cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SEQualyzer: interactive tool for quality control and exploratory analysis of high-throughput RNA structural profiling data

Summary To serve numerous functional roles, RNA must fold into specific structures. Determining these structures is thus of paramount importance. The recent advent of high-throughput sequencing-based structure profiling experiments has provided important insights into RNA structure and widened the scope of RNA studies. However, as a broad range of approaches continues to emerge, a universal framework is needed to quantitatively ensure consistent and high-quality data. We present SEQualyzer, a visual and interactive application that makes it easy and efficient to gauge data quality, screen for transcripts with high-quality information and identify discordant replicates in structure profiling experiments. Our methods rely on features common to a wide range of protocols and can serve as standards for quality control and analyses. Availability and Implementation SEQualyzer is written in R, is platform-independent, and is freely available at http://bme.ucdavis.edu/aviranlab/SEQualyzer. Contact saviran@ucdavis.edu Supplementary Informantion Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Conditions Associated with Hyperferritinemia in HIV Positive Patients.

HIV is associated with progressive iron deposition in the bone marrow, liver and other organs. One of the pathways of developing increased iron stores may be due to sequestration of iron in the macrophages because of chronic inflammation. Increased iron stores might favor HIV progression by impairing key mediators in the host response. The aim of this study is to look at the frequency of other common co morbid conditions that exist in HIV positive patients that cause hyperferritinemia. We retrospectively reviewed the available charts of patients with HIV admitted to the Brookdale Hospital and Medical center over a period of 1 year, who had ferritin levels measured during the hospital admission. The lab values including the ferritin level, admitting diagnosis and other coexisting medical conditions were obtained from the medical charts. The results are summarized in table 1. A total of 56 HIV positive patient’s (33 females and 23 males) charts were reviewed and of those, 66% of patients had ferritin levels greater than 350ng/ml and 32% of them had ferritin level >1000ng/ml. The mean ferritin level was 1247ng/ml in males and 582ng/ml in females. Males had ferritin levels >1000ng/ml in 52% of them, compared to 18% in females. The mean ferritin level was 1203ng/ml in patients with CD4 100. Forty seven percent of the patients with CD4 1000ng/ml. The mean ferritin level in patients with renal failure was 1166ng/ml. Forty six percent of the patients with renal failure (both acute and chronic) had ferritin levels >1000 ng/ml. Patients with coexisting Hepatitis C infection had a mean ferritin level of 976ng/ml and ferritin levels were >1000 ng/ml in 45.4% of the patients .The mean ferritin level was 946ng/ml in patients with liver failure and 41.6% of them had ferritin levels greater than 1000ng/ml. Thirty seven percent of the patients with hemoglobin less than 11 gm/dl had high ferritin compared to 16.6% of patients with hemoglobin level greater than 11 gm/dl. Nine patients died and six of them had ferritin level >1000ng/ml. Twenty six percent of the total 56 patients had transferrin saturation less than 15%. Among the patients with high ferritin (greater than 1000ng/ml) 33.3% had transferrin saturation less than 15%. Transferrin saturation was greater than 50% in 11% patients among the patients with high ferritin levels. As per our study results in HIV positive patients, male sex, renal failure, CD4 count
Characterization of resistance to the wheat stem sawfly in spring wheat landrace accessions from targeted geographic regions of the world

Plant landraces have long been recognized as potential gene pools for biotic and abiotic stress-related genes. This research used spring wheat landrace accessions to identify new sources of resistance to the wheat stem sawfly (WSS) (Cephus cinctus Norton), an important insect pest of wheat in the northern Great Plains of North America. Screening efforts targeted 1409 accessions from six geographical areas of the world where other species of grain sawflies are endemic or where a high frequency of accessions possesses the resistance characteristic of solid stems. Resistance was observed in approximately 14% of accessions. Half of the lines displayed both antixenosis and antibiosis types of resistance. Among the resistant accessions, 41% had solid or semi-solid stems. Molecular genetic screening for haplotypes at the solid stem QTL, Qss.msub.3BL, showed that 15% of lines shared the haplotype derived from ‘S-615’, the original donor of the solid stem trait to North American germplasm. Other haplotypes associated with solid stems were also observed. Haplotype diversity was greater in the center of origin of wheat. Evaluation of a representative set of resistant landrace accessions in replicated field trials at four locations over a three year period identified accessions with potential genes for reduced WSS infestation, increased WSS mortality, and increased indirect defense via parasitoids. Exploitation of distinct types of plant defense will expand the genetic diversity for WSS resistance currently present in elite breeding lines.
Smart textiles of MOF/g-C3N4 nanospheres for the rapid detection/detoxification of chemical warfare agents

Smart textiles consisting of cotton, Cu-BTC MOF and oxidized graphitic carbon nitride, g-C3N4-ox, nanospheres were synthesized and tested as nerve agent detoxification media and colorimetric detectors. Combining Cu-BTC and g-C3N4-ox resulted in a nanocomposite (MOFgCNox) of heterogeneous porosity and chemistry. Upon the deposition of MOFgCNox onto cotton textiles, a stable fabric with a supreme photocatalytic detoxification ability towards the nerve gas surrogate, dimethyl chlorophosphate, was obtained. The detoxification process was accompanied by a visible and gradual color change, which can be used for the selective detection of chemical warfare agents and for monitoring their penetration inside a protective layer. These smart textiles adsorbed almost 7 g of CWA surrogate/its detoxification products per gram of Cu. The superior performance was linked to the high dispersion of the MOF crystals on the fibers, and a specific texture promoting the availability of the active copper centers.
A Behavioral Economic Approach to Improving Human Papillomavirus Vaccination.

Abstract Purpose The objectives of this study were to measure the impact of a behavioral economic intervention on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine initiation and series completion rates for adolescents and to measure the impact of the intervention on the receipt of a nonincentivized influenza vaccine. Methods We conducted a quasi-randomized trial to compare the impact of an escalating delayed cash incentive (intervention), compared with usual care (control), on HPV vaccination initiation and series completion rates among adolescents (11–17 years) at an urban medical center. We measured HPV vaccine initiation and completion rates during the 12 months after enrollment and subsequent influenza vaccination rates for 24 months after enrollment. Results A total of 85 participants were actively enrolled in the intervention arm and 103 were passively enrolled in the control arm. Participants were predominantly publically insured African-American and Hispanic adolescents. The majority (75%) of the intervention group received one or more doses of the HPV vaccine, with 36% completing the three-dose series, compared with 47% of the control group receiving one or more doses and only 13% completing the series. The odds of HPV p -value vaccine initiation (odds ratio 4.19 [95% confidence interval 1.84–10.10], p p p = .138) and during the 2014–2015 influenza season ( p value .683). Conclusions An incentive-based approach to HPV vaccination was effective in increasing vaccine initiation and series dose completion.
Micropatterned conductive polymer biosensors on flexible PDMS films

Abstract Flexible devices are particularly important for applications in the bioelectronics arena as materials interface with soft and mechanically compliant surfaces. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is an elastomer that can form a versatile, inexpensive substrate for electronic components while conferring flexibility, oxygen permeability, and biocompatibility. However, the ability to form microcircuits while maintaining integration of these components to the surfaces without delamination continues to be challenging. Here, we present the development of a benchtop, scalable photolithographic technique that can pattern the conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS on thin photocurable PDMS membranes via a conducting composite ink composed of the polymer and a biofriendly silk protein carrier. The fully aqueous process can result in high resolution microelectrodes that can function as biosensors utilizing both non-specific and specific sensing modalities via entrapped biorecognition molecules. The biosensors display excellent direct detection of dopamine and ascorbic acid with high sensitivity. Also, enzyme loaded sensors can detect glucose in a highly sensitive manner over physiologically relevant glucose concentration range. Owing to the covalent linkage between the ink and the photo-PDMS, the electrodes do no delaminate or lose function under mechanical flexure. The work demonstrates the potential for realization of flexible devices using photoreactive PDMS such as biosensors or electronic skin.
How to Perform and Process a Thyroid FNA

Thyroid fine needle aspirations (FNAs) are among the most challenging FNAs to perform because of the anatomic location and the vascularity of the thyroid gland. However, this challenge must be mastered because accurate diagnosis is dependent on a high-quality, well-prepared specimen.
How Should Complex Communication Responsibilities Be Distributed in Surgical Education Settings

Part of any trauma surgeon's job is communicating effectively in difficult, often time-limited, situations. The ability to effectively discuss topics like goals of care in these settings has a direct effect on patient care. Many factors contribute to the complexity of these conversations, including patient, physician, surrogate, and system-specific factors. In responding to the case of Mr. D and Dr. J, we attempt to outline and analyze some of the moral challenges and ethical questions that this professional responsibility poses to trauma surgeons and trainees.
Personal social networks and health among aging adults in Agincourt, South Africa: A multidimensional approach

Abstract Personal social networks (SN) affect health and wellbeing. This study used a multidimensional approach of SN and social determinants of health (SDH) to examine the association between SN and self-reported physical health among the aging population of Agincourt, South Africa. We analyzed the composition of personal SN and used a multiple linear regression analysis to examine both network dimensions and SDH that correlate with physical health. Results highlight the complexity and nuances of social relationships. A few recommendations were also made.
Preparing Teachers of Young Children to be Social Justice-Oriented Educators

University-based teacher education program curricula vary widely across the United States, yet some programs share a commitment to prepare preservice students from an explicitly social justice perspective. This chapter begins with an overview of approaches and concerns that fall under the umbrella of social justice-oriented teacher education. Then, two broad commitments of such programs are explored in some detail: (1) it is important for teachers to assume a capacity—rather than a deficit—orientation to young children, their families, and their communities; and (2) it is important for teachers to develop knowledge of oppression, a keen eye for inequity as it functions in schools, and a commitment to equity pedagogy. Next, I describe two pedagogical approaches used in one teacher education program: inquiry and multilevel–multicultural instructional planning; and detail how these help prepare educators to teach from a social justice perspective. The chapter concludes by outlining a theoretical framework for researching classroom-based practices of graduates of social justice-oriented teacher education programs.
Benchmarking Neural Networks For Quantum Computations

The power of quantum computers is still somewhat speculative. Although they are certainly faster than classical ones at some tasks, the class of problems they can efficiently solve has not been mapped definitively onto known classical complexity theory. This means that we do not know for which calculations there will be a “quantum advantage,” once an algorithm is found. One way to answer the question is to find those algorithms, but finding truly quantum algorithms turns out to be very difficult. In previous work, over the past three decades, we have pursued the idea of using techniques of machine learning to develop algorithms for quantum computing. Here, we compare the performance of standard real- and complex-valued classical neural networks with that of one of our models for a quantum neural network, on both classical problems and on an archetypal quantum problem: the computation of an entanglement witness. The quantum network is shown to need far fewer epochs and a much smaller network to achieve comparable or better results.
WHEN SHOULD DRIVERS BE ENCOURAGED TO CARPOOL IN HOV LANES

Policies to encourage carpooling in high‐occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes have been adopted in the United States to lower congestion and reduce air pollution. We analytically model highway congestion and other vehicle‐related externalities. Encouraging carpooling decreases total costs when congestion relief in mainline lanes outweighs increased HOV lane congestion. Importantly, entry of new drivers via induced demand can negate the benefits of increased carpooling. Using 10 years of traffic data from Los Angeles we estimate time and route‐specific marginal external costs. Because costs vary substantially across routes, hours, and days, current policies to promote carpooling will often increase social costs. (JEL R41, R48, Q53)
A novel discovery, maturation, and assay integration approach for the development of ruggedized multi-valent capture receptors exemplified against the chikungunya virus E2 protein

Abstract This work reports on the development of synthetic, thermally stable receptors using a novel discovery and multi-valent maturation strategy exemplified against the Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) E2 surface protein capable of straightforward bioassay integration. An in situ ‘click’ screen of a propargylated folded protein against a comprehensive library of peptide macrocycles with 5-mer variable regions produced four candidate binders with nanomolar affinities. With the guidance of in silico experiments, the individual macrocycles were matured to produce multi-valent cooperative constructs, resulting in successful binding of CHIKV E2 in up to 50% human serum and an over 200-fold improvement in affinity performance compared to the mono-valent macrocycles. The top performing multi-valent construct also exhibits an insignificant loss in capture performance after being heated up to 90 °C for 1 h. The overall methodology provides a rational approach to the general targeting of folded proteins, providing the ability to rapidly develop drop-in biological assay antibody replacements and potentially “polyclonal” mixtures of reagents.
Adaptive Speech Synthesis and training using low-cost AI Computing

Computer synthesis of human speech has long been possible. It is inexpensive to build the infrastructure and computing to apply subtle inflections, vocal character, phrasing, and modulation; however, these additions come at a price – not the expense of the hardware, but the large number of constants to be set and time-varying parameters that must be dynamically controlled. Although these parameters can be set manually, it is not time efficient, and having one or even dozens of dynamic descriptors is not enough to emulate realistic speech.When the vocal representation is converted to a 2-D image, an adaptation of the spectrogram, it can be easily analyzed using a CNN (convolutional neural network). Existing low-cost tools for CNN analysis can now be applied. This structure, coupled with a fully-connected neural network, can serve as a human-interactive interface for real-time training of the AI synthesizer, emulating phrasing and even accents of the trainer. This paper details the structure of the synthesizer and the training AI, and presents some practical, functional examples exploring this technique using KERAS, LabVIEW and MATLAB.
Least-squares path-summation diffraction imaging using sparsity constraints

ABSTRACTDiffraction imaging aims to emphasize small-scale subsurface heterogeneities, such as faults, pinch-outs, fracture swarms, channels, etc. and can help seismic reservoir characterization. Th...
Testing for purchasing power parity: a nonlinear approach

This dissertation focuses on testing purchasing power parity. The special feature of the paper is that we switch from conventional unit-root test and cointegration test to a category of asymmetric testing methodology, namely, TAR (Threshold AutoRegressive) model test and M-TAR (Momentum Threshold AutoRegressive) model test. Enders & Granger (1998) and Enders & Sikols (1998) recently made these approaches available;Conventional testing methodology rarely supports PPP strongly even though PPP has very sound theoretical foundation. The deviation could come from two perspectives: first, by claiming the national price index usually is downward stickey, we question the correctness of the symmetric adjustment mechanism which is implied by the alternative hypothesis in the conventional test method. Second, the data set people usually employed are not very appropriate for testing PPP in that CPI or WPI usually are not constructed by using the same mixture of goods, and same weights on each good across countries;Based on these two observations, we apply TAR model and M-TAR model to a very special data set which was kindly provided to us by John Pippenger. Because the data was published to adjust the salaries of German diplomats and foreign service people outside Germany, the price levels are constructed using weights that represent the typical spending pattern of a four-person family in Germany. Therefore, this data set does not have weight problem;As we expect, these two improvements together made we accept PPP in general;A fractional cointegration test is applied to the same data set for a comparison purpose. We found that the more powerful mean-reversion detecting method did not work better than Engle-Granger test significantly. Therefore we conclude that the incorporation of the asymmetric test methodology is very essential;We also tested PPP by using a very general Fourier convergence test.
Impacts of Saltwater Intrusion on Wetland Prey Production and Composition in a Historically Freshwater Marsh

Sea level rise is a fundamental driver of ecosystem change and has the potential to shift the spatial distributions of habitats more rapidly than species can adapt. Rapid sea level rise and associated saltwater intrusion have negative impacts on coastal environments, including loss of habitat for species such as sea turtles and shorebirds. In Florida’s largest wetland, the Everglades, the availability of small fishes that are prey for wading birds serve as an indicator of ecosystem health. In the southwestern part of the ecosystem, sea level rise and a reduction in freshwater flow have converted formerly freshwater marsh into an estuarine mangrove-dominated landscape. In this study, we sampled fish communities in this southwest portion of the Everglades exposed to a range of saline conditions. Biomass of native fishes was highest at a salinity value of approximately 25 parts per thousand, while non-native biomass decreased with increasing salinity. Applying salinity change scenarios, we determined that a 10% reduction from the salinity levels recorded in this study would be optimal for biomass of native fishes. The baseline data we collected on non-native fishes at the site will be useful for monitoring as restoration progresses and for managers working on invasive species control. This region has been actively undergoing ecosystem restoration for the last decade, but restored freshwater flow closer to historical conditions is still years away. Without increased freshwater inflow from hydrologic restoration, rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion may provide conservation challenges for wading birds and their prey-base fishes.
Modeling Sonar Responses of Targets Deployed On or In the Seafloor

Abstract : Recent interest in understanding the potential advantages of nonconventional detection configurations, such as bistatic vs monostatic, has driven efforts to initiate the model refinements needed to study these configurations for simple targets deployed proud or buried on the seafloor. A benchmark quality capability for these targets is utilized so that unambiguous results are available for physical interpretation and analysis, both in laboratory sonar measurements as well as in sonar field tests using the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division s (NSWC PCD) synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) systems. The long term goal of this effort is to investigate and compare how the physics of a target embedded in a given environment and sensed under different detection modes can affect both target signal-to-noise (SNR) and classification. This knowledge can then be used to improve sonar detection and classification of bottom targets.
UM OLHAR SOBRE ASPECTOS DE FRAÇÃO PRESENTES NA PRIMEIRA PROVA DO SISTEMA DE AVALIAÇÃO DO ESTADO DO TOCANTINS

O conteudo de fracao esta presente no curriculo escolar desde os Anos Iniciais do Ensino Fundamental; integra avaliacoes de larga escala de sistemas de avalicao da Uniao, Estados e municipios; e tem sido objeto de pesquisas em programas stricto sensu. Este estudo integra uma pesquisa mais ampla em desenvolvimento por professores e estudantes dos Cursos de Mestrado Academico e Profissional da Universidade Federal do Tocantins e tem como objetivo analisar os aspectos de fracao que se fazem presentes em questoes da prova do Sistema de Avaliacao do Estado do Tocantins (SAETO), aplicada aos estudantes do 9o Ano do Ensino Fundamental e do 3o ano do Ensino Medio, no ano de 2011. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, em que se fez uso de consulta bibliografica e documental. As analises inspiram-se na teoria dos registros de representacao semiotica, significados de fracao e caracteristicas das quantidades. Foram analisadas 06 questoes (cinco do 9o ano e uma do 3o ano). Os resultados indicam que se devem considerar os aspectos supramencionados por ocasiao do processo de ensino e aprendizagem, de modo que os estudantes compreendam o conceito de fracao.
China's global power: Estimating Chinese foreign direct investment in the electric power sector

Abstract We analyze the spatial and technological distribution of China's overseas electric power investments around the world, and the pollution intensity of Chinese coal fired power plants relative to those held by non-Chinese entities. We find that Chinese firms hold approximately $115 billion USD in electric power assets globally, with an average of 73% ownership stake in a total capacity of 81 GW. Chinese power investments span the globe but are largely found in developing countries, particularly in Asia and Latin America. The vast majority of Chinese investment goes to coal (24.5 GW), gas (20.5 GW) and hydropower (18.1 GW), while the share of wind (7.2 GW) and solar (3.1 GW) is relatively small but may be rising. The energy mix of Chinese overseas investment is similar to the existing world portfolio. Within the coal sector, between 2011 and 2017, the majority of Chinese greenfield investment in coal used supercritical technologies (58 percent) while only 34 percent of non-Chinese coal plants built during this period were supercritical.
Structure and Query Optimization of Relay Protection Data Model Based on Shortest Path Algorithm

In recent years, the obtaining of relay protection information is getting more abundant, at the same time, the development of AC/DC hybrid bulk power grid puts forward higher requirements for operation of relay protection. It is necessary to integrate data of different professional systems of relay protection, and to carry out global applications. The optimization condition of the unified relay protection data model directly affect the analysis performance of each applications, and the big data characteristics of the relay protection professional data put forward more urgent requirements for optimizing the data model structure and query sequence. This paper establishes the oriented graph to reflect the data query sequence, mapping the data tables to nodes of graph, the data query sequence to path of graph, and the volume of data tables to length of path, optimizing the model structure and query sequence by the shortest path algorithm, which guarantees the query efficiency of professional applications to massive heterogeneous data. Finally, by taking the actual modeling and query sequence of relay protection data as an example, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified.
Instructional practice in algebra: Building from existing practices to inform an incremental improvement approach

Abstract Algebra is considered key to success in secondary mathematics, yet instruction remains mostly teacher-centered and procedurally oriented, with limited opportunities for students to develop algebraic understanding. This study draws on a large sample of video-recorded ninth grade U.S. algebra lessons to explore the nature of learning opportunities that may help deepen students’ algebraic understanding. I highlight aspects of opportunities to learn algebraic procedures and describe instruction that can enrich these opportunities. I posit that this holds promise as an incremental improvement approach—relatively small adjustments in teachers’ current practices that can serve as a bridge to more ambitious teaching.
Demystifying progressive design build: implementation issues and lessons learned through case study analysis

The design–build (DB) project delivery method has been used for several decades in the US construction market. DB contracts are usually awarded on the basis of a multicriteria evaluation, with price as one of the most salient criteria. To ensure the project’s success, an owner usually has to invest enough time and effort during scoping and early design to define a program, scope, and budget, ready for procurement and price generation. However, this process can become a burden for the owner and may lengthen the project development duration. As an alternative to the traditional DB, the progressive design–build (PDB) approach permits the selection of the DB team prior to defining the project program and/or budget. PDB has the advantage of maintaining a single point of accountability and allowing team selection based mainly on qualifications, with a limited consideration of price. Under PDB, the selected team works with the project stakeholders during the early design stage, while helping the owner balance scope and budget. However, the key to the effectiveness of PDB is its provision for the ongoing and complete involvement of the owner in the early design phase. Due to the differences between PDB and the other project delivery methods (e.g., traditional DB), project teams must carefully consider several factors to ensure its successful implementation. The research team conducted a case study of the University of Washington’s pilot PDB project to complete the West Campus Utility Plant (WCUP). This paper carefully explores and summarizes the project’s entire delivery process (e.g., planning, solicitation, design, and construction), its organizational structures, and the project performance outcomes. The lessons learned from the WCUP project will contribute to best practices for future PDB implementation.
Experimental study on the relationship between p/Q-type calcium channel and migraine

Objective To investigate the mechanism of P/Q-type calcium channel in nitroglycerin induced migraine experimental model Methods Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats ( half female and half male) were randomly divided into control group and model group. The model of migraine rats was reproduced using Tasserelli Cristina method that wassubcutaneou injection of GTN of 10 mg/kg, once a week for four weeks. After the model of migraine had been established, trigeminal ganglion and trigeminocervical complex and cortex of frontal lobe were removed and the expressions of P/Q-type calcium channel were detected by RT- PCR and Western-blot, and at the same time the concentration of intracellular Ca2+ was investigated by Fluo- 3/AM fluorometric method. Results Compared with the control group, the expression of mRNA and protein of P/Q-type calcium channel of trigeminal ganglion and trigeminocervical complex (mRNA: 0. 472 36± 0. 049 54; protein: 0. 337 25 ± 0. 035 93 ) and cortex of frontal lobe ( mRNA: 0. 547 45 ± 0. 044 39 ; protein : 0. 402 13 ± 0. 029 83) in model group all upregulated (t = 2. 6697, 3. 1993, 3. 4398 and 3. 7661, all P <0. 05), at the same time the concentration of intracellular Ca2+ in model group increased (211 182 ± 12 973 vs 135 243 ± 18 105 in trigeminal ganglion and trigeminocervical complex; 186 511 ± 18 297 vs 143 289±25 175 in cortex of frontal lobe. t =10.7819 and 4. 3917, beth P<0.05). Conclusions P/Q- type calcium channel may play a role in the pathogenesis of migraine via its upregulated expression. Key words: Migraine; Disease models, animal; Calcium channels, P-type; Calcium channels, Q-type; Trigeminal ganglion
Small sleepers, big data: leveraging big data to explore sleep-disordered breathing in infants and young children.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Infants represent an understudied minority in sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) research and yet the disease can have a significant impact on health over the formative years of neurocognitive development that follow. Herein we report data on SDB in this population using a big data approach. METHODS Data were abstracted using the Cerner Health Facts database. Demographics, sleep diagnoses, comorbid medication conditions, healthcare utilization, and economic outcomes are reported. RESULTS In a cohort of 68.7 million unique patients, over a 9-year period, there were 9,773 infants and young children with a diagnosis of SDB (obstructive sleep apnea [OSA], nonobstructive sleep apnea, and "other" sleep apnea) who met inclusion criteria, encompassing 17,574 encounters, and a total of 27,290 diagnoses across 62 U.S. health systems, 172 facilities, and 3 patient encounter types (inpatient, clinic, and outpatient). Thirty-nine percent were female. Thirty-nine percent were ≤1 year of age (6,429 infants), 50% were 1-2 years of age, and 11% were 2 years of age. The most common comorbid diagnoses were micrognathia, congenital airway abnormalities, gastroesophageal reflux, chronic tonsillitis/adenoiditis, and anomalies of the respiratory system. Payor mix was dominated by government-funded entities. CONCLUSIONS We have used a novel resource, large-scale aggregate, de-identified EHR data, to examine SDB. In this population, SDB is multifactorial, closely linked to comorbid medical conditions and may contribute to a significant burden of healthcare costs. Further research focusing on infants at highest risk for SDB can help target resources and facilitate personalized management.
Management of Heart Failure In Cardiac Amyloidosis Using An Ambulatory Diuresis Clinic: An Analysis of Safety And Health Care Utilization

Background Restrictive cardiomyopathy in cardiac amyloidosis (CA) mainly occurs due to light chain (AL) or transthyretin (ATTR) protein deposition in the myocardium. Recurrent congestion related to HF can be challenging to manage in CA, often requiring high dose diuretics and frequent hospitalizations. Though therapies are available for CA that may prolong survival, these do not reverse the cardiomyopathy that may be present at time of diagnosis. Innovative outpatient strategies are needed to effectively manage HF in patients with CA. Methods The Johns Hopkins Heart Failure Bridge Clinic is an outpatient HF disease management clinic with the ability to administer intravenous (IV) diuretics. We retrospectively studied patients with CA seen in the clinic in 2017 for 1) safety outcomes of IV diuresis visits and 2) health care utilization at 30, 90, and 180 days pre- vs. post-index clinic visit. Results Forty-four patients with CA (mean age 71.3±9.7 yrs, 17 AL, 27 ATTR; 75% male, 48% AA) had 203 clinic visits (56 for IV diuresis) over 6 months. Oral diuretic dosage was decreased at 29 (14%) visits and increased at 67 (33%) visits. There was no severe acute kidney injury or symptomatic hypotension with IV diuresis. Eight (14%) IV diuretic visits resulted in asymptomatic hypotension, with 4 events in 1 AL patient (Table 1). There was a large decrease in ED and inpatient visits and associated charges when comparing pre- to post-index visit time periods (Figure 1). The proportion of days hospitalized/1000 patient days of follow-up decreased as early as 30 days (147.3 vs 18.1/1000 patient days of follow-up, p Conclusion This is the first description of the use of an outpatient diuresis clinic to manage HF in cardiac amyloidosis. Outpatient IV diuretic administration is safe and HF management in this setting reduces acute care utilization in a patient population that contributes to a high health care burden.
Contextual experience modifies functional connectome indices of topological strength and organization

Stimuli presented at short temporal delays before functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can have a robust impact on the organization of synchronous activity in resting state networks. This presents an opportunity to investigate how sensory, affective and cognitive stimuli alter functional connectivity in rodent models. In the present study, we assessed the effect of a familiar contextual stimulus presented 10 minutes prior to sedation for imaging on functional connectivity. A subset of animals were co-presented with an unfamiliar social stimulus in the same environment to further investigate the effect of familiarity on network topology. Female and male rats were imaged at 11.1 Tesla and graph theory analysis was applied to matrices generated from seed-based functional connectivity data sets with 144 brain regions (nodes) and 10,152 pairwise correlations (edges). Our results show an unconventional network topology in response to the familiar (context) but not the unfamiliar (social) stimulus. The familiar stimulus strongly reduced network strength, global efficiency, and altered the location of the highest eigenvector centrality nodes from cortex to the hypothalamus. We did not observe changes in modular organization, nodal cartographic assignments, assortative mixing, rich club organization, and network resilience. The results suggest that experiential factors, perhaps involving associative or episodic memory, can exert a dramatic effect on functional network strength and efficiency when presented at a short temporal delay before imaging.
Analysis of the cyanobacterial amino acid metabolism with a precise genome-scale metabolic reconstruction of Anabaena sp. UTEX 2576

Abstract Filamentous cyanobacteria such as Anabaena sp. UTEX 2576 (a.k.a., Nostoc sp. PCC 7120) are a sustainable platform for commodity and specialty chemical production. Anabaena is a model cyanobacterium adopted to study production of nitrogen-containing metabolites useful for chemical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, a precise description of the Anabaena metabolic network is desired to analyze their amino-acid metabolism and elucidate potential applications of these cyanobacteria as host organisms for biotechnological production. Secondary metabolite production depends on the metabolic availability of amino acids. Here, we provide new insight on the biotechnological utilization of Anabaena after predicting phycocyanobilin and amino-acid production rates, using a genome-scale metabolic model (iDN1004). This metabolic reconstruction is a highly comprehensive representation of the global metabolism of Anabaena, which also contains experimental biomass equations and constraints under photoautotrophic and photodiazotrophic growth. Modelling results ranked proteinogenic amino acids based on predicted metabolic fluxes through amino-acid producing reactions. From these, l -aspartate, glycine, l -serine, l -valine, l -alanine, l -threonine, and l -leucine were selected as the best branching points to conduct metabolic engineering, where l -aspartate, l -serine, l -valine and glycine serve as potential precursors of the secondary metabolites Schizokinen (a siderophore), Sphingosine (a ceramide), Lyngbyatoxin A (an alkaloid), and Shinorine (a sunscreen).
Detecting Diabetes Risk: Philanthrocapitalism, Diagnostic Innovation and Epistemic Power in Mexico

An expanding class of mega-philanthropic institutions, most often based in the Global North but increasingly based in the Global South, has emerged as a driving force in global health. Among them, the Carlos Slim Foundation—located in Mexico City and funded by Mexican-born telecommunications tycoon Carlos Slim Helu—has spearheaded an ongoing strategy to boost chronic disease prevention in Mexico, principally through the development and promotion of a series of cutting-edge diagnostic tests. In this research article I trace the Foundation’s efforts to develop these technologies and integrate them into Mexican health policy. With these technologies serving as powerful conduits of the Foundation’s epistemic power, I show that Carlos Slim’s philanthropic investments are reshaping goals in the public health field and fostering new understanding of chronic disease risk among health officials and experts in Mexico and beyond.
Basic Concepts of Numerical Analysis of Stochastic Differential Equations Explained by Balanced Implicit Theta Methods

We present the comprehensive concept of dynamic consistency of numerical methods for (ordinary) stochastic differential equations. The concept is illustrated by the well-known class of balanced drift-implicit stochastic Theta methods and relies on several well-known concepts of numerical analysis to replicate the qualitative behaviour of underlying continuous time systems under adequate discretization. This involves the concepts of consistency, stability, convergence, positivity, boundedness, oscillations, contractivity and energy behaviour. Numerous results from literature are reviewed in this context.
Murine Colonic Hyperplasia

Despite the low incidence of clinical cases, transmissible murine colonic hyperplasia is of interest to microbiologists and gastroenterologists alike because of the unusual pathogenesis of the disease. Koch’s postulates have also been fulfilled with Citrobacter freundii biotype 4280, which produces transmissible murine colonic hyperplasia when pure cultures are inoculated into either conventional or germ free mice. The transient hyperplastic state which is induced by C. freundii biotype 4280 has a profound effect on the cytokinetics of the mucosal epithelial cells in the large bowel. These changes also serve to increase the susceptibility of the colonic epithelial cells to the carcinogenic effect of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). The cytokinetics of the hyperplastic mucosa in transmissible murine colonic hyperplasia have been characterized by autoradiography of histological sections labeled with [3H]thymidine. The role of eaeA in the pathogenesis of transmissible murine colonic hyperplasia has been examined by the construction of an isogenic mutant of C. freundii biotype 4280. The molecular basis of transmissible murine colonic hyperplasia remains enigmatic. Characteristic histopathological lesions are produced by C. freundii biotype 4280 in the mucosa of the large bowel of laboratory mice prior to the onset of gross hyperplasia. At least one common, indigenous organism has the ability to cause histopathological changes in enterocytes at the site of bacterial adherence which are reminiscent of AE lesions. It seems likely that a better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of transmissible murine colonic hyperplasia will also bring a better understanding of the role of bacteria in proliferative bowel disease.
Effect of intravenous lidocaine administration on laminar inflammation in the black walnut extract model of laminitis

Summary Reasons for performing study: Laminitis is a serious complication of horses suffering from sepsis/endotoxaemia-related events. Laminitis in horses and organ injury in human sepsis are both reported to involve inflammatory injury to the laminae/organs including early activation of endothelium and leucocytes leading to emigration of neutrophils into the tissue interstitium. In the black walnut extract (BWE) model, systemic inflammatory events coincide with marked increase in laminar mRNA concentrations of inflammatory genes including proinflammatory cytokines (i.e. IL-1β, IL-6), COX-2, chemokines (i.e. IL-8) and endothelial adhesion molecules (i.e. ICAM-1 and E-selectin). In models of human sepsis, i.v. lidocaine has been reported to decrease leucocyte and endothelial activation, and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of i.v. lidocaine therapy on the inflammatory processes documented to occur in the BWE model of laminitis. Methods: Twelve horses were administered BWE and treated immediately with either lidocaine (1.3 mg/kg bwt bolus, followed by 0.05 mg/kg bwt/min CRI, n = 6) or saline (n = 6) for 10 h. At 10 h post BWE administration, laminar samples were obtained under general anaesthesia for assessment of proinflammatory gene expression (using RT-qPCR) and leucocyte emigration (via CD13 immunohistochemistry). At 0, 3 and 10 h post BWE administration, skin samples were obtained for assessment of leucocyte emigration (via calprotectin immunohistochemistry). Results: No significant differences between groups were noted for inflammatory gene mRNA concentrations (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, COX-2) or for number of leucocytes present within the laminar interstitium or skin dermis. Increased (P<0.05) laminar E-selectin mRNA concentrations were present in the LD group (vs. SAL group). Conclusions: Continuous administration of i.v. lidocaine does not inhibit inflammatory events in either the laminae or skin in the horse administered black walnut extract. Potential relevance: This work questions the use of continuous i.v. administration of lidocaine as an effective anti-inflammatory therapy for systemic inflammation.
Neoadjuvant therapy for high-risk bulky regional melanoma

Clinically detectable regional lymph node melanoma metastasis (AJCC stage IIIB-C) carries a risk of relapse and death that approaches 70% at 5 years. Surgical management is the cornerstone of therapy, with postoperative adjuvant therapy utilizing high-dose interferon alfa-2b (HDI). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy or immunotherapy in addition to surgery has been demonstrated to improve outcome in the management of patients with a variety of solid tumors. In patients with melanoma, the characteristics of the host immune response differ between patients with earlier stage and those with more advanced stages of disease (and particularly between those with measurable active disease and those without measurable gross disease) providing rationale for neoadjuvant approaches with immunotherapy. Host immune tolerance is now understood to impede the results of therapy for advanced disease, but appears to be less an issue for patients with microscopic high-risk operable disease, where the host may be more susceptible to immunologic interventions. Phase II studies have shown that neoadjuvant biochemotherapy has limited activity in melanoma patients with local-regional metastases, where chemotherapy may potentially alter the effects of immunotherapeutic agents. Studies of neoadjuvant HDI therapy for high-risk melanoma patients with bulky regional stage IIIB-C lymphadenopathy have shown unexpectedly high clinical and pathologic response rates, without increased morbidity. Through the design of neoadjuvant trials utilizing promising emerging melanoma therapeutics in which it is possible to obtain biopsy samples before and after therapy, a greater understanding of the dynamic interaction between tumors and the immune system is possible. This should lead to the identification of new targets for the treatment of melanoma and aid the development of new immunotherapy that may have greater specificity and less toxicity. This will simplify the evaluation of promising new combinations of agents with HDI to build on the clinical, immunologic, and molecular effect of this therapy for patients with melanoma. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011; 104:386–390. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Intergenerational Mobility of Second Generation Migrants from the Middle East to the United States

One of the key issues in the immigration debate is the extent to which second generation immigrants (native born, but to immigrant parents) are able to assimilate in terms of education and income. Many of these studies have focused on the difficulties and educational achievement gap faced by 2nd generation immigrants from the Middle East (MENA) living in Europe. My study considers 2nd generation immigrants from the MENA living in the United States. These two groups originate in the same place, but could not be more different in terms of their educational outcomes. Whereas 2nd generation MENA migrants in Europe tend to have less education than their native peers, MENA migrants in the US have higher levels of education and are more likely to have undergraduate and graduate degrees. In this study I estimate several models examining the determinants of education. I find that for the overall US population, parents' education, parents' income, and residence in an ethnic enclave all have positive effects on educational achievement. The impact of parents' education and income is no different for MENA migrants, suggesting that the education premium accruing to this group is likely to persist. However, any advantage of living in an ethnic enclave appears to disappear for MENA migrants, suggesting that these enclaves are failing to live up to their potential as incubators of immigrant human capital.
Estrogen potencies of three new low-dose oral contraceptives

The estrogen potencies of three new oral contraceptive formulations--Brevicon, Modicon, and Lo/Ovral--were determined. Brevicon and Modicon were found to have estrogen potency equal to mestranol 50 mug and equal to or greater than Norinyl 1 + 50 and Ortho-Novuum 1 + 50. Lo/Ovral, which is identical to Ovral in the type and ratio of progestin but 40 per cent lower in drug content, could be estimated to have an estrogen potency of 0.73 relative to mestranol 50 mug and therefore, by inference, to Brevicon and Modicon.