cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Site-directed mutagenesis analysis identifies residues necessary for the multiple enzymatic activities of the metastasis suppressor, nm23-H1

486 Nm23-H1 represents the first described metastasis suppressor, exhibiting reduced expression in cohorts of breast carcinoma and melanoma, as well as the ability to inhibit metastatic growth in a number of human cell lines. Although its molecular mode of action is not well understood, nm23-H1 possesses at least three enzymatic activities that may mediate metastasis suppressor function. It phosphorylates both NDP (NDP kinase, or ndpk) and protein (histidine-mediated kinase, or hisK) substrates, and also exhibits 3’-5’ exonuclease activity. The latter is compelling considering the important roles played in DNA repair and recombination by 3’-5’ exonucleases, functions likely to be aberrant in advanced human cancer. To assess the relative roles for each of these activities in metastasis suppression, we initiated the creation of a panel of nm23-H1 mutant variants with selective enzymatic lesions. Previous reports showed that a His 118 →Phe (H 118 F) substitution results in total loss of ndpk and hisK activities, while a P 96 S mutation also inhibits ndpk and hisK, but to a lesser extent (20% and 11.1% of wild-type (WT) respectively). In the current study, we show that the 3’-5’ exonuclease remains intact in the presence of each of the aforementioned mutations (H 118 F-116% of WT; P 96 S-88%). However, an E 5 A substitution results in a dramatic, selective loss in 3’-5’ exonuclease capability (12% of WT) without significant effect on either ndpk or hisK. In addition, a K 12 Q mutant was shown to harbor profound lesions in all three enzymatic activities (98% reduction for ndpk, 92% loss of hisK, and 82% loss of 3’-5’ exonuclease). Analysis of these mutant proteins by circular dichroism spectrometry revealed no significant alterations in protein structure, strongly suggesting important roles for the targeted amino acid residues H 118 , P 96 , K 12 and E 5 in the enzymatic functions of nm23-H1. This panel of nm23-H1 variants should provide a foundation for further investigation into the potential relationship between these enzymatic activities and the metastasis suppressing capacity of nm23.
Removing false images in reverse time migration: The concept of de-primary

ABSTRACTPrimary reflections, like multiples, can generate false images when reverse time migration (RTM) algorithms are used. The false images are formed by the zero-lag correlation of the source wavefields and primary reflections, which are propagated by the migration algorithm along nonphysical paths. These paths are generated by strong velocity gradients or reflection interfaces when the two-way wave equation is used. Conceptually, this type of artifact can be removed by separating up- and downgoing waves, but such separation may be impractical because it often requires storing the entire wavefields at all time steps. We have developed a de-primary RTM method in which such separation can be accomplished without saving the wavefields. The computational cost of the proposed method was only approximately 33% higher than that of conventional RTM algorithms. Using field and synthetic data sets, we have demonstrated the existence of this endemic RTM problem and verified the effectiveness of the de-primary RT...
Characterization of the Chemical Effects of Ceria Slurries for Chemical Mechanical Polishing

For highly selective particle-based slurries or fixed abrasive pads, ceria has been identified as the abrasive of choice for the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) step for shallow trench isolation (STI). The advantageous performance of ceria-based CMP consumables is usually attributed to enhanced chemical reactivity between ceria and oxide materials. In fact, this reaction is a central theme of all ceria polishing models from glass polishing to STI CMP. Previously, experimental evidence in support of the ceria-silica reaction during CMP was virtually non-existent. Recently, we proposed a pH-dependent ceria-silica polishing mechanism based on polishing results, in-situ friction force measurements, and spectroscopic and microscopic investigations. In this report, we have studied the chemical interactions between ceria and silica in the absence of particles using an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). AFM silicon tapping mode cantilevers were functionalized by depositing a silica coating via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and thermal oxidation. SEM imaging and compositional analysis was conducted on the cantilevers before and after wear against a ceria thin film, which was grown by pulsed laser deposition. The cantilever wear profile and elemental composition as a function of pH confirms our earlier polishing results and the pH-dependent CMP model for ceria-silica CMP.
SUSTAINED ISOMETRIC SHOULDER CONTRACTION ON MUSCULAR STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Background: The Advanced Throwers Ten Exercise Program incorporates sustained isometric contractions in conjunction with dynamic shoulder movements. It has been suggested that incorporating isometric holds may facilitate greater increases in muscular strength and endurance. However, no objective evidence currently exists to support this claim. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of this research was to compare the effects of a sustained muscle contraction resistive training program (Advanced Throwers Ten Program) to a more traditional exercise training protocol to determine if increases in shoulder muscular strength and endurance occur in an otherwise healthy population. It was hypothesized that utilizing a sustained isometric hold during a shoulder scaption exercise from the Advanced Throwers Ten would produce greater increases in shoulder strength and endurance as compared to a traditional training program incorporating a isotonic scapular plane abduction (scaption) exercise. Study Design: Randomized Clinical Trial.
Optimized regulation of gene expression using artificial transcription factors.

A major focus in the basic science of gene therapy is the study of factors involved in target-specific regulation of gene expression. Optimization of artificial or "designer" transcription factors capable of specific regulation of target genes is a prerequisite to developing practical applications in human subjects. In this paper, we present a systematic and combinatorial approach to optimize engineered transcription factors using designed zinc-finger proteins fused to transcriptional effector domains derived from the naturally occurring activators (VP16 or P65) or repressor (KRAB) proteins. We also demonstrate effective targeting of artificial transcription factors to regulate gene expression from three different constitutive viral promoters (SV40, CMV, RSV). Achieving a desired level of gene expression from a targeted region depended on several variables, including target site affinities for various DNA-binding domains, the nature of the activator domain, the particular cell type used, and the position of the target site with respect to the core promoter. Hence, several aspects of the artificial transcription factors should be simultaneously evaluated to ensure the optimum level of gene expression from a given target site in a given cell type. Our observations and our optimization approach have substantial implications for designing safe and effective artificial transcription factors for cell-based and therapeutic uses.
Effects of Parasitoid Strain and Host Instar on the Interaction of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki with the Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Larval Parasitoid Cotesia melanoscela (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Field studies suggest a positive relationship between application of the microbial pesticide Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner subsp. kurstaki and use of the larval parasitoid Cotesia melanoscela (Ratzburg) against the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (L.). Under controlled conditions, however, exposure of gypsy moth larvae to sublethal concentrations had effects on C. melanoscela that varied with parasitoid strain, parasitoid life stage, and host instar. Performance of French-strain wasps emerging from hosts exposed as 2nd-instars was enhanced by host ingestion of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki . Conversely, Korean-strain wasps showed lesser and inconsistent effects. Enhanced parasitoid performance was attributed to increased larval, as opposed to adult, emergence. In 2nd-instar hosts, parasitoid survival decreased between larval and adult emergence. Experiments with 3rd-instar gypsy moths showed negative effects on C. melanoscela . Although the mechanisms for these differences are not clear, these results suggest that judicious timing and strain selection can enhance integration of microbial pesticides and parasitoids.
Seeing hybridity in the anthropology museum: Practices of longing and fetishization

Hybrid colonial objects are potent. Simply stated, hybrid colonial objects in museum contexts are defined as those items that contain material characteristics of both colonizer and the colonized. T...
Performance of allogeneic bioengineered replacement pulmonary valves in rapidly growing young lambs

Abstract Background Cardiac allometric organ growth after pediatric valve replacement can lead to patient–prosthesis size mismatch and valve re-replacement, which could be mitigated with allogeneic decellularized pulmonary valves treated with collagen conditioning solutions to enhance biological and mechanical performance, termed "bioengineered valves." In this study, we evaluated functional, dimensional, and biological responses of these bioengineered valves compared with traditional cryopreserved valves implanted in lambs during rapid somatic growth. Methods From a consanguineous flock of 13 lambs, the pulmonary valves of 10 lambs (mean weight, 19.6 ± 1.4 kg) were replaced with 7 bioengineered valves or 3 classically cryopreserved valves. After 6 months, the 10 lambs with implanted valves and 3 untreated flock mates were compared by echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and explant pathology. Results Increases in body mass, valve geometric dimensions, and effective orifice areas were similar in the 2 groups of lambs. The bioengineered valves had higher median cusp-to-cusp coaptation areas (34.6%; interquartile range, 21.00%-35.13%) and were more similar to native valves (43.4%; interquartile range, 42.59%-44.01%) compared with cryopreserved valves (13.2%; interquartile range, 7.07%-13.91%) ( P = .043). Cryopreserved valves cusps, but not bioengineered valve cusps, were thicker than native valve cusps ( P = .01). Histologically, cryopreserved valves demonstrated less than native cellularity, whereas bioengineered valves that were acellular at the time of surgery gained surface endothelium and subsurface myofibroblast interstitial cells in pulmonary artery, sinus wall, and cusp base regions. Conclusions Biological valve conduits can enlarge via passive dilatation without matrix synthesis, but this would result in decreased cusp coaptational areas. Bioengineered valves demonstrated similar annulus enlargement as cryopreserved valves but usually retained larger areas of cuspal coaptation. Heat-shock protein 47-positive (collagen-synthesizing) cells were present in previously acellular bioengineered sinus walls and cusp bases, but rarely in more distal cusp matrices.
An Essay on the Context and Formation of Wilhelm von Humboldt's Linguistic Thought

SUMMARYThis essay combines the study of Humboldt's sources with a critique of the treatment of this subject in most studies of Humboldt and his linguistic thought. One crucial issue is the date of his early ‘Uber Denken und Sprechen’, which is our first evidence of his mature thinking about language. This text is conventionally dated 1795, thus ruling out that Humboldt might be indebted to the anthropo-linguistic philosophy that he explored in Paris a few years later. But a host of facts make the date untenable and the debt unquestionable, including incontrovertible evidence that ‘Uber Denken und Sprechen’ relies on Condillac's argument for the anti-idealist principle that the distinction between subject and object is the absolute precondition for self-awareness and reflection, and thus, by the same token, for the concept of Weltansicht. ‘Uber Denken und Sprechen’ also shows that Humboldt was inspired to choose Condillac's and Destutt de Tracy's argument over that of Fichte for what Berkeley disapprovingl...
Expectancy Theory as an Explanation of Voluntary Use of a Decision-Support System:

In a laboratory setting, predicted motivation or “force” to use a decision-support system was related to later measures of actual system use. Results suggest support for the hypothesized model and imply that constructs of expectancy theory may offer some explanatory power in theoretical models of users' behavior.
The effect of perceptual video quality on EEG power distribution

The human brain is a complex and dynamic system. This paper quantifies how it responds to change in video quality through changes in the distribution of feature vectors extracted from high-resolution electroencephalograph (EEG) signals. Specifically, subjects watch test video sequences with and without degradation while their brain response is recorded using a 128-channel EEG system. Power band feature vectors are then formed for each channel with each power band appearing to follow a log-normal distribution. Greater mean and variance values are observed over the occipital lobe in the 1–4Hz and 4–8Hz range as video quality decreases, indicating a change in neural firing as the video becomes harder to visually process.
Endocrine therapy and urogenital outcomes among women with a breast cancer diagnosis

Endocrine therapy for breast cancer can exacerbate menopausal symptoms. The association between endocrine therapy and common pelvic floor disorders including urinary incontinence has rarely been evaluated. We examined urogenital and sexual side effects among women with a breast cancer diagnosis, comparing endocrine therapy users to nonusers. Urogenital and sexual symptoms were self-reported during the enrollment interview within the University of North Carolina Cancer Survivorship Cohort. Tumor characteristics and endocrine therapy use were collected from medical and prescription records. We calculated multivariable prevalence ratios (PR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for the association of endocrine therapy (versus no endocrine therapy) and urinary incontinence, overall and by therapy type (tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors). PROMIS Sexual Function and Satisfaction domain scores were compared across endocrine therapy groups. Among the 548 women with a breast cancer diagnosis, 49 % received endocrine therapy. Overall, 18 % of women reported urinary incontinence symptoms. We observed no association between urinary incontinence and endocrine therapy use overall (PR = 0.97; 95 % CI 0.67, 1.43), tamoxifen (PR = 1.20; 95 % CI 0.74, 1.96), or aromatase inhibitors (PR = 0.89; 95 % CI 0.55, 1.42), compared to no use. Approximately 55 % of women were sexually active. Sexual function scores did not vary according to endocrine therapy use, although urinary incontinence was associated with lower satisfaction scores (p = 0.05). Our findings demonstrate a high prevalence of urinary incontinence after breast cancer diagnosis similar to the overall prevalence in older U.S. women, and this did not vary strongly according to use of endocrine therapy.
Solar forecasting by K-Nearest Neighbors method with weather classification and physical model

With the increasing penetration of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation in the power system, the reliability of the distribution system and efficiency of PV systems have garnered increasing attention in recent years. Forecasting the PV output is one way to decrease the uncertainty of such power systems. In this study, we present a K-Nearest Neighbors algorithm based forecasting model, which can provide the estimated PV output by utilizing numerical weather and solar irradiance prediction data. This forecasting model also includes a weather condition classification process and a physical model of PV units. Numerical results are evaluated by using data from an existing 128kW rooftop PV system.
Infrared spectra and band strengths of amorphous and crystalline N2O.

Infrared transmission spectra from 4000 to 400 cm−1, and associated band strengths and absorption coefficients, are presented for the first time for both amorphous and crystalline N2O. Changes in the spectra as a function of ice thickness and ice temperature are shown. New measurements of density, refractive index, and specific refraction are reported for amorphous and crystalline N2O. Comparisons are made to published results, and the most-likely reason for some recent disagreements in the literature is discussed. As with CO2, its isoelectronic congener, the formation of amorphous N2O is found to require greater care than the formation of amorphous solids from more-polar molecules.
HOW AND WHY DOES WORK MATTER? EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS, ROUTINE ACTIVITIES, AND CRIME AMONG ADULT MALE OFFENDERS*

An inverse relationship between employment and crime is well established, although the mechanisms that account for the correlation remain poorly understood. In the current study, we investigate the role of work quality, measured objectively (hours, income) as well as subjectively (commitment). A routine activities perspective is proposed for the work–crime relationship, and it inspires hypotheses about the way that work reduces crime indirectly, in part, through unstructured leisure and substance-using behaviors that tend to carry situational inducements to offend. The results derive from within-person analyses of monthly data provided by adult male offenders recently admitted to state prison in the Second Nebraska Inmate Study (N = 717; NT = 21,965). The findings indicate that employment significantly reduces self-report crime but only when employed men report strong commitment to their jobs, whereas other work characteristics are unrelated to crime. This indicates that, among serious criminally involved men, the subjective experience of work takes priority over its objective characteristics. The results also indicate that routine activities only partly mediate the relationship among work, job commitment, and crime, whereas the majority of the work–crime relationship remains unmediated.
A THEORETICAL METHOD OF ANALYSIS OF THE DYNAMICS OF OXYGEN EXCHANGE IN THE MICROCIRCULATION OF THE INTESTINAL TRACT IN THE DOG THAT IS APPLICABLE IN THE SHOCK STATE

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a theoretical method of analysis of the dynamics of oxygen exchange in the microcirculation of the intestinal tract in the dog that is applicable in the shock state. The use of on-line measurement of mesenteric lymph PO2 in conjunction with the measurements of mesenteric oxygen delivery and mesenteric oxygen consumption potentially allow a detailed analysis of the dynamics of oxygen exchange in the microcirculation of the intestinal tract. This analysis includes the problem of shunted or nonnutrient blood flow. It has previously been shown that PmlO2 can be expressed quantitatively as a function of DO2/VO2 and the arterial PO2. For a constant PO2, if PmlO2 is plotted versus DO2/VO2, then a linear relationship in physiologic ranges is obtained.
JMJ27, an Arabidopsis H3K9 histone demethylase, modulates defense against Pseudomonas syringae and flowering time

Histone methylation is known to dynamically regulate diverse developmental and physiological processes. Histone methyl marks are written by methyltransferases and erased by demethylases, and result in modification of chromatin structure to repress or activate transcription. However, little is known about how histone methylation may regulate defense mechanisms and flowering time in plants. Here we report characterization of JmjC DOMAIN-CONTAINING PROTEIN 27 (JMJ27), an Arabidopsis JHDM2 (JmjC domain-containing histone demethylase 2) family protein, which modulates defense against pathogens and flowering time. JMJ27 is a nuclear protein containing a zinc-finger motif and a catalytic JmjC domain with conserved Fe(II) and α-ketoglutarate binding sites, and displays H3K9me1/2 demethylase activity both in vitro and in vivo. JMJ27 is induced in response to virulent Pseudomonas syringae pathogens and is required for resistance against these pathogens. JMJ27 is a negative modulator of WRKY25 (a repressor of defense) and a positive modulator of several pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins. Additionally, loss of JMJ27 function leads to early flowering. JMJ27 negatively modulates the major flowering regulator CONSTANS (CO) and positively modulates FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). Taken together, our results indicate that JMJ27 functions as a histone demethylase to modulate both physiological (defense) and developmental (flowering time) processes in Arabidopsis.
Transfer of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from soil, water, and manure contaminated with low numbers of the pathogen to lettuce plants.

The sources of contamination of leafy greens remain unclear, but it is evident that contaminated water, soil amendments, and wildlife likely contribute. The objective of the present study was to determine transfer of low numbers of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from soil, manure-amended soil, and water to growing lettuce plants. Lettuce plants, young (12 days of age) or mature (30 days of age), were grown in soil, manure-amended soil, or irrigated with water containing 101, 102, 103, or 104 CFU E. coli O157:H7 per g or ml. Harvested plants were processed to determine whether E. coli O157:H7 was associated with the entire plant or within internal locations. Young plants (12 days) were harvested at 1, 10, 20, and 30 days postexposure. No samples were positive for E. coli O157:H7 after direct plating of serial dilutions. Enrichment of all samples from young plants exposed to contaminated soil, manure-amended soil, and irrigation water demonstrated that approximately 21% (113 of 552) of plants were positive for E....
Hepatobiliary system in sickle cell disease

This paper reviews the literature reports concerning sickle cell disease and the hepatobiliary system. Sickle cell disease can cause progressive injury to the liver with significant fibrosis, often cirrhosis, and decreased liver function by adulthood. Asymptomatic patients commonly have hepatomegaly and elevated liver enzyme levels. The presence of sickle cell disease obscures features otherwise useful in differential diagnosis. Acute episodes of the disease selectively affect the liver in 10% of patients, causing hepatic crisis with abdominal pain, nausea, fever, jaundice, and transaminase elevation. Viral hepatitis is often clinically indistinguishable from hepatic crisis, but in viral hepatitis the abdominal pain is usually less, the jaundice tends to be more severe, and the transaminase elevation more prolonged. The two can be distinguished by serology and liver biopsy. Furthermore, acute cholecystitis or choledocholithiasis may have clinical and laboratory features similar to sickle cell hepatic crisis or viral hepatitis. By adulthood, 50%-70% of sickle cell patients have gallstones. Elective cholecystectomy is indicated for those who are symptomatic, but, because of operative mortality, there is disagreement concerning surgery for asymptomatic patients. The literature contains nine well-documented cases of acute hepatic failure related to sickle cell disease. The mechanism is unclear; however, as the necrosis is often not severe, a metabolic problem is suggested.
Coronary endothelial function is better in healthy premenopausal women than in healthy older postmenopausal women and men.

BACKGROUND Premenopausal women have fewer cardiovascular disease (CVD) events than postmenopausal women and age-matched men, but the reasons are not fully understood. Coronary endothelial function (CEF), a barometer of coronary vascular health, promises important insights into age and sex differences in atherosclerotic CVD risk, but has not been well characterized in healthy individuals because of the invasive nature of conventional CEF measurements. Recently developed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods were used to quantify CEF (coronary area and flow changes in response to isometric handgrip exercise (IHE), an endothelial-dependent stressor) to test the hypothesis that healthy women have better CEF compared to men particularly at a younger age. METHODS The study participants were 50 healthy women and men with no history of coronary artery disease (CAD) or traditional CV risk factors and Agatston coronary calcium score (on prior CT) <10 for those ≥ 50 years. Coronary cross-sectional area (CSA) measurements and flow-velocity encoded images (CBF) were obtained at baseline and during continuous IHE using 3T breath-hold cine MRI-IHE. CEF (%change in CSA and CBF with IHE) comparisons were made according to age and sex, and all women ≥50 years were post-menopausal. RESULTS In the overall population, there were no differences in CEF between men and women. However, when stratified by age and sex the mean changes in CSA and CBF during IHE were higher in younger premenopausal women than older postmenopausal women (%CSA: 15.2±10.6% vs. 7.0±6.8%, p = 0.03 and %CBF: 59.0±37.0% vs. 30.5±24.5% p = 0.02). CBF change was also nearly two-fold better in premenopausal women than age-matched men (59.0±37.0% vs. 33.6±12.3%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Premenopausal women have nearly two-fold better mean CEF compared to postmenopausal women. CEF, measured by CBF change is also better in premenopausal women than age-matched men but there are no sex differences in CEF after menopause. Fundamental age and sex differences in CEF exist and may contribute to differences in the development and clinical manifestations of atherosclerotic CVD, and guide future trials targeting sex-specific mechanisms of atherogenesis.
Postpartum Angiopathy and Related Disorders

Publisher Summary Postpartum angiopathy (PPA), a cerebral vasculopathy, is considered comparatively rare, but may be under-recognized. The diagnosis is made based on neurologic symptoms in the postpartum setting with documented angiographic findings of multifocal segmental vasoconstriction. Symptoms of PPA are usually encountered in the first 1–2 weeks after an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery, but can be delayed for up to 6 weeks postpartum. Classically patients present with abrupt, excruciating headaches. The pain is commonly holocephalic and may be accompanied by nausea, visual disturbances, encephalopathy, or seizures. Though there have been cases reported without headache, the absence of this symptom should raise suspicion for other diagnoses, as it is a prominent and early feature in the vast majority of described cases. Headaches can be persistent or may fluctuate and manifest as recurrent thunderclap headaches over several days. Generalized seizures are the second most commonly reported neurologic symptom in PPA, followed by visual disturbances and encephalopathy. A variety of visual disturbances can occur, including transient scotomas, visual field deficit, and cortical blindness.
Rivers may constitute an overlooked avenue of dispersal for terrestrial fungi

Abstract While fungi are intimately associated with substrates in freshwater systems, the role of fungi in the open water column is less well defined. Using next generation sequencing of 0.2 μm–1 μm filtered water column samples, we detected abundant and diverse fungal sequences across 25 stream and river sites in the Ozark region of Oklahoma and Arkansas. Fungal communities were only weakly related to stream environmental metrics with the exception of total phosphorus (TP). We infer from our results that TP is acting as a proxy for unique catchment effects. We observed patterns of dominant community taxa at higher taxonomic groupings but lower taxonomic groupings were site specific. OTU functional assignment showed the majority of sequences to be related to plant and animal pathogens, and some saprotrophs. The likely allochthonous origin and strong site specificity of these fungi suggest overlooked dispersal via lotic waterways, which may have important biogeographic consequences for fungi.
Practical Nonparametric Statistics, 3rd Ed.

(2001). Practical Nonparametric Statistics, 3rd Ed. Journal of Quality Technology: Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 260-260.
Segmental Tibia Fractures: An Analysis of Complication and Healing Rates.

Objectives To determine the most commonly associated injuries, complications, and healing rates of patients sustaining segmental tibial shaft fractures. Design Retrospective review. Setting Two Level I trauma centers. Patients A total of 108 patients with segmental tibial shaft fractures were identified between 2005 and 2013. Intervention None. Main outcome measures Demographics, injury characteristics, treatments, and complications. Categories were evaluated and analyzed based on frequency of occurrence. Time to union was assessed based on serial radiographs. Results A total of 108 patients met the inclusion criteria. All fractures were OTA/AO type 42C2. Seventy-three patients (68%) sustained open fractures. There were 34 patients (31%) who had compartment syndrome. The median Injury Severity Score was 27 (range 4-75). Ninety-five patients underwent reamed intramedullary nailing of the tibia, 4 underwent open reduction internal fixation, and 2 patients were definitively treated with external fixation. The median length of hospital stay was 11 days (range 3-48). Outcome data (time to union/delayed union/malunion) was available for 101 patients. The median time to union was 26 weeks (range 14-48). The delayed union rate was 40% (40/101) and the nonunion rate was 10% (10/101). Conclusion Segmental tibial shaft fractures are often associated with severe polytrauma and are most often open fractures. Reamed intramedullary nailing after appropriate resuscitative and stabilization methods can result in excellent alignment and union in these fractures, with low nonunion and infection rates at 1 year. Level of evidence Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Evaluating the cytokine profile of the WC1+ γδ T cell subset in the ileum of cattle with the subclinical and clinical forms of MAP infection.

Abstract In the present study, we evaluated expression of IFN-γ, IL-17, TNF-α, IL-10 and TGF-β by mucosal cells, including WC1+ γδ T cells, in ileal tissues taken from non-infected cattle and cattle naturally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP). Infected cattle were either in the subclinical or clinical stage of infection. We hypothesized that the cytokine profile of the WC1+ γδ T cell subset would be different between subclinical and clinical cattle. Our data indicate a significant increase in the numbers of WC1+ γδ T cells expressing IL-10 in clinical cattle compared to subclinical and non-infected cattle. We observed a significant increase in TGF-β expression by non-WC1+ cells in clinically infected cattle. Expression of IFN-γ, IL-17 and TNF-α in mucosal cells, including the WC1+ γδ T cell subset, was identified in all examined groups. However, our data indicate that the stage of infection did not significantly influence expression of these proinflammatory cytokines. This study demonstrates changes in the cytokine mRNA expression profile of mucosal cells in the ileum, and specifically WC1+ γδ T cells, as cattle progress to the clinical disease. The change is characterized by an increase in expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines.
The Conceptualization and Measurement of Stressful Life Events: An Overview of the Issues

Studies of the effects of natural and man-made disasters —especially the disaster of war—have provided the most unequivocal evidence for the proposition that stressful events can produce psychopathology in previously normal personalities (cf. Arthur, 1974; Cooper & Shepherd, 1970; Kinson & Rosser, 1974; Hocking, 1970). For example, when a systematic sample of the population in a rural section of Arkansas was interviewed shortly after the area was hit by a severe tornado, 90 per cent reported “…some form of acute emotional, physiological or psychosomatic after-effect” (Fritz & Marks, 1954, p. 34). Similarly, pervasive effects were implied by Star’s (1949) finding, based on a series of studies during World War II using subscales from the Neuropsychiatric Screening Adjunct, that “…the fear and anxiety implicit in combat brought forth psychosomatic manifestations in so many men that these (symptom scales) served less and less to discriminate between men who were labeled psychiatric casualties and those who were not” (p. 455).
Spin hydrodynamics in amorphous magnets

The authors propose insulating amorphous magnets as platforms for superfluid spin transport. The key observation is that structural disorder in this class of materials can average out the effect of anisotropies, which usually inhibit the onset of spin superfluidity. A hydrodynamical description of the flow of angular momentum injected by spin accumulation in adjacent heavy metals is developed. The theory is valid for a broad class of magnets with frustrated interactions, where spin currents are defined in terms of coherent rotations of a noncollinear texture. Their stability, ascribed to the topology of the emergent SO(3) order parameter, resembles the phenomenology of chiral superfluids like ${}^{3}$He-$A$ or spinor condensates with ferromagnetic order. Viewing SO(3) as the projective space RP${}^{3}$, one can see that the elementary relaxation processes for the spin superflow are provided by 4$\ensuremath{\pi}$ phase slips.
Adaptive L1-Norm Principal-Component Analysis With Online Outlier Rejection

L1-norm principal-component analysis (L1-PCA) is known to attain sturdy resistance against faulty points (outliers) among the processed data. However, computing the L1-PCA of large datasets, with high number of measurements and/or dimensions, may be computationally impractical; in such cases, incremental solutions could be preferred. At the same time, in many applications it is desired to track the signal subspace via principal component adaptation. In this paper, we present new methods for both incremental and adaptive L1-PCA. Our first algorithm computes L1-PCA incrementally, processing one measurement at a time and performing online rejection of possible outliers; due to its low computational and storage cost, this algorithm is appropriate for application to both large and streaming datasets. Our second algorithm combines the merits of the first one with the additional ability to track changes in the nominal signal subspace. The proposed algorithms are evaluated with experimental studies on subspace estimation/tracking, video surveillance, image conditioning, and direction-of-arrival estimation/tracking.
Explanation-based reward coaching to improve human performance via reinforcement learning

For robots to effectively collaborate with humans, it is critical to establish a shared mental model amongst teammates. In the case of incongruous models, catastrophic failures may occur unless mitigating steps are taken. To identify and remedy these potential issues, we propose a novel mechanism for enabling an autonomous system to detect model disparity between itself and a human collaborator, infer the source of the disagreement within the model, evaluate potential consequences of this error, and finally, provide human-interpretable feedback to encourage model correction. This process effectively enables a robot to provide a human with a policy update based on perceived model disparity, reducing the likelihood of costly or dangerous failures during joint task execution. This paper makes two contributions at the intersection of explainable AI (xAI) and human-robot collaboration: 1) The Reward Augmentation and Repair through Explanation (RARE) framework for estimating task understanding and 2) A human subjects study illustrating the effectiveness of reward augmentation-based policy repair in a complex collaborative task.
Influence of a reservoir bed on diapirism and drilling hazards near a salt diapir: a geomechanical approach

We use a 2D forward finite-element model to explore how a laterally continuous permeable bed impacts the geological evolution and the geomechanical properties of a salt basin. We show that a permeable bed tilted by rise of a salt diapir substantially increases pore pressure in sediments near the diapir through hydraulically connecting these sediments to deep, high-overpressure sediments far from the diapir. The pore-pressure increase near the diapir has the following significant consequences: it causes a faster rise of the diapir; brings sediments near the diapir close to shear failure in situ; causes unloading of sediments around the crest of the permeable bed; and reduces the margin of appropriate mud weights for drilling near the diapir. The rise of the salt diapir induces concentrated lateral deformation and thereby overpressure in mudrocks encasing the permeable bed in an area near the bottom of the basin. This anomalously high overpressure is in marked contrast with the overpressure in the permeable bed, resulting in a large pore-pressure gradient between the permeable bed and encasing mudrocks. Our study provides insight into the importance of permeable beds to the structural evolution of a salt basin and to the exploration and production of hydrocarbon near salt diapirs.
Urban Slavery in Colonial Mexico: Puebla de los Angeles, 1531-1706

Using the city of Puebla de los Angeles, the second-largest urban center in colonial Mexico (viceroyalty of New Spain), Pablo Miguel Sierra Silva investigates Spaniards' imposition of slavery on Africans, Asians, and their families. He analyzes the experiences of these slaves in four distinct urban settings: the marketplace, the convent, the textile mill, and the elite residence. In so doing, Urban Slavery in Colonial Mexico advances a new understanding of how, when, and why transatlantic and transpacific merchant networks converged in Central Mexico during the seventeenth century. As a social and cultural history, it also addresses how enslaved people formed social networks to contest their bondage. Sierra Silva challenges readers to understand the everyday nature of urban slavery and engages the rich Spanish and indigenous history of the Puebla region while intertwining it with African diaspora studies.
Combustion toxicity regulations for construction products

Research literature comparing room-scale combustion toxicity performance of construction products is compared to bench-scale results. It is demonstrated that it is inappropriate the regulate constr...
Transcranial focused ultrasound, pulsed at 40 Hz, activates microglia acutely and reduces Aβ load chronically, as demonstrated in vivo.

OBJECTIVE Iaccarino et al. (2016) [1] exposed 1 h of light flickering at 40 Hz to awake 5XFAD Alzheimer's Disease (AD) mouse models, generating action potentials at 40 Hz, activating ∼54% of microglia to colocalize with Aβ plaque, acutely, and clearing ∼ 50% of Aβ plaque after seven days, but only in the visual cortex. HYPOTHESIS Transcranially delivered, focused ultrasound (tFUS) can replicate the results of Iaccarino et al. (2016) [1] but throughout its area of application. METHODS We exposed sedated 5XFAD mice to tFUS (2.0 MHz carrier frequency, 40 Hz pulse repetition frequency, 400 μs-long pulses, spatial peak pulse average value of 190 W/cm2). Acute studies targeted tFUS into one hemisphere of brain centered on its hippocampus for 1 h. Chronic studies targeted comparable brain in each hemisphere for 1 h/day for five days. RESULTS Acute application of tFUS activated more microglia that colocalized with Aβ plaque relative to sham ultrasound (36.0 ± 4.6% versus 14.2 ± 2.6% [mean ± standard error], z = 2.45, p < 0.014) and relative to the contralateral hemisphere of treated brain (36.0 ± 4.6% versus 14.3 ± 4.0%, z = 2.61, p < 0.009). Chronic application over five days reduced their Aβ plaque burden by nearly half relative to paired sham animals (47.4 ± 5.8%, z = - 2.79, p < 0.005). CONCLUSION Our results compare to those of Iaccarino et al. (2016) [1] but throughout the area of ultrasound-exposed brain. Our results also compare to those achieved by medications that target Aβ, but over a substantially shorter period of time. The proximity of our ultrasound protocol to those shown safe for non-human primates and humans may motivate its rapid translation to human studies.
Estimating Frequency-Dependent Mechanical Properties of Materials

Predicting the dynamic response of structures to impulsive input loads is challenging for a variety of practical and theoretical reasons, but a lack of material properties is the most commonly cited. Material properties are often assumed to be frequency-independent in the analysis of transient data. However, this presents difficulties when dispersion, interface dynamics, and other phenomenology participate in the structural response. A frequency-dependent framework is proposed and implemented to explore the full spectral response of materials under impulsive loads. Experimental data from a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar is used in conjunction with this model to estimate the complex modulus of polyurethane. The estimates of the complex modulus are obtained for three different parameterizations of the complex modulus as a function of frequency, specifically constant, linear, and quadratic models. Results of the estimation are discussed and compared.
Association of bullous pemphigoid and comorbid health conditions: a case-control study.

Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune skin disease characterized by the formation of blisters between the epidermis and dermis. Comorbidities of pemphigoid have not been well-described. Identification of comorbidities associated with pemphigoid is important to decrease morbidity and mortality. To identify the comorbid health conditions of bullous pemphigoid. This was a case–control study of 91 cases of pemphigoid verified by clinical and laboratory diagnosis and 546 age- and sex-matched controls with complete follow-up at a large metropolitan quaternary care medical center. The average age of bullous pemphigoid patients was 76 years and 53% of patients were female. Forty-eight (53%) of the BP patients had a history of inpatient hospitalization, of which 22 (24.2%) were hospitalized for either previously undiagnosed BP or an exacerbation of BP. Bullous pemphigoid was significantly associated with hypertension [adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval)]: [2.03 (1.24–3.32)], diabetes mellitus [2.59 (1.60–4.19)], chronic kidney disease [2.29 (1.19–4.40)], end-stage renal disease [3.82 (1.48–9.85)], basal cell carcinoma of the skin [6.00 (1.94–18.6)], and obstructive sleep apnea [5.23 (2.45–11.19)]. 78% of BP patients used at least one systemic immunosuppressant. There was no significant association between treatments for pemphigoid and any of the comorbidities. Bullous pemphigoid patients need screening for comorbid health conditions even though treatment options do not seem to be associated with these comorbidities.
Synthesis of a 2-Isocyanophenolate Ligand, (2-CNC6H4O)1–, by Ring-Opening of Benzoxazole with Rare-Earth Metal Complexes

The allyl complexes (C5Me5)2Ln(η3-C3H5) (Ln = Y, Dy, Tb) react with benzoxazole, C7H5NO, by deprotonation and ring-opening to yield dark red complexes identified by X-ray crystallography as the 2-i...
Initiating and maintaining student-instructor rapport in face-to-face classes

We examined college instructors’ perceptions of the behaviors and contextual factors that allow them to initiate and maintain rapport with their students. Phenomenological interviews with 21 colleg...
Embodied abject play: women “sex comics” and abject feminism

We analyze the performances of comics Whitney Cummings, Nikki Glaser, Amy Schumer, and Ali Wong that address topics that patriarchal culture has deemed abject about women’s bodies. These routines d...
Generalized Superconformal Index for Three Dimensional Field Theories

We introduce a generalization of the S^2 × S^1 superconformal index where background gauge fields with magnetic flux are coupled to the global symmetries of the theory. This allows one to gauge a global symmetry at the level of the index, which we use to show the matching of the superconformal index for N = 2 SQED with N_f flavors and its mirror dual.
Combinatorial Chemistry and Multiple Parallel Synthesis

The current state of the art in drug seeking through applications of combinatorial chemical and multiple parallel synthetic methods is reviewed with examples culled from the contemporaneous literature. Keywords: combinatorial chemistry; drug seeking; multiple parallel synthesis
Overlay protection against link failures using network coding

This paper introduces a network coding-based protection scheme against single and multiple link failures. The proposed strategy makes sure that in a connection, each node receives two copies of the same data unit: one copy on the working circuit, and a second copy that can be extracted from linear combinations of data units transmitted on a shared protection path. This guarantees instantaneous recovery of data units upon the failure of a working circuit. The strategy can be implemented at an overlay layer, which makes its deployment simple and scalable. The proposed strategy is an extension of the scheme presented in the work of Kamal (2006). The new scheme is simpler, less expensive, and does not require the synchronization required by the original scheme. The sharing of the protection circuit by a number of connections is the key to the reduction of the cost of protection. A preliminary comparison of the cost of the proposed scheme to the 1+1 protection strategy is conducted, and establishes the benefits of our strategy.
Changes in the Transition to Adulthood in Less Developed Countries

Over the past century, there have been significant changes in the prevalence, density, and complexity of transitions to adulthood in the United States and Europe. Analyses of change in less developed countries have largely focused on one or two transitions in isolation. This article examines whether recent increases in female school participation, the timing of marriage, and socio-economic changes in Africa and Latin America have influenced the timing and pattern of the entire transition to adulthood. Using data from countries with Demographic and Health Surveys 12–15 years apart, we analyze how the distribution of status combinations (education, employment, marriage, and childbearing) has changed over this period for women aged 15–30. Heterogeneity analysis is used to describe the changes in the complexity of status combinations. Although we find little change in transition complexity for women older than 20, there is evidence for shifts in the distribution of status combinations at any given age.
Polarographic reduction of aldehydes and ketones: Part XXVI. Electroreduction and electrooxidation of pyridinecarboxaldehydes in alkaline solutions

Abstract The electroreductions and electrooxidations of 2-, 3-, and 4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde have been investigated in solutions of sodium hydroxide of concentration up to 10 M (J = 16.7) using dc and differential pulse polarography, linear sweep voltammetry, and controlled potential electrolysis. Both reductions and oxidations of these compounds were influenced by the formation of geminal diol anions (PyCH(OH)O−) in the bulk of the solution and in the vicinity of the electrode. The electroreductions of the 3- and 4-aldehydes proceed by a one-electron uptake, followed by a radical dimerization yielding pinacols. The two-electron reduction of the 2-aldehyde is complicated by competing dimerization and polymerization. In strongly alkaline solutions, the Cannizzaro reaction completes with bulk electrolysis. To undergo a two-electron oxidation in alkaline media to pyridinecarboxylic acids, pyridinecarboxaldehydes must be converted into PyCH(OH)O−. At J− At J−> 14 the geminal diol anion reacts with another hydroxide ion. This reaction results in a shift of half-wave potentials of the anodic wave to more negative values with incrasing aOH−.