cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of early communicative behavior in mouse models of neurofibromatosis type 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a monogenic neurodevelopmental disease caused by germline loss-of-function mutations in the NF1 tumor suppressor gene. Cognitive impairments are observed in approximately 80% of children with this disease, with 45–60% exhibiting autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptomatology. In light of the high comorbidity rate between ASD and NF1, we assessed early communicative behavior by maternal-separation induced pup ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) and developmental milestones in two distinct Nf1 genetically engineered models, one modeling clinical germline heterozygous loss of Nf1 function (Nf1+/– mice), and a second with somatic biallelic Nf1 inactivation in neuroglial progenitor cells (Nf1GFAPCKO mice). We observed altered USV production in both models: Nf1+/– mice exhibited both increased USVs across development and alterations in aspects of pitch, while Nf1GFAPCKO mice demonstrated a decrease in USVs. Developmental milestones, such as weight, pinnae detachment, and eye opening, were not disrupted in either model, indicating the USV deficits were not due to gross developmental delay, and likely reflected more specific alterations in USV circuitry. In this respect, increased whole-brain serotonin was observed in Nf1+/– mice, but whole-brain levels of dopamine and its metabolites were unchanged at the age of peak USV disruption, and USV alterations did not correlate with overall level of neurofibromin loss. The early communicative phenotypes reported herein should motivate further studies into the risks mediated by haploinsufficiency and biallelic deletion of Nf1 across a full battery of ASD-relevant behavioral phenotypes, and a targeted analysis of underlying circuitry disruptions. Autism Res 2017. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay Summary Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common neurogenetic disorder caused by mutation of the NF1 gene, in which 80% of affected children exhibit cognitive and behavioral issues. Based on emerging evidence that NF1 may be an autism predisposition gene, we examined autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-relevant early communicative behavior in Nf1 mouse models and observed alterations in both models. The changes in early communicative behavior in Nf1 mutant mice should motivate further studies into the causative factors and potential treatments for ASD arising in the context of NF1.
Phaged and confused by biofilm matrix.

Bacterial biofilms fabricate an extracellular amyloid fibre network that intimately links cells together and inhibits the ability of bacteriophages to penetrate the biofilm.
Hsp70 at the membrane: driving protein translocation.

Efficient movement of proteins across membranes is required for cell health. The translocation process is particularly challenging when the channel in the membrane through which proteins must pass is narrow—such as those in the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Hsp70 molecular chaperones play roles on both sides of these membranes, ensuring efficient translocation of proteins synthesized on cytosolic ribosomes into the interior of these organelles. The “import motor” in the mitochondrial matrix, which is essential for driving the movement of proteins across the mitochondrial inner membrane, is arguably the most complex Hsp70-based system in the cell.
Subclinical alterations in hormone and semen profile in athletes

Study Objective To investigate the effects of two forms of exercise, endurance training (running) and resistance training (weight lifting), on reproductive function in male athletes. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Reproductive Endocrinology and Exercise Laboratory. Subjects Twenty-eight healthy male volunteers, 18 to 35 years of age, including 10 endurance-trained runners, 8 resistance-trained weight-lifters, and 10 sedentary controls. Main Outcome Measure(s) Hormonal evaluation included determination of plasma levels of total testosterone (T), serum levels of free T, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and estradiol, and urinary excretion of LH. Semen analyses included an evaluation of sperm characteristics in terms of density, count, motility, and morphology, and a determination of in vitro sperm penetration of standard bovine cervical mucus. Results Compared with sedentary controls, endurance-trained and resistance-trained athletes presented with significantly lower levels of total and free T. There were no significant differences in the serum levels of all other circulating and urinary hormone measurements among the three groups. Sperm density, motility, and morphology were significantly altered only in the endurance-trained runners. In vitro sperm penetration of standard cervical mucus was significantly reduced in the endurance-trained runners. Conclusion Both endurance and resistance training modify the male reproductive hormone profile in a similar manner; however, only endurance training, in the form of running, is associated with subclinical modifications in semen characteristics.
Recognizing the artifacts and minimizing untoward effects caused by failed or complicated radiopharmaceutical injections

1037 Learning Objectives To illustrate the findings related to failed or complicated radiopharmaceutical injections by presenting a collection of cases exemplifying different agents, injection routes, and nuclear studies. To present a systematic approach to these cases, including recognition of risk factors, morbidity, management and preventive measures. Imaging artifacts are possible sources of error which should be identified promptly when interpreting studies. Infiltration of an intravenous injection is not infrequent. Radiopharmaceutical infiltration can be a source of artifacts and unusual findings with which nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists should become familiar. This educational exhibit will exemplify numerous unusual findings related to failed or complicated injections in many nuclear medicine studies including: FDG PET, bone scintigraphy, cardiac nuclear studies, lymphoscintigraphy and a case of therapeutic dose extravasation of I-131 MIBG. The radiopharmaceuticals involved in the cases presented include: single photon emitters, positron emitter, and therapeutic agents. Routes of administration and infiltration or extravasation include: intravenous, subcutaneous and intrarterial. Radiopharmaceutical extravasation can also represent a mimic, an exemplifying case of a cutaneous hemangioma mimicking intrarterial injection of In-111 capromab will be presented. Although nuclear medicine studies are in general safe, potential radiation effects should be considered as a harmful outcome and should be prevented. Timely recognition of the potential patient morbidity is part of our clinical responsibility. The management of radiopharmaceutical extravasation will be presented including an implemented preventive protocol for intravenous therapeutic doses. The regulatory reporting requirements of radiopharmaceutical dose infiltration will also be addressed. Standarization of nomenclature differentiating infiltration from extravasation will be discussed
A Novel Dead-Time Adaptive Controller

Abstract Most adaptive control techniques which have seen industrial applications require that the model structure be fixed in terms of the process delay or dead time. This is a severe limitation in processes where significant throughput changes cause marked variations in transport delays. Typical approach has been to specify the model dead time securely longer than the actual process dead time to avoid closed-loop instability should the process delay lengthen. We present an adaptive control algorithm which addresses this problem in a more direct and less conservative manner. The algorithm is patterned after the classical self-tuning regulator structure; however, there are several added features. The prediction step of the controller is computed on-line using a digital filter dedicated specifically to this purpose. When a change is required, the adaptive controller structure is shifted to reflect this. Concurrently, an on-line estimation scheme produces model parameters which are converted into controller coefficients using the indirect method with the polynomial identity. The extent of the polynomial identity must be changed as the estimated dead time shifts. Results of experimental tests on a distillation feed preheater are presented which demonstrate stable performance under circumstances where fixed-delay schemes fail.
Coherent processing of ocean ambient noise for sediment profiling and head-wave detection using a vertical line array in the Santa Barbara Channel

In this study, sediment profiling using the passive fathometer and the head-wave phenomenon are investigated. Head waves are created by waves propagating in sediments parallel to the water-sediment interface (possibly at a speed higher than the water sound speed), and propagating back in the water at critical angles. Ocean ambient noise recorded by a vertical line array is processed using a generalization of the known “passive fathometer.” The technique can detect coherent time-separated arrivals at specific angles that are consistent with the propagation of head waves. The arrivals structure detected at endfire provides information on the sediment layering, while the head wave can be used to estimate the sediment sound speed, and may provide information about the attenuation. The technique is demonstrated using simulation and data from the Santa Barbara Channel Experiment of 2016, using both natural noise generated at the surface, and—for the first time—the noise generated by a ship. [Work supported by the Office of Naval Research, Ocean Acoustics Program.]
Development of GaSb solar cells on GaAs by MOVPE via interface misfit technique

Current research in photovoltaics has pushed lattice matched triple junction solar cells on Ge to average efficiencies of 31% under one sun AMO. Further improvements are possible through an inverted metamorphic (IMM) design, departing from the lattice matching constraint to achieve improved current matching with a 1eV bottom cell. Even with these improvements the record one sun efficiencies fall short of the detail balance limit for three junctions of 48% largely due to the predominant use of two materials, (In)GaAs and InGaP, while neglecting the remainder of possible III-V semiconductor materials. It is proposed that including Sb-based materials will significantly expand the opportunities for high efficiencies. This is done through the development of an interfacial misfit (IMF) growth of highly mismatched materials with low defect densities by MOVPE. The development of IMF growth has led to the direct growth of GaSb on GaAs with a rocking curve FWHM of 307 arcsec, with the potential to reduce that further with alternate precursors. Single junction GaSb IMF and homoepitaxial solar cells have been grown and will be presented to demonstrate the potential of this technique. This enables triple and five junction solar cells with ideal bandgap combination that would result in efficiencies over 40% under 1 sun AMO.
Smarcal1 and Zranb3 Protect Replication Forks from Myc-Induced DNA Replication Stress

The cellular DNA replication stress response functions to stabilize DNA replication forks and inhibits genome instability and tumorigenesis induced by oncogenes. However, the specific proteins required for resolving oncogenic stress remain poorly understood. Here we report that Smarcal1 and Zranb3, closely related replication fork-remodeling proteins, have nonredundant functions in resolving Myc-induced DNA replication stress. In Myc-overexpressing primary cells, significant differences in replication fork stalling, collapse, and DNA damage were detected between cells deficient in Smarcal1 or Zranb3, leading to changes in proliferation and apoptosis. These differences were also reflected in Myc-induced lymphoma development; haploinsufficiency of Smarcal1 resulted in accelerated lymphomagenesis, whereas haploinsufficiency of Zranb3 inhibited lymphoma development. Complete loss of either protein resulted in disparate survival outcomes. Our results reveal that endogenous replication stress from Myc in primary cells requires both alleles of Smarcal1 and Zranb3 and demonstrate the requirement of both proteins to stabilize replication forks upon Myc dysregulation in a nonredundant manner. SIGNIFICANCE: Smarcal1 and Zranb3 are essential, but nonredundant, for responding to DNA replication stress and stabilizing replication forks following Myc overexpression.See related commentary by Sotiriou and Halazonetis, p. 1297.
A Study of GaAs1–xSbx Axial Nanowires Grown on Monolayer Graphene by Ga-Assisted Molecular Beam Epitaxy for Flexible Near-Infrared Photodetectors

We report the successful growth of high-quality GaAs1–xSbx nanowires on monolayer graphene/SiO2/p-Si (111) using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) for the application of a flexible near-infrared photodetector. A systematic and detailed study of NW growth parameters, namely, growth temperature, V/III beam equivalent pressure (BEP) ratio, and Ga shutter opening duration, has been carried out. Growth of vertical ⟨111⟩ oriented nanowires on graphene with 4 K photoluminescence emission in the range 1.24–1.38 eV has been achieved. The presence of a weak D mode in Raman spectra of NWs grown on graphene suggests that NW growth did not alter the intrinsic properties of the monolayer graphene. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and a selective area diffraction pattern confirmed the zinc-blende crystal structure of the NWs. This study suggests that Sb as a surfactant plays a critical role in the surface engineering of the substrate, leading to the superior optical quality of NWs exhibiting a higher 4 K phot...
A Retrospective Review to Determine If Children with Sickle Cell Disease Receive Hydroxyurea Monitoring.

Introduction Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) guidelines recommend that patients on hydroxyurea receive monitoring at least every 2-3 months, but it is unknown if this occurs in clinical practice. This study aimed to determine if patients with SCD at Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH) had at least four, in-person monitoring visits during a 12-month period and if frequent monitoring was associated with hydroxyurea adherence and clinical outcomes. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of children on hydroxyurea for at least 12 months during 2010-2015. Patients' demographics, laboratory studies, prescriptions, and number of hydroxyurea and acute visits were recorded from their 12-month period that met eligibility criteria. Patients were considered frequently monitored if they had ≥4 hydroxyurea visits and adherent if they had prescriptions for hydroxyurea for ≥80% of the days in their 12-month period. Results Seventy-four children met the eligibility criteria and 57 (77%) had frequent monitoring. The most common reason for not obtaining frequent monitoring was missing a scheduled appointment. A greater proportion of frequently monitored patients were adherent to hydroxyurea (66.7% vs. 17.7%, p<0.001) and they had significantly fewer acute visits (median 1 vs. 2 visits, p=0.032) compared to infrequently monitored patients. Conclusions Our study shows that most children on hydroxyurea at NCH received frequent monitoring and that it was associated with improved adherence and outcomes. Our results suggest that frequent in-person monitoring could be an opportunity to identify poorly adherent patients. These data inform our next quality improvement initiative that will maximize adherence to these monitoring guidelines.
Effects of flax supplementation and a combined trenbolone acetate and estradiol implant on circulating insulin-like growth factor-I and muscle insulin-like growth factor-I messenger RNA levels in beef cattle.

We evaluated effects of a 5% (dry matter basis) ground flaxseed supplement (flax) and a trenbolone acetate and estradiol-17beta implant, Revalor-S, on circulating IGF-I and muscle IGF-I messenger RNA (mRNA). Sixteen crossbred yearling steers (initial BW = 397 kg) were assigned randomly to one of four treatments: 1) flax/implant; 2) nonflax/implant; 3) flax/nonimplant; and 4) nonflax/nonimplant. Serum was harvested from blood collected on d 0 (before implant or flax addition), 14, and 28, and used in subsequent analyses of circulating IGF-I. Biopsy samples (0.5 g) were obtained from the longissimus muscle on d 0, 14, and 28. Total RNA was isolated from the muscle samples, and real-time quantitative-PCR was used to assess relative differences in IGF-I mRNA. Flax supplementation had no effect (P > 0.10) on circulating IGF-I concentrations. Following implantation, sera from implanted steers had 52 and 84% greater (P 0.10) IGF-I mRNA concentration regardless of the level of alphaLA exposure; however, satellite cells from implanted steers exposed to 10 nM and 1 microM alphaLA had 2.5- and 2.0-fold greater IGF-I mRNA levels, respectively, than cells from implanted steers that were not exposed to alphaLA (P < 0.05). Administration of a Revalor-S implant increased circulating IGF-I and local muscle IGF-I mRNA concentrations in finishing cattle. However, muscle IGF-I mRNA levels were decreased by flax supplementation. Muscle cell culture experiments suggested that alphaLA was not responsible for the IGF-I mRNA down-regulation.
Differential Changes in Functional Connectivity of Striatum-Prefrontal and Striatum-Motor Circuits in Premanifest Huntington's Disease.

Background: Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. The striatum is one of the first brain regions that show detectable atrophy in HD. Previous studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at 3 tesla (3 T) revealed reduced functional connectivity between striatum and motor cortex in the prodromal period of HD. Neuroanatomical and neurophysiological studies have suggested segregated corticostriatal pathways with distinct loops involving different cortical regions, which may be investigated using fMRI at an ultra-high field (7 T) with enhanced sensitivity compared to lower fields. Objectives: We performed fMRI at 7 T to assess functional connectivity between the striatum and several chosen cortical areas including the motor and prefrontal cortex, in order to better understand brain changes in the striatum-cortical pathways. Method: 13 manifest subjects (age 51 ± 13 years, cytosine-adenine-guanine [CAG] repeat 45 ± 5, Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale [UHDRS] motor score 32 ± 17), 8 subjects in the close-to-onset premanifest period (age 38 ± 10 years, CAG repeat 44 ± 2, UHDRS motor score 8 ± 2), 11 subjects in the far-from-onset premanifest period (age 38 ± 11 years, CAG repeat 42 ± 2, UHDRS motor score 1 ± 2), and 16 healthy controls (age 44 ± 15 years) were studied. The functional connectivity between the striatum and several cortical areas was measured by resting state fMRI at 7 T and analyzed in all participants. Results: Compared to controls, functional connectivity between striatum and premotor area, supplementary motor area, inferior frontal as well as middle frontal regions was altered in HD (all p values <0.001). Specifically, decreased striatum-motor connectivity but increased striatum-prefrontal connectivity were found in premanifest HD subjects. Altered functional connectivity correlated consistently with genetic burden, but not with clinical scores. Conclusions: Differential changes in functional connectivity of striatum-prefrontal and striatum-motor circuits can be found in early and premanifest HD. This may imply a compensatory mechanism, where additional cortical regions are recruited to subserve functions that have been impaired due to HD pathology. Our results suggest the potential value of functional connectivity as a marker for future clinical trials in HD.
Diversity, Leadership, and Authenticity in the Undocumented Youth Movement

The undocumented youth movement is diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, and immigration status. I argue that racial and immigration status diversity has a direct impact on the movement's ability to “expand the scope of conflict,” that is to say recruiting new members, reaching out to elected officials, and establishing representative leadership—elements that are critical to the sustainability and effectiveness of a movement. Findings also indicate that immigration status diversity plays a complex role. The presence of citizen allies brings both risks and benefits to the movement, as they reinforce the electoral connection sought by elected officials while at the same time jeopardizing the authenticity of the movement. Results are based on field research conducted between 2012 and 2015 in NJ and NY, including participant observation in state-level campaigns and interviews with over 130 immigrant youths, allies, and elected officials. This article contributes to the social movement literature by providing empirical evidence of the challenges present within diverse coalitions. It addresses the question of immigration status diversity, an issue that affects the immigration movement but speaks more broadly to the role of allies in social movements.
Simultaneous Information and Energy Transfer in mmWave UAV-assisted Cellular Networks

In this paper, we consider simultaneous information and energy transfer in millimeter Wave (mmWave) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-assisted cellular networks, in which the user locations are modeled as a Thomas cluster process. Distinguishing features of mmWave communications, such as different path loss models for line-of-sight (LOS) and none-LOS (NLOS) links and directional transmissions, are taken into account. Initially, we characterize the complementary cumulative distribution functions (CCDFs) and the probability density functions (PDFs) of the distances from the typical user equipment (UE) to its own cluster center UAV, other Poisson point process (PPP) distributed UAVs and the ground base stations (GBSs). The association probability, energy and signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) coverages of different tier UAVs and GBSs are investigated. Moreover, we define a successful transmission probability to jointly present the energy and SINR coverages and provide general expressions. Through numerical results, we investigate the system coverage performance.
Understanding acquisition and processing error in microseismic data: An example from Pouce Coupe Field, Canada

ABSTRACT A challenge in microseismic monitoring is quantification of survey acquisition and processing errors, and how these errors jointly affect estimated locations. Quantifying acquisition and processing errors and uncertainty has multiple benefits, such as more accurate and precise estimation of locations, anisotropy, moment tensor inversion and, potentially, allowing for detection of 4D reservoir changes. Here, we quantify uncertainty due to acquisition, receiver orientation error, and hodogram analysis. Additionally, we illustrate the effects of signal to noise ratio variances upon event detection. We apply processing steps to a downhole microseismic dataset from Pouce Coupe, Alberta, Canada. We use a probabilistic location approach to identify the optimal bottom well location based upon known source locations. Probability density functions are utilized to quantify uncertainty and propagate it through processing, including in source location inversion to describe the three‐dimensional event location likelihood. Event locations are calculated and an amplitude stacking approach is used to reduce the error associated with first break picking and the minimization with modelled travel times. Changes in the early processing steps have allowed for understanding of location uncertainty of the mapped microseismic events.
Association of respiratory symptoms with use of high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Air pollution has been associated with increased respiratory symptoms, especially in patients with asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). While HEPA filters reduce air pollution in the home, whether they reduce respiratory symptoms is unknown. Methods: We conducted a 12-week randomized, blinded, cross-over, controlled trial of adult patients with a history of respiratory symptoms during air pollution. During 6 weeks of the trial, the HEPA filter insert was present (HEPA filter ON), and during the other 6 weeks it was not (HEPA filter OFF). We conducted symptom questionnaires at enrollment, cross-over, and at completion of the study. The primary outcome was change in St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire - COPD (SGRQ-C) score. Secondary outcomes included change in COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score, and modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) score. Results: 52 patients were enrolled and (lower than expected) 35 had completed SGRQ-C scores during the study period. Overall, we found no significant difference in SGRQ-C, CAT, or mMRC scores. A sample size of 35 subjects provided 80% power to detect a difference of 5.5 units in the SGRQ-C measure of respiratory symptoms. The minimal clinically important difference of SGRQ-C is 4 units. Conclusion: In a small, randomized, blinded, cross-over, controlled trial use of HEPA filter was not associated with a change in respiratory symptoms during periods of air pollution. This negative study suggesting that the clinical effect of HEPA filter on symptoms in this type of exposure is limited.
Renal Function and Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Women with Symptoms/Signs of Ischemia

© 2015, Public Library of Science. All rights reserved. Objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is more prevalent among women and is associated with adverse cardiovascular events. Among women with symptoms and signs of ischemia enrolled in the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE), a relatively high mortality rate was observed in those with no obstructive coronary artery disease. Coronary microvascular dysfunction or reduced coronary flow reserve (CFR) was a strong and independent predictor of adverse outcomes. The objective of this analysis was to determine if renal function was associated with coronary microvascular dysfunction in women with signs and symptoms of ischemia. Methods: The WISE was a multicenter, prospective, cohort study of women undergoing coronary angiography for suspected ischemia. Among 198 women with additional measurements of CFR, we determined the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with the CKD-EPI equation. We tested the association between eGFR and CFR with regression analysis. Results: The median eGFR was 89 ml/min. The eGFR correlated with CFR (r = 0.22; P = 0.002). This association persisted even after covariate adjustment. Each 10-unit decrease in eGFR was associated with a 0.04-unit decrease in CFR (P = 0.04). There was a strong interaction between eGFR and age (P = 0.006): in those ≥60 years old, GFR was strongly correlated with CFR (r = 0.55; P<0.0001). No significant correlation was noted in those <60 years old. Conclusions: Reduced renal function was significantly associated with lower CFR in women with symptoms and signs of ischemia. Coronary microvascular dysfunction warrants additional study as a mechanism contributing to increased risk of cardiovascular events in CKD.
Sneezing and asymptomatic virus transmission

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread pattern continues to show that geographical barriers alone cannot contain a virus. Asymptomatic carriers play a critical role in the nature of this virus quickly escalating into a global pandemic. Asymptomatic carriers may transmit the virus unintentionally through sporadic sneezing. A novel Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach has been proposed with a realistic modeling of a human sneeze achieved by the combination of state-of-the-art experimental and numerical methods. This modeling approach may be suitable for future engineering analyses aimed at reshaping public spaces and common areas, with the main objective to accurately predict the spread of aerosol and droplets that may contain pathogens. This study shows that the biomechanics of a human sneeze, including complex muscle contractions and relaxations, can be accurately modeled by the angular head motion and the dynamic pressure response during sneezing. These have been considered as the human factors and were implemented in the CFD simulation by imposing a momentum source term to the coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian momentum equations. The momentum source was modeled by the measured dynamic pressure response in conjunction with the angular head motion. This approach eliminated the need to create an ad hoc set of inlet boundary conditions. With this proposed technique, it is easier to add multiple fixed and/or moving sources of sneezes in complex computational domains. Additionally, extensive sensitivity analyses based on different environmental conditions were performed, and their impact was described in terms of potential virus spread.
Consistency of O 16 ( n , α ) cross sections

The evaluated $^{16}\mathrm{O}(n,\ensuremath{\alpha})$ cross sections in the ENDF/B-VIII.0 nuclear data library remain uncertain because of systematic discrepancies in the measured data. In the energy region below the first excited state, $R$-matrix analyses rely heavily on the inverse reaction, and in particular, they rely on the measured $^{13}\mathrm{C}(\ensuremath{\alpha},n)^{16}\mathrm{O}$ cross sections reported by Bair et al. in 1973 and Harissopulos et al. in 2005. The Harissopulos cross section values are systematically lower than those previously reported by Bair. Drawing on the available experimental information, this paper briefly describes and demonstrates that the two sets of measured cross sections are consistent.
National Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes between Black and White Americans.

Abstract Background There is very limited comprehensive information on disparate outcomes of black and white patients with COVID-19 infection. Reports from cities and states have suggested a discordant impact on black Americans, but no nationwide study has yet been performed. We sought to understand the differential outcomes for black and white Americans infected with COVID-19. Methods We obtained case-level data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on 76,442 white and 48,338 non-Hispanic Black patients diagnosed with COVID-19, ages 0 to >80+, outlining information on hospitalization, ICU admission, ventilation, and death outcomes. Multivariate Poisson regressions were used to estimate the association of race, treating white as the reference group, controlling for sex, age group, and the presence of comorbidities. Results Black patients were generally younger than white, were more often female, and had larger numbers of comorbidities. Compared to white patients with COVID-19, black patients had 1.4 times the risk of hospitalization (RR 1.42, p Conclusion Despite the initial descriptions of COVID-19 being a disease that affects all individuals, regardless of station, our data demonstrate the differential racial effects in the United States. This current pandemic reinforces the need to assess the unequal effects of crises on disadvantaged populations to promote population health.
Learning Curve in Robotic Primary Ventral Hernia Repair Using Intraperitoneal Onlay Mesh: A Cumulative Sum Analysis.

BACKGROUND Cumulative sum (CUSUM) learning curves (LCs) are useful to analyze individual performance and to evaluate the acquisition of new skills and the evolution of those skills as experience is accumulated. The purpose of this study is to present a CUSUM LC based on the operative times of robotic intraperitoneal onlay mesh (rIPOM) ventral hernia repair (VHR) and identify differences observed throughout its phases. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients who underwent rIPOM repair for elective, midline, and primary hernias were included. All procedures were performed exclusively by one surgeon within a 5-year period. CUSUM and risk-adjusted CUSUM were used to visualize the LC of rIPOM-VHR, based on operative times and complications. Once groups were obtained, univariate comparisons were performed. RESULTS Of the 90 rIPOM repairs, 25, 40, and 25 patients were allocated using a CUSUM analysis to the early, middle, and late phases, respectively. In terms of skin-to-skin times, the middle phase has a mean duration of 23 minutes shorter than the early phase (P<0.001), and the late phase has a mean duration 34 minutes shorter than the early phase (P<0.001). A steep decrease in off-console time was observed, with a 10-minute difference from early to middle phases. A consistent and gradual decrease in operative times was observed after completion of 36 cases, and a risk-adjusted CUSUM revealed improving outcomes after 55 cases. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates and elucidates interval improvement in operative efficiency in rIPOM-VHR. Consistently decreasing operative times and simultaneous accumulated complication rates were observed after the completion of 55 cases.
Impact of degree of polishing on technological and biochemical grain quality traits of rice varieties of Russian breeding

The article presents the results of evaluation of rice varieties grown in the conditions of Krasnodar region by technological and biochemical quality traits in connection with the degree of grain polishing. The experiments were carried out in the laboratory of grain quality of Federal Scientific Rice Centre, Krasnodar. Grain of four rice varieties of Russian breeding (Rapan, Flagman, Polevik and Olimp) was subjected to five different degrees of polishing (0 %, 10 %, 12 % and 14 %). The degree of polishing significantly (P≤0.05) influenced the total yield of polished rice, head rice content, and the content of protein and amylose. An increase in the degree of polishing led to a further decrease in the protein content, total yield of polished rice and head rice content in it. However, an increase in the amylose content was found for simulated samples. With an increase in the degree of polishing to 14%, the amylose content increased in varieties Rapan, Flagman, Polevik and Olimp, respectively, by 1.3 %, 1.4 %, 1.5 % and 1.2 %, the protein content decreased by 1.5 %, 1.7 %, 1.6 %, 1.7 %.
Binge-Like Ethanol Drinking Increases Otx2, Wnt1, and Mdk Gene Expression in the Ventral Tegmental Area of Adult Mice

Alcohol use disorder is associated with pathophysiological changes in the dopaminergic system. Orthodenticle homeobox 2 (OTX2) is a transcription factor important for the development of dopaminergi...
Vividness, Clarity, and Control in Auditory Imagery:

Previous studies of auditory imagery have often confounded vividness and clarity, and the differences between these constructs are not clear. Additionally, it has been suggested that clarity is a m...
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment in Medical Practice: A User's Guide.

Importance The environmental impacts of medical practice are becoming more important as the unsustainable activities of global societies continue to damage the environment and contribute to health problems. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a methodology to quantify a wide range of environmental impacts, including global warming, over the full life cycle of products, processes, and systems, to allow for data-driven environmental decisions. Objective This article introduces the concepts, terminology, and methodology of LCA using examples from the medical industry. It provides guidance and best practices for the standard steps of an LCA study. Evidence Acquisition A review of the literature was done to provide examples of the use of LCA and carbon footprints in medicine. Hypothetical medical products were modeled using LCA software to illustrate the capabilities and limitations of this method. Results Life cycle assessment examples in medicine illustrate the ability of this method to compare environmental impacts for products that perform the same function. They also highlight the relative scale of damage across all life cycle phases for a variety of environmental impact categories. Resources have also been provided for various useful LCA tools. Conclusions and Relevance Life cycle assessment can provide medical practitioners with quantified environmental metrics in order to make decisions that minimize the environmental impacts of medical products, processes, and systems. Carbon footprints are LCA studies that focus only on the impact of climate change. Life cycle assessment is expected to grow as a tool for environmental decisions in medical practice.
Unmet needs and barriers to services among people who inject drugs with HIV in the United States

Data on use of and barriers to HIV ancillary care services among people who inject drugs (PWID) with HIV can inform interventions intended to improve access to care, but national estimates are lack...
Methanogenesis and Salt Tolerance Genes of a Novel Halophilic Methanosarcinaceae Metagenome-Assembled Genome from a Former Solar Saltern

Anaerobic archaeal methanogens are key players in the global carbon cycle due to their role in the final stages of organic matter decomposition in anaerobic environments such as wetland sediments. Here we present the first draft metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) sequence of an unclassified Methanosarcinaceae methanogen phylogenetically placed adjacent to the Methanolobus and Methanomethylovorans genera that appears to be a distinct genus and species. The genome is derived from sediments of a hypersaline (97-148 ppt chloride) unrestored industrial saltern that has been observed to be a significant methane source. The source sediment is more saline than previous sources of Methanolobus and Methanomethylovorans. We propose a new genus name, Methanosalis, to house this genome, which we designate with the strain name SBSPR1A. The MAG was binned with CONCOCT and then improved via scaffold extension and reassembly. The genome contains pathways for methylotrophic methanogenesis from trimethylamine and dimethylamine, as well as genes for the synthesis and transport of compatible solutes. Some genes involved in acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis are present, but those pathways appear incomplete in the genome. The MAG was more abundant in two former industrial salterns than in a nearby reference wetland and a restored wetland, both of which have much lower salinity levels, as well as significantly lower methane emissions than the salterns.
Object technology for scientific computing: object-oriented numerical software in Eiffel and C

Introduction to disk management on HP-UX a basic guide to using logical volumes managing your file systems a guide to using JFS advanced LVM disk management tasks converting to LVM amd troubleshooting LVM mirroring data using LVM disk stripping LVM.
Early Exposure to General Anesthesia with Isoflurane Downregulates Inhibitory Synaptic Neurotransmission in the Rat Thalamus

Recent evidence supports the idea that common general anesthetics (GAs) such as isoflurane (Iso) and nitrous oxide (N2O; laughing gas) are neurotoxic and may harm the developing mammalian brain, including the thalamus; however, to date very little is known about how developmental exposure to GAs may affect synaptic transmission in the thalamus which, in turn, controls the function of thalamocortical circuitry. To address this issue we used in vitro patch-clamp recordings of evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs) from intact neurons of the nucleus reticularis thalami (nRT) in brain slices from rat pups (postnatal age P10-P18) exposed at age of P7 to clinically relevant GA combinations of Iso and N2O. We found that rats exposed to a combination of 0.75 % Iso and 75 % N2O display lasting reduction in the amplitude and faster decays of eIPSCs. Exposure to sub-anesthetic concentrations of 75 % N2O alone or 0.75 % Iso alone at P7 did not affect the amplitude of eIPSCs; however, Iso alone, but not N2O, significantly accelerated decay of eIPSCs. Anesthesia with 1.5 % Iso alone decreased amplitudes, caused faster decay and decreased the paired-pulse ratio of eIPSCs. We conclude that anesthesia at P7 with Iso alone or in combination with N2O causes plasticity of eIPSCs in nRT neurons by both presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms. We hypothesize that changes in inhibitory synaptic transmission in the thalamus induced by GAs may contribute to altered neuronal excitability and consequently abnormal thalamocortical oscillations later in life.
“A Cord of Three Strands is Not Easily Broken”: An Empirical Investigation of Attachment-Based Small Group Functioning in the Christian Church:

In this study, the authors explored the relationship between adult attachment, church-based small group attachment, psychological functioning, faith maturity, God attachment, and Christian orthodox...
SOME ASPECTS OF PARENT-OFFSPRING AND SIBLING RELATIONS IN A GROUP OF RHESUS MONKEYS, WITH A DISCUSSION OF GROOMING.

Observations of a group of rhesus monkeys living on Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico show (1) that a rhesus female and her offspring can continue to maintain a distinct relation into the offspring's physical maturity, and (2) that the offspring often develops its strongest relations with monkeys of its own genealogy. Detailed descriptions of relations in several of the genealogies illustrate the above points. The observer identifies relations by the consistent close spacing of individual monkeys, by incidents, such as fights, and by frequency of interactions, such as grooming. Grooming behavior is described. Provisional categories of motor patterns of rhesus monkey grooming are the slide, scrape, and pick. Apparent differences in intensity of grooming may be due to differences in number of slides, scrapes, and picks per time interval, differences in the sequences of the three categories within a bout, and differences in the area covered by each movement. Sequences of slides, scrapes, and picks interrupted by other behaviors, such as scratching, make up grooming bouts. Grooming bouts occur in sequences with bouts of other behavior such as locomotion, fighting, sleeping. Grooming seems to serve a variety of functions although a common element is the relaxing effect on the participants. Monkeys both solicit grooming from others, and groom others without being solicited. Grooming sometimes placates an aggressor following a fight. Monkeys sometimes seem to anticipate aggression and forestall it by grooming the potential aggressor. The case histories of grooming relations show that each relation is unique and is always changing, at least slightly. The human family may have originated when symbolic definition and generalization was given to some such system of behavioral relations already present in populations of the ancestors of the human species.
Phenotypic differences between αβ versus β T-cell receptor transgenic mice undergoing negative selection

T-cell differentiation in the thymus is thought to involve a progression from the CD4-CD8- phenotype through CD4+CD8+ intermediates to mature CD4+ or CD8+ cells. There is evidence that during this process T cells bearing receptors potentially reactive to 'self' are deleted by a process termed 'negative selection' One example of this process occurs in mice carrying polymorphic Mls antigens, against which a detectable proportion of T cells are autoreactive. These mice show clonal deletion of thymic and peripheral T-cell subsets that express the autoreactive V beta 3 segment of the T-cell antigen receptor, but at most a two-fold depletion of thymic cells at the CD4+CD8+ stage. By contrast, transgenic mice bearing both alpha and beta chain genes encoding autoreactive receptors recognizing other ligands, show severe depletion of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes as well, suggesting that negative selection occurs much earlier. We report here the Mls 2a/3a mediated elimination of T cells expressing a transgene encoded V beta 3-segment, in T-cell receptor alpha/beta and beta-transgenic mice. Severe depletion of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes is seen only in the alpha/beta chain transgenic mice, whereas both strains delete mature V beta 3 bearing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells efficiently. We conclude that severe CD4+CD8+ thymocyte deletion in alpha/beta transgenic mice results from the premature expression of both receptor chains, and does not reflect a difference in the timing or mechanism of negative selection for Mls antigens as against the allo- and MHC class 1-restricted antigens used in the other studies.
Cuerda para rato

Temas y problemas de una historia social de la literatura hispanoamericana. Rafael Gutierrez Girardot. Ediciones Cave Canem, Bogota, 1989.
Roughness receptivity studies in a 3-D boundary layer – Flight tests and computations

The receptivity of 3-D boundary layers to micron-sized, spanwise-periodic Discrete Roughness Elements (DREs) was studied. The DREs were applied to the leading edge of a 30-degree swept-wing at the wavelength of the most unstable disturbance. In this case, calibrated, multi-element hotfilm sensors were used to measure disturbance wall shear stress. The roughness height was varied from 0 to 50 microns. Thus, the disturbance-shear-stress amplitude variations were determined as a function of modulated DRE heights. The computational work was conducted parallel to the flight experiments. The complete viscous flowfield over the O-2 aircraft with the SWIFT model mounted on the port wing store pylon was successfully modeled and validated with the flight data. This highly accurate basic-state solution was incorporated into linear stability calculations and the wave growth associated with the crossflow instability was calculated.
DNA-methylation profiling distinguishes malignant melanomas from benign nevi.

DNA methylation, an epigenetic alteration typically occurring early in cancer development, could aid in the molecular diagnosis of melanoma. We determined technical feasibility for high-throughput DNA-methylation array-based profiling using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues for selection of candidate DNA-methylation differences between melanomas and nevi. Promoter methylation was evaluated in 27 common benign nevi and 22 primary invasive melanomas using a 1505 CpG site microarray. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering distinguished melanomas from nevi; 26 CpG sites in 22 genes were identified with significantly different methylation levels between melanomas and nevi after adjustment for age, sex, and multiple comparisons and with β-value differences of ≥0.2. Prediction analysis for microarrays identified 12 CpG loci that were highly predictive of melanoma, with area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of >0.95. Of our panel of 22 genes, 14 were statistically significant in an independent sample set of 29 nevi (including dysplastic nevi) and 25 primary invasive melanomas after adjustment for age, sex, and multiple comparisons. This first report of a DNA-methylation signature discriminating melanomas from nevi indicates that DNA methylation appears promising as an additional tool for enhancing melanoma diagnosis.