cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
μ-conotoxin KIIIA derivatives with divergent affinities versus efficacies in blocking voltage-gated sodium channels.

The possibility of independently manipulating the affinity and efficacy of pore-blocking ligands of sodium channels is of interest for the development of new drugs for the treatment of pain. The analgesic μ-conotoxin KIIIA (KIIIA), a 16-residue peptide with three disulfide bridges, is a pore blocker of voltage-gated sodium channels, including neuronal subtype NaV1.2 (Kd = 5 nM). At saturating concentrations, KIIIA incompletely blocks the sodium current of NaV1.2, leaving a 5% residual current (rINa). Lys7 is an important residue: the K7A mutation decreases both the efficacy (i.e., increases rINa to 23%) and the affinity of the peptide (Kd = 115 nM). In this report, various replacements of residue 7 were examined to determine whether affinity and efficacy were inexorably linked. Because of their facile chemical synthesis, KIIIA analogues that had as a core structure the disulfide-depleted KIIIA[C1A,C2U,C9A,C15U] (where U is selenocysteine) or ddKIIIA were used. Analogues ddKIIIA and ddKIIIA[K7X], where X r...
The End of a Schoolyard Tyrant: Power, Homoeroticism, and Language in Heinrich Mann's “Abdankung”

A lesser-known representative of the school genre common around 1900, Heinrich Mann's novella “Abdankung” concerns the nexus of adolescence, power, and desire, and thus resembles such canonical works as Wedekind's Fruhlings Erwachen and Musil's Torles. The present study examines how Mann questions the foundation of domination, only then to demonstrate its implacability. Whereas previous receptionlargely overlooks the significance of the text's homoeroticism, I propose instead that the ambivalence of same-sex desire—the wavering between its utopian promise of equality and threat of the narcissistic exclusion of difference—provides a framework in which Mann explores the limitations of social and aesthetic transgression. Through its depiction of the isolation of the tyrant, the narcissism of the homosexual, and the solipsism of the aesthete, “Abdankung” suggests that the coupling of power, desire, and imagination helped set the conditions leading up to the cataclysm of World War I.
Transferring Cataloging Legacies into Descriptive Metadata Creation in Digital Projects: Catalogers’ Perspective

With the emergence of digital collections in libraries, museums, and other cultural institutions, catalogers are redefining their roles by participating in digital projects that involve creating, maintaining, and developing nontraditional metadata records. This article will provide a discussion of how catalogers are ensuring that the cataloging legacies of quality control, authority control, and creative cataloging become important components in the creation of descriptive metadata for digital projects.
MUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE DROSOPHILA SISTER-CHROMATID COHESION PROTEIN ORD AND ITS ROLE IN THE MAINTENANCE OF CENTROMERIC COHESION

The ord gene is required for proper segregation of all chromosomes in both male and female Drosophila meiosis. Here we describe the isolation of a null ord allele and examine the consequences of ablating ord function. Cytologically, meiotic sister-chromatid cohesion is severely disrupted in flies lacking ORD protein. Moreover, the frequency of missegregation in genetic tests is consistent with random segregation of chromosomes through both meiotic divisions, suggesting that sister cohesion may be completely abolished. However, only a slight decrease in viability is observed for ord null flies, indicating that ORD function is not essential for cohesion during somatic mitosis. In addition, we do not observe perturbation of germ-line mitotic divisions in flies lacking ORD activity. Our analysis of weaker ord alleles suggests that ORD is required for proper centromeric cohesion after arm cohesion is released at the metaphase I/anaphase I transition. Finally, although meiotic cohesion is abolished in the ord null fly, chromosome loss is not appreciable. Therefore, ORD activity appears to promote centromeric cohesion during meiosis II but is not essential for kinetochore function during anaphase.
Utility of the Wearable Cardioverter-Defibrillator in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Cardiomyopathy: A Decade-Long Single-Center Experience

Abstract Background The wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD) has emerged as a means of protecting patients with newly diagnosed nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) or ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) against sudden cardiac death while awaiting re-evaluation of cardiac function. Objectives This study sought to characterize the risk of appropriate WCD therapy in newly diagnosed NICM and ICM patients according to cardiomyopathy etiology in an independent study. Methods Medical records of all patients prescribed a WCD between June 2004 and May 2015 at our institution (n = 639) were analyzed, focusing on 254 patients with newly diagnosed NICM and 271 patients with newly diagnosed ICM. Patients with a prior implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or sustained ventricular arrhythmias were excluded (n = 114). The primary endpoint was appropriate WCD therapy. Results Median WCD wear time was 61 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 25 to 102 days) per patient and 22 h/day (IQR: 17 to 23 h/day). During 56.7 patient-years, 0 NICM patients received an appropriate WCD shock, whereas 3 (1.2%) received an inappropriate shock. During 46.7 patient-years, 6 (2.2%) ICM patients received an appropriate shock; 5 survived the episode, and 4 survived to hospital discharge. All 6 patients with an appropriate shock were male with QRS duration >120 ms. Two (0.7%) ICM patients received an inappropriate shock. Conclusions In this independent, retrospective study, the risk of appropriate WCD therapies in patients with newly diagnosed NICM was minimal. Routine use of the WCD in this population should be prospectively evaluated. The risk of appropriate therapies in newly diagnosed ICM was comparable to that observed in prior observational studies.
Optimized local control strategy for voice-based interaction-tracking badges for social applications

This paper presents a method to design optimized local control strategies for Cyber-Physical Systems that produce reliable data models for social applications. Data models have different semantics and abstraction levels. The local control strategies manage ad-hoc nano-clouds of embedded computing and communication nodes (CCNs) used for data collection, modeling, and communication. Control strategies consider tradeoffs defined by the resource constraints of embedded CCNs (e.g., computing power, communication bandwidth, and energy), assurance requirements (e.g., robustness) of the models, and privacy of users. Experiments evaluate and demonstrate the effectiveness of the control strategies for nano-clouds composed of smart voice-based interaction-tracking badges.
Cervical incompetence: Difficulties encountered in the management and maintenance of pregnancy

Abstract 1. Eight of the 13 circlage operations performed on 10 patients maintained a pregnancy in utero 14 to 26 weeks or an average of 19 weeks. 2. An evaluation of the reasons for failure in 5 cases is presented and causes found in the literature are discussed. 3. With evidence that a circlage operation is failing during a pregnancy, a repeat suture may be placed if there are no additional contraindications. 4. A diagnosis of incompetent cervix may be made and treated without a history of midtrimester abortion if the patient is seen with the physical criteria for diagnosis.
Husserl on Relativism in the Late Manuscripts

Husserl’s attempts to refute certain forms of relativism, especially psychologism, historicism, biological specism, all of which he regarded as relativistic, in the Logische Untersuchungen and in the Logos essay of 1910 are well-known,1 and I will not discuss them here. In general, from the very inception phenomenology has been anti-relativistic. Husserl thought he had conclusively refuted relativism, by refuting some varieties of it. Paradoxically enough, Husserl’s thinking had elements which gave rise to relativism from within phenomenology. The task therefore which he tried to face up to was: how to overcome relativism, if refutation was not possible? One can make a strong argument to the effect that relativism cannot be refuted, for refutation would make use of a logic and the relativism may not accept the validity of that logic.
Associations of Circulating Lymphocyte Subpopulations with Type 2 Diabetes: Cross-Sectional Results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Objective Distinct lymphocyte subpopulations have been implicated in the regulation of glucose homeostasis and obesity-associated inflammation in mouse models of insulin resistance. Information on the relationships of lymphocyte subpopulations with type 2 diabetes remain limited in human population-based cohort studies.
Implementation Science: A Potential Catalyst for Delivery System Reform

The US health care system is in a period of unprecedented change. The threats posed by increasing health care costs and the growing consensus that much of current spending is wasted1 have stimulated a broad array of public and private initiatives aimed at improving care and lowering costs: new technologies, increased investments in patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR), public reporting on the quality and cost of care, pay-for-performance initiatives; and continued efforts to adopt value-based payment models. The health system has responded. For example, the number of accountable care organizations (ACOs) has increased from a handful in 2009 to more than 700 in 2015.
Nanotech Ethics and the Policymaking Process: Lessons Learned for Advancing Equity and Equality in Emerging Nanotechnologies

Drawing on his experience in the Woodrow Wilson Center Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, as well as his experience in strategic planning and international development, Evan Michelson urges those interested in equity to engage with decision-makers. Michelson offers a number of lessons to help those with a desire to make the development of nanotechnology more equitable have a significant effect. He recommends that advocates aim to influence nano agenda setting as early as possible, develop proof of concept examples for pro-poor applications, build public and policymaking constituencies, communicate explicitly the anticipated equity and equality impacts, and use diverse empirical research methods.
Performance analysis of wearable UWB logo antenna for healthcare monitoring

In this paper, a logo textile based antenna has been designed and its performance has also be analyzed under close vicinity of the human body. The proposed antenna is designed as "UMD" logo and can be used for health monitoring purpose. The substrate of this antenna is purely jeans material which is widely available. The permittivity of the substrate is 1.7 with overall dimension of the antenna 60mm×75mm×2.6mm. The proposed antenna is assessed and optimized in the operational range from 1.2985 GHz to 21.326 GHz. Since the antenna is designed with flexible material, the antenna has also been tested under different bending conditions to ensure a stable characteristic. Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) on human body has also been measured at a distance of 20mm.
Direct Focused Ion Beam Writing of Printheads for Pattern Transfer Utilizing Microcontact Printing

We describe how focused ion beam (FIB) direct write technology may be combined with microcontact printing (μCP) and other pattern transfer techniques to enable nanoscale fabrication of complex patterns over both curved and planar surfaces. Nanoscale printheads are fabricated by direct sputtering or deposition (Pt or SiO2) in the FIB. These printheads are capable of transferring 100 nm features over fields of view up to 1 mm2, onto planar and curved surfaces. We are also investigating the concept of “programmable” printheads by fabrication of individually addressable printhead arrays, coupled with selective desorption of a relevant transfer medium (e.g. hexadecanethiol self-assembled monolayers) by heating or by application of an electric field
Modification and Applications of a Large Time-Step High Resolution TVD Scheme

Based on Roe’s conservation principle of linearization, a modi cation to Harten’s explicit large time-step TVD scheme is proposed. It is applied to compute one-dimensional shock tube problems and inviscid transonic ow over a NACA0012 airfoil. The modi ed scheme captures the shock in high resolution and successfully eliminates the spurious oscillations in the vicinity of the shock with the restriction of CFL < 3. The solutions are in good agreement with the analytical solutions and available numerical solutions.
Hyperbranched Polycarbosiloxanes and Polysiloxanes with Octafunctional Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) Branch Points

Three series of hyperbranched polycarbosiloxanes (HB-PCSOX) and polysiloxanes (HB-PSOX) were prepared from octafunctional polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) monomers and various difunctional silanes by bimolecular nonlinear A8-B2 polymerization (BMNLP) and characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 29Si NMR, SEC, DSC, and for refractive index. Series 1 was prepared from T8vinyl8 and disilane monomers, and series 2 was prepared from T8(OSiMe2H)8 and divinylsilane monomers (where T denotes an SiO3 unit), both via platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation polymerization. Series 3 was prepared from T8(OSiMe2OH)8 and dichlorosilane monomers via hydrolysis–condensation polymerization. Structure–property relationships were determined as methyl vs phenyl content was varied. These HB POSS polymers were then functionalized with curable alkoxysilane end groups and formulated with linear polysiloxanes to fabricate transparent and robust nanostructured POSS-containing coatings for use in a range of high-performance space and sola...
In vivo, in silico, in machina: Ants and Robots Balance Memory and Communication to Collectively Exploit Information

Ants balance the use of remembered private information and communicated public information to maximally exploit resources. This work determines how the strategy that best balances these two sources of information, and the performance of that best strategy, depend on the information in the distribution that is available to be exploited, and the number of ants in the colony. We answer this question by (1) measuring the rates at which ants foraging for seeds in manipulative field studies, (2) simulating ant foraging strategies and measuring resulting foraging performance, and (3) implementing foraging strategies as algorithms for search behaviors in teams of cooperatively searching robots.
High-Performance Intrusion Response Planning on Many-Core Architectures

The quantity and sophistication of cyber attacks have increased year by year, thus it is infeasible to manually process Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs) alerts. Intrusion Response Systems (IRSs) extend IDSs by providing automatic protection mechanisms. The core of an IRS is its planning algorithm, in charge of selecting the best response action to counter the detected attacks. However, the planning algorithm has to be carefully designed and implemented in order to exhibit a low overhead and not to compromise the scalability of the protected system. In this paper we present the performance evaluation of an IRS based on Markov Decision Process (MDP), which leverages many-core co-processors. Such an IRS produces optimal long-term response policies evaluated according to a multi-criteria objective function. We show that, despite the complexity of the MDP modeling, the proposed IRS is able to protect large systems while introducing little to no overhead on the protected hosts.
Comparison of ACL Strain in the MCL-Deficient and MCL-Reconstructed Knee During Simulated Landing in a Cadaveric Model.

Background:Noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury after valgus landing has been reported and studied biomechanically. However, the role of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in dissipating these forces has not been fully elucidated.Purpose/Hypothesis:The purpose of this study was to investigate the role that the MCL plays in ACL strain during simulated landing. The hypothesis was that ACL strain would increase significantly in MCL-incompetent knees compared with the native knee and that reconstructing the MCL would return the values to those of the intact knee.Study Design:Controlled laboratory study.Methods:Eight fresh-frozen human cadaveric knees were used in this study. A materials testing machine applied a force of 2× body weight over 60 milliseconds to simulate landing after a jump. The knees were tested in 12 loading conditions, consisting of full extension or 15° of flexion combined with 7° of valgus or neutral alignment while the tibia was in external rotation, neutral rotation, or i...
Static Detection of DoS Vulnerabilities in Programs that Use Regular Expressions

In an algorithmic complexity attack, a malicious party takes advantage of the worst-case behavior of an algorithm to cause denial-of-service. A prominent algorithmic complexity attack is regular expression denial-of-serviceReDoS, in which the attacker exploits a vulnerable regular expression by providing a carefully-crafted input string that triggers worst-case behavior of the matching algorithm. This paper proposes a technique for automatically finding ReDoS vulnerabilities in programs. Specifically, our approach automatically identifies vulnerable regular expressions in the program and determines whether an "evil" input string can be matched against a vulnerable regular expression. We have implemented our proposed approach in a tool called Rexploiter and found 41 exploitable security vulnerabilities in Java web applications.
Endoscopic resection of sinonasal mucosal melanoma has comparable outcomes to open approaches.

BackgroundEndoscopic endonasal resection (EER) of sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SMM) is a newer surgical alternative to traditional external and/or open resection (OR). Studies on long-term outcomes ...
Hot soils and cooler stones: Geoecological influence of volcanic tephra and boulders on soil temperature, and significance for plant distribution in Haleakalā Crater (Maui, Hawai'i)

Abstract This project: (i) investigates the geoecological influence of boulders, and their dimensions (thickness, length), on maximum daily soil temperatures beneath them at two sites (2175 and 2685 m) in Haleakalā Crater, Maui, (ii) contrasts temperatures in bare volcanic-ash soils with adjacent substrates covered by reddish tephra at 7 study sites (~ 2170–2735 m); these encompass most of the altitudinal range of kūpaoa and silversword, two common plants in this mountain area, and (iii) analyzes effects of tephra depth on soil maxima. Midday soil temperatures were measured with thermocouple thermometers (− 5 cm); recording thermographs also monitored temperatures continuously in various contrasting substrates for ≤ 8 day periods. Both boulders and tephra substantially decreased soil maxima. Bare-soil highs (n: 100) reached 47.6 °C (mean: 37.2 ± 4.4 °C). Maxima below boulders (n: 40, 4–109 cm thick, 6–265 cm long) peaked at 20.5 °C (mean: 16.0 ± 2.54 °C), whereas 80 readings under tephra (9–95 mm depth) reached 32.0 °C (mean: 25.2 ± 5.2 °C). Larger boulders were most effective in lowering temperatures; Spearman and Kendall correlation tests indicate block thickness was slightly more important ( p p p values caused greater albedo; higher tephra reflectivity helped reduce absorption of solar radiation, and consequently soils remained cooler below stones. Such temperature reduction is ecologically significant for plant survival on stone-covered areas, as soil maxima ≥ 35 °C may be deleterious to seed and/or seedling survival.
Investigating the Role of Phosphorylation in the Binding of Silaffin Peptide R5 to Silica with Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Biomimetic silica formation, a process that is largely driven by proteins, has garnered considerable interest in recent years due to its role in the development of new biotechnologies. However, much remains unknown of the molecular-scale mechanisms underlying the binding of proteins to biomineral surfaces such as silica, or even of the key residue-level interactions between such proteins and surfaces. In this study, we employ molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the binding of R5—a 19-residue segment of a native silaffin peptide used for in vitro silica formation—to a silica surface. The metadynamics enhanced sampling method is used to converge the binding behavior of R5 on silica at both neutral (pH 7.5) and acidic (pH 5) conditions. The results show fundamental differences in the mechanism of binding between the two cases, providing unique insight into the pH-dependent ability of R5 and native silaffin to precipitate silica. We also study the effect of phosphorylation of serine residues in R5 on...
Association of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program With Surgical Readmissions

Importance Readmissions after surgery lead to poor patient outcomes and increased costs. The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) penalizes hospitals with excess readmissions after specified medical and surgical discharges. Objective To evaluate the association of the HRRP with readmissions after major joint surgery (targeted) and procedures with historically high rates not under its purview (nontargeted). Design, Setting, and Participants In this population-based analysis using a 20% Medicare sample, a retrospective cohort study was performed of patients undergoing one of 5 major surgical procedures between January 1, 2006, and November 30, 2014. The study included 507 663 patients with targeted (total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty) and 164 472 patients with nontargeted (abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, colectomy, and lung resection) procedures performed at 2773 hospitals. Exposure Implementation of the HRRP policy. Main Outcomes and Measures Hospital-level 30-day risk-adjusted rates of readmission and observation stays were calculated using multivariable logistic regression models. Changes in these rates were analyzed for 3 distinct periods (prepolicy [January 1, 2006, to June 30, 2010], performance [July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2013], and penalty [July 1, 2013, to November 30, 2014]) corresponding to the HRRP implementation timeline for major joint surgery using interrupted time series. Results Among 672 135 Medicare beneficiaries 66 years or older treated at 2773 hospitals, readmissions for all procedures decreased significantly over the study period. Readmission rates after targeted procedures decreased faster during the performance period (slope, −0.060; 95% CI, −0.079 to −0.041) compared with the prepolicy period (slope, −0.012; 95% CI, −0.027 to 0.034) (P Conclusions and Relevance The HRRP effectively decreased readmissions for targeted procedures. There were no associated spillover effects for common nontargeted procedures. A better understanding of differences in the association of the policy with medical and surgical discharges will be necessary to further enhance its generalizability.
Engineering Cartilage and Other Structural Tissues: Principles of Bone and Cartilage Reconstruction

Abstract This article reviews advances in the engineering of structural tissues, such as bone, cartilage, ligaments and tendons, with an emphasis on more recent developments. Tissue-engineering principles related to cell and developmental biology, materials science and medicine are presented. Early efforts to transplant cells in combination with biocompatible materials are presented along with advances in stem cell technologies, manipulation of the local environments. Potential applications are discussed with a focus on uses in orthopaedics, plastic and reconstructive, and maxillofacial surgery. Hurdles that have arisen are discussed. Finally, future challenges are outlined from the perspective of integrating technologies from cell and stem cell biology, inflammation, medicine, engineering and materials sciences in hopes of pursuing clinical applications.
Computational Biology and Bioinformatics: Applications in Operations Research

The innate optimal qualities exhibited by nature have fostered a host of applications for operations research in the biological sciences. The ongoing advance of the use of mathematical modeling and computing within the biological ethos has made dovetailing scientific pursuit with operations research a natural combination. Herein we present several biological problems in which either operations research has played a role or in which operations research is well poised to make an impact. The biological questions are selected to demonstrate the diverse scale over which biology drapes. Each problem begins with a terse biological introduction to establish the scientific setting, and the citations are selected to promote continued study. Keywords: computational biology; bioinformatics; systems biology; mathematical biology
Targeted metabolomics reveals proline as a major osmolyte in the chemolithoautotroph Sulfurimonas denitrificans.

Chemoautotrophic bacteria belonging to the genus Sulfurimonas in the class Campylobacteria are widespread in many marine environments characterized by redox interfaces, yet little is known about their physiological adaptations to different environmental conditions. Here, we used liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in a targeted metabolomics approach to study the adaptations of Sulfurimonas denitrificans to varying salt concentrations that are found in its natural habitat of tidal mudflats. Proline was identified as one of the most abundant internal metabolites and its concentration showed a strong positive correlation with ionic strength, suggesting that it acts as an important osmolyte in S. denitrificans. 2,3-dihydroxypropane-1-sulfonate was also positively correlated with ionic strength, indicating it might play a previously unrecognized role in osmoregulation. Furthermore, the detection of metabolites from the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle at high internal concentrations reinforces the importance of this pathway for carbon fixation in Campylobacteria and as a hub for biosynthesis. As the first report of metabolomic data for an campylobacterial chemolithoautotroph, this study provides data that will be useful to understand the adaptations of Campylobacteria to their natural habitat at redox interfaces.
Elder Care Journey: A View From the Front Lines

Elder Care Journey: A View from the Front Lines by Laura Katz Olson, an imprint of the SUNY series in New Political Science, is a compelling and thought-provoking addition to the growing genre of p...
Two-dimensional combination of eight ultrashort pulsed beams using a diffractive optic pair.

We demonstrate, to the best of our knowledge, the first two-dimensional diffractive beam combination for ultrashort pulses—a highly scalable technique capable of using a diffractive optic pair to combine large arrays of ultrashort pulsed beams. A square array of eight 120 fs pulsed beams from eight fiber outputs is coherently combined into one beam using the diffractive combiner. The experimental results show that the combined pulse preserves the input pulse width and shape, and the combining efficiency is measured to be close to the limit of the manufactured diffractive optic. An analysis shows that the combining loss due to uncompensated temporal and spatial dispersions is negligible.
Virus und Nucleinsäure

Die Virusforschung, als ein Teil der experimentellen Biologie, hat in den letzten Jahren Auserordentliches zur Erweiterung unserer biologischen Kenntnisse und zum Verstandnis grundsatzlicher biologischer Phanomene beigetragen. Einer der wesentlichsten Marksteine in der Entwicklung dieses relativ jungen Wissenschaftszweiges war der experimentelle Beweis, das der Nucleinsaure-Anteil eines Virus den einzigen und eigentlichen Trager des genetischen Codes darstellt, durch welchen neues Virus in einer lebenden Zelle reproduziert werden kann.
Behavioral Effects of Sport Nutritional Supplements: Fact or Fiction?

The pages of fitness, health, sport, and sport enthusiast (biking, running, bodybuilding, etc.) magazines are filled with advertisements for various nutritional supplements, all claiming to significantly improve the athletic performance of the supplement user. These advertisements often include dramatic “before and after” pictures showing greatly changed (improved) physiques that supposedly occurred as a result of taking the advertised supplement. The advertisements may also include pictures of individuals with impressively muscled physiques or pictures of famous athletes who claim to have achieved great results with the advertised supplement. However, “before and after” pictures are often altered. In some cases the pictures may even be taken on the same day and then altered on the computer (widening of the chest and shoulders, narrowing of the waist, airbrushing; Bell, 2008). In advertisements, muscular models might take the advertised supplement, but they also may ingest illegal steroids, use other products, and engage in other physique-altering activities (Bell, 2008). Furthermore, athletes providing testimonials for products are likely to be taking other nutritional supplements as well as participating in other performance-enhancing activities (physical training, getting proper rest) that may account more for performance outcomes than does taking the advertised supplement.
Correlating Back Stresses and Friction Stresses with Dislocation Behavior in Fatigued Copper Single Crystals

An analysis of the hysteresis loops of copper single crystals oriented for single glide, subjected to push-pull constant amplitude fatigue in the “plateau region,” shows that the back stress rises more or less as the root of the cumulative plastic strain, saturating at the onset of persistent slip band formation. The friction stress is composed of three parts. The largest of these is equal to the magnitude of the back stress at the end of each cycle. Another, smaller, part saturates well before the back stress. This part can be readily explained in terms of jog-dragging of the screw dislocations which accommodate the fatigue strain in the channels between the loop patches. The third, rather minor part of the friction stress saturates after roughly a dozen cycles and appears to be due to point defect drag, presumably acting on all dislocations. This analysis implies that the friction stress acting on the dipolar edge dislocations in the loop patches is minor, permitting them to aggregate towards their minimum energy configuration, namely a kind of “Taylor lattice” of alternating positive and negative edge dislocations, thus explaining the loop patches which give the appearance of a second phase embedded in the dislocation-free channel material. It is suggested that the dislocation density in the loop patches rises roughly linearly with the cumulative strain for the reason that in each cycle a constant fraction (about one tenth) of the glide dislocations is trapped by random close encounters with the loops at the loop patch surfaces, and that on account of the low friction stress against prismatic glide equilibration of the dislocation density takes place continuously throughout the patches. Theoretical arguments strongly suggest that the loops in the loop patches “flip” with each half cycle. This behavior explains, quantitatively, the observed dependence of the back stress on the cumulative strain as well as the equality between the larger part of the friction stress and the back stress. The evolution of the shape of the hysteresis loops with number of cycles that may be derived from this theory is in excellent agreement with observation.
The biological significance of histone modifiers in multiple myeloma: clinical applications

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal plasma cell disorder that is characterized by a variety of genetic alterations. Recent studies have highlighted not only the importance of these genetic events but also epigenetic aberrations including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs in the biology of MM. Post-translational modifications of histone, such as methylation and acetylation, contribute to chromatin dynamics, and are modulated by histone modifying enzymes, and dysregulation of these enzymes is implicated in the pathogenesis of cancers, including MM. Histone modifiers also have non-histone substrates and enzymatically independent roles, which are also involved in tumorigenesis. Here we review and provide comprehensive insight into the biologic significance of histone methyl- and acetyl-modifiers in MM, and further provide an overview of the clinical applications of histone modifier inhibitors, especially histone deacetylase inhibitors. These findings underline the emerging roles of histone modifiers in the pathogenesis of MM, and further highlight the possibility of novel epigenetic therapies in MM.
A text messaging-based intervention to increase physical activity among persons living in permanent supportive housing: Feasibility and acceptability findings from a pilot study:

ObjectivePersons who have experienced homelessness and are living in permanent supportive housing experience high rates of health and mental health problems. Given that physical activity is associa...
Combining Virtual Reality Motor Rehabilitation With Cognitive Strategy Use in Chronic Stroke.

Importance: Rehabilitation interventions for chronic stroke are largely impairment based, with results confined to the level of impairment instead of function. In contrast, cognitive strategy training interventions have demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in functional outcomes. Integration of these approaches has yet to be explored. Objective: To evaluate acceptability, recruitment, and retention rate and determine which outcome measures best capture the effect of the intervention. Design: Single-group, pre–post design. Setting: Research laboratory. Participants: Adults with chronic stroke and hemiparesis (N = 10). Intervention: A 12-wk intervention integrating cognitive strategy training with upper extremity motor training. Two weekly sessions used Kinect-based virtual reality to encourage high numbers of upper extremity movement repetitions. The third weekly session focused on the use of cognitive strategies with practice of client-centered goals. Outcomes and Measures: Upper extremity motor performance was measured with the Fugl–Meyer Assessment. Occupational performance on trained and untrained goals was measured via the Performance Quality Rating Scale and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Outcome data were gathered preintervention, postintervention, and at 3-mo follow-up. Results: The intervention was perceived as acceptable. Recruitment rate was 15%, and retention rate was 100%. Large effects were found on outcomes of upper extremity motor performance, occupational performance, and participation at follow-up. Conclusion and Relevance: MetacogVR is feasible for adults with chronic stroke. The effect of MetacogVR is best captured through measures of upper extremity motor performance, occupational performance, and participation. What This Articles Adds: Traditional, impairment-based approaches to chronic stroke rehabilitation may require integration with cognitive-strategy training to affect performance on meaningful goals.
Numerical assessment of Bödewadt flow and heat transfer over a permeable disk with variable fluid properties

Abstract Impact of variable fluid properties on heat transfer in Bodewadt flow with wall suction is the main focus of present article. Recent studies have predicted that energy equation in Bodewadt flow can have physically compatible solution only when disk is porous. We utilize the usual von-Karman variables to transform the governing equations of fluid motion and heat transfer (with variable properties) into self-similar differential equations. The final problem comprises of a parameter θ e that measures the degree of dependence of fluid viscosity on temperature. A numerical approach is pursued to determine velocity components, wall stresses, temperature and heat transfer rate from the disk. Wall suction velocity is found to have a pivotal role on the solutions. The main outcome of the study is that fluid velocity and temperature around the disk are considerably altered by varying the parameter θ e . The deviations of present results from those obtained with constant fluid properties are deliberated. Present results are in perfect agreement with the available literature in a limiting sense.
Exploring the Trans-Cleavage Activity of CRISPR-Cas12a (cpf1) for the Development of a Universal Electrochemical Biosensor.

An accurate, rapid, and cost-effective biosensor for the quantification of disease biomarkers is vital for the development of early-diagnostic point-of-care systems. The recent discovery of the trans-cleavage property of CRISPR type V effectors makes CRISPR a potential high-accuracy bio-recognition tool. Herein, a CRISPR-Cas12a (cpf1) based electrochemical biosensor (E-CRISPR) is reported, which is more cost-effective and portable than optical-transduction-based biosensors. Through optimizing the in vitro trans-cleavage activity of Cas12a, E-CRIPSR was used to detect viral nucleic acids, including human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) and parvovirus B19 (PB-19), with a picomolar sensitivity. An aptamer-based E-CRISPR cascade was further designed for the detection of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) protein in clinical samples. As demonstrated, E-CRISPR could enable the development of portable, accurate, and cost-effective point-of-care diagnostic systems.
Neurologic Dysfunction Is Associated With Syndrome Severity at the Onset of ARDS

Background: Multi-Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS) is common in ARDS. 9Cross-talk9 injury between the brain and the lungs has been described, 1 but the mechanisms by which brain injury causes secondary lung injury appears better established compared to lung injury resulting in brain dysfunction. There is speculation that ARDS may cause secondary brain injury similar to what occurs during sepsis. 1 We inquired whether neurologic dysfunction, as measured by Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), is present at ARDS onset in those without apparent neurologic injury, and whether it is related to ARDS severity or lung injury etiology. Methods: This retrospective study examined 1, 176 ARDS cases wherein GCS was measured within 24 hours prior to intubation and ARDS onset. Cases associated with primary neurologic injury or drug overdose were excluded. Subjects were classified by Berlin definition and primary ARDS etiology. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scoring criteria was used to categorize neurologic dysfunction (GCS = 15, 14-13, 12-10, 9-6, Results: Less than 50% of subjects had a GCS of 15 within 24 h prior to ARDS recognition. The incidence of GCS Conclusions: GCS was lowest in those with aspiration suggesting that neurologic dysfunction likely caused many ARDS cases via loss of upper airway reflexes. Contrary to speculation, 1 sepsis-induced ARDS was not associated with increased incidence of neurologic dysfunction. Mrozek S, Constantin J-M, Geeraerts T. Brain-lung crosstalk: implications for neurocritical care. WWJCCM 2015;4(3):163-178.
The Ottoman Enlightenment: Geography and Politics in the Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Ottoman Empire:

This article investigates the close relationship between geographical knowledge and imperial politics in the Ottoman Empire during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Through an analysis of a...
Spectrum of Autoimmune Bullous Diseases in the Middle East: A 15-Year Review.

Characteristics of autoimmune bullous diseases (AIBDs) show wide geographic variation. The aim of this study was to determine retrospectively the characteristics of patients with AIBD admitted to Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, between 1999 and 2014 and to compare them with those from other areas in the Middle East, the Far East, Asia, North Africa, Europe, and North America. For the patients with AIBDs and who were hospitalized at a major tertiary referral center between 1999 and 2004, we studied demographics, diagnosis, length of stay, department/floor, comorbidities, clinical features, in-hospital evolution, diagnostic tests, and treatment. Bullous pemphigoides was the most frequent bullous disease in Lebanon. This and other findings contrast with those of studies conducted in regional countries. This is the first report of AIBD from the Middle Eastern region.
Fatal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage From Ruptured Intracerebral Aneurysm After Carotid Endarterectomy.

Concomitant carotid stenosis with cerebral aneurysm is a rare entity with an incidence reported to be about 1.9-3.2%. The effect of carotid revascularization on pre-existing cerebral aneurysm, along with risk factors for aneurysmal rupture, is not fully understood. We report a 61-year-old man who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for symptomatic carotid stenosis, and 6 days post-operatively the patient suffered a fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage from the rupture of a known basilar artery aneurysm. This rare but potentially fatal complication of a ruptured cerebral aneurysm after CEA warrants a discussion on the management of concomitant pathology. J Med Cases. 2020;11(1):12-15 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3403
Index Metacarpophalangeal Joint Arthrodesis

Index metacarpophalangeal joint arthrodesis may be a valuable method of reconstruction and salvage for a damaged or deformed joint. This is particularly true if the other interphalangeal joints are not involved. Of the four fingers, the index contributes the least to grip, as anyone who swings a hammer or tennis racquet can attest, and functions primarily as an opposer of the thumb in pulp, lateral, and chuck pinch. It can accomplish all these tasks with a minimum of metacarpophalangeal joint motion. The advantages of metacarpophalangeal joint arthrodesis over arthroplasty are stability, strength, and power. Fusion will actually improve pinch and grip for the unstable index finger, provided the proximal interphalangeal joint is normal. An additional advantage of arthrodesis of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the index finger is that it will protect arthroplasties of the remaining fingers from ulnarly directed forces during pinch and grasp. This shielding by the index metacarpophalangeal joint may prolong the life of the metacarpophalangeal joint arthroplasties of the remaining fingers.
Topoisomerase 2B Decrease Results in Diastolic Dysfunction via p53 and Akt: A Novel Pathway.

Diastolic dysfunction is condition of a stiff ventricle and a function of aging. It causes significant cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, and in fact, three million Americans are currently suffering from this condition. To date, all the pharmacological clinical trials have been negative. The lack of success in attenuating/ameliorating diastolic dysfunction stems from lack of duplication of myriads of clinical manifestation in pre-clinical settings. Here we report, a novel genetically engineered mice which may represents a preclinical model of human diastolic dysfunction to some extent. Topoisomerase 2 beta (Top2b) is an important enzyme in transcriptional activation of some inducible genes through transient double-stranded DNA breakage events around promoter regions. We created a conditional, tissue-specific, inducible Top2b knockout mice in the heart. Serendipitously, echocardiographic parameters and more invasive analysis of left ventricular function with pressure-volume loops show features of diastolic dysfunction. This was also confirmed histologically. At the cellular level, the Top2b knockdown showed morphological changes and molecular signaling akin to human diastolic dysfunction. Reverse phase protein analysis showed activation of p53 and inhibition of, Akt, as the possible mediators of diastolic dysfunction. Finally, activation of p53 and inhibition of Akt were confirmed in myocardial biopsy samples obtained from human diastolic dysfunctional hearts. Thus, we report for the first time, a Top2b downregulated preclinical mice model for diastolic dysfunction which demonstrates that Akt and p53 are the possible mediators of the pathology, hence representing novel and viable targets for future therapeutic interventions in diastolic dysfunction.
Perceived likelihood of becoming pregnant and contraceptive use: Findings from population-based surveys in Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Rajasthan, India.

Abstract Objective Advancing reproductive autonomy requires targeted strategies and interventions that address barriers to contraceptive use. The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether perceptions of low pregnancy likelihood are associated with lower likelihood of using contraception among presumably fecund, sexually active women. Study design We used population-based survey data of reproductive age women at risk of pregnancy collected in 2018 from Cote d'Ivoire (N = 1447), Nigeria (N = 4110), and Rajasthan, India (N = 1994). To assess one's perceived biological likelihood of pregnancy, we used 2 measures: likelihood following a single act of sex without contraception and likelihood following 1 year of regular sex without contraception. Response options included: definitely yes, maybe yes, maybe no, definitely no, and do not know. We conducted multivariable logistic regression to assess the relationship between each perception measure with odds of contraceptive use separately by country. Results Perceived chance of definitely or maybe becoming pregnant after one act of sex without contraception ranged from 54.0% to 55.0% in Nigeria and Rajasthan to 80.0% in Cote d'Ivoire, while it was higher for regular sex without contraception (76.0%–85.1%). Multivariable results indicate that perceptions of pregnancy likelihood were associated with contraceptive use among presumably fecund women, with a stronger relationship observed in relation to cumulative likelihood (odds ratio 0.1–0.6) than likelihood after one act (odds ratio 0.4–0.8) and a dose-response pattern by strength of perceived chance. Conclusions Results indicate that women's use of contraception in low-resource settings is associated with their perceived likelihood of becoming pregnant after unprotected sex. Implications Findings suggest that understanding women's perceived likelihood of pregnancy may aid in the development of interventions to help women achieve their reproductive goals.
FG-purity and FG-flat modules

Let R be a ring. We study the FG-pure exact sequences, which are defined analogously to pure exact sequences except with respect to finitely generated R-modules rather than the finitely presented R...
Abstract 312: Evaluating Novel Methods of Post Cardiac Arrest Outcome Assessment

Introduction: Recovery of cardiac arrest patients is dynamic over the first year. Loss to follow up is common and validated tools to assess long-term survival and function useful for observational ...