cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Managing the Difficult Penile Prosthesis Patient

Abstract Introduction Inflatable penile prostheses (IPPs) are associated with excellent long‐term outcomes and patient/partner satisfaction. A small percentage of patients remain dissatisfied, despite acceptable surgical results. Aims This study aims to evaluate factors associated with patient satisfaction and dissatisfaction, define patient characteristics, which may identify elevated risk of postoperative dissatisfaction, and describe management strategies to optimize functional and psychological patient outcomes. Methods A review of urologic and non‐urologic cosmetic surgery literature was performed to identify factors associated with patient satisfaction/dissatisfaction. Emphasis was placed on articles defining “high risk” or psychologically challenging patients. Main Outcome Measures Preoperative factors associated with patient satisfaction/dissatisfaction and character traits, which may identify elevated risk of postoperative dissatisfaction or otherwise indicate a psychologically challenging patient. Results Contemporary patient and partner satisfaction rates following IPP are 92–100% and 91–95%, respectively. Factors associated with satisfaction include decreased preoperative expectations, favorable female partner sexual function, body mass index ≤30, and absence of Peyronie's disease or prior prostatectomy. Determinants of dissatisfaction include perceived/actual loss of penile length, decreased glanular engorgement, altered erectile/ejaculatory sensation, pain, diminished cosmetic outcome, difficulty with device function, partner dissatisfaction and perception of unnatural sensation, complications, and extent of alternative treatments offered. Personality characteristics which may indicate psychologically challenging IPP patients include obsessive/compulsive tendencies, unrealistic expectations, patients undergoing revision surgery, those seeking multiple surgical opinions, feeling of entitlement, patients in denial of their prior erectile/sexual function and current disease status, or those with other psychiatric disorders. The mnemonic CURSED P atient is presented: “ C ompulsive/obsessive, U nrealistic, R evision, S urgeon Shopping, E ntitled, D enial, and P sychiatric.” Conclusions Although the majority of IPP patients experience excellent, durable satisfaction and outcomes, a challenging subset of patients may be at increased risk of postoperative dissatisfaction. Appropriate recognition/prevention and management of this cohort may help to establish and strengthen relationships, reduce physical, emotional, and legal risk, and ultimately enhance patient satisfaction.
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECTS IN DYE‐SENSITIZED ARTIFICIAL LIPID MEMBRANES

— Using dyes of known redox potentials the specific mechanisms of dark and light potential generation is analyzed in pigmented lipid membranes. The role of the ionic and electronic conductance, as well as the redox potential gradient is specifically related to the observed open circuit voltage developed across the membrane. The results can be most easily explained by the redox electrode model.
Asymmetries in Scrambling and Cyclic Linearization

I argue that linear order in constructions with scrambling is constrained by Cyclic Linearization of syntactic structure at the interface, and I show that this proposal provides a unified account for a variety of asymmetries in scrambling. Arguments in this article establish novel evidence for the thesis that the architecture of grammar requires linearization in phonology to be cyclically determined by the syntax. The article also sheds light on the distribution of floating quantifiers, possessor-raising constructions, and formal properties of scrambling.
In vivo regulation of the β-myosin heavy chain gene in hypertensive rodent heart

The main goal of this study was to examine the transcriptional activity of different-length β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) promoters in the hypertensive rodent heart using the direct gene transfer ap...
A decade of CSCL

This issue of ijCSCL completes a decade of publication of CSCL research. When the field of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning emerged about a decade prior to the launching of the journal, there was a pervasive sense of a paradigm revolution in learning research (Koschmann 1996). It was time to transcend cognitive science’s critique of behaviorism, extending the unit of cognition beyond the boundaries of the individual mind (Stahl 2015c). For instance, new directions in theory surfaced around the influential Institute for Learning Research (Brown et al., 1989; Lave & Wenger 1991; Orr 1990; Suchman 1987; Teasley & Roschelle 1993; Winograd & Flores 1986), as well as in distributed cognition (Hutchins 1996), activity theory (Engestrom 1987) and conversation analysis (Goodwin D Damsa 2014; Jones et al., 2006; Overdijk et al., 2014; Stahl 2012; 2013a). Cognitive science argued that human behavior could not be modeled without hypothesizing cognitive structures like mental representations and computations, which mediated responses to the environment, particularly linguistic responses (Chomsky 1959). However, the cognitive approach did not consider structures of interaction at the dialogical, small-group and community level, where language is primarily learned and practiced. Artificial intelligence—which exerted an important influence on CSCL—had already conceptualized cognition as taking place outside the human mind, in software computations and digital representations. The new post-cognitive theories began to postulate structures and practices at the group level, although they did not always clearly distinguish small groups from larger social institutions. Dialogical, interactional and practice-oriented approaches in CSCL have elaborated these conceptions within the context of collaborative learning (Cress & Kimmerle 2008; Ligorio et al., 2013; Oner 2013; Stahl et al., 2014). While the post-cognitive paradigm dominates CSCL theory and seems particularly appropriate to a field focused on group collaboration, it has perhaps been less influential in the areas of technology design and analysis methodology. CSCL research often relies upon technologies designed on a model of individual learning and knowledge transfer, rather than on an Intern. J. Comput.-Support. Collab. Learn (2015) 10:337–344 DOI 10.1007/s11412-015-9222-2
pH Sensitivity of Non-Synaptic Field Bursts in the Dentate Gyrus

Under conditions of low [Ca2+]o and high [K+]o, the rat dentate granule cell layer in vitro develops recurrent spontaneous prolonged field bursts that resemble an in vivo phenomenon called maximal ...
Citicoline Treatment Improves Measures of Impulsivity and Task Performance in Chronic Marijuana Smokers: A Pilot BOLD fMRI Study

Objective Citicoline is an endogenous nucleotide that has historically been used to treat stroke, traumatic brain injury, and cognitive dysfunction. Research has also shown that citicoline treatment is associated with improved cognitive performance in substance-abusing populations. We hypothesized that marijuana (MJ) smokers who received citicoline would demonstrate improvement in cognitive performance as well as increased neural efficiency during tasks of cognitive control relative to those who received placebo.
Interferon and cytomegalovirus in vivo and in vitro.

SummaryEvidence is presented which indicates that human cytomegalovirus is relatively insensitive to the antiviral action of interferon in vitro, and that the rate of excretion of cytomegalovirus in the urine of a chronic human carrier was unaltered by circulating levels of interferon in the serum. In human cells in culture, CMV failed to induce the production of detectable levels of interferon. It is suggested that these phenomena may be related to the capacity of the virus to persist in the infected host for long periods. Human cytomegalovirus was also shown to have the capacity to suppress the interferon response of cultures of human tissue infected with other viruses. The implication of this finding for possible synergistic effect of cytomegalovirus with other viruses is considered.
Mantle cloaking using thin patterned metasurfaces

We explore in detail the concept of mantle cloaking, showing that a single, ultrathin, conformal metasurface may drastically suppress the scattering from planar [one-dimensional (1D)], cylindrical [two-dimensional (2D)], and/or spherical [three-dimensional (3D)] objects. We propose realistic designs that may realize this concept at radio (RF) or far-infrared (FIR) frequencies. In addition we discuss properties and physical insights of this cloaking functionality compared to other available techniques involving bulk metamaterials, showing exciting potentials in terms of ultralow-profile, light-weight, and bandwidth of operation. These results may be of great interest for low-observability, camouflaging, noninvasive probing, and low-noise communication applications.
Life Cycle Assessment of a Parabolic Trough Concentrating Solar Power Plant and the Impacts of Key Design Alternatives

Climate change and water scarcity are important issues for today’s power sector. To inform capacity expansion decisions, hybrid life cycle assessment is used to evaluate a reference design of a par...
Population Ecology of the Sand-Dwelling Hermit Crab Diogenes Nitidimanus Terao. 5. Ecological Implications in the Pattern of Molting

ABSTRACT Patterns of molting of the hermit crab Diogenes nitidimanus were observed in the laboratory. Data were obtained for 5-day periods after the time of the collection throughout the course of 1 year. The frequency of molting exhibited a bimodal pattern with 1 peak in spring and another in fall, though there was a slight difference between sexes. In both sexes, molting occurred more often in the reproductive season than in the nonreproductive season. Females molted more often than males during the reproductive season. Growth increments became smaller as the size of the crabs increased; this reduction was more marked in females. Females often did not increase or even became smaller at molting, in particular during the reproductive season. Such cases were very rare in males. Shell-size adequacy was assessed for molted crabs by comparing the size of shells actually used by the crabs with those chosen by crabs from shell sets with a wide size range. Females occupied shells smaller than those preferred, whereas males had optimum-sized shells. Zero or negative growth in females may result from the effects of utilizing smaller shells as well as higher energy requirement for ovaries than testes. The growth mode of this species was considered to be indeterminate, with egg laying during some instars, and one or more layings per instar.
Galeterias: Serving Up Ítalo-Gaúcho Heritage in the South of Brazil

Galeto al primo canto is an Italian-Brazilian culinary specialty of the Gaucho Highlands region of southern Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state. This ample repast of roast chicken, polenta, pasta, and other dishes is associated with nineteenth-century Italian immigration to the Gaucho Highlands. Galeterias , restaurants that serve the meal, are today a featured part of the region’s gastronomic tourism and have been officially recognized as the intangible cultural heritage of the city of Caxias do Sul. The history of the dish and contemporary claims to cultural heritage illustrate the shifting meanings of Italian ethnic identity within the Brazilian nation-state and highlight the discursive role that tourism and heritage institutions play in the cultural production process.
A Typology for an Online Socrates Cafe.

Background/ContextIncreased polarization of viewpoints in the United States may have detrimental consequences for democratic pedagogy. The goals of civil society require a reliance on democratic va...
Research and Implementation of Safety Test for Browser/Server Application System Before Operation

As more and more importance is attached to the safety of application systems,many enterprises perform the safety tests before the system operation with different methods.However,the problem is the lack of standards.This paper introduces the method and flow of the safety test for Browser/Server(B/S) application system before operation.This method has been used in the electric power enterprises in Zhejiang and is of high application value.
Genetic identification and sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA Genes of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Anhui Province,China

Objective To understand the status and gene characteristics of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection among domestic animals in the rural area of Anhui province,China.Methods Nest-PCR was applied in the study to detect 148 blood samples of domestic animals,including 138 goats,12 dogs and 5 ox,from Guangde,Mingguang and Huaiyuan county in Anhui province.The positive PCR products were sequenced.Clustal X and Mega4.0 bio-software were used respectively to do nucleotide alignment and phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA genes.Results The positive rate of Anaplasma phagocytophilum were 22.1%,25.0% and 40.0% respectively among goats,dogs and ox.26 PCR products were sequenced successively.Sequence analysis results showed that the detected sequences could be classified into 4 groups,and group I strains accounted for 66.7%.The nucleotide sequences homologies of the partial 16SrRNA were 97.0%~99.0%between the objective and reference sequences.Conclusion The prevalence rate of Anaplasma phagocytophilum were identified in the rural areas of Anhui province,and goats were important hosts of Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
Effects of early integrated intervention on neuropsychological development of high-risk neonates

Objective To investigate the effects of early integrated intervention on the neuropsychological development of high risk neonates. Methods We designed 0～3 years old early intervention and education program, passive body exercise to early prevent sensory integration disorder. Fifty eight high risk neonates as the early intervention group were trained. The high risk control group and the normal control group were designed. Gesell development scale was used to evaluated the neuropsychological development. Results The developmental quotient (DQ) of the early intervention group(99.84±15.72) was significantly higher than that of the control group (80.99±15.04)( P 0.01). The DQs between the early intervention group and the normal control group(99.22±13.39) were not significantly different( P 0.05).The number of cases whose average DQ was lower than 75 in the early intervention group(1/75) was significantly less than that of the control group(8/42) ( χ 2=8.728,P0.05 ) Conclusion The early integrated intervention can improve the neuropsychological development of high risk neonates.
Diet quality and its relationship with central obesity among Mexican Americans: findings from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2012.

Author(s): Yoshida, Yilin; Scribner, Richard; Chen, Liwei; Broyles, Stephanie; Phillippi, Stephen; Tseng, Tung-Sung | Abstract: ObjectiveUsing the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010), the present study aimed to examine diet quality and the impact of overall diet quality and its components on central obesity among Mexican-American men and women.DesignCross-sectional data from NHANES 1999-2012 were used. The HEI-2010 data, including twelve components for a total score of 100, were collected with a 24 h recall interview. Central obesity was defined as a waist circumference of ≥88 cm for women and ≥102 cm for men. Weighted logistic regressions were performed to assess associations between HEI-2010 scores and central obesity.SettingNational Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2012.SubjectsA total of 6847 Mexican Americans aged ≥20 years with reliable dietary recall status and non-pregnancy status.ResultsHigher HEI-2010 total score was associated with lower odds of central obesity in Mexican-American men (OR; 95 % CI=0·98; 0·98, 1·00). Among all Mexican Americans, one-unit higher score of total fruit and sodium (i.e. lower level of intake) was associated with 4 % (0·96; 0·93, 0·99) and 2 % (0·98; 0·96, 0·99) lower odds of central obesity, respectively. However, a higher total proteins score was associated with higher odds of central obesity (1·08; 1·00, 1·16). In gender-specific analyses, a higher whole fruit or sodium score was inversely associated with central obesity in men but not in women.ConclusionsHEI-2010 scores of total fruit and sodium were inversely associated with central obesity among all Mexican Americans. However, total proteins score and central obesity was positively associated. In Mexican-American men, HEI-2010 total and whole fruit scores were inversely associated with central obesity.
Low-Dimensional Oxygen Vacancy Ordering and Diffusion in SrCrO3-δ.

We investigate the formation mechanisms of vacancy-ordered phase and collective mass transport in epitaxial SrCrO3−δ films using ab initio simulations within the density functional theory formalism. We show that as the concentration of oxygen vacancies (VO) increases, they form 1D chains that feature Cr-centered tetrahedra. Aggregation of these 1D VO chains results in the formation of (111)-oriented oxygen-deficient planes and an extended vacancy-ordered phase observed in recent experiments. We discuss atomic-scale mechanisms enabling the quasi-2D VO aggregates to expand along and translate across (111) planes. The corresponding lowest activation energy pathways necessarily involve rotation of Cr-centered tetrahedra, which emerges as a universal feature of fast ionic conduction in complex oxides. These findings explain reversible oxidation and reduction in SrCrO3−δ at low temperatures and provide insights into transient behavior necessary to harness ionic conductive oxides for high-performance and low-tem...
Switching Muscles On and Off in Steps: The McKillop-Geeves Three-State Model of Muscle Regulation

BJ Classic highlighting the article "Regulation of the interaction between actin and myosin subfragment 1: evidence for three states of the thin filament."
Relationship between depression and clinical outcome following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

Background: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a commonly performed procedure for patients with symptomatic degenerative conditions of the cervical spine. The objective is to assess the impact of preoperative depression and other baseline characteristics on patient reported clinical outcomes following ACDF surgery based on the experience at our institution. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of some patients undergoing ACDF at a single institution from 2012 to 2014. Ninety-three patients that underwent an ACDF procedure were included. The primary outcome measure was post-operative Nurick score. Results: Sixteen (17.2%) patients had a formal diagnosis of depression compared to 77 (82.8%) patients without depression. On univariate analysis, patients with depression had statistically significantly higher Nurick scores compared to patients without depression after surgery (coefficient =0.55, 95% CI: 0.21–0.90, P=0.002). On multivariate analysis, there was a trend toward higher postoperative Nurick scores in patients that had depression (coefficient =0.31, 95% CI: −0.01–0.63, P=0.057). Conclusions: This small retrospective study reveals an inverse relationship between preoperative depression and functional outcome. Further research should be performed to investigate this relationship and to investigate if treating depression can improve postoperative outcomes.
The effect of nitrate and monensin on in vitro ruminal fermentation.

Two experiments evaluated the effect of calcium ammonium nitrate decahydrate (calcium nitrate [NIT]) and monensin sodium (MON) on in vitro fermentation parameters of 2 contrasting diets (100:0 and 10:90 forage-to-concentrate ratios). Diet addition of NIT (0, 1.25, and 2.5 g/100 g DM) and MON (0, 3, and 6 mg/L) were tested alone and combined (9 treatments total; 5 bottles per treatment). Mixed ruminal microorganisms were incubated in anaerobic media containing 0.5 g of substrate diet, 1 of 9 treatments, and 40 mL buffer solution. Incubations were performed in batch cultures for 48 h at 39°C. Headspace gas volume was measured and sampled at 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h, and the VFA profile was assessed at the end of the experiment. Total gas production was reduced by NIT (87.9 vs. 94.6 mL; 0.10), but molar proportions of acetate and butyrate were reduced by MON ( < 0.01). Propionate molar proportion was increased in both experiments by MON ( < 0.01) and further increased in Exp. 2 when the additives were combined at lower doses ( < 0.01). Compared to the control treatment, the acetate:propionate (A:P) ratio was reduced by MON in Exp. 1(1.2 vs. 2.8; < 0.01) and Exp. 2 (1.0 vs. 2.3; < 0.01). Fermentation efficiency (%) was increased by MON (81.7 vs. 73.7%; < 0.01) and further increased in Exp. 2 when the additives were combined at lower doses (87.2 vs. 76.6%; < 0.01). The combination of NIT and MON in 2 contrasting diets proved beneficial by altering fermentation products toward lower CH and more propionate; however, the addition of NIT consistently increased NO production. Negative effects of the additives on IVDMD were found only when the additives were combined at higher doses.
Factors Affecting the Adsorption of Xenon on Activated Carbon

The presence of water vapor was found to interfere strongly with the dynamic adsorption of /sup 133/Xe on coconut-base activated charcoal. The percent loss in the xenon adsorption coefficient was similar to values reported earlier for the adsorption of krypton on humidified charcoal. Attempts to increase the adsorption of xenon by (a) using a petroleum-based adsorbent with an extremely high surface area and (b) by impregnation of the adsorbent with iodine were not successful.
The Charles Drew Program in Missouri:a description of a partnership among a blood center and several hospitals to address the care of patients with sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder which can be complicated by stroke in infancy and childhood. The primary and secondary prevention of stroke in this patient population is regular RBC transfusion therapy at least every three weeks, but there is no consensus on the ideal RBC transfusion therapy. The Charles Drew Program, a partnership among a blood center and several hospitals affiliated with academic medical centers in Missouri, provides RBCs for the care of patients with SCD. There are three basic aims: the RBC components are phenotypically matched on three minor RBC antigens, the units are less than 7 days old, and each patient has a limited number of dedicated donors, so that the donor exposure is minimized. This report describes the operational phases of this program and summarizes its performance with respect to each of these aims.
Introduction: The Importance of Evaluating Assessments of in Vitro Fertilization

Less than twenty years ago the first “test-tube baby” was born in England. Today, grandmothers serve as surrogate mothers for their daughter’s children, postmenopausal women become pregnant, divorced couples fight over the custody of frozen embryos, and scientists clone sheep. The use and rapid proliferation of technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and related procedures have aroused public controversy around the world. Governments in different countries have established committees to analyze the social, legal, and ethical implications of IVF and associated techniques. A few legislatures have translated into law the recommendations put forward by their respective committees. However, most of these committees tend to see technology as lacking any inherent relationship with ethical issues.1 When social and ethical problems arise, assessors understand them as secondary to the introduction of the technology and a result of the application of new abilities and instruments. In this decontextualized view, most of the problems with which evaluators deal are associated with the consequences of the implementation and use of new techniques. For example, the medical use of IVF brings about worries related to the disposition of embryos never reclaimed, the storage of spare embryos, issues associated with licensing of infertility clinics, and so on. IVF assessors also show concern with application criteria: should IVF be used for single mothers, unmarried couples, postmenopausal women? These questions are, of course, useful because they may help to demarcate the acceptable use of IVF in our society. However, focusing IVF assessments exclusively on technical problems may make the analyses inadequate.
GENETIC DEFECTS AND THEIR SIMILARITIES TO BIRTH DEFECTS CAUSED BY PLANTS

I. ABSTRACT Congenital defects are abnormalities of structure or function present at birth. Congenital defects in animals and human beings have provoked man's curiosity and fears for centuries; they now are an integral part of disease among man and animals. Though infrequent, congenital defects are important economically and bio-medically. Causes of congenital defects in livestock are frequently unknown. Many environmental agents cause congenital defects in laboratory animals; however, few specific environmental agents have been identified as causing congenital defects in domestic animals. Congenital defects may be caused by genetic factors mostly by homozygosity of simple autosomal recessive genes. Congenital defects such as osteopetrosis, syndactyly, tibial hemimelia, arthrogryposis and internal hydrocephalus are used here to discuss defects in domestic animals.
VITAMIN B6 (PYRIDOXINE) THERAPY FOR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

The literature at this time does not give convincing evidence for use of pyridoxine as the sole treatment when confronted with a patient with idiopathic CTS. It may be of value as an adjunct in conservative therapy through altered perception of pain and increased pain threshold. For patients not responsive to conservative therapy, surgical decompression of the carpal canal is the treatment of choice.
The 2011 U.S. Director Compensation and Board Practices Report

The 2011 U.S. Director Compensation and Board Practices Report is based on a survey of 334 public companies jointly conducted by The Conference Board, NASDAQ OMX, and NYSE Euronext between April and June 2011. The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation, Stanford University's Rock Center for Corporate Governance, the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) and the Shareholder Forum each endorsed the survey by distributing it to their members and readers.Participants in the survey (corporate secretaries, general counsel, and investor relations officers) were asked to provide information on a wide range of corporate practices, including: board composition and leadership, director election practices, anti-takeover practices, compensation practices, risk oversight practices, CEO succession planning practices, board-shareholder engagement practices, and policies on director performance assessment and retirement.Findings constitute the basis for a benchmarking tool with more than 120 data points searchable by company size (measurable by revenue and asset value) and 20 industrial sectors.
Skilled Nursing Facility Participation in Medicare’s Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Initiative: A Retrospective Study

Abstract Objective To investigate differences in facility characteristics, patient characteristics, and outcomes between skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) that participated in Medicare’s voluntary Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) initiative and nonparticipants, prior to BPCI. Design Retrospective, cross-sectional comparison of BPCI participants and nonparticipants. Setting SNFs. Participants All Medicare-certified SNFs (N=15,172) and their 2011-2012 episodes of care for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, femur and hip/pelvis fracture, hip and femur procedures, lower extremity joint replacement, and pneumonia (N=873,739). Interventions Participation in a bundled payment program that included taking financial responsibility for care within a 90-day episode. Main Outcome Measures This study investigates the characteristics of bundled payment participants and their patient characteristics and outcomes relative to nonparticipants prior to BPCI, to understand the implications of a broader implementation of bundled payments. Results SNFs participating in BPCI were more likely to be in urban areas (80.8%-98.4% vs 69.5%) and belong to a chain or system (73.8%-85.5% vs 55%), and were less likely to be located in the south (13.1%-20.2% vs 35.4%). Quality performance was similar or higher in most cases for SNFs participating in BPCI relative to nonparticipants. In addition, BPCI participants admitted higher socioeconomic status patients with similar clinical characteristics. Initial SNF length of stay was shorter and hospital readmission rates were lower for BPCI patients compared to nonparticipant patients. Conclusions We found that SNFs participating in the second financial risk-bearing phase of BPCI represented a diversity of SNF types, regions, and levels of quality and the results may provide insight into a broader adoption of bundled payment for postacute providers.
Quantitative Evaluation of Gonioscopic and EyeCam Assessments of Angle Dimensions Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography.

Purpose To evaluate the relationship between angle dimensions assessed by gonioscopy or EyeCam and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Methods Subjects aged 50 years or older were recruited from the Chinese American Eye Study (CHES). Each subject underwent a complete ocular exam, including gonioscopy, AS-OCT, and EyeCam. Angle closure was defined as three or more quadrants in which pigmented trabecular meshwork could not be visualized. Angle opening distance (AOD), angle recess area (ARA), trabecular iris space area (TISA), trabecular iris angle (TIA), and scleral spur angle (SSA) were measured in each AS-OCT image. Results 709 eyes (272 angle closure, 437 open angle) from 709 subjects were analyzed. Mean gonioscopy and EyeCam grades tended to increase as AS-OCT measurements increased. There were strong correlations overall between AS-OCT measurements and gonioscopy (r > 0.73) and EyeCam (r > 0.68) grades. However, correlations with AS-OCT measurements were weak for gonioscopy (r 0.27). Conclusions Angle assessments by gonioscopy and EyeCam are weakly related to angle dimensions in eyes with angle closure. Translational relevance AS-OCT imaging raises concerns about current clinical methods that rely on direct visualization of ACA structures to assess the degree of angle closure.
Activation of COUP-TFI by a Novel Diindolylmethane Derivative.

Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor I (COUP-TFI) is an orphan receptor and member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Among a series of methylene substituted diindolylmethanes (C-DIMs) containing substituted phenyl and heteroaromatic groups, we identified 1,1-bis(3′-indolyl)-1-(4-pyridyl)-methane (DIM-C-Pyr-4) as an activator of COUP-TFI. Structure activity studies with structurally diverse heteroaromatic C-DIMs showed that the pyridyl substituted compound was active and the 4-pyridyl substituent was more potent than the 2- or 3-pyridyl analogs in transactivation assays in breast cancer cells. The DIM-C-Pyr-4 activated chimeric GAL4-COUP-TFI constructs containing full length, C- or N-terminal deletions, and transactivation was inhibited by phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and protein kinase A inhibitors. However, DIM-C-Pyr-4 also induced transactivation and interactions of COUP-TFI and steroid receptor coactivators-1 and -2 in mammalian two-hybrid assays, and ligand-induced interactions of the C-terminal region of COUP-TFI were not affected by kinase inhibitors. We also showed that DIM-C-Pyr-4 activated COUP-TFI-dependent early growth response 1 (Egr-1) expression and this response primarily involved COUP-TFI interactions with Sp3 and to a lesser extent Sp1 bound to the proximal region of the Egr-1 promoter. Modeling studies showed interactions of DIM-C-Pyr-4 within the ligand binding domain of COUP-TFI. This report is the first to identify a COUP-TFI agonist and demonstrate activation of COUP-TFI-dependent Egr-1 expression.
SYMPATHETIC STIMULATION, CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND THE ROLE OF EXTRACEREBRAL VENOCONSTRICTION

Publisher Summary Studies suggest that the retroglenoid vein receives a dense, mixed adrenergic innervation, exhibits a norepinephrine sensitivity equivalent to that of other contractile veins, demonstrates a phentolamine-sensitive constriction in response to transmural stimulation, and produces a measurable pressure-drop during sympathetic stimulation in vivo. Although these results are incomplete, they nonetheless suggest that the retroglenoid vein constricts during sympathetic stimulation in vivo. In cerebral blood flow preparations in which the venous drainage system remains intact, stimulation-induced retroglenoid venoconstriction functions to shunt the cerebral venous effluent away from the superficial internal maxillary vein toward the deeper, fixed diameter sigmoid and vertebral sinuses. However, in preparations in which one retroglenoid vein drains 100% of the cerebral venous effluent marks, retroglenoid venoconstriction help to explain the largest stimulation-induced increases in cerebral venous pressure and cerebrovascular resistance are observed in these preparations. On the basis of the preliminary studies of the adrenergic innervation of veins adjacent to the retroglenoid, it is suspected that much of the superficially placed extracerebral venous tree is capable of marked venoconstriction. This venoconstriction is involved in the control of cerebral venous and cerebral spinal fluid pressures.
Beta-hydroxydecanoyl thioester dehydrase. Studies on molecular structure and active site.

Abstract β-Hydroxydecanoyl thioester dehydrase from E. coli has been shown to have a molecular weight of 36,000 by ultracentrifugation, gel filtration, and amino acid composition. Electrophoretic behavior, however, suggests that the protein molecule is composed of two equal, if not identical, polypeptide chains of molecular weight 18,000. The enzyme also contains 4 half-cystinyl residues per 36,000 g of protein. A variety of chemical modifications, including photooxidation, alkylation, and nitration, lead to the conclusion that 1 histidyl and 1 tyrosyl residue are essential for the catalytic activity of the enzyme. The pH-kcat profile for the isomerization reaction is consistent with the participation of these two amino acids in the catalytic process. Evidence is presented that 3-decynoyl-N-acetylcysteamine, a specific dehydrase inhibitor, reacts covalently with the same "active" histidyl residue and protects the enzyme against the modifying active site-directed reagents. Conversely, nitrated or alkylated enzyme has lost the ability to react with the acetylenic inhibitor. No treatment has been found which will dissociate dehydration from isomerization activity, supporting the concept that the dehydrase is a truly multifunctional enzyme.
Small businesses need to heed customers' needs and innovate for market success

The purpose of this research is to determine how local businesses located in the small, unincorporated, rural community of Castroville in the central coast of California, USA, can innovate to achieve greater market success by reducing community monetary leakage. The source of this community monetary leakage is thought to be outshopping. This study found that outshopping by Castroville residents in communities adjacent to Castroville is responsible for a significant percentage of Castroville's residents' weekly expenditures. Recommendations based on the results of this research include making desired products available in Castroville and pricing them at a level that is clearly within the purchasing power of the Castroville residents. For Castroville residents who work out of the community, desired products must be made available in Castroville for purchase at times of the day and during the days of the week in which these residents can shop in Castroville. Our research also shows that developing innovative newspaper advertisements and utilising marketing mechanisms that focus on special sales and point-of-purchase promotions related to these desired products can help increase Castroville market demand and success.
Evaluating the effect of switching to non-menthol cigarettes among current menthol smokers: an empirical study of a potential ban of characterising menthol flavour in cigarettes

Introduction Menthol cigarette use remains a serious public health problem, prompting the consideration of tobacco regulatory efforts to ban menthol cigarettes. The current study uses a novel empirical design to model the potential effects of a ban of menthol cigarettes on smoking behaviour among current menthol smokers. Methods 29 non-treatment-seeking adults who smoked menthol cigarettes were recruited in Connecticut in 2017–2018 (n=15 female; n=17 Black, n=10 White, n=5 Hispanic). Repeated-measures analyses examined within-person changes in smoking behaviour when participants were switched from smoking their usual brand menthol cigarettes to a matched-brand non-menthol cigarette for 2 weeks to model a potential ban of menthol cigarettes. Results Participants smoked significantly fewer non-menthol (vs menthol) cigarettes per day (mean decrease=2.2 cigarettes, SD=3.2, p 18%, p Conclusions Banning menthol as a characterising flavour in cigarettes may decrease smoking and reduce the addictive potential of cigarettes among current smokers. Results provide additional support for tobacco regulatory policies banning menthol flavour in an effort to improve public health. Trial registration NCT03075839.
Predicting Amyloid Burden to Accelerate Recruitment of Secondary Prevention Clinical Trials.

Screening to identify individuals with elevated brain amyloid (Aβ+) for clinical trials in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease (PAD), such as the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease (A4) trial, is slow and costly. The Trial-Ready Cohort in Preclinical/Prodromal Alzheimer’s Disease (TRC-PAD) aims to accelerate and reduce costs of AD trial recruitment by maintaining a web-based registry of potential trial participants, and using predictive algorithms to assess their likelihood of suitability for PAD trials. Here we describe how algorithms used to predict amyloid burden within TRC-PAD project were derived using screening data from the A4 trial. We apply machine learning techniques to predict amyloid positivity. Demographic variables, APOE genotype, and measures of cognition and function are considered as predictors. Model data were derived from the A4 trial. TRC-PAD data are collected from web-based and in-person assessments and are used to predict the risk of elevated amyloid and assess eligibility for AD trials. Pre-randomization, cross-sectional data from the ongoing A4 trial are used to develop statistical models. Models use a range of cognitive tests and subjective memory assessments, along with demographic variables. Amyloid positivity in A4 was confirmed using positron emission tomography (PET). The A4 trial screened N=4,486 participants, of which N=1323 (29%) were classified as Aβ+ (SUVR ≥ 1.15). The Area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curves for these models ranged from 0.60 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.64) for a web-based battery without APOE to 0.74 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.78) for an in-person battery. The number needed to screen to identify an Aβ+ individual is reduced from 3.39 in A4 to 2.62 in the remote setting without APOE, and 1.61 in the remote setting with APOE. Predictive algorithms in a web-based registry can improve the efficiency of screening in future secondary prevention trials. APOE status contributes most to predictive accuracy with cross-sectional data. Blood-based assays of amyloid will likely improve the prediction of amyloid PET positivity.
Considerations for anthelmintic resistance emergence in hookworm at a single locus

Abstract Over 800 million people are infected with hookworms around the world. Hookworms of the genus Ancylostoma and Necator are examples of nematodes that harbor the ability to enter a host by penetrating the skin, and after entry the infective larvae migrate to the small intestine where they encounter host-specific signals that initiate developmental pathways and culminate in maturation to the adult stage. Currently no vaccine is available for the treatment of hookworm infection. The control strategy is limited to anthelmintic drugs, which run the risk of losing efficacy as resistance grows. Genetic resistance has developed against all classes of anthelmintic drugs against livestock parasites, and recently markers of anthelmintic resistance in human hookworm populations have been reported. As anthelmintic resistance develops in human populations of hookworm, new drugs and novel control methods like vaccines will be required in the future to control hookworm transmission. This review outlines how population genetics and anthelmintic resistance could interact at a single locus to influence current control strategies.
Calcium chloride pollution mitigates the negative effects of an invasive clam

Invasive bivalves can drastically alter freshwater ecosystems and affect ecosystem services, but they can be influenced by external factors including calcium concentrations. When a common road salt, calcium chloride (CaCl2), enters freshwater ecosystems, it may be toxic to organisms or facilitate bivalves by serving as a calcium source. Therefore, CaCl2 could benefit invasive mollusks tolerant to chloride that require calcium to grow. We used mesocosms to investigate the impacts of CaCl2 (35–187 mg Ca2+ L−1) and invasive bivalves (Asian clams, Corbicula fluminea; zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha) on a native lake food web. We hypothesized that invasive bivalves facilitate benthic algae because they reduce phytoplankton and excrete waste. These changes in primary producers would subsequently impact consumers. We also hypothesized that low to moderate CaCl2 concentrations promote the survival, growth, and reproduction of native and invasive mollusks, while causing few toxic effects. If so, we hypothesized that invaded communities exposed to CaCl2 experience stronger impacts from the invasive bivalves. We found that invasive bivalves decreased phytoplankton, which led to decreases in periphyton, zooplankton, and native clams. They caused increases in filamentous algae and isopods. While zebra mussels survived poorly in all treatments, moderate concentrations of CaCl2 substantially reduced Asian clams, which reduced their community effects. Our highest CaCl2 treatments also reduced zooplankton densities. Thus, while freshwater salinization from road salts poses a concern, we observed no indication that CaCl2 road salt will benefit Asian clams and zebra mussels. However, the community-wide consequences from Asian clams at low CaCl2 emphasize the extensive effects that invasive bivalves can have on freshwater communities and the immense concern surrounding their invasions.
Reducing Data Costs- Transfer Learning Based Traffic Sign Classification Approach

Traffic sign detection is a very important input to vehicle navigation. To achieve both urban and highway maneuvering, driverless cars must learn to obey traffic signs, while driving and while stopping at intersections. However, in the United States, high quality public data on road traffic signs is not readily available to train self-driving cars and to recognize traffic signs such as stop, crosswalk and many more. Currently, most of the autonomous car companies keep their data proprietary. These Datasets take a huge amount of resources to collect large enough datasets for deep learning. An alternative solution is to adopt transfer learning, by exploring the use of a Residual deep neural Networks (ResNet) and employing transfer learning to detect and classify traffic signs. In the current research study, a high-quality training data is collected using NCAT's Autonomous-driving car sponsored by GM and SAE for the Auto drive Challenge Competition. The goal is to develop a deep learning traffic sign classifier model with transfer learning to save developmental resources of time, money, and labor.
Application of Immobilized Enzymes to Chemical Analysis

Considerable interest in the analytical applications of immobilized enzymes is focused upon the development of reagentless methods involving redox enzymes. Our operational definition of a reagentless enzyme based analytical method implies only the conservation of catalytic components such as enzymes and, if needed, coenzymes. Substrate acceptors and coenzyme regeneration substrates, which are readily incorporated into the carrier buffer as stable and inexpensive components, are considered endogenous to the sample carrier solution.
Xylosyl transfer to an endogenous renal acceptor. Purification of the transferase and the acceptor and their identification as glycogenin.

Abstract A xylosyltransferase in rat kidney, tentatively identified as glycogenin (Meezan, E., Ananth, S., Manzella, S., Campbell, P., Siegal, S., Pillion, D. J., and Roden, L. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 11503-11508), was purified by a procedure in which affinity chromatography on UDP-glucuronic acid-agarose was a particularly useful step. The purified material was nearly homogeneous, as shown by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining, and had an electrophoretic mobility corresponding to a M(r) of 32,000. The purified enzyme possessed both glucosyl- and xylosyltransferase activity, and incubation with UDP-[3H]xylose or UDP-[3H]glucose yielded a single macromolecular product, which had the same electrophoretic mobility as the major silver-stained component. These results indicate that the kidney transferase was indeed glycogenin and that it was functionally analogous to the larger glycogenin species previously isolated from rabbit muscle. Further examination of the properties of the rat kidney enzyme showed, i.a., that it was inhibited strongly by cytidine 5'-diphosphate. This effect was used to advantage in an alternative purification procedure, which was applied to beef kidney and involved adsorption of the enzyme to UDP-glucuronic acid-agarose and subsequent elution with cytidine 5'-diphosphate. In contrast to glycogenin, glycogen synthase did not catalyze transfer from UDP-xylose, and it is suggested that the incorporation of xylose into glycogen observed by other investigators was due to glycogenin-catalyzed xylosyl transfer and subsequent chain elongation by glycogen synthase.
DNA Patenting and Licensing

A study to examine strategies and practices relating to the patenting and licensing of genetic invention was undertaken. Technology transfer and licensing executives from 46 nonprofit and for-profit institutions were interviewed. The results suggest that (i) nonprofit institutions receive more invention disclosures than firms, but are less likely to file patent applications; and (ii) nonprofits are slightly more likely to license their patented genetic inventions and are significantly more likely to do so on an exclusive basis. This Policy Forum raises questions about the effects of federal technology transfer policy.