cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Excitatory amino acid transporters tonically restrain nTS synaptic and neuronal activity to modulate cardiorespiratory function

The nucleus tractus solitarii (nTS) is the initial central termination site for visceral afferents and is important for modulation and integration of multiple reflexes including cardiorespiratory reflexes. Glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the nTS and is removed from the extracellular milieu by excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs). The goal of this study was to elucidate the role of EAATs in the nTS on basal synaptic and neuronal function and cardiorespiratory regulation. The majority of glutamate clearance in the central nervous system is believed to be mediated by astrocytic EAAT 1 and 2. We confirmed the presence of EAAT 1 and 2 within the nTS and their colocalization with astrocytic markers. EAAT blockade withdl-threo-β-benzyloxyaspartic acid (TBOA) produced a concentration-related depolarization, increased spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) frequency, and enhanced action potential discharge in nTS neurons. Solitary tract-evoked EPSCs were significantly reduced by EAAT blockade. Microinjection of TBOA into the nTS of anesthetized rats induced apneic, sympathoinhibitory, depressor, and bradycardic responses. These effects mimicked the response to microinjection of exogenous glutamate, and glutamate responses were enhanced by EAAT blockade. Together these data indicate that EAATs tonically restrain nTS excitability to modulate cardiorespiratory function.
Implications of multiple transmitter system lesions for cholinomimetic therapy in Alzheimer's disease.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the implications of multiple transmitter system lesions for cholinomimetic therapy in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Because of the profound cholinergic deficits in AD, most therapeutic and animal model studies have focused on this system. The cholinergic lesion-induced learning and memory deficits are found to be readily reversed by cholinomimetic agents. Low doses of physostigmine and other cholinomimetics have repeatedly been shown to reverse n. basalis Meynert (nbM) lesion-induced learning and memory deficits. The experiments described in the chapter are based on the hypothesis that the failure of all or some of the other transmitter systems affected in AD contributes to the symptoms of AD and possibly to the efficacy of cholinomimetics in exerting a beneficial effect. In addition to the cholinergic deficits, the noradrenergic, serotonergic, somatostatinergic, and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) systems are among the most severely affected in AD. This chapter describes the necessity for treating AD as a multitransmitter system disease requires a multitransmitter approach toward its treatment.
Environment-Driven Lexicon Induction for High-Level Instructions

We focus on the task of interpreting complex natural language instructions to a robot, in which we must ground high-level commands such as microwave the cup to low-level actions such as grasping. Previous approaches that learn a lexicon during training have inadequate coverage at test time, and pure search strategies cannot handle the exponential search space. We propose a new hybrid approach that leverages the environment to induce new lexical entries at test time, even for new verbs. Our semantic parsing model jointly reasons about the text, logical forms, and environment over multi-stage instruction sequences. We introduce a new dataset and show that our approach is able to successfully ground new verbs such as distribute, mix, arrange to complex logical forms, each containing up to four predicates.
Reumatoïde artritis risicofactor hart- en vaatziekten

Nurmohamed M. Reumatoide artritis risicofactor hart- en vaatziekten. Tijdschrift voor praktijkondersteuning 2015;10(5):158-63.
Clinical drug research in chronic central neurodegenerative disorders

Several compounds developed the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease have been clinically unsuccessful. Suggested reasons for these failures have included heterogeneous symptom expression, inappropriate assessment of effects, safety and tolerability hurdles, short duration of disease-modifying trials, recruiting pressure on study centers, administrative and bureaucratic overload, and pooling results from trial centers in different health care systems with differing quality and therapeutic concepts. The solution to these problems will include reducing the costs of drug development, with a concomitant reduction of approval hurdles. Trial designs are influenced by ethics committees, health care officials, political administrations, and research scientists. None have direct contact with the treated patients. Approval of novel therapeutic agents lies in the remit of health care officials, whereby price plays a more dominant role than therapeutic efficacy. Patients and prescribing physicians, however, are better placed to act as arbiters of the efficacy, risks, and overall value of a new drug in practice.
A Fixed-Point Squaring Algorithm Using an Implicit Arbitrary Radix Number System

A fixed-point squaring algorithm is formulated and implemented based on an approach that allows any number of bits to be computed in each iterative step. The primary contribution this new approach offers is the ability for a designer to change the area $\,\times\,$ latency product through the choice of a different radix or number of bits per subword to be processed in each iterative step. When the number of subword bits is increased, latency is reduced since fewer iterations are required whereas the area is increased due to the larger subcircuit for squaring each subword. Alternatively, choosing a smaller subword or radix decreases area at the expense of increasing latency since more iterations are required. The subword size can range from a single bit yielding a bit-serial squarer requiring $N$ iterations for an $N$ -bit operand or “squarand,” to using the entire squarand resulting in a fully parallel squarer requiring no iterations. Because each $m$ -bit subword can be considered a single digit in a number system with radix $2^{m}$ , the squarer presented here can be considered a multiple-valued logic (MVL) digit-serial architecture. This methodology allows for technologies based on any radix of two or greater to be used, including emerging technologies, thus yielding a true multiple-valued logic squaring circuit. The algorithm is derived through the generalization of a Vedic technique where any arbitrary integer-valued radix is used. Prototype hardware implementations using both a standard cell ASIC and FPGA technologies are developed. The prototype circuits are analyzed in terms of required resources and throughput characteristics and compared to a well-known prior art squaring circuit.
Trends in Religious Stratification: Have Religious Group Socioeconomic Distinctions Declined in Recent Decades?

This study examines the degree to which religious group socioeconomic differences have declined during the period from 1972-2000. There has been some debate in the literature regarding the blurring of religious group socioeconomic distinctions, and this paper will outline the conflicting positions on this issue. An analysis of national survey data reveals some improvement in the relative socioeconomic positioning of Black and Conservative Protestants from the 1970s through the 1990s. However, Liberal Protestants and Jews continue to rank highest in income, education, and occupational prestige. Catholics and Moderate Protestants score near the national mean on these measures, and Black Protestants and Conservative Protestants rank lowest on socioeconomic indicators. The most noteworthy change includes a decline in the relative socioeconomic standing of those with no religious preference.
FANDOM AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENT: EFFECTS OF SPORT TEAM IDENTIFICATION AND IMAGINED INTERACTION ON SELF-ESTEEM AND MANAGEMENT OF SOCIAL BEHAVIORS

Imagined interactions (IIs) as used by sport team fans were examined in conjunction with sport team identification (STI) and with behavioral outcomes and psychological effects. Sport team fans more...
Democracy as an Antisystemic Movement in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China: A World Systems Analysis

Drawing on Wallerstein's recent depiction of the character and trends in antisystemic movements in the world system, the present study examines the origins, goals, constituents and outcomes of recent democratic movements in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China. The analysis is congruent with Wallerstein's depiction of a lengthy historical sweep of social movements attempting to achieve central antisystemic goals, and with his supposition that the world system helps shape antisystemic movements. The analysis is less congruent with Wallerstein's depiction of the character of antisystemic movements in the Second and Third World. Generalizations regarding the causes of these movements, and their success or failure, are developed. Future work should attempt to integrate these generalizations into existing theories of social movements and democratization within a world systems context.
Assignment of13C nuclear magnetic resonance signals in fatty compounds with allylic hydroxy groups

13C Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals in several fatty compounds with allylic mono- and dihydroxy groups were assigned by comparing compounds with and without other functional groups (allylic hydroxy, carboxylic acid, respectively, methyl ester at C1). The simple13C NMR spectra of hydroxylated compounds derived from symmetrical alkenes are particularly useful in making assignments. The compounds whose signals were partially assigned are 8-hydroxy-9(E)-octadecenoic acid, 11-hydroxy-9(E)-octadecenoic acid, 8, 11-dihydroxy-9(E)-octadecenoic acid, 9(E)-octadecen-8-ol, and 9(E)-octadecene-8, 11-diol. The present evaluation can be used for assigning signals in other fatty compounds.
Non-linearity in glass composition dependence of dissolution rates: Effect of solution pH

In our previous studies on the optimization of glass compositions for high-level nuclear waste vitrification it was found that, over certain composition ranges, PCT leachate concentrations increased dramatically with very small changes in glass composition. The large differences that are observed between the leachate pH values for the {open_quotes}durable{close_quotes} and the {open_quotes}less-durable{close_quotes} glasses is one possible cause for this strongly non-linear glass composition effect; conversely, the pH difference may be merely another symptom. In this study, four simulated nuclear waste glasses (two of the less-durable and two of the durable types), were leached in both zwitterionic and inorganic buffer solutions, at fixed pH-values in the ranges of 7 to 12. The very different leaching behaviors of the two types of glasses persisted and, furthermore, different pH-dependence was found despite their very similar glass composition. This study suggests that the leachate pH difference observed between the less-durable and the durable glasses under uncontrolled pH conditions is not the major cause of the large difference of leaching behavior between those glasses. The normalized release ratios of soluble components (B, Li, Na) to Si show significant differences for the two types of glasses.
Marx and Weber and the logic of historical explanation: The rise of machine capitalism:

In Marx’s characterization of the first stage of manufacture, economic production is constituted by the formal subsumption of labor under capital and thus the retention of precapitalist processes o...
Persistent infection by Wolbachia wAlbB has no effect on composition of the gut microbiota in adult female Anopheles stephensi

The bacteria in the midgut of Anopheles stephensi adult females from laboratory colonies were studied by sequencing the V4 region of 16S rRNA genes, with respect to three experimental factors: stable or cured Wolbachia infection; sugar or blood diet; and age. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes dominated the community (> 90% of OTUs); most taxa were in the classes Flavobacteriia, Gammaproteobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria, and were assigned to Elizabethkingia (46.9%), Asaia (6.4%) and Pseudomonas (6.0%), or unclassified Enterobacteriaceae (37.2%). Bacterial communities were similar between Wolbachia-cured and Wolbachia-infected mosquito lines, indicating that the gut microbiota were not dysregulated in the presence of Wolbachia. The proportion of Enterobacteriaceae was higher in mosquitoes fed a blood meal compared to those provided a sugar meal. Collectively, the bacterial community had a similar structure in older Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes 8 days after the blood meal, as in younger Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes before a blood meal, except that older mosquitoes had a higher proportion of Enterobacteriaceae and lower proportion of Elizabethkingia. Consistent presence of certain predominant bacteria (Elizabethkingia, Asaia, Pseudomonas and Enterobacteriaceae) suggests they would be useful for paratransgenesis to control malaria infection, particularly when coupled to a Wolbachia-based intervention strategy.
Control Strategies for Coal Flotation Circuits

Abstract The incentive to control coal flotation circuits arises becauseof disturbances, from plant operating practices and variations in feed coal characteristics, which result in large amounts of fine coal being lost in circuit tailings streams and lower grade concentrates being produced. Additionally, the flowrates and compositions of concentrates and tailings streams can have significant effects on dewatering processes. A universal control strategy for those circuits cannot be developed. Rather, three major groups of variables must be considered during strategy development: coal characteristics; circuit design and operating practice; and the variables selected to control the process. The second and third groups are discussed in this paper and examples from studies in operating plants are presented.
Recent African gene flow responsible for excess of old rare genetic variation in Great Britain

Population genomic studies can reveal the allele frequencies at millions of SNPs, with the numbers of observed low frequency SNPs increasing as more genomes are sequenced. Rare alleles tend to be younger than common alleles and are especially useful for studying demographic history, selection and heritability. However, allele frequency can be a poor proxy for allele age, as genetic drift and natural selection can lead to alleles that are both rare and old. In order to allow joint assessments of allele frequency and allele age, a new estimator of allele age was developed that can be applied to variants of the lowest observed frequencies (singletons). By examining the geographic and age distribution of very rare variants in a large genomic sample from the UK, we identify new evidence of gene flow from Africa into the ancestors of the modern UK population. A substantial proportion of variants with observed frequencies as low as 1e-4 are orders of magnitude older than can be explained without African gene flow and are found at much higher frequencies within modern African populations. We estimate that African populations contributed approximately 1.2% of the UK gene pool and did so approximately 400 years ago. These findings are relevant both to our understanding of human history and to the nature of rare variation segregating within populations: a variant that is rare because it is a recent mutation in the direct ancestor of the population will have had a very different evolutionary history than an ancient one that has persisted at high frequencies in a diverged population and only recently arrived through migration.
Long-Range Changes in Neurolysin Dynamics Upon Inhibitor Binding

Crystal structures of neurolysin, a zinc metallopeptidase, do not show a significant conformational change upon the binding of an allosteric inhibitor. Neurolysin has a deep channel where it hydrolyzes a short neuropeptide neurotensin to create inactive fragments and thus controls its level in the tissue. Neurolysin is of interest as a therapeutic target since changes in neurotensin level have been implicated in cardiovascular disorders, neurological disorders, and cancer, and inhibitors of neurolysin have been developed. An understanding of the dynamical and structural differences between apo and inhibitor-bound neurolysin will aid in further design of potent inhibitors and activators. For this purpose, we performed several molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for both apo and inhibitor-bound neurolysin. A machine learning method (Linear Discriminant Analysis) is applied to reveal differences between the apo and inhibitor-bound ensembles in an automated way, and large differences are observed on residues ...
Autoren, Partner und Institutionen

Die Erfahrungen und Erkenntnisse, die sich im Anwenderhandbuch finden, basieren auf einer zehnjahrigen Begleitung der okologischen Entwicklung der Valley View University (VVU), die von deutscher Seite durch BMBF und BMU gefordert wurden. Hier werden die Personen, Partner und Institutionen aufgefuhrt, die bei den beiden Projekten masgeblich beteiligt waren.
Temperature response of ammonia and greenhouse gas emission from manure amended silty clay soil

Soil temperature plays an important role in organic matter decomposition, thus likely to affect ammonia and gaseous emission from land application of manure. An incubation experiment was conducted ...
IMRT by Dynamic MLC

The development of Multileaf Collimators (MLCs) controlled by computer-driven motors has made feasible new technology for Radiation Oncology that allows the intensity of the x-ray fluence to be modulated within the bounds of a treatment field (Kallman, 1988). Limitations on applications possible with each MLC depend upon the technical construction and control of the MLC.
CHAPTER X – CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Whether used as a “special” energy source to energize a wrist watch, or power a pocket calculator, or as an energy source for an orbiting communications satellite, or to provide power to a remote desert site in North America, or as commercial of energy for general consumers, solar cells must compete with already existing energy sources and with other potential energy supplies. If solar-electric energy from solar cells is to be widely used it must be cost competitive. In some situations the cost of delivering the electrical energy produced using conventional systems makes the value of conventional energy prohibitive. It will require some time, and a considerably increased market for photovoltaic cells before the solar cell industry will be in a position to close the cost gap between photovoltaic produced power and conventionally produced power. In addition, it's also a fact that the source of energy in conventional power plants is obtained at a constantly increasing, and by no means inconsiderable expense. Hence, some consideration should be given to commit resources to store solar-derived energy. and also to potential future developments in photovoltaic energy production and storage.
Magnetic Dichroism and Polarization of Fluorescence of Chlorophyll in Chlorella

The degree of polarization of in vivo chlorophyll in chlorella is very low, of the order of 6% or less (ARNOLD & MEEK 1956, TEALE 1960, MAR & GOVINDJEE 1971), although LAVOREL (1964) found a higher degree of polarization when he separated the variable and constant components of the fluorescence. The small polarization is attributed to energy transfer between pigment molecules which have a low degree of mutual orientation.
Both Ultrasound Features and Nuclear Atypia are Associated with Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules with Atypia of Undetermined Significance

The optimal management of thyroid nodules that undergo fine-needle aspiration (FNA) with findings of atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) is unclear. Categorizing nodules by AUS subtype and ultrasound characteristics may improve risk stratification. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between AUS subtype and ultrasound features on risk of malignancy (ROM). We performed a review of all patients with a thyroid nodule who underwent an FNA at our institution between January 2010 and November 2015. Patients with AUS were divided into groups with (1) nuclear atypia, (2) architectural atypia, or (3) Hurthle cell atypia. Their ultrasound features were assessed using the American Thyroid Association (ATA) thyroid nodule sonographic patterns. We conducted a univariate and multivariable analysis to determine the association between AUS subtype and other variables of interest with ROM. Of the 3428 thyroid nodules that underwent FNA, 237 (6.9%) had AUS. Of the 97 surgically resected nodules, 67 (69%) were benign and 30 (31%) were malignant. On univariate analysis nuclear atypia (p < 0.01) was associated with a thyroid malignancy. On multivariable analysis, both ATA high-risk ultrasound features (p = 0.04, odds ratio [OR] 3.68) and nuclear atypia (p < 0.01, OR 11.8) were independently associated with a final diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma. Nuclear atypia and ATA high-risk ultrasound features are useful in identifying patients with AUS that are at a higher risk of thyroid malignancy. Surgeons should take these factors into consideration when evaluating patients with AUS.
Multiple Ligament Knee Injuries: Current State and Proposed Classification

Classification systems should enhance communication between providers, facilitate accurate and consistent reporting in the literature, and guide management. However, current classification systems for MLKIs lack sufficient detail to guide clinical management which limit their prognostic value. The purpose of this chapter is to revisit and consider important features of some of the most impactful classification systems developed in the orthopaedic literature and to propose a classification system for MLKIs that may improve communication among providers, facilitate consistent reporting in the literature, and ultimately foster publication of meaningful clinical data.
Growth Dynamics and Survival of Liberibacter crescens BT-1, an Important Model Organism for the Citrus Huanglongbing Pathogen “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus”

ABSTRACT Liberibacter crescens is the only cultured member of its genus, which includes the devastating plant pathogen “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus,” associated with citrus greening/Huanglongbing (HLB). L. crescens has a larger genome and greater metabolic flexibility than “Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus” and the other uncultured plant-pathogenic Liberibacter species, and it is currently the best model organism available for these pathogens. L. crescens grows slowly and dies rapidly under current culture protocols and this extreme fastidiousness makes it challenging to study. We have determined that a major cause of rapid death of L. crescens in batch culture is its alkalinization of the medium (to pH 8.5 by the end of logarithmic phase). The majority of this alkalinization is due to consumption of alpha-ketoglutaric acid as its primary carbon source, with a smaller proportion of the pH rise due to NH3 production. Controlling the pH rise with higher buffering capacity and lower starting pH improved recoverability of cells from 10-day cultures by >1,000-fold. We have also performed a detailed analysis of L. crescens growth with total cell numbers calibrated to the optical density and the percentage of live and recoverable bacteria determined over 10-day time courses. We modified L. crescens culture conditions to greatly enhance survival and increase maximum culture density. The similarities between L. crescens and the pathogenic liberibacters make this work relevant to efforts to culture the latter organisms. Our results also suggest that growth-dependent pH alteration that overcomes medium buffering should always be considered when growing fastidious bacteria. IMPORTANCELiberibacter crescens is a bacterium that is closely related to plant pathogens that have caused billions of dollars in crop losses in recent years. Particularly devastating are citrus losses due to citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing, which is caused by “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” and carried by the Asian citrus psyllid. L. crescens is the only close relative of “Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus” that can currently be grown in culture, and it therefore serves as an important model organism for the growth, genetic manipulation, and biological control of the pathogenic species. Here, we show that one of the greatest limitations to L. crescens growth is the sharp increase in alkaline conditions it produces as a consequence of consumption of its preferred nutrient source. In addition to new information about L. crescens growth and metabolism, we provide new guidelines for culture conditions that improve the survival and yield of L. crescens.
Sample processing and specimen misidentification issues: major sources of pre-analytical errors

Abstract Errors with laboratory specimens may lead to adverse outcomes for patients. These errors most commonly occur in the pre-analytical phase. Among these, problems with patient identification or specimen handling are most frequent. Laboratories must establish strict guidelines for appropriate specimen transport, processing, and in-lab storage for each analyte, based upon their stability at various times and temperatures. Serum and plasma specimens must be centrifuged at appropriate speeds, times, and temperatures to ensure integrity. To maintain stability, serum and plasma should be separated with an in-tube separator device, like a gel separator, or by manually aliquoting after centrifugation. Recentrifugation of gel tubes is not recommended by manufacturers, but recent studies show little to no impact of recentrifugation. Cross-contamination of specimens prior to analysis should be prevented. Laboratories should adopt strict guidelines for identifying and preventing misidentification of specimens. Patient misidentification is the most common cause of laboratory related adverse events, particularly in the blood bank. Utilization of new technology has significantly reduced these errors.
Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Referred for Liver Transplantation

Individuals with severe IgA deficiency (IgA < 0.05 mg/dL) are at risk for severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, due to the presence of pre-formed circulating IgE anti-IgA auto antibodies Up to one fifth of all anaphylactic transfusion reactions are due to severe IgA deficiency Testing for severe IgA deficiency and anti-IgA antibodies can be done through ELISA and agglutination-based assays Autologous blood donation might be an option for minor, non-urgent, scheduled procedures in patients with selective IgA deficiency
Creating a Culture of Youth as Co-Researchers: The Kickoff of a Year-Long STEM Pipeline Program.

STEM pipeline programs often include research experiences for youth, but fewer focus on youth as shared decision-makers or leaders in research efforts. Youth participatory action research (YPAR) and community-based participatory research (CBPR) orientations suggest that the quality and relevance of research will benefit from youth partnership. Because youth do not traditionally have the opportunity to serve in this type of leadership capacity, STEM pipeline programs that wish to elevate the role of youth in research must create a new culture of co-creation that upends the traditional pedagogical models adolescents experience in high school. We present Research Kickoff as a strategy to engage youth as co-researchers from their very first experience in a year-long STEM pipeline program. We designed activities around a framework consisting of six components: content, process, voice, network, engagement, and culture. Each of the six components of our framework are represented in a series of activities that include participatory research processes, inviting collaboration and valuing diverse expertise, and relationship building. To inform future programs interested in engaging youth as co-researchers, we detail the iterative development of Research Kickoff over two cohorts and describe and how it serves to engage youth as change agents from the first touch.
Trouble begets trouble; overcounting the heart rate by the interpretation software results in overestimation of the QTc.

Abstract A man in his 70s was taking a medication that required routine electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring for possible QT prolongation. On one of these occasions, four consecutive ECGs were recorded within 1 min. Unexpectedly, the rate-corrected QT intervals (QTc) reported by the interpretation software showed marked fluctuation ranging from 426 ms to 498 ms. Was there a rational explanation for the widely different QTc measurements? Was it necessary to hold the culprit medication?
Materials for Flexible Thin-Film Transistors: High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering of Zinc Oxide

The development of electronic materials for flexible electronics would be beneficial for aerospace systems that experience vibrations and other mechanical stresses. Thin-film transistors (TFTs) for transparent flexible displays and sensor technologies are particularly important for both commercial electronics and aerospace systems. Zinc oxide (ZnO), a transparent conducting oxide, is a promising channel material for these applications. Low-temperature synthesis of highly ordered ZnO films over large areas is necessary to facilitate the realization of ZnO-based TFTs on flexible substrates. Growth of columnar (002)-oriented ZnO has been demonstrated on a variety of substrates. The crystal orientation, grain size, mosaicity, and surface morphology of these films, however, are strongly dependent on growth technique and conditions. Energetic growth techniques and higher growth temperatures are typically needed to produce high-quality ZnO with high carrier mobility, but these approaches are not amenable to growth on temperature-sensitive flexible substrates. One potential method to overcome these limitations is the use of a technique with low-energy ions, such as high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS). This chapter discusses low-temperature and scalable deposition of semiconducting grade ZnO channels for TFT applications using reactive HiPIMS. Target currents, ion species, and their energies were measured at the substrate surface location with mass spectroscopy as a function of pressure and applied voltage during HiPIMS of a Zn target in O2/Ar. These plasma parameters were correlated to film microstructure, determined with x-ray diffraction, which helped establish film nucleation and growth mechanisms.
“Slowed Down but Not Stopped”: A Spiritual Life Review Intervention in Patients with Neurodegenerative Disease:

Spiritual health is important in managing and coping with chronic and debilitating illnesses, such as neurodegenerative diseases. However, few spiritual interventions have addressed this population. This article quantitatively and qualitatively evaluates outcomes of a spiritual life review in neurodegenerative diseases patients. The majority of participants improved or maintained quality of life and spiritual/emotional well-being following the intervention. Spiritual life review may be an important intervention in the comprehensive care of patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
Sub-Saharan leaders in Morocco’s migration industry: activism, integration, and smuggling

The migration industry includes governments and private companies wanting to control and limit human mobility, but also nonstate actors who help facilitate it. This article addresses the multiplici...
Cutaneous Toxicities of PI3K Inhibitors: A Series of Two Cases and Review of the Literature

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors are a class of antineoplastic agents currently approved for the treatment of multiple hematologic malignancies and breast cancer. These medications have specific molecular targets to limit toxicity; however, cutaneous adverse effects are frequently reported and can require cessation of therapy. Morbilliform, eczematous, psoriasiform, and pityriasis rubra pilaris-like eruptions are most common, though exfoliative dermatitis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis have also been reported. We highlight two cases of photo-accentuated skin reactions to duvelisib, a p110-d and p110-g isoform inhibitor. Both cases required oral corticosteroids and interruption of therapy for definitive management due to severity. Though one patient was able to later continue on therapy, both patients experienced recurrence with repeat exposure to duvelisib, establishing a notable temporal correlation. Thus, these cases contribute a novel presentation of adverse reactions to PI3K inhibitors to existing literature.
Comparison of Weight-Based Dosing versus Fixed Dosing of 23.4% Hypertonic Saline for Intracranial Pressure Reduction in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Context: Hypertonic saline (HTS) is a pharmacologic therapy used in patients with severe traumatic brain injuries to decrease intracranial pressure (ICP) associated with cerebral edema. Aims: The purpose of this study was to compare ICP reduction between fixed doses of 23.4% HTS and weight-based doses. Setting and Design: This was a retrospective study that included adult patients at a level 1 trauma center who had nonpenetrating traumatic brain injury, an ICP monitor, and received at least one dose of 23.4% HTS. Subjects and Methods: Doses were classified as either high weight-based (>0.6 ml/kg), low weight-based (
How Much to Save? Decision Costs and Retirement Plan Participation

Deciding how much to save for retirement can be complicated. Drawing on a field experiment conducted with the Department of Defense, we study whether such complexity depresses participation in an employer-sponsored retirement saving plan. We find that simplifying one dimension of the enrollment decision, by highlighting a potential rate at which non-participants might contribute, increases participation in the plan. Similar communications that did not include a highlighted rate yield smaller effects. The results highlight how reducing complexity on the intensive margin of a decision (how much to contribute) can affect extensive margin behavior (whether to contribute at all) in a setting of policy interest. Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.
Polymeric nanomedicine for overcoming resistance mechanisms in hedgehog and Myc-amplified medulloblastoma

Abstract Chemoresistance and inadequate therapeutics transport across the blood brain barrier (BBB) remain the major barriers to treating medulloblastoma (MB). Hedgehog (Hh) and IGF/PI3K pathways regulate tumor cell proliferation and resistance in MB. Current Hh inhibitors are effective initially to treat SHH-MB but acquire resistance. Herein, we showed that Hh inhibitor MDB5 and BRD4/PI3K dual inhibitor SF2523 synergistically inhibited the proliferation of DAOY and HD-MB03 cells when used in combination. Treatment of these MB cells with the combination of MDB5 and SF2523 significantly decreased colony formation and expression of MYCN, p-AKT, and cyclin D1 but significantly increased in Bax expression, compared to individual drugs. We used our previously reported copolymer mPEG-b-PCC-g-DC copolymer, which showed 8.7 ± 1.0 and 6.5 ± 0.1% loading for MDB5 and SF2523 when formulated into nanoparticles (NPs). There was sustained drug release from NPs, wherein 100% of MDB5 was released in 50 h, but only 60% of SF2523 was released in 80 h. Targeted NPs prepared by mixing 30:70 ratio of COG-133-PEG-b-PBC and mPEG-b-PCC-g-DC copolymer delivered a significantly higher drug concentration in the cerebellum at 6 and 24h after intravenous injection into orthotopic SHH-MB tumor-bearing NSG mice . Moreover, systemic administration of COG-133-NPs loaded with MDB5 and SF2523 resulted in decreased tumor burden compared to non-targeted drug-loaded NPs, without any hepatic toxicity. In conclusion, our nanomedicine of MDB5 and SF2523 offers a novel therapeutic strategy to treat chemoresistant MB.
Prophylactic antibiotics for colostomy closure in children: short versus long course

A prospective, randomized clinical study was performed to compare the results of 1-day versus 7-day administration of the same prophylactic antibiotics to 30 consecutive patients undergoing colostomy closure. The antibiotics used were cotrimoxazole (8 mg/kg per day trimethoprim) and ornidazole (20 mg/kg per day), which were this department's standard prophylactic agents for colorectal surgery. Patients, in the first group received cotrimoxazole i. m. 1 h before the operation and ornidazole by i. v. infusion starting after induction of anesthesia. The same dosages of both drugs were repeated once 12 h after the initial dose. In the second group (7 days), both agents were started orally 48 h before the operation. The preoperative doses were given as in the short-course group and were continued in this fashion until the end of the 5th postoperative day. Mechanical cleansing of the bowel and the operative procedure were standardized for all patients. Intraluminal swab cultures were obtained during the operation; only aerobic cultures could be studied. Patients were closely monitored for septic complications during the post-operative period. Study groups were similar regarding age, sex, nutritional status, and micro-organisms isolated from the bowel. Wound infections confined to the subcutaneous tissue occurred in 2 patients, 1 in each group (6.6%). No intraperitoneal infection, anastomotic leakage/dehiscence, or wound dehiscence was encountered. While susceptibilities to antibiotics other than cotrimoxazole were similar in both groups, cotrimoxazole-resistant micro-organisms were found more often in the long-course group (P <0.05). Because we found no difference in the rate of infectious complications between groups, we recommend the use of short-term parenteral antibiotic prophylaxis for colostomy closure in children. Such an approach saves nursing time, reduces costs, and prevents the formation of bacterial resistance.
Ragnok in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: The Revenge of the Hrimthursar

In April 1815, a volcano on the Indonesian island of Tambora erupted, devastating that region and causing a major climate change: 1816 was known in across the Atlantic as the “year without a summer.” While many scholars have interpreted the notorious weather of that year as the catalyst for Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, scholars are only beginning to examine the depth to which that weather penetrated her work. This paper explores the ways that Victor Frankenstein’s creature resembles a Norse weather monster, an Hrimthursar or a frost giant, and examines Shelley’s distinctive message about the trauma of “a year without a summer.”
Comment on "nonhematopoietic cells are key players in innate control of bacterial airway infection".

Using bone marrow chimeras, LeibundGut-Landmann et al. conclude in a recent study that nonhematopoietic cells are important to host defense in the lung against an intracellular pathogen, Legionella pneumophila (reviewed in Ref. [1][1]). Neutrophils are a critical contributor to host defense in the
Fates of CD4+ T Cells in a Tolerant Environment Depend on Timing and Place of Antigen Exposure

In experimental organ transplantation, tolerance is induced by administration of anti-CD40L mAb in conjunction with donor-specific splenocyte transfusion. Multiple, sometimes conflicting mechanisms of action resulting from this treatment have been reported. To resolve these issues, this study assessed the fates of graft reactive cells at different times and locations in the tolerant environment. Alloantigen-specific CD4+ T cells transferred at time of tolerance induction (7 days before transplantation) became activated, expressed CD69 and CD44, and proliferated. Importantly, a large subset of this population became Foxp3+, more so in the lymph nodes than spleen, indicative of differentiation to a regulatory phenotype. In contrast, graft reactive CD4+ T cells transferred to tolerogen-treated recipients at the time of transplantation failed either to proliferate or to differentiate, and instead were deleted via apoptosis. In untreated rejecting recipients graft reactive CD4+ T cells became activated, proliferated and differentiated mainly in the spleen, and many of these cells were eventually deleted. These data resolve many apparent contradictions in the literature by showing that the timing of antigen exposure, the immunologic status of the recipients and secondary lymphoid organ location act together as key factors to determine the fate of graft reactive CD4+ T cells.
Protective B-cell epitopes of Francisella tularensis O-polysaccharide in a mouse model of respiratory tularaemia

Antibodies to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Francisella tularensis have been shown to be protective against respiratory tularaemia in mouse models, and we have previously described mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to non-overlapping terminal and internal epitopes of the F. tularensis LPS O-polysaccharide (OAg). In the current study, we used F. tularensis LPS oligosaccharides of defined OAg repeat length as molecular rulers in competition ELISA to demonstrate that the epitope targeted by the terminal OAg-binding mAb FB11 is contained within one tetrasaccharide repeat whereas the epitope targeted by the internal OAg-binding mAb Ab52 spans two tetrasaccharide repeats. Both mAbs conferred survival to BALB/c mice infected intranasally with the F. tularensis type B live vaccine strain and prolonged survival of BALB/c mice infected intranasally with the highly virulent F. tularensis type A strain SchuS4. The protective effects correlated with reduced bacterial burden in mAb-treated infected mice. These results indicate that an oligosaccharide with two OAg tetrasaccharide repeats covers both terminal and internal protective OAg epitopes, which may inform the design of vaccines for tularaemia. Furthermore, the FB11 and Ab52 mAbs could serve as reporters to monitor the response of vaccine recipients to protective B-cell epitopes of F. tularensis OAg.
Source level estimates for sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) vocalizations off the Azores

Sei whale calls have been documented on very few occasions and never in the Azores Archipelago, an area transited by this species during their migration to northern latitudes in spring and early summer. Using a combination of video range tracking (VRT) and acoustic methods, vocalizations are described from an encounter with two sei whales in April 2012 off Pico Island, Azores. Recordings analyzed post-survey revealed 53 low frequency downsweep calls with average maximum frequencies of 100 Hz [standard deviation (SD = 14 Hz)] down to 37 Hz (SD = 8 Hz) over 1.21 s (SD = 0.33 s). Apparent source levels of 177 dB (SD = 5 dB) root-mean-square (rms) re 1 μPa were recorded. Vocalizations were attributed to the pair of sei whales encountered using a combination of the VRT data and differences in arrival time of calls at the hydrophones. These calls are similar to those reported from sei whales off New England and similar to those recorded off Hawaii. The growing body of acoustic data on sei whale vocalizations may contribute to the understanding of this species' distribution and population identity; key information is needed to guide future conservation efforts for this species.
The oxidation of glutathione with formic acid and hydrogen peroxide.

Durch Oxydation von Glutathion mit Wasserstoffsuperoxid in Ameisensaure wurde Glutathion-dihydrosulfoxid erhalten. Glutathion-sulfoxid, N-Acetylglutathion und assoziiertes (reversibel polymerisiertes) Glutathion wurden als Vergleichssubstanzen erstmalig hergestellt.
Theoretical tornado vortex model for nuclear plant design

Abstract A simplified tornado vortex model is defined using fluid dynamics theory. Beginning with the Navier—Stokes equations of motion for an incompressible fluid and simplifying in a way consistent with a tornado wind field, develops the well-known cyclostrophic wind equation referred to by Hoecker and another equation which defines the tangential velocity profile. Together, they define a simplified tornado vortex model of which the Rankine and Hoecker vortices are special cases. Practical implications of the results obtained are discussed.
Ascidian embryogenesis and the origins of the chordate body plan

For more than a century, ascidians have been a widely used system for classic embryological studies. Ascidians possess simple, well-defined cell-lineages, compact genomes, rapid development and world-wide distribution. Transgenic DNA can be introduced into developing embryos using simple electroporation methods. The ascidian larva represents the most simplified chordate body plan and provides a useful model for studying the molecular pathways underlying the morphogenesis and differentiation of the notochord and neural tube.
ON THE GOMPERTZ LIMIT OF THE MONOTONIC NEOCLASSICAL GROWTH MODEL

The burden of proof of any theory aiming to represent a physical or biological reality by demonstrating its unifying properties is applied in the present paper in relation to the Neoclassical growth model and its ability to reproduce Gompertz growth. The Neoclassical growth model derived from first biological and physical principles was shown to capture all qualitative features that were revealed experimentally, including the possibility of a Logarithmic Inflection Point (LIP), the possibility of a LAG, concave as well as convex curves on the phase diagram, the Logistic growth as a special case, growth followed by decay, as well as oscillations. In addition, quantitative validation demonstrated its ability to reproduce experimental data in a few tested cases. This paper demonstrates that the Neoclassical growth model can reproduce a Generalized version of Gompertz growth too.