cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanism of inhibition of the GluA1 AMPA receptor channel opening by the 2,3-benzodiazepine compound GYKI 52466 and a N-methyl-carbamoyl derivative.

2,3-Benzodiazepine derivatives, also known as GYKI compounds, represent a group of the most promising synthetic inhibitors of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors. Here we investigate the mechanism of inhibition of the GluA1 channel opening and the site of inhibition by GYKI 52466 and its N-3 methyl-carbamoyl derivative, which we term as BDZ-f. GluA1 is a key AMPA receptor subunit involved in the brain function. Excessive activity and elevated expression of GluA1, however, has been implicated in a number of neurological disorders. Using a laser-pulse photolysis technique, which provides ∼60 μs resolution, we measured the effect of these inhibitors on the rate of GluA1 channel opening and the amplitude of the glutamate-induced whole-cell current. We found that both compounds inhibit GluA1 channel noncompetitively. Addition of an N-3 methyl-carbamoyl group to the diazepine ring with the azomethine feature (i.e., GYKI 52466) improves the potency of the resulting compound or BDZ-f without changing the site of binding. This site, which we previously termed as the “M” site on the GluA2 AMPA receptor subunit, therefore favorably accommodates an N-3 acylating group. On the basis of the magnitude of the inhibition constants for the same inhibitors but different receptors, the “M” sites on GluA1 and GuA2 are different. Overall, the “M” site or the binding environment on GluA2 accommodates the same compounds better, or the same inhibitors show stronger potency on GluA2, as we have reported previously [Wang et al. Biochemistry (2011) 50, 7284−7293]. However, acylating the N-3 position to occupy the N-3 side pocket of the “M” site can significantly narrow the difference and improve the potency of a resulting compound on GluA1.
Effect of dose of behavioral treatment for obesity on binge eating severity.

Abstract Objectives We evaluated the effects of three doses of a behavioral intervention for obesity (High dose = 24 sessions, Moderate = 16 sessions, Low = 8 sessions) compared with a nutrition education control group (Control) on binge eating. We also examined whether participants with clinically significant improvements in binge eating had better treatment adherence and weight-loss outcomes than those who did not experience clinically significant improvements in binge eating. Finally, we examined the relation of pretreatment binge eating severity to changes at six months. Methods Participants included 572 adults (female = 78.7%; baseline mean ± SD: age = 52.7 ± 11.2 years, BMI = 36.4 ± 3.9 kg/m 2 ) who provided binge eating data at baseline. We evaluated binge eating severity (assessed via the Binge Eating Scale ) and weight status at baseline and six months, as well as treatment adherence over six months. Results At six months, participants in the Moderate and High treatment conditions reported greater reductions in binge eating severity than participants in the Low and Control conditions, p s p s p s ≤ .002. Conclusion A moderate or high dose of behavioral weight-loss treatment may be required to produce clinically significant reductions in binge eating severity in adults with obesity.
Coordinated and independent functions of velvet-complex genes in fungal development and virulence of the fungal cereal pathogen Cochliobolus sativus

LaeA and velvet proteins regulate fungal development and secondary metabolism through formation of multimeric complexes in many fungal species, but their functions in the cereal fungal pathogen Cochliobolus sativus are not well understood. In this study, four velvet complex genes (CsLaeA, CsVeA, CsVelB, and CsVelC) in C. sativus were identified and characterized using knockout mutants generated for each of the genes. Both ΔCsVeA and ΔCsVelB showed significant reduction in aerial mycelia growth. ΔCsVelB also exhibited a hypermorphic conidiation phenotype with indeterminate growth of the conidial tip cells and premature germination of conidia. ΔCsLaeA, ΔCsVeA, and ΔCsVelB produced more conidia under constant dark conditions than under constant light conditions whereas no differences were observed under the two conditions for the wild type. These three mutants also showed significantly reduced conidiation under constant light conditions, but produced more small sized conidia under constant dark conditions compared to the wild type. All knockout mutants (ΔCsLaeA, ΔCsVeA, ΔCsVelB and ΔCsVelC) showed some extent of reduction in virulence on susceptible barley plants compared to the wild type strain. The results revealed the conserved and unique roles of velvet-complex proteins as regulators in mediating fungal development and secondary metabolism in C. sativus.
Evidence that tropoelastin exists as a random coil.

Cells isolated from the aortae of 17-day old embryonic chicks were incubated with [3H]valine in Krebs-Ringer medium and the secreted labeled tropoelastin was isolated. This tropoelastin was studied by zone velocity centrifugation in sucrose density gradient over the pH range 2.5–12.0, and temperatures ranging from 4° to 35°. The sedimentation coefficient was relatively constant under all experimental conditions and at pH 7.4 was 2.1 S20,w. These sedimentation results are consistent with tfie tropoelastin having a conformation of either a very asymmetric rod or largely that of a random coil, but not that of a hydrated sphere. In order to distinguish the first two possibilities, the ability of unhydroxylated tropoelastin to serve as a substrate for proline hydroxylase was used as a probe of conformation. Unhydroxylated, [14]proline labeled tropoelastin was prepared from the same cells by incubating them with the iron chelator, α,α′-dipyridyl. When this tropoelastin was hydroxylated with excess proline hydroxylase at 20° and 37°, 44% of the prolyl residues were hyroxylated at both temperatures. These results mean that a large fraction of the prolyl residues in tropoelastin are accessible to the enzyme. Considering that proline hydroxylase will only hydroxylate prolyl residues in collagen which is in a random coil conformation, these findings suggest that tropoelastin exists in aqueous solution largely in the form of a random coil.
Atrial fibrillation in dogs.

SUMMARY A study is reported of the age, breed, and sex distributions of atrial fibrillation in dogs, its association with various types of underlying heart disease, and its prognostic significance. Clinical heart disease was present in 877 of 30,663 dogs surveyed, and 55 (6.27 per cent) had chronic atrial fibrillation. Prevalence, which was significantly higher in giant breeds, increased with age and was higher in males than in females.
Fibrosis Progression in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

BACKGROUND Fibrosis progression varies markedly in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected individuals. We investigated factors that influence fibrosis progression in chronic HCV infection. METHODS HCV-infected patients who underwent at least 2 liver biopsies were included in this study. Associations between fibrosis progression and epidemiologic, virologic, and disease-associated factors were analyzed using logistic regression and multistate Markov modeling. RESULTS We analyzed 936 biopsy specimens obtained from 378 individuals. Mean age (±SD) at first biopsy was 48.3 ± 9.3 years, 59.3% of patients were male, 59.9% were white, and 86.7% were infected with HCV genotype 1. Fibrosis progression and cirrhosis occurred in 57.4% and 5.8%, respectively. Fibrosis progression between the first and last biopsies was associated with lower fibrosis in the first biopsy specimen (P 200 U/L; P = .007). We found the highest fibrosis progression rate between stages 0 and 1 and the lowest between stages 2 and 3. Increased necroinflammation and higher ALT level were associated with faster progression. HCV genotype 3-infected patients were more likely to progress to cirrhosis (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Fibrosis progression in HCV is not linear but varies according to stage, with the highest progression in patients with the lowest fibrosis severity. Patients who experience flares in the ALT level are also more likely to progress.
Personal Coherence, Objectivity, and Reliability

The most troubling criticism of coherence theories of justification is that coherence within a system has no apparent connection with the truth. Johnathan Dancy claims that coherence theories leave us with a “mystery,” insofar as “it would be difficult to find a reason for thinking that where the internal relation of justification is present, the external relation of truth is present also” (117). John Pollock calls this the “isolation argument.” “According to coherence theories, justification is ultimately a matter of relations between propositions one believes, and has nothing to do with the way the world is. But our objective in seeking knowledge is to find out the way the world is. Thus coherence theories are inadequate” (76).1
A Distinctive Quaker Theory of Knowledge: An Expanded Experiential Empiricism

While few Quakers have been academic philosophers, Quaker thought provides a distinctive way of understanding knowledge that does not fit easily within the standard historical narrative of Western epistemology. The standard historical narrative tells the story of the rationalism–empiricism debates in early modern philosophy, emphasising the triumph of empiricism, the rise of modern science and the establishment of the scientific method as the highest form of Western knowledge by the early twentieth century. From a scientific point of view, religion could no longer be properly regarded as a kind of knowledge, but ‘merely’ a matter of faith whose claims are seen as often coming into conflict with scientific understandings. The Quakers, however, have generally not regarded science and religion as being in conflict, and the reason is that they have generally grounded both their scientific and religious understandings in experience. The distinctive epistemology that emerges from Quaker thought can thus be desc...
Rac GTPases Are Required for MLL-AF9-Induced Mixed Lineage Leukemia.

Abstract The t(9;11) translocation fusion gene MLL-AF9 (MA9) is commonly found in acute myeloid and lymphoid leukemia and is associated with intermediate to poor outcome. The specific signaling pathways downstream of MA9 are still poorly understood. It has recently been reported that MA9 leukemia cells express higher levels of the small GTPase protein Rac and CDC42 when compared to in vitro MA9 immortal cells in a murine model. To determine the importance of Rac GTPase signaling in MA9-induced transformation, we used an MA9 leukemia model we recently established involving MA9 fusion gene expression in human CD34+ cells. Treatment with the Rac specific inhibitor NSC23766, or transient knockdown of Rac expression by RNAi, induced rapid apoptosis in MA9 cells but not in normal cord blood or t(8;21) translocation fusion gene AML-ETO expressing cells. These data demonstrate that the Rac signaling pathway plays a critical role in the growth and survival of MA9 leukemia cells. To extend this work to an in vivo genetic model, we used mice deficient in Rac2 (Rac2-KO) or with floxed alleles of Rac1 in mice transgenic for Mx-Cre. Leukemia development was compared in mice transplanted with MA9-transduced wild type, Rac1 or Rac2 deficient low density bone marrow cells. Poly I:C injections were performed 2 weeks after transplantation to delete Rac1. Rac deletion was confirmed by PCR and western blot analysis. Mice that received either WT or Rac1−/ − MA9 expressing cells uniformly developed AML and died at 3 to 5 months. Mice transplanted with Rac2-KO cells expressing MA9 showed a decreased incidence and increased latency (6 to 10 months) of AML development despite the persistent engraftment of MA9-expressing cells. All three groups of mice maintained MA9 EGFP+ cells in peripheral blood over the entire experiment, and eventually gave rise to similar end stage AML with a Gr-1+/Mac-1+/Kit+/B220-/CD3- phenotype and myelomonocytic blast morphology. Combined with our observation in human CD34+ cord blood cells transduced with MA9, these in vitro and in vivo data indicate that MA9-mediated transformation and survival requires Rac and their downstream effectors. Rac2 signaling appears to be particularly important in the murine MA9 AML model. Therapeutic targeting of Rac could be a unique and important approach to treating MLL leukemia.
Can Water Quality Trading Fix the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Problem

Policy analysts and government agencies promote a particular form of what they term water quality trading as a means to address the most vexing obstacle to meeting water quality standards: reducing nutrient pollutants from agricultural nonpoint sources. However, agricultural nonpoint sources’ participation in water quality trading programs will only make limited contributions to lowering overall pollutant loads. We argue that economists need to more clearly articulate the limitations of current and proposed water quality trading programs as a water quality management strategy. A new generation of market-like incentive policies will be necessary to make significant progress in reducing agricultural nonpoint source loads.
A Case of Pure Sensory Variant of Guillain Barré Syndrome (P3.373)

Background: Diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) requires progressive ascending weakness and areflexia. However, GBS variants occur occasionally when the clinical and pathologic picture do not match. Pure-sensory GBS is a rare variant that involves sensory fibers and present with sensory ataxia. To date, only a few cases have been described. As previously proposed, the diagnostic criteria for sensory GBS should include a rapid onset, widespread and symmetric distribution, complete recovery, elevated CSF protein with few cells, and nerve conduction studies consistent of a demyelinating process. Case: A 46 year-old man presented with two weeks of progressive numbness and paresthesia that started in the right leg localizable to his toes. After a week, the symptoms progressed to the toes of the left foot and leg, and then one day ago to both palmer aspects of his hands. He denied weakness but had noticed imbalance with multiple almost-falls. He also had an upper respiratory tract infection three weeks ago. Neurological exam demonstrated no weakness, but revealed sensory loss to all modalities, diminished reflexes in his lower extremities, and a positive Romberg sign. Electrolytes, blood counts, peripheral neuropathy and infectious workup, and thyroid profile were all within normal limits. MRI was also unremarkable. Lumbar puncture was performed; CSF showed an albuminocytologic dissociation (WBC 3, protein 76). GBS was suspected, and the patient was admitted to ICU for monitoring of his respiratory function that remained stable. IVIG was administered for 5 days. Nerve conduction studies after two days of IVIG were unremarkable. After IVIG, numbness persisted but lower extremity reflexes had improved. At the one-month follow-up, all residual symptoms had resolved. Conclusions: The benign course leads us to think this was a sensory-variant of GBS. Our case meets 4 of 5 criteria for sensory GBS and demonstrates the importance of recognizing variants of GBS. Disclosure: Dr. Hwang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Trivedi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Adoni has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bansal has nothing to disclose.
Toward Personalized Gene Therapy: Characterizing the Host Genetic Control of Lentiviral-Vector-Mediated Hepatic Gene Delivery

The success of lentiviral vectors in curing fatal genetic and acquired diseases has opened a new era in human gene therapy. However, variability in the efficacy and safety of this therapeutic approach has been reported in human patients. Consequently, lentiviral-vector-based gene therapy is limited to incurable human diseases, with little understanding of the underlying causes of adverse effects and poor efficacy. To assess the role that host genetic variation has on efficacy of gene therapy, we characterized lentiviral-vector gene therapy within a set of 12 collaborative cross mouse strains. Lentiviral vectors carrying the firefly luciferase cDNA under the control of a liver-specific promoter were administered to female mice, with total-body and hepatic luciferase expression periodically monitored through 41 weeks post-vector administration. Vector copy number per diploid genome in mouse liver and spleen was determined at the end of this study. We identified major strain-specific contributions to overall success of transduction, vector biodistribution, maximum luciferase expression, and the kinetics of luciferase expression throughout the study. Our results highlight the importance of genetic variation on gene-therapeutic efficacy; provide new models with which to more rigorously assess gene therapy approaches; and suggest that redesigning preclinical studies of gene-therapy methodologies might be appropriate.
Prothrombin in the newborn infant: II. Prothrombin response to water-soluble naphthoquinone administered intravenously III. On the nature of prothrombin in the newborn infant

Summary 1. Four newborn infants were chosen as representative of the various degrees of severity of hypoprothrombinemia. 2. Detailed prothrombin studies were performed upon the plasma ofthese infants at short intervals following the intravenous administration of a water-soluble form of 1 mg. of 2-methyl-1, 4-naphthoquinone. 3. In all cases there was a definite prothrombin response within two hours after therapy. 4. In the individual cases the interval from the time of administrationof the naphthoquinone until the initial effect became apparent upon the prothrombin level was found to vary from within one-half hour to two hours. 5. In the infant with only moderate prothrombin deficiency the prothrombin level reached a normal value within eight hours, while those with severe deficiency were still somewhat hypoprothrombinemic at the end of this period of time. 6. The nature of the prothrombin of the newborn infant was investigatedto determine its similarity to that of the normal adult. 7. This was accomplished by comparing the graphs constructed of theprothrombin clotting times of serial dilutions of plasma of normal adults and newborn infants under various conditions. 8. These resulting curves for infants with normal prothrombindeficiency were similar to that of the normal adult. 9. A similar curve was obtained for a newborn infant whose prothrombin was produced as a result of naphthoquinone therapy. 10. These similarities offer presumptive evidence that the prothrombin of the newborn infant is qualitatively similar to that of the normal adult regardless of its concentration or source. 11. Transfusions as an adjunct to vitamin K therapy are importantin certain types of cases of hemorrhagic disease of the newborn infant.
A Recurrent Episode of Dermatomyositis Associated with Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

Objective. It is uncommon for dermatomyositis to be associated with papillary thyroid cancer. We report an unusual case of papillary thyroid cancer presenting with dermatomyositis. Methods. The case history, imaging and laboratory data is reviewed. Results. We report the case of a 62-year-old female with a prior history of dermatomyositis and breast cancer who presented with a recurrent episode of dermatomyositis. Extensive evaluation of the cause of the dermatomyositis recurrence revealed no recurrence of the breast cancer but a thyroid nodule was identified. The nodule was biopsied and the patient was noted to have papillary thyroid cancer. The patient subsequently underwent total thyroidectomy and had gradual improvement in her dermatomyositis. Conclusion. It is very uncommon for dermatomyositis to be associated with papillary thyroid cancer.
Simultac Fonton: A Fine-Grain Architecture for Extreme Performance beyond Moore's Law

With nano-scale technology and Moore's Law end, architecture advance serves as the principal means of achieving enhanced efficiency and scalability into the exascale era. Ironically, the field that has demonstrated the greatest leaps of technology in the history of humankind, has retained its roots in its earliest strategy, the von Neumann architecture model which has imposed tradeoffs no longer valid for today's semiconductor technologies, although they were suitable through the 1980s. Essentially all commercial computers, including HPC, have been and are von Neumann derivatives. The bottlenecks imposed by this heritage are the emphasis on ALU/FPU utilization, single instruction issue and sequential consistency, and the separation of memory and processing logic ("von Neumann bottleneck"). Here the authors explore the possibility and implications of one class of non von Neumann architecture based on cellular structures, asynchronous multi-tasking, distributed shared memory, and message-driven computation. "Continuum Computer Architecture" is introduced as a genus of ultra-fine-grained architectures where complexity of operation is an emergent behavior of simplicity of design combined with highly replicated elements. An exemplar species of CCA, "Simultac" is considered comprising billions of simple elements, "fontons", of merged properties of data storage and movement combined with logical transformations. Employing the ParalleX execution model and a variation of the HPX+ runtime system software, the Simultac may provide the path to cost effective data analytics and machine learning as well as dynamic adaptive simulations in the trans-exaOPS performance regime.
Training, Education, and Decision-Making in Trauma Surgery

Trauma is a leading cause of death around the world. There is no question that the extent of initial resuscitation efforts and the subsequent care of an injured patient have significant impact on whether the patient recovers or dies and whether major complications develop. As trauma surgeons, we promote excellence in the care for the injured patient. Consistent with that goal is the need to determine how best to educate surgeons and other trauma care providers. Innovation in our approach to education is needed to address the specific challenges of residency duty hour restrictions, lack of complete longitudinal trauma care delivery, and declining operative trauma caseload. It is critically important to ensure sufficient surgical and technical capability for surgical residents who decide to pursue trauma as a career. The optimal methods for training, education, and decision-making in trauma surgery have not yet been determined, but significant advances have been made in trauma education with the development of simulation and trauma surgical skills training. This chapter provides a brief summary of what is currently available for training and education in trauma and trauma decision-making worldwide.
Smooth Distributions Are Globally Finitely Spanned

Summary. A smooth distribution on a smooth manifold M is, by definition, a map that assigns to each point x of M a linear subspace Δ(x) of the tangent space T x M, in such a way that, locally, there exist smooth sections f1, . . . , fd of Δ such that the linear span of f 1(x), . . . , f d (x) is Δ(x) for all x. We prove that a much weaker definition of “smooth distribution,” in which it is only required that for each x ∈ M and each v ∈ Δ(x) there exist a smooth section f of Δ defined near x such that f(x) = v, suffices to imply that there exists a finite family {f 1, . . . , f d } of smooth global sections of Δ such that Δ(x) is spanned, for every x ∈ M, by the values f 1(x), . . . , f d (x). The result is actually proved for general singular subbundles E of an arbitrary smooth vector bundle V , and we give a bound on the number d of global spanning sections, by showing that one can always take d = rankE · (1 + dimM), where rankE is the maximum dimension of the fibers E(x).
Los empresarios de la economía social y su valor social añadido (del ''soft law'' comunitario a la precursora ley española de economía social)

It is not an easy task for employers in social economy to be acknowledged and recognised, nor has this objective been achieved. What matters is not the legal form adopted, but the inspiring values and principles that are behind their actions in the markets (the spirit of the social economy). This study proposes that business capitalists and entrepreneurs in social economy be recognised within the private sector as indicated in the corresponding Community Act (the soft law) and our own pioneer Social Economy Act (objects of analysis). Along with the identification and legal (as well as social and economic) characterization of the above–mentioned businessmen, there is also a defense of the social economy sector that generates, if accompanied by effective public advocacy, a countervailing power in the markets. A real power –of competition and economic collaboration, and of pressure and social negotiation– that pushes forward in the inalienable public proposition of subjugating (socially, in this case) the hegemonic economic powers that are devoid of effective checks and balances (the capitalist spirit of our times). This real power, as summarized in the Epilogue, socially encourages and directs corporate pluralism, the economic and social efficiency of economic competition and the very concept of enterprise and the entrepreneur, in our social State and the European social model.
Proceduralism and Expertise in Local Environmental Decision-Making

Among Bryan Norton’s most influential contributions to environmental philosophy has been his analysis and evaluation of democratic processes for environmental decision-making. He examines actual cases of environmental decision-making in their legal, political, ethical and scientific contexts, and, with contextual constraints and goals in mind, he theorizes concerning what they accomplish and how they can be improved. Informed by the political theories of both John Dewey and Jurgen Habermas, Norton’s pragmatist approach holds that appropriate democratic decision procedures will generate broadly defensible decisions. Thus, his view of environmental decision-making is based in—and requires—inclusive, democratic, empirical inquiry. While accepting these criteria, I examine how, in practice, it is difficult to identify when these conditions have been adequately met. I investigate the limitations of Norton’s proceduralist approach through a case study in community-based forest management in a New York State urban old-growth park. I argue that Norton’s procedural priorities are too rigid given the contextual constraints of local decision-making. While they are useful for guiding an ideal, high standards sense of the decision-making process, less rigid Deweyan considerations of social learning and community engagement often provide sufficient guidelines for evaluating success.
Impact of Electrode Number on the Performance of High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS)

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation for treating brain disorders by applying constant current through scalp towards the targeted cortex regions. Precisely activating or inhibiting a specific area without interfering other parts in the brain is a challenge of tDCS. Recently high-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) with optimization technique attracts a lot of attention due to the improved focality. Unlike conventional tDCS which utilizes two large pads to deliver current to certain area, HD-tDCS employs tens of smaller electrodes. The purpose of this work is to study the effect of the electrode number on the performance of HD-tDCS. A realistic head model with four layers of tissue was constructed with different electrode montages. A systematic simulation study was conducted using targets in different regions with different functions to analyze the focusing capability, stimulation accuracy, and the intensity of constrained least square based optimized HD-tDCS. Results show that better performance in all three aspects can be achieved by increasing the electrode number.
Improved Visualization in Difficult-to-Image Stress Echocardiography Patients Using Real-Time Harmonic Spatial Coherence Imaging

Stress echocardiography is used to detect myocardial ischemia by evaluating cardiovascular function both at rest and at elevated heart rates. Stress echocardiography requires excellent visualization of the left ventricle (LV) throughout the cardiac cycle. However, LV endocardial border visualization is often negatively impacted by high levels of clutter associated with patient obesity, which has risen dramatically worldwide in recent decades. Short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC) imaging has demonstrated reduced clutter in several applications. In this work, a computationally efficient formulation of SLSC was implemented into an object-oriented graphics processing unit-based software beamformer, enabling real-time (>30 frames per second) SLSC echocardiography on a research ultrasound scanner. The system was then used to image 15 difficult-to-image stress echocardiography patients in a comparison study of tissue harmonic imaging (THI) and harmonic spatial coherence imaging (HSCI). Video clips of four standard stress echocardiography views acquired with either THI or HSCI were provided in random shuffled order to three experienced readers. Each reader rated the visibility of 17 LV segments as “invisible,” “suboptimally visualized,” or “well visualized,” with the first two categories indicating a need for contrast agent. In a symmetry test unadjusted for patientwise clustering, HSCI demonstrated a clear superiority over THI ( $p ). When measured on a per-patient basis, the median total score significantly favored HSCI with $p . When collapsing the ratings to a two-level scale (“needs contrast” versus “well visualized”), HSCI once again showed an overall superiority over THI, with $p by McNemar test adjusted for clustering.
Predictors of Success on the ABR Core Examination.

Abstract Introduction The ABR Core Examination tests the comprehensive radiology curriculum. On first attempt, 10% of radiology residents fail. This study investigates factors that predict success or failure on the examination. Methods An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to all accredited residency programs in diagnostic radiology. Residents who had recently taken the examination answered questions regarding demographics, program, preparation, learning methods, and examination results. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results The study survey was completed by 273 residents. One-tenth of respondents failed or conditionally passed the examination. Residents were more likely to pass the examination if they had trained at an academic program, scored higher on the US Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 and Step 2, achieved higher in-training examination percentile score, completed more practice questions, practiced with both oral and multiple-choice practice questions, and slept longer per night (P Conclusion Prior performance on standardized examinations predicts success. Training at an academic institution confers an advantage in performance. The ACR In-Training Examination is an appropriate readiness preparation tool. No specific preparation material or resource can guarantee success. Short-duration, high-quality studying is the most effective method of preparation.
Phyjama: Physiological Sensing via Fiber-enhanced Pyjamas

Unobtrusive and continuous monitoring of cardiac and respiratory rhythm, especially during sleeping, can have significant clinical utility. An exciting new possibility for such monitoring is the design of textiles that use all-textile sensors that can be woven or stitched directly into a textile or garment. Our work explores how we can make such monitoring possible by leveraging something that is already familiar, such as pyjama made of cotton/silk fabric, and imperceptibly adapt it to enable sensing of physiological signals to yield natural fitting, comfortable, and less obtrusive smart clothing. We face several challenges in enabling this vision including requiring new sensor design to measure physiological signals via everyday textiles and new methods to deal with the inherent looseness of normal garments, particularly sleepwear like pyjamas. We design two types of textile-based sensors that obtain a ballistic signal due to cardiac and respiratory rhythm ---the first a novel resistive sensor that leverages pressure between the body and various surfaces and the second is a triboelectric sensor that leverages changes in separation between layers to measure ballistics induced by the heart. We then integrate several instances of such sensors on a pyjama and design a signal processing pipeline that fuses information from the different sensors such that we can robustly measure physiological signals across a range of sleep and stationary postures. We show that the sensor and signal processing pipeline has high accuracy by benchmarking performance both under restricted settings with twenty one users as well as more naturalistic settings with seven users.
Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the changes in marijuana use in the USA, 2005-2018.

Objectives Understanding trends of marijuana use in the USA throughout a period of particularly high adoption of marijuana-legalisation, and understanding demographics most at risk of use, is important in evolving healthcare policy and intervention. This study analyses the demographic-specific changes in the prevalence of marijuana use in the USA between 2005 and 2018. Design, setting and participants A 14-year retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database, a publicly available biennially collected national survey, weighted to represent the entire US population. A total of 35 212 adults between 18 and 69 years old participated in the seven-cycles of surveys analysed (2005–2018). Primary outcome measured Lifetime use, first use before 18 years old, and past-year use of marijuana. Results The majority of adults reported ever using marijuana. While the overall prevalence of lifetime marijuana use remained stable (p=0.53), past-year use increased significantly between 2005 and 2018 (p Conclusions While lifetime marijuana use remained stable, past-year use significantly increased between 2005 and 2018. While past-year use remained the most common in younger age groups, males, non-Hispanic blacks and those with lower income; increasing trends in past-year use were significant for all age, sex, race and income categories, and for those with high school education/above. With high adoption of marijuana-legalisation laws during this period, our results suggest an associated increase in past-year marijuana use. An accurate understanding of those most at risk can help to inform decisions of healthcare policy-makers and professionals, and facilitate a safe transition of changing marijuana legalisation and use in the USA.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Pediatric Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders at a Large Academic Center.

Objective To describe the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders at a large Midwestern pediatric gastroenterology center. Study design A survey of patients attending a follow-up visit for functional abdominal pain disorders was completed. Data were collected on demographics, quality of life, use of conventional therapies, patient's opinions, and perception of provider's knowledge of CAM. Results Of 100 respondents (mean age, 13.3 ± 3.5 years), 47 (60% female) had irritable bowel syndrome, 29 (83% female) had functional dyspepsia, 18 (67% female) had functional abdominal pain, and 6 (83% female) had abdominal migraine (Rome III criteria). Ninety-six percent reported using at least 1 CAM modality. Dietary changes were undertaken by 69%. Multivitamins and probiotics were the most common supplements used by 48% and 33% of respondents, respectively. One-quarter had seen a psychologist. Children with self-reported severe disease were more likely to use exercise (P Conclusions The use of CAM in children with functional abdominal pain disorders is common, with a majority reporting a high quality of life. Our study underscores the importance of asking about CAM use and patient/family knowledge of these treatments.
US elections and a foreign policy for pandemics.

The COVID-19 pandemic has now had significant effects throughout the wold, shutting down economies and leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. Beginning in China in the midst of a US election year, it has proven politically charged. The USA has been especially hard hit by COVID-19, with more than 6 million cases as of Sept 1, 2020, more than any other country. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has laid bare the limitations of US foreign policy in preventing and stopping pandemics, not only during the current Trump administration but also over the past decade. Isolationism has not enabled the USA to stop the spread of SARS-CoV-2. But global health programmes centred on sharing US expertise with low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) have also not ensured the USA, or the world, can respond effectively in the face of a complex virus and global competition for the goods and technologies to stop it. The next US administration should shift foreign policy towards thinking and acting holistically about pandemics, strengthening multilateralism, and embracing solidarity. Learning lessons from what has worked, and what has not, the next US administration should launch a concrete, sufficiently funded global pandemics initiative with three focuses. First, to better link responses to HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria with those addressing emerging outbreaks. Second, to put climate change at the centre of global health and health into international climate policy. Third, to build multilateral capacity and power. In tackling pandemics as a central element of engaged foreign policy, the next US administration could lead an historic shift.
Introduction: Shaping the Garment, Shaping the Woman

This chapter gives an overview of the main themes of the book, explained terminology, and introduced the reader to the idea of the corset and its impact on the female body/the discourses around women who corseted. It outlines some of the myths that we believe about corseting and gives a brief refutation of those myths. Perhaps most importantly, it introduces the reader to the women of St. Bride’s lower churchyard, London, and explains the significance of the “ordinary” woman. Each following chapter will have an opening vignette that will introduce the reader to a specific person or object associated with this updated take on the bioarchaeology of the corseted woman.
Climate-related changes in the biomass and distribution of small pelagic fishes in the eastern Bering Sea during late summer, 2002–2018

Abstract Climate change is altering the distribution and biomass of marine species in Arctic and sub-Arctic waters. In this study, we investigate the influence of sea temperature on the annual distribution and biomass of pelagic fishes in the eastern Bering Sea during late summer, 2002–2018. The distribution (easting, northing, and area occupied) and biomass of capelin, Pacific herring, juvenile chum salmon, juvenile pink salmon, juvenile sockeye salmon, and age-0 walleye pollock collected by surface trawl were estimated using a standardized geostatistical delta-generalized linear mixed modeling approach. Species showed varied responses to warming on a temporal scale. Warming corresponded with more northerly distributions for capelin and juvenile sockeye salmon, a more westerly distribution of juvenile sockeye salmon, and range expansions for juvenile chum and sockeye salmon. Warming corresponded to a decrease in the annual biomass of capelin and an increase in the biomass of herring, age-0 pollock, and juvenile sockeye salmon. The spatio-temporal covariation in sea temperature and the distribution was nonlinear for juvenile pink salmon and age-0 pollock, positive for juvenile chum salmon and juvenile pink salmon, and negative for capelin indicating different responses of the distribution of pelagic fishes to warming in the eastern Bering Sea during late summer. In warmer areas, we found that the catch rates were higher for juvenile pink salmon, lower for capelin, and not significantly different for juvenile chum salmon, herring, age-0 pollock, and juvenile sockeye salmon. Juvenile sockeye salmon, a southerly distributed species in the survey area, appeared most responsive to warming. In this study, sockeye salmon and pollock are the most commercially important species while chum salmon are important for subsistence fishing. These temperature related changes during early life history stages for survival may have impacts on the numbers of these fishes recruiting to the fisheries.
When tenure ends: the short-run effects of the elimination of Louisiana's teacher employment protections on teacher exit and retirement

Most teachers have tenure protections that constrain dismissal. Some argue that tenure improves recruitment and retention by mitigating the risk of monopsony employment and substituting job securit...
Comparing respiratory disease treatment rates in preconditioned calves vaccinated with 4-way killed or modified-live virus vaccine

This prospective longitudinal study was conducted in a commercial backgrounding operation to compare bovine respiratory disease (BRD) treatment rates of 2 groups of 491 lb (223 kg) preconditioned feeder calves (n=772) during 2 backgrounding periods (average 134 days). The preconditioning program was the same for both groups of calves, with the exception that 1 group was vaccinated prior to delivery with 4-way killed-virus (KV) respiratory vaccine, and the other group with 4-way modified-live virus (MLV) respiratory vaccine. Assessment of vaccine efficacy was determined by BRD treatment rates during the backgrounding periods. Results demonstrated a treatment by weight interaction, as calves at the 25th percentile of the population for initial weight and vaccinated with MLV respiratory vaccine had a significantly (P=0.03) lower treatment rate compared with calves at the 25th percentile that were vaccinated with KV vaccine. Over both backgrounding periods, 66 of 380 calves (17%) that received KV vaccine were treated for disease and 56 survived, whereas 17 of 381 calves (4%) that received MLV respiratory vaccine were treated and 9 survived. An analysis of risk factors showed that the relative risk that calves receiving KV vaccine would require treatment for BRD was 26% higher than for calves receiving MLV vaccine; that 74% fewer calves were treated for BRD when MLV vaccines were administered; and that for every 8 calves vaccinated with MLV vaccine, 1 fewer calf would require treatment for BRD than if the same number of calves were vaccinated with KV vaccine.
Early Functional and Cognitive Declines Measured by Auditory-Evoked Cortical Potentials in Mice With Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by a progressive loss of memory and cognitive decline. However, the assessment of AD-associated functional and cognitive changes is still a big challenge. Auditory-evoked cortical potential (AECP) is an event-related potential reflecting not only neural activation in the auditory cortex (AC) but also cognitive activity in the brain. In this study, we used the subdermal needle electrodes with the same electrode setting as the auditory brainstem response (ABR) recording and recorded AECP in normal aging CBA/CaJ mice and APP/PS1 AD mice. AECP in mice usually appeared as three positive peaks, i.e., P1, P2, and P3, and three corresponding negative peaks, i.e., N1, N2, and N3. In normal aging CBA mice, the early sensory peaks P1, N1, and P2 were reduced as age increased, whereas the later cognitive peaks N2, P3, and N3 were increased or had no changes with aging. Moreover, the latency of the P1 peak was increased as age increased, although the latencies of later peaks had a significant reduction with aging. In AD mice, peak P1 was significantly reduced in comparison with wild-type (WT) littermates at young ages, proceeding AD phenotype presentation. In particular, the later cognitive peak P3 was diminished after 3 months old, different from the normal aging effect. However, the latencies of AECP peaks in AD mice generally had no significant delay or changes with aging. Finally, consistent with AECP changes, the accumulation of amyloid precursor protein (APP) at the AC was visible in AD mice as early as 2 months old. These data suggest that AECP could serve as an early, non-invasive, and objective biomarker for detecting AD and AD-related dementia (ADRD).
Dental Laser in The Covid-19 Era

Despite the many historical events during the year 2020, this period of time will forever be remembered as the year of COVID-19. Since its onset in November 2019, The Sars-CoV-2 has made an enormous impact across all aspects of society across the entire world. Globally as of July 5th, 2021, there have been 184000000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, which tragically include 3980000 deaths. Sars-CoV-2 is spread through the respiratory system with the primary modes of transmission being aerosol, respiratory droplets, and direct contact. It is of great importance to understand that one of the primary modes of transmission, the aerosol (bioaerosol) mode is a mode that is omnipresent in most dental settings. To prevent dissemination of disease in American dental offices, the CDC and the ADA have developed strict protocols for dental care providers to follow. Protocols include case selection, protective equipment (PPE), Covid testing, procedure risk stratification, and reduction of aerosols. Laser-assisted dentistry has been identified as a potential key modality in the reduction of bio aerosols.
Application of response surface methodology for hazard analysis of 2-butanol oxidation to 2-butanone using RC1 calorimetry

Abstract In order to scale-up highly exothermic reactions for industrial use within the process industries, cooling requirements for these reactions must be determined so as to prevent thermal runaway and associated incidents. In this work, response surface methodology is utilized to identify operating regions for the synthesis of 2-butanone from 2-butanol that minimize the total heat released, based on the three parameters of initial 2-butanol concentration, titanium silicalite-1 amount, and operating temperature. For this, it was demonstrated that the 2-butanol concentration plays a more significant role in the total heat release compared with the reaction temperatures and catalyst amounts. Furthermore, a 2-butanol concentration of approximately 0.5 mol/L combined with either a low amount of titanium silicalite-1 of approximately 8 g (2.4 wt %) or high amount of approximately 15 g (4.8 wt %) resulted in higher total heat release amounts. This provides useful data regarding the combinations of parameters that will result in sufficiently low heat release amounts for the cooling capacity of industrial facilities when the reaction is scaled up for synthesis within the facilities.
The Inflationary Explosion Following Price Liberalization

The ruble overhang was a striking inheritance of the newly independent states from the Soviet Union. This overhang represented the saving, or deferred consumption, of the citizens of the Soviet Union over its history: for many citizens, this overhang represented the sole store of wealth. Production of consumer goods in the period leading up to independence had been insufficient to meet existing demand, and the overhang of ruble-denominated wealth had grown accordingly