cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic relationships of Afrobrunnichia Hutch. & Dalziel (Polygonaceae) based on three chloroplast genes and ITS

The subfamily Eriogonoideae (Polygonaceae) comprises 31 genera of which 20 are part of the radiation of Eriogonum and allied genera in North America. The eleven remaining genera are all woody, and include species that are vines, trees and shrubs. They are distributed in North, Central and South America, the Antilles and West Africa, and in most cases the number of species is not known, even less their relationships. Brunnichia is a woody vine native to the southeastern United States. In the past some authors have recognized species of Brunnichia as occurring in West Africa. Alternately, others recognized two genera, Brunnichia corresponding only to the American species and Afrobrunnichia to the African species. In this study two accessions of Afrobrunnichia erecta from Gabon and Ghana, representatives of Podopterus, Brunnichia ovata, and several other species of Polygonaceae are analyzed using three chloroplast genes (rbcL, matK, ndhF) and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS). Maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses strongly support Afrobrunnichia as sister to the remaining genera of Eriogonoideae; Brunnichia and Antigonon are strongly supported as sister genera. Based on these results, Afrobrunnichia is supported as a separate genus from Brunnichia. Podopterus is placed sister to Coccoloba.
Zinc and copper in the treatment of rheumatic diseases

Zinc has an important role in human health because of its participation in multiple enzymatic reactions and its involvement in the immune system [1,2]. Relevant to the treatment of the rheumatic diseases, zinc deficiency profoundly disturbs the immune function and the host defense mechanism, resulting in lymphoid atrophy, impaired delayed hypersensitivity and T-helper cell dysfunction [2–5]
Evidence of Fundamental Difficulties in Nonlinear Optimization Code Comparisons

Several nonlinear optimization code comparisons have been published, providing data for picking a code for a given application or developing new codes. The common performance measures (number of function evaluations, standardized computer time, number of problems solved) are intuitively machine independent, which encourages such use. Unfortunately, the relative performance of optimization codes does depend on the computer and compiler used for testing, and this dependence is evident regardless of the performance measure. In addition, relative performance measured on a single machine may depend significantly on the desired degree of accuracy, the choice of test problem(s), the chosen performance measure, and even the time of day (machine workload) when the tests are run. Numerical evidence of these difficulties is presented, based on tests of the same problem and algorithm decks on several different computers, with various compilers, problem sets, accuracy levels, and performance measures.
Laser frequency stabilization using pound-drever-hall technique with an integrated TiO 2 athermal resonator

We demonstrate frequency stabilization of a continuous-wave laser using an integrated TiO 2 athermal cavity as a reference for the first time, and show linewidth improvement by a factor of 6 compared to a SiN cavity.
Experimental and numerical study on performance of shrouded hydrokinetic turbines

Hydrokinetic turbines, also known as marine current turbines, have the potential to be a major component of the world's renewable energy portfolio. Improving the efficiency of turbines is critical to making this technology more widespread and cost-effective. This work focused on raising power output for a given turbine blade design and flow speed through the addition of a straight-diffusing shroud. A shroud works by lowering pressure at the turbine outlet and thereby accelerating the flow through the turbine. The performance (measured by the power coefficient, C P ) of a shrouded horizontal axis hydrokinetic turbine was studied experimentally in a tow tank at the United States Naval Academy. Two different shroud designs were built and tested, and performance was compared to the bare turbine. Both shrouds featured the same diffuser angle (20°) but different area ratios, cross-sectional shapes, and tip gaps. The second shroud design was optimized using numerical flow simulation data, and resulted in a 21% increase in power output compared to the bare turbine. Both shroud designs lowered the stall speed of the turbine and allowed operation at lower tip speed ratios.
Privacy by region: Evaluation online users' privacy perceptions by geographical region

This study investigates online users' privacy perceptions based on their geographical regions. We administered an online survey to assess three psychological aspects of privacy perceptions including perceptions of privacy boundary, personal disposition of trust, and behavioral preferences for information sharing. Our results reveal regional differences in users' privacy perceptions and identify three sharing patterns among different regions. We found that regional differences can be explained by social structure and cultural value. For instance, users in North America show more individualistic tendency in sharing preferences; and users in Asia exhibit more collectivist value in their perceptions of information control. We illustrate how regional differences can be employed into system design and propose a set of suggestions for enhancing the design of privacy-preserving systems. We believe this is the first study investigating privacy perceptions from a regional/continent point of view. Therefore, our results provide a new perspective for designing global privacy enhancing systems that include regional considerations.
Socioeconomic Disparities in the Prevalence of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Ghanaian Women.

Abstract Background Recent trends toward urbanization in developing countries like Ghana, coupled with nutritional transition and aging populations, have led to a rapid increase in the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between socioeconomic status and cardiometabolic risk factors among women in Ghana. Methods Data for this analysis were obtained from Wave 1 of the Ghana Study of Global Aging and Health, conducted in 2007, and included women 18 years and older. Survey weighted descriptive and multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the association between socioeconomic status and cardiometabolic risk factors. Results Among a total of 1988 women, 48% ages 40-64 years, almost half were overweight or obese (47%) and 21% had current hypertension, whereas only 4.3% and 2% of women self-reported a history of hypertension and diabetes, respectively. Multivariable adjusted analysis indicated that women with a high school education had 2-fold increased odds of being overweight or obese compared with those with no formal education (odds ratio [OR]: 2.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20-3.42). Women employed in the public sector had almost a 5 times higher odds of being overweight or obese (OR: 4.94, 95% CI: 1.42-17.15), whereas those employed in the private sector or self-employed had reduced odds of diabetes (OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.10-0.70) and hypertension (OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.21-0.86). Conclusion The prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors varies by socioeconomic status among Ghanaian women. Targeted intervention programs to reduce overweight and obesity may begin among Ghanaian women employed in the public sector, and improved access to health care will be critical for timely diagnosis and management of other disease risk factors.
Practical Diagnostic Approach to the Presence of Hyphae in Neuropathology Specimens With Three Illustrative Cases.

Objectives Early and accurate diagnosis remains crucial in the therapeutic management of invasive central nervous system fungal infections. Different molds have intrinsic resistance to antifungal agents; thus, morphologic differentiation is helpful to clinicians. Methods Using three examples, we present a guide on how to approach neuropathology specimens where hyphae are identified on initial histologic examination. Results Hyphae can be classified into three basic groups: hyaline pauciseptated, hyaline septated, and pigmented or dematiaceous. The hyaline pauciseptated group includes the order of the Mucorales (previously Zygomyces) and is frequent in patients with decompensated diabetes and severe neutropenia. Aspergillus species constitutes the most frequently isolated mold in the hyaline septated group. However, other invasive hyaline septated molds include Fusarium species, which is frequently resistant to multiple antifungals, and Candida species Last, dematiaceous molds, although infrequent, can be found in neuropathology specimens, as happened during the outbreak of Exserohilum associated with manufacturing practices in a compound pharmacy. Conclusions Categorizing hyphae into the three groups described allows pathologists to provide information that is useful for infectious disease treatment with an inclusive differential diagnosis of diverse fungal genera that share the same morphological features.
Introduction to electrofluidodynamic techniques. Part I: process optimization

Abstract A large variety of processes and tools have recently emerged to design biomaterials with controlled chemical, physical, and biological properties for biomedical applications. Among them, electrofluidodynamics (EFDs) are revolutionizing traditional biomaterial manufacturing approaches by the use of electrostatic forces as driving force for the fabrication of 3D templates able to address cells and/or molecules both in vitro and in vivo. They basically identify relatively complex fabrication processes to design innovative devices—based on fibers and/or particles at micro- and/or submicrometric-size scale—with restrained manufacturing costs but high functional complexity. Herein, we will focus on all the main technological aspects related to the process optimization, i.e., electrospinning, electrospraying, and electrodynamic atomization, in order to emphasize the high versatility of EFDs for satisfactory customization of bioinspired platforms for different biomedical uses (i.e., tissue engineering, molecular delivery, cancer therapy).
Justice-Involved Women: Narratives, Marginalization, Identity and Community Reintegration

Women are the fastest growing sector of the incarcerated population. Community reentry is challenging for both men and women. However, pathways out of crime and reintegration have been found to be ...
Comorbidity and Course of Anorexia Nervosa

The psychiatric comorbidity associated with anorexia nervosa is discussed. This includes depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and personality disorders. The data available from intermediate and long-term follow-up studies on the outcome of anorexia nervosa are summarized. Included in this section are estimates of mortality from anorexia and the overall level of functioning at follow-up of individuals with a history of anorexia nervosa.
Variation in airborne fungal spore concentrations among five monitoring locations in a desert urban environment

Fungal spores are biological particles that are ubiquitous in the outdoor air. Spores of several very common fungal species are known allergens, with the potential to cause respiratory illnesses by exacerbating asthma and allergic rhinitis. The National Allergy Bureau typically has one monitoring station established per city to determine fungal spore counts for an entire metropolitan area. However, variations in fungal spore concentrations could occur among different locations. The objective of this study was to measure and compare airborne fungal spore concentrations in five locations in Las Vegas for the year 2015 to determine if there are differences among microenvironments in the city. Twenty-four-hour or 7-day air samples were collected from five sites across the Las Vegas Valley. Samples were analyzed with a light microscope for fungal spores and counts were converted to concentrations of spores per volume of air. Mixed-model methods were used to evaluate mean differences. Results showed that smuts (basidiomycetes) were the dominant spore type for all five sites during the spring season. Cladosporium species were responsible for the second most dominant spore type with the highest concentrations occurring during the summer and fall months. Results obtained from the five stations established in Las Vegas show that there are important variations among the sites regarding fungal spore concentrations. The data suggest that more sites and additional monitoring of outdoor allergens are needed to provide information necessary to inform the community of outdoor air quality conditions and their potential effects on public health. This study presents new outdoor fungal spore data for the southwest region of the USA, focused in the Las Vegas Valley.
Listening Watch: Wearable Two-Factor Authentication using Speech Signals Resilient to Near-Far Attacks

Reducing the level of user effort involved in traditional two-factor authentication (TFA) constitutes an important research topic. A recent effort in this direction leverages ambient sounds to detect the proximity between the second factor device (phone) and the login terminal (browser), and eliminates the need for the user to transfer PIN codes. This approach is highly usable, but is completely vulnerable against far-near attackers, i.e., ones who are remotely located and can guess the victim's audio environment or make the phone create predictable sounds (e.g., ringers), and those who are in physical proximity of the user. In this paper, we propose Listening-Watch, a new TFA mechanism based on a wearable device (watch/bracelet) and active browser-generated random speech sounds. As the user attempts to login, the browser populates a short random code encoded into speech, and the login succeeds if the watch's audio recording contains this code (decoded using speech recognition), and is similar enough to the browser's audio recording. The remote attacker, who has guessed the user's environment or created predictable phone/watch sounds, will be defeated since authentication success relies upon the presence of the random code in watch's recordings. The proximity attacker will also be defeated unless it is extremely close to the watch, since the wearable microphones are usually designed to be only capable of picking up nearby sounds (e.g., voice commands). Furthermore, due to the use of a wearable second factor device, Listening-Watch naturally enables two-factor security even when logging in from a mobile phone. Our contributions are three-fold. First, we introduce the idea of strong and low-effort TFA based on wearable devices, active speech sounds and speech recognition, giving rise to the Listening-Watch system that is secure against both remote and proximity attackers. Second, we design and implement Listening-Watch for an Android smartwatch (and companion smartphone) and the Chrome browser, without the need for any browser plugins. Third, we evaluate Listening-Watch for authentication errors in both benign and adversarial settings. Our results show that Listening-Watch can result in minimal errors in both settings based on appropriate thresholdization and speaker volume levels.
The Nasal Airway

The anatomy and physiology of the nose will be discussed in detail in this chapter. The nose is an intricate organ with important functions, which include filtration, humidification, and temperature control of inspired air in preparation for transit to the lower airways. It is also important in providing the sense of olfaction and sensory irritation. It has an intricate network of nerves, vessels, glands, and inflammatory cells that all help to modulate its function. This chapter also discusses some evidence that supports the importance of the nasal airway as a contributor to sleep-disordered breathing in children.
Efforts to Reduce Heterogeneity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research

Individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) suffer from persistent, debilitating fatigue, accompanied by a variety of neuropsychiatric, infectious, and rheumatological symptoms. Researchers have not yet discovered the cause of CFS, but a variety of etiologies have been proposed, ranging from viral/immunological (Komaroff, 1988; Strober, 1994) to psychiatric (Manu, Lane, & Matthews, 1992). As this range of possibilities suggests, arguments exist as to whether CFS is a psychiatric condition resulting from psychological stressors or a nonpsychiatric medical disorder resulting directly from an infectious or toxic agent. Those favoring a psychiatric interpretation have pointed to an increased incidence of affective symptomatology in CFS patient samples (Kruesi, Dale, & Straus, 1989; Lane, Manu, Matthews, 1991). In contrast, those supporting a viral/immunological hypothesis have noted immune system dysregulation (Landay, Jessop, Lennette, & Levy, 1991; Patarca, Klimas, Lugtendorf, Antoni, & Fletcher, 1994) and abnormalities on neuroimaging (Natelson, Cohen, Brassloff, & Lee, 1993) in CFS samples. David (1991) presented three general possibilities as to the role of psychiatric disturbance in CFS.
Pain, Opioids, and Suicide Mortality in the United States.

The editorialist believes that Petrosky and coworkers' findings underscore that suicide prevention should involve improving the availability of effective pain interventions that extend beyond opioi...
The Multilinear Minimax Relaxation of Bimatrix Games and Comparison with Nash Equilibria via Lemke-Howson

Extensive study on the complexity of computing Nash Equilibrium has resulted in the definition of the complexity class PPAD by Papadimitriou \cite{Papa2}, Subsequently shown to be PPAD-complete, first by Daskalakis, Goldberg, and Papadimitriou \cite{Papa} for $3$ or more and even for the bimatrix case by Chen and Deng \cite{Chen}. On the other hand, it is well known that Nash equilibria of games with smooth payoff functions are generally Pareto-inefficient \cite{Dubey} In the spirit of Von Neumann's Minimax Theorem and its polynomial-time solvability via Linear Programming, Kalantari \cite{Kalantari} has described a multilinear minimax relaxation (MMR) that provides an approximation to a convex combination of expected payoffs in any Nash Equilibrium via LP. In this paper, we study this relaxation for the bimatrix game, solving its corresponding LP formulation and comparing its solution to the solution computed by the Lemke-Howson algorithm. We also give a game theoretic interpretation of MMR for the bimatrix game involving a meta-player. Our relaxation has the following theoretical advantages: (1) It can be computed in polynomial time; (2) For at least one player, the computed MMR payoff is at least as good any Nash Equilibrium payoff; (3) There exists a convex scaling of the payoff matrices giving equal payoffs. Such a solution is a satisfactory compromise. Computationally, we have compared our approach with the state-of-the-art implementation of the Lemke-Howson algorithm \cite{Lemke}. We have observed the following advantages: (i) MMR outperformed Lemke-Howson in time complexity; (ii) In about $80\%$ of the cases the MMR payoffs for both players are better than any Nash Equilibria; (iii) in the remaining $20\%$, while one player's payoff is better than any Nash Equilibrium payoff, the other player's payoff is only within a relative error of $17\%$.
EOSINOPHILIC CYSTITIS AND PARASITIC INFECTION

Introduction Eosinophilic cystitis is a rare condition characterized by eosinophilic inflammation of the bladder with few documented pediatric cases. The mechanism of disease remains unclear, although it has been associated with various disorders such as allergic diseases, malignancy, trauma, and infection. Treatment regimens are non-standardized and have included antihistamines, leukotriene antagonists, antimicrobials, steroids, and anti-inflammatory agents. Case Description A 12-year-old African American male with history of food allergy and allergic rhinitis presented to urology due to persistent hematuria and dysuria. Cystouretheroscopy with biopsy demonstrated evidence of eosinophilic cystitis. He denied use of any medications or history of international travel. CBC revealed a normal AEC of 388 cells/µL; however, he was noted to have eosinophilia to 1670 cells/µL on CBC performed four years prior. He was initially treated with phenazopyridine, oxybutynin, and cetirizine. Montelukast and ibuprofen were added for refractory symptoms. Due to consideration for immunosuppressive steroid therapy, stool O&P, Strongyloides, Trichinella, Toxocara serologies, and GI PCR panel were sent to exclude parasitic infection. Strongyloides IgG and Clostridium difficile toxin were positive. He was treated with ivermectin and metronidazole for latent Strongyloides infection and C. difficile colitis, respectively, and demonstrated interval clinical improvement. Discussion To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case of eosinophilic cystitis associated with Strongyloides stercoralis infection. A high index of suspicion for parasitic infection in patients with eosinophilic cystitis must be maintained regardless of exposure history or peripheral eosinophil counts as chronic infection may be asymptomatic. Initiation of steroid therapy without confirming negative testing may result in life-threatening, disseminated strongyloidiasis.
Modeling and Tracking Dynamic Mode Coupling in MDM Systems

Channel models for simulating the time dependence of propagation matrices in mode-division-multiplexed systems are reviewed. The impact of channel dynamics on adaptive equalization in long-haul links using coherent detection and in short-reach links using direct detection are also discussed.
Volumetric displacement effects in Euler-Lagrange LES of particle-laden jet flows

Abstract Large-eddy simulations (LES) of a particle-laden jet under a range of volume loadings are performed using a modified point-particle Euler-Lagrange (EL) approach to evaluate the effect of the volume/mass displaced by the subgrid particles on the flow. The spatio-temporal variations in the volume fraction of the carrier phase are taken into account giving rise to a zero-Mach number, variable density formulation with source terms in both momentum and continuity equations. The influence of volume loading as well as particle relaxation time on these volumetric displacement effects are investigated by performing numerical tests at different inlet volume loadings (0.047%-37.6%) and Stokes numbers (0.038-11.6). It is shown that for volume loadings above 5%, the volumetric displacement effects tend to become important. For the cases studied, these effects increase the mean and r.m.s. velocities of the carrier phase due to the continuity source term; however, they decrease further downstream due to dispersion of particles and spreading of the jet. It is observed that reducing the particle Stokes number increases the volumetric displacement effects due to their quick response time to the changes in the background flow, lower dispersion and smaller reaction forces.
Impairment-Based Rehabilitation With Patterned Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation and Lower Extremity Function in Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain: A Preliminary Study

Context Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a chronic condition that presents with lower extremity muscle weakness, decreased flexibility, subjective functional limitations, pain, and decreased physical a...
Going through Changes: Surface IgM Levels during CLL Therapy with Ibrutinib

Continuous B-cell receptor (BCR) stimulation by antigens in secondary lymphoid tissues is a key pathogenic mechanism in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Therapy with ibrutinib mobilizes tissue CLL cells into the peripheral blood (PB), away from tissue antigen. Consequently, mobilized antigen-deprived CLL cells upregulate surface immunoglobulin M (IgM), providing robust evidence for this mechanism of pathogenesis. See related article by Drennan et al., p. 2503
Does Microscopic Hematuria After Pediatric Blunt Trauma Indicate Clinically Significant Injury

Abstract Background Children are more likely to have urinary system injury after blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) because of anatomical vulnerabilities. Urinalysis (UA) is often performed during initial evaluation to screen for injury. The purpose of this study was to determine how often finding microscopic hematuria after BAT leads to further testing and whether this indicates a significant injury. Methods A retrospective review of children evaluated for BAT at Children's Health from 2013 to 2017 was performed. Patients included had microscopic hematuria on initial UA. Data collected included demographics, injury data, laboratory and imaging data, and outcomes. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact, and independent t-test. Results Of 1059 patients treated for BAT during the study period, 203 (19%) exhibited microscopic hematuria on UA during the initial workup. Most UAs resulted after imaging was completed and did not impact management (158, 78%); twenty-two (14%) of these patients had urinary injury, which were diagnosed by imaging regardless of UA results. Forty-five (22%) patients were found to have microscopic hematuria that independently led to workup for urinary injury. Of these, nine patients had a urinary system injury: 6 low-grade renal and three bladder wall injuries, none of which required surgery. Those with and without urinary injury in this group underwent similar numbers of radiographic studies. Conclusions Microscopic hematuria on screening UA after BAT may lead to extensive workup, regardless of the presence of symptoms. In patients who receive cross-sectional abdominal imaging, preceding UA adds little to the clinical workup of children with BAT.
Role of pertussis toxin-sensitive guanosine triphosphate-binding proteins in the response of erythroblasts to erythropoietin.

Human progenitor-derived erythroblasts have been recently shown to respond to erythropoietin (Epo) with an increase in intracellular free calcium concentration [Cac]. To explore the role of guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding proteins in mediating the rise in [Cac], single day 10 erythroid burst forming unit (BFU-E)-derived erythroblasts loaded with Fura-2 were pretreated with pertussis toxin (PT), stimulated with Epo, and [Cac] measured over 18 minutes with fluorescence microscopy coupled to digital video imaging. The [Cac] increase in day 10 erythroblasts stimulated with Epo was blocked by pretreatment with PT in a dose-dependent manner but not by heat- inactivated PT. These observations provided strong evidence that a PT- sensitive GTP-binding protein is involved. To further characterize the GTP-binding protein, day 10 erythroblast membrane preparations were solubilized, electrophoresed, and immunoblotted with antibodies specific for the known PT-sensitive G-protein subunits: the three subtypes of Gia (1,2, and 3) and Goa, Gia1 or Gia3 and Gia2 were identified but no Goa was found. To examine the influence of Epo on adenylate cyclase activity, day 10 erythroblasts were initially treated with Epo, isolated membrane preparations made, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production by adenylate cyclase in membrane preparations in the presence of theophylline measured. Epo did not inhibit but significantly stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. However, the mechanism of increase of [Cac] appears to be independent of adenylate cyclase stimulation because treatment of erythroblasts with the cell-permeant dibutyryl cAMP failed to increase [Cac]. In summary, pertussis toxin blocks the increase in [Cac] in erythroblasts after Epo stimulation suggesting that this response is mediated through a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein. Candidate PT-sensitive GTP-binding proteins identified on day 10 erythroblasts were Gia 1, 2, or 3, but not Goa.
Transcatheter aortic valve deployment influences neo-sinus thrombosis risk: An in vitro flow study.

OBJECTIVES We investigated the impact of (transcatheter heart valve) THV expansion at the level of the native annulus and implant depth on valve performance and neo-sinus flow stasis. BACKGROUND Flow stasis in the neo-sinus is one of the identified risk factors of THV thrombosis. METHODS A 29 mm CoreValve and 26 mm SAPIEN 3 were deployed under different expansions (CoreValve, SAPIEN 3) and implant depths (CoreValve) within a patient-derived aortic root in a pulse duplicator. Fluorescent dye was injected during diastole into the neo-sinus and imaged over 20 cardiac cycles. Washout times were computed as a measure of flow stasis for each deployment. RESULTS The 10% CoreValve under-expansion improved neo-sinus washout over full expansion by 8% (p < .001), and higher CoreValve implant depth improved neo-sinus washout (p < .001). The 10% SAPIEN 3 under-expansion improved neo-sinus washout by 23% (p < .001). Under-expansion of both valve types caused higher pressure gradients and smaller effective orifice areas than full expansion. CONCLUSIONS Neo-sinus flow stasis is influenced by THV expansion and implant depth (CoreValve). The 10% valve under-deployment (oversizing) may facilitate reduced flow stasis in the neo-sinus with minimal increase in pressure gradients. This strategy may be helpful for patient anatomies, which are in-between transcatheter valve sizes.
Bottom up proteomics reveals novel differentiation proteins in neuroblastoma cells treated with 13-cis retinoic acid

Abstract Neuroblastoma, a cancer of the sympathetic nervous system, is the second most common pediatric cancer. A unique feature of neuroblastoma is remission in some patients due to spontaneous differentiation of metastatic tumors. 13-cis retinoic acid (13-cis RA) is currently used in the clinic to treat neuroblastoma due to its differentiation inducing effects. In this study, we used shotgun proteomics to identify proteins affected by 13-cis RA treatment in neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. Our results showed that 13-cis RA reduced proteins involved in extracellular matrix synthesis and organization and increased proteins involved in cell adhesion and neurofilament formation. These changes indicate that 13-cis RA induces tumor cell differentiation by decreasing extracellular matrix rigidity and increasing neurite overgrowth. Differentially-affected proteins identified in this study may be novel biomarkers of drug efficacy in the treatment of neuroblastoma. Significance As neuroblastoma can spontaneously differentiate, determining which proteins are involved in differentiation can guide development of novel treatments. 13-cis retinoic acid is currently used in the clinic as a differentiation inducer. Here we have established a proteome map of SK-N-SH cells treated with 13-cis retinoic acid. Bioinformatic analysis revealed the involvement of development, differentiation, extracellular matrix assembly, collagen biosynthesis, and neurofilament bundle association. This proteome map provides information as to which proteins are important for differentiation and identifies networks that can be targeted by drugs to treat neuroblastoma [ 1 ].
Amplified Fragment Length Polymerase-Based Phylogenetic Relationships of Heirloom Tomato and Dark Green Vegetable Accessions

Dark green vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, and spinach are documented for their nutritional importance. Similarly, heirloom varieties also have value-added traits such as the attractiveness of fruits, limited availability, unique flavor, or other characters not found in commercial types. Since heirloom tomato varieties may require a little more care during production or handling, compared to commercial hybrids, producers can obtain a higher price when appropriately marketed. In this report, six heirloom tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) varieties as well as four varieties of broccoli (Brassica oleracea), three varieties of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), and two varieties of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) were selected for comparative DNA fingerprinting. On quality DNAs from the leaf tissues of these vegetables, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses were performed with 64 different primer pair combinations. The AFLP primer pairs, that produce ample polymorphic markers and provided desirable polymorphisms, were identified for further analyses. AFLP-generated DNA fragments were then separated by sequencing gel electrophoresis using an automated DNA analyzer (4300S NEN DNA Analyzer and Sequencer, Li-Cor Inc., Lincoln, NE, USA) through Saga™ Generation 2- AFLP® Analysis (Li-Cor Inc.) software. AFLP profiles were analyzed to generate binary code (0/1) reports on markers’ data, and then TreeCon-Dendrogram (Scanalytics Inc., Fairfax, VA, USA) software was used to deduce genetic relationships between accessions of selected vegetables. Although each accession had a distinctive DNA fingerprint, correlations between structurally similar plants and their DNA profiles were apparent enabling true to type identification and marker-assisted breeding programs.
Seeking the female (internal) condom in retail pharmacies: Experiences of adolescent mystery callers

Abstract Background Female (internal) condoms could be viable alternatives to male (external) condoms. Our objective was to describe barriers that adolescent mystery callers encountered when trying to access female condoms in U.S. pharmacies. Methods In mid-2016, university students seeking “condoms for girls” called retail pharmacies in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Utah. We evaluated differences in product availability and callers’ experiences by pharmacy type. Results Of our final sample (n=1475), only eight outlets (0.5%), all national chains, definitely stocked female condoms. Of those not (or probably not) stocking female condoms, 11% tried to be helpful (e.g., offered to special order), 59% made no substantive comment, and 30% were unhelpful (e.g., dismissive, rude, gave wrong information). National chain employees were significantly more unhelpful (34% vs 22%, p Conclusion Almost no pharmacies in four southwestern states stocked female condoms in mid-2016. Pharmacy staff frequently were unhelpful, which could deter adolescent use of female condoms even if new types become available.
Emergence of a Pseudogap in the BCS-BEC Crossover.

Strongly correlated Fermi systems with pairing interactions become superfluid below a critical temperature ${T}_{c}$. The extent to which such pairing correlations alter the behavior of the liquid at temperatures $Tg{T}_{c}$ is a subtle issue that remains an area of debate, in particular regarding the appearance of the so-called pseudogap in the BCS-BEC crossover of unpolarized spin-$1/2$ nonrelativistic matter. To shed light on this, we extract several quantities of crucial importance at and around the unitary limit, namely, the odd-even staggering of the total energy, the spin susceptibility, the pairing correlation function, the condensate fraction, and the critical temperature ${T}_{c}$, using a nonperturbative, constrained-ensemble quantum Monte Carlo algorithm.
Older adults' technology use and its association with health and depressive symptoms: Findings from the 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study.

Abstract Background Information and communication technology (ICT) provides older adults with access to information and resources that benefit their health. Purpose To explore ICT use among older adults and examine the influence of information technology (IT), communication technology (CT), or ICT use on older adults’ self-rated health status and depressive symptoms. Method A sample of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older in the United States (N = 4,976) from the 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study. Findings Older adults who embraced ICT and used this technology for a variety of purposes were more likely to report better health status, and were less likely to experience major depressive symptoms than nonusers. Discussion In accordance with the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, nursing professional can play an important role by responding to older adults’ diverse technology preferences and effectively incorporating them into nursing practice.
Passion and Love (P/L) with Knowledge and Understanding (K/U): Coherence, Concurrence, Congruence and Coexistence of Passions and Knowledge in Human Mind

This paper deals with the development of personality in two parallel tracks as an infant evolves to be a unique individual in society. The primary track is based on the acquired knowledge that is appended to the genetic code or information that the infant inherits from both parents. This track is essential for survival and is the primary instinct to just live on from one moment to the next. It shapes a baby from an infant in the world, a child in a family, a person in a society. If this progression can be conceived as an evolutionary trail for the progress in an orderly fashion to enhance and grow in a knowledge domain, then a secondary, simultaneous and a parallel track also evolves to shape the emotions of the baby, the feeling of the child and the passion of the person. The feeling, emotions, and passions exist during every stage, however unperceived they might be. The baby smiles and cries, and is happy just as much as a child is joyful or sad, or is excited. As much as this parallelism exists, we extend the parallel evolution of the two tracks deep and prolonged into adulthood, maturity, and old age of the human being in the society. Whereas the knowledge trail enhances the child, adult, and mature human to become educated, knowledgeable, wise, and ethical, the passion trail deeply resident in the mind, makes the person (during all stages of life) realistic, honest, loving, and passionate.
Interpreting Glottal Flow Dynamics for Detecting Covid-19 From Voice

In the pathogenesis of COVID-19, impairment of respiratory functions is often one of the key symptoms. Studies show that in these cases, voice production is also adversely affected - vocal fold oscillations are asynchronous, asymmetrical and more restricted during phonation. This paper proposes a method that analyzes the differential dynamics of the glottal flow waveform (GFW) during voice production to identify features in them that are most significant for the detection of COVID-19 from voice. Since it is hard to measure this directly in COVID-19 patients, we infer it from recorded speech signals and compare it to the GFW computed from physical model of phonation. For normal voices, the difference between the two should be minimal, since physical models are constructed to explain phonation under assumptions of normalcy. Greater differences implicate anomalies in the bio-physical factors that contribute to the correctness of the physical model, revealing their significance indirectly. Our proposed method uses a CNN-based 2-step attention model that locates anomalies in time-feature space in the difference of the two GFWs, allowing us to infer their potential as discriminative features for classification. The viability of this method is demonstrated using a clinically curated dataset of COVID-19 positive and negative subjects.
Abstract A38: Adiponectin receptor agonists cause inhibition of pancreatic cancer proliferation

Adiponectin is an anti-atherogenic hormone which is typically decreased in the setting of obesity, diabetes, and pancreatitis. Adiponectin and/or its receptor levels have been inversely correlated with risk for pancreatic cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of adiponectin on pancreatic cancer cells and to investigate the primary molecular pathways that it regulates. We have previously shown that pancreatic cancer cells primarily produce adiponectin receptor 1. In our current studies, recombinant adiponectin and a novel small molecular adiponectin agonist, AdipoRon, were used to stimulate human and murine pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro. Proliferation was assessed through an EdU incorporation assay, metabolism was measured through MTT, and apoptosis was assessed through Annexin V staining. Results demonstrate that adiponectin stimulation leads to a decrease in proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells. Further, AdipoRon elicits a more potent suppression of proliferation and an additional increase in apoptosis. To better understand the molecular mechanisms activated by adiponectin stimulation, we performed western blot analysis of treated cells. We were able to confirm that AMPK was a direct target of both adiponectin and AdipoRon. Further, we were able to show that FBS stimulated phosphorylation of Akt was diminished in the presence of AdipoRon. Our data demonstrate that adiponectin and adiponectin receptor agonists act in a suppressive manner against pancreatic cancer cell proliferation. Current studies will determine whether adiponectin agonists can additionally decrease proliferation in vivo. Citation Format: Alisha Mendonsa, Lee Gorden, Michael Nathan VanSaun. Adiponectin receptor agonists cause inhibition of pancreatic cancer proliferation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; May 18-21, 2014; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(13 Suppl):Abstract nr A38.
A Cost-Effectiveness Comparison Between Open Transforaminal and Minimally Invasive Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusions Using the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio at 2-Year Follow-up.

INTRODUCTION:Both transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) are effective surgical interventions for patients with degenerative lumbar spondylosis. We sought to compare health care costs by calculating the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and, there
Educational Use of Smart Phone Technology: A Survey of Mobile Phone Application Use by Undergraduate University Students

Purpose – This paper aims to present the results of a survey of undergraduate student use of smart phone applications. Design/methodology/approach – Undergraduate students currently enrolled in an information literacy course answered an online survey regarding their use of applications (apps) on their smart phones. Findings – However, still a small percentage of most frequently used apps (10.4 percent), search engines, online encyclopedias, and libraries are used by undergraduate students. The apps used most often are familiar to them and allow mobile access to popular web sites available on personal computers. Furthermore, a significant number (76 percent) of undergraduate students also report that they use apps to find academic information. The type of app most frequently used to find academic information is search engines. Originality/value – This research provides evidence on the actual use of mobile devices by students for library administrators and educators interested in developing integrated mobil...
The Importance of Federal Judical Selection on Presidential Vote Choice

The Supreme Court is an important player in American public policy and most people report favorable impressions of the institution. However, little is known about the extent to which evaluations of the Court or considerations of its membership might drive Presidential vote choice. In this paper, we use preliminary survey data to show that certain types of people are more likely than others to consider the impact of potential judicial nominations when making their voting choices (and a large percentage of people surveyed deem the composition of the court at least somewhat relevant to their decision), while knowledge of or confidence in the Supreme Court has little influence on the degree to which those considerations matter. Because we have little literature to guide us, we posit some theoretical foundations for these findings as well as some directions for further research.
Relative Astrometry with Imaging Transit Telescopes

A CCD/Transit Instrument (CTI) has produced relative astrometry with standard errors less than 2.6% of a 1.55 arcsecond pixel for stars with V ≤ 17. Additional astrometric studies with existing data are required to better understand the ultimate contribution these devices can make to our science.
Locus coeruleus involvement in the learning of classically conditioned bradycardia

Opioid agonists are known to inhibit the activity of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons. In this study, microinjections of the mu-opioid agonist [D-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO; 1.6 microM) bilaterally into the LC caused a significant impairment in the development of a heart-rate (HR) conditioned response (CR). The adverse effect of DAMGO on the HR CR could be reversed with naltrexone pretreatment. Microinjections of DAMGO into the periaqueductal gray, parabrachial nucleus, or fourth ventricle structures 1–2 mm away from the LC had no effects on the development of an HR CR. We conclude that central noradrenergic activity as mediated by the LC is critically involved in the learning and retention of conditioned cardiovascular responses.
Neogene normal faulting superposed on a Laramide uplift; Medicine Bow Mountains, Sierra Madre, and intervening Saratoga Valley, Wyoming and Colorado

The Medicine Bow Mountains, Sierra Madre, and intervening Saratoga Valley have been interpreted as structural features formed chiefly during the Laramide orogeny, but this concept needs revision. In this article, it is argued that Laramide regional contraction created a single Precambrian-cored range which was subsequently disrupted by Neogene normal faulting forming the present-day Saratoga Valley, Sierra Madre, and Medicine Bow Mountains. The originally broad Laramide range was bordered on the east by a thrust fault system directed toward the Laramie Basin and on the west by downwarped Paleozoic and Mesozoic strata which descend into the Washakie Basin. Erosion of the Laramide range during uplift exposed Precambrian basement rocks whose clastic debris were deposited in adjacent Paleocene basins. Following an episode of late Paleocene to early Eocene erosion, airborne pyroclastic ash from remote sources progressively filled the broad Laramide basins during the middle Eocene, Oligocene, and early Miocene. Ensuing Neogene epeirogenic uplift was accompanied by Miocene deposition, as the west flank of the Medicine Bow Mountains subsided along a normal fault thus creating the northeast-facing front of the Sierra Madre and associated half graben of Saratoga Valley. During this extensional event the North Platte River established its northward course from the floor of North Park Basin in Colorado through Saratoga Valley. The valley is interpreted as a northern manifestation of the Rio Grande rift which disrupted a broad Neogene uplift extending from New Mexico into southern Wyoming.
Computing Efficiency in Education

If computing is to remain the discipline that carries us into the future, computing education must promote energy efficiency.