cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discussion. Occipital artery vasculitis not identified as a mechanism of occipital neuralgia-related chronic migraine headaches.

O neuralgia is a disabling, dolorous condition that drastically changes the quality of life for afflicted patients. Although the significance of this condition and its clinical presentation have been defined, the cause and the effects of this disabling entity remain unclear. The collective recent interest in the management of head and neck pain, which is often related to peripheral mechanisms, provides a proper platform and rationale for this study. Although our studies have demonstrated the constriction points along the occipital nerve,1–9 the reality is that the specific mechanism underlying occipital neuritis as opposed to migraine headaches is not clearly understood. This article by Ducic et al. convincingly negates any possibility of occipital neuritis being related to an inflammation of the occipital artery. Although most of the time positive findings are expected from studies, negative findings can also be equally meaningful. This study rules out one potential cause of occipital pain. The role of the proximity of the artery, documented in a variety of sites, is most likely a cardinal one in occipital neuritis. However, it is also likely that a variety of mechanisms contribute to this condition and migraine headaches individually or collectively. It is enigmatic that, although the nerves and artery run together within the neurovascular bundles, the artery does not always irritate the nerve on every patient. Therefore, there has to be a vulnerability of the nerve that potentiates the inflammation and the subsequent release of substance P and neurokinins that result in pain. What makes this matter more puzzling is that even on the same patient, the pain can be unilateral, which reduces the power of a central phenomenon theory or a generalized nerve disposition for irritation. Otherwise, the pain would be bilateral in every patient. It is possible that some deficit in the myelin and lack of sufficient protection of the axons is what makes the nerve more prone to being stimulated. However, this remains to be proven. It is also quite likely that more than one mechanism evokes nerve irritation, such as the presence of a tortuous vessel along with fascia bands and constriction points along the course of the nerve that results in nerve constriction. As vasodilatation occurs, the nerve is mechanically compressed or irritated. Although the outcomes of surgery by this author and our group have validated this hypothesis, true scientific evidence is lacking, and there is a dearth of basic science support. It is therefore our responsibility to investigate each mechanism individually in depth as was done in this report. Dr. Ducic and his research team should be congratulated for devoting so much time and energy to an area of plastic surgery that is most rewarding and changes the quality of life for the patient enormously.
Biometrics Authentication using Another Feature of Heartbeat Waveform

In this paper, we propose a personal authentication method using heartbeat waveforms to enhance the security in wireless communication. The heartbeat waveform of a human being has discriminative characteristic features, and the mimicking is very difficult. Therefore, their application to personal authentication has been studied. Existing methods for heartbeat based personal authentication are focused only on the amplitude of the heartbeat. In order to increase the amount of heartbeat features, we propose an authentication method using the area of heartbeat in addition to the amplitude. To validate that our personal authentication method is applicable, we perform some experiments to show that our method provides better authentication than existing ones.
Reconstructing power cables from LIDAR data using eigenvector streamlines of the point distribution tensor field

Starting from the computation of a covariance matrix of neighborhoods in a point cloud, streamlines are utilized to reconstruct lines of linearly distributed points following the major Eigenvector of the matrix. This technique is similar to fiber tracking in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), but in contrast is done mesh-free. Different weighting functions for the computation of the matrix and for the interpolation of the vector in the point cloud have been implemented and compared on artificial test cases. A dataset stemming from light detect and ranging (LIDAR) surveying served as a testbed for parameter studies where, finally, a power cable was reconstructed.
CYCLING OF TRACE METAL AND CHLORINATED HYDROCARBON WASTES IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT

: Trace metals and chlorinated hydrocarbons are two important types of wastes released to the marine ecosystem off southern California. Municipal wastewater discharge is the dominant route of entry for most of the metals investigated. However, the use of vessel antifouling paints, primers, and corrosion-preventing anodes apparently can cause order of magnitude increases in metals levels for both harbor waters and mussels. Invertebrates living near highly-contaminated sediments around a major coastal municipal outfall concentrate certain metals up to ten times natural levels; in contrast, little abnormal uptake was measured in several species of fish from this region. In the past, municipal wastewater has also been the dominant source of chlorinated hydrocarbons to the Bight; however, between 1972 and 1975 these emissions decreased by an order of magnitude, and dry aerial fallout is now an equivalent input route. Despite these reductions, DDT and PCB levels in the highly-contaminated sediments and flatfish from the largest outfall zone decreased by only about a factor of 1.5 during the same period. This indicates that release of these synthetic organics to nearshore marine sediments can lead to persistent contamination of coastal ecosystems. Harbor mussels collected near sites of vessel activity in 1974 and 1977 were also contaminated by PCB's, containing up to twenty times the concentration found in coastal specimens.
Reply to "Implications of abnormal preoperative axillary imaging in the post Z011 era".

We would like to take the opportunity to address a number of points brought up in the accompanying commentary by Drs. Selleck and Senthil. The objective of the paper under discussion is to examine whether the routine practice of axillary imaging is beneficial in selecting patients who will require an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) when managed according to ACOSOG Z0011 eligibility criteria. The study specifically refers to women presenting with cT1-2N0 invasive breast cancer undergoing breast-conserving surgery.
Genomics-Based Marker Discovery and Diagnostic Assay Development for Wheat Blast

Wheat blast has emerged as a major threat to wheat production in South America. Although originally restricted to Brazil, the disease has since been observed in the neighboring countries of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay and recently the pathogen, Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum pathotype, was isolated from infected wheat in Bangladesh. There is growing concern that the pathogen may continue to spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, where several M. oryzae pathotypes are endemic. M. oryzae pathotypes are morphologically indistinguishable and, therefore, must be characterized genotypically. Symptoms of wheat blast include bleaching of the head, which closely resembles the symptoms of Fusarium head blight, further complicating efforts to monitor for the presence of the pathogen in the field. We used a genomics-based approach to identify molecular markers unique to the Triticum pathotype of M. oryzae. One of these markers, MoT3, was selected for the development of a polymerase chain r...
Some Results in the Theory of Low-Lying Zeros of Families of L-Functions

While Random Matrix Theory has successfully modeled the limiting behavior of many quantities of families of L-functions, especially the distributions of zeros and values, the theory frequently cannot see the arithmetic of the family. In some situations this requires an extended theory that inserts arithmetic factors that depend on the family, while in other cases these arithmetic factors result in contributions which vanish in the limit, and are thus not detected. In this chapter we review the general theory associated with one of the most important statistics, the n-level density of zeros near the central point. According to the Katz–Sarnak density conjecture, to each family of L-functions there is a corresponding symmetry group (which is a subset of a classical compact group) such that the behavior of the zeros near the central point as the conductors tend to infinity agrees with the behavior of the eigenvalues near 1 as the matrix size tends to infinity. We show how these calculations are done, emphasizing the techniques, methods, and obstructions to improving the results, by considering in full detail the family of Dirichlet characters with square-free conductors. We then move on and describe how we may associate a symmetry constant with each family, and how to determine the symmetry group of a compound family in terms of the symmetries of the constituents. These calculations allow us to explain the remarkable universality of behavior, where the main terms are independent of the arithmetic, as we see that only the first two moments of the Satake parameters survive to contribute in the limit. Similar to the Central Limit Theorem, the higher moments are only felt in the rate of convergence to the universal behavior. We end by exploring the effect of lower order terms in families of elliptic curves. We present evidence supporting a conjecture that the average second moment in one-parameter families without complex multiplication has, when appropriately viewed, a negative bias, and end with a discussion of the consequences of this bias on the distribution of low-lying zeros, in particular relations between such a bias and the observed excess rank in families.
Paired N and O isotopic analysis of nitrate and nitrite in the Arabian Sea oxygen deficient zone

Abstract The Arabian Sea is home to one of the three main oceanic oxygen deficient zones (ODZs). We present paired nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) isotope measurements of nitrate (NO 3 - ) and nitrite (NO 2 - ) from the central Arabian Sea in order to understand the effects of N biogeochemistry on the distribution of these species in the low oxygen waters. Within the ODZ, NO 2 - accumulated in a secondary NO 2 - maximum (SNM), though the shape and magnitude of the SNM, along with the isotopic composition of NO 3 - and NO 2 - , were highly dependent on the location within the ODZ. We also explored water mass mixing within the Arabian Sea as an explanatory factor in the distribution of NO 2 - in the SNM. The intrusion of Persian Gulf Water at depth may influence the shape of the NO 2 - peak by introducing small amounts of dissolved oxygen (O 2 ), favoring NO 2 - oxidation. There was also evidence that vertical mixing may play a role in shaping the top of the SNM peak. Finally, we present evidence for NO 2 - oxidation and NO 2 - reduction co-occurring within the ODZ, as has been previously suggested in the Arabian Sea, as well as in other ODZs. The decoupling of the N and O isotopes of NO 3 - , deviating from the expected 1:1 ratio for dissimilatory NO 3 - reduction, indicates that NO 2 - oxidation has a significant influence on the isotopic composition of NO 3 - . Additionally, the N isotopes of NO 2 - were generally fit well by Rayleigh curves for NO 2 - oxidation. However, the removal of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) within the domain reflects the importance of NO 2 - reduction to N 2 .
Wing Fuel-Tank Heat-Sink Calculation for Conceptual Aircraft Design

The utilization of fuel as a heat sink can enable the design of higher-performance aircraft through the reduction of heat loads. A conceptual design phase energy model for the cross section of a wi...
Aged Lymphatic Vessels and Mast Cells in Perilymphatic Tissues

This review provides a comprehensive summary of research on aging-associated alterations in lymphatic vessels and mast cells in perilymphatic tissues. Aging alters structure (by increasing the size of zones with low muscle cell investiture), ultrastructure (through loss of the glycocalyx), and proteome composition with a concomitant increase in permeability of aged lymphatic vessels. The contractile function of aged lymphatic vessels is depleted with the abolished role of nitric oxide and an increased role of lymphatic-born histamine in flow-dependent regulation of lymphatic phasic contractions and tone. In addition, aging induces oxidative stress in lymphatic vessels and facilitates the spread of pathogens from these vessels into perilymphatic tissues. Aging causes the basal activation of perilymphatic mast cells, which, in turn, restricts recruitment/activation of immune cells in perilymphatic tissues. This aging-associated basal activation of mast cells limits proper functioning of the mast cell/histamine/NF-κB axis that is essential for the regulation of lymphatic vessel transport and barrier functions as well as for both the interaction and trafficking of immune cells near and within lymphatic collecting vessels. Cumulatively, these changes play important roles in the pathogenesis of alterations in inflammation and immunity associated with aging.
Dendritic cells pulsed with an anti-idiotype antibody mimicking Her-2 induced protective antitumor immunity in mice transgenic for human Her-2

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 5293 The ErbB-2 (Her-2) proto-oncogene is overexpressed in 20-30% of human breast cancers and is associated with high recurrence risk. The oncogenic potential of Her-2, together with its elevated expression in tumors, cell surface localization, and immunogenicity in some patients, make this oncoprotein an ideal target for immunotherapy. A number of different approaches have been investigated in both human and animal studies in an attempt to develop an effective Her-2 vaccine. To test the efficacy of immune-based strategies in eliciting an antitumor response, we have developed and characterized a murine monoclonal anti-idiotype (Id) antibody, 6D12 that mimics a specific epitope of Her-2 and can be used as a surrogate antigen for Her-2. Anti-Id 6D12 vaccine also induced protective Her-2 specific antitumor immunity in immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice. Since Her-2 is a self-antigen and the amino acid sequence is typically unmodified in human cancer, immune tolerance to this tumor-associated antigen is expected in human. Therefore, in the present study we have tested the vaccine potential of anti-Id 6D12 in tolerant hosts. We have demonstrated that immunization of human Her-2 transgenic mice with bone marrow-derived mature dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with 6D12 could reverse Her-2 unresponsiveness and result in the induction of Her-2-specific humoral and cellular immune responses and protection against tumors expressing Her-2. The presence of anti-Her-2 antibodies in immunized mice were determined by ELISA and flow cytometry. Antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity against human Her-2 transfected EL4 cells (EL4-Her-2) was also observed in presence of immune sera. Immune-splenic lymphocytes when stimulated in vitro , showed increased proliferative CD4+ Th1 type T-cell responses and secreted significantly high levels of Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α) and low levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-10). Antigen-specific proliferative responses were dependent on the functions of CD4, MHC II, B7-2, CD40, CD28, and CD25. Her-2 transgenic mice immunized with 6D12 were protected against a challenge with lethal doses of EL4-Her-2 cells, whereas no protection was observed against parental EL4 cells or when mice were immunized with an unrelated anti-Id antibody and challenged with EL-4-Her-2 cells. These findings suggest that 6D12-DC vaccinations were able to break immune tolerance to Her-2 and induced protective antitumor immune responses in this murine model transgenic for human Her-2. Supported by the NIH grant RO1 CA91878 and a pilot grant from The Barrett Cancer Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
The deep, hot biosphere: Twenty-five years of retrospection.

Twenty-five years ago this month, Thomas Gold published a seminal manuscript suggesting the presence of a “deep, hot biosphere” in the Earth’s crust. Since this publication, a considerable amount of attention has been given to the study of deep biospheres, their role in geochemical cycles, and their potential to inform on the origin of life and its potential outside of Earth. Overwhelming evidence now supports the presence of a deep biosphere ubiquitously distributed on Earth in both terrestrial and marine settings. Furthermore, it has become apparent that much of this life is dependent on lithogenically sourced high-energy compounds to sustain productivity. A vast diversity of uncultivated microorganisms has been detected in subsurface environments, and we show that H2, CH4, and CO feature prominently in many of their predicted metabolisms. Despite 25 years of intense study, key questions remain on life in the deep subsurface, including whether it is endemic and the extent of its involvement in the anaerobic formation and degradation of hydrocarbons. Emergent data from cultivation and next-generation sequencing approaches continue to provide promising new hints to answer these questions. As Gold suggested, and as has become increasingly evident, to better understand the subsurface is critical to further understanding the Earth, life, the evolution of life, and the potential for life elsewhere. To this end, we suggest the need to develop a robust network of interdisciplinary scientists and accessible field sites for long-term monitoring of the Earth’s subsurface in the form of a deep subsurface microbiome initiative.
Do Superior or Inferior Interlaminar Approach or Bevel Orientation Predispose to Nonepidural Needle Penetration

OBJECTIVE. There is a paucity of evidence-based literature regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the interlaminar approach and needle bevel orientation for performing a lumbar interlaminar epidural steroid injection (ESI). The purpose of this study was to determine if superior versus inferior lamina approach, needle bevel tip orientation, or both may predispose to inadvertent nonepidural penetration during lumbar interlaminar ESI. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. A prospective study was performed of patients with low back pain with or without radicular pain or neurogenic claudication referred for lumbar interlaminar ESI. Two hundred eleven patients were randomized by interlaminar approach (superior vs inferior) and bevel tip orientation (cranial vs caudal). Lumbar interlaminar ESI was performed by six interventionalists of varying levels of experience using fluoroscopic guidance with curved tip epidural needles, using loss-of-resistance technique and confirmation with contrast opacification. Exact Poisson re...
The 2015 drought in Washington State: a harbinger of things to come?

Washington State experienced widespread drought in 2015 and the largest burned area in the observational record, attributable in part to exceptionally low winter snow accumulation and high summer temperatures. We examine 2015 drought severity in the Cascade and Olympic mountains relative to the historical climatology (1950–present) and future climate projections (mid-21st century) for a mid-range global greenhouse gas emissions scenario. Although winter precipitation was near normal, the regional winter temperature anomaly was +2.1 °C (+2.0σ) in 2015, consistent with projections of a +2.3 °C (+2.2σ) temperature change and near normal precipitation in the future, relative to the climatology. April 1 snow water equivalent in 2015, −325 mm (−1.5σ), and the future, −252 mm (−1.1σ), were substantially lower than the climatology. Wildfire potential, as indicated by dead fuel moisture content, was higher in 2015 than mid-21st century mean projections. In contrast to most historical droughts, which have been driven by precipitation deficits, our results suggest that 2015 is a useful analog of typical conditions in the Pacific Northwest by the mid-21st century.
Aminoglycoside Damage and Hair Cell Regeneration in the Chicken Utricle

In this study, we present a systematic characterization of hair cell loss and regeneration in the chicken utricle in vivo. A single unilateral surgical delivery of streptomycin caused robust decline of hair cell numbers in striolar as well as extrastriolar regions, which in the striola was detected very early, 6 h post-insult. During the initial 12 h of damage response, we observed global repression of DNA replication, in contrast to the natural, mitotic hair cell production in undamaged control utricles. Regeneration of hair cells in striolar and extrastriolar regions occurred via high rates of asymmetric supporting cell divisions, accompanied by delayed replenishment by symmetric division. While asymmetric division of supporting cells is the main regenerative response to aminoglycoside damage, the detection of symmetric divisions supports the concept of direct transdifferentiation where supporting cells need to be replenished after their phenotypic conversion into new hair cells. Supporting cell divisions appear to be well coordinated because total supporting cell numbers throughout the regenerative process were invariant, despite the initial large-scale loss of hair cells. We conclude that a single ototoxic drug application provides an experimental framework to study the precise onset and timing of utricle hair cell regeneration in vivo. Our findings indicate that initial triggers and signaling events occur already within a few hours after aminoglycoside exposure. Direct transdifferentiation and asymmetric division of supporting cells to generate new hair cells subsequently happen largely in parallel and persist for several days.
New methodology for determining the dielectric constant of a piezoelectric material at the resonance frequency range

A new methodology is proposed to measure the dielectric constant and loss of a piezoelectric at the resonance frequency range based on the burst excitation method. Using a k31 type soft PZT rectangular specimen, we investigated the ‘force’ and ‘voltage’ factors carefully under the short- and open-circuit conditions of the burst method, in terms of the ratio of the ring-down current and voltage with the plate end vibration velocity and the displacement, and their phase lags. We provide the obtained material properties, including loss parameters, in particular, dielectric properties at the resonance frequency range. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Abstract 18080: Survival Trends and Healthcare Cost Following Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in the United States: Is the Price Tag Worth It?

Introduction: The international resuscitation community has put forward multiple strategies to optimize health care delivery following cardiac arrest. Hypothesis: We sought to identify national tre...
Premature ventricular beats in the athlete: management considerations.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Premature ventricular beats (PVBs) in competitive athletes are incidentally found during pre-participation ECG screening. Their clinical significance remains debatable with several studies suggesting they are a benign reflection of athlete’s heart, and others proposing they may indicate underlying structural heart disease and heightened risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD).Areas covered: Effective management of athletes with PVBs may best be accomplished using an algorithmic approach for risk stratification with a goal of differentiating benign PVBs from those reflective of underlying cardiomyopathies. Current AHA/ACC consensus recommendations provide a platform for determining optimal medical and invasive therapeutic strategies for symptom control and management of long-term complications without erroneously restricting an athlete’s ability to play. Utilizing a shared decision-making model is an optimal method for managing expectations and guiding exercise recommendations.Expert comm...
Calcaneal Osteotomy Safe Zone to Prevent Neurological Damage: Fact or Fiction?

Background. Calcaneal osteotomy is a commonly used surgical option for the correction of hindfoot malalignment. A previous cadaveric study described a neurological “safe zone” for calcaneal osteoto...
Phase I clinical trials with fludarabine phosphate.

There have been six different phase I trials of Fludara I.V. (fludarabine phosphate) in patients with solid tumors and three different phase I trials of Fludara I.V. in patients with acute leukemia. In addition, one trial of the agent given intraperitoneally has also been published. In patients with solid tumors, the two most often used schedules are a daily bolus schedule of 18 to 25 mg/m2/d for 5 days repeated every 28 days, and a 20 mg/m2 loading dose followed by a 48-hour continuous infusion of the agent at a dose of 25 to 30 mg/m2/d. The dose-limiting toxicity in these studies has been myelosuppression. No dosage or schedule could be recommended for patients with acute leukemia because of the severe neurotoxicity (progressive dementia with blindness leading to coma) noted with doses greater than or equal to 96 mg/m2/d for 5 to 7 days. Other toxicities noted in phase I trials have included somnolence, mild to moderate nausea and vomiting, and a rare and reversible interstitial pneumonitis. Of greatest interest is that a profound lymphopenia has been noted as a side effect of Fludara I.V. That toxicity has proven to be of benefit for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, low-grade lymphoma, and mycosis fungoides, all of which are responsive to Fludara I.V. therapy.
c-fes Proto-Oncogene

The human c- fes proto-oncogene (Fes) encodes a protein-tyrosine kinase distinct from c-Src, c-Abl, and other nonreceptor tyrosine kinases. Originally identified as the cellular homolog of avian (v-Fps) and feline (v-Fes) transforming retroviral oncoproteins, Fes expression was first reported in myeloid hematopoietic cells where it may regulate myeloid differentiation. Fes is also expressed in vascular endothelial cells, some neuronal cell types, as well as breast and intestinal epithelial cells, where it appears to regulate growth, survival, and differentiation. Structurally, Fes consists of an N-terminal Fes-CIP4 homology-bin–amphiphysin–rvs domain (F-BAR) homology region, a central Src homology 2 (SH2) domain, and a C-terminal kinase domain. The F-BAR region is composed of a Fes-Cdc42-interacting protein 4 (CIP4) homology (FCH) domain, which is involved in Fes association with microtubules, as well as tandem coiled-coil (CC) domains, which regulate Fes oligomerization and kinase activity. Fes signals downstream through Ras and other small G proteins, STAT transcription factors (STAT, signal transducers and activators of transcription), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Fes also phosphorylates cell adhesion-related substrates in macrophages. Further, Fes isinvolved in endothelial cell migration in response to angiogenic factors, is upregulated in the mammary gland during pregnancy, and may influence neuronal differentiation. Although Fes had not been directly implicated in human disease, loss of Fes expression is often observed in colorectal cancer, suggesting a possible role as a tumor suppressor. By contrast, Fes may contribute to oncogenic signaling downstream of active mutants of c-Kit and in renal cell carcinoma, suggesting that the role of Fes in human cancer is very likely to be cell-site specific.
How Religious Is #BlackLivesMatter?

Many commentators have suggested that the US Civil Rights Movement was led by religious figures while the current movement for racial justice, organized around the slogan Black Lives Matter, is secular. This chapter complicates that narrative. It examines ways that religious ideas and practices continue to circulate among racial justice organizers today. While some organizers identify as secular, others as Christian, and still others as embracing African-inspired spirituality, the shared vocabulary of the movement has deep Christian resonances. Concepts like love, dignity, and faith circulate on social media and in activist meetings, and this language stands ambivalently between the secular and the religious.
An Evolutionary Online Framework for MOOC Performance Using EEG Data

Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) is a scalable, free or affordable online course which emerged as one of the fastest growing distance education platforms in the past decade. One of the biggest challenges that threatens distance education is abnormality in the overall level of consciousness of students while they are taking the course. In this paper, an evolutionary online framework was proposed to improve the performance of MOOCs via noninvasive electro-physiological monitoring methods such as electroencephalography (EEG). Based on the proposed platform, EEG signals can be recorded from users while they are wearing any EEG headsets. EEG measures a brain's spontaneous voltage fluctuations resulting from ionic current within the neurons of the brain via multiple electrodes placed on the scalp. A total of eleven extracted features from EEG signals were employed as the inputs of the evolutionary classification algorithm to predict two classes of confused and not-confused for each individual. An accuracy of 89 % was considered significant enough to suggest that there is difference in the EEG signals of individuals with confusion versus not-confused individuals.
Teaching social issues through cinema and teletandem

Teletandem is an innovative learning experience that helps to connect foreign language students with native or competent speakers in a virtual context. Through a Teletandem project, students have the opportunity to learn a language while developing a new cultural dimension. This paper presents the pedagogical experience of using Spanish cinema and a U.S. – Chilean Teletandem project designed to promote linguistic skills while addressing sociocultural issues related to the target culture. Using Web 2.0 tools, students had monthly synchronous conversations that focused on cultural, racial, gender, and social-political problems associated with the Hispanic culture. The Teletandem project allowed students to compare information learned in class with the material collected from their partners. This exchange of information helped students to form their own opinions and gain new perspectives of the target culture.
Modeling Electron Transfer in Diffusive Multidimensional Electrochemical Systems

We analyze different stochastic approaches for simulating electron transfer and potential sweep experiments in diffusive multidimensional electrochemical systems. In particular, we focus on a simple two-dimensional system, where one dimension is a traditional mass diffusion coordinate moving reactants from bulk solution to an electrode, and a second dimension represents a reorganization coordinate capturing solvent motion. We find that this multidimensional system can indeed be reduced to a simpler one-dimensional model, provided certain circumstances pertaining to separability between the two coordinates are met. Our results should begin to bridge the gap between continuum models of electrochemical dynamics/transport and ab initio models of surface electronic structure.
Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between total and regional white matter hyperintensity volume and cognitive and motor function in Parkinson's disease.

Abstract Background White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are frequently observed on T2-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging studies of healthy older adults and have been linked with impairments in balance, gait, and cognition. Nonetheless, few studies have investigated the longitudinal effects of comorbid WMH on cognition and motor function in Parkinson's disease. Methods The Lesion Segmentation Tool for Statistical Parametric Mapping was used to obtain total lesion volume and map regional WMH probabilities in 29 PD and 42 control participants at two study visits 18 months apart. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal comparisons were made between composite scores in the domains of executive function, memory, and language, and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores. Results We found no difference between disease and control groups in total WMH volume or progression during the study. Greater regional and global WMH at baseline was more strongly associated with lower executive function in PD subjects than in controls. Increased regional WMH was also more strongly associated with declining memory performance in PD relative to controls. Longitudinally, no associations between cognitive change and total or regional WMH progression were detected in either group. A positive relationship between baseline regional WMH and total UPDRS scores was present in the control group, but not PD. However, greater WMH increase was associated with a greater increase in UPDRS motor sub-scores in PD. Conclusions These findings suggest that although PD patients do not experience greater mean WMH load than normal aged adults, comorbid WMH do exacerbate cognitive and motor symptoms in PD.
Epilogue: Donald Trump’s Contribution to Research on Presidential Power

Many observers, scholarly and popular alike, have noted that Donald Trump’s approach to the presidency differs in many ways from that taken by other modern presidents. In parting, Jacob Neiheisel argues that this fact may provide students of presidential power with a nearly unparalleled look at the degree of success that might be enjoyed by presidents who employ the formal powers of the office without engaging in negotiations with other political stakeholders prior to taking direct action—much as other presidents have often done. Revisionist challenges to the “dominant theoretical understanding” of presidential power emphasize that presidents often take into account the potential costs of exercising “power without persuasion” and act accordingly prior to turning to their command authority. President Trump, by all outward indicators, rarely if ever engages in such efforts, preferring instead to take unilateral executive action without first soliciting input from other relevant political actors. He has instead been remarkably forthcoming about the strategic logic behind his use of executive power and has articulated a view of direct action that seems almost inspired by views on the presidency that underscore the significant first-mover advantage afforded to the chief executive. If this characterization is accurate, future scholarship might be able to leverage the Trump presidency to explore the subject of formal presidential power in isolation.
Attitudes, practices and perceived barriers to hepatitis C screening among medical residents at a large urban academic medical center

Infections with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are increasing among adolescents and adults born after 1965. Screening strategies may need to be adapted for this changing population. We surveyed trainees in different specialties about attitudes and practices related to HCV screening and identified specific barriers to screening across various healthcare settings. Constraints related to health system resources and the provider's role were among the most common barriers cited across specialties, but paediatrics residents also cited barriers specific to their population, which can likely be addressed with targeted education.
Birth outcomes in women who have taken adalimumab in pregnancy: A prospective cohort study.

Background Information is needed on the safety of adalimumab when used in pregnancy for the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases. Methods and findings Between 2004 and 2016, the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists Research Center at the University of California San Diego conducted a prospective controlled observational cohort study in 602 pregnant women who had or had not taken adalimumab. Women in the adalimumab-exposed cohort had received at least one dose of the drug in the first trimester for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s Disease (N = 257). Women in the disease comparison cohort had not used adalimumab in pregnancy (N = 120). Women in the healthy comparison cohort had no rheumatic or inflammatory bowel diseases (N = 225). Women and their infants were followed to one year postpartum with maternal interviews, medical records abstraction, and physical examinations. Study outcomes were major structural birth defects, minor defects, spontaneous abortion, preterm delivery, pre and post-natal growth deficiency, serious or opportunistic infections and malignancies. 42/602 (7.0%) of pregnancies were lost-to-follow-up. 22/221 (10.0%) in the adalimumab-exposed cohort had a live born infant with a major birth defect compared to 8/106 (7.5%) in the diseased unexposed cohort (adjusted odds ratio 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45 to 2.73). Women in the adalimumab-exposed cohort were more likely to deliver preterm compared to the healthy cohort (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.59, 95% CI 1.22 to 5.50), but not compared to the diseased unexposed cohort (aHR 0.82, 95% CI 0.66 to 7.20). No significant increased risks were noted with adalimumab exposure for any other study outcomes. Conclusions Adalimumab exposure in pregnancy compared to diseased unexposed pregnancies was not associated with an increased risk for any of the adverse outcomes examined. Women with rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s Disease were at increased risk of preterm delivery, irrespective of adalimumab exposure.
Using High Reliability Organization Principles in Pediatric Interfacility Emergency transport

Introduction. The complex and dynamic environment of Pediatric Interfacility Emergency Transport (PIET) fulfills the basic criteria for High-Reliability Organizations (HRO) in that failure can have catastrophic results. Increasingly, medicine is following the lead of other high risk industries in adopting HRO understanding and best practices. Case Report. For over a decade, CHOC Emergency Transport Services (ETS) has performed >4000 total transports yearly from up to 125 referral sites with a very low failure rate (undertriage, overutilization of resources, unexpected deterioration, transport mode conversion, adverse events). Fundamental to this performance is a mindfulness mentality and resource structure …
Energetic dependencies dictate folding mechanism in a complex protein

Large proteins with multiple domains are thought to fold cotranslationally to minimize interdomain misfolding. Once folded, domains interact with each other through the formation of extensive interfaces that are important for protein stability and function. However, multidomain protein folding and the energetics of domain interactions remain poorly understood. In elongation factor G (EF-G), a highly conserved protein composed of 5 domains, the 2 N-terminal domains form a stably structured unit cotranslationally. Using single-molecule optical tweezers, we have defined the steps leading to fully folded EF-G. We find that the central domain III of EF-G is highly dynamic and does not fold upon emerging from the ribosome. Surprisingly, a large interface with the N-terminal domains does not contribute to the stability of domain III. Instead, it requires interactions with its folded C-terminal neighbors to be stably structured. Because of the directionality of protein synthesis, this energetic dependency of domain III on its C-terminal neighbors disrupts cotranslational folding and imposes a posttranslational mechanism on the folding of the C-terminal part of EF-G. As a consequence, unfolded domains accumulate during synthesis, leading to the extensive population of misfolded species that interfere with productive folding. Domain III flexibility enables large-scale conformational transitions that are part of the EF-G functional cycle during ribosome translocation. Our results suggest that energetic tuning of domain stabilities, which is likely crucial for EF-G function, complicates the folding of this large multidomain protein.
Unpacking the power of place-based education in climate change communication

Climate change is the one of the most controversial issues in environmental history since natural processes and human activities lead to causation. This complexity often thwarts communication and e...
Public Attitudes toward Blindness

By way of summary—this paper has been concerned with a number of problems related to public attitudes toward blindness. A major emphasis has been upon attitudinal components—upon their description,...
Predicting Subjective Sleep Quality Using Recurrent Neural Networks

Our goal is to predict subjective sleep quality (SSQ) from objective sleep data and identify the causes and markers of the variances within “normal” sleep. Such information would increase our understanding of the causes of variation in SSQ and potentially improve our ability to improve SSQ. Previous approaches rely on human annotation of the electroencephalographic (EEG) brain signals, to deal with the noisy, high dimensional nature of the EEGs. We aim to use recurrent neural networks to directly analyze and extract useful information from EEG brain signals. We analyze population-based overnight sleep polysomnography data obtained from 4885 community-dwelling adults. We use convolutional and recurrent neural networks to process the EEGs and combine them with information related to health and lifestyle to predict subjective depth and restfulness of sleep. We compare the coefficient of determination to the ones obtained with regression methods and technician annotations of the EEGs in previous studies. Predicting SSQ from our data set of community-dwelling adults using RNNs to analyze the whole EEG signals appear to be less accurate than previous approaches predictions. It might be necessary to acquire more data, possibly with new variables that might be better correlated with SSQ. RNNs are, however, able to extract variables correlated with SSQ from EEG signals. Our results provide insights into how RNNs can be used to extract information from brain signals and how methods such as hierarchical clustering analysis can help neural networks predict subjective variables from polysomnography data.
Practice day may be unnecessary prior to testing knee extensor strength in young healthy adults.

A practice session is common prior to strength testing. However, the benefits of practice have not been previously reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a practice sess...
A Study of Seeking Information about Preexposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Risk Compensation Intention among Men Who Have Sex with Men

Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been an effective preventive measure against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission among the men who have sex with men (MSM) community. Many medical rep...
Improving Exposure Using Thoracoscopy for Apical Thoracic Neuroblastoma Encasing the Subclavian Vessels.

Background: Posterolateral thoracotomy provides limited access to the thoracic apex that can result in poor visualization of subclavian vessels, their branches, and the brachial plexus. A thoracoscopic approach may overcome these limitations. Purpose: We report a thoracoscopic approach and associated technical challenges in resecting apical thoracic neuroblastoma encasing the subclavian artery. Methods: A single-institution retrospective chart review was performed (2018-2020) for patients undergoing thoracoscopic resection of apical neuroblastoma encasing the subclavian artery. Patient demographics, imaging, and hospital course were reviewed. Operative video recordings were assessed for exposure quality, technical challenges, and percentage of tumor resection. Patients were placed laterally, with three 5-mm ports triangulated to the apex. Dissection started at the tumor edge and followed along the vessel and branches. Results: Four patients (median age 2.7 years) underwent thoracoscopic apical neuroblastoma resection. Median length of stay was 2.5 days. One low-risk patient underwent resection for tumor growth during observation. One intermediate and 2 high-risk patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Two patients continued having persistent vascular encasement, whereas in 1 patient the mass decreased in size and only abutted the subclavian and vertebral arteries. In 1 patient, tumor involved the brachial plexus, which was freed and preserved thoracoscopically. All cases had substantial tumor-feeding vessels branching from the subclavian artery. There was one conversion to open thoracotomy due to dense tumor adherence to the subclavian artery and vein. More than 95% resection was achieved in all cases. All patients had baseline Horner syndrome. No complications were reported. Conclusion: The thoracoscopic approach for resecting apical neuroblastoma provides optimal exposure and safe access in selected patients.
Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Caregivers Prior to Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HCT).

ABSTRACT Family and friends caring for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) recipients experience substantial disruptions in daily life as they prepare for transplant. These disruptions may increase their psychological distress, yet little research has described the extent of this distress. The goals of the present study were to characterize rates of anxiety and depression symptoms immediately prior to HCT and their relationship with modifiable caregiving domains. We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data of caregivers of patients undergoing HCT. Caregivers completed self-report measures to assess 8 domains of caregiving (Caregiver Oncology Quality of Life Questionnaire) and anxiety and depression symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]) prior to transplant. Scores ≥8 on the HADS anxiety and depression subscales signified clinically significant symptoms. We used multivariable regression models adjusting for age, sex, caregiver relationship, and HCT type to examine the associations between caregiving domains and anxiety and depression symptoms. We enrolled 193 caregivers (median age = 60 years, 70.0% female, 52.3% allogeneic transplant). A majority of participants were providing care for a spouse (79.8%), followed by a child (7.8%) or parent (5.2%). On average, caregivers reported more anxiety (mean = 7.04, SD = 3.94) than depression symptoms (mean = 4.18, SD = 3.49), with 46.6% and 16.1% endorsing clinically significant anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively. Caregiver anxiety was associated with worse physical well-being, less leisure time, and poorer coping (Ps
Aging with multiple sclerosis: A longitudinal study of physical function, mental health, and memory in two cohorts of US women.

Background:It is unknown how individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) age compared to unaffected peers.Objectives:The objective of the study is to describe the impact of MS on health and functionin...
Machine Learning Identification of Capsid Mutations to Improve AAV Production Fitness

The adeno-associated virus (AAV) holds great potential for gene therapy efforts by providing a viable vector. However, current efforts are constrained by a lack of AAV variants that exhibit specific tropisms or immunogenicity and a lack of sustainable industrial projection. Departing from experimental approaches to addressing these issues, we built a model to predict residue mutations to improve AAV production fitness. Our model leverages the evolutionary paradigm and microenvironment characteristics by analyzing structural AAV data without needing domain knowledge or experimental fitness data for AAV as inputs. When testing our model9s predictions for AAV2 residue mutations, we found a threefold increase in the percent of mutations yielding variants with better production fitness than wild type compared to random mutations, achieving a p-value of 7.46×10-12. Given these results, our machine learning approach of using structural data to approximate fitness data has the potential to accelerate AAV development.