cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes in DNA methylation over the growing season differ between North Carolina farmworkers and non-farmworkers

The occupational risk to farmworkers, particularly chronic exposure to pesticides, is an acknowledged environmental and work-related health problem. Epigenetics has recently been shown to contribute to a number of complex diseases and traits, including measures of cognitive function and preclinical neurodegenerative disease. We sought to determine whether changes in DNA methylation existed between farmworker and non-farmworker populations and to identify the genes most likely involved in those changes. Eighty-three farmworkers and 60 non-farmworkers were selected from PACE4, a community-based, participatory research project comparing occupational exposures between immigrant Latino farmworker and non-farmworker manual workers. Measurements of DNA methylation were performed with the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip, at the beginning and end of the 2012 growing season. Bonferroni adjustment was used to identify significant findings (p = 1.03 × 10−7, based on 485,000 tested methylation sites), although less stringent criteria (i.e., p ≤ 1 × 10−6) were used to identify sites of interest. Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) databases were used to help identify the most likely functional genes for each associated methylation site. Methylation at 36 CpG sites, located in or near 72 genes, differed between the two groups (p ≤ 1 × 10−6). The difference between the two groups was generally due to an increase in methylation in the farmworkers and a slight decrease in methylation in the non-farmworkers. Enrichment was observed in several biological pathways, including those involved in the immune response, as well as growth hormone signaling, role of BRCA1 in DNA damage response, p70S6K signaling, and PI3K signaling in B lymphocytes. We identified considerable changes in DNA methylation at 36 CpG sites over the growing season that differed between farmworkers and non-farmworkers. Dominant pathways included immune-related (HLA) processes, as well as a number of diverse biological systems. Further studies are necessary to determine which exposures or behaviors are responsible for the observed changes, and whether these changes eventually lead to disease-related phenotypes in this population.
A third-order high-Q SIW filter/antenna with two cavities and one integrated slot antenna

A high-Q 3-D filter/antenna integration is presented herein. The filter/antenna is composed of a surface gap ring resonator and a cavity-backed slot antenna, where the slot antenna has a narrower bandwidth than the filter causing it to behave as a resonator and contribute a pole to the filtering function. The filter/antenna operates at a center frequency of 3.75 GHz with a fractional bandwidth of 8.07%, a gain of 4.94 dBi, and overall efficiency of 95.4%.
Systematic effects of crime on hotel operating performance

Abstract We examine the systematic effects of crime on hotel operating performance based on data from a sample of 404 Houston hotels from January 2009 to December 2014. Econometric results show that Part I crime (i.e., violent and property crime) incidents have a significantly negative impact on hotel operating performance (measured by revenue per available room), ceteris paribus. Also, the marginal effect of crime declines as crime density level increases. Separate examinations of violent and property crimes show that they exert significant and negative impacts on hotel operating performance, with the impact of violent crimes being more substantial. In addition, the results reveal that both nighttime and daytime crime incidents significantly and negatively impact hotel operating performance. Finally, as evidenced by the insignificant impact of crime incidents occurring on hotel premises, the results suggest that hotels are generally effective at maintaining systematic security measures and preventing crime incidents from occurring.
The Effects of Heel Height on Head Position, Long-Term Average Spectra, and Perceptions of Female Singers

Female singers often wear high heels for auditions and performances. Heel height research in non-singing contexts indicates that wearing heels can affect body alignment and head position. Studies in orthodontics, sleep apnea, and voice science suggest that head and neck positioning can alter the vocal tract. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects, if any, of heel height (barefoot, 10.16-cm stilettos) on three angles of singer head position (calculated from C7-tragus-nasion), long-term average spectra data, and perceptual data (questionnaire) acquired from female (N = 30) soloists during alternating periods of silence and singing. Results indicated that all participants (100%) significantly decreased head position angle measurements (inferior and posterior head and neck movement) when singing in high heels compared with singing barefoot. Participants, on average, significantly increased head position angle measurements (superior and anterior head and neck movement) when singing compared with standing silently, and did so to a greater degree when transitioning from silent heels to singing heels compared with transitioning from silent barefoot to singing barefoot. Long-term average spectra data indicated significant spectral energy differences between barefoot and high heel singing conditions across participants. Most participants (n= 21, 70.00%) indicated they felt comfortable and sang their best while barefoot. Results of this study, the second in a series of experiments addressing the effects of shoe heel height on female singers' vocal production, were discussed in terms of application to vocal pedagogy and directions for future research.
Modified Cheeger and Ratio Cut Methods Using the Ginzburg-Landau Functional for Classification of High-Dimensional Data

Abstract : Recent advances in clustering have included continuous relaxations of the Cheeger cut problem and those which address its linear approximation using the graph Laplacian. In this paper, we show how to use the graph Laplacian to solve the fully nonlinear Cheeger cut problem, as well as the ratio cut optimization task. Both problems are connected to total variation minimization, and the related Ginzburg-Landau functional is used in the derivation of the methods. The graph framework discussed in this paper is undirected. The resulting algorithms are efficient ways to cluster thedata into two classes, and they can be easily extended to case of multiple classes, or used on a multiclass data set via recursive bipartitioning. In addition to showing results on benchmark data sets, we also show an application of the algorithm to hyperspectral video data.
MATHEMATICAL SIMULATION OF HALOCARBON DISTRIBUTIONS IN BOSTON HARBOR.

In an effort to better understand the sources and transport of effluents, a combined modeling and field measurement program has been initiated. The modeling uses a pair of 2-D (depth-averaged) finite element models (one to compute circulation and one to compute transport) plus a number of supporting programs to facilitate grid generation, model interfacing, and plotting. Field measurements are made of a suite of volatile halocarbons discharged with the sewage effluent from the Deer and Nut Is. treatments plants and are used for model calibration. This paper reports on early results in a continuing study.
Deferring Routine Wrist Radiography Does Not Affect Management of de Quervain Tendinopathy Patients

Background Obtaining wrist radiographs prior to surgeon evaluation may be wasteful for patients ultimately diagnosed with de Quervain tendinopathy (DQT). Questions/Purpose Our primary question was whether radiographs directly influence treatment of patients presenting with DQT. A secondary question was whether radiographs influence the frequency of injection and surgical release between cohorts with and without radiographs evaluated within the same practice. Patients and Methods Patients diagnosed with DQT by fellowship-trained hand surgeons at an urban academic medical center were identified retrospectively. Basic demographics and radiographic findings were tabulated. Clinical records were studied to determine whether radiographic findings corroborated history or physical examination findings, and whether management was directly influenced by radiographic findings. Frequencies of treatment with injection and surgery were separately tabulated and compared between cohorts with and without radiographs. Results We included 181 patients (189 wrists), with no differences in demographics between the 58% (110 wrists) with and 42% (79 wrists) without radiographs. Fifty (45%) of imaged wrists demonstrated one or more abnormalities; however, even for the 13 (12%) with corroborating history and physical examination findings, wrist radiography did not directly influence a change in management for any patient in this series. No difference was observed in rates of injection or surgical release either upon initial presentation, or at most recent documented follow-up, between those with and without radiographs. No differences in frequency, types, or total number of additional simultaneous surgical procedures were observed for those treated surgically. Conclusion Wrist radiography does not influence management of patients presenting DQT. Level of Evidence This is a level III, diagnostic study.
Single-molecule-sensitive fluorescence resonance energy transfer in freely-diffusing attoliter droplets

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from individual, dye-labeled RNA molecules confined in freely-diffusing attoliter-volume aqueous droplets is carefully compared to FRET from unconfined RNA in solution. The use of freely-diffusing droplets is a remarkably simple and high-throughput technique that facilitates a substantial increase in signal-to-noise for single-molecular-pair FRET measurements. We show that there can be dramatic differences between FRET in solution and in droplets, which we attribute primarily to an altered pH in the confining environment. We also demonstrate that a sufficient concentration of a non-ionic surfactant mitigates this effect and restores FRET to its neutral-pH solution value. At low surfactant levels, even accounting for pH, we observe differences between the distribution of FRET values in solution and in droplets which remain unexplained. Our results will facilitate the use of nanoemulsion droplets as attoliter volume reactors for use in biophysical and biochemical assays, and also in applications such as protein crystallization or nanoparticle synthesis, where careful attention to the pH of the confined phase is required.
Small unmanned aircraft system (SUAS) automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) like surveillance concept of operations: A path forward for small UAS surveillance

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) are becoming more common in the National Airspace System (NAS). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) forecasts SUAS growth to be over 2.69 million by 2020 [1]. The majority of these operations are expected to occur below 400 feet above ground level. Due to the clutter of SUAS operations, a surveillance system will likely be required to help SUAS operators avoid collisions with other aircraft and eventually, to help integrate these operations into the National Airspace. A concept for such a SUAS surveillance service is presented in this paper. A surveillance solution concept is proposed that leverages Automatic Dependent Surveillance — Broadcast (ADS-B) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks to provide ADS-B like services to SUAS. Using both networks enables surveillance coverage at low altitude that is able to be integrated with existing FAA surveillance services. This paper describes the need for a new SUAS surveillance service, a set of use cases for that service, and proposes a conceptual system solution, referred to as ‘Vigilant’. The Vigilant proposal includes the use of a new ADS-B frequency for air-to-air communications, a concept for leveraging the LTE network, and new surveillance message content specific to SUAS operations. Future research needs are discussed to expand on the concept, furthering the capability of the system to support SUAS operations. The Vigilant SUAS surveillance communication concept will enable the safe and efficient integration of SUAS into the NAS.
Performance of Viscous Damping in Inelastic Seismic Analysis of Moment-Frame Buildings

This report investigates the performance of several viscous damping formulations in the inelastic seismic response of moment-frame buildings. The evaluation employs a detailed model of a 20-story steel building. Damping schemes included in the study are Rayleigh, condensed Rayleigh, Wilson-Penzien, two versions of tangent Rayleigh and one implementation of capped damping. Caughey damping is found not to be computationally viable. Differences among the damping schemes, as quantified by amounts of plastic hinge rotations and story drifts, become noticeable once these quantities reach the 3% level. In order of least to greatest hinge rotations and drifts that occur under lateral response to horizontal ground motion, the damping schemes rank as Rayleigh (most damping action), condensed Rayleigh, Wilson-Penzien, the standard form of tangent Rayleigh and capped damping, which are about the same, and the elastic velocity version of tangent Rayleigh (least damping action). Performance of Rayleigh damping under vertical ground motion is discussed, including the effect of soil-structure interaction. The propensity of Rayleigh damping to generate excessive damping forces and moments during inelastic seismic analysis is explained, and a parameter is introduced that can predict the potential magnitude of the effect. A review of some literature on the role of viscous damping on the inelastic seismic response of moment frames is also presented.
Biological Consequences of Guanine Starvation

One of the first effects of guanine starvation is a drastic inhibition of DNA synthesis. The DNA inhibition is associated with guanine, rather than adenine, nucleotide depletion [2]. Moreover, the DNA inhibition was found to be associated with GTP, rather than dGTP, depletion [1]. This was demonstrated with the use of mouse lymphoma S49 wild-type and HGPRT-ase negative mutants: DNA synthesis inhibition by mycophenolic acid (resulting in guanine nucleotide starvation by IMP dehydrogenase inhibition) in the mutant cells was not reversed by selectively establishing normal or elevated dGTP levels with exogenous deoxyguanosine (dGuo) (see metabolic pathways in Fig. 1). The same phenomenon was observed in two other cell lines (mouse L1210 and human CCRF-CEM, wild type and HGPRT-ase negative) [3], which suggests a more general applicability of the finding that DNA synthesis inhibition by guanine starvation is independent of the total dGTP cellular pool size.
Genetic Events in Radiation-Induced Thyroid Cancer

Exposure to ionizing radiation is a well-established risk factor for a number of human solid neoplasms and hematologic malignancies. Among them, thyroid cancer is a striking example of tumors that have a well-documented association with both medical/therapeutic and accidental environmental types of radiation exposure. Here, I would like to review what we have learned over the last decade about the genetic events associated with radiation-induced carcinogenesis in the thyroid gland.
Proteolytic processing of LRP2 on RPE cells regulates BMP activity to control eye size and refractive error

Mutations in LRP2, a transmembrane receptor, cause ocular enlargement and high-myopia. LRP2 is expressed by the RPE and eye ciliary epithelia, binding many extracellular ligands, including Bmp4 and Shh. Signaling mediated by LRP2 is very context-dependent, and how multiple pathways are coordinated is unknown. Transcriptome analyses of ocular tissues revealed that controlled, sustained BMP signaling from the RPE is critical for normal eye growth and emmetropia (proper refraction). Using zebrafish, we demonstrate that BACE sheddase-dependent LRP2 cleavage produces a soluble domain that binds BMP4, inhibiting its signaling. We propose that controlled proteolytic cleavage of LRP2 makes two ligand-binding receptor forms available: a soluble BMP trap, and a membrane-bound RPE signaling facilitator. By modulating LRP2 cleavage, cells can fine-tune and coordinate multiple signaling pathways, as well as growth and turnover of the extracellular matrix, control of which is important to maintain proper eye size. This data supports the concept that LRP2 acts as a homeostasis node that buffers and integrates diverse signaling to regulate emmetropic eye growth.
Perceived Distance between Vowel Stimuli.

Abstract: The principles underlying the perception of vowel stimuli are investigated. Chistovich (1971) claims that when judging the distance between synthetic vowel stimuli, speakers make reference to the phonemic structure of their native language as the basis of their judgements, i.e. speakers determine which phonemes are closest to the stimuli and then compare the phonemes and not the stimuli themselves. The experiment reported here tested this hypothesis. Native speakers of Danish and English judged the difference between synthetic vowel stimuli, and the judgements patterned according to the phonemic structures of the respective languages. The results support Chistovich’s hypothesis.
On the pathogenesis of mitochondrial myopathies. An experimental study.

The intra-arterial injection of 2–4 dinitrophenol, an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation, resulted in the production of ragged red fibers. The ultrastructure of these fibers showed intramitochondrial paracrystalline inclusions, laminar and fingerprint bodies. Antimycin A and oligomycin injection (which inhibit mitochondrial respiration) only caused swelling and disruption of the mitochondria. An increase in muscle lactic acid, decrease in ATP, glycogen and phosphocreatine was observed after the injection of all these agents. This indicates that lactic acidosis has no significant role in the pathogenesis of mitochondrial pathology. It is concluded that mitochondrial changes are a morphological expression of uncopuled but intact mitochondrial respiration.
The Stratford Shakespeare Festival 2012

Review of Shakespeare's Henry V (directed by Des McAnuff for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival) at the Festival Theatre, 24 July 2012Review of Shakespeare's Cymbeline (directed by Antoni Cimolino ...
Measuring Geographic Distribution for Political Research

Political scientists are increasingly interested in the geographic distribution of political and economic phenomena. Unlike distribution measures at the individual level, geographic distributions depend on the “unit question” in which researchers choose the appropriate political subdivision to analyze, such as nations, subnational regions, urban and rural areas, or electoral districts. We identify concerns with measuring geographic distribution and comparing distributions within and across political units. In particular, we highlight the potential for threats to inference based on the modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP), whereby measuring concepts at different unit aggregations alters the observed value. We offer tangible options for researchers to improve their research design and data analysis to limit the MAUP. To help manage the measurement error when the unit of observation is unclear or appropriate data are not available, we introduce a new measure of geographic distribution that accounts for fluctuations in the scale and number of political units considered. We demonstrate using Monte Carlo simulations that our measure is more reliable and stable across political units than commonly used indicators because it reduces measurement fluctuations associated with the MAUP.
Hydrothermal synthesis of lanthanide rhenium oxides: Structures and magnetism of Ln2Re2O7(OH) (Ln = Pr, Nd) and Ln4Re2O11 (Ln = Eu, Tb)

Abstract The reactions of Ln2O3 (Ln = La Lu) with ReO2 were examined in high temperature hydrothermal water (650 °C). In all cases the rhenium oxide was added in a three-fold excess. No external mineralizer was needed and the rhenate itself acted as a sufficient mineralizer to form high quality single crystals of several crystalline products. These form in good yield with compositions varying as a function of the size of the rare earth ion. The largest sesquioxide, La2O3, forms the well-known La4Re6O19 phase, but when Ln = Nd or Pr, a new product, Ln2Re2O7(OH), is isolated. Reactions with Ln = Sm Tb form Ln4Re2O11, and those with Dy Lu form Ln2ReO5. The new Ln2Re2O7(OH) series was characterized as a new structure type by single crystal X-ray diffraction. This structure features a tetrameric Re4O16 cluster embedded in a lanthanide oxide framework. Additional detailed structural data is also provided for Tb4Re2O11 and Eu4Re2O11, which were not previously reported for the Ln4Re2O11 family. In Ln2Re2O7(OH), no direct Re Re bond (Re Re = 2.60 A) is observed while Ln4Re2O11 appears to possess a rhenium-rhenium double bond with a Re Re distance of 2.42 A. Single crystal Raman data supports both of these characterizations. Magnetic data is reported for Ln2Re2O7(OH) and Tb4Re2O11, and their behavior appears to be dominated by the f-element magnetic moments. At low temperatures Tb4Re2O11 displays possible canted antiferromagnetic coupling.
An Empirical Study of Amide-Heteroarene π-Stacking Interactions Using Reversible Inhibitors of a Bacterial Serine Hydrolase

Compared to aryl–aryl π-stacking interactions, the analogous stacking of heteroarenes on amide π systems is less well understood and vastly underutilized in structure-based drug design. Recent theoretical studies have delineated the important geometric coordinates of the interaction, some of which have been confirmed with synthetic model systems based on Rebek imides. Unfortunately, a broadly useful and tractable protein–ligand model system of this interaction has remained elusive. Here we employed a known inhibitor scaffold to study π-stacking of diverse heteroarene substituents on the amide face of Gly238 in the cephalosporinases CTX-M-14 and CTX-M-27. Biochemical inhibition constants (Ki) and biophysical binding constants (Kd) were determined for nineteen new analogues against both enzymes, while multiple high-resolution co-crystal structures revealed remarkably consistent placement of the probe heteroarene on Gly238. The data presented support the predicted importance of opposing dipoles in amide–heteroarene interactions and should be useful for evaluating other theoretical predictions concerning these interactions.
Axiomatizability of homological classes of semimodules over semirings

In this paper, we characterize semirings over which classes of projective, strongly projective, free, and injective semimodules are axiomatizable. Together with injectivity, we consider the concept...
Variation of Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Salmonella Isolated From Honduran Meat and Poultry Products

ObjectivesTo compare and characterize the antimicrobial resistance and multidrug resistance patterns of Salmonella isolates obtained from Honduras based on the source of isolation.Materials and MethodsA total of 134 Salmonella isolates from Honduras were subjected to phenotypical antimicrobial resistance analysis for 14 antibiotics from 9 different antibiotic classes. The isolates were collected from different sources, including beef cattle during harvesting (n = 78), poultry (n = 26) and retail beef (n = 30). Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) analysis was conducted following the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) protocol. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were obtained using the Sensititre OptiRead system and Sensititre software SWIN (V3.3). Results were categorized as susceptible, intermediate or resistant according to the revised Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) breakpoints.ResultsA total of 22% (30/134) of the isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR), which indicates resistance to at least 3 or more classes of antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance patterns of all Salmonella isolates were analyzed detecting difference among antibiotics (p < 0.05). The results indicate that Salmonella had higher resistance (p < 0.05) to cefoxitin antibiotic with 25% (34/134), followed by amoxicillin-clavulinic acid at 23% (31/134), ampicillin, gentamicin and streptomycin with 19% (25/134), and ciprofloxacin with 16% (21/134). Moreover, Salmonella showed 13% (18/134) resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 12% (16/134) to nalidixic acid, 10% (14/134) to tetracycline, and 8% (11/134) to azithromycin. Futhermore, resistance of 4% (6/134) was found for ceftiofur, ceftriaxone, and chloramphenicol. In contrast, all Salmonella isolates exhibited susceptibility to the sulfisoxazole antibiotic. MDR patterns were found to be significantly different (p < 0.05) among isolate source. Salmonella isolates from retail beef trim had the highest multidrug resistance patterns (p < 0.05) with 57% (17/30), followed by beef cattle during harvesting 15% (12/78) and poultry sources with 4% (1/26).ConclusionHigh levels of MDR were found in retail meat products originated from Honduras, suggesting a risk and public health concern to consumers. Resistant pathogens and resistance genes could potentially be transmitted from the final products to humans and bacteria using several transmission routes. Cross contamination in wet markets could result in transfer and spreading of MDR Salmonella among consumers. The reduction of antibiotic use in the Honduran animal industry may reduce and limit Salmonella antibiotic resistance patterns in animal products.
A Simple Model for the High Temperature Oxidation Kinetics of Silicon Nanoparticle Aggregates

Silicon nanoparticles are an emerging and promising material in many fields including electronics, catalysis, and biomaterial engineering. Synthesis in the gas phase via aerosol routes allows tuning and engineering material features such as primary particle size distribution, agglomerate size distribution, crystallite size, and morphology. Proper control of these features as well as post-synthesis processing such as surface oxidation is very relevant for making the nanoparticles chemically stable. Therefore, a kinetic expression for determining the extent of oxidation in silicon nanoparticles is necessary. Significant work has been devoted to understanding the kinetics of monocrystalline silicon, and generally accepted models such as the one by Deal and Grove provide a very accurate description of bulk silicon oxidation. However, these models are not as accurate for the first hundreds of angstroms of the oxidation. While this might be acceptable for bulk wafers, it has critical results for silicon nanoparticles with diameters around such range. Furthermore, many applications involve silicon nanoparticle aggregates with a shape far away from perfect spheres. For this reason, in this work, we propose an expression for the parabolic oxidation kinetics of polycrystalline silicon nanoparticle aggregates at 1000 °C with surface area in the range of 3 to 19 m2/g. and crystallite sizes from 50 to 70 nm. The activation energy of the process is also reported to be linked to the crystallite size.
Typical knots: size, link component count, and writhe

We model the typical behavior of knots and links using grid diagrams. Links are ubiquitous in the sciences, and their "normal" or "typical" behavior is of significant importance in understanding situations such as the topological state of DNA or the statistical mechanics of ring polymers. We examine three invariants: the expected size of a random knot; the expected number of components of a random link; and the expected writhe of a random knot. We investigate the first two numerically and produce generating functions which codify the observed patterns: knot size is uniformly distributed and linearly dependent upon grid size, and the number of components follows a distribution whose mean and variance grow with log_2 of grid size; in particular, for any fixed k, the k-component links grow vanishingly rare as grid size increases. Finally, we observe that the odd moments of writhe vanish, and we perform an exploratory data analysis to discover that variance grows with the square of grid size and kurtosis is constant at approximately 3.5. We continue this project in a future work, where we investigate genus and the effects of crossing change on it.
Respecting the Rights of the Child in Sports: Not an Option

The Rights of the Child have been universally recognized for three decades through the adoption of the UN (Convention on the rights of the child. United Nations, Geneva, 1989) Convention on the Rights of the Child, but awareness about this international human rights treaty and its implementation remain extremely weak in the field of competitive sports. There is no doubt that the practice of competitive sports can greatly advance the sound and holistic development of every child. Nevertheless, sports also potentially carry grey zones and dark sides that can result in the violation of the rights of children. Practice shows that young athletes can become victims of various types of abuse, exploitation, violence, and injury. Violations of other rights can also affect children in sports, such as the right to be free from discrimination; right to health, including to be protected from doping practices; and right to education. The rights of the child are not optional; they are a legal obligation in all countries that have ratified the Convention, and sports cannot escape this reality. Policies, legislation, safeguards, and institutions need to be adapted to comply with minimum standards and requirements of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to ensure that sports remain a positive experience for every child. There needs to be more awareness raising, training, advocacy, independent monitoring, and enforcement of the rights of the child in the context of competitive sports. School psychologists can play a lead role in this regard.
An Assessment of Hip Strength, Patient Reported Outcomes, and Plasma Inflammatory Biomarkers After Surgical Correction for Symptomatic Femoroacetabular Impingement:

Objectives:Patients with Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) have been shown to have elevated circulating biomarkers of inflammation and cartilage catabolism, but little is known about whether corre...
Embodying Industrialization: Inequality, Structural Violence, Disease, and Stress in Working-Class and Poor British Women

Industrialization in the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century United Kingdom (UK) created a demand for an able-bodied workforce, with the result of an increased mobilization of state-controlled improvements in hygiene and health-care access, especially for working-class (e.g., “laboring class”) women. However, public health and hygiene legislation was characterized by contradictory discourses regarding the extent of the state’s responsibility in caring for the body politic and social anxieties over the regulation of working-class women’s bodies. Historical records indicate that inequality and structural violence played a critical role in the marginalization and institutionalization of working-class women’s bodies, creating health disparities between the socioeconomic strata, especially in rates of morbidity and mortality. However, our understanding of the direct biological outcomes for working-class women’s bodies from the interplay of embodied inequality and structural violence, manifesting as increased allostatic load, and public health policies and practices remains limited. Taking a life-course approach, we examine relationships between disease conditions and oral stress markers in adult females from seven skeletal collections across the UK who derived from low to middle socioeconomic status communities. Results of this study suggest a negative synergy between early life health indicators and diseases among all populations but that working-class women outside London experienced a higher risk for increased allostatic load over their life course related to noninfectious conditions, specifically rickets and scurvy, than did those within London.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage as a rescue therapy for unresectable malignant biliary obstruction: a multicenter experience.

Background Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is often unsuccessful in patients with duodenal stenosis or malignant ampullary infiltration. While endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has been proposed as an alternative, EUS-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) is an attractive option when both approaches fail. We aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of EUS-GBD as rescue therapy for malignant distal bile duct obstruction. Methods A multicenter retrospective study was performed on patients with unresectable malignant distal bile duct obstruction who underwent EUS-GBD between 2014 and 2019 after unsuccessful ERCP and EUS-BD. Clinical success was defined as a decrease in serum bilirubin of > 50 % within 2 weeks. Results 28 patients were included, with a lumen-apposing metal stent used in 26 (93 %) and a self-expandable metal stent in two (7 %). The technical success rate was 100 %. The clinical success rate was 93 %, with an improvement in bilirubin (7.3 [SD 5.4] pre-procedure vs. 2.8 [SD 1.1] post-procedure; P = 0.001). Delayed adverse events included food impaction of the stent (n = 3), with a further two patients developing cholecystitis and bleeding. Conclusion This study demonstrates the feasibility of gallbladder drainage to relieve malignant distal bile duct obstruction in patients with failed ERCP and EUS-BD.
Mental toughness measures: A systematic review of measurement properties for practitioners

Mental toughness (MT) is a critical component of athletic success in sports. Several different scales have been developed to evaluate MT; however, it is unknown which of these is the best measure. ...
Distinguishing cellular respiration vs. oxidative stress in turbid media using UV-excited autofluorescence spectroscopy

The reduced pyridine-nucleotides nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) are ubiquitous metabolic cofactors playing significant, distinct roles in cellular metabolism. NADH and NADPH are primarily involved in cellular respiration and in maintaining antioxidant defenses, respectively, however their nearly identical fluorescence properties (the abbreviation NAD(P)H denotes this uncertainty) pose a challenge when interpreting and distinguishing autofluorescence signals. For sensing in turbid media such as tissue, additional challenges include the presence of multiple scattering, intrinsic absorption, and background fluorescence. Here, we assess an approach for distinguishing cellular-respiration and oxidative-stress responses when sensed in turbid media. Spectral phasor analysis, an analytical approach originally developed for the rapid segmentation of hyperspectral images, has been used on UV-excited autofluorescence for the real time monitoring of cellular NAD(P)H conformation. We showed previously that the spectral response to chemicals affecting NADH and NADPH pathways, e.g., in response to cyanide and hydrogen peroxide, does not follow two-component behavior and so could be distinguished in cell-only preparations. Here, we demonstrate pathway-level sensing in turbid media by monitoring the metabolic response of yeast cells embedded in a source for background emission. The distinguishability of UV-excited autofluorescence spectra to chemical perturbations affecting cellular respiration and oxidative stress are compared with previously reported cell-only observations.
Associations of Serum Nonesterified Fatty Acids With Coronary Heart Disease Mortality and Nonfatal Myocardial Infarction: The CHS (Cardiovascular Health Study) Cohort

Background Significant associations have been reported between serum total nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality and incident nonfatal myocardial...
Next-generation Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor BIIB091 selectively and potently inhibits B cell and Fc receptor signaling and downstream functions in B cells and myeloid cells.

Objectives Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) plays a non-redundant signaling role downstream of the B-cell receptor (BCR) in B cells and the receptors for the Fc region of immunoglobulins (FcR) in myeloid cells. Here, we characterise BIIB091, a novel, potent, selective and reversible small-molecule inhibitor of BTK. Methods BIIB091 was evaluated in vitro and in vivo in preclinical models and in phase 1 clinical trial. Results In vitro, BIIB091 potently inhibited BTK-dependent proximal signaling and distal functional responses in both B cells and myeloid cells with IC50s ranging from 3 to 106 nm, including antigen presentation to T cells, a key mechanism of action thought to be underlying the efficacy of B cell-targeted therapeutics in multiple sclerosis. BIIB091 effectively sequestered tyrosine 551 in the kinase pocket by forming long-lived complexes with BTK with t1/2 of more than 40 min, thereby preventing its phosphorylation by upstream kinases. As a key differentiating feature of BIIB091, this property explains the very potent whole blood IC50s of 87 and 106 nm observed with stimulated B cells and myeloid cells, respectively. In vivo, BIIB091 blocked B-cell activation, antibody production and germinal center differentiation. In phase 1 healthy volunteer trial, BIIB091 inhibited naive and unswitched memory B-cell activation, with an in vivo IC50 of 55 nm and without significant impact on lymphoid or myeloid cell survival after 14 days of dosing. Conclusion Pharmacodynamic results obtained in preclinical and early clinical settings support the advancement of BIIB091 in phase 2 clinical trials.
Infusion Complexity: Understanding the Need to Measure Infusion Success of Advanced Technologies into Complex Systems

When a technology is deemed ready to be infused into a legacy or parent system, the infusion process becomes complicated and it is difficult to measure the success of that infusion. This paper concentrates on that infusion and introduces the concept of “infusion complexity.” The complexity at the interface of a new technology’s infusion into a legacy system can contribute to the success and smooth the transition of it into an integrated system. In contrast, it can create unforeseen emergent behavior and challenges in the infusion problem. Therefore, it is critical to gain deep knowledge and assess the complexity of the two complex systems’ infusion to help reveal their success or lack thereof. Because minimal written research exists involving technology infusion into complex systems, a more thorough study is needed. A literature survey was performed and sets the landscape for what has currently been accomplished. The topics researched include technology readiness and assessment, integration and system readiness, technology infusion in complex systems, engineering change, and associated research. Overall, this paper communicates the need to understand and measure the success of infusing a new or advanced technology into a complex system. This research could help project managers and system mangers integrate new technologies more effectively and efficiently.
Investigating PLGA microparticle swelling behavior reveals an interplay of expansive intermolecular forces

This study analyzes the swelling behavior of native, unmodified, spherically uniform, monodisperse poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles in a robust high-throughput manner. This work contributes to the complex narrative of PLGA microparticle behavior and release mechanisms by complementing and extending previously reported studies on intraparticle microenvironment, degradation, and drug release. Microfluidically produced microparticles are incubated under physiological conditions and observed for 50 days to generate a profile of swelling behavior. Microparticles substantially increase in size after 15 days, continue increasing for 30 days achieving size dependent swelling indices between 49 and 83%. Swelling capacity is found to correlate with pH. Our study addresses questions such as onset, duration, swelling index, size dependency, reproducibility, and causal mechanistic forces surrounding swelling. Importantly, this study can serve as the basis for predictive modeling of microparticle behavior and swelling capacity, in addition to providing clues as to the microenvironmental conditions that encapsulated material may experience.
Telephone Patient Navigation Increases Follow-Up Hepatitis B Care in the Postpartum Period for Immigrants Living in New York City

Hepatitis B is a major public health threat which leads to serious liver disease or cancer and disproportionately impacts immigrants. Pregnant people are routinely tested for hepatitis B to prevent perinatal transmission but may themselves not receive appropriate education and referrals. People contacted as part of the local health department’s perinatal hepatitis B prevention program were offered culturally appropriate telephone patient navigation services to test if this would improve adherence with postpartum hepatitis B care. Four-hundred and nine people were enrolled in the intervention. Using laboratory-reported surveillance data as the outcome measure, those receiving the intervention were 1.66 times as likely to see a hepatitis B care provider within 6 months of childbirth compared with those who did not. Culturally appropriate patient navigation can improve adherence with recommended hepatitis B care in the postpartum period. Health departments can use similar interventions to address liver health disparities in immigrant populations.
Benchmarking sequencing methods and tools that facilitate the study of alternative polyadenylation.

Alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (APA), an RNA processing event, occurs in over 70% of human protein-coding genes. APA results in mRNA transcripts with distinct 3′ ends. Most APA occurs within 3′ UTRs, which harbor regulatory elements that can impact mRNA stability, translation, and localization. APA can be profiled using a number of established computational tools that infer polyadenylation sites from standard, short-read RNA-seq datasets. Here, we benchmarked a number of such tools—TAPAS, QAPA, DaPars2, GETUTR, and APATrap— against 3′-Seq, a specialized RNA-seq protocol that enriches for reads at the 3′ ends of genes, and Iso-Seq, a Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) single-molecule full-length RNA-seq method in their ability to identify polyadenylation sites and quantify polyadenylation site usage. We demonstrate that 3′-Seq and Iso-Seq are able to identify and quantify the usage of polyadenylation sites more reliably than computational tools that take short-read RNA-seq as input. However, we find that running one such tool, QAPA, with a set of polyadenylation site annotations derived from small quantities of 3′-Seq or Iso-Seq can reliably quantify variation in APA across conditions, such asacross genotypes, as demonstrated by the successful mapping of alternative polyadenylation quantitative trait loci (apaQTL). We envisage that our analyses will shed light on the advantages of studying APA with more specialized sequencing protocols, such as 3′-Seq or Iso-Seq, and the limitations of studying APA with short-read RNA-seq. We provide a computational pipeline to aid in the identification of polyadenylation sites and quantification of polyadenylation site usages using Iso-Seq data as input.
Thermal ecology and the relationship between temperature and sprint speed in adult females Paruroctonus marksi (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae)

Abstract In terrestrial ectotherms, body temperatures have a pronounced effect on their physiological processes and life history traits. This study was conducted to determine what the thermal preferences of adult female scorpions, Paruroctonus marksi, are and whether their body temperature influences their escape behavior. There was a significant difference between the mean diurnal (26.11 ± 0.317 °C) and nocturnal (28.55 ± 0.439 °C) body temperatures. Furthermore, each P. marksi sprint speed was tested at 18, 22, 28, 37 °C respectively. Ideal sprint speed fell within the range of chosen body temperatures. The highest sprint speed (8.42 ± 0.483 cm/s) recorded in this study was at 28 °C; however, their sprint speed was slower at the higher temperature range (37 °C). We can conclude that these scorpions select temperatures that maximize their survival chances when it comes to sprinting abilities.
Rural America and Global Restructuring Information and Rural Change

ABSTRACT Rural America has disadvantages of distance, scale, and weak linkages, which are further exacerbated by global economic restructuring. These disadvantages are manifest in the increasing urban rural differentiation, including higher rates of poverty and increasing cultural clashes. The nature of work in rural areas, as it is both experienced and perceived, shape the possibilities of rural areas to generate and control change. Both information and new institutions to provide the education to utilize it are needed. Delivery of information and education must take into account the great diversity of rural America and the growing inequality within it.
The Sword in the Stone: The Arts as Harbingers of Social Change

Artists have been often been criticized by their scientific brethren for a lack of perceived current utility in their work. One potentially useful response to the issue of present value is through the use of historical analysis of art as a means for anticipating major social transformations. The thesis of this article is that Art, besides being representative of the Zeitgeist or spirit of its time, may well be an effective progenitor of coming significant social upheavals. The paper employs as a methodology comparison of historical waves of social change with pre-period artistic expression. Additionally, the legend of King Arthur’s removal of the magic sword Excalibur from a stone is employed as an artistic and social metaphor for Art as providing an unconventional view of the future. Example findings include art as a portent of impending social change, current movement into a new transitional period of change, and the non-linearity of both artistic and social changes.
Immediate Loading of the Maxilla with Prefabricated Interim Prosthesis Using Interactive Planning Software, and CAD/CAM Rehabilitation with Definitive Zirconia Prosthesis: 2‐Year Clinical Follow‐up

Immediate loading in implant dentistry has provided several advantages for both patients and clinicians. Recent advances in computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology, medical imaging and rapid prototyping have added to the armamentarium of implant dentistry in terms of efficiency, accuracy and predictability. Rapid prototyping and CAD/CAM technology are used to fabricate stereolithographic surgical templates for flapless implant placement. In addition to that, this technology is also used for the fabrication of zirconia frameworks. The zirconia-based implant restorations are gaining popularity in implant prosthodontics combining esthetic properties with strength and biocompatibility. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the steps for implant rehabilitation of the edentulous maxilla with zirconia prosthesis and report the 2-year clinical follow-up of novel technological advances in surgical placement, provisionalization and fabrication of a definitive restoration. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE A comprehensive approach to full mouth implant rehabilitation using cutting edge technology is illustrated in a simplified manner. (J Esthet Restor Dent 22:223–234, 2010)