cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consequential life cycle air emissions externalities for plug-in electric vehicles in the PJM interconnection

We perform a consequential life cycle analysis of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and conventional gasoline vehicles in the PJM interconnection using a detailed, normative optimization model of the PJM electricity grid that captures the change in power plant operations and related emissions due to vehicle charging. We estimate and monetize the resulting human health and environmental damages from life cycle air emissions for each vehicle technology. We model PJM using the most recent data available (2010) as well as projections of the PJM grid in 2018 and a hypothetical scenario with increased wind penetration. We assess a range of sensitivity cases to verify the robustness of our results. We find that PEVs have higher life cycle air emissions damages than gasoline HEVs in the recent grid scenario, which has a high percentage of coal generation on the margin. In particular, battery electric vehicles with large battery capacity can produce two to three times as much air emissions damage as gasoline HEVs, depending on charge timing. In our future 2018 grid scenarios that account for predicted coal plant retirements, PEVs would produce air emissions damages comparable to or slightly lower than HEVs.
Genocide or Partition: Two Faces of the Same Coin?

Robert Hayden is not alone in wondering why the expulsion of Serbs from Croatia in 1991 and 1995 was labeled a population transfer and even justified by the logic of nation-states, while the expulsion of Muslims by Serbs in 1992-96 from an area of Bosnia and Herzegovina that the Serbs claim for their state was labeled genocide and justified establishing an international war crimes tribunal. Hayden wants to protect the term genocide, and its legal standing internationally, for truly exceptional instances—to wit, the Holocaust, and nothing else until, God forbid, there should be another such instance. By contrast, he argues, population transfers, even on a massive scale and forced, are not pathological. "Ethnic cleansing" of territory in the former Yugoslavia, whether of Croatia or of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is unexceptional, a normal part of the history of the twentieth century. Although final solutions are not inevitable—Hayden criticizes Croatian President Tudjman for writings that seem to have justified the Serb expulsion as such—"ethnic cleansing" is a part of the history even of states that now sit in moral condemnation of the Balkan horrors and the Bosnian Serbs.
Investigating the Structural Properties of Corn Stover Biomass

The purpose of this study is to analyze structural material properties of biomass materials, namely corn stover. The microstructure of the biomass is examined by using a nano-hardness testing machine (NANOVEA®). The goal of this analysis is to test the hardness and elasticity of individual fibers using nanoindentation and to develop testing techniques to perform this task. The results of the stated tests are statistically analyzed. The measured structural properties of the biomass have the potential to be used in computer simulations for structural analysis and bulk solid flows. The bulk fluid motion of the pulverized/chopped biomass can be simulated in storage and transportation equipment, including auguring screws and pneumatic conveyance systems, as well as devices for feeding biomass feedstocks in biorefineries. Traditional biochemical and thermochemical reactors operate as batch systems because of the difficulty of feeding the biomass feedstock in a continuous manner. Having a clearer background about the structural and rheological properties of biomass feedstock will help simulate and design the bulk-solid flows within storage bins and conveyance systems.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
New York: The Great Anomaly

Rufus Browning, Dale Marshall, and David Tabb present some straightforward and convincing theses in their admirable work Protest Is Not Enough . Urban policy responsiveness to minority interests, they argue, depends not so much on the direct impact of protest as on the advent of a dominant liberal coalition in which blacks and Hispanics have some role. Where such coalitions have not succeeded, racial exclusion and policy resistance tend to hold sway. Where blacks or Hispanics have played a leading role in bringing such a coalition to power, or in Browning, Marshall and Tabb's terms where political incorporation has been greatest, then policy results favor minority interests. Political incorporation depends on protest and electoral mobilization among blacks and Hispanics combined with favorable white attitudes toward minority interests. The size of the minority community and its leadership capacity in turn explain minority political mobilization. By these propositions, New York City should be characterized by substantial black and Hispanic political incorporation and the resulting targeting of policy outputs on minority interests. In the 1980 Census, New York's population was 23.9% black and 19.9% Hispanic; these numbers may have been substantially undercounted. In any case, two-thirds of a decade later New York is clearly a majority minority city. Black political participation dates from Adam Clayton Powell and Benjamin Davis' election to the city council in 1941 and 1943. The first Puerto Rican assemblyman was elected on the Republican and American Labor Party lines in 1938. Subsequently, both groups have had a long and sophisticated history of political participation. From the 1960s onward, a new generation of leadership led both groups to assert their political demands more strongly. The Lindsay administration afforded a national model of how a new liberal coalition could experiment with new forms of political incorporation. Voting in state and national elections would suggest the city is on the liberal end of the urban political spectrum. In short, by Western lights New York should be a model of strong minority incorporation and the consequent targeting of city policies toward minority interests. The problem, however, is that New York City has not incorporated minorities and, depending on what indicators are chosen, has not produced policies that are especially aimed toward minorities.
Simulation of the After-Reach Hazard on Power Presses Using Dual Palm Button Actuation

This paper describes a study of the after-reach hazard when a power press simulator is used. The after-reach hazard occurs when a worker reaches into a point of operation on a power press after the...
Humoral Immine Resoponse to Clonorchis sinensis Infection in A Rabbit Infection Model

Objective To study the kinetics of serum antibody production in rabbit after infection with Clonorchis sinensis and to evaluate the feasibility of using specific antibody for the diagnosis and treatment Clonorchis sinensis infection. Methods Clonorchis sinensis metacercaria were isolated from the naturally infected fish. Seven rabbits were orally infected and then treated with praziquantel 14 weeks after infection. Serum IgG antibody was determined before and after treatment using SPA-ELISA method. Results Seven experimental rabbits were all infected. The level of their serum antibody was elevated starting at 2 to 4 weeks post-infection. The level of antibody production was peaked at 8 to 12 weeks. After effective therapy,the level of specific antibody was decreased. By the end of the experiment,5 rabbits showed an obviously decreased at the 5th week after treatment. To death or the end of breeding,the absorption values of 71.4% experimental rabbits decreased to 0.1 or below,1.28-1.80 times of the pre-infection values. In addition,the dissection observation showed that the pathological nodules still could be seen in the 3 rabbit livers with ideal deworming effect 7 or 10 months after therapy. Conclusion Compared with the detection of parasite eggs in stool,specific IgG antibody could be detected early after Clonorchis sinensis infection. Treatment with anti-parasitic drug can not provide an immediate improvement in liver pathology. Combination therapy should be given for both parasite eradication and liver protection.
Low-profile balloon: superior retention device for catheter drainage of bladder and renal pelvis.

SUMMARY The Low-Profile Balloon Catheter has been evaluated in more than 60 patients. It is easily placed in the bladder and renal pelvis. The special design of its disk-shaped balloon and large-lumen shaft results in excellent drainage, dependable retention, and a comfortable indwelling drainage tube.
Multiple contexts and adolescent body mass index: Schools, neighborhoods, and social networks.

Adolescent health and behaviors are influenced by multiple contexts, including schools, neighborhoods, and social networks, yet these contexts are rarely considered simultaneously. In this study we combine social network community detection analysis and cross-classified multilevel modeling in order to compare the contributions of each of these three contexts to the total variation in adolescent body mass index (BMI). Wave 1 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health is used, and for robustness we conduct the analysis in both the core sample (122 schools; N = 14,144) and a sub-set of the sample (16 schools; N = 3335), known as the saturated sample due to its completeness of neighborhood data. After adjusting for relevant covariates, we find that the school-level and neighborhood-level contributions to the variance are modest compared with the network community-level (σ(2)school = 0.069, σ(2)neighborhood = 0.144, σ(2)network = 0.463). These results are robust to two alternative algorithms for specifying network communities, and to analysis in the saturated sample. While this study does not determine whether network effects are attributable to social influence or selection, it does highlight the salience of adolescent social networks and indicates that they may be a promising context to address in the design of health promotion programs.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist benzo(a)pyrene reactivates LINE-1 in HepG2 cells through canonical TGF-β1 signaling: implications in hepatocellular carcinogenesis

Long interspersed nuclear element-1 (L1) is a genetic element that mobilizes throughout the mammalian genome via retrotransposition and damages host DNA via mutational insertions, chromosomal rearrangements, and reprogramming of gene expression. The cellular mechanisms responsible for aberrant L1 expression during cancer pathogenesis are unclear. Previously, we have shown that L1 reactivation in several human cell lines is dependent upon the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-activated transcription factor member of the PAS superfamily of proteins. We also showed that ectopic expression of L1 reprograms the HepG2 genome leading to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here we present evidence that reactivation of L1 and modulation of EMT in HepG2 cells by the AhR ligand benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is effected through the canonical TGF-β1 signaling pathway. BaP increased TGF-β1 mRNA, SMAD2 phosphorylation and decreased expression of E-Cadherin. The functional relevance of these interactions and the involvement of TGFBR1/ALK5 and SMAD2/3 were confirmed by siRNA interference. Furthermore, expression of L1-encoded ORF1p was positively correlated with the activation of TGF-β1 signaling in human hepatocarcinoma samples at various stages of malignant progression. These results indicate that ligand-mediated AhR activation regulates L1 via canonical TGF-β1 signaling and raise important questions about the molecular etiology of human hepatocarcinomas.
Impact of One Training Session on Improving Advocacy, Knowledge, and Empowerment in Medical Students

Medical students are seldom trained to serve as advocates for underserved communities, however, after graduation, they are uniquely situated to do exactly that. Multiple approaches to provide training in health policy have been reported with the goal of providing students with the skills to advocate for their patients. Although these programs are successful, they are difficult to implement and require copious resources. The OBGYN student interest group wanted an innovative but low-resource way of providing training. To do so, a partnership was formed with Oklahoma Institute for Children’s Advocacy (OICA), a community based non-profit dedicated to creating awareness, taking action, and changing policy to improve the health, safety, and well-being of Oklahoma’s children. An advocacy-training day was held on campus led by OICA and hosted by the OB/GYN Student Interest Group. Participants underwent one 3-hour training session led by the executive director of OICA and included details about the Oklahoma legislative process with training on becoming an advocate. Twenty-seven students completed the post questionnaire responding that the training was helpful (3.5/4), that they felt empowered (3.4/4), that the statistics related to them (3.3/4), and that they felt confident taking the first steps toward advocacy (3.2/4). The results of this study highlight the need for advocacy training for medical students as training resulted in feelings of increased confidence and empowerment. This study is also significant in describing an innovative approach that utilized a community organization to provide the training which minimized the resources needed.
Operative Procedures in the Intensive Care Unit

Procedures in the intensive care unit (ICU) have traditionally been limited to short procedures that can be performed using only local anesthesia. With the advent of the field of acute care surgery – a blend of trauma, emergency general surgery, and surgical critical care – instances have evolved in which operating in the ICU is not only possible but also necessary. Increased recognition of abdominal compartment syndrome and the use of damage control strategies in both trauma and non-trauma patients have contributed to this change. In general, two types of procedures are performed in the ICU: lifesaving procedures for which a patient is too unstable to attempt transfer to the operating room and uncomplicated procedures for which transfer to the operating room seems unwarranted. Careful organization and preparation with a multidisciplinary team are crucial to ensure patient and clinician safety in both elective and emergent procedures.
The influence of gradient estimation on the extraction of boundary point cloud

To extract a tubular object boundary from a volumetric image is important to compute its morphometric properties, like the estimation of the boundary curvature, or the radius of a tubular object, for example, the radius is one of the descriptions of blood vessel for detecting the soft plaque. How to estimate the gradient of the volumetric data has an influence on the computation results of the morphometric properties. Extract the points of maximum gradient along the gradient direction in 3D as the boundary point cloud of an object is used by [4]. The boundary points are computed by trilinearly interpolated the volumetric datasets, and apply the parabolic interpolation to find the maximum gradient along the gradient direction. The extraction of boundary point cloud depends on the estimation of the image gradients. This paper is to compare the tricubic B-spline and trilinear interpolation algorithms on the estimations of morphometric properties of the volumetric dataset.
The synthetic triterpenoid CDDO-Im modulates pathways beyond Keap1-Nrf2 signaling at doses relevant to chemoprevention

A140 We have previously shown that the synthetic triterpenoid 1-[2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oyl]imidazole or CDDO-Im, is an effective and extremely potent chemopreventive agent against aflatoxin-induced hepatic tumorigenesis in rats. This activity is in part due to induction of hepatic Keap1-Nrf2-regulated cytoprotective and detoxication genes. While CDDO-Im can act through Keap1-Nrf2 signaling, it is not known what other signaling pathways may be important in the chemopreventive efficacy of CDDO-Im. This study seeks to address this question by coupling global gene expression analysis at a low dose of CDDO-Im with analysis of a transgenic mouse model of Nrf2 hyperactivation. Conditional Keap1 knockout mice were compared to genetic control “wild-type” mice in order to identify the full set of genes which are modulated through constitutive Nrf2 hyperactivation created by deletion of Keap1 in the liver. Hepatic global gene expression in wild-type mice treated with CDDO-Im was then compared to vehicle controls in order to identify genes modulated by CDDO-Im irrespective of genotype influence. Wild-type mice were treated with CDDO-Im (30 µmol/kg body weight, p.o.), which is known to afford chemoprotection without eliciting toxicity. Hepatic global gene expression changes induced by CDDO-Im were then compared with genes modulated in the conditional Keap1 knockout mice to determine how much of the action of CDDO-Im is mediated through Keap1-Nrf2 signaling. This analysis showed that approximately 30% of CDDO-Im modulated genes are Keap1-dependent. The CDDO-Im modulated and Keap1-dependent genes were primarily involved in xenobiotic metabolism, glutathione metabolism, protein ubiquitination, and lipid metabolism. The remaining 70% of CDDO-Im modulated and Keap1-independent genes were involved in many functions; two of the largest categories include regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis. Of these, Transforming Growth Factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathways were significantly altered. Transcripts of bone morphogenic protein 6 (Bmp6) were increased 3.4-fold. In addition, transcripts of the genes encoding activin/inhibin beta subunits were significantly modulated (Inhbb, 2.4-fold; Inhba, -3.3-fold; and Inhbe, -2.0-fold). Furthermore, CDDO-Im treatment resulted in reduced expression of genes involved in suppression of TGF-β signaling. Previous in vitro studies have shown that CDDO-Im activates TGF-β signaling in leukemia cell lines. These studies confirm that activation of TGF-β signaling occurs in vivo and at doses relevant to chemoprevention. Additional studies are necessary to determine the functional consequences of these gene expression changes. Further analysis of the microarray data is ongoing to determine other molecular pathways that participate in the chemopreventive activity of CDDO-Im and to provide a clearer picture of interactions between them. Supported by CA94076, ES03819, and Reata Pharmaceuticals.
Traffic concentration for a green Internet

Cooling equipment accounts for a sizable fraction of Internet energy footprint. Existing network design models, that assume a linear router power spectrum, are mislead by ignoring the impact of cooling consumption. In this paper, we make a case that the overall energy consumed by a router is polynomial to traffic demand and increases rapidly when the router is loaded. An energy-smart network design is thus formulated to mostly spread out traffic evenly among routers across the network. We further propose a heuristic and compare our design with popular traffic concentration model on two published backbone networks: NSFNET and AT&T. The simulation results reveal that our design saves at least 25% of the consumed energy, and the proposed heuristic closely matches the optimal results. Thus, mitigating network bottleneck routers, rather than creating ones, leads to a greener Internet backbone network. Our conclusions challenge the common wisdom about existing energy saving protocols.
Care Coordination with Schools: The Role of Family-Centered Care for Children with Special Health Care Needs.

Objectives Family-centered care has been associated with positive outcomes for children with special health care needs. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship of family-centered care as associated with care coordination with schools and school absences (e.g., missed days) as reported by parents of children with special health care needs. Methods The current study utilized data from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs 2009-201 (N = 40,242) to achieve this purpose. The National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs may be considered a nationally-representative and community-based sample of parent responses for children with special health care needs across the United States. Results Results from the current study indicate that family-centered care is associated with fewer absences and improved care coordination with schools when applicable. The variables of functional difficulties, poverty level, and the number of conditions were statistically controlled. Conclusions We suggest that the positive influence of family-centered care when practiced extends beyond the family and interacts with educational outcomes. We also suggest that the role of schools appears to be under-studied given the role that schools can play in family-centered care.
Abstract 125: The E2F1 Transcription Factor Suppresses Cardiac Fibrosis via Downregulating Syndecan-4 Expression and Smad2/3 Phosphorylation

Rationale: The E2F1 transcription factor is best known as a cell-cycle regulator; recent reports suggest its important role in cardiovascular system. Objective: To determine whether E2F1 regulates ...
Temperature Stabilization System with Millikelvin Gradients for Air Refractometry Measurements Below the 10−8 Level

Refractometry of air is a central problem for interferometer-based dimensional measurements. Refractometry at the 10−9 level is only valid if air temperature gradients are controlled at the millike...
Temporal Trends of Psychosociobehavioral Factors Underlying Tobacco Use: A Semi-Automated Exploratory Analysis of Peer-to-Peer Communication in a Health-Related Online Community.

Online communities have been an integral part of tobacco cessation programs. They are rich in content, and offer insights into factors affecting an individual’s behavior change efforts. We used word representation techniques to infer implicit meaning embedded in messages exchanged in a health-related online community. Our analysis of peer interactions revealed that individuals factor in safety, glamour, expense, and media projection when choosing a form of nicotine intake. When choosing pharmacotherapy techniques, individuals focus on brands, dosage, and side effects associated with each form (e.g. gums, patches). Our analysis sheds light on factors embedded in peer interactions, which might lead to opinion formation based on peer influence and knowledge dissemination in these social platforms. Such understanding enables design of high-engagement behavior change technologies, through personalization of content delivery by factoring in individual-level beliefs, behavioral state, and community-level influences.
P4.116 Long-acting reversible contraceptive use and receipt of sexual health services among young women: implications for sti/hiv prevention

Introduction Long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) users may be less likely to receive recommended STI prevention services because these methods do not require routine clinic visits for continuation. We compared receipt of services between young women using LARC and other contraceptive methods or no method. Methods Data were from the 2011–2015 U.S. National Survey of Family Growth, a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey. We categorised sexually-active women aged 15–24 years (n=2,018) as: new LARC (initiated ≤12 months prior) or continuing LARC (initiated >12 months) users; moderately (pill, patch, ring, injectable) or less (condoms, withdrawal, diaphragm, rhythm) effective method users; or non-contraceptors. We examined differences in past year chlamydia (CT) testing, HIV testing, and sexual risk assessment (2013–2015 only) by contraceptive type using bivariate statistics and logistic models adjusted for age and race/ethnicity. Results Overall, 41% had been tested for CT, 26% for HIV, and 64% had risk assessed. Compared to moderately effective method users, continuing LARC users had lower odds of HIV testing (18 vs. 30%; AOR=0.4, 95%CI=0.2–0.7) and risk assessment (51 vs. 74%; AOR=0.3, 95%CI=0.2–0.7), but there were no significant differences in CT testing or between new LARC users and moderately effective method users. Compared to less effective method users, there were no differences in service receipt for continuing LARC users; new LARC users had higher odds of CT testing (52 vs. 24%, AOR=1.8, 95% CI=1.0–3.4) but no other differences were observed. Relative to non-contraceptors, new (43 vs. 28%, AOR=2.0, 95%CI=1.1–3.5) and continuing (52 vs. 28%; AOR=2.8, 95%CI=1.6–5.1) LARC users had higher odds of CT testing, and new LARC users had greater odds of risk assessment (72 vs. 55%; AOR=2.4, 95%CI=1.0–5.7). Conclusion Continuing LARC users may be less likely to receive recommended services compared to users of moderately effective methods. STI prevention should be incorporated in efforts to increase access to the full range of contraception.
Impact of social media for the hematologist/oncologist

In the era of modern communication, the physician and patient relationship has evolved to include an entirely new dimension-social media. This new dimension offers several opportunities for patient education, research and its dissemination, and professional development for health care providers; it can also serve as a platform for addressing important public health issues. However, these advantages come with challenges such as threats to patient and professional privacy. In this article, we dissect the benefits and drawbacks of this social evolution on the practicing hematologist-oncologist. We also perform a review of the current literature on the integration of social media in the practice of hematology/oncology; examine available guidelines for information exchange between health care professionals, industry, pharmaceutical companies, advocacy groups, and patients; and offer ways to create its seamless integration into clinical hematology-oncology practice.
Centering Nepantla Literacies from the Borderlands: Leveraging “In-Betweenness” Toward Learning in the Everyday

This article argues that building powerful literacies involves the centering of dispositions and practices that thrive on the boundary—spaces that are not always sanctioned as educational. Leveragi...
A Confucian Perspective on Lebron and Loyalty

This article uses LeBron James's departure from the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010 to examine the question of athletes’ loyalty to their team and to their region. Athletes often face significant criticism when they leave their original team as it supposedly indicates a lack of loyalty. Given Confucian emphasis on the importance of community, it might be expected that Confucians would endorse this criticism. Instead, I argue that properly understood, James's decision was probably permissible from a Confucian perspective.
AORTIC BALLOON VALVULOPLASTY CAN BE USED TO “STRETCH” BIO-PROSTHESIS IN PATIENT PROSTHESIS MISMATCH

Transcatheter aortic valve in valve (VIV) is used for bioprosthetic failure. Patient prosthesis mismatch (PPM) remains a significant challenge. We present a case of aortic bioprosthetic failure (stenosis) complicating preexistent PPM, where balloon valvuloplasty was used to “stretch” the
Circuit implementation of fluorescence lifetime measurement using direct exponential-to-linear conversion

Measurement of fluorescent lifetime is key in many biological analyses. Recently, we proposed a new scheme for fluorescent lifetime measurement utilizing hardware level linearization of the fluorescent decay produced by an excited fluorphore. This method is less sensitive to equivalent voltage and time errors compared to commonly utilized charge modulation schemes and has no upper limit on lifetime measurement. Here we present results for a hardware level implementation of the proposed scheme for lifetime measurement. Preliminary results demonstrate extraction of lifetimes down to 5/µs.
Elbow Pain in a Throwing Athlete

Medial elbow pain in throwing athletes can be debilitating. While the elbow UCL is the most common cause of the pain, it is important for treating physicians to have a good understanding of the extensive differential diagnosis of medial elbow pain in throwing athletes. A full-thickness tear of the UCL in athletes wanting to continue playing baseball typically requires reconstruction. Rehabilitation after UCL reconstruction can be an arduous endeavor that requires commitment from the patient, physician, and training staff. Good to excellent outcomes following reconstruction can be expected, but such an injury can be career altering. As opposed to full-thickness tears, partial tears can often be managed conservatively with a structured physical therapy program and gradual return to an interval throwing program. Some recent studies have highlighted the potential benefits of biologic injections to augment conservative management.
Towards an understanding of the resolution dependence of Core-Collapse Supernova simulations

Using our new state-of-the-art core-collapse supernova (CCSN) code Fornax, we explore the dependence upon spatial resolution of the outcome and character of three-dimensional (3D) supernova simulations. For the same 19-M$_{\odot}$ progenitor star, energy and radial binning, neutrino microphysics, and nuclear equation of state, changing only the number of angular bins in the $\theta$ and $\phi$ directions, we witness that our lowest resolution 3D simulation does not explode. However, when jumping progressively up in resolution by factors of two in each angular direction on our spherical-polar grid, models then explode, and explode slightly more vigorously with increasing resolution. This suggests that there can be a qualitative dependence of the outcome of 3D CCSN simulations upon spatial resolution. The critical aspect of higher spatial resolution is the adequate capturing of the physics of neutrino-driven turbulence, in particular its Reynolds stress. The greater numerical viscosity of lower-resolution simulations results in greater drag on the turbulent eddies that embody turbulent stress, and, hence, in a diminution of their vigor. Turbulent stress not only pushes the temporarily stalled shock further out, but bootstraps a concomitant increase in the deposited neutrino power. Both effects together lie at the core of the resolution dependence we observe.
Patients with metastatic breast cancer enrolled in phase I clinical trials: Clinical outcomes and cohort trends.

1099Background: Phase I clinical trials have traditionally enrolled patients with advanced solid tumors and many providers perceive the likelihood of clinical benefit as low. The purpose of this st...
A case of primary oral histoplasmosis

The patient,a 51-year-old veterinarian,was hospitalized for a two-month history of painful oral ulcers without fever.Physical examination revealed two superficial ulcers in the palate.Laboratory examination showed a decrease in peripheral blood leucocytes as well as a hyperplasia of bone marrow.No abnormality was found by X-ray radiography or B-mode ultrasonography.The paileat tested negative for anti-HIV antibody.Classification Of CD+ cells showed that CD3+ cells amounted to 0.559,CD4+ cells 0.289,CD8+ cells 0.207,CD4:CD8 ratio 1.4,and all the parameters were in a normal range.Histopathological analysis of the ulcer tissue revealed a chronic inflammatory granuloma with clustered yeast-like cells.Fungal culture of the sample from ulcer tissue at 25℃on the slant of PDA yielded white filamentous colony;typical rudder-like macroconidias were observed with electronic microscopy following microculture;and the isolate showed a biphasic growth pattern.PCR was performed to amplify the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1)and D1/D2 region of the isolated fungus followed by sequence analysis,and a homology of 97%and 99%was observed in the sequence of ITS1 and D1/D2 region,respectively,between the isolate and standard strain of Histoplasma capsulatum.A diagnosis of primary oral histoplasmosis Was made.The lesions subsided after 2-month treatment with oral itraconazole 400 mg per day. Key words: Histoplasmosis; Oral ulcer; Histoplasma
Abstract 354: BBI-608 modulates stemness, angiogenesis and enhances the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy in pre-clinical models of pancreatic cancer

Background: The transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT-3) is constitutively activated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and signaling via this pathway regulates a diverse set of cellular processes including stemness, angiogenesis and sensitization to chemo or radiotherapy. Given the potential for BBI608 to elicit effects on multiple oncogenic cellular pathways including STAT-3, we hypothesized that BBI608 can sensitize pancreatic cell lines to the effects of 5FU and ionizing radiation. Methods: The combined effects of BBI-608 and chemoradiotherapy (5-FU + IR) were evaluated in human (MIA PaCa-2, PANC-1) and murine (PANC-02) PDAC cell lines using a clonogenic assay. Effects on the expression of cell surface markers associated with stemness (EGFR, CD24, and CD44) in MIA PaCa-2 cell lines in vitroand in vivo were examined by flow cytometry. Modulation of pSTAT3 and VEGF, key pro-angiogenic factors, were studied via Western blot. Using media from MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cell lines following treatment, egg CAM assays were also performed to evaluate the effects of the tested drugs on angiogenesis (quantification was performed by AngioQuant software). The MIA PaCa-2 cell line was tested for activity to BBI-608, 5-FU + IR, alone and in combination, using an in vivo tumor xenograft model. Results: The combination of BBI-608 and chemoradiotherapy significantly (p Conclusion: These observations provide preclinical proof-of-principle that combinatorial BBI-608 and chemoradiotherapy could be a promising therapeutic strategy for PDAC. Citation Format: Ganji Purnachandra Nagaraju, Matthew R. Farren, Sneha Govardhanagiri, Shipra Reddy Bethi, Batoul Farran, Gregory B. Lesinski, Bassel F. El-Rayes. BBI-608 modulates stemness, angiogenesis and enhances the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy in pre-clinical models of pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 354.
Obesity and 1-Year Mortality in Adults After Sepsis: A Systematic Review:

Purpose:In recent years, researchers have noted an “obesity paradox,” where individuals with obesity survive sepsis at higher rates than their nonobese counterparts. This systematic review summariz...
Nipah Virus-Like Particle Egress Is Modulated by Cytoskeletal and Vesicular Trafficking Pathways: a Validated Particle Proteomics Analysis

Classified as a biosafety level 4 (BSL4) select agent, Nipah virus (NiV) is a deadly henipavirus in the Paramyxoviridae family, with a nearly 75% mortality rate in humans, underscoring its global and animal health importance. Elucidating the process of viral particle production in host cells is imperative both for targeted drug design and viral particle-based vaccine development. However, little is understood concerning the functions of cellular machinery in paramyxoviral and henipaviral assembly and budding. Recent studies showed evidence for the involvement of multiple NiV proteins in viral particle formation, in contrast to the mechanisms understood for several paramyxoviruses as being reliant on the matrix (M) protein alone. Further, the levels and purposes of cellular factor incorporation into viral particles are largely unexplored for the paramyxoviruses. To better understand the involvement of cellular machinery and the major structural viral fusion (F), attachment (G), and matrix (M) proteins, we performed proteomics analyses on virus-like particles (VLPs) produced from several combinations of these NiV proteins. Our findings indicate that NiV VLPs incorporate vesicular trafficking and actin cytoskeletal factors. The involvement of these biological processes was validated by experiments indicating that the perturbation of key factors in these cellular processes substantially modulated viral particle formation. These effects were most impacted for NiV-F-modulated viral particle formation either autonomously or in combination with other NiV proteins, indicating that NiV-F budding relies heavily on these cellular processes. These findings indicate a significant involvement of the NiV fusion protein, vesicular trafficking, and actin cytoskeletal processes in efficient viral particle formation.IMPORTANCE Nipah virus is a zoonotic biosafety level 4 agent with high mortality rates in humans. The genus to which Nipah virus belongs, Henipavirus, includes five officially recognized pathogens; however, over 20 species have been identified in multiple continents within the last several years. As there are still no vaccines or treatments for NiV infection, elucidating its process of viral particle production is imperative both for targeted drug design as well as for particle-based vaccine development. Developments in high-throughput technologies make proteomic analysis of isolated viral particles a highly insightful approach to understanding the life cycle of pathogens such as Nipah virus.
Genome-wide association studies for inflorescence type and remontancy in Hydrangea macrophylla

Inflorescence type and remontancy are two valuable traits in bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla L.) and both are recessively inherited. Molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) can greatly reduce the time necessary to breed cultivars with desired traits. In this study, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using 5803 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was performed using a panel of 82 bigleaf hydrangea cultivars. One SNP locus (Hy_CAPS_Inflo) associated with inflorescence type was identified with general linear model (GLM) and mixed linear model (MLM) methods that explained 65.5% and 36.1% of the phenotypic variations, respectively. Twenty-three SNPs associated with remontancy were detected in GLM whereas no SNP was detected in MLM. The SNP locus (Hy_CAPS_Inflo) was converted to a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker that showed absolute identification accuracy (100%) of inflorescence type in a validation panel consisting of eighteen H. macrophylla cultivars. The SNP was investigated in 341 F1 progenies using genotyping by sequencing (GBS) and co-segregated with inflorescence type (χ2 = 0.12; P = 0.73). The SNP was subsequently used for breeding selection using kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP) technology. Future directions for the use of genomics and MAS in hydrangea breeding improvement are discussed. The results presented in this study provide insights for further research on understanding genetic mechanisms behind inflorescence type and remontancy in H. macrophylla. The CAPS and KASP markers developed here will be immediately useful for applying MAS to accelerate breeding improvement in hydrangea.
Performance and wear of brazing diamond grinding disc in machining gray cast iron

Abstract To improve the machining efficiency of cast iron and the service life of cutting tools, a brazing diamond grinding disc was designed and fabricated. Experiments regarding the production efficiency, service life, and cutting temperature were conducted to compare the brazing diamond grinding disc and the traditional resin sand wheel sheet grinding gray cast iron HT150. The results demonstrated that the grinding efficiency and service life of the brazing diamond grinding disc were higher than that of the resin sand wheel sheet, the grinding temperature was lower than that of the resin wheel sheet, and the wear behavior of the diamond abrasive grains was mechanical wear with no chemical wear. This shows that machining gray cast iron with the brazing diamond grinding disc is feasible.
Did Playground Renovations Equitably Benefit Neighborhoods in Chicago

Between 2013 and 2016, the Chicago Park District renovated 327 playgrounds in need of repair across Chicago through a $44 million investment. This study evaluated whether short-term and longer-term impacts of renovations on park use and park-based moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) differed by neighborhood income level and neighborhood concentration of Black residents. A total of 39 parks with renovated playgrounds and 39 matched comparison parks with playgrounds that needed repair but not selected for renovation in year 1 were studied. Three waves of observational data were collected at each park: baseline, 12 months post-renovation, and 24 months post-renovation. Difference-in-differences mixed-effects Poisson regression models estimated renovation effects. The effects of renovations differed by the income level and concentration of Black residents in the neighborhoods where parks were located. In low-income neighborhoods, renovations were associated with reductions in park use and park-based MVPA over the longer term. In contrast, renovations were associated with short- and longer-term increases in park use and park-based MVPA in medium-income neighborhoods and with longer-term increases in MVPA in high-income neighborhoods. Renovations were generally not associated with any changes in park use or park-based MVPA in high-percent Black neighborhoods, but they were associated with increased park use and park-based MVPA in low-percent Black neighborhoods. This study suggests playground renovations in Chicago may have had unintended consequences, increasing neighborhood income and racial disparities in park use and park-based MVPA. Future playground renovation efforts may need to allocate more resources for renovating the broader park where in disrepair, more intensely involve neighborhood residents, and employ complementary strategies such as additional park programming to ensure renovations benefit all neighborhoods.
Sex-specific memory deficits after subchronic immune challenge

Memory impairments and cognitive decline persist long after recovery from major illness or injury, and correlate with increased risk of later dementia. Here we developed a subchronic peripheral immune challenge model to examine delayed and persistent memory impairments in females and in males. We show that intermittent injections of either lipopolysaccharide or Poly I:C cause memory decline in both sexes eight weeks after the immune challenge. Importantly, we observed sex-specific patterns of deficits. Females showed deficits in object recognition one week after challenge that persisted for at least eight weeks. In contrast, males had intact memory one week after the immune challenge, but exhibited broad memory impairments across object recognition, as well as context and tone fear conditioning tasks eight weeks later. Together, these data suggest that sex differences in neuroimmune activity result in differential vulnerabilities of females and males to memory decline after immune challenge. This model will be an important tool for determining the mechanisms in both sexes that contribute to memory impairments that develop over the weeks and months after recovery from illness, and provide new insights into the role of chronic inflammation in the pathogenesis of long lasting memory decline and dementias.
Caffeine supplementation as part of enhanced recovery after surgery pathways: a narrative review of the evidence and knowledge gaps.

Caffeine is used daily by 85% of United States adults and caffeine withdrawal is a major cause of perioperative headache. Studies have shown that caffeine supplementation in chronic caffeinators reduces the incidence of perioperative headache. This narrative review discusses the perioperative implications of caffeine withdrawal and outlines the benefits of and strategies of caffeine supplementation in the perioperative period. It is time to “wake up and smell the coffee” on integration of caffeine into established enhanced recovery after surgery protocols as a mechanism to consistently provide perioperative caffeine replacement.
Neuronal activity promotes nuclear proteasome-mediated degradation of PDCD4 to regulate activity-dependent transcription

Activity-dependent gene expression is critical for synapse development and plasticity. To elucidate novel mechanisms linking neuronal activity to changes in transcription, we compared the nuclear proteomes of tetrodotoxin-silenced and bicuculline-stimulated cultured rodent neurons using nuclear-localized APEX2 proximity biotinylation and mass spectrometry. The tumor suppressor protein PDCD4 was enriched in the silenced nuclear proteome, and PDCD4 levels rapidly decreased in the nucleus and cytoplasm of stimulated neurons. The activity-dependent decrease of PDCD4 was prevented by inhibitors of both PKC and proteasome activity and by a phospho-incompetent mutation of Ser71 in the {beta}TRCP ubiquitin ligase-binding motif of PDCD4. We compared the activity-dependent transcriptomes of neurons expressing wildtype or degradation-resistant (S71A) PDCD4. We identified 91 genes as PDCD4 targets at the transcriptional level, including genes encoding proteins critical for synapse formation, remodeling, and transmission. Our findings indicate that regulated degradation of nuclear PDCD4 facilitates activity-dependent transcription in neurons.
Correction for Van et al., "Complete Genome Sequences of Cluster P1 and Cluster C1 Mycobacterium smegmatis Phages Jung and Ronan".

Volume 9, no. 34, e00678-20, 2020, [https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.00678-20][1]. The article byline should read as given in this correction. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1128/MRA.00678-20
Safety of vaccines used for routine immunization in the United States: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract Background Understanding the safety of vaccines is critical to inform decisions about vaccination. Our objective was to conduct a systematic review of the safety of vaccines recommended for children, adults, and pregnant women in the United States. Methods We searched the literature in November 2020 to update a 2014 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality review by integrating newly available data. Studies of vaccines that used a comparator and reported the presence or absence of key adverse events were eligible. Adhering to Evidence-based Practice Center methodology, we assessed the strength of evidence (SoE) for all evidence statements. The systematic review is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020180089). Results Of 56,603 reviewed citations, 338 studies reported in 518 publications met inclusion criteria. For children, SoE was high for no increased risk of autism following measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. SoE was high for increased risk of febrile seizures with MMR. There was no evidence of increased risk of intussusception with rotavirus vaccine at the latest follow-up (moderate SoE), nor of diabetes (high SoE). There was no evidence of increased risk or insufficient evidence for key adverse events for newer vaccines such as 9-valent human papillomavirus and meningococcal B vaccines. For adults, there was no evidence of increased risk (varied SoE) or insufficient evidence for key adverse events for the new adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine and recombinant adjuvanted zoster vaccine. We found no evidence of increased risk (varied SoE) for key adverse events among pregnant women following tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine, including stillbirth (moderate SoE). Conclusions Across a large body of research we found few associations of vaccines and serious key adverse events; however, rare events are challenging to study. Any adverse events should be weighed against the protective benefits that vaccines provide.