cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence that interaction of hepatocytes with the collecting (hepatic) veins triggers position-specific transcription of the glutamine synthetase and ornithine aminotransferase genes in the mouse liver.

We previously demonstrated that glutamine synthetase (GS) and ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) mRNAs are expressed in the mouse liver acinus preferentially in pericentral hepatocytes, that is, those immediately surrounding terminal central veins (A.L. Bennett, K.E. Paulson, R.E. Miller, and J.E. Darnell, Jr., J. Cell Biol. 105:1073-1085, 1987, and F.C. Kuo, W.L. Hwu, D. Valle, and J.E. Darnell, Jr., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, in press). We now show that hepatocytes surrounding large collecting hepatic veins but not portal veins also express these two mRNAs. The pericentral hepatocytes are the most distal hepatocytes with respect to acinar blood flow, whereas this is not necessarily the case for hepatocytes next to the large collecting hepatic veins. This result implies that it is contact with some hepatic venous element which signals positional expression. In an effort to induce conditions that change relationships between hepatocytes and blood vessels, regenerating liver was studied. After surgical removal of two-thirds or more of the liver, there was no noticeable change in GS or OAT expression in the remaining liver tissue during regeneration. However, treatment with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), which specifically kills pericentral hepatocytes, completely removed GS- and OAT-containing cells and promptly halted hepatic transcription of GS. Repair of CCl4 damage is associated with invasion of inflammatory and scavenging cells, which remove dead hepatocytes to allow regrowth. Only when hepatocytes resumed contact with pericentral veins were the pretreatment levels of OAT and GS mRNA and high levels of GS transcription restored.
Advanced Sulfur Cathode Enabled by Highly Crumpled Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Sheets for High-Energy-Density Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Herein, we report a synthesis of highly crumpled nitrogen-doped graphene sheets with ultrahigh pore volume (5.4 cm(3)/g) via a simple thermally induced expansion strategy in absence of any templates. The wrinkled graphene sheets are interwoven rather than stacked, enabling rich nitrogen-containing active sites. Benefiting from the unique pore structure and nitrogen-doping induced strong polysulfide adsorption ability, lithium-sulfur battery cells using these wrinkled graphene sheets as both sulfur host and interlayer achieved a high capacity of ∼1000 mAh/g and exceptional cycling stability even at high sulfur content (≥80 wt %) and sulfur loading (5 mg sulfur/cm(2)). The high specific capacity together with the high sulfur loading push the areal capacity of sulfur cathodes to ∼5 mAh/cm(2), which is outstanding compared to other recently developed sulfur cathodes and ideal for practical applications.
Availability of amino acids in high-oil corn

Abstract True digestibility of amino acids, bioavailability of Lys, and TMEn in three types of high-oil corn (HOC) and one conventional corn (CC) were determined. The CC, HOC1, HOC2, and HOC3 contained 4.3, 5.9, 6.6, and 9.5% ether extract, respectively, on a DM basis. True digestibility of amino acids was determined using the precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay in which each corn sample was tube-fed (30 g) to nine roosters and excreta were collected for 48 h. True digestibility of most amino acids in HOC2 and HOC3 were significantly higher (P
Excitation of shear Alfvén waves by a spiraling ion beam in a large magnetoplasma

Generation of shear Alfven waves by the Doppler-shifted ion-cyclotron-resonance (DICR) of a spiraling H(+) ion beam with magnetic fluctuations in a dual-species magnetized plasma with He(+) and H(+) ions has been investigated on the Large Plasma Device. The ambient plasma density and electron temperature were significantly enhanced by the beam. The Alfven waves were left-handed polarized and traveled in the direction opposite to the ion beam. This is the first experimental demonstration of the DICR excitation of traveling shear Alfven waves in a laboratory magnetoplasma.
Food Production, Year 2000: The Entomologist's Responsibility

People World population now estimated at 3.5 billion will have swollen to 6 billion individuals by the year 2000, so the demographers tell us. The population of India and Pakistan then will exceed that of China today. Ninety percent of the world's population will then live in countries that have broken through the subsistence living barrier. Latin America, the Middle East, and much of Asia now experiencing a green revolution will be gripped by an industrial revolution. Kahn, 1967; Revelle, 1967.
Beta endorphin enhances in vitro lymphokine production in patients with squamous carcinoma of the head and neck.

Recent studies of the effects of endorphins and other neuropeptides on immune mechanisms suggest that immune reactive cells have specific opioid-like and nonopioid endorphin receptors, and indicate that neuropeptides may participate in regulating in vivo immune functions. Earlier demonstrations of impaired cellular immunity and impaired lymphokine production in patients with cancer of the head and neck prompted an investigation of the in vitro effects of beta-endorphin on the production of leukocyte migration inhibitory factor (LIF) in 29 patients with head and neck cancer and in 45 normal subjects. LIF production in response to phytohemagglutinin was significantly less in the cancer patients compared to normal subjects (p less than .001). beta-endorphin significantly enhanced LIF production in the cancer patients (p = .01) to levels that did not differ significantly from normal levels. A correlation of levels of lymphocyte subpopulations in the cancer patients suggested that enhancement of lymphokine production by beta-endorphin was related to levels of T8 (suppressor/cytotoxic) cells. The results confirm earlier demonstrations of impaired lymphokine production in patients with head and neck cancer and indicate that beta-endorphin can modulate in vitro lymphokine responses in such patients. These findings suggest that neuroendocrine peptides may play an important role in regulating immune function. Further study of the role of neuropeptides in the immune response should provide additional insight into the characterization of cellular immune dysfunction associated with head and neck cancer and should lead to the development of innovative immunotherapeutic treatment strategies.
Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is the sixth most common type of soft tissue sarcoma. Most MPNSTs arise in association with a peripheral nerve or preexisting neurofibroma. Neurofibromatosis type is the most important risk factor for MPNST. Tumor size and fludeoxyglucose F 18 avidity are among the most helpful parameters to distinguish MPNST from a benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor. The histopathologic diagnosis is predominantly a diagnosis of light microscopy. Immunohistochemical stains are most helpful to distinguish high-grade MPNST from its histologic mimics. Current surgical management of high-grade MPNST is similar to that of other high-grade soft tissue sarcomas.
Combined Severity Factor for Predicting Sugar Recovery in Acid-Catalyzed Pretreatment Followed by Enzymatic Hydrolysis

The severity factor developed by Chornet and Overend combines the effects of temperature and time in a single function to allow translation of sugar and oligomer release results from operation at one combination of temperature and time to realize nearly the same release at a different combination of these two variables. This factor has proven very valuable in correlating results from pretreatment of a variety of cellulosic biomass materials with just hot water or steam. The severity factor concept was subsequently extended to facilitate trading off among temperature, time, and acid concentration for pretreatments that employ dilute acid to hydrolyze hemicellulose. The resulting combined severity factor can be derived from simple first-order kinetic models that have been shown to describe sugar release from dilute acid pretreatment. In addition to describing hemicellulose sugar yields, it has been shown that the combined severity factor can provide some insights into expected sugar release yields from subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis of the solids left after dilute acid pretreatment. Furthermore, a simple adjustment in one parameter of the combined severity factor makes it possible to translate from one combination of temperature, time, and acid concentration conditions that maximizes yields from acid-catalyzed breakdown of xylooligomers released in hydrothermal pretreatment of biomass to a different set of conditions for maximum sugar release.
New Results on an Improved Parallel EM Algorithm for Estimating Generalized Latent Variable Models

The second generation of a parallel algorithm for generalized latent variable models, including MIRT models and extensions, on the basis of the general diagnostic model (GDM) is presented. This new development further improves the performance of the parallel-E parallel-M algorithm presented in an earlier report by means of additional computational improvements that produce even larger gains in performance. The additional gain achieved by this second-generation parallel algorithm reaches factor 20 for several of the examples reported with a sixfold gain based on the first generation. The estimation of a multidimensional IRT model for large-scale data may show a larger reduction in runtime compared to a multiple-group model which has a structure that is more conducive to parallel processing of the E-step. Multiple population models can be arranged such that the parallelism directly exploits the ability to estimate multiple latent variable distributions separately in independent threads of the algorithm.
Critical and Subcritical Cases of the Toda Shock Problem

In this paper we consider the Toda lattice of interacting particles. Physically, this is a one-dimensional lattice of particles interacting with exponential forces, $${{\dot{x}}_{n}} = {{y}_{n}}$$ (I.1.1a) $$ {{\dot{y}}_{n}} = {{e}^{{{{x}_{{n - 1}}} - {{x}_{n}}}}} - {{e}^{{{{x}_{n}} - {{x}_{n}} + 1}}}.$$ (I.1.1b)
Abstract TP111: Haptoglobin Improves Intracerebral Hemorrhage Outcomes by Modulating Angiogenic Responses

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) most often occurs spontaneously and is one of the most devastating stroke subtypes. Following ICH, toxic blood components must be cleared from the brain as part of th...
Functional analysis of PCSK2 coding variants: A founder effect in the Old Order Amish population.

Abstract Aims In humans, noncoding variants of PCSK2, the gene encoding prohormone convertase 2 (PC2), have been previously associated with risk for and age of onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aims of this study were to identify coding variants in PCSK2; to determine their possible association with glucose handling; and to determine functional outcomes for coding variants in biochemical studies. Methods Exome-wide genotyping was performed on 1725 Old Order Amish (OOA) subjects. PCSK2 coding variants were tested for association with diabetes-related phenotypes. In vitro analyses using transfected human PC2-encoding constructs were performed to determine the impact of each mutation on PC2 activity. Results We identified 10 rare missense coding variants in PCSK2 in various genomic databases. R430W (rs200711626) is greatly enriched in the OOA population (MAF 4.3%). This variant is almost twice as common (MAF 7.4%) in OOA individuals with T2D as in OOA individuals with normal or with normal/impaired glucose tolerance (MAF 3.9% and 2.9%, respectively; p = 0.25 and p = 0.10). In vitro experiments revealed a broadening of the pH optimum for the R430W variant, which may result in increased activity against PCSK2 substrates. Conclusions Although the association of the R430W variation with T2D in the OOA population did not reach significance, based upon the broadened pH profile of R430W PC2, we speculate that the presence of this substitution may result in altered processing of PCSK2 substrates, ultimately leading to increased conversion to diabetes.
Endoscopic surgery technique

Several authors such as Stammberger and Kennedy have modified the original ideas about surgical techniques and endoscopic sinus procedures based on Dr. Messenklinger’s work on the mucociliary flow and nasosinusal pathology. They suggested modifications according to their personal experience and ability in a manner of “the way I do it”. Currently the trend is to do minimal surgery to remove the maximum amount of pathology. The problem with current surgical tendencies is that we have not been able to determine how much is “enough” and what the “limits” of our dissection should be to eliminate the pathology, maximize the patient’s benefits and minimize the damage. This has made an anatomical model necessary to determine the correct progression of the dissection so we don't interfere with the physiology of the structures. The objective is to protect the natural trajectories of the mucociliary flow, as is the case of the final common pathway, which will lead to adequate mucociliary transport from the natural ostium of the maxillary sinus. By doing this we guarantee the best functional results in each case. Marsupialization of the transitional spaces is also an important step in modern surgery to minimize the damage from the procedures. The final objective of all sinus surgeries is to create direct drainage from the paranasal sinuses into the nasal cavity, and to resolve obstructive processes of key sites without necessarily modifying each individual cavity affected by the disease as it has been established throughout history (Fig. 1).
Depression increases subjective stigma of chronic pain.

Abstract Background Individuals suffering from mental as well as physical conditions often face stigma, which can adversely affect functioning, treatment seeking, and emotional health. We compared levels of stigma experienced by individuals with depression and/or chronic pain, to contrast the perception of stigma experienced by the sufferers with that of individuals who have never experienced these conditions, and to determine whether depression is related to greater experience of stigma for chronic pain. Methods Four groups of participants (N=236) took part in the study: depression only, chronic pain only, comorbid depression and chronic pain, and healthy controls. Participants underwent a clinical interview and completed a stigma measure that assessed general self-stigma, public stigma, treatment stigma, secrecy, and stigmatizing experiences. Results Healthy controls largely underestimated the stigma experienced by individuals with depression, but were not inaccurate in estimating stigma experienced by individuals with chronic pain. Further, individuals with chronic pain alone generally perceived less stigma for their condition than did those with depression alone. However, comorbid individuals perceived worse stigma of chronic pain compared to individuals with chronic pain alone, suggesting that depression may affect the stigma felt by sufferers of conditions other than depression. Limitations Social desirability may have influenced stigma scores. Comparing several groups required adapting a standardized instrument. Conclusions Results suggest that depression may play a role in the social experience of having a health condition, as well as indicate that the general public continues to fail to appreciate the negative social pressures experienced by individuals with mental health conditions.
EVALUATION OF EDIBLE GINGER AND TURMERIC CULTIVARS FOR ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE RESISTANCE

Edible ginger and turmeric roots are important agricultural commodities for the State of Hawaii. Bacterial wilt, Ralstonia solanacearum, and root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., are major factors hindering optimum production. An evaluation of tolerance and resistance to M. incognita was undertaken with 22 commercially grown cultivars. Curcuma longa Red Hawaiian turmeric had the greatest susceptibility with the highest number of juveniles in the soil and the most eggs recovered from the roots. The population factor (Pf) of M. incognita was largest in C. longa Red Hawaiian turmeric and Alpinia galangal Blue finger. Curcuma caesia Black turmeric was the most intolerant cultivar with the lowest rhizome weights and greatest yield losses. The highest tolerance was seen in Zingiber officinale J and I, which demonstrated the greatest rhizome yields and lowest yield differences when inoculated. Zingiber officinale M had the lowest Pf value, suggesting partial resistance to M. incognita. Effective management strategies need to be investigated as significant yield reductions are occurring when cultivating ginger and turmeric in root-knot nematode infested fields.
Xibalba, the Place of Fear: Caves and the Ancient Maya Underworld

Caves were a salient feature of Maya cosmology that instantiated the underworld of Xibalba. Described in myth, its very name meant the place of fear or fright. Yet, ancient people journeyed deep into the darkness to conduct rituals for deities associated with rain, fertility, and the ominous Lords of the Underworld. Although little was written about ritual practices in the Classic period, the artifact record attests that ancient people left offerings of ceramics, household items, incense, jewelry and sometimes sacrificial victims for the powerful beings that inhabited caves. These sites are still considered sacred in Maya communities today, a testament to the resilience of Maya religion and cosmology and the power of myth.
NORMATIVE SUPPORT FOR IMPROVING UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION IN TEACHING-ORIENTED COLLEGES

A number of recommendations to improve undergraduate education have been put forth in the higher education literature. However, we maintain that the implementation of these recommendations at our colleges and universities is unlikely if norms or “group standards of appropriate and inappropriate behavior” do not support these recommendations. Consequently, this study investigated the normative support for 6 selected recommendations to improve undergraduate education at teaching-oriented colleges. Results indicate support for 3 of the 6 recommendations: “systematic program of advisement,” “providing students with prompt, formative feedback on assignments,” and “fostering an egalitarian classroom climate.” These are the same recommendations supported by norms at higher education institutions that are more focused toward research and graduate education. The implications suggest that the normative structure that supports teaching improvement efforts may be more similar among various institutions than previous research might have indicated.
Age-Related Changes in Glucose Metabolism, Hyperglycemia, and Cardiovascular Risk

Aging and diabetes mellitus are 2 well-known risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). During the past 50 years, there has been an dramatic increase in life expectancy with a simultaneous incr...
On the Mechanical Effects of Poroelastic Crystal Mush in Classical Magma Chamber Models

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2018. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 123(11), (2018): 9376-9406. doi: 10.1029/2018JB015985.
Incidental Cartilage Defect

Focal chondral defects are often identified in the knee either using advanced imaging techniques or at the time of arthroscopy. Many patients with cartilage lesions experience symptoms of pain, clicking, or swelling; however, others remain asymptomatic. The clinical decision of how to manage a chondral defect is often difficult and must be correlated with a patient’s clinical presentation. Additionally, it is critical to weigh the risks and benefits of potential treatments, such as cost, rehabilitation protocol, potential adverse effects, and long-term outcomes when deciding to address a chondral defect. Here we present a case and supporting evidence for the treatment of a 21-year-old male undergoing an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with an incidental medial femoral condyle lesion.
CEO Confidence Matters: The Real Effects of Short Sale Constraints Revisited

This paper investigates the role of managerial biases in the real effects of limits to arbitrage. In a natural experiment setting with Regulation SHO, we find that the lifting of short sale constraints leads to a significant decrease in CEO confidence for pilot firms, and this result is more pronounced for pilot firms with financial constraints and stronger corporate governance. We further find that the real effects of Regulation SHO documented in the literature are primarily driven by such decrease in CEO confidence. Underconfident CEOs of pilot firms tend to decrease corporate investments, reduce earnings management, and improve social performance and employee relations following the removal of short sale constraints. Overall, we identify CEO confidence as a psychological channel through which capital market frictions influence corporate decisions and CEO investment behavior.
An Extrinsic Device and Leakage Mechanism in Advanced Bulk FinFET SRAM

A previously unrecognized vertical-extrinsic device in advanced 7-nm FinFET SRAM structures is identified and characterized for the first time. The ON-current for this vertical-extrinsic device is modulated by gate bias and exhibits a process-dependent threshold behavior. The ON-state of this parasitic device can exceed several nanoamperes and become the dominant mechanism in the static power of an SRAM array. Aggressively pushed ground rules used to achieve competitive SRAM density can result in exposure in FinFET-based SRAMs to this parasitic leakage path; n-Well and p-well dopant profiles, alignments, and dimensions must be carefully controlled to avoid this leakage mechanism in high-density FinFET SRAM arrays.
Abstract 1764: Targeting nucleotide exchange to inhibit Gq/11 driver mutations in uveal melanoma

Constitutively activating mutations in the G-protein alpha subunits GNAQ(Gαq) and GNA11(Gα11) act as oncogenic drivers in over 90% of uveal (eye) melanoma (UM) tumors. We show that constitutively active Gαq and Gα11 can be targeted in UM cells by the cyclic depsipeptide FR900359 (FR). FR inhibits GDP/GTP guanine nucleotide exchange allosterically to trap constitutively active Gαq/11 in inactive GDP-bound Gαβγ heterotrimers. FR inhibits second messenger signaling, arrests proliferation and reinstates melanocytic differentiation in UM cells driven by constitutively active Gαq or Gα11. At higher doses, FR also induces apoptosis. The re-differentiation and anti-proliferative effects of FR are not seen in UM cells that lack mutations in Gαq or Gα11. FR promotes UM cell differentiation by reactivating polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2)-mediated gene silencing, and this re-differentiation can be blocked with an EZH2 inhibitor. The effector system regulating PRC2 downstream of constitutively active Gαq/11 in UM is currently under investigation. Preliminary data from human primary tumor samples suggest that targeting constitutively active Gαq/11 with FR could provide an important therapeutic approach for UM. Citation Format: Michael D. Onken, Carol M. Makepeace, Kevin M. Kaltenbronn, Stanley M. Kanai, Tyson D. Todd, Shiqi Wang, Thomas J. Broekelmann, Prabakar Kumar Rao, John A. Cooper, Kendall J. Blumer. Targeting nucleotide exchange to inhibit Gq/11 driver mutations in uveal melanoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1764.
Stem Cell Factor LIFted as a Promising Clinical Target for Cancer Therapy.

See related article by Viswanadhapalli et al., [p. 1341][1] Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a monomeric glycoprotein and belongs to the IL6 subfamily of the large “four-helix superfamily” of cytokines. LIF acts on responding cells by binding to a heterodimeric membrane receptor complex
Deletion of the Creatine Transporter (Slc6a8) in Dopaminergic Neurons Leads to Hyperactivity in Mice

The lack of cerebral creatine (Cr) causes intellectual disability and epilepsy. In addition, a significant portion of individuals with Cr transporter (Crt) deficiency (CTD), the leading cause of cerebral Cr deficiency syndromes (CCDS), are diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. While the neurological effects of CTD are clear, the mechanisms that underlie these deficits are unknown. Part of this is due to the heterogenous nature of the brain and the unique metabolic demands of specific neuronal systems. Of particular interest related to Cr physiology are dopaminergic neurons, as many CCDS patients have ADHD and Cr has been implicated in dopamine-associated neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a loss of the Slc6a8 (Crt) gene in dopamine transporter (Slc6a3; DAT) expressing cells on locomotor activity and motor function as the mice age. Floxed Slc6a8 (Slc6a8flox) mice were mated to DATIREScre expressing mice to generate DAT-specific Slc6a8 knockouts (dCrt−/y). Locomotor activity, spontaneous activity, and performance in the challenging beam test were evaluated monthly in dCrt−/y and control (Slc6a8flox) mice from 3 to 12 months of age. dCrt−/y mice were hyperactive compared with controls throughout testing. In addition, dCrt−/y mice showed increased rearing and hindlimb steps in the spontaneous activity test. Latency to cross the narrow bridge was increased in dCrt−/y mice while foot slips were unchanged. Taken together, these data suggest that the lack of Cr in dopaminergic neurons causes hyperactivity while sparing motor function.
Conservative management of intermittent exotropia to defer or avoid surgery.

Abstract Background Surgery for intermittent exotropia performed at a very young age has poorer sensory outcomes than surgery performed later; moreover, postoperative recurrence is common, regardless of age. Alternate occlusion decreases the size of the exotropia and improves control. The purpose of this study was to report the long-term effects of part-time alternate occlusion and overminus spectacles combined with prism on delaying or avoiding surgery in intermittent exotropia. Methods The study included consecutive patients from 1979 to 2010 who had poorly controlled intermittent exotropia and were treated with alternate occlusion, followed in some cases by overminus spectacles with base-in prism. Outcome measures were initial improvement and subsequent time to surgery, if required. Results A total of 279 patients had initial control poor enough to otherwise be considered candidates for surgery. After occlusion therapy, 219 (78%) improved their angle and control, and 62 (22%) converted to an exophoria. After 1 year, 9 cases deteriorated, and surgery was recommended. In 207 (74%), conservative treatment delayed surgery for at least 1 year. At 20 years, 42 of 279 patients were still being followed. Of these, 22 of 219 (7%) were known to have not undergone surgery, and 127 (45%) had undergone surgery; 130 (47%) were lost to follow-up. Conclusions Part-time alternate occlusion and overminus spectacles with prism can defer the need for surgery in a large percentage of patients with intermittent exotropia; for a small number it may be curative.
Who is at risk of 13-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine failure?

Abstract Background Despite high vaccine coverage rates in children and efficacy of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) episodes due to serotypes included in the vaccine following completion of the recommended course of immunisation (i.e. vaccine failure) have been reported. Methods We used data gathered from a population-based enhanced passive surveillance for IPD in children under 18 years of age in Massachusetts and an ensemble model composed of three machine-learning algorithms to predict probability of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV13) failure and to evaluate potential associated features including age, underlying comorbidity, clinical presentation, and vaccine schedule. Vaccine failure was defined as diagnosis of IPD due to vaccine serotype (VST), in a child who received age recommended doses recommended by Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices. Results During the 7-year study period, between April 01, 2010 and March 31, 2017, we identified 296 IPD cases. There were 107 (36%) IPD cases caused by VST, mostly serotype 19A (49, 17%), 7F (21, 7%), and 3 (18, 6%). Thirty-seven (34%) were in children who were completely vaccinated representing 13% of all IPD cases. Vaccine failure was more likely among children older than 60 months (predicted probability 0.40, observed prevalence 0.37, model prediction accuracy 79%), children presenting with pneumonia (predicted probability 0.27, observed prevalence 0.31, model accuracy 77%), and children with underlying comorbidity (predicted probability 0.24, observed prevalence 0.23, model accuracy 96%). Vaccine failure probability for those >60 months of age and had an underlying risk factor was 45% (observed prevalence 0.33, model accuracy 82%). The likelihood of vaccine failure was lowest among children who had completed 3 primary doses plus one booster dose PCV13 (predicted probability 0.14, observed prevalence 0.14, model prediction accuracy 100%). Conclusion PCV13 vaccine failure is more frequent among older children with underlying comorbidity, and among those who present with pneumococcal pneumonia. Our study provides a preliminary framework to predict the patterns of vaccine failures and may contribute to decision-making processes to optimize PCV immunization schedules.
1 – The Information Revolution

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses what the information revolution is. The industrial revolution has brought about machines that extended man's muscle power. At present, the information revolution is extending man's brain power through computer technology. Computers can help: (1) do in hours what otherwise might take days, (2) manage the personal and business lives, (3) get information sooner, and (4) help make personal and business decisions. Computers, unknown by most people a decade ago, have become common fixtures in homes, classrooms, and small businesses. Businesses have become so dependent on computers that it might be difficult to get an office job without some kind of computer experience. Computers are becoming more affordable because of microprocessor technology—silicon chips. Some of the reasons why many people consider computers to be dangerous are: (1) computers could be used to invade privacy, (2) they could be used to wage war, and (3) they could create unemployment as machines displace workers.
Comparison of Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping Methods for Fixed-Wing Aircraft Using SLAMBench2

Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (VS-LAM) algorithms have evolved rapidly in the last few years, however there has been little research evaluating current algorithm's effectiveness and limitations when applied to tracking the position of a fixed-wing aerial vehicle. This paper looks to evaluate current monocular VSLAM algorithms' performance on aerial vehicle datasets using the SLAMBench2 benchmarking suite. The algorithms tested are MonoSLAM, PTAM, OKVIS, LSDSLAM, ORB-SLAM2, and SVO, all of which are built into the SLAMBench2 software. The algorithms' performance is evaluated using simulated datasets generated in the AftrBurner Engine. The datasets were designed to test the quality of each algorithm's tracking solution, as well as finding any dependence on camera field of view (FOV), aircraft altitude, bank angle, and bank rate. Through these tests, it was found that LSDSLAM, ORB-SLAM2, and SVO are good candidates for further research, with MonoSLAM, PTAM, and OKVIS failing on all datasets. All algorithms were found to fail when the capturing camera had a horizontal FOV of less than 60 degrees, with peak performance occurring at a FOV of 90 degrees or above. LSDSLAM was found to fail when the aircraft bank angle exceeded half of the camera's FOV, and SVO was found to fail below 450 meters altitude. The simulations were also tested against a comparable real world dataset, with agreeable results, although the FOV of the real world dataset was too small to be a particularly useful test. Further research is required to determine the applicability of these results to the real world, as well as fuse VSLAM algorithms with other sensors and solutions to form a more robust navigation solution.
In Situ Imaging of Candida albicans Hyphal Growth via Atomic Force Microscopy.

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen of humans known for its ability to cause a wide range of infections. One major virulence factor of C. albicans is its ability to form hyphae that can invade host tissues and cause disseminated infections. Here, we introduce a method based on atomic force microscopy to investigate C. albicans hyphae in situ on silicone elastomer substrates, focusing on the effects of temperature and antifungal drugs. Hyphal growth rates differ significantly for measurements performed at different physiologically relevant temperatures. Furthermore, it is found that fluconazole is more effective than caspofungin in suppressing hyphal growth. We also investigate the effects of antifungal drugs on the mechanical properties of hyphal cells. An increase in Young's modulus and a decrease in adhesion force are observed in hyphal cells subjected to caspofungin treatment. Young's moduli are not significantly affected following treatment with fluconazole; the adhesion force, however, increases. Overall, our results provide a direct means of observing the effects of environmental factors and antifungal drugs on C. albicans hyphal growth and mechanics with high spatial resolution.IMPORTANCE Candida albicans is one of the most common pathogens of humans. One important virulence factor of C. albicans is its ability to form elongated hyphae that can invade host tissues and cause disseminated infections. Here, we show the effect of different physiologically relevant temperatures and common antifungal drugs on the growth and mechanical properties of C. albicans hyphae using atomic force microscopy. We demonstrate that minor temperature fluctuations within the normal range can have profound effects on hyphal cell growth and that different antifungal drugs impact hyphal cell stiffness and adhesion in different ways.
Bone Health in Childhood Chronic Disease.

Many children with chronic disease are now surviving into adulthood. As a result, there is a growing interest in optimizing bone health early in the disease course with the dual goals of improving quality of life during childhood and reducing life-long fracture risk. Risk factors for impaired bone health in these children include immobility, nutritional deficiency, exposure to bone toxic therapies, hormonal deficiencies affecting growth and pubertal development, and chronic inflammation. This review focuses on the chronic diseases of childhood most commonly associated with impaired bone health. Recent research findings and clinical practice recommendations, when available, for specific disorders are summarized. © 2020 Elsevier Inc.
Effects of native leaf litter amendments on phosphorus mineralization in temperate floodplain soils

Abstract As phosphorus (P) losses from Midwestern crop fields degrade water quality in downstream water bodies, the assessment of natural P immobilization in floodplain soils is imperative to reduce P input to the Gulf of Mexico. While the organic C:P ratio of soil is widely accepted as an important indicator of P immobilization, roles of the quality/type of C sources (i.e., foliar C composition and degradability) on soil P dynamics are not clearly understood. The objective of this laboratory incubation study was to assess the influence of leaf residue of native trees (e.g., hackberry, and silver maple) on P reaction dynamics in floodplain soils as a function of C composition (i.e., carbonyl-, alkyl- and aromatic-C) and soil organic C:P ratios. Conventional wet chemical analyses and 31P NMR spectroscopy were used to understand changes in P speciation and phosphatase activities. During the incubation, at a soil organic C:P of ∼200, residues with low aromaticity promoted P mineralization, as evidenced by a sustained increase in labile inorganic P and decrease in microbial P. Conversely, residues with high aromaticity and hydrophobicity (i.e., silver maple) caused a decrease in labile inorganic P and increase in microbial P under the same soil organic C:P, indicating the dominance of P immobilization. At a soil organic C:P of 300, both sugar maple and silver maple promoted P immobilization. Mineralization rates were of lesser magnitude in the soils amended with silver maple, which interestingly contained the largest proportions of recalcitrant C and the highest ratios of aromaticity and hydrophobicity.
Esophageal perforation in very low birth weight infants

We aimed to assess the prevalence and outcomes of esophageal perforation in very low birth weight infants. This retrospective cohort study utilized the US National Inpatient Sample dataset for the years 2000 to 2017. A total of 1,755,418 very low birth weight infants were included; of them, 861 (0.05%) were diagnosed with esophageal perforation. The majority (77.9%) of infants were in the birth weight category < 1000 g and 77.7% in infants ≤ 28 weeks of gestation. The majority (73%) of infants were tracheally intubated and received mechanical ventilation; of them, 24 infants (2.8%) had tracheostomy. Mortality associated with esophageal perforation was 25.8%. Regression analysis did not show an association between esophageal perforation and increased mortality in preterm infants (aOR = 1.0, CI: 0.83-1.20, p = 0.991). Procedures encountered in these infants include thoracentesis (10.8%), laparotomy (4.1%), percutaneous abdominal drainage (4.1%), and gastrostomy tube insertion (6.2%), whereas the rest of the infants were managed conservatively. There was a significant trend for increasing prevalence of esophageal perforation over the years.Conclusion: Esophageal perforation does not independently increase the risk for mortality in very low birth weight infants. The increasing prevalence is possibly related to increased care offered to infants at limits of viability in recent years. What is Known: • Knowledge about esophageal perforation is derived from anecdotal single-center case reports. • Esophageal perforation in neonates is mostly iatrogenic. • It is considered a critical complication that is associated with high mortality. What is New: • This is the first and largest national study on prevalence of esophageal perforation in preterm infants. • Esophageal perforation does not independently increase the risk for mortality. • Septicemia and pneumothorax are frequent complications to esophageal perforation.
Development of a high-throughput plant disease symptom severity assessment tool using machine learning image analysis and integrated geolocation

Abstract Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) has the potential to cause severe yield losses in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), an important annual legume grown around the world. The most effective approach to manage the disease caused by TSWV is to grow disease resistant peanut varieties. One of the key challenges to breeding for disease resistance is to develop an accurate, reproducible and efficient disease assessment method. Accurate field-based assessment of disease incidence and severity is technically challenging and time-consuming. To address this challenge, a field-based, high-throughput assessment tool was developed to quantify the spatial distribution of disease symptoms over experimental peanut plots using a Real Time Kinematic Global Positioning System (RTK-GPS), consumer-grade cameras, a microcontroller, and an open-source machine learning software. A field experiment was designed to establish a range of disease incidence and severity scenarios. This field experiment was imaged for two seasons to develop and validate the tool. Using transfer learning, an existing Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) was trained from supervised training imagery to classify and quantify areas within the plot-level imagery as, symptomatic, asymptomatic, or ground. Multiple images were assessed by the machine learning model and georeferenced to individual experimental plots using RTK-GPS data. The CNN model trained to detect the symptom, “stunting and mottling”, was evaluated using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and yielded an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.97, sensitivity of 0.77, and specificity of 0.98 on the test set. Results from the disease assessment tool were compared with results from visual disease assessments, conducted by a trained plant pathologist. Field plot level means from CNN-based assessment of stunting and mottling correlated with plot level means from visual assessment of severity (r = 0.78; P
How Counting Leads to Children’s First Representations of Exact, Large Numbers

Young children initially learn to ‘count’ without understanding either what counting means, or what numerical quantities the individual number words pick out. Over a period of many months, children assign progressively more sophisticated meanings to the number words—linking them to discrete objects, to quantification, to numerosity, and so on. Eventually, children come to understand the logic of counting. Along with this knowledge comes an implicit understanding of the successor function, as well as of the principle of equinumerosity, or exact equality between sets. Thus, when children arrive at a mature understanding of counting, they have (for the first time in their lives) a way of mentally representing exact, large numbers.
Rat liver plasma membranes in essential fatty acid deficiency.

Liver plasma membranes were isolated from normal and essential fatty acid (EFA) deficient rats. Membranes from deficient animals showed a consider ably lower 5'-nucleotidase activity but there was no difference in the Mgi +-Na^-K+- adenosine triphosphatase activity between the normal and deficient membranes. The cholesterol content of EFA-deficient membranes was significantly lower than the normal membranes, whereas the amount of total lipids and phospholipids was un altered. There was a marked decrease in the 18:2 and 20:4 and an increase in the 16:1, 18:1 and 20:3 fatty acids of the deficient membranes as compared with mem branes from normal rats.
Increased DNA microarray hybridization specificity using sscDNA targets

The most widely used amplification method for microarray analysis of gene expression uses T7 RNA polymerase-driven in vitro transcription (IVT) to produce complementary RNA (cRNA) that can be hybridized to arrays. However, multiple rounds of amplification are required when assaying very small amounts of starting RNA. Moreover, certain cRNA-DNA mismatches are more stable than the analogous cDNA-DNA mismatches and this might increase non-specific hybridization. We sought to determine whether a recently developed linear isothermal amplification method (ribo-SPIA) that produces single stranded cDNA would offer advantages over traditional IVT-based methods for microarray-based analyses of transcript expression. A single round of ribo-SPIA amplification produced sufficient sscDNA for hybridizations when as little as 5 ng of starting total RNA was used. Comparisons of probe set signal intensities obtained from replicate amplifications showed consistently high correlations (r = 0.99). We compared gene expression in two different human RNA samples using ribo-SPIA. Compared with one round IVT, ribo-SPIA had a larger dynamic range and correlated better with quantitative PCR results even though we used 1000-fold less starting RNA. The improved dynamic range was associated with decreases in hybridization to mismatch control probes. The use of amplified sscDNA may offer substantial advantages over IVT-based amplification methods, especially when very limited amounts of starting RNA are available. The use of sscDNA targets instead of cRNA targets appears to improve hybridization specificity.
EWOD actuation with electrode-free cover plate

A new configuration of electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) actuations with electrode-free cover plates is presented. By removing electrodes from one plate, the device becomes more flexible for system development, broadening the choice of sensing mechanisms. Simple devices with various coplanar electrodes on a single side are used to measure contact angles and assess droplet movements. Contact angle changes with respect to applied voltages are in good agreement with our simple analytical model. Droplet moving devices demonstrate successful actuation of droplets (/spl sim/0.1 /spl mu/l) in the gap between the plates with coplanar electrodes and the other with no electrode. Droplet cutting and merging are demonstrated to establish the fundamental fluidic operations with this new configuration. EWOD actuation on an open surface with removed top plate is also demonstrated.
Joint polarization/waveform design and adaptive receive processing

Leveraging the design freedom provided by the recently developed polyphase-coded FM (PCFM) waveform structure and the enhanced sensitivity on receive through sidelobe suppression provided by adaptive pulse compression (APC) and its variants, the impact on full polarimetric scattering estimation is examined. By incorporating a Σ-Δ hybrid combiner different polarization modulation schemes are considered. To address the limitation on achievable cross-correlation between the waveforms associated with orthogonal polarization channels, a polarimetric adaptive pulse compression (PAPC) method is derived that is used to isolate adaptively the different polarization components. Results from an open-air experiment are provided to demonstrate the efficacy of PAPC with this new emission structure. A decoupled emission structure is also tested to use as a benchmark for comparison.
Effect of Carbon/Carbon Preform Density on the Microstructure and Properties of Mo2C Interlayer-Modified Carbon/Carbon–Copper Composites for Sliding Contact Materials†

Carbon/carbon–copper(C/C-Cu) composites were fabricated by pressure-less infiltration of Cu into carbon/carbon (C/C) preforms modified with Mo2C interlayer by a molten salt method. Cu filled the pores inside the Mo2C-modified preforms fully, and retained an interconnected net-like distribution in the C/C-Cu composites. The electrical resistivity and flexural strength increased, whereas impact toughness decreased with the increase of preform density. Fiber pull-out and crack propagation along the interface contributed to the pseudo-plastic behavior of the composites. The tribological performance was improved with the increase of preform density due to the better lubrication of transfer films.