cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Canakinumab in autoimmune and autoinflammatory rheumatic diseases

Introduction: Novel biologic agents targeting interleukin-1 (IL-1) have been recently utilized in rheumatic diseases where only limited therapeutic options exist, particularly the autoinflammatory syndromes. Canakinumab, a recombinant fully humanized IL-1β long-acting monoclonal antibody has been recently approved for clinical use in several indications and is being studied in others. Areas covered: Various studies have evaluated the efficacy and safety of this drug in cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS), systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) and gout. Moreover, several case series of promising efficacy in orphan autoinflammatory diseases have recently emerged in the literature. Expert opinion: The pathophysiological role of IL-1β inhibition in rheumatic diseases and the role of this novel pharmacological agent in therapeutic intervention need to be studied further. The pivotal role of IL-1 in the pathogenesis of auto-inflammatory diseases and the emerging importance of IL-1b inhibition ...
Design of a Multi-Pinhole Collimator in a Dual-Headed, Stationary, Small-Animal SPECT

This work presents the design of a multi-pinhole collimator system for SiliSPECT, a high-resolution dual-headed, stationary SPECT that is being constructed at the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science (VUIIS). SiliSPECT incorporates silicon double-sided strip detectors with an intrinsic resolution of 59 mum. We plan to utilize a large number of tilted micro-pinholes to obtain a good image resolution in a small target region of a mouse while maintaining a practical sensitivity. With this collimator configuration, we are implementing the concept of synthetic collimation to reconstruct tomographic images from an object that is viewed by a limited number of stationary detector heads. The feasibility of the initial collimator design is validated by a Monte Carlo simulation study.
Draft Genome Sequences of Bordetella holmesii Strains from Blood (F627) and Nasopharynx (H558)

ABSTRACT Bordetella holmesii, a human pathogen, can confound the diagnosis of respiratory illness caused by Bordetella pertussis. We present the draft genome sequences of two B. holmesii isolates, one from blood, F627, and one from the nasopharynx, H558. Interestingly, important virulence genes that are present in B. pertussis are not found in B. holmesii.
Influence of Ethical Position and Information Asymmetry on Transfer Price Negotiations

This study examines the potential effect of ethical position (EP) on negotiation strategies and behaviors in an intra-firm setting. We demonstrate that EP moderates the relationship between information asymmetry and the initial transfer price dispersion, or bluff during negotiations for individuals who are morally situational. Graduate business students participated in an experiment that randomized the level of information they could use in determining their initial asking price and their reservation price in a negotiation. This manipulation allows us to examine managements’ negotiation behavior when making an ethical judgment. Further, we relate their transfer price position to their EP that consists of two orthogonal factors, relativism and idealism. We find that access to the opposing division’s private information does not influence the initial transfer price position of those who are relatively idealistic. Contrary to our hypothesis, these results suggest that during transfer price negotiations, those who are more relativistic will have a smaller initial transfer price dispersion than those who are relatively idealistic. This study provides evidence that EP plays an important role in transfer price negotiation behaviors.
Nutrient status, water uptake and gas exchange for three desert succulents infected with mycorrhizal fungi

summary Mycorrhizal infection and its consequences were assessed for Agave deserti Engelm., Ferocactus acanthodes (Lem.) Britton & Rose, and Opuntia ficus–indica (L.) Miller. For A. deserti and F. acanthodes in the field, mycorrhizal infection varied from 2 to 11%; the higher infection in May than in March 1991 was probably associated with improved soil water conditions. Using field–collected fungi, mycorrhizal infection for glasshouse–grown A. deserti, F. acanthodes and O. ficus–indica varied from 8 to 64%, with the highest infection occurring for lateral roots of A. deserti. Five months after inoculation, root P was significantly higher (P > 0—-01) for inoculated A. deserti and shoot P and Zn were significantly higher (P < 002) for inoculated A. deserti and F. acanthodes compared with uninoculated plants. Root hydraulic conductivity (Lp) of lateral roots of A. deserti was 24% higher for inoculated than for uninoculated plants (P 01). The increase in Lp was caused by a higher radial conductivity, which could be due to increased root cell membrane permeability and more hyphal entry points. Daily net CO2 uptake was 19% higher for inoculated than uninoculated A. deserti. Mycorrhizal infection apparently enhances water and nutrient uptake in dry environments for these three desert succulents.
A Novel Role of Vimentin Filaments: Binding and Stabilization of Collagen mRNAs

The stem-loop in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of collagen α1(I) and α2(I) mRNAs (5'SL) is the key element regulating their stability and translation. Stabilization of collagen mRNAs is the predominant mechanism for high collagen expression in fibrosis. LARP6 binds the 5'SL of α1(I) and α2(I) mRNAs with high affinity. Here, we report that vimentin filaments associate with collagen mRNAs in a 5'SL- and LARP6-dependent manner and stabilize collagen mRNAs. LARP6 interacts with vimentin filaments through its La domain and colocalizes with the filaments in vivo. Knockdown of LARP6 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) or mutation of the 5'SL abrogates the interaction of collagen mRNAs with vimentin filaments. Vimentin knockout fibroblasts produce reduced amounts of type I collagen due to decreased stability of collagen α1(I) and α2(I) mRNAs. Disruption of vimentin filaments using a drug or by expression of dominant-negative desmin reduces type I collagen expression, primarily due to decreased stability of collagen mRNAs. RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments show that collagen α1(I) and α2(I) mRNAs are associated with vimentin filaments in vivo. Thus, vimentin filaments may play a role in the development of tissue fibrosis by stabilizing collagen mRNAs. This finding will serve as a rationale for targeting vimentin in the development of novel antifibrotic therapies.
Differentiating Migration and Dispersal Processes for Pond-Breeding Amphibians

Abstract Understanding the movement of animals is critical to many aspects of conservation such as spread of emerging disease, proliferation of invasive species, changes in land-use patterns, and responses to global climate change. Movement processes are especially important for amphibian management and conservation as species declines and extinctions worldwide become ever more apparent. To better integrate behavioral and ecological data on amphibian movements with our use of spatially explicit demographic models and guide effective conservation solutions, I present 1) a synopsis of the literature regarding behavior, ecology, and evolution of movement in pond-breeding amphibians possessing biphasic life cycles to distinguish between migration and dispersal processes, 2) a working hypothesis of juvenile-based dispersal, and 3) a discussion of conservation issues that follow from distinguishing the spatial and temporal movements of amphibians at different scales. I define amphibian migration as intrapopulat...
COMPARATIVE SENSITIVITY OF THREE SPECIES OF CHLAMYDOMONAS TO ANALOGS OF METABOLITES1,2

SUMMARY Twenty-five analogs of metabolites were tested for their ability to inhibit the growth of Chlamydomonas eugametos, C. moewusii, and C. reinhardii. Eleven of the tested analogs were inhibitory to 1 or more species, but only 3 compounds were inhibitory to all 3.
Sounds, Images, Politics and Place

The author discusses the concepts he has developed while gathering sound(s) and images for projects engaging politics and place, often at sites where human rights abuses have taken place. These works include recordings made at several Japanese-American and Aleut internment sites and at Nazi concentration camps, as well as borderlands works, environmental works on water use in the U.S. Southwest, and works addressing climate change in the Arctic.
Negative symptoms in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia: A psychometric evaluation of the brief negative symptom scale across diagnostic categories

Past studies have demonstrated that the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS) has excellent psychometric properties in patients with schizophrenia. In the current study, we extended this literature by examining psychometric properties of the BNSS in outpatients diagnosed with bipolar disorder (n=46), outpatients with schizophrenia (n=50), and healthy controls (n=27). Participants completed neuropsychological testing and a clinical interview designed to assess negative, positive, disorganized, mood, and general psychiatric symptoms. Results indicated differences among the 3 groups in the severity of all BNSS items, with SZ and BD scoring higher than CN; however, SZ and BD only differed on blunted affect and alogia items, not anhedonia, avolition, or asociality. BD patients with a history of psychosis did not differ from those without a history of psychosis on negative symptom severity. The BNSS had excellent internal consistency in SZ, BD, and CN groups. Good convergent and discriminant validity was apparent in SZ and BD groups, as indicated by relationships between the BNSS and other clinical rating scales. These findings support the validity of the BNSS in broadly defined serious mental illness populations.
Epidural Steroid Injections for Radiculopathy and/or Back Pain in Children and Adolescents: A Retrospective Cohort Study With a Prospective Follow-Up.

Background and Objectives Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are commonly performed for adults with spinal pain and/or radiculopathy. Previous pediatric ESI case series were not identified by literature review. The primary aim of this study was to examine the safety and provisional outcomes of pediatric ESIs. Methods With institutional review board approval, medical records were reviewed for patients aged 9 to 20 years receiving a first ESI at Boston Children9s Hospital from 2003 through 2013. A subset of patients completed a Web-based follow-up questionnaire. Descriptive statistics included frequencies, medians, interquartile ranges, and Kaplan-Meier methods. Statistical comparisons were made using Wilcoxon rank sum, χ2, Fisher exact, and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. Results A total of 224 patients aged 9 to 20 years underwent 428 ESIs. One hundred seventy-four (76.0%) patients had a lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy; the others had a spectrum of other spinal disorders. There were no serious adverse events, hospitalizations, dural punctures, or nerve injuries. During follow-up, 69 (41.6%) of 166 previously nonoperated lumbar disc plus radiculopathy patients underwent discectomy at a median time of 128 days (interquartile range, 76–235 days) after first injection. Degrees of straight-leg raising at presentation was significantly associated with subsequent discectomy. On follow-up, patients who did and did not undergo discectomy had low pain scores and high function scores. Conclusions Children and adolescents can receive ESIs under conscious sedation with good safety. Further prospective studies may better define the role for these injections in the comprehensive management of pediatric spinal pain disorders.
Corporate Social Responsibility/Sustainability Reporting Among the Fortune Global 250: Greenwashing or Green Supply Chain?

The sustainability reporting efforts of MNCs who are members of the Fortune Global 250 (FG250) was investigated. The focus was on sustainability reporting by MNCs of supply chain impacts. The reporting of FG250 MNCs was examined to determine if greenwashing was occurring or whether MNCs had committed to operating a green supply chain. A mixed methodology was used consisting of quantitative analysis of 25 MNC CSR/sustainability reports which were randomly selected from the FG250 listing. Qualitative analysis using content analysis was also conducted on the reports. Both methodologies concentrated on the sustainability reporting of the selected MNCs in regard to their supply chain. Findings were mixed as there were great variations among the MNCs in their level of sustainability reporting about their supply chains. Some MNCs did not report on the activities of their supply chain at all (20 %), the majority of the MNCs reported on their supply chain impacts at the value and goal level (48 %), while the rest reported at the management approach level (32 %). A majority of the sampled MNCs could be accused of greenwashing due to the lack of detailed quantitative information provided by the MNCs on the environmental impacts of their supply chain.
Keeping the books for the environment and society: The unification of emergy and financial accounting methods

Development of the concept of emergy established a medium for accounting that made it possible to express economic and environmental work of all kinds on a common basis as solar emjoules. Environmental accounting using emdollars, a combined emergy-monetary unit, can be used to produce a single income statement and balance sheet giving comprehensive accounts for the economy, society, and the environment that can be expressed on a single income statement and balance sheet. At present, emergy accounting is rapidly developing and this paper uses well-known methods from financial accounting and bookkeeping to guide the further development of emergy accounting methods. The important concept of environmental liability is defined and a conceptual basis for applying this idea in ecologicaleconomic systems is presented in the form of an Energy Systems Language model. Four categories of environmental debt are recognized and a scheme for payment of these debts is proposed based on the criterion that economic production be sustainable. Also, a system of double entry emergy and money bookkeeping is proposed, which uses a combined emergy and money journal, separate emergy and money ledgers with this data transferred to a unified emdollar balance sheet to keep one set of books for the environment and the economy. Further development, testing, and adoption of environmental accounting tools like the ones proposed here will allow governments and managers to finally determine the true solvency (i.e., the ability to pay economic, social and environmental debts) and therefore the sustainability of the firms and economic systems for which they are responsible. © 2013 L&H Scientific Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Keywords
Shapes and level tolerances of frequency tuning curves in primary auditory cortex: quantitative measures and population codes.

The shape and level tolerance of the excitatory frequency/intensity tuning curves (eFTCs) of 160 cat primary auditory cortical (A1) neurons were investigated. Overall, A1 cells were characterized b...
Louse-host associations of Geomydoecus (Mallophaga: Trichodectidae) with the yellow-faced pocket gopher, Pappogeomys castanops (Rodentia: Geomyidae).

The distribution of 6 taxa of lice of the genus Geomydoecus on Pappogeomys castanops appears to divide the hosts into northern and southern subspecies-groups. The northern subspecies-group of P. castanops has G. expansus and 3 morphologically similar lice of the texanus -complex, but lacks G. subnubili and G. martini . The southern group has G. subnubili , usually with G. martini or occasionally with G. expansus on the same host, but without G. expansus alone. Principal components analysis indicates that the northern and southern populations of G. expansus show slight morphological differences from which we infer isolation.
Myxomycete reproductive systems: Stemonitis species

An isolate of Stemonitis fusca (Utl) from Zion National Park completed its life cycle from spore to spore on agar and was found to have a het- erothallic mating system. Two mating types were de- tected and in the majority of crosses involving these mating types they segregated with highly skewed ra- tios with one of the mating types missing or greatly reduced in frequency. An Indian isolate (Ind 1) of S. herbatica was also examined and was found to have a nonheterothallic reproductive system.
The Effects of Process-Induced Residual Stress on Rolling Contact Stress of Hard Machined Components

Compared with grinding, hard turning is a competitive manufacturing process that in many cases has substantial benefits. The most significant difference between hard turning and grinding is that hard turning may induce a relatively deep compressive residual stress. However, the interactions among the residual stress profile, applied load, and surface material, and their effects on component life in rolling contact are poorly understood. Further, contact stresses and strains are difficult to measure using the current experimental techniques due to the small-scale of the phenomena. A new simulation model of rolling contact has been developed to account for a process-induced residual stress profile. It has shown that distinct residual stress patterns hardly affect neither the magnitudes nor the locations of peak stresses and strains below the surface. However, they have a significant influence on surface deformations. The slope and depth of a compressive residual stress profile are key factors for rolling contact fatigue damage, which was substantiated by the available experimental data. Equivalent plastic strain could be a parameter to characterize the relative fatigue damage. The magnitudes of process-induced residual stress are reduced in rolling contact. The predicted residual stress pattern and magnitude agree with the test data in general. In addition, rolling contact is more sensitive to normal load and residual stress pattern than tangential load.© 2003 ASME
PHARMACOKINETICS OF CEFAMANDOLE IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CONTINUOUS AMBULATORY PERITONEAL DIALYSIS

The pharmacokinetics of cefamandole have been evaluated in five patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The drug was absorbed rapidly from the peritoneum reaching peak...
Data Batch Synchronization Method in Flexible Stack System

In flexible stack system,stack master and stack slave are all in working state,the process priority of data batch synchronization is not the highest,it is very difficult to synchronize data quickly and reliably between stack master and slave.This paper presents a method for data batch synchronization,with the help of message channel detection and sequence number confirmation,which can improve the efficiency and reliability,and it can run quite well in a real-time operating system.
Cerebral dysgenesis. An overview

A significant portion of patients with neurodevelopmental abnormalities (mental retardation, learning disabilities, and so forth) have no definable cause for these problems. Mounting evidence suggests a substantial number of these idiopathic conditions have subtle abnormalities of brain development (cerebral dysgenesis) as the inherent pathophysiologic event. In this article the authors summarize normal and abnormal brain development, the diagnostic approach to idiopathic neurodevelopmental anomalies, and the new molecular genetic insights into the underlying causes of brain malformations.
A novel directory based hybrid cache coherence protocol for shared memory multiprocessors

While addressing cache coherency in shared memory multiprocessors, traditional snoopy based pure write update (PWU) and pure write invalidate (PWI) protocols have many issues including low bandwidth, high memory latency, and large cache miss ratio. This paper presents a directory based hybrid cache coherence protocol to better address the cache coherency and improve performance of shared memory multiprocessors. The requests to be processed are selected by using the proposed directory scheme and considering priority through non-starving mode to facilitate small sharer groups with a reasonable waiting time. Different read and write requests on 8-, 16-, and 32-core multiprocessors are considered. Experimental results show that the proposed strategy decreases bandwidth requirement about 37% than the PWU strategy. The results also indicate that the proposed strategy decreases memory latency by up to 12% and cache miss ratio by up to 22% when compared with those of the PWI strategy.
Person Reidentification and Recognition in Video

Person recognition has been a challenging research problem for computer vision researchers for many years. A variation of this generic problem is that of identifying the reappearance of the same person in different segments to tag people in a family video. Often we are asked to answer seemingly simple queries such as ‘how many different people are in this video? or ‘find all instances of this person in these videos’. The complexity of the task grows quickly if the video in question includes segments taken at different times, places, lighting conditions, camera settings and distances since these could include substantial variations in resolution, pose, appearance, illumination, background, occlusions, etc. In some scenarios (airports, shopping centers, and city streets) we may have video feeds from multiple cameras with partially overlapping views operating under widely varying lighting and visibility conditions. Yet computer vision systems are challenged to find and track a person of interest as data from such systems have become ubiquitous and concern for security in public spaces has become a growing concern. While this is yet an unsolved challenge, much progress has been made in recent years in developing computer vision algorithms which are the building blocks for person detection, tracking and recognition. We consider several video capture scenarios, discuss the challenges they present for person re-identification and recognition as the complexity of the scene changes, and present pointers to recent research work in relevant computer vision areas in this paper.
Management of Neurogenic Bladder

This article provides a comprehensive summary of the clinical approach, investigative modalities and management of a child with neurogenic bladder disease due to myelodysplasia. It is aimed at pediatric physicians and surgeons working in developing nations. The methodologies suggested are simple and can be practised even in resource poor regions. The goal of management is avoidance of Chronic kidney disease and for this, meticulous bladder management is the key.
Mitigation of Hardware Trojan based Denial-of-Service attack for secure NoCs

Abstract As Multiprocessor System-on-Chips (MPSoCs) continue to scale, security for Network-on-Chips (NoCs) is a growing concern as rogue agents threaten to infringe on the hardware’s trust and maliciously implant Hardware Trojans (HTs) to undermine their reliability. The trustworthiness of MPSoCs will rely on our ability to detect Denial-of-Service (DoS) threats posed by the HTs and mitigate HTs in a compromised NoC to permit graceful network degradation. In this paper, we propose a new light-weight target-activated sequential payload (TASP) HT model that performs packet inspection and injects faults to create a new type of DoS attack. Faults injected are used to trigger a response from error correction code (ECC) schemes and cause repeated retransmission to starve network resources and create deadlocks capable of rendering single-application to full chip failures. To circumvent the threat of HTs, we propose a heuristic threat detection model to classify faults and discover HTs within compromised links. To prevent further disruption, we propose several switch-to-switch link obfuscation methods to avoid triggering of HTs in an effort to continue using links instead of rerouting packets with minimal overhead (1–3 cycles). To sustain data integrity over a compromised link, we propose an optimized implementation of algebraic manipulation detection (AMD) codes to detect any fault injection in targeted flits. Our proposed modifications complement existing fault detection and obfuscation methods and only add 2% in area overhead and 6% in excess power consumption in the NoC micro-architecture.
Effects of a 2014 Statewide Policy Change on Cash-Value Voucher Redemptions for Fruits/Vegetables Among Participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Purpose In 2014, the New Jersey Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) began requiring WIC-authorized stores to stock at least two fresh fruits and two fresh vegetables. We aimed to evaluate the effect of this policy change on fruit and vegetable purchases among WIC-participating households and to assess variation by household access to a healthy food store such as a supermarket or large grocery store. Description Households with continuous WIC enrollment from June 2013 to May 2015 were included (n = 16,415). Participants receive monthly cash-value vouchers (CVVs) to purchase fruits and vegetables. For each household, the CVV redemption proportion was calculated for the period before and after the policy by dividing the total dollar amount redeemed by the total dollar amount issued. Complete redemption was defined as a proportion ≥90% and the change in complete redemption odds was assessed after adjusting for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation. Assessment We observed a small increase following the policy change [odds ratio (OR) 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.17]; however, the effect varied by healthy food access (p = 0.03). The odds increased for households with access to at least one healthy food store (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.06–1.20) while no effect was observed for households without such access (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.76–1.10). Conclusion Policy change was associated with a small increase in purchasing, but only among households with healthy food access. The state is addressing this gap through technical assistance interventions targeting WIC-authorized small stores in communities with limited access.
Microbiology: The case of the mysterious messenger.

Bacteria and archaea use an innate immune system called CRISPR–Cas to combat viral infection. The identification of a family of molecules that play a key part in this system deepens our understanding of such immunity. See Article p.543 CRISPR–Cas systems provide defence against invasive genetic elements in prokaryotes. They function by detecting and degrading invader transcripts, mainly through RNA-guided recognition and interference. Csm6 is a CRISPR-associated ribonuclease known to degrade invasive transcripts, but how its activity is regulated by invader sensing was unknown. Here, the authors find that Csm6 is activated by a cyclic oligoadenylated second messenger generated by Cas10 activity within the type III interference complex. This novel mechanism of CRISPR interference regulation, which resembles an aspect of mammalian innate immunity, expands the toolkit of prokaryotic immunity strategies.
The Pharmacologic Role and Clinical Utility of PCSK9 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia

In addition to monoclonal antibodies against proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9), vaccines against PCSK9 and smaller molecule inhibitors as well as RNA inhibitors of PCSK9 product...
Bottoming out experiences: factor analyses and moderating effects of gender and race

The Bottoming Out Experience (BOE) is thought to be the accumulation of negative experiences for those with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). This study aimed to bridge research and the narrative uti...
Profiling the Tyrosine Phosphorylation State Using SH2 Domains

Global monitoring of cellular signaling activity is of great importance for the understanding of the regulation of complex signaling networks and the characterization of signaling pathways deregulated in diseases. Tyrosine phosphorylation of intracellular signaling proteins followed by the recognition and binding of Src homology 2 (SH2) domains are key mechanisms in the downstream transmission of many important biological signals. SH2 domains, comprising 120 members in humans, are small modular protein binding domains that recognize tyrosine phosphorylated signaling proteins with high specificity. Based on these binding properties, the large number of naturally occurring and currently available SH2 domains serve as excellent probes for the comprehensive profiling of the cellular state of signaling activity. Here we have described different experimental strategies for global SH2 profiling: high-resolution phosphoproteomic scanning by far-Western Blot analysis and high-throughput profiling by our recently developed oligonucleotide-tagged multiplex assay (OTM) and Rosette assay.
Alternative splicing of helicase-like transcription factor (Hltf): Intron retention-dependent activation of immune tolerance at the feto-maternal interface.

Hltf is regulated by intron retention, and global Hltf-deletion causes perinatal lethality from hypoglycemia. In heart, full-length Hltf is a transcriptional regulator of Hif-1α that controls transport systems. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that Hltf deletion from placenta caused or exacerbated neonatal hypoglycemia via Hif-1α regulation of nutrient transporters. RNA-seq data analyses identified significant changes in transcript expression and alternative splicing (AS) in E18.5 placentome. iPathwayGuide was used for gene ontology (GO) analysis of biological processes, molecular functions and cellular components. Elim pruning algorithm identified hierarchical relationships. The methylome was interrogated by Methyl-MiniSeq Epiquest analysis. GO analysis identified gene enrichment within biological processes. Protein expression was visualized with immunohistochemistry. Although two Hltf mRNA isoforms are quantifiable in most murine tissues, only the truncated Hltf isoform is expressed in placenta. The responsible intron retention event occurs in the absence of DNA methylation. iPathwayGuide analysis identified 157 target genes of 11,538 total genes with measured expression. These were obtained using a threshold of 0.05 for statistical significance (p-value) and a long fold change of expression with absolute value of at least 0.6. Hltf deletion altered transcription of trophoblast lineage-specific genes, and increased transcription of the Cxcr7 (p = 0.004) gene whose protein product is a co-receptor for human and simian immunodeficiency viruses. Concomitant increased Cxcr7 protein was identified with immunolabeling. Hltf deletion had no effect on transcription or site-specific methylation patterns of Hif-1α, the major glucose transporters, or System A amino acid transporters. There was no measureable evidence of uteroplacental dysfunction or fetal compromise. iPathGuide analysis revealed Hltf suppresses cytolysis (10/21 genes; p-value 1.900e-12; p-value correction: Elim pruning; GO:019835) including the perforin-granzyme pathway in uterine natural killer cells. Our findings 1) prove the truncated Hltf protein isoform is a transcription factor, 2) establish a functional link between AS of Hltf and immunosuppression at the feto-maternal interface, 3) correlate intron retention with the absence of DNA methylation, and 4) underscore the importance of differential splicing analysis to identify Hltf’s functional diversity.
El general de García Márquez: la demitificación de bolívar

El General en su laberinto, la ultima novela de Garcia Marquez ofrece una imagen pagana de uno de los personajes mas estudiados de America. EI Libertador del escritor de Aracataca origina polemica y enojo entre los puristas que prefieren al heroe mitico sin tantas flaquezas y naturales inclinaciones.
Of Fish Feces, Shamanic Bowls and Chimpanzee Scraps: Extension vs Precision in the Concept of Waste

Joshua Reno’s article is an inspiring call-out to Discard Studies. I thank him for the provocation and hope he takes my response in the spirit of a friendly polemic between fellow travelers in waste studies—which is what we are.
A Modified Test Statistic for Maximum-Minimum Eigenvalue Detection Based on Asymptotic Distribution Thresholds

The ratio of the maximum and minimum eigenvalues of the sample covariance matrix has been suggested as a test statistic for signal detection in low-SNR regimes. The threshold required to implement a Neyman-Pearson test on this statistic is usually computed by estimating the distribution of this eigenvalue ratio under the null hypothesis using results from random matrix theory (RMT). However, in order to apply asymptotic laws from RMT, the data matrix used to construct the test statistic must have statistically independent columns, which was not satisfied by the test statistics used in previously proposed detectors. This paper forms a data matrix with independent columns to compute the test statistic for maximum-minimum eigenvalue (MME) detection and compares its performance to that of the test statistic as currently defined in literature. The comparison is made with both the semi-asymptotic threshold, which uses the limiting distribution of the maximum eigenvalue and the asymptotic constant to which the minimum eigenvalue converges; as well as the limiting distribution-based threshold, which uses the limiting distribution of the ratio of the maximum and minimum eigenvalues. Simulations compare the expected false alarm rate versus actual false alarm rate, as well as the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) for the following three cases: the two test statistics with the semi-asymptotic threshold, the two test statistics with the limiting distribution threshold, and the two thresholds in conjunction with the newly proposed test statistic. Results demonstrate that the newly proposed test statistic with the limiting distribution threshold is the only case where the actual false alarm rate remains consistently below the false alarm constraint set in the Neyman-Pearson test, while the previous test statistics are almost completely unresponsive to changes to the false alarm constraint.
Convolutional Adaptive Particle Filter with Multiple Models for Visual Tracking

Although particle filters improve the performance of convolutional-correlation trackers, especially in challenging scenarios such as occlusion and deformation, they considerably increase the computational cost. We present an adaptive particle filter to decrease the number of particles in simple frames in which there is no challenging scenario and the target model closely reflects the current appearance of the target. In this method, we consider the estimated position of each particle in the current frame as a particle in the next frame. These refined particles are more reliable than sampling new particles in every frame. In simple frames, target estimation is easier, therefore many particles may converge together. Consequently, the number of particles decreases in these frames. We implement resampling when the number of particles or the weight of the selected particle is too small. We use the weight computed in the first frame as a threshold for resampling because that weight is calculated by the ground truth model. Another contribution of this article is the generation of several target models by applying different adjusting rates to each of the high-likelihood particles. Thus, we create multiple models; some are useful in challenging frames because they are more influenced by the previous model, while other models are suitable for simple frames because they are less affected by the previous model. Experimental results on the Visual Tracker Benchmark v1.1 beta (OTB100) demonstrate that our proposed framework significantly outperforms state-of-the-art methods.
High doses of furosemide in children with acute renal failure. A preliminary retrospective study.

The diuretic effect of high doses of furosemide alone and furosemide plus mannitol was analysed retrospectively in 30 children with acute renal failure. In 10 children (Group 1) renal failure developed mainly during glomerulonephritis, and in 20 children (Group 2) the cause was gastroenteritis. The diuretic effects of furosemide and furosemide plus mannitol were evaluated measuring the 24-hour urine volume at the time of anuria, oliguria or normal diuresis. The highest mean single intravenous doses of furosemide were 6.5 and 14 mg/kg in Groups 1 and 2, respectively; the highest average daily doses were 10.1 and 25.5 mg/kg, respectively. A broad relationship was observed between single i.v. dose and diuretic response following administration of furosemide (1.2 to 30.8 mg/kg). In both groups of patients a statistically significant negative linear correlation was found between the daily intravenous dose of furosemide and the 24-hour urine volume. Calculations based on the obtained regression equations showed that the expected 24-hour urine volumes corresponding to daily diuresis normal for age could be obtained after administration of daily 2.8 to 1.4 mg/kg furosemide in Group 1 and 9.3 to 2.3 in Group 2. It is therefore suggested that the total daily dose of furosemide should not exceed 100 mg in children with acute renal failure. Administration of furosemide plus mannitol did not result in higher daily diuresis as compared to 24-hour urine volume obtained when furosemide was given alone. Furosemide was well tolerated. Electrolyte disturbances, especially in Group 2, were the most frequent side effects due to high doses of furosemide.
The Hijab as a Metaphor for Otherness and the Creation of an Ineffable “Third Space”

Why have debates around the Muslim hijab become increasingly acrimonious? Islamophobia has led to the rise of far-right groups, with calls in Europe and the US for banning headscarves and minarets on mosques. In India, sectarian violence continues unabated since 1947, with hate speech becoming progressively overt. The first half of this paper examines why the Muslim hijab has become the lone metaphor for debates about identity formation, to the exclusion of veiling prevalent in other religious and cultural contexts. How would Muslim migrant writers find these debates helpful for their situation in their countries, whether original or adoptive? How can marginalized writers resist discrimination and exclusion from mainstream life? The second half of this paper focuses on the belief in the transformative power of Sufism that the Turkish-German writer Zafer Senocak shares with the mystics Yunus Emre and Jalaluddin Rumi, and the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore. For Senocak, Sufism allows a religiosity that is not only compatible with, but also perceivable in sensuous experience. Sufism thus serves as a “third space,” a term defined by the renowned culture critic Homi Bhabha as an ambiguous, ineffable area that develops when two or more individuals/cultures interact.
A CFD-based Kriging surrogate modeling approach for predicting device-specific hemolysis power law coefficients in blood-contacting medical devices

Most stress-based hemolysis models used in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are based on an empirical power law correlation between hemolysis generation and the flow-induced stress and exposure time. Empirical model coefficients are typically determined by fitting global hemolysis measurements in simplified blood shearing devices under uniform shear conditions and with well-defined exposure times. CFD simulations using these idealized global empirical coefficients are then performed to predict hemolysis in a medical device with complex hemodynamics. The applicability, however, of this traditional approach of using idealized coefficients for a real device with varying exposure times and non-uniform shear is currently unknown. In this study, we propose a new approach for determining device- and species-specific hemolysis power law coefficients (C, a, and b). The approach consists of calculating multiple hemolysis solutions using different sets of coefficients to map the hemolysis response field in three-dimensional (C, a, b) parameter space. The resultant response field is then compared with experimental data in the same device to determine the coefficients that when incorporated into the locally defined power law model yield correct global hemolysis predictions. We first develop the generalized approach by deriving analytical solutions for simple uniform and non-uniform shear flows (planar Couette flow and circular Poiseuille flow, respectively) that allow us to continuously map the hemolysis solution in (C, a, b) parameter space. We then extend our approach to more practical cases relevant to blood-contacting medical devices by replacing the requirement for an analytical solution in our generalized approach with CFD and Kriging surrogate modeling. Finally, we apply our verified CFD-based Kriging surrogate modeling approach to predict the device- and species-specific power law coefficients for developing laminar flow in a small capillary tube. We show that the resultant coefficients are much different than traditional idealized coefficients obtained from simplified uniform shear experiments and that using such idealized coefficients yields a highly inaccurate prediction of hemolysis that is in error by more than 2000% compared to experiments. Our approach and surrogate modeling framework may be applied to more complex medical devices and readily extended to determine empirical coefficients for other continuum-based models of hemolysis and other forms of flow-induced blood damage (e.g., platelet activation and thrombosis).
Machine learning guided design of functional materials with targeted properties

Abstract The impact of machine learning (ML) methods is growing rapidly in materials science. One of the areas where we have shown promise is in the application of ML methods to sequentially guide experiments or computations towards targeted regions in the design space. Here, the need for ML methods is motivated by the fact that the search space is vast and complex. Further, it is intractable for the state-of-the-art high-throughput experimental or computational approaches to navigate the space in an efficient manner. In this review, two examples are discussed that demonstrate the efficacy of classification learning based ML methods in search for new and previously unexplored materials with desired properties. In the first study, ML methods guide density functional theory (DFT) phonon calculations in the design of Ruddlesden-Popper oxides with non-centrosymmetric (NCS) structures. Novel NCS compounds were predicted, whose thermodynamic stabilities were evaluated by DFT convex hull calculations. In the second study, ML methods enabled rapid screening of xBi[ Me y ′ Me ( 1 - y ) ″ ]O3–(1–x)PbTiO3 compositions in the desired perovskite crystal structure, where Me ′ and Me ″ are two octahedral site cations. The predictions were validated by experiments and new { Me ′ , Me ″ } cation pairs were identified that also have high ferroelectric Curie temperature.
Characterization of gas permeation in the pores of Zn(II)-based metal organic framework (MOF)/polymer composite membranes

The separation of greenhouse gases from industrial processes is an ongoing focus for research aimed at mitigating environmental impacts. As a result, it is important to develop experimental techniq...
Investigation of Spanwise End Effects on Dynamic Stall of a Pitching Wing Section

An investigation of spanwise end effects on deep dynamic stall of a nominally two-dimensional pitching wing section is performed using high-fidelity large-eddy simulations (LES). This study was mot...
Considerations when using alpha-glucosidase inhibitors in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) – oral antihyperglycemic drugs, inhibit upper gastrointestinal enzymes that break down complex carbohydrates into glucose. As a result, the absorpt...
Impact of opioid dose escalation on the development of substance use disorders, accidents, self-inflicted injuries, opioid overdoses and alcohol and non-opioid drug-related overdoses: a retrospective cohort study.

Aim To understand the potential harmful effects of dose escalation among patients with chronic, non-cancer pain (CNCP) on chronic opioid therapy. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting United States Veterans Healthcare Administration. Participants Veterans with CNCP and on chronic opioid therapy were identified using data from fiscal years 2008-15. The Veteran sample was approximately 90% male and 70% white. Measurements Dose escalators [increase of > 20% average morphine milligram equivalent (MME) daily dose] were compared with dose maintainers (change of ±20% average MME daily dose). A composite measure of subsequent substance use disorders (SUDs: opioid, non-opioid and alcohol use disorders) and opioid-related adverse outcomes (AOs: accidents resulting in wounds/injuries, opioid-related and alcohol and non-opioid medication-related accidents and overdoses, self-inflicted injuries) as well as the individual SUDs and AOs was examined. The primary analyses were conducted among a 1 : 1 matched sample of escalators and maintainers matched on propensity score and index date. Propensity scores were generated using demographic characteristics, medical comorbidities, medication and health-care utilization characteristics. Subgroup analyses were conducted by quartile of the propensity score. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using adjusted logistic regression, logistic regression using stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (SIPTW) and instrumental variable (IV) models using geographic variation in opioid dose escalation as the IV. Findings There were 32 420 maintainers and 20 767 escalators resulting in 19 358 (93.2%) matched pairs. Composite AOs [odds ratio (OR) = 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.23, 1.40], composite SUDs (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.22, 1.41) and individual SUD and AO subtypes were higher among dose escalators, except for opioid-related accidents and overdoses and violence-related injuries. Subgroup analyses within the propensity score quartiles found similar results. Sensitivity analyses with the adjusted and SIPTW logistic regressions found similar results to the primary analyses for all outcomes except for opioid-related accidents and overdoses, which were found to be significantly higher among escalators. Sensitivity analyses with IV models provided mixed results with SUDs and the individual types of AOs. Conclusion Escalating the opioid dose for those with chronic, non-cancer pain is associated with increased risks of substance use disorder and opioid-related adverse outcomes.
Inflammation, Wound Healing, the Foreign-Body Response, and Alternative Tissue Responses

Abstract The biocompatibility of a biomaterial impacts the host response to an implanted biomaterial. The qualities of the host response for the implantation of a biomaterial is determined by its intended application. The sequence of events upon the implantation of a biomaterial leading to the foreign body response or fibrosis, is a typical host response, but often not desirable. Alternative tissue responses, such as angiogenesis or reconstitution of normal tissue structure with tissue healing have been observed in special situations. The chapter describes the cellular and molecular basis for various stages of inflammatory response to biomaterial and the wound healing response. Literature on controlling host responses are discussed. Furthermore, biomaterial strategies for alternative tissue responses are discussed.