cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies of expression and possible functional role of purinergic receptors in cell-mediated immunity : Experimental approaches, controls, and caveats

The expression of purinergic receptors for the physiologically abundant molecules of extracellular ATP (eATP) and e adenosine (Ado) in lymphoid cells of T-cell lineage has been demonstrated convincingly in short-term biochemical and pharmacologic assays. T-cell differentiation-related expression of P2X 7 receptors for ATP was demonstrated in murine T-cells, whereas A 2A adenosine receptors were shown to be responsible for observed increases in cAMP during incubation of T-cells with adenosine. The possibility of a feed-back regulation mechanism of T-cell functions with eATP is suggested by patterns of expression of purinergic receptors, which may follow the immediate early response genes. The functioning of adenosine receptors was suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of human disease, adenosine deaminase severe combined immunodeficiency. Extracellular ATP and adenosine affect T-cell differentiation and effector functions in vitro; however, convincing evidence of purinergic modulation of immune response in vivo or in long-term immunoassays in vitro is still lacking. An explanation of the effects of eATP and eAdo on T-lymphocytes' differentiation and effector functions must include considerations of (1) possible intracellular effects of ATP, adenosine, and/or their metabolites; 2) the effects of eAdo- and eATP-triggered transmembrane signaling through P1 and P2 classes of purinergic receptors, respectively; and (3) the reversible phosphorylation of extracellular domains of functionally important cell surface proteins by ATP. The use of existing agonists and antagonists of purinergic receptors and of ATP and of adenosine-hydrolyzing enzymes has some limited mechanistic implications, but it may lead to artifacts due to uncertainties between extracellular and intracellular effects of these reagents and the possible presence of contaminants in commercial preparations of enzymes.
Rolling out new biomedical HIV prevention tools: what can be learned from Avahan, the India AIDS initiative?

More than 30 years after HIV was first identified as a disease, with disastrous consequences for many subpopulations in most countries and for entire populations in some African countries, it continues to occupy centre stage among the world’s many global health challenges. Prevention still remains the primary long-term focus. New biomedical tools such as pre-exposure propyhlaxis (PrEP) and treatment hold great promise for select groups such as key populations (KPs) who are critical to transmission dynamics, and serodiscordant couples. Programs delivering these new tools will need to layer them over existing services, with potential modifications for increased and sustained engagement between health services and beneficiaries owing to the nature of the interventions. Avahan, an HIV prevention intervention for KPs in six states in India, achieved population-level impact with conventional prevention programming, which, however, required high program–beneficiary engagement. Avahan’s implementation strategy included articulating clear service definitions and denominator-based targets; establishing routine data systems with regular, multilevel supervision that allowed for cross-learning across the program; and developing a cadre of frontline workers through KP peer outreach workers who addressed structural issues and provided viable and sustainable mechanisms for sustained interaction between health services and KPs. This basic prevention implementation infrastructure was used to expand clinical services over time. Many of the lessons from programs such as Avahan can be applied to KP programs that are expanding service scope, including PrEP and treatment.
Human cumulus granulosa cell gene expression: a predictor of fertilization and embryo selection in women undergoing IVF

BACKGROUND: A biochemical marker for embryo development would increase the chance of a successful pregnancy with IVF by optimizing oocyte and embryo selection, and allow fewer embryos to be transferred. In this study, we correlated cumulus granulosa cell gene expression of hyaluronic acid synthase 2 (HAS2), cyclooxygenase 2( COX2; PTGS2) and gremlin (GREM1) with subsequent embryo development in search of a parameter for embryo selection. METHODS: Cumulus cell gene expression was determined prospectively on eight consecutive patients undergoing IVF with ICSI. Immediately following oocyte retrieval, the cumulus was stripped from the oocyte, and cumulus gene expression for PTGS2, HAS2 and GREM1 was assessed using a one-step real-time quantitative RT –PCR assay. Oocyte quality, fertilization and embryo morphology were correlated to relative gene expression. RESULTS: Gene expression data were available on cumulus cells from 108 oocytes that developed into 70 embryos (64.8% fertilization rate). Cumulus PTGS2, HAS2 and GREM1 expression was higher from oocytes that developed into higher quality embryos (grades 3, 4 and 5) compared with lower quality embryos (grades 1 and 2) ( P< 0.05, P< 0.001 and P< 0.001, respectively). HAS2 and GREM1 expression was also higher from the cumulus surrounding oocytes that gave rise to higher grade embryos ( P< 0.001). The expression of PTGS2 and HAS2 was 6-fold higher, and that of GREM1 was 15-fold higher in cumulus yielding higher grade embryos versus lower grade embryos. CONCLUSION: PTGS2, HAS2 and GREM1 gene expression correlates to morphological and physiological characteristics and provides a novel approach to predict human embryo development. Ultimately, with better predictors of follicular and embryonic health, higher quality embryos can be selected and transferred, reducing higher order pregnancy rates.
Thermodynamic Properties of the System Indium-Oxygen

The free-energy change for the reaction 2In(l)+3NiO(s) = In2O3(s)+3Ni(s) was determined from 550° to 800°C from emf measurements on solid-oxide galvanic cells. The results were used to develop an equation for the standard molar free energy of formation of In2O3, i.e. ΔG°ln2O3= -215,550+72.63T±450 cal/ mol. The standard molar enthalpy and entropy of formation of In2O3 at 298°K were calculated to be -214,000±1500 cal/mol and -69.03±o0.22 eu, respectively, using the available thermo-chemical data. The absolute entropy of In2O3 at 298°K was calculated to be 32.23±0.22 eu. The free-energy results of this study were used in conjunction with literature data to calculate partial pressures of the gaseous species over In2O3 for different experimental conditions.
Predictors of employer attitudes toward people who are blind or visually impaired as employees

BACKGROUND: Negative employer attitudes are often identified as the biggest challenge to employment faced by people who are blind or visually impaired, yet limited research has been conducted in this area. Little is known about the factors that predict employer attitudes toward this population. OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between employer attitudes toward blind and visually impaired people as employees and knowledge about how they can perform specific job tasks (i.e., utilizing job accommodations/assistive technology) in a multivariate model. METHODS: Employers in four states completed a telephone survey that included instruments to measure attitudes and knowledge. The sample came from two sources: a randomly identified list of employers in the four states and employer contacts of vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies in two of the states. Data for the multiple regression analyses was available from 181 employers. RESULTS: Three variables significantly predicted employer attitudes: having hired someone who was blind or visually impaired, having communicated with the state VR agency, and knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the importance of VR agency personnel having meaningful interactions with employers. Two potential focus areas of these interactions are increasing knowledge about job accommodations that can enable blind or visually impaired people to perform necessary job tasks and on-the-job training experiences.
Interannual Geostrophic Current Anomalies in the Near-Equatorial Western Pacific

Abstract A network of island tide gauges is used to estimate interannual geostrophic current anomalies (GCAs) in the western Pacific from 1975 to 1997. The focus of this study is the zonal component of the current averaged between 160°E and 180° and 2° to 7° north and south of the equator in the mean flow regions associated with the North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC) and the South Equatorial Current (SEC), respectively. The tide gauge GCA estimates agree closely with similarly derived currents from TOPEX/Poseidon sea level anomalies. The GCAs in the western Pacific relate to a basin-scale adjustment associated with the El Nino–Southern Oscillation, characterized here using empirical orthogonal functions of tide gauge and supporting sea surface temperature and heat storage data. The dominant EOF mode describes the mature phase of ENSO events and correlates (0.8) with the GCA south of the equator. The second mode describes transitions to and from ENSO events and correlates (0.9) with the GCA north of th...
Three-dimensional structure of fibrolase, the fibrinolytic enzyme from southern copperhead venom, modeled from the X-ray structure of adamalysin II and atrolysin C.

The fibrinolytic enzyme from southern copperhead snake venom, fibrolase, contains 1 mole of zine per mole of protein, belongs to the major family of metalloproteinases known as the metzincins, and has been shown to degrade fibrin clots in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this study was to develop a 3-dimensional model of fibrolase to investigate the geometry of conserved and variable sequences between members of the snake venom metalloproteinases. When compared to atrolysin C (form D) or adamalysin II (metzincins with completely different substrate specificity), fibrolase has approximately 60% overall sequence identity and nearly 100% sequence similarity in the active site. We used the crystal structure of adamalysin II to build a 3-dimensional homology model of fibrolase. Three disulfide bonds were constructed (the highly conserved disulfide bond [118–198] was maintained from the adamalysin II structure and 2 new disulfide bonds were introduced between residues 158–182 and 160–165). We used Sculpt 2.5 and HyperChem 5.0 to “dock” a substrate fragment octapeptide (HTEKLVTS), and a water molecule into the active site cleft. We calculated the differential average homology profile for fibrolase compared to 8 hemorrhagic and 5 nonhemorrhagic metzincins. We then determined the sequence regions that might be responsible for their substrate specificity. Our 3-dimensional homology model shows that the variable sequences lie on the periphery of the identified active site region containing the His triangle; this indicates that substrate specificity may depend on surface residues that are not directly associated with the active site.
FUNDAMENTAL STUDY OF CLAY: VII, EFFECT OF PARTICLE SIZE ON PROPERTIES OF CASTING SLIPS

Abstratct Binary and ternary mixtures were made of 0.2- to 0.4-μ and 0.8- to 1.6-μ size purified fractions of clay and of 16- to 44-μ size purified flint. Specific gravity, deflocculation point, and hydrogen-ion concentration determinations were made on each composition to obtain the same apparent viscosity. Small cylinders were prepared by solid casting, and the shrinkage, porosity, and modulus of rupture of the dried specimens were measured. The general conclusions are as follows: (1) The packing of particles and the ratio of the plastic to the nonplastic components affect all slip properties; (2) the best combination of properties for casting slips was obtained at the composition corresponding to the closest packed system; (3) the casting time and drying shrinkage, both very small for bodies containing 20 to 25% of clay, increase together with the fine component; (4) the porosity of the dried casts is greatly affected by the particle-size distribution of the batch; (5) the minimum porosity of 28.5% obtained in this work is much lower than that of the standard sanitary body, which has a porosity of 35.5%; and (6) the particle-size control of casting slips not only will provide uniformity of the products but will also permit the desired variations in the properties of casting slips and cast bodies.
An algorithm for mapping non-complete binary trees to cellular architecture FPGAs

With the emergence of deep-submicron fabrication processes, routing is fast surpassing logic as the most important factor in total circuit area and speed. Accordingly, mapping algorithms are needed which can efficiently control critical path length. Our method minimizes critical paths while embedding single-output switching functions to cellular-architecture arrays. We use binary trees to represent functions and target a generic square cell array similar to architectures of Atmel AT6 and Xilinx 6200 FPGAs. We compare our mapping results with other approaches for several MCNC benchmarks. For non-complete trees, longest paths of most circuits are within 2/spl times/ the path lengths of the original trees, and on average 17 to 32 percent better than other approaches.
Conceptual designs of beam choppers for RFQ linacs

A design study at Los Alamos of a linac/accumulator ring facility for a pulsed neutron spallation source calls for an H/sup -/ beam with a chopped structure of approximately 200-ns beam-free segments every 600 ns. The required angular impulse can easily be provided with existing pulse power technology and traveling wave structures with a transverse electric field similar to those now available. The deflected beam is then restored by suitable collimation. Chopping is relatively easily done at sufficiently low energies, where the beam is easily deflected, and beam powers are not too large. However, the energy should be high enough so that the space charge blow-up of the beam can be controlled with adequate focusing. LAMPF presently uses a traveling-wave beam chopper at 750 keV, before injection into the drift-tube linac (DTL). In the new linac designs, a radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) linac would typically bunch and accelerate the high intensity H/sup -/ beam from 100 keV to 7 MeV. In this paper, we present concepts for beam-chopper systems both before and after the RFQ. The beam-optics designs are presented together with numerical simulation results.
High-Throughput In Vitro Glycoside Hydrolase (HIGH) Screening for Enzyme Discovery†

A high-throughput protein-expression and screening method (HIGH method, see picture) provides a rapid approach to the discovery of active glycoside hydrolases in environmental samples. Finally, HIGH screening combines cloning, protein expression, and enzyme hydrolysis in one pot; thus, the entire process from gene expression to activity detection requires only three hours.
Fbxw7 regulates Notch to control specification of neural precursors for oligodendrocyte fate

Background In the developing vertebrate nervous system elevated levels of Notch signaling activity can block neurogenesis and promote formation of glial cells. The mechanisms that limit Notch activity to balance formation of neurons and glia from neural precursors are poorly understood.
Requirements monitoring in dynamic environments

We propose requirements monitoring to aid in the maintenance of systems that reside in dynamic environments. By requirements monitoring we mean the insertion of code into a running system to gather information from which it can he determined whether, and to what degree, that running system is meeting its requirements. Monitoring is a commonly applied technique in support of performance tuning, but the focus therein is primarily on computational performance requirements in short runs of systems. We wish to address systems that operate in a long lived, ongoing fashion in nonscientific enterprise applications. We argue that the results of requirements monitoring can be of benefit to the designers, maintainers and users of a system-alerting them when the system is being used in an environment for which it was not designed, and giving them the information they need to direct their redesign of the system. Studies of two commercial systems are used to illustrate and justify our claims.
HPAM: an active message layer for a network of hp workstations

Active Messages is a thin, highly optimized communication layer targeted at the library or compiler writer. A primary goal of an Active Message layer is to deliver the minimum latency and peak bandwidth of the network hardware to user pro grams. Previous work on Active Messages demonstrated a 6-to 12-fold perfor mance improvement over vendor supplied send and receive libraries for Massively Parallel Processors. This document describes an Active Message layer we have constructed on a Net work of Workstations. The HPAM layer currently runs on a network of 4 HP 9000/ 735 workstations with Medusa FDDI interface cards. HPAM achieves a round trip time for a 20 byte payload of 29 psec, an order of magnitude better than traditional software, and a maximum bandwidth of 12 MB/s.
Is it Kosher to Talk about Culture

This address considers the role of culture in economic history. It argues that AngloSaxon culture was an important factor determining where and when industrialization began and spread. The contrast between Anglo-Saxon individualism and Japan’s more collective culture also is important in understanding the differences between Japanese and American industrial practices today. I predict that Japan’s collective culture may give it an economic edge in the coming years despite its current difficulties. And I advocate greater attention to culture by both economists and historians in the practice of economic history.
The strength of weakness: pseudo-clubs in the climate regime

The political utility of clubs hinges on their ability to provide excludable benefits to members. But in some cases of climate clubs, membership is not easily demarcated, and excludable benefits may be minimal. I argue that these governance initiatives—where membership is fluid and benefits are small—are more accurately defined as “pseudo-clubs.” Though they function differently than conventional clubs, “pseudo-clubs” can have considerable political utility. They can lay the foundations for emissions mitigation by solving technical problems associated with the measurement of GHGs. Moreover, since they have low entry costs and minimal sanctions, they can easily attract large numbers of users. With broad membership “pseudo-clubs” can help promote the uptake of standards, potentially solving coordination problems. However, since measurement is only a precursor to reduction, ultimately, incentives to measure will have to be coupled with rules to reduce emissions. Environmentally effective pseudo-clubs will eventually need the help of governments to shift from coordinating emissions measurement to cooperating on emissions reduction. Pseudo-clubs can serve as an initial building block toward meaningful climate action, but governments will have to finish the job.
Lifetime Accumulations and Tax Savings from HSA Contributions

2014 marks the 10-year anniversary of the introduction of health savings accounts (HSAs), created by Congress in 2003. In 2013, enrollment in HSA-eligible health plans was estimated to range from 15.5 million to 20.4 million policyholders and their dependents. Nearly 11 million accounts holding $19.3 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2013, were also estimated. The number of HSA-eligible enrollees will differ from the number of accounts for various reasons. The number of enrollees is composed of the policyholder and any covered dependents and will generally be higher than the number of accounts because one account is usually associated with a family. However, over time, the number of accounts can grow relative to the number of enrollees because when an individual or family is no longer covered by an HSA-eligible plan, they are allowed to keep the HSA open. HSAs provide account owners a triple tax preference. Contributions to an HSA reduce taxable income. Earnings on the assets in the HSA build up tax free, and distributions from the HSA for qualified expenses are not subject to taxation. Because of this triple tax preference, some individuals might find using an HSA as a savings vehicle for health care expenses in retirement more advantageous from a tax perspective than saving in a 401(k) plan or other retirement savings plan. This paper examines the amount of money an individual could accumulate in an HSA over his or her lifetime. It also examines lifetime tax savings from HSA contributions. Limitations of an HSA are also discussed. A person contributing for 40 years to an HSA could save up to $360,000 if the rate of return was 2.5 percent, $600,000 if the rate of return was 5 percent, and nearly $1.1 million if the rate of return was 7.5 percent, and if there were no withdrawals. In order to maximize the savings in an HSA to cover health care expenses in retirement, HSA owners will need to pay the medical expenses they incur prior to retirement on an after-tax basis using money not contributed to their HSA. Many individuals may not have the means to both save in an HSA and pay their out-of-pocket health care expenses. Also, HSA balances may not be sufficient to pay all medical expenses in retirement even if maximum contributions are made for 40 years.
The Effect of Toeclips and Cleats on Bicycle Efficiency

The experiment had 7 experienced male cyclists pedal on a stationary bicycle at a 180 watt load for 10 minutes two, times under each of two conditions: control (no toeclips and no cleats) and test (toeclips and cleats). The criteria were heart rate, Borg vote, and a semantic-differential vote. Heart rate was 160.7 for the control condition and 161.3 for the test condition; the means were not significantly different. Borg vote was correlated significantly (r = .42) with measured pulse. The semantic-differential vote indicated a preference for cleats and toeclips.
On Student Development in College: Evidence from the National Study of Student Learning

This paper summarizes some of the major findings of the National Study of Student Learning, a longitudinal investigation of the factors influencing student intellectual development at 23 diverse colleges and universities in 16 states. Findings from the following analyses are presented: effects of perceived teacher behaviors on general cognitive skills and internal locus of attribution; influences on critical thinking; cognitive effects of two- and four-year colleges; cognitive effects of historically Black and predominantly White colleges; and cognitive effects of Greek affiliation_
Short-term prognostic value of serum procalcitonin and common inflammation markers combined with CTP score in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure

Objective To explore the short-term(3 months) prognostic value of serum procalcitonin(PCT), common inflammation markers and Child-Turcotte-Pugh(CTP) score alone or combined in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure. Methods A total of 72 patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure were divided into survival group and dead group. CTP scores of the patients were recorded when hospitalized and serum PCT level was detected. The prognostic values of serum PCT, common inflammation markers and CTP scores alone or combined were assessed using ROC. Results The serum concentration of PCT, the serum levels of common inflammation markers and CTP scores were significantly lower in the survival group than those in the dead group(all P 0.05), and the death rate was elevated with the increasing concentration of serum PCT(P 0.001). We found all the markers above had some prognostic value for patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure through ROC(all P 0.05). There was no statistical difference among the markers(all P 0.05) except that PCT and CTP scores were much better than WBC count. The area under the curve of combined predictors established from serum PCT NEU% and CTP scores by multivariate logistic regression analysis was 0.875. Conclusion Serum procalcitonin can be used to predict the short-term prognosis of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure, and the accuracy of prediction could be effectively improved by combination of multiple markers.
Rho GDIα Expression Change in L-02 Liver Cells after Treatment with High Concentration of Trichloroethylene

BACKGROUND AND AIM:To study the effect of trichloroethylene(TCE)on the expression change of Rho GDIα gene at both mRNA and protein levels.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Western blot and real time quantitative RT-PCR were employed to detect the protein and mRNA levels of Rho GDIα in L-02 liver cells,which were treated with DMSO and high concentrations of TCE.β-actin was selected as internal standard.RESULTS:The protein level of Rho GDIα was significantly up-regulated while its mRNA was significantly reduced.CONCLUSION:The Rho GDIα gene expression level showed specific changes after treatment with high concentration of TCE,providing important clues to the mechanism of TCE-induced damage in humans.
Responses of Fetal Rat Bones to Solanum malacoxylon in Vitro: a Possible Explanation of Previous Paradoxical Results

A partially purified extract of Solanum malacoxylon was tested for its actions on fetal rat bone in vitro. The extract had a biphasic effect on bone resorption in vitro, stimulating at low concentrations (0.3-0.3 mg/ml) and inhibiting at concentrations of 1 mg/ml and higher. The stimulatory effect could be antagonized with calcitonin or glucagon. At a concentration of 1.0 mg/ml, the S. malacoxylon extract antagonized the bone-resorbing effects of lα,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3[1,25-(OH)2D3] and parathyroid hormone. To determine whether effects in vitro could be due to 1,25-(OH)2D3 released into the medium during incubation, bones were cultured with equieffective concentrations of parathyroid hormone, 1,25-(OH)2D3, or S. malacoxylon, and the culture medium was extracted with organic solvents. Chloroform or benzene extracts from control or parathyroid hormone treated cultures were inactive, whereas those from 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated cultures retained most or all of the activity of the original media. Benzene extracts of S. malacoxylon culture, media inhibited resorption. The inhibitory material could be removed by high-pressure liquid chromatography, but the benzene extract was still ineffective. The results would be consistent with S. malacoxylon acting in vitro as the unhydrolyzed glycoside conjugate. However, it is also possible that the bone cells hydrolyze the glycoside to release small amounts of 1,25-(OH)2D3, which then interacts with the receptor.
THE RHEUMATOID THUMB

The thumb frequently is involved in rheumatoid arthritis and often is a source of significant functional loss, pain, and deformity. Fortunately, much can be done to provide pain relief, improve function, enhance appearance, and slow the progression of disease. Specific surgical interventions should be based on the nature and stage of deformity as well as the status of tendons, ligaments, and adjacent joints. Treatment options, in isolation or in combination, include synovectomy, arthrodesis, arthroplasty, and tendon repair or transfer. Although most thumb deformities can be classified as one of six common types, other patterns of deformity also are seen. It therefore is imperative not to operate on pattern recognition alone, but to examine each patient carefully and individualize treatment.
Sensor Fault Diagnosis in Quadrotors Using Nonlinear Adaptive Estimators

Abstract : Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have attracted significant attentions in recent years due to their potentials in various military and civilian applications. Small UAVs are often equipped with low-cost and lightweight micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) inertial measurement units including3-axis gyro, accelerometer and magnetometer. The measurements provided by gyros and accelerometers often suffer from bias and excessive noise as a result of temperature variations, vibration, etc. This paper presents a sensor fault diagnostic method for quadrotor UAVs. Specifically, we consider the faults in the gyro and accelerometer. A model-based sensor fault detection and isolation (FDI) estimation method is presented. The proposed FDI method adopts the idea that accelerometer and gyroscopic measurements coincide with the translational and rotational forces represented in the UAV dynamics. Thus, the faults in accelerometer and gyroscope can be represented as virtual actuator faults in the quadrotor state equations. Two diagnostic estimators are designed to provide structured FDI residuals allowing simultaneous detection and isolation of gyroscope and accelerometer sensor bias. In addition, nonlinear adaptive estimators are designed to provide an estimate of the unknown sensor bias. The parameter convergence property of the adaptive estimation scheme is analyzed. Simulation studies utilizing a nonlinear quadrotor UAV model are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
An experiment on non-luxury fashion counterfeit purchase: the effects of brand reputation, fashion attributes, and attitudes toward counterfeiting

The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the effects of brand reputations (high vs. low), evaluation of product attributes, and attitudes toward counterfeiting on the purchase likelihood of non-luxury counterfeit fashion products (shirts, handbags, shoes). A total of 121 female college students participated in a 2 (counterfeit vs. genuine purchasing situation) × 2 (brand reputation) laboratory experiment. In general, across the product types, effects of purchasing situation were slightly different across products types. Brand reputation was found significant affecting purchase likelihood for shirts and shoes. A pattern of the interaction between the purchase situation and brand reputation was detected, although not statistically significant. The effects of attitudes toward counterfeiting were generally unsupported, while the effects of fashion-related and value attributes were significant across the three products.
Maestro macrophages conduct a widely disseminated symphony

Macrophages break down tissue junctions and allow for breast cancer dissemination and metastasis.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Faculty Inquiry Groups as Communities of Practice for Faculty Professional Development

Many faculty in higher education have little-to-no formal preparation in the process of instructional design and the use of technology for learning, especially in research-intensive contexts. As such, professional development opportunities that focus on these issues play an important role in supporting best practices in teaching and learning. Communities of practice in the form of faculty inquiry groups (FIGs) may provide an effective avenue for faculty to enhance their awareness and implementation of technology-enhanced instructional strategies. This article describes the design and development of a series of faculty inquiry groups at a Research I institution and provides results of a comprehensive evaluation of those groups.
Contributions of Game Genre and Masculinity Ideologies to Associations Between Video Game Play and Men’s Risk-Taking Behavior

Previous investigations of mainstream video games have documented a high prevalence of risk-promoting content, as well as a positive relation between video game play and participation in risk-takin...
Co-regulatory activity of hnRNP K and NS1-BP in influenza and human mRNA splicing

Three of the eight RNA segments encoded by the influenza A virus (IAV) undergo alternative splicing to generate distinct proteins. Previously, we found that host proteins hnRNP K and NS1-BP regulate IAV M segment splicing, but the mechanistic details were unknown. Here we show NS1-BP and hnRNP K bind M mRNA downstream of the M2 5' splice site (5'ss). NS1-BP binds most proximal to the 5'ss, partially overlapping the U1 snRNP binding site, while hnRNP K binds further downstream and promotes U1 snRNP recruitment. Mutation of either or both the hnRNP K and NS1-BP-binding sites results in M segment mis-splicing and attenuated IAV replication. Additionally, we show that hnRNP K and NS1-BP regulate host splicing events and that viral infection causes mis-splicing of some of these transcripts. Therefore, our proposed mechanism of hnRNP K/NS1-BP mediated IAV M splicing provides potential targets of antiviral intervention and reveals novel host functions for these proteins.
Real-Time Ultrasound Guidance Facilitates Transradial Access: RAUST (Radial Artery Access With Ultrasound Trial)

Abstract Objectives This study sought to assess the utility of ultrasound (US) guidance for transradial arterial access. Background US guidance has been demonstrated to facilitate vascular access, but has not been tested in a multicenter randomized fashion for transradial cardiac catheterization. Methods We conducted a prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial of 698 patients undergoing transradial cardiac catheterization. Patients were randomized to needle insertion with either palpation or real-time US guidance (351 palpation, 347 US). Primary endpoints were the number of forward attempts required for access, first-pass success rate, and time to access. Results The number of attempts was reduced with US guidance [mean: 1.65 ± 1.2 vs. 3.05 ± 3.4, p Conclusions Ultrasound guidance improves the success and efficiency of radial artery cannulation in patients presenting for transradial catheterization. (Radial Artery Access With Ultrasound Trial [RAUST]; NCT01605292 )
Perinatal epidemiology of metabolic syndrome risk factors

The concept that events in the perinatal period have far-reaching effects throughout the life course has become increasingly accepted. An enlarging body of literature strongly suggests that exposure to altered maternal nutrition and maternal health status might not cause major malformations, yet can have far-reaching latency effects, such as restricted growth, hypertension, cardiovascular events, and altered renal function in adult life for the exposed offspring. The fetal origins literature also directs attention to intergenerational transmission via the translation of maternal experience from her own gestation and life course onwards into the in utero and child-rearing environments of her offspring. Constitutive of these environments are physiological (e.g., maternal metabolic regulation), psychobehavioral (e.g., stress or smoking), and ecological conditions (e.g., poverty or unstable food supply). In this literature, “programming” is understood as a “setting” of physiological function by conditions operating during a sensitive developmental period to produce long-term effects on function and thereby on health outcomes. This paradigm has particular implications for cardiometabolic disease and namely the metabolic syndrome.
Evidence for entropic diffusion selection of xylene isomers in carbon molecular sieve membranes

Abstract The purification of benzene derivatives, particularly xylene isomers, is one of the most important organic mixture separations practiced in industry. The separation of xylene isomers is especially challenging due to the similarity of their physical properties. Carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes are promising materials for such challenging solvent separations due to their thermal and chemical stability, but these materials have not been studied in detail in the case of large organic molecules. Xylene isomer transport and sorption properties in a CMS membrane derived from a prototypical polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) reveal that diffusion selectivity is the dominant factor in contributing to the preferential permeation of p-xylene over o-xylene. Moreover, the contributions of “enthalpic” and “entropic” selectivity to the diffusion selectivity are studied in detail and reveal that entropic factors dominate the xylene selection mechanism. Overall, this study provides fundamental insight and guidance into the separation of large organic molecules in amorphous microporous materials.
Architectural Proteins and Pluripotency Factors Cooperate to Orchestrate the Transcriptional Response of hESCs to Temperature Stress

Cells respond to temperature stress via up- and downregulation of hundreds of genes. This process is thought to be regulated by the heat shock factor HSF1, which controls the release of RNAPII from promoter-proximal pausing. Here, we analyze the events taking place in hESCs upstream of RNAPII release. We find that temperature stress results in the activation or decommissioning of thousands of enhancers. This process involves alterations in the occupancy of transcription factors HSF1, AP-1, NANOG, KLF4, and OCT4 accompanied by nucleosome remodeling by BRG1 and changes in H3K27ac. Furthermore, redistribution of RAD21 and CTCF results in the formation and disassembly of interactions mediated by these two proteins. These alterations tether and untether enhancers to their cognate promoters or refashion insulated neighborhoods, thus transforming the landscape of enhancer-promoter interactions. Details of the 3D interactome remodeling process support loop extrusion initiating at random sites as a mechanism for the establishment of CTCF/cohesin loops.
Trapping Set Analysis of Horizontal Layered Decoder

In this paper, we present how the decoding performance of layered decoder can be analyzed using trapping sets. Surprisingly, a simple horizontal layered Gallager-B decoder breaks all weight-3 error patterns on a (5,3) trapping set successfully, resulting in a steeper slope in frame error rate (FER) curves compared to a flooding schedule decoder. Theoretical validation of the results is also done using a semi- analytical method for computing the error floors of LDPC codes on a binary symmetric channel decoded using layered Gallager-B algorithm.
Mechanics of Materials and Fracture for High School Students

We developed a nine session after-school curriculum to introduce high school students to fracture mechanics through interactive and hands-on experimental exploration of mechanics of materials and structures. Each session begins with a discussion of the week’s core concept in the context of a real world example of its application or importance. The remaining time is devoted to small group hands-on activities that reinforce and further explore the concept. The program revolves around the use of a custom designed portable load frame to perform material testing of 3D printed materials and structures. Students are introduced to the load frame during the second session where they determine material properties using a cantilever beam experiment. In the following sessions students focus on individual concepts in the experiment such as the source of the cantilever beam equation or dimensional analysis to determine the units of their results. The final three sessions involve bringing together all the concepts from the previous sessions to try to design the stiffest beam within a constrained cross-sectional area. Students go through the engineering design process from defining the problem to designing and testing prototypes to choosing a final design, 3D printing it, and testing it. Throughout the tests, they collect load and displacement data to calculate the achieved beam stiffness. Additionally, all beams are tested to failure to observe fracture mechanisms and ultimate strength. The primary goals for this program are to reinforce students’ prior knowledge from their science classes, demonstrate potential applications of additive manufacturing, and inspire interest in mechanics of materials.
Improved contemporary outcomes of liver transplantation for pediatric hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma

PURPOSE Improvement in outcomes of LT for pediatric HB and HCC has been reported in small series. We analyzed national outcomes and changes in donor, recipient, and perioperative factors over time that may contribute to survival differences. METHODS The UNOS database was queried for patients age <21 years that underwent LT for a primary diagnosis of HB or HCC (1987-2017). Subjects were divided into historic (transplant before 2010) and contemporary (transplant after 2010) cohorts. Baseline characteristics were compiled and examined. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. RESULTS In total, 599 children with HB received LT (320 historic vs 279 contemporary). Concurrently, 141 children with HCC received LT (92 historic vs 49 contemporary). For both tumors, waitlist time decreased (HB 56.2 days historic vs 33.2 days contemporary, P = 0.017; HCC 189.3 days historic vs 71.7 days contemporary, P = 0.012). In the historic cohorts, patients with HB had a 1-year and 5-year OS of 84.6% and 75.1%, respectively. Survival for HCC was 84.4% and 59.9%, respectively. Outcomes improved in the contemporary era to 89.1% and 82.6% for HB, and 94.7% and 80.8% for HCC, respectively (both log-rank test P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Outcomes of LT have improved significantly, with contemporary survival now equivalent between these tumors and exceeding 80% 5-year OS. Future studies are needed to explore whether offering LT in patients that are resectable is justifiable.
Does Gambling Identity Predict Unique Variance in Negative Gambling-Related Outcomes: An Examination of Direct and Interactive Associations.

Research from other addiction-related domains have reported identity-related constructs to be positively associated with substance use-related outcomes (e.g., frequency, quantity, and/or problems). Moreover, substance use identity has also been found to be predictive of unique variance in substance use-related outcomes. Given the similarities between substance use and behavioral addictions, it may also be the case that gambling identity is predictive of unique variance in negative gambling-related outcomes (e.g., frequency, expenditure, and gambling problem severity). The current study was conducted to examine whether gambling identity was predictive of negative gambling-related outcomes above and beyond the variance explained by other known risk factors of problem gambling (e.g., motives, social norms, and protective behavioral strategy [PBS] use). Moreover, gambling identity was examined as a moderator of the relationship between known risk factors of problem gambling and negative gambling-related outcomes. The current online study consisted of 270 U.S. participants who were predominantly male (90%), White (82%) and 33 years of age. The results from the negative binomial regression analyses indicated that gambling identity was predictive of unique variance in all of the negative gambling-related outcomes assessed. Moreover, gambling identity was found to moderate the relationship between motives, social norms, and PBS use in the prediction of negative gambling-related outcomes. Taken together, the results from the current study replicate and extend the extant body of gambling research and are used to highlight the importance of assessing gambling identity in future studies.
In vivo production of psilocybin in E. coli.

Psilocybin, the prodrug of the psychoactive molecule psilocin, has demonstrated promising results in clinical trials for the treatment of addiction, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The development of a psilocybin production platform in a highly engineerable microbe could lead to rapid advances towards the bioproduction of psilocybin for use in ongoing clinical trials. Here, we present the development of a modular biosynthetic production platform in the model microbe, Escherichia coli. Efforts to optimize and improve pathway performance using multiple genetic optimization techniques were evaluated, resulting in a 32-fold improvement in psilocybin titer. Further enhancements to this genetically superior strain were achieved through fermentation optimization, ultimately resulting in a fed-batch fermentation study, with a production titer of 1.16 g/L of psilocybin. This is the highest psilocybin titer achieved to date from a recombinant organism and a significant step towards demonstrating the feasibility of industrial production of biologically-derived psilocybin.
Best Papers and Star Associate Editors (2018)

The Editorial Board of the IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics (JESTPE) appreciates the authors for the very high-quality papers published in the Journal during the year 2018. After a rigorous process involving the Editorial Board and some Associate Editors, the following were selected as best papers among the papers published in the four issues of JESTPE produced in 2018.
Complete Regression of Giant Aneurysms in an Infant with Delayed Diagnosis and Refractory Kawasaki Disease via Combination Anticytokine Therapy: Case Report and Review of Similar Cases.

Background Kawasaki disease (KD) is an inflammatory vasculitis and is the most common cause of acquired childhood heart disease in developed countries. Current treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is often ineffective in patients with delayed or refractory disease. We present a case of combination anticytokine therapy in an infant with delayed and refractory KD. Case Presentation. A 3-month-old infant presented with refractory KD with giant aneurysms after a delayed diagnosis of one month. Use of combination anticytokine therapy led to resolution of giant aneurysms over approximately 6 months. Conclusions Our case is unique in effective use of anticytokine therapy in very delayed disease with giant aneurysms. Additionally, we review other cases for a broader perspective. Prospective study of anticytokine therapy for patients with giant aneurysms may be warranted.
Closer examination of two-trace two-dimensional (2T2D) correlation spectroscopy

Abstract Two-trace two-dimensional (2T2D) correlation spectroscopy compares a pair of spectra by applying a form of cross correlation analysis. Planar maps of correlation intensities with two independent axes of spectral variables, like IR wavenumbers, are obtained. 2T2D correlation takes advantage of the fact that spectral intensities of bands arising from the same origin cannot change independently of each other and must be synchronized. In contrast, intensities arising from different sources often change asynchronously. Using cross peaks observed in the correlation spectra, one can distinguish and classify different contributing species represented in the original pair of spectra in a systematic manner. Highly overlapped neighboring bands originating from different sources can also be identified by the presence of asynchronous cross peaks, thus enhancing the apparent spectral resolution. It can be mathematically shown that 2T2D correlation is a special case of the well-established generalized 2D correlation scheme, where the two traces of the measured spectra are combined with an additional null spectrum with all the elements set to be zero for the analysis. This realization makes it possible to utilize existing software for generalized 2D correlation for routine 2T2D analysis.