cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protein Kinase A Governs Oxidative Phosphorylation Kinetics and Oxidant Emitting Potential at Complex I

The mitochondrial electron transport system (ETS) is responsible for setting and maintaining both the energy and redox charges throughout the cell. Reversible phosphorylation of mitochondrial proteins, particularly via the soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC)/cyclic AMP (cAMP)/Protein kinase A (PKA) axis, has recently been revealed as a potential mechanism regulating the ETS. However, the governance of cAMP/PKA signaling and its implications on ETS function are incompletely understood. In contrast to prior reports using exogenous bicarbonate, we provide evidence that endogenous CO2 produced by increased tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle flux is insufficient to increase mitochondrial cAMP levels, and that exogenous addition of membrane permeant 8Br-cAMP does not enhance mitochondrial respiratory capacity. We also report important non-specific effects of commonly used inhibitors of sAC which preclude their use in studies of mitochondrial function. In isolated liver mitochondria, inhibition of PKA reduces complex I-, but not complex II-supported respiratory capacity. In permeabilized myofibers, inhibition of PKA lowers both the Km and Vmax for complex I-supported respiration as well as succinate-supported H2O2 emitting potential. In summary, the data provided here improve our understanding of how mitochondrial cAMP production is regulated, illustrate a need for better tools to examine the impact of sAC activity on mitochondrial biology, and suggest that cAMP/PKA signaling contributes to the governance of electron flow through complex I of the ETS.
Comparative analysis of minerals found in male and female hair of different age groups.

In present scenario of pollution and UV radiation, it is our urgent requirement to determine the baseline levels of mineral constituents in human beings. It causes major health problems in general population. This paper deals with quantitative determination of minerals in human hair. Biological samples were collected for environmental quality investigation randomly from male and female subjects of selected group aged from 5 year to 60 year of different social status. Sample collection and preparation were carried out using standard procedures. Levels of minerals (calcium, magnesium and phosphorus) were estimated using analytical methods. The levels of all the minerals studied and mean concentration of female hair were significantly higher. Significant levels of minerals in human hair samples indicate the type of exposure of male and female subjects
The Forensic Assessment of Substance Abuse

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the interaction between criminal behavior and substance use. It discusses legal guidelines and precedents in the courts. The chapter provides an overview of assessment tests, tools, and techniques that can be applied to evaluate substance use. There are legally two general issues in the relationship between criminal behavior and substance use. One relates to the possession, sale, and use of illegal drugs as criminal behavior and the other concerns with antisocial behavior resulting from the effect of drug. The majority of arrests for the offense of drug abuse violations are for possession of marijuana. Alcohol and other drugs have been addressed in innumerable cases in both civil and criminal law. Two landmark cases underlie current legal thinking on criminal responsibility and alcoholism and drug addiction. Many measures of substance use are based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The most commonly employed method of assessment used in alcohol treatment agencies to diagnose substance use disorders is the clinical interview. The chapter concludes with a briefly discussion on the literature on the treatment of individuals with a substance use disorder.
Citizenship in the Cloud: Exploring Civic Obligations in Web 2.0 Space

This paper explores the civic implications of on-line interactions. As we move into what Yochai Benkler (2006) calls the ﾓnetworked information economy,ﾔ represented by increased server storage capacity, the proliferation of personal computers with fast microprocessor speeds, and the advent of broadband internet access, serious questions remain regarding the contours of a networked information polity This gap gains increasing salience as a growing number of people construct a life in the cloud where social interactions can be conducted in virtual communities where people can create on-line personas and interact visually with others in the cloud. This essay seeks to draw disparate strands in Internet studies, sociology, cognitive psychology, digital antrhopology and the citizenship literature in political science to examine the varying ways we can conceptualize good citizenship in a virtual cloud of e-mails, photographs, home movies, blog entries, Facebook chats and other forms of information combine to form an individual's on-line self.
Back-angle /sup 3/He and. cap alpha. -particle elastic scattering from /sup 27/Al

Back-angle elastic scattering measurements were performed for /sup 3/He and ..cap alpha.. particles on /sup 27/Al targets. Data were obtained at 11 energies between 14 and 31 MeV for /sup 3/He particles and at 15 energies between 13 and 40 MeV for ..cap alpha.. particles. 180degree elastic cross sections for ..cap alpha.. particles are a factor of approx.100 larger than those for /sup 3/He particles of the same energy. The ..cap alpha..-particle angular distributions all peak at 180degree, whereas mimina at 180degree are observed in some of the /sup 3/He angular distributions. A number of optical-model analyses were performed on the data, and the results of the analyses show a pronounced energy dependence of the absorption term of the potential for ..cap alpha.. particles but not for /sup 3/He particles. (AIP)
Investigation on etiology of bacterial diarrhea of children in summer in Guangzhou in 2010

Objective To investigate the etiology of bacterial diarrhea of children in summer in Guangzhou in 2010.Methods Children with initial clinical diagnosis of acute bacterial diarrhea during May to July in Guangzhou women and children's medical centre of Zhujiang new town hospital were enrolled in 2010.Enteric pathogenic bacteria were isolated,cultured,and identified by biochemistry reaction and serum agglutination test from flesh stool specimens.Campylobacter jejuni antigen was detected by gold colloid methods.Results 44 pathogenic bacteria were detected in 110 stool specimens;the positive rate was 40.0%.17 Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli were isolated,among them 15 strains were isolated from children under 2 year;12 Campylobacter jejuni were detected,10 strains were detected from children under 2 year;6 Salmonella,6 Candida,3 Clostridium perfringens were detected.Conclusion Enteropathogenic Escherichi coli and Campylobacter jejuni were the major pathogens among children with summer bacterial diarrhea in Guangzhou in 2010.children under 2 years were susceptible to these two species of bacteria.
An Investigation on Prevalence and Risk Factors of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among Residents of Qingtian County

Objective To examine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus( DM) and its risk factors among residents over 18 years old of Qingtian County,in order to evaluate the prevalence state and provide the basis of appropriate preventive measures. Methods Using multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method,a total number of 1248 residents over 18 years old from 4 towns participated in this questionnaire survey and other physical examination,including fasting blood glucose,blood lipids and other biochemical indexes tests. The prevalence rate of DM was described,and the Logistic regression model was used to analyze its risk factors. Results The age standardized prevalence rate of DM was 8. 84% with male 8. 04% and female 9. 91%,respectively. The prevalence rate of DM between men and women was of no statistical significance; with the growth of age,the prevalence rate of DM increased gradually( P 0. 01). Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors of DM were central obesity( OR = 4. 63,95% CI: 1. 19 ~ 2. 88),family history of diabetes( OR = 4. 63,95% CI: 2. 58~ 8. 32),high triglycerides( OR = 2. 63,95% CI: 1. 76 ~ 3. 93) and hypertension( OR = 2. 27,95% CI: 1. 48 ~ 3. 48). Conclusion The central obesity,hypertension and high triglycerides may be the risk factors. It's necessary to strengthen the prevention of poor dietary habit and lifestyle in the local people especially the people who have family history of diabetes,in order to effective control of diabetes.
A non-pregnant woman with elevated beta-HCG: A case of para-neoplastic syndrome in ovarian cancer

There is a broad range of possible diagnoses for an elevated beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) in the absence of intrauterine or ectopic pregnancy. When women of child bearing potential undergo evaluation for clinical trial, it is often unclear what course of evaluation to take when a pregnancy test is positive. We describe the clinical course of a patient with widely metastatic mucinous ovarian carcinoma with metastasis to the peritoneum, lymph nodes and liver. The patient was found to have a mildly elevated β-hCG during initial evaluation for clinical trial. Extensive work up for ectopic pregnancy, trophoblastic disease, and phantom β-hCG were negative. The patient's β-hCG levels continued to rise until initiation of therapy. She was treated on a phase I protocol with restaging scans revealing a partial response. The β-hCG was retested and declined in conjunction with her response, consistent with paraneoplastic β-hCG. Here, we propose a decision making algorithm to evaluate a patient with an elevated β-hCG undergoing assessment for clinical trial.
Iconicity in English Vocabulary and its Relation to Toddlers' Word Learning

Scholars have documented substantial classes of iconic vocabulary in many non-Indo-European languages. In comparison, Indo-European languages like English are assumed to be arbitrary outside of a small number of onomatopoeic words. In three experiments, we asked English speakers to rate the iconicity of words from the MacArthurBates Communicative Developmental Inventory. We found English—contrary to common belief—exhibits iconicity that correlates with age of acquisition and differs across lexical classes. Words judged as most iconic are learned earlier, in accord with findings that iconic words are easier to learn. We also find that adjectives and verbs are more iconic than nouns, supporting the idea that iconicity provides an extra cue in learning more difficult abstract meanings. Our results provide new evidence for a relationship between iconicity and word learning and suggest iconicity may be a more pervasive property of spoken languages than previously thought.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of early point-of-care lactate testing in the emergency department

Abstract Purpose To determine the cost-effectiveness of implementing a point-of-care (POC) Lactate Program in the emergency department (ED) for patients with suspected sepsis to identify patients who can benefit from early resuscitation. Materials and methods We constructed a cost-effectiveness model to examine an ED with 30 000 patients annually. We evaluated a POC lactate program screening patients with suspected sepsis for an elevated lactate ≥4 mmol/L. Those with elevated lactate levels are resuscitated and their lactate clearance is evaluated by serial POC lactate measurements. The POC Lactate Program was compared with a Usual Care Strategy in which all patients with sepsis and an elevated lactate are admitted to the intensive care unit. Costs were estimated from the 2014 Medicare Inpatient and National Physician Fee schedules, and hospital and industry estimates. Results In the base-case, the POC Lactate Program cost $39.53/patient whereas the Usual Care Strategy cost $33.20/patient. The screened patients in the POC arm resulted in 1.07 quality-adjusted life years for an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $31 590 per quality-adjusted life year gained, well below accepted willingness-to-pay-thresholds. Conclusions Implementing a POC Lactate Program for screening ED patients with suspected sepsis is a cost-effective intervention to identify patients responsive to early resuscitation.
Advances in Pediatric Liver Tumors

Hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma are rare pediatric tumors. We review the significant advances in hepatoblastoma and pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis and treatment. International pathologic classification and risk stratification have been extensively reviewed and redefined for hepatoblastoma via international collaborative analyses of an international hepatoblastoma database. International trials have identified patients for whom (1) no adjuvant chemotherapy is indicated, (2) neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves resectability and survival, and (3) intensified therapy improves survival (for patients with metastatic disease). Hepatocellular carcinoma studies highlight the poor prognosis for patients with nonlocalized disease emphasizing the need for future collaborative efforts exploring molecular characteristics and novel therapeutics. Recent advances have significantly improved treatment of hepatoblastoma by implementing a consensus international pathologic classification and risk stratification and identification of higher risk biological features. Advances in pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma treatment lag behind hepatoblastoma. The Pediatric Hepatic International Tumor Trial (PHITT) will focus on decreasing long-term toxicity, improving outcomes, providing surgical guidelines, and advancing the knowledge of the biology of hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Toward understanding the role of cartilage particulates in synovial inflammation

Summary Objective Arthroscopy with lavage and synovectomy can remove tissue debris from the joint space and the synovial lining to provide pain relief to patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Here, we developed an in vitro model to study the interaction of cartilage wear particles with fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) to better understand the interplay of cartilage particulates with cytokines on cells of the synovium. Method In this study sub-10 μm cartilage particles or 1 μm latex particles were co-cultured with FLS ±10 ng/mL interleukin-1α (IL-1α) or tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Samples were analyzed for DNA, glycosaminoglycan (GAG), and collagen, and media samples were analyzed for media GAG, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2). The nature of the physical interaction between the particles and FLS was determined by microscopy. Results Both latex and cartilage particles could be phagocytosed by FLS. Cartilage particles were internalized and attached to the surface of both dense monolayers and individual cells. Co-culture of FLS with cartilage particulates resulted in a significant increase in cell sheet DNA and collagen content as well as NO and PGE2 synthesis compared to control and latex treated groups. Conclusion The proliferative response of FLS to cartilage wear particles resulted in an overall increase in extracellular matrix (ECM) content, analogous to the thickening of the synovial lining observed in OA patients. Understanding how cartilage particles interface with the synovium may provide insight into how this interaction contributes to OA progression and may guide the role of lavage and synovectomy for degenerative disease.
Surgical Site Infection Research Opportunities

Much has been done to identify measures and modify risk factors to decrease the rate of surgical site infection (SSI). Development of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Core recommendations for the prevention of SSI revealed evidence gaps in six areas: Parenteral antimicrobial prophylaxis, glycemic control, normothermia, oxygenation, antiseptic prophylaxis, and non-parenteral antimicrobial prophylaxis. Using a modified Delphi process, seven SSI content experts identified nutritional status, smoking, obesity, surgical technique, and anemia as additional areas for SSI prevention research. Post-modified Delphi process Staphylococcus aureus colonization and SSI definition and surveillance were also deemed important topic areas for inclusion. For each topic, research questions were developed, and 10 were selected as the final SSI research questions.
Chronic post-stroke aphasia severity is determined by fragmentation of residual white matter networks

Many stroke survivors with aphasia in the acute period experience spontaneous recovery within the first six months after the stroke. However, approximately 30–40% sustain permanent aphasia and the factors determining incomplete recovery are unclear. Suboptimal recovery may be influenced by disruption of areas seemingly spared by the stroke due to loss of white matter connectivity and network integrity. We reconstructed individual anatomical whole-brain connectomes from 90 left hemisphere stroke survivors using diffusion MR images. We measured the modularity of the residual white matter network organization, the probability of brain regions clustering together, and the degree of fragmentation of left hemisphere networks. Greater post-stroke left hemisphere network fragmentation and higher modularity index were associated with more severe chronic aphasia, controlling for the size of the stroke lesion. Even when the left hemisphere was relatively spared, subjects with disorganized community structure had significantly worse aphasia, particularly when key temporal lobe regions were isolated into segregated modules. These results suggest that white matter integrity and disorganization of neuronal networks could be important determinants of chronic aphasia severity. Connectome white matter organization measured through modularity and other topological features could be used as a personalized variable for clinical staging and aphasia treatment planning.
Is righting response lateralized in two species of freshwater turtles

Laterality has been found in a variety of reptiles. In turtles, one important behaviour is the righting response. Here, we studied laterality of righting response of two species of freshwater turtles, the Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) and the Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus). We found evidence of individual-level laterality in righting response in C. picta, but not S. odoratus. Neither species showed evidence of population-level laterality in righting response. Our results suggest that there is variation in the extent of laterality of righting response in turtles. Possible explanations for variation in laterality of righting response in turtles include shell shape and use of terrestrial habitats. However, more species of turtles need to be examined to demonstrate any general patterns in laterality of righting response in turtles.
p53 and Me

p53 and Me Just before beginning medical school, a woman who’s survived a childhood rhabdomyosarcoma and is facing breast and lung cancers discovers she has Li–Fraumeni syndrome. Though her p53 mutation won’t alter her medical care much, the changes to her psyche are profound.
The relationship between family factors and adolescent substance use in rural, suburban, and urban settings

We tested the relationships and predictive power of family factors on rural, suburban, and urban adolescent substance use. A representative statewide survey of 11th grade students for gender, place of residence, and ethnicity was conducted. No significant differences were found between rural, suburban, and urban adolescents for substance use. For family sanction variables across all locations, adolescent substance involvement was significantly lower the more they perceived their families would “stop them” or “care” if they got drunk, smoked cigarettes, or used marijuana. Rural and suburban youth who reported that their parents talked to them about the dangers of smoking and getting drunk were less involved in substance use. While controlling for location, gender, and ethnicity, regression analyses showed that family sanctions against smoking cigarettes and marijuana explained a modest proportion of the variance in substance use. Finally, “family talking about the dangers of cigarettes,” “family involvement in schools” and “belief that their families cared about them” predicted lower substance use regardless of location, although minimal variance was explained. The findings have implications for social service providers regarding location settings, prevention, education, and intervention programming.
Motives with Galois Group of type G2>: an Exceptional Theta-Correspondence

In this paper, we study an exceptional theta correspondence, obtained by restricting the minimal automorphic representation of the adjoint group of type E7 and rank 3 over Q to the dual pair GxPGSp6. Here G is the anisotropic form of G2 over Q; using the correspondence, we lift certain automorphic forms on G to holomorphic cusp forms on PGSp6. This lifting provides the first step in a project to construct motives of rank 7 and weight O over Q with Galois group of type G2.
Small Cardioactive Peptides A and B

Neurobiologists are conducting investigations ultimately aimed at understanding the cellular and molecular basis of animal behavior. These studies make use of a variety of techniques and approaches, many of which are defining the precise nature of the interactions between a neuron and its target. Of pivotal importance is the characterization of molecules that function as extracellular chemical messengers in the central nervous system (CNS). These messengers have a variety of chemical structures and can act in a direct fashion or across long distances. For example, at the neuromuscular junction, acetylcholine (ACh) acts directly over short distances and is rapidly degraded by acetlycholinesterase (AChE). Furthermore, high-affinity reuptake systems remove many neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft (Hall, 1973; Cooper et al., 1978). By contrast, a variety of other substances, such as biologically active peptides, may act either synaptically or at targets quite distant from their sites of release. These longer-range effects often have slower onsets and longer durations than interactions mediated at a classic synapse (Krieger, 1983). More recent studies have demonstrated that single neurons may elicit multiple actions mediated by more than one chemical messenger (Lundberg and Hokfelt, 1983).
Evidence for the origin of chayote, sechium edule (Cucurbitaceae)

Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. (Cucurbitaceae), a one-seeded squash most popular in Latin America, is cultivated worldwide in tropical and subtropical climates. In the past, a Mexican center of origin for chayote has been inferred mainly from linguistic data, but to use this argument correctly, relevant indigenous terms should be interpreted. Evidence from historical documents indicates pre-Columbian Aztecs used chayote in Mexico, but the lack of documentation from other countries does not constitute proof that the plant was absent. Chayote’s center of genetic diversity suggests it was first domesticated in Mexico and Central America, but this variation could have been secondarily derived. However inconclusive these three lines of evidence are, they do converge on the same conclusion supported by new botanical evidence. Chayote’s closest wild relative,S. compositum, from Mexico and Guatemala, and two potentially ancestral forms of chayote recently discovered outside cultivation in Mexico, demarcate Mexico and Guatemala as the most likely center of origin for this ancient crop.
Does walking in a virtual environment induce unstable gait? An examination of vertical ground reaction forces

Virtual reality (VR) can induce postural instability in standing and walking, as quantified with kinematic parameters. This study examines the effect of a VR environment on kinetic gait parameters. Ten healthy volunteers walked on an instrumented treadmill in a VR environment and a non-VR environment. In the VR environment, a corridor with colored vertical stripes comprising the walls was projected onto a concave screen placed in front of the treadmill. The speed of the moving image was perceptually equivalent to the speed of the treadmill, creating an illusion that subjects walked through the corridor. Vertical ground reaction forces were sampled. Kinetic parameters that reflect gait stability (weight acceptance peak force, weight acceptance rate, push-off peak force and push-off rate) were compared between the VR and non-VR environments. Subjects walked in the VR environment with increased magnitudes and rates of weight acceptance force and with increased rates of push-off force. Variability in weight acceptance rates and peak forces, and variability in push-off peak forces, were also increased in the VR environment. The gait deviations reflect a compensatory response to visual stimulation that occurs in the VR environment, suggesting that walking in a VR environment may induce gait instability in healthy subjects.
Copper-catalyzed regioselective dehydrogenative alkoxylation of morpholinonyl alkenols: application to the synthesis of spirotricyclic dihydropyrans and of trans-fused bicyclic morpholines

A base-free, regioselective and atom-economical approach to aryl-substituted as well as morpholine-fused dihydropyrans, by Cu-catalyzed intramolecular dehydrogenative alkoxylation of allylic morpholinols, is described. Spirotricyclic dihydropyrans are affordable after ring-closing metathesis.
Lethal Force at Home and Abroad

This Article compares the legal treatment of lethal force exercised by the President with the legal treatment of lethal force exercised by police officers. In doing so, it examines the distinction between the crime paradigm and the war paradigm, complicates assumptions about when our rights as citizens are the strongest, and offers lessons about how to create meaningful constraints for lethal force. The Article concludes descriptively that when contemplating lethal force, the President is subject to more constraints than are police officers. Two insights follow from this claim. First, lethal force is an exception to the assumed rule of broader rights and limited government in the crime paradigm. Second, the relative utility of ex ante regulation for the President provides yet another reason to improve ex ante regulation for the police.
Formation of Erysiphe necator Chasmothecia in the Pacific Northwest United States.

In the Pacific Northwest, chasmothecia formation is not observed in vineyards until the beginning of veraison despite heavy infestations whereby 100% of leaf tissue is covered by Erysiphe necator. Mating type proximity and distribution were sampled from individual lesions (∼71 mm2) on leaf tissue in a stratified sampling from three canopy heights at three times during the 2013, 2014, and 2015 growing seasons. Both mating types were observed at every sampling point and within the same lesions at all sampling dates and canopy heights. Effect of temperature and day length were examined by inoculating seedlings with known mating type 1 and 2 isolates and placed in incubators at different temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30°C) or different day length changes (long day to long day, long day to short day, short day to short day, and short day to long day). Chasmothecia were produced at all temperatures that E. necator was able to colonize tissue, and the greatest number of chasmothecia were produced at 15 and 20°C (P ≤ 0.02). Day length shifts from short day (8 h) to long day (16 h) resulted in a significant increase in chasmothecia production (P < 0.001). End of season plant stress observed in the Pacific Northwest, such as water stress or host senescence, was assessed under naturally infested field conditions by either girdling canes or applying 150 mg·liter-1 abscisic acid solution to vines, respectively, and quantifying chasmothecia production. No differences were observed in chasmothecia production in the plant stress assessment, likely due to the high vigor and ability for plants to overcome stress treatments.
Development of real-time RT-PCR assays for two viruses infecting pome fruit

Abstract Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) and Apple green crinkle-associated virus (AGCaV) negatively impact production, maintenance, and distribution of apples and other Malus species world-wide. Due to the increasing diversity of isolates found by high-throughput sequencing, we have developed real-time RT-qPCR assays for these two viruses. Primers and probes were designed against alignments of representative extant sequences from around the world, and reaction conditions optimized for sensitivity and specificity. Assays were validated against a panel of virus isolates, and compared to extant endpoint RT-PCR and ELISA assays. The new real-time RT-qPCR assays showed greater detection sensitivity than extant assays and were able to detect their target viruses from different host tissues.
Trihexyphenidyl rescues the deficit in dopamine neurotransmission in a mouse model of DYT1 dystonia.

Abstract Trihexyphenidyl, a nonselective muscarinic receptor antagonist, is the small molecule drug of choice for the treatment of DYT1 dystonia, but it is poorly tolerated due to significant side effects. A better understanding of the mechanism of action of trihexyphenidyl is needed for the development of improved treatments. Because DTY1 dystonia is associated with both abnormal cholinergic neurotransmission and abnormal dopamine regulation, we tested the hypothesis that trihexyphenidyl normalizes striatal dopamine release in a mouse model of DYT1 dystonia using ex vivo fast scan cyclic voltammetry and in vivo microdialysis. Trihexyphenidyl increased striatal dopamine release and efflux as assessed by ex vivo voltammetry and in vivo microdialysis respectively. In contrast, ʟ-DOPA, which is not usually effective for the treatment of DYT1 dystonia, did not increase dopamine release in either Dyt1 or control mice. Trihexyphenidyl was less effective at enhancing dopamine release in Dyt1 mice relative to controls ex vivo (mean increase WT: 65% vs Dyt1: 35%). Trihexyphenidyl required nicotinic receptors but not glutamate receptors to increase dopamine release. Dyt1 mice were more sensitive to the dopamine release decreasing effects of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonism (IC50: WT = 29.46 nM, Dyt1 = 12.26 nM) and less sensitive to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors suggesting that nicotinic acetylcholine receptor neurotransmission is altered in Dyt1 mice, that nicotinic receptors indirectly mediate the differential effects of trihexyphenidyl in Dyt1 mice, and that nicotinic receptors may be suitable therapeutic targets for DYT1 dystonia.
Prevalence of White Spot Lesions during Orthodontic Treatment

Prevalence of White Spot Lesions during Orthodontic Treatment with Fixed Appliances By Julian Spencer Dixon IV, DMD A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2009 Thesis Director: Eser Tufekci, D.D.S., MS, Ph. D. Associate Professor, Department of Orthodontics The reported prevalence of decalcification in orthodontic patients varies from 2 to 96% mainly due to the lack of a standard examination technique. The aims of this study were: 1) to determine the prevalence of white spot lesions around brackets using visual examination and the DIAGNOdent; 2) to determine which teeth were the most susceptible to decalcification; and 3) to test the accuracy of the DIAGNOdent by comparing to the visual examination. The presence of white spot lesions was determined in two groups of patients who were 6 and 12 months into orthodontic treatment, respectively. The control group consisted of patients who were examined for white spot lesions immediately after having their braces placed on their teeth. The prevalence of white spot lesions was 38%, 46%, and 11% for the 6-month, 12-month, and control groups, respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation (r = 0.71) between the DIAGNOdent measurements and the visual examination.
Dual antibody immunohistochemistry: an efficient and sensitive tool for the detection of residual disease in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Highly effective treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have the potential to reduce significant tumor burden to single cells and therefore require sensitive tools to assess for minimal residual disease (MRD) in bone marrow (BM) biopsies. Flow cytometry (FC) is the current gold standard for detection of MRD, but requires a specialized facility, specific antibody panels, collecting hundreds of thousands-to-millions of cells, and personnel with expertise in the analysis and interpretation of FC MRD data, which may not be feasible in many small laboratories. Dual-antibody immunohistochemistry (DA-IHC) can identify abnormal populations better than morphology alone, but its correlation with FC assessment is not known. Our aims are to characterize the efficacy of DA-IHC in assessing BM samples post-treatment and to compare results with FC to evaluate for residual disease in CLL. We collected 2-year post-therapy data from 33 CLL patients on two treatment protocols, chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) and single agent ibrutinib (IB), as well as BMs from 10 healthy volunteers as morphologic controls. BM biopsy specimens were examined for the presence or absence of CLL based on morphologic evidence of lymphoid infiltration and aberrant co-expression of CD5 and PAX5 DA-IHC. FC using a standard CLL antibody panel was performed in parallel. All IB patients had residual disease detected by DA-IHC and FC, although five patients (22%) were morphologically negative by routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain. Those without overt morphologic evidence of disease showed DA-IHC-positive interstitial single cells and were positive for residual disease by FC. The assessments by DA-IHC and FC were significantly correlated (p = 0.004). Four patients (40%) treated with CIT were morphologically negative by H&E, and two of these had no detectable CLL by either DA-IHC or FC. The other two patients had low-level disease detected by both DA-IHC and FC. The MRD levels identified by DA-IHC were correlated with those by FC (p < 0.0001). We characterized the efficacy of DA-IHC in assessing CLL post-treatment and found assessments by DA-IHC and FC were statistically significant in both the IB- and CIT-treated patients. These findings suggest DA-IHC could accurately detect residual disease in cases lacking morphologic evidence by H&E alone. DA-IHC may be a useful tool in current practice as another sensitive and efficient method to assess for MRD in CLL.
CRT-100.46 Impact of Weight Status on In-hospital Complications in African Americans Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Obesity is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. However, compared to non-obese patients, obese patients tend to have low rates of complications after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We aim to assess this obesity paradox in African Americans (AA). We evaluated 1139 AA
Examining the impact of fiction literature on children’s gender stereotypes

Fiction literature has been shown to influence the beliefs and attitudes of readers of all ages. Therefore, fiction literature might be a useful tool for helping individuals overcome potentially damaging beliefs, such as rigid gender stereotypes. Since most children’s literature is centered around stereotypical male protagonists, this study examined whether exposure to children’s fiction literature about non-stereotypical protagonists would shift endorsement of gender stereotypes in 8- to 12-year-old children. Two experiments exposed children to book material describing the adventures of either a stereotypically or counter-stereotypically behaving male or female child protagonist. Results showed that extended exposure to a multi-chapter story about a counter-stereotypical protagonist could reduce children’s endorsement of gender stereotypes; this effect was particularly strong in male children exposed to an atypical male protagonist. These findings support the importance of children’s literature about protagonists who move beyond stereotypes.
La crisis de la libertad

Two conceptions of liberty, at least, have been under discussion in the last 60 years: negative freedom and positive freedom. Both conceptions were in conﬂict until recently. In. the last part of the Twentieth Century –with the fall of the Wall– it seemed that the ﬁrst had triumphed over the second. In what follows, we wish to reﬂect on these two concepts from Isaiah Berlin’s perspective. In a second moment, and taken some of Paul Krugman’s ideas, we will try to show how and interpretation of negative freedom could have some responsibility in today’s crisis. Finally, we will outline, using some of Taylor’s ideas on positive freedom, the way positive freedom can be an aid in the construction of a more integrated, responsible and solidary society.
Chapter 32 – Borers

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses borers insects. Insects that are borers belong to a wide range of taxonomic groups, but they all share a common life history trait: They spend all or part of their larval life feeding within the tissues of their host plant. Some borer species deposit eggs within host plant tissues, whereas other species oviposit on the external surface and the larvae bore into the plant. Insect orders that include species commonly referred to as borers are Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Diptera. The most varied and numerous representatives are among the moths and the beetles. The primitive wasps, which include the horntails (Siricidae), wood wasps (Xiphydriidae and Syntexidae), and sawflies (Tenthredinidae and Cephidae), are the only representatives of the Hymenoptera. Almost all plant tissues may be subject to borer colonization. Typically, larvae of miners feed within plant foliage, whereas larval borers may feed within other plant tissues, including roots, stems and twigs, meristems, fruits, conductive tissues, galls, and bark. The variety of plant tissues that are used by borers also spans an array of plant groups that range from the ferns and gymnosperms to the grasses and dicotyledonous angiosperms.
Accrual, Publication Bias, and the Coronavirus in 2020.

The era of COVID19 reflects the importance, perhaps now more than ever, of transparency in the outcomes of trials small and large. The Oncologist Clinical Trial Results (CTR) section has endeavored to provide a remedy for the persistent problem of underreporting in clinical trials in oncology and the subsequent publication bias that this practice necessarily creates. As The Oncologist celebrates its 25th Anniversary, we focus not only on the ethical and moral imperatives behind CTR, but also on the practical goal of informing the practice of treating physicians.
Defining Transcription Regulatory Elements in the Human Frataxin Gene: Implications for Gene Therapy.

Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is the most common inherited form of ataxia in humans. It is caused by severe downregulation of frataxin (FXN) expression instigated by hyperexpansion of the GAA repeats ...
Dimensional analysis of Reynolds independence and regional critical Reynolds numbers for urban aerodynamics

Abstract The Reynolds independence has been important for scaled experiments of urban aerodynamics in wind environment engineering. It helps to circumvent the difficulty in conserving the Re number for large scaling ratios. However, the criteria for Re-independence and its working mechanism have not been well investigated quantitatively. In this study, a dimensionless numerical analysis is conducted to provide a microscopic view of the problem both theoretically and numerically. The conditions of the similarity and Re-independence are identified theoretically. A series of simulations of the typical urban canopy layer model with three typical building-street aspect ratios were performed to quantify the similarity levels by some new evaluation metrics, local adapted deviation rate (ADR), the turbulence viscosity ratio (TVR), and the fraction of laminar viscosity ( μ ’ / μ e f f ’ ). It is found that one explanation for the similarity of Re-independence is that either the convection of the flow dominates the diffusion, and/or the turbulence viscosity dominates the laminar viscosity inside the diffusion term. A regional critical Re number ( R e c r − r ) concept is introduced to describe the case-specific and region-specific Re-independence: it is around 10,000–30,000 for the canyon and building height regions, and 60,000–140,000 for the near-wall regions.
The Continuing Relevance of Morris Janowitz’s The Professional Soldier for the Education of Officers:

In the current strategic environment, Morris Janowitz’s The Professional Soldier deserves renewed emphasis, especially from the military’s senior leaders who are responsible for the education and d...
Hanifi, Shah Mahmoud (ed.), Mountstuart Elphinstone in South Asia: Pioneer of British Colonial Rule: New York: Oxford University Press, 424 pp., $60.00, ISBN 9780190914400, Publication Date: July 2019

This excellent collection of essays arose from a 2015 conference held in London about the famous colonial administrator Monstuart Elphinstone and has been carefully edited by Professor Shah Mahmoud...
Improving computer science lab feedback methods

In computer science programming courses such as Java, C, Python, C++, the computer science (CS) lab plays the most significant role in helping freshmen students to learn the coding for the first time. In the labs, students work on some programming assignment problems and submit them on an online platform to be graded by instructors. The labs are designed to get students hands-on coding and implement the programs on the computer. Traditionally, the grading feedback is provided after a week or more, many of which are ignored by the students. As such, in this work, a one-on-one grading feedback methodology on completion of the program in the lab was conducted. Along with feedback, instructors would ask various questions to students related to the problem to understand their knowledge, thinking process and at the same time, enhance the communication skills of students. A quantitative study of the process using survey data showed that this method had a positive impact on students without causing any additional burden on instructors.
The renin-angiotensin system in PTSD: a replication and extension.

Prior observational studies have suggested that medications targeting the renin-angiotensin system, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), may be associated with decreased PTSD symptoms. Given known sex differences in PTSD prevalence and cardiovascular disease, here we tested whether the effects of ACE-I/ARB status on PTSD differ by sex. We also expanded these observations with replication analyses in a large biorepository database. Participants in the initial sample included 840 trauma-exposed individuals recruited as part of the Grady Trauma Project. The Modified PTSD Symptom Scale (M-PSS) was administered and ACE-I/ARB status was determined by self-report. Replication analyses were conducted using a large biorepository database (Partners Healthcare Biobank, N = 116,389) with diagnoses and medication status based on available electronic health records. Among individuals treated with ACE-Is/ARBs in the initial sample, women had significantly higher M-PSS total and Re-experiencing severity compared to men (p's < 0.05). Analyses with the large biorepository sample robustly replicated the overall effects of ACE-I/ARB medication associated with lower rate of PTSD diagnosis (p < 0.001). We also demonstrated that this effect may be specific to the renin-angiotensin system as it did not replicate for beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, or diuretics. When we examined more specific drug classes, results indicated that the ACE-I/ARB effect on PTSD may be driven more by ARBs (e.g., Losartan) than by ACE-Is. Post-hoc analyses indicated that racial differences may exist in these effects. Overall, our results replicate and extend prior observations that the renin-angiotensin system is associated with PTSD. Medications targeting this system may be worthy of further investigation for PTSD treatment. Our findings suggest that sex and race effects should be considered in future treatment research.
Incorporating Historical Investment Performance in Projecting Life Insurance Cash Values

The projection of current investment experience in life insurance sales illustrations during the historically high interest rate environment of the 1980s in the U.S. has led to consumer dissatisfaction and lawsuits against life insurers and agents. As interest rates fell after 1985, insurers were unable to credit returns near the maximums illustrated earlier. New regulations still allow projections at essentially the latest current investment returns, along with showing guaranteed and intermediate values. The question raised in this article is: Can history help the financial planner determine a range of credible investment return assumptions for projecting cash values? Conclusions are based on the results of basing projections on historical investment experience.
High performance electron blocking layer free ultraviolet light-emitting diodes

Though AlGaN ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been explored widely, their performance is still limited in the UV B and C regions due to several challenges. Electron leakage is one of the prominent reasons behind the poor performance of AlGaN deep UV LEDs. This problem can be mitigated by integrating the electron-blocking layer (EBL) between the active region and p-region to an extent, not entirely due to the own disadvantages of the EBL. In this regard, we report the achievement of high-performance EBL free AlGaN LEDs using a strip-in-a-barrier structure operating in the UV B and C regions, particularly at 254 nm and 292 nm wavelengths, respectively. Here, we have engineered each quantum barrier by integrating a 1 nm optimized intrinsic AlGaN strip layer in the middle of the QB. The resulting structure could significantly reduce the electron overflow and enhance the output power by ~1.87 times and ~1.48 times for 254 nm and 292 nm LEDs, respectively, compared to the conventional structure. Moreover, internal quantum efficiency droop is reduced notably in the proposed structure at 254 nm and 292 nm wavelengths.
Robotic Right Upper Lobectomy with Mediastinal Lymph Node Dissection

Robotic right upper lobectomy can be safely and consistently performed with excellent perioperative outcomes. This chapter reviews preoperative and intraoperative considerations including aberrant anatomy and difficult fissures. Port placement and robotic setup are reviewed in detail followed by a step-by-step technique that is safe and reproducible. A fissure-first approach is described with full exposure of all bronchovascular structures to the right upper lobe. Lastly, superior and inferior mediastinal lymph node dissections are outlined.
Endocrinological Care for Patients Undergoing Gender Affirmation (Including Risk of Thromboembolic Events)

Transgender hormone therapy can play an important role in patients undergoing gender affirmation and results in improved quality of life for transgender individuals. Hormone therapy may be a step on the pathway to gender-affirming surgery, but many patients may choose to remain on hormone therapy without surgery or may not have access to surgical therapy. Basic criteria should be met prior to initiation of hormone therapy. Hormone therapy in transgender women includes estrogen and anti-androgens. Transgender men are treated primarily with exogenous testosterone supplementations. Patients should be made aware of side effects of hormone therapy prior to initiation. Close monitoring is important during the first year of therapy, and it can be less frequent thereafter. Although there is no consensus available, it is generally recommended that estradiol therapy be stopped temporarily before gender affirmation surgeries or other major surgical interventions. It is less clear whether it is necessary to hold testosterone therapy prior to surgery. Usual thromboprophylaxis measures are recommended for any gender-affirming surgeries that require extensive surgery and prolonged immobilization.