cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An unwilling client: how Hosni Mubarak's Egypt defied the Bush administration's ‘freedom agenda’

When the George W Bush administration announced the ‘freedom agenda’ in the Middle East, officials claimed it marked a major break in United States (US) foreign policy. In 2005, the administration intensified efforts pressuring Egypt, a client state, to democratize. However, the US continued pursuing security cooperation with and providing military aid to Egypt. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak repelled US reform efforts by exploiting the normative inconsistency between democratization and security in the war on terror. This paper reviews Mubarak's ‘balking’ strategy (Stephen Walt, Taming American power, New York: WW Norton, 2005), including feigning compliance through nominal legal changes and counter-arguments to buy time until the inconsistencies in US policy came to a head. By 2006, the US had abandoned the freedom agenda and the Egyptian regime had embarked on a repression campaign. As I argue, the implications of the contradictions in US policy towards Egypt demonstrate that weaker client states may...
Thalassinoides and the enigma of early Paleozoic open-framework burrow systems

The trace fossil Thalassinoides, a common constituent of the Zoophycos and Glossifungites ichnofacies, is abundant in post-Paleozoic rocks. Modern Thalassinoides-like burrows are constructed by a variety of marine organisms, most importantly decapod crustaceans such as thalassinid shrimp, in modern intertidal and shallow subtidal environments. Lower Paleozoic examples of Thalassinoides are poorly documented despite the abundance of Ordovician "burrow mottled" shelf limestone that is generally thought to represent dense populations of Thalassinoides burrows. The paleontological record of decapods begins only in the Devonian, and thus, a considerable time gap exists between the early occurrences of Thalassinoides burrows and the oldest fossils of organisms most commonly associated with their construction, particularly in post-Paleozoic forms. Specimens of a new ichnospecies of Thalassinoides from the lower Paleozoic Manitou and Peerless formations of Colorado, herein defined as Thalassinoides horizontalis, consist of bedding-parallel polygonal networks of smoothwalled, unlined, horizontally branching burrows. Burrows form both Yand T-junctions but contain no swellings at junctions or elsewhere. They consist of a narrow diameter tube or inner core (<4 mm) and a 3-4 mm outer wall, the latter representing a diagenetic halo formed around a mucus-impregnated burrow. Five styles of preservation relate to the presence or absence of burrow-fill and patterns of mineral replacement and weathering. The extremely small burrow diameters, lack of some features such as scratchings and swellings, absence of vertical shafts, and the common regularity of branching separates this new ichnospecies from other Thalassinoides ichnospecies in either Paleozoic or post-Paleozoic strata. Thalassinoides horizontalis burrows were not made by large decapod crustaceans like those that made postPaleozoic Thalassinoides, but by small crustaceans or, more likely, soft-bodied organisms that made semi-permanent to permanent tunnels within firmground sediment. The open-framework burrow systems may record the activities of some of the oldest vagile suspension feeders to colonize infaunal habitats.
Trends of Mortality Indicators in Nagaland: A Time Series Analysis

Health is one of the vital aspects of human life. In the present modernized era, people are more conscious about their health. Since the last 62 years after independence, India has developed significantly in the health sector and as a result the country succeeded in many ways in controlling various diseases. Nagaland, being a poor tribal hill state also succeeded in many ways in controlling infant mortality rate, birth rate, death rate etc. Basic objective of the present study is to study the trend of infant mortality rate, birth rate and death rate in relation to various factors associated with their changes in Nagaland in comparison to the country as a whole, mostly during the period 1997-2008. This study is based entirely on secondary data. Infant mortality rate in Nagaland showed an increase over the years as against a declining trend seen in the country. However, infant mortality rate was recorded a bit low in Nagaland as compared to the rest of the country. Increase in infant mortality rate was reported in Nagaland mostly because of improper and unhygienic delivery at home for most of the cases. The percentage of pregnant women who received all types of care, pre and post natal, in Nagaland was recorded the lowest among the North Eastern States.
Elicited Imitation for Brazilian Portuguese

Elicited imitation (EI) is an approach to measuring oral proficiency that consists of having test takers hear a sentence and repeat the sentence exactly as they heard it. Though indirect in nature, EI has successfully shown to correlate with previously established oral proficiency examinations, such as the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) (Lonsdale and Christensen 2014, Matsushita and Lonsdale 2014, Millard 2011, Thompson 2013). This paper discusses the development, administration, and evaluation of an EI test for the Brazilian Portuguese language. We first discuss the relevant background of oral proficiency examination and EI. After presenting the pertinent research questions, we explain the methodology used to develop the EI test, recruit participants, and administer the test. We present the results and analysis and then summarize the findings, limitations, and possible future work.
Analysis of the cause of cirrhosis patients with rapid decrease of platelet level

Objective To summarize the cause of cirrhosis patients with rapid decrease of platelet level. Methods Eight posthepatitic cirrhosis patients were involved in our study and their liver function indexes,prothrombin activity,antiplatelet antibody and bone marrow biopsy results were retrospectively analyzed. Results Eight cirrhosis patients with developing thrombocytopenia were out of proportion to their liver diseases,and they were diagnosed as immune thrombocytopenia based on positive anti-platelet antibody and exclusion of severe infection,disseminated intravascular coagulation,aplastic anemia,lymphoma,thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and so on.All patients' platelet obviously increased after treatment with immunoglobulin and corticosteroids. Conclusion Immune thrombocytopenia should be considered coexistence in posthepatitic cirrhosis patients when the platelets decreased markedly in a short-term.
Preparation and Characterization of TiO_2 Nanofibers Doped with Cerium

Rare earth element has an f electron, easy to form kinds of compounds, its oxide also has some kinds of crystalline, good thermal stability, and strong choice of adsorption. The results of many experiments have already reported that the properties of the impure TiO_2 have differ from a pure TiO_2, therefore, studying the influence of doped with cerium to the microstructural of the TiO_2 has important meaning to the improving its function.The TiO_2 nanofibers doped with cerium were prepared by sol-gel method and electrospinnin technique. The morphology and structure of the nanofibers were characterized by atom force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy disperse spectrum (EDS) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The results indicate that the products are a mixed crystal phase including anatase and rutile, with an average length of 10μm, diameter of 150nm. The content of cerium is 1.85% (wt%).
Diagnostic techniques in cardiac disorders: Part I.

Advances in technology over the past 15 years have given birth to a new field of multidisciplinary cardiovascular care and research, that of perinatal cardiology. Today's neonatal nurse must become familiar with the battery of tools that may be enlisted to assist in the assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and evaluation of cardiac disorders and therapeutic maneuvers in the neonate. In the first part of this two-part article, the standard initial examination of the history and physical, the chest x-ray, and the electrocardiogram were reviewed. This second part discusses the role of both invasive and noninvasive "high-tech" diagnostic techniques commonly used in today's management of neonatal cardiac disease.
Evaluating the Activity of Smoothened Toward G Proteins Using [ 35 S]Guanosine 5′-(3- O -thio)triphosphate ([ 35 S]GTPγS)

The utilization of heterotrimeric G protein, and in particular those of the Gi, family, by Hedgehogs through Smoothened has become increasingly clear. We describe here a method for evaluating the activity of Smoothened toward G proteins in membranes derived from human embryonic kidney-293 (HEK293) cells. The assay relies on receptor-promoted exchange of GDP for [(35)S]GTPγS on the Gα subunit. The assay is best suited for analysis of the constitutive activity of Smoothened, inverse agonism superimposed on this activity, and neutral antagonism superimposed on inverse agonism. The assay would also be suitable for several other applications requiring a proximal, quantifiable readout of Smoothened activity.
G Protein-Coupled Receptor Structures

Publisher Summary Guanine nucleotide protein- (G protein-) coupled receptors, or GPCRs, form the largest, most ubiquitous, and most variable superfamily of integral transmembrane proteins. Crystal structures of individual GPCRs allow the rational design of drugs to treat various human maladies. GPCRs are responsible for the communication of events from the extracellular environment to the inside of the cell by activating the internal membrane-associated heterotrimeric G proteins, although more recent results indicate G protein independent signaling. Recently, the crystallographic structure of a rhodopsin with G protein peptide bound in an active conformation is also solved. The most widely used model for ligand-dependent receptor activation is described by the so-called extended ternary complex, and its extension, the cubic ternary complex. The Protein Data Bank provides real insight into the molecular structural understanding of signal transduction across the cell membrane.
Stem Cells in Spine Surgery.

Introduction Spine surgeons are embracing advanced biologic technologies in an attempt to help millions of people achieve a better outcome in spine surgery. These new technologies may be complicated to understand, partly because the contribution of different types of cells has not been definitively identified. This paper describes the characteristics of the stem cells used in spine surgery, including their actions and possible complications. The description necessitates an overview of all studies to date on the use of stem cells in spine surgery, as well as other cells used in cellular therapy. Materials and methods The paper summarizes the results of major studies to date on the use of stem cells in spine surgery. Cells were harvested from the posterior superior iliac spine, vertebral bodies in surgery, fat tissue, or from the posterior spine of cadavers. Results This paper reports on three studies involving 37 patients treated with stem cells for regenerative spine surgery, 14 studies involving 533 patients treated with stem cells in spinal fusion surgery, and one study in which stem cells were used for the treatment of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Discussion Indications, techniques, and calibration of results were different in each study. Results are available for cellular augmentation of demineralized bone sponges, OsteoSponge® (Bacterin, Belgrade, Montana) and concentrated bone marrow (Terumo BCT®, Lakewood, CO); cancellous allograft bone and BMA; mineralized collagen and BMA; Osteocel® Plus (OC+) (Nuvasive®, San Diego, California); b-Tricalcium phosphate (b-TCP) (SYNTHES® Dento, West Chester, Pennsylvania; a silicate-substituted calcium phosphate (Si-CaP) with bone marrow aspirate (BMA), and HEALOS® graft carrier (DePuy Synthes, West Chester, Pennsylvania) with bone marrow aspirate. Conclusion Stem cell augmentation of spinal fusion surgery is equivalent to the gold standard for iliac crest bone graft in posterolateral fusion models. There is evidence of safety and feasibility in the injectable treatment of DDD with autologous BMC that indicates a favorable outcome of mesenchymal cell concentration on discogenic pain reduction. The use of adult stem cells is an innovation that promises fewer complications and improved function in patients who are demographically suitable for stem cell therapy.
Best Clinical Practice: Emergency Medicine Management of Stable Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia

Abstract Background Ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation are the causes of approximately 300,000 deaths per year in the United States. VT is classified based on hemodynamic status and appearance. Stable, monomorphic VT treatment is controversial. Objective Our aim was to provide emergency physicians with an evidence-based review of the medical management of stable, monomorphic VT. Discussion Stable, monomorphic VT is part of a larger class of ventricular dysrhythmias defined by a rate of at least 120 beats/min with QRS > 120 ms without regularly occurring P:QRS association. Little controversy exists for the treatment of hemodynamically unstable VT. The medical management of hemodynamically stable monomorphic VT is surrounded by controversy. Direct current cardioversion is most efficacious. Guidelines for the treatment of stable VT from the American Heart Association provide a IIa recommendation for procainamide, compared with a IIb recommendation for both amiodarone and sotalol. Studies evaluating procainamide, lidocaine, amiodarone, and sotalol suffer from poor design, difference in inclusion and exclusion criteria, small sample size, and outcome determination. Procainamide demonstrates the greatest efficacy. If procainamide is selected, a maximum dose of 10 mg/kg at 50–100 mg/min intravenous (IV) over 10–20 min should be provided with monitoring of blood pressure and electrocardiogram. Monomorphic VT with acute myocardial ischemia requires further study. Conclusions Optimal management of stable, monomorphic VT includes direct current cardioversion. If medical management is chosen, procainamide is most efficacious, though current literature suffers from poor design.
Understanding the value of reputation systems in enterprise social media (ESM) - The impact on ESM engagement behaviors

Enterprise Social Media (ESM) platforms have been gaining popularity in organizations in recent years. Despite the perceived value of these platforms, many ESM projects fail in their first six months because of the lack of employee engagement. Reputation systems, which track user behaviors within the ESM and assign the user a reputation score based upon a points system designated by the organization, have shown promise as a catalyst for greater employee engagement. This RIP seeks to understand the impact of the reputation systems on users' ESM engagement behaviors. More specifically, on the user side, we examine: How do employees' beliefs about online reputation in the reputation leaderboard influence employees' ESM engagement behaviors? On the artifact side, we investigate: How does the design of reputation systems influence employees' ESM engagement behaviors? We present the motivations, theoretical basis and research model, and the intended research design for the study. (Less)
Air Breathing Cathodes for Microbial Fuel Cell using Mn-, Fe-, Co- and Ni-containing Platinum Group Metal-free Catalysts

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the major factors that is limiting the overall performance output of microbial fuel cells (MFC). In this study, Platinum Group Metal-free (PGM-free) ORR catalysts based on Fe, Co, Ni, Mn and the same precursor (Aminoantipyrine, AAPyr) were synthesized using identical sacrificial support method (SSM). The catalysts were investigated for their electrochemical performance, and then integrated into an air-breathing cathode to be tested in "clean" environment and in a working microbial fuel cell (MFC). Their performances were also compared to activated carbon (AC) based cathode under similar conditions. Results showed that the addition of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni to AAPyr increased the performances compared to AC. Fe-AAPyr showed the highest open circuit potential (OCP) that was 0.307 ± 0.001 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and the highest electrocatalytic activity at pH 7.5. On the contrary, AC had an OCP of 0.203 ± 0.002 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and had the lowest electrochemical activity. In MFC, Fe-AAPyr also had the highest output of 251 ± 2.3 μWcm-2, followed by Co-AAPyr with 196 ± 1.5 μWcm-2, Ni-AAPyr with 171 ± 3.6 μWcm-2, Mn-AAPyr with 160 ± 2.8 μWcm-2 and AC 129 ± 4.2 μWcm-2. The best performing catalyst (Fe-AAPyr) was then tested in MFC with increasing solution conductivity from 12.4 mScm-1 to 63.1 mScm-1. A maximum power density of 482 ± 5 μWcm-2 was obtained with increasing solution conductivity, which is one of the highest values reported in the field.
Does Oral Health Predict Functional Status in Late Life? Findings From a National Sample:

Objective: This study aims to examine the association between oral health and the decline in functional status among middle-aged and older adults in the United States. Method: Generalized estimatio...
Chemical Effect on X-Ray Absorption-Edge Fine Structure

Existing theories of X-ray absorption-edge fine structure do not adequately explain details of spectra observed for solids. However, the possibility that X-ray absorption spectra might eventually be used as tools for the characterization of new insulator materials has prompted the study of an extensive selection of simple oxides of known chemistry and structure. The complete K absorption fine structure has been measured for some forty simple oxides of six elements of the fourth period. The L absorption-edge spectra have been measured for metallic lead and several lead oxides. The several isostructural and polymorphic sets included among these oxides, as well as the Magneli phases for three of the elements, have made it possible to study the effects of valence, coordination number, electron configuration, and crystal structure. The applicability of current theories of the fine structures are discussed in the light of these findings. An automated single-crystal spectrometer is described.
A Presynaptic Glutamate Receptor Subunit Confers Robustness to Neurotransmission and Homeostatic Potentiation

Summary Homeostatic signaling systems are thought to interface with other forms of plasticity to ensure flexible yet stable levels of neurotransmission. The role of neurotransmitter receptors in this process, beyond mediating neurotransmission itself, is not known. Through a forward genetic screen, we have identified the Drosophila kainate-type ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit DKaiR1D to be required for the retrograde, homeostatic potentiation of synaptic strength. DKaiR1D is necessary in presynaptic motor neurons, localized near active zones, and confers robustness to the calcium sensitivity of baseline synaptic transmission. Acute pharmacological blockade of DKaiR1D disrupts homeostatic plasticity, indicating that this receptor is required for the expression of this process, distinct from developmental roles. Finally, we demonstrate that calcium permeability through DKaiR1D is necessary for baseline synaptic transmission, but not for homeostatic signaling. We propose that DKaiR1D is a glutamate autoreceptor that promotes robustness to synaptic strength and plasticity with active zone specificity.
A casein kinase 1 prevents expulsion of the oocyte meiotic spindle into a polar body by regulating cortical contractility

During female meiosis, haploid eggs are generated from diploid oocytes. This reduction in chromosome number occurs through two highly asymmetric cell divisions, resulting in one large egg and two small polar bodies. Unlike mitosis, where an actomyosin contractile ring forms between the sets of segregating chromosomes, the meiotic contractile ring forms on the cortex adjacent to one spindle pole, then ingresses down the length of the spindle to position itself at the exact midpoint between the two sets of segregating chromosomes. Depletion of casein kinase 1 gamma (CSNK-1) in Caenorhabditis elegans led to the formation of large polar bodies that contain all maternal DNA, because the contractile ring ingressed past the spindle midpoint. Depletion of CSNK-1 also resulted in the formation of deep membrane invaginations during meiosis, suggesting an effect on cortical myosin. Both myosin and anillin assemble into dynamic rho-dependent cortical patches that rapidly disassemble in wild-type embryos. CSNK-1 was required for disassembly of both myosin patches and anillin patches. Disassembly of anillin patches was myosin independent, suggesting that CSNK-1 prevents expulsion of the entire meiotic spindle into a polar body by negatively regulating the rho pathway rather than through direct inhibition of myosin.
Recruitment and Selection of Educational Administrators: Priorities for Today’s Schools

Effective recruitment and selection of school administrators continues to be one of the more challenging human resource administration functions in educational organizations. This challenge is due, in part, to the inexact ‘science’ of attracting, screening, and identifying quality candidates to fit the complex leadership needs of schools today. Factors such as recent educational initiatives, new conceptualizations of leadership, and changing student characteristics are influencing the position demands of administrative roles. Articulation of these changing position demands is foundational to the recruitment and selection process because these job characteristics serve as the guiding criteria for recruiting and selecting candidates. Consistency between position expectations and recruitment and selection criteria not only enhances the legal defensibility of the search process, but also promises to increase the reliability and validity of selection decisions.
Computational approaches in design of nucleic acid-based therapeutics

Recent advances in computational and experimental methods have led to novel avenues for therapeutic development. Utilization of nucleic acids as therapeutic agents and/or targets has been recently gaining attention due to their potential as high-affinity, selective molecular building blocks for various therapies. Notably, development of computational algorithms for predicting accessible RNA binding sites, identifying therapeutic target sequences, modeling delivery into tissues, and designing binding aptamers have enhanced therapeutic potential for this new drug category. Here, we review trends in drug development within the pharmaceutical industry and ways by which nucleic acid-based drugs have arisen as effective therapeutic candidates. In particular, we focus on computational and experimental approaches to nucleic acid-based drug design, commenting on challenges and outlooks for future applications.
Can we improve on Wilson and Jungner’s principles of screening for disease?

[See related article at [www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.171154][2]][2] KEY POINTS Wilson and Jungner’s Principles and Practice of Screening for Disease — which was published 50 years ago and is number 34 in the World Health Organization’s Public Health Papers series — may be the most
Reliability of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Functional Rating Scale (SMAFRS) in Ambulatory Adults with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. (P4.452)

Objective: To investigate the reliability of SMAFRS in ambulatory adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Background: SMA is a motor neuron disorder resulting from reduced survival motor neuron (SMN) protein levels. While nusinersen, an antisense oligonucleotide therapy to increase SMN, was approved for all types of SMA, there is minimal data on adults with SMA. Therefore, identifying outcome measures to track and quantify treatment response has become increasingly important. SMAFRS has shown to better discriminate between adults with SMA having 3 versus 4 SMN2 copies as compared to quantifying muscle strength. Similarly, we have previously showed significant modified SMAFRS score differences between adults with SMAtype 2 versus type 3 patients. In this study, we investigated SMAFRS in ambulatory adults with SMA (AA-SMA). Design/Methods: We analyzed data obtained during two screening visits performed 4 weeks apart in 32 participants (19 M;13F) ages (17–55; 36.2±9.2/mean± SD) enrolled in the VALIANT trial. Results of the SMAFRS, maximum voluntary isometric contraction testing (MVICT) of elbow and knee flexion and extension and hand grip, 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and ulnar compound muscle action potential amplitude (CMAP) was analyzed. Spearman’s correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the association between the measures, and p values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: All participants completed the SMAFRS, and the mean SMAFRS was 32.6 ±4.0 for the first visit and 33.1±4.2 for the follow up visit. Test-retest reliability was good with a correlation coefficient of 0.86. SMAFRS showed a positive correlation with MVICT average sum score (r= 0.67, p Conclusions: SMAFRS testing in AA-SMA is feasible, has good test-retest reliability, and shows good correlation with muscle strength and 6MWT. SMAFRS should be assessed as a candidate outcome measure tool to monitor nusinersen treatment. Study Supported by: This project was funded by Cure SMA Disclosure: Dr. Elsheikh has nothing to disclose. Dr. King has nothing to disclose. Dr. Arnold has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kissel has received research support from Novartis, Biomarin, Cytokinetics, CSL Behring, Avexis, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Quintiles, Axelacare.
Strain-specific differences in the development of bone loss and incidence of osteonecrosis following glucocorticoid treatment in two different mouse strains

Author(s): Shidara, Kie; Mohan, Geetha; Evan Lay, Yan-An; Jepsen, Karl J; Yao, Wei; Lane, Nancy E | Abstract: Objective:Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly prescribed as treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases. Prolonged use of GCs is a common cause of atraumatic osteonecrosis (ON) and secondary osteoporosis. Currently, there is no effective treatment for this disease; therefore, a reliable animal model would be useful to study both the pathology and novel treatment strategies for patients with the disease. The aim of this study was to establish a validated, reproducible model of GC-induced ON and bone loss in two different mouse strains (BALB/c and C57BL/6). Methods:Seven-week-old male BALB/c (nn=n32) and male C57BL/6 mice (nn=n32) were randomised into placebo or GC groups and treated with daily 4nmg/L oral dexamethasone in drinking water for 90 days. Study outcome measures included histologic assessment of ON of the distal femur, bone mass and mechanical strength of tibia and lumbar vertebral body, osteoclast number, biochemical measure of bone formationnand bone marrow fat quantitation. Results:GC-induced ON lesions were observed in the distal femur in 47% of the male BALB/c mice and 25% of the male C57BL/6 mice. GC treatment decreased the trabecular bone volume and serum pro-collagen type 1N-protease (P1NP) in BALB/c mice compared with the placebo (pnln0.05)nand reduced tibial bone strength in both BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. GC-treated BALB/c mice had significantly greater marrow fat levels compared to the placebo group. Conclusion:GC-induced ON was more prevalent in the male BALB/c mice compared to the male C57BL/6 mice. GC treatment significantly reduced bone mass, bone formation measured by P1NP, bone strengthnand increased marrow fat levels in male BALB/c mice. Therefore, the use of male BALB/c mice strain is recommended for both diagnostic and therapeutic studies for the prevention and treatment of ON and bone loss following prolonged treatment with GCs. The Translational Potential of this Article:GCs are commonly used to treat patients with various chronic inflammatory diseases, and this is associated with both the development of ON and bone loss. Our study confirmed that the BALB/c mouse strain treated for 90 days with GC may be useful for developing novel treatments for ON.
Characterizing and understanding the variability of streamflow drought indicators within the USA

Low streamflow conditions can have adverse consequences for society and river ecology. The variability and drivers of streamflow drought indicators within the USA were investigated using observed s...
The Design of High-Responsivity Millimeter Wave Imager using Vanadium Dioxide Microbolometers

A new class of millimeter wave (mmW) imaging sensor using a phase-change material (PCM) microbolometer is designed and presented. In this approach, non-linear and large change in electrical resistivity of antenna-coupled vanadium dioxide (VO2) bolometer are exploited to achieve high responsivity, fast response time, and low noise equivalent power (NEP). The sensor is biased near the phase transition cliff temperature of 68 °C. Micro-electro-mechanical Systems (MEMS) microfabrication process is utilized to suspend the sensor in air to improve the thermal resistance and therefore overall performance of the sensor. Preliminary simulation results, together with analytical studies, demonstrate approximately 30 times improvement in responsivity (9.4×103 V/W) and 60% reduction in NEP (5.5 pW/√Hz) as compared to the state-of-the-art sensor. The corresponding rise time and fall time of the device are 6 μs and 35 μs, respectively. In the near future, a pixilated array of the proposed sensor enables the realization of highly sensitive mmW camera for variety of sensing applications.
Brigatinib for ALK-positive metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: design, development and place in therapy

Despite the benefits of first and second generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors in the management of ALK-rearranged advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the development of acquired resistance poses an ongoing dilemma. Brigatinib has demonstrated a wider spectrum of preclinical activity against crizotinib-resistant ALK mutant advanced NSCLC. The current review narrates a brief history of tyrosine kinases, the development and clinical background of brigatinib (including its pharmacology and molecular structure) and its use in ALK-positive NSCLC.
Gas-surface interactions on two-dimensional crystals

Abstract Two-dimensional (2D) crystals have developed into a popular mainstream research topic which is interesting for basic research and many applications. Gas-surface interactions, as reviewed here, are important for catalysis including noble metal-free catalysts, materials science, and surface science as well as environmental and energy technologies. Basic science concerns fundamental differences of 2D crystals and bulk materials as well as e.g. how the substrate of epitaxial 2D crystals affects their surface properties. Most of the attention so far obtained (gas-phase) water adsorption which always was an evergreen in surface science. However, studies about small inorganic/organic molecule adsorption (CO, CO2, NOx, O2, H, rare gases, H2S, SO2, alkanes, benzene, alcohols, thiophene, etc.) and surface reactions on 2D crystals (CO oxidation, ethylene epoxidation, oxygen reduction reaction, SO2 and H2SO3 oxidation) started to appear in the literature as well. This review describes all of these probe molecules, but focuses on experimental and theoretical surface science model studies usually conducted at ultra-high vacuum (UHV). The review focusses on graphene and functionalized graphene (graphene oxide, N-graphene, etc.) since the bulk of the literature deals with that system. However, included in fair detail are also many other 2D crystals such as silicatene, zeolite films (doped silicatene), metal dichalcogenides (such as MoS2, WS2), boron nitride, MXenes, germanene, silicene, TiO2, graphane, graphone, and portlandene. As a prototypical example, in recent projects, the wetting properties of e.g. graphene for water were controversially discussed. Therefore, a long chapter is devoted to water on graphene. That dispute was originally based on contact angle measurements at ambient pressure. In the meanwhile detailed surface science works including theoretical modelling are available. Literature on other carboneous surfaces such as HOPG (see list of acronyms) will be considered as a reference. Related works are also visible for other inorganic 2D crystals such as silicatene, i.e., 2D-SiO2, or 2D-MoS2 as well as functionalized 2D crystals (i.e. graphene oxide, N-doped graphene, graphane, etc.). Hydrophobic systems also are interesting for applications. Although included in this review, but not described in very detail are electro chemistry studies, projects in the liquid phase, photo-chemistry, high pressure catalysis, and pure engineering studies (membranes, separation, fuel cells). However, in comparison with 2D crystals and to perhaps motivate related UHV surface chemistry projects in the future many of these projects were included to some extent. As a broader objective, this review summarizes the currently available knowledge needed to extend the use of 2D materials beyond the utilization of their remarkable electronic and mechanical properties.
Inactivation of antibiotic resistance gene by ternary nanocomposites of carbon nitride, reduced graphene oxide and iron oxide under visible light

Abstract Antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) should be eliminated during wastewater treatment to prohibit the rapid growth and colonization of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) in different waterbodies. With an aim to do so, we have synthesized ternary nanocomposites of graphitic carbon nitride, reduced graphene oxide and iron oxide as visible light photocatalysts. The materials structures have been confirmed by XPS, FTIR, PL spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. The photocatalytic measurements confirmed that the composites can be activated by visible light. Two types of commercially available plasmid DNAs containing ARGs, pUC 18 (2686 bp) and pBR 322 (4361 bp) were successfully inactivated and consequently fragmented by the nanocomposite in presence of hydrogen peroxide and under visible light. The performance of nanocomposite was proven to be better than that of pure carbon nitride. Agarose gel electrophoresis confirmed that supercoiled plasmid DNAs were first converted to single stranded relaxed circular forms followed by their complete fragmentation. The photocatalytic inactivation of plasmids may be attributed to the photocatalytic activity of carbon nitride alone, relaxation of photogenerated charge carriers by reduced graphene oxide, quenching of electron-hole pairs and generation of additional hydroxyl radicals by hydrogen peroxide, photo-Fenton activity by iron oxide in presence of hydrogen peroxide and additional photocatalytic activity of iron oxide alone.
Mechanotransduction in Liver Diseases

Chronic liver diseases, such as fibrosis and cancer, lead to a rigid or stiff liver because of perpetual activation of hepatic stellate cells or portal fibroblasts into matrix-producing myofibroblasts. Mechanical forces, as determined by the mechanical properties of extracellular matrix or pressure of circulating blood flow/shear stress, are sensed by mechanoreceptors at the plasma membrane and transmitted into a cell to impact cell function. This process is termed as mechanotransduction. This review includes basic knowledge regarding how external forces are sensed, amplified, and transmitted into the interior of a cell as far as the nucleus to regulate gene transcription and generate biological responses. It also reviews literatures to highlight the mechanisms by which mechanical forces in a normal or diseased liver influence the phenotype of hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, portal fibroblasts, and sinusoidal endothelial cells, and these cells in turn participate in the initiation and progression of liver diseases.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery triggers rapid DNA fragmentation in vagal afferent neurons in rats

Previous studies have shown that Roux‑en‑Y gastric bypass (RYGB), one of the most effective weight loss treatments for obesity, results in neurodegenerative responses in vagal afferent gut‑brain connection reflected by microglia activation and reduced sensory input to the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). However, it is not known whether RYGB‑induced microglia activation is the cause or an effect of the reported neuronal damage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish the order of neurodegenerative responses in vagal afferents after RYGB in the nodose ganglia (NG) and NTS in male and female rats. Sprague‑Dawley rats were fed regular chow or an energy‑dense diet for two weeks followed by RYGB or sham surgery. Twenty‑four hours later, animals were sacrificed and NG and NTS were collected. Neuronal cell damage was determined by TUNEL assay. Microglia activation was determined by quantifying the fluorescent staining against the ionizing calcium adapter‑binding molecule 1. Reorganization of vagal afferents was evaluated by fluorescent staining against isolectin 4. Results of the study revealed significantly increased DNA fragmentation in vagal neurons in the NG when observed at 24 h after RYGB. The surgery did not produce rapid changes in the density of vagal afferents and microglia activation in the NTS. These data indicate that decreased density of vagal afferents and increased microglia activation in the NTS likely ensue as a res ult of RYGB‑induced neuronal damage.
OrgDyn: feature- and model-based characterization of spatial and temporal organoid dynamics

Summary Organoid model systems recapitulate key features of mammalian tissues and enable high throughput experiments. However, the impact of these experiments may be limited by manual, non-standardized, static or qualitative phenotypic analysis. OrgDyn is an open-source and modular pipeline to quantify organoid shape dynamics using a combination of feature- and model-based approaches on time series of 2D organoid contour images. Our pipeline consists of (i) geometrical and signal processing feature extraction, (ii) dimensionality reduction to differentiate dynamical paths, (iii) time series clustering to identify coherent groups of organoids and (iv) dynamical modeling using point distribution models to explain temporal shape variation. OrgDyn can characterize, cluster and model differences among unique dynamical paths that define diverse final shapes, thus enabling quantitative analysis of the molecular basis of tissue development and disease. Availability and implementation https://github.com/zakih/organoidDynamics (BSD 3-Clause License). Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Outcomes Associated with Septuagenarian Lung Transplant Recipients

Purpose Solid organ transplantation in the elderly is associated with a reduced incidence of rejection, but an increased incidence of infection. Studies addressing outcomes and immunosuppression management for lung transplant recipients (LTR) ≥70 years old are lacking. Methods This is a single-center, retrospective study of first time LTR alone transplanted between 1/1/15-9/15/18. The primary outcome was the incidence of 1-year biopsy proven acute rejection (BPAR) (ISHLT grade ≥A1 or ≥B1) between patients Results Of the 125 lung transplants that occurred, 103 were included. Incidence of 1-year BPAR was 45% in the elderly cohort vs. 38% in the non-elderly cohort (p = 0.54) at a median time of 92 days (IQR 32, 163) vs. 111 days (IQR 51, 192), p = 0.8. No differences were seen with 1-year survival (95% vs. 91%, p = 0.54) or time to death at 1-year (340 days vs. 53 days, p = 0.13). The elderly cohort had a lower survival over time (Figure 1). Four elderly patients received induction with rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (n = 3) or basiliximab (n = 1). Immunosuppression in this cohort decreased over time (Figure 2). Incidence of infection at 1-year requiring treatment or modification of immunosuppression in the elderly cohort was 82% and occurred after BPAR in 50% of the patients that rejected. Conclusion LTR ≥ 70 years old require a careful balance of immunosuppression, given a high incidence of infection and rejection. While 1-year survival was no different between groups, more data are needed to better understand the lower incidence of survival in this cohort after 1 year.
Police Crime & Democracy: Demystifying the Concept, Research, and Presenting a Taxonomy

This chapter review the concept of police crime, argues why a variety of constituencies have resisted its use, explains why a better conception of police crime is important, presents a taxonomy of police crime that will help researchers develop theoretically grounded research on this type of police behavior, and will enable policymakers and administrators to specify mechanisms for improved control.
Smart Microbial Cells Couple Catalysis and Sensing to Provide High-Throughput Selection of an Organophosphate Hydrolase.

Enzyme engineering for gain of function requires navigating a large combinatorial sequence space efficiently. Typically, many mutations are needed to get significant improvements, while a single “b...
Bead‐Based Extracellular Vesicle Analysis Using Flow Cytometry

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) represent promising circulating biomarkers for cancers, but their high-throughput analyses in clinical settings prove challenging due to lack of simple, fast, and robust EV assays. Here, a bead-based EV assay detected by flow cytometry is described, which integrates EV capture using microbeads with EV protein analyses by flow cytometry. The assay is fast (<4 h for 48 samples), robust, and compatible with conventional flow cytometry instruments for high-throughput EV analysis. With the method, a panel of pancreatic cancer biomarkers in EVs from plasma samples of pancreatic cancer patients is successfully analyzed. The assay is readily translatable to other biomarkers or cancer types and can be run with standard materials on conventional flow cytometers, making it highly flexible and adaptable to diverse research and clinical needs.
Discursive decisions: Signposts to guide the use of critical discourse analysis in social work:

Critical discourse analysis (CDA) examines the relationship between language and power in society. By linking micro, mezzo, and macro environments, examining the impact of language on marginalized ...
The Impact of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia on Sleep Log and Actigraphy Outcomes in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Secondary Analysis.

Purpose While studies indicate cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) improves self-report sleep outcomes from questionnaires in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), it is unclear if CBT-I improves outcomes from a sleep log or sleep assessed objectively via actigraphy in people with MS. This study aimed to determine if CBT-I improves sleep log and actigraphy outcomes in individuals with MS. Patients and methods Twenty-five participants (Mage = 53.04, SD= 10.90) were included in this secondary analysis of data from a pilot randomized control study to assess the feasibility and treatment effect of CBT-I in individuals with MS. Participants were asked to maintain a sleep log and wear an actigraph for a week at baseline and post-intervention. Participants were randomized into one of three groups (CBT-I, active control, or one-time brief education control group). One-way ANOVAs were used to assess for group differences and within group change in sleep latency, sleep efficiency (SE), time in bed, total sleep time (TST), wake after sleep onset, variability of SE, and variability of TST. Results CBT-I resulted in an increase in sleep efficiency (SE) and decrease in time in bed (TIB) and variability of SE from the sleep log. The CBT-I group also experienced a decrease in TIB and total sleep time (TST) from actigraphy. The active control group demonstrated an increase in variability of SE from actigraphy. Conclusion This study indicates that individuals with MS may experience an improvement in sleep log and actigraphy sleep outcomes following CBT-I, but findings need to be replicated in a larger prospective study. The decrease in TST from actigraphy mirrors results from prior studies.
English Revenge Drama: Can two wrongs ever make a right? Some theory

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God … And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood? Revelation 6: 9–10 How bad can vengeance and retributive punishment be when performing them does not sully the hands of God? Peter A. French Jesus Christ is exceeding severe, and just as well as merciful. T. Collier, 1648 Before proceeding to the resentment of unfairness that I think fueled the Renaissance passion for revenge plays, let me address some misconceptions about the cultural role of revenge in this era. Did revenge make Elizabethans miserable? Jonathan Gil Harris writes of the “physiological damage it was believed to cause the avenger”; it was “a major cause of melancholy” (101). To physiologists, Graham Holderness says, revenge was “psychologically and physically damaging,” an “obsessive passion, which produced symptomatic ill-health and nervous disorders” (51). Its “ravages,” says Prosser, include “deterioration of the mind” (8). Bacon indeed held that “a man that studieth revenge, keeps his own wounds green” (17). But in Senecan tragedy, the frustration of vengeful longings “leaves a person incomplete, as if he were maimed,” and revenge brings “a deep pleasure that Seneca's Medea calls voluptas ” (A. Burnett 1–2). And in Renaissance drama, too, revenge is often therapeutic: “Revenge / Must ease and cease my wrongful injuries”; “revenge shall ease my ling'ring grief” ( Locrine 3.2.81–82, 3.3.
Neonatal dentate nucleus T2 hyperintensity after in utero metronidazole exposure.

A 36-day-old boy born at 35 weeks' gestation presented with intermittent hypothermia, bradycardia, failure to thrive, and decreased activity. Neurologic examination demonstrated diffusely decreased tone and strength. Brain MRI (figure) showed findings characteristic of metronidazole toxicity.1 The mother had completed a course of metronidazole, which crosses the placenta, in the late third trimester for bacterial vaginosis. Metronidazole-induced toxicity in adults results in encephalopathy, but there are no data regarding neurologic toxicities in neonates following in utero exposure.1,2 Symptoms resolved with supportive care within 2 weeks. Four months later, there were no neurodevelopmental concerns. The family declined further imaging.
Origin of mitochondrial enzymes. 3. Distribution and synthesis of cytochrome c in rat liver tissue.

Abstract Fractionation studies of rat liver have shown that the mitochondria thereof contain more than 90% of the total cytochrome c of the tissue upon their isolation. Reproducible small complements of the remainder of the cytochrome c were found in each of other cell fractions. The intracellular site of synthesis of cytochrome c was determined by use of 3 H-δ-aminolevulinic acid ( 3 H-ALA) as a precursor of hematoheme. In short intervals of labeling following intraperitoneal injection of 3 H-ALA into mature rats, the specific activity of the hematoheme of microsomal cytochrome c greatly exceeded that of mitochondrial cytochrome c ; after 2 hr of incorporation, the two specific activities approached a common value. When short intervals were employed for incorporation of 3 H-ALA, followed by an additional interval in the presence of a molar excess of ALA it, was possible to show a precursor-product relationship between the respective microsomal and mitochondrial complements of cytochrome c . The findings indicate that the endoplasmic reticulum catalyzes the complete assembly of cytochrome c whereupon the completed protein is then transferred to the mitochondria.
Mechanical Effect of Posterior Wire or Half-Pin Configuration on Stabilization Utilizing a Model of Circular External Fixation of the Foot

Background: Numerous studies have addressed biomechanical characteristics of circular external fixation of long bones. The objective of the present study was to evaluate stabilization of a simulate...