cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamic Investigation of Inhibitor Binding to 1-Deoxy-D-Xylulose-5-Phosphate Reductoisomerase.

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used to investigate the binding of six inhibitors to 1-deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR), a target for developing novel anti-infectives. The binding of hydroxamate inhibitors to Escherichia coli DXR is Mg2+-dependent, highly endothermic (ΔH, 22.7–24.3 kJ/mol), and entropy-driven, while that of nonhydroxamate compounds is metal ion-independent and exothermic (ΔH, −19.4 to −13.8 kJ/mol), showing that hydration/dehydration of the enzyme metal ion binding pocket account for the drastic ΔH change. However, for DXRs from Plasmodium falciparum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the binding of all inhibitors is exothermic (ΔH, −24.9 to −9.2 kJ/mol), suggesting that the metal ion binding sites of these two enzymes are considerably less hydrated. The dissociation constants measured by ITC are well correlated with those obtained by enzyme inhibition assays (R2 = 0.75). Given the rapid rise of antibiotic resistance, this work is of interest since it provides n...
Dynamics of energy harvesting backpack with human being interaction

In last ten years, a lot of researchers have begun to look into obtaining electricity from the movement between human and their backpack that occurs during walking. In this paper, an innovative, elastically-suspended backpack with mechanical motion rectifier (MMR) based energy harvester is developed to generate electricity with high efficiency and reliability. Up to 28 Watts peak electrical power can be produced by the MMR based backpack energy harvester. A dynamic model for the system is presented along with experimental results. Three dual mass models for different distinct harvesters: pure viscous, non MMR, and MMR, are proposed, and a comparison in the output power and human comfort between the three models is discussed.
Foetus-in-fetu: an unusual cause of abdominal mass in the newborn.

AbstractFoetus-in-fetu (FIF) is a rare congenital condition in which a vertebrate foetus is incorporated within its twin. The authors report the case of a newborn girl with prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of an intra-abdominal mass. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography of the abdomen showed a heterogeneous cystic mass containing multiple calcifications. The patient had a laparotomy at 18 days of age with excision of a well-encapsulated 6 χ 5 cm retroperitoneal mass, containing many organs. Anatomicopathologic examination showed a relatively well-differentiated FIF attached to an amniotic sac by a rudimentary umbilical cord. Encephalon, coroidal plexus, vertebral bodies, rudimentary limbs, thyroid gland and teeth were identified. The postoperative period was uneventful.
TFP and the change of the mode of economic growth of China

Since China began to carry out the policy of reform and opening-up,great successes have been achieved in economic construction.However,through calculating TFP and its rate of growth,the author draws the following conclusion in this article that generally,the economic growth of China is driven by capital. Therefore,in order to promote the long-term and stable growth of China's economy,the technological level and production efficiency must be raised and the mode of economic growth be changed so as to realize the transformation of the capital-driving mode to the innovation-driving mode.
Modified Hutch I Vesicoureteroplasty in Paraplegia

AbstractThe most common cause of renal deterioration in the spinal cord injured patient is irreversible vesicoureteral reflux. Of 39 unilateral vesicoureteroplasties done for this condition 33 have been successful (85 per cent). Of 51 bilateral vesicoureteroplasties the success rates remain at 55 per cent of the patients and 72 per cent of the ureters. Since these success rates are possibly acceptable and the complication rate minimal, indications and technique are stressed.
Acid Phosphatase: Its Influence on the Management of Carcinoma of the Prostate

Of 343 patients who underwent pelvic lymph node dissection during treatment for carcinoma of the prostate 25 had persistently elevated serum enzymatic acid phosphatase levels preoperatively: 15 (60 per cent) had metastases to the pelvic lymph nodes and 10 (40 per cent) had negative nodes. Bone metastases occurred in 10 of 12 (83 per cent) and 5 of 7 patients (71 per cent), respectively, who were followed for a minimum of 2 years. Of the 318 patients with normal serum enzymatic phosphatase levels 70 (22 per cent) had positive nodes. A persistently elevated serum enzymatic acid phosphatase level in patients with proved carcinoma of the prostate, with elimination of infrequent causes of enzyme elevation, indicates metastases and has significant implications regarding staging and, thus, therapy of this disease.
Heart rate patterns in fetuses exposed to cocaine.

Heart rate patterns of 42 fetuses exposed to cocaine near the time of delivery were compared with patterns in 42 controls. Decreased long-term variability and an increased frequency of contractions were observed more often in the cocaine group (P = .046 and P = .0306, respectively). There were no significant differences in the frequency of fetal tachycardia or decelerations. Although accelerations were less frequent in cocaine-exposed fetuses, the difference compared with controls was not statistically significant. We found no characteristic heart rate pattern in fetuses exposed to cocaine near delivery. The heart rate patterns likely represent the underlying state of fetal oxygenation. Frequent contractions in an unstimulated labor should raise suspicions of maternal cocaine use.
Kostenabrechnung und Kostenkalkulation

Die Produktionsvorgange und Fabrikanlagen bilden das Skelett, auf dem das Kostensystem mit seinen Kalkulationsmethoden aufbaut. Der Fertigungsablauf bestimmt die Wahl der Abrechnungs- und Kalkulationstechnik. Die Kostenkonten sind auserdem den Finanzkonten nachgeordnet und mussen mit ihnen ubereinstimmen. Dieser Zusammenhang last sich graphisch darstellen.
Anterior cervical discectomy without fusion or instrumentation: 25 years' experience.

Objective: To assess a minimalist approach to anterior cervical discectomy without instrumentation or bone grafting. Method: A total of 530 operations performed during a 25-year period were evaluated in terms of technique and patient outcome. Results: Advantages included minimal blood loss, little tissue swelling, less narcotic requirement, fewer days in the hospital, and earlier return to customary activity. During the 2-year follow-up period, a repeat surgical procedure was required in only 2% of the group. Conclusions: Eliminating spinal fusion from anterior cervical discectomy shortened the operation, reduced the number of surgical instruments needed, and eliminated complications associated with obtaining a graft from the iliac crest or maintaining the bone in situ.
Outcomes-based education in a critical care nursing course.

Powerful economic forces are driving systems of higher education to implement change. Educational institutions need to borrow from health care and develop an outcomes-based educational delivery system. Many states have already developed performance indicators for education and are tying them into funding. The most important performance indicators answer the question of whether or not students learned. This critical care nursing facility describes the evidence they use to answer “yes, students have learned a great deal”.
Fleas (Siphonaptera: Pygiopsyllomorpha) of Papua New Guinea and Papua Province (Indonesia). Part IV. Rectidigitus (Stivaliidae: Stivaliinae), Description of Four New Species

ABSTRACT The flea genus Rectidigitus Holland, 1969, endemic to Papua New Guinea and Papua Province, Indonesia is reviewed as a continuation of the study of fleas in the Robert Traub flea collection deposited in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This paper (Part IV) is an extension of previous studies by Hastriter (2012), Hastriter and Easton (2013, Part I, Striopsylla), Hastriter (2014, Part II, Nestivalius, Orthopsylloides, and Parastivalius), and Hastriter (2015, Part III, Traubia). Rectidigitus currently contains four valid species (Mardon 1981): R. ancisus (Jordan, 1937), R. spooneri (M. Rothschild, 1934), R. szentivanyi Holland, 1969, and R. traubi Holland, 1969. The male of R. ancisus is described for the first time and the previously known distribution of this species is expanded from Morobe Province to Southern Highlands and Western Highlands Provinces. An additional four new species of Rectidigitus are described herein (R. angularis, R. claviculatus, R. dittmarae, ...
Multi-Sectoral Partnerships and Patient- Engagement Strategies in Accountable Care Organizations

Background: Patient-engagement strategies are increasingly recognized for enriching traditional medical care and improving population health. Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) may be well positioned to leverage multi-sector organizational partnerships to improve the reach of their patient-engagement strategies, particularly given incentives to meet cost, quality and population health goals. Little is currently known about the relation of multi-sector partnerships and patient engagement in ACOs. Purpose: To examine the relation of patient-engagement strategies and breadth of multi-sectoral organizational partnerships in 71 primary care practices affiliated with one of two ACOs. Methods: Clinical and administrative leaders from each practice were surveyed. Questions assessed practice use of 12 different partnership sectors and the adoption of 14 patient-engagement strategies. Bivariate tests examined associations between patient-engagement strategies and practice use of partnership sectors. Multivariate linear regression estimated the extent to which practices with a greater number of multi-sector organizational partnerships had greater adoption of patient-engagement strategies. Results: Practices reported partnering with a mean of 3.2 (standard deviation, SD= 2.1) out of 12 sectors and implementing a mean of 7.1 (SD=3.4) out of 14 patient-engagement strategies. Each additional type of multisector partnership was associated with greater adoption of patient-engagement strategies (β = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.23–0.95, for all partnerships and β = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.42–1.43, when restricted to nonmedical partnerships) Implications: Practices with a greater breadth of multi-sector partnerships, particularly nonmedical partnerships, use a wider range of strategies to engage patients in their own care.
Bayesian non-parametric simultaneous quantile regression for complete and grid data

Abstract Bayesian methods for non-parametric quantile regression have been considered with multiple continuous predictors ranging values in the unit interval. Two methods are proposed based on assuming that either the quantile function or the distribution function is smooth in the explanatory variables and is expanded in tensor product of B-spline basis functions. Unlike other existing methods of non-parametric quantile regressions, the proposed methods estimate the whole quantile function instead of estimating on a grid of quantiles. Priors on the coefficients of the B-spline expansion are put in such a way that the monotonicity of the estimated quantile levels are maintained unlike local polynomial quantile regression methods. The proposed methods are also modified for quantile grid data where only the percentile range of each response observations are known. A comparative simulation study of the performances of the proposed methods and some other existing methods are provided in terms of prediction mean squared errors and mean L 1 -errors over the quartiles. The proposed methods are used to estimate the quantiles of US household income data and North Atlantic hurricane intensity data.
Preoperative Chlorhexidine Gluconate Use Can Increase Risk for Surgical Site Infections after Ventral Hernia Repair

Background There is varying evidence about the use of preoperative chlorhexidine gluconate to decrease surgical site infection for elective surgery. This intervention has never been studied in ventral hernia repair, the most common general surgery procedure in the US. We aimed to determine whether preoperative chlorhexidine gluconate decreases the risk of 30-day wound morbidity in patients undergoing ventral hernia repair. Study Design All patients undergoing ventral hernia repair in the Americas Hernia Society Quality Collaborative were separated into 2 groups: 1 group received preoperative chlorhexidine scrub and the other did not. The 2 groups were evaluated for 30-day wound morbidity, including surgical site occurrence (SSO), surgical site infection (SSI), and SSO requiring procedural intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariate regression analysis and propensity score modeling. Multiple factors were controlled for statistical analysis, including patient-related factors and operative factors. Results In total, 3,924 patients were included for comparison. After multivariate logistic regression modeling, the preoperative chlorhexidine scrub group had a higher incidence of SSOs (odds ratio [OR] = 1.34; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.61) and SSIs (OR = 1.46; 95% CI 1.03 to 2.07). After propensity score modeling, the increased risk of SSO and SSI persisted (SSO: OR = 1.39; 95% CI 1.15 to 1.70; SSI: OR = 1.45; 95% CI 1.011 to 2.072, respectively). Conclusions Prehospital chlorhexidine gluconate scrub appears to increase the risk of 30-day wound morbidity in patients undergoing ventral hernia repair. These findings suggest that the generalized use of prehospital chlorhexidine might not be desirable for all surgical populations.
The Martian: Examining Human Physical Judgments across Virtual Gravity Fields

This paper examines how humans adapt to novel physical situations with unknown gravitational acceleration in immersive virtual environments. We designed four virtual reality experiments with different tasks for participants to complete: strike a ball to hit a target, trigger a ball to hit a target, predict the landing location of a projectile, and estimate the flight duration of a projectile. The first two experiments compared human behavior in the virtual environment with real-world performance reported in the literature. The last two experiments aimed to test the human ability to adapt to novel gravity fields by measuring their performance in trajectory prediction and time estimation tasks. The experiment results show that: 1) based on brief observation of a projectile's initial trajectory, humans are accurate at predicting the landing location even under novel gravity fields, and 2) humans' time estimation in a familiar earth environment fluctuates around the ground truth flight duration, although the time estimation in unknown gravity fields indicates a bias toward earth's gravity.
Plasma bradykinin and early diabetic nephropathy lesions in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Objective To examine the association of bradykinin and related peptides with the development of diabetic nephropathy lesions in 243 participants with type 1 diabetes (T1D) from the Renin-Angiotensin System Study who, at baseline, were normoalbuminuric, normotensive and had normal or increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Design Plasma concentrations of bradykinin and related peptides were measured at baseline by quantitative mass spectrometry. All participants were randomly assigned at baseline to receive placebo, enalapril or losartan during the 5 years between kidney biopsies. Kidney morphometric data were available from kidney biopsies at baseline and after 5 years. Relationships of peptides with changes in morphometric variables were assessed using multiple linear regression after adjustment for age, sex, diabetes duration, HbA1c, mean arterial pressure, treatment assignment and, for longitudinal analyses, baseline structure. Results Baseline median albumin excretion rate of study participants was 5.0 μg/min, and mean GFR was 128 mL/min/1.73 m2. After multivariable adjustment, higher plasma concentration of bradykinin (1–8) was associated with greater glomerular volume (partial r = 0.191, P = 0.019) and total filtration surface area (partial r = 0.211, P = 0.010), and higher bradykinin (1–7) and hyp3-bradykinin (1–7) were associated with lower cortical interstitial fractional volume (partial r = -0.189, P = 0.011; partial r = -0.164, P = 0.027 respectively). In longitudinal analyses, higher bradykinin was associated with preservation of surface density of the peripheral glomerular basement membrane (partial r = 0.162, P = 0.013), and for participants randomized to losartan, higher hyp3-bradykinin (1–8) was associated with more limited increase in cortical interstitial fractional volume (partial r = -0.291, P = 0.033). Conclusions Higher plasma bradykinin and related peptide concentrations measured before clinical onset of diabetic nephropathy in persons with T1D were associated with preservation of glomerular structures, suggesting that elevations of these kinin concentrations may reflect adaptive responses to early renal structural changes in diabetic nephropathy.
First-principles characterization of native-defect-related optical transitions in ZnO

We investigate the electrical and optical properties of oxygen vacancies (VO), zinc vacancies (VZn), hydrogenated VZn, and isolated dangling bonds in ZnO using hybrid functional calculations. While the formation energy of VO is high in n-type ZnO, indicating that this center is unlikely to form, our results for optical absorption signals associated with VO are consistent with those observed in irradiated samples, and give rise to emission with a peak at less than 1 eV. Under realistic growth conditions, we find that VZn is the lowest-energy native defect in n-type ZnO, acting as an acceptor that is likely to compensate donor doping. Turning to optical transitions, we first examine NO as a case study, since N-related transitions have been identified in experiments on ZnO. We also examine how hydrogen, often unintentionally present in ZnO, forms stable complexes with VZn and modifies its optical properties. Compared with isolated VZn, VZn-H complexes have charge-state transition levels lower in the band gap...
Microstructure and mechanical properties of a precipitation-strengthened Al-Zr-Sc-Er-Si alloy with a very small Sc content

Abstract The precipitation hardening behavior of an Al-0.08Zr-0.014Sc-0.008Er-0.10Si (at.%) alloy was investigated utilizing microhardness, electrical conductivity, atom-probe tomography (APT), and compressive creep-measurements. This new composition, with a Sc:Zr atomic ratio of less than 1:5 represents a significant reduction of the alloy's cost when compared to the more usual Al-0.06Sc-0.02Zr based alloys with typical Sc:Zr atomic ratios of 3:1. To study the precipitation behavior of this low-Sc alloy, isothermal aging experiments between 350 and 425 °C for a duration of up to 6 months were performed. The low concentration of Sc, compensated by the high Zr concentration, permits the alloy to achieve a higher peak microhardness than the corresponding Sc-richer, Zr-leaner alloys. The low-Sc alloy also shows better over aging resistance, as anticipated from the smaller diffusivity of Zr when compared to Sc, leading to slower coarsening kinetics. Atom-probe tomography demonstrates that the high microhardness is due to the formation of a high number density of nano-precipitates, ∼1023 m−3 for peak aging conditions, with a mean radius of 1.9 nm, thus yielding a high volume fraction (0.35%) of nano-precipitates. Like alloys with much higher Sc and Er concentrations, the (Al,Si)3(Sc,Zr,Er) nano-precipitates still exhibit a core-shell structure with a concentration of Zr in the shell of up to 25 at.%, and a Sc- and Er-enriched core. Compressive creep experiments at 300 °C demonstrate that the new alloy, with only 0.014 at% Sc, is as creep resistant as a binary Al-0.08Sc at.% alloy, displaying a threshold stress of 17.5 ± 0.6 MPa at peak aged condition.
Physics-based model of the degradation of cable insulation subject to radiation and heat

Cable insulations in nuclear power plants (NPPs) are susceptible to degradation due to heat and radiation. Elongation at break (EAB) is one of the mechanical properties that provide a metric for the degree of degradation. An EAB model has been extensively discussed by many researchers and organizations, including Sandia National Laboratories, Harwell Laboratory, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization (JNES). The model is empirically based on Arrhenius equation. A newly proposed method models one EAB curve as a function of time by a combination of two phases: the incubation phase whose drop-off rate is insignificant, and the degradation phase in which the drop-off rate is quantified. The two phases are of physical significance. When the parameters of the model are anchored to specific materials, the EAB curves corresponding to different ageing temperatures and dose rates can be quantitatively predicted as a function of time. Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPR) is a widely-used material for cable insulation. Experimental data of EPR subject to heat and radiation is used to validate this newly proposed model. The derived physics-based equations in this research pertinently fit experimental data.
Understanding the Research Publication Process

The process of getting research results accepted to an established magazine or journal can be stressful. CiSE Editor in Chief Jim Chen shares his experiences with the manuscript review process, with the goal of increasing readers and potential authors understanding.
On the Development of Motor Control in Speech: Evidence from Studies of Temporal Coordination

Publisher Summary One of the most important aspects of research into the timing of children's speech is that it provides a potential field for testing theories of the development of speech as a motor skill. Increasingly mature temporal organization of speech units is assumed to reflect increasing coordination of the motor gestures for speech. The durations of speech segments corresponding to phones vary with phonetic context according to regular principles. One effect is that just as each syllable tends to become shorter as the number of syllables in a word increases, so one finds that the more phonemes in a word, the shorter a given phonetic segment tends to be. Such changes in duration are not uniform across all segments, and the durations of some segments do not change in certain phonetic contexts. Which segments are changed in duration, and by how much, depends on the manner and place of articulation of the segment itself and on its surrounding context.
Arbitration – A Good Deal for Consumers

This white paper provides lawmakers and their staffs with a counterpoint to the Public Citizen Report and sets forth the case, grounded in empirical research, for why arbitration is a good deal for consumers.
Primary care practice organization and preventive services delivery: a qualitative analysis

Background Rapid developments within the health care environment have led to increased pressures for change among primary care physicians and their practices. Nevertheless, a lack of understanding of practice organization and function has limited the effectiveness of attempts to change practice behaviors. Recent attempts to increase the delivery of preventive health care services illustrate the limitations of current approaches. To assist physicians in their attempts at change, our study looked at the office as a whole system and at the competing demands within the primary care setting. Methods Qualitative fieldnotes were recorded by research nurses who observed 138 family physicians in 84 practices in northeast Ohio for 4 days each. These data were content-analyzed to identify features that are important for understanding how practices are organized. Results These data indicate that primary care practice is much more complex than research and transformation efforts generally acknowledge. The data identified a diverse set of features that describe how primary care practices are organized and function. These included cognitive and behavioral components of physician philosophy and style, and numerous features of the practice organization, such as office efficiency, clarity of staff roles, communication patterns among physicians and staff, and approaches to using office protocols. The data also suggest that some practices are more innovative than others and that some physicians or staff have special motivations that can support or inhibit a particular change. Conclusions Physicians who want to change their practice, as well as those persons who want to stimulate change from the outside, need to have a more comprehensive approach than is now commonly used to assess practices that encompass a broad spectrum of variables.
DTE-SDN: A Dynamic Traffic Engineering Engine for Delay-Sensitive Transfer

With ever-rapid development of information and communication technologies, e.g., smart city, industrial Internet, Internet of Things, etc., enormous amounts of data are explosively generated and delivered to the computing center for further processing, which brings additional burden to both transfer components (e.g., the Internet) and data processing units. To efficiently schedule data transfer especially for delay-sensitive traffic, a scalable network architecture with intelligent traffic engineering (TE) policy is indispensable. In this paper, we propose a TE engine DTE-SDN by utilizing the software defined networking (SDN) technology, aiming to schedule the transfer of delay-sensitive traffic. Particularly, with OpenFlow, DTE-SDN captures an overall view of the network in real-time and can monitor the quality of service (QoS) metrics (e.g., throughput and delay) of each network link. In order to schedule the delay-sensitive transfer, a dynamic-scheduling scheme capable of multipath routing is proposed, which allows DTE-SDN to compute the near-optimal scheduling (e.g., path selection and flow distribution), based on the instantaneous QoS metrics. Especially, in the scheduling scheme, we propose a probabilistic-matching approach that aims to distribute the traffic among multiple end-to-end paths according to the computed flow distribution policy and can be deployed in SDN-enabled switches (e.g., Open vSwitch). The simulation results demonstrate that DTE-SDN is able to measure the throughput and delay with acceptable error range and can dramatically enhance the transfer efficiency than the traditional scheduling algorithms.
Identification of A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase 9 domain (ADAM9) required in the early stages of encephalomyocarditis virus infection

Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) is a picornavirus that produces lytic infections in murine and human cells. Employing a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screen to find host factors required for EMCV infection, we identified a role for ADAM9 in EMCV infection. CRISPR-mediated deletion of ADAM9 in multiple human cell lines rendered the cells highly resistant to EMCV infection and cell death. Primary fibroblasts from ADAM9 KO mice were also strongly resistant to EMCV infection and cell death. In contrast, ADAM9 KO and WT cells were equally susceptible to infection with other viruses, including the picornavirus Coxsackie virus B. ADAM9 KO cells failed to produce viral progeny when incubated with EMCV. However, bypassing EMCV entry into cells through delivery of viral RNA directly to the cytosol yielded infectious EMCV virions from ADAM9 KO cells, suggesting that ADAM9 is not required for EMCV replication post-entry. These findings establish that ADAM9 is required for the early stage of EMCV infection, likely for virus entry or viral genome delivery to the cytosol.
Deep sequencing reveals multiclonality and new discrete typing units of Trypanosoma cruzi in rodents from the southern United States

Abstract Background/purpose The parasitic protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi, is widely distributed throughout the Americas. We explored the nature of T. cruzi infection in small rodents from New Orleans (LA, USA), an enzootic region of the parasite in North America. Methods We characterized the full complement of discrete typing units (DTUs) in rodent hosts through next-generation metabarcoding, as conventional PCR and Sanger sequencing approaches only detect the dominant genotype in biological samples. We assayed DTU diversity in tissue samples from 6 T. cruzi PCR positive rodents. The intergenic region of the mini-exon gene was amplified and sequenced on a MiSeq platform. A total of 141 sequences were aligned using Muscle, and TCS networks were constructed to identify DTUs in the samples. Results We detected distinct and varying assemblages of DTUs in the rodent hosts. Highly diverse DTU assemblages were detected, with 6–32 haplotypes recovered per individual, spanning multiple DTUs (TcI,TcII, TcIV, TcV and TcVI). Haplotypes varied in frequencies from 82% to less than 0.1%. DTU composition varied according to the tissue analyzed. Rural and urban rodents carried similarly diverse DTU assemblages, though urban rodent species tended to harbor more haplotypes than their sylvatic counterparts. Conclusion Our results affirm that mammalian hosts can concurrently harbor a diverse complement of parasites, and indicate that there is greater diversity of T. cruzi DTUs present in North America than previously thought. Further investigation is warranted to understand the role of commensal rodents as a reservoir for T. cruzi in sylvatic and peridomestic environments.
Investigation of a zirconium compound for redox switchable ring opening polymerization

A zirconium compound, (salfen)Zr(OiPr)2 (salfen = N,N'-bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenoxy)-1,1'-ferrocenediimine), was tested as a redox switchable catalyst for the ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters and epoxides. Different activities were observed in the reduced and oxidized state, and an orthogonal switch on monomer activities could be achieved. Diblock and triblock copolymers were synthesized using an in situ redox switch of the catalyst oxidation state.
Dynamic Characterization and Vibration Analysis of a Four-Story Mass Timber Building

Mass timber construction has been gaining momentum in multi-story residential and commercial construction sectors in North America. As taller mass timber buildings are being planned and constructed, in-situ dynamic tests of this type of construction can be performed to further validate their design and use. As part of this larger effort, an in-situ dynamic characterization testing campaign based on ambient vibration measurements was conducted on a recently constructed four-story mass timber building located in Portland, Oregon. The building features cross-laminated timber (CLT) floors, a glued laminated timber (GLT) framing gravity system, and light-frame shear walls and steel HSS hold-downs that compose the lateral resisting system of the building. Ambient vibration acceleration testing data were collected using 18 accelerometers that were wired to a portable data acquisition system in two experimental setups. Approximately two hours of bi-directional horizontal acceleration data were recorded. In this paper, two operational modal analysis methods are used for estimating the modal parameters (frequency, damping, and mode shapes) based on the data collected. In addition, a multi-stage linear Finite Element (FE) model updating procedure is presented for this building type and the FE estimates of frequencies and mode shapes are compared to estimates from the collected data. The calibrated FE model provides confidence to the operational modal results, and presents a comprehensive modal characterization of the building. At ambient levels of excitation, the developed FE model suggests that stiffness of the non-structural elements, such as the exterior wall cladding and glazing affects the modal response of the building considerably. Lessons learnt on this unique and first of a kind four-story structure constructed in the United States and implications for taller mass timber buildings are summarized and provide valuable insight for the design and assessment for this building type under future dynamic excitation events.
The NLRP3 Inflammasome: An Overview of Mechanisms of Activation and Regulation.

The NLRP3 inflammasome is a critical component of the innate immune system that mediates caspase-1 activation and the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β/IL-18 in response to microbial infection and cellular damage. However, the aberrant activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome has been linked with several inflammatory disorders, which include cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. The NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by diverse stimuli, and multiple molecular and cellular events, including ionic flux, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the production of reactive oxygen species, and lysosomal damage have been shown to trigger its activation. How NLRP3 responds to those signaling events and initiates the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome is not fully understood. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome activation by multiple signaling events, and its regulation by post-translational modifications and interacting partners of NLRP3.
The Game Is Afoot.

The Game Is Afoot A 63-year-old woman presented with several months of pain in both ankles. She had had a fracture of the left tibial plateau 2 years earlier, followed by a fracture of the left med...
THERMAL ANALYSES AND FREQUENCY SHIFT DESIGN STUDIES FOR THE SPALLATION NEUTRON SOURCE DRIFT TUBE LINAC

Los Alamos National Laboratory is responsible for the design of the room-temperature linac for the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS). This linac consists of a Coupled-Cavity Linac (CCL) and a Drift Tube Linac (DTL). During normal operation, about 80% of the Radio Frequency (RF) power is dissipated in the DTL cavity walls. This waste heat causes the cavities to expand, causing shifts in their RF resonant frequency. The DTL relies on the water cooling system to compensate for the frequency shift caused by RF heating. To guide the design of the cooling system and the frequency control scheme, thermal expansion and frequency shift studies for several DTL cells are performed via numerical simulations. Temperature distributions and thermal deformations resulting from RF heating are evaluated separately for the tanks and 22 drift tubes using finite element models. The frequency shift of these cells are then computed based on the calculated deformations. Size and locations of the cooling channels are designed accordingly to provide adequate cooling and minimize frequency shift. The tank finite element model used to predict the tank temperature profile is benchmarked against experiment data.
Working the Hyphen From Below: The “Thick Decryption of Subtext” and the Micro-Politics of Knowledge Production

Engaging in reflexive analysis or “working the Self-Other hyphen” is central to establishing credibility in critical qualitative research methods today. However, while there is a robust literature on how to navigate the Self-Other hyphen, this tends to be written for white scholars going into communities of color. There is very little written by and for scholars of color going into the field to study whiteness. In this paper, I unravel the challenges and complexities of negotiating the Self-Other hyphen as a scholar of color. This manuscript is based solely on a secondary analysis of previously published data. I draw on examples from my own health communication research over the past decade in two different settings: HIV and AIDS in India and hunger and food insecurity in the United States. I use peer reviews and reactions from dominant actors in the academy to elucidate how orientalist and white racial frames impact the interpretive, analytical, and writing work of qualitative research. Highlighting the micro-politics of knowledge production, the paper argues that since power operates differently for Black and brown researchers in white spaces, considerations for working the hyphen must be dramatically altered. The paper offers suggestions for how researchers might maintain a critical, counterhegemonic presence in their research in the face of hegemonic responses.
Torticollis in infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome

To report the incidence of torticollis diagnosed in infants treated for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and compare neonates with and without torticollis. This prospective cohort study reports on infants examined at 1–4 months of age. Numerous obstetrical/newborn factors and other drugs used during gestation were compared. Of 501 neonates treated for NAS, 421 (84%) were seen for follow-up. Of these, 105 (24.9%) were diagnosed with torticollis. The only significant obstetrical/newborn factor identified was a lower rate if the parents were the primary caregiver after hospital discharge. Of the 105 cases, 88 (84%) were right-sided and 17 (16%) were left-sided. These data demonstrate that torticollis is a common diagnosis in infants examined at 1–4 months of age after being treated for NAS with a predilection for this to be right-sided. The etiology for this is uncertain, but newborns treated for NAS need close follow-up post discharge.
CTCF and CTCFL in cancer

CTCF plays a key role in organizing chromatin into TAD structures but it can also function as a transcription factor. CTCFL (CTCF-like), the paralog of CTCF, is normally transiently expressed in pre-meiotic male germ cells together with ubiquitously expressed CTCF. It plays a unique role in spermatogenesis by regulating expression of testis-specific genes. Genetic alterations in CTCF and its paralog CTCFL have both been found in numerous cancers, but it remains unknown to what extent CTCFL deregulates transcription on its own or by opposing CTCF. Here, we discuss some of the potential mechanisms by which these two proteins could alter gene regulation and contribute to oncogenic transcriptional programs.
MRI restoration using edge-guided adversarial learning.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images acquired as multislice two-dimensional (2D) images present challenges when reformatted in orthogonal planes due to sparser sampling in the through-plane direction. Restoring the “missing” through-plane slices, or regions of an MRI image damaged by acquisition artifacts can be modeled as an image imputation task. In this work, we consider the damaged image data or missing through-plane slices as image masks and proposed an edge-guided generative adversarial network to restore brain MRI images. Inspired by the procedure of image inpainting, our proposed method decouples image repair into two stages: edge connection and contrast completion, both of which used general adversarial networks (GAN). We trained and tested on a dataset from the Human Connectome Project to test the application of our method for thick slice imputation, while we tested the artifact correction on clinical data and simulated datasets. Our Edge-Guided GAN had superior PSNR, SSIM, conspicuity and signal texture compared to traditional imputation tools, the Context Encoder and the Densely Connected Super Resolution Network with GAN (DCSRN-GAN). The proposed network may improve utilization of clinical 2D scans for 3D atlas generation and big-data comparative studies of brain morphometry.
COVID-19 in older people with cognitive impairment in Latin America.

Fil: Ibanez, Agustin Mariano. Universidad Autonoma del Caribe; Colombia. Universidad de San Andres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas; Argentina. Universidad Adolfo Ibanez; Chile
Stability Boundaries of Discharges Generated in the Focal Region of a CW Microwave Beam

Plasma was generated in the focal region of a multikilowatt, 4.7-GHz continuous-wave (CW) microwave beam far removed from the walls of the vacuum chamber, minimizing the nonideal effects associated with plasma–wall and beam–wall interactions. Experiments were conducted with gas mixtures of argon, nitrogen, and oxygen at gas pressures ranging from 100 to 200 mtorr. Three types of discharges were observed during these experiments: unstable, quasi-stable, and stable discharges. It was determined that the stability of the discharges could be controlled through adjustments of the gas composition, gas pressure, and power of the microwave beam. This article reports on the operational conditions in which stable discharges were achieved and the general behavior of these discharges as the control parameters were varied.
Exercise Intervention Leads to Functional Improvement in a Patient with Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy.

Introduction Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy is a progressive neuromuscular disease that leads to muscle weakness and reduced physical function. Benefits of physical therapy for people with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy have not been reported in the literature. Case report A 62-year-old male patient with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy reported falling, difficulty walking and completing upright tasks, and showed clinical signs of low baseline function on examination. Transportation challenges made it difficult for this patient to attend frequent one-on-one physical therapy sessions. Interventions and outcomes A minimally supervised home-based exercise intervention was chosen with the goal of safely improving his functional capacity. The 5-visit clinical intervention, spread over 10 months, provided 3 exercise modules: seated-to-standing postural alignment and core muscle activation; upright functional and endurance training; and balance training and rhythmic walking. Post-intervention the patient had increased lower extremity muscle strength, improved balance, and reduced self-reported fatigue. Conclusion Home-based exercises were well tolerated with no increase in creatine kinase. Multiple clinical measures of strength and function improved, possibly related to the patients' excellent motivation and compliance with the programme. Promising utilization of a minimally supervised home-based programme is described here.
Reproducibility of elemental profile across two vintages in Pinot noir wines from fourteen different vineyard sites.

Abstract The reproducibility of elemental profile in wines produced across vintages of 2015 and 2016 has been studied using grapes from a single scion clone of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Pinot noir. Grapevines were grown on fourteen different vineyard sites, from Oregon to southern California in the U.S.A., which span distances from approximately hundreds of meters to 1450 km, while elevations range from near sea level to nearly 500 m. The number of elements quantified in the wines made from the 2016 vintage was thirty, by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). These data were compared with the twenty-seven elements quantified and previously reported in wines made from 2015 vintage, including twenty-four elements reported in both vintages. The composition of each element was analyzed by analysis of variance with main effect of vineyard. Wines were classified according to vineyard origin and environmental growing site with a combination of factors correlated with the wine elemental profile. The low variability (
Ethical issues in using ambient intelligence in health-care settings

Ambient intelligence is increasingly finding applications in health-care settings, such as helping to ensure clinician and patient safety by monitoring staff compliance with clinical best practices or relieving staff of burdensome documentation tasks. Ambient intelligence involves using contactless sensors and contact-based wearable devices embedded in health-care settings to collect data (eg, imaging data of physical spaces, audio data, or body temperature), coupled with machine learning algorithms to efficiently and effectively interpret these data. Despite the promise of ambient intelligence to improve quality of care, the continuous collection of large amounts of sensor data in health-care settings presents ethical challenges, particularly in terms of privacy, data management, bias and fairness, and informed consent. Navigating these ethical issues is crucial not only for the success of individual uses, but for acceptance of the field as a whole.
B.2.16 is a non-lethal modifier of the Dark82 mosaic eye phenotype in Drosophila melanogaster.

Genetic screens have been used to identify genes involved in the regulation of different biological processes. We identified growth mutants in a Flp/FRT screen using the Drosophila melanogaster eye to identify conditional regulators of cell growth and cell division. One mutant identified from this screen, B.2.16, was mapped and characterized by researchers in undergraduate genetics labs as part of the Fly-CURE. We find that B.2.16 is a non-lethal genetic modifier of the Dark82 mosaic eye phenotype.
Adult Auditory Brainstem Implant Outcomes and Three-Dimensional Electrode Array Position on Computed Tomography.

Objectives Factors contributing to auditory brainstem implant (ABI) outcomes are poorly understood. The aims of this study are to (1) characterize ABI electrode array position on postoperative imaging and (2) determine if variability in position is related to perceptual outcomes. Design Retrospective cohort study. Subjects were selected from the adult ABI recipient population at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. Postoperative three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) reconstruction of the head was used to measure ABI array position in 20 adult ABI recipients (17 with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) and three non-NF2 recipients). Three-dimensional electrode array position was determined based on angles from the horizontal using posterior and lateral views and on distances between the proximal array tip superiorly from the basion (D1), laterally (D2P) and posteriorly (D2L) from the midline. Array position was correlated with perceptual data (in 15 of the 20 recipients who used their ABI). Perceptual data included the number of electrodes that provided auditory sensation, location and type of side effects, level of speech perception (from no sound to open-set word recognition of monosyllables) and the amount of charge required for auditory perception. Results Although the 3D orientation of the ABI array exhibited a variety of angles, all arrays were posteriorly tilted from the lateral view and most were medially tilted from the posterior view. ABI position relative to the basion from posterior showed mean distances of 1.71 ± 0.42 and 1.1 ± 0.29 cm for D1 and D2, respectively, and a mean D2 of 1.30 ± 0.45 cm from the lateral view. A strong linear negative correlation was found between the number of active electrodes and the distance of the proximal array tip laterally from the basion (D2P; rs = -0.73, p = 0.006) when measured in the posterior view. Although side effects were experienced in all recipients and varied in type and location across the array, electrodes in the middle part of the array tended to elicit auditory sensations while the proximal and distal tips of the array tended to elicit nonauditory side effects. Arrays with and without low charge thresholds appeared to generally overlap in position. However, the two recipients with the best (open-set) speech perception had low charge thresholds and had arrays that were tilted superiorly in the posterior view. Conclusion ABI recipients with better speech perception appear to share a profile of arrays that are tilted superiorly as compared to recipients with lower speech perception levels. These ABI recipients have a high number of active electrodes (10 or more) and require less electrical charge on individual electrodes to achieve optimal stimulation.
Does Prosocial Impact Reduce Performance Data Gaming? The Role of Data Visualizations and Expert-Novice Differences

While research has documented the framing effects of performance data on decision-making, little is known about the impact of data visualizations on performance gaming. We propose that performance ...