cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
125 GNAS1 MUTATION IN AN INFANT WITH OSTEOMA CUTIS

Osteoma cutis is the presence of bone formation within the skin in the absence of a preexisting lesion. The bone arises through mesenchymal ossification without cartilage precursors. It is a feature of Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO), fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), platelike osteoma cutis and progressive osseous heteroplasia (POH). Recently, it has been demonstrated that inactivating mutations in GNAS1, the gene for guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein) alpha stimulating activity polypeptide 1 are responsible for both AHO and POH. The purpose of this report is to present a patient with osteoma cutis and provide genotype/phenotype correlation supporting a diagnosis of POH. We recently evaluated a 14-month old with lesions histologically consistent with osteoma cutis. First noted on the trunk at 1 month of age, the lesions progressed to the hands, arms and legs. Biopsy of an abdominal lesion identified a normal-appearing dermis with ossifications in the mid and deep dermis. There was slight fibrodysplasia of the surrounding stroma as well as vascular ectasia. Endocrinological studies to rule out AHO were within normal limits. GNAS1 mutation analysis revealed a C≥T change at nucleotide 91 in exon 1b, which causes the substitution of a stop codon for glutamine at aa 31 (Q31X). AHO is characterized by MR, short stature, round face, shortened 4th and 5th metacarpals, pseudohypo- parathyroidism and heterotopic ossification that is limited to the skin and superficial tissues. In contrast, the dermal ossification in POH can present at birth, progresses to involve skeletal muscle and deep connective tissue and is often disabling. GNAS1 mutations described in AHO are distributed throughout the gene, the most common being a 4 bp deletion in exon 7. Ten GNAS1 mutations have been reported in POH patients, 2 of which are also seen in AHO. An apparent imprinting effect of the gene has been proposed, as maternal transmission of GNAS1 mutations leads to the complete form of AHO, whereas paternal transmission results in a less severe form of AHO or POH. Given the normal endocrine studies, normal growth and development, lack of characteristic facial features and skeletal abnormalities and early appearance of the dermal ossification, the diagnosis of POH is suspected for our patient. The presence of a GNAS1 mutation serves to support this theory and helps to further extend the genotype/phenotype correlation for this intriguing condition.
A noninvasive vascular laboratory in a small community hospital.

The Doppler probe has been used to the advantage of patients with deep venous thrombosis, extracranial cerebrovascular occlusion, peripheral arterial disease, and bizarre nonclassic patterns of leg pain.
Probing the mechanisms underlying human diseases in making ribosomes

Ribosomes are essential, highly complex machines responsible for protein synthesis in all growing cells. Because of their importance, the process of building these machines is intricately regulated. Although the proteins involved in regulating ribosome biogenesis are just beginning to be understood, especially in human cells, the consequences for dysregulating this process have been even less studied. Such interruptions in ribosome synthesis result in a collection of human disorders known as ribosomopathies. Ribosomopathies, which occur due to mutations in proteins involved in the global process of ribosome biogenesis, result in tissue-specific defects. The questions posed by this dichotomy and the steps taken to address these questions are therefore the focus of this review: How can tissue-specific disorders result from alterations in global processes? Could ribosome specialization account for this difference?
Child, Family and Case Characteristics: Links with Service Utilization in Physically Abused Children

We investigated the relationships between child, familial, and case characteristics and mental health and medical health care service utilization by physically abused children. Participants included 26 parents or caregivers of 37 Medicaid-eligible children who had substantiated cases of physical abuse. Children whose female caregivers reported a greater number of stressors were more likely to receive mental health care. Furthermore, children not living with the maltreating caregiver were more likely to receive medical health care services. Results are discussed in terms of factors that may account for these links, and the similarities of these findings with those of service utilization in general and clinical child samples.
Racial Disparities in Incidence and Survival for Patients with Multiple Myeloma in the United States

Background : Over the past two decades the incidence of myeloma has been gradually increasing in the United States. The incidence rates are higher in men than women, and higher in blacks than whites. Similar to the differential incidence, overall survival rate between blacks and whites are also dissimilar; a difference that is not completely explained and may be attributable to genetic variations between the two groups. Methods : Using data from 18 SEER registries, we examined differences in incidence, mortality and survival from 1973-2012 for 89,867 myeloma patients (68,701 white, 16,364 black and 4,802 others) by race, gender and age-stratification. ICD-O-3 and morphologic (9732/3) codes were used to identify cases. Age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates, regression analysis and survival curves were calculated by race. Statistics were computed using the National Cancer Institute SEER*Stat software, version 8.2.0. and SAS software, version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC). Results : Median age at diagnosis was 70 years (range 20-100 years) for the overall population (blacks: 66 years; whites: 71 years, and others: 69 years (P<0.01). The age-adjusted incidence rates per 100,000 populations were: blacks- 11.9 (95% CI 11.6, 12.1, P-value<0.05); whites- 5.1 (95% CI 5.0, 5.2) and others- 3.7 (95% CI 3.6, 3.9). The incidence rates were higher for black males, 14.2 (95% CI 14, 14.7) followed by black females, 10.3 (95% CI 10, 10.6, P-value<0.05). Using white male as reference, incidence rate ratios for black males and females are 2.20 (95% CI 2.12, 2.28) and 1.60 (95% CI 1.54, 1.65) respectively. The 2-year relative survival rates (RSR) for the study population were: whites- 60.4%, blacks: 64.1% and others: 68.4%, respectively. The 5-year RSR by race and gender are included in figure 1. On the survival analysis, black race is an independent factor to have improved survival (HR=0.884, P-value<0.0001). This was corroborated on regression analysis, showing decreased hazard ratios for blacks (HR 0.856 95% CI 0.834, 0.878) compared to whites (P-value<0.001). Conclusions : Black patients are diagnosed younger than whites and other races. The IRRs for black males are twice compared to white males. While the 5-year RSRs are improving for all races and genders, black race is an independent factor to have improved survival. Further population-based studies focused on the exploring the underlying biological mechanisms of disease may explain the earlier presentation with disease and better overall survival among black patients. ![Figure 1.][1] Figure 1. Disclosures Lonial: Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Millennium: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Onyx: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding. Nooka: Onyx Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. [1]: pending:yes
Homology Requirements and Competition between Gene Conversion and Break-Induced Replication during Double-Strand Break Repair.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae mating-type switching is initiated by a double-strand break (DSB) at MATa, leaving one cut end perfectly homologous to the HMLα donor, while the second end must be processed to remove a non-homologous tail before completing repair by gene conversion (GC). When homology at the matched end is ≤150 bp, efficient repair depends on the recombination enhancer, which tethers HMLα near the DSB. Thus, homology shorter than an apparent minimum efficient processing segment can be rescued by tethering the donor near the break. When homology at the second end is ≤150 bp, second-end capture becomes inefficient and repair shifts from GC to break-induced replication (BIR). But when pol32 or pif1 mutants block BIR, GC increases 3-fold, indicating that the steps blocked by these mutations are reversible. With short second-end homology, absence of the RecQ helicase Sgs1 promotes gene conversion, whereas deletion of the FANCM-related Mph1 helicase promotes BIR.
Implementing CS Principles as a Breadth-First Survey Course (Abstract Only)

With the recent launch of AP CS Principles in 2016-17, many efforts are currently underway to share curriculum resources and prepare new teachers. The community has primarily focused on high school implementations, which have different situational factors than university courses (e.g., amount of class time). In this poster, we present the design of a survey course that aligns with CS Principles and also continues the long tradition of breadth-first introductions to computer science at the college level. We describe the instructional strategies, assessments, and curriculum details, providing a model for how to modify existing CS0 courses. We also outline twelve lab activities that support the computational thinking practices and learning objectives of the AP curriculum framework. All instructional materials including activities, labs, performance tasks, and rubrics are freely available on the course website: https://w3.cs.jmu.edu/cs101. Quizzes, solutions, and other materials are also available to instructors upon request. The course has run successfully for the past four years at two universities and three high schools via dual enrollment. Initial results suggest that the curriculum has a positive impact on student confidence levels and attitudes toward computer science.
On the Stability of 2-D Continuous Systems

Abstract In this paper the definition of bounded-input bounded-output stability of 2-D continuous systems is introduced. A method of checking this stability condition is discussed. Also it is shown that by using one-variable reactance transformation (or spectral transformation) to obtain the 2-D continuous transfer function, stability is, in general, not preserved. This is in contrast to the 2-D discrete transfer function. The effect of double bilinear transformation from the 2-D continuous transfer function to the corresponding discrete one is discussed. It is shown by an example that the impulse responses of both, continuous and discrete transfer functions are not preserved. This is in contrast to the 1-D case . Future research in testing the stability condition in the s 1 , s 2 - biplane is mentioned.
Recombineering: A Modern Approach to Genetic Engineering

Recombineering is a highly efficient and precise method for genetically engineering DNA in vivo. With recombineering one can make gene replacements, deletions, insertions, inversions, and single and multiple point mutations. Gene cloning and gene/protein tagging is also possible. Recombineering is catalyzed by the bacteriophage λ Red or similar homologous recombination systems such as RecET from the Escherichia coli Rac prophage, which can utilize both double- and single-stranded DNAs as substrates. All genetic alterations are precise to the base pair as designed by the user and are mediated efficiently by DNA containing target homologies of ~50 bases. These homologies are short enough to be incorporated into commercially available oligonucleotides. Since recombineering is directed by sequence homology, not convenient restriction sites, it can be used to create genetic alterations on large DNA molecules such as bacterial artificial chromosomes or bacterial genomes in a way not possible with classical in vitro genetic engineering techniques. Because of this, recombineering has expanded the analytical genetic capability of many organisms. Recombineering with ssDNA can be over 100-fold more efficient than with dsDNA as a substrate. Using ssDNA it is possible to achieve recombination frequencies of over 50% of the cells that survive electroporation; thus, a selection is not necessary for finding the desired mutations. Key to these high frequencies is avoiding the methyl-directed mismatch repair system, which normally removes greater than 99% of the incorporated changes. Avoiding mismatch repair can be easily achieved even in wild-type cells with careful oligonucleotide design. Although the Red system is superior for most recombineering reactions, the RecET proteins are more efficient at joining linear fragments containing terminal homologies. This is extremely useful for in vivo cloning.
Psoriasis Therapies and the Risk of Cutaneous Malignancy

AbstractBackground: Systemic therapies for moderate to severe psoriasis target the dysregulated inflammatory response. However, their immunomodulatory properties may also contribute to carcinogenesis, leading to increased risk of cutaneous malignancy in patients exposed to systemic agents.Objective: A review of the literature was performed to evaluate the risk of cutaneous malignancy associated with the following therapies for moderate to severe psoriasis: PUVA, UVB, cyclosporine, methotrexate, retinoids, TNF-a inhibitors, IL-12/23 inhibitors, and IL-17 inhibitors.Results: Rates of NMSC, most notably SCC, increase linearly with number of PUVA exposures. UVB radiation, both narrowband and broadband, has no clear association with skin cancer. There is a well-characterized association between cyclosporine and NMSC, particularly SCCs, although it is less clear whether cyclosporine predisposes to malignant melanoma. Methotrexate appears to increase the risk of melanoma and NMSC in a dose-dependent fashion. Retinoids, on the other hand, have chemopreventative properties and may decrease risk of NMSC in patients with psoriasis. A large body of evidence supports an increased risk of NMSC, particularly SCC, in TNF-a inhibitors, but an association with melanoma is less clear. The newly-developed agents, IL-12/23 and IL-17 inhibitors, do not clearly show increased carcinogenic risk, but their long-term safety profiles are still under investigation.Conclusions: Many systemic psoriasis therapies, including PUVA, cyclosporine, methotrexate, and TNF-a inhibitors, appear to increase the risk of cutaneous malignancy. When prescribing these agents, physicians must weigh the benefit of treatment with their carcinogenic potential. Additional post-marketing surveillance is required to better understand the long-term risks of the newer biologic agents.
Interaction between repressor Opi1p and ER membrane protein Scs2p facilitates transit of phosphatidic acid from the ER to mitochondria and is essential for INO1 gene expression in the presence of choline

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Opi1p repressor controls the expression of INO1 via the Opi1p/Ino2p–Ino4p regulatory circuit. Inositol depletion favors Opi1p interaction with both Scs2p and phosphatidic acid at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. Inositol supplementation, however, favors the translocation of Opi1p from the ER into the nucleus, where it interacts with the Ino2p–Ino4p complex, attenuating transcription of INO1. A strain devoid of Scs2p (scs2Δ) and a mutant, OPI1FFAT, lacking the ability to interact with Scs2p were utilized to examine the specific role(s) of the Opi1p–Scs2p interaction in the regulation of INO1 expression and overall lipid metabolism. Loss of the Opi1p–Scs2p interaction reduced INO1 expression and conferred inositol auxotrophy. Moreover, inositol depletion in strains lacking this interaction resulted in Opi1p being localized to sites of lipid droplet formation, coincident with increased synthesis of triacylglycerol. Supplementation of choline to inositol-depleted growth medium led to decreased TAG synthesis in all three strains. However, in strains lacking the Opi1p–Scs2p interaction, Opi1p remained in the nucleus, preventing expression of INO1. These data support the conclusion that a specific pool of phosphatidic acid, associated with lipid droplet formation in the perinuclear ER, is responsible for the initial rapid exit of Opi1p from the nucleus to the ER and is required for INO1 expression in the presence of choline. Moreover, the mitochondria-specific phospholipid, cardiolipin, was significantly reduced in both strains compromised for Opi1p–Scs2p interaction, indicating that this interaction is required for the transfer of phosphatidic acid from the ER to the mitochondria for cardiolipin synthesis.
Challenges in the Analysis of Outcomes for Surgical Compared to Radiotherapy Treatment of Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM Prostate cancer can be treated with radical prostatectomy (RP), external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT), or brachytherapy (BT). These modalities have similar cancer-related outcomes. We used an innovative method to analyze the cost of such treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS We queried our Institution's Insurance Division [University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Health Plan] beneficiaries from 2003-2008, who were diagnosed with prostate cancer and also queried the UPMC tumor registry for all patients with prostate cancer treated at our Institution. In a de-identified manner, data from the Health Plan and Tumor Registry were merged. RESULTS A total of 354 patients with non-metastatic disease with treatment initiated within 9 months of diagnosis were included (RP=236, EBRT=55, and BT=63). Radiotherapy-treated patients tended to be older, higher-risk, and have more comorbidities. Unadjusted median total health care expenditures during the first year after diagnosis were: RP: $16,743, EBRT: $47,256, and BT: $23,237 (p<0.0005). A propensity score-matched model comparing RP and EBRT demonstrated median total health care expenditures during year one: RP: $8,189, EBRT: $10,081; p=0.48. In a propensity-matched model comparing RP and BT, the median total health care expenditures during year one were: RP: $18,143, BT: $26,531; p=0.015 and per year during years 2 through 5 from diagnosis were: RP: $5,913, BT: $6,110; p=0.68. CONCLUSION This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of combining healthcare costs from the payer's perspective with clinical data from a Tumor Registry within an IDFS and represents a novel approach to investigating the economic impact of cancer treatment.
A stress-induced response complex (SIRC) shuttles miRNAs, siRNAs, and oligonucleotides to the nucleus

Although some information is available for specific subsets of miRNAs and several factors have been shown to bind oligonucleotides (ONs), no general transport mechanism for these molecules has been identified to date. In this work, we demonstrate that the nuclear transport of ONs, siRNAs, and miRNAs responds to cellular stress. Furthermore, we have identified a stress-induced response complex (SIRC), which includes Ago-1 and Ago-2 in addition to the transcription and splicing regulators YB1, CTCF, FUS, Smad1, Smad3, and Smad4. The SIRC transports endogenous miRNAs, siRNAs, and ONs to the nucleus. We show that cellular stress can significantly increase ON- or siRNA-directed splicing switch events and endogenous miRNA targeting of nuclear RNAs.
THE ISOLATION OF SEA NETTLE LETHAL FACTOR I VIA IMMOBILIZED MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES

Publisher Summary The sea nettle (Chrysaora quinquecirrha) kills its prey with potent venom, which is contained in nematocysts found on its tentacles. This venom is a complex mixture of enzymes and toxic agents. The venom is thermolabile and may be degraded by the proteolytic agents it contains. The purification of the venom's lethal factors has been hindered by low yields of pharmacological activity upon chromatography as well as the large volumes required to assess lethality in mice. This chapter describes a technique for the isolation of sea nettle lethal factor I via immobilized monoclonal antibodies. In the technique, monoclonal antibodies (MAB) were prepared using the crude venom for immunization.
Sex and Gender Differences in Alzheimer's Disease Dementia.

Several misconceptions exist about the study of sex and gender in the AD field. The initial focus of this article is on whether women are at greater risk.
Inferring Full Diffusion History from Partial Timestamps

Understanding diffusion processes in networks has emerged as an important research topic because of its wide range of applications. Analysis of diffusion traces can help us answer important questions such as the source(s) of diffusion and the role of each node during the diffusion process. However, in large-scale networks, due to the cost and privacy concerns, it is almost impossible to monitor the entire network and collect the complete diffusion trace. In this paper, we tackle the problem of reconstructing the diffusion history from a partial observation. We formulate the diffusion history reconstruction problem as a maximum a posteriori (MAP) problem and prove the problem is NP-hard. Then, we propose a step-by-step reconstruction algorithm, which can always produce a diffusion history that is consistent with the partial observation. Our experimental results based on synthetic and real networks show that the algorithm significantly outperforms some existing methods.
Functioning with a Sticky Model.

Searching for patterns is an integral part of mathematics, and arithmetic provides excellent opportunities for students to look for patterns, make conjectures to continue a pattern, and then to check these predictions. The early study of functions is a natural place to reinforce basic computational skills as well as develop some patternfinding techniques. "Guess my rule" or "Find my number" are effective activities that are frequently used. For example, consider the following exchange between a child and a teacher:
Instructor Self-Disclosure and Third-Party Generated Warrants: Student Perceptions of Professor Social Media Use

Guided by warranting theory, this experiment examined students’ perceptions of mediated self-disclosive messages generated by a professor and members of a professor’s social network. Using a 2 (sel...
Line Selection and Algorithm Selection for Transmission Switching by Machine Learning Methods

Since the initial proposal of the Optimal Transmission Switching problem, a mixed integer program and different heuristics have been presented to achieve considerable cost reduction within a practical time frame. This paper proposes two machine learning based methods to further reduce the computation time as well as cutting down the generation cost. The first method is to apply machine learning algorithms to prioritize the possible line switching actions. The second method is to use machine learning to develop effective algorithm selectors among transmission switching algorithms suggested in the literature. The proposed methods are tested on IEEE 118-bus test case and FERC 13867-bus test case. The results demonstrated that both line selection and algorithm selection offer performance benefits over using the single transmission switching algorithm in the previous literature.
LLAMA - automatic memory allocations: an LLVM pass and library for automatically determining memory allocations

There is an expectation among experts that the memory hierarchy will be expanded to provide support for multi-level memory, enabling the use of new memory technologies living side-by-side with traditional DRAM. In doing so, the advantages of traditional DRAM can be retained alongside the advantages of these new memory technologies. However, in order to be effective, memory must be allocated to different memory levels, either manually by the programmer, or automatically.This paper introduces a novel process which combines a custom LLVM Pass with a custom C library to automatically handle memory allocations performed by function calls without the need for programmer input or hardware/OS level changes. When utilizing a simulated multi-level memory architecture with dual nonvolatile RAM and volatile DRAM, the results demonstrate that such a program can alleviate the burden on the programmer while still maintaining the performance advantages of DRAM and the higher density of non-volatile memory technology.
When do pictures reduce false memory

An important discovery in false-memory research is Israel and Schacter’s (Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 4, 577-581, 1997) finding that presenting pictures at study relative to words alone reduces false memory in the DRM paradigm, a result that has been replicated many times. The standard interpretation is that memory for visual processing of the pictures can be used to reject the critical distractors, which were not explicitly present at study. Beginning from the empirical observation that the pictures used by Israel and Schacter are not consistently labelled with the DRM word they are supposed to represent, we present a series of four studies designed to determine if it is the presentation of pictures or the mismatch between the pictures and the words that reduces false memory. The results across the four experiments demonstrate that picture presentation at study is neither necessary nor sufficient to reduce false memory in the DRM and the categorical associate paradigms. However, we discuss other studies in which picture processing clearly is responsible for reduction of false alarms and note that these studies use study materials and memory tests that are different from the DRM and categorical associate paradigms in that critical lures are externally provided rather than generated. We speculate that the effectiveness of memory for visual processing for reducing false memory may depend on the source of the false memory, but this remains for future research.
Geopolymer-composites with thermomechanical stability as oxygen carriers for fluidized bed chemical looping combustion with oxygen uncoupling

Abstract Oxygen carriers based on geopolymer composites with enhanced thermal and mechanical stability have been synthesized and been proposed for chemical looping combustion with oxygen uncoupling. Geopolymer synthesis belongs to green chemistry and ensures chemical and mechanical properties similar to those of high temperature sintering. Suitable metal oxides, such as combinations of Cu, Mn and Fe oxides, have been used as active fillers in geopolymer matrices. Thermogravimetric analysis conducted at 900 °C pointed out the excellent performance of the CuO-based oxygen carrier, and the overall performance trend of CuO > CuMn-oxides > MnFe-oxides. The performance of the CuO based material (around 1.0% wt. of transferred O2) was confirmed in tests carried out in a fluidized bed at 900 °C, where a slightly lower carrying capacity, and a remarkable oxidation rate index (37.1 ± 1.4%) were obtained. Tests of wood-char combustion confirmed the ability of the CuO-based oxygen carrier to operate in a real chemical looping combustion process. Moreover, attrition and crushing tests demonstrated that the mechanical resistance of geopolymer-based oxygen carriers was comparable to that of materials currently used for fluidized bed application.
Recent Developments in Infectious Disease Chemotherapy: Review for Emergency Department Practitioners 2020

We discuss and review new antimicrobials for treatment of bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections with indications, contraindications, and side effects for each. We will also review new information and indications on older agents that are relevant to clinical practice. Many of them may be unfamiliar to Emergency Physicians given their newness and at times hospital restrictions on their use. We also review some new promising agents that are not yet in the clinical pipeline. As new antibiotics become available for clinicians to use, new information becomes available with respect to the drugs’ indications, efficacy, pathogen resistance, drug-drug interactions, and side effects. This article provides Emergency Department clinicians with a useful summary with new information on antibiotic use and recent research into agents which may become available.
Transcriptional regulation of MGE progenitor proliferation by PRDM16 controls cortical GABAergic interneuron production.

The mammalian cortex is populated by neurons derived from neural progenitors located throughout the embryonic telencephalon. Excitatory neurons are derived from the dorsal telencephalon, while inhibitory interneurons are generated in its ventral portion. The transcriptional regulator PRDM16 is expressed by radial glia, neural progenitors present in both regions; however, its mechanisms of action are still not fully understood. It is unclear if PRDM16 plays a similar role in neurogenesis in both dorsal and ventral progenitor lineages, and if so, whether it regulates common or unique networks of genes. Here, we show that Prdm16 expression in medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) progenitors is required for maintaining their proliferative capacity and for the production of proper numbers of forebrain GABAergic interneurons. PRDM16 binds to cis-regulatory elements and represses the expression of region-specific neuronal differentiation genes, thereby controlling the timing of neuronal maturation. PRDM16 regulates convergent developmental gene expression programs in the cortex and MGE, which utilize both common and region-specific sets of genes to control the proliferative capacity of neural progenitors, ensuring the generation of correct numbers of cortical neurons.
Fibroblastic and bone marrow-derived cellularity in the corneal stroma

The unwounded, normal corneal stroma is a relatively simple, avascular tissue populated with quiescent keratocytes, along with corneal nerves and a few resident dendritic and monocyte/macrophage cells. In the past, the resting keratocytes were thought of as a homogenous cellular population, but recent work has shown local variations in vimentin and nestin expression, and responsiveness to transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. Studies have also supported there being "stromal stem cells" in localized areas. After corneal wounding, depending on the site and severity of injury, profound changes in stromal cellularity occur. Anterior or posterior injuries to the epithelium or endothelium, respectively, trigger apoptosis of adjacent keratocytes. Many contiguous keratocytes transition to keratocan-negative corneal fibroblasts that are proliferative and produce limited amounts of disorganized extracellular matrix components. Simultaneously, large numbers of bone marrow-derived cells, including monocytes, neutrophils, fibrocytes and lymphocytes, invade the stroma from the limbal blood vessels. Ongoing adequate levels of TGFβ1, TGFβ2 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) from epithelium, tears, endothelium and aqueous humor that penetrate defective or absent epithelial barrier function (EBF) and epithelial basement membrane (EBM) and/or Descemet's basement membrane (DBM) drive corneal fibroblasts and fibrocytes to differentiate into alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA)-positive myofibroblasts. If the EBF, EBM and/or DBM are repaired or replaced in a timely manner, typically measured in weeks, then corneal fibroblast and fibrocyte progeny, deprived of requisite levels of TGFβ1 and TGFβ2, undergo apoptosis or revert to their precursor cell-types. If the EBF, EBM and/or DBM are not repaired or replaced, stromal levels of TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 remain elevated, and mature myofibroblasts are generated from corneal fibroblasts and fibrocyte precursors that produce prodigious amounts of disordered extracellular matrix materials associated with scarring fibrosis. This fibrotic stromal matrix persists, at least until the EBF, EBM and/or DBM are regenerated or replaced, and keratocytes remove and reorganize the affected stromal matrix.
The Effects of Alcohol and Cannabis Use on the Cortical Thickness of Cognitive Control and Salience Brain Networks in Emerging Adulthood: A Co-twin Control Study.

Abstract Background Impairments in inhibitory control and its underlying brain networks (control/salience areas) are associated with substance misuse. Research often assumes a causal substance exposure effect on brain structure. This assumption remains largely untested, and other factors (e.g., familial risk) may confound exposure effects. We leveraged a genetically informative sample of twins aged 24 years and a quasi-experimental co-twin control design to separate alcohol or cannabis exposure effects during emerging adulthood from familial risk on control/salience network cortical thickness. Methods In a population-based sample of 436 twins aged 24 years, dimensional measures of alcohol and cannabis use (e.g., frequency, density, quantity, intoxications) across emerging adulthood were assessed. Cortical thickness of control/salience network areas were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging and defined by a fine-grained cortical atlas. Results Greater alcohol, but not cannabis, misuse was associated with reduced thickness of prefrontal (e.g., dorso/ventrolateral, right frontal operculum) and frontal medial cortices, as well as temporal lobe, intraparietal sulcus, insula, parietal operculum, precuneus, and parietal medial areas. Effects were predominately (pre)frontal and right lateralized. Co-twin control analyses suggested that the effects likely reflect both the familial predisposition to misuse alcohol and, specifically for lateral prefrontal, frontal/parietal medial, and right frontal operculum, an alcohol exposure effect. Conclusions This study provides novel evidence that alcohol-related reductions in cortical thickness of control/salience brain networks likely represent the effects of alcohol exposure and premorbid characteristics of the genetic predisposition to misuse alcohol. The dual effects of these two alcohol-related causal influences have important and complementary implications regarding public health and prevention efforts to curb youth drinking.
Use of the Utah population database to evaluate statewide use of genetic testing for hereditary breast/ovarian cancer.

e22529Background: Genetic testing for hereditary breast/ovarian cancer (HBOC) continues to be underutilized, and options for population-based assessment of testing barriers and outcomes are lacking...
Effects of Laser Illumination on Superconducting Circuits for Quantum Transduction

Decoherence and noise from optical absorption in superconducting circuits hinder development of microwave to optical quantum transducers. Addressing these issues, we fabricate niobium-based resonators and qubits, and study them under laser illumination at milliKelvin temperatures.
Irg1/itaconate metabolic pathway is a crucial determinant of dendritic cells immune-priming function and contributes to resolute allergen-induced airway inflammation.

Itaconate is produced from the mitochondrial TCA cycle enzyme aconitase decarboxylase (encoded by immune responsive gene1; Irg1) that exerts immunomodulatory function in myeloid cells. However, the role of the Irg1/itaconate pathway in dendritic cells (DC)-mediated airway inflammation and adaptive immunity to inhaled allergens, which are the primary antigen-presenting cells in allergic asthma, remains largely unknown. House dust mite (HDM)-challenged Irg1-/- mice displayed increases in eosinophilic airway inflammation, mucous cell metaplasia, and Th2 cytokine production with a mechanism involving impaired mite antigen presentations by DC. Adoptive transfer of HDM-pulsed DC from Irg1-deficient mice into naive WT mice induced a similar phenotype of elevated type 2 airway inflammation and allergic sensitization. Untargeted metabolite analysis of HDM-pulsed DC revealed itaconate as one of the most abundant polar metabolites that potentially suppress mitochondrial oxidative damage. Furthermore, the immunomodulatory effect of itaconate was translated in vivo, where intranasal administration of 4-octyl itaconate 4-OI following antigen priming attenuated the manifestations of HDM-induced airway disease and Th2 immune response. Taken together, these data demonstrated for the first time a direct regulatory role of the Irg1/itaconate pathway in DC for the development of type 2 airway inflammation and suggest a possible therapeutic target in modulating allergic asthma.
Mental health outcomes among child welfare investigated children: In-home versus out-of-home care

Abstract Background Child welfare has increasingly focused on alternatives to out-of-home (OOH) placement. In-home services, such as parent training, have increased and more maltreated children remain in-home. Yet, little is known about the effect on mental health of maintaining vulnerable children in-home vs placement in stable OOH care. Objective To evaluate and compare difference in mental health among children investigated by child welfare and who remained in-home vs. those who were placed in stable OOH care. Design/methods We examined a cohort of children (aged 1.5–18 years) from a nationally representative sample of children investigated by child welfare using the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II (NSCAW II). We compared changes in mental health functioning over 18 months for children who remained in-home with parent training versus those placed in stable OOH care. Results Among the 749 children in our sample, baseline characteristics of children who remained in-home with parent training and those placed in stable OOH care were similar. Among school-aged children placed in stable OOH care, mental health problems decreased from 26% to 13% (p = .003). This differed significantly from school-aged children who remained in home, for whom mental health problems increased (50% decrease stable OOH care vs. 23% increase in home; p = .007). Among pre-school aged children, mental health problems increased in both settings, particularly stable out-of-home care (p = .008). Conclusions For school aged children with a history of maltreatment, mental health outcomes improve following stable OOH placement, yet worsen when remaining in-home with parents. Pediatricians should be watchful for mental health problems among children who remain home after maltreatment and should advocate for high-quality stable OOH care when it is necessary. Child welfare may need to monitor the outcomes of children remaining at home more closely and provide more intensive preventive and treatment services to families.
Correlations between octanol-water partition coefficients and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography capacity factors : Chlorobiphenyls and alkylbenzenes

Abstract The capacity factors ( k ′ ϕ ) of 4 chlorobiphenyls and 39 alkylbenzenes (C 1 —C 10 ) were determined using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography at eight different mobile phase compositions (ϕ = 50–90% acetonitrile in water). The predicted capacity factors in water (log k ′ 0 ) were determined by linear regression of log k ′ ϕ and the acetonitrile concentration. Comparison of log k ′ 0 data from two solvent systems (acetonitrile—water, methanol—water) with published data indicates that this parameter is dependent on both the mobile phase and the chromatographic system used in determining log k ′ ϕ . The determined log k ′ 0 values and n-octanol—water partition coefficients (log P oct ) taken from the literature were analyzed by linear regression. Log P oct estimates made from separate regressions using the individual and combined compound classes are presented and compared. The slopes of the lines for the two compound classes were similar, but each had distinctly different intercepts. Log P oct estimates resulting from the individual compound class regressions agreed more closely with published data than did estimates derived by combining the two classes during regression. It is recommended that separate regressions be developed for each compound class of interest. Log P oct estimates for the alkylbenzenes were also made using fragment constants. The fragment constants were compared with structural group factors derived from the log k ′ 0 based estimates. It is noted that the substitution pattern of the benzene ring affects these group factors.
Inhibition of protein synthesis in reticulocytes by antibiotics. IV. Ribosome behaviour after puromycin release of growing peptide chains.

Abstract Puromycin causes release of growing polypeptide chains from ribosomes. Polyribosomes are not degraded during a short incubation with puromycin, but are degraded after longer incubations. The inhibitors of protein synthesis cycloheximide or sparsomycin, when added after puromycin, prevent polyribosome degradation. This indicates that ribosomes initiate new chains after premature termination by puromycin. Peptide chains initiated from internal positions have been isolated and studied. To label preferentially these chains the inhibitor of initiation NaF has been used. These incomplete chains aggregate and are markedly unstable, whereas incomplete chains initiated at the N-terminus and released prematurely by puromycin are stable. This differential stability may be explained by conformational differences between the two types of chains.
Magnetic Fields, Oscillations, and Heating in the Quiet Sun Temperature Minimum Region From Ultraviolet Observations At 1600 Å

The High Resolution Telescope and Spectrograph (HRTS) instrument has obtained broadband spectroheliograph images at 1600 A of the solar temperature minimum region. I discuss HRTS observations of quiet areas and their relation with magnetic fields, five minute oscillations, and heating. The brightness temperature of solar fine structure elements composing the super-granular network is found to be linearly proportional to the local absolute value of magnetic field strength. There is evidence for a 250-s period oscillation occurring in 10-arcsec scale patches, which however is energetically unimportant to the local heating budget. A general nonmagnetic background heating and five minute oscillations occur globally, while the network bright points occur in magnetic regions, heated perhaps from partial dissipation of Alfven waves (whose energy flux is linearly proportional to B) in individual elemental 1500-G (at the photosphere) flux tubes which expand to form the temperature minimum fine structure bright points.
Media 2.0 – the new media revolution?

With the rapid development of Web 2.0 and cloud computing concept and applications, there are many unprecedented web-based multimedia applications are emerging today and they pose many new challenges in multimedia research. In this talk, I first summarize the common features of the new wave of multimedia applications which I call Media 2.0. I use 5 D's to describe Media 2.0 principles, namely, Democratized media life cycle; Data-driven media value chain; Decoupled media system; Decomposed media contents; and Decentralized media business model. Then I explain what the implications of Media 2.0 to multimedia research are and how we should choose our research topics that could make big impacts. Finally, I use example research projects ranging from media codecs, media systems, media search and media related advertisement from MSRA to demonstrate the ideas I have talked about. I hope these ideas and principles could inspire the audience to come up with new media 2.0 research topics and applications in the future.
Using Intelligent Systems in Predictions of the Bacterial Causative Agent of an Infection

In this study, we designed a fuzzy logic system to examine the influence of the demographic variables of age, blood type, gender and race on bacterial infection rates using a medical database assembled over 17 months from patients presenting to Albert Einstein Medical Center. The intelligent system was created using 155 patients, randomly selected from the database, and consisted of four input categories of demographic variables and four output categories of bacterial infection ("streptococci", "staphylococci", "Escherichia coli" and "non-E. coli gram negative rods"). The remaining 32 patients were used to assess the program's ability to correctly determine bacterial infection when provided only with demographic data. Our intelligent system correctly assigned the bacterial output group in 27 of these 32 patients, giving an overall correlation of 84.4%. These studies suggest that demographic variables are major factors influencing bacterial infection. Such a system may, therefore, hold promise as a diagnostic tool.
Personal reflections 30 years after the Hilton Head Conference.

ASHP, together with the ASHP Research and Education Foundation, conducted a conference in 1985 to examine the progress we had made up to that point in establishing pharmacy as a clinical profession and to offer recommendations to guide the future development of clinical practice in pharmacy. This
Estimation of acyldihydroxyacetone phosphate and lysophosphatidate in animal tissues

Chemical and enzymatic methods have been developed to measure small quantities (10(-8) - 10(-10) mol) of acyldihydroxyacetone phosphate in animal tissues. Lipids extracted from tissue samples with acidic CHCl3/methanol were subjected to solvent partitioning at two different pH values for partial purification of this keto-lipid from other lipids. This lipid was then estimated radiometrically either by chemical reduction with NaB3H4 or by enzymatic reduction with [4B-3H]NADPH using a partially purified acyldihydroxyacetone-phosphate reductase (EC 1.1.1.101). Thin-layer chromatography revealed the presence of a number of 3H-labeled lipids in the NaB3H4-reduced product and further purification of the product was necessary to estimate the amount of acyl[2-3H]glycerol 3-phosphate formed. The enzymatic reduction was very specific for acyl/alkyldihydroxyacetone phosphate. The amounts (nmol/g) of these keto-lipids estimated in different tissues by the enzymatic method were 10.06 +/- 0.64 (guinea pig liver), 4.3 +/- 0.15 (rat liver), 2.1 (rat testis), 1.5 (rad kidney) and 1.2 (rat brain). Monoacylglycerol 3-phosphate, i.e., lysophosphatidic acid, which was co-purified with acyldihydroxyacetone phosphate, was found to be present in relatively larger amounts in tissues. The amounts (nmol/g) of this lipid, estimated by enzymatically measuring the amounts of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate released after alkaline methanolysis of the partially purified lipid extracts, were 143 (guinea pig liver), 58 (rat liver), 53 (rat kidney) and 92 (rat brain). Stearic acid (18:0) was found to be the major (65%) fatty acid present in the lysophosphatidate purified from guinea pig liver.
Terraced spreading of simple liquids on solid surfaces.

We have studied the spreading of liquid drops on a solid surface by molecular-dynamics simulations of coexisting three-phase Lennard-Jones systems of liquid, vapor, and solid. We consider both spherically symmetric atoms and diatomic molecules, and a range of interaction strengths. As the attraction between liquid and solid increases we observe a smooth transition in spreading regimes, from partial to complete to terraced wetting. In the terraced case, where distinct monomolecular layers spread with different velocities, the layers are ordered but not solid, with substantial molecular diffusion both within and between layers. The quantitative behavior resembles recent experimental findings, but the detailed dynamics differ. In particular, the layers exhibit an unusual spreading law, where their radii vary in time as R-squared approximately equal to log10t, which disagrees with experiments on polymeric liquids as well as recent calculations.