cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary epithelial neuropilin-1 deletion enhances development of cigarette smoke-induced emphysema

Rationale: Cigarette smoke (CS) exposure is an important risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; however, not all smokers develop disease, suggesting that other factors influence disease development. Objectives: We sought to determine whether neuropilin-1 (Nrp1), an integral component of receptor complexes mediating alveolar septation and vascular development, was involved in maintenance of normal alveolar structure, and/or altered susceptibility to the effects of CS. Methods: Transgenic mice were generated to achieve inducible lung-specific deletion of epithelial Nrp1. We determined whether conditional Nrp1 deletion altered airspace size, then compared the effects of chronic CS or filtered air exposure on airspace size, inflammation, and the balance between cell death and proliferation in conditionally Nrp1–deficient adult mice and littermate controls. Finally, we evaluated the effects of Nrp1 silencing on cell death after acute exposure of A549 cells to cigarette smoke extract or short chain ceramides. Measurements and Main Results: Genetic deletion of epithelial Nrp1 in either postnatal or adult lungs resulted in a small increase in airspace size. More notably, both airspace enlargement and apoptosis of type I and type II alveolar epithelial cells were significantly enhanced following chronic CS exposure in conditionally Nrp1-deficient adult mice. Silencing of Nrp1 in A549 cells did not alter cell survival after vehicle treatment but significantly augmented apoptosis after exposure to cigarette smoke extract or ceramide. Conclusions: These data support a role for epithelial Nrp1 in the maintenance of normal alveolar structure and suggest that dysregulation of Nrp1 expression may promote epithelial cell death in response to CS exposure, thereby enhancing emphysema development.
Perceptions Of Unemployed Workers: Unemployment Duration, Volunteerism, And Age

This study investigated the effects of unemployment duration, volunteerism and age on perceptions of unemployed job candidates. An experimental design was employed in which participants judged fictitious resumes of unemployed candidates. We found that candidates unemployed for 18 months were viewed as less qualified and would be less likely to be interviewed and hired than those unemployed for 6 or 12 months at all age levels (30, 40, 50) studied. Candidates who had performed volunteer work (career- or non-career-related) would be more likely to be interviewed and hired than those who had not volunteered. Implications of the findings were discussed.
Becoming Globally Literate: Teaching Cross-Cultural Awareness Through The Use Of Social Networking Sites

The digital era has enabled educators the opportunity of breaking the confinement of the four walls of the traditional classroom and accessing information across cultures and nations. This session discusses the implementation of an innovative online graduate teacher education course focusing on global perspectives. Over the course of the semester, teachers learn how to use social networking sites as a means of gaining tools to cultivate a greater understanding of their own stereotypes and prejudices while learning how to enhance the global literacy of themselves and others. In addition, through the creative nature of blogging, this course provides strategies for teachers to draw on personal experiences as they develop their own network of classroom consultants, across the globe, to foster a greater level of cultural literacy in their students.
Export And The Fashion Industry In The USA: Evaluating Likely Impact On The USA Economy

Contextually, fashion involves any product characterized as complementary apparel or wearable accessories, and its export market entails the shipping of the apparels or other wearable accessories that may perennially evolve and change from one country to another. The objective of this research is to determine the impact that fashion exporting has on the US economy, as well as explore the changing trends in the economy and the overall contribution of the fashion export to the economy. The research designs applied to this study are executive interviews and surveys, which provided the authors with the primary data; this research also benefited from some secondary data. Apart from appropriate and relevant literature review, there is also an evaluation of these research findings. The preliminary findings would seem to suggest that the impact of fashion products being exported to foreign countries and the imports into the US have both negative and positive consequences on the American economy, even though the ongoing debate is to what extent, on either side.
Stimulated plasma prolactin levels in women using medroxyprogesterone acetate or an intrauterine device for contraception

Pituitary prolactin has been implicated in the etiology of breast tumors. This study examines the effects of MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate) on prolactin secretion by measuring both basal and phenothiazine-stimulated plasma prolactin levels in women using MPA (n=12) and IUD (control group n=9). The MPA group was slightly older (mean 33.3 years) and had a higher parity (mean 4.5) than the IUD group (26.4 years 1.5 parity). Blood samples were collected and assayed using a double antibody radioimmunoassay technqiue. After determination of basal hormone levels each woman received an intramuscular injection of chlorpromazine. No significant differences in either basal or stimulated blood prolactin concentration between the 2 groups were observed. Further research should still be done on the posssibility of MPA use being associated with increased incidence of breast tumors in humans.
Insect Gut Structure, Function, Development and Target of Biological Toxins

Abstract Insects as vectors of disease to humans and domesticated animals and as direct agricultural pests are a source of tremendous economic and health-related challenge. The eating habits of insects can provide the bases for disease transmission or the outright destruction of crops. The alimentary canal of insects is a common target and often barrier for pest control strategies. Recent advances in technology have made it possible to develop ever better understanding of the structure/function of the insect gut and hence provide new and better targets for developing novel methods for limiting the burdens that insects can present to humanity. In this review, we focus attention on recent developments in our understanding of insect gut structure/function with particular emphasis on a few of the most challenging groups of insects: mosquitoes (dipterans), caterpillars (lepidopterans), beetles (coleopterans) and aphids (hemipterans).
Detection of nitric oxide and nitroxyl with benzoresorufin-based fluorescent sensors.

A new family of benzoresorufin-based copper complexes for fluorescence detection of NO and HNO is reported. The copper complexes, CuBRNO1–3, elicit 1.5–4.8-fold emission enhancement in response to NO and HNO. The three sensors differ in the nature of the metal-binding site. The photophysical properties of these sensors are investigated with assistance from density functional theory calculations. The fluorescence turn-on observed upon reaction with HNO is an unexpected result that is discussed in detail. The utility of the new sensors for detecting HNO and NO in HeLa cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages is demonstrated.
TRANSITIONAL POPULATIONS OF DROSOPHILA PAULISTORUM.

Dobzhansky and Spassky (1959) and Dobzhansky, Ehrman, Pavlovsky, and Spassky (1964) found that Drosopha paulistorum is a superspecies composed of several semispecies. The semispecies show so strong an ethological isolation from each other that in some places they coexist sympatrically without interbreeding. Moreover, among the hybrids between the semispecies produced in the laboratory, the females are fertile while males are completely sterile. Originally, six semispecies were recognized-the Centroamerican, Orinocan, Amazonian, Andean-Brazilian, Transitional, and Guianan. More recently, the Guianan was raised to a full-fledged species, Drosophila pavlovskiana (Kastritsis and Dobzhansky, 1966). The Transitional was so named because certain strains from Colombia were found to cross and to produce fertile hybrids with some Centroamerican as well as some Andean-Brazilian strains. Cytological studies of Kastritsis (1966, 1967), as well as our own genetic data, led us however to conclude that some of the strains originally classified as Transitional were in reality extreme northern representatives of the Andean-Brazilian semispecies. Meanwhile, the accession of freshly collected strains from western and northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela forces us to redefine the Transitional race (or semispecies), as will be described in the report that follows. The Transitional so redefined includes only a part of the strains formerly included under that name. A wholly unexpected development has been a change in the behavior of one of the strains; this strain was originally classified a member of the Orinocan semispecies, but several years later it began to produce sterile male hybrids with Orinocan strains (Dobzhansky and Pavlovsky, 1967). Most recently, an additional semispecies, called Interior, has been discovered (unpublished). As seen in the light of the information now available, the superspecies Drosophila paulistorum is a compound of five semispecies (Centroamerican, Orinocan, Amazonian, Andean-Brazilian, Interior), and a sixth population complex, too heterogeneous to be regarded a single semispecies, the Transitional.
Investigation of La3+-modified Al2O3supported CeO2

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements indicate that the Ce3+ fraction in Al2O3-supported CeO2 can be decreased by the incorporation of La3+. If La3+ is incorporated into the Al2O3 before CeO2 is added, a higher CeO2 dispersion and a greater range of reversible reducibility of the CeO2 may also be obtained. These changes offer potential for improvement in the oxygen storage capacity provided by CeO2 in three-way catalysts.
Age, resource consumption, and outcome for surgical patients at an academic medical center.

Many changes are under way in the payment for physician and hospital care of the surgical patient. Relatively little data have been analyzed on resource consumption for hospitalized surgical patients. The purpose of this study was to characterize hospital resource consumption and outcome by age for surgical patients. All surgical admissions at a large academic medical center from Jan. 1, 1985, through March 31, 1986, were analyzed by means of the diagnostic related group (DRG) format. Total costs (exclusive of physician fees) for the 7341 surgical patients studied were $58,206,815. Mean cost per patient, length of stay, percent of outliers, and mortality increased with age. DRG case-mix index and the number of procedures per patient peaked at age 69 and then decreased. Emergency admission was high for the young (i.e., aged 18 to 24 years) and for very elderly patients (i.e., aged over 75 years). Blood transfusions increased steadily as the age of the patient increased; use of surgical intensive care units increased until age 64 years, then plateaued. This study demonstrated a number of trends in surgical patient age and use of resources. Under prospective payment systems (i.e., DRG reimbursement) financial risk increased with the age of the patient. Length of hospital stay and mortality increased with age; however, DRG case-mix index and the number of procedures per patient peaked at age 69, which suggests that elderly surgical patients (i.e., those above 70 years of age) may be more severely ill on average than younger patients.
Project Tango

Project Tango technology brings a new kind of spatial perception to the Android platform by adding advanced computer vision, image processing, and special vision sensors. Applications built with Project Tango include phone-based measuring and surveying, augmented-reality games tied to the physical environment, remoteshopping apps that visualize products in your home, accurate indoor navigation in stores and malls, educational experiences that allow users to walk through the solar system, real-time 3D reconstruction, and more. With advanced computer vision and depth processing techniques that are exposed to developers via three core technologies 'motion tracking, area learning, and depth perception,' Project Tango is changing the capabilities of mobile phones.
Modification of Na+/K+-ATPase in a Model of Epilepsy in the Rat

The Na+/K+-ATPase (Na+ pump) is a transmembrane protein crucial for maintenance of ion homeostasis within cells(5). This enzyme establishes electrochemical gradients that are used by cells for a variety of functions, including synaptic activity within neurons. Due to this involvement in synaptic activity the Na+ pump has been extensively studied in connection with epilepsy research. Results have not, however, provided a clear understanding of how the Na+ pump might be affected by, or contribute to, epileptiform activity. Utilizing a kainic acid model of temporal lobe epilepsy we have further investigated this question. With bilateral, intracerebroventricular injections of kainic acid we have examined pump alterations at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after kainate injection in hippocampal neurons from kainate-lesioned rats showing seizure activity. Our goal was to identify alterations in the Na+ pump, in either protein isozymes levels or subunit isoform mRNA levels, in tissue associated with the development of an epileptic focus.
Cell non-autonomous regulation of hepatic IGF-1 and neonatal growth by Kinase Suppressor of Ras 2 (KSR2).

Individuals with poor postnatal growth are at risk for cardiovascular and metabolic problems as adults. Here we show that disruption of the molecular scaffold Kinase Suppressor of Ras 2 (KSR2) causes selective inhibition of hepatic GH signaling in neonatal mice with impaired expression of IGF-1 and IGFBP3. ksr2−/− mice are normal size at birth but show a marked increase in FGF21 accompanied by reduced body mass, shortened body length, and reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC) first evident during postnatal development. However, disrupting FGF21 in ksr2−/− mice does not normalize mass, length, or bone density and content in fgf21−/−ksr2−/− mice. Body length, BMC and BMD, but not body mass, are rescued by infection of two-day-old ksr2−/− mice with a recombinant adenovirus encoding human IGF-1. Relative to wild-type mice, GH injections reveal a significant reduction in JAK2 and STAT5 phosphorylation in liver, but not in skeletal muscle, of ksr2−/− mice. However, primary hepatocytes isolated from ksr2−/− mice show no reduction in GH-stimulated STAT5 phosphorylation. These data indicate that KSR2 functions in a cell non-autonomous fashion to regulate GH-stimulated IGF-1 expression in the liver of neonatal mice, which plays a key role in the development of body length.
Epidermal Fatty Acid Binding Protein (E-FABP) Is Not Required for the Generation or Maintenance of Effector and Memory T Cells following Infection with Listeria monocytogenes.

Following activation of naive T cells there are dynamic changes in the metabolic pathways used by T cells to support both the energetic needs of the cell and the macromolecules required for growth and proliferation. Among other changes, lipid metabolism undergoes dynamic transitions between fatty acid oxidation and fatty acid synthesis as cells progress from naive to effector and effector to memory T cells. The hydrophobic nature of lipids requires that they be bound to protein chaperones within a cell. Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) represent a large class of lipid chaperones, with epidermal FABP (E-FABP) expressed in T cells. The objective of this study was to determine the contribution of E-FABP in antigen-specific T cell responses. Following infection with Listeria monocytogenes, we observed similar clonal expansion, contraction and formation of memory CD8 T cells in WT and E-FABP-/- mice, which also exhibited similar phenotypic and functional characteristics. Analysis of Listeria-specific CD4 T cells also revealed no defect in the expansion, contraction, and formation of memory CD4 T cells in E-FABP-/- mice. These data demonstrate that E-FABP is dispensable for antigen-specific T cell responses following a bacterial infection.
A simple low-voltage cascode current mirror with enhanced dynamic performance

In this paper, we present a simple low-voltage MOS cascode current mirror featuring a step response and an output voltage swing comparable to those of a simple mirror and and output resistance comparable to that of a stacked mirror. The proposed mirror operates with an input voltage of V diode +V DSsat and can operate on a minimum supply of V diode + 2V DSsat . We validate the proposed mirror with a combination of simulated and measured results from a circuit prototyped from transistor arrays fabricated in a 0.5-µm CMOS process through MOSIS.
Coherent Frequency Combs for Spectroscopy Spanning 3 to 5.2 µm

A tunable mid-infrared frequency comb was created via difference frequency generation. Pulses between 1 and 1.5 µm were mixed to make idlers of 3-5.2 µm. Two such combs were heterodyned at 5 µm to show their coherence and potential for spectroscopy.
Muslim Women, Transnational Feminism and the Ethics of Pedagogy: Contested Imaginaries in Post‐9/11 Cultural Practice Lisa K. Taylor and Jasmin Zine, Editors. Routledge, 2014.

Muslim Women, Transnational Feminism and the Ethics of Pedagogy: Contested Imaginaries in Post-9/11 Cultural Practice Lisa K. Taylor and Jasmin Zine, Editors. Routledge, 2014.In Muslim Women, Transnational Feminism and the Ethics of Pedagogy, editors Lisa K. Taylor and Jasmin Zine have produced a "pedagogical intervention. .. concerned with how the representations of Muslim women are taken up in various educational sites and within diverse publics with a view to addressing the politics and ethics of reading within and against these various constructs" (3). Their main concern argues that academics and teachers have reified the concept of Muslim women as "the Other" by using Orientalist rhetoric in classrooms. With sections on reading practices, text production, pedagogies, and interviews with key figures in the arts and scholarship, this collection works to disrupt such orientalist readings by offering strategies to "problematize, demystify, and dismantle [such] representations" (6). An extensive introduction offers an overview of feminist, postcolonial, and gender theory related to the study of transnational issues facing Muslim women and their representations.The editors' main audience is those who teach within interdisciplinary fields of study that focus on gender, feminism, the arts, and popular culture and who both seek to approach their classrooms with a deeper understanding of the challenges of teaching topics focused on Muslim women and wish to challenge their students' perceptions of these women and their needs. This text asks those educators to reconsider the framing of courses to align with a less Western-centered approach when teaching about Muslim women around the globe.Those teaching such texts in Western classrooms will find several articles most useful. Dana M. Olwan's "Pedagogies of Solidarity in Sheir Hammad's 'First Writing Since'" introduces the poem as a work that "engages, performs, and teaches the politics of solidarity" (111). Olwan then examines the ways such works that remember 9/11 complicate "dominant narratives of American victimhood, singularity, and innocence" (111). Finally, Olwan describes how Hammad's poem "presents a transformative politics of solidarity that transcends national borders" (111). Moving the reader through a close reading of the poem and then offering ideas for teaching it, Olwan ultimately shows that Hammad's poem "offers a substantive and cogent challenge to dominant narratives of Arab American unbelonging" (128).Scholars interested in the cultural importance of book clubs in the West will find Catherine Burwell's "'A Too Quick Enthusiasm for the Other': North American Women's Book Clubs and the Politics of Reading" a useful voice in the conversation about the "ways in which Third World women's texts are framed and presented to First World women's book clubs" (134). …
Impact analysis for high-penetration distributed photovoltaic generation integrated into grid based on DIgSILENT

The introduction of distributed power generation makes the distribution system change from radial passive network into active network with small and medium-sized power supplies. And the reverse flow generated by high penetration distributed power supplies will bring great challenges to voltage management and equipment protection system of distribution network. This paper presents a quantitative expression of penetration as well as evaluation indices which reflect the influence of distributed photovoltaic (PV) generation on grid voltage, network power loss and network elements loading. Besides, it also analyzes the maximum accessible PV capacity of the test grid, and proposes the critical point of high penetration. Then, by continuous load flow calculation, the impacts of highpenetration distributed PV generation on the grid voltage, network power loss and network elements loading are analyzed.
“Some Lingering Influence in the Shunned House”: H. P. Lovecraft’s Three Invitations to Dark Tourism

This chapter explores the idea of virtual dark tourism by investigating how Lovecraft’s “The Shunned House” not only leads reader-tourists virtually through the dark space of Providence, Rhode Island (to the physical site of the real shunned house) and the dark time of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century New England (through folklore to grisly evidence of belief in vampires), but also relates its own fictional story of dark tourists who grapple with the legacy of evil in the shunned house.
Absolute Measurement of Brain Blood Flow Using Non-Diffusible Isotopes

We have pursued non-diffusible intravenous tracer techniques because of their safety and simplicity of administration and interpretation. If sufficiently safe and simple to administer, such a technique could be used in population surveys where repeated studies of flow might be desirable. This would allow, for example, prospective studies of stroke-proneness.
Metabolic Activation of Carcinogens and Mutagens

In this chapter we will first describe enzymes that are involved in the metabolic activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and N-substituted aromatic compounds. Further, we will discuss some of the metabolic pathways and metabolites that are formed from these indirectly acting carcinogens.
OPEN EDUCATIONAL GOALS, EDUCABILITY, AND SELF-DIRECTION

This chapter presents information on open educational goals, educability, and self-direction. Educability is a unifying concept for lifelong education. The educability concept, because of its very complexity and inclusiveness, could be a deterrent to the concretization of the principles of lifelong education into policy and practice. The distinction between specified and open educational goals is in many respects analogous to the way in which education and training are commonly differentiated. It has been indicated that the expressive objective is formulated to promote diversity rather than homogeneity of performance. It differs from the behavioral objective associated with specified goals in the essential respect of allowing, even encouraging, solutions or products that are unusual and perhaps even unique. It has been suggested that models of teaching and learning directed at the attainment of open outcomes are in a sense highly elaborated expressive objectives. Teaching or learning models define the situation under which learning is to occur.
Molecular-level driving forces in lignocellulosic biomass deconstruction for bioenergy

The plant cell wall biopolymers lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose are potential renewable sources of clean biofuels and high-value chemicals. However, the complex 3D structure of lignocellulosic biomass is recalcitrant to deconstruction. Major efforts to overcome this recalcitrance have involved pretreating biomass before catalytic processing. This Perspective describes recent work aimed at elucidating the molecular-level physical phenomena that drive biomass assembly. These are at play in commonly employed aqueous-based and thermochemical pretreatments. Several key processes have been found to be driven by biomass solvation thermodynamics, an understanding of which therefore facilitates the rational improvement of methods aimed at the complete solubilization and fractionation of the major biomass components. This Perspective describes the physical molecular driving forces that stabilize native lignocellulosic plant biomass structures and govern thermochemical biomass pretreatments. Understanding these driving forces can help us to design efficient methods for deconstructing biomass into biofuels and other bioproducts.
Characterizing novel olfactory receptors expressed in the murine renal cortex.

The kidney uses specialized G protein-coupled receptors, including olfactory receptors (ORs), to act as sensors of molecules and metabolites. In the present study, we cloned and studied seven renal...
Total copy number variation as a prognostic factor in adult astrocytoma subtypes

Since the discovery that IDH1/2 mutations confer a significantly better prognosis in astrocytomas, much work has been done to identify other molecular signatures to help further stratify lower-grade astrocytomas and glioblastomas, with the goal of accurately predicting clinical outcome and identifying potentially targetable mutations. In the present study, we subclassify 135 astrocytomas (67 IDH-wildtype and 68 IDH-mutant) from The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset (TCGA) on the basis of grade, IDH-status, and the previously established prognostic factors, CDK4 amplification and CDKN2A/B deletion, within the IDH-mutant groups. We analyzed these groups for total copy number variation (CNV), total mutation burden, chromothripsis, specific mutations, and amplifications/deletions of specific genes/chromosomal regions. Herein, we demonstrate that across all of these tumor groups, total CNV level is a relatively consistent prognostic factor. We also identified a trend towards increased levels of chromothripsis in tumors with lower progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) intervals. While no significant differences were identified in overall mutation load, we did identify a significantly higher number of cases with mutations in genes with functions related to maintaining genomic stability in groups with higher mean CNV and worse PFS and OS intervals, particularly in the IDH-mutant groups. Our data further support the case for total CNV level as a potential prognostic factor in astrocytomas, and suggest mutations in genes responsible for overall genomic instability as a possible underlying mechanism for some astrocytomas with poor clinical outcome.
Exploring the Dynamic Aesthetics of Interaction Design

In interactive, electronic communication, where information continually changes and users physically interact with objects, there are numerous elements that define the aesthetic experience. Audiovisual design, dynamic semantic relationships, cross-modal perception, physical interaction and movement, cognition, and memory impact the aesthetics of the design. Static information hierarchies give way to audiovisual patterns that present information in parallel, synchronous formats, as well as linear sequences. Diverse sensory stimuli, interaction in hybrid environments that integrate physical and virtual spaces, and social networking lead to the formation of discursive semantic relationships and dynamic perceptual and cognitive networks that also define the design aesthetics of the work.
A case study of the use of telemedicine by advanced practice nurses in rural Missouri.

Background Telemedicine aims to increase access to health care through the use of technology, but its impact on rural health care has had limited study. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of newly implemented telemedicine systems on rural practice and patient care in the Missouri Telemedicine Network. Method Telemedicine equipment and hook-ups were provided to satellite clinics and nonaffiliated clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, and health departments in three rural counties. Qualitative research methods were used to elicit data and develop a case study report of the experience of the rural nurse practitioner's use of telemedicine technology. Results were then compared with those of three other counties without telemedicine technology. Results Advanced practice nurses reported professional development and connectedness with telemedicine capability. Those with telemedicine access reported both current and potential applications of technology to practice. Both formal and informal learning opportunities were cited. Those without telemedicine access viewed telemedicine as potentially supportive of enhanced patient care and professional satisfaction. Conclusion This preliminary study provides support for the role of telemedicine in augmenting the role of the advanced practice nurse in a variety of rural settings.
Performance of a 25% Inferior Vena Cava Collapsibility in Detecting Fluid Responsiveness When Assessed by Novice Versus Expert Physician Sonologists.

Objectives:Inferior vena cava collapsibility (cIVC) measured by point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been proposed as a noninvasive means of assessing fluid responsiveness. We aimed to prospectivel...
Saccadic intrusions in paediatric concussion.

Three paediatric patients post‐mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI, also known as concussion) developed saccadic intrusions, which are irregular, involuntary saccades that interrupt fixation. Each pa...
Validation and implementation of a modular targeted capture assay for the detection of clinically significant molecular oncology alterations

Abstract Objectives The rapid discovery of clinically significant genetic variants has translated to next-generation sequencing assays becoming out-of-date by the time they are designed, validated, and implemented. UW-OncoPlex addresses this through the adoption of a modular panel capable of redesign as significant alterations are identified. We describe the validation of OncoPlex version 6 (OPXv6) for the detection of single nucleotide variants (SNVs), insertions and deletions (indels), copy number variants (CNVs), structural variants (SVs), microsatellite instability (MSI), and tumor mutational burden (TMB) in a panel of 340 genes. Design One hundred twelve samples with diverse diagnoses were comprised of formalin-fixed-paraffin-embedded tissue, fresh-frozen tissue, plasma, peripheral blood, bone marrow, saliva, and cell-line DNA. Libraries were prepared from genomic and cell-free DNA, hybridized to a custom panel of xGen Lockdown probes, and sequenced on Illumina platforms. Sequences were processed through a custom bioinformatics pipeline, and variant calls were compared to prior orthogonal clinical results. Results Accuracy was 99% for SNVs ≥5% allele frequency, 98% for indels, 97% for SVs, 99% for CNVs, 100% for MSI, and 100% for TMB (compared to previous OncoPlex versions). Library preparation turnaround time decreased by 40%, and sequencing quality improved with a 2.5-fold increase in average sequencing coverage and 4-fold increase in percent on-target. Conclusions OPXv6 demonstrates improvements over prior UW-OncoPlex versions including reduced capture cost, improved sequencing quality, and decreased time to results. The modular capture probe design also provides a nimble laboratory response in addressing the expansions necessary to meet the needs of the continuously evolving field of molecular oncology.
The Health of Undocumented Latinx Immigrants: What We Know and Future Directions

Undocumented Latinx immigrants experience unique factors prior to migration, during migration, and after migration that shape their health. Our review summarizes the limited but growing literature ...
Reporting frequency of three near-miss error types among hospital pharmacists and associations with hospital pharmacists' perceptions of their work environment.

Abstract Objectives Medical error reporting is one of the main strategies health care institutions utilize to evaluate and improve patient safety. Many factors can influence error reporting frequency, including work environment. The study objectives were to: 1) explore hospital pharmacists' reporting frequency of three distinct near-miss errors types and 2) examine the association between near-miss error reporting frequency and work environment perceptions, specifically pharmacists' perceptions of managers’ actions to promote patient safety, teamwork, and staffing issues. Methods Pharmacist data from the 2016 AHRQ Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture were analyzed. Near-miss errors included errors that occurred: 1) with no potential to harm the patient, 2) that could harm the patient, but did not, and 3) that were caught and corrected before harming the patient. Pharmacists' perceptions of the three patient safety culture domains (i.e., managers' actions to promote safety, teamwork, staffing) were assessed by calculating positive response percentages, with higher percentages indicating positive perceptions of their institutions’ safety culture. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and mixed effects multivariate regression analyses were conducted. Results When an error occurred, it was always reported by 32.0% of pharmacists if the error could have harmed the patient, 17.6% of pharmacists if the error had no potential to harm the patient, and 12.3% of pharmacists if it was corrected before reaching the patient. Higher near-miss error reporting frequency was significantly associated with positive perceptions related to managers’ actions to promote safety, teamwork, and staffing if the error could have harmed the patient (OR 1.50; OR 1.27; OR 1.18, p Conclusion Differences in reporting frequency suggests that pharmacists may prioritize near-miss error reporting based on perceived importance. A positive work environment was associated with higher near-miss error reporting rates.
Induction of apoptosis by gemcitabine in BG-1 human ovarian cancer cells compared with induction by staurosporine, paclitaxel and cisplatin

A variety of chemotherapeutic agents induce cell death via apoptosis. We had shown previously that gemcitabine (2′,2′-difluorodeoxycytidine) induced an atypical apoptosis in BG-1 human ovarian cancer cells; therefore, further studies were conducted to characterize more precisely gemcitabine-induced apoptosis in BG-1 cells compared to a general inducer of apoptosis, staurosporine. BG-1 cells exposed to 0.5, 1.0 and 10 μM gemcitabine for 8 h, or staurosporine (1.0 μM) for 6 h, exhibited high molecular weight DNA fragmentation (50 kbp); however, only staurosporine treatment produced internucleosomal DNA fragments (200 bp) in a laddered pattern on the agarose gel. Staurosporine (1.0 μM) rapidly induced phosphatidylserine plasma membrane translocation that increased linearly with time as measured by annexin V-FITC binding, and similar kinetics were observed for caspase activation by staurosporine in BG-1 cells. In contrast, 10 μM gemcitabine increased phosphatidylserine expression in a small fraction of cells (5–10%) vs. untreated controls over the course of 48 h and significant caspase activity was detected within 12 h of drug exposure. Time-lapse video microscopy of BG-1 cells exposed to 1.0 μM staurosporine or 10 μM gemcitabine for up to 72 h showed that the morphologic changes and kinetics of cell death induced by these agents differed significantly. We also evaluated the apoptosis induced by paclitaxel (a mitotic poison) and cisplatin (an agent not dependent on cell cycle functions) in BG-1 cells by these methods because these drugs are used clinically to treat ovarian cancer. Our findings demonstrate that the kinetics of apoptotic cell death induced by gemcitabine and other chemotherapeutic agents should be taken into account when designing treatment strategies for ovarian cancer.
Metabolic alterations caused by the mutation and overexpression of the Tmem135 gene

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that undergo fission and fusion. While they are essential for cellular metabolism, the effect of dysregulated mitochondrial dynamics on cellular metabolism is no...
Analysis of Domestic Violence Related Homicides in Los Angeles County: Media Portrayals, Demographics, and Precipitating Circumstances.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a pressing public health issue. Nationally, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men have sustained severe physical violence from an intimate partner. Intimate partner homicides (IPH) are the most serious IPV outcome. This study examined documented IPH in Los Angeles County during 2017, analyzing if precipitating circumstances, victim demographics, victim/suspect relationship, and weapon type were related to how often a homicide was reported in online media stories. Cases were identified from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), and standardized internet searches identified media articles associated with each case. Victim demographics from NVDRS and media articles were compared using Chi Square tests. Media report frequency, within different categorical predictor values, were examined using ANOVA models. 44 incidents were identified; averaging 5.2 articles per decedent. Univariate analyses showed significant difference in media reporting by poverty level (low versus high socioeconomic status) and presence of preceding argument. Multivariate analyses found significantly more media reports (p = 0.002) for incidents in which a preceding argument is reported, the victim was 30–39 years old and from a low socioeconomic status zip code. From our results certain characteristics of IPH are associated with greater media reporting. Promotion of consistent and responsible IPH media reporting guidelines is an opportunity to reinforce public health messaging and dispel myths. In turn, this will encourage the development of future policies and funding streams across the spectrum of preventing and stopping IPV.
Transition-Metal Oxide (111) Bilayers

Correlated electron systems on a honeycomb lattice have emerged as a fertile playground to explore exotic electronic phenomena. Theoretical and experimental work has appeared to realize novel behavior, including quantum Hall effects and valleytronics, mainly focusing on van der Waals compounds, such as graphene, chalcogenides, and halides. In this article, we review our theoretical study on perovskite transition-metal oxides (TMOs) as an alternative system to realize such exotic phenomena. We demonstrate that novel quantum Hall effects and related phenomena associated with the honeycomb structure could be artificially designed by such TMOs by growing their heterostructures along the [111] crystallographic axis. One of the important predictions is that such TMO heterostructures could support two-dimensional topological insulating states. The strong correlation effects inherent to TM d electrons further enrich the behavior.
Proximity-labeling reveals novel host and parasite proteins at the Toxoplasma parasitophorous vacuole membrane

Abstract Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous, intracellular parasite that envelopes its parasitophorous vacuole with a protein-laden membrane (PVM). The PVM is critical for interactions with the infected host cell such as nutrient transport and immune defense. Only a few parasite and host proteins have so far been identified on the host-cytosolic side of the PVM. We report here the use of human foreskin fibroblasts expressing the proximity-labeling enzyme miniTurbo, fused to a domain that targets it to this face of the PVM, in combination with quantitative proteomics to specifically identify proteins present at this crucial interface. Out of numerous human and parasite proteins with candidate PVM localization, we validate three novel parasite proteins (TGGT1_269950, TGGT1_215360, and TGGT1_217530) and four new host proteins (PDCD6IP/ALIX, PDCD6, CC2D1A, and MOSPD2) as localized to the PVM in infected human cells through immunofluorescence microscopy. These results significantly expand our knowledge of proteins present at the PVM and, given that three of the validated host proteins are components of the ESCRT machinery, they further suggest that novel biology is operating at this crucial host-pathogen interface. Importance Toxoplasma is an intracellular pathogen which resides and replicates inside a membrane-bound vacuole in infected cells. This vacuole is modified by both parasite and host proteins which participate in a variety of host-parasite interactions at this interface, including nutrient exchange, effector transport, and immune modulation. Only a small number of parasite and host proteins present at the vacuolar membrane and exposed to the host cytosol have thus far been identified. Here we report the identification of several novel parasite and host proteins present at the vacuolar membrane using enzyme-catalyzed proximity-labeling, significantly increasing our knowledge of the molecular players present and novel biology occurring at this crucial interface.
Plagiarizing the victorian novel: imitation, parody, aftertext: by Adam Abraham, Cambridge, Cambridge University P, 2019, 298 pp, $99.99 (hardcover), ISBN: 9781108493079

“We are living in the era of Oliver Twiss, not Oliver Twist,” Adam Abraham quips in the postscript to his much-needed study on Victorian plagiarisms as aftertexts. In Abraham’s characteristically p...
GIS: Research Methods: edited by Nick Bearman. London, Bloomsbury Academic, 2020, 110 pp. £16.99 (paperback), ISBN: 9781350129559

Nick Bearman provides a thorough introduction to geographic information systems (GIS) for students, researchers, and scholars outside of the geographic discipline with his new non-technical text in...
The Changing Structure of Undergraduate Kinesiology

(1978). The Changing Structure of Undergraduate Kinesiology. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 52-53.
α-uranium phase in compressed neodymium metal

The light rare-earth metal, neodymium, has been studied up to 155 GPa in a diamond-anvil cell using energy dispersive x-ray diffraction with a synchrotron source. The pressures were calibrated using copper as an internal x-ray pressure standard. A phase transformation from a monoclinic phase $(C2/m,$ $4\mathrm{a}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{m}\mathrm{s}/\mathrm{c}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{l})$ to an orthorhombic \ensuremath{\alpha}-U phase $(Cmcm,4\mathrm{a}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{m}\mathrm{s}/\mathrm{c}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{l})$ was observed at 113\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}6 GPa without any observable volume collapse. The observation of \ensuremath{\alpha}-U phase in Nd and, previously, in cerium and praseodymium clearly establishes this phase in light rare-earth metals. Our equation of state measurements suggest that delocalization of the f shell in Nd occurs without any volume collapse unlike Ce and Pr.
Stimulator Paradigm: Artificial Retina

Implanted telemetry devices used for medical implants are affected by their surrounding environment since tissues are frequency-dependent lossy dielectric materials. This chapter focuses on the considerations and methodologies for the design of high-performance and small-size antennas appropriate for intraocular implants. The multicoil approach for inductive coupled telemetry offers high power transfer efficiency for biomedical telemetry. Having multiple control parameters to tune efficiency, voltage gain, and bandwidth, multicoil telemetry systems are in general more flexible than dual-coil systems. The artificial retina is undergoing clinical medical trials in several countries, and it can be available to patients worldwide. The implementation of flexible small antennas using liquid metals holds the promise of better fitting implantable conformal devices, which is important in the proximity of delicate biological structures such as the eye's retina and smaller incisions for implant surgery.
Human Health Research Ethics

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering the promulgation of a regulation designed to ensure the protection of human research subjects in studies used for setting environmental standards. This regulation would result in a comprehensive EPA human study review process and review board specifically designed for such studies. The process would differ from that set out in the "Common Rule," which details acceptable ethical standards for the protection of human subjects in research conducted or sponsored by all federal agencies. The authors of this Policy Forum suggest that a far simpler and more effective approach is to require the adoption of the Common Rule or its foreign equivalents for all research used for in standard setting, regardless of the provenance of the study.
Leukaemias and Lymphomas

The leukaemias and lymphomas are neoplastic diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs that are highly treatable and often curable. They cause bone marrow and immune system dysfunction, which renders the host highly susceptible to infection and bleeding. Often organ dysfunction secondary to tumour cell infiltration or tumour compression of vital structures may be apparent clinically. Tumour formation and organomegaly are more common with the lymphomas than with leukaemias. Keywords: haematology; oncology; cancer treatment
Environmental Aspects of Electrodeposition

Most of this book is concerned with the detailed account of electrodeposition procedures for different metals. One can write an environmental impact statement for everymetal and fill a separate volume in the process. However, many of the issues are similar and can be easily extrapolated from one metal to the next. Because of the central role that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plays in the regulatory environment, most of the publications that cover the environmental aspects of the technology heavily rely on EPA publications. The corresponding chapter of the last edition [1] addressed the perspective of two complementary approaches that electrodeposition shares with other environmentally sensitive technologies: prevention through management of the discharge and development of technologies to minimize the discharge. The chapter was completed in 1998 and the bookwas published in 2000. The chapter relies heavily on the regulatory aspects of government involvement, which in the United States takes the form of federal regulations mainly (but not exclusively) through the EPA complemented by state and local governments. The interplay between the science, the economic impact, and the environmental consequences was mostly focused on the industrial sector. The previous edition [1, P. 241] highlighted that “the selection of materials and processes in modern manufacturing will no longer be driven solely by product performance, reliability, and cost but will be profoundly influenced by environmental and health considerations.” The discussion of electrodeposition of specific metals emphasized environmental concerns such as replacement of cyanides in the electroplating process [1, pp. 115, 119], replacement of Cr(VI) [1, p 320], development of lead-free solder [1, p. 241], and environmental considerations in electroplating of nickel [1, p. 191], cobalt–nickel alloys [1, p. 578], and palladium [1, p. 546]. In this chapter I will use interchangeably the terms electroplating industry and metal finishing industry. I will focus here primarily on U.S. industry. The last 10 years have seen amajor shift in this environment. This shift can be traced to many factors, for example: