cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
APOL1-G0 or APOL1-G2 Transgenic Models Develop Preeclampsia but Not Kidney Disease

APOL1 risk variants are associated with kidney disease in blacks, but the mechanisms of renal injury associated with APOL1 risk variants are unknown. Because APOL1 is unique to humans and some primates, we created transgenic (Tg) mice using the promoter of nephrin-encoding Nphs1 to express the APOL1 reference sequence (G0) or the G2 risk variant in podocytes, establishing Tg lines with a spectrum of APOL1 expression levels. Podocytes from Tg-G0 and Tg-G2 mice did not undergo necrosis, apoptosis, or autophagic cell death in vivo, even in lines with highly expressed transgenes. Further, Tg-G0 and Tg-G2 mice did not develop kidney pathology, proteinuria, or azotemia as of 300 days of age. However, by 200 days of age, Tg-G2 mice had significantly lower podocyte density than age-matched WT and Tg-G0 mice had, a difference that was not evident at weaning. Notably, a pregnancy-associated phenotype that encompassed eclampsia, preeclampsia, fetal/neonatal deaths, and small litter sizes occurred in some Tg-G0 mice and more severely in Tg-G2 mice. Similar to human placenta, placentas of Tg mice expressed APOL1. Overall, these results suggest podocyte depletion could predispose individuals with APOL1 risk genotypes to kidney disease in response to a second stressor, and add to other published evidence associating APOL1 expression with preeclampsia.
Temperament and major depression: How does difficult temperament affect frequency, severity, and duration of major depressive episodes among offspring of parents with or without depression?

Abstract Introduction The current study examined the relationships between parental depression, offspring depression, and offspring temperament among 203 offspring of parents with or without depression. The specific aim was to investigate how parental depression and offspring difficult temperament affect frequency, severity, and duration of offspring major depressive episodes (MDEs). Methods As part of an ongoing multigenerational study assessing familial transmission of depression, offspring were assessed over a 20-year study period. Offspring temperament was assessed at baseline using the Dimensions of Temperament Survey and diagnostic interviews were conducted at each of the four waves using best estimate procedures. Results Difficult temperament predicted greater frequency of lifetime MDEs. Parental depression moderated the relationship between offspring difficult temperament and severity of MDEs, such that difficult temperament was associated with increased severity ratings among high-risk, but not low-risk offspring. Dimensional analysis revealed that lower rhythmicity and adaptability were associated with greater number of lifetime MDEs, higher inattention/distractibility was associated with shorter duration of MDEs, and greater activity was associated with decreased severity of MDEs. Discussion Certain limitations must be noted, namely the self-report nature of temperament data and the relatively small sample size drawn from a clinical and predominantly Caucasian and Christian sample. Notwithstanding these limitations, our results suggest that the clinical presentation of major depression may reflect temperamental profiles and should be considered in diagnostic and treatment settings.
Application of perfusion and diffusion weighted imaging in hyperacute ischemic stroke

Objective To study on application of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and perfusion weighted imaging (PWI) in detecting penumbra and exclusing TIA, and evaluating the value of PWI and DWI in guiding thrombolysis therapy in patients with hyperacute ischemic stroke Methods PWI and DWI were performed in 44 patients ≤6 hours after the ischemic stroke onset The PWIDWI mismatch tissue was expressed as penumbra Thrombolysis were given at the presence of penumbra Results Among 33 patients with infarction, 23 patients (52 3%) had penumbra (PWIDWI), and 10 patients(22 7%)without (PWI=DWI) The remaining 11 patients (25 0%) who were diagnosed as having TIAs The mismatch tissue of MTT and DWI had statistical significance in definiting penumbra, P 0 01 rCBV could not predict penumbra, as infarct volume was be underestimated by rCBV only, P 0 05 DWI was normal or presenting dot or snip high signal in TIAs patients Conclusions Application of PWI and DWI is helpful in detecting penumbra and guiding thrombolytic therapy in acute ischemic stroke By combining DWI with clinical symptoms, TIA should be excluded Hence, it might save the poor outcome from blind thrombolysis and huge consumptions on economic and human resources
The Artistic Image of Hary in “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”

This essay focuses on the analysis of the artistic image in The Snows of Kilimanjaro written by Ernest Hemingway.It analyses the artistic techniques employed by the author and their significance in the characterization of Hary,the artistic image.It also eluecidates the social and practical significance of the artistic image.
Management Of Intrathoracic Defects

The use of intrathoracic muscle transposition provides well-vascularized fresh tissue coverage to bolster standard techniques to control problems resulting from radiation therapy to the thorax. This article discusses the muscles available and reviews their use in 29 patients with a history of intrathoracic radiation therapy. Emphasis is placed on the team approach to patient care involving close cooperation between the plastic surgeon and the thoracic surgeon.
F(ab')2 segment is the active component of immunoglobulin G autoantibody generation in patients with endometriosis

Objective To determine if the low titer antiendometrial antibody detection by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) in the sera of patients with endometriosis is because of specific antigen-antibody interactions. Design Sera of selected patients subjected to separation of immunoglobulin fragments by ammonium sulfate precipitation and pepsin digestion and tested by IIF. In a comparative method, a fragment, crystallizable (Fc) flooding technique was used to determine the active component. Setting Sera obtained preoperatively in the outpatient and results matched with surgical findings. Patients/Participants Patients 45 years of age or less presenting for gynecological surgery who had signed an informed consent for the drawing of preoperative blood. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measures Indirect immunofluorescence was graded according to the intensity of staining and the lowest dilution at which staining occurred. Results All of the sera of the 11 patients with endometriosis exhibited F(ab′) 2 specific staining but none exhibited Fc fragment staining. None of the 7 control patients displayed F(ab′) 2 or Fc fragment staining. Conclusions F(ab′) 2 fragment is the active component of an immunologically specific interaction when antiendometrial antibodies are detected in the sera of patients with endometriosis.
Practice advisory: Recurrent stroke with patent foramen ovale (update of practice parameter) Report of the Guideline Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology

Objective: To update the 2004 American Academy of Neurology guideline for patients with stroke and patent foramen ovale (PFO) by addressing whether (1) percutaneous closure of PFO is superior to medical therapy alone and (2) anticoagulation is superior to antiplatelet therapy for the prevention of recurrent stroke. Methods: Systematic review of the literature and structured formulation of recommendations. Conclusions: Percutaneous PFO closure with the STARFlex device possibly does not provide a benefit in preventing stroke vs medical therapy alone (risk difference [RD] 0.13%, 95% confidence interval [CI] −2.2% to 2.0%). Percutaneous PFO closure with the AMPLATZER PFO Occluder possibly decreases the risk of recurrent stroke (RD −1.68%, 95% CI −3.18% to −0.19%), possibly increases the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) (RD 1.64%, 95% CI 0.07%–3.2%), and is highly likely to be associated with a procedural complication risk of 3.4% (95% CI 2.3%–5%). There is insufficient evidence to determine the efficacy of anticoagulation compared with antiplatelet therapy in preventing recurrent stroke (RD 2%, 95% CI −21% to 25%). Recommendations: Clinicians should not routinely offer percutaneous PFO closure to patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke outside of a research setting (Level R). In rare circumstances, such as recurrent strokes despite adequate medical therapy with no other mechanism identified, clinicians may offer the AMPLATZER PFO Occluder if it is available (Level C). In the absence of another indication for anticoagulation, clinicians may routinely offer antiplatelet medications instead of anticoagulation to patients with cryptogenic stroke and PFO (Level C).
Childhood Irritable Bowel Syndrome Characteristics Are Related to Both Sex and Pubertal Development.

Objective To determine the relationship of both pubertal development and sex to childhood irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) clinical characteristics including gastrointestinal symptoms (eg, abdominal pain) and psychological factors. Study design Cross-sectional study with children ages 7-17 years (n = 143) with a pediatric Rome III IBS diagnosis recruited from both primary and tertiary clinics between January 2009 and January 2014. Subjects completed 14-day prospective pain and stool diaries, as well as validated questionnaires assessing several psychological factors (somatization, depression, anxiety) and Tanner stage. Stool form ratings were completed using the Bristol Stool Form Scale. Results Girls with higher Tanner scores (more mature pubertal development) had both decreased pain severity and pain interference; in contrast, boys with higher Tanner scores had both increasing pain severity (β = 0.40, P = .02) and pain interference (β = 0.16, P = .02). Girls (vs boys), irrespective of pubertal status, had both increased somatic complaints ( P = .005) and a higher percentage ( P = .01) of hard (Bristol Stool Form Scale type 1 or 2) stools. Pubertal status and sex did not significantly relate to IBS subtype, pain frequency, stooling frequency, anxiety, or depression. Conclusions In children with IBS, both pubertal development and/or sex are associated with abdominal pain severity, stool form, and somatization. These differences provide insight into the role of pubertal maturation during the transition from childhood to adult IBS.
On-line Shopping Behavior: Cross-Country Empirical Research

Electronic commerce is a worldwide phenomenon. Many Internet users browse the Web for information on products and services, but very few actually make purchases on-line. Until now, research on the factors that promote on-line shopping behavior has treated them independently and at the national level. The present study, in contrast, uses cross-country data from 26 nations and analyzes constructs with a structural equation model (SEM). The study finds that the factors of trust and economic conditions, but not educational level and technological savvy, make a significant positive contribution to online shopping behavior. In fact they explain more than 80 percent of the variability in online shopping behavior. Empirical guidelines are provided to help managers select one or more macro-level predictors to explain on-line shopping behavior. Future research opportunities are delineated.
Disturbance Estimation for Magnetic Piston Position Applications

The magnetic field of a moving piston can be used for real-time estimation of its position. Piston position estimation is useful for a number of automation and performance improvement applications in hydraulic actuators, pneumatic cylinders, and I.C. engines. A significant challenge to magnetic field based position estimation comes from disturbances due to unexpected ferromagnetic objects coming close to the sensors.This paper develops a new disturbance estimation method based on modeling the magnetic disturbance as a dipole with unknown location and magnitude. A Truncated Interval Unscented Kalman Filter (TIUKF) is used to estimate all the parameters of this unknown dipole. Experimental data from a pneumatic actuator is used to verify the performance of the developed estimator. Experimental results show that the developed estimator is significantly superior to a linear magnetic field model based disturbance estimator.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Broad Separation of Isomeric Lipids by High-Resolution Differential Ion Mobility Spectrometry with Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Maturation of metabolomics has brought a deeper appreciation for the importance of isomeric identity of lipids to their biological role, mirroring that for proteoforms in proteomics. However, full characterization of the lipid isomerism has been thwarted by paucity of rapid and effective analytical tools. A novel approach is ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and particularly differential or field asymmetric waveform IMS (FAIMS) at high electric fields, which is more orthogonal to mass spectrometry. Here we broadly explore the power of FAIMS to separate lipid isomers, and find a ~75% success rate across the four major types of glycero- and phospho- lipids (sn, chain length, double bond position, and cis/trans). The resolved isomers were identified using standards, and (for the first two types) tandem mass spectrometry. These results demonstrate the general merit of incorporating high-resolution FAIMS into lipidomic analyses.
Tnfα-Induced Hypertension in Pregnant Rats Is Associated with Increased [Ca2+]I Signaling in Renal Arterial Smooth Muscle

61 Placental ischemia during late pregnancy triggers the release of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), which may contribute to the increased vascular resistance associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). We have reported that elevation of plasma TNFα 2-fold increases blood pressure and renal vascular resistance in pregnant rats; however, the cellular mechanisms involved are unclear. In this study, we investigated whether TNFα infusion in pregnant rats (10 ng/kg/day for 7 days) is associated with increases in [Ca 2+ ] i and contractility of renal arterial smooth muscle. Pregnant (MAP = 96±3mmHg), TNFα-infused pregnant (123±3mmHg), virgin (108±5mmHg) and TNFα-infused virgin (110±3mmHg) Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Single smooth muscle cells were freshly isolated from the renal interlobular arteries and loaded with fura-2. In cells of pregnant rats incubated in Hank’s solution (1 mM Ca 2+ ), the resting length was 74±6 μm and [Ca 2+ ] i was 82±4 nM. In TNFα-infused pregnant rats, the resting cell length was shorter (54±3 μm) and [Ca 2+ ] i was higher (119±4 nM) than pregnant rats. In pregnant rats, angiotensin II (AII, 10 -7 M) caused a transient increase in [Ca 2+ ] i to 372±9 nM, a maintained increase to 149±8 nM and 21±2% cell contraction. The Ca 2+ channel agonist BAY K8644 (10 -6 M) caused an increase in [Ca 2+ ] i to 249±11 nM and 18±2% cell contraction. In TNFα-infused pregnant rats, the maintained AII- and BAY K8644-induced [Ca 2+ ] i (186±4 and 307±6 nM) and cell contraction (29±3% and 27±3%) were significantly > pregnant rats. AII and BAY K8644-induced contraction and [Ca 2+ ] i were not significantly different between untreated and TNFα-infused virgin rats. In Ca 2+ -free Hank’s, AII and caffeine (10 mM)-induced [Ca 2+ ] i transient and cell contraction were not significantly different in different groups of rats. Thus, TNFα-induced hypertension in pregnant rats is associated with increased [Ca 2+ ] i in renal arterial smooth muscle cells due to enhanced Ca 2+ entry from extracellular space. TNFα, via increasing smooth muscle contractility and [Ca 2+ ] i , may represent a possible mediator of the increased vascular resistance associated with PIH.
Building a knowledge base in US academic adult education (1945–70)

AbstractKnowledge production in US academic adult education (1945–70) altered significantly in the light of apparently pervasive and permanent post-war economic and cultural change forces that transformed both the individual and the social. This paper explores this in relation to a post-war knowledge explosion that equated knowledge with productivity in a way that raised serious questions around which knowledge was of most worth. It reflects critically on the cultural politics of field knowledge production, which equated building a techno-scientific knowledge base with building collateral to leverage dominant cultural space and place. From this perspective, the paper considers the status of social education. It examines the location of liberal education, the locations of history and philosophy as foundational knowledges, and the status of US adult educational research during the techno-scientific turn. It concludes with a postscript suggesting the cultural space and place of US academic adult education in...
Overview of Auditory Projection Pathways and Intrinsic Microcircuits

The major structures in the auditory brainstem and forebrain are described in terms of the complement of inputs from extrinsic sources that, along with local collaterals and interneurons, make up the microcircuitry that is characteristic of each structure.
What Brand Is This Place? Place-Making and the Cultural Politics of Downtown Revitalization:

This article investigates place-branding as a contested “cultural politics.” Through a case study of the creation of a “Downtown” Pomona (California) from the “Antiques Row” and “Arts Colony” that ...
The influence of exercise on anxiety-like behavior in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Abstract In non-human mammals, exercise has been shown to decrease anxiety-like behavior. Conversely, a number of studies have reported no effect or even an increase in anxiety-like behavior after exercise, however, inconsistent training regimes and behavioral paradigms across studies may be confounding the results. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are a well-established animal model in neurobehavioral research, and have the potential to shed new insight into the effects of exercise on anxiety-like behavior where previous research has been limited, due to the ability to precisely control intensity and duration of exercise, and the validation of tests for measuring different aspects of anxiety-like behaviors. In the current study, fish were split between two treatment groups; Exercised and Control. Fish in the exercised condition were aerobically challenged (max water velocity: 0.5 m/s) using a swim tunnel one hour a day, five days a week, for six weeks. Control fish spent an equal amount of time in the swim tunnel but were not aerobically challenged (max water velocity: 0.05 m/s). After six weeks, all fish were tested individually in two standard complimentary anxiety tests for zebrafish: the novel tank test and the light-dark test. Exercised fish exhibited reduced anxiety-like behaviors in the novel tank test; they spent more time in the top and were quicker to enter the top of a novel tank compared to Control fish. In addition, Exercised fish spent more time in the light compartment of the light-dark test compared to Control fish. Our results demonstrate the beneficial effect of exercise on anxiety-like behavior in zebrafish.
Association between posttraumatic stress disorder and lack of exercise, poor diet, obesity, and co-occuring smoking: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives Research has shown that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases the risk of development of cardiometabolic disease (CMD) including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Whether PTSD is also associated with behavioral risk factors (e.g., diet, exercise, smoking and obesity) for CMD, is less clear. Methods PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched to obtain papers published between 1980-2016. Studies were reviewed for quality using the Quality of Cohort screen. Significance values, odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and tests of homogeneity of variance were calculated. Principal findings A total of 1,349 studies were identified from our search and 29 studies met all eligibility criteria. Individuals with PTSD were 5% less likely to have healthy diets (pooled adjusted OR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.92, 0.98), 9% less likely to engage in physical activity (pooled adjusted OR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.93), 31% more likely to be obese (pooled adjusted OR = 1.31; 95% CI:1.25, 1.38), and about 22% more likely to be current smokers (pooled adjusted OR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.26), than individuals without PTSD. Conclusions Evidence shows PTSD is associated with reduced healthy eating and physical activity, and increased obesity and smoking. The well-established association between PTSD and metabolic and cardiovascular disease may be partly due to poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, high prevalence of obesity, and co-occurring smoking in this population. The well-established association of PTSD with CMD is likely due in part to poor health behaviors in this patient population. (PsycINFO Database Record
A Multifaceted and Dyadic Examination of Intimate Relationship Quality during Pregnancy: Implications for Global Relationship Satisfaction

Understanding how couples navigate and negotiate the challenges and demands of pregnancy has important implications for family health. The aim of this study was to apply a multidimensional model of intimate relationship quality in a sample of 154 pregnant, cohabitating couples, to investigate the association between a range of intimate relationship processes (i.e., emotional intimacy, conflict management, sexual quality, received respect and acceptance, and received support) and the global relationship satisfaction of each partner. Semistructured clinical interviews were administered to each partner assessing multiple qualities of the relationship, and participants completed home surveys of global relationship satisfaction each day for 14 days. Results demonstrated that multiple dimensions of the intimate relationship were associated with greater relationship satisfaction. Some processes (e.g., degree of emotional intimacy and closeness, conflict management) had larger effects on relationship satisfaction than others (e.g., quality of the sexual relationship). Furthermore, some processes were more important for maternal than paternal satisfaction (e.g., emotional intimacy, support, respect). Finally, results varied, to some degree, as a function of whether parents were transitioning to parenthood for the first time. We discuss the implications of adopting a multidimensional approach to studying the specific relationship processes associated with global relationship satisfaction and present implications for clinicians working with couples navigating the transition into parenthood.
Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors 2014

The recession of 2007–2009 knocked the wind out of state government budgets, but revenues and spending have grown steadily in recent years. As revenues have risen, some governors have pursued reforms to reduce tax burdens on families and make their states more competitive. Other governors have used rising revenues to expand programs.That is the backdrop to this year’s 12th biennial fiscal report card on the governors, which examines state budget actions since 2012. It uses statistical data to grade the governors on their taxing and spending records — governors who have cut taxes and spending the most receive the highest grades, while those who have increased taxes and spending the most receive the lowest grades.Four governors were awarded an “A” on this report card: Pat McCrory of North Carolina, Sam Brownback of Kansas, Paul LePage of Maine, and Mike Pence of Indiana. Eight governors were awarded an “F”: Mark Dayton of Minnesota, John Kitzhaber of Oregon, Jack Markell of Delaware, Jay Inslee of Washington, Pat Quinn of Illinois, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, John Hickenlooper of Colorado, and Jerry Brown of California.With the economy currently growing, governors and legislatures are having few problems balancing their budgets in the short run, but the states face major budget challenges down the road. Many retirement plans for state workers have high levels of unfunded liabilities, and the Medicaid expansion under the 2010 Affordable Care Act will increase stress on state budgets. At the same time, global economic competition is making it imperative that states improve their investment climates, particularly by cutting tax rates on businesses and entrepreneurs.This report discusses those trends and examines the fiscal policy actions of each governor. More state policymakers should be encouraged to follow the reform approaches of the top-scoring governors.
UNIT 16.1 Choosing and Preparing Antigen-Presenting Cells

The first issue in selecting a system for antigen-presentation experiments is to define the appropriate type of antigen-presenting cell (APC) to study. For some experiments, crude preparations such as splenocytes or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) may suffice to provide APC function for stimulating T cells. This unit develops approaches for preparation of more defined APC populations, including dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and B lymphocytes, the three types of “professional” APC. Each of these cell types exists in different stages of differentiation, maturation, and activation, or in some cases different lineages. For example, dendritic cells may be divided into subsets, including myeloid DCs (mDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs). Each APC type has an important antigen-presentation function, although they contribute to different aspects of the immune response. Therefore, selection of an APC type for study must include consideration of the stage or aspect of immune response that is to be modeled in the experiment. Curr. Protoc. Immunol. 88:16.1.1-16.1.30. © 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: antigen-presenting cells; antigen processing; dendritic cells; macrophages; B lymphocytes; PBMCs; monocytes
Robotic Resection of Diaphragm Metastases in Ovarian Cancer: Technical Aspects

Diaphragm metastases in ovarian cancer can be safely resected robotically in selected patients. The technique is similar to laparotomy, whether it is a peritoneal or full-thickness excision. Trocar placement is very important for successful resection and is dependent on the location of the disease. Metastases involving the left diaphragm and the ventral aspect of the right diaphragm are accessed with trocars placed slightly cranial to the umbilicus. Metastases in the dorsal aspect of the right diaphragm are removed with trocars in the upper quadrants. Metastases located in the lateral portion of the right diaphragm are excised using an infrahepatic approach, and those in the medial aspect are removed using a suprahepatic approach. In peritoneal resection, monopolar instruments must be kept at 10 W to 15 W to prevent contraction of the diaphragm and pleural perforation. Intraoperative pleural decompression is performed via an aspirating catheter. A video of the technique described in this report is available online (Supplementary Video 1).
A new method using medians to calibrate single-parameter spatial interaction models

I present a method for calibrating the impedance parameter of a gravity spatial interaction model using only the median travel time as a measure of observed traveler behavior. Complete information about the spatial structure of origins, destinations, and travel times between origins and destinations is also required. Using Monte Carlo simulation techniques on stylized cities, I attempt to recover true (a priori known) impedance values with this method for a range of impedance values for both negative exponential and power impedance functions. The results are compared with estimates obtained by other fast methods. The proposed method proves to provide a fairly accurate estimate of the impedance parameter, with a mean percent error typically below 20% and often below 10% for common impedance values. The proposed method is an improvement over existing calibration methods in several respects. First, it allows for the estimation of the impedance parameter directly without lengthy iterative calculations. Second, because it only requires median travel times, it can be calibrated with smaller samples (n~200), allowing the construction of gravity models for specific modes and/or travel purposes. And third, the method does not require expensive travel demand software and so can be implemented more widely in practice.
LIF is essential for ISC function and protects against radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a cytokine essential for maintaining pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells. However, its role in adult intestinal stem cells (ISCs) is unclear. The adult intestinal epithelium has a high self-renewal rate driven by ISCs in crypts. Here, we find that LIF is present in the ISC niche in crypts and critical for the function of ISCs in maintaining the intestinal epithelial homeostasis and regeneration. Mechanistically, LIF maintains β-catenin activity through the AKT/GSK3β signaling to regulate ISC functions. LIF deficiency in mice impairs the renewal of the intestinal epithelium under the physiological condition. Further, LIF deficiency in mice impairs the regeneration of intestinal epithelium in response to radiation and shortens the lifespan of mice after high doses of radiation due to gastrointestinal (GI) syndrome, which can be rescued by administering recombinant LIF (rLIF). Importantly, LIF exhibits a radioprotective role in wild-type (WT) mice by protecting mice from lethal radiation-induced GI syndrome; administering rLIF promotes intestinal epithelial regeneration and prolongs survival in WT mice after radiation. These results reveal a previously unidentified and a crucial role of LIF in ensuring ISC function, promoting regeneration of the intestinal epithelium in response to radiation and protecting against radiation-induced GI syndrome.
MRI findings in juvenile Huntington's disease

Juvenile Huntington's disease is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that first affects the basal ganglia. Presented here is a case of juvenile Huntington's disease in an 8-year-old male. Clinical features included epilepsy and developmental delay. Imaging findings showed severe atrophy of the caudate nuclei and putamina which prompted a genetic evaluation. The diagnosis was confirmed via molecular analysis which revealed the amplified CAG triplet characteristic of this disorder. This case report highlights the imaging features common in this rare cause of pediatric epilepsy.
Nutrition Management of Uric Acid Stones

Common risk factors for the formation of uric acid kidney stones include low urine volume, uricosuria, and low urinary pH of which low urinary pH is the most important risk factor. The primary treatment for uric acid stones involves alkalinizing the urine which alters the solubility of uric acid and its tendency to precipitate in an overly acidic environment. Nutrition intervention plays a secondary role in the management of stone disease; no studies have been conducted comparing pharmacotherapy to nutrition interventions. Dietary factors known to increase serum uric acid and the risk of gout, and evidence from epidemiological trials and studies utilizing stone registries have been used to support dietary measures. Limitations in the literature include: few well-controlled, randomized trials; studies of short duration; normal volunteers recruited instead of stone formers; dietary manipulations focused on multiple instead of single components such as protein; and outcome measurements assessing reduction in risk factors not actual stone formation or recurrence. Gender and age differences may affect stone risk as well. This chapter will examine the well-known factors contributing to stone formation as well as emerging epidemiological trends that may have implications for uric acid nephrolithiasis.
Strategies to Address the Chronic Shortage of N95 Masks and Other Filtering Facepiece Respirators During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In March 2020, healthcare workers sounded the alarm on social media: #GetMePPE. As shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) coincided with surges in hospital emergency department and intensive care unit capacity due to COVID-19, it became clear that a coordinated national strategy for PPE was needed. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a series of guidance documents, accompanied by permissive emergency use authorizations (EUAs), to address the manufacture and use of PPE in health care settings. This article reviews actions taken by the FDA in response to the PPE shortage and the progress made in 2020 on procuring PPE for health care facilities. Given that N95 masks provide an essential barrier against droplet and aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2, this Chapter focuses on shortages of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). Finally, the Chapter offers solutions for federal and state policymakers, including the Biden administration, for the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. This paper was prepared as part of the COVID-19 Policy Playbook: Legal Recommendations for a Safer, More Equitable Future, a comprehensive report published by Public Health Law Watch in partnership with the de Beaumont Foundation and the American Public Health Association.
Sounds of a City: Podcasts and Public Humanities in Baltimore

"Sounds of a City: Podcasts and Public Humanities in Baltimore" reflects on the Baltimore Traces: Communities in Transition project, a collaborative teaching endeavor that began in 2015 to document changing Baltimore neighborhoods through student-produced media. The essay provides a definition of public humanities and a discussion of organic methodological innovations that evolved through the process of creating a series of student-produced podcasts focused on listening to a city in a specific moment. Sharing authority and deeply listening to both students and the diverse voices of a city led to the “on the street” interview methodology. Organic methods blending journalism with scholarship, push engaged research into new transdisciplinary territory that centers voices from the street within the university classroom.
Phosphorus fertilization and enhanced efficiency products effects on sugarbeet

Abstract A major cash crop in the Bighorn Basin of Wyoming (WY) and the Yellowstone River valley of eastern Montana (MT) is Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.). This growing area is characterized by alkaline/calcareous soil conditions that inhibit phosphorus (P) availability. Phosphorus, however, is reported to increase root growth in sugarbeet. This study evaluated the effects of two P fertilizer sources and rates on sugarbeet productivity in Sidney, MT and Powell, WY. The P fertilizer sources were liquid ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and dry monoammonium phosphate (MAP) applied with or without a P availability enhancer (Avail®). A fifth fertilizer treatment consisting of APP + Avail® + starter fertilizer was tested. The APP was banded at 5 cm beside and below the seeds, the starter fertilizer was seed-placed and the MAP was broadcast-incorporated to 5-cm depth. Five P application rates (0, 34, 67, 134, and 201 kg P2O5 ha−1) were tested in Montana, and seven rates (0, 34, 67, 134, 201, 269, and 336 kg P2O5 ha−1) in Wyoming. Results showed significant effects of P fertilizer products and application rates on sugarbeet productivity and quality. The starter fertilizer increased plant stands in Wyoming, which was due to lower temperature (3–6 °C) condition at planting. Avail® increased root yield when APP was applied in Powell, WY, but had no effects when MAP was applied. There was no benefit from treatment with Avail® in Sidney, MT, regardless of fertilizer source. Phosphorus application rates had significant effects on root and sugar yields at both locations. The relationship between P application rate and root and sugar yield was linearly positive and failed to reach a plateau, despite the high P rates tested in this study. Such high P rates however, are not recommended in Wyoming and Montana because of the high economic and environmental cost associated with such rates.
Functional Analysis of the Intraphagosomal Environment of the Macrophage: Fluorogenic Reporters and the Transcriptional Responses of Salmonella and Mycobacterium spp.

This chapter focuses on the biology of the macrophage phagosome with respect to its changing responsibilities, although the data discussed is placed in context with other phagocytic cells. To determine the degradative capacity of the phagosome following its formation, fluorogenic substrates were coupled, along with a calibration fluor, to the surface of beads coated with the phagocytic receptor ligands immunoglobulin G (IgG) or mannosylated BSA. The acidification assay and the fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay for phagosome/lysosome fusion both reach an end point equilibrium or maximum value. This contrasts with the hydrolysis assays that progress to substrate limitation because an enzyme, once present, will continue to hydrolyze its substrate until either the enzyme is removed or deactivated or, more likely, the substrate is exhausted. Some of these assays exploited specific substrates processed by single, identified enzymes, whereas other substrates were more generic and were hydrolyzed by several enzymes. Recently, these assays have been employed to probe the modulation of the macrophage phagosomes under differing biological situations such as microbial insult and cytokine-mediated activation. The chapter discusses immune activation and the physiology of the phagosome, and focuses specifically on the interplay between the two bacteria and the changing environments that they will experience in the phagosomes of the macrophage. Microarray analysis appears to afford novel insights into the intraphagosomal environment, with the important caveat that the physiology of these compartments is a reflection of both the host cell biology and its manipulation by the pathogen of interest.
Review of Existing Codes for Loss-of-Coolant Accident Analysis

Within the last two years it has become customary in the United States to categorize all LOCA codes into two main groupings: the codes employed in the licensing application which obey the conservative assumptions prescribed by the NRC Acceptance Criteria described in Appendix K to 10 CFR 100 (1). These codes employ the so-called Evaluation Model and are generally referred to as the EM codes. The WREM package includes most of the EM codes necessary for the safety evaluation of the Water Reactors performed independently by USNRC. The second grouping consists of the so-called Best Estimate (BE) codes which employ models that are not conservative, but instead, represent a realistic representation of the physical processes. Some of the existing BE codes, such as RELAP-4 Mod 5 (developed by the Aerojet Nuclear Company for USNRC) are simply structured. Advanced BE codes now under development incorporate the present state of the art in both the modeling and the numerical analysis treatment. The present EM codes comprise an assembly of codes run sequentially. Each member of the sequence is a stand-alone code developed for some special application.
Organic Substituted Cyclosilanes

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the structure, properties, preparation, and reactions of cyclosilanes in the light of recent investigations of phenyl and methyl series and corrects some misconceptions concerning the perphenylated cyclosilanes. Representative organic substituted cyclosilanes, as illustrated by octaphenylcyclotetrasilane, decaphenylcyclopentasilane, and their p-tolyl analogs and dodecamethylcyclohexasilane have been characterized and shown to undergo reactions that are generally common to compounds containing the disilane linkage. The relative reactivities of these cyclosilanes has been attributed mainly to steric factors and substituent groups on silicon, with the consideration that the silicon atom involved in reaction can attain a pentacovalent state. The extreme reactivity of octaphenylcyclotetrasilane with a variety of reagents, some of which are not considered capable of silicon bond cleavage, had previously been described as being due to the presence of a silyl radical species or due to ring strain, which is then responsible for the homolytic scission of the silicon–silicon bond. Homolytic cleavage is not necessarily important in the reactions of octaphenylcyclotetrasilane, but the molecular geometry of the compound greatly facilitates the formation of apentacovalent complex that undergoes easy cleavage to give the observed products. The products of the reactions of cyclosilanes are organic-substituted polysilanes, which can be considered to be the shorter chain members of a new class of compounds. Further research in preparation and chemical behavior of materials is necessary for establishing the structures of these compounds and explanation of their special properties.
Platelet size and age determine platelet function independently

This study was undertaken to examine the interaction of platelet size and age in determining in vitro platelet function. Baboon megakaryocytes were labeled in vivo by the injection of 75Se-methionine. Blood was collected when the label was predominantly associated with younger platelets (day 2) and with older platelets (day 9). Size-dependent platelet subpopulations were prepared on both days by counterflow centrifugation. The reactivity of each platelet subpopulation was determined on both days by measuring thrombin-induced aggregation. Platelets were fixed after partial aggregation had occurred by the addition of EDTA/formalin. After removal of the aggregated platelets by differential centrifugation, the supernatant medium was assayed for remaining platelets and 75Se radioactivity. Comparing day 2 and day 9, no significant difference was seen in the rate of aggregation of a given subpopulation. However, aggregation was more rapid in the larger platelet fractions than in the smaller ones on both days. A greater percentage of the 75Se radioactivity appeared in the platelet aggregates on day 2 than on day 9. This effect was independent of platelet size, as it occurred to a similar extent in the unfractionated platelets and in each of the size-dependent platelet subpopulations. The data indicate that young platelets are more active than older platelets. This study demonstrates that size and age are both determinants of platelet function, but by independent mechanisms.
The Nonuniform Walsh-Schema Transform

Abstract The Walsh-schema transform allows useful analysis of the expected performance of genetic algorithms. Until recently, its use has been restricted to the static analysis of functions, codings, and operators. In this paper, we present a form of the Walsh-schema transform that accounts for nonuniformly distributed populations, and thereby extend its use to the dynamic analysis of genetic algorithms. We also show the relationship between the nonuniform Walsh-schema transform and the hyperplane transform.
Extraction of temporal motor activity signals from video recordings of neonatal seizures by improved feature tracking methods based on translation motion models

This paper presents a new method for tracking features in video. This method estimates the displacement of a feature between two successive frames by minimizing an error function defined in terms of the feature intensities at these frames. The minimization problem is made analytically tractable by approximating the error function using a second-order Taylor expansion. The displacement between two successive frames is computed in an iterative fashion using gradient descent. The improved reliability of the proposed method is illustrated by its application in the extraction of temporal motor activity signals from video recordings of neonatal seizures.
A society of mind: multiple perspectives, reasoned assumptions, and virtual copies

Little is clearly understood about, the similarities, differences, and comparative computational and representational advantages of the many proposals extant for organizing minds "into collections of "mental subagents." Using a new mathematical framework fur exactly specifying the structure of mental organizations, we formulate separately the ideas of multiple pe.-spectivcs, re:Lsoned assumptions, and virtual copies. When combined, these notions form a common backbone for systems as diverse as CONLAN, NI'ITL, and FOL, and show many particular characteristics of those systems results of the "language of thought" adopted for representing the contents of mental subagents. The framework also suggests connections between the "strengths" of mental attitudes, the ambiguity of "self," and the possibilities for self-omniscience.
Developmental Intervention for Low Birth Weight Infants: Improved Early Developmental Outcome

This prospective longitudinal study was designed to evaluate the effects of a multidisciplinary infant development program (IDP) on the mental and physical development of low birth weight infants (less than 1,800 g). Infants in the neonatal intensive care were randomly assigned to the IDP or to traditional care (control group). IDP infants received developmental interventions in the hospital and at home through the first 2 years of life. Counseling and parenting education were provided to their parents during this same period. The control group received all the postnatal care and referrals customarily given in traditional care. Both IDP and control infants were enrolled in an independent follow-up program, which used the Bayley Scales of Infant Development in a blind evaluation design. The IDP group had a significantly lower incidence of developmental delay (P less than .05) and scored significantly higher than the control group (P less than .05) on mean mental and physical indices at 12 and 24 months of adjusted age.
NOVEL SITE-SPECIFIC DNA ENDONUCLEASES

Site-specific hydrolysis of DNA is common to many biological processes. Three new structures, FokI, I-CreI and PI-SceI, were reported in the past year, providing the first view of type IIs endonucleases and homing endonucleases. Together, they reveal an extraordinary set of new mechanisms by which endonucleases target the hydrolysis of specific DNA sequences.
Plasma progesterone levels and corpus luteum morphology in the female prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus).

Abstract Plasma progesterone levels in female prairie dogs were determined by a radioimmunoassay specific for progesterone. Plasma progesterone levels were determined in samples taken before estrus, at estrus, during the luteal phase, and during anestrus from females maintained all year in the laboratory. Progesterone levels were also determined in plasma samples taken in the laboratory from two pregnant and three postparturient females captured in the field. Progesterone levels were low before estrus and continued low during estrus. They rose on the first week after estrus to 0.8 ng/ml or above and continued at or above this level for 9–14 weeks following estrus. Gestation in prairie dogs is 35 days in this species. Progesterone levels of three postparturient females were above 1.0 ng/ml for 7 weeks after their arrival in the laboratory. These females all had uterine scars showing that they had delivered their litters before they were captured. Two females were determined to be pregnant at the time of their capture. These females later reabsorbed their fetuses (determined by laparotomy). Progesterone values of samples from these females were all above 1.0 ng/ml except for one low value in one female which occurred 3 weeks after her capture and after reabsorption of her fetuses was in progress. The cells of the corpus lutea (CL) of nonpregnant, pregnant, and postparturient females had well-developed rings of cytoplasmic basophilia but as the CL regressed this pattern became disorganized and disappeared. The function of this basophilia is not known. The long luteal phase found in female prairie dogs is compared to those found in other species of mammals. This is the first annually breeding rodent reported to have a longer luteal phase than the period of gestation.