cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Down-Regulation of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Cascade Immediately Before Parturition in the Rat Myometrium

This study tested the hypothesis that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is up-regulated during the course of pregnancy concomitant with uterine hypertrophy. The expression and intracellular distribution of components of the MAPK cascade and the activation of MAPKs erk1 and erk2 were examined in the pregnant rat myometrium (days 10-22 of gestation). Protein expression was detected by Western analysis of myometrial subcellular fractions. Mitogen-activated protein kinase activation was studied by detection of tyrosine phosphorylation of erk1 and erk2 kinases and enzymatic activity. Mitogen-activated protein kinase activity increased from day 15 to day 20 of pregnancy. Immediately before parturition, MAPK activity, but not expression, declined sharply. During the same interval, membrane expression of the mitogenic-switching protein ras and the ras activator sos declined. The shift in intracellular distribution ras and ras chaperone proteins may precede the down-regulation of membrane-dependent mitogenic signaling and uterine hypertrophy as pregnancy approaches parturition.
Human Intestinal Tissue and Cultured Colonic Cells Contain Globotriaosylceramide Synthase mRNA and the Alternate Shiga Toxin Receptor Globotetraosylceramide

Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing E. coli (STEC) bacteria are not enteroinvasive but can cause hemorrhagic colitis. In some STEC-infected individuals, a life-threatening sequela of infection called the hemolytic uremic syndrome may develop that can lead to kidney failure. This syndrome is linked to the production of Stx by the infecting organism. For Stx to reach the kidney, the toxin must first penetrate the colonic epithelial barrier. However, the Stx receptor, globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), has been thought to be absent from human intestinal epithelial cells. Thus, the mechanisms by which the toxin associates with and traverses through the intestine en route to the kidneys have been puzzling aspects of STEC pathogenesis. In this study, we initially determined that both types of Stx made by STEC, Stx1 and Stx2, do in fact bind to colonic epithelia in fresh tissue sections and to a colonic epithelial cell line (HCT-8). We also discovered that globotetraosylceramide (Gb4), a lower-affinity toxin receptor derived from Gb3, is readily detectable on the surfaces of human colonic tissue sections and HCT-8 cells. Furthermore, we found that Gb3 is present on a fraction of HCT-8 cells, where it presumably functions to bind and internalize Stx1 and Stx2. In addition, we established by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) that both fresh colonic epithelial sections and HCT-8 cells express Gb3 synthase mRNA. Taken together, our data suggest that Gb3 may be present in small quantities in human colonic epithelia, where it may compete for Stx binding with the more abundantly expressed glycosphingolipid Gb4.
Evidence for Biological and Hydrological Controls on the Development of a Paleoproterozoic Paleoweathering Profile in the Baraboo Range, Wisconsin, U.S.A.

Abstract We examined a complete late Paleoproterozoic paleoweathering profile beneath the Baraboo Quartzite from south-central Wisconsin, USA, in order to interpret biological and hydrological controls on ancient terrestrial weathering processes. Detailed thin-section investigations were used to identify characteristic pedogenic features associated with saprolitization and formation of an overlying regolith, and the isocon method (a geochemical mass-balance technique) was employed to characterize elemental gains and losses. The age of the sub-Baraboo profile is well constrained by the youngest detrital zircon ages previously reported from the basal Baraboo Quartzite (1712 Ma), and the 1749 Ma crystallization age of the underlying Baxter Hollow granite and rhyolite parent materials. Micromorphologic evidence of paleoweathering comprises clay illuviation features (indicative of clay movement), sepic-plasmic fabrics (formed by repeated wetting and drying cycles), redoximorphic features (redox-related depletions and concentrations of Fe indicative of variable drainage and redox conditions), and dissolution and alteration of feldspars and mafic minerals (now sericite and Fe-oxides). Geochemical evidence for weathering includes depth-dependent whole-rock losses of Na, Ca, Mg, Si, Ba, Sr, Fe, and Mn, and relative enrichment of several immobile elements; there is also evidence for post-weathering K metasomatism (previously dated as 1456 Ma) that includes 30% net additions of K and Rb. Geochemical patterns for the Baraboo profile resemble those of the previously studied and older Pronto (2.475–2.44 Ga) and Ville Marie (2.38–2.215 Ga) paleoweathering profiles, but with important differences related to Baraboo profile development beneath a regolith cover and under conditions of variable hydrology during weathering. In spite of its age and greenschist-facies metamorphism, the Baraboo paleoweathering profile is remarkably similar to some modern weathering profiles formed on granite.
RAE-1 ligands for the NKG2D receptor are regulated by E2F transcription factors, which control cell cycle entry

The NKG2D stimulatory receptor expressed by natural killer cells and T cell subsets recognizes cell surface ligands that are induced on transformed and infected cells and facilitate immune rejection of tumor cells. We demonstrate that expression of retinoic acid early inducible gene 1 (RAE-1) family NKG2D ligands in cancer cell lines and proliferating normal cells is coupled directly to cell cycle regulation. Raet1 genes are directly transcriptionally activated by E2F family transcription factors, which play a central role in regulating cell cycle entry. Induction of RAE-1 occurred in primary cell cultures, embryonic brain cells in vivo, and cells in healing skin wounds and, accordingly, wound healing was delayed in mice lacking NKG2D. Transcriptional activation by E2Fs is likely coordinated with posttranscriptional regulation by other stress responses. These findings suggest that cellular proliferation, as occurs in cancer cells but also other pathological conditions, is a key signal tied to immune reactions mediated by NKG2D-bearing lymphocytes.
The challenge of enzyme cost in the production of lignocellulosic biofuels

With the aim of understanding the contribution of enzymes to the cost of lignocellulosic biofuels, we constructed a techno-economic model for the production of fungal cellulases. We found that the cost of producing enzymes was much higher than that commonly assumed in the literature. For example, the cost contribution of enzymes to ethanol produced by the conversion of corn stover was found to be $0.68/gal if the sugars in the biomass could be converted at maximum theoretical yields, and $1.47/gal if the yields were based on saccharification and fermentation yields that have been previously reported in the scientific literature. We performed a sensitivity analysis to study the effect of feedstock prices and fermentation times on the cost contribution of enzymes to ethanol price. We conclude that a significant effort is still required to lower the contribution of enzymes to biofuel production costs.
Comparison of ovarian follicular activity during treatment with a monthly injectable contraceptive and a low-dose oral contraceptive.

Abstract Ovarian follicular development occurs during treatment with combined and progestin-only oral contraceptive (OC) pills and progestin-containing subdermal implants, and can be associated with the development of persistent functional cysts that may require surgical removal. Lunelle is a once-a-month injectable contraceptive containing estradiol cypionate 5 mg and medroxyprogesterone acetate 25 mg. A randomized, comparative study was undertaken to compare the effect on ovarian follicular activity associated with use of Lunelle and a low-dose OC. A total of 30 ovulatory subjects were randomly assigned to receive two cycles of treatment with either an OC containing ethinyl estradiol 20 μg and 0.1 mg levonorgestrel or Lunelle. During the second cycle of treatment, pelvic sonography was performed every 4 days, at which time the maximum follicle diameter was measured. Study end points were the presence of follicles ≥10, 20, and 30 mm. In all, 13 of 15 subjects in the OC group and 14 of 15 in the Lunelle group completed the study. Follicles measuring ≥10 mm were present in 11 of 13 (84.6%) in the OC users and in four of 14 (28.6%) in the Lunelle users (p
Tacit Shared Understandings of a First-Grade Writing Community:

This study examined first graders' tacit shared understandings about composing as related to expectations about the processes and meaning of writing. Data were gathered in one first-grade classroom during the 2 1/2-hour reading/writing block over a 20-week period. The 19 students were ethnically diverse and ranged in SES from low to middle income. Domain, typological, theme, and reconstructive intersubjective analysis were all used in analyzing the following sources of data: field observations gathered by a participant observer; informal talk with students and the teacher; formal interviews with the teacher, students, and parents; and regularly collected samples of the students' writing and drawing. Two levels of student assumptions emerged from the data. The first level addresses the community's assumptions about composing which evolved through daily interactions. Specifically, it was alright to compose in one's own way, but the writer had to be able to interpret it and attending to audience interest is ...
Exact formula for (μ-->eγ)-type processes in the standard model

We compute exactly all the one-loop contributions to the amplitude A..-->..B..gamma.., where A and B are fermions of the same charge, but different flavor, in the standard electroweak gauge model. The result is of importance if all mass effects are to be correctly taken into account.
Bactericidal Action of Sulfhydryl Binding Compounds

An oxidation product of indole-3-acetic acid, 3-methyleneoxindole, is highly reactive with free sulfhydryl groups. It has been shown to be a potent bactericidal agent in actively growing cultures. The bactericidal action of 3-methyleneoxindole was found to be independent of protein or deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis but to require the capacity for ribonucleic acid synthesis. The reactions underlying the bactericidal effect of 3-methyleneoxindole are not unique to it among compounds which can bind free SH groups, since N-ethylmaleimide appeared to have a similar mode of action.
Finite element analysis of lidded flip-chip packages: A study on the impact of thermal interface material compressibility and stress-free conditions on modeling predictions

In this paper, we present the effects of assumptions made about the constitutive behavior of a cured, silicone gel type thermal interface material (TIM) and the package stress-free conditions on FEA modeling predictions. The focus will be on the deformations (or warpage) predicted by the models for lidded flip-chip packages. It is critical for such warpage predictions to be close to experimental measurements for accurate projection of mechanical stresses and strains in a package. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) warpage measurements on flip-chip modules are compared against the predicted values and the impact of above-mentioned assumptions will be discussed. It will be shown that the TIM mechanical and thereby, thermal degradation is a strong function of the TIM compressibility and stress-free condition assumptions. Bounds of non-linear elastic modeling technique for the TIM and guidelines for conducting numerical analysis for lidded flip-chip packages will be provided.
No home for the “ordinary gamut”: A historical archaeology of community displacement and the creation of Detroit, City Beautiful

Michigan Central Station and Roosevelt Park were constructed between 1908 and 1918 as part of Detroit’s City Beautiful Movement. The construction process was a place-making effort designed to impla...
Computing with coupled Spin Torque Nano Oscillators

This paper gives an overview of coupled oscillators and how such oscillators can be efficiently used to perform computations that are unsuitable or inefficient in von-Neumann computing models. The “unconventional computing” ability of coupled oscillatory system is demonstrated through Spin Torque Nano Oscillators (STNOs). Recent experiments on STNOs have demonstrated their frequency of oscillation in few tens of gigahertz range, operating at low input currents. These attractive features and the ability to obtain frequency locking using a variety of techniques, make STNOs an attractive candidate for non-Boolean computing. We discuss coupled STNO systems for applications such as edge detection of an image, associative computing, determination of L2 norm for distance calculation, and pattern recognition.
Tissue selenium levels in selenium-supplemented rats and their relevance in mammary cancer protection

The present study was designed to investigate whether there is any correlation between the anticarcinogenic efficacy of selenium (Se) compounds and tissue Se retention under high levels of supplementation. With the use of the dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mammary tumor model in chemoprevention experiments, our data showed that selenomethionine was not as active as selenite over a graded dose range from 1 to 5 p.p.m. Se. Tissue Se concentrations in blood, liver, kidney and skeletal muscle were always higher in rats given selenomethionine compared with those given selenite at each of the three levels tested (1, 3 and 5 p.p.m. Se). The difference was only minimal in blood, but became more pronounced in the liver and kidney, and was quite dramatic in the skeletal muscle. Thus a high tissue concentration or total body burden of Se is not necessarily an indicator of reduced susceptibility to carcinogenesis. The bioavailability of the Se pool in maintaining liver glutathione peroxidase activity during a period of Se deprivation, following excess selenite or selenomethionine loading, was also assessed. The half-life of decay of the enzyme was calculated to be 4.2 and 9.1 days respectively, in those rats that had already been exposed to 3 p.p.m. Se as either selenite or selenomethionine. From a nutritional viewpoint, selenomethionine may be superior to selenite, especially with respect to maintenance of glutathione peroxidase during periods of Se inadequacy, but the reverse seems to be true in terms of anticarcinogenic potency under high levels of Se supplementation. These results suggest that the nutritional and anticarcinogenic efficacies of a given Se compound may not be parallel to each other.
Mechanistic Studies on Sintering of Silver Nanoparticles

Metal nanoparticles are known to form highly conductive films upon heating below 200 °C. We study the mechanism and morphological changes that occur as 3 nm, thiolate encapsulated, silver nanoparticles are annealed to form conductive films. We use X-ray diffraction (XRD), grazing incidence X-ray scattering (GIXS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to monitor structural changes in the film. We show that the surfactant is present during the entire sintering process, that its presence greatly influences the grain size and crystallite orientation of the resulting film, and that the film becomes fully conductive in the presence of the surfactant. We show that particles that aggregate more rapidly form films that consist of smaller crystallites and are less textured. We further show that digestive ripening can lead to the degeneration of films back into particles, particularly when annealing in air versus an inert environment. Coalescence contributes to crystallite growth when particles are small but c...
Efficient Computation of Dynamic Response of Large Flexible Spacecraft

*† A new approach for efficient, accurate and robust computation of dynamic response of extremely large, detailed structural models was evaluated for application to large flexible space structures. Automated Multi-Level Substructuring (AMLS) was developed to meet similar challenges in the automotive industry and has become an automotive industry standard. The current aerospace industry standard, MSC NASTRAN using a LANCZOS eigensolver algorithm, requires more time and resources for identical response computations with large automotive models. This paper compares AMLS computation of response for large models of ultra-lightweight aerospace structures to response computed using the LANCZOS algorithm implemented in NASTRAN. Model sizes range from several thousand to hundreds of thousands of degrees-of-freedom. Further comparisons include computation using AMLS on a single-processor workstation and a single processor of a supercomputer. Unlike LANCZOS, AMLS is amenable to parallelization, so performance is also evaluated on a multi-processor supercomputer. Timing studies were conducted for the evaluations. Results demonstrate that AMLS requires less computational time and effort than LANCZOS for these models. Parallelization using up to eight processors significantly reduced the time to compute the response. Specific studies included thin-film reflector dynamic response with variation of curvature and inflatable torus support structures with self-stiffening designs. An additional aspect of this effort was development of model generators to create large models.
Partially Ionized Beam Deposition of Thin Films

It has been shown recently that using less than a few percent of self-ions, i.e., ions derived from the deposition material itself, (partially ionized beam (PIB) deposition), one can dramatically modify thin film properties. In this paper we discuss phenomena such as surface cleaning, enhanced surface ordering, and ion-induced surface damage associated with PIB-surface interactions. PIB metal deposition has been emphasized.
Expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in a model epithelium

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a Cl- channel regulated by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent phosphorylation and by intracellular nucleotides. The ...
SAND: semi-supervised adaptive novel class detection and classification over data stream

Most approaches to classifying data streams either divide the stream into fixed-size chunks or use gradual forgetting. Due to evolving nature of data streams, finding a proper size or choosing a forgetting rate without prior knowledge about time-scale of change is not a trivial task. These approaches hence suffer from a trade-off between performance and sensitivity. Existing dynamic sliding window based approaches address this problem by tracking changes in classifier error rate, but are supervised in nature. We propose an efficient semi-supervised framework in this paper which uses change detection on classifier confidence to detect concept drifts, and to determine chunk boundaries dynamically. It also addresses concept evolution problem by detecting outliers having strong cohesion among themselves. Experiment results on benchmark and synthetic data sets show effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Going to Extremes: Leptokurtosis as an Epistemic Threat

“Time present and time past/are both present in time future/and time future contained in time past.”1 In projecting forward rather than backward over time, economic forecasting cannot escape “timeless” moments of a different sort: the mathematical moments of the distribution of financial returns.2 Of the four moments of greatest interest to financial institutions and their regulators3—mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis—it is the fourth moment, kurtosis, that should pose the deepest epistemic concern. Kurtosis eludes detection where it counts most—in its fat tails. Our expectations and perceptions may underestimate the most extreme risks by a significant margin. The overarching goal in financial responses to leptokurtosis and “fat tails” is the accurate forecasting of extreme events. Simple accuracy in description, if attainable and attained, would be a fantastic accomplishment.
Widow: From Culturally Invisible to Valued Member of Society

In 1964, widows with shaved heads were obvious in their maroon saris. An early indication of a change in status was the one widow in a white sari. By 2011, widows were indistinguishable in appearance from other women. Not only did they remain in the society, retaining most of the status they had occupied as married women, but they also had remarriage as an option. Widows ceased to be a burden on Havik society. Educated, capable of managing land, and active in civic affairs, they have continued to contribute to society and have become capable of financial independence. Younger members of the society have never heard widows referred to as animal (pra:Ni). They have gone from invisible beings to valued members of society.
Metaforen in palliatieve zorg.

Metaforen zijn alom tegenwoordig in de palliatieve zorg. Dit artikel maakt zorgverleners (nog meer) bewust van metaforen in hun dagelijks werk. Het geeft handvatten voor communicatie, zoals vragen die zorgverleners aan patienten kunnen stellen. Tevens biedt het mogelijkheden voor morele reflectie en helpt het om de retorische kracht van metaforen kritisch te benaderen.
It’s All in Your Mind: Understanding The Consequences of Perceptions in Social Networks

Although numerous studies have shown that people are often mistaken when they try to make sense of the social relationships that surround them, the consequences of these perceptions have been left ...
THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF 50-KHZ VOCALIZATIONS IN RATS

Jaak Panksepp, Advisor A wide variety of myomorph rodents (e.g., rats and mice) emit ultrasonic vocalization (USVs) in response to a wide variety of social interactions across their lifespan. Many rodents emit ultrasonic vocalizations during infant maternal separation, rough-and-tumble play, aggression, or mating. It has been proposed that rodents utilize ultrasonic vocalizations as communicative signals, given that it is both difficult for predators to hear these calls due to their rapid attenuation across short distance, and the lack of hearing sensitivity for ultrasonic tones of many rodent predators (Nyby & Whitney, 1978). Ultrasonic vocalization production has been most extensively studied in laboratory rats. Recent experiments suggest that rat USVs vary across two independent dimensions – peak frequency that may index locomotor arousal, and frequency modulation which may index emotional valence. In this paper, we hypothesize that high frequency vocalizations (50-70 kHz) are related to high levels of locomotor arousal, whereas lower tones (20-40 kHz) are related to low levels of locomotor arousal often accompanying freezing. We also hypothesize that frequency modulated (FM) vocalizations, which include trill and step calls, reflect a positive affective rewarding state in the animal, whereas non-FM calls (i.e. constant frequency calls) are unrelated to reward and perhaps may reflect aversion. The apparent arousal and valence encoding of ultrasonic vocalizations would presumably allow for rapid, high fidelity decoding by receivers of the motivational and emotional states of senders. Ultrasonic vocalizations may function by evoking the same emotional state of senders in receivers and thereby coordinate social behavior. The relationship between 50-kHz USVs and reward will further be tested by examining the relationship between
Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus

This chapter discusses the Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) virus. This virus belongs to the Togaviridae family and causes fever, body ache, hemorrhagic manifestations, and occasionally neurological signs in humans. Fatalities in monkeys are very high. The KFD virus infects man, monkeys, rodents, bats, and small mammals. It has been reported only in India. Other areas are presumed free from it. The KFD virus has been isolated from man and monkeys, ticks, small mammals, and insectivorous bats. This virus grows in ticks but not in mosquito tissue cell culture. Mice immunized with a strain of the Langat virus are reported to withstand challenges from the KFD virus. Haemagglutination inhibition, complement fixation, and virus neutralization are the useful methods for serodiagnosis of the disease. A method called enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has recently been developed for that purpose. Diagnostic reagents for the KFD virus are available from the National Institute of Virology, Pune, India.
Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking, and Research Network pilot: Population-based surveillance of major muscular dystrophies at four U.S. sites, 2007–2011

Background For 10 years, the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking, and Research Network (MD STARnet) conducted surveillance for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DBMD). We piloted expanding surveillance to other MDs that vary in severity, onset, and sources of care. Methods Our retrospective surveillance included individuals diagnosed with one of nine eligible MDs before or during the study period (January 2007-December 2011), one or more health encounters, and residence in one of four U.S. sites (Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, or western New York) at any time within the study period. We developed case definitions, surveillance protocols, and software applications for medical record abstraction, clinical review, and data pooling. Potential cases were identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes 359.0, 359.1, and 359.21 and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes G71.0 and G71.1. Descriptive statistics were compared by MD type. Percentage of MD cases identified by each ICD-9-CM code was calculated. Results Of 2,862 cases, 32.9% were myotonic, dystrophy 25.8% DBMD, 9.7% facioscapulohumeral MD, and 9.1% limb-girdle MD. Most cases were male (63.6%), non-Hispanic (59.8%), and White (80.2%). About, half of cases were genetically diagnosed in self (39.1%) or family (6.2%). About, half had a family history of MD (48.9%). The hereditary progressive MD code (359.1) was the most common code for identifying eligible cases. The myotonic code (359.21) identified 83.4% of eligible myotonic dystrophy cases (786/943). Conclusions MD STARnet is the only multisite, population-based active surveillance system available for MD in the United States. Continuing our expanded surveillance will contribute important epidemiologic and health outcome information about several MDs.
Do thoughts about dieting matter? Testing the relationship between thoughts about dieting, body shape concerns, and state self-esteem

Abstract Background and objectives Dieters are likely primed to think about their diet throughout the day (e.g., as they feel hungry). However, prior research has not tested whether and how thinking about dieting might have negative effects, like poor self-esteem and body shape concerns. Methods We experimentally primed dieters' thoughts about their diets and tested whether: 1) dieting thoughts are related to poor state self-esteem through body shape concerns; and 2) dieting thoughts are related to body shape concerns through poor state self-esteem. Dieting participants (N = 225) were randomly assigned to complete a dieting or neutral prime. Results Unexpectedly, there was a different pattern of results across male (n = 72) and female (n = 144) dieters. When accounting for body shape concerns, males primed to think about dieting (vs. neutral condition) reported greater state self-esteem. Further, the dieting prime indirectly led to lower body shape concerns through greater state global self-esteem. However, for females, the dieting prime indirectly led to poorer state self-esteem through its effects on body shape concerns. Limitations The sample was collected online and was predominantly female and Caucasian. Other limitations include self-report of dieting status and body mass index. Conclusions The findings suggest that for males, thoughts about dieting may actually be associated with greater state self-esteem, which may indirectly predict lower body shape concerns. In contrast, for females, when thoughts about dieting activate body shape concerns, poorer state self-esteem may follow. These results highlight important, potentially gender-specific relationships between thoughts about dieting, body shape concerns, and state self-esteem.
State Policy Outcomes and State Legislative Approval

Does the public’s approval of their state legislature reflect their satisfaction with the outputs of state government? Using survey responses from the 2014 Cooperative Congressional Election Study,...
Takeover Litigation in 2014

This report provides preliminary statistics for takeover litigation in 2014. Takeover litigation continued at a "steady state" and at an extremely high rate. Lawsuits were brought in 94.9% of takeovers in 2014 versus 39% in 2005. This is the fourth year in a row that the rate of litigation was over 90%. Multi-jurisdictional litigation continued a two-year decline, perhaps in part due to the rise of forum selection by-laws. 33.8% of deals experienced suits in multiple states compared to 41.8% in 2013 and 52.7% in 2012. Each transaction attracted an average number of 4.3 lawsuits. Median attorneys’ fees for settlements rose to $550 thousand from $450 thousand in 2013. Further information and numbers are contained in the report.
Deviant Debt: Reputation, Litigation, and Outlier Effects in Argentina's Debt Restructuring Saga

ABSTRACTThe literature on sovereign debt restructurings has not yet fully accounted for the fact that today these deals are mostly about the contractual terms and judicial decision-marking that sha...
A Critical Appraisal of Adult Trigger Finger: Pathophysiology, Treatment, and Future Outlook.

Trigger finger (TF) is a common referral to a hand surgeon, with people with diabetess being the most at-risk population. Abnormal thickening, scarring, and inflammation occur at the A1 pulley and flexor tendon, and histological changes correlate well with the clinical severity of TF. Corticosteroid injections decrease the thickness of the A1 pulley and are considered a first-line treatment. However, corticosteroids are only moderately effective, especially for people with diabetes. Patients may elect for surgery if nonoperative treatments prove ineffective; some may choose immediate surgical release instead. To release the A1 pulley, patients have the option of an open or percutaneous approach. The open approach has a greater risk of infection and scar tissue formation in the short run but an overall superior long-term outcome compared with the percutaneous approach. Methods We critically reviewed the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the treatment methods for TF through a comprehensive search of the PubMed Database from 2003 to 2019. Results To reduce costs, while still delivering the best possible care, it is critical to consider the likelihood of success for each treatment method in each subpopulation. Furthermore, some patients may need to return to work promptly, which ultimately may influence their desired treatment method. Conclusions Currently, there is no universal treatment algorithm for TF. From a purely financial standpoint, women without diabetes presenting with a single triggering thumb should attempt 2 corticosteroid trials before percutaneous release. It is the most cost-effective for all other subpopulations to elect for immediate percutaneous release.
Aerosol Delivery of Synthetic mRNA to Vaginal Mucosa Leads to Durable Expression of Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies against HIV.

There is a clear need for low-cost, self-applied, long-lasting approaches to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in both men and women, even with the advent of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Broadly neutralizing antibodies represent an option to improve HIV prophylaxis, but intravenous delivery, cold-chain stability requirements, low cervicovaginal concentrations, and cost may preclude their use. Here, we present an approach to express the anti-GP120 broadly neutralizing antibody PGT121 in the primary site of inoculation, the female reproductive tract, using synthetic mRNA. Expression is achieved through aerosol delivery of unformulated mRNA in water. We demonstrated high levels of antibody expression for over 28 days with a single mRNA administration in the reproductive tract of sheep. In rhesus macaques, neutralizing antibody titers in secretions developed within 4 h and simian-HIV (SHIV) infection of ex vivo explants was prevented. Persistence of PGT121 in vaginal secretions and epithelium was achieved through the incorporation of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor into the heavy chain of the antibody. Overall, we present a new paradigm to deliver neutralizing antibodies to the female reproductive tract for the prevention of HIV infections.
Modeling relations between reading and writing

The three chapters take different approaches to model relations between reading and writing: Synthesizing existing models of reading and writing and key empirical findings (Kim); using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test alternative models of relations between reading and writing (Jimenez et al.); and using meta-analytic structural equation modeling (Ahmed &Wagner). Each of the models can be used to generate testable predictions. Examples of how this can be done using latent change score modeling of longitudinal data are described. Latent change score modeling is a new approach to modeling longitudinal data that combines the strengths of SEM causal modeling and latent growth curve modeling.
The Impact of Sleep Disorders on Functional Recovery and Participation Following Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis:

BackgroundAdequate sleep is vital for health and quality of life. People with stroke and a concomitant sleep disorder may have poorer outcomes than those without a sleep disorder.ObjectiveTo system...
Higher Dimensional Charged Rotating Solutions in (A)dS Space-times

We present a class of solutions to the Einstein-Maxwell equations in d-dimensions, all of which are asymptotically (anti)-de Sitter space-times. They describe electrically charged rotating solutions, which are generalizations of those found by Lemos (gr-qc/9404041). These solutions have toroidal, planar or cylindrical horizons and can be interpreted as black holes, or black strings/branes. We calculate the inverse temperature and entropy, and then we use the Brown-York stress-tensor to calculate mass and angular momenta of these solutions.
Host Plant Signal Persistence in the Gut of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

Determining the host range of an invasive insect in a new environment is a key step in the development of management strategies. As the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stal, expands into agricultural regions of North America, efforts to elucidate its dietary habits on a landscape scale rely on intensive sampling of potential host plants. Although this approach yields useful information, results can be biased toward common and easily sampled plant species; important hosts can be missed if sampling them is impractical or limited in scope. Here we lay the groundwork for the application of gut content analysis to the feeding ecology of H. halys by investigating the persistence of host plant DNA in the digestive tracts of insects with known feeding histories. Adult H. halys were fed bean seedlings (Phaseolus lunatus L.) for 7 d, followed by a forced host switch to carrot (Daucus carota L.). Insect guts were dissected out at 0, 1, 3, 7, and 14 d following the switch, and host plant chloroplast genes (trnF and trnL) were amplified via polymerase chain reaction. Amplicons were identified using high-throughput sequencing and analyzed for Phaseolus DNA. The original host remained detectable at 3 d (trnF) and 14 d (trnL) in substantial quantities. The proportion of total reads identified as Phaseolus rapidly decreased with time; a concomitant increase in Daucus reads was observed. Our results indicate that high-throughput sequencing of gut contents has great potential for exploring the dietary histories of field-caught H. halys and other phytophagous insects.
A Counter-Orientalistic Approach: Comparative Exploration of Thematic Universality in English Poet John Keats and Pashto Poet Ghani Khan

Western literary schools mostly relegate oriental literature, especially that which is in local oriental languages, as regional, communal and/or lacking universality in its appeal – and thus not to be regarded as mainstream. The Indian sub-continent, though having a profoundly rich literary legacy in its local languages, is no exception from such marginalizing treatment. Adopting a counter-orientalistic approach, this study, however, argues similarities between the profundity and complexities of sensibilities and perceptions of the famous English poet John Keats and Pashto poet Ghani Khan. The poets represent diverse cultures with diverse ideologies, but it is hypothesized that they have straits of resemblance in their poetry; affection, loveliness, nature and eternity represent to the both of them strikingly similar meanings of life. This assumption contradicts the traditional colonialist and the neo-imperialist discourse that considers eastern literary works as secondary to the mainstream between the two transcend the stereo-typically drawn boundary of binary polarity that privileges "us" over "them".
HiMA: A Fast and Scalable History-based Memory Access Engine for Differentiable Neural Computer

Memory-augmented neural networks (MANNs) provide better inference performance in many tasks with the help of an external memory. The recently developed differentiable neural computer (DNC) is a MANN that has been shown to outperform in representing complicated data structures and learning long-term dependencies. DNC’s higher performance is derived from new history-based attention mechanisms in addition to the previously used content-based attention mechanisms. History-based mechanisms require a variety of new compute primitives and state memories, which are not supported by existing neural network (NN) or MANN accelerators. We present HiMA, a tiled, history-based memory access engine with distributed memories in tiles. HiMA incorporates a multi-mode network-on-chip (NoC) to reduce the communication latency and improve scalability. An optimal submatrix-wise memory partition strategy is applied to reduce the amount of NoC traffic; and a two-stage usage sort method leverages distributed tiles to improve computation speed. To make HiMA fundamentally scalable, we create a distributed version of DNC called DNC-D to allow almost all memory operations to be applied to local memories with trainable weighted summation to produce the global memory output. Two approximation techniques, usage skimming and softmax approximation, are proposed to further enhance hardware efficiency. HiMA prototypes are created in RTL and synthesized in a 40nm technology. By simulations, HiMA running DNC and DNC-D demonstrates 6.47 × and 39.1 × higher speed, 22.8 × and 164.3 × better area efficiency, and 6.1 × and 61.2 × better energy efficiency over the state-of-the-art MANN accelerator. Compared to an Nvidia 3080Ti GPU, HiMA demonstrates speedup by up to 437 × and 2,646 × when running DNC and DNC-D, respectively.
Host control over infection and proliferation of a cheater symbiont.

Host control mechanisms are thought to be critical for selecting against cheater mutants in symbiont populations. Here, we provide the first experimental test of a legume host’s ability to constrain the infection and proliferation of a native-occurring rhizobial cheater. Lotus strigosus hosts were experimentally inoculated with pairs of Bradyrhizobium strains that naturally vary in symbiotic benefit, including a cheater strain that proliferates in the roots of singly infected hosts, yet provides zero growth benefits. Within co-infected hosts, the cheater exhibited lower infection rates than competing beneficial strains and grew to smaller population sizes within those nodules. In vitro assays revealed that infection-rate differences among competing strains were not caused by variation in rhizobial growth rate or interstrain toxicity. These results can explain how a rapidly growing cheater symbiont – that exhibits a massive fitness advantage in single infections – can be prevented from sweeping through a beneficial population of symbionts.
A New Route to Ultra-High Density Memory Using the Micro to Nano Addressing Block (MNAB)

For the first time, we demonstrate sublithographic memory read/write operation using micro to nano addressing block (MNAB) decoders. Test structures are fabricated with integrated one-time programmable oxide ROM elements addressed using MNAB devices that have 4 sub-50 nm silicon fins at 140 nm period. Functional operation is obtained for all 4-bit ROM sequences and over different ROM cell areas
Message to Business Educators: My Message…

(1980). Message to Business Educators. The Journal of Business Education: Vol. 56, No. 3, pp. 85-88.
The Use of Dexamethasone in Premature Infants at Risk for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia or Who Already Have Developed Chronic Lung Disease: A Cautionary Note

In Reply.— Beauty, it is said, is in the eye of the beholder. One can read the literature on treatment of early bronchopulmonarly dysplasia (BPD) with dexamethasone and make the case either that the lady is beautiful or that she is ugly. On the beautiful side, most observers have noted a rapid improvement in lung compliance and a higher incidence of acute weaning off the respirator. Some studies have shown shortened time in oxygen and even shorter hospitalization.
The consequences of error

Abstract The utility of recidivistic prediction is limited by the false positive problem: predictions of failure (recidivism) that do not occur. False negatives (predicted successes but observed failures) are also worrisome, and together both types of error can be formally evaluated by what Blumstein, Farrington, and Moitra call the civil-libertarian ratio: the ratio of the subjective cost of a false positive to a false negative. Choice of a recidivistic criterion and selection of a proportion of offenders for criminal justice intervention have implications for the evaluation of the disutility or subjective cost associated with various civil-libertarian ratios. Logistic regression models of four recidivistic criteria are evaluated to demonstrate how base rate (observed failure rate) and selection ratio (proportion selected to fail) affect the disutility associated with a range of civil-libertarian ratios. Use of civil-libertarian ratios by criminal justice policy makers is demonstrated. Predictive utility is relatively difficult to achieve for rare recidivistic events if the decisions involve severe deprivation of liberty (incarceration decisions). Predictive utility is easier to achieve for more common forms of recidivism or in decision contexts where there is less concern for false positives, such as for “intermediate sanctions.”
Development and evaluation of a multiplex real-time PCR assay for the detection and differentiation of Moraxella bovis, Moraxella bovoculi and Moraxella ovis in pure culture isolates and lacrimal swabs collected from conventionally raised cattle

Aim: To develop a multiplex real-time PCR assay for the detection and differentiation of Moraxella bovis (M. bovis), M. bovoculi and M. ovis. Methods and Results: The multiplex real-time PCR assay was validated on three reference strains, 57 pure culture isolates and 45 lacrimal swab samples. All reference strains were identified correctly with no cross-reactions between species. Sequencing of 53 of the 57 culture isolates confirmed the results obtained with the multiplex real-time PCR, and the assay had 96·5% (55/57) concordance with a Moraxella spp. multiplex conventional PCR assay on the isolates. Among the lacrimal swab samples, the concordance between the multiplex real-time PCR and culture was 86·7% (39/45) for M. bovoculi and 75·6% (34/45) for M. bovis. Conclusions: The multiplex real-time PCR assay is specific and sensitive and can be used directly on lacrimal swab samples. Significance and Impact of Study: The lack of a rapid, specific and sensitive detection method is a barrier for determining the roles of M. bovis, M. bovoculi and M. ovis in infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis cases, and the developed PCR assay will contribute to improved understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of these three Moraxella species.
La polifonía épica en El Monserrate : la voz del amor de Lixerea y Armeno

This essay focuses on the ideological confrontation that takes place in the epic poem El Monserrate by Cristobal de Virues, published for the first time in 1587. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that this epic poem has a polyphonic character due to the tense coexistence of Universalism and Relativism that appears in the poem. Universalism is supported by the Papal discourse when he indicates that the expansion of Catholicism by means of the Spanish Empire will bring universal happiness. This ideology bears an epistemic resemblance to the Neoplatonism of Marsilio Ficino and Leon Hebreo. However, Universalism is questioned by the love story of two Muslim characters: Lixerea and Armeno. Lixerea’s death in battle represents the impossibility of Armeno’s happiness, despite his final conversion to Christianity. In fact, Armeno dies because his life does not seem to have any meaning or any possibility of fulfillment without Lixerea. Armeno’s sense of incompleteness, which is also expressed by Lixerea before her death, can be found in the work of other authors such as Ausias March (1400–1459) and El Greco (1541–1614). Armeno’s spiritual breakdown and death despite having converted to Christianity questions the universalist project of the Pope. As a matter of fact, the dialogic character of this epic poem shows the ideological tension that existed in Spain and in Europe during this period and, at the same time, proves the importance of the study of Spanish epic poetry to understand the culture of the period.
Latent solid‐phase extraction with thermoresponsive soluble polymers

The use of soluble thermoresponsive polymers to sequester or scavenge hydrophobic guest molecules from dilute aqueous solutions on heating is described. In these studies, a homopolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide was shown to sequester 46–83% of a soluble monochlorotriazine from 0.1–10 ppm aqueous solutions when heating above this polymer's lower critical solution temperature (LCST). Substitution of the reactive piperidine-containing 20:1 copolymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-c-poly[N-4-(acrylamidomethyl)piperidine] for this unreactive polymer led to >98% scavenging of these same triazines when heating above this reactive polymer's LCST. The monochlorotriazine guests studied included the herbicide atrazine and two dye-labeled analogues of this herbicide. In one case, an atrazine analogue was designed so as to contain a dansyl group for fluorescence analysis. In the second case, an atrazine analogue was labeled with a methyl red group to facilitate visual and spectrophotometric analysis. Atrazine concentrations were measured with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The enhanced efficiency of the reactive piperidine-containing copolymer scavenger in removing triazines from solution is attributed to covalent bond formation by nucleophilic aromatic substitution of the chlorine of the monochlorotriazines by the piperidine nucleophile on the copolymer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6309–6317, 2004
Nomenclature and classification of receptors and binding sites: The need for harmony

Abstract It is uncharacteristic of the usual tidiness of the biomedical sciences that receptors still iack a standardized nomenclature and classification. Historically, the plethora of methods and tissues that have been studied — no bad thing in itself — has led to a confusion of terminology. The same receptors have in some cases been given different names; different receptors have on occasion been given the same name. Focusing particularly on 5-HT receptors Jack Peter Green exemplifies this problem and proposes a tentative scheme for receptor and acceptor classification to provoke a much-needed discussion in this area .