cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preliminary observation with dronabinol in patients with intractable pruritus secondary to cholestatic liver disease

Pruritus due to cholestatic liver disease can be particularly difficult to manage and frequently is intractable to a variety of medical therapies. The aim of our study is to evaluate the efficacy of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) for intractable cholestatic related pruritus (ICRP) that has failed conventional (and unconventional) remedies. Three patients were evaluated for plasmapheresis because of ICRP. All 3 patients had previously been extensively treated with standard therapies for ICRP including: diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, cholestyramine, rifampicin, phenobarbital, doxepin, naltrexone, UV therapy, and topical lotions. Even multiple courses of plasmapheresis were performed without any benefit for the intractable pruritus. All patients reported significant decreases in their quality of life, including lack of sleep, depression, inability to work, and suicidal ideations. All patients were started on 5 mg of delta-9-THC (Marinol) at bedtime. All 3 patients reported a decrease in pruritus, marked improvement in sleep, and eventually were able to return to work. Resolution of depression occurred in two of three. Side effects related to the drug include one patient experiencing a disturbance in coordination. Marinol dosage was decreased to 2.5 mg in this patient with resolution of symptoms. The duration of antipruritic effect is approximately 4-6 hrs in all three patients suggesting the need for more frequent dosing. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol may be an effective alternative in patients with intractable cholestatic pruritus.
Activity of ceftaroline against serotyped Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from Europe and South Africa associated with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (2007–08)

OBJECTIVES To determine the activity of ceftaroline (the active metabolite of the prodrug ceftaroline fosamil), a new cephalosporin recently approved in the USA for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, against serotyped Streptococcus pneumoniae causing community-acquired bacterial pneumonia from Europe and South Africa. METHODS During 2007-08, 74 centres submitted 857 isolates of S. pneumoniae from patients with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. These were re-identified and serotyped. MICs of ceftaroline and 12 comparators were determined by CLSI broth microdilution at a central laboratory. RESULTS Ceftaroline was very active against all 857 S. pneumoniae isolates (MIC(90) 0.12 mg/L). The MIC(50) for South African isolates was 0.06 mg/L compared with 0.004 or 0.008 mg/L for isolates from elsewhere. Antibiotic resistance was also higher in South Africa than other countries. Serotypes 3, 1, 7 and 11 were more susceptible to ceftaroline (MIC(90) = 0.008 mg/L) and the reference antibiotics than the population as a whole. Ceftaroline showed a biphasic MIC distribution (associated with cefuroxime susceptibility), the extent of which differed between isolate populations. Nevertheless, the highest ceftaroline MIC observed was only 0.5 mg/L (two isolates: one from the UK and one from South Africa). CONCLUSIONS These data from a large collection of S. pneumoniae isolates during 2007-08 from Europe and South Africa with varying serotype and antibiotic susceptibility, confirm the excellent in vitro activity of ceftaroline against S. pneumoniae causing community-acquired bacterial pneumonia in both adults and children.
Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in the elderly.

Scenario: This is a dual-lead (II and V1) monitoring strip from a 72-year-old man admitted to the emergency department for nonspecific chest pain. The patient’s initial chest pain quickly resolved with nitroglycerin, and he remains asymptomatic. In fact, the patient and his wife are ready to go home because it is getting late and they do not want to drive home in the dark. ECG PUZZLER A regular feature of the American Journal of Critical Care, the ECG Puzzler addresses ECG interpretation for clinical practice. We welcome letters to the Editors regarding this feature.
The Way Forward for Simulation & Gaming S&G

The fields of simulation and gaming are expanding into innovative and increasingly popular areas, including simulation in healthcare, recreational games for educational purposes, urban planning, military simulation and modeling, and more. This editorial serves as a farewell to a distinguished editor of Simulation & Gaming S&G and an introduction of the new editors who will maintain the highest standards for the journal and guide it to newer domains, while unveiling best-practices in underreported areas of the world.
Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning for Soft Computing

This paper describes several process oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) activities focused on soft computing (genetic algorithms, neural networks, and fuzzy systems). The paper provides background on POGIL, illustrates several activities, summarizes student feedback, and discusses lessons learned and possible future directions.
Using SAS For Data Extraction And Analysis

Data extraction and analysis are common uses of computers by accountants and auditors. This paper provides an introduction to SAS and a tutorial exercise in using SAS for data extraction and analysis purposes. It provides example programs for extracting data from a relational database and for such common accounting purposes as computing and aging receivables, computing accounting ratios, grouping, outputting, describing, and filtering data, identifying duplicate and missing observations, and identifying dollar unit samples. The exercise can be used to introduce students to SAS and to data extraction and analysis techniques.
Influence of substrate water on the ability of rodents to find buried seeds

Foraging success of three species of granivorous rodents (deer mouse, Peromyscus mani-culatus ;. Great Basin pocket mouse, Perognathus parvus ; yellow pine chipmunk, Tamias amoenus ) was determined for seeds of three palatable species (antelope bitterbrush, Purshia tridentata ; Indian ricegrass, Oryzopsis hymenoides ; lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta ) buried in dry or moistened substrates. Rodents found nearly all caches (449 of 450) when seeds were buried in moist substrate, but found only 13.3% of 450 caches buried in dry substrate. This appears to be a consequence of rodents‘ diminished ability to smell seeds in dry substrate, rather than a preference to forage where seeds are easier to detect. Great Basin pocket mice found most (83%) of the caches located in dry substrate, indicating that they may have better olfactory capabilities than do the other species. The ability of desert rodents to find buried seeds in the field may vary as soil water fluctuates. If so, rodent-seed interactions and competitive relations among granivorous rodents may change significantly between wet and dry seasons.
Poria Luteoalba and Some Related Species in North America

Poria luteoalaba (Karst.) Sacc, P. eupora Karst., and P. rixosa Karst. have been generally considered to be closely related because of similarity in basidiocarp morphology. One other closely related species, P. radula Pers. ex Fr., occurs in North America, but cultures of this species have not been obtained. Bondarzew and Singer (9) have placed P. eupora, P. rixosa, and P. radula in the genus Chaetoporus Karst. em. Bond., which is described as lacking clamp connections. In 1953, Bon? darzew (8) proposed a new genus, Chaetoporellus, which he described as similar to Chaetoporus but having clamp connections and in which he placed P. luteoalba. Christiansen (12) proposed the new combination Chaetoporus luteoalbus (Karst.) Christiansen. Domanski (16) includes these three species in the genus Chaetoporus but considers P. luteoalba to be a synonym of C. variecolor (Karst.) Parm. (basionym: Physisporus variecolor Karst., in Thuem., Mycotheca Univ., Cent. XIX, No. 1803. 1881). Our studies of these species show a very similar dimitic hyphal system in all three, with nodose-septate generative hyphae and aseptate skeletal hyphae readily discernible. Other characters shared by these three species are the thick-walled, often incrusted hymenial cystidia, and an associated white rot. Other species that have been placed in Chaetoporus [i.e., Poria ambigua Bres., P. corticola (Fr.) Cke., P. pearsonii Pilat, and P. subacida (Pk.) Sacc] do not show close relationship to the three species treated here, having in com? mon only the cystidia, but difrering markedly in spore and hyphal char? acters. Until a better understanding of the relationship of these species to other resupinate polypores is developed, we prefer to use the older generic name, Poria. The three species studied are apparently slash-rotting organisms, found only on dead timber. There are no records of any association with heart-rot in living trees. All three are cosmopolitan species in the North Temperate Zone and are widely distributed in North America. Poria luteoalba and P. rixosa are found on coniferous wood, and P. eupora, with rare exceptions, occurs on angiosperms. 827
Localization of Cl- conductance in normal and Cl- impermeability in cystic fibrosis sweat duct epithelium

We studied the Cl- permeability properties of apical and basolateral membranes of human reabsorptive sweat duct (RSD) from normal and cystic fibrosis (CF) subjects. In normal ducts, Cl- substitutio...
Phenotyping of Neurobehavioral Vulnerability to Circadian Phase During Sleep Loss

Abstract The two-process model of sleep–wake regulation posits a neurobiological drive for sleep that varies homeostatically (increasing as a saturating exponential during wakefulness and decreasing in a like manner during sleep) and a circadian process that neurobiologically modulates both the homeostatic drive for sleep and waking alertness and performance. Endogenous circadian rhythms in neurobehavioral functions, including physiological alertness and cognitive performance, have been demonstrated using laboratory protocols that reveal the interaction of the biological clock with the sleep homeostatic drive. Acute total sleep deprivation and chronic sleep restriction increase homeostatic sleep drive and degrade waking neurobehavioral functions as reflected in sleepiness, attention, cognitive speed, and memory. Notably, there is a high degree of stability in neurobehavioral responses to sleep loss, suggesting that these individual differences are trait-like and phenotypic and are not explained by subjects’ baseline functioning or a number of other potential predictors. The Psychomotor Vigilance Test is an important tool for phenotyping as it is sensitive to acute total sleep deprivation and chronic sleep restriction, is affected by the circadian and sleep homeostatic drives, shows large intersubject variability in the response to sleep loss, and tracks recovery from sleep restriction. Careful phenotyping is critical to accurately predict human performance (and individual differences) in situations in which the circadian and sleep homeostatic systems are perturbed such as acute total sleep loss, chronic sleep restriction, intermittent sleep loss, shift work, and jet lag.
Naturalism, Science, Positivism

Nietzsche is to be taken at his word when he says that he wants to ‘translate man back into nature’ (BGE230). This task, which he admits may be ‘strange and insane’ (BGE230), is nevertheless a directive to anyone devoted to gaining knowledge of human psychology. Knowledge must turn its back once and for all on the errors, falsifications, and mystifications about human psychology that most of the contributors to the philosophical tradition have routinely supplied. We must instead ‘stand before the rest of nature, with intrepid Oedipus eye and sealed Odysseus ears, deaf to the siren songs of old metaphysical bird catchers who have been piping to him all too long, “you are more, you are higher, you are of a different origin!”’(BGE230). Since we have to be of nature if we are to stand before the rest of nature, our psychology must likewise be explicated using only naturalistic resources rather than the spiritual dualist drivel that the philosophical and religious salesmen have been peddling for centuries.
Theoretical physics implications of the binary black-hole mergers GW150914 and GW151226

The recent gravitational wave observations GW150914 and GW151226 reported by the LIGO and Virgo collaborations confirmed a key prediction of general relativity (GR). In this recent Physical Review D paper, the authors ask whether these events are also compatible with a variety of modifications of GR and alternative theories of gravity. In this wide-ranging and thorough study, the authors find that the recent observations put severe constraints on these non-standard theories.
Multiple Curricula for B Cell Developmental Programming.

B-1 B cells differ from conventional B-2 B cells functionally, but how these differences relate to the ontogeny of these lineages has been unclear. Two recent Immunity articles, Kristiansen et al. (2016) and Montecino-Rodriguez et al. (2016), now provide insight into the origins of B-1 and B-2 B cells, revealing a multi-layered developmental program and successive waves of B cell precursors.
Rapid thermo-optical quality assessment of laser gain media

We describe a technique for the quick and simple assessment of doped optical materials for use as laser gain media. To demonstrate this technique, referred to as Rapid Thermo-Optical Assessment (RTOA), we analyze a set of ceramic and crystalline Yb3+:YAG samples. RTOA is based on Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing and thermal lensing to evaluate the media’s thermal response, giving a relative overall quality assessment of the material. The technique is also broadly applicable to optical media considered for high power or thermal loading conditions, and useful for the refinement of fabrication methods.
The Effect of Interprofessional Student-Led Reproductive Health Education on Youths in Juvenile Detention.

Abstract Study Objective To assess the effects of an interprofessional student-led comprehensive sexual education curriculum in improving the reproductive health literacy among at-risk youths in detention. Design, Setting, and Participants We performed a prospective cohort study involving 134 incarcerated youth and an interprofessional team of 23 medical, nursing, and social work students, who participated in a comprehensive reproductive health curriculum over the course of 3 days. Interventions, and Main Outcome Measures Basic reproductive health knowledge, confidence in condom use with a new partner, and self-efficacy with regard to contraception use and sexual autonomy were assessed before and after completion of the curriculum. We also assessed the student teachers' level of comfort with teaching reproductive health to adolescents and their perception of interprofessionalism. Results Incarcerated youth showed a statistically significant increase in knowledge regarding sexually transmitted infections as well as self-reported confidence in condom use (P = .002). Self-efficacy in contraception use and sexual autonomy did not show significant improvement. Qualitative analysis of student teachers' surveys revealed theme categories regarding perception of youth, perception of self in teaching youth, perception of interacting with youth, and perception of working in interprofessional teams. Conclusions Our program might represent a mutually beneficial community relationship to improve reproductive health literacy in this high-risk youth population.
Sampling theory and implementation of transform sensing in space

Transform sensing was recently proposed to operate radars with an array of antennas for high efficiency and resolution sensing while covering a large space. Using transform sensing, phases and amplitudes of individual elements are no longer constant as in conventional phased array radars. Instead, each element is transmitting a microwave signal with amplitude and phase specially designed based on a particular sensing pattern. By the Shannon's sampling theory, for any band-limited signal f(ϕ), if it is sampled at the Nyquist rate, the signal can be reconstructed from its discrete samples f(k). It follows that a band-limited signal can be interpreted by sinc functions of different weights. Or a set of sinc functions with different weights and width can be used to form a spatial waveform. With an increased number of antenna elements in the radar, multiple sinc functions can be produced by the radar. Multiple sinc functions can then collectively generate a desired sensing pattern in the space. Since discrete wavelets are band-limited signals, wavelet-based transform sensing can be achieved for any resolution by increasing the elements in the array. Two methods, sequential and concurrent, for forming multiple sinc functions are presented, and experimental results with a real phased-array radar are presented to verify the new transform sensing approach.
Available Technology for discovering causal models, building Bayes nets, and selecting predictors: the TETRAD II program

This paper describes the facilities available for knowledge discovery in databases using the TETRAD II program. While a year or two shy of state of the most advanced research o n discovery, we believe this program provides the most flexible and reliable suite of procedures so far available commercially for discovering causal structure, semi-automatically constructing Bayes networks, estimating parameters in such networks, and updating. The program can also be used to rediuce the number of variables needed for classification or prediction, for example as a neural net pre-proceesor. The theoretical principles on which the program is based are described in detail in Spirtes, Glymour and Scheines (1993). Under assumptions described there, each of the search and discovery procedures we will describe have been proved to give correct information when statistical decisions are made correctly.
Data-Driven Self-consistent Clustering Analysis of Heterogeneous Materials with Crystal Plasticity

To analyze complex, heterogeneous materials, a fast and accurate method is needed. This means going beyond the classical finite element method, in a search for the ability to compute, with modest computational resources, solutions previously infeasible even with large cluster computers. In particular, this advance is motivated by composites design. Here, we apply similar principle to another complex, heterogeneous system: additively manufactured metals.
Wilson disease and related copper disorders.

Abstract Copper is a required cofactor for enzymes in critical metabolic pathways. Mutations in copper metabolism genes or abnormalities in copper metabolism result in disease from copper excess or deficiency. Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal-recessive disease caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene which encodes a copper-transporting ATPase. Over 500 different WD mutations throughout the ATP7B gene have been described, most of which are missense mutations. Mutations in both ATP7B alleles result in abnormal copper metabolism and subsequent toxic accumulation of copper. The clinical manifestations of neurologic WD include variable combinations of dysarthria, dystonia, tremor, and choreoathetosis. Misdiagnosis and delay in treatment are clinically relevant because untreated WD progresses to hepatic failure or severe neurologic disability and death. Treatment can prevent and cure WD. Mutations in a second, closely related copper-transporting ATPase, ATP7A, cause a spectrum of copper deficiency disorders that include Menkes disease, occipital horn syndrome, and ATP7A-related distal motor neuropathy. Two important, nongenetic causes of copper deficiency myeloneuropathy are copper deficiency following gastric bypass or due to excess zinc ingestion, both of which can cause a myeloneuropathy similar to vitamin B12 deficiency. Copper deficiency following gastric bypass is preventable, and identification and elimination of the excess zinc source, most commonly dental cream, can result in recovery.
Safety of Pseudomonas chlororaphis as a gene source for genetically modified crops

Genetically modified crops undergo extensive evaluation to characterize their food, feed and environmental safety prior to commercial introduction, using a well-established, science-based assessment framework. One component of the safety assessment includes an evaluation of each introduced trait, including its source organism, for potential adverse pathogenic, toxic and allergenic effects. Several Pseudomonas species have a history of safe use in agriculture and certain species represent a source of genes with insecticidal properties. The ipd072Aa gene from P. chlororaphis encodes the IPD072Aa protein, which confers protection against certain coleopteran pests when expressed in maize plants. P. chlororaphis is ubiquitous in the environment, lacks known toxic or allergenic properties, and has a history of safe use in agriculture and in food and feed crops. This information supports, in part, the safety assessment of potential traits, such as IPD072Aa, that are derived from this source organism.
Electron nematic fluid in a strained S r 3 R u 2 O 7 film

$\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{3}\mathrm{R}{\mathrm{u}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ belongs to the family of layered strontium ruthenates and exhibits a range of unusual emergent properties, such as electron nematic behavior and metamagnetism. Here, we show that epitaxial film strain significantly modifies these phenomena. In particular, we observe enhanced magnetic interactions and an electron nematic phase that extends to much higher temperatures and over a larger magnetic-field range than in bulk single crystals. Furthermore, the films show an unusual anisotropic non-Fermi-liquid behavior that is controlled by the direction of the applied magnetic field. At high magnetic fields, the metamagnetic transition to a ferromagnetic phase recovers isotropic Fermi-liquid behavior. The results support the interpretation that these phenomena are linked to the special features of the Fermi surface, which can be tuned by both film strain and an applied magnetic field.
IoT Security: ZWave and Thread

This paper reviews the security aspects of two Internet-of-Things (IoT) protocols, Z-Wave and Thread. Z-Wave is one of the oldest and most commercially successful IoT protocol, while Thread is one of the most recent protocols. As millions of IoT systems are installed for home and industrial automation, the security of these IoT systems is a concern. There is a potential for these IoT systems to be misused. This paper looks at security challenges for an IoT system. The security features of the IoT systems are spread across many parts of the IoT protocols. Paper discusses different attacks types on the IoT systems and the manners in which the protocols handle them. One of the most venerable times for an IoT system is when a new device is added to the IoT system. To avoid an intruder from getting access, the new device must be authenticated. Authentication of new network devices is discussed for both the protocols. IoT protocols are complex and the security aspects are also very complex, this paper should serve as a starting point to further study these and other IoT protocols.
CHAOTIC BEHAVIOR IN DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses chaotic behavior in dynamical systems. Many researchers have investigated dynamical systems that, for certain parameter values, exhibit chaotic behavior; that is, for such parameter values, these systems possess an infinite number of different periodic orbits of arbitrarily long period as well as an uncountable number of initial points for which the trajectories, although bounded, do not settle into any cycle. These studies were originally motivated by the brilliant paper by E. Lorenz, who considered a forced dissipative system. Ruelle and Takens have proposed that the chaotic behavior exhibited by the Lorenz system is a mathematical analog of turbulence in the flow of fluids. In studying the system, Lorenz attempted to reduce the dimensionality of the system by determining some single scalar feature of a trajectory that would characterize its behavior. The chapter discusses studies that suggest that the phenomenon of chaos is associated with a single feature, namely, the homoclinic orbit. It also describes a possible mechanism for interpreting this phenomenon.
Audacious Psyche: Visualizing Evolution in John Pringle Nichol's Romantic Universe.

Abstract John Pringle Nichol (1804–1859), a Scottish Romantic astronomer, educator, and social reformer, used visual representations to develop and communicate key elements of his theory of evolution as a universal principle. Examining four of the diverse representations that appeared in Nichol’s popular science books between 1846 and 1850 reveals the rich possibilities of evolutionary imagery prior to the emergence of more dominant forms of representation in the wake of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species (1859). The abstract and schematic nature of many of Nichol’s visual representations—which included line diagrams and imaginative, mythic imagery (the latter developed in collaboration with the Scottish Romantic artist David Scott)—made them apt vessels for his Romantic evolutionary concepts, because a single image could simultaneously represent features of evolution across multiple domains, reflecting the Romantic concept of the unity of nature and the myriad analogies between its constituent parts. All of the images embodied narrative in one form or another and required use of the imagination in the act of interpretation. Many of the images facilitated the viewer’s ability to conceptualize unobservable or only partially observable features of evolutionary change. Even as these visual representations acted as tools of perspective, insight, and clarity, they also helped to generate new ambiguities, such as a fundamental tension between teleology and contingency.
Mapping Genes Is Good for You.

I abandoned my original career choice of high school teaching to pursue dentistry and soon abandoned that path for genetics. The latter decision was due to a challenge by a professor that led to me...
Proteins of the Kernel

Abstract Corn kernel proteins, particularly zeins, influence the nutritional quality of the grain and have a variety of nonfood uses. Traditionally, these proteins were classified based on extraction with increasingly denaturing solvents from mature or dry kernels. This led to a complex nomenclature of limited biological relevance. While past methods of protein identification and characterization relied on purification and NH-terminal sequencing, current approaches can utilize complex mixtures of proteins and DNA sequence information. The protein composition of the kernel is largely determined by six functionally distinct cell types in the endosperm and those in the embryo scutellum. Storage proteins account for the majority of these proteins, with zeins contributing about 60% of the total. Research has characterized the complexity of zeins, the mechanism of their storage in protein bodies, and regulation of the genes encoding them. This knowledge made it possible to understand many of the mutations affecting zein synthesis and how zein proteins influence kernel texture. It also provides novel approaches to increase the lysine content of the grain for improved versions of Quality Protein Maize.
The Extension of Statutes of Limitations for the Restitution of Nazi-Looted Art

The justifications for application of statute of limitations has come under scrutiny with recent cases involving Nazi-looted art. The 2012 discovery (and 2013 announcement) of a major art haul has major ramifications for the art community, German museums and the original owners of the looted art and heirs of Nazi victims and survivors. For over half a century, Cornelius Gurlitt concealed a treasure trove of art, approximately 1400 works work believed to be worth more than $US 1.35 billion. Caught up in this saga are individuals seeking to reclaimed looted art. These people face challenges, including strict deadlines established by statutes of limitations.
Chapter 2 – The Conservative Evolution of the Vertebrate Basal Ganglia

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the traits of the mammalian basal ganglia (BG) that are pertinent to its identification in nonmammals. It reviews the modern findings on the organization of the basal ganglia in each extant vertebrate group and discusses the implications for BG evolution. The chapter reviews that BG evolution in vertebrates reveals that both the striatum and pallidum are ancient structures, both likely present in the jawed fish ancestral to modern jawed vertebrates. Thus, the notion that the pallidum evolved first and is older than the striatum is incorrect. The reason that the terms paleostriatum and neostriatum perpetuate outdated ideas about basal ganglia evolution, their abandonment is recommended. The actual evolutionary history of the basal ganglia seems characterized by an increase in neuron number as the telencephalon expanded during the anamniote-amniote transition, with the elaboration of prominent cortical glutamatergic inputs and midbrain dopaminergic inputs, and an increased role for telencephalic circuitry in motor control occurring in stem amniotes. In mammals, especially the primate lineage, this trend has been accelerated. Nonetheless, the basic direct-indirect pathway circuit plan by which the basal ganglia regulate movement may have already been in place in early anamniotes.
Identifying distinct trajectories of change in young breast cancer survivors' sexual functioning

OBJECTIVES To identify and characterize distinct trajectories of change in young women's sexual functioning over the first 5 years following breast cancer diagnosis. METHODS Group-based trajectory modeling was applied to the sexual functioning of 896 women diagnosed with stage I-IV breast cancer at age 40 or younger. The Cancer Rehabilitation Evaluation System was used to evaluate women's symptoms of sexual dysfunction annually for 5 years. RESULTS Five distinct trajectories of sexual functioning were identified: one asymptomatic, one minimally symptomatic, two moderately symptomatic, and one severely symptomatic trajectory. Twelve percent of women were asymptomatic throughout follow-up. The plurality of women experienced stable mild symptoms (42%). Among those with moderate symptoms, some experienced improvement over time (22%) while others experienced deterioration (13%); 11% experienced stable severe symptoms that did not remit over time. Independent predictors of experiencing a symptomatic rather than asymptomatic trajectory (P < 0.05, two-sided) included diagnosis with stage 2 versus 1 disease, ER positive disease treated with oophorectomy or ovarian suppression, being partnered, having anxiety, poorer body image, and greater musculoskeletal pain. CONCLUSIONS We identified distinct trajectories that describe the reported sexual symptoms in this cohort of young breast cancer survivors. The majority of women reported various degrees of sexual dysfunction that remained stable over the study period. There is, however, potential for improvement of moderate and severe symptoms of sexual dysfunction in early survivorship.
Counterfactual curiosity in preschool children.

Abstract We investigated whether young children are curious about what could have been (“counterfactual curiosity”). In two experiments, children aged 4 and 5 years (N = 32 in Experiment 1, N = 24 in Experiment 2) played a matching game in which they turned over cards in the hope that they matched a picture. After choosing a card, children could use “x-ray glasses” to uncover unchosen cards. In Experiment 1, most children spontaneously used the glasses to peek at past alternatives, even when the outcome could no longer be altered. In Experiment 2, children concentrated their information search on alternatives that were within their control. In both experiments, children showed greater interest in counterfactual outcomes when the card they chose turned out not to match the picture. The findings suggest that young children are curious not only about what is but also about what could have been. Curiosity about alternative outcomes seems to precede counterfactual reasoning.
Radiotherapy Both Promotes and Inhibits Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Function: Novel Strategies for Preventing the Tumor-Protective Effects of Radiotherapy

Cancer immunotherapies aimed at neutralizing the programmed death-1 (PD-1) immune suppressive pathway have yielded significant therapeutic efficacy in a subset of cancer patients. However, only a subset of patients responds to antibody therapy with either anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 antibodies. These patients appear to have so-called "hot" tumors containing tumor-reactive T cells. Therefore, checkpoint blockade therapy may be effective in a larger percentage of cancer patients if combined with therapeutics that also activate tumor-reactive T cells. Radiotherapy (RT) is a prime candidate for combination therapy because it facilitates activation of both local antitumor immunity and antitumor immunity at non-radiated, distant sites (abscopal response). However, RT also promotes tumor cell expression of PD-L1 and facilitates the development of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), a population of immune suppressive cells that also suppress through PD-L1. This article will review how RT induces MDSC, and then describe two novel therapeutics that are designed to simultaneously activate tumor-reactive T cells and neutralize PD-1-mediated immune suppression. One therapeutic, a CD3xPD-L1 bispecific T cell engager (BiTE), activates and targets cytotoxic T and NKT cells to kill PD-L1+ tumor cells, despite the presence of MDSC. The BiTE significantly extends the survival time of humanized NSG mice reconstituted with human PBMC and carrying established metastatic human melanoma tumors. The second therapeutic is a soluble form of the costimulatory molecule CD80 (sCD80). In addition to costimulating through CD28, sCD80 inhibits PD-1 suppression by binding to PD-L1 and sterically blocking PD-L1/PD-1 signaling. sCD80 increases tumor-infiltrating T cells and significantly extends survival time of mice carrying established, syngeneic tumors. sCD80 does not suppress T cell function via CTLA-4. These studies suggest that the CD3xPD-L1 BiTE and sCD80 may be efficacious therapeutics either as monotherapies or in combination with other therapies such as radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer.
Duhm, Mowinckel, and a Disempowered King: Protestant Liberal Theological Analysis in Jeremiah's Construction of Jehoiachin:

Late 19th–early 20th-century German biblical scholarship, because of its connections with Protestant liberal theology and the search for myth in modern Germany, lost the category of disempowered ki...
Young driver crash rates by licensing age, driving experience, and license phase

BACKGROUND: Few studies have concurrently assessed the influence of age and experience on young driver crashes, in particular in the post-Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) era. Further, little attention is given to the transition from intermediate to full licensure. We examined the independent and joint contributions of licensing age, driving experience, and GDL license phase on crash rates among the population of young New Jersey (NJ) drivers. METHODS: From a unique linked database containing licensing and crash data, we selected all drivers who obtained their NJ intermediate license at 17-20 years old from 2006-2009 (n=410,230). We determined the exact age at which each driver obtained an intermediate and full license and created distinct, fixed cohorts of drivers based on their age at intermediate licensure. For each cohort, we calculated and graphed observed monthly crash rates over the first 24 months of licensure. Further, we examined crash rates by age at licensure, driving experience (i.e., time since licensure), and license phase. RESULTS: First-month crash rates were higher among the youngest drivers (licensed at 17y0m). Drivers who were licensed later experienced a reduced "steepness" in the slope of their crash rates in the critical initial months of driving, but there did not appear to be any incremental benefit of later licensure once drivers had six months of driving experience. Further, at each age, those with more driving experience had lower crash rates; however, the benefit of increased experience was greatest for the substantial proportion of teens licensed immediately after becoming eligible (at 17y0m). Finally, independent of age and experience, teen drivers' crash risk increased substantially at the point of transition to a full license, while drivers of a similar age who remained in the intermediate phase continued to experience a decline in crash rates. CONCLUSION: Age and driving experience interact to influence crash rates. Further, independent of these two factors, there is an abrupt increase in crash risk at the point of transition from intermediate to full licensure. Future studies should investigate whether this increase is accounted for by a change in driving exposure, driving behaviors, and/or other factors. Language: en
Single- and cross-commodity delay discounting of money and e-cigarette liquid in experienced e-cigarette users.

Abstract Background Delay discounting (DD) research has improved our understanding of important behavioral processes associated with tobacco use. Little research has explored DD among e-cigarette users, and these studies have exclusively examined money as the only available commodity. This secondary analysis of a laboratory study explored discounting for money and e-liquid among e-cigarette users using two single-commodity discounting (SCD) tasks and one cross-commodity discounting (CCD) task. A secondary goal was to explore the extent to which results from the SCD and CCD tasks were correlated to each other and with measures of e-cigarette use. Methods E-cigarette users (N = 27) completed two SCD tasks and one CCD task. The SCD tasks assessed choices between various amounts of either money now versus money later (M-M) or e-liquid now versus e-liquid later (mL-mL). The CCD task assessed choices between e-liquid now versus money later (mL-M). Discounting results were compared using logk and AUClog. Results Discounting was greatest in the mL-mL task, followed by the M-M task, and then the mL-M task. AUClog and logk were significantly correlated across all discounting tasks. Attempts to quit vaping was positively associated with logk and negatively associated with AUClog and in both SCD tasks. Conclusions E-cigarette users discount e-liquid more than money in a SCD task. However, when the two commodities, money and e-liquid (CCD), are compared the substance of abuse is discounted to a lesser extent. Interventions that provide alternative reinforcers to compete with the reinforcing effects of nicotine intake may be especially indicated for treating e-cigarette dependence.
Next-generation polymerized human hemoglobins in hepatic bioreactor simulations.

Hepatic hollow fiber (HF) bioreactors can be used to provide temporary support to patients experiencing liver failure. Before being connected to the patient's circulation, cells in the bioreactor must be exposed to a range of physiological O2 concentrations as observed in the liver sinusoid to ensure proper performance. This zonation in cellular oxygenation promotes differences in hepatocyte phenotype and may better approximate the performance of a real liver within the bioreactor. Polymerized human hemoglobin (PolyhHb) locked in the tense quaternary state (T-state) has the potential to both supply and regulate O2 transport to cultured hepatocytes in the bioreactor due to its low O2 affinity. In this study, T-state PolyhHb production and purification processes were optimized to minimize the concentration of low-molecular-weight PolyhHb species in solution. Deconvolution of size-exclusion chromatography spectra was performed to calculate the distribution of polymeric Hb species in the final product. Fluid flow and mass transport within a single fiber of a hepatic HF bioreactor was computationally modeled with finite element methods to simulate the effects of employing T-state PolyhHb to facilitate O2 transport in a hepatic bioreactor system. Optimal bioreactor performance was defined as having a combined hypoxic and hyperoxic volume fraction in the extracapillary space of less than 0.05 where multiple zones were observed. The Damkohler number and Sherwood number had strong inverse relationships at each cell density and fiber thickness combination. These results suggest that targeting a specific Damkohler number may be beneficial for optimal hepatic HF bioreactor operation.
Fast Continuous Non-Seeded Cooling Crystallization of Glycine in Slug Flow: Pure α-Form Crystals with Narrow Size Distribution

Glycine has been widely used as pharmaceutical excipients and synthesis reagents, and commercial glycine has a significant amount of aggregation and wide particle size distribution. A simple but reproducible process for generating uniform glycine crystals is always desired for both product quality and process efficiency purposes. Continuous cooling crystallization of glycine has been carried out in air-liquid slug flow in millimeter ID tubing, starting from solution without using seeds. Slugs were formed by combining air and liquid streams, then went through the crash cooling zone of varying lengths (tubing length in contact with ice bags). The operational boundaries of crash cooling times were evaluated: natural cooling (lower bound, no crash cooling), maximum cooling time for pure α-form without aggregation (upper bound), and beyond upper bound. Non-aggregating pure α-form glycine crystals were continuously generated within ~ 10 min, feasible from multiple conditions (combinations of crashing cooling time and starting concentration). When crash cooling time further increases (while maintaining the starting concentration), crystal aggregations and/or γ-form crystals could appear. Reducing starting concentration can allow longer crash cooling time without widening product crystal size distribution or reducing crystalline form purity. At proper conditions, even natural cooling in slugs can nucleate and grow non-aggregated pure α-form crystals. All cooling conditions carried out in slug flow generally minimize needle-shaped crystals compared with corresponding batches. Glycine crystals of α-form and narrow size distribution can be continuously generated within 10 min from cooling crystallization in millimeter-sized slug flow, without using external seeds nor adding solvent/additives. And, the operational boundaries of crash cooling time (at proper starting concentrations) for pure α-form non-aggregating product crystals are identified.
Root-mycorrhizae interactions contributed to organic carbon density in the sandy soil profiles of adapted grazing lands

Abstract Grazing lands occupy a substantial area around the world and could serve as carbon sink if soil organic carbon sequestration potential is increased. In subtropical climates, grazing lands are more commonly situated on low productive sandy soil profiles with poor soil attributes for carbon sequestration. Soil acidity limits root and beneficial microbial interactions, both critical for increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. Adapted grazing and forage (vegetation) management could help to improve root-microbe interactions and SOC stocks in the soil profile. The objective of this study was to quantify SOC density in the soil profile along with aboveground and belowground biomass pools, as influenced by long-term cattle grazing of different forage systems managed with or without inorganic nitrogen (iN) fertilization. The following treatments were implemented continuously for the last 30 years. Warm season perennial grass (C4, Cynodon dactylon) pastures were either over-sown with C3 ryegrass (Lolium multiforum; C4-C3G) or clover (Trifolium sp.; C4-C3L), in order to extend the grazing season into cool season months. Grass-based pastures (C4-C3G) were fertilized, called inorganic treatment (iN), while clover systems (C4-C3L called organic N) did not receive iN fertilization (oN). The two forage systems were further split to compare high and low grazing pressure (HG and LG). Forage, root and microbial biomass and SOC density were estimated from soil cores sampled separately during C4 and C3 grazing seasons. Results indicated that SOC density (Mg ha−1) at soil profile level (0–60 cm) was higher under low grazing pressure compared to high, and in iN fertilized compared to oN treatments. However, subsoil (20–60 cm) SOC stocks were significantly higher under oN compared to iN treatments. Forage biomass and root biomass were higher under iN and HG treatments, but arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) biomass was decreased. There were no consistent trends for other microbial biomass pools in response to GP or N treatments. It can be concluded that higher SOC density in the surface and subsoil in response to GP and N management were largely due to differences in microbial biomass, but not plant biomass productivity. Among the belowground biomass pools, AM was most responsive to experimental factors and their interaction effects, and thus could be a reliable metric to optimize grazing and achieve stewardship goals.
Meeting of the Minds: How Presidents and Generals Stake out Their Territory

Like many a new president before him, President Trump is opening his administration with bold — and sometimes contradictory — actions that have many wondering what to make of his relationships with his most senior admirals and generals. The cost of such uncertainty, as Shakespeare might suggest, could be unbearably high.
Neurobehavioral Characteristics of FDG-PET Defined Right-Dominant Semantic Dementia: A Longitudinal Study.

Introduction: Semantic dementia (SD) is characterized by fluent speech, anomia, and loss of word and object knowledge with varying degrees of right and left anterior-medial temporal lobe hypometabolism on [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET. We assessed neurobehavioral features in SD patients across 3 FDG-PET-defined metabolic patterns and investigated progression over time. Methods: Thirty-four patients with SD who completed FDG-PET were classified into a left- and right-dominant group based on the degree of hypometabolism in each temporal lobe. The left-dominant group was further subdivided depending on whether hypometabolism in the right temporal lobe was more or less than 2 standard deviations from controls (left+ group). Neurobehavioral characteristics determined using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) were compared across groups. Progression of NPI-Q scores and FDG-PET hypometabolism was assessed in 14 patients with longitudinal follow-up. Results: The right-dominant group performed worse on the NPI-Q and had a greater frequency of abnormal behaviors and more severe disinhibition compared to the left-dominant group. Performance on the NPI-Q and severity of disinhibition correlated with right medial and lateral, but not left, temporal lobe hypometabolism. Severity of abnormal behaviors worsened over time in most left-dominant and left+ patients but appeared to improve in the 2 right-dominant patients with longitudinal follow-up. All groups showed progressive worsening of metabolism in both temporal lobes over time, with hypometabolism spreading from anteromedial to posterior temporal regions. However, the degree of temporal lobe asymmetry remained relatively constant over time. Conclusion: In SD, neurobehavioral features, especially disinhibition, are associated with right medial and lateral temporal lobe hypometabolism and commonly develop over time even in patients that present with left-dominant patterns of hypometabolism.