cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Viscoelastic time-reversal imaging

ABSTRACTThe time invariance of wave equations, an essential precondition for time-reversal (TR) imaging, is no longer valid when introducing attenuation. I evaluated a viscoelastic (VE) TR imaging algorithm based on a novel VE wave equation. By reversing the sign of the P- and S-wave loss operators, the VE wave equation became time invariant for the TR operation. Attenuation effects were thus compensated for during TR wave propagation. I developed the formulations of VE forward modeling and TR imaging. I tested my imaging approach in three numerical experiments. The first experiment used a 2D homogeneous model with full-aperture receivers to examine the time invariance of the VE TR imaging equation. Using the same model, the second experiment was used to demonstrate the method’s ability to characterize a point source. In the third experiment, I applied this method to characterize a complex source using borehole geophones. Numerical results illustrated that the VE TR imaging improved our knowledge of the s...
Site-Specific Profiles of Estrogenic Activity in Agricultural Areas of California's Inland Waters

To evaluate the occurrence and sources of compounds capable of feminizing fish in agriculturally impacted waterways of the Central Valley of California, water samples were extracted and subjected to chemical analyses as well as in vitro and in vivo measurements of vitellogenin in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Among the 16 sites sampled, 6 locations frequently exhibited elevated concentrations of estrogenic substances with 17β-estradiol equivalents up to 242 ng/L in vitro and 12 μg/kg in vivo. The patterns of activity varied among sites, with two sites showing elevated activity only in vitro, two showing elevated activity only in vivo, and two showing elevated activity in both assays. Sequential elution of solid-phase extraction (SPE) disks followed by bioassay-guided fractionation was used to characterize water samples from the two locations where activity was observed in both bioassays. The highest estrogenic activity was observed in the most nonpolar fractions (80−100% methanol eluent) f...
vGreen: a system for energy efficient computing in virtualized environments

In this paper, we present vGreen, a multi-tiered software system for energy efficient computing in virtualized environments. It comprises of novel hierarchical metrics that capture power and performance characteristics of virtual and physical machines, and policies, which use it for energy efficient virtual machine scheduling across the whole deployment. We show through real life implementation on a state of the art testbed of server machines that vGreen can improve both performance and system level energy savings by 20% and 15% across benchmarks with varying characteristics.
Balance between Endogenous Superoxide Stress and Antioxidant Defenses

Cells devoid of cytosolic superoxide dismutase (SOD) suffer enzyme inactivation, growth deficiencies, and DNA damage. It has been proposed that the scant superoxide (O2−) generated by aerobic metabolism harms even cells that contain abundant SOD. However, this idea has been difficult to test. To determine the amount of O2− that is needed to cause these defects, we modulated the O2− concentration inside Escherichia coli by controlling the expression of SOD. An increase in O2− of more than twofold above wild-type levels substantially diminished the activity of labile dehydratases, an increase in O2− of any more than fourfold measurably impaired growth, and a fivefold increase in O2− sensitized cells to DNA damage. These results indicate that E. coli constitutively synthesizes just enough SOD to defend biomolecules against endogenous O2− so that modest increases in O2− concentration diminish cell fitness. This conclusion is in excellent agreement with quantitative predictions based upon previously determined rates of intracellular O2− production, O2− dismutation, dehydratase inactivation, and enzyme repair. The vulnerability of bacteria to increased intracellular O2− explains the widespread use of superoxide-producing drugs as bactericidal weapons in nature. E. coli responds to such drugs by inducing the SoxRS regulon, which positively regulates synthesis of SOD and other defensive proteins. However, even toxic amounts of endogenous O2− did not activate SoxR, and SoxR activation by paraquat was not at all inhibited by excess SOD. Therefore, in responding to redox-cycling drugs, SoxR senses some signal other than O2−.
Trading in your spindles for blebs: the amoeboid tumor cell phenotype in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains a principal cause of mortality in developed countries. Because no clinical interventions overcome resistance to androgen ablation therapy, management of castration resistance and metastatic disease remains largely untreatable. Metastasis is a multistep process in which tumor cells lose cell-cell contacts, egress from the primary tumor, intravasate, survive shear stress within the vasculature and extravasate into tissues to colonize ectopic sites. Tumor cells reestablish migratory behaviors employed during nonneoplastic processes such as embryonic development, leukocyte trafficking and wound healing. While mesenchymal motility is an established paradigm of dissemination, an alternate, 'amoeboid' phenotype is increasingly appreciated as relevant to human cancer. Here we discuss characteristics and pathways underlying the phenotype, and highlight our findings that the cytoskeletal regulator DIAPH3 governs the mesenchymal-amoeboid transition. We also describe our identification of a new class of tumor-derived microvesicles, large oncosomes, produced by amoeboid cells and with potential clinical utility in prostate and other cancers.
Robust control of quasi-linear parabolic PDE systems

This paper proposes a methodology for the synthesis of nonlinear robust feedback controllers for systems of quasi-linear parabolic partial differential equations with time-varying uncertain variables, for which the eigenspectrum of the spatial differential operator can be partitioned into a finite-dimensional slow one and an infinite-dimensional stable fast complement. The method is successfully applied to a catalytic packed-bed reactor with unknown and time-varying heat of reaction.
Risk factors for leg harvest surgical site infections after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Abstract Objective Harvest site infections are more common than chest surgical infections after coronary artery bypass surgery, yet few studies detail risk factors for these infections. We sought to determine independent risk factors for leg surgical site infections using our institutional Society of Thoracic Surgeons database. Methods We retrospectively analyzed data collected from 1980 coronary artery bypass patients undergoing surgery at our institution from January 1, 1996, through June 30, 1999, using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database. Independent risk factors for leg harvest site infection were identified by multivariate logistic regression. Results Seventy-six patients (4.5%) were coded as having had a leg harvest site infection, of which 67 were confirmed by infection control. The length of hospital stay after surgery was significantly longer in patients with leg harvest site infection (mean 10.1 days) compared with that of patients without infection (mean 7.1 days, P Conclusions Consistent with previous studies, female gender and obesity were identified as independent risk factors for leg harvest site infection, while previous cerebrovascular accident, postoperative transfusion, and older age are newly described risk factors. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database is a useful tool for identification of predictors of leg harvest site infections.
An Interactive Educational Tool for Compressible Aerodynamics

A workstation-based interactive educational tool was developed to aid in the teaching of undergraduate compressible aerodynamics. The tool solves for the supersonic flow past a wedge using the equations found in NACA 1135. The student varies the geometry or flow conditions through a graphical user interface and the new conditions are calculated immediately. Various graphical formats present the variation of flow results to the student. One such format leads the student to the generation of some of the graphs found in NACA-1135. The tool includes interactive questions and answers to aid in both the use of the tool and to develop an understanding of some of the complexities of compressible aerodynamics. A series of help screens make the simulator easy to learn and use. This paper will detail the numerical methods used in the tool and describe how it can be used and modified.
Participation is possible: A case report of integration into a community performing arts program

Typically developing children frequently participate in community recreation activities that enhance their social/emotional and physical development. The inclusion of children with developmental disabilities in these activities continues to be a challenge. This case report investigated the feasibility of including a child with Down syndrome in a community performing arts program. The participant is an 11-year-old female with Down syndrome and mild cognitive impairment. The participant was enrolled in a 14-week performing arts session that included a combination of acting, voice, and dance instruction. She participated in the program with the support of a one-on-one assistant who was a physical therapy student. The assistant facilitated learning the choreography, appropriate socialization, and positioning on the stage. Peer helpers were used to allow for greater independence toward the end of the session and for the final performance. The participant completed the final performance without the one-on-one assistant. The participant's mother completed the PedsQL before and after the performance, and the participant's scaled scores increased in all subsets except for emotional function and the total scales score increased from 51 to 57. With appropriate modifications and the right child/program fit, children with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome can successfully be included in community programs. Physical therapists can assist families and community programs to make developmentally appropriate modifications to enhance participation.
Solute–solute correlations in infinitely dilute supercritical mixtures

Asymptotic expressions for the solute–solute pair correlation integral and for the limiting slope of the composition dependence of the solute’s activity coefficient are derived for the situation in which the solvent’s critical point is approached while the mixture is kept at infinite dilution. Both quantities diverge to plus infinity and scale as the solvent’s compressibility, with prefactors that depend on the temperature, solvent density, and the infinite dilution limit of the solute–solvent direct correlation function integral.
Self-energized acoustic wireless sensor for pressure-temperature measurement in injection molding cavity

This paper presents a self-energized acoustic wireless sensing method for simultaneous measurement of pressure and temperature within the cavity of an injection mold and wireless transmission of the measured parameters out of such a metallically shielded environment through ultrasound pulse trains. Two attributes of the ultrasound pulses have been explored to enable dual-parameter sensing: the number of pulses serves as a direct measure for the magnitude of the pressure, and the carrier frequency of the pulses accounts for the polymer melt temperature. A piezoceramic stack serves as an energy harvester that scavenges energy from the pressure differential of the molding process itself to power the sensor electronics. Systematic comparative experiments on a real-world injection molding machine with commercial wired sensors as the reference verified the accuracy and robustness of the new sensor. Small in size, requiring no battery and no holes to be drilled through the mold, the new sensor is suited for embedded monitoring in a wide range of industrial applications characterized by low accessibility and harsh environmental conditions.
Production of multiple laccase isoforms by Phanerochaete chrysosporium grown under nutrient sufficiency

Phanerochaete chrysosporium strain ME446 produced laccase when grown in a medium with high nitrogen (24 mM), glucose, acetate buffer and high copper (0.4 mM CuSO4). Copper appeared to serve as an inducer. The highest amount of laccase activity was found in 2–3 day old cultures. Both intracellular and extracellular laccases eluted as four peaks (L1–L4) on a MonoQ (anion exchange) column. All four peaks from intracellular fluid appear to comprise multiple polypeptides that gave rise to a ∼400 kDa peak on a gel filtration column. Extracellular laccases had a non-denaturing Mr of 100 kDa.
Parental Ethnotheories in the Context of Immigration: Asian Indian Immigrant and Euro-American Mothers and Daughters in an American Town

Cross-cultural research is inherently limited by the difficulty of disentangling cultural effects on children’s development from other environmental features that covary with culture. The growing presence of immigrant populations in the United States offers an opportunity to study parents’ cultural belief systems, or “parental ethnotheories,” as they influence children’s settings and activities in the absence of other environmental supports. This study examined Asian Indian immigrant mothers’ (n = 10) and matched Euro-American mothers’ (n = 10) ethnotheories about their daughters by means of analysis of the mothers’ discourse in the context of semistructured interviews, multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis of the descriptors, and consensus analysis. The mothers’ ethnotheories are reflected in differences between the settings and daily activities of their daughters. The Indian immigrant mothers’ ideas and practices are compared to findings in the Whitings’ comparative field studies and discussed i...
ORGANIC ACID AND SUGAR CONTENTS OF SCUPPERNONG GRAPES DURING RIPENING

Changes in the principal organic acids and sugars of Scuppernong grapes (V. rotundifolia) were followed during the ripening season. The vines were sampled bi-weekly during the initial stages of berry development and then weekly as harvest approached until the “overripe” stage was reached. At the ripe stage, malate and tartrate constituted approximately 90% of organic acids with trace quantities of pyruvic, fumaric, succinic, citric and quinic acids. Glucose, fructose and sucrose constituted approximately 90% of the sugars with trace quantities of galactose and maltose. Malate concentration increased during the early stages of ripening, peaked and decreased to a plateau at the ripe stage. Tartrate decreased steadily until it leveled at the ripe stage. Sugars began to accumulate at veraison, increased rapidly thereafter, and leveled at the ripe stage. At harvest, Scuppernong grapes contained 1.60% total acid and 9.45% total sugars on a whole berry basis. Individual constituents were 0.67% malate, 0.92% tartrate, 3.86% fructose, 3.98% glucose, and 1.61% sucrose.
Differential compartmentalization of plasmid DNA microinjected into Xenopus laevis embryos relates to replication efficiency.

Circular plasmid DNA molecules and linear concatemers formed from the same plasmid exhibit strikingly different fates following microinjection into Xenopus laevis embryos. In this report, we prove quantitatively that only a minority of small, circular DNA molecules were replicated (mean = 14%) from fertilization through the blastula stage of development. At all concentrations tested, very few molecules (approximately 1%) underwent more than one round of DNA synthesis within these multiple cell cycles. In addition, unlike endogenous chromatin, the majority of circular templates became resistant to cleavage by micrococcal nuclease. The extent of nuclease resistance was similar for both replicated and unreplicated templates. Sequestration of circular molecules within a membranous compartment (pseudonucleus), rather than the formation of nucleosomes with abnormal size or spacing, apparently conferred the nuclease resistance. In contrast, most linearly concatenated DNA molecules (derived from end-to-end joining of microinjected monomeric plasmid DNA) underwent at least two rounds of DNA replication during this same period. Linear concatemers also exhibited micrococcal nuclease digestion patterns similar to those seen for endogenous chromatin yet, as judged by their failure to persist in later stages of embryogenesis, were likely to be replicated and maintained extrachromosomally. We propose, therefore, that template size and conformation determine the efficiency of replication of microinjected plasmid DNA by directing DNA to a particular compartment within the cell following injection. Template-dependent compartmentalization may result from differential localization within endogenous nuclei versus extranuclear compartments or from supramolecular assembly processes that depend on template configuration (e.g., association with nuclear matrix or nuclear envelope).
The multiple scales of biodiversity

The claim that measures of global biodiversity dynamics are meaningless is based upon several methodological problems, including underrepresentation of tropical regions in “global” Phanerozoic data sets, inaccuracies in taxonomic data, non-equivalence of higher taxa among groups of organisms, and uneven sampling intensity across groups, environments, and time intervals. Some of these problems are inherent in the fossil record, whereas others lie in documentation and interpretation of the subject. But the subject of global biodiversity is perfectly legitimate, even if problems persist in evaluating its full history. Moreover, recognition of the methodological problems has resulted in notable improvements in the Phanerozoic diversity database (e.g., Adrain and Westrop 2000; Alroy et al. 2001). Here I offer three points: (1) The study of biodiversity is meaningful at many spatial and temporal scales, including the global scale. (2) Two major preservational biases limit the estimation of global biodiversity over the Phanerozoic, although estimates are still potentially meaningful. (3) Extrapolation of patterns and processes from a smaller scale to a larger one or from one clade to a more inclusive clade is inappropriate and justifies some criticisms of biodiversity studies at the largest scales. Below, I elaborate on these points from a perspective based in experience with vertebrates in terrestrial ecosystems. Significant patterns of biological diversity and the ecological and evolutionary processes that shape them occur at multiple spatial scales, including local, regional, continental, and global, and multiple temporal scales, including those of ecological and evolutionary processes. Biological diversity itself is a multi-scale concept, ranging from genetic diversity within local populations to ecosystem diversity across landscapes. Three sets of examples illustrate processes influencing biodiversity, including its protection, at different scales. (1) Global biodiversity is meaningful partly as the sum of biodiversity measures for smaller regions, but also because it is influenced by physical …
Androgen Deprivation Therapy and Future Alzheimer’s Disease Risk

PurposeTo test the association of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in the treatment of prostate cancer with subsequent Alzheimer’s disease risk.MethodsWe used a previously validated and implemented text-processing pipeline to analyze electronic medical record data in a retrospective cohort of patients at Stanford University and Mt. Sinai hospitals. Specifically, we extracted International Classification of Diseases-9th revision diagnosis and Current Procedural Terminology codes, medication lists, and positive-present mentions of drug and disease concepts from all clinical notes. We then tested the effect of ADT on risk of Alzheimer’s disease using 1:5 propensity score–matched and traditional multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. The duration of ADT use was also tested for association with Alzheimer’s disease risk.ResultsThere were 16,888 individuals with prostate cancer meeting all inclusion and exclusion criteria, with 2,397 (14.2%) receiving ADT during a median follow-up period of 2....
Dual Roles of Steam in the Dry Gel Synthesis of Mesoporous ZSM-5

Mesoporous HZSM-5 was synthesized with a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 100 using a steam-assisted crystallization method. The resulting material was characterized by N2 physisorption, powder X-ray diffraction, focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) depth profiling, NH3-temperature programmed desorption (TPD), pyridine-TPD, and collidine-TPD. Crystallization time was varied to determine the effect on material physical properties, total acidity, accessible acid sites, and aluminum distribution within the zeolite particles. The Barrett, Joyner, and Halenda mesopore volumes, Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface areas, and total pore volumes decreased with longer crystallization times, while the mesopore sizes increased with time. At prolonged crystallization time, the material underwent dealumination via steam etching followed by reforming of material, thus blocking accessibility to the mesopores. The total acidity was optimized at 18 h of...
The Limited Necessity of Resort to Force

In 2004, Judith Gardam published her invaluable book, Necessity, Proportionality and the Use of Force by States. In it she makes the case that all lawful resort to military force at the international level requires compliance with the principles of necessity and proportionality. Prior to her work, discussions of resort to force often overlooked these crucial principles, perhaps in part because of a paucity of expert analysis. Her book has become the standard work on necessity, proportionality, and the use of force. This Chapter has revisited her treatment of necessity in the jus ad bellum in light of the scholarship on necessity in the intervening years. An assessment of this scholarship leads to three propositions, updating Gardam’s work:1. Necessity is a general principle inherent to the international legal system, meaning that the correct interpretation of necessity has an enduring quality — it does not change, even with changing state practice and opinio juris.2. Necessity has two meanings in the jus ad bellum: it requires that the use of force be a last resort and that there be a high likelihood that the use of force will succeed in accomplishing the legitimate objective of resorting to force.3. Necessity is not now, was not in the past, and will not in the future be a basis for the lawful resort to force. States must look to the UN Charter for exceptions to the prohibition on the use of force, not the doctrine of necessity, in the first instance. Necessity then imposes additional conditions on resort to force that, if not met, can prohibit uses of force despite the existence of any lawful basis.
Available Data from Carminomycin Studies in the United States: The Acute Intermittent Intravenous Schedule

Carminomycin is an anthracycline antitumor antibiotic isolated from the mycelia of Actinomadura carminata [5]. The structure of carminomycin is presented in Fig. 1. Carminomycin is steriochemically quite similar to daunorubicin. The molecule differs from daunorubicin in the aglycone, being a desmethyl daunomycin. Carminomycin is active in a variety of animal tumor systems including L1210 and sarcoma 180 [9]. Antitumor activity does not appear to be schedule dependent in L1210 [2]. Carminomycin is orally absorbed, and the ratio of the LD50 of oral to intravenous administration is 2 : 1 in mice.
Interferons and liver disease

Interferons (INF) are naturally occurring peptides which have antiviral, antitumour and immunomodulatory properties. Interferons α, β and γ constitute the main forms. INF α is administered by subcutaneous injection in doses ranging from 3 million units three times a week for 24 weeks in treatment of chronic hepatitis C to 5 million units daily for 16 weeks in treatment of chronic hepatitis B. However, caution must be exercised before declaring IFN α a panacea for chronic viral hepatitis. For example, in chronic hepatitis C only 25% of cases demonstrate a biochemical improvement which is sustained through 6 months follow-up after completion of treatment. Some, but not all, biochemical responders will have an associated loss of hepatitis C virus. The presence of cirrhosis and/or high viral titres are poor prognostic indicators for biochemical response. It is unclear in HCV infection whether an absent or transient biochemical response would respond to higher doses or longer courses of INF or whether a sustained response is associated with reduced morbidity or mortality. Similarly, in chronic HBV infection with evidence of active replication, INF may induce seroconversion (HBeAg converting to anti-HBe; loss of HBV DNA) in about 50% of cases and a sustained loss of HBsAg in 10-20% of cases during long-term follow-up. A large viral load, lack of inflammatory activity in the liver with near normal liver enzymes prior to treatment and positive anti-HIV are poor prognostic factors. It is unknown whether INF α alters mortality in chronic hepatitis B infection. The efficacy of INF α in chronic hepatitis due to mutant forms of HBV has not been studied adequately. INF α may be efficacious in some patients with HBV plus HDV infection. INF therapy may be limited by unwanted side-effects including leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and malaise.
A rays-as-appendages model for the origin of pentamerism in echinoderms

-A new hypothesis concerning the evolutionary origin of pentameral symmetry in echinoderms is presented. The BA-A-BA pattern of Loven's law in echinoids and the 2-1-2 symmetry of the edrioasteroid Stromatocystites appear to be morphogenetically related, and this pattern appears to be locked into development. This pattern may have originated from a unirayed 0-1-0, -A-, ancestor. I propose that a duplication of the uniray occurred and resulted in the addition of a pair of rays that followed Bateson's rules of symmetry to form a three-rayed 0-1-2, -A-BA, construction. This change occurred on the side that corresponds to the left side of the organism. This event made the individual asymmetric with respect to its anterior-posterior axis. Therefore I propose that morphogenetic regulation of bilaterality of the organism then led to homeotic expression of a mirror-image pair of rays on the opposite side. These two morphogenetic steps achieved the 2-1-2, BA-A-BA pattern. "Appendage status" of rays is assumed necessary to invoke the Batesonian mirror-image duplications of the model. Three robust morphological characters emerge from the "rays-as-appendages" model: (1) 2-1-2, BAo-A-BA, organization; (2) "locked-in" pentamerism; and (3) a 2-3 pattern of right and left rays. Results based on ray homology research are presented for echinoids, asteroids, ophiuroids, edrioasteroids, ophiocistioids, and holothurians. I speculate that helicoplacoids may have 0-1-2 triradiate construction, and that solutes may have 0-1-0 uniray construction. The model has limits; it does not explain 1-1, or 2-1, or 2-2 or 1-1-1 organization of ambulacra. Frederick H. C. Hotchkiss. 26 Sherry Road, Harvard, Massachusetts 01451. E-mail: hotchkissf@panametrics.com Accepted: 12 January 1998
Early investigations into using a remote ram pool with the vl3 visualization framework

This paper discusses early efforts to integrate the RAN remote memory technology into the vl3 volume rendering framework. We successfully demonstrate this integration, achieving 73% of the theoretical hardware maximum with minimal variation.
Agreement between measurements of stance width using motion capture and center of pressure in individuals with and without Parkinson’s disease

Background: Many individuals with Parkinson's disease exhibit narrow stance width during balance and gait. Because of this, stance width is an important biomechanical variable in many studies. Measuring stance width accurately using kinematic markers in parkinsonian patients can be problematic due to occlusions by research staff who must closely guard patients to prevent falls. Methods: We investigated whether a measure of stance width based on the mediolateral distance between the center of pressure under each foot could approximate stance width measured with kinematic data. We assessed the agreement between estimates of stance width obtained from simultaneous kinematic and center of pressure measures during quiet standing in 15 individuals (n=9 parkinsonian, n=6 age-similar neurotypical). The source data (1363 unique trials) contained observations of stance width varying between 75-384 mm (≈ 25-150% of hip width). Findings: Stance width estimates using the two measures were strongly correlated (r = 0.98). Center of pressure estimates of stance width were 48 mm wider on average than kinematic measures, and did not vary across study groups (F2,12=1.81, P<0.21). The expected range of differences between the center of pressure and kinematic methods was 14-83 mm. Agreement increased as stance width increased (P<0.02). Interpretation: It is appropriate to define stance width based on center of pressure when it is convenient to do so in studies of individuals with and without Parkinson's disease. When comparing results across studies with the two methodologies, it is reasonable to assume a bias of 48 mm.
Descriptive study of female roller derby athletes' beliefs about risk factors for injury in roller derby

Objectives To examine skaters’ beliefs about risk factors related to roller derby injuries. Design Qualitative study based on semistructured focus group discussions with female roller derby skaters. Methods Skaters with varying levels of experience and injury history were invited to participate in focus group discussions. Semistructured focus group discussions were based on the question ‘What factors do you believe contribute to roller derby injuries?’. Analysis of the data were organised into themes, summarised and interpreted, separated based on being an intrinsic or extrinsic factor and then reorganised by frequency of citation. Focus groups continued until no new themes were added to the data. Results The factors discussed by derby skaters were divided into intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The most common intrinsic factors cited were behavioural and psychological, ‘knowing one’s body’ and internal pressure related to ‘not letting team down’. The most cited extrinsic factors were ‘unmatched skill level’ and ‘poor quality’ equipment. Conclusions Female roller derby skaters contribute the greatest injury risk to new skaters not knowing their body and experienced skaters not considering new skaters skill levels. Knowing the factors that skaters perceive as increasing injury risk may contribute to interventions to decrease the frequency and severity of injuries. New findings include behavioural, psychological and social factors related to injury risk. Important considerations for healthcare providers treating roller derby skaters include the psychological and social factors that affect injury.
Intraluminal thrombus is associated with early rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Abstract Background The implications of intraluminal thrombus (ILT) in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are currently unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated that ILT provides a biomechanical advantage by decreasing wall stress, whereas other studies have associated ILT with aortic wall weakening. It is further unclear why some aneurysms rupture at much smaller diameters than others. In this study, we sought to explore the association between ILT and risk of AAA rupture, particularly in small aneurysms. Methods Patients were retrospectively identified and categorized by maximum aneurysm diameter and rupture status: small ( Results Patients with small rAAAs had PWS of 123 ± 51 kPa, which was significantly lower than that of patients with large rAAAs (242 ± 130 kPa; P = .04), small non-rAAAs (204 ± 60 kPa; P P P P = .02]; 0.11 ± 0.04 mm [ P P = .02]; 0.12 ± 0.03 mm [ P Conclusions This study found that although increased ILT is associated with lower MWS and PWS, it is also associated with aneurysm rupture at smaller diameters and lower stress. Therefore, the protective biomechanical advantage that ILT provides by lowering wall stress seems to be outweighed by weakening of the AAA wall, particularly in patients with small rAAAs. This study suggests that high ILT burden may be a surrogate marker of decreased aortic wall strength and a characteristic of high-risk small aneurysms.
Mirando a través del cristal: la observación y el escenario de En la ardiente oscuridad

Las grandes cristaleras en el escenario de En la ardiente oscuridad de Antonio Buero Vallejo tienen un papel grande en cuanto a las observaciones frecuentes durante la obra. Reminiscentes de las ve...
Dissociation energy of Mo2 and Mo2

Using local-spin-density theory and fully relativistic outer-core--valence-electron pseudopotentials we calculate the dissociation energy, bond length, and vibrational frequency of ${\mathrm{Mo}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{Mo}}_{2}^{+}$. The results for ${\mathrm{Mo}}_{2}$ are in good agreement with experiment and we predict a higher vibrational frequency, shorter bond length, and 20% greater dissociation energy upon ionization. A discussion of ``bonding orbitals'' which reduce the dissociation energy is given.
Spatial Component in Reproductive Performance in Desert Mule Deer

The output of a theoretical spatial model of desert mule deer (Odocuileus hemionus) movement was compared to reproductive predictions based on regressions from field collections. Regressions were prepared that relate doe age and body condition (kidney-pelvic fat categories) to fetal count and conception date for 207 desert mule deer does collected in Texas. These regressions implied that reproductive performance (in utero fetal counts) and conception dates could be inferred from these values. Fetal counts have been shown to be related to body condition in previous studies. However, a relationship between body condition and the timing of conception has not been described in the literature. I predicted fetal counts and conception dates within the deer movement model incidental to animal foraging. In this model, breeding occurred when two individuals met during breeding season and this season was arbitrarily selected by photoperiod.
Distribution of ETV6-NTRK3 translocations across neoplasms identified from the Mitelman Database.

e23141Background: Discovered as a novel aberration in congenital fibrosarcoma (CF), the ETV6-NTRK3 translocation (EN) confers oncogenic potential and is inhibited by crizotinib. The present study a...
P-098 Epidemiology and Risk Factors of IgA Nephropathy in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background:IgA nephropathy is the leading cause of nephritic syndrome and the most frequent kidney biopsy diagnosis in patients with Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD) based on prior epidemiological studies. A possibility of a shared pathophysiology between IBD and IgA Nephropathy has been suspected.
Discrepancies in Interpretation of the Minor Salivary Gland Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Sjögren Syndrome.

Purpose Although the minor salivary gland biopsy (MSGB) is a major criterion for the diagnosis of Sjogren syndrome (SS), multiple studies have outlined difficulties in standardization. The purpose of this study was to answer the following question: in all patients referred for MSGB, did strict application of focus scoring criteria alter the sensitivity of and predictive value of the MSGB in the diagnosis of SS compared with the initial interpretation? Materials and Methods The authors designed a cross-sectional study of patients referred to the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Boston, MA) over a 5-year period for MSGB. The primary predictor variable was the MSGB focus score. The primary outcome variable was the SS diagnosis. The newly established SS diagnosis status results were compared with the initial SS diagnoses. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) were calculated. Other relevant variables of interest, such as size of glandular tissue harvested and associated signs and symptoms, also were documented. The primary predictor variable was the MSGB focus score and the primary outcome variable was the SS diagnosis (positive or negative). Results Seventy-three patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 48.5 years (range, 19 to 71 yr) and 64 were women (87.6%). The authors' previous study using initial pathology reports yielded 80.0% sensitivity, 87.5% specificity, 57.1% PPV, and 95.5% NPV. The present review of the MSGB using strict focus scoring guidelines yielded 95.4% sensitivity, 76.4% specificity, 63.6% PPV, and 97.5% NPV. Conclusions The MSGB is an important major criterion in establishing a diagnosis of SS. Application of strict focus scoring guidelines when reviewing the MSGB yielded a sensitivity far greater than initially reported in this group. Difficulties with interpretation are discussed. Future studies will focus on improvement of interpretation and immunohistochemical aids in diagnosis.
Intravenous Stem Cell Therapy for High-Grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Case Report and Literature Review.

Background Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with high mortality (30%–40%) and morbidity with long-term physical, neurologic, and psychological impairments; most patients present with high initial Hunt and Hess grade. In view of the great need for efficacious therapies for high-grade SAH, recent animal studies have demonstrated improved outcomes with administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a potential neuroregenerative strategy. We present the first case of human intravenous administration of MSCs after aneurysmal SAH. Clinical Presentation An 80-year-old man presented with sudden severe headache with nausea and vomiting. Computed tomography demonstrated SAH with hydrocephalus from a ruptured basilar tip aneurysm. Initial examination of the patient showed Hunt and Hess grade 5 and World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grade 5. The patient was treated with external ventricular drain placement and coiling of aneurysm. The patient received an infusion of intravenous bone marrow–derived allogeneic MSCs on day 3 postbleed. The patient made a better recovery than anticipated with a modified Rankin Scale score of 3 at 6 months. Conclusions Several studies using models of ischemic brain injury have found that administration of MSCs may improve functional neurologic recovery and decrease brain lesion volume. Although there have been limited human studies in patients with stroke, the role of stem cell therapy for aneurysmal SAH remains unclear. This is the first case of use of MSCs in a patient for treatment of aneurysmal SAH. In conjunction with the promising results in animal studies, this encouraging preliminary case report supports the need for additional clinical trials.
α-Actinin-1 promotes activity of the L-type Ca2+ Channel CaV1.2

ABSTRACT The L-type Ca2+ channel CaV1.2 governs gene expression, cardiac contraction, and neuronal activity. Binding of α-actinin to the IQ motif of CaV1.2 supports its surface localization and postsynaptic targeting in neurons. We report a bi-functional mechanism that restricts CaV1.2 activity to its target sites. We solved separate NMR structures of the IQ motif (residues 1646-1664) bound to α-actinin-1 and to apo-calmodulin (apoCaM). The CaV1.2 K1647A and Y1649A mutations, which impair α-actinin-1 but not apoCaM binding, but not the F1658A and K1662E mutations, which impair apoCaM but not α-actinin-1 binding, decreased single channel open probability, gating charge movement, and its coupling to channel opening. Thus, α-actinin recruits CaV1.2 to defined surface regions and simultaneously boosts its open probability so that CaV1.2 is mostly active when appropriately localized.
Impacts of sex and the estrous cycle on associations between post-fear conditioning sleep and fear memory recall

Abstract Women are at greater risk than men for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after trauma exposure. Sleep, especially rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS), has been considered a contributing factor to the development of PTSD symptoms through its effects on the processing of emotional memories. However, it remains unknown if sex and sex hormones play a role in the hypothesized impact of sleep on the development of PTSD. Animal models have methodological advantages over human studies in investigating this research question; however, animal models of sleep in PTSD have been tested only with males. C57BL/6 mice (7 males and 15 females) were exposed to 15 footshocks in a footshock chamber, and 5 min after the last footshock, were returned to their home cages for telemetric electroencephalographic sleep recording. Nine to thirteen days later, mice were returned to the footshock chamber for 10 min without footshocks. Fear recall rates were computed by comparing freezing behaviors in the footshock chamber immediately after the footshocks to those during fear context reexposure. Males had significantly lower recall rates compared to metestrous females (that received footshocks on metestrus). Overall, males slept more than both proestrous females (that received footshocks on proestrus) and metestrous females during the dark period. Regression analyses revealed that average REMS episode durations after footshocks were differentially associated with recall rates across groups, such that the association was positive in males, but negative in proestrous females. Results suggest that both sex and the estrous cycle modulate the associations between REMS continuity and fear memory consolidation.
Comparative Effectiveness and Tolerance of Subliminal Subthreshold Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation With a Duty Factor of 25% Versus 31.3% for Advanced Glaucoma

PReCIS:: Subliminal subthreshold transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (SS-TSCPC) with duty cycles 25% and 31.3% seems to be an effective approach to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma that is refractory to medical management. Objective The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness and the tolerance of SS-TSCPC with a duty cycle of 25% versus 31.3% with Supra 810 nm Subliminal Quantel Medical laser stimulation for advanced glaucoma. Materials and methods This was a retrospective, single-center, comparative case series of patients treated by SS-TSCPC between January 2017 and July 2017. The diagnostic and inclusion criteria were patients with advanced and refractory glaucoma, defined as IOP >21 mm Hg on maximal tolerated medical therapy with or without previous glaucoma surgical procedures, a minimum follow-up of 12 months, and patients who refused or were poor candidates for additional filtering surgery or implantation of glaucoma drainage devices. The primary endpoint was surgical success defined as an IOP of 6 to 21 mm Hg or a reduction of IOP by 20% from baseline without an increase in glaucoma medication from baseline. The secondary endpoints were the mean IOP and best visual corrected acuity best-corrected visual acuity at 12 months after surgery, retreatment outcomes, glaucoma medications, and complications such as inflammation, uveitis, cataract, mydriasis, and phthisis. Results Forty eyes of 32 patients were included: 20 eyes were subjected to SS-TSCPC with 31.3% duty cycle and 20 eyes with a 25% duty cycle. The surgical success of the TSCPC 12 months after the first procedure was better in the 31.3% duty cycle group (83.5%) than in the 25% duty cycle group (65%). The most common complications were inflammation (50%, 1 mo after surgery) and IOP spikes (increase in IOP of >25% from baseline within 1 mo of laser) in both groups. Inflammation was higher in the 31.3% duty cycle group. Conclusions SS-TSCPC at 31.3% and 25% duty cycle seems to be an effective approach to reduce IOP in glaucoma that is refractory to medical management. SS-TSCPC at 31.3% duty cycle is more effective than the 25% duty cycle SS-TSCPC. However, the 31.3% duty cycle SS-TSCPC induces more inflammation than the 25% duty cycle SS-TSCPC. Each procedure should be considered on a case by case basis.
Colons or semi-colons: punctuating the regional variation of intestinal microbial-immune interactions.

The microbial communities that occupy the intestinal tract are shaped by a variety of different factors, including the immune system. A new study has observed and quantified, at unprecedented depth, regionally distinct microbial and immune niches along the human colon using simultaneous analyses of the gut microbiota and neighbouring immune cells.
Computational view toward the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and the 3CL protease

Since the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the medical research community is vigorously seeking a treatment to control the infection and save the lives of severely infected patients. The main potential candidates for the control of viruses are virally targeted agents. In this short letter, we report our calculations on the inhibitors for the SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease and the spike protein for the potential treatment of COVID-19. The results show that the most potent inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease include saquinavir, tadalafil, rivaroxaban, sildenafil, dasatinib, etc. Ergotamine, amphotericin b, and vancomycin are most promising to block the interaction of the SARS-CoV-2 S-protein with human ACE-2.