cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RNA sequencing of transformed lymphoblastoid cells from siblings discordant for autism spectrum disorders reveals transcriptomic and functional alterations: Evidence for sex‐specific effects

Genome-wide expression studies of samples derived from individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their unaffected siblings have been widely used to shed light on transcriptomic differences associated with this condition. Females have historically been under-represented in ASD genomic studies. Emerging evidence from studies of structural genetic variants and peripheral biomarkers suggest that sex-differences may exist in the biological correlates of ASD. Relatively few studies have explicitly examined whether sex-differences exist in the transcriptomic signature of ASD. The present study quantified genome-wide expression values by performing RNA sequencing on transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines and identified transcripts differentially expressed between same-sex, proximal-aged sibling pairs. We found that performing separate analyses for each sex improved our ability to detect ASD-related transcriptomic differences; we observed a larger number of dysregulated genes within our smaller set of female samples (n = 12 sibling pairs), as compared with the set of male samples (n = 24 sibling pairs), with small, but statistically significant overlap between the sexes. Permutation-based gene-set analyses and weighted gene co-expression network analyses also supported the idea that the transcriptomic signature of ASD may differ between males and females. We discuss our findings in the context of the relevant literature, underscoring the need for future ASD studies to explicitly account for differences between the sexes. Autism Res 2017, 10: 439-455. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Abstract P340: Prevalence and Correlates of Smoking Cessation Pharmacotherapy in Hospitalized Smokers With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background ACC/AHA guidelines recommend pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation in smokers with AMI. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of smoking cessation pharmacotherapy in hospitalized patients with AMI and to identify patient factors associated with prescription of these medications. Methods In the 24-center TRIUMPH registry, 4340 AMI patients underwent detailed interviews and 1631 reported smoking within 30 days of admission. Prescription of first-line smoking cessation medications at discharge was assessed by medical record review. All factors associated with smoking cessation treatment based on literature review were included in hierarchical modified log Poisson models. Results Only 14% (222/1631) of AMI patients who smoked were prescribed smoking cessation medication at discharge. Younger age, high school graduation, heavy cigarette usage, and treatment variables (instruction on smoking cessation, in-hospital revascularization) were independently associated with prescription of smoking cessation pharmacotherapy (see Figure). There was significant variation in prescribing across sites: range: 0-28%, median rate ratio 1.42 (1.24, 2.70) after multivariable adjustment. Conclusions Smokers surviving an AMI are rarely prescribed recommended smoking cessation treatment and there is considerable variation in prescription rates among hospitals. Although inpatient cessation counseling alone has not been shown to increase cessation rates in AMI patients, it increases the likelihood that patients receive effective pharmacotherapy. More aggressive use of pharmacotherapy is justified in older, less educated, and lighter smokers. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
A polynomial chaos theory approach to uncertainty in electrical engineering

This paper describes an approach to uncertainty in electrical engineering problems based on the polynomial chaos theory. The basics of the mathematical theory are introduced and then specific applications to electrical engineering problems are discussed. The applications encompass modeling and simulation, control, and measurements
An instrument for every child: a study on long-term effects of extended music education in German primary schools

ABSTRACTDoes extended music education during primary school foster long-term musical participation? What other factors contribute to long-term musical participation? In our study on Impacts and Long-Term Effects of Musical Participation, we investigate how the German programme An Instrument for Every Child (JeKi), which fosters the learning of an instrument during primary school, takes effect on the musical participation of young adolescents in Grades 6 and 7. Besides JeKi, we take into account additional predictors. Our results indicate that the children’s affinity for music and the importance of music at home have a larger influence than all other predictors do on their learning an instrument as well as on their overall musical involvement. We discuss our results referring to Bourdieu and to recent research on musical participation.
THE EFFECT OF STATIC AND DYNAMIC LOADING ON THE CORROSION RATE OF SURGICAL IMPLANT METALS

ABSTRACT There is increasing interest in identifying factors which affect corrosion of implant metals. Reasons for this are both fundamental (regarding biological effects of released ions) and practical (increasing use of porous metals with larger corrosion currents.) Previously we presented evidence showing that static stresses can significantly change corrosion behavior of certain implant metals. The objectives of the present study were 1) to more thoroughly investigate this effect quantitatively using various electrochemical tests which measure corrosion current density ic and 2) to examine this effect over a broader range of stresses to more accurately approximate in vivo conditions. The results indicate that different alloys behave differently when stressed. With 316 L there is a lowering of breakdown potential in stressed material. For Ti-6Al-4V ELI, ic under stressed conditions can be much increased. Corrosion of Co-Cr-Mo is basically unaffected by stress.
A revised check list of the Tabanidae (Diptera) of Costa Rica

Previous lists of Costa Rican Tabanidae are updated and revised to include 90 species in 22 genera. The taxonomic status of species questionably reported earlier is clarified and reference is made to new publications on the regional species in addition to records of new material.
Chapter 16 – Electrolytic Refining1

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews electrolytic refining, which is the principal method of mass-producing high-purity copper. Copper is treated electrolytically during its production from ore and is electrorefined from impure copper anodes from leach or solvent extraction solutions. Production electrorefining begins by inserting a group of anodes and cathodes into the empty cells of a freshly cleaned section of the refinery. Insoluble impurities in the anode adhere to the anode or fall to the bottom of the refining cell. They are removed and sent to the copper and byproduct metal recovery plant. Soluble impurities depart the cell in continuously flowing electrolyte and are removed from an electrolyte bleed stream. Electrorefining is a continuous process and the main objective is to produce high purity cathode copper with minimum consumption of energy and manpower. The copper from electrorefining—melted and cast—contains less than 20 parts per million impurities. The chapter presents industrial ranges of copper anode and cathode compositions in the form of tables. The chapter also shows a flow sheet and industrial refining equipment. The main recent developments in electrorefining have been adoption of pre-cast polymer concrete cells and stainless steel cathodes. These have resulted in purer copper, increased productivity, and decreased energy consumption.
Sustainable development as deus ex machina

Abstract The advocacy of sustainable development (SD) by governments, NGOs and scientists over the last three decades has failed to diminish the alarming species extinction rate fueled by overuse and habitat destruction. Attempts to satisfy worldwide demands for economic growth and development have, in fact, thwarted conservation efforts and greatly diminished the diversity and abundance of life forms, including key iconic species. Here, we argue that this crisis is one of values rooted in a discourse that justifies development and downplays the morality of human-caused extinction of life forms. The language of SD does not convey the loss—worse, it masks or rationalizes it as blameless or necessary. The language of SD represents the loss in biodiversity as fallout from the reduced capacity of ecosystems to provide services for human benefit, while providing no sense of the values necessary for conserving life for its own sake. We have never been in possession of an intelligible notion of such values; this includes the concept of the “intrinsic value” of nature. Language is at the center of our difficulties. We must consider the limits of language to express the value of life. This has theoretical and practical relevance for conservation planning and interventions.
Grain-scale and deposit-scale heterogeneity of Re distribution in molybdenite at the Bagdad porphyry Cu-Mo deposit, Arizona

Abstract Electron microprobe analysis of Re concentration in molybdenite grains in 45 samples from 11 rock units at the Bagdad porphyry Cu-Mo deposit found high variability from the grain to the deposit scale. Measured Re concentrations range from 0.5 and in some cases > 1. Although microprobe maps show that the Re variation in some crystals correlates with growth-related zoning to a limited extent, there was no pattern to the variation in most of the molybdenite grains and the few zoned examples had no clear sector or consistent oscillatory textures. Based on our current understanding of trace element incorporation during hydrothermal molybdenite growth, this evidently heterogeneous distribution of Re in molybdenite precludes the use of microprobe spot measurements of Re as a vector to mineralization, which was the original focus of this study. A follow-up analysis by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) using spot diameters of 150 μm reduced the observed intra-grain variability from 1.67 to 1 order of magnitude, but still failed to yield data that correlated with any known geological features. This suggests that any further work toward using molybdenite Re content as a vector to mineralization should either focus on whole-grain methods of analysis or else should use detailed microprobe mapping of molybdenite growth zones to guide point analyses, and then correlate the growth zones in molybdenite samples taken over distance through the deposit. This approach could help shed light on how the development of heterogeneous Re concentrations on the micro-scale relates to the processes of molybdenite precipitation and alteration.
A Machine Learning Approach for Semantic Structuring of Scientific Charts in Scholarly Documents

Large scholarly repositories are designed to provide scientists and researchers with a wealth of information that is retrieved from data present in a variety of formats. A typical scholarly document contains information in a combined layout of texts and graphic images. Common types of graphics found in these documents are scientific charts that are used to represent data values in a visual format. Experimental results are rarely described without the aid of one form of a chart or another, whether it is 2D plot, bar chart, pie chart, etc. Metadata of these graphics is usually the only content that is made available for search by user queries. By processing the image content and extracting the data represented in the graphics, search engines will be able to handle more specific queries related to the data itself. In this paper we describe a machine learning based system that extracts and recognizes the various data fields present in a bar chart for semantic labeling. Our approach comprises of a graphics and text separation and extraction phase, followed by a component role classification for both text and graphic components that are in turn used for semantic analysis and representation of the chart. The proposed system is tested on a set of over 200 bar charts extracted from over 1,000 scientific articles in PDF format.
Imprints of fluctuating proton shapes on flow in proton-lead collisions at the LHC

Abstract Results for particle production in s = 5.02 TeV p + Pb collisions at the Large Hadron Collider within a combined classical Yang–Mills and relativistic viscous hydrodynamic calculation are presented. We emphasize the importance of sub-nucleon scale fluctuations in the proton projectile to describe the experimentally observed azimuthal harmonic coefficients v n , demonstrating their sensitivity to the proton shape. We stress that the proton shape and its fluctuations are not free parameters in our calculations. Instead, they have been constrained using experimental data from HERA on exclusive vector meson production. Including temperature dependent shear and bulk viscosities, as well as UrQMD for the low temperature regime, we present results for mean transverse momenta, harmonic flow coefficients for charged hadrons and identified particles, as well as Hanbury–Brown–Twiss radii.
Review: The Evolving Landscape for Complement Therapeutics in Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases

The complement system is increasingly understood to play major roles in the pathogenesis of human inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Because of this situation, there are rapidly expanding commercial efforts to develop novel complement inhibitors and effector pathway-modulating drugs. This review provides insights into the evolving understanding of the complement system components, mechanisms of activation within and across the 3 pathways (classical, alternative, and lectin), how the pathways are normally controlled and then dysregulated in target tissues, and what diseases are known to be, in large part, complement-dependent through the successful development and approval of complement therapeutics in patients. Mechanisms of complement activation in rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and thrombotic microangiopathies are also illustrated. In addition, the specific therapeutic drugs that are both approved and under development are discussed in the context of both nonrheumatic and rheumatic diseases. Finally, the methods by which the complement system can be assessed in humans through biomarker studies are outlined, with the goal of understanding, in specific patients, how the system is functioning.
“Back to the Future” (Or How a Product Last Sold Almost 60 Years Ago Resulted in a Current Financial Statement Restatement)

ABSTRACT Owens-Illinois (OI) restated its financial statements for the year 2015 due to a disagreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding how the firm accounted for unasserted claims related to asbestos litigation. Almost 60 years ago, OI sold approximately $40 million of a product that contained asbestos and has subsequently accrued almost $5 billion of liability related to those sales. From 2003 through 2015, OI had been estimating unasserted claims over a rolling three-year window, which the firm viewed as preferable because it improved the reliability of the resulting estimate that was important given the volatility of asbestos litigation. The SEC required that OI accrue unasserted claims for as far into the future as foreseeable. While the accounting change increased the estimate of the total liability for asbestos litigation, when it was allocated to individual years, this change materially increased OI's earnings for the years 2013, 2014, and 2015. Another interesting aspec...
Inter-filament co-operativity is crucial for regulating muscle contraction.

Understanding how muscle contraction is regulated has important implications for the treatment of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Short-term transmission line maintenance scheduling with wind energy integration

Transmission line maintenance scheduling (TLMS) plays an important role in enhancement of component reliability. When conducting short-term TLMS, system operators should consider not only operating costs but also operating constraints, particularly with increasing integration of large-scale wind generation. This paper proposes a stochastic security-constrained model to establish short-term TLMS in consideration of wind generation. Possible scenarios, generated by the Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) technique, are simulated to represent wind power volatility. For each line to be maintained during the maintenance windows, Kirchoff's law is enforced by using a big-M formulation. Unit commitment is also considered to coordinate TLMS to achieve the best maintenance strategies. The whole problem is modeled as a mixed integer linear programming problem, which is solved by the CPLEX solver. Numerical tests on a six-bus system and a modified IEEE 118-bus system show the effectiveness of the proposed model and the algorithm.
Discovery of AM-6226: A Potent and Orally Bioavailable GPR40 Full Agonist That Displays Efficacy in Nonhuman Primates.

GPR40 (FFA1) is a G-protein-coupled receptor, primarily expressed in pancreatic islets and enteroendocrine L-cells, and, when activated, elicits increased insulin secretion only in the presence of elevated glucose levels. We recently reported the discovery of AM-1638 (2), a full agonist of GPR40. Herein, we present further structure–activity relationships progressing from AM-1638 (2) to AM-6226 (14) that possesses a profile acceptable for dosing cynomolgus monkeys. The GPR40 full agonist AM-6226 (14) is the first molecule to display significant glucose lowering in cynomolgus monkeys providing additional evidence that GPR40 full agonists afford access to a powerful mechanism for maintaining glycemic control.
Structural and mechanical changes of uterine arteries during pregnancy in the pig.

A dramatic 15-fold increase in uterine blood flow in pigs occurs during pregnancy in association with marked increases in uterine arterial (UA) diameter. This study was conducted to determine UA collagen and elastin content, diameter, alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenergic receptor (AR) numbers, norepinephrine (NE) and in vitro reactivity to phenylephrine on d 0, 20, 50, 80 and 110 of pregnancy in the pig. Uterine arterial collagen content declined progressively throughout pregnancy (P less than .01), whereas the content of elastin remained constant from d 0 to d 80, then increased (P less than .05) from d 80 to d 110. The UA collagen to elastin ratio was correlated with UA diameter (r = -.69; P less than .01), which increased from 4.5 mm on d 0 to 9.0 mm on d 110. Uterine arterial alpha 1-AR numbers remained low and constant throughout pregnancy, consistent with its retained ability to contract in response to phenylephrine. Uterine arterial NE content declined (P less than .05) from d 20 to d 80 before increasing slightly to d 110. Uterine arterial alpha 2-AR numbers remained high from d 0 to d 80 before decreasing (P less than .05) to low values on d 110. These data are consistent with a reduced adrenergic neuronal control and increased elasticity of the UA during pregnancy in the pig.
Regulation by myosin: how calcium regulates some myosins, past and present.

This symposium celebrates the seminal discovery of troponin by Professor Ebashi. In the 1960s we knew quite a bit about how muscle functions. It was established that contraction was the result of the interaction of ATP with the complex formed from actin and myosin.1 The filamentous structure2 and the constancy of the A-band of striated muscle led to the sliding filament theory.3,4 A detailed model relating muscle mechanics with the cross bridge cycle was produced.5 A change in orientation of the cross bridge between rest and rigor in insect muscle was also demonstrated.6 However, we were ignorant regarding how muscles stay relaxed.
Finding Freedom in Dialectic Inquiry: New Teachers' Responses to Silencing.

BackgroundThe need to support new teachers in urban public schools is well established, given current shortages and research that highlights serious issues with teacher retention. Debate continues ...
Planetary Fluid Dynamics

The term “planetary” will be applied to fluid motions on the earth whose space and time scales are so large that the earth’s rotation may not be ignored. Such motions have properties which are not to be found in nonrotating systems. For example, the action of external forces such as gravity invariably bring into being Coriolis forces which in turn produce circulatory motions. If a stone is thrown into an infinite resting ocean, the gravitational oscillations engendered will radiate their energy to infinity and leave the ocean finally undisturbed ; if the stone is thrown into an infinite rotating ocean, some of the energy of the gravitational oscillations will be converted by the action of the Coriolis forces into rotational motions, and these will persist until they are dissipated by viscosity.
Characteristics of esophageal carcinoma in a veteran population.

e15505Background: Esophageal cancer is projected to increase by approximately 35% through 2025 in the U.S. We investigated the characteristics of esophageal carcinoma in a veteran population. Metho...
Power Grid Partitioning: Static and Dynamic Approaches

This paper presents three power grid partitioning methods, which are classified into two categories: static and dynamic approaches. In the static approaches, spectral clustering method based on eigenvectors of the graph Laplacian and mixed-integer programming (MIP) strategy have been used to partition a grid. In dynamic approach, slow coherency based on the eigenvector of inter-area oscillation mode is used for generator grouping. We show the three methods lead to the same partitioning results and give the underlying reason.
Demystifying Public Health Policy Through Service-Learning Pedagogy:

Policy shapes the health of communities by enabling and limiting public health practice. Major organizations that focus on public health systems, education, and training stress the importance of po...
Below Ground Pot-in-Pot Effects on Growth of Two Southwest Landscape Trees was Related to Root Membrane Thermostability

Abstract Two southwestern desert landscape trees, Acacia smallii L. (sweet acacia) and Cercidium floridum Benth. ex A. Gray (blue palo verde), were grown outdoors in full sun during Summer 1997 in ...
Balance Across Firms: Exploration and Exploitation in Alliances between Platform Participants

Bridging the longstanding exploration-exploitation literature to the platform literature, this paper develops a relative framework in exploration-exploitation alliances. The fundamental premise of ...
Induced Plant Defenses Against Herbivory in Cultivated and Wild Tomato

Crop domestication and selective breeding have altered plant defense mechanisms, influencing insect-plant interactions. A reduction in plant resistance/tolerance against herbivory is generally expected in domesticated species, however, limited efforts have been made to compare inducibility of plant defenses between wild and domesticated genotypes. In the present study, the inducibility of several plant defense mechanisms (e.g. defensive chemicals, trichomes, plant volatiles) were investigated, and the performance and preference of the herbivore Helicoverpa zea were measured in three different tomato genotypes; a) wild tomato, Solanum pimpinellifolium L. (accession LA 2093), b) cherry tomato, S. lycopersicum L. var. cerasiforme (accession Matts Wild Cherry), and c) cultivated tomato, S. lycopersicum L. var. Better Boy). Enhanced inducibility of defensive chemicals, trichomes, and plant volatiles in the cultivated tomato, and a higher level of constitutive plant resistance against herbivory in the wild genotype was observed. When comparing the responses of damaged vs. undamaged leaves, the percent reduction in larval growth was higher on damaged leaves from cultivated tomato, suggesting a higher induced resistance compared to other two genotypes. While all tomato genotypes exhibited increased volatile organic compound (VOCs) emissions in response to herbivory, the cultivated variety responded with generally higher levels of VOCs. Differences in VOC patterns may have influenced the ovipositional preferences, as H. zea female moths significantly preferred laying eggs on the cultivated versus the wild tomato genotypes. Selection of traits during domestication and selective breeding could alter allocation of resources, where plants selected for higher yield performance would allocate resources to defense only when attacked.
Effect of Pax3 Overexpression on the Engraftment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Dystrophic Mice.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) residing within the bone marrow (BM) not only support hematopoiesis, but also differentiate into multiple lineages, including fat, bone, and cartilage. Because MSCs are multipotent and have a great expansion capacity in vitro, these cells are attractive candidates for clinical applications to repair or regenerate damaged tissues of mesenchymal origin. However, treatment of muscle degenerative diseases with MSCs has been hampered by the poor differentiation of MSCs into the muscle lineage. To date most in vitro methods require the presence of strong non-physiological agents, such as azacytidine. Accordingly, limited engraftment has been observed following the transplantation of BM into dystrophic mice (less than 4%). In the present study we explored the potential of Pax3, the master regulator of the embryonic myogenic program, to promote myogenic differentiation from human BM-derived MSCs. Upon genetic modification with lentiviral vectors encoding Pax3-GFP or GFP only (vector control), MSCs were evaluated for their potential to differentiate towards muscle in vitro. Real time PCR analyses revealed up-regulation of several myogenic regulatory factors in Pax3-transduced MSC cultures in various differentiation conditions, whereas control GFP-MSCs showed undetectable levels. When transplanted into cardiotoxin-injured tibialis anterior (TA) muscles of Rag2−/− γc−/− immunodeficient as well as dystrophic mice, superior engraftment was observed with Pax3-transduced MSCs (31% vs. 12% and 12% vs. 6.5%, respectively). To assess whether such levels of engraftment are therapeutically relevant, functional analyses of transplanted muscles are required. We are currently undertaking these experiments.
Progression of Unifocal versus Multifocal Geographic Atrophy in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Topic Determining the natural history of unifocal versus multifocal geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to nonexudative age-related macular degeneration. Clinical Relevance The association between GA focality (i.e., unifocal vs. multifocal lesions) and enlargement rate is inconsistent in the literature. Some studies report a comparable growth rate between unifocal and multifocal GA, whereas others suggest the growth rate varies widely between the 2 groups. Methods We searched 5 literature databases up to May 3, 2019, for studies that classified treatment-naive GA patients based on lesion focality. We performed a random effects meta-analysis to determine the growth rates of GA. To account for different entry times among cohorts, we introduced a horizontal translation factor to the dataset of each cohort. Heterogeneity and study quality were assessed using the I2 statistic and Quality in Prognosis Studies tool, respectively. Publication bias was evaluated by funnel plots and the Egger test. Results We included 12 studies with 3489 eyes from 3001 patients. After the introduction of translation factors, the effective radius of unifocal and multifocal GA enlarged linearly over approximately 7 years. The effective radius growth rate of multifocal GA (0.199±0.012 mm/year) was 46.3% higher than the growth rate of unifocal GA (0.136±0.008 mm/year; P 2 and 3 ). This difference disappeared after we accounted for different baseline total perimeters between unifocal and multifocal groups. The measured GA growth rate was consistent across studies using color fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, or OCT (P = 0.35–0.99). Conclusions The effective radius of GA enlarges linearly and steadily over time in both unifocal and multifocal GA. The lesion focality is a significant prognostic factor for the GA effective radius growth rate. We propose that the growth rate of GA area is directly proportional to the total lesion perimeter (a measure of the number of retinal pigment epithelium cells exposed at the lesion border). Additional studies are needed to understand the cellular mechanisms underlying this relationship.
Topological adhesion II. Stretchable adhesion

Abstract When two stretchable materials (e.g., hydrogels, elastomers, and biological tissues) are adhered, the interface should be stretchable, without constraining the deformation and degrading adhesion. Here we develop methods to characterize stretchable adhesion. We do so by topological adhesion, using polyacrylamide hydrogels as adherends, chitosan as stitch polymers, and a change in the pH as a trigger. We prestretch the topohered hydrogels in several ways, and measure adhesion energy when the hydrogels are either in the un-stretched or the stretched state. Stretchable adhesion is achieved when the adhesion energy can maintain a similar level, insensitive to the prestretch. We study the mechanism of stretchable adhesion formed by the chitosan topohesive.
Integration of a Mindfulness Meditation Lab for University Students

Background: Mindfulness meditation can effectively enhance every dimension of holistic wellness and learning, including cognition, attention, self-regulatory resources, and first-year academic success. Aim: This paper discusses the potential impact of a mindfulness meditation room on student wellness, education, experiential learning, and development. Methods : The program curriculum and the structure of the Wolf Wellness Lab at the University of West Georgia emphasizes a holistic approach to higher education curriculum development and student wellness and is based on the National Wellness Institute's six dimensions of wellness. The newly developed mindfulness meditation room is discussed in regard to recent research and valid, practical application as a way to improve student learning and overall wellness. Conclusions : The mindfulness meditation room provides experiential learning and high-impact practices associated with the University of West Georgia educational curriculum. The mindfulness meditation room could promote student learning and overall well-being via personal practice and opportunities to guide other students and faculty through meditation practice.
Outcomes of an aseptic technique for Kirschner wire percutaneous pinning in the hand and wrist

Abstract Introduction Kirschner wires (K-wires) have been shown to effectively stabilize fractures of the hand and wrist, but are associated with high infection rates, which may limit its use. Previous literature has attributed the risk of infection to many different aspects of a fixation technique. However, we introduce an approach to percutaneous K-wire pinning to mitigate the risk of infection. Methods Patients undergoing K-wire fixation procedures of the hand and wrist were retrospectively queried. All cases were performed under the same principles of our technique. None of the K-wires were buried, nor bent and were covered with betadine-soaked alcohol pads as pin site dressings. Pins were removed in an outpatient procedure room up to 12 weeks postoperatively and were then assessed for signs of superficial or deep infection. Results 90 patients were included in this study across a variety of K-wire fixation operations in the hand and wrist. No patients presented with any signs of infection or other complications necessitating postoperative antibiotics, early pin removal, or reoperation. Discussion/Conclusion The specific guidelines of our technique resulted in no cases of pin site infection, despite a largely underserved patient population. Our low incidence of infection was maintained without the use of prophylactic antibiotics and in patients with long periods of fixation. While the high infection rates in previous literature have often been associated with wires left exposed, the principles of our technique allow for K-wire fixations to be performed percutaneously without burying the wires. This may allow for improved cost and time efficiency, without compromising patient safety.
The positive environmental impact of virtual isotretinoin management.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Other medical specialties have studied how their practices influence the environment, but environmental impact studies in the field of dermatology remain limited. With respect to dermatology, vehicle emissions by patients traveling to and from appointments are an important factor influencing climate change. This study was undertaken to determine the greenhouse gas emissions avoided by managing isotretinoin virtually at West Virginia University Hospital. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak from March 25 to December 1, 2020, where travel data were acquired and converted to emission data. RESULTS: 5,137 kg of GHG emissions in CO2 equivalents were prevented by managing isotretinoin virtually during the study period. 49 400 kg of GHG emissions in CO2 equivalents would be prevented annually. This is the emission load released when 24 690 kg of coal are burned. CONCLUSIONS: Environmental impact studies in the field of dermatology remain limited. GHG emissions were significantly reduced by virtually managing isotretinoin at a single institution. The practice of dermatology could reduce its carbon footprint by managing isotretinoin virtually, even in non-pandemic periods. Given that isotretinoin management represents a small percentage of the overall carbon footprint associated with dermatology, dermatologists should identify other conditions amenable to virtual medicine to produce greater environmental impact.
More Trust in Fewer Followers: Diverging Effects of Popularity Metrics and Green Orientation Social Media Influencers

Abstract Digital marketing campaigns increasingly utilize social media influencers. Research in influencer marketing has investigated popularity metrics but found conflicting results on how the number of followers and likes on posts might influence consumers' behaviors. The present research investigates green living orientation of influencers as a moderating characteristic that leads to differential interpretation of popularity metrics in the context of green advertising messages. Specifically, lower popularity metrics seem to benefit green influencers or “greenfluencers.” An increased perception of trust in greenfluencers with lower popularity results in enhanced attitudes toward a sponsored product and increased purchase intentions. Additionally, consumers are willing to donate higher amounts to a related charity after exposure to a promotional post by a green influencer with low following. We present the results of three lab studies and discuss theoretical and practical implications.
Quantitative effect of subretinal fluid and intraretinal edema on visual acuity in uveitic cystoid macular edema.

BACKGROUND The effect of subretinal fluid (SRF) in uveitic cystoid macular edema (CME) is not fully understood. This study evaluates the quantitative effect of SRF and intraretinal thickness on visual acuity in eyes with uveitic CME. We separately measured SRF and intraretinal area on Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to determine the associations of each component with visual acuity and response to treatment. MAIN TEXT Medical records were reviewed of patients with CME presenting to the University of Colorado uveitis clinic from January 2012 to May 2019. All available OCTs were reviewed to classify eyes as either having only CME or CME with SRF. Intraretinal area was manually measured using Image J along the central 1-mm section of B-scan OCT spanning from the internal limiting membrane to the outer most portion of the outer retina including both cysts and retinal tissue. SRF cross-sectional area was measured spanning from the outermost portion of the outer retina to retinal pigment epithelium. Response to treatment was assessed one to four months after presentation. Eyes with CME secondary to structural or non-inflammatory causes were excluded. Forty-seven (50.5%) eyes had CME alone and 46 (49.5%) eyes had SRF with CME. Measured SRF cross-sectional area was not associated (p = 0.21) with LogMAR at presentation. Conversely, intraretinal area was strongly correlated with visual acuity in eyes with SRF (p < 0.001) and without SRF (p < 0.001). Following treatment, there was a significant decrease in intraretinal area for both groups (p < 0.001), with a larger decrease in the SRF group compared to the non-SRF group (p = 0.001). Similarly, logMAR improved in both groups (p = 0.008 for SRF eyes and p = 0.005 for non-SRF eyes), but the change was more prominent in the SRF group (p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS There was no direct association observed between the amount of SRF and visual acuity. In contrast, increased intraretinal area was significantly associated with decreased visual acuity. This relationship between intraretinal thickening and visual acuity may explain differences observed in response to treatment between SRF and non-SRF eyes, with a larger decrease in the intraretinal cross-sectional area in SRF eyes associated with a greater improvement in logMAR visual acuity.
Fluctuation analysis in neurobiology.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the use of new techniques in electrophysiology to study the basic membrane phenomena in excitable nerve axons, muscle cells, and sensory receptors. The chapter focuses on those studies that compare membrane noise with specific models of conductance change. The basic goal of noise measurements is to be able to deduce something about the elementary events that give rise to the observable fluctuations. The three general areas to which fluctuation analysis is applied are all concerned with conductance changes in a membrane, in response to a voltage gradient, a transmitter molecule, or a sensory stimulus. The use of noise measurements to distinguish between kinetic models of conductance change appears less well determined, although this is potentially the most important application of fluctuation analysis. The information obtained from fluctuation analysis is useful in discussing possible physical mechanisms of conductance change in membranes. This information must ultimately conform to the molecular models of ionic conduction in biological membranes that are now emerging.
Physical evidence for the existence of at least two salt-dependent forms of alpha-chymotrypsin at slightly acid pH. Ionic strength effects upon refractometric, spectrophotometric, optical rotatory dispersion, and circular dichroism parameters.

Abstract The interpretation of kinetic data for complex formation between the enzyme, α-chymotrypsin, and the substrate, methyl hippurate (described fully in the preceding paper), involves a change in conformation or structure of the enzyme when potassium chloride is added up to concentrations of 0.5 m; beyond this concentration it was suggested that no further change in the enzyme takes place. The physical evidence for what appears to be a conformational change is presented in this report. Continuous variation experiments using the refractive index and ultraviolet absorption as the measured parameters indicate an interaction between the enzyme and the salt; the nonlinear curves cross at 0.5 m ionic strength. Ultraviolet absorption at 282.5 mµ, optical rotation of the Cotton effect at 233 mµ, and the ellipticity at 231 mµ of the circular dichroism spectra of α-chymotrypsin change in a similar manner when potassium chloride is added. These values all increase up to an ionic strength of 0.5 m and then become independent of salt concentration, which correlates very well with the kinetic data. The helical content of the peptide chain appears to increase upon addition of potassium chloride. It is proposed that the binding area of the enzyme which is dependent on ion pairing between isoleucine 16 and aspartate 194 is that which is involved in hydrophobic binding of the aromatic moiety of the substrate. Some possible relationships of the findings to the known crystallographic structure of the enzyme are suggested.
Two Tales of One City: How Cultural Perspective Influenced the Framing of a Pre-Civil Rights Story in Dallas

Abstract Historically, racial minorities have not been gatekeepers in America's newsrooms. Critics have long argued that this limits or even distorts media coverage. This study examines how two newspapers covered a series of racially motivated bombings that took place in Dallas, Texas, in 1950 to determine how race and culture affected news framing, the process by which media gatekeepers define and construct issues or events. Both The Dallas Morning News, the city's prosperous daily, and the Dallas Express, a black weekly, covered the events. But each told a different story. The two papers employed divergent frames that represented the distinct cultural values and needs of each medium s core audience. The frames were also affected by each medium s unique professional and institutional influences. The Dallas Express, for example, embraced advocacy in the interests of promoting community causes. The Dallas Morning News, on the other hand, hued to the professional norm of objectivity.
Peer to peer multicast: an infrastructure for dynamically trading network resources

The increasing demand for broadband services in the Internet will create a network bandwidth shortage and severely limit the capability to broadcast rich media in the Internet. A key impediment for broadband deployment is that there is no universal support for IP multicast in the Internet, because of several difficulties ranging from scalability problems to the accounting of network traffic and the enforcement of quality of service to subscribers. Also, measures that regulate the amount of traffic that can be generated from a given publisher such as committed access rate (CAR) agreements will severely limit the amount of data that can be published by a given node. In this paper, a new framework is discussed which dynamically builds an application level multicast network employing the peer nodes of a given application as network routers, thus greatly reducing the network bandwidth requirements for data broadcast. The paper discusses the current measures of network traffic accounting currently employed by Internet service providers and shows how the peer to peer model can circumvent several of the limitations of the present day Internet.
Accelerated In Vitro Degradation of Optically Clear Low β-Sheet Silk Films by Enzyme-Mediated Pretreatment.

PURPOSE To design patterned, transparent silk films with fast degradation rates for the purpose of tissue engineering corneal stroma. METHODS β-sheet (crystalline) content of silk films was decreased significantly by using a short water annealing time. Additionally, a protocol combining short water annealing time with enzymatic pretreatment of silk films with protease XIV was developed. RESULTS Low β-sheet content (17%-18%) and enzymatic pretreatment provided film stability in aqueous environments and accelerated degradation of the silk films in the presence of human corneal fibroblasts in vitro. The results demonstrate a direct relationship between reduced β-sheet content and enzymatic pretreatment, and overall degradation rate of the protein films. CONCLUSIONS The novel protocol developed here provides new approaches to modulate the regeneration rate of silk biomaterials for corneal tissue regeneration needs. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE Patterned silk protein films possess desirable characteristics for corneal tissue engineering, including optical transparency, biocompatibility, cell alignment, and tunable mechanical properties, but current fabrication protocols do not provide adequate degradation rates to match the regeneration properties of the human cornea. This novel processing protocol makes silk films more suitable for the construction of human corneal stroma tissue and a promising way to tune silk film degradation properties to match corneal tissue regeneration.
IN VITRO CHARACTERISTICS OF A FOURTH VENTRICLE EPENDYMOMA MAINTAINED IN ORGAN CULTURE SYSTEMS: LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OBSERVATIONS

Explants of a well-differentiated fourth ventricle ependymoma were grown on collagen-coated coverslips and in organ culture systems using gelatin sponge foam matrices and Millipore filter platforms. Viable explants were maintained on Millipore filter platforms up to 44 days and on sponge foam matrices up to 86 days. The structure of ependymal rosettes was well maintained throughout the period of study. By electron microscopy, additional features of differentiation were seen after 3 weeks, consisting of an increase in size and complexity of microrosettes, to which large numbers of cellular apical profiles contributed. Cilia with variable internal configurations were present. After 4 weeks there was frequent ependymal differentiation along the surface of the explants at their interface with the supporting matrix. Increased gliofibrillogenesis and glycogen rosettes were also evident after 3 weeks in culture. The explants were intensely positive when tested by immunofluorescence for the antigen of the glial fibrillary acidic protein. After 3 weeks in vitro, dense bands of basement membrane material forming complex intercellular finger-like projections became prominent.
Luminescent rise times of inorganic phosphors excited by high intensity ultraviolet light.

The relative delay between excitation and luminescence was measured for a number of common inorganic phosphors using short, high intensity excitation pulses. The delays were found to be much shorter than anticipated; on the basis of low intensity pulsed luminescence measurements and were found to be extremely intensity-dependent. Both the luminescence rise and decay times were found to be intensity-dependent as well, with the luminescence pulse waveform tending to approach the exciting pulse at the higher excitation intensities.
Geochemical cycles of elements and human perturbation

Abstract The pollution inputs of various elements are omnipresent in aerosols, snows, rivers and the ocean of the northern hemisphere. The mid-ocean ridges are not important sinks or sources for most of the elements. The settling of fecal pellets is the predominant transport mechanism of most elements (except Mn, Co and Ni) from the surface to deep oceans. Dissolved Mn, Co and Ni are directly incorporated into pelagic clays at the sediment water interface.
Histopathologic aspects of cutaneous metastatic disease

In cutaneous metastatic disease the histologic pattern may be specific or nonspecific. Carcinoma cutis most often shows only the nonspecific pattern of an adenocarcinoma, a squamous cell carcinoma, or an undifferentiated metastatic tumor. However, certain clinical and histologic characteristics may suggest a primary tumor site and type. In addition, special histologic stains and the use of immunohistochemical and electronmicroscopic techniques may also prove valuable in the diagnosis of carcinoma cutis and other cutaneous metastatic diseases.
Combating performance enhancing drug abuse: Detection and punishment are not enough

Abstract The abuse of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), by both professional and amateur athletes, is a major public health concern with serious medical and psychiatric repercussions that is poorly understood, under-recognised, and, as a result, undertreated.