cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Knockdown of the Inhibitor of Apoptosis BRUCE Sensitizes Resistant Breast Cancer Cells to Chemotherapeutic Agents.

Background and objectives: Management of patients with breast cancer often fails because of inherent or acquired resistance to chemotherapy. BRUCE (BIR repeat containing ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme) is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family. It has various cellular functions including suppression of apoptosis and promotion of cytokinesis. Furthermore, it pays a critical role in promotion of DNA damage repair and preservation of genome stability, a new function recently reported by our group. Although BRUCE is expressed in breast cancer cell lines, its expression in human primary breast tumors and its contribution to chemoresistance in breast cancers has not been explored. Chemotherapeutic drugs are used in the treatment of breast cancer patients. However, they are not effective to all patients and patients often develop resistance. Consequently we explored if BRUCE protein level, as judged by immunohistochemistry (IHC), is higher in primary breast tumors than normal breast tissue. We also examined if depletion of BRUCE, using a lentiviral shRNA approach, enhances cell sensitivity to multiple chemotherapeutic agents, including cisplatin, an agent that induces DNA damage by generating DNA cross-links, and taxol, a microtubule stabilizer and mitotic inhibitor. The reason for including these two chemotherapeutic agents in this study is that they hit two essential cellular processes of DNA repair and cytokinesis in which BRUCE plays critical roles. Results and methods: IHC analysis of BRUCE revealed significantly higher levels of BRUCE in primary breast tumors than normal breast tissue. Knockdown of BRUCE protein expression by lentiviral shRNA resulted in increased sensitivity to cisplatin in the resistant breast cancer MDB-MD-231 cell line. Moreover, depletion of BRUCE in this cell line achieved a more profound level of cell killing when coupled to low doses of cisplatin and taxol combined, rather than either drug used alone. Conclusions: Our data suggest that elevated protein levels of BRUCE in breast tumors may contribute to chemoresistance in breast cancer patients. In support of this suggestion, our data demonstrate that a reduction in BRUCE expression in breast cancer cell lines increases the toxicity of several chemotherapeutic agents. In all likelihood, the contribution of increased BRUCE levels to chemoresistance are likely due to its roles in suppression of apoptosis, promotion of cytokinesis and facilitation of DNA damage repair. These observations suggest that therapeutic suppression of BRUCE could improve chemosensitivity in chemo-resistant breast cancer patients. Therefore, future development of effective inhibitors of BRUCE could benefit patients with high BRUCE expression and chemoresistance.
Quantum dot-based single-molecule microscopy for the study of protein dynamics

Real-time microscopic visualization of single molecules in living cells provides a molecular perspective of cellular dynamics, which is difficult to be observed by conventional ensemble techniques. Among various classes of fluorescent tags used in single-molecule tracking, quantum dots are particularly useful due to their unique photophysical properties. This chapter provides an overview of single quantum dot tracking for protein dynamic studies. First, we review the fundamental diffraction limit of conventional optical systems and recent developments in single-molecule detection beyond the diffraction barrier. Second, we describe methods to prepare water-soluble quantum dots for biological labeling and single-molecule microscopy experimental design. Third, we provide detailed methods to perform quantum dot-based single-molecule microscopy. This technical section covers three protocols including (1) imaging system calibration using spin-coated single quantum dots, (2) single quantum dot labeling in living cells, and (3) tracking algorithms for single-molecule analysis.
Intensive Intravesical Cheiviotherapy in the Treatment of Flat Carcinoma in Situ: Is it Safe?

AbstractRecent enthusiasm for the use of intensive regimens of intravesical chemotherapy in the management of various forms of superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder prompted us to examine retrospectively a group of patients with carcinoma in situ treated by such regimens who failed with progressive and metastatic cancer. Of 8 patients with flat carcinoma in situ treated with thiotepa 5 presented initially with concomitant solitary stage Tl papillary tumors that were resected successfully at initial presentation. Six patients had diffuse or multifocal carcinoma in situ, while 2 others had only a solitary focus of in situ disease. All patients had persistently positive urinary cytology studies during treatment, prompting 3 of them to receive intravesical mitomycin C following their course of thiotepa. Involvement of the prostatic urethra developed during therapy in 3 patients and 3 had muscle-infiltrative disease. At cystectomy 3 of 7 patients had positive pelvic lymph nodes and 4 died of d...
The urea carboxylase and allophanate hydrolase activities of urea amidolyase are functionally independent

Urea amidolyase (UAL) is a multifunctional biotin-dependent enzyme that contributes to both bacterial and fungal pathogenicity by catalyzing the ATP-dependent cleavage of urea into ammonia and CO2 . UAL is comprised of two enzymatic components: urea carboxylase (UC) and allophanate hydrolase (AH). These enzyme activities are encoded on separate but proximally related genes in prokaryotes while, in most fungi, they are encoded by a single gene that produces a fusion enzyme on a single polypeptide chain. It is unclear whether the UC and AH activities are connected through substrate channeling or other forms of direct communication. Here, we use multiple biochemical approaches to demonstrate that there is no substrate channeling or interdomain/intersubunit communication between UC and AH. Neither stable nor transient interactions can be detected between prokaryotic UC and AH and the catalytic efficiencies of UC and AH are independent of one another. Furthermore, an artificial fusion of UC and AH does not significantly alter the AH enzyme activity or catalytic efficiency. These results support the surprising functional independence of AH from UC in both the prokaryotic and fungal UAL enzymes and serve as an important reminder that the evolution of multifunctional enzymes through gene fusion events does not always correlate with enhanced catalytic function.
519. Unique Role of the TLR9-MyD88 Signaling Pathway in Dendritic Cells in AAV Capsid-Specific CD8+ T Cell Activation

Clinical trials of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapy for hemophilia B have revealed a deleterious role for memory CD8+ T cell responses to the AAV capsid, which can eliminate transduced hepatocytes and transgene expression. However, the mechanisms underlying this response remain unclear, and have been difficult to study because the functional anti-capsid CTL response is not observed in murine models. To better identify capsid-specific T cells, we have created a modified AAV2 vector with a series of substitution mutations that contains the peptide sequence SIINFEKL, which is the CD8+ immunodominant epitope of the model antigen ovalbumin in C57BL/6 mice. With this vector, capsid-specific CD8+ T cells can be identified using an H2-Kb-SIINFEKL tetramer. We have used this vector to study the innate immune mechanisms underlying the formation of AAV capsid-specific CTLs—which pattern recognition receptors and which antigen-presenting cell types are required. Using knockout mice, we determined that sensing of the viral genome by toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and its downstream signaling through MyD88 are required for the formation of tetramer-positive (capsid-specific) CD8+ T cells after i.m. injection of AAV2-SIINFEKL. Similarly, OT-1 CD8+ T cells (TCR transgenic specific for SIINFEKL) adoptively transferred to wild-type (WT) mice proliferated following administration of AAV2-SIINFEKL but not with unmodified AAV2 lacking the SIINFEKL motif. In contrast, there was a lack of proliferation in TLR9−/- mice. TLR2 (which has been reported to sense the AAV capsid), AP3 (required for type I interferon signaling downstream of TLR9), and STING (a downstream signaling adaptor of several cytoplasmic sensors of DNA) were dispensable for the anti-capsid CTL response. In terms of the antigen presenting cell requirements, we found that transient depletion of dendritic cells (DCs) in CD11c-DTR mice delayed the development of tetramer-positive CD8+ T cells relative to WT mice. The response in mice that received gadolinium chloride to inactivate macrophages or in B cell-deficient μMT mice was comparable to WT mice. To test the hypothesis that TLR9-MyD88 signaling in DCs is required for capsid-specific CTL responses, we have crossed mice expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the CD11c promoter with mice in which the MyD88 gene is flanked by LoxP sites, creating DC-MyD88−/- mice which specifically lack MyD88 expression—and thus TLR9 signaling—in DCs. Moreover, we have acquired inhibitors of TLR9 and MyD88 to determine if pharmacological inhibition of these pathways is a viable strategy to prevent the formation of capsid-specific CD8+ T cells. In conclusion, TLR9-MyD88 signaling, most likely in DCs, is required for the formation of de novo anti-capsid CD8+ T cell responses.
Fluids at crustal pressures and temperatures

The pressure-volume-temperature data of several gases (H2, O2, CO, CH4, N2 and CO2) have been used to obtain the following corresponding states equation (P>1 kbar; T>400 K): Z(±0.0878)=A+BP r +CP /2 (21) where Z is the compressibility factor, P r reduced pressure (P/critical P), T r reduced temperature (T/critical T) and the coefficients are given by: A=1−0.5917 T /−2 B=0.09122 T /−1 C=1.4164×10−4 T /−2 −2.8349×10−6 ln T r (P>1 kbar; T>400 K). At pressures below 1 kbar, Z is given by: Z(±0.0761)=1+BP r +CP /2 (23) where B=0.09827 T /−1 −0.2709 T /−3 C=0.01472 T /−4 −0.00103 T /−1.5 . For water (P>1 kbar; T>400 K): Z(±0.0209)=A+BP+CP 2 (22) where A=−0.7025+1.16×10−3 T+99.6799 T −1 B=0.2143 T −1−3.1423×10−14 T 3 C=−2.249×10−6 T −1−0.1459 T −3+2.1690×10−15 T 2. At pressure below 1 kbar, the equation is (P>100 bar; T >673 K): Z(±0.0601)=1+B′/V+C′/V 2 (24) where B′=−2.20960 T0.5+3.35460×10−8 T3 C′=3.4569×10−5T2.5+64.9764 ln T Fugacities of the gases may be obtained by integrating the Z equations separately and combining the results as follows: (26) $$\int\limits_1^P {VdP = RT} {\text{ }}\left( {\int\limits_1^{1000} {Z_{23} /PdP + } \int\limits_{1000}^1 {Z_{21} /PdP} } \right)$$ The subscript in Z denotes the equation which is to be used for calculating Z.
Media Coverage of Earmarks and the Spiral of Cynicism

The information one receives through the media influences their individual attitudes about politics, politicians, and public policies. Media coverage of political issues in America is often framed with a cynical lens and news reporters focus on dramatized and isolated cases that highlight perceived flaws and weaknesses of politicians and political institutions. Repeated coverage of a particular issue written with a cynical frame leads individuals to become increasingly cynical.
Regional Variation in 30-Day Ischemic Stroke Outcomes for Medicare Beneficiaries Treated in Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Hospitals.

Background—We explored regional variation in 30-day ischemic stroke mortality and readmission rates and the extent to which regional differences in patients, hospitals, healthcare resources, and a ...
Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia by John Dunlop

Book review of Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia by John Dunlop, a pastoral, clinical and practical guide to those caring for those suffering with dementia.
Retention and effective diffusion of model metabolites on porous graphitic carbon.

Abstract The study of metabolites in biological samples is of high interest for a wide range of biological and pharmaceutical applications. Reversed phase liquid chromatography is a common technique used for the separation of metabolites, but it provides little retention for polar metabolites. An alternative to C18 bonded phases, porous graphitic carbon has the ability to provide significant retention for both non-polar and polar analytes. The goal of this work is to study the retention and effective diffusion properties of porous graphitic carbon, to see if it is suitable for the wide injection bands and long run times associated with long, packed capillary-scale separations. The retention of a set of standard metabolites was studied for both stationary phases over a wide range of mobile phase conditions. This data showed that porous graphitic carbon benefits from significantly increased retention (often >100 fold) under initial gradient conditions for these metabolites, suggesting much improved ability to focus a wide injection band at the column inlet. The effective diffusion properties of these columns were studied using peak-parking experiments with the standard metabolites under a wide range of retention conditions. Under the high retention conditions, which can be associated with retention after injection loading for gradient separations, D eff / D m ∼ 0.1 for both the C18-bonded and porous graphitic carbon columns. As C18 bonded particles are widely, and successfully utilized for long gradient separations without issue of increasing peak width from longitudinal diffusion, this suggests that porous graphitic carbon should be amenable for long runtime gradient separations as well.
Histological investigation of human glaucomatous eyes: Extracellular fibrotic changes and galectin 3 expression in the trabecular meshwork and optic nerve head

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss and is associated with fibrotic changes in two ocular tissues-the optic nerve head (ONH) and trabecular meshwork (TM). We investigated the differences in extracellular matrix components (ECM) including collagen, elastin, transforming growth factor beta-2, type-II receptor (TGFβRII) and Galectin3 (Gal3) in the glaucomatous human eyes to quantify fibrotic changes in ONH and TM. Glaucomatous and control human donor eyes were prepared for chemical and immunological staining to quantify ECM protein expression in the TM and ONH. Chemical staining included: Trichrome (collagen), Vernhoeff-Van Giesen (elastin) and Sirius Red (collagen). Immunohistochemistry was used to determine levels of Gal3 and TGFβ2RII. Quantitative analyses were performed using Image J software. Student's t-test was used to compare groups and Pearson's test was used to determine correlations P-values of 0.05 (or less) were considered statistically significant. Deposition of ECM proteins was elevated in glaucomatous tissues. There was increased collagen (P = 0.0469), Gal3 (P < 0.0001) and TGFβ2RII (P = 0.0005) in the TM of glaucomatous eyes. Likewise, collagen (P = 0.0517) and Galectin3 (P = 0.041) were increased in the ONH glaucomatous eyes. There was a correlation of TGFβRII with Gal3 in the TM (P < 0.0001) and optic nerve (P = 0.0003). The TM and ONH of glaucomatous eyes showed increased expression of ECM proteins supporting a fibrotic pathology. Galectin3 and TGFβ-2R II showed a positive correlation in TM and optic nerve supporting co-localization and suggesting their potential role in the glaucoma fibrotic process. Clin. Anat. 31:1031-1049, 2018. © 2018 The Authors. Clinical Anatomy published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Association of Clinical Anatomists.
Mowing Effects on Woody Stem Density and Woody and Herbaceous Vegetation Heights Along Mississippi Highway Right-of-Ways

Abstract Roadside right-of-ways (ROWs) undergo regular disturbances such as mowing, maintenance, wrecks, and road developments, which affect soils, groundwater, surface hydrology, and the compositi...
Hip Instability in the Athlete

Symptomatic hip microinstability is an emerging concept with growing supportive basic science, biomechanical, and clinical literature. Despite the lack of a clear definition or standardized evaluative criteria, it is now well generally recognized as a potential cause of hip pain in young, athletic patients. Pathologic hip instability is a result of underlying bony and soft-tissue abnormalities or dysfunction, but often the exact etiology remains unclear. Non-operative treatment is focused on activity modification and strengthening of the periarticular hip musculature, while surgical intervention is focused on identifying and treating the underlying cause as well as any associated intra-articular pathology. In many cases, patterns of microinstability associated with normal bony anatomy are treated with arthroscopic hip capsular plication. The purpose of this chapter is to review the anatomy and pathomechanics associated with hip microinstability and discuss diagnostic strategies and options for treatment.
Oral health as a gateway to overall health and well-being: Surveillance of the geriatric population in the United States.

Aims Little evidence exists to confirm that better oral health is associated with better overall health and well-being. The present study aimed to examine the impact of oral health on the overall health of the population greater than 65-year old in the entire United States. Methods and results Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2016 were used. Variables included demographics and perceptions of oral health and overall health and well-being. Weighted prevalence estimates were calculated using mean, standard deviation, and percentage as appropriate. Chi-square tests and logistic regressions were performed to examine the association of oral health with physical health, mental health, general health, and systemic disease conditions. Analyses showed statistically significant relationships between oral health, physical, mental and general health, energy levels, work limitation, depression, and appetite. Out of the 10 systemic diseases being investigated, six of them were directly related to oral health outcome. Conclusion This study provided strong empirical evidence that oral health is directly associated with different disease conditions and contributes largely to an individual's general health, particularly in the elderly. In the current landscape of patient-centered and value-based care, addressing the oral health needs of the elderly, who generally find themselves with limited access to care, should be a priority.
Bone Marrow Findings of Immune-Mediated Pure Red Cell Aplasia Following Anti-Programmed Cell Death Receptor-1 Therapy: A Report of Two Cases and Review of Literature

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have recently emerged as important and effective advanced cancer treatment options. Programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) antagonists such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of many advanced cancers. As anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor use has been increasing, previously unreported rare side effects emerge. These checkpoint inhibitors upregulate humoral and cellular immune responses to tumor antigens. Consequently, they can be associated with immune-related adverse events including hematological-related reactions such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and pancytopenia. However, pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) induced by anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors is rarely reported in the literature. We herein report cases of two patients who developed PRCA during treatment with anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors. In both cases, a peripheral blood smear examination demonstrated reticulocytopenia. Bone marrow biopsies revealed severe erythroid hypoplasia with maturation arrest at the proerythroblast stage, relative granulocytic hyperplasia and lymphocytosis. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry revealed that the lymphocytes were predominantly CD8+ T cells. T lymphocytosis, especially in one of the two patients, mimicked a T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder; lack of clonality indicated a reactive process. Our findings, in addition to data presented in the literature, suggest that T cells play a critical role in the pathogenesis of immune-related PRCA. PRCA is an under-recognized immune-mediated adverse event that does not manifest during the clinical trial phase. It is a potentially life-threatening complication, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of anemia in patients treated with anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors.
On the Hydrodynamic Stability of a Lennard-Jones Molecular Fluid

As a central concept in fluid dynamics stability is fundamental in understanding transitions from laminar to turbulent flow. In continuum flows, it is well-established that a transition to turbulence can occur at subcritical Reynolds numbers, in contrast to theoretical predictions. In non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD), it has been widely observed that at a critical Reynolds number the fluid undergoes an ordering transition from an amorphous phase to a ‘string’ phase. Using the fluctuation theorem (FT) and the dissipation function, we generalize the classical continuum Reynolds-Orr equation to sheared molecular fluids by ascribing a natural description to the nature of stochastic perturbations, i.e. fluctuations in shear stress. Via the Poincare inequality, we arrive at a new stability criterion by providing a lower bound on the exponential decay of perturbations, which reduces to the classical continuum result in the limit of infinite system size. We investigate the nature of these velocity perturbations and conditions necessary for growth in the kinetic energy of perturbations. We obtain a fluid dependent estimate for the critical Reynolds number by which one may estimate the critical Reynolds number at which the fluid transitions to the string phase, thus providing a framework for generalizing classical continuum theories to the microscale.
Maintaining the blind in sham controlled interventional trials: lessons from the EPISOD study.

Objective and study aims This study was designed to demonstrate the techniques used and the effectiveness of blinding in the EPISOD study (Evaluating Predictors and Interventions in Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction). This was a large sham-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of endoscopic sphincterotomy treatment for patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Patients and methods We describe the methods intended to ensure that the subjects, caregivers and those assessing the outcomes were blinded to the treatment allocation and systematically assess the success of subject blinding procedures using the Bang’s Blinding Index (BI) for each treatment arm as an indicator of potential unblinding. Results Blinding procedures proved to be acceptable and adhered to by the study team at each site. The BI indicated “wishful thinking” by the subjects regardless of treatment assignment, even when they were confident in their opinions. Conclusion We conclude that it is possible to design and maintain a system for blinding the treatment allocation in a sham-controlled interventional study. Treatment guess plus confidence in the guess should be collected to examine the success of blinding procedures. The EPISOD study provides a blueprint for future sham-controlled trials in endoscopy.
Enhanced topological protection in planar quasi-one-dimensional channels with periodically modulated width

We study one-dimensional (1D) and quasi-1D periodic structures as possible platforms for the emergence of Majorana bound states with enhanced robustness against disorder and system inhomogeneity. First, using a simple 1D model, we analytically derive the effective parameters characterizing the minibands generated by the periodic potential. We show that, for strong enough periodic potentials, the higher-energy minibands hosting Majorana bound states have significant advantages compared to their counterparts in uniform systems, including increased topological gaps, enhanced robustness against disorder, and enlarged parameter space regions consistent with the presence of topological superconductivity. We identify the problem of engineering a strong enough periodic potential as a key roadblock to realizing efficient periodic 1D structures. To address this challenge, we propose an efficient implementation of the periodic potential based on quasi-1D channels realized in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor heterostructures proximity coupled to superconductor strips of periodically modulated width. Our numerical study of the modulated channel device shows excellent agreement with the simple 1D model, reveals a topological phase diagram that is quite insensitive to the details of the confining potential associated with screening by the superconductor, and demonstrates that engineering patterned 2D structures represents a powerful and versatile approach to realizing robust Majorana bound states.
Schnyder corneal dystrophy-associated UBIAD1 is defective in MK-4 synthesis and resists autophagy-mediated degradation

The autosomal dominant disorder Schnyder corneal dystrophy (SCD) is caused by mutations in UbiA prenyltransferase domain-containing protein-1 (UBIAD1), which uses geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGpp) to synthesize the vitamin K2 subtype menaquinone-4 (MK-4). SCD is characterized by opacification of the cornea, owing to aberrant build-up of cholesterol in the tissue. We previously discovered that sterols stimulate association of UBIAD1 with ER-localized HMG-CoA reductase, which catalyzes a rate-limiting step in the synthesis of cholesterol and nonsterol isoprenoids, including GGpp. Binding to UBIAD1 inhibits sterol-accelerated ER-associated degradation (ERAD) of reductase and permits continued synthesis of GGpp in cholesterol-replete cells. GGpp disrupts UBIAD1-reductase binding and thereby allows for maximal ERAD of reductase as well as ER-to-Golgi translocation of UBIAD1. SCD-associated UBIAD1 is refractory to GGpp-mediated dissociation from reductase and remains sequestered in the ER to inhibit ERAD. Here, we report development of a biochemical assay for UBIAD1-mediated synthesis of MK-4 in isolated membranes and intact cells. Using this assay, we compared enzymatic activity of WT UBIAD1 with that of SCD-associated variants. Our studies revealed that SCD-associated UBIAD1 exhibited reduced MK-4 synthetic activity, which may result from its reduced affinity for GGpp. Sequestration in the ER protects SCD-associated UBIAD1 from autophagy and allows intracellular accumulation of the mutant protein, which amplifies the inhibitory effect on reductase ERAD. These findings have important implications not only for the understanding of SCD etiology but also for the efficacy of cholesterol-lowering statin therapy, which becomes limited, in part, because of UBIAD1-mediated inhibition of reductase ERAD.
Differences in macular pigment optical density across four ethnicities: a comparative study.

Objective:The aim of this study is to compare macular pigment optical density levels across four different ethnicities and study its influence on ganglion cell layer and retinal nerve fibre layer t...
Development of the Multi-Material Inspection for Closed-Loop Rapid Optimization (MICRO) Sensor for Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing of Metal-Polymer Composite Inks

Additive Manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, is a powerful technology that is revolutionizing the way designers create products across many industries. AM technology is severely limited by the lack of effective methods for in situ characterization of multi-material properties and composition during printing. The ability to detect the composition of multi-material printed inks in real time is an emerging need for a wide range of manufacturing applications. In this study, dielectric properties of embedded metal microparticles in a dielectric matrix are measured and characterized as a function of particle size, shape, volume percentage and frequency. Unexpectedly, there was no observation of any percolation threshold. The impedance was found to decrease with the percentage of metal filler as expected. While particle shape seemed to have significant effect on the impedance, there was little to no correlation between particle size and impedance. The resulting data can be used to generate a calibration curve correlating metal loading with impedance or capacitance. We discuss how this data can be used for in situ sensing of local ink composition, which does not currently exist, to facilitate greater control over the resulting properties and functionality of printed materials.
R&D project evaluation: Technology transfer focus

Abstract This research develops a decision model that obtains a technology transfer score. These scores can be used to evaluate the technology transfer potential of different research proposals bolstering organizations’ development of a research portfolio. In a highly competitive global market, an organization’s growth and success depends on having better R&D performance followed by the ability turn the results into application. This model can be used by organizations with goals of selecting and the proposals with outcomes that have higher potential of moving into successful application. This increase in success can be achieved by helping an organization make informed and deliberate decisions about their research portfolio.
Basic ECG and Common Arrhythmias for the Cardiac Surgery Patient

The vigilant anesthesia provider is the most important monitor in the cardiac surgery operating room. The anesthesia provider spends several hours a day in front of an ECG display monitor where continuous ECG monitoring during cardiac surgery and in the immediate postoperative period is routinely performed. Basic understanding of the ECG monitoring systems and recognition of the most common arrhythmias that occur in the peri- and postoperative period is vital for patient management. In this chapter, we will briefly review the cardiac conduction system and various issues – arrhythmias, epicardial pacemaker malfunction, and myocardial ischemia – that may occur.
Epidemiological transitions in human evolution and the richness of viruses, helminths, and protozoa.

Background and objectives In absolute terms, humans are extremely highly parasitized compared to other primates. This may reflect that humans are outliers in traits correlated with parasite richness: population density, geographic range area, and study effort. The high degree of parasitism could also reflect amplified disease risk associated with agriculture and urbanization. Alternatively, controlling for other variables, cultural and psychological adaptations could have reduced parasitism in humans over evolutionary time. Methodology We predicted the number of parasites that would infect a nonhuman primate with human phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic position, and then compared observed parasitism of humans in eight geopolitical countries to the predicted distributions. The analyses incorporated study effort, phylogeny, and drivers of parasitism in 33 primate species. Results Analyses of individual countries were not supportive of either hypothesis. When analyzed collectively, however, human populations showed consistently lower than expected richness of protozoa and helminths, but higher richness of viruses. Thus, human evolutionary innovations and new parasite exposures may have impacted groups of parasites in different ways, with support for both hypotheses in the overall analysis. Conclusions and implications The high level of parasitism observed in humans only applies to viruses, and was not extreme in any of our tests of individual countries. In contrast, we find consistent reductions in protozoa and helminths across countries, suggesting reduced parasitism by these groups during human evolution. We propose that hygienic and technological advances might have extinguished fecal-orally or indirectly transmitted parasites like helminths, whereas higher human densities and host-shifting potential of viruses have supported increased virus richness. Lay Summary Vastly more parasite species infect humans than any other primate host. Controlling for factors that influence parasite richness, such as the intensity of study effort and body mass, we find that humans may have more viruses, but fewer helminths and protozoa, than expected based on evolutionary analyses of parasitism in other primates.
High frequency ventilation in the treatment of severe respiratory distress syndrome

Objective To explore the effectiveness of high frequency ventilation in the treatment of neonates with severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) Methods Twenty neonates with≥ gradeⅡRDS confirmed by chest X ray and needed conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) treatment were enrolled in this study Patients who failed to maintain SO 2 ≥0.90 when FiO 2≥0 8 and/or MAP≥11 cmH 2O within 2 hours were changed to high freguency ventilation (HFV) Results Twenty cases met the severe RDS criteria, who′s gestational age was (33±4)w and birth weight was (2 1±0 8) kg Among them 8 cases were assigned to HFV After 2 hour treatment, SO 2 of HFV group increased to0.90 Arterial to alveoli oxygen ratio (a/A) improved significantly (0 08±0 01 to 0 18±0 05, P 0 01) Oxygenation index (OI) decreased rapidly (33±11 to 14±4, P 0 01) FiO 2 decreased rapidly (0 90±0 10 and 0 70±0 20, P 0 01) After 8 hours treatment FiO 2 continually decreased to 0 60±0 18 Conclusion The authors concluded that HFV was an effective rescue method for neonates with RDS in whom CMV failed
AVA: an Automatic eValuation Approach for Question Answering Systems

We introduce AVA, an automatic evaluation approach for Question Answering, which given a set of questions associated with Gold Standard answers (references), can estimate system Accuracy. AVA uses Transformer-based language models to encode question, answer, and reference texts. This allows for effectively assessing answer correctness using similarity between the reference and an automatic answer, biased towards the question semantics. To design, train, and test AVA, we built multiple large training, development, and test sets on public and industrial benchmarks. Our innovative solutions achieve up to 74.7% F1 score in predicting human judgment for single answers. Additionally, AVA can be used to evaluate the overall system Accuracy with an error lower than 7% at 95% of confidence when measured on several QA systems.
Transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) through infant feeding and early care practices: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal practices such as breast-feeding, kangaroo mother care, rooming-in, and delayed cord clamping have varied by institution during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of this systematic review was to examine the success of different practices in preventing viral transmission between SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers and their infants. METHODS: Electronic searches were performed in the Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Cochrane Library, EBSCOhost CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Studies involving pregnant or breastfeeding patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR were included. Infants tested within 48 hours of birth who had two tests before hospital discharge were included. Infants older than one week with a single test were also included. RESULTS: Twenty eight studies were included. In the aggregated data, among 190 breastfeeding infants, 22 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (11.5%), while 4 of 152 (2.63%) among bottle-fed (Fisher's exact test pâ=â0.0006). The positivity rates for roomed in infants (20/103, 19.4%) were significantly higher than those isolated (5/300, 1.67%) (Pâ< â0.0001). There was no significant difference in positivity rate among infants who received kangaroo care (25%vs 9%, pâ=â0.2170), or delayed cord clamping (3.62%vs 0.9%, pâ=â0.1116). CONCLUSIONS: Lack of robust studies involving large patient population does not allow meaningful conclusions from this systematic review. Aggregated data showed increased positivity rates of SARS-CoV-2 among infants who were breast fed and roomed-in. There were no differences in SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates in infants received skin to skin care or delayed cord clamping.
Antioch in Syria: A History from Coins (300 BCE–450 CE)

Antioch in Syria critically reassesses this ancient city from its Seleucid foundation into Late Antiquity. Although Antioch's prominence is famous, Kristina M. Neumann newly exposes the gradations of imperial power and local agency mediated within its walls through a comprehensive study of the coins minted there and excavated throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East. Patterns revealed through digital mapping and Exploratory Data Analysis serve as a significant index of spatial politics and the policies of the different authorities making use of the city. Evaluating the coins against other historical material reveals that Antioch's status was not fixed, nor the people passive pawns for external powers. Instead, as imperial governments capitalised upon Antioch's location and amenities, the citizens developed in their own distinct identities and agency. Antioch of the Antiochians must therefore be elevated from traditional narratives and static characterisations, being studied and celebrated for the dynamic polis it was.
Effect of Posting on Social Media on Systolic Blood Pressure and Management of Hypertension: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Online platforms are used to manage aspects of our lives including health outside clinical settings. Little is known about the effectiveness of using online platforms to manage hypertens...
Putting the fourth crow in the sky: Using narrative to understand the experiences of one non-heritage learner of an endangered language

Abstract Building on contemporary approaches to narrative analysis, this article examines how one non-heritage learner of an endangered Native American language described his experiences of learning Lenape in a college course. Analysis of a multimodal digital narrative created as a course project demonstrates the ways that this student employed a legend as a metanarrative to contextualize his individual language learning journey as part of a broader linguistic and cultural revitalization movement. Structural elements of the narrative downplay the narrator's individual role and agency in studying the language, showing ways that this learner negotiated his position and privilege in learning a language previously only spoken by members of the Lenape cultural community. The article considers the utility of narrative analysis and the constructs of investment and imagined communities in a language revitalization context.
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and Infiltration (CVI)

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) takes advantage of gas phase reactants to form desired phases in situ. CVD reactions are not unlike those described in Part Four, where ceramic materials are prepared from vapor phase precursors. The significant difference is that in CVD the resultant material is in the form of a coating deposited on a substrate. Thus, the CVD process takes advantage of the lowered energies for phase formation afforded by nucleation and growth on existing surfaces.
Viability of Bacillus popilliae after Lyophilization of Liquid Nitrogen Frozen Cells

The per cent viability of Bacillus popilliae after lyophilization of liquid nitrogen frozen cells was determined. Lyophilization of 9- to 12-hr cells which had been suspended in 5% sodium glutamate plus 0.5% gum tragacanth, frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor, and dried 4 to 5 hr with the ampoules exposed to room temperature resulted in survival of 64.6% of the original cells. After storage of these lyophilized preparations for 6 months at room temperature, 10.5% of the original cells were still viable.
Disorders of the Upper Extremity

Because of the functional importance of the upper extremity to human activity, patients with injuries in this region frequently require diagnostic and therapeutic assistance from the family physician. A working knowledge of basic anatomy is helpful for establishing a differential diagnosis for upper extremity complaints. This chapter discusses common disorders in this region, but there are many unusual problems that may also present in an office situation.
Induction of human immunoglobulin secretion: II. T lymphocyte dependency and radiosensitivity of T-cell help for induction of B-cell differentiation by staphylococcus aureus strain cowan I

Abstract The induction of peripheral blood B lymphocytes to mature to immunoglobulin-secreting cells (ISC) when stimulated by Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan I was found to be T helper cell-dependent ( J. Immunol. 127 , 1044, 1981). The nature of T help was studied in B- and T-cell separation and reconstitution experiments. T helper cells for Cowan I were very radiosensitive (D 37 37 > 2000 rad). PWM synergized with Cowan I in induction of ISC, and helper T cells for dual stimulation were also radioresistant. The ratio of T to B cells was found to be critical in judging reactivity of donors for both PWM and Cowan I. T cells stimulated with PWM, but not Cowan I, produced T cell-replacing factors essential for Cowan I-induced maturation of B cells. Irradiation of T cells prior to PWM stimulation increased the level of such helper factors. Poor responders to Cowan I, as judged by mononuclear cell cultures, had apparently few helpers for the bacterial stimulant, compared to high responders. Cowan I helper T-cell activity did not appear to be due to protein A leaking from the bacteria and stimulating T cells. In all these experiments, induction of ISC by Cowan I was completely dependent on T cells or factor, providing a good model for investigation of B-cell differentiation regulated by a unique subset of radiosensitive T helper cells.
Tactical data links, air traffic management, and software programmable radios

The background on Link 16, global air traffic management (GATM), and the joint tactical radio system (JTRS) is provided. Information addressing the ability of: (1) Link 16 to handle evolving civil aviation data link (CADL) waveforms; (2) a single data link to satisfy Air Force GATM requirements; and (3) JTRS to incorporate data links of interest to aviation is offered. Relationships with layered communication architectures, the Global Grid, and software programmable radios (SPRs) are also discussed.
Genetic variance and correlation after selection for two traits by index, independent culling levels and extreme selection.

Three two-trait selection methods were analyzed for their effects on genetic variance and correlation by multivariate methods, two-locus methods and computer simulation. The two-trait selection methods studied were independent culling levels (ICL), index (IND) and extreme (EXT) selection. The effects of the selection methods on genetic variance and correlation were partitioned into permanent effects due to changes in gene frequencies and temporary effects due to nonrandom association of alleles at different loci. Multivariate methods were used to predict temporary effects from a single generation of selection by each method and from several generations of index selection. Two-locus theory was used to determine the stability and rank of temporary effects on genetic correlation for all three methods. Predictions were compared to computer simulation results. When selection increased the means of both traits, EXT had the lowest (closest to -1.0) genetic correlation and highest variances, while ICL tended to have the highest (closest to 1.0) genetic correlation. When selection increased the mean of one trait and decreased the mean of the other, EXT had the highest genetic variances and correlation, while ICL had the lowest genetic variances and correlation.
Adapting Nursing Care to Alternative Uses of the Placenta

Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program In our large, Mid‐Atlantic hospital, which has approximately 6500 births annually, an increasing number of women desire alternate methods to dispose of the placenta. These methods include burial and placentophagy (e.g., raw, cooked, or encapsulated). This presentation is an overview of how our unit is adapting to this emerging need. Proposed Change To assist staff nurses on the ethical, legal, and safe way to send the placenta home with the woman, a procedure is being developed. This practice will provide the staff nurse with education on the alleged benefits of placentophagy, the significance behind the ritual of placental burial, and hospital guidelines on how to package the placenta. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation We are creating a plan for this procedure. Our plan begins with revising the form for release of placenta. Next, we are designing an informative PowerPoint presentation to educate staff on alternate methods of placental disposal and the ethical sensitivity that should be expressed with this request. Staff also will receive an e‐mailed tip of the month highlighting these guidelines. Finally, a convenient location will be designated for placenta kits, including container, material, and guidelines necessary to provide this service. Implications for Nursing Practice With education on rituals regarding the placenta, staff nurses will feel more confident and comfortable with handling the placenta, and this comfort level will be reflected in the guidance and sensitivity they offer their patients.
Modelling of shape memory polymer sheets that self-fold in response to localized heating

We report a nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) of the thermo-mechanical shrinking and self-folding behavior of pre-strained polystyrene polymer sheets. Self-folding is useful for actuation, packaging, and remote deployment of flat surfaces that convert to 3D objects in response to a stimulus such as heat. The proposed FEA model accounts for the viscoelastic recovery of pre-strained polystyrene sheets in response to localized heating on the surface of the polymer. Herein, the heat results from the localized absorption of light by ink patterned on the surface of the sheet. This localized delivery of heat results in a temperature gradient through the thickness of the sheet, and thus a gradient of strain recovery, or shrinkage, develops causing the polymer sheet to fold. This process transforms a 2D pattern into a 3D shape through an origami-like behavior. The FEA predictions indicate that shrinking and folding are sensitive to the thermo-mechanical history of the polymer during pre-straining. The model also shows that shrinkage does not vary linearly through the thickness of the polymer during folding due to the accumulation of mass in the hinged region. Counterintuitively, the maximum shrinkage does not occur at the patterned surface. Rather, it occurs considerably below the top surface of the polymer. This investigation provides a fundamental understanding of shrinking, self-folding dynamics, and bending angles, and provides design guidelines for origami shapes and structures.
Goodbye Note to My Lover

Abstract Imagining the aftermath of her own suicide, the speaker says goodbye to her lover, apologizing for leaving and for the aggressive nature of the act. Before the apology, the speaker reminds herself of the way her own demons inserted themselves into the relationship, interfering with the sexual and emotional passion she shares with her lover.