cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Absence of a Universal Mechanism of Mitochondrial Toxicity by Nucleoside Analogs

Nucleoside analogs are associated with various mitochondrial toxicities, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to accommodate these differences solely in the context of DNA polymerase gamma inhibition. Therefore, we examined the toxicities of zidovudine (AZT) (10 and 50 microM; 2.7 and 13.4 microg/ml), didanosine (ddI) (10 and 50 microM; 2.4 and 11.8 microg/ml), and zalcitabine (ddC) (1 and 5 microM; 0.21 and 1.1 microg/ml) in HepG2 and H9c2 cells without the presumption of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion. Ethidium bromide (EtBr) (0.5 microg/ml; 1.3 microM) was used as a positive control. AZT treatment resulted in metabolic disruption (increased lactate and superoxide) and increased cell mortality with decreased proliferation, while mtDNA remained unchanged or increased (HepG2 cells; 50 microM AZT). ddC caused pronounced mtDNA depletion in HepG2 cells but not in H9c2 cells and increased mortality in HepG2 cells, but no significant metabolic disruption in either cell type. ddI caused a moderate depletion of mtDNA in both cell types but showed no other effects. EtBr exposure resulted in metabolic disruption, increased cell mortality with decreased cell proliferation, and mtDNA depletion in both cell types. We conclude that nucleoside analogs display unique toxicities within and between culture models, and therefore, care should be taken when generalizing about the mechanisms of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor toxicity. Additionally, mtDNA abundance does not necessarily correlate with metabolic disruption, especially in cell culture; careful discernment is recommended in this regard.
Morphogenesis and synaptogenesis of the zebrafish mauthner neuron

The shape of the Mauthner neuron (M-neuron) and the distribution of its afferent synapses were studied between days 2 and 6 after fertilization in the zebrafish Brachydanio rerio. This interval is just after the outgrowth of M-dendrites begins, and during this time the M-cell acquires its definitive shape. The M-cell has two large invariant dendrites: The lateral dendrite terminates in the sensory neuropil of the acoustico-lateral area, and th ventral dendrite terminates in the neuropil of the motor tegmentum. Fine dendrites are present, and mostly arise from three regions; from the terminus of each major dendrite and from the ventral surface of the perikaryon. The number and position of fine dendrites within each of these sets is variable, even among animals from a single isogenic clone. M-cells with improper numbers or positions of large dendrites were never encountered, even early in development. This suggests that their outgrowth is a highly directed process. Large numbers of afferent synapses are formed on the M-cell during the time of dendrite outgrowth. By day 6 there is a mosaic pattern of morphologically distinctive terminals that is similar to the pattern of the adult goldfish M-cell. Identified categories of terminals include (1) myelinated club endings, on the distal part of the lateral dendrite, (2) boutons, on the dendrites and perikaryon, (3) unmyelinated club endings, on the dorsomedial portion of the perikaryon adjacent to the axon cap, and (4) spiral fiber terminals within the axon cap. The nonrandom nature of the input may be ascertained by observing the distribution of electrotonic or gap junctions on the cell surface. These are frequently encountered on the initial segment of the axon (spiral fiber terminals), ventral dendrite and ventral perikaryon (boutons), and distal lateral dendrite (myelinated club endings). Gap junctions are only rarely observed on the dorsal surface of the cell, although this region, like others of the cell, receives large numbers of chemical synaptic contacts. This pattern is similar at all stages studied, which suggests that no large rearrangements in synaptic contacts occur during this developmental period. We discuss these observations in relation to the hypothesis that patterned dendritic growth of the M-cell is directed by synaptic interactions with the afferents.
Cohort modeling for enhanced personalized search

Web search engines utilize behavioral signals to develop search experiences tailored to individual users. To be effective, such personalization relies on access to sufficient information about each user's interests and intentions. For new users or new queries, profile information may be sparse or non-existent. To handle these cases, and perhaps also improve personalization for those with profiles, search engines can employ signals from users who are similar along one or more dimensions, i.e., those in the same cohort. In this paper we describe a characterization and evaluation of the use of such cohort modeling to enhance search personalization. We experiment with three pre-defined cohorts-topic, location, and top-level domain preference-independently and in combination, and also evaluate methods to learn cohorts dynamically. We show via extensive experimentation with large-scale logs from a commercial search engine that leveraging cohort behavior can yield significant relevance gains when combined with a production search engine ranking algorithm that uses similar classes of personalization signal but at the individual searcher level. Additional experiments show that our gains can be extended when we dynamically learn cohorts and target easily-identifiable classes of ambiguous or unseen queries.
IV. Neuroanatomy of Williams Syndrome: A High-Resolution MRI Study

Williams syndrome (WMS), a genetic condition resulting from a contiguous deletion on the long arm of chromosome 7, is associated with a relatively consistent profile of neurocognitive and neurobehavioral features. The distinctiveness and regularity of the profile of learning and behavioral characteristics in this genetic condition suggests that underlying neurobiological correlates may be identifiable. In this initial study, we report findings derived from a high-resolution neuroimaging study of 14 young adult subjects with WMS and an individually matched normal control group. Compared to controls, subjects with WMS were noted to have decreased overall brain and cerebral volumes, relative preservation of cerebellar and superior temporal gyrus (STG) volumes, and disproportionate volume reduction of the brainstem. Analyses also suggested that the pattern of cerebral lobe proportions in WMS may be altered compared to normal controls with a greater ratio of frontal to posterior (parietal+occipital) tissue. Assessment of tissue composition indicated that, relative to controls, individuals with WMS have relative preservation of cerebral gray matter volume and disproportionate reduction in cerebral white matter volume. However, within the cerebral gray matter tissue compartment, the right occipital lobe was noted to have excess volume loss. Combined with our growing knowledge of the function of genes in the commonly deleted region for WMS, more detailed information regarding the structure and function of the WMS brain will provide a unique opportunity for elucidating meaningful correlations amongst genetic, neurobiological, and neurobehavioral factors in humans.
Diseases of the Retina

The retina, the transparent neural tissue lining the interior of the eye, is the initial receptor for visual stimuli. Exciting progress has been made in many areas of retinal investigation, from genetic breakthroughs in retinoblastoma and retinitis pigmentosa to sophistication in the medical and surgical therapy of retinal diseases. This article reviews recent clinical developments in diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, retinal manifestations of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and age-related macular degeneration. Classically, the retina is separated into 10 layers on light microscopy (Figure 1)1. The photoreceptors, consisting of rod and cone cells, are located near the outer surface . . .
Purpose and Criteria for Blood Smear Scan, Blood Smear Examination, and Blood Smear Review

A microscopic examination of an appropriately prepared and well-stained blood smear by a knowledgeable laboratory professional is necessary and clinically useful in a number of circumstances and for a variety of reasons. In this article, an attempt is made to delineate the purpose and criteria for blood smear examination in a variety of circumstances that are encountered in everyday laboratory hematology practice. A blood smear scan serves to at least (a) verify the flagged automated hematology results and (b) determine if a manual differential leukocyte count needs to be performed. Blood smear examination/manual differential leukocyte count with complete blood count (CBC) provides the complete hematologic picture of the case, at least from the morphologic standpoint. Blood smear review with or without interpretation serves to ensure that no clinically significant finding is missed, besides providing diagnosis or diagnostic clue(s), particularly if and when interpreted by a physician.
Activation, deactivation, and adaptation in vertebrate photoreceptor cells.

▪ Abstract Visual transduction captures widespread interest because its G-protein signaling motif recurs throughout nature yet is uniquely accessible for study in the photoreceptor cells. The light-activated currents generated at the photoreceptor outer segment provide an easily observed real-time measure of the output of the signaling cascade, and the ease of obtaining pure samples of outer segments in reasonable quantity facilitates biochemical experiments. A quiet revolution in the study of the mechanism has occurred during the past decade with the advent of gene-targeting techniques. These have made it possible to observe how transduction is perturbed by the deletion, overexpression, or mutation of specific components of the transduction apparatus.
Adaptive Robust Output Regulation of Uncertain Linear Periodic Systems

This paper considers the robust output regulation problem for parameterized families of periodic systems. To extend the solution of the output regulation problem to the periodic (or time-varying) setup, a classification of the immersion mappings based on various non-equivalent observability properties is derived. The connections between different canonical realizations of internal models that fully exploit such properties for robust and adaptive output regulation design in periodic systems are investigated. It is shown how non-minimal realizations of suitable periodic internal models are instrumental in achieving the possibility of performing adaptive redesign to deal with parameterized families of exosystem models. An important feature of the proposed solution is the fact that a persistence of excitation condition for the exogenous signals is not required for asymptotic regulation.
Genetic analysis workshop II: Segregation and three‐locus linkage analysis

Data stimulated for Genetic Analysis Workshop II were analyzed using PAP. Segregation analysis showed a simple recessive mode of inheritance for data set 2 while no conclusions could be made about the mode of inheritance for data set 3. Pairwise linkage analysis suggested three linkage groups, but three-locus analysis did not provide strong evidence for the gene order within these groups. For three of the four three-locus comparisons performed, three-locus analysis suggested the simulated order. In only one case did the pairwise analysis suggest the simulated order, indicating the necessity for multi-locus analysis for gene order.
On the Role of Symmetry in Visual Search

It is known that the efficiency of visual search for a target item among distractor items increases when distractors are similar to each other and decreases when target and distractors are similar. Here we show that symmetry relations between targets and distractors can alter search efficiency. When distractors form a background texture symmetrical about a vertical axis, search is easier than when they do not. In contrast, when some distractors are symmetrical with the target, search is more difficult than when they are not. These results suggest (1) that symmetry relations are processed in parallel and can help to distinguish a target from a distracting background and (2) that stimulus similarity can have several components even for a single feature (here, orientation).
Immunologic diagnosis of schistosomiasis. I. A controlled study of intradermal (immediate and delayed) and serologic tests in St. Lucians infected with Schistosoma mansoni and in uninfected St. Vincentians.

In order to test the efficacy of antibody-mediated immunologic methods for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis (immediate intradermal and serologic tests) and to compare them with a cell-mediated immunologic reaction (the delayed intradermal test), 350 subjects were examined. Approximately half of them were from the West Indian island of St. Lucia, all with proven schistosomiasis mansoni on fecal examination, and the other half were comparable subjects from St. Vincent, an island 30 miles distant where schistosomiasis has never been found. Five different antigens utilized in the intradermal tests (prepared from Schistosoma mansoni cercariae, adult worms and eggs, and from S. haematobium and S. japonicum eggs) were injected blindly in a randomized manner. The antigens were almost equally and highly sensitive in the immediate skin reaction in the adult St. Lucians (89-95%, with the exception of S. haematobium, 74%), but were far less sensitive in the children. There was a large number of false positive immediate responses among the Vincentians, e.g., 44 of 171 subjects tested with the S. mansoni cercarial antigen. Delayed skin reactions, which among the St. Lucians reached a peak of 66% positivity with S. mansoni adult worm antigen, were less sensitive than the immediate reactions, but appeared to be more specific. Among the St. Lucians there were relatively few false positive delayed reactions with the heterologous antigens (S. haematobium and S. japonicum eggs), while the Vincentians had very few false positive reactions with the homologous and none with the heterologous antigens. Of the three serologic tests (complement fixation, cholesterol-lecithin flocculation, and fluorescent antibody), the first two were insensitive and non-specific; the third was the only one that provided results which were at all acceptable.
Let’s be healthy together: Relational motivation for physical health is more effective for women

Four studies examined the role of relationally-autonomous reasons in health behavior (RARHs) and how gender moderates their association with health outcomes. Study 1 (n = 160) involved the development of a measure of RARHs. The results of a factor analysis distinguished RARHs from other types of health reasons. In Study 2, participants (n = 284) completed a survey assessing their relational reasons prior to taking assessments of their body composition and fitness level. In Study 3, participants (n = 577) completed an online survey assessing RARHs, self-construal and health behaviors. The results of Studies 2 and 3 showed that RARHs positively predicted healthy outcomes for females only. In Study 4, participants (n = 72) were asked to complete an online survey, attend an orientation session, keep track of their exercise and nutrition over the course of a week, and attend a follow-up session. The results revealed that having an exercise partner was positively associated with RARHs, and that this in turn predicted reported effort and progress outcomes at the follow-up session for females only. Implications for theories of motivation and gender differences are discussed.
Effect of neuraminidase on the accumulation of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid in HeLa cells.

SummaryAn amino acid transport system in HeLa cells utilizing 14C-l-alpha-aminoisobutyric acid is described. Neuraminidase treatment of HeLa cells decreases the net accumulation of amino acid without alteration of the rate of efflux of preloaded cells. These studies suggest that the sialic acid residue of the external cell surface may have a significant role in amino-acid transport in human cells.
Formation of creatine from guanidinoacetate in pancreas.

SummaryAn enzyme preparation from mammalian pancreas catalyzes the synthesis of creatine from guanidinoacetate and S-adenosylmethionine. Inasmuch as pancreas, in contrast to liver, can also synthesize the creatine precursor, guanidinoacetate, from arginine plus glycine, it would appear that pancreas may play a unique role in biosynthesis of body creatine.
Realism, Norm, Story, and Character: Issues in the Civil Religion Discussion

One of the salutary effects of the American bicentennial observ ance was the further stimulation of the American civil religion discussion. Without summarizing the avenues pursued by the debate since Robert N. Bellah's original essay, or even reviewing the developments wrought by the latest participants, this article proposes to single out and address four issues as they have surfaced in two of the most notable volumes on American civil religion: Bellah's The Broken Covenant and Michael Novak's Choosing Our King.1
The Boolean Logic Tax

Moore's law relies on device size reduction for progress, but an energy tax due to Boolean logic properties could block this progress. There are alternatives.
Cross sections for track structure codes: volume versus surface transport

Cross-section calculations and transport models for Monte Carlo track structure codes are discussed as well as the simulation of secondary electron emission yields from thin metal foils. Inelastic cross sections for volume (bulk) and surface transport of electrons in copper are presented and implemented into PARTRAC. Simulations for the volume and surface excitation model are presented and analysed.
The Curative Effect and Safeness of Topiramate in the Monotherapy or Concomitant Treatment on Epilepsy in Children

Objective:To study the curative effect and safeness of topiramate in the monotherapy or concomitant treatment on epilepsy in children.Methods:One hundred patients with epilepsy were enrolled in the study.They were divided into the monotherapy group(48 cases)and the concomitant treatment group(52 cases).In the concomitant group the kinds and dosages of antiepileptics formerly used by the patients remained unchanged in the present study.Topiramate was then used as an additive remedy,beginning with a dose of 0.50～1.00 mg/(kg·d)per os.The dose was increased by 0.50～1.00 mg/(kg·d)every week,aiming at a final dose of 4.00～8.00 mg/(kg·d).When,however,obvious curative effects appeared,the gradual increase in the dosage of the drug was stopped and the dosage on that very day was taken as the maintenance dose thereafter.In the monotherapy group,the topiramate was the monotherapy,beginning with a dose of 1.5 mg/(kg·d)per os.The dose was increased by 0.50～1.00 mg/(kg·d)every week,aiming at a final dose of 8.00 mg/(kg·d).Results:The efficiency of monotherapy group was 87.50%,compared with that of the concomitant therapy group,71.15%,showing good curative effects and less,unimportant side-effects.Conclusions:Topiramate in monotherapy and concomitant therapy for seizure is effective and relatively safe with less side-effects.
Survey and Appraisal or the Nutrition and Relevant Diseases among the Rural Residents in Jiangyin City

[Objective] To appraise the major factors that influence the diet nutrition and relevant diseases among the rural residents of Jiangyin City and provide evidence for the establishment of preventive countermeasures and the guidance of the nutrition improvement. [Methods] Stratified cluster random sampling method was used to carry out spot check on 608 households (1640 residents) in 6 villages of Jiangyin City; peer survey,diet survey,medical examination and laboratory detection were carried out,and the result was appraised. [Results] The rate of overweight and obesity were 24.8% and 5.8% respectively; the total morbidity of anemia,hypertension,diabetes and abnormal blood lipid among the rural residents were 34.0%,26.8%,3.4% and 26.5% respectively. [Conclusion] The survey showed that irrational diet nutrition,anemia,overweight,abnormal blood lipid,hypertension,excessive drinking and excessive salt intake are the major factors that influence the health of the rural residents; pertinent interference and comprehensive preventive measures should be taken to improve the health of the rural residents.
Abstract # 1863 What your monocytes’ inflammatory responses to adrenergic stimulation can tell you about your risk for cardiovascular disease beyond blood pressure

Pathophysiology of hypertension includes hyperactive sympathoadrenal system and elevated inflammation, but the link between the two and its clinical risk remain unclear. Subclinically elevated blood pressure (BP), pre-hypertension (PHT), is related to future cardiovascular disease (CVD) and greater mortality. In 177 adults with PHT (125 n = 66) versus normal BP (NBP, n = 105), we investigated the association between monocytes’ sensitivity to isoproterenol control of LPS-induced TNF production using flow cytometry and CV risk calculated using Framingham risk score (FRS) for CVD. FRSs, either factoring in BMI or lipid levels, were greater in PHT than NBP group ( p ′ s r = −.22 to −.25, p ′ s r = −.10 to −.20). Our results indicate that even mildly elevated BP is related to impaired inflammation regulation mediated by sympathoadrenal over-activation. Meanwhile, the characteristics of the associations of BP vs. inflammation regulation to CVD risk appear different.
Genomic Approaches to Identifying Breast Cancer Susceptibility Factors

The majority of the genetic variants underlying susceptibility to breast cancer are yet to be discovered. Genome-wide linkage analyses, utilizing anonymous genetic markers, have been successful at identifying two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, which account for a sizeable fraction of the clearly inherited forms of breast cancer occurring in autosomal dominant Mendellian patterns. Mutations in these genes, however, account for less than (1/4) of the total genetic component of breast cancer susceptibility and the remaining component is likely to be polygenic in nature - the interaction of mutations in multiple genes, each with a weak effect, in combination with environmental influences. The identification of these polygenes will likely require the study of large numbers of unrelated subjects with and without breast cancer in case-control association studies. Until the time when complete genome sequence information is feasible for all study subjects, interim strategies involving a subset of all common genetic variation (primarily single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) are being planned. Assuming the common disease-common variant theory of complex disease susceptibility, studying a very dense set of genetic markers is likely to identify breast cancer susceptibility genes by virtue of including either the biologically relevant variant, or one closely correlated with it due to linkage disequilibrium.
Application of canonical correlation analysis to a sensitivity study of constitutive model parameter fitting

Abstract Successful modeling of a material's deformation behavior is dependent on the development of realistic constitutive models that can mimic the actual response of the material of interest. In-depth knowledge about the parameters in a constitutive model will lead to a better understanding of the relationship between flow stress and deformation conditions and will eventually aid in better design of the deformation process. Curve-fitting is generally employed to calibrate constitutive models using experimental data. However, the relative impact of constitutive model parameters on the mechanical response for different models has not been extensively explored. In this study, both local and global sensitivity analysis methods are used to understand and quantify the contribution of the parameters. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) has been used to understand the effect of constitutive model parameters on the flow stress behavior of titanium alloys. This analysis has been performed for the Mechanical Threshold Stress (MTS) model, which is a constitutive description based on the physics of dislocation motion. The limitations of local sensitivity methods have been highlighted and it has been shown that CCA provides a measure of both an individual variable's contribution and the effectiveness of the parameter set as a whole.
Brain Extracellular Space: The Final Frontier of Neuroscience

Abstract Brain extracellular space is the narrow microenvironment that surrounds every cell of the central nervous system. It contains a solution that closely resembles cerebrospinal fluid with the addition of extracellular matrix molecules. The space provides a reservoir for ions essential to the electrical activity of neurons and forms an intercellular chemical communication channel. Attempts to reveal the size and structure of the extracellular space using electron microscopy have had limited success; however, a biophysical approach based on diffusion of selected probe molecules has proved useful. A point-source paradigm, realized in the real-time iontophoresis method using tetramethylammonium, as well as earlier radiotracer methods, have shown that the extracellular space occupies ∼20% of brain tissue and small molecules have an effective diffusion coefficient that is two-fifths that in a free solution. Monte Carlo modeling indicates that geometrical constraints, including dead-space microdomains, contribute to the hindrance to diffusion. Imaging the spread of macromolecules shows them increasingly hindered as a function of size and suggests that the gaps between cells are predominantly ∼40 nm with wider local expansions that may represent dead-spaces. Diffusion measurements also characterize interactions of ions and proteins with the chondroitin and heparan sulfate components of the extracellular matrix; however, the many roles of the matrix are only starting to become apparent. The existence and magnitude of bulk flow and the so-called glymphatic system are topics of current interest and controversy. The extracellular space is an exciting area for research that will be propelled by emerging technologies.
Third-Ray and Capitate Resection with Limited Midcarpal Fusion for Recurrent Giant Cell Tumor: A Case Report.

Case We describe a 23-year-old man who had multiple recurrences of a giant cell tumor (GCT) of the third metacarpal. Initial treatments consisted of curettage without the use of an adjuvant and bone-grafting. At the time of the latest recurrence, the lesion had extended into the capitate and the trapezoid. Treatment included third-ray resection and limited midcarpal fusion. No local recurrence was identified at more than 1 year after surgery. Conclusion GCTs of the hand should be aggressively treated, but care should be taken to preserve function whenever possible.
RADIATION FROM FINE, INTENSE, SELF-FOCUSSED BEAMS AT HIGH ENERGY

A theoretical analysis is presented of the radiation emitted when an intense, relativistic, low emittance electron beam propagates through a channel of preionized gas. The beam will self-focus to a small radius and radiate, in the self-induced magnetic field, and it will emit an intense burst of gamma rays. If the beam is subject to a conventional wiggler field, the result will be a “wiggled channel,” and a subsequent pulse of high energy electrons will radiate, more effectively than in the absence of ions, a substantial fraction (≈ 0.1%) of its power coherently as an X-ray laser beam.
Fine Structure in High-L Rydberg States: A Path to Properties of Positive Ions

Rydberg states of atoms, molecules, and ions with large values of orbital angular momentum ( L ≥ 4 ) represent a unique class of excited states with properties quite different from lower- L Rydberg states. Because special techniques, both experimental and theoretical, are required to study them effectively, they are still relatively unexplored. As experimental knowledge and theoretical understanding of these states improves, they represent an important source of information about the positive ions that form their cores. This note will describe the special experimental and theoretical techniques that have been developed to study these states, review the progress made to date, and discuss some of the remaining challenges.
Multi-Threading and Lock-Free MPI RMA Based Graph Processing on KNL and POWER Architectures

Intel Knights Landing (KNL) and IBM POWER architectures are becoming widely deployed on modern supercomputing systems due to its powerful components. MPI Remote Memory Access (RMA) model that provides one-sided communication semantics has been seen as an attractive approach for developing High-Performance Data Analytics (HPDA) applications such as graph processing with irregular communication characteristics. To take advantage of a large number of hardware threads offered by KNL and POWER, HPDA applications and MPI RMA runtime need to be re-designed to get optimal performance. In this paper, we propose multi-threading and lock-free designs in the MPI runtime as well as Graph500 application on KNL and POWER architectures. At the micro-bench level, our proposed runtime-level designs are able to reduce the latency of uni-directional MPI_Put and MPI_Get by up to 3X compared to IntelMPI and Spectrum MPI. At the application level, with 1,024 processes on 32 KNL nodes, our proposed design could outperform IntelMPI library by 32%. With 512 processes on eight POWER nodes, our proposed design could outperform Spectrum MPI library by 19%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to design and evaluate MPI RMA-based graph processing applications on KNL and POWER architectures.
Rapidly Progressive POEMS Syndrome with Absent M protein in Serum or Urine, Normal Bone Survey, and Normal Non-targeted Bone Marrow Biopsy (P2.448)

Objective: Presentation of a patient with rapidly progressive disabling polyneuropathy due to POEMS syndrome who did not show typical non-neurologic features of POEMS. Background: POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes syndrome) is a paraneoplastic mixed axonal and demyelinating polyneuropathy due to an underlying plasma cell neoplasm. Diagnosis of POEMS syndrome is often delayed as this syndrome is rare and can be mistaken for other neuromuscular diseases. Design/Methods: Case presentation Results: A 48 year-old man presented with a several month history of progressive sensorimotor polyneuropathy associated with demyelinating features on electrodiagnostic (EDX) studies. His CSF profile showed albuminoprotein dissociation and MRI of the lumbar spine revealed cauda equina enhancement. Treatment with steroids, plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin did not help with the presumed diagnosis of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and he became quadriparetic. Serum and urine immunofixation were negative for M protein. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level was significantly high (454 pg/mL). A skeletal bone survey was unrevealing and bone marrow biopsy identified 1% non-clonal plasma cells. Whole-body FDG PET/CT one month after the bone marrow biopsy showed several sclerotic and lytic lesions. A CT-guided bone biopsy revealed a lambda restricted plasmacytoma confirming the diagnosis of POEMS. Over a 5 month period, treatment with lenalidomide, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone led to significant improvement of his neuromuscular deficits. Conclusions: POEMS syndrome should be considered in every patient with “refractory CIDP” and measurement of VEGF and whole body PET/CT can be very useful tools in reaching the correct diagnosis. Disclosure: Dr. Soltanzadeh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Valent has nothing to disclose.
The U.S. financial crisis: Origins, consequences, and remedies

Policymakers and pundits have not shied away from using economic jargon while covering the United States' recent financial crisis. Language typically reserved for banking, finance, and economic policy experts has become commonplace. While the economic crisis has been widely covered, there is still much to be learned from this historical economic event. This chapter provides an overview of the recent financial crisis, focusing on explaining rather than simply presenting often intimidating crisis related economic jargon. The financial crisis has had destructive effects on the real economy. Specifically, expenditures on consumption and investment declined, total economic output fell, and unemployment rates reached double digits as the nation's economy fell victim to a prolonged recession. This study examines the origins and consequences of the 2007-2009 financial crisis as well as the subsequent policy responses undertaken in an effort to restore economic and financial stability. The study critically evaluates whether these policy measures were effective in gaining back consumer and investor confidence, ultimately preventing what has come to be known as the Great Recession from turning into another Great Depression.
Evaluating operational efficiency of split merge, diverge, and weaving solutions for reducing freeway bottleneck congestion

The speeds of traffic and freeway throughputs at the merge, diverge, and weaving areas are reduced significantly due to vehicle lane changes and increased traffic volumes. This study proposes a sol...
Gout and Progression of Aortic Stenosis.

Abstract Background Patients with aortic stenosis are nearly twice as likely to have a diagnosis of gout compared with individuals without aortic valve disease. Methods This retrospective study evaluated consecutive adults age ≥65 years with aortic stenosis between December 2012 and November 2016 who underwent at least 2 transthoracic echocardiograms (TTEs) separated by at least 1 year. Severe aortic stenosis was defined as any combination of an aortic valve peak velocity ≥4.0 m/sec, mean gradient ≥40 mm Hg, aortic valve area ≤1 cm2, or decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction as a result of aortic stenosis. Results Of the 699 study patients, gout was present in 73 patients (10%) and not found in 626 patients (90%). Median follow-up was 903 days [552-1302] for patients with gout and 915 days [601-1303] for patients without gout (P = 0.60). The presence of severe aortic stenosis on follow-up transthoracic echocardiogram was more frequent in patients with gout compared to those without gout (74% vs 54%, P = 0.001; hazard ratio [HR] 1.45 [1.09-1.93]), even among the 502 patients without severe aortic stenosis at baseline (63% vs 39%, P = 0.003; hazard ratio 1.43 [1.07-1.91]). Gout remained associated with the development of severe aortic stenosis after multivariable adjustment (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.46 [1.03-2.08], P = 0.03). The annualized reduction in aortic valve area was numerically greater in the group with gout compared with the group without gout (−0.10 cm2/y [−0.18, −0.03] vs −0.08 cm2/y [−0.16, −0.01], P = 0.09); annualized change in peak velocity and mean gradient did not differ between groups. Conclusions Progression to severe aortic stenosis was more frequent in patients with gout compared with those without gout, supporting the hypothesis that gout is a risk factor for aortic stenosis.
2.3 kV 4H-SiC Accumulation-channel JBSFETs: Experimental Comparison of Linear, Hexagonal and Octagonal Cell Topologies

The body diode of a SiC power MOSFET is not suitable for current conduction in the third quadrant due high on-state voltage drop, large reverse recovery losses [1] , and possibility of bipolar degradation [2] . Integrating a Junction Barrier Schottky (JBS) diode with the MOSFET (called JBSFET) solves these issues [3] , [4] for 1.2 kV devices. This paper reports experimental data on 2.3 kV JBSFETs with different cell topologies (Linear, Hexagonal and Octagonal) for the first time at this larger voltage capability .
Apolipoprotein B-100 Binds Von Willebrand Factor and Accelerates Its Proteolysis By ADAMTS13 Under Fluidic Shear

Abstract Background : ADAMTS13 cleaves von Willebrand factor (VWF) on the surface of endothelial cells, at the site of thrombus formation, and in circulating blood under shear stress. Previous studies demonstrate that binding of VWF by coagulation factor VIII, platelet glycoprotein 1b, and ristocetin accelerates the proteolysis of VWF by ADAMTS13 under fluidic shear stress. However, it remains to be determined if other cellular and protein factors in circulation might interact with VWF and/or ADAMTS13 to regulate VWF proteolysis. Methods : To address this question, we developed a DNA aptamer-based VWF purification method to purify VWF from human plasma to homogeneity. We then determined its potential binding partners, and their role in regulation of VWF proteolysis by ADAMTS13 using a vortex-induced flow assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or agarose gel electrophoresis determined the binding interactions between the novel binding partners and VWF (or ADAMTS13). Results : Purified plasma VWF exhibited a size of 250-kDa in a SDS-polyacrylamide gel under denatured and reduced conditions. Several other bands were visible on the gel and were sent for protein identification by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). One of such binding partners was apolipoprotein B-100 (ApoB-100), a primary apolipoprotein of chylomicrons, VLDL, IDL, and LDL particles, which are collectively called the “bad” cholesterol. When incubated with recombinant VWF in the presence of recombinant ADAMTS13, a purified LDL/ApoB-100 accelerated the proteolytic cleavage of multimeric VWF by ADAMTS13 under arterial shear stress (~20 dyne/cm2) in a concentration-dependent manner (see figure). Such a rate enhancing effect was abolished by the addition of EDTA (10 mM), but not by other serine protease inhibitors. VWF bound to LDL/ApoB-100 immobilized on a microtiter plate and in solution. SDS- and urea-stable VWF/ApoB complexes (500-600 kDa) were detected in normal human plasma by Western blotting analysis after electrophoresis on a SDS-PAGE gel and an agarose gel. Conclusions : Our results demonstrate a novel physiological function of ApoB-100 (or LDL) in accelerating VWF proteolysis by ADAMTS13 under fluidic shear stress. These findings may shed new light on how abnormalities in lipid metabolism may affect normal hemostasis and thrombosis under various pathological conditions. Download : Download high-res image (87KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures Zheng: Alexion: Speakers Bureau; Ablynx: Consultancy.
Emergency Department Airway Management for Status Asthmaticus With Respiratory Failure

BACKGROUND: Data are limited regarding current practice and outcomes for emergency department airway management in status asthmaticus. This paper describes the foremost methods and outcomes of airway management in patients in the emergency department who required intubation for status asthmaticus. METHODS: We analyzed all intubations with a primary indication of asthma over a 3-y period (January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018) using the National Emergency Airway Registry (NEAR), a 25-center, prospective, observational registry of emergency department intubations. We report the incidence of intubations for asthma, methods and medications used, devices used, peri-intubation adverse events, and intubation success and failures using univariate descriptive statistics and cluster-adjusted incidence with 95% CI. RESULTS: A total of 19,071 encounters were recorded during the study period, with 14,517 patients intubated for medical indications. Of those, 173 (1.2%, 95% CI 0.9-1.6) were intubated for asthma. The first-attempt success rate was 90.8% (95% CI 81.9–95.5), and overall intubation success was 100%. Compared to the medical registry as a whole, patients with asthma were more likely to undergo rapid-sequence intubation (96.5% [95% CI 92.9–98.3] vs 80.8% [95% CI 75.1–82.5]), preoxygenation with bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP) (62.9% [95% CI 49.6–74.6] vs 13.5% (95% CI 10.4–16.9]), and induction with ketamine (51.8% [95% CI 30.6–71.4] vs 11.6% [95% CI 7.6–16.8]). The adverse event rate in the patients with asthma was 12.14% (95% CI 8.1–17.9) compared to 11.93% (95% CI 9.79–14.12) in the medical registry. CONCLUSIONS: Status asthmaticus accounts for about 1% of emergent medical intubations. The majority of patients are intubated using rapid-sequence intubation after preoxygenation with BPAP and induction with ketamine, with the latter 2 practices being much more common for emergent intubations for status asthmaticus than for other medical indications.
Economics of Leveraged Buyouts: Theory and Evidence from the UK Private Equity Industry

Empirical analysis of a sample of companies with private equity (PE) ownership in the UK shows that PE firms act as deep-pocket investors for their portfolio companies, rescuing them if they fall in financial distress. In contrast, external financing is expensive for companies without PE-ownership in financial distress. The paper builds a model that shows how companies form rational expectations about the costs of financial distress, and how these expectations affect ex-ante policies. The model explains the empirically-observed differences in how companies with and without PE-ownership invest, pay dividends, and issue debt. In particular, the model quantitatively explains the difference in leverage of companies with and without PE-ownership. The model shows that greater tax-shield benefits and superior growth of PE-backed companies can explain 6.4% of the abnormal return of PE firms. The conclusion that follows from the paper, however, is that abnormal returns PE firms cannot be replicated by other investors.
Selected Micronutrient Needs of Children 1-3 Years of Age

Establishing dietary recommendations for micronutrients in young children is difficult. Techniques used to evaluate nutrient intake and bioavailability are hard to apply in this age group. Additionally, large variations in growth rates, dietary patterns, and nutrient losses in early childhood make determinations of dietary requirements difficult. Most recent studies have utilized stable isotopes to determine mineral absorption for iron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium. Vitamin D requirements have been established based on the dietary intake required to maintain a presumed adequate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration. Comparisons of nutrient requirements established using factorial methods involving absorption determinations and usual population intake are important to identify nutrients of concern related to deficient or excess intakes. Generally, in the USA, the intakes of calcium and magnesium are adequate to meet requirements in most toddler diets which include a milk source or a mineral-fortified milk alternative. Zinc and iron intakes can be below requirements in a substantial proportion of toddlers throughout the world, especially those with minimal meat consumption. Dietary vitamin D is generally below dietary recommendations, but clearly deficient serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are less common, and the global role for routine vitamin D supplementation or fortification of the diet remains uncertain.
Can information about “safe places” reduce female victimisation in honduras? a quasi-experimental evaluation of the safeWalking app

SafeWalking is of a prevention tool that identifies safe areas for women in public spaces in the City of Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras. The current study examines the effect of using this phone app...
Shifting Datum: A Critical Inquiry into Coastal Change

Shifting Datum is an installation that critically examines the relationship between New Orleans – a city much of which is at or below current sea level – and changes in relative sea level. With the increasing interest among the artists and designers on how to integrate research into their practice, we present Shifting Datum as a critical inquiry speculating on environmental issues such as rising sea levels. This paper introduces the recent movement of speculative design, frames Shifting Datum as a critical lens for inquiry into the near future, and describes the process of developing and fabricating the installation.
Efficient photoconductive terahertz detection through photon trapping in plasmonic nanocavities

We present a photoconductive terahertz detector that employs a plasmonic nanocavity to offer high-sensitivity and broadband operation when used in a terahertz time-domain spectroscopy system even at very low optical pump power levels. By employing a plasmonic nanocavity, all of the photocarriers are generated within a 100 nm distance from the photoconductor contact electrodes, enabling a short transport time for almost all of the photogenerated carriers. As a result, the photoconductive detector maintains high quantum efficiency and ultrafast operation simultaneously, enabling high-sensitivity and broadband operation at very low optical pump power levels. We utilize a photoconductive detector based on a plasmonic nanocavity optimized for operation at a 770 nm optical wavelength in a terahertz time-domain spectroscopy system and demonstrate a 100 dB signal-to-noise ratio and a 0.1–6 THz noise-equivalent bandwidth at a record-low average optical pump power of 0.1 mW, compared to the state-of-the-art photoconductive terahertz detectors. The extremely low optical power budget of the demonstrated photoconductive detector makes this detector attractive for multi-pixel terahertz imaging systems.
The contributions to virulence of the effectors Eop1 and DspE differ between two clades of Erwinia tracheiphila strains.

Strains of Erwinia tracheiphila, causal agent of bacterial wilt of cucurbits, are divided into distinct clades. Et-melo clade strains wilt Cucumis spp. but not Cucurbita spp., thus exhibiting host specificity, whereas Et-C1 clade strains wilt Cucurbita spp. more rapidly than Cucumis melo, thus exhibiting a host preference. This study investigated the contribution of the effector proteins Eop1 and DspE to E. tracheiphila pathogenicity and host adaptation. Loss of eop1 did not enable Et-melo strains to infect squash (Cucurbita pepo) or an Et-C1 strain to induce a more rapid wilt of muskmelon (Cucumis melo), indicating that Eop1 did not function in host specificity or preference as in the related pathogen Erwinia amylovora. However, over-expression of eop1 from Et-melo strain MDCuke, but not from Et-C1 strain BHKY, increased the virulence of a BHKY eop1 deletion mutant on muskmelon, demonstrating that the Eop1 variants in the two clades are distinct in their virulence functions. Loss of dspE from Et-melo strains reduced but did not eliminate virulence on hosts muskmelon and cucumber, whereas loss of dspE from an Et-C1 strain eliminated pathogenicity on hosts squash, muskmelon and cucumber. Thus, the centrality of DspE to virulence differs in the two clades. Et-melo mutants lacking the chaperone DspF exhibited similar virulence to mutants lacking DspE, indicating that DspF is the sole chaperone for DspE in E. tracheiphila, unlike in E. amylovora. Collectively, these results provide the first functional evaluation of effectors in E. tracheiphila and demonstrate clade-specific differences in the roles of Eop1 and DspE.