cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploring or Exploiting? Social and Ethical Implications of Autonomous Experimentation in AI

In the field of computer science, large-scale experimentation on users is not new. However, driven by advances in artificial intelligence, novel autonomous systems for experimentation are emerging that raise complex, unanswered questions for the field. Some of these questions are computational, while others relate to the social and ethical implications of these systems. We see these normative questions as urgent because they pertain to critical infrastructure upon which large populations depend, such as transportation and healthcare. Although experimentation on widely used online platforms like Facebook has stoked controversy in recent years, the unique risks posed by autonomous experimentation have not received sufficient attention, even though such techniques are being trialled on a massive scale. In this paper, we identify several questions about the social and ethical implications of autonomous experimentation systems. These questions concern the design of such systems, their effects on users, and their resistance to some common mitigations.
JAK2 V617F Mutation Testing in Polycythemia Vera: Use and Impact in a Single Academic Practice.

The observation that a gain-of-function mutation in JAK2 (JAK2 V617F) is present in more than 90% of cases of polycythemia vera (PV) has substantially revised the diagnostic approach to this disease. However, most studies of the utility of JAK2 V617 derive from large PV populations: the majority of hematologists have relatively few PV patients in their individual practices. In order to assess the effect of JAK2 V617F analysis in practices with a small PV population, the utilization and impact of this test in 5 individual clinics in a single academic practice were analyzed. Sixteen patients (15 male) carrying a diagnosis of PV were identified. Five patients were followed in a clinic at a University medical center staffed by a single attending hematologist; one was followed by that attending physician in a clinic at the affiliated VA hospital; and 10 were followed by Hematology/Oncology Fellows in three continuity clinics at the affiliated VA hospital. In these latter clinics, the Fellow is primary provider, but reviews management with an attending physician. Median age of the overall population was 67.5 yrs; patients in the Fellow clinics were significantly older than those in the Attending clinics (80 yrs vs. 63 yrs; p 1 yr duration of disease). Results of mutation testing changed the diagnosis in two cases (one where it was detected and one where it was not detected). In addition, one newly diagnosed patient who met WHO criteria did not have JAK2 V617F detected and was felt to have true “JAK2 V617F-negative” PV. JAK2 exon 12 studies were not performed. Conclusions: The use and impact of JAK2 V617F mutation testing has been reviewed in a PV population similar to what an individual or small group practice might follow. JAK2 V617F mutation testing was primarily used in the early evaluation of suspected PV, or in continuing patients whose diagnosis was not fully established. Mutation testing was infrequently used in continuing patients where the physician considered the diagnosis clearly established or where a change in diagnosis would not alter management. Negative results of mutation testing altered diagnosis if they were consistent with the patient’s clinical picture.
Mechanisms of Brain Tumor Angiogenesis

The growth of brain tumors is dependent on the development of new vessels, a process called angiogenesis. In the clinic, neovascularization has been used as an independent prognostic marker, and is also a promising therapeutic target for treatments of patients with brain tumors. A large body of evidence demonstrates that brain tumor angiogenesis is an orchestrated process modulated by an array of factors, both pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic, in tumors and their microenvironment. Of great interest, vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), angiopoietins (Ang), platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF) and their respective receptors as well as hypoxia (low oxygen tensions) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) are considered the most critical molecules and agents in modulation of brain tumor angiogenesis. Additional factors such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor, c-Met, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), interleukin-8 (IL-8), integrins, and nitric oxide (NO) are also important in brain tumor angiogenesis. This chapter summarizes data from glioma angiogenesis studies, as malignant gliomas count for nearly 40% incidence of brain tumors in humans, and results of these studies should apply to angiogenesis occurring in other types of brain tumors. A better understanding of the complex process of brain tumor angiogenesis will lead to further advances in development of new and more effective drugs and treatment for patients with malignant brain tumors.
The 1- D Wave and Rod Equations Governed by Controls That Are Time-Dependent Only

We discuss the early results from [8] on global approximate reachability of the 1-D wave equation with Dirichlet boundary conditions and the rod equation with hinged ends in the case when the multiplicative control is time-dependent only. The methods of [8] make use of the inverse function theorem and involve dealing with the associated Riesz bases of exponential time-dependent functions under the additional assumption that all the modes in the initial datum are present.
Cardiac sarcoidosis diagnosed by multimodality imaging

A 66-year-old woman presented with frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVC) and akinesis of the basal septum on echocardiography. Coronary angiography was normal. Cardiac magnetic resonance showed mid-wall enhancement. Positron emission tomography showed a perfusion defect at the same location using 13N-ammonia, but increased 18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake. These findings supported the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis. High-dose steroids initially reduced frequency of PVCs but had to be withdrawn due to severe side effects. An ICD was implanted. Our case demonstrates the utility of multimodality imaging to diagnose and guide management of this entity.
Microstructural material database for self-consistent clustering analysis of elastoplastic strain softening materials

Abstract Multiscale modeling of heterogeneous material undergoing strain softening poses computational challenges for localization of the microstructure, material instability in the macrostructure, and the computational requirement for accurate and efficient concurrent calculation. In the paper, a stable micro-damage homogenization algorithm is presented which removes the material instability issues in the microstructure with representative volume elements (RVE) that are not sensitive to size when computing the homogenized stress–strain response. The proposed concurrent simulation framework allows the computation of the macroscopic response to explicitly consider the behavior of the separate constituents (material phases), as well as the complex microstructural morphology. A non-local material length parameter is introduced in the macroscale model, which will control the width of the damage bands and prevent material instability. The self-consistent clustering analysis (SCA) recently proposed by Liu et al. [ 1 ] provides an effective way of developing a microstructural database based on a clustering algorithm and the Lippmann–Schwinger integral equation, which enables an efficient and accurate prediction of nonlinear material response. The self-consistent clustering analysis is further generalized to consider complex loading paths through the projection of the effective stiffness tensor. In the concurrent simulation, the predicted macroscale strain localization is observed to be sensitive to the combination of microscale constituents, showing the unique capability of the SCA microstructural database for complex material simulations.
Reaction pathway analysis of (AgxCu1−x)(In0.75Ga0.25)Se2 with x = 0.75 and 1.0

Abstract Reaction pathways during formation of Ag(In0.75Ga0.25)Se2 films were investigated by ex-situ characterization of time-progressive reactions using rapid thermal processing at 450 °C under 5% Ar/H2Se atmosphere. Composition measurements using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) show that with Ag/(Ag+Cu) = 1.0, Ga grading and Se uptake occur gradually up to 20 min. With 7 min reaction, there was no sign of a AgInSe2 phase and only a Ag(In,Ga)5Se8 chalcogenide phase formed. The reaction was completed with formation of Ag( In ,Ga)Se2 and Ag( In ,Ga)5Se8 within 20 min. The addition of Cu to the precursor so that Ag/(Ag+Cu) = 0.75 speeds up the reaction and reduces the formation of the Ag( In ,Ga)5Se8 phase. EDS and XRF analyses indicated that Ga grading and Se uptake were completed after 10 min. XRD analysis also shows formation of CuInSe2 on the surface of the sample with Cu after 3.5 min reaction prior to other chalcogenide formation. On the other hand, a strong Ag( In ,Ga)Se2 (112) XRD peak appeared after 5 min reaction compared to 10 min reaction for 100% Ag films. EDS and Raman scattering measurements on the back-side of the films after delamination from the substrate indicated that Ga accumulated in AgGaSe2 and Ga-Se phases at the back-side of films after 45 min reaction. XRD analysis showed that Ag tends to stay in the stable ζ-Ag3( In ,Ga) phase during the reaction with Ag/(Ag+Cu) = 1.0, but not with 0.75, and this causes the longer reaction time and the non-uniformity.
Abstract 13418: Atherosclerotic Risk Factors and Biomarkers Among Diabetics with Subclavian Stenosis: The Penn Diabetes Health Study

Introduction: Subclavian stenosis (SS) is clinically defined as >15 mm difference in the brachial systolic arm pressures. Previous epidemiologic studies have identified an increased incidence of SS among those with diabetes, though there is little data regarding risk factor or biomarker correlates in the diabetic population. We hypothesized that SS would be prevalent in the diabetic population and be associated with biomarkers formerly linked to peripheral arterial disease. Methods: Within the Penn Diabetes Heart Study (PDHS, N = 1856, 36% women, 61% Caucasian), a cross-sectional study of diabetic individuals without clinical cardiovascular disease, we used ANOVA, the chi-square test and logistic regression to compare CVD risk factors and biomarkers among those with and without SS (defined as brachial arm pressure difference > 15 mm Hg). Results: SS was present in 12.2% in the PDHS cohort. Those with SS were more likely to be female (46.7% vs 34.7%) and have a greater body mass index (BMI) (33.9 vs 32.5 lb/in2; both p Conclusion: The prevalence of SS among diabetics without overt cardiovascular disease is higher than that reported in non-diabetic populations, and occurred more frequently in tandem with other indices of peripheral, but not coronary, atherosclerosis. In addition, the relationship between leptin, body mass index and SS has not formerly been reported, and provides a framework for the mechanistic investigation of the link between obesity and SS.
The Influence of Foreign Direct Investment on Land Use Changes and Regional Planning in Developing-World Megacities: A Bangalore Case Study

Economic reforms and trade policy since the 1980s, combined with ­concurrent technological changes, have opened up parts of the developing world to unprecedented levels of foreign direct investment. This infusion has transformed regional economies, cultures, political systems, and the local environment. This chapter discusses how foreign direct investment in Bangalore, India, has served not simply to fuel rapid growth in urban population and urban extent but also has strongly affected regional planning and infrastructure policy. Bangalore’s and India’s political history plays an instrumental role, directly or indirectly creating incentives for industry and middle-class workers to decentralise into self-contained landscapes at the urban periphery. We argue that policy and planning approaches must understand and consider the legacies of local and national policies, measure how and why private capital is reshaping urban space, and incorporate private-sector actors into sustainable development discussions.
XPS STUDY OF SODIUM OXIDE IN AMORPHOUS SiO2

ABSTRACT X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) studies have been undertaken on amorphous SiO2 and on silicate glasses containing varying amounts of Na2O. The XPS results enable one to distinguish the “bridging” oxygens linking adjacent silicon atoms from the “nonbridging” oxygens that appear in the glass when Na2O is added. Charge readjustment with Na2O addition can also be qualitatively monitored.
Plug and Play: Mechanical Ventilation Utilization During Critical Care Transport of Patients with Advanced Airway

Introduction Healthcare has undergone significant regionalization over the past 20 years, necessitating high quality interhospital transport. Multiple studies have shown that the use of transport mechanical ventilators (MV) in lieu of manual ventilation during such transports provides more consistent ventilation and thus improved clinical outcomes. By analyzing MV use during interhospital transport of patients with advanced airways among diverse neonatal/pediatric/adult transport teams, we sought to describe current practice, identify quality benchmarks, and describe associated performance in relation to other quality indicators. Methods Data are contained in the Ground and Air Medical qUality Transport (GAMUT) database. Use of MV during transport is defined and calculated as follows: NUMERATOR = Number of transport patient contacts during the calendar month involving patient with an advanced airway supported by a MV. DENOMINATOR = Number of transport patient contacts during calendar month involving a patient with an advanced airway. GAMUT data are reported in aggregate monthly using the REDCap database and quality metrics data from December 2016 - December 2017 (12 months) were analyzed. Analyses included stratifying institutions by patient population, evaluation of mean and achievable benchmarks, and rank correlation to identify associations with other GAMUT quality metrics. Results 172 programs supplied GAMUT data on transports during the study period representing 217,434 patient contacts. Of those, 39,185 (18.0%) were transported with an advanced airway and 36,487 (93.1%) of advanced airway patients were supported by a MV. During the same study period, the achievable benchmark of care for MV utilization was 99.6%. Patients transported by pediatric programs were less likely have an advanced airway (12.1%) but also used MV significantly less (88.9%, p Conclusion Amongst GAMUT quality improvement collaborative participants, pediatric programs transported patients with advanced airways less commonly and used MV in those advanced airway patients less frequently. Neonatal programs used MV most frequently. This anlysis provides clarity regarding the use of MV in transport and permits targeted interventions for improved performance and ultimately best practice in this important quality measure.
Numbers that Matter: Right to Health and Peruvian Maternal Strategies.

The rights to health and to culturally respectful care are inextricably linked in the documents supporting Peruvian Maternal Health Policy. Strategies of Intercultural Birthing and Maternal Waiting...
Comparative analysis of differential gene expression analysis tools for single-cell RNA sequencing data

The analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) data plays an important role in understanding the intrinsic and extrinsic cellular processes in biological and biomedical research. One significant effort in this area is the detection of differentially expressed (DE) genes. scRNAseq data, however, are highly heterogeneous and have a large number of zero counts, which introduces challenges in detecting DE genes. Addressing these challenges requires employing new approaches beyond the conventional ones, which are based on a nonzero difference in average expression. Several methods have been developed for differential gene expression analysis of scRNAseq data. To provide guidance on choosing an appropriate tool or developing a new one, it is necessary to evaluate and compare the performance of differential gene expression analysis methods for scRNAseq data. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of eleven differential gene expression analysis software tools, which are designed for scRNAseq data or can be applied to them. We used simulated and real data to evaluate the accuracy and precision of detection. Using simulated data, we investigated the effect of sample size on the detection accuracy of the tools. Using real data, we examined the agreement among the tools in identifying DE genes, the run time of the tools, and the biological relevance of the detected DE genes. In general, agreement among the tools in calling DE genes is not high. There is a trade-off between true-positive rates and the precision of calling DE genes. Methods with higher true positive rates tend to show low precision due to their introducing false positives, whereas methods with high precision show low true positive rates due to identifying few DE genes. We observed that current methods designed for scRNAseq data do not tend to show better performance compared to methods designed for bulk RNAseq data. Data multimodality and abundance of zero read counts are the main characteristics of scRNAseq data, which play important roles in the performance of differential gene expression analysis methods and need to be considered in terms of the development of new methods.
Abstract WP521: Health Beliefs and Blood Pressure Reduction in the Discharge Educational Strategies for Reduction of Vascular Events (DESERVE) Study

Introduction: Hypertension is a leading risk factor for stroke recurrence. Previous studies have found that patients’ health attitudes and beliefs play a critical role in shaping health behaviors. ...
Deterioration of Red Spruce in the Northern Appalachian Mountains

A synchronous, large-scale deterioration of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) is quantitatively documented in the high-elevation coniferous forests of northern New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. Tree-ring analyses and field studies indicate that this phenomenon has been in progress for approximately 20–25 years. The beginning of this process coincided with two well-known climatic anomalies. The elevational band in which spruce have deteriorated to the greatest extent (900–1200 m) receives particularly high rates of deposition of acidic substances and trace metals due to inputs of polluted cloud water. A resolution of the cause(s) of red spruce deterioration is made difficult by the co-occurrence of natural and anthropogenic Stresses, and the lack of applicable mechanistic models and data.
Optical mapping of biological water in single live cells by stimulated Raman excited fluorescence microscopy.

Water is arguably the most common and yet least understood material on Earth. Indeed, the biophysical behavior of water in crowded intracellular milieu is a long-debated issue. Understanding of the spatial and compositional heterogeneity of water inside cells remains elusive, largely due to a lack of proper water-sensing tools with high sensitivity and spatial resolution. Recently, stimulated Raman excited fluorescence (SREF) microscopy was reported as the most sensitive vibrational imaging in the optical far field. Herein we develop SREF into a water-sensing tool by coupling it with vibrational solvatochromism. This technique allows us to directly visualize spatially-resolved distribution of water states inside single mammalian cells. Qualitatively, our result supports the concept of biological water and reveals intracellular water heterogeneity between nucleus and cytoplasm. Quantitatively, we unveil a compositional map of the water pool inside living cells. Hence we hope SREF will be a promising tool to study intracellular water and its relationship with cellular activities. Recent studies have proposed that intracellular water is different from bulk water at the molecular level. Here the authors introduce a Raman microscopy-based method to image the distribution of water states in living cells, and report intracellular water heterogeneity between nucleus and cytoplasm.
Role of surface phenomena in the reaction of molecular solids: the Diels–Alder reaction on pentacene

Reactivity trends for molecular solids cannot be explained exclusively through the topochemical phenomenon (i.e. diffusivity, reaction cavities) or electronic structure of the molecules. As an example of this class, Diels–Alder reactions of small molecules with pentacene thin films are examined to elucidate the importance of surface phenomena to reactivity. Polarization modulation-infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) has revealed that vapors from the small molecules condense on the surface, in a non-covalent manner, to form a coating 2–3 molecules thick. The phase of this layer can provide increased surface diffusion (both reactant and product) which rapidly accelerates the reaction rate. Kinetic studies of pentacene thin film reactions demonstrate the importance of this condensed state to trends in reactivity, with layers in a quasi-liquid state showing a rate acceleration of 13–30 times compared to those in a quasi-solid state. Scanning electron microscopy provides further evidence of this phase behavior, while solid-state UV-vis confirms the kinetic results.
Intraoperative Evaluation during Orbital-Zygomaticomaxillary Surgery

The zygomaticosphenoid junction is the most accurate junction for confirmation of appropriate reduction of the orbital-zygomaticomaxillary fractures. Two of the technological advances that can be used for intraoperative assessment are the intraoperative CT scan and the navigation system.
Effect of manipulative reduction combined with air enema on intestinal mucosal immune function in children with intussusception

Objective: To explore the effect of manipulative reduction combined with air enema on intestinal mucosal immune function in children with intussusception. Methods: This is a prospective randomized controlled study in which 60 children with primary intussusception admitted to Hebei Children’s Hospital from October 2018 to October 2019 were selected for this study. They were randomly divided into two groups. The 30 patients in the experimental group underwent manipulative reduction and air enema reduction, and 30 patients in the control group underwent only air enema reduction. Pain scores and pressure during enema were recorded and analyzed. Fasting blood of children in the experimental group were drawn to test the serum T lymphocyte subsets CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ levels, B lymphocyte subsets CD19+ level, and NK cell subsets CD56+ levels before reduction. Among them, fasting blood of 28 children with successful reduction were drawn again in the morning after reduction, and the indicators of each immune cell subgroup before and after reduction were analyzed. Two children with unsuccessful reduction were no longer tested for these indicators. Results: Twenty-Eight children in the experimental group had successful reduction, and two children with unsuccessful reduction were changed to open surgery (28/30). Twenty five Children in the control group had successful reduction, and five were changed to open surgery (25/30). There was no significant difference in the success rate of reduction between two groups (p>0.05). Close observation for 12~24h after reduction found that none of the children had signs of peritonitis. The pain score and reduction pressure of the observation group were lower than those of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The levels of serum CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ after reduction in the experimental group were significantly higher than before reduction, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). CD19+ level was significantly lower than before reduction, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in changes of other indicators. Conclusions: Manipulative reduction combined with air enema reduction can relieve pain and air injection pressure during enema, reduce reperfusion injury caused by intestinal ischemia, and protect intestinal mucosal immune function, which is a favored treatment. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.7.3105 How to cite this:Li Y, Jiao H, Bai Y, Wang P. Effect of manipulative reduction combined with air enema on intestinal mucosal immune function in children with intussusception. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(7):1640-1644. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.7.3105 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
N-acetylcysteine reduces brain injury after delayed hypoxemia following traumatic brain injury.

Abstract Preclinical investigations into neuroprotective agents for traumatic brain injury (TBI) have shown promise when administered before or very early after experimental TBI. However clinical trials of therapeutics demonstrating preclinical efficacy for TBI have failed to replicate these results in humans, a lost in translation phenomenon. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a potent anti-oxidant with demonstrated efficacy in pre-clinical TBI when administered early after primary injury. Utilizing our clinically relevant mouse model, we hypothesized that NAC administration in a clinically relevant timeframe could improve the brain's resilience to the secondary insult of hypoxemia. NAC or vehicle administered daily starting 2 h prior to hypoxemia (24 h after controlled cortical impact) for 3 doses in male mice reduced short-term axonal injury and hippocampal neuronal loss. Six month behavioral assessments including novel object recognition, socialization, Barnes maze, and fear conditioning did not reveal performance differences between sham controls and injured mice receiving NAC or saline vehicle. At 7 months after injury, NAC administered mice had reduced hippocampal neuronal loss but no reduction in lesion volume. In summary, our preclinical trial to test the neuroprotective efficacy of NAC against a secondary hypoxic insult after TBI demonstrated short and long-term neuropathological evidence of neuroprotection but a lack of detectable differences in long-term behavioral assessments between sham controls and injured mice limits conclusions on its impact on long-term neurobehavioral outcomes.
Tissue-Resident Memory T Cells in the Liver—Unique Characteristics of Local Specialists

T cells play an important role to build up an effective immune response and are essential in the eradication of pathogens. To establish a long-lasting protection even after a re-challenge with the same pathogen, some T cells differentiate into memory T cells. Recently, a certain subpopulation of memory T cells at different tissue-sites of infection was detected-tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM cells). These cells can patrol in the tissue in order to encounter their cognate antigen to establish an effective protection against secondary infection. The liver as an immunogenic organ is exposed to a variety of pathogens entering the liver through the systemic blood circulation or via the portal vein from the gut. It could be shown that intrahepatic TRM cells can reside within the liver tissue for several years. Interestingly, hepatic TRM cell differentiation requires a distinct cytokine milieu. In addition, TRM cells express specific surface markers and transcription factors, which allow their identification delimited from their circulating counterparts. It could be demonstrated that liver TRM cells play a particular role in many liver diseases such as hepatitis B and C infection, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and even play a role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma and in building long-lasting immune responses after vaccination. A better understanding of intrahepatic TRM cells is critical to understand the pathophysiology of many liver diseases and to identify new potential drug targets for the development of novel treatment strategies.
Low-cost multi-person continuous skin temperature sensing system for fever detection: poster abstract

With the recent societal impact of COVID-19, businesses and government agencies have turned to thermal camera based skin temperature sensing technology to help detect affected civilians. However, cost and deployment restrictions limit the widespread use of these thermal sensing technologies. In this work, we present a low cost system based on an RGB-thermal camera for continuously detecting and estimating facial temperature features for multiple people. This system detects and tracks heads in the RGB and thermal domains, constructs temperature models of individual facial features, and models environmental and surface effects on thermal sensing to reduce temperature measurement error.
Food Allergy: Searching for the Modern Environmental Culprit

Food allergy is a modern disease. Its exponential increase in prevalence in the last 70 years cannot be explained by genetic factors alone. In this review we discuss the hypotheses that have been suggested previously, and the evidence that supports them, to explain this rise in prevalence as well as the medical treatments that have developed as a result of basic exploration within these paradigms. We argue that one major area of fruitful exploration that would help generate new ideas may be systematic analyses of the unknown factors of the modern environment that may contribute to the formation of food allergy. Through this lens, we review the current understanding of food allergy pathogenesis and propose novel research directions, with implications for the current strategies for managing food allergy.
Deep Neural Network Training Accelerator Designs in ASIC and FPGA

In this invited paper, we present deep neural network (DNN) training accelerator designs in both ASIC and FPGA. The accelerators implements stochastic gradient descent based training algorithm in 16-bit fixed-point precision. A new cyclic weight storage and access scheme enables using the same off-the-shelf SRAMs for non-transpose and transpose operations during feed-forward and feed-backward phases, respectively, of the DNN training process. Including the cyclic weight scheme, the overall DNN training processor is implemented in both 65nm CMOS ASIC and Intel Stratix-10 FPGA hardware. We collectively report the ASIC and FPGA training accelerator results.
Cesarean delivery and metabolic health and inflammation biomarkers during mid-childhood and early adolescence.

We assessed differences in plasma levels of metabolic health and inflammation biomarkers during mid-childhood and early adolescence between children born by cesarean section vs. vaginal delivery. Mother–child pairs (N = 942) enrolled during pregnancy in obstetric practices and child follow-up started at birth. Risk biomarkers were assessed in blood samples collected at the mild-childhood (median = 7 years) and early adolescence (median = 13 years) in-person visits. Two hundred and six children (22%) were born by cesarean section. There were no significant differences in biomarker levels between children born by cesarean and children born vaginally in mid-childhood. However, adolescents born by cesarean section had significantly lower adiponectin [% difference (95% confidence interval (CI)) = −11.3 (−18.1, −4.0) µg/mL] compared to vaginal delivery. We also found some suggestion of higher insulin resistance [insulin levels % difference (95% CI) = 11.5 (−0.40, 25.0) µU/mL and HOMA-IR (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance) % difference (95% CI) = 9.1 (−2.30, 21.8) U] in adolescents born by cesarean section compared to those born vaginally. We found suggestive evidence that adolescents born by cesarean section show differences in certain metabolic health biomarkers relative to adolescents born by vaginal delivery. Further studies are needed to reevaluate these associations since the clinical significance of these differences is unclear.
Wearable Devices: Current Status and Opportunities in Pain Assessment and Management

Introduction We investigated the possibilities and opportunities for using wearable devices that measure physical activity and physiometric signals in conjunction with ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data to improve the assessment and treatment of pain. Methods We considered studies with cross-sectional and longitudinal designs as well as interventional or observational studies correlating pain scores with measures derived from wearable devices. A search was also performed on studies that investigated physical activity and physiometric signals among patients with pain. Results Few studies have assessed the possibility of incorporating wearable devices as objective tools for contextualizing pain and physical function in free-living environments. Of the studies that have been conducted, most focus solely on physical activity and functional outcomes as measured by a wearable accelerometer. Several studies report promising correlations between pain scores and signals derived from wearable devices, objectively measured physical activity, and physical function. In addition, there is a known association between physiologic signals that can be measured by wearable devices and pain, though studies using wearable devices to measure these signals and associate them with pain in free-living environments are limited. Conclusion There exists a great opportunity to study the complex interplay between physiometric signals, physical function, and pain in a real-time fashion in free-living environments. The literature supports the hypothesis that wearable devices can be used to develop reproducible biosignals that correlate with pain. The combination of wearable devices and EMA will likely lead to the development of clinically meaningful endpoints that will transform how we understand and treat pain patients.
Designing Regulation Across Organizations: Assessing the Functions and Dimensions of Governance

In recent years, regulation scholars and policymakers have increasingly turned their attention to the role of inter-governmental organizational design in effective governance. The existing literature on regulatory design has provided important insights into the advantages and disadvantages of alternative structural options. This article synthesizes and builds on that literature by describing a novel framework for characterizing, analyzing, and structuring authority across public institutions. Drawing on examples from a range of jurisdictions, it highlights the value of this framework in identifying the values tradeoffs that should drive policymakers' decisions to choose among competing structural alternatives. The framework is founded on two important points. First, inter-governmental allocations of authority can be structured along three different dimensions. Failing to appreciate the existence of, and differences among, these dimensions can prompt misassessments of the reasons for existing regulatory failures and selection of structural allocations that do not suit the problems intended to be addressed. Second, allocations of authority can, and in many cases should, vary for disparate governmental functions. Differential functional allocations of authority can minimize obstacles to needed structural reforms and tailor inter-governmental relations in ways that best promote chosen regulatory values, such as efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability, as well as how allocational choices may and perhaps should vary depending on the governmental function being performed. Finally, the article suggests how future regulation and governance scholarship can harness this emerging framework to help build a body of empirical evidence upon which policymakers can draw in future regulatory design endeavors.
A framework for performance-based program partitioning

Most of the reported work in the Parallelizing Compilers literature focuses on analyzing program characteristics such as the dependencies, loop structures, memory reference patterns etc. to optimize the generated parallel code [3, 2, 7, 8, 14, 10]. Unfortunately, parallelizing compilers have very little or no knowledge of the actual run time behavior of the synthesized code on the underlying hardware due to the complex behavior of the underlaying hardware and software subsystems. This interaction could significantly affect the performance of the generated code and must be considered during program partitioning phases of the compiler. In this paper, we present an efficient and accurate performance model based program partitioning approach for parallel architectures. We introduce the concept of behavioral edges for capturing the interactions between computation and communication through parametric functions. We present an efficient algorithm to identify behavioral edges, modify costs using the behavioral edges and adapt the schedule to improve schedule length. The program partitioning phase uses the static estimates computed using the behavioral edges and partitioning is iteratively performed using the ordering PDG based on computed intervals. A significant performance improvement (factor of 10 in many cases) is demonstrated by using our framework.
Regulation of Diphosphopyridine Nucleotide-linked Isocitrate Dehydrogenase from Bovine Heart BINDING OF INHIBITORY NUCLEOTIDES

Abstract DPN-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase from bovine heart binds 1 molecule of DPNH per molecule of enzyme of 320,000 daltons with a concomitant 20-fold increase in nucleotide fluorescence. The fluorescence properties of this tightly bound DPNH (Kd = 1.4 µm) are not affected by DPN+, isocitrate, MgSO4, or ADP, either alone or in combinations. However, ATP, an inhibitor of isocitrate dehydrogenase, competitively displaces bound DPNH. Ultrafiltration or gel chromatography of the enzyme in the presence of DPNH reveals a total binding of 3.5 to 4.5 eq of nucleotide with a limiting dissociation constant of 14 µm obtained at near saturating ligand concentrations. Fluorescence titration indicates that isocitrate dehydrogenase also binds 1 eq of TPNH with a Kd of 0.9 µm. In contrast to the enzyme-DPNH complex, bound TPNH is not displaced by ATP and shows no evidence of energy transfer in its fluorescence excitation spectrum. Ultrafiltration experiments reveal at least two additional binding sites for TPNH. The presence of DPNH does not affect the binding of TPNH, and DPNH binding is not altered by TPNH, indicating separate sites on the enzyme for the two types of pyridine nucleotides.
Erratum: Autumn, the neglected season in climate change research: [Trends in Ecology & Evolution 30 (2015) 169-176]

Reference [22], cited on page 170, should be as follows: Beck, S.D. (1984) Effect of temperature on thermoperiodic determination of diapause. J. Insect Physiol. 30, 383-386
Abstract 893: Mining the circulating immune cell transcriptome for ovarian cancer-specific biomarkers: A proof of concept study

The continuous interplay between cancer cells and immune system allows an opportunity to identify cancer-specific biomarkers in immune cells. Here, we compare the transcriptomes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from advanced stage ovarian cancer patients and healthy donors in a proof-of-concept study to identify ovarian cancer-specific biomarkers. PBMCs were collected from patients undergoing surgery with the gynecologic oncology service. RNA was extracted from the PBMCs of five patients (training set) with confirmed diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer and 4 health donor blood samples. Microarray analysis using Illumina platform was conducted and analyzed using the R statistical package. After data normalization, differentially expressed genes in the two cohorts were identified controlling for false discovery rate at 5 and 10%. The top ten up- and downregulated genes were selected. Gene ontology and pathway analysis led to identification of a Candidate Biomarker Panel (CBP) comprising of five of the ten genes that were most likely to serve as biomarkers for ovarian cancer. Validation of the CBP was achieved using PBMCs isolated from a separate group of six patients and healthy donors (test set) was performed using qPCR and flow cytometry and in vitro culture experiments. Bioinformatics analysis identified 391 genes that were up-regulated and 599 that were down-regulated. A set of five genes with high biomarker potential and were included in the CBP. All of the CBP genes were differentially expressed by 3-5 fold (p Citation Format: Shitanshu Uppal, Arvinder Kapur, Mildred Felder, Erin Medlin, Hadi Shojaei, Jesus Gonzalez-Bosquet, Manish S. Patankar. Mining the circulating immune cell transcriptome for ovarian cancer-specific biomarkers: A proof of concept study. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 893. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-893
Pricing complementary telephone services: The cases of payphone and operator service providers

Abstract This article argues that the higher telephone prices that have emerged in the payphone and alternative operator services (AOS) industries are the result of competitive forces operating in the retail markets served by aggregators. Since these prices are competitive, any attempt to set them at levels that prevail elsewhere in the economy will damage consumer welfare.
Pen-based Interfaces for Engineering and Education

Sketches are an important problem-solving tool in many fields. This is particularly true of engineering design, where sketches facilitate creativity by providing an efficient medium for expressing ideas. However, despite the importance of sketches in engineering practice, current engineering software still relies on traditional mouse and keyboard interfaces, with little or no capabilities to handle free-form sketch input. With recent advances in machine-interpretation techniques, it is now becoming possible to create practical interpretation-based interfaces for such software. In this chapter, we report on our efforts to create interpretation techniques to enable pen-based engineering applications. We describe work on two fundamental sketch understanding problems. The first is sketch parsing, the task of clustering pen strokes or geometric primitives into individual symbols. The second is symbol recognition, the task of classifying symbols once they have been located by a parser. We have used the techniques that we have developed to construct several pen-based engineering analysis tools. These are used here as examples to illustrate our methods. We have also begun to use our techniques to create pen-based tutoring systems that scaffold students in solving problems in the same way they would ordinarily solve them with paper and pencil. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion of these systems.
Efficient transcription of the Epstein-Barr virus immediate-early BZLF1 and BRLF1 genes requires protein synthesis

The Epstein-Barr virus BRLF1 and BZLF1 genes appear to be the first viral genes transcribed upon induction of the Epstein-Barr virus lytic cycle. Both gene products activate transcription of other viral genes, thereby initiating the lytic cascade. Among the viral antigens expressed upon induction of the lytic cycle, the product of the BZLF1 gene is unique in its ability to disrupt viral latency; thus, expression of this gene is both necessary and sufficient for triggering the viral lytic cascade. Moreover, transcription initiation from both the BRLF1 and BZLF1 promoters can be activated by the BZLF1 gene product. The latter results suggest a two-step model for induction of the viral lytic cycle in which the initial signal leads to low-level transcription of the BZLF1 gene, followed by upregulation of transcription by the BZLF1 gene product. In this report we demonstrate that efficient transcription from the BRLF1 and BZLF1 promoters after anti-immunoglobulin induction of the lytic cycle, in a synchronous induction system, is dependent on de novo protein synthesis. These data support the two-step induction model in which synthesis of BZLF1 protein is required to activate expression of the BRLF1 and BZLF1 genes.
The sage on the stage and the audience is texting

The college lecture dates to the middle ages when only the instructor had access to written material. In the 21st century, the lecturing professor persists but often finds him/herself talking to bored or distracted students. In this paper, an instructor's transition from "covering material" to facilitating learning is described. A summary of research is also presented that affirms the efficacy of problem-based learning (PBL).
Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Up-Sloping ST-Segment Depression in Patients With Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Up-sloping ST-segment depression has not been historically considered as representing ischemia as this electrocardiographic change can be seen in normal subjects during exercise stress testing or tachycardia. We aimed to clarify the prevalence and clinical significance of up-sloping ST-segment depression in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 330 consecutive patients with NSTEMI who underwent coronary angiography. ST-segment depression â‰¥ 0.05 mV in more than two contiguous leads was recorded and categorized as being up-sloping or non-up-sloping. Results: Of 330 patients, 109 patients (33%) had ST-segment depression; six of these patients had up-sloping ST-segment depression. All six patients with up-sloping ST-segment depression had a culprit lesion and underwent in-hospital revascularization. Three of these six patients had a culprit lesion in the left anterior descending artery; the culprit lesion in two others was in the left circumflex artery, while one patient had severe three-vessel disease. No statistically significant difference was found in the rate of in-hospital revascularization between patients with up-sloping and non-up-sloping ST-segment depression (100% vs. 75%, P = 0.33). Conclusions: Patients with up-sloping ST-segment depression had a comparable rate of in-hospital revascularization compared to those with non-up-sloping ST-segment depression, suggesting that up-sloping ST-segment depression should be recognized as a manifestation of ischemia in NSTEMI. Cardiol Res. 2015;6(4-5):306-310 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/cr422w
QTc prolongation and family history of sudden death in a patient with desmin cardiomyopathy.

This case report describes a pregnant female patient who presented with new-onset congestive heart failure symptoms and prolonged QTc, with strong family history of sudden death. Endomyocardial biopsy and genetic testing revealed myocardial desmin accumulation and a previously described mutation in the DES (desmin) gene, as well as variants in two LQT genes, SCN5A and KCNH2. The case highlights the phenotypic variability for a particular desmin genotype, and the possible interaction of desminopathy with LQT variants not independently associated with large differences in current properties or QT prolongation from wild type. (PACE 2011; 34:e105–e108)
Congenital unilateral pulmonary vein atresia: radiologic findings in three adult patients.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of our study is to describe the radiologic findings of adult patients presenting with congenital unilateral pulmonary vein atresia.CONCLUSION. Chest radiography in affected patients typically reveals a small hemithorax and ipsilateral pulmonary artery as well as ipsilateral septal thickening. CT shows, in addition, ground-glass attenuation, the absence of a pulmonary vein connection to the left atrium, and abundant mediastinal venous collateral vessels. MR imaging is helpful in further characterizing the vascular abnormalities. Angiography may help to confirm the diagnosis.