cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunoreactive forms of human erythrocyte ankyrin are present in diverse cells and tissues

Ankyrin is a polypeptide of molecular weight (MW) 200,000 which is tightly bound to the cytoplasmic surface of the human erythrocyte membrane and has been identified as the high-affinity membrane attachment protein for spectrin1–3. This protein has also been shown to be associated with band 3 (ref. 4), the major transmembrane protein in erythrocytes. Ankyrin is thus an example of a polypeptide which links a cytoplasmic structural protein to an integral membrane protein. A water-soluble, 72,000-MW, proteolytic fragment of ankyrin has been purified which retains the ability to bind to spectrin, and competitively inhibits reassociation of spectrin with membranes5. Monospecific antibodies directed against this fragment have been prepared1 and demonstrated to cross-react only with ankyrin among the erythrocyte membrane proteins1,4. The present study reports the use of these antibodies to develop a radioimmunoassay capable of detecting femtomolar quantities of ankyrin, and demonstrates the presence of small but significant amounts of immunoreactivity in a variety of types of cells and tissues.
A comparison of adaptive and nonadaptive filters for reduction of power line interference in the ECG

We have investigated the relative performance of an adaptive and nonadaptive 60-Hz notch filter applied to an ECG signal. We evaluated the performance of the two implementations with respect to adaptation rate (or transient response time), signal distortion, and implementation complexity. We also investigated the relative effect of adaptive and nonadaptive 60-Hz filtering on ECG data compression. With a 360 Hz sample rate and an adaptation time of approximately 0.3 s for a 1 mV 60-Hz signal, the adaptive implementation is less complex and introduces less noise, particularly in the ST-segment, into a typical ECG signal. When applied to ECG signals, prior to data compression by average beat subtraction and residual differencing, the residual signal resulting from the adaptively filtered signal had an average entropy 0.31 bits per sample (bps) lower than the unfiltered signal. The nonadaptive 60-Hz filter produced an average entropy decrease of 0.08 bps relative to the unfiltered ECG.
A rare case of gamma knife-induced smoking cessation in a patient with a vestibular schwannoma

AbstractObjective. We report a rare case of a patient with a vestibular schwanomma who underwent gamma knife irradiation and subsequently lost unilateral taste sensation. As a result, the patient ceased smoking.
A new species of Spauligodon (Nematoda: Oxyuroidea: Pharyngodonidae) in Latastia longicaudata (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Kenya.

Abstract A new species of Spauligodon, Spauligodon latasticola n. sp., from the intestines of Latastia longicaudata (Lacertidae) from Kenya is described and illustrated. Spauligodon latasticola represents the 47th species assigned to the genus and the 8th species from the Ethiopian region. The new species differs from all but 2 other species assigned to Spauligodon by the presence of a conically tapering tail in the female. The new species is separated from the 2 similar species, Spauligodon garciaprietoi and Spauligodon goldbergi, by the position of the vulva, which is anterior to the esophageal bulb in the new species, at the level of the esophageal bulb in S. goldbergi, and posterior to the esophageal bulb in S. garciaprietoi.
Linear static analysis and finite element modeling for laminated composite plates using third order shear deformation theory

In this paper, deformations of a laminated composite plate due to mechanical loads are presented. Third order shear deformation theory of plates, which is categorized in equivalent single layer theories, is used to derive linear dynamic equations of a rectangular multi-layered composite plate. Moreover, derivation of equations for FEM and numerical solutions for displacements and stress distributions of different points of the plate with a sinusoidal distributed mechanical load for Navier type boundary conditions are presented.
Secure Opportunistic Data Retrievals in Challenged Environments

Mobile nodes in some challenging network scenarios suffer from intermittent connectivity and frequent partitions e.g. battlefield and disaster recovery scenarios. Disruption tolerant network (DTN) technologies are designed to enable nodes in such environments to communicate with one another. Several DTN routing schemes have been proposed. However, very few work has been done on providing information access in such challenging network scenarios. In an earlier work, we studied information retrieval schemes for single-attribute queries in DTNs. Our schemes disseminate replicated data copies and queries to local-neighborhood. To deploy such a system, security issues need to be dealt with. In this paper, we describe a data-centric security solution for opportunistic data retrievals in challenged environments. We first describe our solution, then we describe a preliminary implementation that we have built.
Sensitivity of software usage to changes in the operational profile

In this paper we present a methodology for uncertainty analysis of the software operational profile suitable for large complex component-based applications and applicable throughout the software life cycle. Within this methodology, we develop a method for studying the sensitivity of software usage to changes in the operational profile based on perturbation theory. This method is then illustrated on three case studies: software developed for the European Space Agency, an e-commerce application, and real-time control software. Results show that components with small execution rates are the most sensitive to the changes in the operational profile. This observation is very important due to the fact that rarely executed components usually handle critical functionalities such as exception handling or recovery.
Highly Porous Geopolymers Through Templating and Surface Interactions

The natural porosity of geopolymers and the simplicity of geopolymer synthesis make them a potential candidate for the formation of highly porous ceramics. Here, the synthesis of highly porous (≈70 vol% or more) metakaolin geopolymer is demonstrated using a novel emulsion preparation with one-pot curing and hydrophobization of the interior pores with alkylalkoxysilanes. Using mercury intrusion porosimetry, tailoring of the characteristic percolation pore size is demonstrated over a range of ≈200 nm to 10 μm. Using powder X-ray diffraction, reactivity was shown to be decreased versus typical geopolymers, but substantial geopolymerization still occurred and the samples formed cohesive monoliths. Optional calcination under inert conditions allowed for formation of a glassy ceramic with a notable SiC phase, as well as further increasing the porosity by removing the hydrophobic pore coatings.
Virtualization considered harmful: OS design directions for well-conditioned services

We argue that existing OS designs are ill-suited for the needs of Internet service applications. These applications demand massive concurrency (supporting a large number of requests per second) and must be well-conditioned to load (avoiding degradation of performance and predictability when demand exceeds capacity). The transparency and virtualization provided by existing operating systems leads to limited concurrency and lack of control over resource usage. We claim that Internet services would be far better supported by operating systems by reconsidering the role of resource virtualization. We propose a new design for server applications, the staged event-driven architecture (SEDA). In SEDA, applications are constructed as a set of event driven stages separated by queues. We present the SEDA architecture and its consequences for operating system design.
Notes on a Valence Electron Model of Atoms

The exact solutions to the “valence-electron model Hamiltonian” are considered. This model was suggested in recent articles by Wang. It is shown that for a certain range of C in the potential term –Cr−2, solutions to the problem exist which are formally identical to the usual solutions for the hydrogen atom problem. It is also seen that for a wide range of the parameter C, there exist no solutions for which the Hamiltonian is Hermitian. The implications of this are discussed, and uses of this model considered. Es werden die exakten Losungen des „Hamiltonoperators des Valenzelektronen-Modells” untersucht. Dieses Modell wurde kurzlich von Wang vorgeschlagen. Es wird gezeigt, das fur einen bestimmten Bereich von C im Potentialterm –Cr−2 Losungen des Problems existieren, die formal mit den gewohnlichen Losungen des Wasserstoffproblems identisch sind. Es wird auch gezeigt, das fur einen grosen Bereich des Parameters C keine Losungen, fur die der Hamiltonoperator hermitesch ist, existieren. Die Folgerungen daraus werden diskutiert und die Benutzung des Modells untersucht.
Optimal foraging in hummingbirds : testing the marginal value theorem

To a hummingbird, clusters of flowers on inflorescences represent patches and provide an ideal situation to test prediction of optimal patch-use. The basic question is what decision rule should a hummingbird use to decide whether or not to leave an inflorescence? The hypothesis is that hummingbirds will adopt the decision rule that maximizes their net rate of energy gain while foraging. This hypothesis leads to an analogue of Charnov's marginal value theorem which determines an optimal decision rule. The optimal decision ruleis then used to predict aspects of the hummingbirds' foraging, and these predictions are compared with field data The optimal decision rule is a function of how much information is used by the hummingbirds. Data indicate that a decision to leave an inflorescence is a function of the number of flowers visited, the number of flowers available on the inflorescence, and the amount of nectar obtained at the last flower. The optimal decision rule was calculated assuming no additional information is used.
RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY OF MOLECULES ADSORBED ON SOLID SURFACES

Unenhanced surface Raman spectroscopy has been shown to be an exceptionally powerful probe of the structures and reactions of molecules on a wide variety of solid surfaces which include metals, semiconductors and dielectrics. Its advantages include high spectral and spatial resolution, a wide spectral range and the important ability to probe through nonvacuum ambient phases. The last characteristic is especially relevant to the characterization of thin films under actual growth conditions. We review here the basic elements of the surface Raman experiment, including experimental conditions and selection rules and illustrate its capabilities as an in situ diagnostic tool with examples from electrochemistry and polymer thin film synthesis.
Battery-conscious task sequencing for portable devices including voltage/clock scaling

Operation of battery-powered portable systems can no longer be sustained once a battery becomes discharged. Maximization of the battery lifetime is a difficult task due to nonlinearity of battery behavior that depends on the characteristics of the system load profile. We address the problem of task sequencing without and with voltage/clock scaling that shapes the profile so that the battery lifetime is maximized. We developed an accurate analytical battery model and validated it with measurements taken on a real lithium-ion battery used in a pocket computer. We use the model as a basis for a unique battery conscious cost function and utilize its properties to develop several novel algorithms, including insertion of recovery periods and voltage/clock scaling for delay slack distribution.
Preclinical evaluation of sorafenib in combination with rapamycin for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

C202 The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key regulator of cell growth and survival. Aberrant activation of AKT/mTOR signaling is observed in 50-70% of AML patients. On the other hand, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade is constitutively activated in approximately 75% of AML cases, and simultaneous signaling through MAPK and AKT/mTOR may diminish the efficacy of therapies directed against receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Inhibiting both pathways was hypothesized to enhance antitumor effects by concurrently targeting parallel signaling pathways. In the current study, sorafenib, a multitargeted TKI previously shown to block MAPK signaling in AML cell lines (S. Hu et al, Proc AACR 2007), in combination with rapamycin, a specific mTOR inhibitor shown to inhibit p-AKT in AML (Z. Zeng, Blood 2007), was evaluated in three AML cell lines (MV4-11, U937 and THP-1) with constitutive activation of MAPK and AKT/mTOR signaling and different genetic alterations in tyrosine kinases. In a 72-hr MTT assay (2 independent experiments, 8 replicates each), rapamycin (0.001-10 µM) administered simultaneously with sorafenib (0.001-10 µM) at a non-fixed ratio resulted in synergistic effects with combination index (CI) values at ≥ ED50 of 0.41-0.81, 0.53-0.96, and 0.57-0.79 in MV4-11 (FLT-3 ITD), THP-1 (N-RAS mutation), and U937 cells, respectively. Rapamycin 10 nM enhanced the antiproliferative effects of sorafenib at most sorafenib concentrations in the 3 cell lines (P
The action of thrombin on modified fibrinogen.

Abstract The modification of canine fibrinogen with citraconic anhydride modified the epsilon-amino groups of the fibrinogen and at the same time generated additional negative charges into the protein. The addition of thrombin to the modified fibrinogen did not induce polymerization; however, the fibrinopeptide was released at a faster rate than from the unmodified fibrinogen. The physical properties of the citraconylated fibrinogen were markedly altered by the modification of 50-60 lysine residues in one hour. A modified fibrinopeptide-A was released by thrombin from the modified fibrinogen and was electrophoretically more anionic than the unmodified fibrinopeptide-A. Edman analysis confirmed the modification of the lysine residue present in the peptide. The rate of removal of citraconylated fibrinopeptide-A from modified fibrinogen by thrombin was 30 to 40 percent greater than the cleavage of unmodified fibrinopeptide-A from unmodified fibrinogen. However, the modification of 60 or more lysine residues in the fibrinogen produced a decrease in the rate of cleavage of citraconylated fibrinopeptide-A. The results suggest that additional negative charge in the vicinity of the attachment of fibrinopeptide-A to canine fibrinogen aids in the removal of the peptide by thrombin.
Voigt and Reuss models for predicting changes in Young's modulus of dehydrating plant organs

A general modelling approach was used to predict the changes resulting from dehydration in the Young's modulus (E) of a terete organ with a simple anatomy (e.g. hypodermis of thick-walled tissue surrounding a parenchymatous core of ground tissue). Two general anatomical models were investigated: (1) an 'apoplast model' in which each cross section through the organ was considered as a composite elastic material consisting of a solid (cell wall) and liquid (protoplasm) phase; and (2) a 'core-rind model' in which the organ consisted of a thick-walled and a thin-walled tissue. For each of these two anatomical models, two composite material models were considered, i.e. a Voigt or Reuss equation was used to predict the changes in E attending dehydration. The predictions from the variants of the general model were evaluated on the basis of observed changes in E as cylindrical segments of the pseudopetioles of Spathiphyllum were allowed to desiccate at room temperature. Statistical comparisons between predicted and observed values of E revealed that one of the simple variants of the model, the 'Voigt apoplast model', was the most successful in predicting the observed trend seen in the changes in E. However, when the Voigt and Reuss apoplast models were combined, the 'hybrid' model provided estimates of changes in E that were statistically indistinguishable from those observed. Based on the hybrid model, it was estimated that roughly 76.7% of the tissues with a representative Spathiphyllum pseudopetiole operated according to a Voigt apoplast model.
Note on Evaluating Empirical Research

This note is intended to provide students with a basic understanding of how to evaluate empirical research papers. While reading both case studies and empirical research require close attention and scrutiny, evaluating empirical research requires a different "lens" - this note briefly outlines how to adopt this mindset. It includes a review of the major sections of an empirical research paper (Introduction, method, Results, and Discussion), as well as guidelines on how to evaluate each section.Learning Objective: To provide students with a basic understanding of how to evaluate empirical research papers.
A cross-sectional survey of pharmacists to understand their personal preference of brand and generic over-the-counter medications used to treat common health conditions

Consumers are hesitant in choosing generic medications as they are under the assumption that they are not as safe nor effective as brand medications. However, pharmacists do have the education and training to know that this is not the case. The aim of this study was to determine pharmacists’ preference of generic versus brand over-the-counter (OTC) medication for their personal use as self-treatment for various health symptoms. A prospective, cross sectional study was conducted on 553 licensed pharmacists who were presumed to have expertise in the use of generic and brand name OTC medications. In a single Southwestern state in the United States, from December 2014 to January 2015, a web-based questionnaire was sent to pharmacists to explore their preference of brand and generic medications based on various health symptoms. Thirty-one brand-generic medication pairs were used to identify which medication type pharmacists preferred when asked about nine health symptoms. Frequency counts of pharmacists’ preference of a brand medication or a generic OTC medication overall and for each of the nine health symptoms were determined. Chi-squared analyses and one-way ANOVA were conducted to determine if there were any differences between the preferences of brand and generic OTC medications across each symptom. The study overall showed that pharmacists preferred generic OTC medications to brand OTC medications (62 to 5 %, respectively). Based on an 11-point rating scale, pharmacists were likely to take OTC generic medications (as their choice of self-treatment) when presented with health symptoms (mean = 7.32 ± 2.88). In addition, pharmacists chose generic OTC medications over brand medications regardless of health symptoms (p < 0.001). Pharmacists who have expertise in medications were shown to prefer using generic OTC medications rather than brand name OTC medications for self-treating a variety of health symptoms. These study findings support the theory that expertise affects preference for generic versus brand name OTC medications. This information can be used to provide consumers the evidence needed to make well-informed choices when choosing between brand and generic medications.
Study on rapid determination of taurine in food by utilizing the amino acid autoanalyzer

Objective:To establish a method for detecting taurine in food by utilizing the amino acid autoanalyzer.Methods: The test samples were extracted by water.With citrate buffer solution as mobile phase,taurine in samples was determined by a established 10 min short process analytical method and quantified at 570 nm.Results: The calibration curves showed a good linearity in the concentration range of 5 mg/L～100 mg/L(r2=0.9999),with RSD of 1.7%(n=5).The mean recovery was 93.3 % and the detection limit was 1.5 mg/L.Conclusion: This method was rapid,convenient,sensitive and reliable.It may be applied to detection of taurine in food.
Plasma bupivacaine concentrations following orbital injections in cats.

Abstract Objective To determine plasma bupivacaine concentrations after retrobulbar or peribulbar injection of bupivacaine in cats. Study design Randomized, crossover, experimental trial with a 2 week washout period. Animals Six adult healthy cats, aged 1–2 years, weighing 4.6 ± 0.7 kg. Methods Cats were sedated by intramuscular injection of dexmedetomidine (36–56 μ g kg −1 ) and were administered a retrobulbar injection of bupivacaine (0.75 mL, 0.5%; 3.75 mg) and iopamidol (0.25 mL), or a peribulbar injection of bupivacaine (1.5 mL, 0.5%; 7.5 mg), iopamidol (0.5 mL) and 0.9% saline (1 mL) via a dorsomedial approach. Blood (2 mL) was collected before and at 5, 10, 15, 22, 30, 45, 60, 120, 240 and 480 minutes after bupivacaine injection. Atipamezole was administered approximately 30 minutes after bupivacaine injection. Plasma bupivacaine and 3-hydroxybupivacaine concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Bupivacaine maximum plasma concentration (C max ) and time to C max (T max ) were determined from the data. Results The bupivacaine median (range) C max and T max were 1.4 (0.9–2.5) μ g mL −1 and 17 (4–60) minutes, and 1.7 (1.0–2.4) μ g mL −1 , and 28 (8–49) minutes, for retrobulbar and peribulbar injections, respectively. In both treatments the 3-hydroxybupivacaine peak concentration was 0.05–0.21 μ g mL −1 . Conclusions and clinical relevance In healthy cats, at doses up to 2 mg kg −1 , bupivacaine peak plasma concentrations were approximately half that reported to cause arrhythmias or convulsive electroencephalogram (EEG) activity in cats, and about one-sixth of that required to produce hypotension.
Identification of technology shocks using misspecified VARs

Studies that evaluate the effects of technology shocks often employ structural VARs identified with long-run restrictions. In the presence of a mismatch between the lag structures of the true data-generating process and the adopted VAR, estimates based on long-run restrictions can be biased. This paper offers a method that can reduce this bias substantially. Using artificial data, I assess the performance of the proposed method and find that it can outperform a range of alternative procedures. Applying the procedure to the US data, I find that per-capita hours exhibit a positive hump-shaped response profile in response to a technology shock. Resume Identification des chocs technologiques a l’aide de vecteurs autoregressifs mal specifies. Des etudes pour evaluer les effets de chocs technologiques emploient souvent des modeles de vecteurs autoregressifs (VAR) structurels avec des restrictions a long terme. Quand il n’y a pas d’arrimage entre les structures de delais du processus generant les vraies donnees et celles qui emergent des modeles VAR adoptes, les estimes bases sur les restrictions a long terme peuvent etre biaises. Ce texte propose une methode qui peut reduire ce biais de maniere substantielle. A partir de donnees artificielles, on evalue la methode proposee et on montre qu’elle performe mieux que les procedures de rechange. En appliquant cette methode aux donnees americaines, on decouvre un profil positif en forme de bosse dans les heures de travail per capita en reponse a un choc technologique.
The Quantum Paradox

One of the most striking and significant features of the new quantum mechanics is the formulation of Heisenberg’s uncertainty (or indeterminacy) principle, which appeared in his 1927 publication “On the Perceptual Content of Quantum Theoretical Kinematics and Mechanics.” Heisenberg’s indeterminacy principle places a numerical limit on the precision with which one may simultaneously determine the values of certain pairs of observable quantities.
Technology and Labour Productivity Patterns in the Manufacturing Industries of Less Industrialised Countries

The objectives of this paper can be briefly presented as follows: (i) to summarise the various empirical results that are established by a systematic pattern of production-factor utilisation — capital and skills — and of size distribution for the manufacturing industries in both industrialised and less industrialised countries; (ii) to summarise the results of an empirical test of the Hirschman hypothesis on the possible determinants of differences in relative industrial productivity as between the industrialised and less industrialised countries, with special reference to Latin America; and (iii) to explore the possible theoretical determinants of the empirically established patterns. For this purpose, three possible effects are suggested: (a) reduction in scale; (b) inflexibility in the central operations of the industrial production processes; and (c) allocation of scarce factors — capital and skills — according to the pattern of relative utilisation observed in the less industrialised countries.1
Heuristic Game-Tree Searches

In the last chapter, we discussed zero-sum two-person perfect information games. If both players playing such a game can find at each step the minimax values of all possible next moves, then the corresponding game-playing problem is completely solved. MAX chooses a move of the highest minimax value at each step, and MIN chooses a move of the lowest minimax value at each step. The moves chosen have identical minimax values; this value is exactly the same as the final payoff of the game. It is because this use of minimax values solves game problems that finding minimax values is a central issue in the theory of zero-sum two-person perfect information games.
Anti-Epileptic Choice During Glioblastoma Treatment: Potential Survival Benefits (P4.241)

Objective: To compare progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients taking valproate (VPA), levetiracetam (LEV), other anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), or no AEDs during chemoradiation. Background: GBM is the most common adult malignant brain tumor. Concurrent radiation and chemotherapy leads to 14 month median survival, with only one quarter of patients surviving beyond two years. Predictors of prognosis include age at diagnosis, seizures at diagnosis, performance status, IDH-1 expression, and resection extent. Previous studies have found VPA or LEV administration during chemoradiation is associated with prolonged survival compared with other AEDs. VPA may exhibit anticancer effects via histone deacytylasae (HDAC) inhibition. LEV may inhibit O-6 methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene transcription. No previous study compared survival benefits of VPA vs LEV. Design/Methods: We conducted a single-institution retrospective cohort study of all newly diagnosed GBM patients completing chemoradiation from 2005 through 2015. Variables studied included age at diagnosis, resection extent, seizures at diagnosis, AED administration during chemoradiation, IDH-1 expression, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS). Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank testing compared patient groups. A Cox regression model assessed AED type and other PFS and OS covariates. Results: 139 patient charts were reviewed. Three patients were excluded due to incomplete data. There were 37 patients in the VPA group, 51 LEV, 23 other AED, and 33 no AED. 8 patients used multiple AEDs; 5 LEV+VPA, 3 LEV+other AEDs. Preliminary data suggest age, resection extent, seizure at diagnosis, VPA, and LEV use are associated with better outcomes. Conclusions: AED choice confounds clinical trial study design and interpretation of results, perhaps through direct anti-neoplastic effects or AED-chemotherapy interactions. We identify two AEDs associated with improved outcomes when administered during chemoradiation therapy and propose limits on AED administration variability during treatment of malignant brain tumors in future clinical trials. Disclosure: Dr. Nissenbaum has nothing to disclose. Dr. Aronson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mikhaylova has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hwang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Demopoulos has nothing to disclose.
Revision Ligament Reconstruction Tendon Interposition for Trapeziometacarpal Arthritis: A Case-Control Investigation

Purpose To test the null hypothesis that there is no difference in patient-reported and objective outcomes of revision ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI) compared with primary LRTI. Methods This case-control investigation enrolled 10 patients who had undergone revision LRTI at a tertiary care center. All patients had previously undergone primary trapeziectomy with LRTI. Patients with a minimum of 2 years' follow-up were eligible. All patients completed an in-office study evaluation. Controls (treated only with primary LRTI) were matched from our practice to reach a 1:2 case–control ratio. Outcome measures included Michigan Hand Questionnaire (primary outcome), Quick –Disability of the Arm, Hand, and Shoulder ( Quick DASH) questionnaire, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and improvement, and physical examination. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare patient groups. Results Patients who underwent revision LRTI reported significantly worse outcomes on all measured standardized questionnaires compared with primary patients. The Michigan Hand Questionnaire indicated worse overall outcomes (54 vs 79) as well as worse pain, appearance, and ability to complete activities of daily living. Compared with those who did not undergo revision LRTI, patients who did also reported more impairment ( Quick –Disability of the Arm, Hand, and Shoulder, 47 vs 23), greater pain (VAS pain, 6.3 vs 1), and less improvement after surgery (VAS improvement, 2.7 vs 7.9). There was also a significantly higher rate of patient-reported depression in the revision LRTI group (50% vs 10% of patients treated with primary LRTI). We did not find a significant difference in objective outcomes of pinch strength, grip strength, and thumb palmar abduction between the 2 groups. Conclusion After revision LRTI, patient-reported outcomes indicate worse perceived function and greater pain than are expected following primary LRTI despite similar motion and strength. Revision surgery can be offered in the setting of persistent or recurrent symptoms, but patients should be counseled that improvement of symptoms is unpredictable. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic III.
Comparison of measurements of the glenopolar angle in 3D CT reconstructions of the scapula and 2D plain radiographic views

Aims The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of altered viewing perspectives on the measurement of the glenopolar angle (GPA) and the differences between these measurements made on 3D CT reconstructions and anteroposterior (AP) scapular view radiographs. Materials and Methods The influence of the viewing perspective on the GPA was assessed, as were the differences in the measurements of the GPA between 3D CT reconstructions and AP scapular view radiographs in 68 cadaveric scapulae. Results The median GPA in 3D reconstructions and AP scapular views were 42.7° (95% confidence intervals (CI), 42.0° to 43.5°) and 41.3° (95% CI 40.4° to 42.0°) respectively (p < 0.001). All but five of 20 malpositions demonstrated a significant difference in GPA compared with the respective AP scapular view (p ≤ 0.005). The GPA was most susceptible to malposition in retroversion/anteversion. Inter- and intra-observer reliability for all measurements of the GPA was excellent for 3D CT reconstructions (intraclass correlation (ICC) 0.93 (95% CI 0.87 to 0.96) and 0.94 (95% CI 0.89 to 0.97), respectively) and higher than on AP scapular radiographs (p < 0.001). The intra- and inter-observer reliability was excellent in AP scapular views and malpositions in extension/flexion (ICC ≥ 0.84) but tended to decrease with increasing viewing angle in retroversion/anteversion. Conclusion These data suggest that 3D reconstructions are more reproducible than AP scapular radiographs in the assessment of the GPA and should be used to compare data in different studies, to predict outcome, define malunion, and act as an indication for surgery in patients with a scapular fracture. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1510–16.
191. Frataxin: A Putative Biomarker for Minimal Effective Dosage of AAV Gene Therapy

Friedrich ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a triplet repeat expansion in the frataxin gene (FXN), which encodes the mitochondrial protein frataxin. Deficiency in frataxin expression results in severe mitochondrial dysfunction leading to progressive gait abnormality, impaired muscle coordination, muscle weakness, hyporeflexia, dysmetria, dysarthria, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Currently, there are no approved treatments for FRDA, which is the most common occurring autosomal recessive ataxia, affecting 1 in 50,000 people worldwide. Precise quantification of frataxin levels is critical for establishing the effectiveness of potential therapies. Therefore, methods that improve detection of FXN expression will facilitate the implementation of novel therapies into a clinical setting. Our overall objective is to establish an approach for effective gene transfer and quantification of frataxin levels sufficient to restore mitochondrial function. Stable isotope labeling of amino acids in cell culture or in mammals (SILAC/M) is a novel and sensitive mass spectrometry based approach we propose for the quantification of frataxin levels; therefore enabling determination of required levels for correction of FXN deficiency.We have generated a rAAV2/9-FXN vector expressing codon optimized human FXN for use in models of FRDA. Renal epithelial cells (REC) were isolated from control and FRDA patients, and was SILAC used to quantify AAV-mediated FXN expression in-vitro. Induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSC) were generated from REC's, and subsequently differentiated to cardiomyocytes and neurons. AAV-mediated correction of FXN was verified by increased mitochondrial activity including reduced iron deposition and increased aconitase function in FRDA cells. Preliminary results show that SILAC/M are able to accurately measure endogenous and vector derived FXN expression in-vitro and in-vivo. Moreover, improvement in mitochondrial function was correlated with levels of FXN expression in vitro. Future studies will involve systemic dosing of rAAV9-FXN in a novel model of FRDA.
Body mass index, height and early-onset basal cell carcinoma in a case-control study.

Abstract Introduction Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignancy in the US. Body mass index (BMI) and height have been associated with a variety of cancer types, yet the evidence regarding BCC is limited. Therefore, we evaluated BMI and height in relation to early-onset BCC (under age 40) and explored the potential role of ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure and estrogen-related exposures in the BMI-BCC relationship. Methods BCC cases (n = 377) were identified through a central dermatopathology facility in Connecticut. Control subjects (n = 389) with benign skin conditions were randomly sampled from the same database and frequency matched to cases on age (median = 36, interquartile range 33–39), gender, and biopsy site. Participants reported weight (usual adult and at age 18), adult height, sociodemographic, phenotypic, and medical characteristics, and prior UV exposures. We calculated multivariate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using unconditional logistic regression models. Results Adult BMI was inversely associated with early-onset BCC (obese vs. normal OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.26–0.71). A similar inverse association was present for BMI at age 18 (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.34–0.85). Excluding UV exposures from the BMI models and including estrogen-related exposures among women only did not alter the association between BMI and BCC, indicating limited mediation or confounding. We did not observe an association between adult height and BCC (OR per cm = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.98–1.02). Conclusions We found a significant inverse association between BMI and early-onset BCC, but no association between height and BCC. This association was not explained by UV exposures or estrogen-related exposures in women.
Bioinorganic Chemistry and Applications

Bioinorganic chemistry is a subject that focuses on the incorporation of inorganic chemistry into biological applications and systems. Inorganic molecules are of vital importance in many aspects of life, including oxygen transport and storage within the body by iron-containing biomolecules, and providing bone strength through utilization of inorganic sodium phosphate molecules. Metal ions such as platinum, titanium, and ruthenium have been prominent in the syntheses of several drugs for cancer therapies, which have resulted in the advancement of treatment and therapy options. In addition, gadolinium and technetium complexes have been used as contrast agents for diagnostic imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and as radiopharmaceuticals. Furthermore, transition metals such as cobalt, copper, and nickel, among others, are found in the body only in trace amounts, but they are of large importance for the normal functioning of enzymes and for other vital processes.
Sequential Hydrothermal Liquefaction characterization and nutrient recovery assessment

Abstract Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) has been considered as an effective process for converting wet algal biomass to biocrude. A major limitation of HTL however, is its inability to harvest high value-added byproducts or recover nutrients. Sequential Hydrothermal Liquefaction (SEQHTL) was recently developed to overcome this limitation to allow the simultaneous extraction of co-products and biocrude production. In this study, the performance for SEQHTL treating different algal species was assessed in terms of process versatility, biocrude production and nutrient recovery. The impact of feedstock and relevant feed stream thermophysical properties was evaluated. The biocrudes produced had moderately low oxygen content ( Galdieria sulphuraria produced less crude (~ 20 wt%) as well as less char (~ 11 wt%). The Chlorella sp. had higher crude yields (~ 30 wt%) and superior nutrient recovery in aqueous effluents, ranging from 2640 to 3600 mg/L of phosphorous and from 2100 to 3700 mg/L of total nitrogen. The results also show non-Newtonian shear thinning and increasing effective viscosity at higher solid loadings. Although SEQHTL proved more suitable for algae with moderate to high lipid content, its versatility and mild reaction conditions allow for the harvesting significant quantities of water-soluble nutrients. These findings compare favorably to HTL studies and suggest that these compounds can be recovered for either recycle or producing other value-added co-products.
The politics of U.S. most-favored-nation treatment to China: The cases of 1979 and 1990

This article seeks to analyze U.S. interests in granting China the most-favored-nation status in 1979 and the present situation regarding the extension of such status. It argues that while the change and continuity in U.S.-China policy interests and objectives may still guide U.S. decision makers, what happened in Beijing last spring has given rise to a formidable congressional coalition among liberals, conservatives, and protectionists in opposing MFN treatment to China. The final outcome will depend largely on the degree of presidential readiness to defend his China policy and on whether the president is able to prevent the congressional overriding of the presidential veto.
Post-game Prayer Conflicts with First Amendment Rights

The court denied a preliminary injunction to a high school coach, who sought to continue his practice of kneeling down and praying at the 50-yard-line after his team's football games. The school district had suspended the coach because of his practice, leading to his bid for an injunction because the school district was retaliating against him for exercising his First Amendment rights.
Use of recycled PET for soft drink bottles

The recent adoption of the European Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste has given a regulatory impetus to an activity which was already well under way in Europe through the joint activities of ERRA (European Recovery and Recycling Association) and major food companies, such as Coca-Cola. We have also pioneered with Hoechst Celanese, in the USA, the chemical recycling of PET soft drink bottles and the use of physically cleaned post-consumer waste PET bottles in the form of multilayer bottles. These initiatives of The Coca-Cola Company are part of their overall response to protection of the environment and reduction in the use of non-renewable raw materials.
Public and Population Health

In the clinical setting, the focus is traditionally on individual patients after they become sick or injured. In contrast, public and population health focus on groups of patients or the public at large. These can be as small as a local neighborhood, or as big as an entire country or region or the world. Instead of diagnosis and treatment of individuals, the goal may well be prevention of disease, identification of risk or protective factors, or promotion of the health of communities as a whole. We will begin this chapter with a discussion of public health and then shift to population health.
Metrics of Survival: Post-Abortion Care and Reproductive Rights in Senegal.

ABSTRACTDrawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Senegal between 2010 and 2011, I demonstrate how health professionals have deployed indicators such as number of women and abortion type treated in government hospitals to demonstrate commitment to global mandates on reproductive rights. These indicators obscure discrimination against women suspected of illegal abortion as health workers negotiate obstetric treatment with the abortion law. By measuring hospitals’ capacity to keep women with abortion complications alive, post-abortion care (PAC) indicators have normalized survival as a state of reproductive well-being.
The addition of chemotherapy to adjuvant therapy in patients with intermediate risk HNSCC may cause harm.

e18057Background: In the phase III EORTC 22391 and RTOG 95-01 trials, HNSCC patients who had extracapsular extension (ECE) and/or positive surgical margins (PSM) were found to have improved surviva...
Emergency Department Management of Deliberate Self-harm: A National Survey.

This study provides estimates of how frequently evidence-based management practices are used by emergency departments when treating patients presenting for self-harm.
Antibiotic treatment shapes antigen presentation during chronic TB infection, offering novel targets for therapeutic vaccination

Abstract The lengthy and complicated current regimen required to treat drug-susceptible tuberculosis (TB) reflects the ability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) to persist in host tissues. The stringent response pathway, governed by the dual (p)ppGpp synthetase/hydrolase, RelMtb, is a major mechanism underlying Mtb persistence and antibiotic tolerance. In the current study, we addressed the hypothesis that RelMtb is a “persistence antigen” presented during TB chemotherapy and that enhanced T-cell immunity to RelMtb can enhance the tuberculocidal activity of the first-line anti-TB drug, isoniazid, which has reduced efficacy against Mtb persisters, C57BL/6 mice and Hartley guinea pigs were aerosol-infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and, 4 weeks later, received either human-equivalent daily doses of isoniazid alone, or isoniazid in combination with a DNA vaccine targeting relMtb. After isoniazid treatment, the total number of Mtb antigen-specific CD4+ T cells remained stable in mouse lungs and spleens, as did the number of RelMtb-specific T cells, although there was a significant reduction in dominant antigen ESAT6-specific CD4+ or TB10.4-specific CD8+ T cells in the lungs and spleens of mice, Therapeutic vaccination enhanced the activity of isoniazid in Mtb-infected C57BL/6 mice and guinea pigs. When treatment with isoniazid was discontinued, mice immunized with the relMtb DNA vaccine showed a lower mean lung bacterial burden at relapse compared to the control group. Our work shows that antitubercular treatment shapes antigen presentation and antigen-specific T-cell responses, and that therapeutic vaccination targeting the Mtb stringent response may represent a novel approach to enhance immunity against Mtb persisters, with the ultimate goal of shortening curative TB treatment.
Emotion mindsets and depressive symptoms in adolescence: The role of emotion regulation competence.

Recent theories posit that emotion mindsets (i.e., the extent to which individuals believe emotions are malleable or fixed) play a crucial role in experiences of emotion and influence emotion regulation (ER) processes. Drawing from mindset theory, this study examined the hypothesis that fixed emotion mindsets (FEMs) would predict depressive symptoms via compromised ER competence in adolescence, a period when many first episodes of depression occur. Results supported these hypotheses across two studies assessing participants in midadolescence (ages 14-18; M age = 16.17) and late adolescence (ages 18-21; M age = 18.52). Using a comprehensive approach to assessing ER, results demonstrated that FEMs were associated with less voluntary engagement and more disengagement and emotion dysregulation. In turn, higher voluntary engagement was associated with lower depressive symptoms, whereas higher disengagement and emotion dysregulation were associated with higher depressive symptoms. These findings highlight that one understudied pathway from FEMs to depressive symptoms may be the manner in which individuals respond to their emotions, implicating emotion mindsets as one target for efforts to improve clinical outcomes during adolescence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Feedback Linearization of Dynamical Systems with Modulated States for Harnessing Water Wave Power

Abstract As pointed out by other researchers, hybrid structures in ocean engineering are based on flat concrete foundations. Due to wave action these foundations are exposed to different pressure d...
Predictive article recommendation using natural language processing and machine learning to support evidence updates in domain-specific knowledge graphs.

Objectives Describe an augmented intelligence approach to facilitate the update of evidence for associations in knowledge graphs. Methods New publications are filtered through multiple machine learning study classifiers, and filtered publications are combined with articles already included as evidence in the knowledge graph. The corpus is then subjected to named entity recognition, semantic dictionary mapping, term vector space modeling, pairwise similarity, and focal entity match to identify highly related publications. Subject matter experts review recommended articles to assess inclusion in the knowledge graph; discrepancies are resolved by consensus. Results Study classifiers achieved F-scores from 0.88 to 0.94, and similarity thresholds for each study type were determined by experimentation. Our approach reduces human literature review load by 99%, and over the past 12 months, 41% of recommendations were accepted to update the knowledge graph. Conclusion Integrated search and recommendation exploiting current evidence in a knowledge graph is useful for reducing human cognition load.