cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a polyprobe to detect six viroids of pome and stone fruit trees.

Abstract A simple and sensitive dot blot hybridization assay using a digoxigenin-labeled cRNA polyprobe was developed for the simultaneous detection of six viroids that infect pome and stone fruit trees. The polyprobe was constructed by cloning sequentially partial sequences of each viroid into a single vector, with run-off transcription driven by the T7 promoter. All six viroids were detectable within a dilution range of 5−3 to 5−4 in total nucleic acid extracts from infected trees. Individual trees were co-inoculated to create mixed infections and all four pome fruit viroids and both stone fruit viroids could be detected in pear and peach trees, respectively, using the polyprobe. The results of the assays using the polyprobe were comparable to those using single probes. The methods were validated by testing geographically diverse isolates of viroids, as well as field samples from several collections in the US. The assay offers a rapid, reliable and cost-effective approach to the simultaneous detection of six fruit trees viroids and has the potential for routine use in quarantine, certification, and plant genebank programs where many samples are tested and distributed worldwide.
Characterization of "Candidatus piscichlamydia salmonis" (order Chlamydiales), a chlamydia-like bacterium associated with epitheliocystis in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

To characterize intracellular gram-negative bacteria associated with epitheliocystis in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), gills with proliferative lesions were collected for histopathology, conventional transmission and immunoelectron microscopy, in situ hybridization, and DNA extraction during epitheliocystis outbreaks in Ireland and Norway in 1999 and 2000, respectively, and compared by ultrastructure and immunoreactivity to nonproliferative gills from Ireland archived in 1995. Genomic DNA from proliferative gills was used to amplify 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) for molecular phylogenetic analyses. Epitheliocystis inclusions from proliferative gills possessed variably elongate reticulate bodies, examples of binary fission, and vacuolated and nonvacuolated intermediate bodies, whereas inclusions in nonproliferative gills had typical chlamydial developmental stages plus distinctive head-and-tail cells. Immunogold processing using anti-chlamydial lipopolysaccharide antibody labeled reticulate bodies from proliferative and nonproliferative gills. 16S rDNA amplified directly from Irish (1999) and Norwegian (2000) gill samples demonstrated 99% nucleotide identity, and riboprobes transcribed from cloned near-full-length 16S rDNA amplicons from Norwegian gills hybridized with inclusions in proliferative lesions from Irish (1999) and Norwegian (2000) sections. A 1,487-bp consensus 16S rRNA gene sequence representing the chlamydia-like bacterium (CLB) from proliferative gills had the highest percent nucleotide identity with endosymbionts of Acanthamoeba spp. (order Chlamydiales). Molecular phylogenetic relationships inferred from 16S rRNA gene sequences using distance and parsimony indicated that the CLB from proliferative gills branched with members of the order Chlamydiales. “Candidatus Piscichlamydia salmonis” is proposed for the CLB associated with epitheliocystis from proliferative gills of Atlantic salmon, which exhibits developmental stages different from those identified in nonproliferative gills.
Political ideology, exploration of novel stimuli, and attitude formation

In this study, the relations among political ideology, exploratory behavior, and the formation of attitudes toward novel stimuli were explored. Participants played a computer game that required learning whether these stimuli produced positive or negative outcomes. Learning was dependent on participants’ decisions to sample novel stimuli and discover the associated valence. Political ideology correlated with exploration during the game, with conservatives sampling fewer targets than liberals. Moreover, more conservative individuals exhibited a stronger learning asymmetry, such that they learned negative stimuli better than positive. Mediational analyses revealed that the differences in learning were due to the extent of exploratory behavior during the game. Relative to liberals, politically conservative individuals pursued a more avoidant strategy to the game, which led to their development of a more pronounced valence asymmetry in learning and attitude formation.
A Bayesian algorithm for the retrieval of liquid water cloud properties from microwave radiometer and millimeter radar data

[1] We present a new algorithm for retrieving optical depth and liquid water content and effective radius profiles of nonprecipitating liquid water clouds using millimeter wavelength radar reflectivity and dual-channel microwave brightness temperatures. The algorithm is based on Bayes’ theorem of conditional probability and combines prior information on cloud microphysics with the remote sensing observations. Prior probability distribution functions for liquid water clouds were derived from the second, third, and sixth moments of droplet size distributions measured by in situ aircraft probes in shallow tropical cumuli. The algorithm also calculates error bars for each retrieved parameter. To assess the algorithm, we perform retrieval simulations using radar reflectivity and brightness temperatures simulated from tropical cumulus fields calculated by a large eddy simulation model with explicit microphysics. These retrieval simulations show that the Bayesian algorithm has similar magnitude errors to current retrieval methods for liquid water content and liquid water path retrievals but has much smaller errors for effective radius and optical depth. We also perform retrievals on three months of data from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program’s site on Nauru in the tropical west Pacific. For nonprecipitating liquid water clouds over Nauru during June–August 1999 we retrieve a mean optical depth of 9.2, mean liquid water content of 0.112 g/m 3 , and mean effective radius of 7.8 mm. The Bayesian method is a flexible approach to cloud profile remote sensing and could be expanded to other sites or cloud types. INDEXTERMS: 3360 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Remote sensing; 0320 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Cloud physics and chemistry; 3394 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Instruments and techniques; 3399 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: General or miscellaneous; KEYWORDS: remote sensing, clouds, radar, microwave radiometer, Bayes
The Use of Fidaxomicin for Treatment of Relapsed Clostridium difficile Infections in Patients with Cancer

Objectives To report our experience with the use of fidaxomicin (FDX), an oral macrocyclic antibiotic, in cancer patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Methods A single-center retrospective case series was conducted at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Patients with CDI treated with FDX from May 2011 to January 2013 were identified via the pharmacy database. Clinical response and recurrence after FDX initiation were evaluated. Results Twenty-two patients were included, most of whom were male (55%) with a mean age of 58 years (range: 20–83 yrs). The most common underlying malignancies were nine patients with lymphoma (41%), seven with leukemia (32%), and six with solid tumors (27%). Indications for FDX included recurrent CDI in 16 patients (72%) and failure of both metronidazole and oral vancomycin in 6 patients (28%). Nineteen patients (86%) were on concomitant antimicrobials during CDI treatment. Clinical response to FDX was 91%, and overall sustained clinical response was 82%. FDX was well tolerated with no major adverse events that were FDX related or discontinuations due to drug-related adverse events. Conclusion In cancer patients, FDX is effective treatment for the first episode of CDI after failure of standard therapies and treatment of recurrent CDI. This was interesting given the large number of high-risk patients who continued to receive concomitant antimicrobial therapy, which is common in this immunocompromised patient population.
INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION : AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE INTOXICATION IN CLOSED INTESTINAL LOOPS.

1. Closed intestinal loops in which bacteria are first removed are compatible with life. 2. Closed intestinal loops in which bacteria are present but in which tissue necrosis is prevented, are compatible with life. 3. Closed aseptic intestinal loops in which the blood supply is completely occluded are compatible with life. 4. The normal secretions and bacterial products of the duodenum and jejunum are not sufficiently toxic to produce any symptoms when allowed to drain into the abdominal cavity. 5. Our results do not support the theory of Draper of a normal toxic secretion of the duodenal mucosa, neutralized by the jejunal mucosa, or the perverted secretion theory of Whipple. 6. Bacterial activity plus necrotic tissue, or the absorption of toxic products resulting from the action of putrefactive bacteria on necrotic tissue is the important factor in the rapid death in simple closed intestinal loops.
Molecular Genetics in Inherited Renal Cell Carcinoma: Identification of Targets in the Hereditary Syndromes

Kidney cancer affects 51,000 in the United States each year and is responsible for nearly 13,000 deaths annually. Kidney cancer is not a single disease; it is made up of a number of different types of cancer that occur in the kidney. These distinct forms of kidney cancer each have a different histologic type, a different clinical course, respond differently to therapy, and are caused by different genes. The VHL gene is the gene for the inherited form of clear cell kidney cancer associated with von Hippel–Lindau as well as for the common form of sporadic, noninherited clear cell kidney cancer. The product of the VHL gene forms a complex with other proteins and this complex targets the hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) for ubiquitin-mediated degradation. A number of novel agents which target the VHL-HIF pathway have recently been approved by the FDA for treatment of patients with advanced kidney cancer. The MET gene is the gene for the inherited form of papillary kidney cancer associated with hereditary papillary renal carcinoma (HPRC) and has been found mutated in a subset of tumors from patients with sporadic, type I papillary kidney cancer. Clinical trials are currently underway evaluating the role of agents which target the MET pathway in patients affected with HPRC as well as sporadic papillary kidney cancer. The BHD gene is the gene for the inherited form of chromophobe kidney cancer associated with Birt–Hogg–Dube (BHD). Biochemical studies have revealed that the BHD pathway interacts with the MTOR pathway and agents which block this pathway are currently being evaluated in preclinical models as a potential approach for the treatment of BHD-associated as well as sporadic chromophobe kidney cancer. The Krebs cycle enzyme, fumarate hydratase, is the gene for the inherited form of type II papillary kidney cancer associated with hereditary leiomyomatosis renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC). In vitro and in vivo studies are currently underway evaluating novel approaches for targeting of this kidney cancer pathway. It is hoped that understanding the genes that cause cancer of the kidney will provide the foundation for the development of effective forms of therapy for patients with this malignancy.
Global teleconnections of climate to terrestrial carbon flux

[1] We have applied association analysis to 17 years of climate index observations and predicted net ecosystem production on land to infer short-term (monthly to yearly) teleconnections between atmosphere-ocean climate forcing and terrestrial carbon cycles. The analysis suggests that on a global level, climate indices can be significantly correlated to net ecosystem carbon fluxes over more than 58% of the nondesert/ice-covered land surface, commonly with a lead period of 2–6 months. The Southern Oscillation (SO) and Arctic Oscillation (AO) indices explain nearly equal portions of these significantly correlated area carbon fluxes. These significant teleconnections detected between surface climate and seasonal carbon gain or loss in terrestrial vegetation offer important capabilities for making inferences about the variability in the terrestrial carbon cycle of natural and agricultural ecosystems worldwide.
FIK Model: Novel Efficient Granular Computing Model for Protein Sequence Motifs and Structure Information Discovery

Protein sequence motifs information is very important to the analysis of biologically significant regions. The conserved regions have the potential to determine the conformation, function and activities of the proteins. The main purpose of this paper is trying to obtain protein sequence motifs which are universally conserved and across protein family boundaries. Therefore, unlike most popular motif discovering algorithms, our input dataset is extremely large. As a result, an efficient technique is demanded. In this article, short recurring segments of proteins are explored by utilizing a novel granular computing strategy. First, Fuzzy C-Means clustering algorithm (FCM) is used to separate the whole dataset into several smaller informational granules and then succeeded by improved K-means clustering algorithm on each granule to obtain the final results. The structural similarity of the clusters discovered by our approach is studied to analyze how the recurring patterns correlate with its structure. Also, some biochemical references are included in our evaluation. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that the granular computing concept as well as the DBI measure for evaluation is introduced to this dataset. Compare with the latest research results, our method requires only twenty percent of the execution time and obtains even higher quality information of protein sequence motifs. The efficient and satisfactory results in our experiment suggests that our granular computing model which combined FCM and improved K-means may have a high chance to be applied in some other bioinformatics research fields and yield stunning results.
Rudolph Virchow and the Genetic Basis of Somatic Ecology

“CANCER is a genetic disease, arising from an accumulation of mutations that promote clonal selection of cells with increasingly aggressive behavior.” This single terse statement from Fearon ([1997][1], p. 1043) is a paradigm that states the fundamentals of our present understanding of the
A Dual Frequency IVUS Transducer With a Lateral Mode Transmitter for Contrast Enhanced Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging

Recent studies suggest that dual frequency intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) transducers are promising in contrast ultrasound for molecular imaging or vasa vasorum (VV) assessment to identify vulnerable plaques. Low frequency (1–3 MHz) acoustic waves are widely used for contrast imaging because it can excite microbubbles more effectively. However, conventional thickness mode 1–3 MHz transducers are not suitable for IVUS since bulky transducer size is not permitted in fine IVUS catheters used for coronary interventions (approx. 3-French). In this paper, a dual frequency (2.25 MHz/30 MHz) IVUS transducer with a lateral mode transmitter (2.25 MHz) and a thickness mode high frequency receiver (30 MHz) was designed, fabricated and characterized. In contrast detection tests, superharmonic microbubble responses flown through a 200 μm diameter tube was successfully detected with a contrast to noise ratio (CNR) of 13 dB and an axial resolution (−6 dB) of 0.1 μs (150 μm). The results showed that this dual frequency IVUS transducer with a lateral mode transmitter can be used to detect super-harmonic signal (12th to 15th harmonic) ideal for superharmonic imaging of microvascular structures.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Language and mechanisms of concept learning

Carey focuses her attention on a mechanism of concept learning called “Quinian bootstrapping.” I argue that this form of bootstrapping is not dependent upon language or other public representations, and outline a place for language in concept learning generally. Language, perception, and causal reasoning are all sources of evidence that can guide learners toward discovering new and potentially useful categories.
OPTIMIZATION OF INTEGRATED WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS: CASE STUDY OF BEIRUT, LEBANON

The water problems of the Middle East and other similarly arid regions are not isolated within any given segment of the water cycle, nor is it efficient to consider the challenges of water supply, demand, disposal and reuse independently. This paper presents an integrated linear, deterministic optimization model developed to determine the minimum cost configuration of future water supply, wastewater disposal, and reuse options for Beirut, Lebanon. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate an optimization model of the entire anthropogenic water cycle. The model includes interconnections between supply, demand, disposal and reuse, thereby minimizing the cost of both water supply and wastewater disposal simultaneously. By distinguishing between potable and nonpotable demands and permitting the supply of a lower grade of water to some demands, our results reveal new opportunities for cost- reductions in Beirut's water system. After use of inexpensive conventional sources, reclamation and reuse are shown to be more cost-effective than desalination to provide nonpotable water for toilet flushing, lawn watering and irrigation. Furthermore, if nonpotable aquifer recharge were permitted, reclaimed water from the centralized wastewater treatment plant could be used to augment Greater Beirut's coastal aquifer, which in turn could supply increased quantities of both potable and nonpotable water to the urban sectors. 1. Introduction Greater Beirut currently experiences water shortages in the dry season, and the next twenty-five years are expected to bring increases in population, economic development, tourism and the adverse effects of climate change, all of which are likely to further stress the water system. Beirut is actively seeking solutions to its escalating water supply and demand concerns. Among its most promising options are: 1) reduction of distribution system losses, 2) demand management, 3) acquisition of new water sources, and 4) adoption of alternative water-supply technologies such as desalination or water reuse. At the same time, it is striving to improve its wastewater management, which as of now is gravely inadequate. Beirut's plans to improve its water and wastewater infrastructure by repairing leaking pipes and repossessing illicit connections are outside of the scope of this study, and the anticipated improvements are included in the model framework as adjustable parameters (CDR, 2004).
Monovar: single-nucleotide variant detection in single cells

Current variant callers are not suitable for single-cell DNA sequencing, as they do not account for allelic dropout, false-positive errors and coverage nonuniformity. We developed Monovar (https://bitbucket.org/hamimzafar/monovar), a statistical method for detecting and genotyping single-nucleotide variants in single-cell data. Monovar exhibited superior performance over standard algorithms on benchmarks and in identifying driver mutations and delineating clonal substructure in three different human tumor data sets.
Research on Lunar Gravity Field and Maintenance of Lunar Satellite Orbit

The work in this paper deduced time consuming of the computer and reached certain precision when using the lunar gravity model.First,with the globally-accepted lunar gravity models,LP165P and GLGM-2,characters of the lunar gravity models were analyzed based on the Kaula theory.Then,making the use of LP165P models truncated to different orders and degrees,the lunar satellite orbit with 50km height revolution was compared in order to support the idea that lunar gravity model can be truncated appropriately.Meanwhile,the free running time span of lunar satellite with 200km height were given respectively.Last,a maintenance method is presented for a 200km height orbit.
Design of charge controller of LED lighting system powered by solar energy

With the LED lighting system powered by solar energy as the study object, its basic structure was discussed, and the design and its circuit of solar charge controller were discussed. With PWM controller chip CS51221 as the control core of the circuit, the calculation method of related components parameters was discussed. The calculation method of the switching frequency and the maximum duty cycle, as well as the overvoltage and under voltage protection circuit, starting and power supply circuit and feedback circuit were then Analyzed. The simple hardware circuit, solar powered LED lighting system and its features and performance parameters were tested and analyzed. Results show that the LED lighting system meets the design requirements and the system runs well.
OPTIMUM DESIGN OF DEBRIS FLOW RATAINING DAM

Debris flow activity is a hazards of water flow with soil,and rock fragments,which cause a serious property damage as well as loss of lives.The check dam structure is the most effective structure and always is used in debris flow prevention engineer,and the check dam occupies about 52 percents of prevention engineer structure.The volume of reservoir of check dam is determined by its defence height.Under the condition that the check dam location was fixed,the volume of reservoir will increase by the defence height improving,but the ability of excess flow will be influenced,so the ability of excess flow is conflicted with the reservoir volume of check volume.This paper discussed the design methods of check dam and pointed that the computation method of debris flow on Code.A new design idea is applied,which gives a new computation method of debris flow based on the effective conflux area instead of debris flow valley drainage area.The design with the new method will improve the volume of reservoir or save the cost of the check dam.
Prescription opioid use, illicit drug use, and sexually transmitted infections among participants from a community engagement program in North Central Florida.

AbstractIntroduction: In Alachua County, a prominent county in North Central Florida, rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea are significantly higher than national and state levels (Florida Department of Health, 2010). Along with the high rates of STIs, Alachua County is also a high drug trafficking area (ONDCP, 2013). This analysis examines the intersection between prescription opioid use, illicit drug use, and STIs among Alachua County participants.Methods: Cross-sectional data come from 2,194 Alachua County community members interviewed by Community Health Workers (CHWs) from HealthStreet, a community engagement program of the University of Florida. Demographic characteristics, health risk factors and health conditions were obtained.Results: Among participants, 9.3% reported ever having an STI, 40% reported lifetime use of prescription opioids, and 53% reported ever using an illicit drug. Persons who reported using an illicit drug or an illicit drug plus prescription were 2.89 and 4.12 times as likely to rep...
Typification of Linnaean names relevant to algal nomenclature

Lectotypes (61), neotypes (4) and epitypes (6) are designated here by 15 specialists for Linnaean algal names. These newly designated types support the current usage of the names concerned. All Linnaean names that have been linked with algal taxa are listed, and earlier but ineffective or supersedable type selections are discussed where appropriate.
Dual Chromatin and Cytoskeletal Remodeling by SETD2.

Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of tubulin specify microtubules for specialized cellular functions and comprise what is termed a "tubulin code." PTMs of histones comprise an analogous "histone code," although the "readers, writers, and erasers" of the cytoskeleton and epigenome have heretofore been distinct. We show that methylation is a PTM of dynamic microtubules and that the histone methyltransferase SET-domain-containing 2 (SETD2), which is responsible for H3 lysine 36 trimethylation (H3K36me3) of histones, also methylates α-tubulin at lysine 40, the same lysine that is marked by acetylation on microtubules. Methylation of microtubules occurs during mitosis and cytokinesis and can be ablated by SETD2 deletion, which causes mitotic spindle and cytokinesis defects, micronuclei, and polyploidy. These data now identify SETD2 as a dual-function methyltransferase for both chromatin and the cytoskeleton and show a requirement for methylation in maintenance of genomic stability and the integrity of both the tubulin and histone codes.
Oceanic teleconnection for carbon dioxide

Biogeochemical teleconnection links seemingly unrelated chemical/biological anomalies that are geographically separated by large distances. Bronselaer et al propose a new mechanism for an interhemispheric teleconnection of air-sea carbon dioxide fluxes in which the upwelling of the Southern Ocean triggers a series of perturbations leading to the alteration of the carbon uptake in the North Atlantic. The westerly wind over the Southern Ocean has a unique role in the climate system. It energizes the strongest ocean current, Antarctic Circumpolar Current, and it lifts up the carbon- and nutrient-rich deep waters all the way to the surface. It is an end point of the ocean's deep overturning circulation and associated biological carbon storage, where the excess carbon from accumulated decomposition of organic material is finally released back into the atmosphere. It is well established that the Southern Ocean upwelling regionally modulates the de-gassing of carbon dioxide there. However, its global-scale implication is not yet fully understood. What happens to the carbon uptake in the other parts of the oceans? In this volume of Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Bronselaer et al describes the chain of events that link the increased Southern Ocean wind to the ocean carbon uptake in the northern high latitudes. The authors conducted a set of computational experiments, showing that the Southern Ocean is a starting point of the oceanic teleconnection, where the excess nutrient is transported equatorward through the shallow overturning circulation. The stream of macro-nutrient then fertilizes the low-latitude productivity that eventually shifts the carbonate chemistry of the high latitude surface waters. This is an intriguing case of oceanic teleconnection, linking seemingly unrelated biogeochemical anomalies that are geographically separated by large distances. The surprising conclusion is that a stronger Southern Ocean wind increases the de-gassing of carbon dioxide in both northern and southern high latitudes. This happens because more carbon is upwelling into the northern high latitudes due to the increased low-latitude biological pump, approximately doubling the de-gassing intensity relative to the Southern Ocean response alone. There may be more surprises from the Southern Ocean.
Constrained Spectral Conditioning for spatial sound level estimation

Abstract Microphone arrays are utilized in aeroacoustic testing to spatially map the sound emitted from an article under study. Whereas a single microphone allows only the total sound level to be estimated at the measurement location, an array permits differentiation between the contributions of distinct components. The accuracy of these spatial sound estimates produced by post-processing the array outputs is continuously being improved. One way of increasing the estimation accuracy is to filter the array outputs before they become inputs to a post-processor. This work presents a constrained method of linear filtering for microphone arrays which minimizes the total signal present on the array channels while preserving the signal from a targeted spatial location. Thus, each single-channel, filtered output for a given targeted location estimates only the signal from that location, even when multiple and/or distributed sources have been measured simultaneously. The method is based on Conditioned Spectral Analysis and modifies the Wiener–Hopf equation in a manner similar to the Generalized Sidelobe Canceller. This modified form of Conditioned Spectral Analysis is embedded within an iterative loop and termed Constrained Spectral Conditioning. Linear constraints are derived which prevent the cancellation of targeted signal due to random statistical error as well as location error in the sensor and/or source positions. The increased spatial mapping accuracy of Constrained Spectral Conditioning is shown for a simulated dataset of point sources which vary in strength. An experimental point source is used to validate the efficacy of the constraints which yield preservation of the targeted signal at the expense of reduced filtering ability. The beamforming results of a cold, supersonic jet demonstrate the qualitative and quantitative improvement obtained when using this technique to map a spatially-distributed, complex, and possibly coherent sound source.
Salute to samarium

Stanislav Strekopytov relates the history of rare-earth element samarium, from its geological origins to its geochronological uses.
Implementing a centralized institutional peer tutoring program.

Background: Peer tutoring has been found to be beneficial to both students and peer tutors in health sciences education programs. This article describes the implementation of a centralized, institutional peer tutoring program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, an academic health science center in the U.S. The Program: This multispecialty peer tutoring program paired students experiencing academic difficulties with peer tutors who showed prior academic success, professionalism and effective communication skills. The program allowed students and peer tutors to coordinate their own tutoring services. Program Evaluation: Evaluations by both students and peer tutors showed satisfaction with the program. Recommendations: Recommendations for developing and implementing an effective peer tutoring program are presented, including utilization of an online system, consistent program policy with high professionalism expectations, funding, program evaluation and data tracking.
Transcriptome analysis of adult and fetal trabecular meshwork, cornea, and ciliary body tissues by RNA sequencing.

Abstract Purpose To characterize the transcriptional landscape of human adult and fetal trabecular meshwork (TM), cornea, and ciliary body (CB) tissues, and to evaluate the expression level of candidate genes selected from genetic association studies of primary-open angle glaucoma, central corneal thickness, intraocular pressure, vertical cup to disc ratio, and optic nerve parameters. Methods Deep RNA sequencing was performed on the selected human tissues. Transcriptome analyses were performed to 1) characterize the total number of expressed genes, 2) identify the most highly expressed genes, 3) estimate the number of novel transcripts, and 4) evaluate the expression of candidate genes in each tissue. Finally, a differential gene expression analysis was conducted to compare the adult and fetal ocular tissues. Results There was an average of 12,362 protein coding genes and 3725 novel transcripts expressed in each tissue. The top most expressed genes in each tissue included SPARC (fetal cornea and TM), APOD (adult TM), CLU (adult cornea), and PTGDS (adult and fetal CB). Twenty-nine candidate genes selected from genetic association studies primarily showed high expression levels in the trabecular meshwork and cornea. Comparison of adult and fetal samples identified 2012 and 1261 differentially expressed protein-coding genes within the cornea and trabecular meshwork, respectively. Conclusions This study has provided an unbiased glimpse into the transcriptome of three essential anterior ocular tissues, resulting in the development of several novel hypotheses. These data can be used in the future to better guide ocular research questions.
Diagnostic implications of review-of-systems questionnaires to differentiate epileptic seizures from psychogenic seizures

Abstract Objective Early and accurate diagnosis of patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) leads to appropriate treatment and improves long-term seizure prognosis. However, this is complicated by the need to record seizures to make a definitive diagnosis. Suspicion for PNES can be raised through knowledge that patients with PNES have increased somatic sensitivity and report more positive complaints on review-of-systems questionnaires (RoSQs) than patients with epileptic seizures. If the responses on the RoSQ can differentiate PNES from other seizure types, then these forms could be an early screening tool. Methods Our dataset included all patients admitted from January 2006 to June 2016 for video-electroencephalography at UCLA. RoSQs prior to May 2015 were acquired through retrospective chart review (n = 405), whereas RoSQs from subsequent patients were acquired prospectively (n = 190). Controlling for sex and number of comorbidities, we used binomial regression to compare the total number of symptoms and the frequency of specific symptoms between five mutually exclusive groups of patients: epileptic seizures (ES), PNES, physiologic nonepileptic seizure-like events (PSLE), mixed PNES plus ES, and inconclusive monitoring. To determine the diagnostic utility of RoSQs to differentiate PNES only from ES only, we used multivariate logistic regression, controlling for sex and the number of medical comorbidities. Results On average, patients with PNES or mixed PNES and ES reported more than twice as many symptoms than patients with isolated ES or PSLE (p 0.1). Discussion This analysis of RoSQs confirms that patients with PNES with and without comorbid ES report more symptoms on a population level than patients with epilepsy or PSLE. While these differences help describe the population of patients with PNES, the consistency of RoSQ responses was neither accurate nor specific enough to be used solely as an early screening tool for PNES. Our results suggest that the RoSQ may help differentiate PNES from ES only when, based on other information, the pre-test probability of PNES is at least 50%.
Nationwide Injunctions Against the Federal Government: A Structural Approach

When a court invalidates a federal government policy, it must then decide the scope of the remedy. A common remedy is an injunction—a judicial order prohibiting enforcement of the policy. Traditionally, lower federal courts enjoined the government only from enforcing the invalidated policy against the victorious plaintiff, leaving it in place against other members of the public. A nationwide injunction, however, forbids the government from enforcing the policy against anyone in the country, effectively taking the policy out of circulation. This Note argues that nationwide injunctions contravene three core structural principles of the federal courts: (1) the regional design of the courts of appeals without intercircuit stare decisis, (2) the Supreme Court’s holding in United States v. Mendoza that the federal government is not subject to non-mutual issue preclusion, and (3) the doctrine of intercircuit nonacquiescence. It concludes that nationwide injunctions against the federal government should be disfavored and that such injunctions should not extend beyond the circuit of the enjoining court. Simply put, lower federal courts should not make nationwide law.
High-Throughput Screening for Readthrough Modulators of CFTR PTC Mutations

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a hereditary disease caused by mutations in the gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). A large number of nearly 2000 reported mutations, including the premature termination codon (PTC) mutations, urgently require new and personalized medicines. We have developed cell-based assays for readthrough modulators of CFTR PTC mutations (or nonsense mutation suppressors), based on the trafficking and surface expression of CFTR. Approximately 85,000 compounds have been screened for two PTC mutations (Y122X and W1282X). The hit rates at the threshold of 50% greater than vehicle response are 2% and 1.4% for CFTR Y122X and CFTR W1282X, respectively. The overlap of the two hit sets at this stringent hit threshold is relatively small. Only ~28% of the hits from the W1282X screen were also hits in the Y122X screen. The overlap increases to ~50% if compounds are included that in the second screen achieve only a less stringent hit criterion, that is, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) activity greater than three standard deviations above the mean of the vehicle. Our data suggest that personalization may not need to address individual genotypes, but that patients with different CFTR PTC mutations could benefit from the same medicines.
Prevalence and potential factors associated with overweight and obesity status in adults with intellectual developmental disorders

Background The prevalence of being overweight and obese is increasing not just in the general population but also in individuals with intellectual disability (ID). Therefore, a need to identify factors contributing to overweight/obesity arises as this population is escalating. Materials and methods This narrative review article summarizes pertinent research focusing on prevalence and the potential factors associated with overweight and obesity in adults with intellectual disability during the past decade. Results Prevalence of being overweight and obese among adults with intellectual disability is reportedly 28%-71% and 17%-43%, respectively. Factors increasing the susceptibility of being overweight or obese have been identified as female gender, increasing age, having a certain diagnosis, mild intellectual disability, as well as living independently/with family, consuming certain prescription medications, and non-participation in physical activities. Conclusion Identification of the potential risk factors associated with being overweight and obese in this population will help tackle the challenges faced by this growing adult population with intellectual disability.
Quantification of acid site densities on zeolites in the presence of solvents via determination of extinction coefficients of adsorbed pyridine

Abstract Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is frequently used to characterize properties of catalytic sites, identify reaction intermediates, and probe interactions between adsorbates and surfaces, making it a versatile tool for elucidating reaction mechanisms in heterogeneous catalysis. While this technique is typically regarded as qualitative or semiquantitative in nature, quantitative results can be obtained by determining integrated molar extinction coefficients (IMECs), or the amount of signal per mole of adsorbed or bulk species. IMECs for vibrational modes corresponding to pyridine adsorbed onto Bronsted and Lewis acid sites have been determined in the vapor phase; however, the effect of solvents on catalytic sites cannot be captured. Liquid-phase IMECs enable quantification of adsorbates in the presence of solvents, allowing quantitative evaluations of the effect of solvents on catalysts. A method is outlined for determining IMECs of pyridine adsorbed on zeolites in the liquid phase in an attenuated total reflection (ATR) configuration. The method can also be applied to substrates other than pyridine. The IMECs for pyridine adsorbed onto Bronsted and Lewis acid sites in water, acetonitrile, and ethanol are determined. The IMEC values are shown to be dependent on solvent choice, but independent of zeolite framework.
The Iron Cage Revisited: Max Weber in the Neoliberal Era

At the start of the twentieth century, when Germany, among other nations, was undergoing industrialization, Max Weber famously characterized modern life in words that have often been translated as "iron cage." During the industrial era, that image caught on and was often used by scholars to express concerns about the extent to which the actual character of modern life contradicted its emancipatory promise. But we are living in a different time now, when the conditions under which we live seem to be quite different from the ones that pertained in Weber's day. It is a time when, in some respects at least, life seems to be freer and more conducive to experimentation, which has led some people to conclude that our societies have escaped from Weber's "cage." But is that really true? This book challenges that notion, considering the consequences for our way of life of the triumph of neoliberalism as a political force.
Optimal surgical intervention for achalasia: laparoscopic or robotic approach.

Laparoscopic esophageal myotomy is the standard surgical intervention for achalasia. Compared to standard laparoscopic techniques, use of the robot has theoretical advantages of improved visualization and dexterity. We evaluated the University of Arizona’s experience with the two alternatives to compare outcomes. Patients who underwent either laparoscopic or robot-assisted myotomy were identified from a retrospective database from 1/1/2006 to 12/31/2015. Patient demographics, prior treatment, intra-operative complications, operative time, post-operative length of stay and complications, and long-term results were compared between the two groups. We identified 35 laparoscopic and 37 robot-assisted Heller myotomies performed by multiple surgeons. Patient demographics were similar between the two groups with no statistical difference in age, gender, previous operations, pre-operative Botox or dilation treatment, or pre-op Eckardt score. In univariate analysis, the patients with the robotic procedure received a longer myotomy (5.85 cm vs. 5.56 cm for esophageal and 2.92 cm vs. 2.68 cm for gastric) and had a lower post-operative Eckardt score (0.51 vs. 1.09). A trend toward lower incidence of recurrent achalasia symptoms was found in the robotic group (0 patient vs. 4 patients) compared with those who had laparoscopic surgery (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that a longer gastric myotomy was associated with a lower recurrence rate (p = 0.0002). Both laparoscopic and robot-assisted Heller myotomy can provide definitive treatment of achalasia with good results and few complications. The mechanical advantage provided by the robotic approach may improve outcomes by providing a more complete myotomy and durable long-term result.
If You had a Million, Would you Teach?:

The reasons why men and women teach are here considered. Teaching may be financial folly, but there are those who love the work so supremely they could not be content to give it up—not even for a m...
Strengthening science attitudes for newcomer middle school english learners: visually enriched integrated science and language instruction

This study investigated ways to foster positive science attitudes among newcomer first-year middle school English learners (n = 79) under two conditions: (1) Extended Science + Extended Literacy (p...
Effect of catechol-O-methyltransferase (rs4680) single-nucleotide polymorphism on opioid-induced hyperalgesia in adults with chronic pain:

The catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met polymorphism has been associated with alterations in pain perception, but the influence of the polymorphism on pain perception in patients with chronic pa...
Minimal Clinically Important Differences for PROMIS Physical Function, Upper Extremity, and Pain Interference in Carpal Tunnel Release Using Region- and Condition-Specific PROM Tools

Purpose Uncertainty exists about what change in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores represents a clinically relevant improvement (minimal clinically important difference [MCID]) in hand surgery care. Using a region-specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) (Michigan Hand Question [MHQ]) and a condition-specific PROM (Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire [BCTQ]), MCID values were determined for PROMIS Physical Function (PF), Upper Extremity (UE), and Pain Interference (PI) computerized adaptive testing among patients undergoing carpal tunnel release (CTR). Methods Patients undergoing CTR with a single surgeon from November 2014 to April 2017 were asked to complete the BCTQ, MHQ, and PROMIS PF, UE, and PI at each visit. Patients who had completed questionnaires both at a preoperative and either a 6-week or a 3-month postoperative visit were included. The PROMIS PF, UE, and PI MCID values were calculated using previously determined MCID estimates in the literature with both region- (ie, MHQ) and condition-specific (ie, BCTQ) PROM anchors. The PROMIS domain MCID estimates were also determined using the distribution-based method. Results A total of 70 patients fit our inclusion criteria. Using MHQ Function and Pain, PROMIS UE, PF, and PI MCIDs were 6.3, 1.8, and –8.9, respectively. Using the average of the 2 BCTQ domains, PROMIS UE, PF, and PI MCIDs were 8.0, 2.8, and –9.7, respectively. Using the distribution-based method, PROMIS UE, PF, and PI MCIDs were 4.2, 2.7, and –4.1, respectively. Conclusions Using region- and condition-specific PROMs, we were able to provide MCID estimates of PROMIS UE, PF, and PI for patients undergoing CTR. Clinical relevance Estimating PROMIS UE, PF, and PI MCIDs in CTR using validated region- and condition-specific PROMs provides hand surgeons a way to evaluate CTR outcomes not previously described in the literature. Surgeons should understand that these values are only estimates and future work is needed to verify whether they reflect clinical improvement.
A Theory of Planned Behavior approach to developing belief-based communication: day hikers and bear spray in Yellowstone National Park

Communicating with visitors to parks and other protected areas is an important strategy for reducing human-wildlife conflict. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) can be used to develop communicati...
In Situ Probing Molecular Intercalation in Two-Dimensional Layered Semiconductors

The electrochemical molecular intercalation of two-dimensional layered materials (2DLMs) produces stable and highly tunable superlattices between monolayer 2DLMs and self-assembled molecular layers. This process allows unprecedented flexibility in integrating highly distinct materials with atomic/molecular precision to produce a new generation of organic/inorganic superlattices with tunable chemical, electronic, and optical properties. To better understand the intercalation process, we developed an on-chip platform based on MoS2 model devices and used optical, electrochemical, and in situ electronic characterizations to resolve the intermediate stages during the intercalation process and monitor the evolution of the molecular superlattices. With sufficient charge injection, the organic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) intercalation induces the phase transition of MoS2 from semiconducting 2H phase to semimetallic 1T phase, resulting in a dramatic increase of electrical conductivity. Therefore, in situ monitoring the evolution of the device conductance reveals the electrochemical intercalation dynamics with an abrupt conductivity change, signifying the onset of the molecule intercalation. In contrast, the intercalation of tetraheptylammonium bromide (THAB), a branched molecule in a larger size, resulting in a much smaller number of charges injected to avoid the 2H to 1T phase transition. Our study demonstrates a powerful platform for in situ monitoring the molecular intercalation of many 2DLMs (MoS2, WSe2, ReS2, PdSe2, TiS2, and graphene) and systematically probing electronic, optical, and optoelectronic properties at the single-nanosheet level.