cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The influence of trematode parasite burden on gene expression in a mammalian host.

Parasites can profoundly impact their hosts and are responsible for a plethora of debilitating diseases. To identify global changes in host gene expression related to parasite infection, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated the liver transcriptomes of Balb/cj mice infected with the trematode parasite Schistosoma mansoni and compared the results to uninfected mice. We used two different methodologies (i.e. de novo and reference guided) to evaluate the influence of parasite sequences on host transcriptome assembly. Our results demonstrate that the choice of assembly methodology significantly impacted the proportion of parasitic reads detected from the host library, yet the presence of non-target (xenobiotic) sequences did not create significant structural errors in the assembly. After removing parasite sequences from the mouse transcriptomes, we analyzed host gene expression under different parasite infection levels and observed significant differences in the associated immunologic and metabolic responses based on infection level. In particular, genes associated with T–helper type 1 (Th–1) and T–helper type 2 (Th–2) were up-regulated in infected mice whereas genes related to amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism were down-regulated in infected mice. These changes in gene expression scale with infection status and likely impact the evolutionary fitness of hosts. Overall, our data indicate that a) infected mice reduce the expression of key metabolic genes in direct proportion to their infection level; b) infected mice similarly increase the expression of key immune genes in response to infection; c) patterns of gene expression correspond to the pathological symptoms of schistosomiasis; and d) identifying and filtering out non-target sequences (xenobiotics) improves differential expression prediction. Our findings identify parasite targets for RNAi or other therapies and provide a better understanding of the pathology and host immune repertoire involved in response to S. mansoni infections.
The innovative design of schoolbag for elementary school students by integrating functional demand-oriented and TRIZ

In Taiwan, the features of the commercially available schoolbags for senior elementary students cannot meet their actual needs. Moreover, when the commercially available schoolbag is loaded with a certain weight, the comfort of carrying it on the back has not been scientifically tested. A schoolbag with features that meet the needs of the students and scientifically tested comfort is indispensable. Therefore, this study conducted questionnaire survey to identify the most needed functional features of schoolbags for the elementary school students of senior grades. Moreover, TRIZ was applied to implement the innovative design of the schoolbag for elementary school students. The Borg RPE rating scale score of the proposed innovative schoolbag is 10, which is lower than the score of the commercially available schoolbag of 13, suggesting the use of the proposed innovative schoolbag provides higher comfort. In the test, fifth grade elementary school students were asked to carry the schoolbag with a weight of 5kg to continuously run for 4 minutes. When carrying the innovative schoolbag, the heartbeat bpm of the students increased by 32.5, which is lower than that of the commercially available schoolbag heartbeat bpm of 37.5. This also suggests that the proposed innovative design of schoolbag provides higher comfort in use. The research results have high practical value, so the schoolbags can better meet the needs of the students.
Funding: Research suffers in French budget

Physicists in France have reacted with disappointment to next year's research budget. While government spending will increase by 2.2% overall, the budget for research will rise by only 1.6% to FFr 54bn (about £5.7bn). The budget of the national research council (CNRS), which funds many of France's physicists and astronomers, will rise in line with the overall increase for research, while the national biomedical research organization (INSERM) will receive 3.3% more than this year. Spending on technology will rise by 42%.
Physicochemical Requirements for Polymers and Polymer-Based Nanomaterial for Ophthalmic Drug Delivery

Polymers used for constructing ophthalmic nanodelivery systems play a crucial role in determining the drug entrapment capacity, biodegradation, and residence time of the nanoparticles. Polymers used for ophthalmic nanodelivery systems are biodegradable; the biodegradation may be enzymatically or chemically mediated. The physicochemical properties of the polymers such as molecular weight, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, polymer/copolymer composition, crystallinity, and glass transition temperature affect particle size, entrapment efficiency, adsorption/absorption pattern, degradation kinetics, and mechanical strength of the nanoparticles. PLGA is the most widely used polymer for ophthalmic delivery because of its biodegradability and flexibility in alteration of the physicochemical properties by altering the copolymer composition. Physicochemical properties of a polymer can be altered by chemical modifications. In-depth understanding of the physicochemical properties of the polymers is important to design a nanodelivery system with optimum drug encapsulation, degradation, and residence time.
Can Political Skill Enhance Business and IT Knowledge

We examine whether Chief Information Officers’ CIOs’ political skill enhances their IT and business knowledge as a means of influencing executive teams’ commitment to strategic and operational IT initiatives. We empirically examine these relationships using data collected from 139 CIOs. The results suggest CIOs’ business and IT knowledge is significantly related to influencing executive team commitment to strategic and operational IT initiatives, but political skill only enhances business knowledge for influencing executive team commitment to operational IT initiatives.
Impact of a pharmacist-driven care package on Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia management in a large community healthcare network: A propensity score-matched, quasi-experimental study.

Abstract Objectives Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Suboptimal treatment has been associated with poor patient outcomes. Our antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) evaluated SAB management based on predefined performance measures both prior to and after instituting a "care package" intervention led by clinical pharmacists and infectious diseases physicians. The primary outcome included a 4-point "optimal care score" (OCS) consisting of targeted antibiotic therapy within 24hours, repeating blood cultures, antibiotic duration assessment, and appropriate duration of therapy. The presence of an ID consult, SAB readmission and mortality were also assessed. Methods This was a quasi-experimental, propensity score matched study of SAB management. Adult patients were retrospectively evaluated from October 2011 – October 2012, and intervention took place from November 2013 – December 2015. Intervention consisted of a clinical pharmacist contacting the primary team after identification of SAB to recommend (1) appropriate antibiotics within 24hours, (2) repeat blood cultures to document clearance, (3) assessment for metastatic infection, (4) and appropriate duration of therapy. These constituted the 4-point OCS. ID consult was also recommended. Patients were propensity score matched 1:2 based on age, diabetes, presence of hardware, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolate, and stratified infectious source. Patients ≥18 with SAB were included. Results Intervention was associated with improved adherence to each metric within the OCS, and more patients in the intervention cohort achieved a perfect OCS of 4. Intervention was associated with a lower rate of readmission and mortality. Conclusion A pharmacist-driven, ASP intervention on SAB therapy was associated with increased adherence to core SAB care metrics and reduced relapse and mortality.
Ciprofloxacin for the treatment of Cardiobacterium hominis prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Abstract Prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Cardiobacterium hominis is rare and recommended therapy includes a third generation cephalosporin. We report a case of Cardiobacterium hominis endocarditis post transcatheter aortic valve replacement in a patient with significant beta-lactam antimicrobial sensitivities who was successfully treated with ciprofloxacin monotherapy in conjunction with surgery.
'Alexa, Pick an Amendment': A Comparison of Fourth and First Amendment Protections of Echo Device Data

Amazon echo devices, called “Alexa” after the word used to “wake” the device, are becoming fixtures in every home. Potentially protected data is created when the user speaks to Alexa to purchase an item from Amazon, to search the internet, or to access music and book libraries. Alexa’s responses are also recorded by transcript. This data is stored on Amazon’s servers and can be accessed any time by the Alexa owner via the owner’s Amazon account. On December 4, 2015, a warrant was obtained and later served on Amazon requiring Amazon to turn over an Alexa owner’s data as part of a police investigation after the owner became a murder suspect. Amazon filed a motion to quash, citing First Amendment protections, but ultimately the matter was never adjudicated because the Alexa owner voluntarily turned the data over himself. Questions regarding constitutional protections of Alexa data will surely surface again: Is Alexa data protected under the First Amendment? Is it protected by the Fourth Amendment? Which amendment protects it better? This Article will examine case law to answer these questions. The Article explains how Alexa data is created and stored, compares Fourth Amendment and First Amendment protections of Alexa data, considers weaknesses in constitutional protections, and proposes creating information fiduciaries to enhance the Fourth Amendment protection.
Unraveling the Membrane Fusion in Secretory Cells at the NM-Level: A Nanobioengineering Approach

Secretion and membrane fusion are fundamental cellular processes regulating ER–Golgi transport, plasma membrane recycling, cell division, sexual reproduction, acid secretion, and the release of enzymes, hormones and neurotransmitters, to name just a few. It is therefore no surprise that defects in secretion and membrane fusion give rise to diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, acute gastroduodenal diseases, gastroesophageal reflux disease, intestinal infections due to inhibition of gastric acid secretion, biliary diseases resulting from malfunction of secretion from hepatocytes, polycystic ovarian disease as a result of altered gonadotropin secretion, and Gitelman disease associated with growth hormone deficiency and disturbances in vasopressin secretion, are only a few examples. Understanding cellular secretion and membrane fusion helps not only to advance our understanding of these vital cellular and physiological processes, but in the development of drugs to help ameliorate secretory defects, provide insight into our understanding of cellular entry and exit of viruses and other pathogens, and in the development of smart drug delivery systems. Therefore, secretion and membrane fusion play an important role in health and disease.
Guru: a computer tutor that models expert human tutors

We present Guru, an intelligent tutoring system for high school biology that has conversations with students, gestures and points to virtual instructional materials, and presents exercises for extended practice. Guru's instructional strategies are modeled after expert tutors and focus on brief interactive lectures followed by rounds of scaffolding as well as summarizing, concept mapping, and Cloze tasks. This paper describes the Guru session and presents learning outcomes from an in-school study comparing Guru, human tutoring, and classroom instruction. Results indicated significant learning gains for students in the Guru and human tutoring conditions compared to classroom controls.
Overview of Biological Mechanism of Aging

The study of the biology of aging has a long history. We will not deal with that here; however, a monograph by Joseph Freeman (1979) presents a fascinating review of the history of aging research during the last 2,500 years. Much of this historical period is characterized by research on prolongevity rather than on mechanisms of aging.
Organizational Aspects of Cardiovascular Control

Korner (15) in his classic paper, drew attention to the fact, that the behaviour of integrated cardio-vascular control could not be understood without consideration of the interactions of individual control loops. During the last few years a number of reports appeared in which the interaction between mechanoreceptor, chemoreceptor and cardiopulmonary reflexes were described. The results indicated that stimulation of the chemoreceptors modified both set point and gain of the baroreceptors (2, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 25). However the levels of the inputs used were in general not well quantified, nor was the dependence of the outputs on the direction of the input changes considered, although it is well known that the sensitivity of the mechanoreceptor loops is considerably higher for decreasing as compared to increasing pressure inputs (10, 24). Korner (15) postulated that baroreceptor and chemoreceptor afferents are projected toward the same neuron pool in the medullary cardiovascular centers. The modulation of the chemoreceptor responses by shifts in baroreceptor activity could therefore be explained by simple summation of excitatory and inhibitory influences in this common autonomic motor neuron pool.
DNA-Mediated Gene Transfer in Mammalian Gene Cloning

Mammalian gene cloning in prokaryotic host and vector systems provides insights over a broad spectrum of biological mechanisms. Conventional cloning methods based on messenger RNA isolation are highly effective in the isolation of genes with high transcriptional activity. An alternative means of gene cloning which is independent of the abundance of mRNA involves the use of DNA-mediated gene transfer and selection in mammalian cells. This approach has its basis in somatic cell genetics, and makes use of a large reservoir of knowledge concerning selection systems in mammalian somatic cell populations in vitro. It will be the aim of this article to review the technical basis, historical development, and recent progress in this area of mammalian gene cloning.
A next-to-leading-order QCD analysis of neutrino-iron structure functions at the Tevatron

Nucleon structure functions measured in neutrino-iron and antineutrino-iron charged-current interactions are presented. The data were taken in two high-energy high-statistics runs by the LAB-E detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. Structure functions are extracted from a sample of 950,000 neutrino and 170,000 antineutrino events with neutrino energies from 30 to 360 GeV. The structure functions F{sub 2} and xF{sub 3} are compared with the predictions of perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics (PQCD). The combined non-singlet and singlet evolution in the context of PQCD gives value of {Lambda}NLO,(4)/MS = 337 {+-} 28 (exp.) MeV, which corresponds to {alpha}{sub S}(M{sub Z}{sup 2}) = 0.119 {+-} 0.002 (exp.) {+-} 0.004 (theory), and with a gluon distribution given by xG(x,Q{sub 0}{sup 2} = 5GeV{sup 2}) = (2.22 {+-} 0.34) {times} (1 {minus} x){sup 4.65{+-}0.68}.
Inflammation and Regulation by Integrin Cell Adhesion Antagonists

Abstract The integrin family of cell adhesion molecules play a role in almost every phase of the immune response, from the induction of acute inflammation to its resolution, and antigen-specific immunity. Given these extensive roles, integrins have been actively targeted with both small molecule therapeutics and biologics to dampen pathological inflammatory responses and autoimmunity. Here we will discuss recent approvals of drugs targeting integrins in dry eye disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and other autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. We will also discuss novel approaches to target integrins by taking advantage of their conformational plasticity and the molecular mechanisms by which they transmit signals into cells. Even though the first therapeutics specific to integrins were approved over 2 decades ago, only 4 of the 24 known integrin heterodimers have been successfully targeted in the clinic. There remains much work to be done before our understanding of these cell adhesion receptors can be fully exploited for therapeutic benefit.
Analysis of Trabecular Microstructure and Vascular Distribution of Capital Femoral Epiphysis Relevant to Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease.

Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is characterized by the capital femoral epiphyseal collapse, which occurs more reliably in the anterior quadrant than the more weight-bearing lateral quadrant. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a vascular or microstructural predisposition for anterior femoral epiphyseal collapse in Perthes disease. Thirty-two cadaveric proximal femoral epiphyses from 17 subjects (age 4-14 years old) underwent micro-computed tomography at 10-μm resolution. Each quadrant was analyzed for four markers of trabecular architecture: bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular thickness, trabecular separation (TbSp), and trabecular number (TbN). Vascular channels were then mapped in each quadrant, identified by correlating surface topography with cross-sectional imaging. One-way analysis of variance revealed an overall difference between quadrants (p < 0.001) in BV/TV, TbN, and TbSp. However, post hoc analysis revealed there was no significant difference between the anterior and lateral quadrants for any of the four markers of trabecular architecture. Vascular channel mapping illustrated a predominance of vessels in the posterior half of the epiphysis compared to the anterior half (8.7 ± 4.0 vs. 3.4 ± 3.1 vascular channels, p < 0.001). The lack of microstructural differences between the anterior and lateral quadrants, and the predominance of vascular channels in the posterior half of the epiphysis with posteriorly-based medial femoral circumflex and ligamentum teres vessels suggests that the anterior femoral epiphysis may be a relative vascular watershed region, which predisposes it to collapse after the vascular insult of Perthes disease. Clinical significance: Improved understanding of the pathophysiology of anterior femoral epiphyseal collapse may inform future treatments aimed at revascularization. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:1784-1789, 2019.
Cancer Cells Sense Fibers by Coiling on them in a Curvature-Dependent Manner.

Summary Metastatic cancer cells sense the complex and heterogeneous fibrous extracellular matrix (ECM) by formation of protrusions, and our knowledge of how cells physically recognize these fibers remains in its infancy. Here, using suspended ECM-mimicking isodiameter fibers ranging from 135 to 1,000 nm, we show that metastatic breast cancer cells sense fiber diameters differentially by coiling (wrapping-around) on them in a curvature-dependent manner, whereas non-tumorigenic cells exhibit diminished coiling. We report that coiling occurs at the tip of growing protrusions and the coil width and coiling rate increase in a curvature-dependent manner, but time to maximum coil width occurs biphasically. Interestingly, bundles of 135-nm diameter fibers recover coiling width and rate on 1,000-nm-diameter fibers. Coiling also coincides with curvature-dependent persistent and ballistic transport of endogenous granules inside the protrusions. Altogether, our results lay the groundwork to link biophysical sensing with biological signaling to quantitate pro- and anti-invasive fibrous environments. Video Abstract Download : Download video (28MB)
Using simulation to teach laparoscopic surgical skills – tips, pearls and pitfalls

Surgical training is radically changing in many countries worldwide. The traditional Halstedian model of time-bound apprenticeship is being replaced with competency-based learning surgical programmes. There has also been an increase in the use of simulation-based medical education (SBME) including the educational principles influencing the way that we acquire and maintain new surgical skills. These principles are not just unique to the surgical domain and can be applied to other procedural-based disciplines. Surgical SBME involves the acquisition of both technical and non-technical skills including; laparoscopic skills acquisition, basic surgical, emergency resuscitation, communication, leadership and team working skills. In technical skills acquisition laparoscopic surgery is ideally applicable to SBME. The skills utilised to safely perform this operative modality are unique and include altered depth perception, fulcrum effect, loss of haptic feedback, 2D to 3D realisation, fine motor skills and altered tissue handling. The educational techniques used to teach these skills in a simulation environment will be discussed, as well as, their adaptability to other procedural skills acquisition. The creation, validation and application of low-cost simulators will also be discussed and their application worldwide into different settings.
Strategies to Improve Outcomes in Psoriatic Arthritis

The therapeutic response to biologic agents in psoriasis is significantly higher than observed in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). In this review, specific actions to improve treatment outcomes in PsA are discussed. Increased understanding of disease pathogenesis derived from improved preclinical models and advances in cell-based and molecular technologies provide new tools to identify therapeutic targets. In addition to the important contributions of metabolic comorbidities, chronic pain and the lack of a diagnostic biomarker signal the need for new strategies to improve outcomes. Potential strategies include the following: (1) discover a novel pathway or cellular subset, (2) apply stratification biomarkers to individualize therapy, (3) preclinical intervention, (4) combination therapy, (5) lifestyle modification, (6) address chronic pain and fatigue, and (7) multidisciplinary care. The future holds great promise for enhanced treatment responses in PsA based on improved understanding of individual variation in disease pathophysiology coupled with comprehensive and integrated treatment programs.
Efficacy of a No-Team Version of the Good Behavior Game in High School Classrooms:

Disruptive behavior (DB) negatively affects the learning process in various ways, interfering with the educational process of individual students, the teacher, and/or the class as a whole. Group co...
On the stability of kernelized control functionals on partial and biased stochastic inputs

We investigate some theoretical properties of kernelized control functionals (CFs), a recent technique for variance reduction, regarding its stability when applied to subsets of input distributions or biased generating distributions. This technique can be viewed as a highly efficient control variate obtained by carefully choosing a function of the input variates, where the function lies in a reproducing kernel Hilbert space with known mean thus ensuring unbiasedness. In large-scale simulation analysis, one often faces many input distributions for which some are amenable to CFs and some may not due to technical difficulties. We show that CFs retain good theoretical properties and lead to variance reduction in these situations. We also show that, even if the input variates are biasedly generated, CFs can correct for the bias but with a price on estimation efficiency. We compare these properties with importance sampling, in particular a version using a similar kernelized approach.
Remote Videography of Small Mammals Under Conditions of Dim Illumination or Darkness

A method is described for high-resolution videography of crepuscular and nocturnal mammals under field or laboratory conditions. The closed-circuit television camera provides a usable image in daylight as well as dusk/dawn applications. Infrared or red light illuminators must be used for darker conditions. A monitor interfaces with a motion detector and time-lapse video cassette recorder to allow fully automatic recording of activity. The onsite camera can be located more than 60 m from the controls for pan/tilt positioning and lens adjustment. Although the components are not particularly small or lightweight, the system is reasonably portable and functions in a wide range of temperature/humidity conditions. Detailed, remote monitoring and recording of small mammal (or other animal) behavior are possible under conditions not conducive to the presence of, or perhaps intolerable to, human observers.
Using Contract Consolidation to Improve Performance: Effects of Service Delivery Scale on Nonprofit Provider Efficiency in the Combined Federal Campaign

When nonprofit organizations deliver services on behalf of the government, the government agency has the opportunity to select the optimal number of providers to maximize performance. Should more p...
Fundic gastropexy for high risk of recurrence laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair and esophageal sphincter augmentation (LINX) improves outcomes without altering perioperative course

The aim of this study is to show that the addition of a fundic gastropexy to a laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair (HHR) and magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) with LINX (Johnson and Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ) in patients with high risk for hiatal hernia recurrence improves outcomes without altering perioperative course. An IRB approved, single institution retrospective review of patient outcomes after hiatal hernia repair with magnetic sphincter augmentation was performed. Data were obtained from the electronic health record and stored in a REDCap database. Using statistical software, the patient data were analyzed and stratified to assess the specific variables of the perioperative and postoperative course focusing on the high risk of hiatal hernia recurrence group (HRHR) and low risk hiatal hernia of recurrence group (LRHR). The HRHR group received a gastropexy and were defined using the following variables: comorbid state increasing abdominal pressure, gastric herniation > 30%, maximum transverse crural diameter > 4 cm, age 70 years or older, previous hiatal or abdominal wall hernia repair, BMI > 34, heavy weight bearing job/hobby, and/or emergent repair. Hiatal hernia repair with magnetic sphincter augmentation was performed on 137 patients. The HRHR group (N = 86) and the LRHR group (N = 51) were compared and there was a difference observed with acute hernia recurrence, dysphagia (p value = 0.008), and number of post-op EGDs (p value = 0.005) in favor of the HRHR group. Other postoperative variables observed (i.e., length of stay and PPI use) showed no significant difference between the two groups. Fundic gastropexy for individuals who are considered high risk for recurrence does not appear to alter the perioperative course in our sample of patients. The HRHR group has the same length of stay experience and improved postoperative outcomes with reference to postoperative EGD, dysphagia and a decreasing trend in hiatal hernia recurrence.
Review of Methods Suitable for Environmental Surveillance of Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi

Typhoid fever is an enteric disease caused by the pathogens Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi. Clinical surveillance networks are lacking in many affected areas, thus presenting a need to understand transmission and population prevalence. Environmental surveillance (ES) has been suggested as a potentially effective method in the absence of (or in supplement to) clinical surveillance. This review summarizes methods identified in the literature for sampling and detection of typhoidal Salmonella from environmental samples including drinking water, wastewater, irrigation water, and surface waters. Methods described use a trap or grab sampling approach combined with various selective culture and molecular methods. The level to which the performance of identified methods is characterized for ES in the literature is variable, thus arguing for the optimization and standardization of ES techniques.
Natural resource extraction and political trust

Abstract Do natural resources influence political trust? I provide a new answer to this question by articulating a theory of political trust that relates to within-country variation in natural resource extraction rather than the more traditional empirical context of cross-country variation. The distributional consequences of natural resources within countries have a large, positive consequences on political trust. Residents within a mining district may experience disproportionate economic benefits compared to residents living in a non-mining district. These economic benefits, in turn, influence political trust. I test these arguments using Afrobarometer public opinion data in four democratic African states, namely Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa.
Fear and depression linked to COVID-19 exposure A study of adult twins during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Millions of people have been impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic worldwide. High infection rates and death tolls, combined with social distancing measures, may have unintended psychological consequences on individuals. The goal of this study was to examine the interrelations between COVID-19 exposure, fear of COVID-19, and depression among a community-based sample of adult twins. We further explored whether fear of COVID-19 mediated the association between COVID-19 exposure and depression. 732 same-sex adult twin pairs (78.1% MZ, 21.9% DZ) completed an online survey examining their feelings in May 2020. About one-fifth of the participants reported having any COVID-19 exposure. Most participants (>80%) were somewhat concerned about themselves or their household members being infected by COVID-19. The average depression level was relatively low (M = 0.9 out of 6). We found that COVID-19 exposure was related to increased fears of COVID-19 and depression, and that depressive feelings increased with fear of COVID-19. The correlation between COVID-19 exposure and depression was partially mediated by fear of COVID-19. However, these associations were confounded by familial influences. As society navigates through the pandemic, it is essential to implement public health strategies to help individuals cope with the concerns and fears about COVID-19.
Isolated Fallopian Tube Torsion: A Rare Cause of Acute Abdomen in Puerperium

Fallopian tube torsion is a type of adnexal torsion and usually occurs in association with an ovarian torsion (termed as tubo-ovarian torsion). Isolated fallopian tube torsion (IFTT) is an extremely rare cause of abdominal pain requiring prompt recognition and treatment. Diagnosis of IFTT during puerperium can be challenging due to the nonspecific nature of clinical features and uncommon objective findings. The management of IFTT is often delayed because of the diagnostic dilemmas. Diagnostic imaging may be suggestive but the diagnosis is often made in retrospect following the surgical intervention. Early recognition and quick intervention are crucial to preserve adnexal function and to minimize morbidity. We describe a case of IFTT in a grand multiparous woman presenting with acute onset right iliac fossa pain and vomiting on the first day postpartum and discuss the difficulties faced in the management of this case along with a review of the literature. J Clin Gynecol Obstet. 2021;10(1):28-32 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jcgo706
The Classification of One-Dimensional Flows and the General Shock Problem of a Compressible, Viscous, Heat-Conducting Fluid

Recently a great deal of attention has been focused on the problem of determining the structure of a shock wave in a perfect gas on the basis of the Navier-Stokes equations. In this paper, we shall denote by "perfect gas" a viscous, heat-conducting fluid that satisfies the equation of state p — gRpT, whose specific heats are in general functions of temperature. Becker was the first to consider the exact structure for a case where the Prandtl Number is neither zero nor infinite. His analysis was restricted to constant specific heats, constant coefficients of heat conduction and viscosity, and constant Prandtl Number = 3/4. After him several authors ~ 10 have attempted to solve the problem under more general conditions. Since the first approximate discussion by Taylor, other approximate methods have been developed. n In some cases, the Navier-Stokes equations were reduced to an ordinary differential equation of higher than the first order; in others the reduction of Becker to a first-order equation was used. The approximate methods resort directly to the Navier-Stokes equations. I t was von Mises who reformulated Becker's approach and thus gave not only a much simpler presentation of the shock problem, but also a method of reviewing the general characteristics of all possible one-dimensional steady motions. I t is the purpose of this paper to show that , if the Navier-Stokes equations for the flow of a perfect gas are taken as a basis, then the method of review given by von Mises enables a complete classification of the flows to be made. Moreover, a discussion is presented of the problem of the shock wave in more than one dimension, which shows that a fuller numerical treatment of von Mises' equations and not a new approximation is needed in this case.
Histopathological changes in the ovaries and muscle tissues of freshwater fairy shrimp Streptocephalus dichotomus (baird), exposed to malathion and glyphosate

Possible impact of organophosphorus pesticides namely malathion and glyphosate on the ovaries and muscle tissues of the freshwater fairy shrimp Streptocephalus dichotomus were reported here for the first time. Preadult fairy shrimps were exposed to sub lethal concentration (1/5th of 96hrs LC50) of malathion (2.0 ppm) and glyphosate (0.0011 ppm) for a period of 30 days. Histological observations revealed a few marked pathological lesions such as mild destruction of epithelial layer, follicle cells, nurse cells, necrosis and degeneration of oocytes in the ovaries. Similarly degeneration of muscles, necrosis of muscle fibers, haemorrhages and appearance of pigmented cells in the muscle tissues were evident compared to control. The structural alterations observed in the ovaries and muscle tissues of the freshwater fairy shrimp are suggestive that malathion and glyphosate caused tissue damage at the tested concentrations. Therefore, the findings of this investigation can be taken as biomarkers for monitoring pesticides contamination in aquatic biota.
- Snf1: Snf1 protein kinase (S. cerevisiae) (CAT11, CCR12,3)

Snf1 is required for expression of glucose-repressed genes in response to glucose deprivation. Snf1 also affects other aspects of growth control, such as carbohydrate storage and sporulation. It is not clear whether the activity of Snf1 is regulated in response to glucose. The Snf4 protein coimmunoprecipitates with Snf1, and is necessary for maximal Snf1 kinase activity. A number of other proteins coimmunoprecipitate with Snf1 and are phosphorylated in immune-complex kinase assays. One of these proteins, Sip1, has been characterized. The domain structure of Snf1 has been analyzed via specific deletions and mutations. No glucose-responsive regulatory domain has been identified. The N-terminus includes a stretch of 13 consecutive histidines, but deletion of these residues has no effect. Deletion of most of the region N-terminal to the kinase domain (codons 5–52) partially impairs kinase activity but has no regulatory consequences; this region also does not mediate the stimulatory effects of Snf4. Deletion of the region C-terminal to the kinase domain (codons 309–628) yields a protein that is able to provide partial Snf1 function and allows regulated expression of glucose-repressed genes. Overexpression of this C-terminally deleted protein is deleterious to the cell. Two different mutations in a conserved putative phosphorylation site, analogous to T197 in PKA, that is, T210A and T210D, abolish function.
Very Long-Chain Fatty Acids Change the Ethanol Tolerance of Drosophila melanogaster Larvae

This research tested the hypothesis that long-chain saturated fatty acids increase the order of cell membranes of an organism and minimize the detrimental fluidizing effects of ethanol. Unsaturated fatty acids increase membrane fluidity and are unlikely to increase the ethanol tolerance of the organism. Both a fatty acid-free medium and media supplemented with very long-chain fatty acids (20 or more carbons) were fed to wild-type larvae of Drosophila melanogaster; larvae were then transferred to media with or without ethanol to test for effects of the fatty acids on ethanol tolerance. Ethanol decreased the percent of larvae to pupate, and lengthened larval development time. However, the percentage of pupae to reach the adult stage and the weight of adult males increased when the larvae were fed ethanol. The very long-chain, unsaturated fatty acids, arachidonic acid [20:4(n-6)] and docosatetraenoic acid [22:4(n-6)], were associated with increased larval mortality when administered in a medium supplemented with ethanol. Arachidic acid (20:0) increased the percentage of larvae to pupate under ethanol stress, decreased the development time and increased the adult weight in the presence and absence of ethanol. Behenic acid (22:0) was not effectively incorporated into phospholipids and had little effect on growth traits. Thus, the experimental results were consistent with the hypothesis.
Finances of Urban Local Bodies in Jharkhand: Some Issues and Comparisons

The paper brings together the information on different components of revenues and expenditures of the urban local bodies (ULBs) in Jharkhand and analyses their growth over a recent period. The performances of the ULBs are evaluated by estimating some indicators based on actual revenues and expenditures. The expenditures are also compared with the financial norms estimated for different urban services for Indian cities according to different size classes. An attempt to estimate the gross city product of each ULB in Jharkhand is also made. A broad comparison on finances and service delivery indicators of these ULBs with those in the ULBs of the eight adjacent districts of West Bengal is also attempted. We find that the revenue capacities estimated on an average can generate additional revenues of 77 per cent for the ULBs in Jharkhand. The increase in total revenues would be the highest (184 per cent) for the 1 lakh plus cities and the lowest (30 per cent) for the smallest size class of cities. We also find that on an average Jharkhand cities generate only 0.17 per cent of their Gross City Products as own revenues. The bigger cities are found to be relatively more constrained than the smaller ones. An overall analysis of finances on the basis of actuals in the ULBs of the two states reveals that West Bengal is in a comparatively better position than Jharkhand as far as the performance according to indicators related to finances are concerned. Out of eight indicators selected, the performance on an average is better in West Bengal in almost all of them. A close look at the dependency ratio on the higher tiers of the government as a percentage of transfers to total revenues reveal that on an average 91 per cent of the revenues in the ULBs of Jharkhand comes from transfers where transfers constitute grants in different forms of assistance. Whereas in West Bengal the average ratio is 61 per cent which also includes assigned revenues. While only 6 per cent of the expenditures can be covered by own revenues in Jharkhand, the ratio is about 37 per cent in West Bnegal. Own revenues can cover 19 per cent of revenue expenditures in Jharkhand whereas in West Bengal the ratio is 43 per cent. While Jharkhand covers 41 per cent of the revenue expenditure norms by their actual revenue expenditure, West Bengal on an average can only cover 36 per cent. A brief analysis in terms of some coverage indicators of municipal services, infrastructure, employment, socio-demographic indicators and some standard of living indicators show that the urban service delivery, in terms of some of the coverage indicators, are relatively better in most of the size classes and also on an average as a whole in West Bengal. We can generally conclude that the relatively better indicator in terms of finances and expenditure management in the ULBs of West Bengal has a somewhat positive impact on municipal service delivery too.
Transnational Legal Arguments in U.S. Supreme Court Litigation, 1979-2010

For many decades, Supreme Court justices and legal scholars have argued over the validity of different tools in constitutional interpretation, including social science data, public opinion and, most recently, laws and standards of decency from abroad. Although several of those currently on the bench maintain that foreign laws have no place in American constitutional adjudication, the larger universe in which their institution operates has become increasingly transnational since the end of the Cold War. The term judicial transnationalism has been coined to describe this phenomenon, characterized by unprecedented levels of interaction and exchange between foreign courts and legal activists. This paper examines these changes, evaluating the extent to which they have resulted in higher levels or new forms of foreign and transnational participation and interest in Supreme Court cases. In doing so, it tests a common observation made about the effect of judicial globalization in the U.S. context: that because of the increasingly complex and global nature of legal structures, the Supreme Court is more likely to hear cases that involve some form of foreign or international law. By analyzing the litigant and amicus briefs filed in all cases from the 1979-1980, 1989-1990, 1999-2000, and 2009-2010 dockets, this paper attempts to determine if there has indeed been an increase in the presence of foreign law arguments made in briefs filed to the Supreme Court.
Electronic Cigarettes: Aggregate Harm.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have been promoted as a means to reduce the use of combustible cigarettes. In this commentary, the author argues that e-cigarettes pose a grave danger as gatewa...
Factors Influencing Aggressive Therapy for Bladder Cancer: An Analysis of Data From the SEER Program

ABSTRACTPurpose: We examined the association of various demographic, geographic and disease related factors, and the use of aggressive therapy defined as radical cystectomy or radiation therapy for bladder cancer. We also examined the correlation between these factors and disease specific survival such aggressive therapy.Materials and Methods: Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program public use files from 1992 to 1999 were used to analyze the demographic and disease related variables of patient age, sex, race, reporting SEER site/geographic region, disease stage, number of lymph nodes examined and number of positive lymph nodes. Cox proportional hazards model analysis was used to test for associations with disease specific survival and logistic regression was used to test the predictors of aggressive therapy.Results: In multivariate models age, SEER site and disease stage were predictors of radical cystectomy while race, age, sex, SEER site and disease stage were significant...
The novel trisubstituted pyran derivative D-142 has triple monoamine reuptake inhibitory activity and exerts potent antidepressant-like activity in rodents

Major depression disorder is a significant health problem with 10-20% of all adults suffering from this disease. The underlying causes of depression are still unclear and 15% of depressed patients are resistant to all known therapies. Monoamine therapies have so far been the most successful approach for treating depression. Triple monoamine reuptake inhibitors have recently been implicated in generation of potent antidepressant activity while possibly exhibiting a low side-effect profile in addition to treating anhedonia. The additional, previously under-appreciated involvement of dopaminergic systems in depression prompted our efforts to develop novel asymmetric trisubstituted and disubstituted pyran derivatives as triple reuptake inhibitors. One of the lead compounds, D-142, exhibited uptake inhibition (K(i)) values of 29.3 nM, 14.7 nM and 59.3 ± 13.7 nM for norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine transporters, respectively. Its affinity for serotonin transporter was comparable to fluoxetine, a well known SSRI. In the rat forced swimming test, compound D-142 exhibited potent antidepressant activity in the dose range tested (2.5, 5 and 10mg/kg) and was far more efficacious than the reference compound imipramine. In the mouse tail suspension test, compound D-142 reduced immobility in a dose (2.5, 5 and 10mg/kg) dependent manner, indicating a potent antidepressant effect. In locomotor activity tests, compound D-142 did not exhibit any stimulation in the same dose ranges. In the extended CNS receptors screening assay this molecule exhibited little or no non-specific interaction in the CNS, indicating high specificity for monoamine transporters. These results advance D-142 as a potential potent antidepressant.
The facilitating and interfering effects of cognitive dissonance on Simple and Complex paired associates learning tasks

Abstract This experiment was designed to determine whether dissonance has general drive (D) properties in that dissonance interacts with task complexity, facilitating performance when correct responses are dominant (Simple task) and impeding performance when incorrect responses are dominant (Complex task). Subjects in Dissonant and Consonant groups, respectively, were asked to write attitude discrepant and attitude consistent essays. Half the subjects in each group only committed to write the essays (Commitment group) while half actually wrote them (Writing group). While believing they were participating in a separate experiment, subjects completed a Simple or Complex paired associates learning task. Thus, the experiment constituted a 2×2×2 factorial design with dissonance, writing, and task complexity as the factors. The predicted Dissonance × Task interaction approached significance on trials to criterion and attained significance on number of errors.
Beyond Altruism: Identity-Construction as Moral Motive in Political Explanation

This article explores conceptual issues pertaining to the role of moral motivation in political explanation. Employing data drawn from long interview with political activists from across the spectrum of American politics, I criticize both rational actor models and so-called “dual” motivational theories, that focus on altruism as the primary moral motive in politics, in contrast to the narrow focus on a certain conception of self-interest. Against both of these approaches, I offer an identity-construction approach to moral motives in politics. This model focuses on the complex interweaving of self and moral motives, and in particular focuses on the concerns political activists have for what kind of person they are and what kind of life they are living. These types of concerns are both moral and self-regarding, and therefore defy the dichotomy between self- and other-regarding at the heart of both rational actor and “dual” motivation accounts of moral motives.