cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of disposable PDMS micro cell culture analog devices with photopolymerizable hydrogel encapsulating living cells

Microscale cell culture devices with two or more cell types, such as the micro cell culture analog (microCCA), are promising devices to predict mammalian response to toxic drug and chemical exposure. A polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) version of such microfluidic devices has been challenging to construct due to the difficulty of patterning multi cell types directly into designated individual cell culture chambers in an oxygen plasma bonded PDMS device. Approaches with micro-valves for flow control are complex, expensive and inconvenient to use. In this study, an alternative approach using polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEG-DA) for spatially controlled multi-cell type patterning inside a bonded microCCA device is described. We constructed a three-cell type PDMS microCCA following a human physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling, and applied continuous cell culture medium recirculation within the device as a blood surrogate. A fluorescence microscope based direct pattern writing method was used to form cell/hydrogel microstructures with higher cell viability than the traditional UV lamp based method. The positive effect of mixed molecular weight PDG-DA on hydrogel-encapsulated cell membrane integrity was also studied. This prototype PDMS microCCA device was then tested with Triton X-100 as a model toxicant. The combination of hydrogel photo-patterning and the microfluidic cell culture platform enables the fabrication of simple and low cost multi-cell type biosensors for drug development, toxicity study and clinical diagnosis.
A Cortical Circuit for Gain Control by Behavioral State

The brain's response to sensory input is strikingly modulated by behavioral state. Notably, the visual response of mouse primary visual cortex (V1) is enhanced by locomotion, a tractable and accessible example of a time-locked change in cortical state. The neural circuits that transmit behavioral state to sensory cortex to produce this modulation are unknown. In vivo calcium imaging of behaving animals revealed that locomotion activates vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-positive neurons in mouse V1 independent of visual stimulation and largely through nicotinic inputs from basal forebrain. Optogenetic activation of VIP neurons increased V1 visual responses in stationary awake mice, artificially mimicking the effect of locomotion, and photolytic damage of VIP neurons abolished the enhancement of V1 responses by locomotion. These findings establish a cortical circuit for the enhancement of visual response by locomotion and provide a potential common circuit for the modulation of sensory processing by behavioral state.
PTSD and cognitive functioning: importance of including performance validity testing.

Many studies have observed an association between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cognitive deficits across several domains including memory, attention, and executive functioning. The inclusion of response bias measures in these studies, however, remains largely unaddressed. The purpose of this study was to identify possible cognitive impairments correlated with PTSD in returning OEF/OIF/OND veterans after excluding individuals failing a well-validated performance validity test. Participants included 126 men and 8 women with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) referred for a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation as part of a consortium of five Veterans Affairs hospitals. The PTSD CheckList (PCL) and Word Memory Test (WMT) were used to establish symptoms of PTSD and invalid performance, respectively. Groups were categorized as follows: Control (PCL < 50, pass WMT), PTSD-pass (PCL ≥ 50, pass WMT), and PTSD-fail (PCL ≥ 50, fail WMT). As hypothesized, failure on the WMT was associat...
Urinary diversion trends at a high volume, single American tertiary care center.

Purpose: We analyzed patient characteristics and practice patterns at our institution with time, and identified current patterns and factors contributing to the choice of urinary diversion.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of 553 consecutive radical cystectomy and urinary diversions performed from January 2000 to July 2005. Multivariate analysis was done to determine significant differences in diversion choice.Results: We analyzed the records of 539 patients, including 338 with an ileal conduit and 201 with a neobladder. Patients with a neobladder were younger (mean age 62 vs 71 years) and had fewer comorbidities (American Society of Anesthesiologists class greater than 2 in 31% vs 69%) than those with an ileal conduit. Mean age and the percent of American Society of Anesthesiologists class 3 or 4 cases increased during the study. Neobladder represented 47% of urinary diversions in 2000 and 21% in 2005. On multivariate analysis age (p <0.001), gender (p = 0.004), surgery year (p = 0.002), Ame...
Investigational cancer drugs targeting cell metabolism in clinical development.

Introduction: Malignant cell transformation and tumor progression are associated with alterations in glycolysis, fatty acid synthesis, amino acid delivery and production of reactive oxygen species....
Scholastic success in technology: minority students' perspective

The authors have observed an apparent increase in attrition and unexpectedly low course grades among some of the African-American students enrolled in Purdue University's School of Technology, particularly those in the engineering technology departments. To confirm this suspected trend and to strengthen the School of Technology's affirmative action efforts, several surveys of students and faculty are planned. The authors report the results of the first survey, where students were queried with the intent of determining possible areas for improvement in retention of African-American students from the students' perspective. Emphasis throughout the project will be on identification of factors that generally help or generally hinder minority students' scholastic success through consideration of their academic lifestyle. Activities that could improve the atmosphere of the typical technology course or in some other way be incorporated by the average (nonminority) instructor are of particular interest. >
High-Resolution Studies of Autodetachment in Negative Ions

A review of high-resolution autodetachment spectroscopy of negative ions is given. The coaxial laser-ion-beam technique is used to probe the autodetachment dynamics of several molecular negative ions. The NH - ( v = 1) ion is shown to decay mainly via vibrational autodetachment, whereas CH 2 CN - detaches via rotational autodetachment. The propensity rules implied by these systems are confirmed by PtN - , which is found to decay by both routes.
VMOS: high speed TTL compatible MOS logic

VMOS is a new v-groove n-channel MOS logic structure well suited for 5-V high-speed random logic. Compared to a typical gold-doped TTL medium-scale integrated (MSI) circuit, an experimental pin for pin equivalent VMOS circuit is 20 percent faster, four times smaller in area, and six times lower in power dissipation. On-chip VMOS delays are in the 2-3 ns range; off-chip drive capability exceeds 50 MHz with 6 TTL unit loads.
The relationship between smooth pursuit performance, motion perception and sustained visual attention in patients with schizophrenia and normal controls

Background. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that low smooth pursuit gain in schizophrenia is related to an abnormality in motion perception. Methods. The subjects were 19 schizophrenics treated with clozapine and 19 controls. In addition to smooth pursuit and motion perception paradigms, sustained attention was also assessed using a continuous performance task (CPT). Results. In the patient group, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between smooth pursuit gain and motion perception threshold (r = -0.60, P < 0.01). This relationship was not secondary to attention deficits as assessed by the CPT. Conclusions. Our results are consistent with the notion that the smooth pursuit gain deficit is related to a deficit in motion perception rather than in attention. Brain area V5 (also referred to as 'MT' in macaque), located in the parieto-occipital region, is known to be critically important both for motion perception and gain. Thus, our results point to an abnormality in this area in schizophrenia.
DNA loss and evolution of genome size in Drosophila

Mutation is often said to be random. Although it must be true that mutation is ignorant about the adaptive needs of the organism and thus is random relative to them as a rule, mutation is not truly random in other respects. Nucleotide substitutions, deletions, insertions, inversions, duplications and other types of mutation occur at different rates and are effected by different mechanisms. Moreover the rates of different mutations vary from organism to organism. Differences in mutational biases, along with natural selection, could impact gene and genome evolution in important ways. For instance, several recent studies have suggested that differences in insertion/deletion biases lead to profound differences in the rate of DNA loss in animals and that this difference per se can lead to significant changes in genome size. In particular, Drosophila melanogaster appears to have a very high rate of deletions and the correspondingly high rate of DNA loss and a very compact genome. To assess the validity of these studies we must first assess the validity of the measurements of indel biases themselves. Here I demonstrate the robustness of indel bias measurements in Drosophila, by comparing indel patterns in different types of nonfunctional sequences. The indel pattern and the high rate of DNA loss appears to be shared by all known nonfunctional sequences, both euchromatic and heterochromatic, transposable and non-transposable, repetitive and unique. Unfortunately all available nonfunctional sequences are untranscribed and thus effects of transcription on indel bias cannot be assessed. I also discuss in detail why it is unlikely that natural selection for or against DNA loss significantly affects current estimates of indel biases.
Lagging strand maturation factor Dna2 is a component of the replication checkpoint initiation machinery

Initiation of the DNA replication checkpoint in yeast is mainly mediated by Mec1 protein kinase, the ortholog of human ATR, while its homolog Tel1, the ortholog of human ATM, has a minor replication checkpoint function. Checkpoint initiation requires stimulation of Mec1 kinase activity by specific activators. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Dna2, a nuclease-helicase that is essential for Okazaki fragment maturation, is employed specifically during S phase to stimulate Mec1 kinase and initiate the replication checkpoint. Mutations (W128A and Y130A) in the unstructured N terminus of Dna2 abrogate its checkpoint function in vitro and in vivo. Dna2 shows partial redundancy for the replication checkpoint with checkpoint initiators 9-1-1 (S. cerevisiae Ddc1–Mec3–Rad17 and human Rad9–Rad1–Hus1) and Dpb11, the ortholog of human TopBP1. A triple mutant that eliminates the checkpoint functions of all three initiators abrogates the Mec1-dependent checkpoint.
A molecular and morphological analysis of the genus Rhizopogon subgenus Villosuli section Villosuli as a preface to ecological monitoring.

Rhizopogon (Boletales) represents a model genus for ecological studies of ectomycorrhizal fungi, but the identification of species in subgenus Villosuli section Villosuli has long been challenging due to variation in taxonomically informative morphologi- cal characters. Here we re-examine species concepts in this section using data from nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) sequences as well as spore measurements. Our phylogenetic analyses from 34 type and non-type collections of eight species, including the seven currently recognized in this section, found consistent support for only three species-level clades. Each of the clades had a significantly different combination of mean spore widths and Q ratios using digital- assisted measurements, which suggests both molecu- lar and spore-based morphological approaches can be used to identify species in this section. Based on our analysis, we propose that only three species names be applied to future ecological studies: R. hawkerae, R. parksii and R. villosulus .W e considerR. subareolatus and R. colossus as taxonomic synonyms of R. hawkerae and R. pseudovillosulus, R. rogersii, R. villescens and R. zelleri as taxonomic synonyms of R. villosulus.
Age-related differences in receptors for Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin in the small and large intestine of children

Escherichia coli that produce heat-stable enterotoxin are a worldwide cause of diarrheal disease, especially in children. We examined small and large intestinal specimens from children of various ages for the presence of E. coli heat-stable entero-toxin receptors and determined whether the number of receptors or the binding affinity of these receptors was related to the age of the child. We observed specific binding of 125I-heat-stable enterotoxin to all small intestinal and colonic specimens. However, a greater number of receptors per microgram of membrane protein were present in infants and the number of receptors rapidly decreased with increasing age. We also observed that increased heat-stable enterotoxin stimulation of guanylate cyclase was correlated with increased receptor density. We suggest that a greater number of gastrointestinal receptors for heat-stable enterotoxin, capable of activating more guanylate cyclase, may contribute to the increased severity of diarrhea noted in young children exposed to enterotoxigenic E. coli.
On the selection of arithmetic unit structure in voltage overscaled soft digital signal processing

A soft digital signal processing (DSP) design paradigm has been recently proposed to reduce the energy consumption of DSP systems through voltage overscaling. This paper shows that the selection of arithmetic unit structure can be an important and non-trivial issue in soft DSP system design. We present an optimal formulation and propose sub-optimal low-complexity approximations for selecting the appropriate arithmetic unit structure in voltage overscaled signal processing systems. We further present a case study on choosing the appropriate MAC (multiply-accumulate) structure in voltage overscaled FIR (finite impulse response) filter.
Genetics of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was first described by Charcot in 1869 as what we would now call a sporadic disease—a disease believed to occur without a strong genetic influence. Only within the past 10 years has it been possible to fully explore genetic influence on disorders that seem to occur sporadically but likely result from the convergence of multiple genetic and environmental factors. This article reviews the genetics of familial ALS and summarizes current investigations of genetic influence in sporadic ALS. Genetic study clearly offers the potential for identification of molecular targets that would allow development of rational therapies for various forms of ALS, but much work remains.
Boundary Layer Effects on Fronts over Topography

Abstract A hydrostatic, primitive equation model with frontogenetical deformation forcing is used to study the effects of surface friction on fronts passing over a two-dimensional ridge. Surface friction is parameterized using a K-theory planetary boundary layer (BL) parameterization with implicitly defined diffusion coefficients, following Keyser and Anthes. Previous studies without surface friction, such as Williams et al., show that a cold front weakens on the upwind slope and intensifies on the lee slope. This is in part due to a superposition effect of mountain flow where colder temperatures exist over the crest and in part due to the divergence pattern caused by the basic flow over the mountain (divergence on the upwind slope and convergence on the lee slope). In Williams et al., the final intensity of a front after passing a symmetric mountain is the same as a front moving over flat land. For no-mountain simulations, the inclusion of the BL results in a more realistic frontal structure and the fron...
Factors related to persisting perforations after ventilation tube insertion

Abstract Objective Over a million ventilation tubes are placed annually in the United States, making this one of the most commonly performed procedures in the field of medicine. Certain factors increase the risk of persistent tympanic membrane perforation following the extrusion of short term ventilation tubes. Persistent perforations may fail to heal on their own, necessitating surgical closure to avoid conductive hearing loss. It is important to detect factors that may predict children who are at increased risk for persistent perforations. Methods, outcomes data and statistical analysis This study was a retrospective chart review that involved 757 patients between 2003 and 2008. The patients studied were within the age of 2 months–17 years, and all had short term tubes placed. The chart data also included demographic information, comorbidities, and information related to tube insertion and follow-up care. Chi-square, t-test, and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to compare variables between patients with perforations and those without. Results Data from 757 patients was analyzed, showing that perforation rate is associated with rhinorrhea, operative tube removal, aural polyps, and otorrhea (OR 1.72, 8.16, 4.69, and 1.72 respectively). The absence of otorrhea decreased the likelihood of TM perforations and no significant differences were found in gender, total number of sets of tubes, type of tube, use of nasal steroids, adenoidectomy, or nasal congestion. Conclusion Our findings suggest that children with rhinorrhea, otorrhea, aural polyps, or prolonged intubation requiring operative tube removal should be identified clinically as children at risk of persisting perforation.
Gas-Exchange Responses of Alfalfa and Soybean Treated with Insecticides

Insecticides are often used to establish pest density and yield-loss relationships to determine economic injuries. However, the impacts of insecticides on plant gas-exchange processes are not well understood. If an insecticide alters plant physiology, crop yield may be altered and the thresholds developed with this insecticide are suspect. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the nontarget effects of insecticides on plant physiology. We conducted field experiments in 1996, 1997, and 1998 to examine the photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rates of alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., and soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, treated with insecticides commonly used for arthropod pest management in the midwestern United States. The insecticides were selected to represent the major classes of insecticides used on alfalfa and soybean: pyrethroids (cyfluthrin and permethrin), an organophosphate (chlorpyrifos), carbamates (carbofuran and carbaryl), and spinosyn (spinosad). Photosynthetic rates of alfalfa were not significantly affected in all experiments replicated over 3 yr, except 1 h after treatment in 1996, which showed a significant increase in photosynthetic rates for some insecticides. Also, stomatal conductance and transpiration rates of alfalfa did not reveal any significant differences among insecticide treatments. In soybean, photosynthetic rates were not significantly different for all insecticides tested either at seedling or reproductive stages. In addition, stomatal conductance and transpiration rates of soybean did not reveal any significant impact of insecticides at either seedling or reproductive stages. Other than a transient increase in photosynthesis observed with some insecticides at 1 time in 1 yr (1996), we did not observe any significant effects of tested insecticides on alfalfa and soybean physiology.
Chemotherapy principles of managing stage IV breast cancer in the United States

The therapeutic landscape for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has expanded greatly over the last three decades with an increasing availability of targeted therapies for specific breast cancer subtypes. However, cytotoxic chemotherapy remains an essential component for the management of endocrine refractory or triple negative MBC. Multiple chemotherapy agents have demonstrated activity in MBC as single agents and in combination. While taxanes are frequently recommended as the initial treatment of metastatic disease, capecitabine is a convenient oral therapy with well received toxicity profile. Eribulin is the only agent that demonstrated overall survival (OS) benefit in a phase III clinical trial when compared to treatment of physician choice in heavily pre-treated patients. Ixabepilone, gemcitabine, vinorelbine and platinum agents have demonstrated activity and, therefore, constitute additional therapeutic options. In this review, we will discuss the data supporting the use of different cytotoxic agents and the general principles in guiding the use of chemotherapy.
The superfluous revolution: post-Kantian philosophy and the nature of religious excess

Despite our common self-conceptions, we philosophers have our myths, heroes, and guiding narratives. Our work may emphasize conceptual clarity and deductive arguments, but these more sober and disc...
Isolation of an organophosphate susceptible strain of Culex quinquefasciatus from a resistant field population by discrimination against esterase-2 phenotypes.

Isolement d'une souche de Cx. quinquefasciatus sensible aux organophosphores a partir d'une population sauvage resistante, par selection contre le phenotype esterase-2 A
The Role of the Built Environment in Individuals with Mobility Disabilities’ Physical Activity

This study explored the relationship between the built environment and the health behaviors of individuals with mobility disabilities. The findings suggest that individuals with mobility disabilities are likely to participate in light recreation activities more often if there are opportunities to do so within convenient pedestrian distance of their residence.
Percutaneous endoscopic stomas.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is the creation of a tube gastrostomy by percutaneous gastric puncture under endoscopic guidance. The method has several variations and may be adapted for use in other areas of the gastrointestinal tract. It also establishes the principle of fixation of a loop of bowel to the abdominal wall by means of endoscopically guided puncture.
Fertilization success of sterlet Acipenser ruthenus and Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii gametes under conditions of heterospecific mating

Species may be prevented from interspecific hybridization by a number of different reproductive barriers that operate precopulatory and postcopulatory. In situation, when natural precopulatory reproductive barriers are affected by anthropogenic factors, postcopulatory reproductive barriers may be important for maintaining gametic isolation and hence preventing interspecific hybridization. This is highly topical in sturgeon (order Acipenseriformes) which exhibits remarkable ease of interspecific hybridization. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the fertilization success of Acipenser ruthenus and Acipenser baerii spermatozoa under the interspecific competitive conditions and assessed, whether their spermatozoa tend to differentially fertilize eggs of conspecifics. We set up several in vitro fertilization experiments: (i) pooled eggs of both species were fertilized by sperm of each species separately; (ii) eggs of each species were fertilized by pooled sperm; (iii) pooled eggs were fertilized by pooled sperm and (iv) purebred and hybrid control groups. Using parental assignment by molecular markers, we found that when these species competed in pooled sperm, 78.9% of progeny were sired by A. ruthenus and 21.1% by A. baerii, demonstrating higher fertilization success for the former, irrespective of conspecificity of fertilized eggs. When pooled eggs were inseminated by A. ruthenus or A. baerii sperm separately, progeny almost equally comprised hybrid and purebred individuals. Hence, neither A. ruthenus nor A. baerii eggs showed a tendency to biased fertilization by spermatozoa of conspecific males. These findings together show that there may not be postcopulatory mechanisms preventing hybridization between A. ruthenus and A. baerii.
Cosmopolitanism and Miocene survival of Eomysticetidae (Cetacea: Mysticeti) revealed by new fossils from New Zealand

ABSTRACTThe Eomysticetidae is an extinct family of early-diverging baleen whales. They are baleen-bearing filter feeders, but some have vestigial teeth. A limited fossil record indicates an acme during the Oligocene and probable worldwide distribution (South Carolina, USA, Japan, New Zealand), but little further regarding distribution and the timing of their origin and extinction. Newly discovered Oligo-Miocene specimens from New Zealand elucidate the biochronology and biogeography of the Eomysticetidae. First, a new specimen of the eomysticetid Waharoa from the upper Otekaike Limestone represents the youngest reliably dated eomysticetid worldwide (upper Waitakian, earliest Miocene). The fossil demonstrates that eomysticetids survived into the earliest Miocene. Second, a specimen from the lower Otekaike Limestone (Duntroonian, late Oligocene) shares unique craniomandibular features with the eomysticetid Yamatocetus, a genus hitherto reported only from Japan, indicating cosmopolitan or antitropical distrib...
Indications for and complications of transfusion and the management of gynecologic malignancies

Anemia, which is highly prevalent in oncology patients, is one of the most established negative prognostic factors for several gynecologic malignancies. Multiple factors can cause or contribute to the development of anemia in patients with gynecologic cancers; these factors include blood loss (during surgery or directly from the tumor), renal impairment (caused by platinum-based chemotherapy), and marrow dysfunction (from metastases, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy). Several peri- and intra-operative strategies can be used to optimize patient management and minimize blood loss related to surgery. Blood transfusions are routinely employed as corrective measures against anemia; however, blood transfusions are one of the most overused healthcare interventions. There are safe and effective evidence-based blood transfusion strategies used in other patient populations that warrant further investigation in the surgical oncology setting. Blood is a valuable healthcare resource, and clinicians can learn to use it more judiciously through knowledge of the potential risks and complications of blood interventions, as well as the ability to properly identify the patients most likely to benefit from such interventions.
E2, L, and M + … Shell Particle Parameters in Gd154

Publisher Summary The L and M + … shell particle parameters of the 123-keV E2 transition in Gd154 are measured by comparing the gamma-gamma and corresponding gamma-conversion electron directional correlation coefficients as determined with the same source. The chapter discusses the correlations with conversion electrons that are measured on a magnetic lens spectrometer adapted for directional correlation studies. The L lines are sufficiently resolved from the weaker M +… lines to permit accurate measurement of the L shell particle parameter, but the reverse is not true as it is seen from the conversion electron spectrum. This fact is reflected in the large error for the M + … result. The chapter presents the results of the gamma-gamma and gamma-conversion electron directional correlation measurements. The theoretical value of 1.25 for the L-shell is based on a point nucleus approximation where no screening corrections are applied. The value of 1.24 is based on the finite size and screening corrected calculations.
Learning to walk is still an "old" problem: a reply to Zelazo (1983).

Zelazo (1983) proposes that two cognitive prerequisites are necessary for the development of locomotion: The conversion of neo-natal reflexive stepping into instrumental behavior and a shift from stereotypical to relational play. I argue that these cognitive assumptions are unnecessary. The disappearance of neo-natal stepping can be explained as a result of increasing leg mass, and the retention of this reflex with practice may be simply an exercise effect. Comparative and evolutionary evidence suggests that locomotion is not associated with abstract reasoning ability. Learning to walk is a complex, gradual process of maturation of motivation, the integration of subcortical pattern-generating centers with the neural substrate for control of posture and balance, and important changes in body proportions and bone and muscle strength. The control of walking is likely the province of mechanisms phylogenetically more primitive than the human cerebral cortex. There is no need to invoke cortical explanations whe...
Exercise decreases defensive responses to unpredictable, but not predictable, threat.

Background Research supports the anxiolytic effect of exercise, but the mechanism underlying this effect is unclear. This study examines the influence of exercise in healthy controls on two distinct defensive states implicated in anxiety disorders: fear, a phasic response to a predictable threat, and anxiety, a sustained response to an unpredictable threat. Methods Thirty-four healthy volunteers (17 male, age M = 26.18, SD = 5.6) participated in sessions of exercise (biking at 60-70% of heart rate reserve) and control (biking at 10-20% of heart rate reserve) activity for 30 min, separated by 1 week. Threat responses were measured by eyeblink startle and assessed with the "Neutral-Predictable-Unpredictable threat test," which includes a neutral (N) and two threat conditions, one with predictable (P) and one with unpredictable (U) shock. Results Results show that exercise versus control activity reduces startle potentiation during unpredictable threat (P = .031), but has no effect on startle potentiation during predictable threat (P = .609). Conclusions These results suggest that exercise reduces defensive response to unpredictable, but not predictable, threat, a dissociation that may help inform clinical indications for this behavioral intervention, as well as provide clues to its underlying neurobehavioral mechanisms.
The clinical utility of prospective molecular characterization in advanced cervical and vulvovaginal cancer.

5531Background: The molecular landscape of recurrent cervical and vulvovaginal cancers is undefined. We sought to determine the clinical impact of performing next generation sequencing (NGS) in the...
Weighted vest effects on impact forces and joint work during vertical jump landings in men and women.

Abstract Weighted vest (WV) use during vertical jump landings (VJL) does not appear to alter peak vertical ground reaction forces (GRF) or peak joint torques. However, WV effects on joint work and sex differences during VJL are not well understood. This study assessed WV effects on vertical GRF and sagittal joint work during VJL in men and women. Twelve men and 12 women performed VJL wearing a WV with zero added mass (unloaded) and with 10% body mass (loaded) while GRF and kinematic data were obtained. Mixed-model analyses of variance (α = 0.05) and effect sizes (ES) were used to assess differences between sexes and/or load conditions. Regardless of sex, greater landing height (p
The glycogen phosphorylase/ phosphorylase kinase interaction: effects of mutations in the amino-terminal region of glycogen phosphorylase

Glycogen phosphorylase, important for carbohydrate metabolism, is found in. resting muscle as phosphorylase b, which is inactive without bovmd AMP. Phosphorylation by phosphorylase kinase (PhK) produces phosphorylase a, which is active in the absence of AMP. PhK is the only kinase that can phosphorylate phosphorylase b, which in him is the only substrate for PhK. We have explored the reasons for this specificity and how these two enzjones recognize each other by studying site-directed mutants of glycogen phosphorylase. All mutants were assayed for changes in their interaction with a trtmcated form of the catalytic subunit of phosphorylase kinase, 7(1-300). Three mutations (R69K, R69E, and E501A), made at sites that interact with the amino terminus in either phosphorylase b or a, showed little difference in phosphorylation by 7(1-300) compared to wild-type phosphorylase b. Five mutations, made at three sites in the amino-terminal tail of phosphorylase (KllA, KllE, I13G, R16A, and R16E), however, produced decreases in catalytic efficiency for 7(1-300), compared to phosphorylase b^ R16E was the poorest substrate for 7(1-300), giving a 47-fold decrease in catalytic efficiency. The aminoterminus, and especially Arg 16, are very important factors for recognition of phosphorylase by 7(1-300). A specific interaction between Lys 11 of phosphorylase and Glu 110 of 7(1-300) was also confirmed. In addition, I13G and R16A were able
Unruly Voices: Artists’ Books and Humanities Archives in Health Professions Education

Martha A. Hall’s artists’ books documenting her experience of living with breast cancer offer future health professionals a unique opportunity to sit in the patient’s position of vulnerability and fear. Hall’s books have become a cornerstone of our medical humanities pedagogy at the Maine Women Writers Collection because of their emotional directness and their impact on readers. This essay examines the ways that Hall’s call for conversation with healthcare providers is enacted at the University of New England and provides a model for how such works might be used at other educational institutions to encourage empathy between practitioners and patients by engaging in conversations about anger, fear, and other common reactions to life-threatening illness. We explore the unruly nature of Martha A. Hall’s narratives of illness and care, as well as how the form of the books themselves engages the reader in a deep relationship with Hall’s personal pain and her humanity itself. We explore, too, the cumulative effect of these powerful books on readers who handle them regularly, as we do in our roles as professor and archivist.
Two Cycling Centers in One Molecule: Communication by Through-Bond Interactions and Entanglement of the Unpaired Electrons.

Many applications in quantum information science (QIS) rely on the ability to laser-cool molecules. The scope of applications can be expanded if laser-coolable molecules possess two or more cycling...
Racing the creative class: diversity, racialized discourses of work, and colorblind redevelopment

In this paper, I examine a colorblind redevelopment strategy informed by Richard Florida’s creative class thesis to illustrate how it relies upon and reproduces historical socio-spatial patterns of...
Psychosomatik: Abhängigkeitserkrankungen – Legale Drogen

Anhand von drei zentralen Kasuistiken beleuchtet der Autor das Thema der Abhangigkeitserkrankungen am Beispiel des haufigsten Suchtmittels Alkohol. Dabei streicht er erstens heraus, wie individuell die jeweiligen Lebensrealitat der Erkrankten sein konnen, welchen Einfluss wirtschaftliche Faktoren als auch Aspekte der Isolation auf die Erkrankung haben, und zweitens, welche interkulturellen und kultursensiblen Ansatze als Handlungsempfehlungen angewendet werden konnen.
DeepACPpred: A Novel Hybrid CNN-RNN Architecture for Predicting Anti-Cancer Peptides

Anti-cancer peptides (ACPs) are a promising alternative to traditional chemotherapy. To aid wet-lab and clinical research, there is a growing interest in using machine learning techniques to help identify good ACP candidates computationally. In this paper, we describe DeepACPpred, a novel deep learning model composed of a hybrid CNN-RNN architecture for predicting ACPs. Using several gold-standard ACP datasets, we demonstrate that DeepACPpred is highly effective compared to state-of-the-art ACP prediction models.
Utilizing Take-Home Examinations in Upper-Level Analytical Lecture Courses in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Take-home examinations were utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic for upper-level analytical chemistry lecture courses. The questions were often scenarios which required the students to determine the best type of instrument to use and how to go about the experiment. Answers submitted were well thought out and detailed, showing that the students had a good understanding of the material. Student comments revealed a strong appreciation for the exams, as the exams helped them learn and understand the material better.
Severity of metabolic syndrome is greater among nonalcoholic adults with elevated ALT and advanced fibrosis

Abstract The obesity epidemic has increased risk for nonalcoholic fatty-liver disease (NAFLD), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. We hypothesized that metabolic syndrome (MetS) severity would correlate with markers of NAFLD and NASH fibrosis. We evaluated cross-sectional data from 5463 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2012, age 20 to 64 years with and without diabetes, excluding those with heavy drinking and infectious liver serologies. We used linear and logistic regression to evaluate links between MetS-severity (using a race/ethnicity-specific MetS-severity-Z-score, MetS-Z) and apparent NALFD sequelae, using elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) to determine presence of NAFLD and elevated NAFLD Fibrosis Score to identify advanced fibrosis (NASH Clinical Research Network scoring stage 3-4). The prevalence of unexplained ALT elevations and advanced fibrosis were 11.4% and 1.37%, respectively. MetS-Z-scores were higher among those with elevated ALT (0.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6, 0.8) and advanced fibrosis (1.7, CI: 1.5,1.9), compared to those without liver abnormalities (0.2, CI:0.2, 0.3). For every 1-standard-deviation unit increase in MetS-Z, there were higher odds of elevated ALT (OR = 1.58, CI: 1.44, 1.72) and advanced fibrosis (OR = 1.96, CI: 1.77, 2.18), with some attenuation after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and diabetes status. Significant differences were noted by race/ethnicity, with stronger links among whites versus blacks. The degree of MetS-severity was associated with progressive increase in apparent NAFLD and advanced fibrosis; as MetS-severity has also been linked to future cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease, this provides support for use of a MetS-severity score to screen for general health, with high levels triggering further assessment for liver abnormalities.
Recognizing the Plural Sector: Nonprofit Studies in a Business School Environment

The “best place” debate centers on which disciplinary setting is best for degree programs in nonprofit management education. We contribute to the discussion by reflecting on the constraints and opportunities intentionally identified in a developing program within an established business school. We ground our work in the nonprofit sector’s interdependence with the market and public sectors, and identify opportunities for reciprocity within a business school setting. Finally, we identify cultivating interdisciplinary relationships as a strategy to ameliorate tension between a competitive vs. collaborative “forced choice” approach. Subscribe to JNEL
Digital Representation and Quantification of Discrete Dislocation Structures

Discrete dislocation structures and their evolution are known to control the mechanical properties of metal samples. However, the lack of computationally efficient and statistically rigorous descriptors for such defect systems has hindered the development and adoption of rational protocols for the optimal design of these material systems. This study presents a framework for the rigorous statistical quantification and low-dimensional representation of dislocation structures using the formalism of 2-point statistics (also called 2-point spatial correlations) along with principal component analysis. The usefulness of this basic framework for comparing and observing dislocation structures is exemplified and discussed with suitable examples.
New vancomycin dosing guidelines for hemodialysis patients: rationale, caveats, and limitations

Vancomycin continues to be the most frequently prescribed antibiotic in patients with ESKD who are receiving hemodialysis due to the high prevalence of infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (1). Despite decades of clinical experience and routine performance of therapeutic serum drug concentration monitoring (TDM), vancomycin dosing in patients receiving hemodialysis remains challenging. Limited data and corresponding recommendations in the 2009 guidelines related to vancomycin dosing and monitoring in patients on hemodialysis have resulted in a lack of standardization of vancomycin dosing protocols among institutions and dialysis centers. In fact, it is not uncommon for vancomycin dosing regimens to be prescribed on the basis of individual clinicians’ preference and experience. Consequently, a wide range of vancomycin dosing regimens with different TDM and drug infusion approaches have been used in patients on hemodialysis (2), and there is a legitimate risk of therapeutic failure, toxicity, and drug resistance when suboptimal dosing regimens are prescribed. For instance, development of vancomycin-intermediate or vancomycin-resistant S. aureus is common in patients on hemodialysis and is likely attributed to suboptimal vancomycin therapy (3). Recently published vancomycin consensus guidelines provide updated recommendations for the treatment of serious MRSA infections, with the goal of attaining clinical efficacy (pharmacodynamic) targets while ensuring patient safety (2). The updated guidelines reflect a paradigm shift in TDM on the basis of accumulating data raising safety concerns related to vancomycin-associated AKI. The previous 2009 vancomycin consensus guidelines recommended trough-only TDM, based on the premise that a serum vancomycin concentration of 15–20 mg/L was a surrogate marker for attaining the efficacy target ( i.e. , the 24-hour area under the serum concentration-time curve/minimum inhibitory concentration [AUC/MIC] ratio of ≥400) in patients with normal kidney function (4). Trough-only monitoring was thought to be a reasonable alternative to avoid cumbersome AUC estimation in clinical settings. However, recent …
IRDye 800CW 2-deoxyglucose: A near infrared metabolic optical imaging agent

5527 Cancer cells are often characterized by a high metabolic rate exemplified in dramatically elevated glucose uptake. This biological activity has been exploited for noninvasive imaging by positron emission tomography using glucose analogues such as 35F-2-deoxy-D-glucose to generate a tumor-localized signal. In this work, our goal was to adapt a similar methodology for optical imaging of tumors in mice. We selected a fluorochrome with maximal excitation and emission wavelengths in the near infrared (NIR) spectral range (700-900 nm), where low absorption coefficients of tissues allow greater optical sensitivity, deeper tissue penetration, and low autofluorescence. The NIR fluorochrome, IRDye 800CW (excitation/emission of 778 nm/794 nm), was covalently coupled to 2-deoxyglucose (2DG). The resultant conjugate was evaluated first for specificity and sensitivity in vitro. Specificity of the agent was assessed using an In-Cell Western assay, in which concentration dependence of label uptake was established by fluorescence changes in a high throughput microplate format. Uptake of the labeled agent was specifically blocked in a dose dependent manner by addition of unlabeled 2-deoxyglucose. Subsequent in vivo studies were conducted to optimize dosing, clearance, and the optimal time post-injection for signal capture in nude mice. A research prototype imager, optimized to detect IRDye 800CW signal, was used to characterize the IRDye 800CW-2DG optical agent in subcutaneous tumors derived from either an epithelial carcinoma (A431 cells), colorectal carcinoma (SW620 cells), or prostate carcinomas (PC3M-LN4 and 22Rv1). In all cases, the tumors were clearly imaged with good signal to noise characteristics. This pilot demonstration suggests IRDye 800CW-2DG will be an excellent general optical imaging tool for studying tumor biology in mice.
Small-Angle Light Scattering for Analysis of a Single Fiber

Small-angle light scattering (SALS) was shown to be a suitable analytical method for characterizing submicrogram-sized samples of single textile fibers. Fibers from a variety of different generic groups were examined by SALS and produced widely differing scattering patterns. These differences were of such magnitude as to allow discrimination between all fibers examined.
An experiment to test the value of hygienic measures in the control of staphylococcal infection of the dairy cow.

SUMMARY 1. The paper describes the results of an experiment involving eighty-eight cows which was designed to test the efficiency of hygienic methods for the control of staphylococcal infection of the udder. 2. These consisted of the use of various disinfectants for washing the udder prior to milking, the use of rubber gloves by the milker and the sterilization of the clusters in water at 85°c for 5 seconds in the case of half the cows, while the other half were maintained as controls without the application of these procedures. 3. After a period of 3 years there was no demonstrable advantage under the conditions of the experiment in the use of hygienic methods as shown by the fact that the spread of infection was no less than that found in the controls. 4. Regular examination of swabs taken from the surface of the teat showed that the various disinfectants were of no value in destroying staphylococci. 5. Staphylococci of the same types as those found in the udder were widely distributed on the body surface of the cow particularly on the hocks and teats.
A Multivariate Global Optimization Using Linear Bounding Functions

Recently linear bounding functions (LBFs) were proposed and used to find e-global minima. This paper presents an LBF-based algorithm for multivariate global optimization problems. The algorithm consists of three phases. In the global phase, big subregions not containing a solution are quickly eliminated and those which possibly contain the solution are detected. An efficient scheme for the local phase is developed using our previous local minimization algorithm, which is globally convergent with superlinear/quadratic rate and does not require evaluation of gradients and Hessian matrices. To ensure that the found minimizers are indeed the global solutions or save computation effort, a third phase called the verification phase is often needed. Under adequate conditions the algorithm finds the e-global solution(s) within finite steps. Numerical testing results illustrate how the algorithm works, and demonstrate its potential and feasibility.