cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Methods for true energy-performance optimization

This paper presents methods for efficient energy-performance optimization at the circuit and micro-architectural levels. The optimal balance between energy and performance is achieved when the sensitivity of energy to a change in performance is equal for all the design variables. The sensitivity-based optimizations minimize energy subject to a delay constraint. Energy savings of about 65% can be achieved without delay penalty with equalization of sensitivities to sizing, supply, and threshold voltage in a 64-bit adder, compared to the reference design sized for minimum delay. Circuit optimization is effective only in the region of about /spl plusmn/30% around the reference delay; outside of this region the optimization becomes too costly either in terms of energy or delay. Using optimal energy-delay tradeoffs from the circuit level and introducing more degrees of freedom, the optimization is hierarchically extended to higher abstraction layers. We focus on the micro-architectural optimization and demonstrate that the scope of energy-efficient optimization can be extended by the choice of circuit topology or the level of parallelism. In a 64-bit ALU example, parallelism of five provides a three-fold performance increase, while requiring the same energy as the reference design. Parallel or time-multiplexed solutions significantly affect the area of their respective designs, so the overall design cost is minimized when optimal energy-area tradeoff is achieved.
Microbiological Quality of Poultry Feed and Ingredients

Abstract Samples of apparently normal feed and feed ingredients were collected from turkey, broiler chicken, and laying hen operations, and their moisture content, mold count, coliform count, and pH were determined. The moisture contents ranged from 10.59 to 17.40%, the mold counts ranged from 5 to 1,200,000/g, and the coliform counts ranged from 5 to 910,000/g with corn meal being the major source for each. The pH values of feed ranged from 5.42 to 7.30 with the ingredients ranging from 5.21 to 11.51. Feed that had been pelleted generally had a lower mold and coliform count and a higher moisture content while the pH was affected (.1 unit higher) only in turkey feed. Feed samples of suspect microbiological quality were surveyed and their median moisture content, mold count, and coliform count were higher and their pH lower than the corresponding median values for apparently normal feed. These data indicate there is a need for improved quality control in feed manufacture and storage.
Governance Issues in Delivery of Public Services

In this paper we note that the institutional context (and therefore the structure of incentives and organisation) in developing economies is quite different from those in advanced industrial economies, and this necessitates any discussion on the local governance issues in the delivery of public services in the context of development to go beyond the traditional fiscal federalism literature. With this in mind, we review some of the existing theoretical and empirical work, focusing particularly on the question of local accountability. Copyright 2004, Oxford University Press.
Efficient multi-sensor data fusion for space surveillance

Multi-sensor networks can extend the sensing region of a single sensor in order to provide a more geometrically diverse and comprehensive view of the state of a dynamical system. The use of a multi-sensor network gives rise to the need for a fusion step that combines the outputs of all sensor nodes into a single probabilistic state description. This paper examines a fusion method based on logarithmic opinion pools and develops algorithms for multi-sensor data fusion as well as investigates weight selection schemes for the opinion pool using efficient quadrature integration methods. The proposed fusion rules are applied to the tracking of a space object using multiple ground-based optical sensors. It is shown that the multi-sensor fusion rule leads to an increase of nearly two orders of magnitude in the position tracking accuracy as compared to the traditional single-sensor tracking method.
An experimental approach to determining fatigue crack size in polyethylene tibial inserts

A major limiting factor to the longevity of prosthetic knee joints is fatigue crack damage of the polyethylene tibial insert. Existing methods to quantify fatigue crack damage have several shortcomings, including limited resolution, destructive testing approach, and high cost. We propose an alternative fatigue crack damage visualization and measurement method that addresses the shortcomings of existing methods. This new method is based on trans-illumination and differs from previously described methods in its ability to non-destructively measure subsurface fatigue crack damage while using a simple and cost-effective bench-top set-up. We have evaluated this method to measure fatigue crack damage in two tibial inserts. This new method improves on existing image-based techniques due to its usability for subsurface damage measurement and its decreased reliance on subjective damage identification and measurement.
Failure of the Feynman R1 gauge for the standard model: An explicit example

The decay of the Higgs particle into two photons through a W loop was calculated in a straightforward way four years ago on the basis of the standard model. This calculation was carried out in the unitary gauge. Nevertheless, all attempts to reproduce this correct answer using the Feynman rules in the R1 gauge, or the more general Rξ gauge, have failed. In this paper, a detailed analysis is carried out to compare the unitary gauge with the Rξ gauge; through this comparison, the underlying reason is determined why the answer cannot be obtained using the Feynman rules in the Rξ gauge. This is the first example where the use of the Feynman rules in the Rξ gauge leads to an incorrect answer, and this incorrect answer cannot be ruled out by any simple argument such as gauge invariance. It means that great care must be exercised in using Feynman rules.
Land Reform and Welfare in Vietnam: Why Gender of the Land-Rights Holder Matters

Vietnam's 1993 Land Law created a land market by granting households tradable land-use rights. This study uses mixed methods to analyze whether increased land titling led to improvements in household economic security and whether land titles in women's and men's names had different effects. Using a matched sample of households from Vietnam's 2004 and 2008 Household Living Standards Survey, we find that land-use rights held exclusively by women or jointly by couples result in beneficial effects that include increased household expenditures, greater women's self-employment, and lower household vulnerability to poverty. Results from interviews conducted in Vietnam support these conclusions by indicating that women with sole or joint ownership of land enjoyed greater well-being and higher status. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
INTEGRATION OF PRICE ANTICIPATION AND SELF-ELASTICITY FOR PURCHASE DECISIONS AND PLANNING IN PRICE DIRECTED ELECTRICITY MARKETS

This paper places itself in the realm of price directed electricity markets. Consumers purchase electricity by responding to price signals. Therefore, they have to make real time decisions regarding the amount of electricity that will be purchased. However, decision making is a complex and risky process. Decisions should be made having in mind to reduce the cost while satisfying the electricity needs. Towards that end, the integration of price anticipation with self-elasticity factoring is presented in this paper. The integration framework aims at providing a framework for optimal decision making in price directed electricity markets. Self-elasticity factoring expresses the comfort zone of the market participant, while price anticipation allows planning of purchases in the near future. The presented framework is tested on a set of day ahead electricity load data taken from the area of New England Area. The result of the demonstration case shows the potentiality of the framework for decision making and consumption planning in price directed electricity markets.
Toward a more ecologically informed view of severe forest fires

We use the historical presence of high-severity fire patches in mixed-conifer forests of the western United States to make several points that we hope will encourage development of a more ecologically informed view of severe wildland fire effects. First, many plant and animal species use, and have sometimes evolved to depend on, severely burned forest conditions for their persistence. Second, evidence from fire history studies also suggests that a complex mosaic of severely burned conifer patches was common historically in the West. Third, to maintain ecological integrity in forests born of mixed-severity fire, land managers will have to accept some severe fire and maintain the integrity of its aftermath. Lastly, public education messages surrounding fire could be modified so that people better understand and support management designed to maintain ecologically appropriate sizes and distributions of severe fire and the complex early-seral forest conditions it creates.
Association of Socioeconomic Status with Outcomes of Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma.

Abstract Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) is standard therapy for eligible patients with multiple myeloma. Health care disparities can influence transplantation outcomes. However, the association of socioeconomic status (SES), a major indicator of health care disparities, with outcomes in patients with myeloma after AHCT has not been previously described. We analyzed 346 consecutive AHCT recipients with myeloma who underwent transplantation between 2003 and 2013 in this retrospective cohort study. Zip code of residence at the time of AHCT was obtained to assess annual household income based on 2010 US census data (median, $49,054; range, $16,546 to $127,313). SES groups were divided into $60,000 (high; n = 110). The low-income cohort had smallest portion of Caucasians (69% versus 89% versus 91%); otherwise, patient, disease, and transplantation characteristics were comparable among cohorts or different without significant patterns found. Median follow-up was 49 months. There was no difference among SES groups in overall survival, progression-free survival, nonrelapse mortality, or relapse in univariate and multivariable analysis. Similarly, SES was not associated with survival in a subset analysis of 303 patients who had survived for 1 year after transplantation.
The Brain Analysis Library of Spatial maps and Atlases (BALSA) database

We report on a new neuroimaging database, BALSA, that is a repository for extensively analyzed neuroimaging datasets from humans and nonhuman primates. BALSA is organized into two distinct sections. BALSA Reference is a curated repository of reference data accurately mapped to brain atlas surfaces and volumes, including various types of anatomically and functionally derived spatial maps as well as brain connectivity. BALSA Studies is a repository of extensively analyzed neuroimaging and neuroanatomical datasets associated with specific published studies, as voluntarily submitted by authors. It is particularly well suited for sharing of neuroimaging data as displayed in published figures. Uploading and downloading of data to BALSA involves 'scene' files that replicate how datasets appear in Connectome Workbench visualization software. Altogether, BALSA offers efficient access to richly informative datasets that are related to but transcend the images available in scientific publications.
Salt restriction lowers resting blood pressure but not 24-h ambulatory blood pressure.

Dietary salt restriction is the most common therapeutic recommendation given to hypertensives, but past studies have assessed the effect of salt restriction using resting blood pressure (BP) measurements not with the newer technique of 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring. We compared the effect of high (250 mEq Na/day) and low (10 mEq Na/day) salt diets on resting versus ambulatory BP in 12 normal and 15 hypertensive subjects. Each diet was given for 7 days. Ambulatory BP was monitored from day 6 to day 7 of each diet; resting supine BP was measured on the morning of day 8. In normal subjects, neither resting nor ambulatory BP changed with sodium restriction. In hypertensives, resting BP fell 14 +/- 3/6 +/- 2 mm Hg (systolic/diastolic; P less than .01 for both) with sodium restriction while ambulatory BP fell only 4 +/- 2/2 +/- 2 (P = NS). The resting BP fall was significantly greater than the ambulatory BP fall (P less than .05) for both systolic and diastolic pressure. Ambulatory heart rates were also significantly greater during sodium restriction, suggesting that the low salt diet activated the sympathetic nervous system. This may, in turn, have partially offset the hypotensive effect of sodium restriction. We conclude that using resting BP to assess the effect of sodium restriction may overestimate the efficacy of this therapy. Ambulatory BP monitoring should be employed in future studies of sodium restriction.
Comparison of Broiler Breeders Housed on Full and Partial Slat Floors

Abstract Four experimental strains of Pilch-DeKalb broiler breeder females were housed at 23 weeks of age on full slat floors or partial slat floors (50–50 combination of slat-litter). Sixteen pens housing 40 females each were used in the study allowing 2.5 square feet (0.23 square meter) per female. Five males were added to each pen and maintained at that level by replacement. A commercial broiler breeder diet was fed on a restricted basis as recommended by the breeder. Records were kept on the basis of 28-day periods for egg production, mortality, fertility and hatchability. A sample of eggs was incubated each reporting period to test fertility and hatchability. Egg production was higher for hens housed on partial slat floors but it was not significant based upon P ≤ 0.05. Fertility was slightly lower initially for birds housed on the full slats and again during the last third of the trial. There were no significant differences in mortality for the breeder males or females housed on full slats as compared to partial slats.
Emergency department orthopedics observation unit as an alternative to admission.

OBJECTIVES Inclusion of select orthopedic problems in the orthopedics observation unit (OOU) may reduce hospital admissions. Our system allows OOU status for 24 hours, but the effect on admissions is unknown. Our primary hypothesis was that we could predict which OOU patients required admission based on the presence of uncontrolled pain. METHODS Data were prospectively collected for all OOU patients in this prospective observational study, including data on extremity cellulitis, fractures, and spine injuries awaiting brace placement.The primary outcome variable was admission to the hospital versus discharge home. The a priori hypotheses were that patients with more persistent or worsening pain would require admission more often and that the OOU would result in fewer patients needing a costlier inpatient admission to the hospital. An a priori power analysis showed adequate power of 80% to detect a difference between admitted and discharged patients. RESULTS Data were prospectively collected from August 2011 to August 2012 for 199 consecutive OOU patients, 62% of whom were men. Diagnoses included infection (cellulitis or abscess of extremity) in 76%, fracture in 15% and other in 9% of the patients. Sixty-two patients (31%) were admitted and 7 patients (4%) made return visits for the same problem within a 30-day period. No significant relations existed between any of the independent variables and admission on bivariate analysis. Multivariable logistic regression found no significant predictors of hospital admission. Logistic regression was not performed on 30-day returns because of the low event rate (4%). CONCLUSIONS An OOU prevented 138 of 199 (69%) patients from being admitted to a hospital. There were no significant predictors of which patients would require admission. Pain was not a predictor of need for admission. The lack of significant predictors is important in suggesting that without the ability to predict which patients require admission, a system using an OOU can reduce admissions by more than two-thirds.
Nature of the dynamic response and its relation to the high sensitivity of muscle spindles to small changes in length

The dynamic responses of spindle receptors to large ramp changes in length cannot be broken down into length, velocity and acceleration components. Instead, it is shown that, except for a brief transient phase associated with the initial burst, response is proportional to the product of a velocity-dependent and a length-dependent term. The velocity-dependent term is approximately ν0.3 for both primary and secondary endings, both in the presence and in the absence of spontaneous fusimotor activity. For the majority of receptors, length dependence is well characterised by an upwardly offset straight-line relation between discharge rate and muscle length. It seems likely that this peculiar form of relation derives from the mechanical properties of intrafusal muscle fibres. Regardless of the mechanism, the relation places many interesting constraints on theories of motor control.
Alternative Realities: Faculty and Student Perceptions of Instructional Practices in Laboratory Courses

A survey was developed on inquiry-based learning and assessment in undergraduate laboratory courses and defined five constructs: metacognition, feedback and assessment, scientific synthesis, scienc...
Electrochemistry of Molybdenum Complexes. Effect of Structure and Solution Environment on Redox Properties

The occurrence of molybdenum in at least six metalloenzymes having redox function (nitrogenase, nitrate reductase, xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, sulfite oxidase, and formate dehydrogenase)1 has created a need for greater understanding of the oxidation-reduction chemistry of this element. This realization prompted us to begin an investigation of electrochemical behavior of suitable inorganic i.e., model) molybdenum complexes with the expectation that the results would be useful in interpreting the redox behavior of this element in its various enzymes. A number of important questions can be addressed using contemporary electro chemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, potential step electrolysis, and controlled potential coulometry. These questions include: (1) whether electron transfer into the molybdenum center occurs by multiple steps involving a single electron or by a single multi-electron step; (2) the redox potentials of the electron transfer steps; (3) whether electron transfer leads to species with unusual stability or reactivity; and (4) the extent to which processes in (1)–(3) are influenced by molecular structure and solution environment. Trends have emerged with important implications for the redox properties of molybdoenzymes.
The utility of an obesity-specific small for gestational age standard for pregnancies complicated by maternal obesity.

Introduction: An obesity-specific standard for small for gestational age (SGA) pregnancies may help identify additional at risk pregnancies.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all non...
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and mortality among cancer survivors

Abstract Background Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may foster a tumor microenvironment that promotes cancer recurrence and progression. We examined the relationship between NAFLD and mortality among a sample of cancer survivors. Methods Ultrasonography was used to assess hepatic steatosis, and standardized algorithms were used to define NAFLD. Study endpoints included all-cause, cancer-specific, and cardiovascular-specific mortality. Results Among 387 cancer survivors, 17.6% had NAFLD. During a median of 17.9 years of follow up, we observed 196 deaths from all causes. In multivariable-adjusted regression models, NAFLD was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality [HR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.47–4.34; P =0.001]. We observed 86 cancer-specific deaths. In multivariable-adjusted regression models, NAFLD was associated with an increased risk of cancer-specific mortality [HR: 3.21, 95% CI: 1.46–7.07; P =0.004]. We observed 46 cardiovascular-specific deaths. In multivariable-adjusted regression models, NAFLD was not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular-specific mortality [HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.30–3.64, P =0.951]. Conclusion NAFLD is associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cancer-specific mortality among cancer survivors. This novel observation warrants replication. Evaluating the efficacy of interventions, such as lifestyle modification through weight loss and exercise, to improve NAFLD in this population may be considered.
HONGOS QUERATINOFILICOS OPORTUNISTAS EN EL PELAJE DE GATOS DOMESTICOS (Felix domesticus) EN LA CIUDAD DE VALPARAÍSO

En la ciudad de Valparaiso, se analizo mediante la tecnica del tapete, la presencia de hongos queratinofilicos oportunistas en el pelaje de 198 gatos domesticos aparentemente sanos (96 mascotas y 102 de vida libre). Las siembras se efectuaron en duplicado en placas de Petri con agar Sabouraud glucosado incubandose en oscuridad a 35 C durante 15 dias. Se consideraron las variables, estilo de vida, edad, tipo de pelaje, sexo y epoca estacional, de las cuales solo las dos primeras presentaron diferencias significativas en los taxa aislados. Un total de 130 individuos (65.6%) fueron positivos a hongos filamentosos; 77 (59.2%) correspondieron a gatos de vida libre y 53 (40.8%) a gatos mascota. Se obtuvieron 372 aislados fungicos, de los cuales 335 (90.1%) se consideraron como oportunistas, distribuidos en 22 generos y 23 especies. De estos, 287 (77.1%) se presentaron en gatos de vida libre y 85 (22.8%) en mascotas. Los generos dominantes fueron Aspergillus (53.5%), Scopulariopsis (19.9%), Fusarium (4,6%) y el complex Alternaria alternata (3,8%). Aspergillus , fue representado por 10 taxa, destacando A. flavus (15,9 %) y A. niger var. niger (13.4%) y con menores frecuencias A.terreus , A. fumigatus , A.niger var. phoenicis y Emeri-cella nidulans (A. nidulans) . A. flavus y A. niger var. niger , se aislaron mayoritariamente en gatos de vida libre y lo mismo sucede con practicamente todas las especies del genero. Scopulariopsis presento solo 2 especies S .brevicaulis y S. candida . La primera fue la especie con mayor numero de aislamientos (18%) y la de mayor presencia en gatos de vida libre (77.9 %), mientras la segunda fue esporadica (1,6%). Debe destacarse, por su rareza, que una cepa de S. brevicaulis crecio en cultivos asociada a su teleomorfo Microascus brevicaulis. Los Onygenales fueron escasamente representados por Gymnashella citrina y Chrysosporium keratinophylum . Ningun dermatofito, incluyendo Microsporum canis , se aislo de los gatos analizados.
Curriculum in Motion for English Language Learners in Science: Teachers Supporting Newcomer Unaccompanied Youth

This chapter aims at providing a dynamic pedagogical and instructional framework incorporating classroom practices for serving newcomer unaccompanied youth. This framework is the result of a collaborative approach among teacher educators, a science teacher, and students in a project called Curriculum in Motion (CiM). The CiM project conceptualized curriculum as an in-progress design, making it suitable for other science teachers to adapt it in their particular contexts. We conceptualize language as a dynamic resource for science meaning making. We provide an overview of the perspectives that informed our work as we developed the CiM project, and an outline of the principles that framed our teaching in the science classroom, as well as relevant examples of student work.
The relationship between oral-motor involvement and growth: a pilot study in a pediatric population with cerebral palsy.

Growth retardation in the pediatric cerebral palsy population has been well documented in the literature. No attempt had been made to examine the extent to which this growth retardation is affected by the presence or absence of oral-motor dysfunction. In our retrospective pilot study, the growth of 12 children (8 girls, 4 boys) with cerebral palsy and oral-motor impairment was compared with the growth of an age- and sex-matched control group of 12 children with cerebral palsy but no oral-motor impairment. The growth parameters examined were weight for age, height for age, and weight for height. Data analysis used both the actual measurements and Z scores. Comparisons were made not only between groups but also with NCHS standards at the 50th percentile for specific age and sex. Results indicated that children with oral-motor impairment had depressed weight for age (Z score, p=.002) and height (Z score, p=.049) and depressed height for age (Z score, p = .055). These results suggest a previously undocumented relationship between oral-motor impairment and growth retardation.
Concordance Between Bone Pathology and Bone Culture for the Diagnosis of Osteomyelitis in the Presence of Charcot Neuro-Osteoarthropathy

The diagnosis of osteomyelitis (OM) is a challenging but critical pathology to uncover in patients with concomitant Charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy (CN). The reference standard to diagnose OM is bone biopsy for histopathologic and microbiologic examination. The presence of CN, however, can have a negative effect on the accuracy of either method to identify OM. The aim of the present study was to examine the concordance between bone pathology and bone cultures in the presence of CN in the diagnosis of OM. A total of 286 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and CN were identified retrospectively, with 48 patients identified with OM. OM was confirmed by radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein, positive probe-to-bone test results, and intraoperative inspection. Seventy matched pairs of bone pathology and cultures with complete data were compared and analyzed. Statistical analysis included concordance, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, specificity, and kappa coefficient. Concordance between bone pathology and bone culture was 41.4%, with agreement in 29 of 70 paired specimens. The diagnostic test accuracy of histopathologic examination to diagnose OM in CN bone in our study was 51.4%. The diagnostic test accuracy of microbiologic examination to diagnose OM in CN bone was 50%. The positive predictive value was 72.2%. The negative predictive value was 44.1%. The sensitivity was 57.8%. The specificity was 60.0%. The kappa coefficient was 0.165. The reference standard method of histopathologic and microbiologic examination of bone specimens has little concordance and can lead to inaccurate or inconclusive information. The low sensitivity and specificity demonstrated in the present study does not support the use of the current reference standard method of bone biopsy for histologic and microbiologic diagnosis of OM when CN is present. Thus, a diagnosis of OM in patients with CN should only be considered in the presence of strong clinical, laboratory, and imaging correlates.
Educating Students with Autism and Related Disorders

Autism and other related disorders frequently known as autism spectrum disorders are pervasive developmental disorders which are considered to be lifelong and which significantly impact the social interaction skills and behavioral repertoires of those affected. While the causes of ASD are unknown, many decades of research have revealed strong genetic liability, and associated neurobiological disorders. The recognition of ASD in the past decade has led to increased identification and prevalence rates in many countries. Therefore, parents and professionals must collaboratively screen for symptoms of ASD early and obtain access to empirically based treatment programs as soon as ASD is suspected. This article focuses on innovative intervention techniques for students with autism and other related disorders.
Does More Money Lead to More Innovation? Evidence From the Life Sciences.

Large sums are often invested into scientific innovation – the creation of new knowledge through scientific research. In this paper, we argue that increasing investments may lead scientists to purs...
Power-Train Matching and Fuel Economy Projection Methods

The fuel economy level established for a particular existing or hypothetical vehicle must be determined strictly on the basis of some prescribed driving cycle and testing procedure. The advent of legislation specifying the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) that a car manufacturer must meet can legally limit the mix of car lines that can be sold in a given model year. Such legislation is a year-by-year changing situation, but fuel economy ratings mandated by federal law are considered permanent. Planning and developing the appropriate car product lines several years in advance places major emphasis on projecting fuel economy, with experimental programs to support fuel economy improvement technology.
Computing height persistence and homology generators in R3 efficiently

Recently it has been shown that computing the dimension of the first homology group H1(K) of a simplicial 2-complex K embedded linearly in R4 is as hard as computing the rank of a sparse 0 − 1 matrix. This puts a major roadblock to computing persistence and a homology basis (generators) for complexes embedded in R4 and beyond in less than quadratic or even near-quadratic time. But, what about dimension three? It is known that when K is a graph or a surface with n simplices linearly embedded in R3, the persistence for piecewise linear functions on K can be computed in O(n log n) time and a set of generators of total size k can be computed in O(n + k) time. However, the question for general simplicial complexes K linearly embedded in R3 is not completely settled. No algorithm with a complexity better than that of the matrix multiplication is known for this important case. We show that the persistence for height functions on such complexes, hence called height persistence, can be computed in O(n log n) time. This allows us to compute a basis (generators) of Hi(K), i = 1, 2, in O(n log n + k) time where k is the size of the output. This improves significantly the current best bound of O(nω), ω being the exponent of matrix multiplication. We achieve these improved bounds by leveraging recent results on zigzag persistence in computational topology, new observations about Reeb graphs, and some efficient geometric data structures.
AA-05 B cell intrinsic IFNβ is associated with autoantibodies and active renal disease in SLE

Background Dysregulated responses to type I interferons (IFNs) is a hallmark of autoreactive B cell development in SLE patients. High sera levels of type I IFN protein were recently shown to occur in the absence of increased circulating pDCs and in the absence of increased pDC IFNs, suggesting the likelihood of other important sources of type I IFN that may act on B cells. The present study determined the cellular source of IFNβ and its association with disease activities in SLE. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from 31 SLE patients meeting ACR 1997 revised criteria for SLE and 9 healthy controls. Intracellular IFNβ was determined using flow cytometry with FITC-anti-IFNβ mAb. Comprehensive clinical data was recorded for each SLE subject and the clinical data and laboratory analysis of B-cell intracellular IFNβ expression were collected in a double-blind fashion. Results IFNβ was detected in various cell types including CD4 T cells, B cells and pDCs in PBMCs of SLE patients. Endogenous IFNβ in B cells was significantly higher than endogenous IFNβ in CD4 T cells and were equivalent to that seen in pDCs. Within B cells, there was a significant increase in endogenous IFNβ in all B cell subpopulations of SLE patients compared to healthy controls. The most significant increase was found in the CD27+IgD– memory subpopulation. B-cell endogenous IFNβ was not a result of B-cell uptake of exogenous IFNβ as coculture of SLE B cells with HEK293 reporter cells resulted in induction of interferon stimulatory genes as determined by the secreted alkaline phosphatase assay. This was further blocked by an anti-IFNβ neutralization antibody. Interestingly B-cell endogenous IFNβ was highly correlated with clinical disease including renal disease and autoantibodies including anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm and anti-SSA. Strikingly, the highest correlation of IFNβ with clinical manifestations was observed in African-American patients. B-cell IFNβ expression was significantly correlated with CD19loCD38hiCD27+ plasma cell formation. Conclusion Intracellular IFNβ production by B cells is a novel and important B-cell intrinsic factor that may be essential for B-cell development into autoantibody producing B cells. The present work suggests a need for future human lupus studies into type I IFN dysregulation that pioneer beyond the view of pDC produced IFNα. These results also provided a mechanistic basis for development of more effective therapies to target the high-affinity IFNβ or the enhanceosome components that promote its induction in a subgroup of lupus patients. Acknowledgements This work was supported by grants from R01-AI-071110, R01 AI134023, Lupus Research Alliance Distinguished Innovator Award, I01B × 004049, and 1I01B × 000600 to J.D.M, 2T32AI007051–39 Immunology T32 Training Grant and the LFA Finzi Summer Fellowship to J.A.H, and the LRA Novel Research Award to H.-C.H.
Associations of Income Volatility with Incident Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality in a US Cohort: 1990 to 2015

Background: Income volatility is on the rise and presents a growing public health problem. Because in many epidemiological studies income is measured at a single point in time, the association of l...
A Quasi-Experimental Study of a Peer Support Group to Enhance Protective Factors for Fathers of Children in Head Start

The father–child relationship is an important factor in child development. Improving protective factors for fathers, such as access to social support, is one strategy to enhance these critical relationships. Few studies have examined parenting strategies for fathers specifically, and fewer have examined programs delivered in early childhood settings. A quasi-experimental study of the Circle of Parents® program implemented in a Head Start/Early Head Start setting examined social support and other protective factors for 112 fathers. Based on intent-to-treat analysis, there was no improvement in social support but fathers who participated in the program reported a significant reduction in parent–child conflict (β = −3.38; p < .01). Due to lack of compliance in treatment assignment, propensity-score adjusted models were also estimated. One model indicated positive effects for increased parenting self-efficacy (β = 5.30; p < .05). Father engagement in this mutual aid support group was challenging. Parenting support groups offer potential benefits to fathers, but barriers to program participation limit the feasibility of broader impact.
177 FLUCTUATING ASYMMETRY: RELATIONSHIP TO DURATION AND CAUSE OF LOW BACK PAIN.

Previous studies have shown that in utero stressors can lead to developmental instability (DI). This DI can possibly predispose to disease susceptibility later in life. A composite of differences in bilateral anatomic trait measurements is termed fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and serves as an indicator of DI. Evidence from our laboratory has pointed to the ulna as abnormally symmetric in persons with chronic low back pain (LBP) but not in persons with acute LBP. It was unclear from the previous study whether the duration and the severity of LBP was a factor in this abnormal asymmetry. To explore these questions we examined the relationship between FA in event-related and non-event-related causes of the LBP, which were further classified according to pain severity. A severity index was developed based on frequency of treatment for LBP. Ulna, lower arm, hand width, hand length, wrist width, and third proximal phalange lengths were measured in 109 patients with LBP and 122 controls in four hospitals and clinics in Southern California. Information on the duration and cause of the LBP was obtained by questionnaire. We postulated that the highest incidence of FA would be found in subjects with chronic LBP stemming from non-event-related causes, which might be due to developmental errors. Furthermore, we suspected that the severity of LBP would be directly related to the size of FA. Our results indicated that persons with LBP of more than 6 months9 duration had significant rightward asymmetry in the ulna (p = .04) and a trend to rightward asymmetry in the composite of six hand and arm traits (p = .056). Results indicated no difference between event-related causes, non-event-related causes, and control FA of the ulna. We also found no significant relationship between the LBP severity index and measures of FA or of directional asymmetry. These findings support the results in the previous study showing elevated rightward directional asymmetry in chronic LBP patients. Although our data do not support a relationship between ulnar asymmetry and cause and severity of LBP, other traits, not yet analyzed, may demonstrate such a relationship.
Ecosystem services of Earth’s largest freshwater lakes

Abstract Fresh water is distributed unevenly across the globe. Earth’s 21 largest lakes hold ~2/3 of all global, liquid, surface, fresh water and occupy diverse ecological and social settings. We identified seven ecosystem services for which there were quantitative data across most or all of these large lakes. Approximately 1.35 million tonnes of fish are harvested per year from these lakes by commercial or artisanal means, with approximately 95% of this harvest coming from the African large lakes. The 21 lakes support the generation of at least 62.2 GW of power and the transportation of 195 million tonnes/year of cargo, with the Laurentian Great Lakes especially important in those. More than five billion m3 of potable drinking water is treated annually from large lakes, and an additional 812 million m3 water per year is extracted for irrigation purposes. The pattern of services provided to humans by large lakes differs based on social and environmental settings. While we assembled systematic data on some important ecosystem services from large lakes, many other important, especially non-commercial services could not similarly be examined due to lack of data. More work is needed to show the value of the full set of ecosystem services provided by large lakes.
Effect of Controlled Heat Application on Topical Diclofenac Formulations Evaluated by In Vitro Permeation Tests (IVPT) Using Porcine and Human Skin

Heat therapy is widely used for pain relief and may unintentionally be used in conjunction with pain relieving topical formulations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of heat on the permeation of diclofenac through porcine and human skin, comparing four marketed products. In vitro permeation tests (IVPT) were performed on porcine skin from a single miniature pig and human skin from three donors. Skin temperature was maintained at either 32 ± 1°C or 42 ± 1°C to mimic normal and elevated skin temperature conditions, respectively. IVPT studies on porcine and human skin were able to demonstrate heat-induced enhancement in flux and cumulative amount of drug permeated from the four diclofenac products. The pivotal data showed the most significant heat-induced enhancement for the solution, followed by the patch and two gels in decreasing order of significance based on p values. Diclofenac solution showed the highest flux and cumulative amount permeated at both baseline and elevated skin temperature compared to the patch and gels. The studies demonstrated that exposure to heat can alter drug permeation from topical formulations, but the increased levels are not expected to lead to systemic concentrations that are of concern. Formulation design and excipients can influence drug permeation at elevated skin temperature.
Application of Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) theory and the Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) equation for concentration-dependent, non-saturable cell-cell interaction dose-responses.

To systematically assess the characteristics and potential utility of the Guggenheim–Anderson–de Boer (GAB) formulation of the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) equation from physical chemistry for modeling dose-responses in pharmaceutical applications. The GAB–BET equation was derived using pharmacodynamic first principles to underscore the assumptions involved and the functional characteristics of the equation were investigated. The properties of the GAB–BET equation were compared to the familiar Michaelis–Menten and Hill equations and its utility for pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling was assessed by fitting the model equations to four diverse data sets from the literature. The results enabled the salient characteristics of the unconstrained GAB–BET equation and the corresponding GAB–BET equation with finite layers for modeling pharmacodynamic effects to be critically assessed. The GAB–BET approach allows for the accumulation of heterogeneous stacks containing multiple cells or molecules at the target site. The unconstrained GAB–BET equation is capable of describing concentration-dependent dose–response curves that do not exhibit saturation. The GAB–BET equation for finite layers exhibits saturation but increases more slowly than the comparable Michaelis–Menten and Hill equations. The fitting results of the model equations to literature data sets provided support for key aspects of the GAB–BET model. The GAB–BET equation may be a useful method for mechanistic modeling of diverse immune processes and drugs that recruit immune cell activity at the site of action.
COVID-19, Indian Reservations, and Self-Determination

COVID-19 is the most recent example of the vulnerability of American Indian reservations to pandemic disease The Navajo Nationâ€™s COVID-19 infection rate is hig
HIF-1α and miR-210 differential and lineage-specific expression in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Abstract Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, lupus) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by loss of peripheral tolerance to nuclear self-antigens. It is increasingly recognized that aberrant T cell metabolism is a critical mediator of SLE immunopathology. Hypoxia inducible factor 1⍺ (HIF-1α) is a key transcription factor that regulates T cell metabolism in response to immune stimuli. T cell activation induces HIF-1α expression and transcriptional activation of HIF-responsive genes. HypoxamiRs are a group of microRNAs sensitive to HIF-1α transcriptional regulation that function to fine-tune the HIF-driven transcriptional program. The ‘master’ hypoxamiR, miR-210 is transcriptionally regulated by HIF-1α and negatively regulates HIF-1α activity. Although a key role for HIF-1α in has been described in a number of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and abnormal microRNA expression profiles correlate with poor clinical outcome in a number of rheumatologic diseases, the expression and function of HIF-1α and miR-210 in lupus remains largely uncharacterized. Here we report HIF-1α and miR-210 differential and lineage-specific expression in systemic lupus erythematosus. We show that HIF-1α mRNA and protein is overexpressed in human lupus CD4+ cells but not in CD8+ or CD19+ cells. RORγt, was upregulated in human lupus lymphocytes while FoxP3 expression remained unchanged. We show that miR-210 expression in lupus-prone mice correlates with disease activity and is robustly and selectively upregulated in CD4+ cells from both human lupus patients and lupus-prone mice. Our results suggest that abnormal HIF-1α and miR-210 expression contributes to SLE immune pathology and that HIF-1α/miR-210 may represent a novel and important regulatory axis in SLE.
An observational study of postoperative handoff standardization failures.

Abstract Background Patient handoffs from an operating room (OR) to an intensive care unit (ICU) require precise coordination among surgical, anesthesia, and critical care teams. Although several standardized handoff strategies have been developed, their sustainability remains is poor. Little is known regarding factors that impede handoff standardization. Purpose Our objectives are three-fold: (1) highlight compliance failures with standardized handoffs; (2) identify factors contributing to compliance failures; and (3) develop guidelines for sustainable handoff interventions and processes. Methods We used ethnographic data collection methods—general observations, handoff shadowing, and semi-structured clinician interviews—with 84 participants from OR, ICU, and telemedicine teams at a large academic medical center. We conducted thematic analysis supported by inductive and deductive coding using the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework. Results Post-operative handoffs can be characterized into four phases: pre-transfer preparation, transfer and setup, report preparation and delivery, and post-transfer care. We identified compliance failures with standardized handoff protocols and associated risk factors within the OR-ICU work system including limited teamwork, absence of handoff-specific tools, and poor clinician buy-in. To improve handoffs, clinicians provided suggestions for developing collaborative Electronic Health Record (EHR)-integrated handoff tools and re-engineering the handoff process. Conclusions Compliance failures are prevalent in all handoff phases, leading to poor adherence with standardization. We propose theoretically grounded guidelines for designing "flexibly standardized" bundled handoff interventions for ensuring care continuity in OR to ICU transitions of care.
The effects of sample temperature on the concentrations of glucose and β-OH butyrate measured by the Precision Xtra meter in plasma from periparturient dairy cattle

Early and accurate diagnosis of hypoglycemia and hyperketonemia is helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of ketosis in periparturient dairy cattle. The results of a preliminary study recently indicated that the glucose concentration [glue] and β-OH butyrate concentration [BHB] measured by the Precision Xtra meter was impacted by sample temperature when temperature <89.6° (< 32°C). The objective of this study was to fully characterize the effects of sample temperature on the accuracy of the Precision Xtra® for measuring [glue] and [BHB].
Rewriting Roma città aperta (1945) as Das Leben der Anderen (2006)

The Nazi era and Holocaust dominate discourse about German identity, reanimated by the 1989 fall of the Wall, one reason to link The Lives of Others (2006) with Rome Open City (1945). German oppression and a spectrum of collaboration and resistance are the subjects of both films. Donnersmarck develops as his centerpiece Rossellini’s narrative of an actress who betrays her lover, and the dominant metaphor of an extended Roman family is mirrored in reverse in Lives, which emphasizes enforced isolation of characters whose lives are frozen under Stasi surveillance. While citation of Rome Open City in The Lives of Others is oblique and partial, a consistent pattern of response to Rossellini’s ideas encourages us to read Donnersmarck’s film as a rewriting of Rome Open City.