cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bombyx mori and Aedes aegypti form multi-functional immune complexes that integrate pattern recognition, melanization, coagulants, and hemocyte recruitment

The innate immune system of insects responds to wounding and pathogens by mobilizing multiple pathways that provide both systemic and localized protection. Key localized responses in hemolymph include melanization, coagulation, and hemocyte encapsulation, which synergistically seal wounds and envelop and destroy pathogens. To be effective, these pathways require a targeted deposition of their components to provide protection without compromising the host. Extensive research has identified a large number of the effectors that comprise these responses, but questions remain regarding their post-translational processing, function, and targeting. Here, we used mass spectrometry to demonstrate the integration of pathogen recognition proteins, coagulants, and melanization components into stable, high-mass, multi-functional Immune Complexes (ICs) in Bombyx mori and Aedes aegypti. Essential proteins common to both include phenoloxidases, apolipophorins, serine protease homologs, and a serine protease that promotes hemocyte recruitment through cytokine activation. Pattern recognition proteins included C-type Lectins in B. mori, while A. aegypti contained a protein homologous to Plasmodium-resistant LRIM1 from Anopheles gambiae. We also found that the B. mori IC is stabilized by extensive transglutaminase-catalyzed cross-linking of multiple components. The melanization inhibitor Egf1.0, from the parasitoid wasp Microplitis demolitor, blocked inclusion of specific components into the IC and also inhibited transglutaminase activity. Our results show how coagulants, melanization components, and hemocytes can be recruited to a wound surface or pathogen, provide insight into the mechanism by which a parasitoid evades this immune response, and suggest that insects as diverse as Lepidoptera and Diptera utilize similar defensive mechanisms.
Olig1 is required for noggin-induced neonatal myelin repair.

Objective Neonatal white matter injury (NWMI) is a lesion found in preterm infants that can lead to cerebral palsy. Although antagonists of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling, such as Noggin, promote oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) production after hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury, the downstream functional targets are poorly understood. The basic helix-loop-helix protein, oligodendrocyte transcription factor 1 (Olig1), promotes oligodendrocyte (OL) development and is essential during remyelination in adult mice. Here, we investigated whether Olig1 function is required downstream of BMP antagonism for response to injury in the neonatal brain. Methods We used wild-type and Olig1-null mice subjected to neonatal stroke and postnatal neural progenitor cultures, and we analyzed Olig1 expression in human postmortem samples from neonates that suffered HI encephalopathy (HIE). Results Olig1-null neonatal mice showed significant hypomyelination after moderate neonatal stroke. Surprisingly, damaged white matter tracts in Olig1-null mice lacked Olig2+ OPCs, and instead proliferating neuronal precursors and GABAergic interneurons were present. We demonstrate that Noggin-induced OPC production requires Olig1 function. In postnatal neural progenitors, Noggin governs production of OLs versus interneurons through Olig1-mediated repression of Dlx1/2 transcription factors. Additionally, we observed that Olig1 and the BMP signaling effector, phosphorylated SMADs (Sma- and Mad-related proteins) 1, 5, and 8, were elevated in the subventricular zone of human infants with HIE compared to controls. Interpretation These findings indicate that Olig1 has a critical function in regulation of postnatal neural progenitor cell production in response to Noggin. Ann Neurol 2017;81:560–571
The Times, They Are Changing

In 2015, Rutgers became only the second accredited law school in the United States to select the open-source integrated library system, Koha. The merger of two unique catalogs at Rutgers Law School has presented unique challenges with respect to migration mapping, data recall for large records, and relevancy ranking, all of which affect search results and usability of the Online Public Access Catalog. System migrations always result in some data being lost or incorrectly transferred. The hope is to minimize just how much data is compromised while fixing errors that might not have come to light but for the migration.
Excellent performance of highly conductive porous Na-embedded carbon nanowalls for electric double-layer capacitors with a wide operating temperature range

Porous Na-embedded carbon (Na@C), which was recently invented, possesses both very high electrical conductivity and a large accessible surface area. These unique properties can meet strict requirements for ideal electrode materials. Herein, it was revealed that symmetric electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) with Na@C electrodes exhibited an ultrahigh areal capacitance up to 1.14 F cm−2 at a large current density up to 10 A g−1. Furthermore, a critical issue that the enhancement of mass loading usually sacrifices the gravimetric capacitance was solved with Na@C electrodes, namely, when the mass loading of the Na@C electrode was increased from 4 to 8 mg cm−2, a negligible gravimetric capacitance drop (only 0.2 F g−1) occurred at 1 A g−1. The excellent performance remained almost unchanged with increasing temperature from −10 to 55 °C. In addition, the novel electrode exhibited excellent stability with almost 100% capacitance retention at 5 A g−1 after 4000 galvanostatic charge/discharge cycles. Na@C would be a very promising electrode material for commercial electric double-layer capacitors.
Glyceollins: Soybean phytoalexins that exhibit a wide range of health-promoting effects

Abstract Glyceollins are phytoalexins produced by soy plants in response to stressful stimuli such as fungal infections, UV exposure or changes in temperature. Glyceollins have demonstrated anti-oestrogenic activity both in vitro in tumour cell lines and in animal models in vivo, suppressing oestrogen-responsive tumours through action at oestrogen receptors (ERs). More recent evidence suggests that glyceollins may also possess oestrogenic properties or may exhibit their effects through non ER-mediated mechanisms. In addition to antitumour effects, glyceollins possess antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, along with effects on glucose and lipid metabolism. This review also focuses on intestinal absorption, osteoinductive properties, and potential central nervous system effects of glyceollins. Further research is warranted to determine effective treatment doses, safety and possible side effects of long-term exposure to glyceollins in non-target tissues to realize the potential application of these compounds as dietary supplements or therapeutic agents.
Single crystal growth of 67%BiFeO3-33%BaTiO3 solution by the floating zone method

Abstract The growth conditions and the resultant grain morphologies and phase purities from floating-zone growth of 67%BiFeO 3 -33%BaTiO 3 (BF-33BT) single crystals are reported. We find two formidable challenges for the growth. First, a low-melting point constituent leads to a pre-melt zone in the feed-rod that adversely affects growth stability. Second, constitutional super-cooling (CSC), which was found to lead to dendritic and columnar features in the grain morphology, necessitates slow traveling rates during growth. Both challenges were addressed by modifications to the floating-zone furnace that steepened the temperature gradient at the melt-solid interfaces. Slow growth was also required to counter the effects of CSC. Single crystals with typical dimensions of hundreds of microns have been obtained which possess high quality and are suitable for detailed structural studies.
Synthesis and Applications of Perfunctionalized Boron Clusters

This Viewpoint describes major advances pertaining to perfunctionalized boron clusters in synthesis and their respective applications. The first portion of this work highlights key synthetic methods, allowing one to access a wide range of polyhedral boranes (B4 and B6–B12 cluster cores) that contain exhaustively functionalized vertices. The second portion of this Viewpoint showcases the historical developments in using these molecules for applications ranging from materials science to medicine. Last, we suggest potential new directions for these clusters as they apply to both synthetic methods and applications.
Improving Expanded Access in the United States: The Role of the Institutional Review Board

Background:The FDA allows patients with a serious or immediately life-threatening illness to use investigational medical products outside of clinical trials through its “expanded access” program. I...
Using Comprehension Questions and Reader-Response Strategies with Second-Semester University Spanish Students

Durant la major part del segle XX, la critica literaria s’ha centrat en el descobriment del significat d'un text literari segons l'autor. No obstant aixo, academics en el camp de la teoria de la recepcio han explorat tambe la funcio del lector en la interpretacio literaria. Aquest article descriu una investigacio exploratoria que intenta esbrinar les perspectives d'estudiants universitaris nord-americans que llegien novel·les infantils en espanyol a classe de nivell elemental. Els estudiants van participar en activitats per a facilitar la seva comprensio i desenvolupar les seves propies interpretacions dels llibres. Els resultats de l'estudi demostren que aquestes activitats poden contribuir o impedir la seva comprensio i interpretacio de textos literaris a causa de diversos factors contextuals.
International Peacebuilding: Origins, Development and Strategies

Beevers traces the evolution of peacebuilding since the late 1990s. The chapter reviews the early years of peacebuilding that were narrowly conceived and marked by failures, and the second generation of peacebuilding characterized by broadened objectives and a growing number of international actors involved in operations. It highlights the underlying logics of peacebuilding that include democratization, market-oriented economic reforms and statebuilding. Beevers explains that to understand natural resource governance in the aftermath of conflict, it is important to understand the peacebuilding milieu within which it is set and how it is shaped by the overarching peacebuilding agenda.
Alopecia and Thyroid Disease

Hair has an intimate relationship with thyroid hormone. Although the precise physiologic effects remain to be determined, it is clear that fluctuations in the level of thyroid hormone may result in alopecia. These findings may be noted throughout life, appearing in congenital hypothyroidism in the neonate and apathetic hyperthyroidism in the elderly. The spectrum of hair disorders associated with thyroid disease includes cycling defects seen with either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, cycling problems related to drugs that affect the thyroid gland, syndromal disorders, inflammatory conditions such as lichen planopilaris or lupus that could lead to scarring alopecia, or associations with other autoimmune disorders such as alopecia areata. I follow the credo that if there is hair loss, an evaluation for thyroid disease, either as a cause or as an association, should routinely be part of any workup. As more is learned about the genuine function of thyroid hormone on hair, perhaps we will bear witness to a future in which thyroid hormone may be used therapeutically as an adjunctive agent for alopecic disorders.
Induction of G1-phase arrest and apoptosis by erlotinib, a specific and clinically active EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in human H322 non-small cell lung cancer cells

4654 Erlotinib (TarcevaTM, OSI-774), a specific small-molecule EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has shown antitumor activity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) relapsing after chemotherapy. This activity was not correlated with the level of EGFR expression as assessed by immunohistochemistry. From a panel of 9 human NSCLC cell lines, H322 cells showed the highest in vitro sensitivity to erlotinib. H322 cells also display high EGFR expression and are p53 mutant. We selected H322 cells as a model of EGFR inhibitor-sensitive cells to investigate the mechanisms of erlotinib-induced cytotoxicity. Flow cytometric analysis showed that treatment with erlotinib at 1 μM caused an accumulation of H322 cells at G1 phase and a decrease in number of cells at S and G2-M phase in a time-dependent fashion. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the G1 phase arrest caused by erlotinib was accompanied by a reduction in intracellular levels of cyclin A and E, but no change in the levels of cyclin D1 and D2. In addition, erlotinib treatment induced the expression of p27KIP1 and p21WAF1/CIP1, but did not affect p16INK4a expression. Using γ-32P-ATP incorporation into histone H1 in the presence of cyclin-E/cdk2 and cyclin-D/cdk-4 kinase, Erlotinib markedly inhibited cyclin-E/cdk-2 kinase activity, but only slightly affected cyclin-D/cdk-4 kinase activity. As expected, erlotinib treatment resulted in the inhibition of phosphorylation of Rb protein, and the extent of Rb hypophosphorylation was correlated with drug-induced G1 phase arrest. erlotinib-induced G1 phase arrest started at 16 h, reaching the maximum after 24-36 h of drug exposure. In contract, erlotinib-induced apoptosis was first observed at 36 h and increased with time thereafter. Interestingly, erlotinib treatment caused a dose- and time-dependent downregulation of bcl-2 protein, up-regulation of bax protein, and activation of caspase-3. These data indicate that, in the context of a panel of NSCLC cell lines, sensitivity to the EGFR inhibitor erlotinib is mediated by blockade of cell-cycle progression at G1 phase through disruption of the regulatory mechanism of G1 to S phase transition, followed by triggering of the apoptotic cascade. Supported by NIH grant CA50270 and OSIP Pharmaceuticals.
Remediation of acid mine drainage-impacted water by vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides): A multiscale long-term study

Abstract Acid mine drainage (AMD) is an acidic discharge from mining sites that contains elevated levels of metals and sulfate (SO42−). AMD can inflict health and environmental dangers through metal toxicity and physical stress. Current methods for AMD treatment, including chemical or passive biological treatments, are often non-sustainable owing to expense, require continuous maintenance, or are unsuitable for prolonged treatment. Our ultimate goal is to develop a cost efficient and sustainable floating treatment wetland system using vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides). Year-long large- and small-scale hydroponic experiments were used to determine the effectiveness of vetiver for treating AMD-impacted waters from the Tab-Simco mine site in southern Illinois. For the large-scale mesocosmic study, vetiver rafts were suspended in 100-gallon containers. Water quality was monitored by chemical analysis of samples every 28 days and at the end of the experiment (364 days); plant health was monitored by measuring changes in biomass and recording visual changes in root and shoot coloration and morphology. There was higher net removal of Fe (81%) and Pb (81%) with lower removal of Ni (38%), Zn (35%), SO42− (28%), Mn (27%), Cr (21%), Al (11%) and Cu (8.0%). Metals were mainly localized on the root surface as Fe plaques, whereas Mn and Zn showed greater translocation from root to shoot. Furthermore, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure showed that vetiver biomass was not hazardous waste as a result of metal accumulation. From the small-scale experiment, there was near complete removal of SO42− (91%) and metals (90–100%) with the exception of Pb (15%) and Cu (0.0%). These experiments demonstrate that vetiver can effectively remediate AMD-impacted waters over an extended period of time.
Himalayan Cosmologies of Offering: A Comparison of Newar and Tibetan Buddhist Treasure Maṇḍalas in Practice and Art

Buddhist rituals that simulate offering the cosmos are often characterized in terms of what they represent rather than their physical actions, material ephemera, or visual depictions. Newar and Tib...
The Neuroscience of Sleep and Dreams

This book provides a complete introduction to the neuroscience of sleep and dreams in plain language. In it, Patrick McNamara outlines new discoveries in the science of sleep and dreams, places them within an evolutionary context, and brings them together with existing scientific findings and implications for sleep medicine. Unlike other introductory texts, the important evolutionary background and social nature of sleep and dreams is emphasized. Major advances in sleep medicine, sleep and memory, dream content analyzes, brain correlates of sleep stages and lifespan development of sleep are covered in depth. While the text is geared towards students, the general reader and scientists studying other disciplines will find it accessible and informative.
P146 Fine Motor Development Through Mealtime Lessons in Head Start Classroom

Background Early childhood nutrition and kindergarten readiness are pillars of child development. Factors such as food insecurity, socioeconomic status and the built environment effect childhood nutrition and academic success. This project aims to improve fine motor development through concentrated mealtime activities. Objective Assess the feasibility of a mealtime curricula to promote fine motor skill development in Head Start classrooms. Study Design, Settings, and Participants First teacher surveys and in-depth interviews, were administered, collecting demographic information, teacher responsibilities, and the classroom environment. Mealtime observational assessments were collected at baseline, mid-point, and end of study period. Eight week-long mealtime fine motor skill lessons were implemented. Post implementation evaluation surveys were conducted. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Descriptive analysis was conducted of survey data, including correlation analysis of teacher knowledge/ experience/ values and classroom facilitators and barriers. Interviews collected facilitators and barriers of mealtime feasibility, constraints, and perceptions of familial mealtime practices. Qualitative data were coded for themes using a three-coder model. Classroom observation data was categorized by feeding style, pedagogical approach, barriers, positive/ negative feeding cues, and other factors of mealtime facilitation. Lesson plan evaluations provided teacher perspectives of project feasibility. Results Key interview and survey findings included a teacher focus of role-modeling during meal-time, behavior reinforcement, and attempts of parent communication. Furthermore, teachers desire tools to help with mealtime feeding behaviors and skill building. Overall, teachers were successful in implementing fine motor lessons. Lessons which practice fine motor skills in multiple settings were rated most positively. Barriers of implementation included breaks in the school schedule, lack of parent reinforcement, and unpredictable menu cycles. Conclusion Teachers were overall positive and willing to implement mealtime lessons, and reported positive feedback regarding increased structure around mealtime. Mealtime lessons present an opportunity to merge concepts of fine motor development and positive feeding practices. Funding Texas State University, Caminitos Research Collaborative.
Improvement in ventricular function with rhythm control of atrial arrhythmias may delay the need for atrioventricular valve surgery in adults with congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVE Atrial arrhythmias and atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVVR) are common causes of morbidity among adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). The impact of rhythm control on AVVR in this population is unknown. We sought to determine whether a rhythm control strategy is associated with greater freedom from AV valve surgery than a rate control strategy. DESIGN Patients evaluated by both ACHD and electrophysiology specialists at a single academic center were screened for atrial arrhythmias and at least moderate-severe AVVR. Clinical and electrographic data were abstracted. All echocardiograms were interpreted by a single echocardiographer blinded to treatment strategy. Patients were followed until AV valve surgery, heart transplantation, death, or last clinical follow-up. RESULTS Rhythm control was attempted in 9 of 24 identified patients. Among these nine patients, arrhythmias were eliminated in three and reduced from persistent to paroxysmal in another three. In the rhythm control group, mean left ventricular ejection fraction improved from 54.4 ± 12.4% to 60.0 ± 11.5% (P = .02) and mean right ventricular systolic function increased nearly one grade (P = .02). AVVR did not decrease significantly. No significant change in left or right ventricular systolic function, or AVVR was observed among the 15 patients treated with rate control. Four-year survival free of AV valve operation and heart transplant was 88% in the rhythm control group and 31% in the rate control group (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS In ACHD patients with atrial arrhythmias and at least moderate-severe AVVR, a rhythm control strategy was associated with improved biventricular systolic function. This improvement in ventricular function and symptoms may allow valve surgery to be deferred.
Critical comment on “Revisiting the Asian second-generation advantage”

This critical comment notes an important error of inference in Tran, Lee, and Huang (2019). Results reported in Tran, Lee, and Huang (2019) do not permit the inference that any of the second-genera...
Pursuing Relevant (Tax) Research

ABSTRACT Successfully producing relevant research requires investment throughout one's career to acquire fresh institutional knowledge, theories, and methods. In my case, almost a decade in public ...
Co-editors’ introduction: Early childhood education programs for Dual Language Learners: Opportunities and challenges

Dual Language Learners (DLLs) comprise 33% of children under the age of 8 (Child Trends, 2016), a demographic trend reflected in early childhood education (ECE) programs, preschool to grade 3. Twen...
Behavioral Health Service Delivery with Pacific Islanders

This chapter will provide a historical background on the Pacific Islanders and will examine some of the similarities within this broad group and then more specifically describe Native Hawaiians. Discussion of the cultural and belief system of Native Hawaiians is essential in working with Native Hawaiians in therapy. Most importantly, Native Hawaiians believe that their individual health is directly connected to nature (ʻāina), family (ohana), and spirits (akua). This chapter will also discuss the negative impact of colonization and statehood had on the Hawaiian people and how that continues to affect the population today. Additional factors contributing to many Hawaiians views and culture are the many migrations from other Asian and Pacific Islander cultures. Finally, this chapter will discuss cultural competency with some general suggestions to keep in mind while providing therapy to Native Hawaiians. Evidence-based literature on culturally based treatment with Native Hawaiians has been scant, but is continuing to be published with increasing speed. This chapter will review some of the culturally based treatments that have been published for Native Hawaiians for different disorders and then culturally based interventions for other Pacific Islander groups.
A Supervised Image Registration Approach for Late Gadolinium Enhanced MRI and Cine Cardiac MRI Using Convolutional Neural Networks

Late gadolinium enhanced (LGE) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is the current gold standard for assessing myocardium viability for patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction, myocarditis or cardiomyopathy. This imaging method enables the identification and quantification of myocardial tissue regions that appear hyper-enhanced. However, the delineation of the myocardium is hampered by the reduced contrast between the myocardium and the left ventricle (LV) blood-pool due to the gadolinium-based contrast agent. The balanced-Steady State Free Precession (bSSFP) cine CMR imaging provides high resolution images with superior contrast between the myocardium and the LV blood-pool. Hence, the registration of the LGE CMR images and the bSSFP cine CMR images is a vital step for accurate localization and quantification of the compromised myocardial tissue. Here, we propose a Spatial Transformer Network (STN) inspired convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture to perform supervised registration of bSSFP cine CMR and LGE CMR images. We evaluate our proposed method on the 2019 Multi-Sequence Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Segmentation Challenge (MS-CMRSeg) dataset and use several evaluation metrics, including the center-to-center LV and right ventricle (RV) blood-pool distance, and the contour-to-contour blood-pool and myocardium distance between the LGE and bSSFP CMR images. Specifically, we showed that our registration method reduced the bSSFP to LGE LV blood-pool center distance from 3.28 mm before registration to 2.27 mm post registration and RV blood-pool center distance from 4.35 mm before registration to 2.52 mm post registration. We also show that the average surface distance (ASD) between bSSFP and LGE is reduced from 2.53 mm to 2.09 mm, 1.78 mm to 1.40 mm and 2.42 mm to 1.73 mm for LV blood-pool, LV myocardium and RV blood-pool, respectively.
Benign Tumors and Polyps

Only a few types of benign polyps occur in the stomach. The main polyps encountered routinely in gastric biopsies are the fundic gland polyp and the hyperplastic polyp, which are composed mainly of oxyntic glands and elongated foveolae/pits, respectively. These polyps rarely harbor epithelial dysplasia and, even when they do, the connection of such dysplasia with gastric cancer is controversial. Some gastric polyps are associated with underlying polyposis syndromes. These include fundic gland polyps with a higher frequency of dysplasia, which occur in the setting of familial adenomatous polyposis. Most other syndromic gastric polyps strongly resemble (and can be indistinguishable from) gastric hyperplastic polyps, including those occurring in Peutz–Jeghers syndrome, juvenile polyposis, and others. Thus, it is important to keep these syndromes in the differential diagnosis when encountering numerous or recurrent benign gastric polyps in any given patient. Lastly, the “inflammatory fibroid polyp” (IFP), actually a submucosal fibroinflammatory proliferation, can appear like a polyp endoscopically and may make an appearance in gastric biopsies.
Mortality, Critical Illness, and Mechanical Ventilation among Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 on Therapeutic Anticoagulants

Abstract Background COVID-19 is associated with hypercoagulability and increased incidence of thrombosis. We compared the clinical outcomes of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 who were on therapeutic anticoagulants to those on prophylactic anticoagulation. Materials and methods We performed an observational study of adult inpatients’ with COVID-19 from March 9 to June 26, 2020. We compared patients who were continued on their outpatient prescribed therapeutic anticoagulation and those who were newly started on therapeutic anticoagulation for COVID-19 (without other indication) to those who were on prophylactic doses. The primary outcome was overall death while secondary outcomes were critical illness (World Health Organization Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement score ≥5), mechanical ventilation, and death among patients who first had critical illness. We adjusted for age, sex, race, body mass index (BMI), Charlson score, glucose on admission, and use of antiplatelet agents. Results Of 1716 inpatients with COVID-19, 171 patients were continued on their therapeutic anticoagulation and 78 were started on new therapeutic anticoagulation for COVID-19. In patients continued on home therapeutic anticoagulation, there were no differences in overall death, critical illness, mechanical ventilation, or death among patients with critical illness compared to patients on prophylactic anticoagulation. In patients receiving new therapeutic anticoagulation for COVID-19, there was increased death (OR 5.93; 95% CI 3.71–9.47), critical illness (OR 14.51; 95% CI 7.43–28.31), need mechanical ventilation (OR 11.22; 95% CI 6.67–18.86), and death after first having critical illness (OR 5.51; 95% CI 2.80–10.87). Conclusions Therapeutic anticoagulation for inpatients with COVID-19 was not associated with improved outcomes.
Use of belatacept as alternative graft vs host disease prophylaxis in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background Immunosuppressive prophylaxis is usually given to decrease the development of acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Belatacept is a Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4, blocking agent, an immunosuppressive agent used for organ rejection prevention in adult renal transplant recipients. Methods We describe two children in whom belatacept was successfully used for GvHD prophylaxis. Case 1 was noncompliant with prior immunosuppressive therapy for aplastic anemia, and Case 2 developed severe thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) precluding the use of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) or mTOR inhibitors. Results and conclusion Belatacept was found to be a safe alternative in preventing GvHD in 2 patients in whom traditional prophylactic therapies were not possible to use.
Unexpected pancytopenia: Dasatinib induced aplastic anemia in chronic myeloid leukemia.

IntroductionThe use of TKIs in CML has dramatically altered the natural course of the disease and improved outcomes for patients. TKIs overall have a very favorable safety profile. Dasatinib, a sec...
Trends in Sociodemographic Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Staging and Survival: A SEER-Medicare Analysis.

Introduction Race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status are known to influence staging and survival in colorectal cancer (CRC). It is unclear how these relationships are affected by geographic factors and changes in insurance coverage for CRC screening. We examined the temporal trends in the association between sociodemographic and geographic factors and staging and survival among Medicare beneficiaries. Methods We identified patients 65 years or older with CRC using the 1991-2010 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database and extracted area-level sociogeographic data. We constructed multinomial logistic regression models and the Cox proportional hazards models to assess factors associated with CRC stage and survival in 4 periods with evolving reimbursement and screening practices: (i) 1991-1997, (ii) 1998-June 2001, (iii) July 2001-2005, and (iv) 2006-2010. Results We observed 327,504 cases and 102,421 CRC deaths. Blacks were 24%-39% more likely to present with distant disease than whites. High-income areas had 7%-12% reduction in distant disease. Compared with whites, blacks had 16%-21% increased mortality, Asians had 32% lower mortality from 1991 to 1997 but only 13% lower mortality from 2006 to 2010, and Hispanics had 20% reduced mortality only from 1991 to 1997. High-education areas had 9%-12% lower mortality, and high-income areas had 5%-6% lower mortality after Medicare began coverage for screening colonoscopy. No consistent temporal trends were observed for the associations between geographic factors and CRC survival. Discussion Disparities in CRC staging and survival persisted over time for blacks and residents from areas of low socioeconomic status. Over time, staging and survival benefits have decreased for Asians and disappeared for Hispanics.
What the Lawyer Well-Being Movement Could Learn from the Americans with Disabilities Act

In 2017, the ABA National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being published The Path to Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change, a report that contained numerous recommendations concerning how the legal profession can better address the alarming rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse within the legal profession. Since the publication of the report, there have been numerous ethics opinions, bar journal reports, and articles dealing with one issue in particular: the ethical duty on the part of law firm partners and management to supervise or to otherwise take action with respect to another lawyer who may be experiencing depression, anxiety, or some other mental impairment. The organized bar’s increased focus on improving lawyer well-being is commendable. But the lawyer well-being movement has also sometimes perpetuated harmful stereotypes concerning mental health. The Article suggests that in order to more effectively improve lawyer well-being, the organized bar should look more carefully at the text of the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the policies that underlie it.
A New Kind of Science: Ten Years Later

It has been ten years since Stephen Wolfram published his magnum opus A New Kind of Science [13]. It is worth re-examining the book and its impact in the field.
New Media Campaigns and the Managed Citizen, by Phillip N. Howard

There are many outward signs of the integration of new information technologies, such as the Internet, in politics today. Candidate Web sites, specialized online information services, and Weblogs a...
Frequency performance of the New Horizons ultra-stable oscillators nine years of continuous in-flight monitoring

The New Horizons mission has provided an unprecedented opportunity to observe the evolution two ultra-stable oscillators in deep space for over nine years. The unusual architecture of the New Horizons communications system allows for direct observation of one of the two USOs during every tracking pass. The communications system is based on a transceiver as opposed to the normal transponder. The downlink is independent of the uplink in this architecture and so the USO is solely responsible for the downlink carrier frequency. Both USOs have greatly stabilized during the nine years of flight and have recently changed the direction of the frequency drift. The history since launch in January 2006 and the recent drift history are presented and discussed.
SAMVAAD: speech applications made viable for access-anywhere devices

The proliferation of pervasive devices has stimulated the development of applications that support ubiquitous access via multiple modalities. Since the processing capabilities of pervasive devices differ vastly, device-specific application adaptation becomes essential. We address the problem of speech application adaptation by dialog call-flow reorganisation for pervasive devices with different memory constraints. Given an atomic dialog call-flow A and device memory size m, we present optimal deterministic algorithms, RESEQUENCE and BALANCE-TREE, which minimise the number of questions in the reorganised output call-flow A/sub m/. Algorithms MASQ and MATREE produce C/sub m/, minimally distant from input call-flow A/sub m/ while accommodating the memory constraint m. These two minimisation criteria are capable of capturing various usability requirements important in dialog call-flow design. The following observation forms the cornerstone of all the algorithms in this paper: Two grammars g/sub 1/ and g/sub 2/ comprising of |g/sub 1/| and |g/sub 2/| elements respectively can be merged into a single grammar g = g/sub 1/ /spl times/ g/sub 2/ having |g/sub 1/|/spl middot/|g/sub 2/| elements for the sequential case, and g = g/sub 1/ + g/sub 2/ having |g/sub 1/|+|g/sub 2/| elements for the tree case. Device-speciific considerations lead us to introduce the concept of an -characterisation of a call-flow, defined as the set of pairs {(m/sub i/,q/sub i/)| /spl isin/ N}, where q/sub i/ is the minimum number of questions required for memory size m/sub i/. Each call-flow has a unique, device-independent signature in its -characterisation - a measure of its adaptability. We present SAMVAAD, a system that implements these algorithms on call-flows authored in VXML containing SRGS grammars. The system was tested on an IBM voice browser using a sample airline reservation system call-flow reorganised for memories ranging from 64 MB to 210 KB. We ran an experiment with 14 users to obtain feedback on the usability of the adapted call-flows.
Application of social psychological and evaluation research: Lessons from energy information programs

Abstract This article reviews applied research on the dissemination of energy-related information. Next it looks at the experiences of evaluations in four types of information dissemination programs: ones with specific feedback, interactive hotlines, demonstration projects, and publication or media efforts. In each case, lessons are derived about “what has been learned. ” The key lessons include that information services are actually servicing existing demands, not creating new ones. That they can be cost beneficial, particularly if they are designed to capitalize on existing resources, networks, and partnerships with the private sector.
Improvements in MPTP-induced object retrieval deficits and behavioral deficits after fetal nigral grafting in monkeys.

Improvements in MPTP-induced deficits were only found in subjects that received fetal substantia nigra transplants into the caudate nucleus. The MPTP-induced deficits were assessed using an object retrieval task that examined cognitive and subtle motor performance and by behavioral observation to determine the overall status of the subjects. Subjects that were also moderately or severely impaired by MPTP administration but that received inappropriate donor cells or implant sites (cerebellum to CN or SN to cortex) did not show any evidence of behavioral recovery. These subjects could not respond on the task in the months after grafting and were sacrificed, showing no improvements in parkinsonian signs or healthy behavior signs, up to 5-6 months after surgery. Grafting of SN cells into the striatum of non-MPTP lesioned subjects failed to modify normal behavior or induce abnormal behavior determined by our 2 behavioral assessment methods. In those monkeys that received the appropriate transplants, TH immunohistochemistry revealed that cells of the fetal substantia nigra grafted into the caudate nucleus survived and extended neurites into the host striatum. Indeed, grafted dopamine neurons were often associated with appreciable innervation of the caudate nucleus and appeared to be well incorporated into the host brain. In contrast, examination of the striatum of subjects in the inappropriate-graft group (e.g., cerebellar cells grafted into the caudate) showed no evidence of TH staining within the graft or host caudate nucleus. This indicated that there was no evidence of dopamine neurons present in the grafted tissue and that the mere presence of a fetal graft did not appear to induce sprouting in these MPTP-treated subjects. Although behavioral recovery occurred in only those monkeys that received appropriate transplants (fetal SN to host CN) and not in those that received inappropriate grafts (fetal cerebellum to CN or fetal SN to cortex), the CSF HVA levels did not distinguish those monkeys with improved parkinsonism from those that remained severely parkinsonian. The finding that in some SN-CN grafted subjects reported here, there was evidence of increased dopamine and lowered HVA/dopamine ratio in the vicinity of the SN grafts (cf. Elsworth et al., 1990b) is consistent with the hypothesis that graft-derived or graft-induced dopamine production is responsible for behavioral recovery. In addition, the finding that CSF HVA levels in non-MPTP lesioned subjects were unchanged by fetal SN grafts further indicates that CSF HVA levels may not be sufficiently sensitive to changes in central dopamine production to reflect release of dopamine from relatively small grafts that may, in lesioned subjects, modify behavior.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Effect of tides on mouth bar morphology and hydrodynamics

[1] Mouth bars are morphological units important for deltas, estuaries, or rivers debouching into the sea. Several processes affect the formation of these deposits. This paper focuses on the role of tides on shaping mouth bars, presenting both hydrodynamic and morphodynamic results. The effect of tides is analyzed in two end-member configurations: a river with a small tidal discharge compared to the fluvial discharge (fluvial dominated) and a river with a very large tidal discharge (tidal dominated). Mouth bar formation is analyzed using the coupled hydrodynamic and morphodynamic model Delft3D. The presence of tides influences the hydrodynamics of the jet exiting the river mouth and causes an increase in the averaged jet spreading. At low tide the lower water depth in the basin promotes a drawdown water profile in the river and an accelerated flow near the mouth. The resulting velocity field is characterized by residual currents affecting growth and final shape of the mouth bar. Simulations indicate that mouth deposits are characterized by the presence of two channels for negligible tidal discharge, whereas three principal channels are present in the tidal-dominated case, with a central channel typical of tidal inlets. On the basis of our numerical analyses, we present a robust criterion for the occurrence of mouth deposits with three channels. Trifurcations form when the tidal discharge is large with respect to the fluvial one and the tidal amplitude is small compared to the water depth. Finally, predicted mouth bar morphologies are compared with good agreement to river mouths in the Gulf of Mexico, USA.
XCtBP is a XTcf-3 co-repressor with roles throughout Xenopus development

XTcf-3 is an HMG box transcription factor that mediates Xenopus dorsal-ventral axis formation. As a Wnt pathway effector, XTcf-3 interacts with beta-catenin and activates the expression of the dorsal organizing gene siamois, while in the absence of beta-catenin, XTcf-3 functions as a transcriptional repressor. We show that XTcf-3 contains amino- and carboxy-terminal repressor domains and have identified a Xenopus member of the C-terminal Binding Protein family of transcriptional co-repressors (XCtBP) as the C-terminal co-repressor. We show that two XCtBP binding sites near the XTcf-3 carboxy-terminus are required for the interaction of XTcf-3 and XCtBP and for the transcriptional repression mediated by the XTcf-3 carboxy-terminal domain. By fusing the GAL4 activation domain to XCtBP we have generated an antimorphic protein, XCtBP/G4A, that activates siamois transcription through an interaction with endogenous XTcf-3. Ectopic expression of XCtBP/G4A demonstrates that XCtBP functions in the regulation of head and notochord development. Our data support a role for XCtBP as a co-repressor throughout Xenopus development and indicate that XCtBP/G4A will be a useful tool in determining how XCtBP functions in various developmental processes.
Fisher Information in Ecological Systems

Fisher information is being increasingly used as a tool of research into ecological systems. For example the information was shown in Chapter 7 to provide a useful diagnostic of the health of an ecology. In other applications to ecology, extreme physical information (EPI) has been used to derive the population-rate (or Lotka-Volterra) equations of ecological systems, both directly [1] and indirectly (Chapter 5) via the quantum Schrodinger wave equation (SWE). We next build on these results, to derive (i) an uncertainty principle (8.3) of biology, (ii) a simple decision rule (8.18) for predicting whether a given ecology is susceptible to a sudden drop in population (Section 8.1), (iii) the probability law (8.57) or (8.59) on the worldwide occurrence of the masses of living creatures from mice to elephants and beyond (Section 8.2), and (iv) the famous quarter-power laws for the attributes of biological and other systems. The latter approach uses EPI to derive the simultaneous quarter-power behavior of all attributes obeyed by the law, such as metabolism rate, brain size, grazing range, etc. (Section 8.3). This maximal breadth of scope is allowed by its basis in information, which of course applies to all types of quantitative data (Section 1.4.3, Chapter 1).
Peeking inside Pandora's box: One university's journey into the redesign of teacher educator preparation

In the last two decades, there have been various calls for reform in teacher education programs to address the needs of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and students with disabilities. Consequently, many teacher education preparation programs are reviewing and redesigning their programs to meet the needs of the teacher of the 21st century. This manuscript will describe the development and implementation of a new certification program that integrates preservice teacher preparation, Special Education and English as a second language into a 123 hour degree program.
Comparative Study on Subject Classification of Academic Videos Using Noisy Transcripts

With the advance of Web technologies, the number of "academic" videos available on the Web (e.g., online lectures, web seminars, conference presentations, or tutorial videos) has increased explosively. A fundamental task of managing such videos is to classify them into relevant subjects. For this task, most of current content providers rely on keywords to perform the classification, while active techniques for automatic video classification focus on utilizing multi-modal features. However, in our settings, we argue that both approaches are not sufficient to solve the problem effectively. Keywords based method is very limited in terms of accuracy, while features based one lacks semantics to represent academic subjects. Toward this problem, in this paper, we propose to transform the video subject classification problem into the text categorization problem by exploiting the extracted transcripts of videos. Using both real and synthesized data, (1) we extensively study the validity of the proposed idea, (2) we analyze the performance of different text categorization methods, and (3) we study the impact of various factors of transcripts such as quality and length towards academic video classification problem.
Feeding-site selection and blood-feeding behavior of Aedes triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae) on rodent (Sciuridae) hosts.

Behavior of Aedes triseriatus mosquitoes leading to selection of a feeding site and subsequent blood feeding on anesthetized Eastern Chipmunks and Gray Squirrels consisted of 3 hierarchic levels: (1) indiscriminate initial landing on a host; (2) random foraging on a host for a feeding site; and (3) nonrandom probing for a blood vessel. Feeding sites selected were limited to ears, eyelids, nose, and feet, where host hair was short and sparse. Clumped distributions of probing and feeding times suggest that natural selection has favored Ae. triseriatus females that rapidly locate blood vessels and quickly blood feed.