cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Cognitive Interviews to Adapt PROMIS Measurement Items for Spanish Speakers Living with HIV

Purpose. To use cognitive interviewing techniques to assess comprehension of existing Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) items among Latinos living with HIV and then refine items based on participant feedback. Methods. Latino monolingual Spanish speakers living with HIV (n = 56) participated in cognitive interviews. Items from four PROMIS domains, including depression, anxiety, fatigue, and alcohol use, were assessed for comprehension. Audiotaped interviews and handwritten notes were subjected to content analysis to identify problems specific to each instrument for each domain. Results. The assessments from the cognitive interviews identified areas for improvement in each domain. We present data on the type of items that were difficult to comprehend and provide examples for how items were refined based on participants' and PROMIS Statistical Coordinating Center (PSCC) feedback. Six out of 48 depression items, 7 out of the 61 anxiety items, 18 out of 42 fatigue items, and 7 out of 44 alcohol use items were found to have poor comprehension. These items were refined based on participant feedback; the items were then submitted to the PSCC for additional guidance on linguistics and grammar to improve comprehension. Conclusions. Cognitive interviews may be used to enhance comprehension of PROMIS items among Latinos.
Acetylation and deacetylation of Cdc25A constitutes a novel mechanism for modulating Cdc25A functions with implications for cancer.

// Enerlyn M. Lozada 1 , Zdenek Andrysik 1, 2 , Moying Yin 1 , Nicholas Redilla 1 , Kathryn Rice 1 , Peter J. Stambrook 1 1 Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA 2 Current affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA Correspondence to: Enerlyn M. Lozada, e-mail: lozadaen@ucmail.uc.edu and enerlyn@gmail.com Keywords: Cdc25A acetylation, ARD1, HDAC11, DNA damage, cancer Received: December 22, 2015 Accepted: February 16, 2016 Published: March 07, 2016 ABSTRACT The dual specificity phosphatase Cdc25A is a key regulator of the cell cycle that promotes cell cycle progression by dephosphorylating and activating cyclin-dependent kinases. In response to genotoxicants, Cdc25A undergoes posttranslational modifications which contribute to its proteasome-mediated degradation and consequent cell cycle checkpoint arrest. The most thoroughly studied Cdc25A modification is phosphorylation. We now provide the first evidence that Cdc25A can be acetylated and that it directly interacts with the ARD1 acetyltransferase which acetylates Cdc25A both biochemically and in cultured cells. When acetylated, Cdc25A has an extended half-life. We have also identified the class IV histone deacetylase, HDAC11, as a Cdc25A deacetylase. We further show that DNA damage, such as exposure to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), etoposide or arsenic, increases Cdc25A acetylation. Importantly, this acetylation modulates Cdc25A phosphatase activity and its function as a cell cycle regulator, and may reflect a cellular response to DNA damage. Since Cdc25A, ARD1, and HDAC11 are frequently dysregulated in multiple types of cancer, our findings may provide insight into a novel mechanism in carcinogenesis.
Shock Induced Chemistry In Liquids Studied With Ultrafast Dynamic Ellipsometry And Visible Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

The response to ultrafast laser shock loading of nine liquids was monitored in an effort to reveal evidence of chemical changes occurring during the first 350 ps following the shock front. In an effort to compare molecular structures possessing a variety of common bonding patterns, data were acquired for the liquids: cyclohexane, cyclohexene, 1,3-cyclohexadiene, benzene, water, acetonitrile, acrylonitrile, tert-butylacetylene, and phenylacetylene. Transient absorption spectra were measured in the spectral region from 440 to 780 nm over shock stress states from 7 to 20 GPa. Ultrafast dynamic ellipsometry was used to measure the shock and particle velocity as well as the shocked refractive index. Significant transient absorption attributed to chemical reaction was observed for shocked phenylacetylene and acrylonitrile. Evidence of volume decreasing chemical reactions was also observed in the ultrafast dynamic ellipsometry data for phenylacetylene and acrylonitrile. The liquid 1,3-cyclohexadiene exhibited vo...
Nutritional Disorders and Food Development: Problems and Potential Solutions

Copyright: © 2012 Baianu IC. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Nutrition-related disorders are increasingly wide-spread in the United States of America and the European Union. There are major concerns about the recent rise in obesity-related diseases, such as type II diabetes, as well as heart diseases, especially coronary artery disease (CAD) and atherosclerosis. The latter is the number one cause of deaths in the Western World.
Using Random Tilings to Derive a Fibonacci Congruence

In a series of papers ([l]-[5]) as well as their recent book [6], Benjamin and Quinn (along with others) proved a variety of identities involving very general Fibonacci (and the related Lucas) sequences. They used ingenious counting arguments involving ran dom tilings with variously conditioned tiles. A tiling of length n has n cells associated with it. For example, a square (lxl tile) covers one cell and a domino (1x2 tile) covers two. A random tiling involves, at each stage, randomly choosing among the tiles with a specified probability distribution. One then interprets cn = Fn+X as the number of ways to tile the first n cells, for then cn satisfies the same recurrence relation and initial conditions as those of Fn+\. Proving identities involving general Fibonacci and Lucas numbers via random tilings involves viewing an identity "as a story which can be told from two different points of view." (See [5, p. 359].) For example, proving the Fibonacci numbers are given by the Binet formula in volves calculating the probability that a random tiling of infinitely many cells using only squares and dominoes is breakable at cell n, that is, a square or a domino be gins at cell n, in two different ways. The proof considers the probability of choosing a square in our random tiling to be 1/0 and the probability of choosing a domino to be 1/02, where 0 satisfies (1/0) + (1/02) = 1, that is, 0 = (1 + \/5)/2. This choice of probability distribution implies that the probability of an infinite tiling beginning "with any particular length n sequence of squares and dominoes is l/0n" (see [1, p. 512]), and hence depends only on n and not on the distribution of tiles covering the first n cells. In fact, in [1], every model has this key feature. The purpose of this note is to give an example of what happens when the choice of probability distribution for the tiles does not exhibit this feature. The price one pays is that instead of an equality one gets a beautiful congruence relation.
The synthesis of complete seismograms in an earth model specified by radially inhomogeneous layers

abstract Traditional methods of synthesizing seismograms in the near or regional distance range (0 to 500 km) describe the earth model with planar homogeneous layers. In the high-frequency band (0.2 to 10 Hz), in which the seismic ground motion is primarily observed, uniformly asymptotic solutions to the depth eigenfunctions can, instead, allow a radially symmetric earth model to be described by inhomogeneous spherical layers. Ground displacement u is calculated in the frequency domain by u ( ω , φ , Δ ) = ∫ Γ M ( ω , p , φ , Δ ) f ( ω , p ) d p , where Γ is a contour in the complex ray parameter ( p ) plane, and M (ω, p , ϕ, φ) a point representation of the earthquake or explosion source including the effect of horizontal propagation to Δ. The response of the earth model f (ω, p ), calculated from the propagator matrix equation for a source in a radially inhomogeneous sphere, includes all possible body and surface waves. Airy functions are chosen to define the inhomogeneous layer matrices. Numerical difficulties usually encountered in the calculation of f (ω, p ) in layered media are avoided by the calculation of subdeterminants of the fundamental matrix solution and by the decomposition of the propagator matrix in a layer into a sum of matrices of differing numerical order whenever the Airy functions behave exponentially. The contour integral can be evaluated by the residue theorem or by numerical integration, the time-domain response obtained by Fast Fourier transform. Most applications require an earth model to be described by no more than four to five inhomogeneous layers.
Plasticity in the distribution of the red nucleus output to forearm muscles after unilateral lesions of the pyramidal tract.

It has been hypothesized that the magnocellular red nucleus (RNm) contributes to compensation for motor impairments associated with lesions of the pyramidal tract. To test this hypothesis, we used ...
Economic Analysis and Managerial Decision Making: Some Conceptual Perspectives

The development of managerial economics has been stimulated by increasing pressures for more effective guidance in the making of major corporate and governmental decisions. Although its contributions have fallen short of needs so far, as might be expected in any relatively new field, substantial progress is being made in identifying the sources of past inadequacies and in formulating approaches to overcoming them. Resulting advances are likely not only to enhance the direct applicability of economic analysis at the decision-making level, but also to strengthen the theoretical structure of economics by filling in some of the voids underlying its generalised concepts and models.
An integrated onboard charger and accessory power converter for traction drive systems with a boost converter

Integrating the functionality of battery charging into the propulsion and accessory power system in a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) can significantly reduce the component count, and thus the cost, weight, and volume for the onboard charger (OBC). Replacing silicon (Si) based power devices with wide-band-gap (WBG) devices can further increase the power density and efficiency and lower the cost as WBG device technology matures and production volume increases. In this paper an isolated, bidirectional integrated OBC and accessory power converter is presented for PEVs employing a boost converter in the traction drive systems and is based on an active front converter (AFC) and a phase shifted dual-active H-bridge converter (PHDAHBC). The AFC utilizes the traction drive inverter, motor, and boost converter and the PHDAHBC is comprised of the transformer and high voltage converter of the 14 V accessory dc-dc converter and an additional H-bridge converter. Experimental results are included for a 6.9 kW OBC integrated into a 60 kW traction inverter with a boost converter using silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs and Schottky Barrier Diodes (SBDs).
The Robinson―Schensted Correspondence and $A_2$-webs

The $A_2$-spider category encodes the representation theory of the $sl_3$ quantum group. Kuperberg (1996) introduced a combinatorial version of this category, wherein morphisms are represented by planar graphs called $\textit{webs}$ and the subset of $\textit{reduced webs}$ forms bases for morphism spaces. A great deal of recent interest has focused on the combinatorics of invariant webs for tensors powers of $V^+$, the standard representation of the quantum group. In particular, the invariant webs for the 3$n$th tensor power of $V^+$ correspond bijectively to $[n,n,n]$ standard Young tableaux. Kuperberg originally defined this map in terms of a graphical algorithm, and subsequent papers of Khovanov–Kuperberg (1999) and Tymoczko (2012) introduce algorithms for computing the inverse. The main result of this paper is a redefinition of Kuperberg's map through the representation theory of the symmetric group. In the classical limit, the space of invariant webs carries a symmetric group action. We use this structure in conjunction with Vogan's generalized tau-invariant and Kazhdan–Lusztig theory to show that Kuperberg's map is a direct analogue of the Robinson–Schensted correspondence.
Optimal radial force and size for palliation in gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: a comparative analysis of current stent technology.

The optimal use of esophageal stents for malignant and benign esophageal strictures continues to be plagued with variability in pain tolerance, migration rates, and reflux-related symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in radial force exhibited by a variety of esophageal stents with respect to the patient’s esophageal stricture. Radial force testing was performed on eight stents manufactured by four different companies using a hydraulic press and a 5000 N force gage. Radial force was measured using three different tests: transverse compression, circumferential compression, and a three-point bending test. Esophageal stricture composition and diameters were measured to assess maximum diameter, length, and proximal esophageal diameter among 15 patients prior to stenting. There was a statistically significant difference in mean radial force for transverse compression tests at the middle (range 4.25–0.66 newtons/millimeter N/mm) and at the flange (range 3.32–0.48 N/mm). There were also statistical differences in mean radial force for circumferential test (ranged from 1.19 to 10.50 N/mm, p < 0.001) and the three-point bending test (range 0.08–0.28 N/mm, p < 0.001). In an evaluation of esophageal stricture diameters and lengths, the smallest median diameter of the stricture was 10 mm (range 5–16 mm) and the median proximal diameter normal esophagus was 25 mm (range 22–33 mm), which is currently outside of the range of stent diameters. Tested stents demonstrated significant differences in radial force, which provides further clarification of stent pain and intolerance in certain patients, with either benign or malignant disease. Similarly, current stent diameters do not successfully exclude the proximal esophagus, which can lead to obstructive-type symptoms. Awareness of radial force, esophageal stricture composition, and proximal esophageal diameter must be known and understood for optimal stent tolerance.
Revisiting the Idealizing Transferences: “Needful Things” and the Faustian Bargain

A number of analytic writers have commented on the dilemma of the child “in the service of the parent.” More recently, developmental research studies have deepened our understanding of the developmental onset, trajectories, and correlates associated with role confusion in the parent-child relationship. In the current article, two clinical cases are presented around which to integrate analytic and research insights into the nature of both pathological and facilitating idealizing transferences, as well as the patient’s inner experience of role-confusion in the relationship with the parent. The case material illuminates how the child protects parts of himself from invasion and devastation through self-fragmentation and the subsequent organization of a false self that can adapt to the imperative to sustain a fragile attachment relationship with a disturbed parent. The developmental literature grounds this trajectory toward role confusion in the distress and disorganization of attachment strategies apparent in...
Rapid Pathogen Detection by Surface Swab Sampling and Wireless Biosensing

This paper presents a method that combines surface swab sampling and wireless biosensing for rapid detection of foodborne pathogens on solid surfaces. The method can be applied to any surfaces, including the surfaces of food processing tables and fresh produce, for food safety improvement. Surface swab sampling is an inexpensive and easy-to-use method of collecting pathogens. A desired area or the whole area of a target surface (if needed) can be swabbed to collect pathogens rapidly. In this study, five commercially available swabs were compared. We first investigated the water absorption capacities of the swabs and then analyzed the efficiencies of capture and release of a model pathogen, Salmonella Typhimurium. Plate counting was employed to quantify the initially inoculated cells and collected cells by surface swabbing, and the efficiency of capture and release was calculated.
Integration of flux measurements to resolve changes in anabolic and catabolic metabolism in cardiac myocytes

Although ancillary pathways of glucose metabolism are critical for synthesizing cellular building blocks and modulating stress responses, how they are regulated remains unclear. In the present study, we used radiometric glycolysis assays, [13C6]-glucose isotope tracing, and extracellular flux analysis to understand how phosphofructokinase (PFK)-mediated changes in glycolysis regulate glucose carbon partitioning into catabolic and anabolic pathways. Expression of kinase-deficient or phosphatase-deficient 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase in rat neonatal cardiomyocytes co-ordinately regulated glycolytic rate and lactate production. Nevertheless, in all groups, >40% of glucose consumed by the cells was unaccounted for via catabolism to pyruvate, which suggests entry of glucose carbons into ancillary pathways branching from metabolites formed in the preparatory phase of glycolysis. Analysis of 13C fractional enrichment patterns suggests that PFK activity regulates glucose carbon incorporation directly into the ribose and the glycerol moieties of purines and phospholipids, respectively. Pyrimidines, UDP-N-acetylhexosamine, and the fatty acyl chains of phosphatidylinositol and triglycerides showed lower 13C incorporation under conditions of high PFK activity; the isotopologue 13C enrichment pattern of each metabolite indicated limitations in mitochondria-engendered aspartate, acetyl CoA and fatty acids. Consistent with this notion, high glycolytic rate diminished mitochondrial activity and the coupling of glycolysis to glucose oxidation. These findings suggest that a major portion of intracellular glucose in cardiac myocytes is apportioned for ancillary biosynthetic reactions and that PFK co-ordinates the activities of the pentose phosphate, hexosamine biosynthetic, and glycerolipid synthesis pathways by directly modulating glycolytic intermediate entry into auxiliary glucose metabolism pathways and by indirectly regulating mitochondrial cataplerosis.
A flexible strategy for the regiocontrolled synthesis of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazines

A four-step protocol for the synthesis of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazines has been developed. Commercially available pyrazoles were alkylated and formylated in a regiocontrolled manner to give pyrazole-5-aldehydes bearing 2,2-dialkoxyethyl substitution on N-1. Efficient conditions for the subsequent deprotection and cyclization of these intermediates allowed access to pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazines with multiple substitution patterns. The versatility of the pyrazole-5-aldehyde intermediates was further demonstrated through a deprotection and double-reductive amination sequence to give 4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazines.
Discourse management gestures

Gestures that are used by interlocutors to manage the gist of their ‘discourse interactions’, namely content exchange and floor taking, can have one of two very different pragmatic functions: to signal inclusion and cooperation in friendly conversation, or to establish control in more argumentative conversation. While inclusive-cooperative gestures have been extensively studied (e.g., Bavelas, Chovil, Lavrie, & Wade, 1992 ; Kendon, 1995 ; Muller, 2004 ; Sweetser, 1998 ), control gestures received little attention (although see Kendon, 1995 , 2004 ) until a recent spark of interest in their form and function (e.g., Calbris, 2011 ; Muller, 2017 ; Wehling, 2010 , 2012 , 2013 ). However, even though research has detailed important aspects of such discourse managing gestures, to date no comprehensive account of their conceptual foundations and pragmatic functions exists. The present paper fills this gap in the literature. Building on prior analyses of control gestures in argumentative discourse (e.g., Wehling, 2010 ) and inclusive-cooperative gestures in friendly conversation (e.g., Bavelas et al., 1992 ; Muller, 2004 ), it details a typology of discourse management gestures that distinguishes inclusive-cooperative and control gestures as separate pragmatic types and accounts for their forms and functions in terms of their conceptual foundations in primary metaphoric, space-motion schematic, and force dynamic reasoning.
Business Forecasting with Artificial Neural Networks: An Overview

Artificial neural networks have emerged as an important quantitative modeling tool for business forecasting. This chapter provides an overview of forecasting with neural networks. We provide a brief description of neural networks, their advantages over traditional forecasting models, and their applications for business forecasting. In addition, we address several important modeling issues for forecasting applications. INTRODUCTION The recent upsurge in research activities into artificial neural networks (ANNs) has proven that neural networks have powerful pattern classification and prediction capabilities. ANNs have been successfully used for a variety of tasks in many fields of business, industry, and science (Widrow et al., 1994). They have fast become a standard class of quantitative modeling tools for 701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Suite 200, Hershey PA 17033-1240, USA Tel: 717/533-8845; Fax 717/533-8661; URL-http://www.idea-group.com ITB9527 IDEA GROUP PUBLISHING This chapter appears in the book, Neural Networks in Business Forecasting, edited by G. Peter Zhang. Copyright © 2004, Idea Group Inc. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of Idea Group Inc. is prohibited.
Empirical Benefits of Training to Phishing Susceptibility

Social engineering continues to be the most worrisome vulnerability to organizational networks, data, and services. The most successful form of social engineering is the practice of phishing. In the last several years, a multitude of phishing variations have been defined including pharming, spear phishing, and whaling. While each has a specific reason for its success, they all rely on a user failing to exercise due diligence and responsibility. In this paper, we report on a recent phishing experiments where the effects of training were evaluated as well as gathering demographic data to explore the susceptibility of given groups.
SP1433-1438 operon of Streptococcus pneumoniae regulates metal homeostasis and cellular metabolism during zinc-stress

Streptococcus pneumoniae colonizes the mucosa of the human nasopharynx and is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia, acute otitis media, and bacterial meningitis. Metal ion homeostasis is vital to the survival of this pathogen and contributes significantly to both colonization and invasive disease. Microarray and qRT-PCR analysis revealed an upregulation of an uncharacterized operon (SP1433-1438) in pneumococci subjected to metal-chelation by N,N,N9,N9-tetrakis-(2-Pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN). Supplementation of either zinc or cobalt following TPEN treatment drastically abrogated induction. BLAST analysis predicted this operon to encode two ABC-transporters, sharing homology to a multidrug resistance system (SP1434-1435) and an energy-coupling factor (ECF) transport system (SP1436-1438). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis indicated changes in intracellular concentrations of iron, zinc, and manganese in a Δ1434-8 strain compared to parental T4R. Analysis of the secreted metabolomic profile of the T4R and Δ1434-8 strains identified significant changes in pneumococcal glycolytic pathways, indicating a shift towards increased production of acetate. Additionally, proteomic analysis revealed 41 differentially expressed proteins in the Δ1434-8 strain, with roughly 20% of them regulated by the global catabolite repressor, CcpA. Based on these findings, we propose that the SP1433-1438 operon is largely involved in the central metabolism of S. pneumoniae during zinc-limitation.
Patterns of Spread of Renal, Upper Urothelial, and Adrenal Pathology

The kidneys and adrenal glands reside within the perirenal space, a subdivision of the extraperitoneum formed by the anterior and posterior renal fascia. The posterior renal fascia was first described by Zuckerkandl and the anterior renal fascia by Gerota, but the two layers are known collectively as Gerota's fascia.1 These two layers fuse posterior to the colon, forming the lateroconal fascia, which continues around the flank blending with the peritoneal reflection. These fascial relationships define the extraperitoneal compartments.2
Principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is rapidly becoming the imaging modality of choice for children. It provides high-quality anatomic, spatial, functional, and physiologic information of the kidneys and urinary tract equal and often better than other advanced imaging techniques without ionizing radiation exposure. Contrast agents allow quantitative modeling for obtaining renal and urinary collecting system quantitative functional measures important for management decision analyses in pediatric urology. In this chapter, we discuss basic principles of nuclear magnetic resonance and spectroscopy as they relate to patient preparation, image acquisition and processing, and clinical indications. Understanding these factors allows practitioners to optimize image formation of magnetic resonance urography (MRU) and better interpret static and dynamic magnetic resonance urography.
Using Gravity and Magnetic Data for Insights into the Mesoproterozoic St. Francois Terrane, Southeast Missouri: Implications for Iron Oxide Deposits

Gravity and magnetic data in conjunction with available drill hole data were used to decipher the nature of the volcanic lithologies and their relationship to iron oxide ore deposits within the northwest portion of the Mesoproterozoic St. Francois Terrane in southeast Missouri. Analyses of the data included creating a deep-seated gravity anomaly map by removing the gravitational effect of the Paleozoic sedimentary units, residual gravity and magnetic anomaly maps, and two and one-half dimensional gravity and magnetic models. The residual gravity and magnetic anomaly maps highlighted a series of short-wavelength maxima and minima anomalies that could be interpreted to be granitic within collapsed caldera systems surrounded later by ring intrusions. The gravity and magnetic models illustrate that the sources of the anomalies are situated mainly within the upper 5 km of the crust and help to constrain the location of suspected calderas. The iron oxide deposits, some of which contain significant quantities of REE minerals, are rarely associated with both residual gravity and magnetic maxima but may be on the edge of these maxima and/or occur over gravity minima. The REE-rich Pea Ridge deposit is located over a gravity minimum where modeling shows the main ore body extending down to 1.5 km with a low-density region extending to 5 km below the ore body. The cause of this low-density body is unknown but may be associated with the formation of the ore deposit. Potential iron oxide deposits may occur to the south and southwest of Pea Ridge based on our analysis while to the northeast of the Pea Ridge deposit an anomaly pattern similar to that over Pea Ridge was found.
Correction of magnetic field inhomogeneity effects for fast quantitative susceptibility mapping.

Purpose Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) provides information about tissue composition and organization. However, current acquisition methods can be quite time consuming, limiting the use of QSM in studies and in monitoring dynamic events. In this work, time efficient spiral acquisitions are combined with a model-based image reconstruction approach. Magnetic field inhomogeneity artifacts are corrected to obtain full brain susceptibility maps. Methods Magnetic field maps, capturing the magnetic field inhomogeneity distribution due to non-tissue sources (background field), were estimated from a calibration scan. Tissue phase information present in the background field maps was identified using variable spherical mean value filtering and removed from the estimated field maps. The resulting background field maps were then used in the image reconstruction to correct the magnetic field inhomogeneity artifacts. Images were acquired on a 3 T system with a 3D spiral-in acquisition based on a rotated stack of spirals. For comparison, standard gradient echo images were also acquired. Susceptibility maps were obtained for both acquisitions using a dipole inversion algorithm based on a compressed sensing compensated formulation with wavelet and total variation penalties. Results Susceptibility maps obtained with the spiral acquisition and the model-based reconstruction agree with the ones obtained with the spin-warp gradient echo acquisition. Using the 3D spiral acquisition, full brain susceptibility maps at the resolution of 1 mm isotropic are obtained in 23 s CONCLUSIONS: Image distortions and blurring due to magnetic field inhomogeneity are removed while maintaining tissue magnetic susceptibility information, resulting in QSM maps in much shorter acquisition time.
Epigenetic Control of Pancreatic Carcinogenesis and Its Regulation by Natural Products

Abstract Pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer (PC) involves both genetic and epigenetic alterations. While genetic aberrations have been the focus of a majority of studies, recent research has highlighted the benefit of therapeutically targeting epigenetic changes because of their reversible nature. Differential promoter DNA methylation of tumor-suppressor genes/oncogenes and chromatin remodeling through histone methylation/acetylation represent some of the more well-characterized epigenetic changes that have been associated with PC onset and progression. A number of key enzymes, such as DNA methyltransferases, histone deacetylases, and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 that play important roles in epigenetic modifications in PC, are targets of anticancer agents obtained from natural products. Prominent among these natural products are 3-3′-diindolylmethane, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and resveratrol as well as derivatives of curcumin. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of epigenetic events that are relevant to PC pathogenesis, along with promising emerging data on the regulation of these epigenetic events by natural products.
Geometric Constructions for Symmetric 3-Configurations

A geometric 3-configuration is a collection of points and straight lines, typically in the Euclidean plane, in which every point has 3 lines passing through it and every line has 3 points lying on it, and we say that such configuration is symmetric if there are non-trivial isometries of the plane that map the configuration to itself. Many symmetric 3-configurations may be easily constructed with computer algebra systems using algebraic techniques: e.g., constructing a number of symmetry classes of points and lines, by various means, and then determining the position of a final class of points or lines by solving some polynomial equation. In contrast, this paper presents a number of ruler-and-compass-type constructions for exactly constructing various types of symmetric 3-configurations, as long as the vertices of an initial regular m-gon are explicitly provided. In addition, it provides methods for constructing chirally symmetric 3-configurations given an underlying unlabelled reduced Levi graph, for extending these constructions to produce dihedrally symmetric 3-configurations, and for constructing 3-configurations corresponding to all 3-orbit and 4-orbit reduced Levi graphs that contain a pair of parallel arcs. Notably, most of the configurations described are movable: that is, they have at least one continuous parameter.
Hemophilia A Presenting with Cephalohematoma in a Newborn

A male infant was born at 39 weeks gestation to a 28 year old G1P0>1. Mother reported no significant medical history and initially no significant family history. Labor was complicated by prolonged rupture of membrane (ROM) and failure to progress. Delivery was via Cesarean section without use of forceps. Vitamin K was administered. After delivery, infant had a temperature of 101.2 F. Due to prolonged ROM, a CBC was drawn; WBC 25,900/mm3, 9% bands, 68% PMNs, platelets 240 000/mm3, hematocrit 60.2%. Infant was well appearing and antibiotics were deferred. Physical exam on DOL 2 showed a large cephalohematoma …
C-terminal and full length TDP-43 specie differ according to FTLD-TDP lesion type but not genetic mutation

The transactive response DNA binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) is an intranuclear protein involved in RNA splicing. Abnormally deposited TDP-43 is found in the brains of patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Different morphological characteristics of TDP-43 immunoreactive inclusions define the different variants of FTLD-TDP. Little is known about the relationships between TDP-43 specie (phosphorylated TDP-43, C-terminal fragments and full length TDP-43) and lesion types. Using novel antibodies that recognize phosphorylated TDP-43 (pTDP-43), a neoepitope in the C-terminal fragment of TDP-43 (cTDP-43) and the N-terminal, i.e. full length (nTDP-43) we assess the relative burden of pTDP-43, cTDP-43 and nTDP-43 in 8 different lesion types across FTLD-TDP type A-C. These include neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions, dystrophic neurites, neuronal intranuclear inclusions, fine neurites of the hippocampus, peri-vascular inclusions, Pick body-like inclusions, long thick dystrophic neurites and granular pre-inclusions. We also assess for associations with progranulin (GRN) and C9ORF72 genetic mutations. For all eight lesion types, the highest burden was observed for pTDP-43. In six of the eight lesions studied, cTDP-43 burden was greater than nTDP-43 burden. However, we observed a higher burden of nTDP-43 to cTDP-43 for pre-inclusions. We also noted an equal-to-slightly higher burden of nTDP-43 to cTDP-43 for peri-vascular inclusions. There was not strong evidence for associations to be driven by mutation status although for neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions and dystrophic neurites GRN+ cases had higher burden of pTDP-43, cTDP-43 and nTDP-43 compared to GRN- cases, with nTDP-43 inclusions only observed in GRN+ cases. In addition, for pre-inclusions, cTDP-43 and nTDP-43 burden tended to be higher in C9ORF72- cases compared to C9ORF72+ cases, although this was not the case for pTDP-43. There is clear evidence that phosphorylation and C terminal fragments play an important role in lesion formation in FTLD-TDP. However, for some inclusions, particularly pre-inclusions, full-length TDP-43 appears to be playing a role.
Sample-free quantification of blood biomarkers via laser-treated skin

Surface modified microneedle (MN) arrays are being developed to capture circulating biomarkers from the skin, but inefficiency and unreliability of the current method limit its clinical applications. We describe here that illumination of a tiny area of the skin with hemoglobin-preferably absorbent laser increased the amount of circulating biomarkers in the upper dermis by more than 1000-fold. The hemoglobin-specific light altered the permeability of capillaries leading to extravasation of molecules but not blood cells beneath the skin involved. When specific probe-coated MN arrays were applied into the laser-treated skin, the biomarkers accumulated in the upper dermis were reliably, accurately, and sufficiently captured as early as 15 min of the assay. The maximal binding occurred in 1 h in a manner independent of penetration depth or a molecular mass of the biomarker. With anti-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-MNs, we were able to measure blood concentrations of FITC in mice receiving FITC intravenously. The sensitivity and accuracy were comparable to those attained by fluorescence spectrophotometer. Likewise, MNs containing influenza hemagglutinin (HA) could detect anti-HA antibody in mice or swine receiving influenza vaccines as effectively as standard immunoassays. The novel, minimally invasive approach holds great promise for measurement of multiple biomarkers by a single array for point-of-care diagnosis.
A Carboxy-Terminally Truncated G-CSF Receptor Abolishes Apoptosis Induction By Neutrophil Elastase G185R Mutant In Myeloid Cells,

Mutations in ELANE encoding neutrophil elastase (NE) have been identified in the majority of patients with severe congenital neutropenia (SCN). SCN patients are predisposed to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and progression from SCN to AML is accompanied by acquisition of mutations in CSF3R encoding the G-CSFR receptor (G-CSFR) in approximately 80% of the patients. The mutations, which cause receptor’s carboxy-terminal truncation, are highly specific for SCN/AML, but the reason for the prevalence of the CSF3R mutations in patients with SCN/AML is unknown. We show here that NE expression was induced by G-CSF in myeloid 32D cells expressing the wild type (WT) G-CSFR (32D/GR), but not in cells expressing an SCN-derived truncated G-CSFR, d715 (32D/d715). Unlike the WT G-CSFR, the d715 receptor was unable to activate a 1.8-kb promoter fragment of mouse Elane . The NE mutants associated with SCN have been shown to cause premature apoptosis of differentiating granulocytic precursors. To address whether the d715 receptor might abolish apoptosis induction by the NE mutants in part by suppressing their expression, we placed the cDNA encoding the SCN-derived NE G185R mutant under the control of the Elane promoter and the resultant expression construct was transfected into 32D/GR and 32D/d715 cells. G-CSF treatment resulted in increased expression of G185R mutant and premature apoptosis in 32D/GR cells, but had no effect on G185R expression and cell survival in 32D/d715 cells. We further addressed whether the d715 receptor was capable of directly suppressing apoptosis induced by the G185R mutant. As expected, forced expression of the G185R mutant in 32D/GR cells led to accelerated apoptosis in response to G-CSF, but did not negatively influence the viability of 32D/d715 cells cultured in G-CSF. To evaluate whether the d715 receptor inhibited apoptosis induction by the G185R mutant in other hematopoietic cells, we expressed the G185R mutant in murine multipotent FDCP-mix A4 cells transfected with WT G-CSFR (FDCP/GR) or d715 receptor (FDCP/d715). Although FDCP/GR cells expressing G185R mutant showed no significant increase in apoptotic cell death upon treatment with G-CSF, they exhibited increased sensitivity to tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In contrast, the G185R mutant failed to sensitize FDCP/d715 cells to apoptosis induction by tunicamycin. Thus, it appears that the d715 receptor may abolish G185R mutant-induced apoptosis by two distinct mechanisms, i.e., suppression of its expression and direct inhibition of its pro-apoptotic action. Our data may have implications for understanding the prevalence of CSF3R mutations in patients with SCN/AML. We propose that the CSF3R mutations might represent a mechanism by which myeloid cells carrying the ELANE mutations evade the pro-apoptotic effect of the NE mutants in SCN patients. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
High LRS-Resistance CMOS Memristive Synapses for Energy-Efficient Neuromorphic SoCs

A gamut of emerging non-volatile memory (NVM) devices, aka memristors, are currently being explored for mixed-signal hardware implementation of artificial neural networks. These constitute vector by matrix multipliers (VMMs) and Neuromorphic computing circuit implementations using NVM crossbar arrays. However, transistor-level circuit designers need to accommodate non-ideal behavior of these devices, that includes variability, low-resistance, finite resolution, relaxation of states, and endurance. In this work, we explore techniques for two-terminal high-LRS (low resistance state) synapses/weights using CMOS-NVM integration that are essential for energy-efficient implementation of Neuromorphic System-on-a-Chip (NeuSoC).
PROINFLAMMATORY CYTOKINE IMBALANCE AND MYOCARDIAL RECOVERY IN PERIPARTUM CARDIOMYOPATHY

Immune dysregulation is implicated in the development of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). We examined proinflammatory and inhibitory cytokines and their impact on myocardial recovery. 100 women with PPCM were enrolled and followed for 1-year postpartum (PP). LVEF was assessed at entry, 2, 6, and
Social construction of biopsychosocial and medical experiences of women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Aim To explore the perceived biopsychosocial and medical experiences of women with polycystic ovary syndrome, as presented in stories written by women on a social support website. Design Qualitative descriptive using low inference content analysis, guided by the social construction of illness theoretical framework. Methods In July 2018, 95 of 379 website stories were randomly selected. The stories were analysed, ending in September 2018. Results Three major themes aligning with framework constructs were identified: Biopsychosocial struggles and management: "I can't even look in the mirror without wanting to cry," Sociocultural navigation: "I feel all alone and no one understands me." and Healthcare encounters: "I don't feel like I'm getting the help I need". These themes revealed that Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has biological and experiential components, which exist independently of each other and hold social and cultural meanings. Conclusion Care for women with PCOS should be multidisciplinary, multidimensional, and multi-level to ameliorate biopsychosocial issues. Provider (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants) education about PCOS is necessary to enhance timely diagnosis and implement individualized treatment strategies. Non-advanced practice nurses are in a unique position to have an impact on patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes by providing and reinforcing patient education, coordinating management processes, counselling via telephone or in-person appointments and facilitating referrals to ancillary providers. Evidence-based and accessible psychosocial supports and interventions will lead to improved self-esteem and effective coping skills, and reduced stigma-related stress. Lastly, policy changes are warranted to address access to care, health insurance inequities and inadequate funding for PCOS-related research. Impact Increased awareness of PCOS and its biopsychosocial aspects will aid providers with timely diagnosis and meaningful treatment plans. Women with PCOS will gain acknowledgment, acceptance, and insight towards health care and self-management.
DSM-5 Level 1 cross-cutting measure in an online sample: evaluating its latent dimensionality and utility detecting nonspecific psychological distress.

Abstract Included in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is the Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure (CCSM), a self-report checklist with 23 items assessing 13 major psychiatric symptom clusters. To date, minimal literature has examined the factor structure of the CCSM and its utility identifying significant psychological distress, and existing studies pose notable limitations. Four hundred (400) American adults (M age = 34.13; 50.2% female) participated online via Amazon Mechanical Turk as part of a larger study, which included the CCSM. The sample was randomly split to conduct exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFAs and CFAs). EFAs revealed structures with one (general psychopathology) and two (externalizing/serious mental illness and internalizing/affective) factors accounting for 67.3% and 73.7% of the variance, respectively. CFAs indicated good fit for both models, though statistical comparison of the models via χ2 difference test revealed the two-factor model provided significantly better fit. Areas under the receiver operating curve (AUCs) suggested that all CCSM variables of interest poorly differentiated those currently receiving mental health treatment from those who have never received mental health treatment (AUCs ranged from .57 to .68). Implications of these findings, various limitations, and recommendations for future lines of inquiry were discussed.
Fully Polarimetric E-Band Instrumentation Radar in Support of Autonomous Vehicle Research

This paper reports on the development of a new fully polarimetric and wideband instrumentation radar operating at a center frequency of 79.6 GHz. This FMCW radar features high angular, range, and Doppler resolutions and supports continuous data acquisition of radar returns from complex traffic scenes. The system is suitable for use in phenomenological studies that support the use of E-band radars for autonomous vehicles and other applications.
Assessment and management of the heightened risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular events in patients with lupus erythematosus or dermatomyositis

Abstract For patients with lupus erythematosus (LE) or dermatomyositis (DM), there is an urgent need to address a heightened risk of clinical events, chiefly heart attacks and strokes, caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Patients with LE or DM frequently exhibit high levels of conventional risk factors for ASCVD events, particularly dyslipoproteinemia and hypertension; an amplified burden of atherosclerotic plaques; and increased age- and sex-adjusted rates of ASCVD events compared with the general population. The rate of ASCVD events exceeds what would be expected from conventional risk factors, suggesting that disease-specific autoimmune processes exacerbate specific, known pathogenic steps in atherosclerosis. Importantly, despite their heightened risk, patients with LE or DM are often undertreated for known causative agents and exacerbators of ASCVD. Herein, we propose an approach to assess and manage the heightened risk of ASCVD events in patients with LE or DM. Our approach is modeled in large part on established approaches to patients with diabetes mellitus or stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease, which are well-studied conditions that also show heightened risk for ASCVD events and have been explicitly incorporated into standard clinical guidelines for ASCVD. Based on the available evidence, we conclude that patients with LE or DM require earlier and more aggressive screening and management of ASCVD. We suggest that physicians consider implementing multipliers of conventional risk calculators to trigger earlier initiation of lifestyle modifications and medical therapies in primary prevention of ASCVD events, employ vascular imaging to quantify the burden of subclinical plaques, and treat to lower lipid targets using statins and newer therapies, such as PCSK9 inhibitors, that decrease ASCVD events in nonautoimmune cohorts. More clinical vigilance is needed regarding surveillance, prevention, risk modification, and treatment of dyslipidemias, hypertension, and smoking in patients with LE or DM. All of these goals are achievable.