cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinetic Analysis of the Assembly of the Outer Membrane Protein LamB in Escherichia coli Mutants Each Lacking a Secretion or Targeting Factor in a Different Cellular Compartment

Outer membrane β-barrel proteins in gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, must be translocated from their site of synthesis in the cytoplasm to the periplasm and finally delivered to the outer membrane. At least a dozen proteins located in the cytoplasm, the periplasm, and both the inner and outer membranes are required to catalyze this complex assembly process. At normal growth temperatures and conditions the transport and assembly processes are so fast that assembly intermediates cannot be detected. Using cells grown at a low temperature to slow the assembly process and pulse-chase analysis with immunodetection methods, we followed newly synthesized LamB molecules during their transit through the cell envelope. The quality and reproducibility of the data allowed us to calculate rate constants for three different subassembly reactions. This kinetic analysis revealed that secB and secD mutants exhibit nearly identical defects in precursor translocation from the cytoplasm. However, subsequent subassembly reaction rates provided no clear evidence for an additional role for SecD in LamB assembly. Moreover, we found that surA mutants are qualitatively indistinguishable from yfgL mutants, suggesting that the products of both of these genes share a common function in the assembly process, most likely the delivery of LamB to the YaeT assembly complex in the outer membrane.
Liver transplantation in the haemophilia patient.

Summary. Hepatitis C is a chronic condition that many persons with haemophilia contracted in the 1980s due to the infusion of factor concentrates that did not have viral inactivation processes in place. Many patients with haemophilia are now living longer lives, well into their eighties due to the improvement of their care. The effects of the hepatitis C virus on the liver over time are now being realized as this population ages. Although the new treatments for hepatitis C have a prolonged response, as demonstrated by a persistent negative viral load, many haemophilia patients have either not responded to the therapy or had significant side effects to treatment, which prevented continued therapy. Of these infected haemophiliacs with liver disease, many have demonstrated a slow progressive decline resulting in liver failure, cirrhosis or liver cancer. Liver transplant then becomes their only option. This article will review liver transplantation in the haemophilia patient highlighting three case studies demonstrating the effectiveness of specific short-term factor infusions and other haemostatic support to minimize bleeding during the surgical period. These cases confirm the opportunity for successful liver transplantation for haemophilia patients utilizing specific factor recommendations with minimal bleeding risk.
Constructing minimum cost dynamic multicast trees under delay constraint

Multicast is an efficient way for group communication over the Internet. The performance of multicast relies greatly on the multicast tree constructed among the group members. Constructing a multicast tree spanning a set of group members with minimum cost is called Steiner tree problem which is a well-known NP-hard problem. Existing heuristic algorithms can build such a Steiner tree statically when the group members are known in advance. However, in many multicast tree dynamically. In addition, QoS is becoming a more important issue in multicast applications, and many applications, pose a tight bound on end-to-end delay. In this paper, we design a heuristic algorithm which can construct a delay constrained minimum cost multicast tree dynamically. Our algorithm can add or remove a group number without rerouting the path between the source and other group members. The algorithm not only avoids packet loss but also saves network bandwidth. Our algorithm guarantees that the end-to-end delay between the source and any group member is bounded with a threshold. Simulation results show that the algorithm achieves a good balance between the cost of a multicast tree and the time of the construction.
Sensitization of Arteries, Veins, and Small Vessels to Norepinephrine After Cocaine

The effects of cocaine on the responses of arteries, veins, and small vessels to norepinephrine were studied. Intra-arterial norepinephrine was injected or infused into perfused forelegs of dogs. Angiotensin and serotonin were used as agonists. The effects of postganglionic sympathetic stimulation and of intra-arterial tyramine were tested also. Cocaine in doses of 0.5, 5.0, and 10 mg/kg IV sensitized the arterial and venous segments to norepinephrine; the responses of small vessels were not augmented significantly. The effects of angiotensin and serotonin were not increased. The vasoconstrictor effect of weak and strong submaximal postganglionic sympathetic nerve stimulations was reduced and that of intra-arterial tyramine was suppressed after cocaine. The results allow us to conclude that vascular supersensitivity to norepinephrine after cocaine is not a uniform phenomenon but it is restricted to certain vascular segments. The reason for the sensitization of arteries and veins but not small vessels is unknown. The observations are discussed in light of the recent hypothesis proposed by Furchgott et al on the mechanism of action of cocaine.
Anticoagulation-associated adverse drug events.

Abstract Purpose Anticoagulant drugs are among the most common medications that cause adverse drug events (ADEs) in hospitalized patients. We performed a 5-year retrospective study at Brigham and Women's Hospital to determine clinical characteristics, types, root causes, and outcomes of anticoagulant-associated ADEs. Methods We reviewed all inpatient anticoagulant-associated ADEs, including adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and medication errors, reported at Brigham and Women's Hospital through the Safety Reporting System from May 2004 to May 2009. We also collected data about the cost associated with hospitalizations in which ADRs occurred. Results Of 463 anticoagulant-associated ADEs, 226 were medication errors (48.8%), 141 were ADRs (30.5%), and 96 (20.7%) involved both a medication error and ADR. Seventy percent of anticoagulant-associated ADEs were potentially preventable. Transcription errors (48%) were the most frequent root cause of anticoagulant-associated medication errors, while medication errors (40%) were a common root cause of anticoagulant-associated ADRs. Death within 30 days of anticoagulant-associated ADEs occurred in 11% of patients. After an anticoagulant-associated ADR, most hospitalization expenditures were attributable to nursing costs (mean $33,189 per ADR), followed by pharmacy costs (mean $7451 per ADR). Conclusion Most anticoagulant-associated ADEs among inpatients result from medication errors and are, therefore, potentially preventable. We observed an elevated 30-day mortality rate among patients who suffered an anticoagulant-associated ADE and high hospitalization costs following ADRs. Further quality improvement efforts to reduce anticoagulant-associated medication errors are warranted to improve patient safety and decrease health care expenditures.
CHARACTERIZATION OF GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASES FROM LEGUME ROOT NODULES

Nitrogen fixation is an energy-intensive process. Legume root nodules, and most other N2-fixing systems, are dependent upon aerobic metabolism because of its potential for high energy yield. However, since nitrogenase is quickly inactivated by O2, there is a fundamental conflict. N2-fixing systems must carefully balance the risks and benefits associated with free O2. In nodules, the “O2 problem” is addressed primarily by two factors: (i) an O2 diffusion barrier that controls the entry of O2 into the central infected zone; and (ii) an abundant supply of the O2-buffering protein leghemoglobin. These are highly effective measures, but do not completely solve the O2 problem in part because some O2 is still reduced to reactive active species (ROS), such as H2O2 and superoxide.
Intragastric pH regulates conversion from net acid to net alkaline secretion by the rat stomach.

Our previous report showed gastric mucosal surface pH was determined by alkali secretion at intragastric luminal pH 3 but by acid secretion at intragastric pH 5. Here, we question whether regulatio...
L1 Adaptive Control Design for Improved Handling of the F/A-18 class of Aircraft

This paper presents the development and preliminary results obtained from the application of L1 adaptive control methods to the design of the inner-loop flight control system of variants of the F/A-18 aircraft, intended to emulate the handling qualities of the standard reference F/A-18 aircraft. The control method is designed to be robust to high frequency and unmodeled dynamics always present when a complex nonlinear system is approximated as a linear plant for design purposes. Results show the capability of the L1 adaptive controller to effectively manipulate the naturally lightly damped pitch and roll dynamics of the uncontrolled plant to the desired dynamics of the easier-to-control standard F/A-18 with bounded transient responses and steady state tracking errors over a range of operating conditions. The ability to synthesize controllers based on a set of desired reference dynamics allowing the onboard controller to synthesize suitable stabilising and error regulating control commands for the plant possesses many of the prerequisites needed to form the basis of a standard set of certifiable flight control software designs.
REDUCTION IN ISCHEMIC EVENTS WITH TICAGRELOR IN DIABETIC PATIENTS FROM THE PEGASUS-TIMI 54 TRIAL

Antiplatelet therapy can play an important role in reducing the risk of recurrent ischemic events in diabetic patients with prior MI. We examined the diabetic subgroup (N= 6806) from PEGASUS-TIMI 54, in which 21,162 patients with a history of MI 1-3 years prior were randomized to ticagrelor (90 mg
Landmarks Along the Application of Laser Energy for Cardiovascular Therapy

Soon after the development of the first laser, the ruby laser, there was a flurry of studies evaluating it for medical applications. The initial use was in the fields of dermatology and ophthalmology due to the unique feature of laser wavelength to be selectively absorbed by specific tissue color. However, effects on vascular tissue soon followed. The development of flexible fiber optic cables that carry the laser over distances made it possible to deliver high energy wavelengths through catheter systems deep into the arterial system via percutaneous methods. Continuous wave laser systems (i.e., argon and Nd-Yag) were initially used but were fraught with arterial wall perforation. However, pulsed laser systems (i.e., Ho:Yag and excimer) provided higher precision cutting and became more widely accepted. The effect of shock waves in tissues generated by collapsing microbubbles were reduced by using saline to displace blood in the field and increasing the duration between pulse deliveries. The advantage of lasers in the arterial system is its ability to cut through calcific plaques and recannalize long arterial occlusions. That is especially well suited for the peripheral arterial circulation. In the coronary circulation left main lesions and thrombotic lesions are also well suited for laser therapy. This chapter describes the evolution in the use of lasers in the arterial circulation and the current comeback in their utilization.
The New Politics of Hope and Change

The 2008 presidential campaign was a historic benchmark in American politics. The American electorate responded to the country’s first African-American presidential candidate with enthusiasm and pride. Theories of race and gender in politics are examined and frame the analysis of the four emotional dynamics that exerted influence on voters’ appraisals of candidates and issues. The analysis of the 2008 presidential campaign involves a multidimensional examination of the political context, campaign narratives, voter dynamics, and the politics of race and gender. This is the context against which the influence of voters’ emotional responses is considered. The research suggests the success of Obama’s singular narrative offering “hope” and “change” and offers a point of origin to examine the emergence of voter discontent with establishment politics.
André Breton (1896–1966)

If You Please (1920), written by Andre Breton and his poet-novelist friend Philippe Soupault (1897—), is one of the earliest examples of automatic writing in theatre. This technique is defined by Breton as follows: ‘Pure psychic automatism by means of which it is hoped to express, either verbally or in writing, or in another manner, the real functioning of thought. Dictation of thought, in the absence of all control exercised by reason, outside of all aesthetic and moral preoccupation.’1 By freeing the unconscious of all restraints imposed upon it by society — the arbiter of logic, aesthetics, and ethics — consciousness is bypassed; words and images flow freely into the manifest world. Although not everything emerging from the subliminal world is worthy of inclusion in a play or poem, Breton considered it an ever-productive, virtually infallible source of riches and suggested that if the writer were not satisfied with the word, clause, sentence, or visualisation first transcribed, surely the next sequences would be of higher quality.2
Teaching students to evaluate Web sources more critically: Implications from a faculty workshop

Necessite de ne pas sous-estimer les efforts de formation souhaitables dans ce domaine. L'auteur presente une liste de criteres d'evaluation
A Matter of Life or Death: A Critical Examination of the Role of Records and Archives in Supporting the Agency of the Forcibly Displaced

Having the necessary documentation to cross borders, claim refugee status or benefits, settle elsewhere or return to sites of origin may literally be a life or death matter for people who have been forcibly displaced by persecution, war, or natural or economic disasters. This paper argues that government and other organizational archives that hold necessary records are not epistemologically or structurally oriented to address the immediate needs of the forcibly displaced and other "non-citizens" who reside in liminal spaces and temporary shelters or who move across multiple jurisdictions or nations and often resort to "irregular" forms and uses of records to survive. For the archival field to play a proactive role in supporting the survival, resettlement and recovery of the forcibly displaced, theoretical, organizational and practical reorientation is required. Such reorientation should be based in transnational and transinstitutional thinking and proactive humanitarianism that engages at the level of affected individuals and their everyday lives. It should also account for records generated or deployed in exigency or in other forms of radical agency.
Designing Acellular Injectable Biomaterial Therapeutics for Treating Myocardial Infarction and Peripheral Artery Disease

As the number of global deaths attributed to cardiovascular disease continues to rise, viable treatments for cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction (MI) or conditions like peripheral artery disease (PAD) are critical. Recent studies investigating injectable biomaterials have shown promise in promoting tissue regeneration and functional improvement, and in some cases, incorporating other therapeutics further augments the beneficial effects of these biomaterials. In this review, we aim to emphasize the advantages of acellular injectable biomaterial-based therapies, specifically material-alone approaches or delivery of acellular biologics, in regards to manufacturability and the capacity of these biomaterials to regenerate or repair diseased tissue. We will focus on design parameters and mechanisms that maximize therapeutic efficacy, particularly, improved functional perfusion and neovascularization regarding PAD and improved cardiac function and reduced negative left ventricular (LV) remodeling post-MI. We will then discuss the rationale and challenges of designing new injectable biomaterial-based therapies for the clinic.
Computer graphics achievement award

ACM SIGGRAPH is delighted to present the 2017 Computer Graphics Achievement Award to Ramesh Raskar in recognition of his pioneering contributions to the fields of computational photography and light transport and for applying these technologies for social impact.
Prevention and Treatment of Limb-Length Discrepancy in Total Hip Arthroplasty

The prevention of leg-length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty requires a careful patient history, physical examination, and radiographic assessment. When the source and amount of preoperative leg-length discrepancy are understood, a careful preoperative plan can be designed to restore leg-length equalization. Intraoperative execution of the preoperative plan requires a systematic approach that depends partly on the chosen surgical approach. The use of the anatomic landmarks, intraoperative calipers, intraoperative radiographs, computer-assisted navigation, and robotic-assisted surgery all have excellent published results for restoring accurate leg lengths postoperatively. Some preoperative leg-length differences cannot be restored due to risk of nerve injury or hip stability and the patient should be counseled preoperatively to avoid postoperative patient dissatisfaction. Most postoperative leg-length discrepancies (between 5 mm and 1 cm) will not be noticeable to patients at 1 year postoperatively. Patients who remain symptomatic can usually be treated with a shoe insert to equalize leg lengths. In rare instances, a symptomatic patient may be unsatisfied with shoe inserts and revision surgery can be performed. Shortening of the operative limb can be performed with femoral head exchange or acetabular component revision. The discrepancy can also be addressed with a distal shortening femoral osteotomy. If the patient has contralateral hip osteoarthritis, planned lengthening can also be performed at time of subsequent total hip arthroplasty. This chapter outlines several techniques to help minimize an unexpected postoperative leg-length discrepancy and describes the treatment of symptomatic leg-length inequality.
Algorithmic Glass Ceiling in Social Networks: The effects of social recommendations on network diversity

As social recommendations such as friend suggestions and people to follow become increasingly popular and influential on the growth of social media, we find that prominent social recommendation algorithms can exacerbate the under-representation of certain demographic groups at the top of the social hierarchy. To study this imbalance in online equal opportunities, we leverage new Instagram data and offer for the first time an analysis that studies the effect of gender, homophily and growth dynamics under social recommendations. Our mathematical analysis demonstrates the existence of an algorithmic glass ceiling that exhibits all the properties of the metaphorical social barrier that hinders groups like women or people of color from attaining equal representation. What raises concern is that our proof shows that under fixed minority and homophily parameters the algorithmic effect is systematically larger than the glass ceiling generated by the spontaneous growth of social networks. We discuss ways to address this concern in future design.
Short-term lost productivity per victim: intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or stalking.

Introduction The purpose of this study is to estimate victims’ lifetime short-term lost productivity because of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or stalking. Methods U.S. nationally representative data from the 2012 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey were used to estimate a regression-adjusted average per victim (female and male) and total population number of cumulative short-term lost work and school days (or lost productivity) because of victimizations over victims’ lifetimes. Victims’ lost productivity was valued using a U.S. daily production estimate. Analysis was conducted in 2017. Results Non-institutionalized adults with some lifetime exposure to intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or stalking (n=6,718 respondents; survey-weighted n=130,795,789) reported nearly 741 million lost productive days because of victimizations by an average of 2.5 perpetrators per victim. The adjusted per victim average was 4.9 (95% CI=3.9, 5.9) days, controlling for victim, perpetrator, and violence type factors. The estimated societal cost of this short-term lost productivity was $730 per victim, or $110 billion across the lifetimes of all victims (2016 USD). Factors associated with victims having a higher number of lost days included a higher number of perpetrators and being female, as well as sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking victimization by an intimate partner perpetrator, stalking victimization by an acquaintance perpetrator, and sexual violence or stalking victimization by a family member perpetrator. Conclusions Short-term lost productivity represents a minimum economic valuation of the immediate negative effects of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and stalking. Victims’ lost productivity affects family members, colleagues, and employers.
The Dental Ecology of Ring-Tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta)

Ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) are among the best-known primates. Long-term study of their behavior, ecology and dentition at a single locality, the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar, has enabled a detailed understanding of their dental ecology. Patterns of dental pathology including tooth wear, tooth loss and abscessed canines correspond to use of specific resources and habitats and differ from patterns seen in sympatric primate species. Regular use of tamarind fruit (Tamarindus indicus) likely leads to a distinct pattern of severe tooth wear and tooth loss, suggesting a “mismatch” between dental morphology and the animals’ primary fallback food.
A Geometric Morphometric Examination of Hominoid Third Metacarpal Shape and Its Implications for Inferring the Precursor to Terrestrial Bipedalism

The third metacarpal has been a focus of study when examining questions surrounding early hominin locomotion since this bone is adapted to the diverse range of positional behaviors performed by extant hominoids. The shape of this bone is potentially under strong selective pressure related to the biomechanical demands of terrestrial knuckle-walking, arboreal clambering, and brachiation performed by extant hominoids since the hand directly interacts with the substrate during the performance of these movements. The objective of the present study was to explore shape variation of the third metacarpal and examine how different parts of the bone discriminated between hominoid genera that perform these different locomotor behaviors. In addition to examining general interspecies variation, shape analysis was applied to testing the knuckle-walking hypothesis for human evolution. Fourteen 3D landmark coordinates were collected on hominoid third metacarpals, and principal component analysis and Procrustes distances were used to examine metacarpal shape. Comparable measurements were collected on fossilized third metacarpals of Australopithecus afarensis as an early hominin test case for examining the knuckle-walking hypothesis. Analyses that included landmarks collected on both ends of the bone distinguished humans from great apes and presented a strong functional signal related to suspensory locomotion among nonhuman hominoids, whereas the distal articular surface provided the strongest knuckle-walking signal. The shapes of Australopithecus afarensis metacarpals examined in the current study did not provide evidence for a trajectory of shape change in early hominin evolution that started from a metacarpal adapted for terrestrial knuckle-walking. Anat Rec, 302:983-998, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
GREEN IT: A PRIMER

Green IT (Information Technology) is comprised of strategies and best practices for optimizing the usage of computing resources and reducing the environmental footprint of technology. It is a critical building block for corporate social responsibility. As concern for climate change and sustainability continues to grow, businesses around the world are realizing that Green IT initiatives offer costs savings benefits. The idea of Green IT has increasingly gained relevance as a strategy that can add value to business. This paper provides an introduction to green IT.
Abstract 078: Chemerin Antisense Oligonucleotide Lowers Blood Pressure in a Rat Model of Adiposity-Associated Hypertension.

Chemerin is an adipokine, produced in liver and white adipose, whose human plasma levels have been positively associated with hypertension and obesity. In Sprague Dawley rats with normal adiposity ...
The CADE-22 automated theorem proving system competition - CASC-22

The CADE ATP System Competition (CASC) is an annual evaluation of fully automatic, classical logic Automated Theorem Proving (ATP) systems. CASC-22 was the fourteenth competition in the CASC series. Twenty-nine ATP systems and system variants competed in the various competition and demonstration divisions. An outline of the competition design, and a commentated summary of the results, are presented.
Phase locking of event-related oscillations is decreased in both young adult humans and rats with a history of adolescent alcohol exposure

Alcohol exposure typically begins in adolescence, and frequent binge drinking has been associated with health risk behaviors including alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Few studies have documented the effects of a history of adolescent binge drinking on neurophysiological consequences in young adulthood. Synchrony of phase (phase locking (PL)) of event-related oscillations (EROs) within and between different brain areas reflects communication exchange between neural networks and is a sensitive measure of adolescent development in both rats and humans, and thus may be a good translational measure of the potential harmful effects of alcohol exposure during adolescence. In this study, EROs were collected from 1041 young adults of Mexican American and American Indian ancestry (age 18-30 years) with and without a history of adolescent binge drinking (five drinks for boys and four for girls per occasion at least once per month) and in 74 young adult rats with and without a history of 5 weeks of adolescent alcohol vapor exposure. PL of theta and beta frequencies between frontal and parietal cortex were estimated using an auditory-oddball paradigm in the rats and a visual facial expression paradigm in the humans. Significantly lower PL between frontal and parietal cortices in the theta frequencies was seen in both the humans and the rats with a history of adolescent alcohol exposure as compared with their controls. These findings suggest that alcohol exposure during adolescence may result in decreases in synchrony between cortical neuronal networks, suggesting a developmental delay, in young adult humans and in rats.
Probing direct carbon-carbon acylation of furans and long-chain acids over H-ZSM-5

Abstract The acylation of furan and 2-methylfuran (2-MF) with acetic acid (AA) and 1-hexanoic acid (HA) was studied over an H-ZSM-5 catalyst. Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) measurements showed evidence that AA adsorbs strongly at Bronsted sites, with reaction to CO2 and acetone beginning at 523 K, while both furan and 2-MF oligomerize upon adsorption at room temperature. Steady-state, flow-reactor measurements demonstrate that selectivities for the acylation reactions can approach 100% below 523 K when reactions are operated in excess organic acids, with maximum conversion limited by equilibrium. Coking becomes important when the reaction is operated in excess furan or 2-MF and at high reactant concentrations, while ketonization products are observed when the reaction is performed above 523 K. Potential uses for the reactions are discussed.
O4A.2 Joint effects of night work and shift rotation on treated depression in a longitudinal cohort of manufacturing workers

Past research consistently identifies shift work – a type of scheduled work that includes both night work and schedule rotations – as risk factor for depression. However, relatively few studies have examined whether people working more nights or rotations are more likely to seek treatment for depression. A total of 5848 workers across 33 plants in the American Manufacturing Cohort (AMC) were followed 2003–2013. The first observed episode of treated depression was defined from insurance claims as two depression-related outpatient visits or two prescribed antidepressants within 365 days. Using detailed timeclock data, night work (≥3 hours between 23:00 and 6:00) was defined as the percent of shifts that included a night shift and was categorized into non-night work 0%; low >0%–30%; medium >30%–70%; and high 70%–100%. Shift rotations (≥6 hours between subsequent shift start times), were similarly defined and classified as none 0%, infrequent Shift workers were more likely to be treated for depression compared with non-rotating, non-night workers. Workers with medium exposure to night work had the highest association with treated depression compared with permanent non-night workers, and the joint effects were similar between those with frequent rotations (HR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.00–2.67) and infrequent rotations (1.53, 0.99–2.37). Associations were slightly elevated among permanent night workers (1.27, 0.72–2.25) and workers with high exposure to night work regardless of rotations (1.36, 0.86–2.17). Recent shift work exposure may be associated with higher rates of treated depression, and night work, rather than rotation, may be driving the association. However, there may be selection out of night work due to underlying depression and we were unable to differentiate new-onset from preexisting disease.
Vat photopolymerization of liquid, biodegradable PLGA-based oligomers as tissue scaffolds

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) of tissue scaffolds provides medical professionals and patients with personalized treatment options, which align with patients’ specific physiology and provide a more efficient and precise manufacturing process. Vat photopolymerization (VP) AM affords biocompatible, degradable, and high-resolution scaffolds capable of achieving specific pore sizes necessary for tissue regeneration. Earlier biodegradable, photoactive polymers for the VP platform usually require dissolution in a solvent or water, which often results in anisotropic shrinkage upon drying and inconsistencies in the final part geometry. This work describes a photoactive oligomeric precursor that eliminates the requirement for water or solvent during VP. Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) diacrylates with low number-average molecular weights (
Examining the effect of design for additive manufacturing rule presentation on part redesign quality

The main goal of this research is to understand how design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) rule presentation affects a designer’s ability to utilise those rules. To that end a pair of studies wer...
Origins and Evolutionary Patterns of the 1.688 Satellite DNA Family in Drosophila Phylogeny.

Satellite DNAs (satDNAs) are a ubiquitous feature of eukaryotic genomes and are usually the major components of constitutive heterochromatin. The 1.688 satDNA, also known as the 359 bp satellite, is one of the most abundant repetitive sequences in Drosophila melanogaster and has been linked to several different biological functions. We investigated the presence and evolution of the 1.688 satDNA in 16 Drosophila genomes. We find that the 1.688 satDNA family is much more ancient than previously appreciated, being shared amongst part of the melanogaster group that diverged from a common ancestor ∼27 Mya. We found that the 1.688 satDNA family has two major subfamilies spread throughout Drosophila phylogeny (∼360 bp and ∼190 bp). Phylogenetic analysis of ∼10,000 repeats extracted from 14 of the species revealed that the 1.688 satDNA family is present within heterochromatin and euchromatin. A high number of euchromatic repeats are gene proximal, suggesting the potential for local gene regulation. Notably, heterochromatic copies display concerted evolution and a species-specific pattern, whereas euchromatic repeats display a more typical evolutionary pattern, suggesting that chromatin domains may influence the evolution of these sequences. Overall, our data indicate the 1.688 satDNA as the most perduring satDNA family described in Drosophila phylogeny to date. Our study provides a strong foundation for future work on the functional roles of 1.688 satDNA across many Drosophila species.
Evaluation of ECG-gated and Fast Low-Angle Shot (FLASH) Dual Source Computed Tomography Scanning Protocols for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedural success relies heavily on volumetric reconstruction imaging, particularly ECG-gated multi-detector row computed tomography. We postulated that single examination using fast low-angle shot (FLASH) dual source CT scanning (DS-CTA) could provide lower dose than ECG-gated CTA while maintaining the image quality. Methods In this single-centre cohort study, all patients who underwent ECG-gated and FLASH DS-CTA were evaluated. Volumetric reconstructions were performed for both ECG-gated and FLASH DS-CTA to obtain nonsagittal views of the structures. ECG-gated cardiac CT was obtained to evaluate the aortic annular size while FLASH DS-CTA was obtained to examine the aortic and iliac vasculature as part of TAVR imaging protocol. We evaluated measures of aortic annulus, coronaries and sinus of Valsalva using ECG-gated and FLASH DS-CTA scanning protocols. Image quality assessments were performed using aortic root region-of-interest signal-to-noise ratio. Results A total of 130 patients (mean age 81.5 ± 9.2 years, 46.2% female, and 99.2% white) underwent both ECG-gated CT and FLASH DS-CTA. There were excellent correlations between aortic annular area (R2 = 0.934) and aortic annular perimeter (R2 = 0.923) measured by the two protocols. Only 2 (1.5%) patients had >10% difference between aortic annular measurements by ECG-gated and FLASH DS-CTA, while none of the patients had a >10% difference between aortic annular perimeter measured by ECG-gated and FLASH DS-CT scans. There was no significant difference in signal-to-noise ratio between the two methods (mean difference 13.4; 95% CI −2.1–28.8, p = 0.09). There was significantly lower radiation dose for FLASH DS-CTA than ECG-gated CT scan (mean dose-length product difference 404.38; 95% CI 328.9–479.87, p Conclusion Overall, FLASH DS-CTA and ECG-gated CT scans provided comparable image quality and aortic annular dimensions for pre-TAVR evaluation. DS-CTA additionally provided the necessary angiographic imaging of the aorta and peripheral access vessels while still maintaining a lower radiation dose. We propose that a single non-ECG gated FLASH DS-CTA could be utilized to provide all the necessary pre-TAVR imaging information without a gated CT scan.
The messy satiation effect: Understanding how eating messily can accelerate the rate of satiation and reduce consumption.

Abstract The visual presentation of food plays an important role in shaping the food choices that consumers make. In the current research, we explore the impact that one's eating manner, and by extension, how messy or neat food becomes as a result, can have on enjoyment and consumption over the course of an eating episode. In a series of five studies, we find that eating in a messy manner, which degrades the visual appeal of one's food, can accelerate the rate of satiation and decrease consumption, a phenomenon we term the messy satiation effect. This effect occurs because the disgust response induced by the visual degradation of a food's presentation decreases tastiness perceptions. Accordingly, we position the messy satiation effect as a simple intervention that can be used in some circumstances to combat overconsumption and therefore increase healthier eating patterns through reducing intake, thus providing contributions to both theory and practice.
Critical care in obstetrics: a strategy for addressing maternal mortality

The acute rise in maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States is in part because of an increasingly medically complex obstetrical population. An estimated 1% to 3% of all obstetrical patients require intensive care, making timely delivery and availability of critical care imperative. The shifting landscape in obstetrical acuity places a burden on obstetrical providers, many of whom have limited experience in identifying and responding to critical illness. The levels of maternal care definitions by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine designate hospitals based on the availability of obstetrical resources and highlight the need for critical care resources and expertise. The growing need for critical care skills in the evolving contemporary obstetrical landscape serves as an opportunity to redefine the concept of delivery of care for high-risk obstetrical patients. We summarized the key tenets in the prevention of maternal morbidity and mortality, including the use of evidence-based tools for risk stratification and timely referral of patients to facilities with appropriate resources; innovative pathways for hospitals to provide critical care consultations on labor and delivery; and training of obstetrical providers in high-yield critical care skills, such as point-of-care ultrasonography. These critical care-focused interventions are key in addressing an increasingly complex obstetrical patient population while providing an educational foundation for the training of future obstetrical providers.
Reward Responsiveness in Patients with Opioid Use Disorder on Opioid Agonist Treatment: Role of Comorbid Chronic Pain.

OBJECTIVE Evidence suggests that blunted reward responsiveness may account for poor clinical outcomes in both opioid use disorder (OUD) and chronic pain. Understanding how individuals with OUD and comorbid chronic pain (OUD+CP) respond to rewards is, therefore, of clinical interest because it may reveal a potential point of behavioral intervention. METHODS Patients with OUD (n = 28) and OUD+CP (n = 19) on opioid agonist treatment were compared on: 1) the Probabilistic Reward Task (an objective behavioral measure of reward response bias) and 2) ecological momentary assessment of affective responses to pleasurable events. RESULTS Both the OUD and the OUD+CP groups evidenced an increase in reward response bias in the Probabilistic Reward Task. The rate of change in response bias across blocks was statistically significant in the OUD group (B = 0.06, standard error [SE] = 0.02, t = 3.92, P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03 to 0.09) but not in the OUD+CP group (B = 0.03, SE = 0.02, t = 1.90, P = 0.07, 95% CI: -0.002 to 0.07). However, groups did not significantly differ in the rate of change in response bias across blocks (B = 0.03, SE = 0.02, t = 1.21, P = 0.23, 95% CI: -0.02 to 0.07). Groups did not significantly differ on state measures of reward responsiveness (P's ≥0.50). CONCLUSIONS Overall, findings across objective and subjective measures were mixed, necessitating follow-up with a larger sample. The results suggest that although there is a reward response bias in patients with OUD+CP treated with opioid agonist treatment relative to patients with OUD without CP, it is modest and does not appear to translate into patients' responses to rewarding events as they unfold in daily life.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and/or Nerve Growth Factor Treatment Induces Expression of Dentinogenic, Neuronal, and Healing Markers in Stem Cells of the Apical Papilla.

Abstract Introduction The goal of regenerative endodontic procedures is to preserve and stimulate stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs) to develop the pulp-dentin complex using various growth factors and scaffolds. We hypothesized that the treatment of SCAPs with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or nerve growth factor (NGF) may impact the expression of osteogenic and dentinogenic markers. Methods The optimum concentration of VEGF and NGF on SCAP viability was assessed and introduced to SCAPs for 6–24 hours. SCAPs were also challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of DSPP, DMP1, TGFB1, OCN, SP7, and TWIST1 was examined via quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemistry was used to verify protein expression. In addition, total RNA from NGF-treated SCAPs in the presence or absence of LPS was extracted for RNA sequencing. Results Compared with untreated cells, NGF-treated SCAPs showed markedly higher levels of DSPP, DMP1, and TGFB1 mRNAs (>9-fold change, P Conclusions VEGF- and NGF-induced dentinogenic/neuronal/healing marker expression in SCAPs indicates the potential value of applying these growth factors in regenerative endodontic procedures.
Experimental and Computational Study of Natural Gas Pyrolysis in a Pilot-Scale Cracker

Experimental results for pyrolysis of natural gas, propane, Y-grade natural gas liquids, and associated gas to acetylene in a pilot-scale reactor are presented. These experimental results were comp...
Clinical Features and Outcomes of Combined Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema After Lung Transplantation.

Background Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is recognized as a characteristic syndrome of smoking-related interstitial lung disease that has a worse prognosis than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, outcomes after lung transplantation for CPFE have not been reported. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical features and outcomes of CPFE after lung transplantation. Research Question What are the clinical features and outcomes of CPFE after lung transplantation? Study Design and Methods This is a single-center retrospective cohort study of patients with CPFE and IPF who underwent lung transplantation at our center between January 2011 and December 2016. We defined CPFE as ≥10% emphysema in the upper lung fields combined with fibrosis on high-resolution CT scan. We characterized the clinical features of patients with CPFE and compared their outcomes after lung transplantation with those with IPF. Results Twenty-seven of 172 (16%) patients with IPF met criteria for CPFE. Severe pulmonary hypertension was present in 16 of 27 (59%) patients with CPFE. On logistic regression analysis, CPFE was significantly associated with primary graft dysfunction (PGD) grade 3 (OR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.18-8.37; P = .02). On competing risk regression analysis, CPFE was associated with acute cellular rejection (ACR) grade ≥ A2, and chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.89; 95% CI, 1.10-3.25; P = .02; HR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.02-3.77; P = .04, respectively). Five-year survival was 79.0% for the CPFE group and 75.4% for the IPF group (log-rank P = .684). Interpretation After transplantation, patients with CPFE were more likely to develop PGD, ACR, and CLAD compared with those with IPF. However, survival was not significantly different between the two groups.
Patterns of retinal hemorrhage associated with cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Abstract Background Hypoxia and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have been proposed as causes of retinal hemorrhage (RH) in children evaluated for abusive head trauma (AHT). We sought to determine the prevalence and characteristics of RH in children who underwent CPR after cardiac arrest. Methods This was a prospective, single-center, consecutive observational study of 38 children ( Results Of the 38 children, 20 had in-hospital arrest; 18 had out-of-hospital arrest. The median duration of CPR was 10 minutes. Seven children had RH, of whom 6 had an RH pattern consistent with coexistent medical conditions: 4 AHT diagnosable with nonocular findings, including subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage, rib fractures, abdominal injury (RH pattern: diffuse, numerous, intraretinal and/or multilayered RH); 1 septic shock (RH pattern: 1-2 posterior pole RH); 1 ruptured arteriovenous malformation (RH pattern: 4-8 peripapillary RH). The seventh child had unwitnessed cardiac arrest due to nonfatal drowning and a single superficial intraretinal peripapillary hemorrhage. Conclusions CPR for cardiac arrest is rarely associated with RH, which, absent coexisting conditions causing retinal hemorrhage, are intraretinal, few in number, and located in the posterior pole. In children who have undergone CPR, when RH are multilayered, or are more than a few in number, or extend outside the posterior pole, another etiology for the RH should be sought.
Formulas and algorithms for the length of a Farey sequence.

This paper proves several novel formulas for the length of a Farey sequence of order n. The formulas use different trade-offs between iteration and recurrence and they range from simple to more complex. The paper also describes several iterative algorithms for computing the length of a Farey sequence based on these formulas. The algorithms are presented from the slowest to the fastest in order to explain the improvements in computational techniques from one version to another. The last algorithm in this progression runs in $$O(n^{2/3})$$ time and uses only $$O(\sqrt{n})$$ memory, which makes it the most efficient algorithm for computing $$|F_n|$$ described to date. With this algorithm we were able to compute the length of the Farey sequence of order $$10^{18}$$ .
Conceptual analysis and x-phi

This paper does two things. First, it argues for a metaphilosophical view of conceptual analysis questions; in particular, it argues that the facts that settle conceptual-analysis questions are facts about the linguisticintentions of ordinary folk. Thesecondthingthispaperdoesisarguethatifthismetaphilosophicalviewiscorrect, then experimental philosophy (or "x-phi") is a legitimate methodology to use in trying to answer conceptual-analysis questions.
Enhanced production of nitric oxide may contribute to the induction of detrusor underactivity in sucrose fed rats

Objective: In a previous study we showed that sucrose feeding creates cystometric properties resembling detrusor underactivity (DU) associated with enhanced production of nitric oxide (NO) in rats. Our present objective was to evaluate the possible role of P2X-purinergic and cholinergic receptors as molecular mechanisms underlying DU-like conditions associated with enhanced production of NO and altered contractile properties in rat bladder strips. Materials and methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats had ad-libitum access to 5% sucrose in water for two to four weeks. Isometric detrusor contractions were characterized in response to electrical field stimulation, the cholinergic agonist carbachol, the P2X agonist alpha, beta-methylene-ATP or KCl-induced depolarization. ATP and NO release rates were determined from bladder strips after stimulation of cholinergic or P2X-type purinergic receptors. Results: Electrical field stimulations generated stronger contractile responses in the strips from sucrose fed animals, while KCl induced similar contractions. The release of ATP after cholinergic or purinergic stimulation was similar in control or sucrose fed bladder strips. Nonetheless, NO production was significantly higher when pharmacologically triggered with either cholinergic or purinergic stimulation in the bladder strips from rats drinking sucrose for four weeks. The contractile responses to carbachol or abMe-ATP were also significantly reduced in this group. Conclusions: Detrusor contractions in these underactive-like conditions are gradual, and may be generated by excessive NO production that is mediated by individual activation of cholinergic or purinergic receptors, with higher effects by the latest. Our results suggest that nitric oxide production and not impaired contractile mechanisms are involved in this rat model of detrusor underactivity.