cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fiber Properties Responsible for Garment Comfort

Numerous articles have appeared in the literature on such factors involved in garment comfort as moisture porosity and wickability. However, the only way to determine the relative importance of such factors is to conduct a subjective comfort test. This has been done for knitted sport shirts of "Orlon,"1 nylon, and rayon staple fibers, and of cotton, worn next to the skin under hot and humid conditions (90° F and 80% RH). The fabrics were identically made as far as possible, in order to determine the comfort characteristics inherent in the fiber. It was found that the greatest advantage in com fort was through lower scratchiness, exhibited by fibers of lower bending or flexural rigidity and lower friction. The combination of lower fabric weight and thickness also led to better comfort. Fabric wickability had no detectable influence on comfort under the test conditions. Objective measurements of fiber and fabric properties allowed close prediction of observed comfort.
GOfetcher : a database with complex searching facility for gene ontology

Motivation: An important contribution to the Gene Ontology (GO) project is to develop tools that facilitate the creation, maintenance and use of ontologies. Several tools have been created for communicating and using the GO project. However, a limitation with most of these tools is that they suffer from lack of a comprehensive search facility. We developed a web application, GOfetcher, with a very comprehensive search facility for the GO project and a variety of output formats for the results. GOfetcher has three different levels for searching the GO: ‘Quick Search’, ‘Advanced Search’ and ‘Upload Files’ for searching. The application includes a unique search option which generates gene information given a nucleotide or protein accession number which can then be used in generating GO information. The output data in GOfetcher can be saved into several different formats; including spreadsheet, comma-separated values and the extensible markup language (XML) format. The database is
Altered Glycolysis and Mitochondrial Respiration in a Zebrafish Model of Dravet Syndrome

Altered metabolism is an important feature of many epileptic syndromes but has not been reported in Dravet syndrome (DS), a catastrophic childhood epilepsy associated with mutations in a voltage-activated sodium channel, Nav1.1 (SCN1A). To address this, we developed novel methodology to assess real-time changes in bioenergetics in zebrafish larvae between 4 and 6 d postfertilization (dpf). Baseline and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) stimulated glycolytic flux and mitochondrial respiration were simultaneously assessed using a Seahorse Biosciences extracellular flux analyzer. Scn1Lab mutant zebrafish showed a decrease in baseline glycolytic rate and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) compared to controls. A ketogenic diet formulation rescued mutant zebrafish metabolism to control levels. Increasing neuronal excitability with 4-AP resulted in an immediate increase in glycolytic rates in wild-type zebrafish, whereas mitochondrial OCR increased slightly and quickly recovered to baseline values. In contrast, scn1Lab mutant zebrafish showed a significantly slower and exaggerated increase of both glycolytic rates and OCR after 4-AP. The underlying mechanism of decreased baseline OCR in scn1Lab mutants was not because of altered mitochondrial DNA content or dysfunction of enzymes in the electron transport chain or tricarboxylic acid cycle. Examination of glucose metabolism using a PCR array identified five glycolytic genes that were downregulated in scn1Lab mutant zebrafish. Our findings in scn1Lab mutant zebrafish suggest that glucose and mitochondrial hypometabolism contribute to the pathophysiology of DS.
Pyloroplasty for Refractory Diabetic Gastroparesis After Renal Transplantation.

Gastroparesis (GP) is a symptomatic delay in gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Symptoms can be subjectively reported by the validated Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI).1
Detection of the Hypercalcemic Hormone of Malignancy in an Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma

AbstractWe report a case of an adrenal cortical carcinoma associated with hypercalcemia. Tumor extracts showed significant activity in an in vitro assay that detects the existence of a hypercalcemic substance distinct from parathyroid hormone. Calcium studies revealed no other obvious cause of hypercalcemia in this patient, and serum calcium returned to normal after the tumor was removed.
Dual frequency comb laser absorption spectroscopy in a 16 MW gas turbine exhaust

Abstract We demonstrate the first frequency comb laser absorption spectroscopy in an industrial environment. Recent advancements in robust frequency comb design enabled installation of the sensor in an operating power plant, where we simultaneously measured temperature, H 2 O and CO 2 concentration in the exhaust of a 16 MW stationary gas turbine. The frequency comb laser spectrometer probed 16,000 individual wavelengths of light spaced by 0.007 cm −1 (0.0014 nm) near 1440 nm, spanning 279 absorption features of H 2 O and 43 features of CO 2 . Fits to the measured absorption spectra yield simultaneous temperature, H 2 O and CO 2 concentrations with between 10 and 60 second time resolution. Measurements over a 5 hour period tracked variations in the exhaust consistent with various changes to the gas turbine operation. Much larger wavelength ranges (200+ nm) and different time resolutions are possible depending on the desired precision by changing various settings on the same spectrometer. Overall, this work demonstrates the potential for frequency comb laser absorption spectroscopy in industrial combustion environments.
LGBT Rights and the Mini RFRA: A Return to Separate But Equal (Draft)

This Article focuses on the tension and interplay between those advocating for LGBT-inclusive laws and those seeking protection under state, mini RFRAs from what they characterize as religious discrimination to resist the trend toward LGBT equal rights.
The American Paradox

In 2010, retired Justice Albie Sachs of the South African Constitutional Court was giving a series of lectures on his recently published autobiography, The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law . As part of that series, Justice Sachs came to New York University School of Law, where I teach, for a public event on the role of a constitutional court with my colleague Jeremy Waldron and myself. Our inquiry was on the role of a court in the transition from an unjust to a just regime, and on how a court addresses the question of the frailties of an emerging democratic society. Jeremy Waldron is famously protective of the dignity of the legislative process and critical of judicial review of legislative enactments. My views, as will be evident from this book, are notably different, and I defend the importance of judicial oversight of some of the characteristic vulnerabilities of democratic rule. The discussion with Justice Sachs grounded the divide in the role of courts in the South African experience. The South African Constitutional Court has actively engaged the political process during the transition process and beyond, a theme I develop in subsequent chapters. Alone among courts anywhere in the world, the constitutional court was tasked with assessing the first draft of the constitution for its conformity with core democratic principles, and indeed found the draft wanting. This was the world's first unconstitutional constitution. While Justice Sachs strongly defended the active role of the South African court in the transition from apartheid to multiethnic democratic rule, he was cautious about the relation between the emerging South African jurisprudence and American constitutional doctrines. According to Justice Sachs, it was difficult in any new democracy to resist the gravitational pull of American constitutional law, particularly for an English-language constitutional court. It was not simply the longevity of American democracy and the U.S. Constitution, but the commanding language and arguments honed by the U.S. Supreme Court over centuries of constitutional debate.
Funding opportunities for high-risk research

This talk is about, "Accelerating DCV Innovation: The Advanced Technology Program". The Advanced Technology Program (ATP) is one of the nation's leading sources of funding for industry-led high-risk technology development. Many project's supported by ATP have significant potential to impact digital and computational video. This presentation briefly examines the potential impact of ATP research projects on DCV. Projects ranging from data storage to video indexing to compression to 3D model creation are examined. The presentation concludes with an overview of the ATP and encouragement to submit proposals to the ATP.
A modular microfluidic bioreactor with improved throughput for evaluation of polarized renal epithelial cells

Most current microfluidic cell culture systems are integrated single use devices. This can limit throughput and experimental design options, particularly for epithelial cells, which require significant time in culture to obtain a fully differentiated phenotype. In addition, epithelial cells require a porous growth substrate in order to fully polarize their distinct apical and basolateral membranes. We have developed a modular microfluidic system using commercially available porous culture inserts to evaluate polarized epithelial cells under physiologically relevant fluid flow conditions. The cell-support for the bioreactor is a commercially available microporous membrane that is ready to use in a 6-well format, allowing for cells to be seeded in advance in replicates and evaluated for polarization and barrier function prior to experimentation. The reusable modular system can be easily assembled and disassembled using these mature cells, thus improving experimental throughput and minimizing fabrication requirements. The bioreactor consists of an apical microfluidic flow path and a static basolateral chamber that is easily accessible from the outside of the device. The basolateral chamber acts as a reservoir for transport across the cell layer. We evaluated the effect of initiation of apical shear flow on short-term intracellular signaling and mRNA expression using primary human renal epithelial cells (HRECs). Ten min and 5 h after initiation of apical fluid flow over a stable monolayer of HRECs, cells demonstrated increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase and increased expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6) mRNA, respectively. This bioreactor design provides a modular platform with rapid experimental turn-around time to study various epithelial cell functions under physiologically meaningful flow conditions.
Abstract 1843: Novel actions of next-generation taxanes benefit advanced stages of prostate cancer

Purpose: To improve the outcomes of patients with castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), there is an urgent need for more effective therapies and approaches that individual specific treatments for patients with CRPC. The current studies compared the novel taxane, cabazitaxel with the previous generation docetaxel, and aimed to determine which tumors are most likely to respond. Experimental design: Cabazitaxel (CBTX) and docetaxel (DCTX) were compared via in vitro modeling to determine molecular mechanism, biochemical and cell biological impact, and cell proliferation, which was further assessed ex vivo in human tumor explants. Isogenic pairs of RB knockdown and control cells were interrogated in vitro, and in xenograft tumors for cabazitaxel response. Results: The data herein show that i. CBTX exerts stronger cytostatic and cytotoxic response compared to DCTX, especially in CRPC; ii. CBTX induces aberrant mitosis, leading to pyknotic and multinucleated cells; iii. taxanes do not act through the androgen receptor (AR); iv. Gene expression profiling reveals distinct molecular actions for CBTX v. tumors that have progressed to castration resistance via loss of RB show enhanced sensitivity to CBTX. Conclusions: CBTX not only induces improved cytostatic and cytotoxic effects, but also impacts distinct molecular pathways, compared to DCTX, which could underlie its efficacy after DCTX treatment has failed in CRPC patients. Finally, RB is identified as the first potential biomarker that could define the therapeutic response to taxanes in metastatic CRPC. This would suggest that loss of RB function induces sensitization taxanes, which could benefit up to 50% of CRPC cases. Citation Format: Renee de Leeuw, Lisa Berman-Booty, Matthew Schiewer, Stephen Ciment, Robert Den, Adam Dicker, William Kelly, Edouard Trabulsi, Costas Lallas, Leonard Gomella, Karen Knudsen. Novel actions of next-generation taxanes benefit advanced stages of prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1843. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1843
Resilience for a World in Flux

The rise of nationalism worldwide has led many international researchers to reflect on their role as educators and leaders. Resilience is vital during such tumultuous times. The popular definition of resilience is the capacity to quickly recover from difficulties and setbacks. The term is often misunderstood for a type of sturdy individualism that some people possess more than others or the immunity from stress and negative emotions. There is another, more empirically-based, understanding of resilience. Diane Coutu (2002) outlines three dimensions of resilience: (a) a staunch acceptance of reality; (b) deep belief buttressed by strongly held values; and (c) an uncanny ability to improvise. I believe, as international researchers and educators, we must be resilient in a world where the policies and politics around international students are increasingly in flux.
Methodological issues limit interpretation of negative effects of satellite cell depletion on adult muscle hypertrophy.

We are writing regarding the recent publication in Development entitled ‘Satellite cell depletion prevents fiber hypertrophy in skeletal muscle’ ([Egner et al., 2016][1]). Egner et al. claim to have ‘essentially repeated’ our work ([McCarthy et al., 2011][2]); however, we think that
Constructivist analytics: using data to enable deeper museum experiences for more visitors - lessons from the learning sciences.

ABSTRACTThis article defines and outlines constructivist analytics, a framework for understanding how, where, and when the narratives we construct with advanced data analysis can affect positive social change in informal learning environments (such as museums). I ask three core questions based on this framework: How can researchers use analytics to understand what different visitors find valuable? How can we use analytics to help more visitors find value and to improve visitors' experiences when they find value? How can we present and structure analytics in ways that many different stakeholders find valuable? I then suggest possible avenues for both expanding current work in constructivist analytics and developing new angles on positive, effective, and data-rich narratives.
Atmospheric pressure plasma assisted reaction chemical ionization for analysis of chlorinated compounds separated by liquid chromatography

We report development of an atmospheric pressure plasma assisted reaction chemical ionization (PARCI) source with liquid sample introduction, enabling high sensitivity detection of chlorine in LC-separated compounds. In this novel approach, analytes are introduced into an argon inductively coupled plasma for high-temperature reactions including atomization. The plasma reaction products are then guided into an atmospheric pressure reaction tube where formation of negative ions is enhanced at lower temperatures. Cl− ions emerging from the reaction tube are then detected by an atmospheric sampling single quadrupole mass spectrometer without any modifications. We demonstrate that Cl− ions are generated in PARCI with similar efficiencies between inorganic and organic chlorine-containing compounds, confirming the elemental nature of the ionization for quantitative measurements. We further demonstrate that the ionization reactions within the reaction tube can be controlled by addition of ionization reagents to the plasma. Specifically, we find that addition of low ionization potential elements such as sodium in conjunction with methanol leads to significant enhancements in sensitivity. Chlorine sensitivity and detection limits using LC-PARCI-MS compare favorably with those obtained using state-of-the-art LC-ICP-MS/MS. Operation of PARCI in negative mode alleviates the isobaric interferences for chlorine detection and obviates the need for complex mass analyzers. Notably, the simplicity of PARCI and compatibility with atmospheric sampling mass spectrometers make this approach readily adoptable for integration of elemental quantification with molecular characterization using other ion sources.
"Someone's got to do it" - Primary care providers (PCPs) describe caring for rural women with mental health problems.

Objective:Little is known about how primary care providers (PCPs) approach mental health care for low-income rural women. We developed a qualitative research study to explore the attitudes and practices of PCPs regarding the care of mood and anxiety disorders in rural women. Method:We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 family physicians, internists, and obstetrician-gynaecologists in office-based practices in rural central Pennsylvania. Using thematic analysis, investigators developed a coding scheme. Questions focused on 1) screening and diagnosis of mental health conditions, 2) barriers to treatment among rural women, 3) management of mental illnesses in rural women, and 4) ideas to improve care for this population. Results: PCP responses reflected these themes: 1) PCPs identify mental illnesses through several mechanisms including routine screening, indicator- based assessment and self-identification by the patient; 2) Rural culture and social ecology are significant barriers to women in need of mental healthcare; 3) Mental healthcare resource limitations in rural communities lead PCPs to seek creative solutions to care for rural women with mental illnesses; 4) To improve mental healthcare in rural communities, both social norms and resource limitations must be addressed Conclusion:Our findings can inform future interventions to improve women’s mental healthcare in rural communities. Ideas include promoting generalist education in mental healthcare and expanding access to consultative networks. In addition, community programs to reduce the stigma of mental illnesses in rural communities may promote healthcare seeking and receptiveness to treatment.
Separation Anxiety Disorder in a Missionary Child: Theoretical Considerations and Intervention Strategies:

Based on a review of factors associated with Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD), this article attempts to show how an understanding of these factors can be helpful in instances of separation anxiety...
B-Lymphoid Cell Lines

Human B-cell tumors include a group of heterogeneous diseases with vary-ing natural histories and responsiveness to therapy. Classic examples ofB-cell tumors are Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL) and multiple myeloma (MM). These tumors express the conven-tional B-cell markers, that is, surface and/or cytoplasmic immunoglobulins.However, malignant transformation can affect precursors of the mature B-lymphocytes as exemplified by the non-T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL). Such cases demonstrate immunoglobulin gene rearrangements andreact with monoclonal antibodies to B-cell antigens. B-cell tumors, therefore,represent a spectrum of disorders extending from the immature stem cell tothe most mature plasma cell of the B-lineage.Unlike the granulocytic series where each stage of differentiation hascharacteristic light microscopic features, morphology is not a reliable in-dicator of the B-cell differentiation stage. Monoclonal antibodies to B-celldifferentiation antigens have been developed, some of which are not onlylineage-specific but also stage-restricted. The gain or loss of such markers inresponse to exogenous agents can provide an objective measure of a changein the differentiation state of the B-cells. Based on this assumption, a numberof hypothetical models for B-cell differentiation have been proposed by dif-ferent groups [1,2]. A hypothetical scheme of B-cell differentiation (Figure1) is used in our institute. The range of reactivity of each antibody is basedon antigen expression on fresh cells taken from patients with B-cell tumorsand B-cell lines [3–7].With the exception of Burkitt lymphoma, attempts to culture lymphomashave been mostly unsuccessful. The most common problem is the overgrowthof Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive lymphoblastoid cell lines from B-61
Dissolution of Stones by Oral and Irrigative Therapy

Advancement in percutaneous and endoscopic techniques has revolutionized surgical treatment options for upper and lower urinary tract calculi. However, while the use of oral and irrigative therapies for stone dissolution has declined over the last decades, these therapies continue to serve as a safe alternative to surgery, especially in patients with significant comorbidities. This chapter examines principles of chemolysis for component-specific stone dissolution including pH manipulation, cation chelation, and mixed disulfide bond formation, as well as setup and deployment of percutaneous irrigation systems.
Optimization of multi-stage hybrid RO-PRO membrane processes at the water–energy nexus

Abstract Water and energy are two of the most pressing problems faced by the world today. Membrane processes such as Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO) can help alleviate both challenges. This work focuses on systematic optimization of a RO-RO-PRO-PRO process for energy-efficient seawater desalination which integrates RO for desalination and PRO for power generation into a single process. Such a hybrid process is of great significance at the water–energy nexus given that water production, pump energy consumption, and hydraulic/osmotic energy recovery are inherently intertwined. The optimization problem is formulated to minimize the Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) subject to specified total membrane area and total water recovery. By solving the optimization model the best design (e.g., allocation of membrane area among different units) and operating (e.g. applied pressure in each membrane unit) conditions are simultaneously determined. It is shown that the proposed RO-RO-PRO-PRO allows a profile of the applied pressure that more closely tracks that of the concentrate osmotic pressure than RO-PRO, thus improving energy efficiency. Challenges and opportunities in further development of hybrid RO-PRO processes are discussed.
Nonlabeled quartz crystal microbalance biosensor for bacterial detection using carbohydrate and lectin recognitions.

High percentages of harmful microbes or their secreting toxins bind to specific carbohydrate sequences on human cells at the recognition and attachment sites. A number of studies also show that lectins react with specific structures of bacteria and fungi. In this report, we take advantage of the fact that a high percentage of microorganisms have both carbohydrate and lectin binding pockets at their surface. We demonstrate here for the first time that a carbohydrate nonlabeled mass sensor in combination with lectin−bacterial O-antigen recognition can be used for detection of high molecular weight bacterial targets with remarkably high sensitivity and enhanced specificity. A functional mannose self-assembled monolayer in combination with lectin concanavalin A (Con A) was used as molecular recognition elements for the detection of Escherichia coli W1485 using a quartz crytsal microbalance (QCM) as a transducer. The multivalent binding of Con A to the E. coli surface O-antigen favors the strong adhesion of E....
“Elevator Eyes” in Sports Broadcasting: Visual Objectification of Male and Female Sports Reporters

Despite considerable research exploring female objectification in sports, researchers have not explored differences in how they are actually watched by audiences in terms of distribution of visual ...
Compliance with preoperative care measures reduces surgical site infection after colorectal operation

Background Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a major cause of morbidity complicating colorectal operations. Several evidence-based preoperative strategies are associated with decreased SSI rates. We hypothesize that compliance with multiple strategies is associated with lower incidence of SSI after the elective colorectal operation. Methods Preoperative care measure compliance before colorectal operations were assessed. Measures included antiseptic wash the night before and day of operation, oral antibiotic, and mechanical bowel preparation, antibiotic prophylaxis, Chloraprep skin preparation, and hair clipping. Rates of SSI after colectomy and other pertinent outcomes were stratified by full and partial compliance with preoperative measures. Exclusion criteria included bowel perforation, ischemia, complete obstruction, intra-abdominal abscess, and no intraoperative skin closure. Results Eight hundred twenty-six subjects underwent colectomy between 2010 and 2016; 469 met inclusion criteria. Compliance with all measures occurred in 214 (46%) and was independently associated with lower postoperative infection rates (odds ratio [OR], 0.37; confidence interval [CI], 0.16-0.85; P = 0.02). SSI occurred in 51 (11%): was superficial in 35 (7%); deep in 5 (1%); and organ space in 11 (2%). SSI rates were reduced from 16% (partial or no compliance group) to 5% (full compliance group). No stand-alone intervention was independently associated with decreased SSI rate. Multivariate analysis found the following factors associated with a lower risk of SSI: full compliance with all five process measures, lower BMI, nonsmoker, and minimally invasive operation. Discussion and conclusion Compliance with preoperative care strategies reduces rates of SSI after colectomy with a cumulative effect more pronounced than any single intervention reinforcing the need for protocol-driven and evidence-based care for patients undergoing colorectal operations.
Patient-Reported Outcomes After Percutaneous Renal Ablation: Initial Experience.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to assess patient-reported outcomes after renal tumor ablation. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A retrospective review of a pilot quality initiative from February 201...
Quantification of myocardial uptake rate constants in dynamic small-animal SPECT using a cardiac phantom

Myocardial blood flow and myocardial blood flow reserve (MBFR) measurements are often used clinically to quantify coronary microvascular function. Developing imaging-based methods to measure MBFR for research in mice would be advantageous for evaluating new treatment methods for coronary microvascular disease (CMVD), yet this is more challenging in mice than in humans. This work investigates microSPECT's quantitative capabilities of cardiac imaging by utilizing a multi-part cardiac phantom and applying a known kinetic model to synthesize kinetic data from static data, allowing for assessment of kinetic modeling accuracy. The phantom was designed with four main components: two left-ventricular (LV) myocardial sections and two LV blood-pool sections, sized for end-systole (ES) and end-diastole (ED). Each section of the phantom was imaged separately while acquiring list-mode data. These static, separate-compartment data were manipulated into synthetic dynamic data using a kinetic model representing the myocardium and blood-pool activity concentrations over time and then combined into a set of dynamic image frames and reconstructed. Regions of interest were drawn on the resulting images, and kinetic parameters were estimated. This process was performed for three tracer uptake values (K 1), three myocardial wall thicknesses, ten filter parameters, and 20 iterations for 25 noise ensembles. The degree of filtering and iteration number were optimized to minimize the root mean-squared error (RMSE) of K 1 values, with the largest number of iterations and minimal filtering yielding the lowest error. Using the optimized parameters, K 1 was determined with reasonable error (~3% RMSE) over all wall thicknesses and K 1 input values. This work demonstrates that accurate and precise measurements of K 1 are possible for the U-SPECT+ system used in this study, for several different uptake rates and LV dimensions. Additionally, it allows for future investigation utilizing other imaging systems, including PET studies with any radiotracer, as well as with additional phantom parts containing lesions.
Re-introducing Life History Methodology: An Equitable Social Justice Approach to Research in Education

Educational researchers who are mindful of social justice are suggested to consider contemporary research methodologies’ historical alignment with colonization: Expansion and the ensuing epistemicide. This chapter argues that life history methodology can be used as a counter to traditional research methodologies and provides space to collect and analyze data in a way that counters past traditions. Contemporary educational research methodologies and methods are replete with historical baggage so pronounced that social justice advocates can, unwittingly, engage in research methods that reify the harms that they seek to counter. Life history provides real opportunities for educational researchers to develop new knowledge by listening to and validating the experiences of the most vulnerable populations. Life history challenges the idea of a universal truth—stemming from Eurocentric positionalities.
Crystal Structure of VapBC-1 From Nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae and the Effect of PIN Domain Mutations on Survival During Infection

Toxin-antitoxin (TA) gene pairs have been identified in nearly all bacterial genomes sequenced to date and are thought to facilitate persistence and antibiotic tolerance. TA loci are classified into various types based upon the characteristics of their antitoxins, with those in type II expressing proteic antitoxins. Many toxins from type II modules are ribonucleases that maintain a PilT N-terminus (PIN) domain containing conserved amino acids considered essential for activity. The vapBC ( v irulence a ssociated p rotein) TA system is the largest subfamily in this class, and has been linked to pathogenesis of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). In this study, the crystal structure of the VapBC-1 complex from NTHi was determined to 2.20 A resolution. Based on this structure, aspartate-to-asparagine and glutamate-to-glutamine mutations of four conserved residues in the PIN domain of the VapC-1 toxin were constructed and the effects of the mutations on protein-protein interactions, growth of Escherichia coli and pathogenesis ex vivo were tested. Finally, a novel model system was designed and utilized that consists of an NTHi Δ vapBC-1 strain complemented in cis with the TA module containing a mutated or wild-type toxin at an ectopic site on the chromosome. This enabled the analysis of the effect of PIN domain toxin mutants in tandem with their wild-type antitoxin under the control of the vapBC- 1 native promoter and in single copy. This is the first report of a system facilitating the study of TA mutant operons in the background of NTHi during infections of primary human tissues ex vivo . IMPORTANCE: Herein the crystal structure of the VapBC-1 complex from nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is described. Our results show that some of the mutations in the PIN domain of the VapC-1 toxin were associated with decreased toxicity in E. coli , but the mutants retained the ability to homodimerize and to heterodimerize with the wild-type cognate antitoxin, VapB-1. A new system was designed and constructed to quantify the effects of these mutations on NTHi survival during infections of primary human tissues ex vivo . Any mutation to a conserved amino acid in the PIN domain significantly decreased the number of survivors compared to the in cis wild-type toxin under the same conditions.
A characterization of regular tetrahedra in Z3

Abstract Text In this note we characterize all regular tetrahedra whose vertices in R 3 have integer coordinates. The main result is a consequence of the characterization of all equilateral triangles having integer coordinates [R. Chandler, E.J. Ionascu, A characterization of all equilateral triangles in Z 3 , Integers 8 (2008), Article A19]. Previous work on this topic begun in [E.J. Ionascu, A parametrization of equilateral triangles having integer coordinates, J. Integer Seq. 10 (2007), Article 07.6.7]. We will use this characterization to point out some corollaries. The number of such tetrahedra whose vertices are in the finite set { 0 , 1 , 2 , … , n } 3 , n ∈ N , is related to the sequence A103158 in the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences [Neil J.A. Sloane, The On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences, published electronically at: http://www.research.att.com/~njas/sequences/ , 2005]. Video For a video summary of this paper, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT3aAUUFMFk .
TAF1-gene editing alters the morphology and function of the cerebellum and cerebral cortex.

Abstract TAF1/MRSX33 intellectual disability syndrome is an X-linked disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the TAF1 gene. How these mutations cause dysmorphology, hypotonia, intellectual and motor defects is unknown. Mouse models which have embryonically targeted TAF1 have failed, possibly due to TAF1 being essential for viability, preferentially expressed in early brain development, and intolerant of mutation. Novel animal models are valuable tools for understanding neuronal pathology. Here, we report the development and characterization of a novel animal model for TAF1 ID syndrome in which the TAF1 gene is deleted in embryonic rats using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) associated protein 9 (Cas9) technology and somatic brain transgenesis mediated by lentiviral transduction. Rat pups, post-natal day 3, were subjected to intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of either gRNA-control or gRNA-TAF1 vectors. Rats were subjected to a battery of behavioral tests followed by histopathological analyses of brains at post-natal day 14 and day 35. TAF1-edited rats exhibited behavioral deficits at both the neonatal and juvenile stages of development. Deletion of TAF1 lead to a hypoplasia and loss of the Purkinje cells. We also observed a decreased in GFAP positive astrocytes and an increase in Iba1 positive microglia within the granular layer of the cerebellum in TAF1-edited animals. Immunostaining revealed a reduction in the expression of the CaV3.1 T-type calcium channel. Abnormal motor symptoms in TAF1-edited rats were associated with irregular cerebellar output caused by changes in the intrinsic activity of the Purkinje cells due to loss of pre-synaptic CaV3.1. This animal model provides a powerful new tool for studies of neuronal dysfunction in conditions associated with TAF1 abnormalities and should prove useful for developing therapeutic strategies to treat TAF1 ID syndrome.
Thermodynamics of solute capture during the oxidation of multicomponent metals

Abstract In the classical theories of oxidation of metals it is assumed that the interface between the oxide and metal is in thermodynamic equilibrium. However, in many cases this is not true, the oxide grows too fast or the fluxes through the interface are too large for local interfacial equilibrium to exist, leading to nonequilibrium solute capture. We present a thermodynamic analysis using both an available database as well as density functional theory calculations of the thermodynamic conditions for this during the oxidation of Ni-Cr alloys. The analysis indicates that nickel atoms can be captured in the rocksalt or corundum crystallographies for a very wide range of compositions, consistent with recent experimental observations. The density functional theory analysis also provides information about the electronic structure of these oxides which is important to understand their properties, and also indicates that interpretation of spectroscopic data is not simple as mixed valence states as well as Cr4+ can occur under oxidizing conditions. We point out that across at least the first transition row of elements the thermodynamic conditions for nonequilibrium solute capture can easily be met.
Searching for fracton orders via symmetry defect condensation

Fracton phases are exotic quantum states of matter that are characterized by the presence of pointlike excitations with fundamentally restricted mobility. Important open questions remain about how to characterize the universal properties of distinct types of fracton order when viewed as conventional quantum phases. The authors provide substantial progress towards answering this question by deriving constraints on the ground-state wavefunctions of fracton phases, which generalize the string-net equations used to characterize two-dimensional topological order. These constraints yield new types of fracton order, and provide a starting point for characterizing their essential data.
Trends in Antihypertensive Medication Monotherapy and Combination Use Among US Adults, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2016.

Blood pressure (BP) control rates among US adults taking antihypertensive medication have not increased over the past decade. Many adults require 2 or more classes of antihypertensive medication to...
Chlorophyll fluorescence and variations in tissue cold hardiness in response to freezing stress in Douglas-fir seedlings

Two-year-old coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings from two seed lots were exposed to controlled freezing temperatures every 4 weeks from October 1993 through April 1994. Freezing effects were assessed by measuring chlorophyll fluorescence emissions 1 day after freezing and by evaluating damage to the bud, cambium, and needle tissues 7 days after freezing. Differences between the seed lots as well as changes in cold hardiness among the bud, cambium, and needle tissues were evident throughout the duration of the study. Tissue damage was higher with increased freezing stress. Severity of damage to each of the tissues varied seasonally. Chlorophyll fluorescence emissions were lower with higher freezing stress (except during November and December, when test temperatures were not low enough to significantly damage the seedlings) and showed a strong relationship with morphological assessments of freezing stress. The slope of the slow kinetics phase of the chlorophyll fluorescence curve tended to be less steep (i.e., quenching was reduced) with higher freezing stress. Nonfrozen chlorophyll fluorescence measurements showed no obvious relationship with LT50 for either seed lot. However, chlorophyll fluorescence measurements are useful for determining cold hardiness and resistance to stress, because they provide a rapid assessment of seedling vigor following exposure to freezing.
Patterns of hedgehog inhibitor (HHI) treatment interruptions and re-initiations among patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in real-world clinical practice.

e19349Background: HHIs are oral targeted therapies approved for the treatment of advanced BCC but treatment-related adverse events may result in treatment interruptions or discontinuation. The obje...
Some law enforcement officers’ negative attitudes toward overdose victims are exacerbated following overdose education training

The devastating impact of the current opioid overdose crisis has led to new involvement of law enforcement officers. Training programs have focused on overdose recognition and response without targ...
Implementation of mental health services in conflict and post-conflict zones: Lessons from Syria.

Objective: We describe the challenges confronted and lessons learned in implementing mental healthcare during the Syrian war to inform effective services for conflict-affected Syrian populations. Materials and Methods: We searched the academic and gray literature. We draw on the experiences of Syrian-American mental health professionals with nine years of experience providing clinical and programmatic mental healthcare in combat settings, siege, internally displaced person camps, and refugee camps. Results: Collaboration with nonprofessional personnel was essential due to the shortage of formally trained mental healthcare professionals in Syria. The use of psychological and diagnostic terms increased stigma, whereas asking about the patient’s identified problem, “suffering,” or “challenges” supported engagement. War-related trauma and horizontal violence commonly affect Syrian children, adolescents, and adults. Resilience and engagement were enhanced by sensitivity to patients’ dignity, religious acceptance, and faith. Conclusions: The Syrian war remains an ongoing public health and humanitarian crisis in which mental healthcare must adapt rapidly to specific needs and resources of the patient and community. Psychiatrists can increase the acceptability and efficacy of their care by being sensitive to Syrian patients’ experiences of horizontal violence, loss of dignity, stigma, worldviews in which religion and faith may be important sources of resilience, and culturally acceptable modes of communication.
Creating, Sustaining, or Dispelling Misconceptions: A Discourse Analysis of Mainstream Print Media's Coverage of Obama's Religious Identity

This study considered the role the mainstream print media has played in creating, sustaining, or dispelling the confusion among some Americans regarding President Barack Obama’s religious identity. Employing a qualitative discourse analysis of coverage of Obama’s religious identity, the study noted several distinct themes, including current faith practices, connections to history, blame game, otherness, politicization, and Muslim connections. A number of articles failed to capture the social, political, and historical contexts of the issue. This failure resulted in coverage that implicitly accepted the questions’ legitimacy surrounding the President’s religion and delegitimized his beliefs. Other coverage legitimated the confusion over his religious identity by focusing on Obama’s “nontraditional” path to Christianity. Such coverage accentuated Obama’s otherness, and created the potential for distrust and doubt. The study concluded that the coverage Obama received from the mainstream print media played an important but inconsistent role in dispelling the confusion over his religious identity.
More robust estimation of average treatment effects using kernel optimal matching in an observational study of spine surgical interventions

Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), which has been used to estimate average treatment effects (ATE) using observational data, tenuously relies on the positivity assumption and the correct specification of the treatment assignment model, both of which are problematic assumptions in many observational studies. Various methods have been proposed to overcome these challenges, including truncation, covariate-balancing propensity scores, and stable balancing weights. Motivated by an observational study in spine surgery, in which positivity is violated and the true treatment assignment model is unknown, we present the use of optimal balancing by kernel optimal matching (KOM) to estimate ATE. By uniformly controlling the conditional mean squared error of a weighted estimator over a class of models, KOM simultaneously mitigates issues of possible misspecification of the treatment assignment model and is able to handle practical violations of the positivity assumption, as shown in our simulation study. Using data from a clinical registry, we apply KOM to compare two spine surgical interventions and demonstrate how the result matches the conclusions of clinical trials that IPTW estimates spuriously refute.
Ultra-wideband ground penetrating radar with orbital angular momentum control

Ultra-wideband (UWB) ground penetrating radar (GPR) is an effective, widely used tool for detection and mapping of buried targets. However, traditional ground penetrating radar systems struggle to resolve and identify congested target configurations and irregularly shaped targets. This is a significant limitation for many municipalities who seek to use GPR to locate and image underground utility pipes. This research investigates the implementation of orbital angular momentum (OAM) control in an UWB GPR, with the goal of addressing these limitations. Control of OAM is a novel technique which leverages an additional degree of freedom offered by spatially structured helical waveforms. This paper examines several free-space and buried target configurations to determine the ability of helical OAM waveforms to improve detectability and distinguishability of buried objects including those with symmetric, asymmetric, and chiral geometries. Microwave OAM can be generated using a uniform circular array (UCA) of antennas with phase delays applied according to azimuth angle. Here, a four-channel network analyzer transceiver is connected to a UCA to enable UWB capability. The characteristic phase delays of OAM waveforms are implemented synthetically via signal processing. The viability demonstrated with the method opens design and analysis degrees of freedom for penetrating radar that may help with discerning challenging targets, such as buried landmines and wires.
Osteoporosis Management with Focus on Spine

Osteoporosis is one of the most prevalent bone diseases and is associated with age. Vertebral fractures are the most common manifestation of osteoporosis. Vertebral and hip fractures are associated with excess mortality. A previous spine fracture increases the risk of next vertebral fracture by fivefold during the following year, with almost 20% of women developing a vertebral fracture (VF) within the next 12 months. Low bone mineral density (BMD) is a major risk factor for poor screw fixation, screw loosening, and fixation failure since the ability of screws to resist pullout from bone is directly related to BMD. The anti-osteoporosis medications, pharmacological and non-pharmacological osteoporosis management, and bone-targeted therapy for selected malignancies are described in the chapter.
Immunoglobulin λ genes

Publisher Summary The lambda (ƛ) gene family found in most laboratory mouse strains is one of the smallest immunoglobulin gene systems. The gene segments that appear to be involved in the synthesis of ƛ light chains in the BALB/c mouse have been isolated, characterized, and sequenced. There are two classes of immunoglobulin light-chain polypeptides, designated as kappa (κ) and ƛ, found among serum antibodies, although individual antibody molecules contain only one of these classes. Both κand ƛ light chains are found in most vertebrates. However, the Κ/ƛ ratio varies widely among different species. In mice and humans, ƛ chains are encoded by gene families located on separate chromosomes. The ƛ genes require variable (V) joining (J), V-J recombination, to produce functional proteins. Instead, the ƛ class of light chains appears to reflect an evolutionary duplication and divergence process that serves to provide additional V-region diversity for the antibody repertoire.