cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correction: Metatranscriptomic Study of Common and Host-Specific Patterns of Gene Expression between Pines and Their Symbiotic Ectomycorrhizal Fungi in the Genus Suillus.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) represent one of the major guilds of symbiotic fungi associated with roots of forest trees, where they function to improve plant nutrition and fitness in exchange for plant carbon. Many groups of EMF exhibit preference or specificity for different plant host genera; a good example is the genus Suillus, which grows in association with the conifer family Pinaceae. We investigated genetics of EMF host-specificity by cross-inoculating basidiospores of five species of Suillus onto ten species of Pinus, and screened them for their ability to form ectomycorrhizae. Several Suillus spp. including S. granulatus, S. spraguei, and S. americanus readily formed ectomycorrhizae (compatible reaction) with white pine hosts (subgenus Strobus), but were incompatible with other pine hosts (subgenus Pinus). Metatranscriptomic analysis of inoculated roots reveals that plant and fungus each express unique gene sets during incompatible vs. compatible pairings. The Suillus-Pinus metatranscriptomes utilize highly conserved gene regulatory pathways, including fungal G-protein signaling, secretory pathways, leucine-rich repeat and pathogen resistance proteins that are similar to those associated with host-pathogen interactions in other plant-fungal systems. Metatranscriptomic study of the combined Suillus-Pinus transcriptome has provided new insight into mechanisms of adaptation and coevolution of forest trees with their microbial community, and revealed that genetic regulation of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis utilizes universal gene regulatory pathways used by other types of fungal-plant interactions including pathogenic fungal-host interactions.
Hormonal Modulation of Cytosolic Free Calcium

Many hormones are capable of increasing [Ca2+]i in many different tissues by mobilizing Ca2+ from internal stores, primarily the endoplasmic reticulum, and by promoting Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane. Recent studies suggest that both processes involve G-proteins. In one case, a G-protein activates a PI 4,5-P2 specific phospholipase C, resulting in the formation of Ins 1,4,5-P3, which then releases Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum. Ca2+ influx can be stimulated by low concentrations of agonist, which do not promote internal Ca2+ mobilization. This process appears to be stimulated directly by a G-protein.
A novel technique to repair a transverse sacral fracture in a previously fused lumbosacral spondylolisthesis.

BACKGROUND Transverse fractures of the sacrum are rare, and surgical treatment for these fractures ranges from conservative to challenging. Transverse stress fractures of the sacrum after placement of lumbar-to-sacral instrumentation have been previously described. We report a new technique to repair a transverse Type-2 Roy-Camille fracture with spondylolisthesis of S1 over S2 in a previously fused instrumented high-grade L4-L5, L5-S1 spondylolisthesis. CASE DESCRIPTION A 64-year-old female who previously had an L4-L5, L5-S1 fusion for spondylolisthesis presented with excruciating lower back pain and radiculopathy for over 6 months. She was found to have an S1-S2 transverse fracture caused by previous implantation of pedicle screws. She underwent repositioning of several failed right lumbar and sacral screws and then had bilateral S1-S2 screws placed directly across the fracture line. The patient had an unremarkable postoperative course. She discontinued most of her pain medications within 6 weeks postoperatively. In the months following surgery, she reported only minimal lower back pain and no radiculopathy with the last appointment 5 years postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS We describe a novel technique to reduce an iatrogenic transverse type-2 Roy-Camille fracture at S1-S2 in a previously instrumented high-grade L4-L5, L5-S1 spondylolisthesis. The patient's fracture achieved adequate reduction and fusion with symptomatic relief.
Appraising digital archives with Archivematica

The Bentley Historical Library, funded by a generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, has developed a new Appraisal and Arrangement tab in the Archivematica digital preservation system as part of its “ArchivesSpace-Archivematica-DSpace Workflow Integration” project. This new functionality permits users to conduct large-scale appraisal of digital archives as part of a largely automated workflow that extends from the point of acquisition through deposit in a preservation repository.
Domain-independent search expertise: Gaining knowledge in query formulation through guided practice

Although modern search systems require minimal skill for meeting simple information needs, most systems provide weak support for gaining advanced skill; hence, the goal of designing systems that guide searchers in developing expertise. Essential to developing such systems are a description of expert search behavior and an understanding of how it may be acquired. The present study contributes a detailed analysis of the query behavior of 10 students as they completed assigned exercises during a semester-long course on expert search. Detailed query logs were coded for three dimensions of query expression: the information structure searched, the type of query term used, and intent of the query with respect to specificity. Patterns of query formulation were found to evidence a progression of instruction, suggesting that the students gained knowledge of fundamental system-independent constructs that underlie expert search, and that domain-independent search expertise may be defined as the ability to use these constructs. Implications for system design are addressed.
Sedimentation and Immunoprecipitation Assays for Analyzing Complexes that Repress Transcription

Co-repressor proteins function as platforms for the assembly of multi-subunit complexes that mediate transcriptional repression. Common components of such complexes are histone deacetylases, which catalyze the removal of acetyl groups from the tails of histones within nucleosomes, resulting in chromatin compaction and gene repression. In addition, co-repressor complexes generally interact with sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins that direct association with regulatory elements in the genome. Thus, identifying proteins that stably associate with co-repressors can provide insights regarding the biochemical function and target gene specificity of these molecules. Here, we describe a density gradient fractionation method for determining whether a co-repressor is incorporated into high-molecular complexes within cells and for identifying potential constituents of these complexes. We also describe a co-immunoprecipitation assay for confirming and further studying interactions between co-repressors and other proteins that may represent functional partners.
Nkx2.5-dependent alterations of the embryonic heart DNA methylome identify novel cis-regulatory elements in cardiac development

Transcription factor Nkx2.5 is frequently mutated in congenital heart disease, but the mechanisms by which Nkx2.5 regulates heart development are poorly understood. By generating comprehensive DNA methylome maps from zebrafish embryonic hearts in nxk2.5 mutants and siblings, we discovered that Nkx2.5 regulates DNA methylation patterns during cardiac morphogenesis. We identified hundreds of Nkx-dependent heart specific Differentially Methylated Regions (nhDMRs). A majority of the nhDMRs were hypomethylated in nkx2.5-/- hearts, correlating with changes in the mutant transcriptome, suggesting Nkx2.5 functions largely as a repressor. Distinct Nkx DNA-binding motifs were significantly enriched in subclasses of nhDMRs. Furthermore, nhDMRs were significantly associated with histone H3K4me1 and H3K27ac posttranslational modifications, suggesting Nkx2.5 regulates gene expression by differential methylation of cis-regulatory elements. Using transgenics, we validated several nhDMRs with enhancer activities in the heart. We propose a novel role of Nkx2.5 mediated DNA methylation is integral in activating and repressing Nkx2.5 target genes during heart development.
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Nonagenarian Patients: Is It Really Safe?

Background/aims Literature on the safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in elderly patients is divided. Based on this we decided to examine the safety of ERCP in nonagenarian patients. Methods A total of 1,389 patients, with a mean age of 63.94±19.62 years, underwent ERCP during the study period. There were 74 patients aged 90 years or older with a mean age of 92.07±1.8. Logistic regression showed that nonagenarian patients had a significantly increased odds of in-patient mortality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=9.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]=4, 23; p≤0.001). Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) ≥2 was also an independent predictor of in-patient mortality (AOR=2.4; 95% CI=1.2, 5.2; p=0.021). Age ≥90 was not associated with increased adverse events; however emergency procedures (AOR=2.4; 95% CI=1.5, 4; pl0.001) and CCI ≥2 (AOR=2.6; 95% CI=1.7, 4.0; pl0.001) were more likely to have adverse events. Conclusions Age ≥90 and CCI ≥2 are independently associated with increased odds of in-patient mortality in patients undergoing ERCP, whereas emergency procedures and CCI ≥2 are associated with an increased adverse event rate. Caution must be exercised when considering ERCP in patients aged ≥90 years and those with a CCI ≥2.
Theoretical Studies of Metal Aggregates and Organometallic Complexes Relevant to Catalysis

Theoretical studies of small transition-metal aggregates and transition-metal complexes having organic (C2H4) and inorganic (CO) ligands are discussed. The calculations employ the self-consistent-field Xα scattered-wave (SCF-Xα-SW) approach to molecular orbital theory. As a result of these model calculations, a preliminary discussion is given of: (a) a possible interpretation of the effect of metal particle size in heterogeneous catalysis and (b) an interpretation of UV photoemission studies for C2H4 and CO chemisorbed on nickel.
The Comparative Epidemiology of Pediatric Severe Sepsis

Objective:To determine whether the coding strategies used to identify severe sepsis in administrative data sets could identify cases with comparable case mix, hospitalization characteristics, and o...
Estimation of energetic condition in wild baboons using fecal thyroid hormone determination.

Abstract Understanding how environmental and social factors affect reproduction through variation in energetic condition remains understudied in wild animals, in large part because accurately and repeatedly measuring energetic condition in the wild is a challenge. Thyroid hormones (THs), such as triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), have a key role in mitigating metabolic responses to energy intake and expenditure, and therefore are considered important biomarkers of an animal’s energetic condition. Recent method development has shown that T3 and T4 metabolites can be measured in feces, but studies measuring THs in wild populations remain rare. Here we measured fecal T3 metabolites (mT3) in baboons, and tested whether the conditions of collection and storage used for steroid hormones could also be used for mT3; we focused on mT3 as it is the biologically active form of TH and because fecal T4 metabolites (mT4) were below detection levels in our samples. We also tested if mT3 could be determined in freeze-dried samples stored for long periods of time, and if these concentrations reflected expected biological variations across seasons and reproductive states. Our results show that mT3 can be measured with accuracy and precision in baboon feces. The conditions of collection and storage we use for steroid hormones are appropriate for mT3 determination. In addition, mT3 concentrations can be determined in samples stored at −20 °C for up to 9 years, and are not predicted by the amount of time in storage. As expected, wild female baboons have lower mT3 concentrations during the dry season. Interestingly, mT3 concentrations are lower in pregnant and lactating females, possibly reflecting an energy sparing mechanism. Retroactive determination of mT3 concentration in stored, freeze-dried feces opens the door to novel studies on the role of energetic condition on fitness in wild animals.
So You Want to Start a Research Project? How to Help Beginning Researchers Via Guided Inquiry

This paper shows how professors can help beginning researchers find or provide research questions in an engaging, fun, and intellectually stimulating way. Guided inquiry helps students move from lower levels of inquiry to the highest level of inquiry, open inquiry.
Involvement of Natural Effector Cells in Bone Marrow Transplantation and Hybrid Resistance

Natural resistance to hemopoietic allograft can be defined as the nonadaptive host reaction that causes graft failure in a nonimmunized host. Such restrictions notwithstanding, the phenomenon is heterogenous and can encompass a variety of effector mechanisms directed against distinct cell surface entities. The key word is “nonadaptive.” However, since the nonadaptive nature of a reaction cannot always be tested, misinterpretation can result. Exposure of the prospective allograft recipients to a lethal dose of ionizing radiation does not completely eliminate the adaptive components of the host immune system.(1,2) Although conventional effector mechanisms by T and B lymphocytes are excluded by the above definition, these cells may play a role as a secondary component or as regulators of nonadaptive responses. Therefore, the study of natural resistance to hemopoietic cells must take into account the possible multiplicity of the effector mechanisms and the complexity of regulatory influences. Our inability to define the mechanisms precisely and to understand the factors influencing the ultimate fate of the grafted cells has led to conflicting interpretations of the unique phenomenon discovered nearly 30 years ago by Snell, Boyse, Cudkowickz, and other pioneers.(3-8) For a comprehensive treatment of this subject, the reader is referred to the excellent review recently written by Bennett.(9)
Leveraging Security Policy for Competitive Business Advantage in Electronic Commerce

Electronic commerce is slowly changing the way companies do business; however, firms are becoming increasingly apprehensive about doing business electronically because of security concerns (Bhimani, 1996). Horror stories about hackers, thefts of sensitive financial data, and insecure systems have built psychological barriers that many businesses and executives have yet to overcome (Ahuja, 1997).
DATA BASE ALERTERS AND MESSAGE FILTERS

This paper presents the basic concepts of data base alerters and message filters. Research problems on the specification and decomposition of user models are discussed. The relevancy of fuzzy sets theory to the design of fuzzy message filters is then discussed.
Intergenerational Dynamics Related to Aging and Eldercare in Asian American Families: Promoting Access to Services

As the number of older Asian Americans continues to grow so do the number of issues they face related to aging. As older adults age, many may face issues related to aging such as daily care, physical health, mental health, and access to services. These issues are complicated by differences between Eastern and Western cultures within Asian American families and the different acculturation levels between the generations within the family. This chapter uses the intergenerational ambivalence paradigm (Luescher and Pillemer 1998) to guide the discussion of intergenerational dynamics related to aging and eldercare in Asian American families. The chapter begins with a brief description and comparison between Eastern and Western cultures and an exploration of the differences in cultural values that affect familial caregiving. Caregiving among Asian American families is then put into the contexts of structural and individual ambivalences. Caregiving options from an Asian American perspective are presented next. The chapter concludes with interventions and suggestions for community service providers.
Spectra and Abundances

One of the important characteristics of individual galaxies is the abundance of the different chemical elements. In general, galaxies of large mass, such as our Galaxy and the Andromeda galaxy, have abundances of the heavier elements that are high, while low mass galaxies, such as the Magellanic Clouds and dwarf galaxies in the Local Group, have abundances that are ten or more times smaller. The chemical abundances in galaxies are frequently referred to as “metallicity”, because for stars the most conspicuous absorption lines are of iron and other metals. The lighter elements are usually measured in emission nebulae, where emission lines of hydrogen, oxygen, and other light elements can be measured. In this chapter we take up, in turn, spectroscopic measurements of stars in M33, stellar photometric evidence of abundances, spectroscopic evidence for abundances determined for emission regions, and evidence for the existence of the relationship between abundances and distance from the center of M33, the “metallicity gradient”.
The Relentless Pursuit of Discipline: An Africological March Toward Knowledge Liberation:

In this article, Molefi Kete Asante, the founder of the first PhD program in African American Studies gives a personal account of the aims, objectives, and the challenges he and his principal colle...
Harnessing the Immune System in Pancreatic Cancer.

Managing patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPDA) is a challenging proposition for any treating oncologist. Although the potency of first-line therapies has improved with the approvals of FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel, many patients are unable to derive significant benefit from later lines of therapy upon progression. Enrollment on clinical trials remains among the best options for patients with mPDA in all lines of therapy. At our institution, we routinely check for microsatellite instability (MSI-H) and perform next-generation sequencing (NGS) at the time of diagnosis in all good performance status mPDA patients. Although MSI-H status is only found in 1% of patients with mPDA, given pembrolizumab’s tissue-agnostic approval for MSI-H tumors in later-line settings, it is a viable option when deciding on subsequent lines of therapy. Any use of immune therapy in mPDA is investigational outside the MSI-H setting. NGS can identify BRCA or other DNA damage response (DDR) defects in patients which can predict sensitivity to platinum-based therapies and influence choice of both initial and later lines of therapy. It can also identify rare actionable genomic alterations such as HER2 (2%) and TRK fusions (0.1%) and offer patients the option of enrollment on clinical trials with agents targeting these or other identified alterations. We believe enrolling mPDA patients on clinical trials with immune-modulating agents is critical to determine if there are other patient subsets, outside of the MSI-H setting, who would benefit from these approaches. Immunotherapy’s general tolerability and potential to generate durable responses make it particularly appealing for mPDA patients. Although single-modality immunotherapy such as checkpoint inhibitors or vaccines have not demonstrated efficacy in this disease, combinatorial strategies targeting unique aspects of PDA including the tumor microenvironment and desmoplastic stroma have shown preclinical or early-phase success. Validating these treatments with later-phase prospective studies is essential to making immunotherapy a routine component of the treatment armamentarium for mPDA patients.
Session details: Undergraduate workshop

This half day workshop will take place on Saturday July 7th 2012 and will involve presentations by approximately 6 selected undergraduate students conducting research in some aspect of evolutionary computation. Students will make 15-20 minute presentations to an audience that will include a 'mentor' panel of established researchers in evolutionary computation. Presentations will be followed by a 10 minute question and discussion period led by the mentor panel. Other students are encouraged to attend as a means of strengthening their own research.The goals of this workshop are to (1) Provide a forum allowing undergraduate students to put a capstone on their undergraduate research activities, by presenting their work at an international conference; (2) Encourage teaching faculty to consider undergraduate research opportunities for their students in the EC field; (3) Prepare undergraduate students for graduate work in EC areas; (4) Encourage sharing and networking amongst teaching faculty with students participating in undergraduate research projects in EC; (5) Provide networking opportunities for graduate school faculty and undergraduate students interested in pursuing advanced degrees; and (6) Encourage more emphasis on education at the GECCO Conference.
Medical Complications in Pregnancy

Two of the most commonly encountered medical complications in pregnancy are diabetes mellitus and hypertensive disorders. Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy is characterized as pregestational diabetes and gestational diabetes. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy have a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic mild elevations in blood pressure to severely elevated pressures with concomitant laboratory abnormalities and dysfunction of numerous organ systems. Both diabetes mellitus and hypertension are associated with adverse perinatal, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes and appropriate management of these conditions in pregnancy is key to ensuring a successful maternal and fetal outcome. This chapter will outline the management of these conditions in pregnancy.
Preoperative blood transfusion associated with increased length of stay and increased postoperative complications after revision total knee arthroplasty

Currently, the impact of preoperative transfusion on postoperative morbidity following revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is unknown. A retrospective cohort study using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was performed and included patients who underwent revision TKAs. Postoperative complications were analyzed. A total of 6,849 patients were included. Patients who received a preoperative blood transfusion were found to have an increased risk of developing 3 of 17 adverse events. Although overall complication rates remain relatively low, orthopedic surgeons should counsel their patients on the implications of preoperative blood transfusions on post-operative outcomes.
Stigmatizing language in news media coverage of the opioid epidemic: Implications for public health

Public stigma toward people who use illicit drugs impedes advancement of public health solutions to the opioid epidemic and reduces willingness to seek addiction treatment. Experimental studies show that use of certain terms, such as "addict" and "substance abuser," exacerbate stigma while alternative terms, such as "person with a substance use disorder," are less stigmatizing. We examine the frequency with which stigmatizing terms and less-stigmatizing alternatives are used in U.S. news media coverage of the opioid epidemic. We analyzed 6399 news stories about the opioid epidemic published/aired by high-circulation and high-viewership U.S. national and regional print and television news outlets from July 2008 through June 2018. We calculated the proportion of news stories mentioning terms shown to be stigmatizing, as well as terms shown to be less-stigmatizing alternatives, in randomized experiments. Data was collected during May through August 2018 and analyzed in September 2018. Over the 10-year study period, 49% of news stories about the opioid epidemic mentioned any stigmatizing term and 2% mentioned any less-stigmatizing alternative. The proportion of news stories mentioning stigmatizing terms over the 10-year study period increased from 37% in July 2008-June 2009 to 45% in July 2017-June 2018. The language included in U.S. news media coverage of the opioid epidemic may contribute to and reinforce widespread public stigma toward people with opioid use disorders. This stigma may be a barrier to implementation of evidence-based interventions to prevent opioid overdose deaths. Establishing journalistic standards to de-stigmatize the language of addiction is a public health priority.
Surgical Site Infections: Wound and Stump Infections

Surgical site infections (SSIs) following transplantation have been linked to increased mortality, graft rejection, increased length of stay, and increased resource utilization ). Rates of SSI vary and can reach as high as 37% for some transplant procedures . The risk of infection depends greatly on type of surgery and patient-specific factors. Postoperative wound infections following transplant generally occur within 30 days of surgery and can range from superficial to organ/space involvement. A number of factors predispose transplant patients to SSI including immunosuppression, reoperation, diabetes, and obesity . The route of infection is dependent on type of transplant surgery and may be both endogenous and exogenous . Microorganisms in posttransplant SSIs are primarily bacterial; however, fungal infections may also play a role . Multidrug-resistant organisms are becoming an increasingly common culprit of SSI in this population due to a heavy exposure to the healthcare system, use of prophylactic antibiotics, and immunosuppression. There are few guidelines to direct therapy. In general, management with debridement alone is not sufficient in the transplant population, due to impaired host defenses. Culture or PCR of tissues is critical to diagnose resistant or unexpected pathogens. Depending upon local epidemiology and site of infection, antibiotics to target resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms (including Pseudomonas), Candida, and, on occasion, Aspergillus, may be necessary. Measures to prevent SSI during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative period should be evidence-based and incorporated into hospital quality control initiatives.
Tubercular landscape: land use change and Mycobacterium in Melbourne, Australia, 1837–1900

Abstract In the late nineteenth century, the city of Melbourne, Australia, experienced unusually high tuberculosis mortality. Dr. William Thomson, whose statistical methods uncovered the epidemiological trend, argued that at least one in three of the adult population of Melbourne between the ages of twenty and forty-five died of tuberculosis. While Thomson’s research challenged existing epistemologies of medicine, advocating sanitary rather than climatological aetiology, he was ultimately incapable of identifying the major factors in the spread of tuberculosis. Drawing on recent public health scholarship, which suggests a firm link between land use change and emerging infectious diseases, this paper examines the role of cultural, political, economic, and ecological activities of nineteenth-century Melbournians in constructing a niche suited to the success of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Using epidemiological techniques, GIS, and historical records, this paper analyzes the city’s ability to handle waste, stagnant water, and other vectors of disease, and considers how manipulations of the landscape to accommodate the growing city’s sanitary and commercial needs exacerbated transmissibility of tuberculosis. It concludes that the imported characteristics of the British colonial city fostered land use change uniquely suited to the perpetuation of one of the most prolific diseases of the modern era.
Planning leisure: helpful or harmful?

The purpose of this study was to examine whether planning leisure resulted in more positive outcomes among undergraduate students. Using empirical and theoretical evidence as a guide, we conducted ...
Cu-MOF-Polydopamine-Incorporated Functionalized Nanofiltration Membranes for Water Treatment: Effect of Surficial Adhesive Modification Techniques

Nanofiltration (NF) membranes have been used for different applications in water treatment. In this work, we studied two facile surficial adhesive functionalization processes using polydopamine (pD...
An Update on the Clinical Evaluation of Antibody-Based Therapeutics in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

The advent of several targeted agents has revolutionized the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in recent times; however, majority of patients are still not cured. In the ongoing quest for rationally targeted treatment strategies in AML, scientific endeavors have focused on identifying new antigen targets on the leukemic cells for therapeutic exploitation including strategies to directly deliver toxins into the leukemic blasts as well as strategies that harness host immunity to favorably impact clinical outcomes. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin, a CD33 directed antibody-drug conjugate, has provided the proof of concept for the potential efficacy of monoclonal antibody-based therapies in AML. This article provides an overview of immunologically relevant antigen targets expressed on the leukemic cells and synopsizes the clinical results evaluating targeted antibody-based therapeutic approach in AML. AML blasts and leukemic stem cells express several antigens, including CD33, CD47, CD70, CD123, and CLEC12A. The past several years have seen the burgeoning of cell-specific immunotherapy concepts, including checkpoint inhibitors, antibody–toxin conjugates, and bispecific antibodies in the treatment of AML. The first-in-class anti-CD47 antibody magrolimab and anti-CD70 antibody cusatuzumab in combination with hypomethylating agent (HMA) azacitidine, in newly diagnosed AML, and flotetuzumab, a bispecific DART® (dual-affinity retargeting) antibody to CD3e and CD123 as salvage option in relapsed/refractory AML appear promising. The development of antibody-based immunotherapeutic approach in AML has been encouraging. Ongoing research will define the choice of an appropriate complementary therapeutic agent in antibody-based combination therapy, and whether one or more than one antigen should be simultaneously targeted. Further studies will likely refine the role of antibody-based therapy in post hematopoietic cell transplant setting.
Tea without milk: lifestyle advice based on a small lab study: reply

We thank von Elm and Antes for their comments on our article ‘Addition of milk prevents vascular protective effects of tea’. In the first section of the letter, the authors critically comment on the newspaper coverage of our study, particularly on one-sided and unbalanced reporting in the press. They also note that only a few agencies took the time to give a more complex view and that bad news sells better than good news. We agree with the authors that any one-sided coverage of a story—whatever the topic might …
Epidemiological analysis of brucellosis in Hebei province from 2006 to 2010

Objective By analyzing the epidemiological characteristics and trends of brucellosis in Hebei province,provide a scientific basis for the formulation of strategies for effective prevention and control of the disease.Methods Using the descriptive epidemiological method,data of the “China information system for disease control and prevention” from 2006 to 2010 were statistically analyzed.Results There were 13 632 reported cases from 2006 to 2010 in Hebei province,no death,the annual incidence rates reported were 3.4068/10 million,3.4851/10 million,4.5701/10 million,4.6045/10 million,and 3.5582/10 million,respectively.Eleven counties throughout the province had reported cases.The cases were found intensively in Zhangjiakou,Chengde,Baoding,Handan and Shijiazhuang,which accounting for 90.02％ (12 271/13 632) of the total cases.The disease was found each month throughout the year,and showed a seasonal cycle with peak period in spring and summer.The disease was most commonly found in 25 - 65 age people,which accounting for 84.57％(11 529/13 632).The incidence in male was higher than that of female,and male to female ratio was about 3.56:1.00.Vocational high risk population was farmers,accounting for 91.15％ of the total cases(12 425/13 632).Conclusions Brucellosis epidemic in Hebei province is relatively serious,and the epidemic range has expand each year,even highly active in some particular areas.To control the outbreak of brucellosis,departments cooperation between health and animal husbandry should be strengthened; management of source of infection should be strengthened; health education and behavior intervention should be carried out thoroughly and deeply for high-risk groups. Key words: Brucellosis; Epidemic; Analysis
Incidence of anterior tibial spine fracture among skiers does not differ with age

PURPOSE Injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is common in alpine skiing in the form of either an intra-substance ACL tear or anterior tibial spine fracture (ATSF). Anterior tibial spine fractures are typically reported in children. However, several case reports describe these injuries in adults while skiing. The purpose of this study is to describe the sport specific incidence of ATSF in alpine skiing. METHODS The study was conducted over a 22-year period. Skiers who suffered an ATSF were identified and radiographs were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis. Additionally, control data from intra-substance ACL injury groups were collected. The incidence of these injuries in children, adolescents, and adults (grouped as ages 0-10, 11-16, and 17 + years old, respectively) was evaluated and the risk factors for ATSF versus ACL tear were determined. RESULTS There were 1688 intra-substance ACL and 51 ATSF injuries. The incidence of intra-substance ACL injury was greater in adults (40.0 per 100,000 skier days) compared to the adolescent (15.4 per 100,000) and child (1.1 per 100,000) age groups. In contrast, the incidence of ATSF was similar in the adult (0.9 per 100,000), adolescent (1.9 per 100,000), and child (1.9 per 100,000) age groups. Loose ski boot fit was identified as a risk factor for ATSF. CONCLUSION The incidence of ATSF in alpine skiers is similar among all age groups. However, the incidence of intra-substance ACL injuries is far greater in adult skiers compared to adolescents and children. Risk factors for ATSF relate to compliance between the foot/ankle and the ski boot. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III.
[Surveillance for sever fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Henan province, 2017-2020].

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of sever fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) cases in Henan province during 2017-2020. Methods: Descriptive epidemiology method was used to analyze the characteristics of SFTS cases in Henan during 2017-2020. Patients' sera in acute phase were collected and tested using real-time fluorescence RT-PCR. The S segment complete sequences of the isolated sever fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) strains were amplified and homology analysis was performed to construct the phylogenetic tree. Results: A total of 1 767 SFTS cases, including 1 000 suspected cases and 767 confirmed cases, were reported in Henan during this period, and 11 cases, including 3 suspected cases and 8 confirmed cases died, the case fatality rate was 0.62% (11/1 767). The incidence decreased year by year. The cases were distributed in 28 counties of 6 cities, and 1 681 cases were reported in Xinyang, accounting for 95.13% (1 681/1 767) of the total. The cases mainly occurred from April to October, accounting for 96.10% (1 698/1 767) of the total. The incidence in males (0.38/100 000) was significantly lower than that in females (0.54/100 000) (χ2=54.855, P<0.001). Up to 93.44% (1 651/1 767) of the cases were aged between 40 and 84 years. Farmers accounted for 96.10% (1 698/1 767) of the total cases. One family cluster outbreak occurred in 4 years. A total of 1 110 samples were detected by Henan CDC, in which 435 were SFTS virus positive with an average positive rate of 39.19% (435/1 110). The differences in positive rates of SFTS virus among different years were significant (χ2=25.405, P<0.001). The sequence homology of complete S segment of the 39 SFTS virus strains ranged from 94.76% to 99.82%. The genetic evolution analysis on the complete S segment of the 39 SFTS virus strains showed that 34 strains belonged to genotype A, 2 strains belonged to genotype B, and 3 strains belonged to genotype D. Conclusions: The incidence of SFTS in Henan was sporadic, and decreased year by year. SFTS had obvious regional and seasonal characteristics, and the area affected by SFTS expanded. The incidence of SFTS was high in elderly female farmers, and the positive rate of SFTS virus varied greatly in different years. The main type of SFTS virus in Henan was genotype A, but the etiological surveillance is still needed.
Model-based user interface design by demonstration and by interview

Graphical applications are easier to use than their character-based predecessors, but they are also harder to construct. Today, most graphical applications are built by hand-writing low-level code that makes calls to a subroutine library of user interface primitives. There is little wrong with this approach in a commercial setting. However, it presents significant problems if a non-programming audience is to participate in designing, building and modifying user interfaces. This thesis takes a new approach towards this problem based on a special-purpose specification language and on novel demonstrational tools. In this approach, the designers first use the demonstrational tools to specify user interface behavior. As they do so, a language-based specification is generated which they can inspect. They can then experiment with editing the specification directly, using a test-drive mode to observe the effect of their changes. The thesis contributes to the state of the art in three aspects. First, its specification language, the Elements, Events & Transitions model, is the first user-level language for interface behavior explicitly designed to be used with demonstrational tools. Second, its demonstrational tools, most notably Grizzly Bear, cover an unusually wide spectrum of user interface behavior, and are unique in keeping their reasoning independent of the characteristics of any particular user interface toolkit; we also tested them in usability experiments. Finally, the thesis is the first to explore in depth how to best combine the ease-of-use of the demonstrational approach with the expressive power of the model-based approach.
Exponentially stabilizing continuous-time controllers for periodic orbits of hybrid systems

This paper presents a systematic approach for the design of continuous-time controllers to robustly and exponentially stabilize periodic orbits of hybrid dynamical systems arising from bipedal walking. A parameterized family of continuous-time controllers is assumed so that 1 a periodic orbit is induced for the hybrid system, and 2 the orbit is invariant under the choice of controller parameters. Properties of the Poincare map and its first- and second-order derivatives are used to translate the problem of exponential stabilization of the periodic orbit into a set of bilinear matrix inequalities BMIs. A BMI optimization problem is then set up to tune the parameters of the continuous-time controller so that the Jacobian of the Poincare map has its eigenvalues in the unit circle. It is also shown how robustness against uncertainty in the switching condition of the hybrid system can be incorporated into the design problem. The power of this approach is illustrated by finding robust and stabilizing continuous-time feedback laws for walking gaits of two underactuated 3D bipedal robots.
Production of emulsifying agent during growth of Pseudomonas cepacia with 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid

The culture supernatant of Pseudomonas cepacia (ATCC 39027) grown on 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) was found to contain an agent which can emulsify 2,4,5-T. The emulsion is stable for several hours. The emulsifying agent was produced in response to growth on 2,4,5-T, although some emulsification was observed in culture supernatant of glucose grown cells. The emulsifying agent is most active with 2,4,5-T but has some activity towards other chlorinated compounds such as chlorophenols. In growing culture the emulsifying agent adheres to the cell surface as a slimy layer. The emulsifying agent is believed to have a role in transport of 2,4,5-T into the cells.
Future of epilepsy treatment: integration of devices

ABSTRACT The use of devices in the treatment of epilepsy is an emerging therapy for those patients whose seizures are not controlled by medications. This article will discuss current treatment options with devices for vagus nerve stimulation, deep brain stimulation and responsive neurostimulation. Emerging therapies in noninvasive neurostimulation such as with trigeminal nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation may prove to be promising solutions. Finally, new and enhanced techniques of drug delivery are discussed as well as other devices with potential use in the study and treatment of epilepsy.
Denoising of images using logical (binary) transforms

Because a signal can often be easily corrupted during its transmission, registration, or storage, de-noising is an important field in the areas of communications systems and of signal and image processing, especially where defense and security applications are of concern. Techniques employing transform-based methods such as the Fourier transform, the cosine transform, and wavelets have already been applied successfully to this field when dealing with an image corrupted by noise having a Gaussian or uniform distribution. However, images where impulse or salt and pepper noise are introduced are typically treated using median or switched-median algorithms because the sudden discontinuities of impulse noise often present problems for conventional transform-based noise reduction approaches. Additionally, binary images cannot easily be de-noised by fast orthogonal transforms or wavelets. A novel noise detection and reduction scheme using a fast logical (binary) transform-based Boolean minimization algorithm is presented. The presented approach is capable of de-noising both binary and multivalued images corrupted by impulse noise. A comparison with well-known methods is offered. Particularly, the algorithm reliably detects noise more effectively than existing switched-median methods, and de-noising results comparable to or better than those attainable with median filtering are possible. The technique performs especially well when operating on images of high complexity. The new technique does not require the use of a multiplication nor a sorting operation. In addition, we show that the presented de-noising procedure could be easily performed on an already compressed file or during the compression step. Furthermore, the simplicity of the transform makes a gate-level hardware realization practical for use with distributed sensors and inexpensive or high-speed imaging systems.
Flt3 ligand therapy for recipients of allogeneic bone marrow transplants expands host CD8α+ dendritic cells and reduces experimental acute graft-versus-host disease

Recent evidence suggests that dendritic cells (DCs) can regulate and amplify immune responses. Flt3 ligand (FL)–derived DC function was tested as a stimulator of allogeneic lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of mice with FL dramatically expanded DC number, but DCs isolated from FL-treated mice (FL DCs) were poor stimulators of allogeneic T-cell responses in vitro. Further activation of FL DCs did not restore their stimulatory ability, and FL DCs did not suppress the stimulation of the allogeneic T cells by normal DCs. FL treatment significantly increased the CD8α+ DC subset, which appeared to be the reason for their poor stimulatory capacity. These observations were confirmed in vivo using a mouse model of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) wherein host DCs play a critical role. FL treatment of recipients before allogeneic bone marrow transplantation dramatically suppressed donor T-cell responses to host antigens, thereby reducing GVHD mortality (P
Diabetic complications associated with new-onset diabetes mellitus in renal transplant recipients.

Background Data are scarce regarding the incidence and risk factors for complications of new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) in renal transplant patients. Methods United States Renal Data System (USRDS) data from primary renal transplant recipients during 1995-2001 who developed NODM was used to examine diabetic complications over the first three years posttransplant. Prognostic models were used to evaluate patient characteristics and treatment choices associated with risk of each class of complications. Propensity scores for choice of calcineurin inhibitor were included in multivariate analyses. Results The analysis included 21,489 patients, of whom 4,105 developed NODM by 3 years posttransplant. One or more NODM complications developed in 2,393 patients (58.3% of all patients with NODM), comprising ketoacidosis (334, 8.1%), hyperosmolarity (131, 3.2%), renal complications (1,286, 31.3%), ophthalmic complications (340, 8.3%), neurological complications (665, 16.2%), peripheral circulatory disorders (170, 4.1%) and hypoglycemia/shock (301, 7.3%). Complications developed within a mean of 500 to 600 days from diagnosis of NODM. Multivariate analysis showed that increased recipient age, higher body mass index, African-American race, hepatitis C infection, hypertension as cause of end-stage renal disease, cold ischemia >or=30 hours, and use of tacrolimus each increased risk of complications. Conclusion NODM is associated with similar complications to those seen in the general population, but these appear to develop at an accelerated rate. Obesity and use of tacrolimus are the only modifiable factors that appear to affect risk of NODM or its complications.
Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus pseudotyped lentiviral vector-mediated gene transfer to fetal ovine lung

Viral vector-mediated gene transfer to the postnatal respiratory epithelium has, in general, been of low efficiency due to physical and immunological barriers, non-apical location of cellular receptors critical for viral uptake and limited transduction of resident stem/progenitor cells. These obstacles may be overcome using a prenatal strategy. In this study, HIV-1-based lentiviral vectors (LVs) pseudotyped with the envelope glycoproteins of Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV-LV), baculovirus GP64 (GP64-LV), Ebola Zaire-LV or vesicular stomatitis virus (VSVg-LV) and the adeno-associated virus-2/6.2 (AAV2/6.2) were compared for in utero transfer of a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene to ovine lung epithelium between days 65 and 78 of gestation. GFP expression was examined on day 85 or 136 of gestation (term is ∼145 days). The percentage of the respiratory epithelial cells expressing GFP in fetal sheep that received the JSRV-LV (3.18 × 108–6.85 × 109 viral particles per fetus) was 24.6±0.9% at 3 weeks postinjection (day 85) and 29.9±4.8% at 10 weeks postinjection (day 136). Expression was limited to the surface epithelium lining fetal airways <100 μm internal diameter. Fetal airways were amenable to VSVg-LV transduction, although the percentage of epithelial expression was low (6.6±0.6%) at 1 week postinjection. GP64-LV, Ebola Zaire-LV and AAV2/6.2 failed to transduce the fetal ovine lung under these conditions. These data demonstrate that prenatal lung gene transfer with LV engineered to target apical surface receptors can provide sustained and high levels of transgene expression and support the therapeutic potential of prenatal gene transfer for the treatment of congenital lung diseases.