cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Barbed sutures in total hip and knee arthroplasty: what is the evidence? A meta-analysis.

Newer methods of wound closure such as bidirectional barbed sutures hold the potential to reduce closure time and thus overall operating room costs during total joint arthroplasty (TJA), including total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, it is unclear whether these sutures have similar clinical outcomes or whether they place the patient at risk of developing wound complications that may outweigh the time-saving benefits of these sutures. A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify all level I trials that reported the use of barbed suture during TJA. We analyzed the efficacy, safety, major and minor complications, and overall cost related to barbed sutures. Four studies met our criteria, and included 588 patients who were randomized either to barbed suture closure (n = 290 TJAs, 268 TKAs, and 22 THAs) or to a matched conventional suture cohort (n = 298 TJAs, 279 TKAs, and 19 THA). In terms of time savings with wound closure, the barbed suture was 6.3 minutes faster than the conventional cohort (p < 0.05). The odds for developing a minor complication were nearly identical (odds ratio [OR] 1.04, p = 0.95) and for major complication was not significantly different (OR 2.94, p = 0.27). The overall mean savings including both THA and TKA was USD 298 per case. In randomized controlled trials, barbed sutures are consistently associated with shorter wound closure time, which also corresponds to cost savings, even when the higher cost of these sutures is taken into account. There was no significant difference in the odds of experiencing either minor or major complications between patients in whom barbed sutures versus standard sutures were used for wound closure. Current evidence supports continued use of these sutures. Level of Evidence: Level I
Whiteness Studies: Anything Here for Historians of the Working Class?

This response takes up four of Eric Arnesen's many objections to whiteness research: (1) the fuzziness of the definitions for “whiteness”; (2) the notion of a process by which European immigrants “became white”; (3) the sloppy research methods; and (4) the political posturing of some authors. Although I consider a range of works, I concentrate mainly on those of David Roediger. A serious analysis of the roots of white working-class racism was long overdue, and Roediger and his colleagues have advanced this study significantly. They have demonstrated the severe social limits and the racist implications of labor republicanism, an organizing principle for so much nineteenth-century labor history. They have placed racial identity at the center of class analysis and focused attention on the racialized character of class experience and consciousness. The notion of socially constructed understandings of race has also stimulated a more interethnic approach in studies of immigrant workers, and helped to bridge the obvious divisions between labor history and African-American, Asian-American, and Latina/o history. The study of whiteness has helped us to “denaturalize” race and look much more closely at the whole idea of white identity. We are due for a critical evaluation of this literature from the perspective of labor history, but it is far too early to discard the concept of “whiteness.” On the contrary, the most important work, in the form of rigorous studies of particular workplaces, unions, and communities, is really just beginning. In the meantime, the work has stimulated some much-needed rethinking.
The Host Range of Larvae of the Western Corn Rootworm: Further Studies

A total of 44 species of grass, 12 species of broadleaf weeds, and 15 species of broadleaf crops were screened in the laboratory as possible hosts of the larvae of the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera LeConte. The larvae did not survive the 10-day test period on any of the broad lcaf species, but 18 grass species supported larvae for at least 10 days. In subsequent field tests, western corn rootworms were able to complete their immature stages on 13 of these 18 potential hosts, but corn was the most favorable host for larval development as indicated by the number and relative size of the beetles recovered. Viable eggs were obtained from females reared on all hosts except for the single unfertilized female obtained from barley.
A New Power Agenda: Tracking the Emergence of a New Global Polity in the Infant Formula Controversy

Given the rest of the story, we should take note of Nestl?'s first admoni tion: "every mother able to do so should herself suckle her children." That has never been in any doubt. But not all mothers can suckle children; in all times and places there have been two to four percent of women who cannot successfully nurse children for physical reasons. In the industrial ized world, where women are often employed outside the home, many women cannot fit the demands of a nursing child into their other responsi bilities, and have opted for breast-milk substitutes. Since the 1960's, the
Cultural Endowment, Disadvantaged Status and Economic Niche: The Development of an Ethnic Trade

Japanese-American immigrants have developed, and at times have dominated, niches in the economy. Operating as a one-man business, the yard care worker (or maintenance gardener) is one telling case. Culturally rooted agricultural know-how and ethnic solidarity along common prefectural lines contributed to the growth of the ethnic trade. By closing options in the market, host hostility exacerbated ethnic fixations. Although marginal early on, the Japanese gardener became entrenched until such time that the succeeding generation, far better educated, moved out and up.
Bacteriologic Culture of Sterile Body Fluids: Assessment of a Protocol

Results of routine bacteriologic cultures of 1,496 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens and 846 other normally sterile body fluid (SBF) specimens were examined for frequency of isolation of organisms, time required for detection, and correlation of Gram's stain and culture. Microorganisms were isolated from 104 CSF; however, 46 of these isolates were judged to be probable contaminants. The positive culture rate for CSF is then 3.9% (58/1496), and 11.8% (100/846) for SBF. The Gram's stain was of diagnostic value in 28% (16/58) of CSF and in 34% (34/100) of SBF. All Gram's stain-positive specimens were culture-positive within 24 hours. Of CSF and SBF isolates, 9 1% (53/58) and 88% (118/134), respectively, were recovered within 48 hours. Eight yeast isolates from CSF did not grow in a prereduced anaerobic broth. CSF and SBF specimen cultures require a minimum of 72 hours of incubation on appropriate media. Gram's stains are of diagnostic value in only one third of these specimens.
A Thermodynamic Model for Chemically Reacting, Two-Phase Fluids

A review of some of the issues related to the modeling of fluid mixtures is presented. A general thermodynamics model that can accommodate chemically reacting, two-phase fluids is introduced. The goal is to develop a model that is accurate and amenable to implementation in state-of-the-art flow solvers. Some preliminary results are presented, and a few avenues for future research are briefly discussed.
Efficient Nucleic Acid Extraction and 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing for Bacterial Community Characterization

There is a growing appreciation for the role of microbial communities as critical modulators of human health and disease. High throughput sequencing technologies have allowed for the rapid and efficient characterization of bacterial communities using 16S rRNA gene sequencing from a variety of sources. Although readily available tools for 16S rRNA sequence analysis have standardized computational workflows, sample processing for DNA extraction remains a continued source of variability across studies. Here we describe an efficient, robust, and cost effective method for extracting nucleic acid from swabs. We also delineate downstream methods for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, including generation of sequencing libraries, data quality control, and sequence analysis. The workflow can accommodate multiple samples types, including stool and swabs collected from a variety of anatomical locations and host species. Additionally, recovered DNA and RNA can be separated and used for other applications, including whole genome sequencing or RNA-seq. The method described allows for a common processing approach for multiple sample types and accommodates downstream analysis of genomic, metagenomic and transcriptional information.
377 OUTCOME OF COMBINED KIDNEY AND REDO HEART TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS FROM A SINGLE CENTER.

Purpose Outcomes of patients with combined heart and kidney transplantation have been comparable to those of heart transplant patients alone. As heart transplant patients develop severe graft failure (usually due to an accelerated form of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries of the donor heart), the need for a second heart transplant becomes necessary. These patients may also have developed severe renal dysfunction due to chronic calcineurin inhibitor use. The outcome of patients with redo heart transplant combined with kidney transplant has not been established. In our single-center experience we examined the outcome of simultaneous kidney and redo heart transplantation. Methods Between 1992 and 2006, we reviewed 557 heart transplant surgeries with five combined kidney and redo heart transplant surgeries. Outcomes, including first-year rejections and survival, were recorded. All patients were treated with triple-drug therapy including cyclosporine (n = 342) or tacrolimus (n = 215) in combination with azathioprine (n = 269) or mycophenolate mofetil (n = 257) or sirolimus (n = 12) plus or minus corticosteroids. Results There were five patients with combined kidney and redo heart transplants, four were male, with the average age of 49, and cause for renal transplant included cyclosporine nephrotoxicity, chronic nephroschierosis, etc. Combined kidney and redo heart transplant patients had comparable first-year rejection episodes (20% vs 32%) and comparable first-year survival (80% vs 94%) compared with heart transplant alone. Conclusions Combined kidney and redo heart transplantation has comparable first-year rejection and survival. Therefore, the addition of simultaneous kidney transplant to redo heart transplant surgery does not confer short-term added risk.
Hypotheses ranking for robust domain classification and tracking in dialogue systems.

We present a novel application of hypothesis ranking (HR) for the task of domain detection in a multi-domain, multiturn dialog system. Alternate, domain dependent, semantic frames from a spoken language understanding (SLU) analysis are ranked using a gradient boosted decision trees (GBDT) ranker to determine the most likely domain. The ranker, trained using Lambda Rank, makes use of a range of signals derived from the SLU and previous turn context to improve domain detection. On a multi-turn corpus we show that this approach offers accuracy improvements of 3.2% absolute (25.6% relative) compared to relying solely on upfront non-contextual SLU domain models and 2.9% (24.5% relative) improvement even with contextual SLU domain models. We also show that HR can be trained to be robust to changes in the SLU.
EFFECTS OF CHRONIC HYPERTENSION ON COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING

Abstract Arterial hypertension and blood pressure level are associated with modestly accelerated cognitive decline over the adult life span and with moderately increased risk of poor cognitive performance at all ages. Correlations between white matter lesions in brain and elevated blood pressure provide indirect evidence that structural and functional changes in brain over time may lead to lowered of cognitive functioning when blood pressure control is poor or lacking. Preventive methods designed to lower population blood pressure, early detection, and aggressive treatment of hypertension are important to prevent accelerated cognitive decline in the individual and to preserve cognitive ability in the population. Some evidence suggests that poorly controlled hypertension may predispose to the dementias, but more work is needed to ascertain this.
Absolute Factuality, Common Sense, and Theological Reference in the Thought of Franz Rosenzweig

Since its publication, Franz Rosenzweig's magnum opus, The Star of Redemption, has remained a challenge to its readers and a source of wildly conflicting interpretations. It should be a matter of great consternation to Rosenzweig's readers that, shortly after his publication of the Star, he came to identify the work with common sense. This article traces the emergence of common sense within Rosenzweig's thought and undertakes a critical analysis of his use of the term. In contrast to other efforts to address this topic, I argue that Rosenzweig's belated appeal to common sense is a useful heuristic tool for understanding his account of God, the divine-human relationship, and the power and limits of theological language in the Star.
Doppler Detection of Flow Disturbances

The detection of vortex trails and flow disturbances provides a means for transcutaneous detection of vascular obstructions. Downstream propagation of disturbances makes it possible to detect an obstruction without being directly over the obstruction.
Breaking the Waves: Deconstructing Class/Gender and Sociocultural Stereotypes Through a Spanish Readings Course on Human Rights with Service Learning Component

As the film directors Bertrand Tavernier and Laurent Cantet demonstrate in their respective films It All Starts Today (1999) and Entre Les Murs (2008), schools still reproduce social inequality and cultural stereotypes. One of the most important challenges teachers and professors confront as members of civil society, particularly in moments of social crisis or instability, is to promote students' critical thinking in relation to individual and collective rights. A deep understanding of the concepts and history of human rights infuses the foreign language classroom with a sense of cooperation and dignity that will promote the deconstructing of social and cultural stereotypes. This article analyzes the pedagogical implications and impact of readings on human rights and Service Learning within a community where "foreign languages and cultures" are recent social components of changes related to labor and immigration. This work explores the interrelation between the pedagogical and social dimensions of "critic...
Hypertension and Cancer

Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease, affecting nearly 30% of adults, and it is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The association between cancer and hypertension is well documented, especially in the era of highly effective newer chemotherapeutic agents, such as vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway (VSP) inhibitors. Hypertension is relatively common in cancer patients and its prevalence, severity, and response to treatment varies depending on multiple factors related to the patient, type of cancer, and specific cancer treatments. There are several mechanisms implicated in the association between cancer and hypertension and many are still not fully understood. Timely diagnosis and treatment of hypertension are crucial to prevent premature discontinuation of cancer therapy and serious adverse cardiovascular events. In this chapter, we will review the epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of hypertension in cancer patients.
Complement Activation and Resistance within the Cerebrospinal Fluid Following Intraventricular Administration of Anti-CD20 in the Treatment of Recurrent CNS Lymphoma.

Abstract We recently conducted the first phase I dose escalation study of intraventricular rituximab (anti-CD20 antibody) in patients with recurrent central nervous system (CNS) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The goals of this study have been to define the safety and pharmacokinetics of intraventricular rituximab monotherapy and to gain insight into the molecular basis of rituximab efficacy and resistance in the treatment of high-grade lymphomas. We observed a rapid lymphocytotoxic effect of intraventricular rituximab administration in six out of ten subjects treated, resulting in four complete responses at the completion of five weeks of therapy. Cytologic responses were evident within one hour of rituximab treatment and were not likely related to the action of corticosteroids as these were held stable, tapered or withheld in the week before intrathecal therapy. Three potential mechanisms have been proposed to explain the basis for rituximab efficacy in the treatment of NHL: 1. direct induction of apoptosis; 2. complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC); 3. antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Given the rapid rate of response detected in the leptomeningeal compartment and the relative paucity of Fc-receptor bearing natural killer cells detected in the CSF, we tested the hypothesis that complement activation is responsible for the rapid rituximab-mediated tumor cell lysis which we observed. Pretreatment gene expression profile analysis of meningeal lymphoma cells isolated from CSF demonstrated that RNA levels of expression of CD46, CD55, and CD59 were similar in both responding and non-responding patients. However microarray analysis suggested a possible correlation between low levels of complement receptor 2 (CD21) and immediate rituximab resistance. We focused on the potential generation of C3a anaphylatoxin in the CSF after rituximab administration as C3 is the central component in the classical and alternative complement pathways. Quantitative measurement of C3a concentration in CSF by ELISA demonstrated rapid activation of the complement cascade within one hour of intrathecal anti-CD20 antibody administration. C3a concentrations increased between three-to-eight-fold up to peak concentrations greater than 300 ng/ml. These findings were confirmed by immunoblot analysis of C3a in CSF. Acquired rituximab resistance was associated with marked decreases in the magnitude of complement activation in two patients who initially had exhibited complete responses to intraventricular rituximab monotherapy. These results suggest a mechanistic basis for the rapid lymphocytoxic effects observed and provide a possible explanation for the development of acquired rituximab resistance.
Impact of Imaging on Negative Appendectomy Rate

A negative appendectomy is defined as the removal of a normal appendix during an urgent appendectomy performed because of suspected acute appendicitis. In this chapter, we will trace the historical acceptability of a negative appendectomy rate, negative appendectomy rates in the pre-CT era, and negative appendectomy rates in the CT era. Gender differences in the impact of CT on negative appendectomy rates will be reviewed. Controversies related to the role of CT in lowering negative appendectomy rates will be discussed. Acceptable rates of negative appendectomy in the CT era will be addressed. The impact of ultrasound on negative appendectomy rates and the impact of imaging on negative appendectomy rates in children also will be discussed.
Two-choice discrimination with alternating trial types

One hundred and twenty Ss were required to predict which of two events would occur on each of 510 trials. Two signals to respond were alternated, and different events probabilities were associated with each signal. Combinations of the two event probabilities were varied over groups. Contrary to Brody's (1958) earlier finding, response probability to one signal was influenced by the event probability to the other signal, as well as by the immediately preceding response and event occurrence.
Cyclin D1 as a biomarker of response to fulvestrant (F) in hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer (BC).

582 Background: Overexpression of cyclin D1 (CD1) occurs in up to 45% of BCs. High cyclin D1 expression (HCD1) has been shown to significantly increase overall survival yet the opposite is observed...
Crew Resource Management: Spaceflight Resource Management

Publisher Summary The responsibility for addressing Crew Resource Management (CRM) issues among NASA space shuttle crews was largely deferred to the designated commander of each mission. Research consistently reports that the most dominant causes of accidents are due to either technical or human factors failures. Of these two, human factor failures account for about 70–80% of the cases. To refine the problem further, research within high reliability organizations shows the human component of accident causes can generally be divided into either safety culture or operator error. Three classes were developed to address the instructors' training needs. The Space Flight Resource Management (SFRM) overview course was designed with two primary objectives in mind—increase each participant's awareness of SFRM concepts and standardize the vocabulary and application of SFRM training throughout the training division. Recent efforts in NASA to regain and sustain a healthy safety culture include actively fostering the following skills and behaviors: leadership, teamwork, communication, understanding risk, decision-making, trust, accepting team and individual responsibility, and demonstrating resolve toward continual improvement.
Arbuscular common mycorrhizal networks mediate intra- and interspecific interactions of two prairie grasses

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form extensive common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) that may interconnect neighboring root systems of the same or different plant species, thereby potentially influencing the distribution of limiting mineral nutrients among plants. We examined how CMNs affected intra- and interspecific interactions within and between populations of Andropogon gerardii, a highly mycorrhiza dependent, dominant prairie grass and Elymus canadensis, a moderately dependent, subordinate prairie species. We grew A. gerardii and E. canadensis alone and intermixed in microcosms, with individual root systems isolated, but either interconnected by CMNs or with CMNs severed weekly. CMNs, which provided access to a large soil volume, improved survival of both A. gerardii and E. canadensis, but intensified intraspecific competition for A. gerardii. When mixed with E. canadensis, A. gerardii overyielded aboveground biomass in the presence of intact CMNs but not when CMNs were severed, suggesting that A. gerardii with intact CMNs most benefitted from weaker interspecific than intraspecific interactions across CMNs. CMNs improved manganese uptake by both species, with the largest plants receiving the most manganese. Enhanced growth in consequence of improved mineral nutrition led to large E. canadensis in intact CMNs experiencing water-stress, as indicated by 13C isotope abundance. Our findings suggest that in prairie plant communities, CMNs may influence mineral nutrient distribution, water relations, within-species size hierarchies, and between-species interactions.
Training students to detect delirium: An interprofessional pilot study.

Abstract Aim The purpose of this paper is to report nursing student knowledge acquisition and attitude after completing and interprofessional simulation with medical students. Introduction The IOM has challenged healthcare educators to teach teamwork and communication skills in interprofessional settings. Interprofessional simulation provides a higher fidelity experience than simulation in silos. Simulation may be particularly useful in helping healthcare workers gain the necessary skills to care for psychiatric clients. Specifically, healthcare providers have difficulty differentiating between dementia and delirium. Recognizing this deficit, an interprofessional simulation was created using medical students in their neurology rotation and senior nursing students. Method Twenty-four volunteer nursing students completed a pre-survey to assess delirium knowledge and then completed an education module about delirium. Twelve of these students participated in a simulation with medicine students. Pre and Post Kid SIM Attitude questionnaires were completed by all students participating in the simulation. After the simulations were complete, all twenty-four students were asked to complete the post-survey regarding delirium knowledge. Results While delirium knowledge scores improved in both groups, the simulation group scored higher, but the difference did not reach significance. The simulation group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in attitudes toward simulation, interprofessional education, and teamwork post simulation compared to their pre-simulation scores. Conclusion Nursing students who participated in an interprofessional simulation developed a heightened appreciation for learning communication, teamwork, situational awareness, and interprofessional roles and responsibilities. These results support the use of interprofessional simulation in healthcare education.
Nitric Oxide: No Laughing Matter

Nitric oxide (NO), long known as an environmental pollutant in cigarette smoke and smog, recently was found to have a wide variety of biological and physiological functions. NO is a simple molecule...
Peripartum management of HLA alloimmune platelet refractoriness.

Background Platelet (PLT) refractoriness presents a challenging problem for transfusion support, especially in the perioperative setting, where there is urgency for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-compatible units, yet identification and provision of compatible PLT concentrates requires time. Case report A 22-year-old G3P1 woman with thrombocytopenia due to aplastic anemia, likely autoimmune, presented in her third trimester for peripartum care and newly diagnosed HLA alloimmune PLT refractoriness. Despite early planning, the patient developed bleeding requiring urgent delivery. Notably, the patient also developed strong allele-specific HLA antibody, precluding the use of HLA-matched PLTs. Results Using full-range HLA testing services and multidisciplinary physician planning, several HLA-compatible PLT concentrates were procured to support her peripartum bleeding. Conclusion We describe what appears to be the first reported case of management of transfusion support of PLT refractoriness peripartum. Although complicated by allele-specific HLA antibodies, using a combination of acceptable low-level antibodies and crossmatching we successfully identified HLA-compatible PLT concentrates resulting in posttransfusion PLT count increments.
Human Resource Development for Economic Growth

Human resource development may be identified as the process through which a society augments the skills, education, and productive abilities of its people. In essence, it means increases in human capital. Human capital is accumulated and improved upon in several ways: through programs of education and formal training, training on the job, and through individual initiative. It is generally agreed that this process, if carefully designed and implemented, promotes economic growth in any country.
Run-time monitoring of self-adaptive systems to detect N-way feature interactions and their causes

The validity of systems at run time depends on the features included in those systems operating as specified. However, when feature interactions occur, the specifications no longer reflect the state of the run-time system due to the conflict. While methods exist to detect feature interactions at design time, conflicts that cause features to fail may still arise when new detected feature interactions are considered unreachable, new features are added, or an exhaustive design-time detection approach is impractical due to computational costs. This paper introduces Thoosa, an approach for using models at run time to detect features that can fail due to n-way feature interactions at run time and thereby trigger mitigating adaptations and/or updates to the requirements. We illustrate our approach by applying Thoosa to an industry-based automotive braking system comprising multiple subsystems.
Closing the Mortality Gap in Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State: Implications of a Clinical Decision Support App.

Diabetes is a major public health issue affecting millions of people in the United States and worldwide.
Conclusion: Imaginative Geographies

In these accounts of Britain’s rural scapes, the writers complicate the British countryside; their work returns a different view of the landscape than those views they initially encountered through the books and descriptions of their own (often colonially educated) backgrounds. Their reimaginings of these landscapes and rural areas allow us to see a different Britain, one which admits different voices. It is a relationship in which Caribbean writing shows greater complexity and wider significance than accounts and understandings of the British countryside have heretofore admitted; at the same time, close examination of these works shows that the complexity and ambiguity remain a seminal part of these authors’ relationships with the British countrysides of their imaginations. I conclude that these writers are “singing with different voices” (Bhabha) to create a way of seeing the British countryside that is new and multifaceted, and all the richer for it.
On the structure of histidine and its role in enzyme active sites

A structural refinement is proposed for the mechanistic details of the action of the serine proteases. The proposal involves ring flipping of the imidazole function of the histidine side chain as a vehicle for proton transfer. The geometric feasibility of this motion is established by molecular graphics analysis of the crystal structure ofα-chymotrypsin. It is suggested that the shape of histidine is as important as its pKa for its function at the active sites of enzymes.
China, India, and Myanmar: Playing Rohingya Roulette?

The 2017 crackdown on Rakhine Rohingyas by the Myanmar army (Tatmadaw) pushed more than 600,000 refugees into Bangladesh. Both Western and Islamic countries denounced Aung Sang Suu Kyi’s government, but both Asian giants, China and India, supported Myanmar’s actions. Both also have high stakes in Myanmar given their long-term geopolitics and geoeconomic South and Southeast Asian plans. In spite of Myanmar-based commonalities, China’s and India’s approaches differ significantly, predicting equally dissimilar outcomes. This chapter examines their foreign policy and stakes in Myanmar in order to draw a sketch of the future of Rakhine Rohingyas stuck in Bangladesh.
Circular zymogens of human ribonuclease 1.

The endogenous production of enzymes as zymogens provides a means to control catalytic activities. Here, we describe the heterologous production of ribonuclease 1 (RNase 1), which is the most prevalent secretory ribonuclease in humans, as a zymogen. In folded RNase 1, the N and C termini flank the enzymic active site. By using intein-mediated cis-splicing, we created circular proteins in which access to the active site of RNase 1 is obstructed by an amino-acid sequence that is recognized by the HIV-1 protease. Installing a sequence that does not perturb the RNase 1 fold led to only modest inactivation. In contrast, the ancillary truncation of residues from each terminus led to a substantial decrease in the catalytic activity of the zymogen with the maintenance of thermostability. For optimized zymogens, activation by HIV-1 protease led to a > 104 -fold increase in ribonucleolytic activity at a rate comparable to that for the cleavage of endogenous viral substrates. Molecular modeling indicated that these zymogens are inactivated by conformational distortion in addition to substrate occlusion. Because protease levels are elevated in many disease states and ribonucleolytic activity can be cytotoxic, RNase 1 zymogens have potential as generalizable prodrugs.
Chemical and Biological Stability of Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) After Long-term Storage at Selected Temperatures and Light Regimes

Concentrated [4.9 mM (1,000 ppm) and 24.6 mM (5,000 ppm)] IBA solutions in 50% isopropyl alcohol were stored in amber and clear glass bottles at 3 temperatures [22–25°, 6°, O°C (72–77°, 43°, 32°F)]...
Comparison of Family Medicine and General Internal Medicine on Diabetes Management.

The majority of patients with type 2 diabetes are managed in primary care, either in family medicine (FM) or general internal medicine (GIM). Variances in training, beliefs and practice decisions between FM and GIM may result in differing approaches to diabetes management. This study found that differences do exist in the choice of treatment by FM vs GIM; however, these differences are driven by patient characteristics and does not result in glycemic control disparities. Background and objectives Approach to management of chronic health conditions differs between family medicine (FM) and general internal medicine (GIM). Differences might be due to beliefs, patient case mix, training, and/or experience. This study determined if FM and GIM diabetes management differences exist, and if so, resulted in better or worse glycemic control. Method Electronic medical record data from 2008-2013 were used to identify 976 patients (287 FM and 689 GIM) with type 2 diabetes and prescriptions for metformin. GEE-type regression models were computed to control for repeated measures and estimate the association between primary care specialty and glycemic control, defined as percent of patients with HgA1c Results Compared to FM patients, significantly more GIM patients received a non-metformin medication (35.9% vs 47.2%) and insulin (16.4% vs 23.8%). After adjusting for covariates, FM patients had significantly lower HgA1c values (B = -.47; 95% CI: -0.68, -0.27) and were less likely to have an HgA1c>8.5 (OR=0.55; 95%CI:0.40-0.77). FM vs GIM patients did not differ in degree of HgA1c improvement over time. Conclusions FM patients vs GIM patients are less likely to receive a non-metformin and insulin medication. Differences in diabetes management likely correspond to degree of HgA1c control. Choice of treatment appears to reflect patient needs as both FM and GIM patients experienced equal improvement in HgA1c. Primary care specialty differences in beliefs and practices around diabetes management do not result in disparities in patient care.
Status analysis for knowledge of infectious disease and health behavior in city residents

Objective To understand the awareness of infectious disease control knowledge and the formation rate of health behavior in city residents, and to provide the basis for the health education and health promotion. Methods Using stratified random sampling method, 500 people in 5 kinds of crowd were selected randomly. 1000 copies of questionnaires were completed. Results The rate of infectious disease control knowledge in all the crowds was 92.00％, the rate was between 88.25％-96.00％ in every crowd. There were statistical differences between 5 kinds of crowd( x2 = 44.87, P ＜ 0.01 ). The awareness of key infectious disease control knowledge in all the crowd was 88.00％,the rate was between 83.57％-91.21％ in each crowd. There were statistical differences between 5 kinds of crowd( x2 =63.49, P ＜0.01). The formation rate of health behavior in city residents was 76.40％, the rate was lower in floating population, the frequency of weekly exercise in each crowd was low. Conclusions The awareness of health knowledge and the formation rate of health behavior are high. In the work of health education, floating population are still the key crowd. Key words: Health education; City residents; Infectious diseases; Status analysis
A predictive model of gene expression reveals the role of regulatory motifs in the mating response of yeast

ABSTRACTCells use signaling pathways to receive and process information about their environment. These systems are nonlinear, relying on feedback and feedforward regulation to respond appropriately to changing environmental conditions. Mathematical models developed to describe signaling pathways often fail to show predictive power, because the models are not trained on data that probe the diverse time scales on which feedforward and feedback regulation operate. We addressed this limitation using microfluidics to expose cells to a broad range of dynamic environmental conditions. In particular, we focus on the well-characterized mating response pathway of S. cerevisiae (yeast). This pathway is activated by mating pheromone and initiates the transcriptional changes required for mating. Although much is known about the molecular components of the mating response pathway, less is known about how these components function as a dynamical system. Our experimental data revealed that pheromone-induced transcription persists following removal of pheromone and that long-term adaptation of the transcriptional response occurs when pheromone exposure is sustained. We developed a model of the regulatory network that captured both persistence and long-term adaptation of the mating response. We fit this model to experimental data using an evolutionary algorithm and used the parameterized model to predict scenarios for which it was not trained, including different temporal stimulus profiles and genetic perturbations to pathway components. Our model allowed us to establish the role of four regulatory motifs in coordinating pathway response to persistent and dynamic stimulation.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.View Full Text
Understanding Perceptions and Attitudes toward Genetically Modified Organisms on Twitter

Social media platforms, especially Twitter, provide an abundance of information to study public perceptions and trends on a wide range of social topics. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their uptake continuously generate controversial discussions among consumers, producers, and policymakers. Although several studies have analyzed public perceptions and attitudes toward GMOs, little is known about on how laypeople's opinions and GMO-related information posted by organizations are different on Twitter. In this study, we prospectively and retrospectively collected GMO-related Twitter data, developed text classifiers to filter out irrelevant tweets, and categorized relevant tweets into organizational entities and laypeople. We also explored discussion themes by using topic modeling, and used sentiment analysis to access laypeople's attitudes to answer three research questions (RQs), namely: RQ1) What are the most discussed topics in GMO-related tweets among laypeople as compared to those posted by organizational entities? RQ2) How have the discussion topics in GMO-related tweets changed in the US over time among laypeople and organizational entities? and RQ3) What are the sentiments associated with GMO-related tweets among laypeople?
A Fatal Case of Powassan Virus Encephalitis.

Powassan virus (POWV) is a flavivirus of the tick-borne encephalitis serogroup that causes a rare and potentially life-threatening neuroinvasive disease. Viral transmission occurs during zoonotic spillover from mammals by the bite of an infected tick in endemic regions of North America. The number of reported POWV cases has recently increased in the United States. We report a fatal case of POWV meningoencephalomyelitis in Northern Wisconsin following a documented tick bite. Histologic examination of the brain demonstrated widespread intraparenchymal and perivascular lymphohistocytic infiltration, microglial nodule formation, and marked neuronal degeneration, most severely involving the substantia nigra, anterior horn of spinal cord and cerebellum. Although no viral inclusions were seen in routine light microscopy, electron microscopy identified multiple neurons containing cytoplasmic clusters of virus particles ∼50 nm in diameter. POWV infection was confirmed using immunohistochemical analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. This report demonstrates in detail regional central nervous system involvement and ultrastructural characteristics of Powassan viral particles by transmission electron microscopy, while highlighting the utility of evaluating fixed autopsy tissues in cases of unexplained meningoencephalomyelitis.
Sleep and diabetes-specific psycho-behavioral outcomes of a new automated insulin delivery system in young children with type 1 diabetes and their parents.

BACKGROUND Data on the use of Control-IQ, the latest FDA-approved automated insulin delivery (AID) system for people with T1D 6 years of age or older is still scarce, particularly regarding nonglycemic outcomes. Children with T1D and their parents are at higher risk for sleep disturbances. This study assesses sleep, psycho-behavioral and glycemic outcomes of AID compared to sensor-augmented pump therapy (SAP) therapy in young children with T1D and their parents. METHODS Thirteen parents and their young children (ages 7-10) on insulin pump therapy were enrolled. Children completed an initial 4-week study with SAP using their own pump and a study CGM followed by a 4-week phase of AID. Sleep outcomes for parents and children were evaluated through actigraphy watches. Several questionnaires were administered at baseline and at the end of each study phase. CGM data were used to assess glycemic outcomes. RESULTS Actigraphy data did not show any significant change from SAP to AID, except a reduction of number of parental awakenings during the night (p = 0.036). Parents reported statistically significant improvements in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total score (p = 0.009), Hypoglycemia Fear Survey total score (p = 0.011), diabetes-related distress (p = 0.032), and depression (p = 0.023). While on AID, time in range (70-180 mg/dL) significantly increased compared to SAP (p < 0.001), accompanied by a reduction in hyperglycemia (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that use of AID has a positive impact on glycemic outcomes in young children as well as sleep and diabetes-specific quality of life outcomes in their parents.
Coping Motivated Alcohol Use: The Role of Social Anxiety and Dissociation.

Background: Social anxiety has been associated with higher rates of negative alcohol use consequences, and this relationship appears to be accounted for by coping drinking motives. Dissociation is ...
Restoring Justice to the Doctrine of Forum Non Conveniens for Foreign Plaintiffs Who Sue U.S. Corporations in the Federal Courts

Tus comment analyzes the current doctrine of forum non conveniens in federal courts and criticizes its departure from the policies of the original doctrine. This departure has inequitably resulted in dismissals of foreign plaintiffs and limited liability for U.S. corporate defendants. After considering a number of factors, including the need for even-handedness in the administration of justice and the US. interest in regulating and deterring the conduct of its corporations, this comment proposes appropriate changes in the doctrine. It is proposed that the definition of an adequate alternative forum be narrowed and the public/private interest factors be more equitably balanced. Finally, this novel framewvork is applied to the pending Bhopal litigation.
Contingency tables as the foundation for concepts, concept hierarchies, and rules: the 49er system approach

We analyze relationships between different forms of knowledge that can be discovered in the same data matrix (relational table): contingency tables, equations, concept definitions, concept hierarchies, and rules. We argue that contingency tables are the basic form of knowledge because other forms can be derived from their various special cases. We analyze the relationship between contingency tables and rules and present advantages of knowledge expressed in contingency tables. We show that special cases of contingency tables lead to concepts with empirical contents. In our view, concepts should be accepted as a by-product of knowledge discovery, as instruments justified by knowledge they express. The same applies to taxonomies (concept hierarchies). They should be created in the right circumstances, to express specific empirical knowledge. We discuss several types of knowledge that are not conducive to taxonomy formation. Then we demonstrate how concepts generated from contingency tables which approximate logical equivalence can be combined to construct concept hierarchies: (1) each of those regularities leads to a hierarchy element (mini-hierarchy), (2) the elements are merged to increase their empirical contents, and (3) they are combined into multi-level hierarchy. This method has been implemented as a part of database discovery system 49er. We illustrate our algorithm by an application on the soybean database, and we show how our results go beyond those obtained by the COBWEB approach.
Lateral Periodontal Cyst. An Analysis of Forty-Six Cases

The clinical and histopathologic features of forty-six cases recorded as lateral periodontal cyst are reviewed. Three distinct types of epithelial lining were noted as well as varying degrees of inflammation. The data, although inconclusive, suggest that cysts arising in the lateral periodontal area may be of either an inflammatory or developmental odontogenic origin.
INVESTIGATION OF STRAIN GAGES FOR USE AT CRYOGENIC TEMPERATURES

Strain sensitivity and resistance changes in Advance, Karma, Budd Alloy, Nichrome V, and stabilized Armour D foil gages, and Nichrome V-platinum temperature-compensated gages were evaluated at cryogenic temperatures. The more promising gage types, as determined from these studies, were tested to strain levels up to 11,000 μin./in. with tensile specimens. The other performance characteristics that were investigated included zero drift, creep, hysteresis, linearity and gage element size effects. A mounting method developed for foil gages to be used at cryogenic temperatures is described.
The multisection tissue slicer: A simpler technique for assessing the maximal depth of experimental injury

A new device, the multisection tissue sampler, has been developed to accurately identify the area of maximal tissue damage after experimental coagulation of bleeding ulcers. Fixed ulcers are sliced into 1-mm strips and then examined with a dissecting microscope. The technique was validated by comparing visible changes in one ulcer slice with changes observed microscopically in the mirror image slice. This device is a less time-consuming method of histologic analysis that may be of value in other areas of endoscopic research.
Metabolism of Nitrogenous Compounds by Ruminant Liver

Ruminants absorb substantial amounts of ammonia nitrogen and very little glucose. Ammonia absorbed is removed by the liver and converted to urea, which can be recycled to the digestive tract and add to the pool of ammonia absorbed. When ammonia absorption and liver urea production are increased by changes in nitrogen intake, an associated increase in liver alpha-amino nitrogen removal has been observed. Reasons for the increase in liver removal of amino acids with greater ureagenesis are uncertain, but the aspartate/glutamate requirement of ureagenesis and the complex relationships between ureagenesis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, glucogenesis, liver energy metabolism and redox state all may be involved. Amino acids represent potential sources of carbon for liver glucogenesis and precise reckonings of the contributions of amino acid carbon to glucogenesis are needed for ruminants fed differing diets. There is evidence for the involvement of peptides in liver nitrogen exchanges and amino acids in peptides represent a potential source of carbon for glucogenesis and nitrogen for ureagenesis. A number of endocrine factors have an impact on liver nitrogen metabolism in ruminants. Growth hormone decreases liver urea release and increases liver glutamate release.