cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies on the metabolism of amino acids and related compounds in vivo. III. Prevention of ammonia toxicity by arginine and related compounds.

Abstract The LD50 and LD99.9 levels for ammonium acetate injected intraperitoneally in rats starved for 24 hr. have been determined. Injection of 2 mmoles/kg. body weight of l -arginine. HCl at 60 min. prior to an LD99.9 dose of the ammonium salt resulted in complete protection of the animals. A comparable degree of protection with l -citrulline and l -ornithine. HCl was achieved at a level of 8 mmoles/kg. l -Arginine methyl ester. HCl, neutralized to pH 7.0, conferred nearly complete protection at a level of 4 mmoles/kg. of body weight. Compounds which when injected 1 hr. prior to an LD99.9 dose of ammonium acetate protected some but not all of the animals included the d -isomers of arginine. HCl, citrulline, ornithine. HCl, and arginine methyl ester. HCl, as well as α-keto-δ-guanidovaleric acid (the α-keto acid analog of arginine) and α-acetyl- l -ornithine. Compounds which, under the same conditions, were completely nonprotective, included acetyl- l - and d -arginine, α-acetyl- d -ornithine, δ-acetyl- l -ornithine, and the l -forms of lysine, homocitrulline, and homoarginine. Liver slices prepared from animals injected 60 min. earlier with various protective compounds showed, when incubated with ammonium chloride, an accelerated consumption of ammonia and formation of urea, whereas with nonprotective compounds under the same conditons either a less strongly marked acceleration or no acceleration at all was observed. It would appear that the effect of the previously injected protective substances consisted at least in part in a mobilization and acceleration of the classic Krebs-Henseleit urea synthesis mechanism in the liver.
Serodiagnosis of equine piroplasmosis, dourine, and glanders using an arrayed immunoblotting method.

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Deletion Mapping of the Encephalomyocarditis Virus Primary Cleavage Site

The cotranslational, primary self-cleavage reaction of cardiovirus polyprotein relies on a highly conserved, short segment of amino acids at the 2A-2B protein boundary. The amino terminus of the required element for encephalomyocarditis virus has now been mapped to include Tyr(126) of the 2A protein, the 18th amino acid before the cleavage site.
Damage Tolerance Protein Mus81 Associates with the FHA1 Domain of Checkpoint Kinase Cds1

Cds1, a serine/threonine kinase, enforces the S-M checkpoint in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Cds1 is required for survival of replicational stress caused by agents that stall replication forks, but how Cds1 performs these functions is largely unknown. Here we report that the forkhead-associated-1 (FHA1) protein-docking domain of Cds1 interacts with Mus81, an evolutionarily conserved damage tolerance protein. Mus81 has an endonuclease homology domain found in the XPF nucleotide excision repair protein. Inactivation of mus81 reveals a unique spectrum of phenotypes. Mus81 enables survival of deoxynucleotide triphosphate starvation, UV radiation, and DNA polymerase impairment. Mus81 is essential in the absence of Bloom's syndrome Rqh1 helicase and is required for productive meiosis. Genetic epistasis studies suggest that Mus81 works with recombination enzymes to properly replicate damaged DNA. Inactivation of Mus81 triggers a checkpoint-dependent delay of mitosis. We propose that Mus81 is involved in the recruitment of Cds1 to aberrant DNA structures where Cds1 modulates the activity of damage tolerance enzymes.
Audience response systems as a data collection method in organizational research

Audience responses systems are electronic devices allowing audience interaction and they are increasingly being used in educational and business settings to enhance various pedagogical and practical processes. This paper discusses how ARS technology may be used as a method of collecting data for research purposes. Specifically, this paper demonstrates ARS technology's potential utility by duplicating findings from two organisational studies, it discusses how ARS technology may be used to address three prevalent data collection problems, and it suggests how ARS technology may provide scholars with increased access to certain organisational settings, as well as greater integration between research and service activities.
Interaction with a Mobile Reader for the Visually Impaired

While reading devices for the visually impaired have been available for many years, they are often expensive and difficult to use. In an effort to prototype a device comprised of inexpensive components, we present a highly interactive method for processing document images. The voice user interface (VUI), document image segmentation and framing, and targeted image registration methods of a mobile reading device are presented. Initial experimental results on a set of newspaper pages are also presented.
Examining the viability of FPGA supercomputing

For certain applications, custom computational hardware created using field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) can produce significant performance improvements over processors, leading some in academia and industry to call for the inclusion of FPGAs in supercomputing clusters. This paper presents a comparative analysis of FPGAs and traditional processors, focusing on floating-point performance and procurement costs, revealing economic hurdles in the adoption of FPGAs for general high-performance computing (HPC).
Neutronics Assessment of the ITER First Wall/Shield Modules

Neutronics analysis was performed to support the US design of ITER first wall/shield (FWS) modules 7, 12 and 13. Initial 1-D and 2-D calculations determined nuclear heating radial profiles in each of the constituent materials. In addition, the nuclear parameters were determined at the inner surface of the vacuum vessel (VV). The impact of radiation streaming through zones with large water content, such as the water coolant manifolds and FW attachment legs, was evaluated. The peaking is largest for nuclear heating that is dominated by gamma heating. Monte Carlo calculations that are directly coupled to the CAD models were utilized to generate high fidelity, high-resolution results for nuclear heating, radiation damage, and helium production.
Annotation-based genome-wide SNP discovery in the large and complex Aegilops tauschii genome using next-generation sequencing without a reference genome sequence

Background Many plants have large and complex genomes with an abundance of repeated sequences. Many plants are also polyploid. Both of these attributes typify the genome architecture in the tribe Triticeae, whose members include economically important wheat, rye and barley. Large genome sizes, an abundance of repeated sequences, and polyploidy present challenges to genome-wide SNP discovery using next-generation sequencing (NGS) of total genomic DNA by making alignment and clustering of short reads generated by the NGS platforms difficult, particularly in the absence of a reference genome sequence.
A Longitudinal Comparison of Leader-Follower Relationships between High and Low Performing Self-Managed Work Teams in Virtual Settings

We conducted a semester-long study that examined the influence of emergent leaders' behaviors on followers' behaviors in high- and low-performing teams over time. Our results indicated that in high-performing teams, followers engaged in greater adaptive, goal and stability behaviors solely as a function of time. Neither the virtualness nor the behaviors of leaders influenced the behaviors of followers in high performing teams. In contrast, in low-performing teams, leaders played an important role in facilitating followers to engage in more leadership behaviors. Generally, over time, in response to the increasing virtualness and behaviors of the leaders, followers responded by engaging in similar behaviors. Following the leader's behavior, however, was dysfunctional for team performance. Our findings suggest that mimicking the task behaviors of emergent leaders who are virtual is not necessarily a formula for successful team performance, especially in self-managed work teams Instead, as shown by the high-performing teams, behaviors that are self-initiated and autonomous-regardless of the leaders' behaviors or virtualness-are what lead to success.
New strategies are needed to improve the accuracy of influenza vaccine effectiveness estimates among seniors.

Abstract Objective The magnitude of the benefit of influenza vaccine among elderly individuals has been recently debated. Existing vaccine effectiveness estimates derive primarily from observational studies, which may be biased. In this paper, we provide a methodological examination of the potential sources of bias in observational studies of influenza vaccine effectiveness in seniors and propose design and analysis strategies to reduce bias in future studies. Study Design and Setting We draw parallels to bias documented in observational studies of therapies in other areas of medical research including pharmacoepidemiology, discuss reasons why existing adjustment methods in influenza studies may not adequately control for the bias, and evaluate statistical approaches that may yield more accurate estimation of influenza vaccine effectiveness. Results There is strong evidence for the presence of bias in existing observational estimates of influenza vaccine effectiveness in the elderly and the failure of current adjustment methods to reduce bias. Conclusion Promising approaches for reducing bias include obtaining more accurate information on confounders, such as functional status, avoiding all-cause death in favor of outcomes, such as pneumonia or influenza-related pneumonia, and evaluating the extent to which bias is reduced by these and other methods using the ‘control’ period before influenza season.
Columnar cell lesions and subsequent breast cancer risk: a nested case-control study

Introduction: Histologic and genetic evidence suggests that at least some columnar cell lesions (CCL) of the breast represent precursor lesions in the low-grade breast neoplasia pathway. However, the risk of subsequent breast cancer associated with the presence of CCL in a benign breast biopsy is poorly understood. Methods: The authors examined the association between the presence of CCL and subsequent breast cancer risk in a nested case-control study of benign breast disease (BBD) and breast cancer within the Nurses’ Health Studies (394 cases, 1,606 controls). Benign breast biopsy slides were reviewed by pathologists and CCL presence assessed. Logistic regression was used to compute odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between CCL and breast cancer risk. Results: Women with CCL (140 cases, 448 controls) had an increased risk of breast cancer compared with those without CCL (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.83), although this was attenuated and became non-significant after adjustment for the histologic category of BBD (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.94 to 1.54). CCL presence was associated with the greatest risk of breast cancer for those with nonproliferative BBD (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 0.79 to 2.37) and the lowest risk for those with atypical hyperplasia (AH) (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.65 to 1.87); however, this apparent heterogeneity in risk across BBD categories was not significant (P for interaction between CCL presence and BBD category = 0.77). Conclusions: These results provide evidence that CCL may be an important marker of breast cancer risk in women with BBD but suggest that CCL do not increase breast cancer risk independently of concurrent proliferative changes in the breast.
The spectrum of complement alternative pathway‐mediated diseases

The complement system has once again come into prominence in the therapeutic development arena. The recent approval of an inhibitory monoclonal antibody, eculizumab, which is directed against complement component C5 for the disease paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria has provided the initial validation of this system as a therapeutic target. Preclinical studies using animal models and human-derived samples demonstrate that inhibition of complement ameliorates many inflammatory and autoimmune disease manifestations. Major efforts continue to define the most optimal means to block complement activation in a cost-effective manner. Because the system is initiated through three pathways and generates at least six immunoregulatory and pro-inflammatory mediators, there is substantial complexity to this problem. One pathway, designated the alternative pathway, has recently been shown to play a particularly important role in preclinical disease models. Further evidence of the importance of the alternative pathway has been provided by studies of human diseases, where mutations or dysfunctional polymorphisms that promote activation of this pathway are highly associated with the diseases atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, dense deposit disease, and age-related macular degeneration. This article reviews evidence in support of the essential role of the alternative pathway in the generation of tissue injury and the rationale for development of therapies that modulate its activity.
Blending technology education with management education

The Bachelor of Science in Management of Technology (BSMOT) program was created as a baccalaureate completion program for persons holding an engineering technology associate degree from a South Carolina technical college. The BSMOT program is the only program in South Carolina which allows students to migrate easily with minimal credit loss from a two-year engineering technology program into a baccalaureate management related program.
Personalization of Serious Videogames for Occupational Engagement for Elderly

Recently, the use of video games has been extended to attenuate the cognitive deterioration in elderly. However, not all interventions based on videogames have shown benefits, and very limited research has been made on the design and evaluation of serious videogames that promote a change of attitude in the players, along with entertainment, to properly develop cognitive skills. To this end we have developed a serious videogame prototype to support occupational engagement, based on personalization, that incorporates strategies to encourage and reward with a more meaningful and well-defined purpose for the elderly, and validated it by an expert in cognitive psychology. As a result, although it is needed to adjust levels of competitiveness and provide a positive reward to player achievements, such videogame can support elderly behaviors to social participation that is considered a relevant issue in Chilean society, as it raises challenging issues for cognitive stimulation.
Markov modeling of colonoscopy gestures to develop skill trainers

Colonoscopy is a complex procedure which requires considerable skill by the clinician in guiding the scope safely and accurately through the colon, and in a manner tolerable to the patient. Excessive pressure can cause the colon walls to distend, leading to excruciating pain or perforation. Concerted efforts by the ASGE have led to stipulating guidelines for trainees to reach necessary expertise. In this paper, we have analyzed the motion of the colonoscope by collecting kinematics data using 4 electromagnetic position sensors. Further, 36 feature vectors have been defined to capture all possible gestures. These feature vectors are used to train Hidden Markov Models to identify critical gestures that differentiate expertise. Five expert attending clinicians and four fellows were recruited as part of this study. Experimental results show that roll of the scope shows maximum differentiation of expertise.
Optimizing Search Interactions within Professional Social Networks

To help users cope with the scale and influx of new information, professional social networks (PSNs) provide a search functionality. However, most of the search engines within PSNs today only support keyword queries and basic faceted search capabilities overlooking serendipitous network exploration and search for relationships between entities. This results in siloed information and a limited search space. My thesis is that we must redesign all major elements of a search user interface, such as input, control, and informational, to enable more effective search interactions within PSNs. I will introduce new insights and algorithms supporting the thesis.
As Good as it Gets? The UK Labour Market in Recession and Recovery

Labour markets, both in the UK and internationally, have surprised both in recession and recovery. Contrary to the prior literature summarised in OECD (1994) that argued that unemployment was caused by the levels of unemployment benefits, job protection and other labour market factors including high levels of union density, unemployment grew most in countries a) with large financial sectors (the UK and the USA); b) that had house price bubbles (e.g. Ireland, Latvia, Spain, the UK and the USA); c) that had low levels of job protection and unions (the UK and the USA). By contrast, countries with high levels of job protection and high levels of union bargaining coverage have had relatively small rises in unemployment (e.g. Germany and Austria).1 The prior literature on the causes of unemployment essentially has nothing to say about this crisis.
Frequency Band Separability Feature Extraction Method With Weighted Haar Wavelet Implementation for Implantable Spike Sorting

Hardware-efficient feature extraction is an important step for real-time and on-chip spike sorting. Based on an analysis of spike energy spectrum, a new feature set is developed using the positive and negative spike peaks in low and high frequency bands. A separability metric that evaluates the informativeness and noise sensitivity of features is introduced to optimize the cutoff frequency of each band. Haar-based discrete wavelet transform was chosen to implement memory- and hardware-efficient filters for extracting frequency band separability features. Specifically, peaks from the first level detail and the fourth level approximation were used to represent a spike. To improve clustering performance, the detail features were weighted into the same dynamic range as the approximation features. The new feature extraction method was tested at different signal-to-noise ratios using synthesized datasets consisting of considerable and various spike shapes extracted from real neural recordings. The results show that the new method has 3%–10% better spike sorting performance than other hardware-efficient methods while consuming comparable hardware resources.
WE-DE-BRA-02: BEST IN PHYSICS (JOINT IMAGING-THERAPY): Prototype for An In-Room Supercompounded 3D Volumetric Ultrasound Image Guidance System for Prone Breast SBRT

Purpose: SBRT requires both substantial positioning precision and accuracy. However, accurate dose delivery is challenging for prone breast SBRT due to breast deformation, lumpectomy cavity shrinkage and ineffective CT/CBCT on soft tissue. We developed a prototype in-room 3D volumetric ultrasound (US) image guidance system for prone breast SBRT. Methods: The designed system, set beneath a prone breast board, consists of a customized breast cup, rotational scanning water container, and a portable US scanner. The breast CT scan is converted to STereoLithographic model then 3D printed as a mold to construct a patient-specific breast cup. The holder is fabricated with liquid urethane resin and cured to a ∼1 mm thick semi-rigid polymerized cup. The US transducer is attached to the container but separated from a water compartment by a urethane resin membrane. The transverse scan is acquired by simultaneously rotating the water container and transducer every 5°. The 3D US image is constructed with multiple transverse images using a supercompounding-technique-based volumetric US reconstruction algorithm. The performance of the prototype US system was evaluated on a gelatin based breast phantom with five embedded reflective markers. Reconstructed image quality (size and geometric accuracy) was compared with MRI images of the same phantom. Results: In the evaluated plane, the five embedded markers were compared to MRI in terms of size and location. Diameter differences were 1.85, 1.71, 2.37, 1.00 and 1.85 mm between MRI and US. The 1–2 mm variations come from the different edge response the material has on the two imaging modalities. The difference in distance between adjacent marker centers between MRI and US were 0.57, 0.84, 0.75 and 0.80 mm. Conclusion: The phantom study results show geometric agreement between MRI and US indicating that the proposed image-guidance system can provide precise and accurate patient setup for each SBRT fraction. CPRIT Grant R1308
Design and Art: The Aesthetic Turn

AbstractModern artists of all types have adopted formalist aesthetics, in part to create autonomy for themselves and their work. While many applaud this changing social role, others believe turns toward the aesthetic entail turning away from social responsibility. Does adopting an aesthetic stance lead to moral jeopardy? In order to begin to answer this complex question, this essay examines communication designers and their aesthetic biases in light of two correlative moral rubrics: Cheatwood’s artistic accountability and Berleant’s artistic responsibility. Insights from this examination are useful insofar as they can add to the discourse surrounding art, design, aesthetics and ethics.
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: Diagnosis and Management Challenges

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a primary immune system disorder that results from defective cell-to-cell signaling and disruption of inflammatory system homeostasis. This disorder usually affects children, although cases of HLH in adults have been reported (Zhang et al. 2011). HLH usually is initiated by an external stimulus, most commonly by viral infections, but familial cases have also been described (Janka 2006). Epstein-Barr virus is one of the more frequently implicated infections in the pathogenesis of HLH, but many other infections have been associated (Filipovich 2008). There are several inherited gene mutations which have been demonstrated to cause HLH. All of these genes encode proteins that participate in target-cell killing within the immune system and that effect homeostasis of the inflammatory response. Without such a regulatory system, cytokines and other inflammatory mediators are produced unchecked, resulting in fever, multiple organ system failure, pancytopenia, and death in many patients if treatment is not initiated promptly.
‘Fist, feet and faith’: an ‘elite’ interview with ‘Fight Church’ Pastor Jude Roberts

AbstractThe interest in mixed martial arts (MMA) in the United States has escalated since its advent in 1993. In the last 10 years, there has been a heightened interest in Christian MMA (CMMA). Several evangelical churches across the country have started MMA ministries to attract and retain men and boys. Proponents of CMMA suggest that it helps to build strong Christian values in its practitioners, while its opponents chide the sheer danger of sport because of its violent nature. An ‘elite’ interview was conducted with ‘Fight Pastor’ Jude Roberts (a pseudonym), who was one of the leading voices in the CMMA movement. Over the span of the interview, Roberts concluded: (1) MMA can be used to teach Christian values; and (2) the violence associated with CMMA can be supported by scripture. Despite the growing popularity of CMMA, it is an area that needs to be studied more from an interdisciplinary approach.
STONE DETERIORATION CHARACTERIZATION FOR ITS CONSERVATION

Abstract: The conservation of stone is fundamental for the preservation of our architectural and monumental heritage. Although stone is reputed as one of the most resistant materials, there are many factors that contribute towards its deterioration. This paper aims to summarize the main deterioration factors, such as air pollution, the presence of soluble salts, and biocolonization. A brief discussion of these factors serves as the basis to introduce the importance of a correct diagnosis regarding the origin of the observed deterioration. Only then, can the most appropriate solution be found to address the problem. Keywords: stone nature, deterioration, conservation Resumo: CARACTERIZACAO DA DETERIORACAO DAS PEDRAS PARA A SUA CONSERVACAO. A conservacao da pedra e fundamental para a preservacao do nosso patrimonio arquitectonico e monumental. Embora seja um dos materiais mais resistentes, deve-se considerar que existem muitos factores que podem contribuir para a sua deterioracao. O presente trabalho sintetiza os principais factores de deterioracao, tais como a poluicao atmosferica, a presenca de sais soluveis e a biocolonizacao. Uma breve resenha destes factores serve de base para salientar a importância de fazer o diagnostico correcto da origem da deterioracao observada. So entao se pode encontrar a solucao mais adequada para resolver o problema. Palavras Chave: tipo de pedra, deterioracao, conservacao.
Abstract WP267: 9-Tert-Butyl Doxycycline Inhibits Neuronal Injury and Neutrophil Trafficking After Global Cerebral Ischemia

Introduction: Cardiac arrest induces a robust systemic inflammatory response that exacerbates CNS injury and is characterized in part by neutrophil (PMN) migration to the brain. Tetracyclines have been shown to reduce inflammation after stroke, and here we test the effects of the tetracycline derivative 9-tert-butyl doxycycline (9TB) on PMN activation, trafficking, and ischemic neuroprotection in a mouse model of global ischemia-reperfusion. Hypothesis: Inhibition of PMN activation by 9TB will decrease PMN extravasation in the CNS and mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods: Transient global cerebral ischemia was induced in LysM-EGFP mice by 3-vessel occlusion (3VO). Mice were given 50 μg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to simulate endotoxemia observed after cardiac arrest and daily injections of 25 mg/kg 9TB or vehicle control. Blood was collected 4 hours after 3VO/LPS for fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis of PMN activation. Brain and spleen immunohistochemistry were performed after 3 days to assess injury and PMN burden. Results: Expression of the PMN activation marker CD11b was increased 4 hours after 3VO/LPS compared to sham (mean fluorescence intensity = 55,516 vs. 6,537) and lower in 3VO/LPS animals treated with 9TB (MFI = 36,445). While sham-treated groups showed little PMN infiltration into the brain (7.5 PMN/mm2 ± 2.2 vs. 1.9 PMN/mm2 ± 1.3; NS), 9TB treatment of shams increased splenic PMN sequestration (81.4 ± 8.3 vs. 38.0 ± 7.5; p Conclusions: 9TB treatment rapidly inhibits PMN activation and reduces PMN migration and CNS injury when delivered acutely following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. Future studies are required to link ischemic neuroprotection with the observed effects on PMN activity.
ID: 1023 All-trans retinoic acid targets gastric cancer stem cells and inhibits patient-derived gastric carcinoma tumor growth

Gastric carcinoma is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. This cancer, most of the time metastatic, is essentially treated by surgery associated with conventional chemotherapy, and has a poor prognosis. The existence of cancer stem cells (CSC) expressing CD44 and a high aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity has recently been demonstrated in gastric carcinoma and has opened new perspectives to develop targeted therapy. In this study, we evaluated the effects of all-transretinoic acid (ATRA) on CSCs in human gastric carcinoma. ATRA effects were evaluated on the proliferation and tumorigenic properties of gastric carcinoma cells from patient-derived tumors and cell lines in conventional 2D cultures, in 3D culture systems (tumorsphere assay) and in mouse xenograft models. ATRA inhibited both tumorspheres initiation and growth in vitro, which was associated with a cell-cycle arrest through the upregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors and the downregulation of cell-cycle progression activators. More importantly, ATRA downregulated the expression of the CSC markers CD44 and ALDH as well as stemness genes such as Klf4 and Sox2 and induced differentiation of tumorspheres. Finally, 2 weeks of daily ATRA treatment were sufficient to inhibit gastric tumor progression in vivo, which was associated with a decrease in CD44, ALDH1, Ki67 and PCNA expression in the remaining tumor cells. Administration of ATRA appears to be a potent strategy to efficiently inhibit tumor growth and more importantly to target gastric CSCs in both intestinal and diffuse types of gastric carcinoma.
Flow Microscopy Imaging Is Sensitive to Characteristics of Subvisible Particles in Peginesatide Formulations Associated With Severe Adverse Reactions.

Abstract The presence of subvisible particles in formulations of therapeutic proteins is a risk factor for adverse immune responses. Although the immunogenic potential of particulate contaminants likely depends on particle structural characteristics (e.g., composition, size, and shape), exact structure-immunogenicity relationships are unknown. Images recorded by flow imaging microscopy reflect information about particle morphology, but flow microscopy is typically used to determine only particle size distributions, neglecting information on particle morphological features that may be immunologically relevant. We recently developed computational techniques that utilize the Kullback-Leibler divergence and multidimensional scaling to compare the morphological properties of particles in sets of flow microscopy images. In the current work, we combined these techniques with expectation maximization cluster analyses and used them to compare flow imaging microscopy data sets that had been collected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after severe adverse drug reactions (including 7 fatalities) were observed in patients who had been administered some lots of peginesatide formulations. Flow microscopy images of particle populations found in the peginesatide lots associated with severe adverse reactions in patients were readily distinguishable from images of particles in lots where severe adverse reactions did not occur.
Effects of neonatal handling on play and anxiety in F344 and Lewis rats

Play is an important part of normal childhood development and seen in many mammals, including rats. To better understand the interplay between genotype and postnatal experiences, the effects of neonatal handling on play were assessed in Lewis (LEW) and Fischer 344 (F344) rats. Handled litters experienced brief periods of separation during the first two postnatal weeks. F344 rats were less likely to direct nape contacts toward an untreated Sprague-Dawley (SD) partner and less likely to rotate to a supine position in response to a nape contact. When compared to rats from control litters, handled LEW, and F344 rats were more likely to respond to nape contacts with complete rotations, suggesting that handling increased playful responsiveness to a comparable extent in both strains. SD rats paired with handled inbred rats had more nape contacts than those paired with non-handled rats. While handled LEW rats also tended to direct more nape contacts to the SD partner than non-handled LEW rats there was no difference between handled and non-handled F344 rats. These results could not be readily explained by handling-induced changes in either maternal care or anxiety. These data suggest that the behavioral consequences of neonatal handling may not depend to a great extent on the genetic platform that these manipulations are acting on. These data also suggest that the ability to maintain the ebb and flow between playful solicitation and playful responsiveness may be compromised in F344 rats and may contribute to the lower levels of play in this strain.
Impact of neonatologist availability on preterm survival without morbidities.

We assessed birth hospital level and neonatal outcomes within a model of regionalization featuring neonatologists at all levels of care, including well-baby nurseries without an accompanying neonatal intensive care unit. Data were analyzed by NY State adaptation of American Academy of Pediatrics defined levels of care; n = 998, 23–30 weeks gestational age, 400–1250 g birth weight, and admitted to the regional center (2006–2015). Primary outcomes were survival, neurologic survival, and intact survival. Level III hospitals transferred 82% of neonates ≥24 h of life compared to ≤2% at Level I or II hospitals (p < 0.05). Primary outcomes were equivalent for Levels I vs. II born neonates with similar postnatal age at transfer and similar to inborn rates (Levels I and II vs. IV). When transferred within 24 h, Levels I or II born infants had equivalent outcomes to inborn Level IV infants in a model of neonatologist availability at all deliveries.
SUSPENDED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT AND CIRCULATION IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY: AN OVERVIEW

Differences in the relative magnitude and timing of wind stress and river inflow in the northern and southern reaches of San Francisco Bay create different sedimentary conditions. The northern reach is a partially to well mixed estuary receiving most of the total annual fresh-water input (840 m 3 sec −1 ) and suspended sediment input (4 × 10 6 metric tons) into the bay; more than 80% of the sediment is received during winter. Density-driven nontidal estuarine circulation (~5 cm sec −1 ) maintains a turbidity maximum which changes seasonally in particle concentration (40 to 80 mg litre −1 ). Strong tidal currents (≤225 cm sec −1 ) and wind-generated waves resuspend sediment from the shallow bay floor: some of the riverborne sediment deposited during winter is resuspended during summer and transported landward to the turbidity maximum. Long-term sediment data (extrapolated from bathymetrie charts) indicate that the northern reach is an effective sediment trap. In contrast, long-term sediment data suggest that the southern reach is experiencing net erosion. The southern reach receives little river inflow or riverborne suspended sediment, and the average nontidal circulation is weak (≤2 cm sec −1 ). The principal source of suspended sediment (25 mg litre −1 ) in the southern reach is the shallow bay floor (average depth 6 m).
Nasal-Emission and Nose leaves

Despite all other craniodental adaptations, the head of most bats must function as an ultrasonic emitter and receiver. Not all echolocation calls are ultrasonic, but all either are emitted from an open mouth (oral-emission) or are forced through the confines of the nasal passages (nasal-emission), and some nasal-emitting bats alternate between modes as the situation demands. The conspicuous baffles that surround the nostrils of nasal-emitting bats are not ornamental structures; rather, these “noseleaves” serve several important acoustic functions and are considered to be the earmark of nasal-emitting bats. For many readers, the difference between oral- and nasal-emission is viewed as a simple character state, most likely tied to the vagaries of foraging ecology in some tangential manner. However, Pedersen and Timm (Evolutionary history of bats: fossils molecules and morphology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 470–499, 2012) reviewed a considerable volume of literature discussing how the advent of nasal-emitting bats required a dramatic redesign of the microchiropteran rostrum and skull base during development. Nasal-emission is therefore a key innovation responsible for two of the most dramatic morphological radiations in the Chiroptera—phyllostomid and rhinolophid + hipposiderid bats. Herein, we summarize and update that review and then discuss recent advances in the numerical analysis of form and function in regard to the beamforming function of noseleaves (Muller, J Acoust Soc Am 128:1414–1425, 2010).
Imaging Mass Spectrometry of Intact Biomolecules in Tissue Sections

Abstract Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) is an enabling technology for the in situ analysis of biomolecules and pharmaceutical compounds in thin tissue sections. The technology maintains high molecular specificity in the imaging process for a wide variety of biomolecules while preserving the spatial localization in a tissue section. Hundreds to thousands of molecules can be analyzed in a single experiment without the use of target specific reagents such as antibodies. IMS is increasingly being used to aid in molecular diagnosis and prognosis and in the evaluation of treatment in the study of disease processes. This chapter briefly reviews the current state of MALDI IMS and highlights some of its applications in biological and clinical research.
Early change in blood-based biomarkers and association with clinical outcome (CO) in advanced stage cancer patients (pts) treated with immunotherapy (IO).

e15022Background: Ideal biomarkers for cancer pts receiving IO are currently lacking. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR...
Urinary Tract on FDG PET/CT (Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder)

Abstract The urinary tract is one the most difficult organ systems of the body to evaluate on FDG PET/CT. This is because of physiologic excretion of FDG through the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. FDG in urine may hide FDG-avid malignancy or be mistaken for FDG-avid malignancy. Careful attention must be paid to both the FDG PET and CT components of an FDG PET/CT to prevent mistakes. The differential for solid renal masses includes RCC, oncocytoma, TCC, and AML, lymphoma, and metastases. The presence of macroscopic fat on CT is usually diagnostic of AML. TCC arise from the collecting system epithelium and are usually centered along this epithelium. It is usually not possible to distinguish RCC and oncocytoma on imaging, and thus pathology is usually necessary. All of these lesions have variable FDG avidity which may be obscured by FDG in adjacent urine.
Isothermal Titration Calorimetry for the Screening of Aflatoxin B1 Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Sensor Affinity Agents

In this work, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is employed as an affinity agent screening method for the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). AFB1, a pot...
THU0342 The lupus foundation of america rapid evaluation of activity in lupus (LFA-REAL) provides a simple but reliable measurement of sle disease activity

Background Clinical trial evaluations in SLE are problematic, in part due to glossary-based outcome measures with imperfect granular relevance. Visual analogue scales (VAS) allow real world scaling of disease severity, but may be inconsistent when used over time or by different raters. The SELENA SLEDAI Physician’s Global Assessment (SSPGA) is a VAS with severity anchors and instructions to promote consistent, transitional scoring. The Rapid Evaluation of Activity in Lupus (LFA-REALTM) extends the SSPGA by scoring each active feature separately, allowing additive impact of each manifestation within organs, and a global score with meaningful weighting of multiple symptoms. It differs from previous constructions that combine PGA with component scoring1 by incorporating all manifestations of lupus and refining scaling of the SSPGA2. Objectives To compare performance of SSPGA and LFA-REALTM to accepted SLE trial outcome measures during an ongoing trial in SLE, using a strict protocol for transitional scoring. Methods Disease activity, SLEDAI, BILAG 2004 CLASI, SSPGA and LFA-REALTM) was evaluated at monthly visits in an investigator-initiated, double-blind, placebo controlled study of abatacept (trial results pending). Validation of total scores and change in SSPGA and REAL vs SLEDAI and BILAG were examined by Spearman Correlation. ROC curve analysis compared changes in SSPGA and LFA-REALTM to the dichotomous SLE trial endpoints, SRI-4 and BICLA. Results 50 adult SLE patients, 47 female, were assessed at 528 visits. Changes in disease activity compared to screening were examined in 478 visit pairs. Total SSPGA and REAL scores strongly correlated to each other (r=0.932), as well as to total SLEDAI and BILAG [SSPGA: r=0.742 (SLEDAI), r=0.776 (BILAG); REAL: r=0.776 (SLEDAI), r=0.813 (BILAG); all p Conclusions Both the SSPGA and LFA-REALTM are reliable surrogates of commonly used endpoints in SLE trials. Both instruments are easy to score and understand, and could be employed as continuous or dichotomous endpoints. The LFA-REALTM allows individualised scoring at the symptom or organ level, and each symptom contributes its exact severity to a global score. The simplicity of PGA scoring is accompanied by gains in versatility. References [1] Askanase AD, et al. Arthritis Care Res2017Oct 9. doi:10.1002/acr.23445 [2] Petri M, et al. J Rheumatol1992;19:53–9. Disclosure of Interest None declared
Agreeable mothers: How they manage adverse circumstances and difficult children

Abstract Relations between two contextual challenges (low household income, difficult child temperament), maternal agreeableness and three aspects of parenting (harshness, sensitivity, stimulation) were examined when children were 6 months, 54 months old and 5th grade. Mothers with higher incomes and more education were more sensitive and provided more stimulation to their children. They also were less harsh. Mothers high in agreeableness were more likely to demonstrate sensitivity and provide stimulation; and they were less likely to manifest harshness. Maternal agreeableness moderated the effects of low income on parental behavior with significant interaction effects observed in 9 of the 12 models tested. When rearing a difficult child, mother’s high in agreeableness showed more supportive behavior in 3 of the 12 models tested.
Recruitment of mRNAs to P granules by gelation with intrinsically-disordered proteins

Abstract Animals with germ plasm assemble cytoplasmic RNA granules (germ granules) that segregate with the embryonic germ lineage. How germ granules assemble and recruit RNA is not well understood. Here we characterize the assembly and RNA composition of the germ (P) granules of C. elegans. ∼500 maternal mRNAs are recruited into P granules by a sequence independent mechanism that favors mRNAs with low ribosome coverage. Translational activation correlates temporally with P granule exit for two mRNAs that code for germ cell fate regulators. mRNAs are recruited into the granules by MEG-3, an intrinsically disordered protein that condenses with RNA to form nanoscale gels. Our observations reveal parallels between germ granules and stress granules and suggest that cytoplasmic RNA granules are reversible super-assemblies of nanoscale RNA-protein gel condensates.
Convert one outfit to more looks: factors influencing young female college consumers’ intention to purchase transformable apparel

Transformable apparel offers two or more functional and/or alternative aesthetic styles through various manipulative methods, which is considered a sustainable alternative in the fashion industry to reduce excess clothing consumption. The study intends to identify the influences of environmental apparel knowledge, environmental beliefs, and personal values on consumers’ intention to purchase transformable apparel products. The theory of reasoned action (TRA) was applied as the foundation for the conceptual framework, which considered attitude and social factors to be crucial factors influencing the intention. Data were collected from 306 female college students in the United States through an online survey. Proposed hypotheses were tested by structural equation modeling (SEM). The results confirmed the positive influences of the tendency for creative choice, environmental beliefs, environmental apparel knowledge, and attitude on female college students’ intention to purchase transformable apparel products. Furthermore, practical and theoretical implications based on the results were discussed as well.
Introduce a Novel "STEAMS" Methodology of Conducting Scientific Research

This paper adopts STEAMS (Science, Technology, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Math, Statistics) methodology. The objectives of this paper are to introduce the benefits of integrating all 6 "STEAMS" elements, especially living in the Big Data World. Chocolate Science Research case study was demonstrated to present this novel "STEAMS" concept as compared to current "STEM" or" STEAM" approach. There are three core visions of this "STEAMS" methodology: (1) replace "Art" with "Artificial Intelligence", (2) separate "Statistics" from "Math", and (3) integrate all six "STEAMS" elements. Adding the "Artificial Intelligence" Black-Box element can trigger and enhance the effectiveness of "Scientific" Research and "Math" algorithms. Separating the "Statistics" element from "Math" can conduct more effective risk management and draw practical conclusions. "Engineering" DOE can optimize the "Artificial Intelligence" algorithm. The "STEAMS" approach can enhance the cross-linking and becoming a natural critical thinking way for most scientists and engineers striving in the modern Big Data era. It’s critical and urgent for educators and teachers to migrate from their traditional STEM approach to the new "STEAMS" approach to educate our next generations in their early school learning and career development.
Race, Criminal Law and Ethical Life

Race is central to the construction and application of American criminal law and, in turn, criminal law significant to the American racial experience. Yet, there remains controversy about the very nature of the question of “race in criminal law.” This chapter takes up different possible views of race and racism in criminal law, scanning questions surrounding hate crimes and racist intent, before focusing on structural racism in legislation, policing, prosecution, sentencing, mass incarceration and collateral sanctioning as the most pressing facets of race in criminal law. The endemic nature of this racism often prompts legal theorists to speculate about the obligations of oppressed racial minorities to obey the law. Ironically, less explored is the more pressing dilemma, how can privileged citizens find a way to live ethically under a system of criminal law that imposes racial injustice in their name.