cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Divergent Simian Arteriviruses Cause Simian Hemorrhagic Fever of Differing Severities in Macaques

ABSTRACT Simian hemorrhagic fever (SHF) is a highly lethal disease in captive macaques. Three distinct arteriviruses are known etiological agents of past SHF epizootics, but only one, simian hemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV), has been isolated in cell culture. The natural reservoir(s) of the three viruses have yet to be identified, but African nonhuman primates are suspected. Eleven additional divergent simian arteriviruses have been detected recently in diverse and apparently healthy African cercopithecid monkeys. Here, we report the successful isolation in MARC-145 cell culture of one of these viruses, Kibale red colobus virus 1 (KRCV-1), from serum of a naturally infected red colobus (Procolobus [Piliocolobus] rufomitratus tephrosceles) sampled in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Intramuscular (i.m.) injection of KRCV-1 into four cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) resulted in a self-limiting nonlethal disease characterized by depressive behavioral changes, disturbance in coagulation parameters, and liver enzyme elevations. In contrast, i.m. injection of SHFV resulted in typical lethal SHF characterized by mild fever, lethargy, lymphoid depletion, lymphoid and hepatocellular necrosis, low platelet counts, increased liver enzyme concentrations, coagulation abnormalities, and increasing viral loads. As hypothesized based on the genetic and presumed antigenic distance between KRCV-1 and SHFV, all four macaques that had survived KRCV-1 injection died of SHF after subsequent SHFV injection, indicating a lack of protective heterotypic immunity. Our data indicate that SHF is a disease of macaques that in all likelihood can be caused by a number of distinct simian arteriviruses, although with different severity depending on the specific arterivirus involved. Consequently, we recommend that current screening procedures for SHFV in primate-holding facilities be modified to detect all known simian arteriviruses. IMPORTANCE Outbreaks of simian hemorrhagic fever (SHF) have devastated captive Asian macaque colonies in the past. SHF is caused by at least three viruses of the family Arteriviridae: simian hemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV), simian hemorrhagic encephalitis virus (SHEV), and Pebjah virus (PBJV). Nine additional distant relatives of these three viruses were recently discovered in apparently healthy African nonhuman primates. We hypothesized that all simian arteriviruses are potential causes of SHF. To test this hypothesis, we inoculated cynomolgus macaques with a highly divergent simian arterivirus (Kibale red colobus virus 1 [KRCV-1]) from a wild Ugandan red colobus. Despite being only distantly related to red colobuses, all of the macaques developed disease. In contrast to SHFV-infected animals, KRCV-1-infected animals survived after a mild disease presentation. Our study advances the understanding of an important primate disease. Furthermore, our data indicate a need to include the full diversity of simian arteriviruses in nonhuman primate SHF screening assays.
Catalytic activity and stability of carbon supported V oxides and carbides synthesized via pyrolysis of MIL-47 (V)

Abstract Substantial leaching of active V species often limits the reusability of V-based soild catalysts in liquid-phase oxidation reactions and therefore requires the development of more stable, novel materials. This paper first reports the synthesis of active vanadium (V) oxide and carbide species dispersed on a carbon support via the pyrolysis of MIL-47 (V), a V-based metal-organic framework (MOF) template. The phase transition of V species present in this MOF template was achieved by varying the pyrolysis temperatures ranging from 600 to 1100 °C to synthesize a series of carbon catalysts with different surface and bulk phases of V. Notably, the pyrolysis of MIL-47 (V) provided carbon supports with high surface areas (∼ 350 m2 g−1), high mesoporosities (VMESO/VPORE ∼0.88), high V quantities (35–70 wt.%), and small (∼ 18 nm) V crystallites dispersed on the surface. These desired properties were not observed when V was supported on activated carbon (V/AC) via conventional impregnation. The V/AC catalyst showed lower mesoporosity (∼0.63), lower V quantity (∼25 wt.%), and larger V crystallites (∼ 27 nm) compared to the catalyst produced from MIL-47 (V) pyrolysis under identical conditions. Of additional note, the pyrolysis of MIL-47 (V) could yield an isolated bulk phase of V carbide at low pyrolysis temperatures (i.e., >900 °C). This phase was not attainable when V/AC was synthesized via pyrolysis even at higher temperatures (i.e., 1100 °C). The catalytic performance of the resulting V on carbon catalysts was evaluated in a liquid-phase oxidation reaction of dibenzothiophene. The V carbide catalysts exhibited good activities and enhanced stabilities, as evidenced by lower amounts of V species leached (
Strategies That Create Your Life Line

This chapter details the elements of seven security strategies for planning the future to enable effective partnerships for implementing a successful corporate security program. It details uniform strategies, guiding principles, and best practices to interface with other business units, and provides general accountability. Further, it introduces a series of key strategies that encompass a series of interwoven “battle plans” to achieve the goal of security resilience.
Valence-Bound and Diffuse-Bound Anions of 5-Azauracil

Structures, isomerization energies, and electron binding energies of 5-azauracil and its anions have been calculated ab initio with perturbative, coupled-cluster, and electron-propagator methods. Tautomeric structures, including those produced by proton transfer to a CH group, have been considered. Dyson orbitals and pole strengths from electron-propagator calculations validated a simple, molecular-orbital picture of anion formation. In one case, an electron may enter a delocalized π orbital, yielding a valence-bound (VB) anion with a puckered ring structure. The corresponding electron affinity is 0.27 eV; the vertical electron detachment energy (VEDE) of this anion 1.05 eV. An electron also may enter a molecular orbital that lies outside the nuclear framework, resulting in a diffuse-bound (DB) anion. In the latter case, the electron affinity is 0.06 eV and the VEDE of the DB anion is 0.09 eV. Another VB isomer that is only 0.02 eV more stable than the neutral molecule has a VEDE of 2.0 eV.
Sex Pheromones of Noctuid Moths. XIV. Feasibility of Behavioral Control by Disrupting Pheromone Communication in Cabbage Loopers

Experiments were conducted with Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), the cabbage looper, to evaluate the male inhibition technique for behavioral control. The technique is based on the permeation of the atmosphere with synthetic female sex pheromone. Assuming male adaptation to the omnipresent pheromone, and the fact that the additional increment of pheromone contributed by females in nature may be imperceptible to the males, the males would theoretically be incapable of orienting to and inseminating the females. The lower threshold for male behavioral responses to the cabbage looper female sex pheromone was established in the laboratory at about 2×10-14 g/liter of air (about 60 molecules/mm3). In the laboratory, male responsiveness to a high concentration of sex pheromone (2×10-9 g/liter) was completely inhibited when they had been conditioned for 25 minutes in air containing lower pheromone concentrations. A much higher concentration (5×10-5 g/liter) was required to prevent males from orienting to and mating with females in the confines of a 2 liter container. In the field, a concentration of roughly 1×10-10 g/liter was sufficient to completely prevent orientation of males to pheromone-emitting females. For large area cabbage looper mating control by sex pheromones, it was calculated that less than 0.5 g/hectare (0.2 g/acre) must be expended per night.
Analyzing the Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Foreign Direct Investment

"The decisions a corporation makes affect more than just its stakeholders and can have wide social, environmental, and economic consequences. The notion of corporate social responsibility (CSR) describes the relationship between a business and society as a whole, considering all tangential effects of business. This facilitates a business environment built around practical regulations and transparency necessary to ensure ethical and responsible business practice."This volume is not only aimed at highlighting the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Foreign Direct Investment – as reflected through components of Carroll’s pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility, that is, economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic responsibilities;but also incorporates the consideration of other vital facets and variables which require a re-think in the elevation of their priorities within the sphere of Corporate Social Responsibility. Such vital elements which comprise environmental factors, poverty alleviation – in addition to geo political factors and pivotal macroeconomic variables.
Relationship between Calcium Entry and ACh Release in K+-Stimulated Rat Brain Synaptosomes

The release of acetylcholine (ACh) and other neurotransmitters by potassium depolarization of isolated nerve endings in vitro(synaptosomes) exhibits a rapid temporal decay (1, 3, 6). This could be due either to the depletion of the releasable transmitter pool (4), inactivation of Ca++ entry (7), or a combination of both factors.
Advances in the pharmacology of cancer chemotherapy.

Specific chemotherapeutic advances in the treatment of individual malignant diseases are discussed. In addition, the office management of common clinical problems of the child with cancer, such as infection, side effects of chemotherapy, and varicella, is explored.
Growth performance of yearling horses grazing bermudagrass pastures at different grazing pressures.

Body weight gains and height at the withers were measured in yearling geldings grazing bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.) pastures with neither energy nor protein feed supplementation at stocking rates of 6.7, 8.0, 9.5 and 12.4 yearlings per hectare. Weekly forage samples were taken to estimate the quantity and quality of available forage. These samples were clipped and separated into three equal lengths to characterize upper, middle and lower thirds of the canopy and to determine relationships between available forage and yearling growth rate. Average daily gain was influenced by stocking rate, but gain in height was not affected by stocking rate. Average daily gain ranged from -.31 to .37 kg/d and was negatively related to stocking rate. A quadratic relationship between available forage and ADG was detected. However, a linear relationship between ADG and available forage in top layers of the canopy indicated that animal performance might have been limited by availability of top layer forage in pastures subjected to light grazing pressure.
What is EHD

The life of many highly loaded machine elements relies on the formation of a very thin elastohydrodynamic (EHD) oil film between surfaces in motion. Its formation results from the combination of a remarkable set of circumstances rarely appreciated. This article endeavors to explain the mechanism of elastohydrodynamic lubrication with simple physical concepts that are easy to understand.
The Environment in Autism Spectrum Disorders

A growing body of literature has begun to uncover associations between autism and a range of environmental agents. Several maternal infections, certain medications, and exposures to air pollution in the prenatal period have been linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with replication by at least a second research group. Factors with emerging evidence include maternal nutritional status, smoking, and use of pesticides. These exposures may act directly on basic processes in neurodevelopment, such as molecular signaling, epigenetic imprinting, cell migration, and synaptogenesis, while indirect effects through immune dysregulation or endocrine disruption may also be relevant. Reports on season of birth/conception and autism risk are consistent with infections, nutrients, and pesticides.
Safety and outcomes of preoperative embolization of intracranial hemangioblastomas: A systematic review.

Abstract Introduction While preoperative embolization is often reserved for large and highly vascular tumors in order to minimize blood loss, its safety and efficacy in the treatment of hemangioblastomas (HB) is unclear. We present the largest systematic review focusing on the safety and outcome of preoperative embolization of intracranial HB. Materials and methods To identify all cases of preoperative embolization for HB, a literature search was conducted via Medline (OVID and PubMed), Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. Studies that were in English, included intracranial hemangioblastomas treated with preoperative embolization and provided sufficient disaggregated clinical data for each patient were included. Historical control patients with non-embolized intracranial HB undergoing resection were similarly identified. Results A total of 111 patients that underwent preoperative embolization of HB prior to planned resection were identified. Patient age ranged from 12 to 72 years, with a cohort of 63% males and 36% females. Nine studies comprising 392 non-embolized patients were included as controls. Gross total resection was achieved in 83.7% of embolized and 95.6% of non-embolized patients. Intraoperative blood transfusion was required in 15.3% of embolized and 0.51% of non-embolized controls, while rates of post-operative hemorrhage were 8.4% and 1.6%, respectively. Complication rates from embolization were 11.7% and following consequent surgery were 20.7%. Discussion Embolization did not increase rates of gross total resection, decrease estimated blood loss, or decrease incidence of complications. Not only does embolization fail to mitigate surgical risks, the embolization procedure itself carries significant risk for complications. Embolization should not be standard of care for intracranial HB.
Steady detonation propagation in a circular arc: a Detonation Shock Dynamics model

We study the physics of steady detonation wave propagation in a two-dimensional circular arc via a Detonation Shock Dynamics (DSD) surface evolution model. The dependence of the surface angular speed and surface spatial structure on the inner arc radius ( ), the arc thickness ( , where is the outer arc radius) and the degree of confinement on the inner and outer arc is examined. We first analyse the results for a linear – model, in which the normal surface velocity , where is the planar Chapman–Jouguet velocity, is the total surface curvature and is a length scale representative of a reaction zone thickness. An asymptotic analysis assuming the ratio is conducted for this model and reveals a complex surface structure as a function of the radial variation from the inner to the outer arc. For sufficiently thin arcs, where , the angular speed of the surface depends on the inner arc radius, the arc thickness and the inner and outer arc confinement. For thicker arcs, where , the angular speed does not depend on the outer arc radius or the outer arc confinement to the order calculated. It is found that the leading-order angular speed depends only on and , and corresponds to a Huygens limit (zero curvature) propagation model where , assuming a constant angular speed and perfect confinement on the inner arc surface. Having the normal surface speed depend on curvature requires the insertion of a boundary layer structure near the inner arc surface. This is driven by an increase in the magnitude of the surface wave curvature as the inner arc surface is approached that is needed to meet the confinement condition on the inner arc surface. For weak inner arc confinement, the surface wave spatial variation with the radial coordinate is described by a triple-deck structure. The first-order correction to the angular speed brings in a dependence on the surface curvature through the parameter , while the influence of the inner arc confinement on the angular velocity only appears in the second-order correction. For stronger inner arc confinement, the surface wave structure is described by a two-layer solution, where the effect of the confinement on the angular speed is promoted to the first-order correction. We also compare the steady-state arc solution for a PBX 9502 DSD model to an experimental two-dimensional arc geometry validation test.
Power and Pathos: Bronze Sculpture of the Hellenistic World

This work is a exhibition review considering Power and Pathos: Bronze Sculpture of the Hellenistic World, a project of the National Gallery of Art.
Outcomes of PD-1/PD-L1 responders who discontinue therapy for immune-related adverse events (irAEs): Results of a cohort of patients (pts) with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

467Background: Nivolumab, a monoclonal antibody against PD-1, has been shown to improve survival for pts with mRCC. The current standard of care is to administer treatment on a continuous basis until progression or toxicity. Outcomes of pts who experience a response to treatment and then discontinue therapy for irAEs have not been fully characterized. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate outcomes of responders to PD-1/PD-L1 targeted therapy (TT) who discontinue treatment for irAEs. Methods: We identified pts with mRCC having experienced a response to PD-1/PD-L1 TT, which was subsequently discontinued for an irAE. Clinical characteristics, response, and survival data were collected. Results: We identified 9 mRCC pts who were treated with a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor, experienced a response to therapy, and subsequently discontinued treatment for an irAE. 8 had clear cell histology and 1 had translocation RCC. 7 pts were treatment naive. 2 pts had International mRCC Database Consortium favorable risk, 4 in...
Breast cancer cell obatoclax response characterization using passivated-electrode insulator-based dielectrophoresis.

Inherent electrical properties of cells can be beneficial to characterize different cell lines and their response to experimental drugs. This paper presents a novel method to characterize the response of breast cancer cells to drug stimuli through use of off-chip passivated-electrode insulator-based dielectrophoresis (OπDEP) and the application of AC electric fields. This work is the first to demonstrate the ability of OπDEP to differentiate between two closely related breast cancer cell lines, LCC1 and LCC9 while assessing their drug sensitivity to an experimental anti-cancer agent, Obatoclax. Although both cell lines are derivatives of estrogen-responsive MCF-7 breast cancer cells, growth of LCC1 is estrogen independent and anti-estrogen responsive, while LCC9 is both estrogen independent and anti-estrogen resistant. Under the same operating conditions, LCC1 and LCC9 had different DEP profiles. LCC1 cells had a trapping onset (crossover) frequency of 700kHz and trapping efficiencies between 30–40%, while LCC9 cells had a lower crossover frequency (100kHz) and showed higher trapping efficiencies of 40%-60%. When exposed to the Obatoclax, both cell lines exhibited dose-dependent shifts in DEP crossover frequency and trapping efficiency. Here, DEP results supplemented with cell morphology and proliferation assays help to understand the response of these breast cancer cells to Obatoclax. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Shell ornaments and artifacts in Neolithic Cyprus and correlations with other Mediterranean regions

Abstract The incipient human population of Cyprus came from Southwest Asia in the Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene. In the Neolithic of Southwest Asia mollusk shells were commonly used as personal ornaments that were made mostly of Mediterranean, and to a lesser extent, Red Sea species. A comparison of the shell ornaments found in Neolithic sites of Cyprus enhance our understanding of the processes that led to the settlement of Cyprus. Shells ornaments and shell artifacts collected in Cyprus point to a similarity in choice of species between Cyprus and the Levant and Anatolia, but a major difference is constituted by the presence of Charonia and Spondylus , rare in the Levant and Anatolia, that apparently were collected as raw materials for various tool and utensils. The familiarity of the humans who inhabited coastal sites on Cyprus with the marine environment as a source of both food and raw materials, motivated and enabled seafaring in that it assured the continuity in their lifeways after landfall.
Clinical Utility of Routine Follow-up Cystography in the Management of Traumatic Bladder Ruptures.

Objective To evaluate if follow-up cystography alters clinical management in patients after treatment of traumatic bladder ruptures. Methods Patients with uncomplicated blunt trauma bladder ruptures between 2000 and 2014 were identified in our institutional trauma registry. Primary management strategies consisted of either cystorrhaphy or catheter drainage. Primary outcome analyzed was occurrence of positive follow-up cystogram. Secondary outcomes were use of follow-up cystography and time to negative cystogram. Results One hundred forty patients were identified with a median follow-up of 6.2 months (interquartile range [IQR] 3.0-32.4). Eighty-two patients (58.6%) had extraperitoneal (EP) ruptures, 49 had intraperitoneal (IP) ruptures (35.0%), and 9 had combined EP/IP rupture (6.4%). Fifty-six EP patients were managed with catheter drainage, whereas all other patients underwent cystorrhaphy. Thirty-five cystorrhaphy patients (42%) had no imaging before catheter removal. Forty-nine patients (58%) had cystograms at a median of 15.0 days (IQR 10.0-22.0) after cystorrhaphy, with only 1 patient having a persistent leak. Forty-six catheter drainage EP patients (82%) had negative cystograms at a median of 19.0 days (IQR 15.0-33.0). Of the 10 patients with persistent extravasation, 7 required operations for related complications, whereas 3 had negative imaging at a median of 38.0 days (IQR 25.8-66.8), with a mean of 2.8 cystograms before a negative study. Conclusion Follow-up cystography after cystorrhaphy for uncomplicated blunt trauma–associated bladder ruptures rarely, if ever, provides unanticipated clinical information. For catheter drainage EP patients, cystography remains clinically valuable, as at least 18% of patients will have signs of continued extravasation. The optimal timing of cystography and catheter removal remains unknown.
A giant coronary artery aneurysm associated with multiple peripheral arterial aneurysms and an abdominal aortic aneurysm

We report a rare association of a giant aneurysm of the left circumflex coronary artery with multiple peripheral arterial aneurysms and an abdominal aortic aneurysm in a 70-year-old patient. The exclusion of the giant circumflex artery aneurysm was performed successfully by proximal and distal ligation of all branches and bypass surgery using saphenous grafts to vascularize the distal circumflex artery and the marginal branch.
An Evaluation of Washington State SNAP-Ed Farmers' Market Initiatives and SNAP Participant Behaviors.

Abstract Objective To describe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education (SNAP-Ed)-supported farmers' market (FM) access activities in Washington State communities and identify associations between participation in these activities and SNAP participants' FM shopping and fruit and vegetable consumption. Design Descriptive study; data included stakeholder interviews and surveys with FM managers and a stratified clustered random sample of SNAP participants. Setting Washington State. Participants A total of 51 SNAP-Ed stakeholders, 400 SNAP participants, and 94 FM managers participated. Main Outcome Measure(s) Partnership measures and SNAP-Ed FM access activities; SNAP participants' participation in FM access activities, FM shopping frequency, and fruit and vegetable consumption. Analysis Thematic content analysis, descriptive statistics, and 0-inflated Poisson and ordinary least-squares regression models. Results A total of 343 FM access activities and strong multi-sector partnerships were identified. Fifty percent of SNAP participants shopped at an FM in the past year, and 30% at least monthly. The SNAP participants participating in FM access activities shopped at FMs more frequently (P = .005). The SNAP participants shopping at FMs ate fruit and vegetables more frequently than did non-FM shoppers (P Conclusions and Implications Through nutrition education and systems and environmental changes, Washington SNAP-Ed developed effective programming and multi-sector partnerships. These efforts are associated with SNAP participants' FM shopping and fruit and vegetable consumption.
Jane Gibson: A Woman of Grace and Acerbic Wit

Jane Gibson was a respected member of a small group of women who served as the first female professors of microbiology in the United States. She worked mainly in the field of photosynthetic bacteria, in both biochemistry and microbial physiology. This chapter covers her life and career in research, teaching, and mentoring and features personal reflections from the author, Dr. Caroline Harwood.
Patients' perspectives on social and goal-based comparisons regarding their diabetes health status.

Objective Social comparisons (ie, self-evaluation in comparison with others) influence patients’ perspectives of their disease and may impact motivation and health behavior; however, little is known about patients’ perspectives toward receiving such information in a clinical context (eg, from their doctor’s office or health system). This study aims to understand patients’ perspectives and anticipated responses to receiving social comparison information regarding measures of their diabetes-related health status (eg, A1C) and how receiving such information would compare with goal-based comparisons (ie, self-evaluation in comparison with goal). Research design and methods We conducted semistructured interviews with 25 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) regarding social and goal-based comparisons involving their diabetes health status and qualitatively analyzed interviews for themes. Results We identified seven major themes: self-relevance, motivation, self-concept, emotions, information seeking, medical care, and self-care. Participants commonly anticipated increased motivation and improved health behaviors in response to both social and goal-based comparisons. Subthemes unique to social comparisons included belief that this information would be motivating by engaging some patients’ competitiveness, perception that this information was more ‘personalized’ than comparisons with a standard goal (eg, A1C Conclusions Our findings provide significant insights into the anticipated response of patients with T2DM to receiving social and goal-based comparison information regarding their diabetes health status. Providing patients with diabetes with social and goal-based comparison information may affect motivation, mood, and self-concept in ways that may improve or sustain diabetes self-care behaviors for some patients.
The Cardiovascular Manifestations of Alagille Syndrome and JAG1 Mutations

Alagille syndrome is an autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by hepatic, cardiac, ocular, skeletal, and facial abnormalities. The disease gene, Jaggedl (JAG]), was identified by molecular analyses of chromosomal alterations involving chromosome 20p. Total gene deletions (3-7%) and intragenic mutations (70%) of JAG] have been identified in Alagille patients. Identifying JAG] mutations is challenging, given its size of 26 exons. Methods to identify both whole-gene deletions and intragenic mutations of JAG] are described in detail, including fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), conformation-sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE), and complementary DNA (cDNA) sequencing.
Informed consent: what must a physician disclose to a patient?

Given that requirements for informed consent are relatively vague and undefined and the exceptions are few, it is in the physician's best interest to inform patients about proposed treatment options, ascertain that they understand their choices, and secure their consent.
The International Terrain of Teaching and Teacher Education: How can Teacher Educators Prepare Teachers for a World We Cannot Envision

In this paper we attempt to describe a global research terrain of teaching and teacher education. In situating a discussion of this work across an international terrain, we question whether local discourse can be anchored to universal assertions. We ask how considering teaching and teacher education from a global perspective can, as Maxine Greene (Greene M (1995) Releasing the imagination: essays on education, the arts, and social change. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco) argues, release the imagination as we work to improve the experiences of children and youth in school through the education of their teachers. We start with our observation that regardless of country of origin, authors most frequently cite American authors. Using Greene’s notion of seeing large, seeing small across the terrain of teaching and teacher education we came to realize that we must take seriously the approaches to globalization that allow us to see generalize yet particularize the terrain because used alone we may miss crucial insights. We also see that it is not enough to cite the work or works of scholars from other countries. Rather, we must come to see and understand how those ideas fit within the local context and, in turn, how it can inform the global community.
Visions of Technological Transcendence: Human Enhancement and the Rhetoric of the Future, by James A. Herrick

When the late Aaron Traywick—self-styled biohacker and founder of Ascendance Biomedical—dropped his pants in front of a live audience and injected an untested, experimental, do it yourself treatmen...
A Bait-and-Switch Method for the Construction of Artificial Esterases for Substrate-Selective Hydrolysis

Outcomes of chemical reactions are generally dominated by the intrinsic reactivities of reaction partners, but enzymes frequently override such constraints to transform less reactive molecules in the presence of more reactive ones. Despite the attractiveness of such catalysis, it is difficult to build synthetic catalysts with these features. Micellar imprinting is a powerful method to create template-complementary binding sites inside protein-sized water-soluble nanoparticles. When a photocleavable functional monomer was used to bind two phosphonate/phosphate templates as transition-state analogues, active sites with predetermined size and shape were formed inside doubly cross-linked micelles through molecular imprinting. Postmodification replaced the binding group with a catalytic pyridyl group, forming highly selective artificial esterases. The catalysts displayed enzyme-like kinetics and turnover numbers that were in the hundreds. The selectivity of the catalysts, derived from the substrate-complementary imprinted active sites, enabled transformation of less reactive esters in the presence of more reactive ones.
Auto-Inflatables: Chemical Inflation for Pop-Up Fabrication

This research aims to utilize an output method for zero energy pop-up fabrication using chemical inflation as a technique for instant, hardware-free shape change. By applying state-changing techniques as a medium for material activation, we provide a framework for a two-part assembly process starting from the manufacturing side whereby a rigid structural body is given its form, through to the user side, where the form potential of a soft structure is activated and the structure becomes complete. To demonstrate this technique, we created two use cases: firstly, a compression material for emergency response, and secondly a self-inflating packaging system. This paper provides details on the auto-inflation process as well as the corresponding digital tool for the design of pneumatic materials. The results show the efficiency of using zero energy auto-inflatable structures for both medical applications and packaging. This rapidly deployable inflatable kit starts from the assumption that every product can provide its own contribution by responding in the best way to a specific application.
Interleaved training prevents catastrophic forgetting in spiking neural networks

Abstract Artificial neural networks suffer from the inability to learn new tasks sequentially without completely overwriting all memory of the previously learned tasks, a phenomenon known as catastrophic forgetting. However, biological neural networks are able to continuously learn many tasks over the course of the organism’s lifetime, and typically learn the best when tasks are trained sequentially. Here we used a multi-layer spiking neural network with biologically plausible dynamics and learning rules to study synaptic mechanisms behind catastrophic forgetting and to discuss possible solutions to overcome the problem. The network utilized reward modulated and non-reward modulated STDP and implemented multiple mechanisms for homeostatic regulation of synaptic efficacy. We found that the network can learn to perform two complementary, complex foraging tasks, but underwent catastrophic forgetting upon sequential training due to a near complete overwriting of synaptic weights. Interleaved training was capable of mitigating catastrophic forgetting by partially preserving synaptic weights from the later task and recovering those from the earlier task. Moreover, interleaved training pushed the final synaptic weight configuration towards the decision boundary between the configurations associated with each task, striking an optimal balance between both task representations. Author Summary The human brain is capable of learning an immense number of complex tasks over the course of a lifetime without forgetting previous tasks. Although modern artificial neural networks used in machine learning are getting closer to matching human-level capabilities regarding the complexity of the task to be learned, these networks typically lose all ability to perform this task after being trained sequentially on a second task; a phenomenon known as catastrophic forgetting. To better understand this phenomenon and how the brain overcomes it, we developed a spiking neural network which directly models the functioning of biological neurons and is updated according to biologically plausible learning rules. This network was able to learn to perform complementary complex foraging tasks but suffered from catastrophic forgetting when they were trained sequentially. Catastrophic forgetting was prevented if the new task was trained by interleaving it with trials from the original task. Significantly, we found that interleaved training accomplishes this by representing the two tasks as a single hybrid-task. This indicates that rather than learn to represent each task independently and appropriately toggle between these, the network compromised and found an optimal hybrid representation of synaptic weights which was sufficient to perform both tasks.
Core-Coursing Counterstory: On Master Narrative Histories of Rhetorical Studies Curricula

This essay discusses the racialized politics, histories, and ideologies that inform the crafting and instituting of core curricula in rhetorical studies. As is the case in many rhetoric and writing...
Post-collection ultrasound-audio synchronization

Speech research using lingual ultrasound often requires both the ultrasound images as well as audio from the corresponding audio speech signals, but synchronization of these signals is not always available. We propose that periods of matching rates of change in the two signals could be used to align articulatory and acoustic signals where synchronization is impossible or would otherwise benefit from verification. In this study, we analyze pre-synchronized ultrasound and audio recordings of English speakers reading words. For each recording, we calculated the articulatory change as the change in pixel brightness values over time and the acoustic change as the change in Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficient representations of the audio, and then calculated the degree of correlation between the acoustic and articulatory change over a window shifting through the recording. Then, we deliberately offset the signals in increments of 5 ms to verify that the known synchronization results in the best correlations. We manipulated several other variables, and preliminary results suggest that shorter window lengths and analyzing correlations only during detected speech result in the most accurate alignments. Analysis is ongoing to determine whether duration of correlation (number of windows with high r-values) or overall degree of correlation (median r-values) leads to the most accurate alignments.Speech research using lingual ultrasound often requires both the ultrasound images as well as audio from the corresponding audio speech signals, but synchronization of these signals is not always available. We propose that periods of matching rates of change in the two signals could be used to align articulatory and acoustic signals where synchronization is impossible or would otherwise benefit from verification. In this study, we analyze pre-synchronized ultrasound and audio recordings of English speakers reading words. For each recording, we calculated the articulatory change as the change in pixel brightness values over time and the acoustic change as the change in Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficient representations of the audio, and then calculated the degree of correlation between the acoustic and articulatory change over a window shifting through the recording. Then, we deliberately offset the signals in increments of 5 ms to verify that the known synchronization results in the best correlations. We ...
Medical Child Abuse and Medical Neglect.

1. Carole Jenny, MD, MBA* 2. James B. Metz, MD, MPH† 1. *Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 2. †Department of Pediatrics, University of Vermont Children's Hospital, Burlington, VT * Abbreviations: AAP: : American Academy of Pediatrics CAM: : complementary and alternative medicine CPS: : Child Protective Services MCA: : medical child abuse MSBP: : Munchausen syndrome by proxy Medical child abuse and medical neglect are part of a spectrum of conditions that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in children. Recognition of these forms of child maltreatment is crucial to preventing harm. Medical personnel should have a familiarity with and a framework for diagnosing and treating these 2 entities. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Recognize medical child abuse and medical neglect in primary care practice. 2. Know the options available to managing medical child abuse and medical neglect in primary care practice. 3. Understand the parent factors, child factors, and physician factors contributing to medical neglect. 4. Know when to report cases of medical abuse and medical neglect to Child Protective Services agencies. 5. Know what other community resources can be helpful when dealing with medical abuse and medical neglect. In 1992, D. M. Eminson and R. J. Postlethwaite published an important paper discussing the range of parental behaviors when interacting with the medical care system. (1) On one end of the spectrum is medical child abuse (MCA) (previously referred to as Munchausen syndrome by proxy [MSBP]), wherein parents exaggerate, invent, or induce symptoms in their children and seek unnecessary medical care for them. On the other end of the spectrum is medical neglect, wherein parents either do not seek necessary care for their children or do not follow necessary instructions and medications that practitioners give them to treat illness. This behavior can put their children’s health at risk as well. In the middle of the spectrum are parents who respond appropriately to their children’s symptoms and seek medical care in a timely manner. Eminson and Postlethwaite …
Mississippi State University extension undergraduate apprenticeship program: A model for critical reflection through community-engaged research and outreach

The Mississippi State University Extension Undergraduate Apprenticeship Program was implemented in 2017 to give undergraduate juniors and seniors the opportunity to work one-on-one with an Extension mentor and explore careers in agriculture, natural resources, family and consumer sciences, community resource development, or youth development, while participating in research and outreach activities that directly benefit Extension programs and community stakeholders. The program is rooted in the principles of mentoring adult learners in an organizational context. Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model and the DEAL Model for Critical Reflection serve as the conceptual framework, whereby students engage in critical reflection to enhance their integrated research-and-outreach learning experience. An evaluation of the first two student cohorts (n=19) revealed a significant production of scholarship, an increase in discipline-specific knowledge, enhanced critical thinking and problem solving skills, a greater understanding and appreciation for Extension, and a desire to pursue related graduate studies.
Field cancerization: Treatment

The goal of field cancerization treatment is to reduce the risk of developing keratinocyte carcinoma. Selecting the appropriate therapy depends on the degree of field cancerization and the number of invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. Other considerations include treatment efficacy, cost, side effects, and patient preference. Field therapies are preferred because they address clinically visible disease and subclinical atypia. However, lesion-directed therapies are useful for lesions that are more difficult to treat or those where a histologic diagnosis is required. Patients with extensive field cancerization benefit from a combination of field-directed and lesion-directed treatments. The second article in this continuing medical education series provides a framework to guide evidence-based decision making for field cancerization treatment.
Use of 4K3D Video Microscope in Male Infertility Microsurgery.

Objective To evaluate a 4K3D video microscope in the operating room of an outpatient surgical center during male infertility microsurgery procedures. Design Video presentation. Setting University of Miami outpatient surgical center. Patients All patients undergoing microsurgical procedures who signed a written, informed consent for video and audio recording. Interventions vasovasotomy, vasoepididymostomy, varicocele repair, microsurgical testicular sperm extraction. Main outcome measures Operating room times and surgeon fatigue. Results This video demonstrates the potential advantages of a 4K3D video microscope in the operating room compared to the standard optical operating microscope (SOM), as well as robotic assisted microsurgery. Operating times for all varicocele repair cases performed with the 4k3D video microscope during the 4-week trial period (6), were compared to the 6 most recent varicocelectomies done with a SOM. We observed a decrease in the median operating room times (74.5 minutes vs 96.5 minutes) for those surgeries involving the 4k3D video microscope. Mann Whitney U test was used to compare median operating times, however, because of our small sample size this was not statistically significant (p=0.092) (Figure 1). Additionally, between cases, the transport of microscope from room to room, draping and setup of the 4k3D video microscope required less time and was less strenuous for the OR staff. The 4k3D video microscope allows the surgeon to operate in a more ergonomic position compared to the SOM and comes at a price point which is more reasonable than a surgical robot (DaVinci). Conclusion The 4K3D video microscope offers potential ergonomic and logistical advantages over the SOM and robotically assisted surgery. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to evaluate these potential advantages and objectively study the ergonomic improvements that the 4k3D video microscope offers over the SOM.
Source Related Argumentation Found in Science Websites

In this paper, we consider the way that web documents seeking to persuade readers of certain science claims provide information about the sources of the arguments. Our quantitative analysis reveals that web documents in our sample include hundreds of examples in which the reader is provided information regarding the trustworthiness (or lack thereof) of sources. The web documents also contain a large number of examples in which the reader is provided with information about how many individuals hold a particular belief. We discuss ad hominem, ad verecundiam, and ad populum arguments, and the way that the examples found in our sample of documents are related to these argumentation schemes.
Neurotoxic effects of nephrotoxic compound diethylene glycol

Diethylene glycol (DEG) is an organic compound found in household products but also as an adulterant in medicines by acting as a counterfeit solvent. DEG poisonings have been characterized predomin...
Development of Bacteriophage Virus-Like Particle Vaccines Displaying Conserved Epitopes of Dengue Virus Non-Structural Protein 1.

Dengue virus (DENV) is a major global health problem, with over half of the world’s population at risk of infection. Despite over 60 years of efforts, no licensed vaccine suitable for population-based immunization against DENV is available. Here, we describe efforts to engineer epitope-based vaccines against DENV non-structural protein 1 (NS1). NS1 is present in DENV-infected cells as well as secreted into the blood of infected individuals. NS1 causes disruption of endothelial cell barriers, resulting in plasma leakage and hemorrhage. Immunizing against NS1 could elicit antibodies that block NS1 function and also target NS1-infected cells for antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity. We identified highly conserved regions of NS1 from all four DENV serotypes. We generated synthetic peptides to these regions and chemically conjugated them to bacteriophage Qβ virus-like particles (VLPs). Mice were immunized two times with the candidate vaccines and sera were tested for the presence of antibodies that bound to the cognate peptide, recombinant NS1 from all four DENV serotypes, and DENV-2-infected cells. We found that two of the candidate vaccines elicited antibodies that bound to recombinant NS1, and one candidate vaccine elicited antibodies that bound to DENV-infected cells. These results show that an epitope-specific vaccine against conserved regions of NS1 could be a promising approach for DENV vaccines or therapeutics to bind circulating NS1 protein.
Full-field exposure tools for immersion lithography

Immersion lithography is becoming a realistic method of high resolution pattern generation for semiconductor manufacturing. Nikon has a roadmap of full-field immersion exposure tools starting with an Engineering Evaluation Tool (EET, NA=0.85), succeeded with production models of S609B (NA=1.07) and S6xx (NA=1.30). EET was constructed in 2004, and is being used for evaluation of immersion technology and process development. With EET, focus, stepping, overlay and across-wafer CD uniformity data are demonstrated to be better or equivalent to dry tools, while the depth of focus (DOF) is significantly improved as expected. A remarkable point is the defectivity result with EET. We have detected no bubbles and a negligible level of “immersion specific” defects even with hydrophobic top coat. A production model S609B will have the NA=1.07 optics, which will be the highest NA of “all refractive optics”, and will be shipped at 2005/4Q. S6xx, with planned shipment timing is 2006/2H, will have NA=1.30 catadioptric optics, whose NA will be the highest NA of “water-immersion”. Both S609B and S6xx will be equipped with loss-less polarized illuminators, which will enable 50nm L/S with S609B and 42nm L/S with S6xx. Resist and top coat are studied from the viewpoints of chemical contamination and scanning properties. Tentative specifications are proposed for leaching of PAG and amines against chemical contamination. As for scanning properties, static contact angle was found to be not a good parameter; instead, sliding angle is proposed.