follow-up time after last treatment was 51 ± 55 months. All but one patient underwent surgical resection of disease. Seven patients underwent subsequent RT. Of these seven, six underwent RT at our institution; five received a dose of 45 Gray (Gy); and one received a dose of 20 Gy. All seven completed RT without toxicity-related interruption. Patients undergoing RT underwent 2.1 ± 1.3 surgical procedures prior to RT; no patients required surgery after RT. Mean pretreatment VHI-10 was 22.9 ± 8.1; mean posttreatment VHI-10 was 12.9 ± 13.3. CONCLUSION RT after surgery for LA can provide good local control without unacceptable toxicity and may decrease the need for further surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1810-1815, 2021.
Improved NMR spectra of a protein–DNA complex through rational mutagenesis and the application of a sensitivity optimized isotope-filtered NOESY experiment

The NMR spectra of the complex between the DNA-binding domain of the Dead ringer protein (DRI-DBD, Gly262-Gly398) and its DNA binding site (DRI-DBD:DNA, 26 kDa) have been optimized by biochemical and spectroscopic means. First, we demonstrate the utility of a modified 2D [F1,F2] 13C-filtered NOESY experiment that employs a 1JHC versus chemical shift optimized adiabatic 13C inversion pulse [Zwahlen, C. et al. (1997) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 119, 6711–6721]. The new sequence is shown to be more sensitive than previously published pulse schemes (up to 40% in favorable cases) and its utility is demonstrated using two protein–DNA complexes. Second, we demonstrate that the targeted replacement of an interfacial aromatic residue in the DRI-DBD:DNA complex substantially reduces line broadening within its NMR spectra. The spectral changes are dramatic, salvaging a protein–DNA complex that was originally ill suited for structural analysis by NMR. This biochemical approach is not a general method, but may prove useful in the spectral optimization of other protein complexes that suffer from interfacial line broadening caused by dynamic changes in proximal aromatic rings.
Statin Treatment in Specific Patient Groups: Role for Improved Cardiovascular Risk Markers

Ample evidence supports the use of statin therapy for secondary prevention in patients with a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), but evidence is wanting in the case of primary prevention, low-risk individuals, and elderly adults 65+. Statins are effective in lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which has long been a target for treatment decisions. We discuss the weakening dependence between cholesterol levels and mortality as a function of age and highlight recent findings on lipoprotein subfractions and other superior markers of ASCVD risk. The efficacy of statins is compared for distinct subsets of patients based on age, diabetes, ASCVD, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) status. Most cardiovascular risk calculators heavily weight age and overestimate one’s absolute risk of ASCVD, particularly in very old adults. Improvements in risk assessment enable the identification of specific patient populations that benefit most from statin treatment. Derisking is particularly important for adults over 75, in whom treatment benefits are reduced and adverse musculoskeletal effects are amplified. The CAC score stratifies the benefit effect size obtainable with statins, and forms of coenzyme Q are discussed for improving patient outcomes. Robust risk estimator tools and personalized, evidence-based approaches are needed to optimally reduce cardiovascular events and mortality rates through administration of cholesterol-lowering medications.
Trends in the use of cerebrospinal drains and outcomes related to spinal cord ischemia after thoracic endovascular aortic repair and complex endovascular aortic repair in the Vascular Quality Initiative database.

Abstract Background Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) is a dreaded complication of thoracic and complex endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR/cEVAR). Controversy exists surrounding cerebrospinal fluid drain (CSFD) use, especially preoperative prophylactic placement, owing to concerns regarding catheter-related complications. However, these risks are balanced by the widely accepted benefits of CSFDs during open repair to prevent and/or rescue patients with SCI. The importance of this issue is underscored by the paucity of data on CSFD practice patterns, limiting the development of practice guidelines. Therefore, the purpose of the present analysis was to evaluate the differences between patients who developed SCI despite preoperative CSFD placement and those treated with therapeutic postoperative CSFD placement. Methods All elective TEVAR/cEVAR procedures for degenerative aneurysm pathology in the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative from 2014 to 2019 were analyzed. CSFD use over time, the factors associated with preoperative prophylactic vs postoperative therapeutic CSFD placement in patients with SCI (transient or permanent), and outcomes were evaluated. Survival differences were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results A total of 3406 TEVAR/cEVAR procedures met the inclusion criteria, with an overall SCI rate of 2.3% (n = 88). The SCI rate decreased from 4.55% in 2014 to 1.43% in 2018. Prophylactic preoperative CSFD use was similar over time (2014, 30%; vs 2018, 27%; P = .8). After further exclusions to evaluate CSFD use in those who had developed SCI, 72 patients were available for analysis, 48 with SCI and prophylactic CSFD placement and 24 with SCI and therapeutic CSFD placement. Specific to SCI, the patient demographics and comorbidities were not significantly different between the prophylactic and therapeutic groups, with the exception of previous aortic surgery, which was more common in the prophylactic CSFD cohort (46% vs 23%; P Conclusions Prophylactic CSFD use with TEVAR/cEVAR remained stable during the study period. Of the SCI patients, postoperative therapeutic CSFD placement was associated with worse sustained neurologic outcomes and overall survival compared with preoperative prophylactic CSFD placement. These findings highlight the need for a randomized clinical trial to examine prophylactic vs therapeutic CSFD placement in association with TEVAR/cEVAR.
Prophylactic postoperative antibiotics after emergent cesarean delivery and risk of postpartum infection or wound complication.

Emergent cesarean delivery (CD) carries a high risk for postpartum infection. In cases with a “splash” povidone-iodine (PI) skin preparation, prophylactic postoperative antibiotics (PP-Abx) are som...
Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Emergency Department Patients with COVID-19 in a Rhode Island Healthcare System

Background Rhode Island (RI) has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to describe emergency department (ED) patients with COVID-19 within the largest healthcare system in RI. Methods A retrospective electronic medical record review of 1,209 adult patients evaluated and diagnosed with COVID-19 in 4 EDs during the first peak (March 15, 2020 to May 16, 2020) was conducted. Sociodemographic, clinical, management, and ED disposition information were summarized. RESULTS: Median age of patients was 55 years (IQR 40-69), 55.2% were male, and 47.8% were Hispanic/Latinx. Over half of the patients (60.5%) were admitted to the hospital. Supplemental oxygen was used by 32.2%. Conclusion This study presents the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of ED patients with COVID-19 presenting to the largest healthcare system in Rhode Island. Continued analysis is warranted to provide further insight into the trends in this pandemic.
Simulation of enhanced light extraction from periodic, disordered, and quasi-periodic OLED structures

We have developed a rigorous scattering matrix theory of light emission from periodically structured media using a Green’s function approach. We computationally simulate the spectral power inside the structure, incorporating Purcell factor enhancements, and find internal waveguiding modes and plasmonic losses. We simulate the light-outcoupling factor ηout and describe how corrugations and structured media can enhance ηout. We have extended our framework to describe non-periodic disordered arrays as well as aperiodic quasi-crystalline arrays. Flat organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have low outcoupling with ηout∼20% since most of the light is trapped in waveguided modes in higher index layers or lost to plasmonic excitations at the metal cathode. Periodically corrugated OLEDs can achieve highly enhanced ηout∼65%−70% for pitch values between 1000 and 2000 nm, representing an enhancement factor >3 over planar structures. Periodic corrugations strongly diffract trapped waveguided and plasmonic modes to the emissive air cone. Disordered templates also can cause significant enhanced outcoupling with ηout∼50%−55% for smaller nearest-neighbor separations of 300–400 nm. Quasi-crystalline tilings can also lead to enhancements of ηout∼50%−55%. This framework can be utilized to design novel structured media that can generate high light extraction.
Critical Thinking In Stem: A Qualitative Study Of Community College Teaching Techniques

There is evidence in the literature that teaching critical thinking in college courses helps students to gain critical thinking skills. There is also a lack of research on what community college science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers are doing to teach critical thinking skills. This qualitative research study was conducted to discover what techniques community college teachers in STEM disciplines believe are useful for teaching critical thinking skills. The research was conducted using a basic qualitative research design that employed interviews to discover the instructional experiences of community college teachers currently teaching in STEM disciplines. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a constant comparative method to determine common themes. Findings of the study included descriptions of modeling critical thinking skills, allowing students to practice using the skills, and assessing the critical thinking skills using a skills-based assessment. The described useful practices also included the requirement of analysis throughout, including analysis of data, analysis of process, and analysis of thinking.
Studies on thyroid proteins. VI. Immunochemical studies on the 4S and 7S tissue-specific thyroid proteins.

Abstract The 4 S and the 7 S groups of proteins that are separated from human thyroid extract by gel filtration each show one or two lines of precipitation in gel diffusion reactions with rabbit antisera specific for human thyroid tissue. Although electrophoretic subfractions of these thyroid protein groups were well purified and physicochemically distinct, they were demonstrated to have antigenic similarities and they showed the immunological heterogeneity also characteristic of thyroglobulin. Most of the precipitating activity in these subfractions could be removed from the rabbit antisera by prior absorption with purified thyroglobulin. However, some thyroid-specific nonthyroglobulin antigenic activity was found in the 4 S group. The immunochemical relationship shown between the 4 S and 7 S and the 19 S protein group suggest that these smaller proteins may be subunits of thyroglobulin.
Introducing teachers to emerging interdisciplinary STEM content through biomass and biofuels research (618.36)

High school teachers from science, technology and math disciplines participated in a workshop to learn about the emerging research areas in bioenergy though a funded Department of Energy C3 Bio Biomass to Biofuels and National Science Foundation I3 Stem Goes Rural interdisciplinary research projects. In order to address feedback gathered from the teachers through daily reflections and focus groups during Year 1 of the project, we made changes to the content delivery in the workshop. Fundamental STEM concepts for the C3Bio research project were identified through an iterative process in collaboration with the faculty conducting the interdisciplinary research activities for the biomass to biofuels project. Learning outcomes, guest lectures and activities for the teacher workshop were subsequently aligned with the fundamental STEM concept framework. Teachers took a content exam pre and post the workshop to examine the impact of the workshop activities on their understanding of fundamental STEM concepts in bi...
The search for effective and efficient ambulatory teaching methods through the literature.

Objective. Education in ambulatory settings is characterized by the conflicting agendas of clinical efficiency and educational effectiveness. In recognition of the challenge to teach more effectively, this review was undertaken to identify literature-based teaching methods for ambulatory-based education. Design. Literature search resources included electronic databases and relevant journal indices. After preliminary title/abstract review, final critical review using a coding sheet was undertaken to define the teaching behavior or characteristic in each article, and to evaluate empirical data related to effectiveness and/or efficiency. Results. Our literature search and subsequent article analysis yielded 11 clinical teaching methods, but no agreed upon descriptor or key features for these methods. Synthesis of this literature lead to succinct descriptions of each method and a label. Conclusions. There is limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of ambulatory teaching methods in cited literature. By establishing a common nomenclature and descriptions for 11 methods, this review lays the foundation for investigators to systematically study the effectiveness and efficiency of ambulatory-focused clinical teaching methods both within and across specialties.ambulatory education, clinical education, clinical teaching, medical education, precepting teaching behaviors, teaching methods.
A generalization of a series for the density of abundant numbers

Recently, it was shown that the density of abundant numbers has a simple series expression, which relies on the multiplicative property of the arithmetic function σ(n)/n. We generalize this result by determining a class of multiplicative functions for which the series result carries over.
Triplex‐forming oligonucleotides targeting c‐MYC potentiate the anti‐tumor activity of gemcitabine in a mouse model of human cancer

Antimetabolite chemotherapy remains an essential cancer treatment modality, but often produces only marginal benefit due to the lack of tumor specificity, the development of drug resistance, and the refractoriness of slowly proliferating cells in solid tumors. Here, we report a novel strategy to circumvent the proliferation-dependence of traditional antimetabolite-based therapies. Triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) were used to target site-specific DNA damage to the human c-MYC oncogene, thereby inducing replication-independent, unscheduled DNA repair synthesis (UDS) preferentially in the TFO-targeted region. The TFO-directed UDS facilitated incorporation of the antimetabolite, gemcitabine (GEM), into the damaged oncogene, thereby potentiating the anti-tumor activity of GEM. Mice bearing COLO 320DM human colon cancer xenografts (containing amplified c-MYC) were treated with a TFO targeted to c-MYC in combination with GEM. Tumor growth inhibition produced by the combination was significantly greater than with either TFO or GEM alone. Specific TFO binding to the genomic c-MYC gene was demonstrated, and TFO-induced DNA damage was confirmed by NBS1 accumulation, supporting a mechanism of enhanced efficacy of GEM via TFO-targeted DNA damage-induced UDS. Thus, coupling antimetabolite chemotherapeutics with a strategy that facilitates selective targeting of cells containing amplification of cancer-relevant genes can improve their activity against solid tumors, while possibly minimizing host toxicity.
Autonomous Localization of an Unknown Number of Targets Without Data Association Using Teams of Mobile Sensors

This paper considers situations in which a team of mobile sensor platforms autonomously explores an environment to detect and localize an unknown number of targets. Individual sensors may be unreliable, failing to detect objects within the field-of-view, returning false positive measurements to clutter objects, and being unable to disambiguate true targets. In this setting, data association is difficult. We utilize the PHD filter for multitarget localization, simultaneously estimating the number of objects and their locations within the environment without the need to explicitly consider data association. Using sets of potential actions generated at multiple length scales for each robot, the team selects the joint action that maximizes the expected information gain over a finite time horizon. This is computed as the mutual information between the set of targets and the binary events of receiving no detections, effectively hedging against uninformative actions in a computationally tractable manner. We frame the controller as a receding-horizon problem. We demonstrate the real-world applicability of the proposed autonomous exploration strategy through hardware experiments, exploring an office environment with a team of ground robots. We also conduct a series of simulated experiments, varying the planning method, target cardinality, environment, and sensor modality.
The prevalence, correlates and treatment of pain in the European Union

AbstractObjectives:To report on the results of a recent large-scale, internet-based survey of the population, prevalence and attributes of pain experience in the United Kingdom (UK), France, Spain, Germany and Italy.Methods:The results reported here are taken from the internet-based, 2008 National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS). In addition to detailing the prevalence of pain, the survey reports on the correlates of pain – socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, health status and health related quality of life, pain associated comorbidities, satisfaction with care, employment and productivity and utilization of health care resources. In addition, the survey also captures treatment patterns, satisfaction with medications (both prescription and over the counter [OTC]) and adherence experience.Results:An estimated 49.7 million persons in these five countries reported pain by both its severity and frequency in the previous month. Of these, 11.2 million reported severe pain, 29.4 million reported ...
Admixture mapping and subsequent fine-mapping suggests a biologically relevant and novel association on chromosome 11 for type 2 diabetes in African Americans

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex metabolic disease that disproportionately affects African Americans. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several loci that contribute to T2D in European Americans, but few studies have been performed in admixed populations. We first performed a GWAS of 1,563 African Americans from the Vanderbilt Genome-Electronic Records Project and Northwestern University NUgene Project as part of the electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) network. We successfully replicate an association in TCF7L2, previously identified by GWAS in this African American dataset. We were unable to identify novel associations at p 5,000 African Americans. We identified 13 independent associations between TCIRG1, CHKA, and ALDH3B1 genes on chromosome 11 and T2D. Our results suggest a novel region on chromosome 11 identified by admixture mapping is associated with T2D in African Americans.
No evidence that improved personal oral hygiene prevents or controls chronic periodontitis.

Original Article Hujoel PP, Cunha-Cruz J, Loesche WJ, Robertson PB. Personal oral hygiene and chronic periodontitis: a systematic review. Periodontal 2000. 2005;37:29-34. Level of Evidence 1a Purpose The aim of this study was to review the evidence from randomized controlled trials on whether improved personal oral hygiene is associated with decreased risk for periodontitis initiation or progression. Source of Funding External sources of support: NIH: NIDCR R-01 DE13912; Grant from Capes-Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior. Type of Study/Design Systematic review
Bile ductular cells and the phenotypic heterogeneity of the population of hepatic non-parenchymal epithelial cells induced in rats by chemical carcinogens

Single doses of diethylnitrosamine, N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene or N-methyl-N-nitrosourea were administered to rats, before or after obstruction of the common bile duct, and liver sections were stained for alpha-fetoprotein, albumin and glucose-6-phosphatase. In these animals, cells expressing hepatocytic traits were not observed in the resulting expanded population of non-parenchymal epithelial cells. A derivation of non-parenchymal epithelial cells with hepatocytic traits from bile ductular cells is not supported, but not completely ruled out, by these findings. In rats with an obstructed bile duct and administered a single carcinogen dose, serum alpha-fetoprotein was slightly increased, to levels comparable with those occurring after a partial hepatectomy. In these rats, and in partially hepatectomized rats, the cellular source of serum alpha-fetoprotein was not apparent, since no alpha-fetoprotein-positive cells were detected in their liver.