cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A fast, reconfigurable flow switch for paper microfluidics based on selective wetting of folded paper actuator strips

In paper microfluidics, the development of smart and versatile switches is critical for the regulation of fluid flow across multiple channels. Past approaches in creating switches are limited by long response times, large actuation fluid volumes, and use of external control circuitry. We seek to mitigate these difficulties through the development of a unique actuator device made entirely out of chromatography paper and incorporated with folds. Selective wetting of the fold with an actuation fluid, either at the crest or trough, serves to raise or lower the actuator's tip and thus engage or break the fluidic contact between channels. Here the actuator's response time is dramatically reduced (within two seconds from wetting) and a very small volume of actuation fluid is consumed (four microliters). Using this actuation principle, we implement six switch configurations which can be grouped as single-pole single-throw (normally OFF and normally ON) and single-pole double-throw (with single and double break). By employing six actuators in parallel, an autonomous colorimetric assay is built to detect the presence of three analytes − glucose, protein, and nitrite − in artificial saliva. Finally, this work brings the concept of origami to paper microfluidics where multiple-fold geometries can be exploited for programmable switching of fluidic connections.
Common loci underlie natural variation in diverse toxin responses

Phenotypic complexity results from the contributions of environmental factors and multiple genetic loci, interacting or acting independently. Studies of yeast and Arabidopsis found that the majority of natural variation across phenotypes is attributable to independent additive quantitative trait loci. Most of the loci were identified, facilitated by the power to detect almost all heritable components underlying trait variation in these model organisms. By contrast, many heritable components underlying phenotypic variation in metazoan models remain undetected. Before the relative impacts of additive and interactive variance components on metazoan phenotypic variation can be dissected, high replication and precise phenotypic measurements are required to obtain sufficient statistical power to detect loci contributing to this missing heritability. Here, we used a panel of 265 recombinant inbred advanced intercross lines of Caenorhabditis elegans and a high-throughput fitness assay to detect loci underlying responses to 16 different toxins, including heavy metals, chemotherapeutic drugs, pesticides, and neuropharmaceuticals. Using linkage mapping, we found many genomic regions that underlie variation in responses to these toxins and predicted the relative contributions of additive loci and genetic interactions across various growth parameters. Additionally, we identified three genomic regions that impact responses to multiple classes of toxins. We generated near-isogenic lines and chromosome-substitution strains to experimentally validate these QTL hotspots and implicated interacting loci that underlie toxin-response variation. The discovery of these QTL hotspots might be indicative of pleiotropic loci that control responses to multiple conditions and could underlie the means by which large regions of the genome were swept across the C. elegans species.
A Case of Severe Lumbar Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection from an Ileal Pouch Fistula.

Abstract Background: Necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) is a rapidly progressive infection characterized by tissue necrosis, septic shock, and is associated with a high risk of death. Key asp...
Using Camtasia to develop and enhance online learning: tutorial presentation

Camtasia Studio is an inexpensive screen recording software that allows the user to create multi-platform video and audio recordings of anything that can be displayed or demonstrated on a computer screen, including computer labs assignments, the use of integrated development environments, PowerPoint lectures, demonstrations of Java applets, and software tutorials. Picture-in-picture video is also possible with the addition of an inexpensive web camera. With this screen recording software, a multitude of possibilities exist for developing learning objects and enhancing existing ones, which can then be easily integrated into both in class and online instruction. Camtasia Studio is a screen recording package that captures both the video and audio components of any activity that can be demonstrated or presented on a computer screen including PowerPoint lectures, demonstrations of Java applets, software tutorials, computer labs assignments, demonstrations of integrated development environments, and much more. This format appeals to both auditory and visual learners. These videos can be converted to Flash, Media Player, Real Player, QuickTime, streaming Flash videos, and even pod casts, which then can be made available for easy viewing on the Internet. Viewing by the students, as well as creating the videos, is simple. All that is needed to view these videos is the current plug-in for the video format used and an updated browser. The Camtasia Studio software package and a microphone is all that is needed to create the videos. With the addition of a web camera, picture-in-picture is possible. Recording PowerPoint lectures in video format, brings distance learners into the classroom lectures and preserves the classroom discussions for those who are absent or merely need to see or hear the content one or more time. Camtasia Studio not only records the text and images that are shown on the screen, but it also captures all animations, transitions, and any markings that the presenter may add during the lecture. Camtasia is also perfect for creating tutorials for software packages and learning management systems. When demonstrated in the classroom, the demonstrated actions are often too quick or too difficult to see. But with Camtasia, the viewer has everything directly in front of him or her, available for easy viewing and re-viewing. Likewise, many learning objects utilize written explanations and instructions in conjunction with java applets. For those who understand the concepts behind the object, it is rather easy to understand how to use the learning objects and see their educational value, but for the average student who is being directed to these learning objects through oftentimes brief demonstrations, the purpose and means of use is not so clear. Through video screen recorders such as Camtasia, instructors can record a demonstration of a learning object that walks the student through the use of the object, helps the student discover its purpose and then encourages the student to utilize it.
Information and Knowledge Revolution

This chapter integrates networks and processors. Each plays out its own individual and dominant role in the lives of every individual. Being well founded in sciences, logic, and mathematics, processors and networks each influences the ways of our lives and degree of confidence in the outcome of results. Silicon in processors and erbium in glass each has its own influence. These aspects are introduced for processors in modern computers and for networks and their architecture in the Internet age.
Peptide Hormones and Their Possible Functions in the Normal and Abnormal Lung

The normal or abnormal lung contains a host of hormones: nonpolypeptide and polypeptide. The nonpolypeptide hormones produced by the lung include the arachidonic acid metabolites and the biogenic amines. The arachidonic acid metabolites which are produced in the lungs include protaglandin E2, protaglandin F2α, protaglandin D2, prostaglandin I2 (prostacyclin), thromboxane, and the leukotrienes. The term biogenic amines has been somewhat broadly applied to a group of amines which are contained within and act upon many tissues, including the lung. Often, these substances have neurotransmitter roles, and some are found in the dense core granules of neurons and endocrine cells. They include dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin, and histamine. Two somewhat related compounds are the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, and the amino acid, gammaaminobutyric acid. All these aforementioned substances play important roles in both the normal and the diseased lung, and are being extensively studied.
Dynamics of motor cortical activity during naturalistic feeding behavior

Objective The orofacial primary motor cortex (MIo) plays a critical role in controlling tongue and jaw movements during oral motor functions, such as chewing, swallowing and speech. However, the neural mechanisms of MIo during naturalistic feeding are still poorly understood. There is a strong need for a systematic study of motor cortical dynamics during feeding behavior. Approach To investigate the neural dynamics and variability of MIo neuronal activity during naturalistic feeding, we used chronically implanted micro-electrode arrays to simultaneously recorded ensembles of neuronal activity in the MIo of two monkeys (Macaca mulatta) while eating various types of food. We developed a Bayesian nonparametric latent variable model to reveal latent structures of neuronal population activity of the MIo and identify the complex mapping between MIo ensemble spike activity and high-dimensional kinematics. Main results Rhythmic neuronal firing patterns and oscillatory dynamics are evident in single-unit activity. At the population level, we uncovered the neural dynamics of rhythmic chewing, and quantified the neural variability at multiple timescales (complete feeding sequences, chewing sequence stages, chewing gape cycle phases) across food types. Our approach accommodates time-warping of chewing sequences and automatic model selection, and maps the latent states to chewing behaviors at fine timescales. Significance Our work shows that neural representations of MIo ensembles display spatiotemporal patterns in chewing gape cycles at different chew sequence stages, and these patterns vary in a stage-dependent manner. Unsupervised learning and decoding analysis may reveal the link between complex MIo spatiotemporal patterns and chewing kinematics.
ADOPTION OF CONTINUOUS BEAT-TO-BEAT NOCTURNAL BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT IN AMBULATORY BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING

Abnormal nocturnal blood pressure (BP) such as non-dipping or nocturnal hypertension (reverse-dipping) represents a potent marker for current and future cardiovascular risks. Accurate BP measurement reflecting “sleep” BP is important. Standard cuff-based ambulatory nocturnal BP measurement
Differential Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor in Primary Glial Cell Cultures Infected with Demyelinating and Non-Demyelinating MHVs

TNF-α is a monocyte/macrophage derived cytokine with multiple biological activities that are antitumorigenic, cytotoxic, and pro-inflammatory in nature. TNF-α mediates cellular response through two distinct cell surface receptors, TNF-Rl(p55) and TNF-R2(p75) (Barbara et al 1996). TNF-α appears to have a diverse range of functions in the CNS due to its effect on astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. These include: induction of MHC class I Ag on astrocytes (Lavi et al 1988; Mauerhoff et al 1988), induction of ICAM-1, up-regulation of MHC class II Ag induced by IFN-γ and/or virus on astrocytes, stimulation of IL-6 secretion by astrocytes, myelin damage (Selmaj and Raine 1988) and lysis of oligodendrocytes (Robbins et al 1987).
Patient Safety Indicator-12 Rarely Identifies Problems with Quality of Care in Perioperative Venous Thromboembolism.

Background Patient safety indicators (PSI) were developed for hospitals to screen for healthcare-associated adverse events. PSIs are believed to be preventable and have become a part of major pay-for-performance programs. PSI-12 captures perioperative venous thromboembolism (VTE), which contributes to morbidity and mortality of hospitalized patients. We aimed to evaluate PSI-12 events at our institution to identify areas for improvement of perioperative VTE prevention. Methods We identified PSI-12 events from June 2015 to June 2017 using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality software version 5. Events were reviewed using our electronic medical record to identify further details of each event. Results A total of 154 perioperative VTE cases were analyzed in the 2-year period. Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurred in 62.9% of cases, deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in 24%, and concurrent DVT/PE in 12.9%. The mean age of patients was 56 years old. Deficiencies in guideline-appropriate prophylaxis were identified in only 17 (11%) of cases. Unfractionated heparin was used in 61 cases, enoxaparin in 31 cases, and nine events occurred on therapeutic anticoagulation. Mechanical prophylaxis was used in 51 cases because of bleeding risk, thrombocytopenia, and/or liver associated coagulopathy. Four events occurred prior to the index procedure, with another eight cases occurring intraoperatively, or on the day of the procedure. Conclusions PSI-12 has several limitations in identifying quality of care issues in perioperative VTE. While it may be useful as a screening tool, further research for improvements are needed if it will remain one of the key measures in pay-for-performance.
An exploratory approach to measuring collaborative engagement in child robot interaction

This study explored data analytic approaches to assessing young children's engagement in robot-mediated collaborative interaction. To develop our analytic models, we took a case-study approach and looked closely into four children's behaviors during three conversational sessions. Grounded in engagement theory, three sources of multimodal behavioral data (utterances, kinesics, and vocie) were coded through human annotation and automatic speech recognition and analysis. Then, information-theoretic methods were used to uncover nonlinear dependencies (called mutual information) among the multimodal behaviors of each child. From this, we derived a model to compute a compound variable of engagement. This computation produced engagement trends of each child, the engagement relationship between two children in a pair, and the engagement relationship with the robot over time. The computed trends corresponded well with the data from human observations. This approach has implications for quantifying engagement from rich and natural multimodal behaviors.
Ultrastructural changes in rat lung during long-term exposure to oxygen.

The pathogenesis of oxygen toxicity in the lung of rats was studied by electron microscopy. The following long-term effects were established: (1) a progressive destruction of the blood-air barrier beginning with the endothelial cell layer; (2) a profuse edema in the interstitial spaces in the pleural space in the alveoli and in the cytoplasm and organelles; (3) a continuing increase in the quantity and complexity of the alveolar exudate; (4) gradual hemolysis of red blood cells; and (5) eventual subsiding of the interstitial edema in surviving rats with a concomitant development of emphysema.
Neighborhood and PageRank methods for pairwise link prediction

Link prediction is a common problem in network science that cuts across many disciplines. The goal is to forecast the appearance of new links or to find links missing in the network. Typical methods for link prediction use the topology of the network to predict the most likely future or missing connections between a pair of nodes. However, network evolution is often mediated by higher-order structures involving more than pairs of nodes; for example, cliques on three nodes (also called triangles) are key to the structure of social networks, but the standard link prediction framework does not directly predict these structures. To address this gap, in recent work, we propose a new link prediction task called “pairwise link prediction” that directly targets the prediction of new triangles, where one is tasked with finding which nodes are most likely to form a triangle with a given edge. We extend this work in this manuscript, and we evaluate a variety of natural extensions to link prediction methods including neighborhood and PageRank-based methods. A key difference from our previous work is the definition of the neighborhood of an edge, which has a surprisingly large impact on the empirical performance. Our experiments on a variety of networks show that diffusion-based methods are less sensitive to the type of graphs used and more consistent in their results. We also show how our pairwise link prediction framework can be used to get better predictions within the context of standard link prediction evaluation.
Threshold and Group Size Uncertainty in Common-pool Resources: An Experimental Study:

Threshold common-pool resources (TCPRs), such as fisheries or groundwater reserves, face irreversible damage if harvesting exceeds a sustainability threshold. Uncertainty about the threshold for su...
Transcending disciplines: Engaging college students in interdisciplinary research, integrated STEM, and partnerships

An authentic, interdisciplinary, research and problem-based integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) project may be ideal for encouraging scientific inquiry and developing teamwork among undergraduate students, but it also presents challenges. The authors describe how two interdisciplinary teams (n=6) of undergraduate college students built integrated STEM projects in a research based internship setting, and then collaboratively brought the project to fruition to include designing lessons and activities shared with K-12 students in a classroom setting. Each three person undergraduate team consisted of two STEM majors and one Education major. The Education majors are a special focus for this study. Interviews, field observations, and lesson plan artifacts collected from the undergraduate college students were analyzed according to authenticity factors, the authentic scientific inquiry instrument, and an integrated STEM instrument. The authors highlight areas of strength and weakness for both teams and explore how preservice teachers contributed to integrated STEM products and lessons. Teacher educators might apply recommendations for teacher preparation and professional development when facilitating authentic scientific inquiry and integrated STEM topics with both STEM and non-STEM educators. Undergraduate college students were challenged to fully integrate the STEM disciplines, transitions between them, and the spaces between them where multiple disciplines existed. By describing the challenges of integrating the spaces between STEM, the authors offer a description of the undergraduate college students’ experiences in an effort to expand the common message beyond a flat approach of try this activity because it works , to a more robust message of try this type of engagement and purposefully organize for maximum results .
Birth Control on Main Street: Organizing Clinics in the United States, 1916–1939

Review of: "Birth Control on Main Street: Organizing Clinics in the United States, 1916–1939," by Cathy Moran Hajo.
Rodrigo's Reappraisal

Part of a symposium on critical legal research and law librarianship, the following Rodrigo chronicle discusses how to escape the fetters of conventional legal search strategies.
College, career, and civic readiness: Building school communities that prepare youth to thrive as 21st century citizens

In the United States, advances in information technology and globalization present new social and political terrain for citizens to navigate. Preparing well-rounded young adults who are ready to me...
Pharmacodynamic evaluation of plasma thioredoxin-1 for patient enrichment of PX-12 clinical trials.

4453 PX-12, a novel irreversible thioredoxin (Trx-1) inhibitor is currently being evaluated in a number of clinical trials. Its molecular target, Trx-1, is over-expressed in many human cancers and is associated with aggressive tumor growth and poor prognosis. Cancer patients have been found to have increased circulating levels of Trx-1 over healthy volunteers and these levels drop after surgical removal of tumor burden. In a previous Phase I study, PX-12 treatment lowered circulating levels of Trx-1 in patients treated with either a one or 3-hour infusion, and a Trx-1 decrease of 25% or greater was associated with increased survival. The current study has examined the Trx-1 levels in the serum of patients receiving PX-12 in two subsequent clinical trials. Blood samples were obtained from all patients pre-dose (PD), end of infusion (EI), and times up to 240 min post infusion. Plasma Trx-1 protein was measured by ELISA. Plasma was also obtained from 89 healthy volunteers and Trx-1 measured. The results show that, similar to other published studies, healthy individuals have a range of Trx-1 protein of 1.5 to 19.8 ng/mL with a median of 5.4 ng/mL. Cancer patients in both past and current trials had Trx-1 levels ranging from 4.0 to 324 ng/mL. In an ongoing Phase 1b study of patients with advance gastrointestinal cancers, plasma Trx-1 levels ranged from 5.3 to 40.0 ng/mL and in an ongoing Phase II trial of advanced pancreatic patients plasma Trx-1 levels have ranged from 4.0 to 34.1 ng/mL. Based on the Trx-1 levels observed in normal individuals, a cut off of 18 ng/mL was chosen to stratify the data from patients in each of the current clinical trials that are still accruing patients. It was found that patients with Trx-1 levels of less than 18 ng/mL did not exhibit a significant drop in Trx-1 following treatment with PX-12. Only those patients with starting Trx-1 levels of >18 ng/mL displayed a lowering of plasma Trx-1 following PX-12 treatment. Of the 16 patients analyzed to date in the Phase 1b trial, all patients who achieved stable disease (SD) were in the group with starting Trx-1 levels >18 ng/mL. Additionally, in the Phase II study the only patient to date to achieve SD had a starting plasma Trx-1 level >18 ng/mL. All patients in both studies who were shown to have SD achieved a significant lowering in plasma Trx-1 during the first few cycles of treatment with PX-12. Hence the data suggests that some cancer patients have plasma Trx-1 levels above the normal upper limit of 18 ng/mL, and these patients are more likely to benefit from treatment with PX-12 as demonstrated by SD. Although preliminary, the data suggest that by using circulating Trx-1 levels, it may be possible to enrich for a population of patients that more likely to respond to Trx-1 inhibitor PX-12.
Employment, Social Support, and HIV Sexual-Risk Behavior in Puerto Rican Women.

This study examined psychosocial factors associated with HIV-risk behavior among Latina women at self-disclosed heterosexual risk for HIV infection. Data were collected via structured interviews for 187 Puerto Rican women, aged 18–35, who attended a health clinic in the Bronx, New York. Over 64% of all participants reported unprotected vaginal sex with primary sexual partners. Higher levels of unprotected vaginal sex were associated with living with the partner, residing with children, current employment, heightened negative mood, and greater social support from the partner. The relationship between increased negative mood and increased unprotected vaginal sex use was mediated by employment, after controlling for educational level, living with the partner, and residing with children. The findings suggest that interventions designed to facilitate HIV-protective behaviors may need to consider that employment may supercede relationship factors among populations of urban women identified at increased heterosexual risk for HIV infection.
On-Line Bibliometric Analysis for Researchers and Educators

Abstract Researchers and educators interested in bibliometric analysis increasingly are discovering the advantages of on-line bibliographic data bases, which are easy and inexpensive to use. Using Dissertation Abstracts International and Books in Print data bases, the study reported in this article tracked the growth of dissertation and book production in social work from 1959 to 1988. Potential applications of on-line bibliometric analysis are discussed, including its use in the evaluation of scholarly productivity, the study of the history of social work, and the management of knowledge development processes within the profession.
The glutamate synapse: a target in the pharmacological management of hyperalgesic pain states.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the role of glutamate in the production of hyperalgesia (enhanced response to a noxious stimulus) that is observed in models of persistent pain. A variety of such models, including cutaneous neurogenic, neuropathic, and visceral, have been extensively studied in recent years. It has been proposed in persistent pain models that the hyperalgesia, enhanced excitability of spinal dorsal horn nociceptive neurons (termed as “central sensitization”), and expanded peripheral receptive fields are the result of a neuroplasticity that is largely dependent on glutamate activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the spinal cord. A model has been proposed in which prior glutamate activation of spinal ionotropic α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) receptors and metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors produces a depolarization that removes the voltage dependent Mg 2+ block of the NMDA receptor channel and allows enhanced NMDA receptor-mediated Ca 2+ currents through the channel. A large body of evidence supports the involvement of glutamate in the modulation of acute and particularly persistent pain. It has become increasingly clear that glutamate both contributes to and modulates pain by a variety of mechanisms at the level of the peripheral nociceptor, in the spinal cord, and recently, supraspinally, including the rostral ventromedial medulla.
An Evanescent Wave Velocity Measurement Technique for Microfluidic Applications

We present a technique based on integrated optics to generate an evanescent wave illumination at the surface of a waveguide. This evanescent wave illumination is used to make velocity measurements within the first 80 nanometers of the waveguide surface using Nano-Particle Velocimetry (nPIV).
Medical Humanitarianism: Anthropologists Speak Out on Policy and Practice

In recent years, anthropologists have become increasingly present in medical humanitarian situations as scholars, consultants, and humanitarian practitioners and have acquired insight into medical humanitarian policy and practice. In 2012, we implemented a poll on anthropology, health, and humanitarian practice in which 75 anthropologists discussed their experiences in medical humanitarianism. Our goal was to move beyond the existing anarchy of individual voices in anthropological writing and gain an aggregate view of the perspective of anthropologists working in medical humanitarian contexts. Responses lead to six inductively derived thematic priorities. The findings illustrate how anthropologists perceive medical humanitarian practice; which aspects of medical humanitarianism should be seen as priorities for anthropological research; and how anthropologists use ethnography in humanitarian contexts.
Proinflammatory Cytokines and the Hypermetabolism of Children with Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell anemia (HbSS) includes chronic inflammation, but the origin is unclear. We hypothesized that in stable HbSS patients the inflammation was associated with hypermetabolism. We compared selected hypermetabolic and key Immuno-modulator indicators in HbSS versus control children and examined associations between measures of hypermetabolism and inflammation. Twelve fasting asymptomatic HbSS children 6–12 years and 9 controls matched for age, gender and fat mass (FM) were studied. Proportional reticulocyte count (retic%) and resting energy expenditure (REE) represented hypermetabolism, and C-reactive protein (CRP) Indicated Inflammation. Proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), chemokine monocyte chemoattractant proteln-1 (MCP-1), and energy balance cytokine leptin were measured. Methods were indirect calorimetry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and radioimmunoassay. Statistical analysis included simple correlation and regression analysis. REE (51 ± 6 vs....
Improved dynamic range and automated lineshape differentiation in AES/XPS composition versus depth profiles

Depth profiles calculated using simple peak-to-peak or peak height or area measurements are subject to inaccuracies caused by spectral noise, sloping backgrounds and possibly by overlapping spectra of different elements or chemical species. An automated program that reduces or eliminates the effects of these potential sources of error in the peak heights and areas calculated from electron spectra has been developed. The program uses linear least-squares fitting of one or more basis spectra to determine the peak height or area for each spectrum recorded during the profile. The program selects the basis spectra from the energy region data set without operator intervention. The number of unique lineshapes is determined by the program, again without operator intervention, and a profile is calculated for each species. The fit method of intensity determination was found to increase the dynamic range by reducing false contributions to the calculated intensities; this observation holds when a single basis spectrum is sufficient to model the data. Contributions from overlapping spectra are resolved if an example of each pure species lineshape is available in the regional data set. The method is demostrated by practical example.
Application of Solid Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography/Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry for Rapid Analysis of Flavor Volatiles in Tomato and Strawberry Fruits

Solid phase microextraction (SPME), a relatively new sampling technique, was examined as a means to investigate volatile compounds produced by tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) fruit. SPME had sufficient sorptive capacity to permit detection of aroma compounds having a variety of functional groups. The advantages of using SPME were its simplicity, absence of solvent, and speed. Fiber cleaning, sample collection, and desorption required ∼6 min. The total analysis time was ∼10 min per sample when SPME was combined with rapid gas chromatographic (GC) separation and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS). The major volatile compounds detected from tomato and strawberry and their relative abundance were comparable with published results from purge-and-trap/GC/FID analyses. One of the primary flavor impact compounds in strawberry, 2,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy-3(2H)-furanone was detected by using SPME/GC/TOFMS. SPME appears to be suitable for rapid and quantitative ana...
A multi-disciplinary model of risk factors for fatal outcome in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the relative impact of clinical data, imaging findings, and CSF laboratory values on clinical outcome in patients with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Methods 47 patients with PRES who underwent a lumbar puncture were retrospectively evaluated. Fatal outcome was defined as death directly ascribed to PRES toxicity. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the association between fatal outcome and clinical factors (demographics, PRES etiology), imaging findings (signal abnormality severity, atypical distribution, restricted diffusion, hemorrhage, enhancement, angiographic abnormalities), and lumbar puncture results (appearance, cell count, glucose, protein, culture results). Results Nine patients (19.1%) had a fatal outcome. Odds of a fatal outcome increased nearly 5-fold with hemorrhage on imaging (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 4.8, 95% CI 3.8–6.0, p = 0.03) and nearly doubled with low CSF glucose (AOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.5–2.5, p = 0.02). Hypertensive encephalopathy as an etiology was associated with a fatal outcome (AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3–2.9, p = 0.02), while toxemia of pregnancy was protective, with a 75% decreased risk (AOR 0.25, 95% CI 0.15–0.43, p = 0.02). Conclusion Clinical, imaging, and CSF laboratory findings all influence outcome in PRES, with a low CSF glucose, hypertensive encephalopathy, and imaging findings of hemorrhage associated with increased risk of fatal outcome.
Reduction of UNil for finite groups with normal abelian Sylow 2-subgroup

Let F be a finite group with a Sylow 2-subgroup S that is normal and abelian. Using hyperelementary induction and cartesian squares, we prove that Cappell’s unitary nilpotent groups UNil∗(Z[F];Z[F],Z[F]) have an induced isomorphism to the quotient of UNil∗(Z[S];Z[S],Z[S]) by the action of the group F/S. In particular, any finite group F of odd order has the same UNil-groups as the trivial group. The broader scope is the study of the L-theory of virtually cyclic groups, based on the Farrell–Jones isomorphism conjecture. We obtain partial information on these UNil when S is a finite abelian 2-group and when S is a special 2-group.
Interferon beta-1b injection site reactions and necroses

We conducted a comprehensive review of selected adverse event reports that were submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for interferon beta-1b during the first 30 months following licensure. The adverse events reviewed were injection site reactions, injection site necroses, and non-injection site necroses. These adverse events were selected because of the relative frequency of injection site reactions and because of the severity and sequelae of certain injection site and non-injection site necroses. Our review enabled us to characterize the clinical presentation and the treatment received, which were not described in the package insert or by the IFN beta (interferon beta-1b) Multiple Sclerosis Study Group publication. The time of onset of the adverse events ranged from 1-29 months after initiation of interferon beta-1b treatment, with a mean of 1 month. In general, the more clinically significant adverse events (i.e., injection site necrosis and non-injection site necrosis) developed more slowly than the injection site reactions. Greater than 85% of the adverse events presented with one or two signs/symptoms, although the number of signs/ symptoms ranged from 1-8. No predominance of treatments for the adverse events was observed. The most striking finding was that the overall sex ratio, which could be due to reporting artifacts, was 8.1:1 female:male.
Management of severe sepsis in the surgical patient

Sepsis and septic shock are not uncommon conditions in the surgical intensive care unit. Sepsis is a generalized activation of the immune system in the presence of clinically suspected or culture-proven infection. Severe sepsis is sepsis with organ system dysfunction. Septic shock is sepsis with hypotension (systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg) without other causes. Although the incidence of sepsis is increasing, the case fatality rate is falling. This improvement in outcome is in part due to bold initiatives like the Surviving Sepsis Campaign from the Institute for Health Care Improvement. In this article the authors present the epidemiology of severe sepsis and evidence-based campaigns for its treatment, with a focus on the surgical patient.
Quantitative Optimal Experimental Design Using Global Sensitivity Analysis via Quasi-Linearization

Local sensitivity analysis is widely used in experimental design to improve the precision of the estimated parameters. However, for nonlinear models, the local sensitivity values and the experimental design criteria are dependent on the, not yet known, parameter values. Global sensitivity analysis can deal with this situation by taking parameter uncertainty into account for computation of the sensitivity values. However, the existing experimental design criteria cannot easily be applied to the conventional global sensitivity analysis results. One outcome of this is that experimental design involving global sensitivity analysis has mainly focused on identification of influential parameters. A new global sensitivity analysis technique is presented in this work for the purpose of using this technique for quantitative experimental design. The methodology makes use of quasi-linearization and the global sensitivity matrix returned is the design matrix of the linearized model. Due to this, the same experimental ...
Semantic Video Indexing using Context-Dependent Fusion

We present a novel method for fusing the results of multiple semantic video indexing algorithms that use different types of feature descriptors and different classification methods. This method, called Context-Dependent Fusion (CDF), is motivated by the fact that the relative performance of different semantic indexing methods can vary significantly depending on the video type, context information, and the high-level concept of the video segment to be labeled. The training part of CDF has two main components: context extraction and algorithm fusion. In context extraction, the low-level audio-visual descriptors used by the different classification algorithms are combined and used to partition the descriptors space into groups of similar video shots, or contexts. The algorithm fusion component identifies a subset of classification algorithms (local experts) for each context based on their relative performance within the context. Results on the TRECVID-2002 data collections show that the proposed method can identify meaningful and coherent clusters and that different labeling algorithms can be identified for the different contexts. Our initial experiments have indicated that the context-dependent fusion outperforms the individual algorithms. We also show that using simple visual descriptors and a simple K-NN classifier, the CDF approach provides results that are comparable to the state-of-the-art methods in semantic indexing.
Structural and quantum chemical factors affecting mutagenic potency of aminoimidazo-azaarenes.

A set of 16 mutagenic aminoimidazo-azaarenes, including four that have been isolated from cooked foods and identified as bacterial mutagens and rodent carcinogens, was selected from a larger series previously published [Hatch et al. (1991): Environ Mol Mutagen 17:4–19] for an in-depth structure-activity study using computational methods. Structural features believed to affect mutagenic potency were tabulated. Molecular orbital energies and other electronic properties of these compounds were calculated using Huckel, semiempirical AM1, and ab initio quantum mechanical methods. Factor interrelationships were studied by multiple linear regression and canonical correlation analyses. Our goal was an improved understanding of the chemical basis of mutagenicity for this class of heterocyclic amines. The major findings were as follows: 1) mutagenic potency is related to the size of the aromatic ring system; 2) potency is enhanced by the presence and location of an N-methyl group; 3) potency is enhanced by addition of ring nitrogen atoms in pyridine, quinoline, and quinoxaline configurations; 4) potency is inversely related to the energy of the LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) of the parent amines; 5) potency is directly, though weakly, related to the LUMO energy of the derived nitrenium ions; and 6) the calculated thermodynamic stability of the nitrenium ions (relative to the parent amine) is directly correlated with nitrenium LUMO energy and with the negative charge on the exocyclic nitrogen atom. Although this study raises several intriguing issues relating mutagenicity to chemical properties, further study will be required to determine the plausibility of the nitrenium ion as the ultimate mutagen for binding to DNA. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Enzymatic Synthesis of Adrenaline in Mammalian Brain

ADRENALINE given intraventricularly or intravenously has powerful physiological and psychological effects on the central nervous system. Although work in this laboratory and elsewhere suggests that a small amount of adrenaline may reach the brain from the peripheral circulation1,2, the amount is not enough to account for the endogenous concentrations of adrenaline that have been reported3,4. It therefore became of interest to study the uptake, metabolism and synthesis of adrenaline by mammalian brain. We have found that adrenaline is synthesized in the brain.
Cellular Dysfunction Induced by Penetration of Autoantibodies into Living Cells: Cellular Damage and Dysfunction Mediated by Antibodies to dsDNA and Ribosomal P Proteins

Antibodies to dsDNA and ribosomal P proteins are disease specific for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and vary with disease activity. It is thought that antibodies to dsDNA are involved in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis and clinical data consistent with that hypothesis also exist for anti-ribosomal P antibodies; these two specific antibodies both bind and penetrate cells in culture. In the case of anti-P antibodies, the cellular receptor appears to be a membrane form of the Po 38 kDa phosphoprotein, which is present on several cell types and appears to mediate the binding and penetration of anti-P antibodies which then localize in the cytoplasm. In the case of anti-dsDNA, numerous cellular receptors exist on various cell types which may account for the three types of behavior demonstrated by antibodies towards dsDNA. These include (a) localization and prolonged residence on the membrane, with prompt cytolysis upon addition of hemolytic complement, (b) penetration and cytoplasmic localization and (c) penetration and nuclear localization. Both anti-P and anti-dsDNA are potent inhibitors of protein synthesis and are likely to mediate cellular dysfunction via this pathway.
Interrupted Resistance Training and BMD In Growing Rats

A resistance training program, where the exercise was uninterrupted (UT, i.e. continuous repetitions) was compared against another resistance training program where the exercise was interrupted (IT, i.e. 2 exercise sessions during a training day) for enhancing bone modeling and bone mineral density (BMD) in maturating animals. The total volume of work performed between the two resistance training programs was equivalent by design. Young male rats (approximately 8 weeks old) were randomly divided into Control (Con, n=8), UT (n=8) and IT (n=7) resistance trained groups. The UT and IT groups were conditioned to climb a vertical ladder with weights appended to their tail 3 days/week for 6 weeks. After the 6 week training regimen (Mean+/-SD), tibial BMD (assessed via DXA) was significantly greater for UT (0.237+/-0.008 g/cm(2)) and IT (0.238+/-0.005 g/cm(2)) compared to Con (0.223+/-0.004 g/cm(2)). Further, serum osteocalcin (OC) was significantly greater for UT (45.65+/-2.83 ng/ml) and IT (46.33+/-4.60 ng/ml) compared to Con (37.86+/-4.04 ng/ml). There was no significant difference in BMD or serum OC between UT and IT groups. The results indicate that both resistance training programs were equally effective in elevating BMD in growing animals.
Joining of zirconium diboride-based ultra high-temperature ceramic composites using metallic glass interlayers

Abstract Three zirconium diboride (ZrB2)-based ultra-high-temperature ceramic-matrix composites: ZrB2–SCS9–SiC (ZSS), ZrB2–SiC–C (ZSC), and ZrB2–SiC (ZS), were joined to themselves and to commercially pure Ti using two boron-containing amorphous Ni-base braze alloys (MBF-20 and MBF-30). The SEM and EDS examinations of the joint microstructure and interface composition revealed intimate composite-to-braze contact and metallurgically sound joint interfaces. The dissolution of Ti and ZrB2 in molten braze, and redistribution of Zr, Si, Ti and Cr across the joint region was observed. Fine hairline cracks formed in some of the joints due to thermal stresses from joining. The Knoop microhardness measurements revealed a peak hardness of 1600 KHN within the braze region in the ZSS and ZSC composites, and lower (
AML3/CBFα1 Is Required for Androgen-specific Activation of the Enhancer of the Mouse Sex-limited Protein (Slp) Gene

A complex 120-base pair enhancer, derived from the mouse sex-limited protein (Slp) gene, is activated solely by the androgen receptor (AR) in specific tissues, although it contains a hormone response element recognized by several steroid receptors. The generation of this transcriptional specificity has been ascribed to the interactions of the receptor with tissue-specific nonreceptor factors bound to accessory sites within the enhancer. Protein-DNA interaction assays revealed two factors binding the 5' part of the enhancer that differ widely in abundance between cells showing AR-specific activation of the Slp element compared with those that also permit activation by glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The factor designated B formed a complex centered on the sequence TGTGGT, a core motif recognized by members of the AML/CBFalpha transcription factor family. This complex was competed by a high affinity binding site specific for AML/CBFalpha and was specifically supershifted by an antibody to AML3/CBFalpha1, placing factor B within the AML3/CBFalpha1 subclass. Interestingly, this factor was shown to bind to a second site in the 3' part of the enhancer, positioned between the two critical AR binding sites. Transfection studies revealed that AML1-ETO, a dominant-negative AML/CBFalpha construct, abrogated AR induction of the enhancer, but not of simple hormone response elements. Furthermore, overexpression of AML3/CBFalpha1 could rescue the AML1-ETO repression. Finally, glutathione S-transferase-AML/CBFalpha fusion proteins demonstrated direct interaction between AML/CBFalpha and steroid receptors. Although this interaction was equivalent between AML1/CBFalpha2 and AR or GR, AML3/CBFalpha1 showed stronger interaction with AR than with GR. These data demonstrate that AML3/CBFalpha1 is functionally required for hormonal induction of the Slp enhancer and that direct, preferential protein-protein interactions may contribute to AR-specific activation. These results demonstrate an intriguing role of AML3/CBFalpha1 in steroid- as well as tissue-specific activation of target genes.
Desiring to Fit: Fostering the Success of Community College Transfer Students in STEM.

The United States is experiencing a dire need for individuals who possess training and expertise in areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). With over half of the nation’s students entering university environments via community colleges coupled with a large portion of this population majoring in STEM areas, the successful transition and adjustment of community college transfer students is essential to the STEM workforce. This article uses an ex post facto survey research design to examine the socialization factors that impact the transition and adjustment experiences of community college transfer students in STEM disciplines. Two hierarchical regression models are employed to examine the factors that impact the academic and social adjustment of community college transfer students in STEM majors. This research was situated using an adaptation of Weidman’s (1987) Socialization Theoretical Framework. Implications, and recommendations for policy and practice will be provided based on...
The function of wisdom dimensions in ego‐identity development among Chinese university students

This study investigates the relationship between wisdom and ego-identity among university students in China. Using Marcia's ego-identity statuses and Ardelt's wisdom dimensions as the theoretical and conceptual framework, the study investigates 356 university students in China. After exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, four factors from wisdom and five factors from ego-identity were retrieved. A structural equation model was then conducted to analyse the relationships. The findings were: (1) among wisdom dimensions, cognitive, and reflective wisdom, especially perspective-taking best predicted achievement, (2) all three dimensions of wisdom predicted moratorium, but reflective wisdom was the most pronounced predictor, (3) all three dimensions of wisdom predicted diffusion, but resentment items from reflective wisdom were the most pronounced predictors, and (4) gender was a significant predictor of ego-identity achievement and diffusion. These findings suggest that efforts to build reflective wisdom might contribute to healthier ego-identity formation.