cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laboratory Evolution of Fast-Folding Green Fluorescent Protein Using Secretory Pathway Quality Control

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) has undergone a long history of optimization to become one of the most popular proteins in all of cell biology. It is thermally and chemically robust and produces a pronounced fluorescent phenotype when expressed in cells of all types. Recently, a superfolder GFP was engineered with increased resistance to denaturation and improved folding kinetics. Here we report that unlike other well-folded variants of GFP (e.g., GFPmut2), superfolder GFP was spared from elimination when targeted for secretion via the SecYEG translocase. This prompted us to hypothesize that the folding quality control inherent to this secretory pathway could be used as a platform for engineering similar ‘superfolded’ proteins. To test this, we targeted a combinatorial library of GFPmut2 variants to the SecYEG translocase and isolated several superfolded variants that accumulated in the cytoplasm due to their enhanced folding properties. Each of these GFP variants exhibited much faster folding kinetics than the parental GFPmut2 protein and one of these, designated superfast GFP, folded at a rate that even exceeded superfolder GFP. Remarkably, these GFP variants exhibited little to no loss in specific fluorescence activity relative to GFPmut2, suggesting that the process of superfolding can be accomplished without altering the proteins' normal function. Overall, we demonstrate that laboratory evolution combined with secretory pathway quality control enables sampling of largely unexplored amino-acid sequences for the discovery of artificial, high-performance proteins with properties that are unparalleled in their naturally occurring analogues.
Effects of age and allergen exposure on transepidermal water loss in a house dust mite-sensitized beagle model of atopic dermatitis

Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured as assessment of barrier function in house dust mite-sensitized atopic (n = 24) and normal (n = 21) beagle dogs before and after allergen challenge. Dogs of the two groups were matched for age and housed in the same environment. Ten sites were evaluated including both areas of high and low predisposition to atopic lesion formation. On day 0 (before allergen exposure) and day 3 (3 days after allergen exposure), TEWL measurements were taken using an open-chamber evaporimeter. On day 0, significant differences (one-way ANOVA) were found between normal and atopic dogs in the chin, pinna, periocular region, axilla, antebrachium and thorax. Within the atopic group, a significant increase (one-way ANOVA) in TEWL was found in the axilla on day 3. Such a difference was particularly marked in young dogs (chin, pinna, axilla, antebrachium and groin). Within the normal group, allergen challenge did not change TEWL except for the chin. When atopic and nonatopic sites were compared within the atopic group, a significant difference in TEWL was found on day 0. A two-way ANOVA showed a significant effect of site, a significant effect of time but no site x time (i.e. allergen exposure) interaction. It is concluded that the house dust mite-sensitized atopic beagle dogs used in this study have altered barrier function in 'atopic' areas and that such differences are more evident in young individuals and are aggravated by allergen exposure.
An Examination of Life History and Behavioral Evolution Across the Ediacaran–Cambrian Transition

With the 1859 publication of On the Origin of Species , Charles Darwin posed contention against his synthesis on the history of life. His dilemma specifically regarded that the geologically sudden appearance of complex shelly invertebrates at the Cambrian Explosion followed an incomprehensible absence of a long-standing gradual transition to such forms. Indeed, as quoted from Chapter 10 of the sixth edition, “To the question why we do not find rich fossiliferous deposits belonging to these assumed earliest periods prior to the Cambrian system, I can give no satisfactory answer… the difficulty of assigning any good reason for the absence of vast piles of strata rich in fossils beneath the Cambrian system is very great… The case at present must remain inexplicable; and may be truly urged as a valid argument against the views here entertained” (p. 286–288). In the 155 years since this assertion, paleontologists focusing on the strata of the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition have uncovered a rich evolutionary history prior to the radiation of animals, but our resulting discoveries have neither been without debate nor unraveled the intricacies suggested by Darwin's dilemma. While we are continuing to learn from both geological and paleontological records, the organisms, their expanding ecosystem intricacy, and the …
SyntacticDiff: Operator-based transformation for comparative text mining

We describe SyntacticDiff, a novel, general, and efficient edit-based method for transforming sequences of words given a reference text collection. These transformations can be used directly or can be employed as features to represent text data in a wide variety of text mining applications. As case studies, we apply SyntacticDiff to three quite different tasks, including grammatical error correction, student essay clustering and analysis, and native language identification, showing its benefit in each case. SyntacticDiff is completely general and can thus be potentially applied to any text data in any natural language. It is highly efficient, customizable, and able to capture syntactic differences from a reference text collection at the sentence, document, and subcollection levels. This enables both a rich translation method and feature representation for many text mining tasks that deal with word usage and syntax beyond bag-of-words.
Transient Magneto-Optic Sampling in Liquids

The temporal and frequency responses of liquids, including polar and nonpolar liquids have been obtained in a free-space magneto-optic sampling experiment. The nearshot noise limited detection and microTesla/√Hz magnetic field sensitivity allow more than a 30 dB dynamic range. A theoretical profile is contrasted with the experimental results for water providing corroborative evidence of the interaction length between the pump and probe beams. Also presented is the experimental profile of the GHz waves propagating through and interacting with a sample of water.
Soft printing with fabric

3-D printed objects made of fabric could be flexible and deformable, bringing possibilities to new sensors and actuators.
Using Cytochalasins to Improve Current Chemotherapeutic Approaches

Although the amount of progress cancer therapy has made in recent years is commendable, considerable limitations still remain. Most agents preferentially target rapidly proliferating cells, thereby destroying tumorigenic growths. Unfortunately, there are many labile cells in the patient that are also rapidly dividing, ultimately perpetuating significant side effects, including immunosuppression. Cytochalasins are microfilament-directed agents most commonly known for their use in basic research to understand cytoskeletal mechanisms. However, such agents also exhibit profound anticancer activity, as indicated by numerous in vitro and in vivo studies. Cytochalasins appear to preferentially damage malignant cells, as shown by their minimal effects on normal epithelial and immune cells. Further, cytochalasins influence the end stages of mitosis, suggesting that such agents could be combined with microtubule-directed agents to elicit a profound synergistic effect on malignant cells. Therefore, it is likely that cytochalasins could be used to supplement current chemotherapeutic measures to improve efficacy rates, as well as decrease the prevalence of drug resistance in the clinical setting.
WHAT WE ARE DOING ABOUT SEISMIC SEA WAVES

I am glad to have this opportunity to participate in this section of the Sixth Conference on Coastal Engineering. My remarks to the distinguished group of engineers and scientists assembled here today will emphasize a phase of the work of the Coast and Geodetic Survey of the United States Department of Commerce pertinent to one of the problems encountered in coastal engineering.
Perceptual Similarity Affects the Learning Curve (but Not Necessarily Learning)

What role does item similarity play in motor skill acquisition? To examine this question, we used a modified version of the chord learning task (Seibel, 1963) that entails producing simultaneous finger key presses, similar to playing a chord on a piano. In Experiment 1, difficulty, as indexed by response time (RT) to a particular chord on the first session, was held constant, and chords that were similar to other chords had longer RTs after practice than dissimilar chords. In Experiment 2, we used chords that produced different initial RTs to show that similarity affected asymptotic RT rather than the size of RT decrement achieved with practice. In Experiment 3, we eliminated differences in perceptual similarity by using Chinese characters for stimuli while retaining differences in motoric similarity, which resulted in nearly identical asymptotes for similar and dissimilar chords. Thus, the density effect observed in Experiments 1 and 2 appears to stem from competition triggered by similar stimuli. Because performance differences were immediately re-established when stimulus similarity was introduced in Experiment 3 during transfer sessions, competition appears to emerge among learned, central representations that can be coactivated by multiple stimuli.
Development of a Simulink-CarSim Interaction Package for ABS Simulation of Discrete Tire Models

ABSTRACT: Automotive and tire companies have to spend extensive amounts of time and money to tune their products through prototype testing at dedicated test facilities. This is mainly because of the limitations in the simulation capabilities that exist today. With greater competence in simulation comes more control over designs in the initial stages, which in turn lowers the demand for the expensive stage of tuning. This article aims at taking today's simulation capabilities a step forward by integrating models that are best developed in different software interfaces. An in-plane rigid ring tire model has been developed to understand the transient response of tires to various high-frequency events such as antilock braking and short-wavelength road disturbances. A rule-based antilock braking systems (ABS) model performed the high-frequency braking operation. The tire and ABS models were created in the Matlab-Simulink environment. A vehicle model was developed in CarSim. The models developed in Simulink wer...
Intracellular electrolytes regulate the volume set point of the organic osmolyte/anion channel VSOAC

Regulation of the volume sensitivity of the swelling-activated organic osmolyte/anion channel VSOAC by intracellular electrolytes was examined in intact and patch-clamped C6 glioma cells. In intact cells, VSOAC activation was monitored by [3H]taurine efflux measurements, and intracellular electrolyte concentrations were manipulated by acclimation to hypertonic medium for varying periods of time. Hypertonic shrinkage was followed by a rapid and complete regulatory volume increase mediated by electrolyte accumulation that elevated intracellular Na+, K+, and Cl- concentrations. During prolonged (4-48 h) exposure to hypertonicity, electrolyte concentrations decreased gradually as cells accumulated the organic osmolyte myo-inositol. VSOAC activation induced by cell swelling of 35-40% increased as a function of the time of exposure to hypertonicity and was inversely correlated with measured intracellular Na+, K+ and Cl- levels. In patch-clamped cells, swelling-induced Cl- current activation was unaffected by acclimation conditions but was inhibited by increasing the concentration of electrolytes in the patch pipette solution. Quantification of the relationship between VSOAC activation and cell swelling demonstrated that increases in intracellular electrolyte levels increase VSOAC volume set point. Regulation of VSOAC volume sensitivity by electrolytes allows cells to selectively utilize electrolytes or a combination of electrolytes and organic osmolytes for regulatory volume decrease (RVD). Control over the type of solute used for volume regulation is advantageous, allowing cells to control intracellular ionic composition and prevent increases in cytoplasmic ionic strength during RVD.
A Case of High-dose Adenosine Usage for Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm Clip Ligation: What is the Dose Limit for a Resistant Response?

Intraoperative adenosine is used to induce asystole to facilitate clip ligation of intracranial aneurysms. Typically, 5–10 mg doses are used per administration and approximately 30 mg is used for a given case. An obvious concern with using adenosine is that the patient can remain in asystole or that prolonged hypotension can result in cerebral or cardiovascular ischemia. The upper limit of adenosine administration remains unclear. We present a case of a patient with a large anterior communicating artery aneurysm requiring large doses of adenosine, far exceeding previously reported cases. The patient received a 90 mg dose of adenosine to achieve 5 s of asystole as well as 30 s of hypotension that facilitated vessel dissection and clip application. Moreover, in order to successfully clip his aneurysm, he received a total of 744 mg of adenosine. After each administration of adenosine, his heart rate and blood pressure returned to baseline without the need for chest compressions or other interventions. He tolerated the procedure and had a good neurological outcome. This case is the first report of using such a high dose of adenosine in intracranial aneurysm surgery and suggests that more aggressive administration of adenosine during aneurysm clipping is feasible. Transient hypotension, as seen in this report, can provide surgeons the crucial moments they need to safely secure an aneurysm from circulation.
Overlapping clustering of network data using cut metrics

We present a novel method to hierarchically cluster networked data allowing nodes to simultaneously belong to multiple clusters. Given a network, our method outputs a cut metric on the underlying node set, which can be related to data coverings at different resolutions. The cut metric is obtained by averaging a set of ultrametrics, which are themselves the output of (non-overlapping) hierarchically clustering noisy versions of the original network of interest. The resulting algorithm is illustrated in synthetic networks and is used to classify handwritten digits from the MNIST database.
Abstract P1-06-07: Msi1 in maintaining breast cancer stem cell involves the AKT/PI3K pathway

Musashi1 (Msi1) was originally described in neural stem cells in a role influencing neural differentiation in the Numb/Notch pathway. Due to its role in neural stem cells, there has been much interest in the role of Msi1 in the breast cancer (BC) stem cell population. In this vein, with we have demonstrated a possible feedback loop between the stem cell marker OCT4 and Msi1, in addition to other stem cell-associated genes. Flow cytometry analyses demonstrated that the subset of BC cells (BCCs) that we previously identified as those with high Oct4 was also enriched for Msi1. Msi1 knockdown BCCs showed decreased doubling time and with limited ability to be passaged, indicating the loss of the self-renewal subset needed for cell passaging. These in vitro findings were consistent with the inability of the Msi1 knockdown BCCs to undergo serial passages in vivo. We therefore examined the Msi1 knockdown BCCs for intracellular proteins that could explain the reduced cell growth and the reduced initiating cells. We selected the AKT/PI3K pathway due to its recent connection to the maintenance of BC stem cells. Msi1 knockdown repressed several molecules within the AKT/PI3K pathway: PTEN, AKT, and PI3K. There were no significant differences found however, in the apoptotic factors, BCL-2 and Caspase-3. Upon further investigation, we observed increases in molecules that are linked to decreased cell proliferation and senescence, p16, p53 and p21. Since Msi1 is an RNA binding protein, it is possible that its loss could leave RNAs for binding to miRNAs and this might be partly responsible for the decrease in key intracellular molecules needed for the survival and proliferation of the Msi1 knockdown BCCs. Further studies are needed to investigate how miRNAs and Msi1 interact to maintain the survival of BCCs. Finally, Msi1 KD positively affects the expression of the immune checkpoint inhibitor PD-1L, suggesting increased PD-1L expression in cells that are not of the CSC phenotype. The studies may identify Msi1 or its associated molecules as a potential therapeutic intervention for BC. Citation Format: Nahas GR, Sinha GA, Sherman LS, Walker ND, Rameshwar P. Msi1 in maintaining breast cancer stem cell involves the AKT/PI3K pathway. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-06-07.
Virus Infection and the Interferon Response

The primary focus of this chapter is on providing an overview of how we use the tools of functional genomics to study virus infection, the interferon response, and the mechanisms by which viruses attenuate or evade this response to ensure successful replication. We provide examples of the types of analyses we perform, experimental design considerations, and the tools and techniques we use for data processing and mining. We have not attempted to provide detailed protocols for performing microarray or proteomics experiments because even individual components of such analyses, for example, techniques for the isolation and amplification of ribonucleic acid, could easily be the subject of an entire chapter. Rather, our goal is to show how data obtained from global gene expression and protein profiling can be used to gain new insights into virus-host interactions, with particular emphasis on the interferon response and its modulation by virus infection.
Practical tribological issues in big-end bearings

Abstract: This chapter focuses upon practical design guidelines for big-end connecting rod journal bearings which allow for rapid prediction of three key tribological performance measures: cyclic minimum film thickness, cyclic average oil flow and cyclic average power loss. Design information, provided in both graphical and equation form, apply specifically to a grooveless big-end bearing pressure-lubricated by a single crank-pin feed hole. In addition, this chapter reviews the current state of tribological research aimed at improving design capabilities for big-end bearings and suggests related topics for further study.
The rare association of tetralogy of Fallot with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Report of 2 neonatal patients

Although tetralogy of Fallot is commonly associated with other congenital heart defects, it is rarely found in conjunction with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We describe the cases of 2 neonates with this rare condition, both of whom required surgical intervention during infancy. Because hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is frequently familial, and tetralogy of Fallot is commonly found in patients diagnosed with chromosomal anomalies, we speculate about a possible genetic cause for this association.
Cardioprotective Effects of Mitochondria-Targeted Peptide SBT-20 in two Different Models of Rat Ischemia/Reperfusion

Dysfunctional mitochondria are considered to be the major source of intracellular reactive oxygen species and play a central role in the pathophysiology of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. This study sought to determine effects of mitochondria-targeted cytoprotective peptide SBT-20 on myocardial infarct size in two different models of ischemia/reperfusion. For in vivo studies, anesthetized Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to 30 min of coronary artery occlusion followed by 3 h of reperfusion. Rats received saline (control), low dose SBT-20 (0.3 mg/kg/h) or high dose SBT-20 (3 mg/kg/h) treatment (n = 15 rats in each group). Saline or SBT-20 were delivered into the jugular vein starting 5 min after coronary artery occlusion and were continued for one hour post coronary artery reperfusion. Body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure were monitored during the procedure. At the end of 3 h reperfusion, the ischemic risk area, no-reflow area, and infarct size were measured. In separate in vitro studies, isolated rat hearts were exposed to 20 min global ischemia, followed by SBT-20 administration (1 μM) or no SBT-20 (control) throughout the 2 h reperfusion. In vitro studies were conducted in cells and heart mitochondria to ascertain the mitochondrial effects of SBT-20 on mitochondrial respiration and reactive oxygen species production. In the in vivo study, the ischemic risk areas (as a percentage of the left ventricle) were similar among the saline (49.5 ± 2.3 %), low dose SBT-20 (48.6 ± 2.1 %), and high dose SBT-20 groups (48.7 ± 3.0 %). Treatment with SBT-20 significantly reduced infarct size ( as a percentage of risk area) in low dose (62.1 ± 4.4 %) and high dose (64.0 ± 4.9 %) compared with saline treatment (77.6 ± 2.6 %, p = 0.001 for both doses). There was no difference in infarct size between low and high dose SBT-20 treatment. The no-reflow areas (as a percentage of the risk area) were comparable among the saline (23.9 ± 1.7 %), low dose SBT-20 (23.7 ± 2.8 %), and high dose groups (25.0 ± 2.1 %). Body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure were comparable among the 3 groups at baseline, during ischemia, and at the end of 3 h of reperfusion. In the in vitro study, infarct size was reduced from 43.3 ± 2.6 % in control group (n = 11) to 17.2 ± 2.8 % in the SBT-20 treatment group (n = 5, p < 0.05). There were no benefits of SBT-20 on recovery of left ventricular developed pressure, coronary flow, or maximal rates of contraction/relaxation. In cell studies, treatment with SBT-20 significantly improved maximal mitochondrial respiration in response to an H2O2 challenge. In isolated mitochondria, reactive oxygen species production was significantly blunted following treatment with SBT-20. In summary, SBT-20 significantly reduced infarct size in two different models of myocardial injury, but did not affect hemodynamics or no-reflow area in rat heart. The reduction in injury is postulated to involve stabilization of mitochondrial function and reduced mitochondrial production of ROS.
Siberian Middle Upper Paleolithic

relative time period: Follows Siberian Early Upper Paleolithic tradition, precedes Siberian Late Upper Paleolithic tradition
Measuring Family Satisfaction With Care Delivered in the Intensive Care Unit

Background In our competitive health care environment, measuring the experience of family members of patients in the intensive care unit to ensure that health care providers are meeting families' needs is critical. Surveys from Press Ganey and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are unable to capture families' satisfaction with care in this setting. Objective To implement a sustainable measure for family satisfaction in a 12-bed medical and surgical intensive care unit. To assess the feasibility of the selected tool for measuring family satisfaction and to make recommendations that are based on the results. Method A descriptive survey design using the Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit 24-item questionnaire to measure satisfaction with care and decision-making. Results Forty family members completed the survey. Overall, the mean score for families' satisfaction with care was 72.24% (SD, 14.87%) and the mean score for families' satisfaction with decision-making was 72.03% (SD, 16.61%). Families reported that nurses put them at ease and provided understandable explanations. Collaboration, inclusion of families in clinical discussions, and timely information regarding changes in the patient's condition were the most common points brought up in free-text responses from family members. Written communication, including directions and expectations, would have improved the families' experience. Conclusion Although patients' family members reported being satisfied with their experience in the intensive care unit, there is room for improvement. Effective communication among the health care team, patients' families, and patients will be targeted for quality improvement initiatives.
A molecularly-based model of sliding friction

Kinetic friction is well known to be a dissipative process. The key to understanding friction, then, is to discover the mechanisms by which mechanical energy is dissipated when one body slides upon another. Some recent reports in the literature have discussed the source of dissipation in the context of several models of atomic interaction, including the Frenkel-Kontorova (FK) and the Independent Oscillator (IO) model. In the current work, aspects of the FK and IO models are incorporated to model the interaction between a solid asperity and an adsorbed interfacial film. As predicted by the IO and FK models, calculations indicate that the existence of an appreciable dissipative component of friction depends on the occurrence of an instability in the configurations of the molecules. It is also found that this dissipative component is influenced by whether or not there exist mechanisms for energy to continually propagate away from the interface. When such avenues exist, the friction force is found to be significantly greater than under conditions where the energy can return to the interface. To provide additional insight into the mechanism of dissipation, an analogy is made between the discrete, molecular model and that of a string on an elastic foundation. The conditions governing the propagation of waves with the continuous model suggest that significant dissipation requires a frictional instability.
Survival differences among patients with bladder cancer according to sex: Critical evaluation of radical cystectomy use and delay to treatment

Abstract Objective Sex differences in bladder cancer survival are well known. However, the effect of type of treatment, timing to surgery when rendered, and survival outcomes according to sex have not been extensively examined. Given the relatively low incidence of bladder cancer in females, large multicenter and population-based studies are required to elucidate sex differences in survival. In this study, we sought to characterize the effect of use and timing of radical cystectomy (RC) according to sex and survival outcomes. Methods A total of 9,907 patients aged 66 years or older diagnosed with clinical stage II to IV N0M0 bladder cancer from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2011 from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data were analyzed. We used multivariable regression analyses to identify factors predicting the use and delay of RC. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze survival outcomes. Results Of the 9,907 patients diagnosed with bladder cancer, 3,256 (32.9%) were females. Women were significantly more likely to undergo RC across all stages compared to their male counterparts (stage II: relative risk [RR] = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.33–1.65, P P P P = 0.024), and worse cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio = 1.26; CI: 1.17–1.36, P Conclusion Sex differences persist with women who are significantly more likely to undergo RC independent of clinical stage. However, women have significantly worse survival than men. Delay from diagnosis to surgery did not account for this decreased survival among women.
High-speed on-demand 3D printed bioresorbable vascular scaffolds

Abstract Recent development of the high-resolution Micro-Continuous Liquid Interface Production (μCLIP) process has enabled 3D printing of biomedical devices with micron-scale precision. Despite our recent success in demonstrating fabrication of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) via μCLIP, key technical obstacles remain. Specifically, achieving comparable radial stiffness to nitinol stents required strut thickness of 400 μm. Such large struts would negatively affect blood flow through smaller coronary vessels. Low printing speed also made the process impractical for potential on-demand fabrication of patient-specific BVSs. Lack of a systematic optimization strategy capturing the sophisticated process-materials-performance dependencies impedes development of on-demand fabrication of BVSs and other biomedical devices. Herein, we developed a systematic method to optimize the entangled process parameters, such as materials strength/stiffness, exposure dosage, and fabrication speed. A dedicated speed working curve method was developed to calibrate the μCLIP process, which allowed experimental determination of dimensionally-accurate fabrication parameters. Composition of the citric acid-based bioresorbable ink (B-Ink™) was optimized to maximize BVS radial stiffness, allowing scaffold struts at clinically-relevant sizes. Through the described dual optimization, we have successfully fabricated BVSs with radial stiffness comparable to nitinol stents and strut thickness of 150 μm, which is comparable to the ABSORB GT1BVS. Fabrication of 2-cm long BVS with 5 μm, 10 μm, and 15 μm layer slicing can now be accomplished within 26.5, 15.3, and 11.3 min, respectively. The reported process optimization methods and high-speed, high-resolution 3D printing capability demonstrate a promising solution for on-demand fabrication of patient-specific biomedical devices.
Using aorta lesion attenuation difference (ALAD) on preoperative contrast-enhanced CT scan to differentiate between malignant and benign renal tumors.

606Background: To evaluate the ability of Aorta−Lesion−Attenuation−Difference (ALAD) to differentiate malignant renal tumors from renal oncocytomas. Methods: A retrospective review of preoperative ...
Polymer-Supported Subcolloidal Particles: Characterization and Environmental Application

In the field of environmental separation and remediation, many submicron inorganic particles offer favorable properties in regard to selective separation and/or chemical transformation of target contaminants. For example, i) hydrated Fe(III) oxides or HFO particles can selectively sorb dissolved heavy metals like zinc, copper or metalloids like arsenic oxyacids or oxyanions; ii) Mn(IV) oxides are fairly strong solid phase oxidizing agents; iii) Magnetite (Fe3O4) crystals are capable of imparting magnetic activity; iv) elemental Zn° or Fe° are excellent reducing agents for both inorganic and organic contaminants (1-6). Extremely high surface area to volume ratio of these tiny particles offers very favorable kinetics for selective sorption and oxidation-reduction reactions. Nevertheless, these particles cannot be used in fixed-bed columns, in underground reactive barriers or in any plug flow type configuration due to excessive pressure drops and poor durability. On the contrary, many commercially available porous polymeric beads are very durable and offer excellent hydraulic properties in regard to pressure drops. The prices of these polymeric particles are quite competitive and the trend around the globe indicates that they will further decrease in the future. Ideally, it would be very desirable to develop a new class of polymeric/inorganic materials that combine the excellent hydraulic characteristics of spherical polymer beads with favorable sorption/redox/magnetic properties of inorganic nanoparticles. There remain many possibilities and new opportunities to effectively apply these hybrid particles for environmental separation and control.
Applying the Curriculum Research Framework in the Design and Development of a Technology-Based Tier 2 Mathematics Intervention:

Mathematics interventions aimed at accelerating the learning of students with mathematics difficulties (MD) should be developed through a design science approach such as the Curriculum Research Fra...
The impact of nontraditional and sustainable textbook options on student learning in a social work skills course

The cost of textbooks is problematic for many students at American colleges as prices have increased by 140% in almost two decades (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). This economic injustice causes ...
Distinct degenerative phenotype of articular cartilage from knees with meniscus tear compared to knees with osteoarthritis.

Summary Objective To compare the transcriptome of articular cartilage from knees with meniscus tears to knees with end-stage osteoarthritis (OA). Design Articular cartilage was collected from the non-weight bearing medial intercondylar notch of knees undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM; N = 10, 49.7 ± 10.8 years, 50% females) for isolated medial meniscus tears and knees undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA; N = 10, 66.0 ± 7.6 years, 70% females) due to end-stage OA. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) preparation was subjected to SurePrint G3 human 8 × 60K RNA microarrays to probe differentially expressed transcripts followed by computational exploration of underlying biological processes. Real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification was performed on selected transcripts to validate microarray data. Results We observed that 81 transcripts were significantly differentially expressed (45 elevated, 36 repressed) between APM and TKA samples (≥ 2 fold) at a false discovery rate of ≤ 0.05. Among these, CFD, CSN1S1, TSPAN11, CSF1R and CD14 were elevated in the TKA group, while CHI3L2, HILPDA, COL3A1, COL27A1 and FGF2 were highly expressed in APM group. A few long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs), small nuclear RNAs (snoRNAs) and antisense RNAs were also differentially expressed between the two groups. Transcripts up-regulated in TKA cartilage were enriched for protein localization and activation, chemical stimulus, immune response, and toll-like receptor signaling pathway. Transcripts up-regulated in APM cartilage were enriched for mesenchymal cell apoptosis, epithelial morphogenesis, canonical glycolysis, extracellular matrix organization, cartilage development, and glucose catabolic process. Conclusions This study suggests that APM and TKA cartilage express distinct sets of OA transcripts. The gene profile in cartilage from TKA knees represents an end-stage OA whereas in APM knees it is clearly earlier in the degenerative process.
An experimental system for measurements of Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity in bulk thermoelectric materials at high temperatures

We describe the design, assembly, and operation of a novel instrument for measuring Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity of bulk thermoelectric materials of various shapes and sizes in the temperature range from 300 K to 600 K. The ability of the system to measure samples with a variety of shapes and sizes provides great flexibility in sample fabrication and preparation. The system is verified with Seebeck coefficient measurements on a standard material (SRM 3451) from NIST as well as a separate ZnO sample, a promising high temperature thermoelectric material, and the electrical resistivity is measured using the van der Pauw method. A variety of nickel-based samples with varying thickness are examined to validate the system and to demonstrate instrument precision and accuracy. The results indicate that this instrument is capable of rapid evaluation of the power factor for bulk thermoelectric materials without being limited to samples with specific shapes or dimensions.
Are patients with oligodendroglioma at higher risk for radiation neurotoxicity

2061Background: Symptomatic radiation neurotoxicity (RN), manifesting on MRI as focal necrosis and/or T2 signal abnormality, is a dreaded complication of radiation therapy (RT). While RT is standar...
“Of Hopes Great as Himselfe”: Tudor and Stuart Legacies of Edward VI

This chapter uses the legacy of Edward VI to query two major trends in the recent historiography of the English Reformation. First is the influential “myth” thesis advanced by Diarmaid MacCulloch. MacCulloch believes that the so-called Laudians of the seventeenth century were the first group to proffer the myth that the English Reformation was not ideologically Protestant. However, as we will see, there was no distinctly “Laudian” viewpoint on Edward’s reign. The second historiographical trend addressed here is the assumption that iconoclasm was fundamentally ideological. This chapter notes in detailed fashion that contemporaries frequently named greed a key motivator for desecration as well. According to Tudor contemporaries and their Stuart successors, nearsighted opportunism was at least as iconoclastic as anti-Catholic prejudice. Studying Edward’s postmortem reputation can help us reassess current understandings of the English Reformation.
Symptom-based, Dual-channel LSTM Network for The Estimation of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III

Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) is assessed by neurologists to detect patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and rate the disease severity. However, the assessment has shown to be subjective. In this work, we developed a novel symptom-based, dual-channel LSTM network to estimate UPDRS part III (severity of motor complications) from motion data recorded using two wearable sensors. Unlike the existing sensor-based methods that require the subjects to perform specific activities, our new approach is entirely passive and based on subjects' free-body movements. The network was trained and evaluated using a subject-based, leave-one-out cross-validation, on motion data recorded from 24 subjects with idiopathic PD as they performed a variety of daily routine activities. The estimated UPDRS-III scores had a moderate correlation $(\boldsymbol{r}=0.62(\boldsymbol{p} with the scores from the clinical examinations. Our analysis demonstrates the potential of our approach in estimating PD severity scores during subjects' routine daily-life, free-body movements. Such an algorithm could provide objective and comprehensive information to detect subtle changes during the disease progression and help the treating physician to provide effective management of the disease.
Pathologic Response of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Yttrium-90 Glass Microsphere Radiation Segmentectomy Prior to Liver Transplantation: A Validation Study.

PURPOSE To evaluate the pathologic outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with Yttrium-90 radiation segmentectomy using glass microspheres prior to liver transplantation and explore parameters associated with pathologic necrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS A single-institution retrospective analysis of HCC patients who received radiation segmentectomy prior to liver transplantation from November 2016 to May 2020 was performed. Patients were included if the treatment angiosome encompassed the entire tumor and could be correlated with available gross pathology. Archived histology slides were reviewed for percentage of pathologic necrosis. Thirty-three patients with 37 tumors were evaluated. The median tumor size was 2.3 cm (range, 1-6.7 cm). RESULTS All tumors received a single treatment. The median time from radiation segmentectomy to transplantation was 206 days (range, 58-550 days). Objective response per Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) was 92% (complete response, 76%; partial response, 16%). A total of 68% (n = 25) of tumors demonstrated ≥99% pathologic necrosis. Complete pathologic necrosis was present in 53% and 75% of tumors treated with >190 Gy (n = 18) and >500 Gy (n = 8) single-compartment Medical Internal Radiation Dose, respectively. Complete response per mRECIST, posttreatment angiosome T1 hypointensity, dose >190 Gy, microsphere specific activity >297 Bq, and a longer time between treatment and transplant were associated with ≥99% tumor necrosis (P < .05). No posttransplant tumor recurrences occurred within a median follow-up of 604 days (range, 138-1,223 days). CONCLUSIONS Radiation segmentectomy can serve as an ablative modality for the treatment of HCC prior to liver transplant.
Temozolomide chronotherapy in patients with glioblastoma: a retrospective single-institute study.

Background Chronotherapy is an innovative approach to improving survival through timed delivery of anti-cancer treatments according to patient daily rhythms. Temozolomide (TMZ) is a standard-of-care chemotherapeutic agent for glioblastoma (GBM). Whether timing of TMZ administration affects GBM patient outcome has not previously been studied. We sought to evaluate maintenance TMZ chronotherapy on GBM patient survival. Methods This retrospective study reviewed patients with newly diagnosed GBM from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2018 at Washington University School of Medicine who had surgery, chemoradiation, and were prescribed TMZ to be taken in the morning or evening. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model were used for overall survival (OS) analyses. The propensity score method accounted for potential observational study biases. The restricted mean survival time (RMST) method was performed where the proportional hazard assumption was violated. Results We analyzed 166 eligible GBM patients with a median follow-up of 5.07 years. Patients taking morning TMZ exhibited longer OS compared to evening (median OS, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.43, 1.12-1.92 vs 1.13, 0.84-1.58 years) with a significant year 1 RMST difference (-0.09, 95% CI: -0.16 to -0.018). Among MGMT-methylated patients, median OS was 6 months longer for AM patients with significant RMST differences at years 1 (-0.13, 95% CI = -0.24 to -0.019) to 2.5 (-0.43, 95% CI = -0.84 to -0.028). Superiority of morning TMZ at years 1, 2, and 5 (all P < .05) among all patients was supported by RMST difference regression after adjusting for confounders. Conclusions Our study presents preliminary evidence for the benefit of TMZ chronotherapy to GBM patient survival. This impact is more pronounced in MGMT-methylated patients.
Trend of atmosphreic PM_(2. 5) and their components in two districts of Lanzhou City from 2015 to 2019

OBJECTIVE To analyse the variation of the fine particulate matter(PM_(2. 5)) concentration and its chemical composition in two districts of Lanzhou City from 2015 to 2019. METHODS From January 2015 to December 2019, two sampling points, namely residential district(Chengguan District) and industrial district(Xigu District) were selected in Lanzhou City, to collect PM_(2. 5) samples, and the mass concentrations, metals and metalloid elements, water-soluble ions and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) contents were determined. RESULTS A total of 838 samples were collected in Chengguan District and Xigu District in Lanzhou City during 2015-2019, the average annual mass concentration and the daily average concentration of the PM_(2. 5) were decreasing year by year(P<0. 05). The higher metal content in PM_(2. 5) were Al, Pb, Mn and As during 2015-2019. Sb, Al, As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Mn and Tl element content were higher in 2015 and 2016 than in other years(P<0. 05), the average annual concentration of As were 7. 92 and 8. 63 ng/m~3 respectively, which exceeded the reference concentration limit of the ambient air quality standard. The average annual mass concentration of Cr from 2015 to 2019 was much higher than the annual average reference concentration limit of the ambient air quality standard. From 2015 to 2019, except for 2018, the highest average concentration of PAHs in atmospheric PM_(2. 5) in the two districts of Lanzhou City was Ant, B(b)F and I(cd)P mass concentration were highest in 2015, N(a)P, FI, Ace, Phe, Ant, Flu, Pyr, B(k)F and B(a)P mass concentration were highest in 2017, Acy, Chr and B(ghi)P mass concentration were highest in 2018(P<0. 05). From 2017 to 2018, the average annual content of B(a)P in the two districts of Lanzhou City were 1. 16 and 1. 11 ng/m~3, respectively, which exceeded the annual average concentration limit of the ambient air quality standard. The concentration of Cl~- in PM_(2. 5) in the two districts of Lanzhou City was decreasing year by year, the annual average concentrations of SO~2-_4, NO~-_3 and NH~+_4 from 2017 to 2019 showed a downward trend year by year. SO~2-_4, Cl~- of both districts were the highest in 2015, and NO~-_3, NH~+_4 were the highest in 2017(P<0. 05). CONCLUSION The air quality of Lanzhou City has been improved obviously, but the pollution problem is still serious.
Absolute and comparative risk assessments: evidence for the utility of incorporating internal comparisons into models of risk perception.

Numerous health behavior models have emphasized absolute risk perceptions as prominent predictors of future behavior and intentions, but more recent research has shown that people also attend to co...
Death, long-term nursing home placement, and impoverishment after recurrent myocardial infarction

Abstract Study objective To determine whether recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with increased risk of mortality, long-term nursing home placement, and impoverishment. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting United States Medicare program. Participants Individuals age > 65 years with recurrent MI hospitalizations (n = 228,826) between January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2017 and controls with initial but not recurrent MI (n = 915,304). Main outcome measures Death, nursing home placement, and impoverishment (Medicaid enrollment or subsidies for low-income and -resource individuals) through December 31, 2017. Results In the recurrent MI and control cohorts, 47% and 41% of individuals were age > 80 years, respectively, and 56% of both cohorts were women. After 1 year, 48% of the recurrent MI cohort and 16% of the control cohort died, 9% and 7% experienced nursing home placement, and 4% and 2% experienced impoverishment. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) comparing the recurrent MI and control cohorts were 2.04 (2.03–2.06) for death, 0.89 (0.88–0.91) for nursing home placement, and 1.32 (1.28–1.36) for impoverishment. Conclusions Older US adults with recurrent MI had higher risk of death and impoverishment than controls who had experienced an initial MI. Unadjusted, recurrent MI was associated with higher risk of nursing home placement; however, after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and comorbidities, individuals with recurrent MI had slightly lower risk of nursing home placement. Preventing recurrent MI may also reduce the risk of death and impoverishment among older US adults.
Brands as personal narratives: learning from user–YouTube–brand interactions

This paper reports a three-stage study of user–brand interactions on YouTube. An initial exploration identified unique, previously unknown, constructs active in this context. Grounded hypotheses and scales were tested via two surveys separated by approximately 15 month; first survey taken pre-Covid was followed by a second survey in May 2021 (Covid-vaccine present environment). We report that YouTube usage is significantly shaped by feelings of social dread; users find comfort and fall into a YouTube rabbit hole, which leads them to a self-construal. Rooted in cognitive and emotional processes of self-construal, brands emerge as personal narratives. These narratives help users understand their history and personality; they provide a compelling basis for relating with others. The study produces new implications for future branding theories and practice reflective of the emerging reality of user–brand interactions on YouTube.
Effects of salinity on the microwave emission of soils

Controlled plot experiments were conducted to collect L and C band passive microwave data concurrent with ground observations of salinity and soil moisture. Two dielectric mixing models were used with an emission model to predict the emissivity from a bare smooth uniform profile. The models produce nearly identical results when near zero salinity is involved and reproduce the observed data at L band extremely well. Discrepancies at C band are attributed to sampling depth problems. Comparisons of predicted emissivities at various salinities with observed values indicate that the dynamic range of the emissivities can be explained using either of the dielectric mixing models. Evaluation of the entire data set, which included four salinity levels, indicates that for general application the effects of soil salinity can be ignored in interpreting microwave data for estimating soil moisture under most agricultural conditions.