cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intratumoral mast cells promote the growth of pancreatic cancer

We have recently discovered that mast cells promote pancreatic tumorigenesis by exacerbating the cellular and extracellular signaling in the desmoplastic microenvironment. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that targeting mast cells can block the progression of pancreatic neoplasms and prolong the survival of tumor-bearing immunocompetent hosts.
Analysis, Synthesis, and the Treasuring of the Old

The author favors a laissez-faire, "circus tent" approach to theory building and testing. Accordingly; he believes that analysis and synthesis are each of great importance in the development of theory -and would not suggest that scholars focus on one or the other. Unfortunately; there are serious problems in the research process in social psychology that hinder synthesis. These include a slavish fascination with "fashion, " which results in a tendency to neglect solid research and interesting theories simply because they are more than 10 years old. Unless this tendency is corrected, advances will continue to be disjointed. Reasons for this state of affairs are discussed.
Transcriptional network predicts viral set point during acute HIV-1 infection.

Background HIV-1-infected individuals with higher viral set points progress to AIDS more rapidly than those with lower set points. Predicting viral set point early following infection can contribute to our understanding of early control of HIV-1 replication, to predicting long-term clinical outcomes, and to the choice of optimal therapeutic regimens. Methods In a longitudinal study of 10 untreated HIV-1-infected patients, we used gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to identify transcriptional networks for viral set point prediction. At each sampling time, a statistical analysis inferred the optimal transcriptional network that best predicted viral set point. We then assessed the accuracy of this transcriptional model by predicting viral set point in an independent cohort of 10 untreated HIV-1-infected patients from Malawi. Results The gene network inferred at time of enrollment predicted viral set point 24 weeks later in the independent Malawian cohort with an accuracy of 87.5%. As expected, the predictive accuracy of the networks inferred at later time points was even greater, exceeding 90% after week 4. The composition of the inferred networks was largely conserved between time points. The 12 genes comprising this dynamic signature of viral set point implicated the involvement of two major canonical pathways: interferon signaling (p<0.0003) and membrane fraction (p<0.02). A silico knockout study showed that HLA-DRB1 and C4BPA may contribute to restricting HIV-1 replication. Conclusions Longitudinal gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with acute HIV-1 infection can be used to create transcriptional network models to early predict viral set point with a high degree of accuracy.
Spontaneous Testicular Neoplasm in Mice with Testicular Feminization

Testicular neoplasms occur spontaneously in androgen insensitive mice with testicular feminization (tfm/y); they are composed of Leydig cells, lipid-laden cells, fibroblastlike cells, and macrophages. The small Leydig cells in the periphery of the tumor are structurally similar to nontumorous tfm/y Leydig cells, whereas centrally located large Leydig cells contain numerous lipid droplets, mitochondria with tubular cristae, and abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The lipid-laden cells exhibit a crescentic nucleus which is displaced toward the periphery of the cytoplasm by a large lipid vacuole. The fibroblastlike cells have a large amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, free ribosomes, and lipid vacuoles. Macrophages are characterized by numerous layered and dense osmiophilic structures closely associated with crystalshaped bodies. An in vitro study shows that, in comparison with the normal testes, the tfm/y tumors produce significantly less testosterone but a larger quantity of androstenedione. Also, the tumors are capable of converting progesterone to estrone and estradiol-17β. The plasma level of testosterone is significantly lower in tumor-bearing animals than in normal littermates, but slightly higher than in the nontumorous tfm/y animals. Since the abnormal steroid enzyme activity is found in both tumor-bearing and nontumorous tfm/y mice, the basic cause of aberrations in sex steroid production appears to be genetic rather than the direct result of alterations in their Leydig cells.
Development of a low-cost, compact planar synchronous receiver for UWB systems

A new compact, low-cost ultra-wideband (UWB) synchronous receiver for UWB applications is presented. The developed receiver employs a double-sided planar structure, enabling low-cost hybrid MIC integration. It achieves an unprecedented conversion loss of 4.5-7.5 dB (without baseband amplifier) and conversion gain from 6.5-9.5 dB (with amplifier) over a 5.5 GHz RF bandwidth, a dynamic range of more than 50 dB and low harmonic distortion in the baseband output signal. The receiver's down-converted signals match very close to those down-converted by a commercial digitized oscilloscope, demonstrating its high performance and hence usefulness for various UWB systems.
Influence of self-etchant application time on bracket shear bond strength.

Abstract Objective: To determine the influence of self-etching primer (SEP) application time on the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets. Materials and Methods: Forty human molars were clean...
Relationship between Follicular Development and the Decline in the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Surge in Heifers

Experiment 1 was conducted to determine whether progesterone affects the pattern of the FSH surge or follicular development associated with a follicular wave in heifers. On Day 7 (Day 0 = ovulation), heifers were allocated into a group receiving prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha; n = 6) or a control group (n = 5). Twenty-four hours later, all detectable follicles (>/= 2 mm) were ablated (Hour 0). Follicular development was monitored Hours 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 16, at 8-h intervals thereafter until Hour 112. To monitor FSH concentrations, blood was sampled at Hours -24, 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 16, and at 8-h intervals thereafter until Hour 104. There were no differences (p > 0.05) between the PGF2alpha-treated group and controls in the patterns of the FSH surge or follicular development. Experiment 2 tested the hypothesis that 3-mm follicles do not have FSH-suppressing capacity and that suppression increases as follicles grow beyond 5 mm. Twenty-four hours after an injection of PGF2alpha (Days 6-8), heifers were subjected to either ablation of follicles >/= 2 mm or ovariectomy. Intact heifers were allocated into four groups (n = 5) in which all follicles of the new wave were ablated upon reaching either 3, 5, or 7 mm or were not ablated (controls). Blood was sampled at 8-h intervals to monitor FSH and estradiol-17beta. Averaged over Hours 8-120, FSH concentrations (ng/ml) were higher (p < 0.05) in the ovariectomized (2.02 +/- 0.05) and the 3-mm groups (1.91 +/- 0.05) than in the 5-mm (1.52 +/- 0.05), 7-mm (1.35 +/- 0.04), and control groups (1.33 +/- 0.05); and estradiol concentrations (pg/ml) were lower (p < 0.05) in the ovariectomized group (0.19 +/- 0.03) than in the 3-mm (1.48 +/- 0. 16), 5-mm (1.56 +/- 0.15), 7-mm (2.22 +/- 0.27), and control groups (2.55 +/- 0.49). In conclusion, the presence of endogenous progesterone did not affect FSH patterns or follicular development. Follicles </= 3 mm had no detectable capacity to suppress FSH. As follicles grew from 3 to 5 mm, they gained the capacity to suppress FSH; however, as follicles grew beyond 5 mm, FSH-suppressing capacity did not increase. The FSH decline was not attributable to an increase in circulating estradiol.
Unfriendly Filter: An Unusual Cause of Hydronephrosis and Hematuria

A 67-year-old woman was referred to the urology clinic for abdominal pain and hematuria. Urine analysis showed microscopic hematuria. Computed tomography urogram revealed a misplaced inferior vena cava (IVC) filter in the right gonadal vein causing right hydronephrosis. Retrograde pyelography revealed a 3-cm ureteral narrowing at the level of the IVC filter. A double-J ureteral stent was placed in the right ureter prior to exploratory laparotomy, which revealed partial erosion of the IVC filter into the right ureter and a thrombosed right ovary. The patient underwent a right oophorectomy and removal of the misplaced IVC filter. Her postoperative course was uncomplicated.
Parasitoids attacking fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in sweet corn habitats

Abstract Fall armyworm larvae, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), were collected from sweet corn plants ( Zea mays L.) in fields located in three south Florida counties. Fields were sampled from 2010 to 2015 during the fall and spring seasons. Larvae were transferred to the laboratory to complete development. The objective of the study was to identify the common parasitoids emerging from larvae that are present in sweet corn habitats where insecticides are traditionally used. A total of 8353 fall armyworm larvae were collected, of which 60.6% (5062) developed into moths after feeding on corn tissue and artificial diet. Parasitoids emerged from 2365 larvae (28.3%), and parasitism ranged from 1% to 91.7%, depending on site. Parasitism was higher at the University of Florida Everglades Research and Education (EREC) in Belle Glade (50.4 ± 11.8%) than at other locations in south Florida. Parasitism was comparable between fall and spring seasons, but was much higher in unsprayed fields (44.0 ± 9.6%) than in the sprayed fields (15.0 ± 2.5%). The two most common parasitoids that emerged from larvae were the solitary endoparasitoids Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson), found in 23 of the 25 sites sampled, and Chelonus insularis Cresson, found in 18 of the 25 sites sampled. Other parasitoid species that emerged from fall armyworm larvae were Aleiodes laphygmae (Viereck), Euplectrus platyhypenae Howard, Meteorus spp., Ophion flavidus Brulle, and unidentified species of Tachinidae. Techniques to improve the management of fall armyworm in overwintering areas of south Florida using conservation biological control are discussed.
Elderly man with abdominal distension

An 83-year-old man with a history of hypertension and diabetes presented at our emergency department with abdominal pain as well as distension for 2 weeks. On physical examination, the patient was found to be having mild tenderness in mid-abdomen, without peritoneal signs. Laboratory tests were within the normal range. A radiograph of his abdomen was obtained (figure 1). Figure 1 A radiograph of the patient's abdomen. ### What is most likely diagnosis? 1. Faecal impaction 2. Colonic volvulus 3. Abdominal aortic aneurysm 4. Cholelithiasis For the answer see page 827 From the question on …
Behavior Associated with the Larval Diapause of the Southwestern Corn Borer, Diatraea grandiosella: Probable Involvement of Juvenile Hormone,

The elaborate behavior of pre-diapausing larvae of the southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella Dyar, and the probable involvement of juvenile hormone (JH) in its control is described. At the end of their feeding period, pre-diapausing larvae descend to the root zone, excavate a cell in the stalk crown, prepare a plugged exit hole for the emergence of the adult, and molt from a spotted to an immaculate morph. They may also girdle the host plant just above ground level. In contrast to last stage non-diapausing larvae, last stage pre-diapausing larvae were found to retain a high JH titer in their hemolymph. The Galleria wax test showed that at the time pre-diapause behavior is initiated the hemolymph contains a mean JH titer of about 2600 Galleria Units/ml, and retains a mean JH titer of > 1230 GU/ml throughout the immediate pre-diapause period. In addition, the treatment of non-diapausing larvae with JH mimic induced some of the behavioral traits shown by pre-diapausing larvae. These findings suggest that JH potentiates the pre-diapause behavior. Prediapause behavior appears to be regulated by environmental cues (short days, low temperatures, senescence of host plant) linked to diapause determination, and operating through the neuroendocrine system.
Computation of Flutter of Turbomachinery Cascades Using a Parallel Unsteady Navier-Stokes Code

A quasi-three-dimensional multigrid Navier-Stokes solver on single and multiple passage domains is presented for solving unsteady flows around oscillating turbine and compressor blades. The conventional “direct store” method is used for applying the phase-shifted periodic boundary condition over a single blade passage. A parallel version of the solver using the Message Passing Interface (MPI) standard is developed for multiple passage computations. In the parallel multiple passage computations, the phase-shifted periodic boundary condition is converted to simple in-phase periodic condition. Euler and Navier-Stokes solutions are obtained for unsteady flows through an oscillating turbine cascade blade row with both the sequential and the parallel code. It is found that the parallel code offers almost linear speedup with multiple CPUs. In addition, significant improvement is achieved in convergence of the computation to a periodic unsteady state in the parallel multiple passage computations due to the use of in-phase periodic boundary conditions as compared to that in the single passage computations with phase-lagged periodic boundary conditions via the “direct store” method. The parallel Navier-Stokes code is also used to calculate the flow through an oscillating compressor cascade. Results are compared with experimental data and computations by other authors.Copyright © 1998 by ASME
Introduction—On the Languages of Brains

The invention of digital computers over half a century ago fascinated scientists with enormous opportunities created by this new research tool, which potentially paralleled the capabilities of brains. Von Neumann has been one of the pioneers of this new digital computing era. While appreciating potential of computers, he warned about a mechanistic parallel between brains and computers.
Resource Scarcity, Environmental Uncertainty, and Adaptive Organizational Behavior

The article provides information on a study which investigated the effects of environmental uncertainty and resource scarcity in interaction with organizational structure on the categories of organ...
EXPANDER CYCLES FOR 80 K REFRIGERATION

Cooling of electronic equipment at liquid nitrogen temperatures and prospects of many applications of high temperature superconductivity have renewed the interest in 80 K refrigeration. The thermodynamic efficiency of six different expander cycles are being calculated and compared with each other. A Claude cycle with nitrogen as working fluid and two expanders turns out to be the most efficient cycle. All components of a refrigerator working with this cycle are well developed and have proven their reliability. The system is best suited for the capacity range between 0.5 and 20 kW.
Subgroups of Abelian Polish Groups

2. Notation In what follows, G is an uncountable abelian Polish group and d(·, ·) a compatible, complete, two sided-invariant metric. We write the group operations on G with reference to it being abelian – thus + is the group operation and n · g stands for g + g + · · · (n times) · · ·+ g. 0 is the group identity in G. We will find it convenient to use the notation of an infinite sum. Thus we say that
Monolithic Interface Circuits For Gigabit Optoelectronics

A survey is presented of recent progress in monolithic implementations of interface circuits to transmit, receive, multiplex and otherwise process data at gigabit per second data rates. The report focuses on circuit designs in both bipolar and MOS transistors fabricated using advanced silicon technology. Circuits have demonstrated operation at 2-3Gb/s, and are keeping pace with progress in high speed semiconductor lasers and lowdispersion fiber manufacture. Economics of increasing circuit complexity suggest silicon shall remain the technology of choice for interface circuits at even higher data rates. Fiber optics promises to be the dominant medium of data communications in the future. The data rates capable of being transmitted are limited by the dispersion in the fiber, for a given distance between transmitter and receiver. The electronic devices and circuits necessary to make these data rates possible have evolved at an extraordinary rate, and are almost keeping pace with improvements in the fiber quality to reduce dispersion. This paper surveys some of the advanced devices and circuits which have made gigabit data rate communication possible.
Noninvasive surface damage assessment of bovine articular cartilage expiants by reflected polarized light microscopy

Articular surface damage is a hallmark of cartilage degeneration. Noninvasive assessment of cartilage microstructural alterations has potential clinical value. In this study, we use bovine patellofemoral articular cartilage explants treated with mechanical scraping and collagenase to create cartilage surface disruption, and use polarized reflectance microscopy to quantify alterations to surface and sub-surface microstructure. Reflected polarized signal was sensitive to mild damage to the cartilage surface, and highlighted disruptive alterations. The results indicate the efficacy of reflected polarized light microscopy in assessing the microstructural status of superficial articular cartilage.
Compression-Based Algorithms for Deception Detection

In this work we extend compression-based algorithms for deception detection in text. In contrast to approaches that rely on theories for deception to identify feature sets, compression automatically identifies the most significant features. We consider two datasets that allow us to explore deception in opinion (content) and deception in identity (stylometry). Our first approach is to use unsupervised clustering based on a normalized compression distance (NCD) between documents. Our second approach is to use Prediction by Partial Matching (PPM) to train a classifier with conditional probabilities from labeled documents, followed by arithmetic coding (AC) to classify an unknown document based on which label gives the best compression. We find a significant dependence of the classifier on the relative volume of training data used to build the conditional probability distributions of the different labels. Methods are demonstrated to overcome the data size-dependence when analytics, not information transfer, is the goal. Our results indicate that deceptive text contains structure statistically distinct from truthful text, and that this structure can be automatically detected using compression-based algorithms.
A Descriptive Examination of Aural and Visual Practice Strategies Exhibited by Beginning-Level String Students when Memorizing Music Material:

I examined the strategies that beginning-level string students use to memorize aurally and visually presented musical material over 15-minutes of self-monitored practice. An observational descripti...
Does Change in Neuromuscular Jitter Predict or Correlate with Clinical Change in Myasthenia Gravis? (P02.204)

OBJECTIVE: To determine if and how well the jitter measured by single-fiber EMG (SFEMG) reflects change in clinical severity in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and thus might be useful as a biomarker of disease in clinical trials or to monitor treatment in the clinic, we reviewed our experience with these measurements in a large MG Clinic. BACKGROUND: Jitter measured by SFEMG has been recommended as a biomarker of disease severity in clinical trials of MG. DESIGN/METHODS: We reviewed jitter measurements and outcome data from patients in the Duke MG Registry who had at least two jitter measurements in the extensor digitorum (ED) (n=227) or frontalis (n=51) muscle. RESULTS: The best positive and negative predictive values (PPV & NPV) for improvement were found when the proportion of fiber pairs in the ED with normal jitter had increased by 15%: PPV=89%, NPV=74%. Fifteen percent of patients were misclassified as improved or not by this change in jitter. The predictive value of jitter change was slightly less in the frontalis and when the change in mean jitter was used to predict improvement in either muscle. Change in the percentage of blocking fibers was less predictive of improvement in both muscles. CONCLUSIONS: Jitter measured by SFEMG is a sensitive and specific measure of disease severity in MG and has a potential role as a biomarker in clinical trials and to monitor disease severity in the clinic. In clinical trials it is important to measure jitter in a muscle most likely to demonstrate improvement in the individual patient. Change in the proportion of muscle fibers with normal jitter seems to be the best jitter parameter to follow. Jitter measured by other electrodes may not be as reliable in assessing neuromuscular junction abnormality. Disclosure: Dr. Sanders has received personal compensation for activities with Athena Diagnostics, Accordant Health Services, Jacobus Pharmaceuticals, CytoKinetics, GlaxoSmithKline, Inc., Alexion, and UCB Pharma. Dr. Massey has received personal compensation for activities with Allergan, Inc. Dr. Massey has received research support from GlaxoSmithKline, Inc., Cytokinetics, Allergan, Inc., Merz Pharma, and the National Institutes of Health.
Peptide Synthesis and the Specificity of Proteinases

It was my good fortune to share a laboratory with Leonidas Zervas at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research after he came there in 1934 to rejoin Max Bergmann. The year before, the Nazis had obliged Bergmann to resign as Director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Leather Research in Dresden; after finding a haven in New York, he secured the help of the Rockefeller Foundation in bringing Zervas to the United States. I cannot express adequately my gratitude to Professor Zervas for the instruction he gave me in the art of peptide synthesis during his 2-year stay in New York. This essay is not only an act of homage to a great chemist, but also an acknowledgment of the debt owed him by one of his students.
eJournal interface can influence usage statistics: Implications for libraries, publishers, and Project COUNTER: Research Articles

The design of a publisher's electronic interface can have a measurable effect on electronic journal usage statistics. A study of journal usage from six COUNTER-compliant publishers at 32 research institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Sweden indicates that the ratio of PDF to HTML views is not consistent across publisher interfaces, even after controlling for differences in publisher content. The number of full-text downloads may be artificially inflated when publishers require users to view HTML versions before accessing PDF versions or when linking mechanisms, such as CrossRef, direct users to the full text rather than the abstract of each article. These results suggest that usage reports from COUNTER-compliant publishers are not directly comparable in their current form. One solution may be to modify publisher numbers with “adjustment factors” deemed to be representative of the benefit or disadvantage due to its interface. Standardization of some interface and linking protocols may obviate these differences and allow for more accurate cross-publisher comparisons. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Patient and Consumer Safety Risks When Using Conversational Assistants for Medical Information: An Observational Study of Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant

Background: Conversational assistants, such as Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, are ubiquitous and are beginning to be used as portals for medical services. However, the potential safety issues of using conversational assistants for medical information by patients and consumers are not understood. Objective: To determine the prevalence and nature of the harm that could result from patients or consumers using conversational assistants for medical information. Methods: Participants were given medical problems to pose to Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant, and asked to determine an action to take based on information from the system. Assignment of tasks and systems were randomized across participants, and participants queried the conversational assistants in their own words, making as many attempts as needed until they either reported an action to take or gave up. Participant-reported actions for each medical task were rated for patient harm using an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality harm scale. Results: Fifty-four subjects completed the study with a mean age of 42 years (SD 18). Twenty-nine (54%) were female, 31 (57%) Caucasian, and 26 (50%) were college educated. Only 8 (15%) reported using a conversational assistant regularly, while 22 (41%) had never used one, and 24 (44%) had tried one “a few times.“ Forty-four (82%) used computers regularly. Subjects were only able to complete 168 (43%) of their 394 tasks. Of these, 49 (29%) reported actions that could have resulted in some degree of patient harm, including 27 (16%) that could have resulted in death. Conclusions: Reliance on conversational assistants for actionable medical information represents a safety risk for patients and consumers. Patients should be cautioned to not use these technologies for answers to medical questions they intend to act on without further consultation from a health care provider.
Comparison of NOCSAE head kinematics using the Hybrid III and EuroSID-2 necks.

Abstract Anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) are designed for specific loading scenarios and possess uniquely designed individual components including the neck. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of the neck surrogate on head kinematics. Inertial loads were generated using a pendulum system with an anthropomorphic head attached to a Hybrid III (HIII) or EuroSID-2 (ES-2) neck. The ATD head-neck assemblies were tested under extension, flexion, lateral bending, oblique extension, and oblique flexion at 3.4 m/s. Peak head kinematics were found to be statistically different with the ES-2 versus HIII neck under certain cases. For extension, the resultant peak linear acceleration (PLA) and resultant peak angular acceleration (PAA) were statistically higher with the ES-2 versus HIII neck. For flexion and lateral bending, there were no statistical differences in the resultant PLA based on neck selection although the resultant PAA was statistically higher with the ES-2 versus HIII neck. For oblique extension, the resultant PLA and PAA statistically increased with the ES-2 versus HIII neck. Furthermore, the acceleration components ax, αx, and αy were statistically higher with the ES-2 neck while ay showed no statistical difference due to neck selection. For oblique flexion, the resultant PLA and PAA were statistically higher with the ES-2 versus HIII neck. Additionally, the acceleration components ax, ay, αx, and αy were statistically higher with the ES-2 versus HIII neck. These findings indicate that for certain loading directions and acceleration components, head kinematics were influenced by the neck surrogate used.
Profiling the N-Glycan Composition of IgG with Lectins and Capillary Nanogel Electrophoresis.

Glycosylated human IgG contains fucosylated biantennary N-glycans with different modifications including N-acetylglucosamine, which bisects the mannose core. Although only a limited number of IgG N-glycan structures are possible, human IgG N-glycans are predominantly biantennary and fucosylated and contain varying levels of α2–6-linked sialic acid, galactose, and bisected N-acetylglucosamine. Monitoring the relative abundance of bisecting N-acetylglucosamine is relevant to physiological processes. A rapid, inexpensive, and automated method is used to successfully profile N-linked IgG glycans and is suitable to distinguish differences in bisection, galactosylation, and sialylation in N-glycans derived from different sources of human IgG. The separation is facilitated with self-assembled nanogels that also contain a single stationary zone of lectin. When the lectin specificity matches the N-glycan, the peak disappears from the electropherogram, identifying the N-glycan structure. The nanogel electrophoresis...
Investigation On Evaluating The Unmodeled Dynamics of Power System And Its Effects on Characterizing Power System Oscillations

In this paper, a new perspective is presented which analyses and characterize power system response based on developing the unmodeled dynamics of the system from event based measurement data. The approach uses a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) measurement based system identification that can be used to model the system dynamics utilizing the real system measurements. The unmodeled response of the power system is extracted using the model generated using measurements and the data from a linearized model of the power system at the same operating condition. With this information, system dynamics can be updated which can be further used for study and analysis of the grid under varying operating conditions. The simulation results show that analyzing unmodeled response helps to reliably detect the property of natural and forced oscillations.
Improvement in montreal cognitive assessment score following three-week pain rehabilitation program

Aim: To demonstrate improvement in cognitive function following a 3-week Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program. Methods: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was performed at initial evaluation and on dismissal day of the program. Results: The patient had chronic, non-cancer lower back pain for over 15 years for which patient had myriad of treatments. Patient was directed to Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program as a last resort treatment. The patient had moderate cognitive impairment when he joined the program (MoCA score of 17/30) that dramatically improved into the normal cognitive range by the end of the program (MoCA score of 26/30). Conclusions: Improvement in MoCA score was demonstrated after completion of the Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program, which is the first demonstrated case.
Identification and Visualization of Functionally Important Domains and Residues in Herpes Simplex Virus Glycoprotein K(gK) Using a Combination of Phylogenetics and Protein Modeling

Alphaherpesviruses are a subfamily of herpesviruses that include the significant human pathogens herpes simplex viruses (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV). Glycoprotein K (gK), conserved in all alphaherpesviruses, is a multi-membrane spanning virion glycoprotein essential for virus entry into neuronal axons, virion assembly, and pathogenesis. Despite these critical functions, little is known about which gK domains and residues are most important for maintaining these functions across all alphaherpesviruses. Herein, we employed phylogenetic and structural analyses including the use of a novel model for evolutionary rate variation across residues to predict conserved gK functional domains. We found marked heterogeneity in the evolutionary rate at the level of both individual residues and domains, presumably as a result of varying selective constraints. To clarify the potential role of conserved sequence features, we predicted the structures of several gK orthologs. Congruent with our phylogenetic analysis, slowly evolving residues were identified at potentially structurally significant positions across domains. We found that using a quantitative measure of amino acid rate variation combined with molecular modeling we were able to identify amino acids predicted to be critical for gK protein structure/function. This analysis yields targets for the design of anti-herpesvirus therapeutic strategies across all alphaherpesvirus species that would be absent from more traditional analyses of conservation.
Teaching Students to Challenge the Status Quo: Recognizing Oppression in African Film

Normal 0 0 1 29 152 2 1 204 11.1282 0 0 0 The purpose of this paper is twofold: to share experiences and strategies about teaching race and oppression with African films and promote the use of non-Western films in the classroom. By referring to bell hooks' and Richard Dyer's works, the paper discusses how teachers have a responsibility to create a learning environment in which students learn to be open minded and to challenge the status quo. Normal 0 0 1 77 403 6 1 542 11.1282 0 0 0 African films offer an opportunity to achieve this goal. Films such as Black Girl demand students’ attention but also require in-depth discussions if we want to raise students’ awareness of films as political weapons and expressions of oppression.
Quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography: A review:

As a new optical coherence tomography (OCT) modality, OCT angiography (OCTA) provides a noninvasive method to detect microvascular distortions correlated with eye conditions. By providing unparalle...
Utilizing the index for mortality prediction after cardiac transplantation risk score to predict hospital resource consumption.

OBJECTIVE The index for mortality prediction after cardiac transplantation (IMPACT) risk score incorporates 12 preoperative recipient-specific variables, and has been validated as an accurate predictor of short- and long-term mortality after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHTx). We believe it can also be used to predict hospital costs, and we hypothesize that higher preoperative IMPACT risk scores are associated with increased hospital resource consumption. METHODS All OHTx patients ≥18 years of age at our institution were reviewed from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2014. Total index hospitalization costs post-transplant were extracted and presented in 2014 consumer price index inflation-adjusted US dollars. Patients were stratified into quartiles (Q) according to IMPACT risk scores. Logarithmic transformation normalized cost data, and linear regression assessed for correlation. A comparison of cost between Q of IMPACT risk score was performed using rank-sum and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS Three hundred fifty-six (n = 356) OHTx were performed during the study period. The median IMPACT score for the cohort was five (interquartile range [IQR] 3-6). Eight (2.2%) patients died within 30-days and 1-year Kaplan-Meier survival was 88.3%. The median length of stay (LOS) was 16 (IQR 14-24) days. The median hospital cost for index admission was $222 200 (IQR:$169 200-$313 700). Median LOS was longer in Q4 vs Q1 (18 days vs 15 days, P = .01) and index hospital costs in Q4 were significantly higher compared to Q1 patients ($280 400 vs $205 000, P < .01). There was a significant positive correlation between IMPACT risk score and cost (regression coefficient .04, P < .01). CONCLUSION This is the first study in adult cardiac transplantation to identify a positive correlation between hospital cost and recipient risk using the IMPACT risk score. Cost and resource consumption for the index admission after OHTx were significantly higher in the highest IMPACT risk Q compared with patients in the lowest Q.
On The Subtleties of the Principal-Agent Model

In this essay I focus on the equilibrium relation between the “risk” in a performance measure and the “strength” of the controlling agent’s “incentives.” The main motivation is that a large (mainly empirical) literature has developed postulating that the key implication of the principal-agent model is that this relation be negative. I first show that a standard principal-agent model, e.g., Holmstrom (1979), offers no equilibrium prediction about the relation between “risk” and “incentives.” Next, I show that except in the highly stylized limiting Brownian version of Holmstrom and Milgrom (1987), this model doesn’t yield a directional prediction for the equilibrium relation between “risk” and “incentives” either. This is due to the general property that risk arises endogenously in such principal-agent models. This, in turn, establishes that while the mixed empirical evidence on this relation may be useful from a descriptive vantage point, it does not shed any light on the validity of the principal-agent theory.
N 2 Defects in Silicon Nitride for Quantum Applications

We present preliminary data on Raman-active nitrogen molecules trapped in amorphous silicon nitride thin films, and detail the potential use of these emitters for quantum applications.
Museum genomics illuminate the high specificity of a bioluminescent symbiosis across a genus of reef fish

Abstract Symbiotic relationships between bioluminescent bacteria and fishes have evolved multiple times across hundreds of fish taxa, but relatively little is known about the specificity of these associations and how conserved they have been through time. This study describes the degree of specificity of a bioluminescent symbiosis between cardinalfishes in the genus Siphamia and luminous bacteria in the Vibrio family. Primarily using museum specimens, we investigate the co-divergence of host and symbiont and test for patterns of divergence that correlate with both biogeography and time. Contrary to expectations, we determined that the light organ symbionts of all 14 Siphamia species examined belong to one genetic clade of Photobacterium mandapamensis (Clade II), indicating that the association is highly specific and conserved across the host genus. Thus, we did not find evidence of codivergence among hosts and symbionts. We did observe that symbionts hosted by individuals sampled from colder water regions were more divergent, containing more than three times as many single nucleotide polymorphisms than the rest of the symbionts examined. Overall our findings indicate that the symbiosis between Siphamia fishes and P. mandapamensis Clade II has been highly conserved across a broad geographic range and through time despite the facultative nature of the bacterial symbiont. These results suggest that this bioluminescent symbiosis could have played a key role in the evolution of the host genus and that there are conserved mechanisms regulating its specificity that have yet to be defined.
FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREEN™ (FMS™) SCORES DO NOT PREDICT OVERALL OR LOWER EXTREMITY INJURY RISK IN COLLEGIATE DANCERS.

Purpose Dance is a physically demanding activity, with 50-85% of dancers suffering injury during a single performance season. The majority of dancers' injuries are in the lower extremity (LE) and chronic in nature. These injuries often arise when causal factors are not identified early and addressed before they ultimately result in an injury. Practitioners often use movement screens such as the Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS™) to detect and quantify kinetic chain dysfunction. Prior researchers have suggested that these screens can stratify at-risk individuals and allow practitioners to devise targeted interventions to reduce their injury risk. However, whether the FMS™ can identify at-risk dancers remains unclear. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine whether FMS™ scores predicted injury risk in collegiate dancers. Methods In this prospective study, 43 collegiate dance majors (34 female, 9 male; 18.3 ± 0.7yrs; 163.9 ± 7.3cm; 60.8 ± 8.1kg) in a program which emphasizes modern dance were scored on the seven FMS™ movements (scale 0-3, total maximum score=21) where 3=movement completed without compensation, 2=movement completed, but with compensation(s), 1=unable to complete movement, 0=pain during movement or during clearing tests as described in prior literature at the start of the academic year. An in-house certified athletic trainer documented dancer's overall and LE injuries over an academic year (40 weeks). Separate Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses examined whether composite FMS™ score predicted (1) Overall or (2) LE injury status. Results The subjects FMS™ scores were 16.2 + 1.7 (range=11-19). Twenty dancers were injured, whereas 23 remained injury-free. Injured dancers had 55 overall (1.28 injuries/dancer) and 44 LE injuries (1.02 LE injuries/dancer). FMS™ score did not predict overall (AUC=.28, SE=.08, p=.02, 95%CI=.13-.43) or LE injury risk (AUC=.38, SE=.1, p=.21, 95% CI=.21-.56). Discussion While nearly half of the dancers in this group suffered from injury over the year, composite FMS™ scores did not predict overall or LE injury risk in collegiate dancers. Dancers face unique and challenging physical demands that distinguish them from traditional sport-athletes including greater ranges of movement during performance. Thus, the FMS™ may not be sensitive enough to distinguish 'appropriate' from 'excessive' mobility and adequately identify injury risk in dancers. Overall, it is suggested that practitioners should use caution before using the FMS™ as a primary screening mechanism to identify collegiate dancers at overall or LE injury risk. Level of evidence 2.
Controlling PDEs with mobile actuators constrained over time-varying reachability sets

The use of mobile actuators for the control of spatially distributed systems governed by PDEs results in both implementational and computational challenges. First it requires the backward-in-time solution to the actuator guidance and the backward-in-time solution to the control operator Riccati equation. A way to address this computational challenge is to consider a continuous-discrete alternative whereby the mobile actuator is repositioned at discrete instances and resides in a specific spatial location for a certain time interval. In order to find optimal paths for a given time interval, a set of feasible locations is derived using the reachability set. These reachability sets are further constrained to take into account the time it takes to travel to any spatial position with a prescribed maximum velocity. The proposed hybrid continuous-discrete control and actuator guidance is demonstrated for a 2D diffusion PDE that uses no constraints and angular constraints on the actuator motion.
Inexact knowledge and dynamic introspection

Cases of inexact observations have been used extensively in the recent literature on higher-order evidence and higher-order knowledge. I argue that the received understanding of inexact observations is mistaken. Although it is convenient to assume that such cases can be modeled statically, they should be analyzed as dynamic cases that involve change of knowledge. Consequently, the underlying logic should be dynamic epistemic logic, not its static counterpart. When reasoning about inexact knowledge, it is easy to confuse the initial situation, the observation process, and the result of the observation; I analyze the three separately. This dynamic approach has far reaching implications: Williamson’s influential argument against the KK principle loses its force, and new insights can be gained regarding synchronic and diachronic introspection principles.
Optimal scheduling for profit maximization of energy storage merchants considering market impact based on dynamic programming

Abstract This paper analyzes how electricity merchants' market impact affects merchants' profit. Energy storage has long been studied for its role in maximizing profit, and merchant decisions are assumed to have no impact on market prices. However, the trading decisions of large-scale energy storage merchants (e.g., pumped storage hydro) will affect the market prices. This paper employs dynamic programming theory to investigate merchants' optimal economic dispatch considering the market impact and physical characteristics of storage systems. Our findings show that the State-of-Charge (SOC) based analytical solution significantly facilitates energy storage merchants' decision-making. The SOC range is segmented into three regions by two optimal SOC reference points, which depend on the available energy in storage, given prices, and market impact. By comparing the current storage SOC with the reference points, the merchant can get the corresponding optimal actions. We analytically show that if the merchant neglects the market impact on the power market, she will exaggerate her expected profit when the price-taker and price-maker merchants have the same generating and pumping upper limits offered to Independent System Operators (ISOs). The profit-maximizing merchant must, therefore, assay to balance the trade-off correctly between the intensity of market impact and the dispatched power. Our findings are verified by numerical simulation, and results demonstrate the ramifications for electricity merchants in energy arbitrage decisions.
Abstract P206: Wearable Myoelectric Interface Training for Improving Arm Movement in Chronic Stroke

Impaired arm movement after stroke is due not only to weakness and spasticity, but also to abnormal co-activation (a.k.a. abnormal synergies). Yet, few stroke therapies are aimed to reduce this co-...
Spatial Dimensions of Algorithmic Transparency: A Summary

Spatial data brings an important dimension to AI’s quest for algorithmic transparency. For example, data driven computer-aided policy-decisions use measures of segregation (e.g., dissimilarity index) or income-inequality (e.g., Gini index), and these measures are affected by space partitioning choice. This may lead policymakers to underestimate the level of inequality or segregation within a region. The problem stems from the fact that many segregation based analyses use aggregated census data but do not report result sensitivity to choice of spatial partitioning (e.g., census block, tract). Beyond the well-known Modifiable Areal Unit Problem, this paper shows (via mathematical proofs as well as case studies with census data and census based synthetic micro-population data) that values of many measures (e.g., Gini index, dissimilarity index) diminish monotonically with increasing spatial-unit size in a hierarchical space partitioning (e.g., block, block-group, tract), however the ranking based on spatially aggregated measures remain sensitive to the scale of spatial partitions (e.g., block, block group). This paper highlights the need for social scientists to report how rankings of inequality are affected by the choice of spatial partitions.
Pharmacological inhibition of BAG3-HSP70 with the proposed cancer therapeutic JG-98 is toxic for cardiomyocytes.

The co-chaperone Bcl2-associated athanogene-3 (BAG3) maintains cellular protein quality control through the regulation of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). Cancer cells manipulate BAG3-HSP70-regulated pathways for tumor initiation and proliferation, which has led to the development of promising small molecule therapies, such as JG-98, which inhibit the BAG3-HSP70 interaction and mitigate tumor growth. However, it is not known how these broad therapies impact cardiomyocytes, where the BAG3-HSP70 complex is a key regulator of protein turnover and contractility. Here, we show that JG-98 exposure is toxic in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs). Using immunofluorescence microscopy to assess cell death, we found that apoptosis increased in NRVMs treated with JG-98 doses as low as 10 nM. JG-98 treatment also reduced autophagy flux and altered expression of BAG3 and several binding partners involved in BAG3-dependent autophagy, including SYNPO2 and HSPB8. We next assessed protein half-life with disruption of the BAG3-HSP70 complex by treating with JG-98 in the presence of cycloheximide and found BAG3, HSPB5, and HSPB8 half-lives were reduced, indicating that complex formation with HSP70 is important for their stability. Next, we assessed sarcomere structure using super-resolution microscopy and found that disrupting the interaction with HSP70 leads to sarcomere structural disintegration. To determine whether the effects of JG-98 could be mitigated by pharmacological autophagy induction, we cotreated NRVMs with rapamycin, which partially reduced the extent of apoptosis and sarcomere disarray. Finally, we investigated whether the effects of JG-98 extended to skeletal myocytes using C2C12 myotubes and found again increased apoptosis and reduced autophagic flux. Together, our data suggest that nonspecific targeting of the BAG3-HSP70 complex to treat cancer may be detrimental for cardiac and skeletal myocytes.