cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Human Immune Serum Globulin on Infectivity of Hepatitis A Virus

A standard preparation of immune serum globulin containing a titer of immune adherence hemagglutination hepatitis A antibody of 1:3,200 neutralized the infectivity of MS-1 serum. An inoculation of MS-1 serum was followed by the following evidence of hepatitis A infection in eight of 14 seronegative recipients: (1) abnormal values for serum aspartate aminotransferase after an incubation period of 29-42 days, and (2) no detectable immune adherence hemagglutination hepatitis A antibody (less than 1:5) before exposure, and an eightfold or greater increase in antibody titer during convalescence. In contrast, inoculation of the mixture of MS-1 serum and immune serum globulin was followed by (1) normal values for aspartate aminotransferase in all eight seronegative recipients, and (2) evidence of an antibody response (indicating subclinical infection) in two of the eight. Under the conditions of this study, the use of the preparation of immune serum globulin described prevented or modified hepatitis A infection.
A stopping rule for link failure detection

If an acknowledgement is not received for a data packet transmitted along a given virtual circuit, acknowledgement requests can be sent to discover whether the link has failed. A derivation is given for the optimal value of the maximum number of requests. >
Allelic variation in Helicobacter pylori: progress but no panacea.

See article on page 499 Helicobacter pylori colonisation in the stomach is associated with increased risk for the development of peptic ulcer disease and non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma.1 However, the incidences of these diseases vary in different parts of the world, and these rates have been changing over the past century. It now is clear that the mere presence of H pylori is insufficient to account for this variation. Alternative hypotheses to explain differing outcomes include variation in bacterial strains, in host related factors, or in the particular interactions governing the long term equilibrium between H pylori strain populations and the colonised host.2 In this issue, Kidd et al (see page 499) explore whether H pylori strain differences are related to illness occurrence in South African patients undergoing endoscopy. Why was such a study undertaken? Despite overall conservation of most genes, H pylori are a highly diverse bacterial species.3Their population structure indicates that they are freely recombining,4 which tends to eliminate clonal or allelic variation. Yet, in accordance with previous work, Kidd et al …
In Vivo Autofluorescence Imaging of Tumor Heterogeneity in Response to Treatment

Subpopulations of cells that escape anti-cancer treatment can cause relapse in cancer patients. Therefore, measurements of cellular-level tumor heterogeneity could enable improved anti-cancer treatment regimens. Cancer exhibits altered cellular metabolism, which affects the autofluorescence of metabolic cofactors NAD(P)H and FAD. The optical redox ratio (fluorescence intensity of NAD(P)H divided by FAD) reflects global cellular metabolism. The fluorescence lifetime (amount of time a fluorophore is in the excited state) is sensitive to microenvironment, particularly protein-binding. High-resolution imaging of the optical redox ratio and fluorescence lifetimes of NAD(P)H and FAD (optical metabolic imaging) enables single-cell analyses. In this study, mice with FaDu tumors were treated with the antibody therapy cetuximab or the chemotherapy cisplatin and imaged in vivo two days after treatment. Results indicate that fluorescence lifetimes of NAD(P)H and FAD are sensitive to early response (two days post-treatment, P<.05), compared with decreases in tumor size (nine days post-treatment, P<.05). Frequency histogram analysis of individual optical metabolic imaging parameters identifies subpopulations of cells, and a new heterogeneity index enables quantitative comparisons of cellular heterogeneity across treatment groups for individual variables. Additionally, a dimensionality reduction technique (viSNE) enables holistic visualization of multivariate optical measures of cellular heterogeneity. These analyses indicate increased heterogeneity in the cetuximab and cisplatin treatment groups compared with the control group. Overall, the combination of optical metabolic imaging and cellular-level analyses provide novel, quantitative insights into tumor heterogeneity.
Role of Lu and la in the intergranular films on growth of the prism surface in β-Si3N4: A molecular dynamics study

Abstract The different roles of Lu and La in the intergranular film in silicon nitride on the growth morphology are investigated via molecular dynamics simulations. While advanced microscopy shows each rare earth on the prism surface at room temperature, each additive affects the outward (perpendicular) growth of the surface differently. The simulations show the effect of elevated temperature on the adsorption of La and Lu on this surface that affects growth and provides the atomistic mechanism for the different growth morphology.
Dynamic Piezoresistivity Calibration for Eddy Current Nondestructive Residual Stress Measurements

It has been recently demonstrated [M. P. Blodgett and P. B. Nagy, J. Nondestruct. Eval. 23, 107 (2004)] that eddy current conductivity measurements can be exploited for near-surface residual stress assessment in surface-treated nickel-base superalloy components. To quantitatively assess the prevailing residual stress from eddy current conductivity measurements, the piezoresistivity coefficients of the material must be first determined using known external applied stresses. These calibration measurements are usually conducted on a reference specimen of the same material using cyclic uniaxial loads between 0.1 and 10Hz, which is fast enough to produce adiabatic conditions. Therefore, the question arises whether dynamic calibration measurements can be used or not for accurately assessing the sensitivity of the eddy current method for static residual stress. It is demonstrated in this paper that such dynamic calibration measurements should be corrected for the thermoelastic effect, which is always positive, i.e., it increases the conductivity in tension, when the material cools down, and reduces it in compression, when the material heats up. For low-conductivity titanium and nickel-base engine alloys the thermoelastic corrections are relatively modest at ≈5–10%, but for high-conductivity aluminum alloys the difference between the adiabatic and isothermal properties could be as high as 50%.
Regulating readers' bodies: a discourse analysis of teachers' body talk

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we report findings from a discourse analysis study of reading instruction in eight primary/elementary school classrooms in the United States. Drawing upon discursive psychology, we specifically examined 96 hours of reading comprehension instruction, with a focus on how teachers talked about the body during the instruction and noted how this gave rise to particular constructions of what it means to be a ‘good’ reader and/or learner. We discuss two patterns from the analysis of our data, including: (1) emphasized versus embedded physical control as essential to being a ‘successful’ reader, and (2), implicit physical control and freedom as essential to literacy learning and to students' identities as readers. We conclude by highlighting implications, with a focus on student identity.
Methods and algorithms for infinite Bayesian Stackelberg security games

Recently there has been significant interest in applications of game-theoretic analysis to analyze security resource allocation decisions. Two examples of deployed systems based on this line of research are the ARMOR system in use at the Los Angeles International Airport [20], and the IRIS system used by the Federal Air Marshals Service [25]. Game analysis always begins by developing a model of the domain, often based on inputs from domain experts or historical data. These models inevitably contain significant uncertainty--especially in security domains where intelligence about adversary capabilities and preferences is very difficult to gather. In this work we focus on developing new models and algorithms that capture this uncertainty using continuous payoff distributions. These models are richer and more powerful than previous approaches that are limited to small finite Bayesian game models. We present the first algorithms for approximating equilibrium solutions in these games, and study these algorithms empirically. Our results show dramatic improvements over existing techniques, even in cases where there is very limited uncertainty about an adversaries' payoffs.
Non-freemartin rate in Holstein heterosexual twins

Bovine freemartinism is the sexual modification of a female twin by in utero exchange of blood from a male fetus. This condition was first described by Hunter in 17791 and was well known to result in sterility. The freemartin syndrome occurs in around 92% of bovine females born as a result of heterosexual twin pregnancies2, which indicates 8% of female heterosexual twins will be normal. The diagnosis of freemartinism can be established by one of the following methods: 1) clinical genital abnormalities; 2) presence of sex chromatin bodies in circulating leukocytes in male co-twin; 3) presence of sex chromosome chimerism (XX/XY) of hemopoietic cells; 4) blood typing; and 5) skin grafting. In order to promote the preservation of ideal genetic traits in newborn heterosexual co-twin heifer calves in the Holstein breed, the American Holstein Association authorized our laboratory to cytogenetically test calves for potential freemartinism. The purpose of this paper is to review the cytogenetical results of testing Holstein heifer heterosexual twins referred to our laboratory in the last 13 years.
Computed Tomography and Thin-Section Tomography in Facial Trauma

The efficacy of radiographic methods in detecting and classifying facial fractures was assessed. Thirty-one patients with maxillofacial trauma were studied with plain radiography, coronal and lateral pluridirectional tomography (PT), and axial and direct coronal computed tomography (CT). PT and CT were compared to assess how many fractures each method could demonstrate. In addition, plain films were used in combination with each special study to see how efficacious each combination was at classifying fractures into types, such as blow-out, tripod, etc. To reflect the fact that it is sometimes impossible to obtain lateral PT or direct coronal CT scans at this institution, the same analysis was done using just coronal PT and axial CT. With two projections, CT was better than PT at demonstrating fractured surfaces (168 vs. 156) and in classifying fractures in combination with plain films (48 vs. 43). However, when only one projection from each special study was used, PT surpassed CT in showing fractures (137 vs. 124) and in classifying fractures (42 vs. 40). Failures with each method occurred when the plane of section was parallel or oblique to the plane of the structure being examined, that is, axial CT failed to show the floor of the orbit well and coronal PT failed to show the anterior maxillary sinus wall well. Imaging in two planes, including the coronal plane, is desirable for greatest accuracy in fracture detection, whether by CT, PT, or both. CT is generally better for the display of soft-tissue abnormalities.
Enzyme–Gold Nanoparticle Bioconjugates: Quantification of Particle Stoichiometry and Enzyme Specific Activity

Enzyme-gold nanoparticle bioconjugates have a wide variety of uses ranging from nanoreactors to sensors and model systems. While easy to make, these bioconjugates are often not well characterized. This protocol outlines preparation of enzyme-nanoparticle bioconjugates and two complementary methods for quantifying enzyme:nanoparticle stoichiometry from which the specific activity of the adsorbed enzymes can be determined. Characterizations such as these can aid researchers in improving the design and application of future bioconjugate systems.
Pediatric pyoderma gangrenosum: is it just big wounds on little adults?

Abstract Background Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon, ulcerative, cutaneous condition, often caused by surgical trauma that can masquerade as a pyogenic disease process requiring debridement and antibiotics. Treatment is, however, medical, with delay leading to significant morbidity. In addition, medical workup for coincident disorders has been suggested. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that pediatric PG has differing disease associations and therefore requires a differing medical workup. Methods The National Inpatient Sample and the Kids' Inpatient Database were used to identify all hospitalized patients with PG. PG patients were identified using International Classification of Diseases-9 code and divided into adults and children. For each age group, the PG patients were compared with non-PG patients. The Breslow-Day test was used to determine the relationship between PG and associated diagnoses. Results There were 204 of 7,384,591 children and 10,154 of 89,674,318 adults with PG. Both adult and pediatric PG patients were more likely to be female and have arteritis, arthropathy, and colitis. The PG children had a significantly greater odds ratio for having arteritis, arthropathy, and colitis but not malignancy when compared to adults. Conclusions This is the largest study of PG in adult and child populations. It validates the associations known regarding adult PG while demonstrating that pediatric PG is much more highly associated with gastroenterologic, rheumatologic, and vascular issues and less likely to be coincident with malignancy. These differences demonstrate a need to approach the disease differently in the pediatric population, with regard to associated diagnosis.
The Nonlinearly Viscoelastic Response of a Wood-Thermoplastic Composite

This study considers the time-dependent response of a woodthermoplastic composite. The extruded material under considerationconsists of wood flour embedded in a high-density polyethylene (HDPE)matrix. The characterization study is based on a series of creep andrecovery tests. Stiffness reduction (i.e. damage) and permanentdeformation was observed in the material when the creep stress amplitudeexceeded a threshold value. The damage and permanent strains were foundto depend on creep stress amplitude and duration. The permanentdeformation was more efficiently accommodated by considering the coupontotal strain, however. A nonlinearly viscoelastic model is presentedthat incorporates damage and permanent deformation effects. Damage wasmodeled by considering an effective stress. The model is shown tocompare favorably with the experimental creep/recovery data as well astwo-step load history verification tests.
Les nouvelles dimensions world class logistics : Quels enseignements pour une Europe en mutation ?

S’appuyant sur les conclusions d’une etude realisee en 1993 par un groupe de chercheurs de la Michigan State University, l’article examine chacune des quatre dimensions essentielles de differenciation des entreprises de classe mondiale (centrage strategique, orientation de la chaine logistique, gestion de l’information et mesure). Il analyse egalement leur impact potentiel respectif sur les strategies logistiques des entreprises europeennes.
Quantification of Ethylene Production in Tomato Leaves Infected by Xanthomonas euvesicatoria

Ethylene is a gaseous plant hormone controlling fruit ripening, flower opening, leaf senescence as well as abscission, and disease symptom development. Ethylene plays a critical role in the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas euvesicatoria (X. euvesicatoria)-elicited symptom development in tomato. This protocol describes the measurement of ethylene gas produced by tomato leaves infected with X. euvesicatoria. Infected leaflets are placed in a glass tube for 30 min without sealing. The glass tubes are then capped with a septa stopper, and incubated for an hour. A 1 ml gas sample is removed from the tube using a syringe and then injected into a gas chromatograph to quantify ethylene gas levels. This protocol will be applicable for other plants with other pathogens with modifications.
Pluripotent stem cell expansion and neural differentiation in 3-D scaffolds of tunable Poisson's ratio.

Abstract Biophysical properties of the scaffolds such as the elastic modulus, have been recently shown to impact stem cell lineage commitment. On the other hand, the contribution of the Poisson’s ratio, another important biophysical property, to the stem cell fate decision, has not been studied. Scaffolds with tunable Poisson’s ratio (ν) (termed as auxetic scaffolds when Poisson’s ratio is zero or negative) are anticipated to provide a spectrum of unique biophysical 3-D microenvironments to influence stem cell fate. To test this hypothesis, in the present work we fabricated auxetic polyurethane scaffolds (ν = 0 to −0.45) and evaluated their effects on neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Compared to the regular scaffolds (ν = +0.30) before auxetic conversion, the auxetic scaffolds supported smaller aggregate formation and higher expression of β-tubulin III upon neural differentiation. The influences of pore structure, Poisson’s ratio, and elastic modulus on neural lineage commitment were further evaluated using a series of auxetic scaffolds. The results indicate that Poisson’s ratio may confound the effects of elastic modulus, and auxetic scaffolds with proper pore structure and Poisson’s ratio enhance neural differentiation. This study demonstrates that tuning the Poisson’s ratio of the scaffolds together with elastic modulus and microstructure would enhance the capability to generate broader, more diversified ranges of biophysical 3-D microenvironments for the modulation of cellular differentiation. Statement of Significance Biophysical signaling from the substrates and scaffolds plays a critical role in neural lineage commitment of pluripotent stem cells. While the contribution of elastic modulus has been well studied, the influence of Poisson’s ratio along with microstructure of the scaffolds remains unknown largely due to the lack of technology to produce materials with tailorable Poisson’s ratio. This study fabricated auxetic polyurethane scaffolds with different elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio and microstructure and evaluated neural differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. The findings add a novel angle to understand the impact of biophysical microenvironment on stem cell fate decisions.
Ganglioneuroma of the pancreas in a 4-year-old girl

Ganglioneuroma (GN) is the uncommon, benign representative of the peripheral neuroblastic tumours (PNTs), which arise from primitive sympathetic ganglion cells. PNTs comprise one of the most common groups of neoplastic diseases in infants and children, but its occurrence in the pancreas is rare. We report a 4-year-old girl with GN of the pancreas requiring pancreaticoduodenectomy as a definitive therapy and with a great outcome, and we review the published literature.
Resilient Downtowns: A New Approach to Revitalizing Small- and Medium-City Downtowns

There are innumerable downtown development strategies. Some, like the National Main Street Center’s Four Point Approach are branded while many others, such as tourism development or historic preser...
The FTC and the New Common Law of Privacy

One of the great ironies about information privacy law is that the primary regulation of privacy in the United States has barely been studied in a scholarly way. Since the late 1990s, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been enforcing companies’ privacy policies through its authority to police unfair and deceptive trade practices. Despite over fifteen years of FTC enforcement, there is no meaningful body of judicial decisions to show for it. The cases have nearly all resulted in settlement agreements. Nevertheless, companies look to these agreements to guide their privacy practices. Thus, in practice, FTC privacy jurisprudence has become the broadest and most influential regulating force on information privacy in the United States — more so than nearly any privacy statute or any common law tort. In this Article, we contend that the FTC’s privacy jurisprudence is functionally equivalent to a body of common law, and we examine it as such. We explore how and why the FTC, and not contract law, came to dominate the enforcement of privacy policies. A common view of the FTC’s privacy jurisprudence is that it is thin, merely focusing on enforcing privacy promises. In contrast, a deeper look at the principles that emerge from FTC privacy “common law” demonstrates that the FTC’s privacy jurisprudence is quite thick. The FTC has codified certain norms and best practices and has developed some baseline privacy protections. Standards have become so specific they resemble rules. We contend that the foundations exist to develop this “common law” into a robust privacy regulatory regime, one that focuses on consumer expectations of privacy, extends far beyond privacy policies, and involves a full suite of substantive rules that exist independently from a company’s privacy representations.
sIgM-FcμR Interactions Regulate Early B Cell Activation and Plasma Cell Development after Influenza Virus Infection.

Previous studies with mice lacking secreted IgM (sIgM) due to a deletion of the μs splice region (μs-/- ) had shown sIgM involvement in normal B cell development and in support of maximal Ag-specific IgG responses. Because of the changes to B cell development, it remains unclear to which extent and how sIgM directly affects B cell responses. In this study, we aimed to explore the underlying mechanisms of sIgM-mediated IgG response regulation during influenza virus infection. Generating mice with normally developed μs-deficient B cells, we demonstrate that sIgM supports IgG responses by enhancing early Ag-specific B cell expansion, not by altering B cell development. Lack of FcμR expression on B cells, but not lack of Fcα/μR expression or complement activation, reduced antiviral IgG responses to the same extent as observed in μs-/- mice. B cell-specific Fcmr-/- mice lacked robust clonal expansion of influenza hemagglutinin-specific B cells early after infection and developed fewer spleen and bone marrow IgG plasma cells and memory B cells, compared with controls. However, germinal center responses appeared unaffected. Provision of sIgM rescued plasma cell development from μs-/- but not Fcmr-/- B cells, as demonstrated with mixed bone marrow chimeric mice. Taken together, the data suggest that sIgM interacts with FcμR on B cells to support early B cell activation and the development of long-lived humoral immunity.
Methods for Real-Time Prediction of the Mode of Travel Using Smartphone-Based GPS and Accelerometer Data

We propose and compare combinations of several methods for classifying transportation activity data from smartphone GPS and accelerometer sensors. We have two main objectives. First, we aim to classify our data as accurately as possible. Second, we aim to reduce the dimensionality of the data as much as possible in order to reduce the computational burden of the classification. We combine dimension reduction and classification algorithms and compare them with a metric that balances accuracy and dimensionality. In doing so, we develop a classification algorithm that accurately classifies five different modes of transportation (i.e., walking, biking, car, bus and rail) while being computationally simple enough to run on a typical smartphone. Further, we use data that required no behavioral changes from the smartphone users to collect. Our best classification model uses the random forest algorithm to achieve 96.8% accuracy.
Corrections to "Towards the In Situ Detection of Individual He2* Excimers Using a Ti TES in Superfluid Helium" [Jun 15 Art. no. 2100707 Doi: 10.1109/TASC.2014.2372673]

There is an error in equation (1) of the above-named work [ibid., vol. 25, no. 3, Jun. 2015, Art. no. 2100707; doi: 10.1109/TASC.2014.2372673]. The corrected equation is provided. The difference is in the denominator, where 2βI should be replaced by 2 + βI .
Education in the Clouds: How Colleges and Universities are Leveraging Cloud Computing

Cloud computing has been touted as a revolutionary concept in computing. In this article, we introduce the cloud computing concept, and then discus the implications for the use of the cloud model in higher education. Due to budget constraints and the power of computing “on-demand,” many believe that colleges and universities will be at the forefront of the shift to using cloud-based resources. We examine the impact of cloud computing on both research and university computing operations. We see that globally, this shift is already making a difference in how universities procure and use IT resources. In conclusion, we advance a six-stage Cloud Migration Strategy for introducing and implementing cloud computing in institutions. We also discuss the necessary changes in policies and procurement, as well as security and reliability concerns for institutions implementing cloud computing.
A Comparison of Three Methods of Teaching Skin Self-Examinations

Skin self-examinations are essential for the early identification and treatment of skin cancers. However, little is known about the most effective methods for teaching skin cancer detection and skin self-examination. This study compared three skin cancer education methods that are commonly used in the primary care setting: viewing a videotape, reading brochures, and one-on-one instruction from a nurse practitioner. One hundred forty-three young adults were randomly assigned to one of the four conditions (educational intervention or wait list) and completed measures of skin cancer knowledge, ability to visually discriminate cancerous versus noncancerous skin growths, and behavioral ability to perform a skin self-examination immediately (Time 1) and 3 weeks (Time 2) after the educational intervention. Results showed that participants across all educational interventions had significantly higher skin cancer knowledge compared to those in the wait-list control group, and these knowledge scores were maintained for 3 weeks. Participants in the brochure condition scored significantly higher than participants in all other conditions on an observational measure of skin self-examination. Demographic variables, such as gender and ethnicity, were not found to be related to performance on any of the dependent measures. These findings provide preliminary evidence that knowledge of skin cancer may be enhanced through a variety of educational techniques and that written materials (e.g., brochures) may represent the minimal intervention level necessary for teaching adults how to perform thorough skin self-examinations.
Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease Amplify Reperfusion-Induced Inflammation and Microvascular Dysfunction

Reperfusion of ischemic tissues is often associated with organ dysfunction and tissue injury (4, 8). The microvasculature appears to be particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of ischemia / reperfusion (I / R). While much has been learned about the microvascular alterations that are associated with I / R and the mechanisms that underlie these events in otherwise healthy tissues, less attention has been devoted to defining the influence of the different risk factors for cardiovascular disease on the microvascular responses to I / R. This paucity of information exists despite strong epidemiological evidence that the mortality rates for ischemic tissue diseases (in age-adjusted non-smoker populations) are much greater in individuals with high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia and / or diabetes. Evidence implicating age as a determinant of the outcome of ischemic tissue disease is also mounting. While it is often assumed that these risk factors increase the incidence of ischemic diseases in tissues such as heart, brain, gut, and liver by rendering organs more vulnerable to ischemic episodes (e.g. atherosclerosis-induced flow restriction in arterial vessels), there is growing evidence that suggests that risk factors for cardiovascular disease may also exert their deleterious actions by enhancing the vulnerability of the microvasculature to the injurious effects of I / R (4, 8). This chapter provides a summary of the literature that implicates hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and aging as modulating influences on the microvascular responses to I / R.
Congenital Joint Laxity/Instability

This is also known as joint hypermobility where the joint range of motion is greater than normal. Benign joint hypermobility is prevalent among children. Physiologic joint laxity is more common in females (Figs. 6.1 and 6.2) and is greatest at birth but progressively diminishes throughout childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Joint laxity may be transient affecting females, which is hormone related or persistent affecting both genders. Persistent joint laxity is a generalized condition affecting limb and axial joints and caused by increased length and elasticity of the normal jointrestraining ligaments, which allows a greater degree of translation and mobility of the articular surfaces. This also may lead to an increase in the distractibility of the affected joint. The defect is due to structural abnormalities within the collagen fibrils. Generalized joint laxity affecting more than three joints was encountered in one study [1] among 7% of normal schoolchildren and in another report [2] to be approximately 40%. Criteria for joint laxity include: hyperextension of elbow beyond 10 degrees, passive hyperextension of the index or small finger beyond 90 degrees or parallel to the forearm, and apposition of the thumb against the volar aspect of the forearm.
Fascist Indirect Propaganda in 1930s America: The Distribution and Exhibition of Italian Fiction Films

The essay investigates the ways representatives of the Fascist government deemed Italian fiction films effective vehicles of indirect propaganda in 1930s America. Indeed, in the 1930s and early 194...
Effect of continuous light on leaf wax isotope ratios in Betula nana and Eriophorum vaginatum: Implications for Arctic paleoclimate reconstructions

Abstract Reconstructions of climate using leaf wax D/H ratios (δDwax) require accounting for the apparent isotopic fractionation (eapp) between plant source water and waxes. There have been conflicting publications on whether plants in the Arctic growing under 24-hour continuous light, fractionate less than temperate and tropical plants. In this study, we examine the effect of diurnal light (DL) versus 24-hour continuous light (CL) on the isotopic composition of leaf n-alkanes and n-acids in greenhouse experiments using two common Arctic plants (Eriophorum vaginatum, or tussock cottongrass and Betula nana, or dwarf birch). For E. vaginatum, the δDwax values of various wax homologues were 5–11‰ more positive for CL plants relative to their DL counterparts, whereas for B. nana, CL waxes were 3–24‰ more negative, suggesting that daylight length is not a unifying control on leaf wax D/H ratios of Arctic plants. The δ13Cwax of B. nana was more negative for plants grown in continuous light compared to diurnal light, reflecting lower water-use efficiency, associated with prolonged stomatal opening in the CL treatment. We modeled the impact of increasing stomatal conductance and effective flow path lengths (mimicking variable leaf morphologies) on the isotopic composition of leaf waters (δDlw) and find that variations in leaf-water enrichment may explain the variable δDwax responses seen between E. vaginatum and B. nana. We suggest that between-species differences in the δDlw response to light, and differences in the utilization of stored carbohydrates, were important for governing δDwax. Our greenhouse results suggest that Arctic plant leaf waxes do not consistently display reduced eapp values as a result of 24-hour day light, providing additional support for field observations.
Identification of sieve elements and companion cell protoplasts by a combination of brightfield and fluorescence microscopy.

Premise of the study Phloem-limited diseases are becoming increasingly pervasive, threatening the existence of crops worldwide. Studies of phloem diseases are complicated by the inaccessibility of the phloem tissue. Phloem cells are located deep inside the plant body, are interspersed with other cell types, are among the smallest cells in the plant kingdom, and make up a small percentage of the total cell population in a plant. These properties make phloem cells difficult to investigate. Methods We used leaf midrib protoplasts and a combination of organelle-specific dyes including Neutral Red (acidic compartments), MitoTracker Green (mitochondria), Hoechst 3342 (nucleus), and chloroplast autofluorescence. We examined the protoplasts under light and fluorescence microscopy. Results When observed using brightfield and fluorescence microscopy, sieve element protoplasts were distinguished by the lack of vacuole and a nucleus, and by containing various mitochondria. Companion cells showed a dense cytoplasm and various small vacuoles. They also revealed their characteristic large nucleus and abundant mitochondria. Discussion We present evidence that a combination of organelle-specific dyes and autofluorescence allows for the identification of sieve elements and companion cell protoplasts from citrus leaf tissue.
Association of Cannabinoid Administration With Experimental Pain in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance Cannabinoid drugs are widely used as analgesics, but experimental pain studies have produced mixed findings. The analgesic properties of cannabinoids remain unclear. Objective To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between cannabinoid drug administration and experimental pain outcomes in studies of healthy adults. Design, Setting, and Participants A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL was conducted from the inception of each database to September 30, 2017. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they met criteria, including healthy participants and an experimentally controlled administration of any cannabinoid preparation in a quantified dose. Studies that used participants with chronic pain were excluded. Data extracted included study characteristics, cannabinoid types and doses, sex composition, and outcomes. Study quality was assessed using a validity measure previously established in published reviews. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to pool data and generate summary estimates. Main Outcomes and Measures Experimental pain threshold, pain tolerance, pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, and mechanical hyperalgesia. Results Eighteen placebo-controlled studies (with 442 participants) were identified. Of the 442 participants, 233 (52.7%) were male and 209 (47.3%) were female. For sample ages, 13 (72%) of the 18 studies reported a mean sample age (26.65 years), 4 (22%) reported a range, and 1 (6%) reported a median value. The search yielded sufficient data to analyze 18 pain threshold comparisons, 22 pain intensity comparisons, 9 pain unpleasantness comparisons, 13 pain tolerance comparisons, and 9 mechanical hyperalgesia comparisons. Cannabinoid administration was associated with small increases in pain threshold (Hedgesg = 0.186; 95% CI, 0.054-0.318;P = .006), small to medium increases in pain tolerance (Hedgesg = 0.225; 95% CI, 0.015-0.436;P = .04), and a small to medium reduction in the unpleasantness of ongoing experimental pain (Hedgesg = 0.288; 95% CI, 0.104-0.472;P = .002). Cannabinoid administration was not reliably associated with a decrease in experimental pain intensity (Hedgesg = 0.017; 95% CI, −0.120 to 0.154;P = .81) or mechanical hyperalgesia (Hedgesg = 0.093; 95% CI, −0.059 to 0.244;P = .23). The mean quality rating across studies was good. Conclusions and Relevance Cannabinoid drugs may prevent the onset of pain by producing small increases in pain thresholds but may not reduce the intensity of experimental pain already being experienced; instead, cannabinoids may make experimental pain feel less unpleasant and more tolerable, suggesting an influence on affective processes. Cannabis-induced improvements in pain-related negative affect may underlie the widely held belief that cannabis relieves pain.
The Common Antidiabetic Drug Metformin Reduces Odds of Developing Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose AMD is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in older individuals in the Western world, and there are currently no therapies to halt disease progression. Studies suggest that the commonly prescribed antidiabetic drug, metformin, is associated with decreased risk of several ocular diseases, but no work has investigated the effect of metformin use on development of AMD. Thus, we aim to investigate whether metformin use is associated with decreased risk of developing AMD. Methods In this retrospective case-control study, we used medical records from patients older than 55 who have visited a University of Florida health clinic. Three controls were matched for every AMD case, defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code, based on the Charlson Comorbidity Index to ensure comparable baseline overall health status. Univariate and conditional multivariable logistic regressions were used to determine the association between a variety of covariates, including metformin use, and AMD diagnosis. Results Metformin use was associated with decreased odds of developing AMD, independently of the other covariates investigated, with an odds ratio of 0.58 and a 95% confidence interval of 0.43 to 0.79. Other medications assessed were not associated with decreased odds of developing AMD. Conclusions Patients who had taken metformin had decreased odds of developing AMD, suggesting that metformin may have a therapeutic role in AMD development or progression in those who are at risk. Further work should include clinical trials to investigate prospectively whether metformin has a protective effect in those at risk for developing AMD.
Discovery of an intrasubunit nicotinic acetylcholine receptor–binding site for the positive allosteric modulator Br-PBTC

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) ligands that lack agonist activity but enhance activation in the presence of an agonist are called positive allosteric modulators (PAMs). nAChR PAMs have therapeutic potential for the treatment of nicotine addiction and several neuropsychiatric disorders. PAMs need to be selectively targeted toward certain nAChR subtypes to tap this potential. We previously discovered a novel PAM, (R)-7-bromo-N-(piperidin-3-yl)benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamide (Br-PBTC), which selectively potentiates the opening of α4β2*, α2β2*, α2β4*, and (α4β4)2α4 nAChRs and reactivates some of these subtypes when desensitized (* indicates the presence of other subunits). We located the Br-PBTC-binding site through mutagenesis and docking in α4. The amino acids Glu-282 and Phe-286 near the extracellular domain on the third transmembrane helix were found to be crucial for Br-PBTC's PAM effect. E282Q abolishes Br-PBTC potentiation. Using (α4E282Qβ2)2α5 nAChRs, we discovered that the trifluoromethylated derivatives of Br-PBTC can potentiate channel opening of α5-containing nAChRs. Mutating Tyr-430 in the α5 M4 domain changed α5-selectivity among Br-PBTC derivatives. There are two kinds of α4 subunits in α4β2 nAChRs. Primary α4 forms an agonist-binding site with another β2 subunit. Accessory α4 forms an agonist-binding site with another α4 subunit. The pharmacological effect of Br-PBTC depends both on its own and agonists' occupancy of primary and accessory α4 subunits. Br-PBTC reactivates desensitized (α4β2)2α4 nAChRs. Its full efficacy requires intact Br-PBTC sites in at least one accessory and one primary α4 subunit. PAM potency increases with higher occupancy of the agonist sites. Br-PBTC and its derivatives should prove useful as α subunit-selective nAChR PAMs.
Risk factors for peer victimization among middle and high school students

Peer victimization at school is a pressing public health issue. Peer victimization has a deleterious impact on the victim and can lead to lifelong negative outcomes such as depression. The purpose of the present study is to examine peer victimization and potential individual, school, and peer correlates in a national sample of middle and high school students. A secondary data analysis of the School Crime and Safety survey was conducted to investigate study aims. Greater than one in 20 (7.2%) of students reported peer victimization at school. Multiple individual factors were found to increase the odds of victimization including grade level, grades received, and school avoidance among other variables. School and peer factors were also found to be significant. Study findings may be useful to school personnel for reducing peer victimization at school. Specific recommendations for school personnel are offered.
Exact and Robust Reconstructions of Integer Vectors Based on Multidimensional Chinese Remainder Theorem (MD-CRT)

The robust Chinese remainder theorem (CRT) has been recently proposed for robustly reconstructing a large nonnegative integer from erroneous remainders. It has found many applications in signal processing, including phase unwrapping, and frequency estimation under sub-Nyquist sampling. Motivated by the applications in multidimensional (MD) signal processing, in this article we propose the MD-CRT and robust MD-CRT for integer vectors. Specifically, by rephrasing the abstract CRT for rings in number-theoretic terms, we first derive the MD-CRT for integer vectors with respect to a general set of integer matrix moduli, which provides an algorithm to uniquely reconstruct an integer vector from its remainders, if it is in the fundamental parallelepiped of the lattice generated by a least common right multiple of all the moduli. For some special forms of moduli, we present explicit reconstruction formulae. Moreover, we derive the robust MD-CRT for integer vectors when the remaining integer matrices of all the moduli left divided by their greatest common left divisor (gcld) are pairwise commutative, and coprime. Two different reconstruction algorithms are proposed, and accordingly, two different conditions on the remainder error bound for the reconstruction robustness are obtained, which are related to a quarter of the minimum distance of the lattice generated by the gcld of all the moduli or the Smith normal form of the gcld.
Hindbrain melanocortin 3/4 receptors modulate the food intake and body weight suppressive effects of the GLP-1 receptor agonist, liraglutide

Simultaneously targeting multiple energy balance control systems is a promising direction for the development of obesity pharmacotherapies. Here, we explore the interaction between the GLP-1 and melanocortin system within the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) of the caudal brainstem. Using a pharmacological approach, we demonstrate that the full anorectic potential of liraglutide, an FDA-approved GLP-1 analog for the treatment of obesity, requires DVC melanocortin 3/4 receptor (MC3/4R) signaling. Specifically, the food intake and body weight suppressive effects of liraglutide were attenuated by DVC administration of the MC3/4R antagonist SHU9119. In contrast, the anorectic effects of liraglutide were enhanced by combined activation of DVC MC3/4Rs using the agonist MTII. Our findings highlight the modulation of liraglutide-induced anorexia by DVC MC3/4R signaling, thereby suggesting a site of action at which two important energy balance control systems interact.
Postpartum Contraceptive Use Among Denver-Based Adolescents and Young Adults: Association with Subsequent Repeat Delivery.

Abstract Study Objective To determine the association of postpartum contraceptive use with repeat deliveries among adolescents and youth. Design Retrospective, observational analysis of electronic health record data. Setting Single, urban facility in Denver, Colorado, United States. Participants Women aged 10-24 years who gave birth between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2015. Interventions and Main Outcome Measures Postpartum contraceptive use and time to subsequent delivery. Results Among 4068 women, 1735 (43%) used postpartum contraception. In adjusted analyses, characteristics associated with contraceptive use included Hispanic ethnicity (relative risk [RR], 1.1; P = .03), incremental prenatal visits (RR, 1.01; P = .047), and attendance at postpartum care (RR, 1.60; P Conclusion Postpartum LARC use reduced the risk of repeat pregnancy with a significant increase in time to the next delivery. Non-LARC use was not different from no contraceptive use in terms of time to repeat delivery.
Aerosolized Particle Reduction: A Novel Cadaveric Model and a Negative Airway Pressure Respirator (NAPR) System to Protect Health Care Workers From COVID-19.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify escape of small-particle aerosols from a variety of masks using simulated breathing conditions. This study also aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a negative-p...
The kinetic landscape of an RNA binding protein in cells

ABSTRACT Gene expression in higher eukaryotic cells orchestrates interactions between thousands of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) and tens of thousands of RNAs 1. The kinetics by which RBPs bind to and dissociate from their RNA sites are critical for the coordination of cellular RNA-protein interactions 2. However, these kinetics were experimentally inaccessible in cells. Here we show that time-resolved RNA-protein crosslinking with a pulsed femtosecond UV laser, followed by immunoprecipitation and high throughput sequencing allows the determination of binding and dissociation kinetics of the RBP Dazl for thousands of individual RNA binding sites in cells. This kinetic crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (KIN-CLIP) approach reveals that Dazl resides at individual binding sites only seconds or shorter, while the sites remain Dazl-free markedly longer. The data further indicate that Dazl binds to many RNAs in clusters of multiple proximal sites. The impact of Dazl on mRNA levels and ribosome association correlates with the cumulative probability of Dazl binding in these clusters. Integrating kinetic data with mRNA features quantitatively connects Dazl-RNA binding to Dazl function. Our results show how previously inaccessible, kinetic parameters for RNA-protein interactions in cells can be measured and how these data quantitatively link RBP-RNA binding to cellular RBP function.
Theoretical Development of Controller Transfer applied to Dynamical Systems

Data-driven control strategies suffer from the necessity of training and its associated computational time and cost. This motivates the continuous increase of popularity of transfer learning based methods. In this paper, we have investigated transfer learning in the context of controller for dynamical systems. First, we have derived conditions under which controller can be transferred between two linear dynamical systems. Furthermore, we have introduced a novel algorithm to design the transferable and non-transferable control components for linear systems. Secondly, we have derived conditions under which a stabilizing controller can be transferred between two different nonlinear dynamical systems. Furthermore, we have used the notion of zero dynamics to transform the nonlinear dynamics into global normal form, to derive the transferability conditions on the controller. Finally, we have numerically evaluated the performance of our transfer learning based methods for two sets of example linear and nonlinear dynamical systems and consequently shows the benefit of transferring a pre-trained controller from a Source to Target system in the context of computational complexity and cost benefit.
Periodic tilings and auxetic deployments

We investigate geometric characteristics of a specific planar periodic framework with three degrees of freedom. While several avatars of this structural design have been considered in materials sci...