cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Forkhead Homologue in Rhabdomyosarcoma Functions as a Bifunctional Nuclear Receptor-interacting Protein with Both Coactivator and Corepressor Functions

In a search for novel transcriptional intermediary factors for the estrogen receptor (ER), we used the ligand-binding domain and hinge region of ER as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen of a cDNA library derived from tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 human breast tumors from an in vivo athymic nude mouse model. Here we report the isolation and characterization of the forkhead homologue in rhabdomyosarcoma (FKHR), a recently described member of the hepatocyte nuclear factor 3/forkhead homeotic gene family, as a nuclear hormone receptor (NR) intermediary protein. FKHR interacts with both steroid and nonsteroid NRs, although the effect of ligand on this interaction varies by receptor type. The interaction of FKHR with ER is enhanced by estrogen, whereas its interaction with thyroid hormone receptor and retinoic acid receptor is ligand-independent. In addition, FKHR differentially regulates the transactivation mediated by different NRs. Transient transfection of FKHR into mammalian cells dramatically represses transcription mediated by the ER, glucocorticoid receptor, and progesterone receptor. In contrast, FKHR stimulates rather than represses retinoic acid receptor- and thyroid hormone receptor-mediated transactivation. Most intriguingly, overexpression of FKHR dramatically inhibits the proliferation of ER-dependent MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Therefore, FKHR represents a bifunctional NR intermediary protein that can act as either a coactivator or corepressor, depending on the receptor type.
Influence of elevated liver fat on circulating adipocytokines and insulin resistance in obese Hispanic adolescents

Summary Objective: We performed this study to examine the metabolic differences arising from higher liver fat accumulation in obese Hispanic adolescents, with a particular focus on circulating levels of adipocytokines and insulin resistance. Methods: Forty-one obese Hispanic adolescents (15.3 1.0 years, body mass index percentile: 97.0 3.9) were assessed for: visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and hepatic fat fraction (HFF) by magnetic resonance imaging; fasting measures of serum glucose, insulin and adipocytokines; homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); and insulin sensitivity (SI) and the acute insulin response to glucose (AIR) by intravenous glucose tolerance test. Subjects with normal levels of HFF (below 5%; n = 25) were compared to those with HFF > 5% (n = 16). Results: The two groups differing in HFF were similar for total body fat, VAT and SAT. The group with HFF > 5% had significantly (P < 0.05) higher interleukin-8 (IL-8) (6.1 1.6 vs. 3.2 0.4 pg mL -1 ), NGF (30.2 9.9 vs. 13.9 1.6 pg mL -1 ), HOMA-IR (8.8 1.1 vs. 5.5 0.5), AIR (1869 206 vs. 1092 165) and a tendency for lower SI (1.2 0.4 vs. 2.1 0.3; P = 0.06), with no significant differences in any of other factors measured. Conclusions: These data suggest that elevated liver fat is most closely associated with elevated serum IL-8 and NGF levels as well as increased AIR and HOMA-IR. These elevated factors may play significant roles in the metabolic abnormalities associated with elevated liver fat in obese Hispanics.
Impact of Genetic Modification of Vector Populations on the Malaria Eradication Agenda

Population modification strategies based on transgenic mosquitoes carrying genes that prevent parasite transmission play a role in the malaria eradication agenda. They can consolidate elimination gains by providing barriers to parasite and competent vector reintroduction, and allow resources to be focused on new sites while providing confidence that treated areas will remain malaria-free. Strategic planning in selecting field sites, engineered mosquito strains, trial designs, and implementation strategies is needed to achieve a successful first field trial. The trial should use local scientists and adhere to stringent community engagement and regulatory standards. The trial should have an epidemiological end point that results in local disease elimination.
Black Phosphorous Thin-Film Transistor and RF Circuit Applications

In this letter, we discuss the design, fabrication, and high-frequency characterization of black phosphorous (BP)-based field-effect transistors (FETs) and their circuit applications. We demonstrate BP radio frequency (RF) FETs with an extrinsic transit frequency $\sim 3$ GHz and an extrinsic maximum oscillation frequency $\sim 7$ GHz. We also demonstrate various BP FET-based RF circuits working in the megahertz range for the first time. We show the design and simulation of BP-based RF amplifier using experimentally obtained scattering parameters, operating at gigahertz frequency with substantial gain. The experimental and simulation results reveal the major performance bottlenecks of these circuits and place BP FET as a promising device candidate for future thin-film nanoelectronic RF systems.
Learning Styles: Psychology Shouldn't Condone Mythology

in learners that do result in differential learning outcomes; and (d) some instructional conditions are superior to others for learning specific skills. However, relatively few of the published studies meet the standards that [7] Cronbach and Snow (1977) or [2] Pashler outline: (a) Determine learners’ styles; (b) Create at least two instructional conditions that differ demonstrably with respect to style emphasis; (c) Randomly assign learners to conditions that do or don’t match their styles; and (d) Compare outcomes on common measures of attainment, looking for disordinal (“crossover”) interactions such that students of style X fare better in learning condition X than Y, whereas learners of style Y fare better in learning condition Y than X.
A Murine Model for Viable Right-Ventricular Myocardial Mechanical Behavior

Although right-ventricular (RV) function is an important determinant of cardio-pulmonary performance in health and disease, RV myocardium biomechanical function has received little attention. In particular, no multiaxial data of the full-thickness RV have been reported for the passive or active myocardial states, for either normal or pathological conditions. Since an understanding of tissue-level biomechanical behavior is integral to connecting cellular behavior to organ-level performance, investigations into the RV myocardial stress-strain relationship are central in providing this link. For example, ventricular wall stress is considered to be a major driver of ventricular remodeling, and thus a better understanding of how wall stress and deformation are linked would provide unique insights into the mechanisms of RV function and ultimately failure in disease. Such knowledge would have direct applicability to improving methods to detect RV dysfunction, predicting response to disease-specific therapies and improving the timing of therapy if or when needed. Here, we present a murine model of viable RVFW to obtain stable and robust mechanical data suitable for structural modeling. Our study determines the of window for viability of the RVFW samples, verifies uniformity of the structure, and carries biomechanical testing to determine stability and consistency of the data.© 2012 ASME
Release of Tissue Taurine from the Oxygen-Deficient Perfused Rat Heart

SummaryThe effects of cellular hypoxia on taurine levels in rat hearts were determined. Hearts perfused with 95% N2-5% CO2 demonstrated a significant decrease in tissue taurine content when compared to control hearts perfused with 95% O2-5% CO2. The loss of taurine in oxygen-deficient hearts was time dependent over a period of 30 min. The perfusate when analyzed for taurine content contained 100% of the released taurine. Thus, metabolic conversion of taurine had no role in the disappearance of taurine from the rat heart.
Designing Patterned Surfaces by Grafting Y-Shaped Copolymers

We use scaling arguments to determine the patterns that form when Y-shaped AB copolymers are grafted onto a flat surface. One “arm” of the Y is an A homopolymer, and the other arm is an incompatible B chain, and the short “stem” tethers the entire copolymer to the surface. We investigate the behavior of the brush formed from these chains in the melt and in the presence of a solvent. In particular, we determine how solvent quality, grafting density, and chain length affect the structure of the grafted layer. We then calculate a phase diagram that delineates the regions where the different structures appear. The diagram reveals that variations in the solvent quality give rise to a rich variety of lateral structures. The results provide guidelines for fabricating patterned or highly ordered thin films.
Survival, Emergence, and Release of Laboratory-reared, Backcross Tobacco Budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Pupae Shipped from Stoneville, Miss., to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

A pilot test was conducted on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, to determine the feasibility of controlling the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), by releasing backcross insects possessing an inherited male sterility resulting from interspecific hybridization. During 1979 and 1980, four separate releases were made and adult emergence (ca. 90%) was excellent. Moth emergence began in the early evening hours. For any particular shipment, females emerged sooner than males. After release, numbers of males trapped declined rapidly, suggesting a survival of 3–5 days and an intermating period of no more than 2 nights.
124 PEDIATRIC PRENATAL CARE VISITS IN MOBILE, ALABAMA

Background The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends pediatric prenatal care visits and resident training in this area. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether expectant mothers in Mobile, Alabama, received pediatric and obstetric prenatal care visits (PNCV) and to determine which topics were discussed. Methods Surveys were distributed to three groups, which included pediatricians/pediatric residents, obstetricians/ obstetric residents, and a sample of postpartum mothers at our institution. The practitioner9s survey included demographics, number of PNCV/month, and topics discussed. The survey for the postpartum mothers included demographics, identification of the child9s physician, information regarding PNCV, and topics discussed during these visits. Results There were 74 pediatricians/pediatric residents surveyed, with 41 physicians (55%) completing the survey. The average number of PNCV among pediatricians and pediatric residents was 2.3 and 1 visit/month, respectively. 100% of the pediatricians did not receive financial reimbursement for the PNCV. 63 obstetricians/obstetric residents were surveyed with 25 physicians (40%) completing the survey. The average number of PNCV among obstetricians and obstetric residents was 83 and 40 visits/month, respectively. 67% of obstetricians and 71% of obstetric residents stated that they suggest a pediatric PNCV. A convenience sample of 77 mothers (38% primiparous and 62% multiparous) completed the survey. Despite 96% of the mothers surveyed reporting the importance of a pediatric PNCV and 95% of the mothers stating that they would recommend others to have one, only 19% had a pediatric PNCV. In addition, only 54% of mothers had chosen their child9s physician prior to delivery. Common topics discussed by physicians during PNCV include infant nutrition, past maternal medical history, and hospitalization course. Furthermore, mothers who received pediatric PNCV stated that they received guidance regarding preparation for the infant and infant care-related issues. Conclusions Postpartum mothers view pediatric PNCV as important and would suggest others to have a pediatric PNCV. However, only a small percentage of women in this study actually had contact with their child9s physician prior to delivery. Additionally, an unacceptable percentage of mothers had not even chosen their child9s physician until the time of delivery. Expectant mothers who do not receive a pediatric PNCV rarely have the opportunity to discuss with a physician important issues such as preparation for the infant and routine infant care. Lack of reimbursement for pediatric PNCV is likely to play a role in the low number of actual pediatric PNCV provided currently.
Research on Adaptive Wrapper in Deep Web Data Extraction

As the rapid development of Internet technology, Deep Web has the vast amounts of data information, and in the rapid growth of the Web to become a huge data source. Many documents share common HTML tree structure on script generated websites, allowing users to effectively extract interested information from deep webpages by wrappers. However, since tree structure evolves over time, the wrappers break frequently and need to be re-learned. In this paper, we explore the problem of constructing adaptive wrappers in deep webpages. In order to keep web extraction robust when webpages changes, a minimum cost script edit model based on machine learning techniques is proposed. With the method, three edit operations under structural changes are considered, i.e. inserting nodes, deleting nodes and substituting nodes' labels. By obtaining the extraction model for 51job site and then random sampling pages at zhaopin site using this extraction model for training the new wrapper. Besides, the wrapper has high versatility, realizing the adaptation extraction. Experimental results show that the proposed approach can improve the extraction accuracy of target data and effectively solve the adaptive wrapper for the massive Deep Web data.
A three-component model for the coupled evolution of near-inertial waves, quasi-geostrophic flow and the near-inertial second harmonic

We derive an asymptotic model that describes the nonlinear coupled evolution of (i) near-inertial waves (NIWs), (ii) balanced quasi-geostrophic flow and (iii) near-inertial second harmonic waves with frequency near , where is the local inertial frequency. This ‘three-component’ model extends the two-component model derived by Xie & Vanneste (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 774, 2015, pp. 143–169) to include interactions between near-inertial and waves. Both models possess two conservation laws which together imply that oceanic NIWs forced by winds, tides or flow over bathymetry can extract energy from quasi-geostrophic flows. A second and separate implication of the three-component model is that quasi-geostrophic flow catalyses a loss of NIW energy to freely propagating waves with near- frequency that propagate rapidly to depth and transfer energy back to the NIW field at very small vertical scales. The upshot of near- generation is a two-step mechanism whereby quasi-geostrophic flow catalyses a nonlinear transfer of near-inertial energy to the small scales of wave breaking and diapycnal mixing. A comparison of numerical solutions with both Boussinesq and three-component models for a two-dimensional initial value problem reveals strengths and weaknesses of the model while demonstrating the extraction of quasi-geostrophic energy and production of small vertical scales.
Symbolic Reminders of Identity

Although often implicit, semiotics plays an integral role in understanding the way in which social identities can be used to promote reconciliation or encourage conflicts among groups. By integrating the theoretical frameworks of Social Representation Theory and the Dialogical Self with Social Identity Theory, we can better understand the process by which new social identities are created or old social identities persist in creating division in societies. This approach can be applied to analyze the effectiveness of the promotion of a superordinate Rwandan identity in post-Genocide Rwanda over the divisive identities of Tutsi and Hutu. It can also be applied to Northern Ireland, where signs as subtle as the color of flowers in your garden can be strong indicator of your identity as a Protestant or Catholic.
Towards understanding the differences of using 3D auditory feedback in virtual environments between people with and without visual impairments

The research objective was to exploration to determine any differences of using a generic Head Related Transfer Function (HRTF) to simulate 3D auditory feedback in Virtual Environments (VEs) without visual feedback between people with and without Visual Impairments (VI). To investigate this, we designed and developed a usability study which included the two tasks of recognizing the positions and distinguishing the moving directions of 3D sound sources in a VE. We conducted this study with 20 participants using VI (7 males and 13 females), and 18 participants without VI (7 males and 11 females). The results indicated different experiences in the VE between people with VI and without VI.
Trials, lustration, and clean elections: the uneven effects of transitional justice mechanisms on electoral manipulation

ABSTRACTTransitional justice aims to promote democratization, but previous research has found that it has mixed effects. We address this puzzle by focussing on how transitional justice affects a necessary condition for democracy: clean elections. We test for the effects of four transitional justice mechanisms – truth commissions, lustration policies, amnesties, and trials – on two different types of electoral manipulation, using data from 187 post-transition elections held in 63 countries around the world from 1980 to 2004. We find that post-transition trials limit illegal forms of electoral manipulation, such as vote-buying and falsification of results, but have no effect on legal forms of manipulation. By contrast, lustration policies limit legal manipulation tactics, like intimidation and harassment of opponents by the security services, but do not affect illegal tactics. By showing that different aspects of transitional justice can have varying influence on electoral integrity, this project improves u...
Ecological history of a long‐lived conifer in a disjunct population

Summary 1.In northern Idaho (USA), more than 100 vascular plant species are disjunct >160 km from their main distribution along the Pacific Northwest coast. It remains unclear whether most species within this interior forest disjunction, including Tsuga mertensiana, survived the last glacial period in a north-Idaho refugium or whether these species colonized the region via long-distance dispersal during the Holocene. 2.Sediment cores were extracted from three mid- to high-elevation lakes within T. mertensiana dominated forests in the Northern Rocky Mountains of Idaho. Pollen and macrofossils were used to reconstruct forest composition, determine the timing of T. mertensiana establishment, examine the hypothesis that the region was a glacial refugium, and contrast how climate, competition and/or dispersal limitation has influenced its modern distribution. 3.The modern distribution of T. mertensiana was analyzed by constructing a range map and modeling the potential species distribution. The presence of outlier populations surrounding the Idaho disjunction along with broad areas of unoccupied suitable habitat indicates the range of T. mertensiana is currently expanding. To assess the accuracy of T. mertensiana pollen at detecting its range limit, a network of pollen surface samples was used to analyze the probability of detecting T. mertensiana pollen as a function of distance from its geographic range limit. Consistent T. mertensiana pollen occurrence at ≥1% abundance is likely only within 42 km of its range limit. 4.T. mertensiana first appears in the pollen and macrofossil record at the highest elevation site at ca. 4100 cal yr BP, then at the next-highest-elevation site at ca. 1600 cal yr BP, and last at the mid-elevation site at 800 cal yr BP. T. mertensiana pollen occurs continuously at ≥1% at all three sites by ca. 300 cal yr BP suggesting regional presence. The timing of arrival suggests that T. mertensiana is a recent component of the forests of Idaho, having arrived during the Holocene via long-distance dispersal from coastal populations over 200 km away. 5.Synthesis. Comparison with palaeoclimate reconstructions from the broader region suggest that climate was a greater limiting factor than dispersal in the Holocene establishment in the interior, indicating little difficulty overcoming a large dispersal barrier. However, T. mertensiana remained at low abundances for millennia until Little Ice Age climates promoted its recent increase in abundance. Unoccupied areas of suitable habitat suggest that competition, rather than climate or dispersal, is limiting range-infilling in the interior mesic forests today. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Management of Ocular Surface Disease in Cataract and Refractive Surgery Patients

The integrity of the ocular surface is paramount for proper vision. The ocular surface is a delicate microenvironment susceptible to a variety of insults. Small changes can have a large impact on visual function. The pathophysiology of OSD is multifactorial; treatment of OSD therefore typically requires a multifaceted approach for effective management. Thorough evaluation of ocular surface and eyelid health is of critical importance in cataract and refractive surgery candidates. Relatively simple diagnostic techniques and treatments may effectively determine the difference between a satisfied and unsatisfied patient postoperatively. Comorbid OSD increases the risk of complications and can impair surgical outcomes. Thus, preoperative signs and symptoms of OSD must be managed aggressively. Cataract and refractive surgery should be delayed until the patient demonstrates objective evidence of improvement, with reliable and repeatable preoperative measurements. Patients should be encouraged to adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen, and certain cases can require several months of preoperative therapy. OSD may also influence intraoperative management of patients and guide selection of postoperative eye drop regimens and follow-up care. Meticulous attention to the health of the ocular surface is essential to optimize the surgical result, ensure patient satisfaction, and enhance vision-related quality of life.
Mito-Tempo prevents nicotine-induced exacerbation of ischemic brain damage

Our findings have important implications for the understanding of mechanisms contributing to increased susceptibility of the brain to damage in smokers and users of nicotine-containing tobacco prod...
Accidental primacy: balancing and the path to power:

Why did states fail to balance against the United States after the end of the Cold War? Scholars have neglected an important dynamic: the accidental nature of America’s rise to primacy. The United States became the sole superpower not by deliberately increasing its capabilities but due to the unexpected collapse of its rival, the USSR. The case illustrates that a state’s responsibility for its gains in power can vary significantly, with important consequences for subsequent balancing. Active or deliberate power increases tend to produce more balancing than passive power increases because they signal aggressive intentions, alter the dyadic power balance between the rising state and potential balancers, and trigger loss aversion.
An error in a proof in Boolean Algebras with Operators, Part I

An error in a proof of a correct theorem in the classic paper, Boolean Algebras with Operators, Part I, by Jonsson and Tarski is discussed.
Molecular Biology of Leukemias and Lymphomas

Since the discovery of the Philadelphia chromosome as a consistent marker for the malignant cells in chronic myelogenous leukemias (1), non random chromosomal changes have been found in several neoplastic diseases of the hematopoietic system (2, 3). Many of these somatic genetic changes involve reciprocal chromosomal traslocations (3), and some have now been shown to occur at or near a proto-oncogene locus. The presence of these chromosomal aberrations have suggested fruitful approaches to the molecular understanding of these tumors. We, therefore, have taken advantage of lymphoid-specific chromosome abnormalities to analyze the mechanisms of oncogenesis in B and T cells on the molecular level.
The History and Development of Nylon-66

In this review of the history and development of poly(hexamethylene adipamide), nylon-66, the following topics are briefly examined with emphasis on the plastic: Discovery Intermediates Polymerization Commercial Introduction and Growth Nylon at War Properties and Applications The Business Conclusion
Factors Inducing Periodic Breathing in Man During Acclimatization to Chronic Hypoxia

A general model has been developed by Khoo and co-workers1 to predict periodic breathing resulting from instability in the chemical control of breathing. This model has three compartments representing the lung, body tissues, and brain tissue. It includes circulatory transit delays, mixing in the heart and pulmonary vasculature2 and both central and peripheral feedback effects on ventilation. Khoo’s model appears to be an improvement over earlier models3,4,5 in that it predicts periodic breathing under normal physiological conditions with only subtle changes in parameter values; this corresponds to the fact that observations indicate that episodes of periodic breathing appear and disappear in a seemingly spontaneous manner1. Using this model, Khoo et al.1 investigated a number of situations in man: normals during sleep and during acute exposure to hypoxia, sleeping infants, and patients with cardiovascular or neurological lesions. They found that in almost every case the predicted ventilatory instability was mediated by the peripheral chemoreflexive drive to breathe.
The Developmental Biology of the White-Opaque Transition in Candida albicans

The dimorphic yeast Candida albicans exhibits two levels of phenotypic variability [35]. First, Candida cells are capable of growing in either of two forms, the budding yeast form or the elongating hyphal form [22]. In the budding yeast form, a mature yeast cell forms an evagination which expands into a mature daughter cell. The major portion of growth in the budding yeast form is, therefore, restricted primarily to the daughter cell. In this growth form, cells are round to ellipsoidal, and both the dynamics of growth and the polarity of budding are similar, if not identical, to that of diploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae [32]. In the hyphal form, cells grow as elongated, compartmentalized tubes. In this case, the cellular compartments do not separate. Budding cells can be induced to form hyphae and hyphae can be induced to form buds [21,22]. Hyphae are believed to have evolved primarily as a mechanism for tissue penetration [31], although it has recently been demonstrated that budding cells can also penetrate tissue [9].
Medical Decisions that Affect Children: Introduction

Medical decisions which affect children involve a number of areas of medical ethics: euthanasia of defective infants, experimentation on human subjects, allocation of scarce medical resources, child abuse, proxy consent, paternalism, to name just a few. At least two basic approaches to these issues may be distinguished. A subject-centered approach would concern itself primarily with the interests or rights of the child affected by the medical decision. A social-policy approach would concern itself primarily with the effects on or costs to society of different approaches to medical decisions involving children. The essays in this section, like most of the current essays on topics in medical ethics, are primarily subject-centered, concerned with how one establishes what are the interests and rights of children and how these bear on medical decisions.
New Developments in Anthropological Genetics

When D. F. Roberts wrote the summary to the first volume of Current Developments in Anthropological Genetics, he expressed concern that the field might become an armchair discipline. The chapters in this second volume should lay his fears to rest for they are rich in practical observations of population structure in a wide variety of ecological settings. They cover the globe from England, Wales, and Ireland to the Aland Islands, the Middle East, North Africa, the Hutterites of Canada, the Yanomamo of South America, the Melanesians of Oceania and the Semai of Malaysia. What is equally impressive, they extend over so many diverse ecological niches from urban marriage patterns, through pastoral hamlets of the Tauregs, the Kalahari desert, the prairie colonies of Alberta, the tropical habitat of Bougainville, and small islands at the top of the Baltic Sea, to the fission-fusion settlements of the Amazon rain forest. Collectively they are a tribute to the energy and creativity of the investigators as well as to the adaptability of the populations themselves.
Antimicrobial activity of a porphyrin binding peptide.

Amphiphilic alpha-helices are common motifs used in numerous biological systems including membrane channels/pores and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and binding proteins, and a variety of synthetic biomaterials. Previously, an amphiphilic peptide with lysine-containing motifs was shown to reversibly bind the anionic porphyrin meso-Tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS42-) and promote the formation of excitonically coupled conductive J-aggregates. The work presented here focuses on the use of this amphiphilic peptide and derivatives as a potential antimicrobial agent. AMPs are naturally occurring components of the innate immune system, which selectively target and kill bacteria. Sequence derivatives were synthesized in which the position of the Trp, used as a fluorescence reporter, was changed. Additional variants were synthesized where the hydrophobic amino acids were replaced with Ala to reduce net hydrophobicity or where the cationic Lys residues were replaced with diaminopropionic acid (Dap). All peptide sequences retained the ability to bind TPPS42- and promote the formation of J-aggregates. The peptides all exhibited a preference for binding anionic lipid vesicles compared to zwitterionic bilayers. The Trp position did not impact antimicrobial activity, but the substituted peptides exhibited markedly lower efficacy. The Dap-containing peptide was only active against E. coli and P. aeruginosa, while the Ala-substituted peptide was inactive at the concentrations tested. This trend was also evident in bacterial membrane permeabilization. The results indicate that the amphiphilic porphyrin binding peptides can also be used as antimicrobial peptides. The cationic nature is a driver in binding to lipid bilayers, but the overall hydrophobicity is important for antimicrobial activity and membrane disruption.
Assessing Procedure Adherence Under Training Conditions in High Risk Industrial Operations

Written procedures are an important artifact in maintaining the safety in high risk industrial operations. Procedures set out the steps required to complete safety and process critical tasks. Howev...
Selecting the Right Tidal Volume for Patients With ARDS: Are We Staying Within the Recommended Range for a Lung Protective Strategy?

Background: Low tidal volumes (VT) may improve the outcomes of patients with ARDS outcomes; however, it may also promote atelectasis and patient-ventilator asynchrony. Tidal volume (VT) selection for adult patients should be based on ideal body weight (IBW), but sometimes is set arbitrarily or calculated based on actual body weight (ABW) in adult ICUs. Since the publication of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Network Trial almost 20 years ago on the benefit of low VT for patients with ARDS, there have been reports on how VT selection is inconsistently used. The aims of this study were to determine how was VT selected in a group of adult mechanically ventilated patients and to determine if a lung protective strategy (VT 6-8 mL/kg) was used, particularly in patients with P/F ratio Methods: Retrospective cohort study in several university-affiliated medical ICUs. Patients admitted to the ICU with a diagnosis of ARDS, 18 y of age and older, intubated and mechanically ventilated between January of 2017 and March of 2018 were included for analysis. Patient and ventilator parameters collected included IBW, VT, frequency, FIO2, PEEP, P/F ratio, and oxygenation index (OI). Lung protective strategy defined as VT 6-8 mL/kg based on IBW. Results: The VT selected for these 61 patients based on IBW was 7.48 mL/kg (± 1.51; range 3.87-11.21). A total of 6 patients (9.84%) received a VT 8mL/kg (9.08 ± 0.95). The mean VT selected for these patients based on ABW was 6.07 mL/kg (± 1.93). The single most often selected VT was 500 mL (n=12; 60%) and 36.7% of patients were placed on a VT of 500 mL or greater. Twenty-five patients (41%) were on PEEP > 5 cm H2O and 72% of those received a PEEP ≥ 10 cm H2O. Mean FIO2 was 63.3% (± 27.0). P/F ratio for 54% of the patients with ABGs was 175.80 (± 128.77; range 28.75-603; IQR 85.79-226.5) and OI 14.56 (± 13.78; range 1.33-66.09; IQR 4.72-16.36). Almost 61% of patients had a P/F ratio Conclusions: Although the average VT selected for this group of patients admitted to the ICU with ARDS was within the 6-8 mL/kg based on IBW, a considerably large group of patients (almost 1 out of 3) received VT > 8 mL/kg. Furthermore, patients with moderate-to-severe hypoxemia, based on P/F ratio and OI, did not receive VT consistent with a more aggressive lung protective strategy.
Lattice relaxations around individual dopant atoms in SrTi O 3

The local atomic structure around individual dopant atoms can directly influence the electronic properties of a doped material. Here, we use quantitative scanning transmission electron microscopy to study the local lattice relaxations around Sm dopant atoms in $\mathrm{SrTi}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ thin films. These films have recently been shown to undergo successive ferroelectric and superconducting transitions when strained. We show that neighboring Ti-O columns move away from the columns that contain Sm dopants. The observed displacements are, however, more complex than a simple outward expansion of all four surrounding Ti-O columns. We discuss potential implications, especially for the ferroelectric transition observed in strained films.
A black-oil approach to model produced gas injection in both conventional and tight oil-rich reservoirs to enhance oil recovery

Abstract A robust compositionally extended black-oil simulation approach is developed, which is capable of including the effect of large gas-oil capillary pressure for first contact miscible (FCM), and immiscible gas injection. The simulation methodology is applied to gas flooding in both high and very low permeability reservoirs. For a high permeability conventional reservoir, simulations use a five-spot pattern with different reservoir pressures to mimic both FCM and immiscible displacements. The results show that the simple modified black-oil approach can model well both immiscible and miscible floods, as long as the minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) is matched. For a tight oil-rich reservoir, primary depletion and huff-n-puff gas injection are simulated including the effect of large gas-oil capillary pressure in flow and in flash calculation on recovery. Finally, a dynamic gas-oil relative permeability correlation that accounts for the compositional changes owing to the produced gas injection is introduced and applied to correct for changes in interfacial tension (IFT), and its effect on oil recovery is examined. The results show that the new black-oil approach can model these processes well and could be implemented when fully compositional simulations are computationally too time consuming. For the first time, a black-oil type reservoir simulation method is used to simulate near-miscible and immiscible produced gas injection enhanced oil recovery. It provides a fast and robust alternative for large-scale reservoir simulation with the purpose of flaring/venting reduction through reinjecting the produced gas into the reservoir for EOR.
OSSE Observations of NGC 4151

Observations of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151 with the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory are presented. A continuum spectrum is observed, which steepens exponentially with an e-folding energy of 39 +/- 2 keV over the 65-300 keV range. Source intensity variability of approximately 25 percent was seen during the observations, and no significant change in the spectral shape was detected. Simple pair models cannot explain the observed spectrum of NGC 4151, and repeated observations are required to determine whether this spectral shape is common or is even the dominant spectral state in this class of active galactic nuclei.
Transverse versus vertical skin incision for planned cesarean hysterectomy: does it matter?

To investigate differences in perioperative outcomes by type of skin incision, transverse versus vertical, for planned cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). A retrospective cohort study of all women who underwent a planned cesarean hysterectomy for abnormal placentation at a single academic medical center over 5 years. The Student’s t-test was used for continuous variables and Fisher’s exact test compared categorical variables. Continuous data were presented as median and compared using the Wilcoxon-rank sum test. Forty-two planned cesarean hysterectomies were identified. A transverse skin incision was made in 43% (n = 18); a vertical skin incision was made in 57% (n = 24). Skin incision was independent of BMI (30.3 vs 30.8 kg/m2, p = 0.37), placental location (p = 0.82), and PAS-subtype (p = 0.26). Mean estimated blood loss (EBL) was 2.73 l (L) (range 0.5–20) and was not significantly different between transverse and vertical skin incision (2.6 L vs 2.8 L, p = 0.8). There was significantly shorter operative time with transverse skin incision (180 vs 238 min, p = 0.03), with no difference in intraoperative complications, including cystotomy (p = 0.22) and ureteral injury (p = 0.73). Postoperatively, there was no difference in maternal length of stay (4.8 vs 4.4 days, p = 0.74) or post-operative opioid use (117 vs 180 morphine equivalents, p = 0.31). Transverse skin incision is associated with shorter operative time for patients undergoing planned cesarean hysterectomy. There was no difference in EBL, intraoperative complications, postoperative length of stay, or opioid use. Given an increasing rate of cesarean hysterectomy, we should consider variables that optimize maternal outcomes and resource utilization.
Susceptibility of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) to gene silencing through RNAi provides potential as a novel management tool

Abstract The mountain pine beetle (MPB), Dendroctonus ponderosae, is an eruptive endemic forest pest that is undergoing substantial range expansion in response to recent climatic changes, breaching geographic barriers, exploiting novel hosts, and affecting millions of hectares of conifer forests in western North America. Current management approaches have been unable to keep pace with MPB population outbreaks, and novel and aggressive management responses are required as MPB’s range expansion progresses. Gene silencing through RNA interference (RNAi) is an emerging pest management approach that is being developed for agricultural pests, and has also been shown to be effective against some xylophagous forest pests, including the southern pine beetle (SPB), D. frontalis. When essential genes are targeted, RNAi can cause rapid insect mortality; here we focus on evaluating its effectiveness in MPB. We identified reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and validated RNAi responses in MPB by analyzing gene expression and beetle survival. Using an adult bioassay that combined oral ingestion and dermal absorption of dsRNAs targeting three genes (hsp, iap, and shi), we measure gene expression and demonstrate silencing, as well as insect mortality, following dsRNA exposure. All three genes were silenced and all treatment beetles died within 7 d. This validates reference genes for expression analyses and demonstrates that MPB, similar to the congeneric SPB, has a highly sensitive RNAi response. Additionally, we document sex-specific differences in gene expression for one of the three target genes, hsp; any differences in gene expression and subsequent mortality based on sex must be considered as this technology progresses as a pest management tool. RNAi causes rapid insect mortality when essential genes are targeted, is highly specific to the target pest, and has no environmental contamination risks, making it an attractive approach for further development in forest pest suppression.
Controlling the ionic polymer/gas interface property of a PEM fuel cell catalyst layer during membrane electrode assembly fabrication

During high current density operation, water production in the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) cathode catalyst layer can negatively affect performance by lowering mass transport of oxygen into the cathode. In this paper, a novel heat treatment process for controlling the ionic polymer/gas interface property of the fuel cell catalyst layer is investigated and then incorporated into the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fabrication process. XPS characterization of the catalyst layer's ionomer-gas interface at its outer surface and its sublayers’ surfaces obtained by scraping off successive layers of the catalyst layers confirms that a hydrophobic ionomer interface can be achieved across the catalyst layer using a specific heat treatment condition. Based on the results of the catalyst layer study, the MEA fabrication process is modified to identify heat treatment configuration and conditions that will create an optimal hydrophobic ionomer-gas interface inside the cathode catalyst layer. Finally, fuel cell tests conducted on the conventional and new MEAs under different operating temperatures show the performance of the fuel cells with the treated MEAs was > 130% higher than that with the conventional MEA at 25 °C and 70 °C with humidified air and > 45% higher at 70 °C with dry air. The durability of the hydrophobic treatment on the cathode catalyst layer ionomer is also confirmed by the accelerated stress test. PEMFC Catalyst Layer with Hydrophobic Ionomer/Gas Interface
Psychoemotional factors and their influence on the quality of life in patients with GERD

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are integral to determining the success of foregut surgical interventions and psychoemotional factors have been hypothesized to impact the quality of life of patients. This study evaluates the correlation between PROs—specifically the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Health-Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) and the Laryngopharangeal Reflux Symptom Index (LPR-RSI)—and the recently validated Esophageal Hypervigilance Anxiety Scale (EHAS). We hypothesize that patients with higher EHAS scores have significantly elevated GERD-HRQL LPR-RSI compared to those with normal scores. EHAS has been developed and validated in chronic esophageal disorders, but clinical impact is unknown. In this retrospective study, 197 patients (38% men, average age 56 ± 16) completed the following surveys:(1) EHAS, (2) GERD-HRQL, and (3) LPR-RSI. All patients referred for surgical evaluation of GERD completed the surveys as part of their pre-operative workup and post-operative follow-up In bivariate analysis, EHAS correlated with both GERD-HRQL (r 0.53, P = <0.001) and LPR-RSI (r 0.36, P = 0.009). Accounting for potential confounding with sex and age in multivariable linear regression models, a higher GERD-HRQL score (β 0.38; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.48; P = <0.001; Semipartial R2 0.20) and a higher LPR-RSI score (β 0.21; 95% CI 0.13 to 0.29; P = <0.001; Semipartial R2 0.08) were independently associated with higher EHAS. The observed relationship between mental health and GERD symptom intensity is consistent with the biopsychosocial paradigm of illness. Future studies focused on post-surgical outcomes following the incorporation of EHAS into perioperative care is needed to evaluate its effectiveness as a clinical decision support tool in ARS.
Intracranial arachnoid cysts in an infant: A technical note on the innovative use of navigation and flexible endoscopy for cyst fenestration.

Background Intracranial arachnoid cysts (ACs) are a cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) collection within the meninges. They typically arise during embryologic development. Some are stable overtime with little consequence, but large or growing cysts may require surgical intervention. The optimal surgical technique is debated and may be more technically challenging in the infant age group. Case description Our unique case report details a 10-month-old (6 months corrected age) infant who presented with a drastic increase in head circumference and was found to have midline shift and three cysts - one large and two smaller ones. He was treated with an innovative surgical approach combining stereotactic introduction of a catheter to facilitate subsequent flexible endoscopy allowing three separate cysts to be treated through one small surgical incision with no complications and a stable examination on 2-year follow-up. Conclusion Symptomatic ACs in the infant population that require treatment can be addressed with open surgery to fenestrate the cyst, endoscopic cyst fenestration, or cystoperitoneal shunting. Typically, surgeons must choose between a rigid endoscope which allows stereotactic navigation or a flexible endoscope which allows multiple trajectories but precludes navigation. Our case demonstrates that combining stereotactic ventricular placement before flexible endoscopy provides the benefit of both approaches and allows for successful endoscopic treatment in a young patient with durable results.
What if I Tell You E-Cigarette Users are Inferior? An Investigation of Social Identity Threat in Health Messaging.

Drawing on the literature on social identity threat, this study examined how threatening ecigarette users’ identities in a narrative impacts their perceived behavioral control regarding ecigarette ...
Reimbursement for Female-Specific Compared With Male-Specific Procedures Over Time

Objective To evaluate whether per-procedure work relative value units (RVUs) have changed over time and to compare time-based compensation for female-specific procedures compared with male-specific procedures. Methods Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program files for 2015-2018, we compared operative time and RVUs for 12 pairs of sex-specific procedures. Procedures were matched to be anatomically and technically similar. Procedure-assigned RVUs in 2015 were compared with 1997. Procedure compensation was determined using median dollars per RVU provided in SullivanCotter's 2018 Physician Compensation and Productivity Survey. This was compared with specialty-specific McGraw-Hill per-RVU data from 1994. Statistical analysis was performed with chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results A total of 12,120 patients underwent 6,217 male-specific procedures and 5,903 female-specific procedures. Male-specific procedures had a median (interquartile range) RVU of 25.2 (21.4-25.2), compared with 7.5 (7.5-23.4) for female-specific procedures (P Conclusion Increases in RVUs and specialty-specific compensation have resulted in more equitable reimbursement for female-specific procedures. However, even with these changes, there is a lower relative value of work, driven by specialty-specific compensation rates, for procedures performed for women-only compared with equivalent men-only procedures.