cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) loading in a collegiate athlete during sidestep cutting after ACL reconstruction: A case study

Abstract Background Athletes with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries usually undergo ACL-reconstruction (ACLR) in order to restore joint stability, so that dynamic maneuvers such as the sidestep cut can be performed. Despite restoration of joint stability after ACLR, many athletes do not return to pre-injury levels and may be at a high risk of a second ACL injury. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not ACL loading, would increase after ACLR. Methods One female Division I collegiate athlete performed bilateral unanticipated sidestep cuts both before ACL injury and 27 months after ACLR. Musculoskeletal simulations were used to calculate ACL loading during the deceleration phase of the sidestep cuts. Results Twenty-seven months after ACLR, the athlete demonstrated higher total ACL loading in the ipsilateral limb as well as altered joint kinematics, moments, and quadriceps muscle force production. In the contralateral limb, there were no increases in total ACL loading or muscle force production yet altered lower extremity joint kinematics and moments were present after ACLR. Conclusions Higher total ACL loading in the ipsilateral limb of this athlete may suggest an increased risk of second ACL injury. The results of this study provide an initial step in understanding the effects of ACLR on the risk of second ACL injury in an elite athlete and suggest that it is important to develop a better understanding of this surgical intervention on knee joint loading, in order to reduce the risk of second ACL injury while performing dynamic maneuvers.
Egypt’s desert dreams: development or disaster?

Developmentalist states are dreaming states. To ‘leap forward’, or ‘overcome internal contradictions’, or ‘exit the periphery’, developmentalist regimes boldly reimagine relationships between envir...
The Effects of Environment Wind on Heat Transfer of Direct Air Cooled Island

Taking Mengda 600MW direct air-cooled units in our country into consideration,in view of serious hurdles of air-cooled units available-the unfavorable influences of Ambient Wind,we tentatively proceeds to making numerical simulation research on external flow field of direct air-cooled island by using CFD software Fluent.Found that the wind generating from the boiler house afterwards,hot air re-circulation and air inverse flow are the main factors of decline in the efficiency of air-cooled island heat.This paper proposed the mechanism of ambient wind impacts,and the analysis on such effects of the wind generating from the boiler house afterwards,hot air re-circulation and air inverse flow on external flow field and heat exchange efficiency of air-cooled island was thus been within reach,found out hot air re-circulation and air inverse flow relationship between the wind speed.
Correction: Dynamic ruffling distortion of the heme substrate in non-canonical heme oxygenase enzymes

Correction for ‘Dynamic ruffling distortion of the heme substrate in non-canonical heme oxygenase enzymes’ by Amanda B. Graves et al., Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 10058–10067.
Burkitt's lymphoma of the testis: an unusual scrotal mass in childhood.

AbstractBurkitt’s lymphoma was originally described as a sarcomatous tumor among Ugandan children but it is becoming more prevalent in the United States. We describe a case of Burkitt’s lymphoma that presented as a scrotal mass. The management of Burkitt’s lymphoma involving the testis is discussed.
Circadian Mechanisms in Bioenergetics and Cell Metabolism

Circadian clocks are biologic oscillators present in all photosensitive species that produce 24-h cycles in the transcription of rate-limiting metabolic enzymes in anticipation of the light–dark cycle. In mammals, the clock drives energetic cycles to maintain physiologic constancy during the daily switch in behavioral (sleep/wake) and nutritional (fasting/feeding) states. A molecular connection between circadian clocks and tissue metabolism was first established with the discovery that 24-h transcriptional rhythms are cell-autonomous and self-sustained in cultured fibroblasts, and that clocks are present in most tissues and comprise a robust temporal network throughout the body. A central question remains: how do circadian transcriptional programs integrate physiologic systems within individual cells of the intact animal and how does the ensemble of local clocks align temporal harmonics in the organism with the environment? Our approach to studies of metabolic regulation by the molecular clock began with analyses of metabolic pathologies in circadian mutant animals, experiments that first became possible with the cloning of the clock genes in the late 1990s. A paradox in our early studies was that the effects of circadian clock disruption were both nutrient- and time-dependent, so that, under fed conditions, animals exhibited diabetes whereas during fasting, they decompensated and died. Application of a broad range of tissue-specific genetic and biochemical approaches has now begun to provide mechanistic insight into the circadian control of metabolism.
The effect of poultry litter biochar on pellet quality, one to 21 d broiler performance, digesta viscosity, bone mineralization, and apparent ileal amino acid digestibility

Abstract Feeding poultry litter biochar (PLB), a product resulting from litter gasification, could decrease diet cost, maintain broiler growth performance, and decrease land application of manure. Past research observed improved pellet quality and mineral availability with dietary inclusions of 6 to 7% PLB; however, broiler performance was decreased, likely due from toxic-heavy-metal content (e.g., 99 ppm arsenic) and increased digesta viscosity of the particular PLB. The objective of the current study was to assess lower dietary inclusions of PLB, with decreased toxic-heavy-metal content, on descriptive feed manufacture, broiler performance, digesta viscosity, bone mineralization, and apparent ileal amino acid digestibility (AIAAD). Treatments were arranged as a Diet Formulation x Phytase Addition factorial in a randomized complete block design with 8 replications per treatment. Four dietary formulations were produced: positive control (PC) with 0.45% non phytate phosphorus (nPP), negative control with 0.23% nPP, and 2 or 4% PLB with 0.45% nPP. Phytase was either included at 9,500 ftu/kg or withheld. There were 8 treatments total. Contrasts comparing PC and 2 or 4% PLB also were conducted. Diets were pelleted and crumbled prior to feeding. Positive and negative control formulations and phytase addition affected bird performance as expected. Birds fed 2% PLB had increased FCR and birds fed 4% PLB had decreased LWG when compared to PC (P
Tailoring spontaneous parametric downconversion in hyperbolic metamaterials

We study theoretically spontaneous parametric downconversion in nonlinear hyperbolic metamaterials and reveal that a strong enhancement of downconverted photon generation is possible due to the hyperbolic dispersion and modified optical density of states.
Project based courses in control cyber physical system co-design

Today's cyber-physical (CP) electronic system design includes hardware and software with intelligent sensing and controls. Those CP future applications use high definition images, videos and context information with interactions to the physical world through sensors and actuators. Senior level courses including embedded controls, FPGA design, and server side programming have been developed and tested in senior and undergraduate courses and senior design projects. The project based courses were designed and motivated by the Urban Information Systems, project for emerging Smart Cities. This paper reviews specific curricula, lab organization, hardware and software platforms, and preliminary results of offered courses in 2015--2016.
Mimicking biological functionality with polymers for biomedical applications

The vast opportunities for biomaterials design and functionality enabled by mimicking nature continue to stretch the limits of imagination. As both biological understanding and engineering capabilities develop, more sophisticated biomedical materials can be synthesized that have multifaceted chemical, biological and physical characteristics designed to achieve specific therapeutic goals. Mimicry is being used in the design of polymers for biomedical applications that are required locally in tissues, systemically throughout the body, and at the interface with tissues.
Fluorescence patterning with mild illumination in polymer films of photocleavable oxazines

The photoinduced cleavage of oxazine heterocycles, connected to macromolecules spin coated on appropriate substrates, occurs efficiently and irreversibly. The products of this photochemical transformation quench effectively the fluorescence of borondipyrromethene (BODIPY) dopants and turn off their emission. This protocol permits the optical imprinting of fluorescent patterns under mild illumination conditions that are impossible to replicate with methods solely based on bleaching.
Currency power: understanding monetary rivalry

Benjamin Cohen has been studying currency power for 50 years. Indeed, his first published monograph on the topic appeared in 1966 in the Princeton Studies of International Finance pamphlet series. ...
Membrane fission by protein crowding

Membrane fission, which facilitates compartmentalization of biological processes into discrete, membrane-bound volumes, is essential for cellular life. Proteins with specific structural features including constricting rings, helical scaffolds, and hydrophobic membrane insertions are thought to be the primary drivers of fission. In contrast, here we report a mechanism of fission that is independent of protein structure-steric pressure among membrane-bound proteins. In particular, random collisions among crowded proteins generate substantial pressure, which if unbalanced on the opposite membrane surface can dramatically increase membrane curvature, leading to fission. Using the endocytic protein epsin1 N-terminal homology domain (ENTH), previously thought to drive fission by hydrophobic insertion, our results show that membrane coverage correlates equally with fission regardless of the hydrophobicity of insertions. Specifically, combining FRET-based measurements of membrane coverage with multiple, independent measurements of membrane vesiculation revealed that fission became spontaneous as steric pressure increased. Further, fission efficiency remained equally potent when helices were replaced by synthetic membrane-binding motifs. These data challenge the view that hydrophobic insertions drive membrane fission, suggesting instead that the role of insertions is to anchor proteins strongly to membrane surfaces, amplifying steric pressure. In line with these conclusions, even green fluorescent protein (GFP) was able to drive fission efficiently when bound to the membrane at high coverage. Our conclusions are further strengthened by the finding that intrinsically disordered proteins, which have large hydrodynamic radii yet lack a defined structure, drove fission with substantially greater potency than smaller, structured proteins.
Harnessing the Power of Plastics: Nanostructured Polymer Systems in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Nanostructure-forming polymers have tremendous potential to enhance the performance and safety of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) as a result of their ability to simultaneously optimize often contradictory properties, such as ionic conductivity and mechanical stability, in a single material. These macromolecules can be harnessed in both LiB electrolyte and electrode components. With respect to electrolytes, advances in salt-doped and single-ion systems are highlighted herein with a focus on strategies that improve conductivities to rival that found in gel and liquid electrolytes, while also permitting further enhancements in electrochemical and mechanical stability. In the arena of electrodes, three major functions are considered: binders to maximize active material efficiency, polymer electrodes to enable fully organic LiBs, and sacrificial constructs that template high surface area, well-ordered metal oxide or metallic electrodes to improve electrode capacity. Additionally, the application of theory and si...
Total physical activity and mortality were inversely related in men

Source Citation Lee IM, Hsieh CC, Paffenbarger RS Jr. Exercise intensity and longevity in men. The Harvard Alumni Health Study. JAMA. 1995 Apr 19;273:1179-84.
A 10-point plan to demonstrate the value of dermatology in the health care system

In May 2017, the American Academy of Dermatology convened a Dermatology Specialty Summit, with representatives from 15 dermatology specialty societies, the American Board of Dermatology, and the Coalition of Skin Diseases in attendance. The Summit's goal was to identify opportunities to address and enhance the perception of dermatology in the House of Medicine, the role of data in the changing health care environment, and access to dermatologic care. Summit participants collectively identified a list of 10 action items that address opportunities in these areas of concern. These include active participation in the House of Medicine, increased interaction with and education of our primary care colleagues, efforts to support DataDerm, and creative ways to improve access.
Using Internet search data to examine the relationship between anti-Muslim and pro-ISIS sentiment in U.S. counties.

Recent terrorist attacks by first- and second-generation immigrants in the United States and Europe indicate that radicalization may result from the failure of ethnic integration—or the rise of intergroup prejudice in communities where “home-grown” extremists are raised. Yet, these community-level drivers are notoriously difficult to study because public opinion surveys provide biased measures of both prejudice and radicalization. We examine the relationship between anti-Muslim and pro-ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) Internet searches in 3099 U.S. counties between 2014 and 2016 using instrumental variable models that control for various community-level factors associated with radicalization. We find that anti-Muslim searches are strongly associated with pro-ISIS searches—particularly in communities with high levels of poverty and ethnic homogeneity. Although more research is needed to verify the causal nature of this relationship, this finding suggests that minority groups may be more susceptible to radicalization if they experience discrimination in settings where they are isolated and therefore highly visible—or in communities where they compete with majority groups for limited financial resources. We evaluate the validity of our findings using several other data sources and discuss the implications of our findings for the study of terrorism and intergroup relations, as well as immigration and counterterrorism policies.
Student Preferences for Federal, State, and Local Government Careers: National Opportunities and Local Service

Although scholars have examined the federal government’s competition with the private sector for talented new workers, undergraduate attraction to careers in state or local government has been larg...
Attitude Control for the Tiros Weather Satellites

The paper describes the evolution of attitude control techniques within the framework of the TIROS weather satellite program, starting in about 1958, which led to a particularly simple stabilization system used in the operational weather satellite system now being implemented for the United States Weather Bureau by NASA and RCA. The stabilization system employs a controlled form of simple spin stabilization, exploiting control torques generated by interaction with the earth’s magnetic field, to achieve in effect the same results which would be provided by a completely stabilized earth-oriented spacecraft. Possible future evolution of the basic ideas is also discussed.
Adriamycin Metabolism in Man

Over the past eight years, adriamycin, the outstanding representative of the anthracycline antibiotics, has demonstrated a remarkable activity against human and animal malignancies (1,2). Whereas adriamycin’s sibling, daunorubicin, has been impressive for remission induction in acute myelogenous and acute lymphocytic leukemias, adriamycin has a wider spectrum of activity and is useful against solid tumors. Clinical investigators in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa find adriamycin has anticancer activity against soft tissue sarcomas, breast cancer, lung cancer, hepatomas, lymphomas, acute leukemias, etc. Against some malignancies, adriamycin has no useful pharmacologic activity. Complicating the usage of both adriamycin and daunorubicin are the toxic effects: myelosuppression, stomatitis, nausea, vomiting, alopecia, electrocardiographic changes, and a serious cumulative dosage related myocardiopathy.
Non-periodic Transition-Tracking Switching via Learning-Based Decomposition: High-Speed Nano-Positioning Experiment Example

In this paper, the tracking problem involving nonperiodic tracking-transition switching is considered from a learning-based decomposition viewpoint. Non-periodic tracking-transition occurs in applications where precision tracking of a given desired trajectory in sections is intermediated to rapid transition of the output with given boundary conditions. The control challenges arise as the tracking and the transition sections are coupled together, post-switching oscillations of the output can be induced due to the mismatch of the boundary states, and the tracking performance can be limited by the nonminimum-phase zeros. Although these challenges have been tackled recently by combining the system-inversion with optimization technique, the solution obtained involves heavy online computation, and can be sensitive to model uncertainties. This work aims to overcome these limitations through a learning-based decomposition approach, where a library of input-output elements is constructed offline via iterative learning a priori, and then used online to both decompose the desired output (in tracking sections), design and optimize the desired transition output (in transition sections), and synthesize the control input based on the superposition principle. The proposed approach is demonstrated through experiment implementation on a piezoelectric actuator.
Experiencia de una madre con diagnóstico de VIH ante la imposibilidad de amamantar a su hija

Introduccion. El objetivo planteado fue develar la experiencia vivida que experimenta una madre con VIH ante la imposibilidad de amamantar a su hija. Material y Metodo. Estudio de caso cualitativo fenomenologico. El fenomeno en estudio es abordado, principalmente, por el enfoque entregado por Husserl y Heidegger. La participante fue seleccionada por su experiencia con el fenomeno en estudio (muestreo intencional). Se utilizo la entrevista semiestructurada en profundidad y el analisis se realizo siguiendo los 10 pasos planteados por Streubert. Resultados. La experiencia vivida por esta madre con diagnostico de VIH al estar imposibilitada de amamantar a su hija, se presento como un fenomeno complejo y multidimensional. Fueron extraidas del relato las siguientes unidades de significado: sufrimiento y dolor; sacrificio, fortaleza y superacion; el valor del apoyo, relacion humana y educacion recibida por su medico. Conclusiones. La indicacion de alimentacion artificial en el nino significa anular un acto natural en la mujer, el acto de amamantar, para la participante esta experiencia fue dificil, compleja y triste, sin embargo, opto por el bienestar de su hija, y comprendio que todo sacrificio era valido para evitar el contagio del VIH a su hija.
Integrative use of Social Media in Health Communication

This paper examines the integrative uses of social media in a health marketing setting. The focus is on the theory of selective and limited influences and the concepts of selective perception and exposure. Communication that engages participants enables a reduction in cognitive dissonance and enhances the perception of messages. An evaluation of communication theories and changes in health care dialogue are identified and assessed. Innovations are occurring in health communications that are improving the experience for end-users. A literature review was used to examine the topic and provide a framework for developing propositions that could be applied in a health communication setting. The specific uses for social media channels are outlined and the use of integrating social media channels is demonstrated in the obstetrics and gynecology specialty of high-risk maternal health. The findings indicate that social media should not only be delivered as independent channels but can be integrated into applications to be used in mobile settings that improve and enhance business objectives. Finally, it is proposed that organizational goals can be achieved with a well formulated social media monitoring plan.
The amphipod crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis: An emerging comparative model of arthropod development, evolution, and regeneration

Recent advances in genetic manipulation and genome sequencing have paved the way for a new generation of research organisms. The amphipod crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis is one such system. Parhyale are easy to rear and offer large broods of embryos amenable to injection, dissection, and live imaging. Foundational work has described Parhyale embryonic development, while advancements in genetic manipulation using CRISPR-Cas9 and other techniques, combined with genome and transcriptome sequencing, have enabled its use in studies of arthropod development, evolution, and regeneration. This study introduces Parhyale development and life history, a catalog of techniques and resources for Parhyale research, and two case studies illustrating its power as a comparative research system. This article is categorized under: Comparative Development and Evolution > Evolutionary Novelties Adult Stem Cells, Tissue Renewal, and Regeneration > Regeneration Comparative Development and Evolution > Model Systems Comparative Development and Evolution > Body Plan Evolution.
Removal of Reactive Green 12 Dye and COD from Simulated Wastewater Using Different Coagulants

The ability of using each of the following: aluminum sulphate (Al2(SO4)3.16H2O), ferric chloride (FeCl3), and ferrous sulphate (FeSO4) as chemical coagulants was investigated for removing of reactive green 12 (RG 12) dye and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from simulated wastewater. Best pH , coagulants dosages, and initial concentrations were obtained by jar test. The maximum efficiency for removing RG-12 and COD recorded by ferric chloride were 98% and 88 %, by alum were 95% and 88%, and by ferrous sulphate were 70% and 50%. All these results obtained at the best pH 6, dosage 100 mg/l and initial concentrations for RG-12 and COD 50 mg/l and 600 mg/l respectively. The maximum volume of sludge was for alum coagulant 14 ml/l, 12 ml/l for ferric chloride and 0.5 ml/l for ferrous sulphate. The study improved that it is possible to use each of aluminum sulphate, ferric chloride and ferrous sulphate as an economical coagulant to treat the wastewater which it is polluted with RG 12 dye and COD.
Where are we now? Practice-Level Utilization of Nurse Practitioners in Comparison with State-Level Regulations

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Full practice authority for nurse practitioners (NPs) is optimal for high-quality, cost-effective health care. However, a complete picture of utilization after states have adopted full practice authority needs to be determined. The purpose of this examination was to review the evidence regarding practice-level utilization (PLU) of NP PLU in comparison to state-level regulations (SLRs). METHODS Studies published in English and based on US populations were identified through PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus (January 1, 1989-December 31, 2018), and bibliographies of retrieved articles. Of the 419 articles identified with these limits, 19 (5%) met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. CONCLUSIONS Four categories of PLU were identified: billing practices, level of supervision, privileges, and prescriptive authority. Significant differences were seen between urban versus rural NPs and primary care versus specialty NPs. Thirteen of the 19 studies did not specifically address the SLR of the included sample. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE No studies described the type of NP certification, practice specialty, and utilization, and compared all to the SLR. There is a need for more evidence concerning PLU of NPs across the tiers of SLR. Only then can health care organizations, political leaders, and other stakeholders have the information needed to proceed with beneficial practice-model changes.
Some recent advances in ab initio calculations of nonradiative decay rates of point defects in semiconductors

In this short review, we discuss a few recent advances in calculating the nonradiative decay rates for point defects in semiconductors. We briefly review the debates and connections of using different formalisms to calculate the multi-phonon processes. We connect Dr. Huang’s formula with Marcus theory formula in the high temperature limit, and point out that Huang’s formula provide an analytical expression for the phonon induced electron coupling constant in the Marcus theory formula. We also discussed the validity of 1D formula in dealing with the electron transition processes, and practical ways to correct the anharmonic effects.
Haun's ecological ideology in modern day healthcare environments: case examples of Mayo Clinic and University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics/Stead Family Children's Hospital.

The academic labor of Paul Haun, who wrote about recreation in hospital settings in the 1950s and 1960s, has consistently engaged the profession of therapeutic recreation. The purpose of this article is to present Haun’s practical application of recreation in modern hospital settings through two case examples: Mayo Clinic and the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics/Stead Family Children’s Hospital. In keeping with Haun’s ecological ideology of recreation in hospital settings, this paper underscores that (1) a parks and recreation framework is valued and beneficial in hospital settings, and (2) therapeutic recreation professionals should focus services on basic leisure programming, while simultaneously providing specific therapy-oriented services. Practical implications include helping therapeutic recreation professionals see the value of a parks and recreation framework, rooted in leisure programming, in hospital settings and to be present and involved in such leisure programming approaches in hospital settings, which are often led by non-therapeutic recreation professionals. Subscribe to TRJ
Detecting Hazardous Spatial Gradients at Satellite Acquisition in GBAS

In this article, we develop a ground monitor capable of detecting anomalous signal-in-space spatial gradients for rising, newly acquired, and reacquired satellites in the ground-based augmentation system using either single or dual frequency. These gradients can be caused by satellite orbit ephemeris faults and ionospheric fronts. The monitor utilizes differential code and carrier phase measurements across multiple reference receiver antennas as the basis for detection. We show that the new monitor significantly improves performance over existing detection algorithms and is capable of meeting Category III precision approach and landing requirements.
Parents and Emerging Adults in India

Parenting practices represent the beliefs, values, and aspirations of a culture. Parents act as agents of their culture by reinforcing social norms and expectations in their children. In India, parents aim to inculcate a strong family orientation in their children by emphasizing respect for elders, promoting hierarchical role relationships, and encouraging interdependent decision-making. With the advent of globalization, traditional Indian values have been redefined to also reflect Westernized notions of independence within interdependent family contexts. The resulting influences on parenting were observed in descriptions provided by ten college seniors from middle-class backgrounds in India. They characterized their parents’ involvement in career as one that reflects understanding and support of their children’s aspirations with the purpose of maximizing child’s career success and enhancing their ability to financially assist family. A majority of female participants also mentioned how parents restricted the career choices of their daughters, thereby promoting gendered role expectations for sons and daughters. One of the major reasons cited for parents’ gendered socialization was societal policing. Future research should examine how communication between parents and children can be effectively utilized for conflict resolution and cultivating egalitarian, gender-neutral parenting practices.
Temporal evolution of measured and simulated infiltration following wildfire in the Colorado Front Range, USA: Shifting thresholds of runoff generation and hydrologic hazards

Abstract Destructive flash floods and debris flows are a common menace following wildfire. The restoration of protection provided by forests from post-fire floods and debris flows depends on the recovery of infiltration and attendant reduction of infiltration-excess surface runoff generation. This work examines seven years of post-fire infiltration measurements and temporal relations fit to soil-hydraulic properties from the Colorado Front Range, USA, to assess infiltration recovery with increasing time since fire. Point-scale Green-Ampt simulations of infiltration across a full spectrum of rainfall events are used to evaluate infiltration changes and shifts in surface runoff generation thresholds with post-fire temporal recovery. Measured and simulated infiltration generally recovered monotonically with increasing time since fire. This indicates a reduced vulnerability to infiltration-excess runoff generation as time elapses, with the greatest risk in the first two years after the fire. The threshold for infiltration-excess runoff advances with increasing time to rainfall events with higher intensity and greater return intervals; by the third year after wildfire, only extreme events (30–100 year recurrence) generate surface runoff and by the fifth and seventh year even extreme rainfall events typically fail to generate surface runoff. Remotely-sensed vegetation indices indicate linked, or at least contemporaneous, recovery of understory vegetation and field-saturated hydraulic conductivity at this field site, suggesting coincident recovery of multiple hillslope properties impacting surface runoff generation. This work indicates the importance of coupled assessments of hillslope property recovery and stochasticity of high-intensity rainfall for flash flood and debris flow hazards arising from infiltration-excess runoff generation; these hazards likely shift to subsurface mechanisms with increasing time since fire. Post-fire hazard assessments using static hillslope properties could fail to predict flash floods and debris flows associated with infrequent extreme rainfall events that strike during the post-fire recovery period when hillslope properties are partially recovered.
Characterization of 7A5: A Human CD137 (4-1BB) Receptor Binding Monoclonal Antibody with Differential Agonist Properties That Promotes Antitumor Immunity

The CD137 receptor plays a key role in mediating immune response by promoting T cell proliferation, survival, and memory. Effective agonism of CD137 has the potential to reinvigorate potent antitumor immunity either alone or in combination with other immune-checkpoint therapies. In this study, we describe the discovery and characterization of a unique CD137 agonist, 7A5, a fully human IgG1 Fc effector-null monoclonal antibody. The biological properties of 7A5 were investigated through in vitro and in vivo studies. 7A5 binds CD137, and the binding epitope overlaps with the CD137L binding site based on structure. 7A5 engages CD137 receptor and activates NF-κB cell signaling independent of cross-linking or Fc effector function. In addition, T cell activation measured by cytokine IFNγ production is induced by 7A5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cell costimulation assay. Human tumor xenograft mouse models reconstituted with human immune cells were used to determine antitumor activity in vivo. Monotherapy with 7A5 inhibits tumor growth, and this activity is enhanced in combination with a PD-L1 antagonist antibody. Furthermore, the intratumoral immune gene expression signature in response to 7A5 is highly suggestive of enhanced T cell infiltration and activation. Taken together, these results demonstrate 7A5 is a differentiated CD137 agonist antibody with biological properties that warrant its further development as a cancer immunotherapy. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/molcanther/19/4/988/F1.large.jpg.
6 – NETWORK TOPOLOGY

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses some topological network problems, the boundary and co-boundary operators in network topology and their application to two problems, one electrical, the other economic. The topology of networks revolves around two operators, the boundary and the co-boundary. The boundary ∂ transforms numerical functions of edges into numerical functions of vertices. The co-boundary δ changes functions of vertices into functions of edges. When the boundary is used, the functions of edges or vertices are called 1-chains or 0-chains, and they are represented by column vectors. The coordinates of these column vectors are the functional values at the various edges or vertices. In the co-boundary context, the functions are 1-cochains and 0-cochains, represented by row vectors. In a network, a path is simple if it never passes through a vertex more than once. At most two edges in a simple path can have any particular vertex as endpoint and no two edges can be equal or inverse to each other. The initial and terminal points of a path are the initial point of the first edge and the terminal point of the last. The path is closed if its initial and terminal points coincide.
Association between circulating tumor DNA burden and disease burden in patients with ALK-positive lung cancer

Background Plasma genotyping is an emerging approach for the identification of genetic alterations mediating resistance to anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-targeted therapy. The authors reviewed plasma genotyping and imaging findings to assess the correlation between circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) burden and disease burden in patients with ALK-positive lung cancer. Methods The authors analyzed 97 plasma specimens from 75 patients with ALK-positive lung cancer to identify ALK and non-ALK alterations. Disease burden was estimated by tabulating lesions per organ and calculating lesion diameters, areas, and volumes. Disease burden was correlated with the allelic frequency (AF) of plasma alterations. Results The mean interval between plasma collection and imaging was 8 days. ctDNA was detected in approximately 85% of plasma specimens. An ALK fusion and ALK mutation were detected in 79% and 76%, respectively, of plasma specimens. Using the maximum plasma alteration AF and maximum ALK alteration AF as independent surrogates of ctDNA burden, a higher disease burden measurement on imaging was found to be associated with higher ctDNA burden. Total body and extrathoracic tumor volume but not intrathoracic tumor volume correlated with ctDNA burden. Of all the disease sites assessed, the ctDNA burden correlated most with involvement of the liver, bones, and adrenal glands. Despite being the defining alteration in ALK-positive lung cancer, isolated plasma ALK fusion AF did not perform as well as the maximum plasma alteration AF or maximum ALK alteration AF for correlating tumor burden. Conclusions In patients with ALK-positive lung cancer, the maximum plasma alteration AF and maximum ALK alteration AF correlate with the extrathoracic burden of disease and are more predictive of tumor burden compared with the ALK fusion AF alone. Lay summary Analysis of genetic material shed from cancer cells into the circulation offers insights into the molecular composition of tumors. The circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) varies over time and across individuals and is impacted by the distribution of disease. Herein, the authors estimated tumor burden on imaging and correlated it with ctDNA by calculating the maximum allelic frequency. The current study findings demonstrated that the greatest correlation exists between extrathoracic, extracranial tumor burden (particularly involvement of the liver, adrenal glands, or bones) and ctDNA burden, suggesting a biological basis for the interpatient and temporal intrapatient differences in ctDNA yield that have been described in previous studies.
Handoffs and Nurse Calls: Overnight Call Simulation for Fourth-Year Medical Students

Introduction Interns must be able to give and receive handoffs and use handoff information to respond to calls from nursing staff regarding patient concerns. Medical students may not receive adequa...
Catalytic Reduction of Residual Oxygen for the Purification of Carbon Dioxide Streams from Pressurized Oxy-Combustors

Pressurized oxy-combustion (OC) is regarded as an energy-efficient alternative to atmospheric OC. To utilize the captured carbon dioxide (CO2) from pressurized OC for enhanced oil recovery or carbon storage in geological formations, the CO2 product stream must meet the required purity specifications. One major impurity in OC flue gases is residual O2 (e.g., 3 vol%). In this study, a catalytic approach has been investigated to remove the residual O2 through a reduction reaction with injected methane (CH4) in a reverse-flow fixed-bed (RFFB) reactor. The performance was tested for a supported copper (Cu)-based catalyst synthesized by incipient wetness impregnation and a cobalt-manganese (CoMn) oxide catalyst synthesized by a coprecipitation method. A commercial Cu-based catalyst was also studied as the reference. Experimental results revealed that under the reverse-flow operation, the temperature profiles in the reactor were symmetrical on both sides of the catalyst zone and were more homogenous than those under the conventional one-direction-flow operation. Among the tested catalysts, the CoMn catalyst was the most reactive for promoting the reduction of O2 with CH4, able to attain >95% O2 removal at 475 °C and a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 18,000 h-1 with a feed gas containing 3 vol% O2. Under all experiments, the concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) were lower than 30 ppmv in the effluent gas streams. The reaction between O2 and CH4 could be depicted by using the Mars–van Krevelen redox mechanism based on a two-step reduction–oxidation reaction pathway.
Strength-centered therapy: a positive and culturally flexible therapeutic approach

Although positive therapies have demonstrated effectiveness in Western contexts, their cross-cultural applications have been questioned. This article proposes that Strength-Centered Therapy (ST) ca...
Comparison of SERS pH probe responses after microencapsulation within hydrogel matrices.

Significance Personalized medicine requires the tracking of an individual's metabolite levels over time to detect anomalies and evaluate the body's response to medications. Implanted sensors offer effective means to continuously monitor specific metabolite levels, provided they are accurate, stable over long time periods, and do no harm. Aim Four types of hydrogel embedded with pH-sensitive sensors were evaluated for their accuracy, sensitivity, reversibility, longevity, dynamic response, and consistency in static versus dynamic conditions and long-term storage. Approach Raman spectroscopy was first used to calibrate the intensity of pH-sensitive peaks of the Raman-active hydrogel sensors in a static pH environment. The dynamic response was then assessed for hydrogels exposed to changing pH conditions within a flow cell. Finally, the static pH response after 5 months of storage was determined. Results All four types of hydrogels allowed the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensors to respond to the pH level of the local environment without introducing interfering signals, resulting in consistent calibration curves. When the pH level changed, the probes in the gels were slow to reach steady-state, requiring several hours, and response times were found to vary among hydrogels. Only one type, poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA), lasted five months without significant degradation of dynamic range. Conclusions While all hydrogels appear to be viable candidates as biocompatible hosts for the SERS sensing chemistry, pHEMA was found to be most functionally stable over the long interval tested. Poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels exhibit the most rapid response to changing pH. Since these two gel types are covalently cross-linked and do not generally degrade, they both offer advantages over sodium alginate for use as implants.
Development of a database and standardized approach for rpoB sequence-based subtyping and identification of aerobic spore-forming Bacillales.

Abstract Aerobic spore-forming Bacillales are a highly diverse and ubiquitous group that includes organisms that cause foodborne illnesses and food spoilage. Classical microbiological and biochemical identification of members of the order Bacillales represents a challenge due to the diversity of organisms in this group as well as the fact that the phenotypic-based taxonomic assignment of some named species in this group is not consistent with their phylogenomic characteristics. DNA-sequencing-based tools, on the other hand, can be fast and cost-effective, and can provide for a more reliable identification and characterization of Bacillales isolates. In comparison to 16S rDNA , rpoB was shown to better discriminate between Bacillales isolates and to allow for improved taxonomic assignment to the species level. However, the lack of a publicly accessible rpoB database, as well as the lack of standardized protocols for rpoB-based typing and strain identification, is a major challenge. Here, we report (i) the curation of a DNA sequence database for rpoB-based subtype classification of Bacillales isolates; (ii) the development of standardized protocols for generating rpoB sequence data, and a scheme for rpoB- based initial taxonomic identification of Bacillales isolates at the species level; and (iii) the integration of the database in a publicly accessible online platform that allows for the analysis of rpoB sequence data from uncharacterized Bacillales isolates. Specifically, we curated a database of DNA sequences for a 632-nt internal variable region within the rpoB gene from representative Bacillales reference type strains and a large number of isolates that we have previously isolated and characterized through multiple projects. As of May 21, 2021, the rpoB database contained more than 8350 rpoB sequences representing 1902 distinct rpoB allelic types that can be classified into 160 different genera. The database also includes 1129 rpoB sequences for representative Bacillales reference type strains as available on May 21, 2021 in the NCBI database. The rpoB database is integrated into the online Food Microbe Tracker platform ( www.foodmicrobetracker.com ) and can be queried using the integrated BLAST tool to initially subtype and taxonomically identify aerobic and facultative anaerobic spore-formers. While whole-genome sequencing is increasingly used in bacterial taxonomy , the rpoB sequence-based identification scheme described here provides a valuable tool as it allows for rapid and cost-effective initial isolate characterization, which can help to identify and characterize foodborne pathogens and food spoilage bacteria. In addition, the database and primers described here can also be adopted for metagenomics approaches that include rpoB as a target, improving discriminatory power and identification over what can be achieved using 16S rDNA as a target.
Validation of Baboon Pluripotent Cells as a Model for Translational Stem Cell Research

Abstract Translation of stem cell therapies to the clinic will be most successful following optimization of efficacy and safety in appropriate preclinical model systems. Among available models, nonhuman primates (NHPs) provide the most accurate recapitulation of human anatomy, physiology, genetics and epigenetics. Here, we show that baboon pluripotent cells (PSCs) recapitulate key molecular features of human PSCs with greater accuracy than that found in PSCs from non-primate species such as mice. Specifically, baboon and human PSCs exhibit greater conservation of gene expression patterns, higher sequence and structural homology among pluripotency factors, more equivalent genome-wide patterns of histone and DNA methylation modifications, and similar maintenance of bivalent programming of developmental genes than that found between human and non-primate PSCs.
Identification of occupations susceptible to high exposure and risk associated with multiple toxicants in an observational study: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2014

Background: According to the World Health Organization, occupational exposures to hazardous chemicals are estimated to cause over 370,000 premature annual deaths. The risks due to multiple workplace chemical exposures, and those occupations most susceptible to the resulting health effects, remain poorly characterized. Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify occupations with elevated toxicant biomarker concentrations and increased health risk associated with toxicant exposures in a working US population from diverse categories of occupation. More specifically, we aim to 1) define differences in chemical exposures based on occupation description, 2) identify occupational groups with similar chemical exposure profiles, and 3) identify occupational groups with chemical biomarker levels exceeding acceptable health-based biomarker levels. Methods: For this observational study of 51,008 participants, we used data from the 1999-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We characterized differences in chemical exposures by occupational group for 129 chemicals by applying a series of generalized linear models with the outcome as biomarker concentrations and the main predictor as the occupational groups, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, poverty income ratio, study period, and biomarker of tobacco use. We identified groups of occupations with similar chemical exposure profiles via hierarchical clustering. For each occupational group, we calculated percentages of participants with chemical biomarker levels exceeding acceptable health-based guidelines. Results: Blue collar workers from "Construction", "Professional, Scientific, Technical Services", "Real Estate, Rental, Leasing", "Manufacturing", and "Wholesale Trade" have higher biomarker levels of toxic chemicals such as several heavy metals, acrylamide, glycideamide, and several volatile organic compounds compared to their white-collar counterparts. For these toxicants, 1-58% of blue-collar workers from these industries have toxicant concentrations exceeding acceptable levels. Discussion: Blue collar workers have toxicant levels higher relative to their white-collar counterparts, often exceeding acceptable levels associated with noncancer effects. Our findings identify multiple occupations to prioritize for targeted interventions and health policies to monitor and reduce high toxicant exposures.