cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In Vitro Toxicity of Alloxan for Guinea Pig B Cells: Comparison with Rat B Cells

Previous studies have shown that guinea pigs are resistant to the in vivo diabetogenic action of alloxan and that this resistance may be accompanied by a regeneration of B cells in the initial days following administration of the drug. In the studies reported here, we used the measurement of insulin and glucagon released over a 7-day culture period as indices of islet cell viability and examined effects of in vitro exposure to alloxan upon subsequent release of insulin and glucagon from guinea pig (alloxan-resistant) and rat (alloxan-sensitive) islet cell cultures. An alloxan dose-dependent decrease in subsequent insulin release was found. However, whereas the lowest concentration of the drug (1 mM) produced a significant depression in insulin release in rat islet cultures, with maximal depression occurring after exposure to 5 mM alloxan, insulin release from guinea pig cultures was not significantly depressed by 1 or 2 mM alloxan, and 5 mM alloxan treatment produced a submaximal depression. Furthermore, insulin release from guinea pig but not rat cultures increased transiently at between 6 and 18 hr during the first day following exposure to all doses of alloxan. Treatment with high doses of the drug (40 mM or greater) caused the same maximal chronic depression of insulin release for both species. In contrast, glucagon release from cultures of both species was not affected significantly following alloxan treatment. Thus, guinea pig B cells are more resistant than those of the rat to the action of alloxan, but this resistance can be overcome by employing high doses of the drug. Other factions unidentified by the present studies may also be involved in the failure of guinea pigs to develop diabetes following in vivo treatment with alloxan.
A Molecular Reexamination Of Introgression Between Helianthus Annuus And H. Bolanderi (Compositae)

Heiser (1949) hypothesized that a weedy race of Helianthus bolanderi had originated by the introgression of genes from H. annum into a serpentine race of H. bolanderi. Although Heiser's investigation of these species is frequently cited as one of the best examples of introgression in plants, definitive evidence of gene exchange is lacking (Heiser, 1973). To determine whether the weedy race of H. bolanderi actually originated via introgression, we analyzed allozyme, chloroplast-DNA (cpDNA), and nuclear-ribosomal-DNA (rDNA) variation. Evidence from enzyme electrophoresis did not support the proposed introgressive origin of weedy H. bolanderi. We detected a total of 37 low-frequency alleles distinguishing the serpentine race of H. bolanderi from H. annuus. Weedy H. bolanderi possessed only four of the 37 marker alleles. Further analysis demonstrated that serpentine H. bolanderi combined seven of the 35 alleles distinguishing H. annuus from weedy H. bolanderi, indicating that serpentine H. bolanderi shares three more marker alleles with H. annuus than does weedy H. bolanderi. These results are similar to expectations for race divergence from a single common ancestor and suggest that, if introgression occurred, the majority of marker alleles were rapidly lost following the initial hybridization event. Even more compelling evidence opposing Heiser's (1949) hypothesis, however, was from restriction-fragment analysis of cpDNA and nuclear rDNA. We detected a total of 17 cpDNA and five rDNA restriction-site mutations among the 19 populations examined. No parallel or back mutations were observed in phylogenetic trees constructed using either cpDNA or rDNA mutations, and both phylogenies were completely congruent regarding the alignment of all three taxa. In addition, the weedy race of H. bolanderi possessed a unique cpDNA, which was outside the range of variation observed among populations of either of the presumed parental species. Mean sequence divergences between the cpDNAs of weedy H. bolanderi and those of serpentine H. bolanderi and H. annuus were 0.30% and 0.35%, respectively. These estimates are comparable to sequence-divergence values observed between closely related species in other plant groups. Given the lack of parallel or convergent mutations in the cpDNA and rDNA phylogenetic trees, the complete congruence of these trees with flavonoid- and allozyme-variation patterns, and the presence of a unique and divergent chloroplast genome in the weedy race of H. bolanderi, we suggest that the weedy race of H. bolanderi was not derived recently through introgression, as hypothesized, but is relatively ancient in origin.
Rosie the Riveter Revisited: Women, the War, and Social Change. Edited by Sherna Berger Gluck. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1987. 288 pp. Hardbound, $19.95.

(1987). Rosie the Riveter Revisited: Women, the War, and Social Change. The Oral History Review: Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 186-187.
Global analysis and economics III: Pareto Optima and price equilibria

Abstract Among other things a global version of the fundamental theorem of welfare economics is proved. One starts with a pure exchange economy with fixed total resources where hypotheses of differentiability, convexity, and monotonicity are made on the utility functions. Let ʌ be the set of price equilibria where the initial allocation coincides with the final one. Then the map which assigns to such a price equilibrium, the corresponding allocation is a diffeomorphism (a complete correspondence) between ʌ and the set of Pareto Optima.
Heart gap junction preparations reveal hemiplaques by atomic force microscopy.

Current structural models of gap junctions indicate two apposed plasma membranes with hexagonally packed hemichannels in each membrane aligning end to end. These channels connect the cytoplasms of ...
Esophageal Resection for End-Stage Achalasia

Primary treatment modalities for esophageal achalasia include pneumatic dilatation, per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), and laparoscopic Heller myotomy. The same options are available when patients experience post-treatment recurrent dysphagia. However, when these interventions are unsuccessful, and the esophagus becomes dilated and sigmoid in shape, the only remaining option is to perform an esophagectomy.
Heterologous expression of family 10 xylanases from Acidothermus cellulolyticus enhances the exoproteome of Caldicellulosiruptor bescii and growth on xylan substrates.

Background The ability to deconstruct plant biomass without conventional pretreatment has made members of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor the target of investigation for the consolidated processing of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels and bioproducts. These Gram-positive bacteria are hyperthermophilic anaerobes and the most thermophilic cellulolytic organisms so far described. They use both C5 and C6 sugars simultaneously and have the ability to grow well on xylan, a major component of plant cell walls. This is an important advantage for their use to efficiently convert biomass at yields sufficient for an industrial process. For commodity chemicals, yield from substrate is perhaps the most important economic factor. In an attempt to improve even further the ability of C. bescii to use xylan, we introduced two xylanases from Acidothermus cellulolyticus. Acel_0180 includes tandem carbohydrate-binding modules (CBM2 and CBM3) located at the C-terminus, one of which, CBM2, is not present in C. bescii. Also, the sequences of Xyn10A and Acel_0180 have very little homology with the GH10 domains present in C. bescii. For these reasons, we selected these xylanases as potential candidates for synergistic interaction with those in the C. bescii exoproteome.
Muslim–Paulician Encounters and Early Islamic Anti-Christian Polemical Writings

ABSTRACTThis article investigates the portrayals of the Paulicians in early Islamic sources and specifically analyses the role that Paulician religious views play in Islamic anti-Christian writings. The study also gives insights into the nature of materials that were available to Muslim scholars and the strategies they applied in constructing coherent arguments to refute certain Christian religious beliefs. In doing so, the study touches upon Muslims’ religious needs and scholarly curiosity, which sheds light on their intellectual interactions with non-Islamic religious beliefs and philosophical ideas. The article demonstrates that references to Paulician religious beliefs can be found primarily in early Christian–Islamic polemics. Muslim polemicists, most of whom were Muʿtazilites, attempted to demonstrate the soundness and the coherence of Islamic tenets vis-a-vis inadequacies and contradictions in Christian doctrines. The reliance of Muslim polemicists on heresiographical discourse therefore constitute...
Microcephaly after HI Encephalopathy

The development of microcephaly after hypoxic-ischemic cerebral injury in the full-term newborn was studied at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Intraoperative Loss of Tibialis Anterior Transcranial Electrical Motor Evoked Potentials Predicted Postoperative Footdrop

Background Footdrop secondary to L5 root injury is a rare complication associated with lumbar surgery. It is unclear whether intraoperative neuromonitoring can detect such an injury. Case Description A 54-year-old man who had had bilateral chronic L5 radiculopathy underwent L4-S1 lumbosacral decompression and fusion. During surgery, the patient lost transcranial electrical motor evoked potentials (tceMEPs) from the left tibialis anterior (TA) at the time of L5-S1 intervertebral cage placement. Neither intraoperative free-run electromyography nor somatosensory evoked potentials detected any changes. In addition, contralateral TA tceMEPs remained stable. Postoperatively, the patient presented with left-sided footdrop that has persisted for >1 year. Conclusions Intraoperative TA tceMEPs could detect L5 root iatrogenic injury.
About the Contribution of Modern Theories to Myth Research in Jewish Studies

Analysis of Biblical texts using methods of literature, folk literature, anthropology, psychoanalysis, Myth studies, religious studies, and genre aspects, illuminates the ancient texts in a new light, and in the same time gives an opportunity to examine the validity of Modern methods in analyzing these texts. Reviewing the development of Jewish Myth Study in the transition from the twentieth century to the twenty-first century, is giving attention to the influence of the general methods which deal with the concept of Myth on the research of Myth in Jewish studies. This review is leading to the discussion about the complicated relationship between both main research schools were active in the second half of the twentieth century: Structuralism and Post-Structuralism. According to contemporary approaches which see Structuralism and Post-Structuralism as two sides of the Modernity, this article comes to examine the question if there is a sequence between those theories in the context of biblical texts analysis.
The Impact of Social Contagion on Physician Adoption of Advanced Imaging Tests in Breast Cancer.

Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans are widely used in breast cancer practice despite unproven benefits. We examined the extent to which social contagion is associated with adoption of these imaging modalities. Methods We used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare to construct peer groups of physicians who shared patients during a baseline period when these imaging modalities were starting to disseminate into practice (2004-2006) and determined the potential impact of these peer groups during a follow-up period (2007-2009). For non-early-adopting surgeons (whose patients did not receive MRI/PET during baseline), we used hierarchical logistic regression models to examine the effect of their peer group's baseline use on their use of MRI/PET during the follow-up period, adjusting for patient characteristics and hospital MRI/PET use. Results For MRI, there were 6424 women diagnosed in the follow-up period assigned to 986 non-early-adopting surgeons. During baseline, 9.3% of women received an MRI, varying across peer groups from 0% to 81%. Women assigned to surgeons whose peers had the highest rate of baseline MRI use were more likely to receive MRI compared with women whose surgeons' peers did not use MRI (24.9% vs 10.1%, adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.39 to 4.39). Physician peers were associated with uptake of PET imaging (OR for highest vs lowest baseline peer group PET use = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.24 to 3.36). Conclusions The phenomenon of social contagion may offer opportunities to better understand how new approaches to cancer care disseminate into clinical practice.
Studies on the Cholinergic Differentiation Factor for Cultured Sympathetic Neurons

Over the past 10 years, it has been shown that individual neurons of neural crest origin are plastic with respect to transmitter phenotype (Patterson 1978, Le Douarin 1980). Transplantation studies in chick-quail chimeras have shown that the population of neural crest cells can become either noradrenergic or cholinergic, depending on the embryonic environment in which they are placed (Le Douarin 1980). The transmitter phenotype of the neurons can be switched even after the cells cease migrating and form ganglia (Le Douarin et al. 1978). Moreover, studies under the more defined conditions of cell culture have shown that the alteration of transmitter phenotype is not due to a selection of certain neural crest subpopulations for survival but a change in transmitter metabolism at the single-cell level (Reichardt and Patterson 1977, Potter et al. 1981).
Gene Expression Signatures of Mating System Evolution

The diversity of mating systems among animals is astounding. Importantly, similar mating systems have evolved even across distantly related taxa. However, our understanding of the mechanisms underl...
Neoadjuvant treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 5520 patients

Recent years have seen standardization of the anatomic definitions of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and increasing utilization of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). The aim of the current review was to summarize the evidence for NAT in pancreatic adenocarcinoma since 2009, when consensus criteria for resectable (R), borderline resectable (BR), and locally advanced (LA) disease were endorsed. PubMed search was undertaken along with extensive backward search of the references of published articles to identify studies utilizing NAT for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Abstracts from ASCO-GI 2014 and 2015 were also searched. A total of 96 studies including 5520 patients were included in the final quantitative synthesis. Pooled estimates revealed 36% grade ≥ 3 toxicities, 5% biliary complications, 21% hospitalization rate and low mortality (0%, range 0–16%) during NAT. The majority of patients (59%) had stable disease. On an intention-to-treat basis, R0-resection rates varied from 63% among R patients to 23% among LA patients. R0 rates were > 80% among all patients who were resected after NAT. Among R and BR patients who underwent resection after NAT, median OS was 30 and 27.4 months, respectively. The current study summarizes the recent literature for NAT in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and demonstrates improving outcomes after NAT compared to those historically associated with a surgery-first approach for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Overexpression of HER2/neu in breast cancer cell lines is associated with an increased side population, presence of ABC transporters, and clonogenicity

1278 Recent studies have established that a rare and biologically distinct population, termed “cancer stem cells”, exists in solid tumors including breast cancer. Stem cells are characterized by self-renewal, extensive proliferative capacity, and damage tolerance. The latter is due to the expression of multidrug resistance proteins/ABC transporters and may have profound implications for cancer therapy. We have previously shown that HER-receptor kinase mediated signaling pathways can cause up-regulation of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2). Here, we examined whether overexpression of HER2 in breast cancer cells is correlated with the presence of a stem/primitive progenitor cell population. We used a normal human breast epithelial cell line and 10 breast cancer cell lines with defined HER1 (EGF-R), HER2/neu, BCRP, and P-glycoprotein (Pgp/ABCB1) expression by Western blot and real time PCR. Breast cancer stem cells were analyzed by measuring the side population (SP) and clonogenic growth in the soft agar assay. The SP is enriched with stem/primitive progenitor cells and has the distinct capacity to efflux Hoechst 33342 dye owing to the presence of ABC transporters. This leads to a unique appearance of SP cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Incubations of breast cancer cells with the Pgp inhibitor verapamil, the BCRP inhibitors fumitremorgin C or Ko143, and anti-BCRP antibodies were used to block the occurrence of the SP and thus, to confirm the specificity of our detection systems. We found that breast cancer cells overexpressing HER2 showed a significant SP phenotype as well as an increased expression of ABC transporters in the SP and increased soft agar plating efficiency. For example, the comparison of the isogenic breast cancer cell lines MCF7 (which has low levels of endogenous HER2) and MCF7-HER2-18 (a clone stably transfected with HER2) showed a 6-fold increment in the SP phenotype (0.29% vs. 1.83%), a 4-fold higher BCRP expression (1.43% vs. 5.18%), and a 15-fold increase in soft agar plating efficiency (1.5% vs. 22.4%) for MCF-7HER2-18. SKBR3 and BT20, breast cancer cell lines with endogenous HER2 overexpression also have distinct SPs (0.14% and 0.09% respectively) compared to breast cancer cells lacking HER2 such as MDA-MB-468, which has no identifiable SP. Moreover, sub-analysis of the SP of MCF-7HER2-18 cells revealed that SP cells are highly positive for BCRP (2-3-fold increase compared to non-SP), but that Pgp also contributes to the SP phenotype. The SKBR3 and BT20 SPs predominantly express Pgp. HER1 status did not correlate with the size of the SP. Our data suggest that up-regulation of HER2-mediated signaling pathways may expand the putative cancer stem cell population. This may explain the poor responsiveness of HER2-positive breast cancers to chemotherapy, as well as their aggressiveness and ability to metastasize.
Dissipation of transmembrane potassium gradient is the main cause of cerebral ischemia-induced depolarization in astrocytes and neurons

Membrane potential (VM) depolarization occurs immediately following cerebral ischemia and is devastating for the astrocyte homeostasis and neuronal signaling. Previously, an excessive release of extracellular K+ and glutamate has been shown to underlie an ischemia-induced VM depolarization. Ischemic insults should impair membrane ion channels and disrupt the physiological ion gradients. However, their respective contribution to ischemia-induced neuronal and glial depolarization and loss of neuronal excitability are unanswered questions. A short-term oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) was used for the purpose of examining the acute effect of ischemic conditions on ion channel activity and physiological K+ gradient in neurons and glial cells. We show that a 30 min OGD treatment exerted no measurable damage to the function of membrane ion channels in neurons, astrocytes, and NG2 glia. As a result of the resilience of membrane ion channels, neuronal spikes last twice as long as our previously reported 15 min time window. In the electrophysiological analysis, a 30 min OGD-induced dissipation of transmembrane K+ gradient contributed differently in brain cell depolarization: severe in astrocytes and neurons, and undetectable in NG2 glia. The discrete cellular responses to OGD corresponded to a total loss of 69% of the intracellular K+ contents in hippocampal slices as measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). A major brain cell depolarization mechanism identified here is important for our understanding of cerebral ischemia pathology. Additionally, further understanding of the resilient response of NG2 glia to ischemia-induced intracellular K+ loss and depolarization should facilitate the development of future stroke therapy.
A review on fabricating tissue scaffolds using vat photopolymerization

Abstract Vat Photopolymerization (stereolithography, SLA), an Additive Manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology, holds particular promise for the fabrication of tissue scaffolds for use in regenerative medicine. Unlike traditional tissue scaffold fabrication techniques, SLA is capable of fabricating designed scaffolds through the selective photopolymerization of a photopolymer resin on the micron scale. SLA offers unprecedented control over scaffold porosity and permeability, as well as pore size, shape, and interconnectivity. Perhaps even more significantly, SLA can be used to fabricate vascular networks that may encourage angio and vasculogenesis. Fulfilling this potential requires the development of new photopolymers, the incorporation of biochemical factors into printed scaffolds, and an understanding of the effects scaffold geometry have on cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation. This review compares SLA to other scaffold fabrication techniques, highlights significant advances in the field, and offers a perspective on the field’s challenges and future directions. Statement of Significance Engineering de novo tissues continues to be challenging due, in part, to our inability to fabricate complex tissue scaffolds that can support cell proliferation and encourage the formation of developed tissue. The goal of this review is to first introduce the reader to traditional and Additive Manufacturing scaffold fabrication techniques. The bulk of this review will then focus on apprising the reader of current research and provide a perspective on the promising use of vat photopolymerization (stereolithography, SLA) for the fabrication of complex tissue scaffolds.
High performance pulse ring voltage controlled oscillator for Internet of Things

This paper presents a low phase noise, low power, wide tuning range, small area pulse ring oscillator fabricated in inexpensive 130nm CMOS technology, suitable for the widescale internet of things market. The ring uses very non-linear Pulse gates instead of conventional inverters as buffers substantially reducing the impulse sensitivity function (ISF) and thus the phase noise. The timing signal is rising-edge and ground referenced, allowing the supply to be used as control voltage. Common mode supply noise is rejected by double inversion in every stage of of the pulse gate as well as insensitivity to pulse amplitude and width. Fabricated ring oscillators show a phase noise of −98.41 dBC/Hz at 1MHz offset for 1.872GHz oscillator at 2.94mW power consumption and −95.14dBC/Hz at 1MHz offset for 388MHz oscillator at 216uW power consumption. The oscillators have a tuning range of 388MHz to 2.455GHz.
A Theorem in Search of a Simple Proof

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a theorem about certain families of tetrahedra arising in the study of integer programming problems with three variables and three inequalities. It describes Howe's theorem and presents some suggestions that might lead to a more transparent proof. The more difficult part of the proof is to demonstrate that one of the three coordinates of the fourth vertex must be unity. Howe's theorem asserts that if the tetrahedron is free of additional lattice points, then its lattice width is unity: The four vertices lie on two adjacent translates of a lattice plane, which is termed a characteristic plane associated with the tetrahedron T. The corresponding theorem is false in higher dimensions: a simplex in n > 3 dimensions with integral vertices and containing no other lattice points may have a lattice width greater than one.
Scholarly Teaching: Suggestions for a Road More Traveled

Excerpt: Most academic disciplines throughout the world have been in the higher education curriculum for hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of years. Teaching itself has certainly been around as long as the earliest of any given discipline. After all, without teaching no profession is possible. How else would a core set of knowledge be taught to those interested in the theoretical constructs, conceptual frameworks, and the successes/failures of those who have worked previously in the discipline? Unfortunately, the concept of consistently teaching from a base of scholarly activity is relatively new. What happens, then, when the very concept of how to teach disciplinary knowledge at the university level is questioned for the lack of having a scholarly basis? There is certainly a professional discipline of “Education,” but much of that literature is not consulted by those teaching at the university level, perhaps based on an assumption that the bulk of the scholarly work is predominantly on instruction at the primary grades. The issue I raise here is how are we to convince faculty members, both new and experienced, that our work as higher education educators within the framework of teaching should be based solidly on a professional body of scholarly work. It would seem to me imperative that all faculty members should anchor every instructional and curricular aspects of their work on some form of scholarship.
Xist noncoding RNA could act as a tumor suppressor gene in patients with classical Hodgkin's disease.

Background: Xist is a long noncoding RNA involved in the X chromosome inactivation in females. It may act as an onco-suppressor gene in hematologic malignancies, and its activity is strongly dependent from SATB1 gene expression. However, its potential role in Hodgkin's disease (HD) onset and progression is unknown. Materials and Methods: Three gene expression microarray datasets were analyzed for the expression of Xist and SATB1 in patients with classical HD, namely, GDS4222 (130 patients and 54,000 gene features), GSE39134 (29 patients and 54,000 features), and E-MEXP-507 (29 patients and 27,648 probes). The first two were oligonucleotide arrays (platform: Affymetrix gene chip HG-U133-Plus2), whereas the latter was a cDNA two-channel array (platform: OncoChip. v2). Summary and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were applied to obtain a summary measure (summary area under the ROC curve [sAUC]) of association between gene expression and unfavorable patient outcome in each probe set. Results: Xist was overexpressed among females in each data set. A slight overexpression was associated with a good prognosis both in males (sAUC = 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70–0.80) and at a lesser extent, in females (sAUC = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.59–0.69). However, this finding was limited to the analysis of the biggest database (GDS4222). No association was found between Xist and SATB1 expression. Conclusions: A reactivation of Xist might act as an onco-suppressor gene in male patients with HD, which seems independent from SATB1 expression. The possibility that Xist could contribute to the better survival of female patients should also be investigated.
A Prospective Study on Hereditary Bias of Age-Related Macular Degeneration:

Purpose:This study employed a prospective survey to evaluate whether maternal family history or paternal family history is more likely to be found in patients with age-related macular degeneration ...
Importance of the initial response to GPi deep brain stimulation in dystonia: A nine year quality of life study.

Abstract Background Long-term efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) for isolated dystonia is not well established. This study aims to determine the long-term impact of DBS on HRQoL outcomes and identify clinical predictors. Methods We retrospectively investigated 16 inherited or idiopathic isolated dystonia patients treated with bilateral globus pallidus internus DBS who were followed beyond 9 years at our center. The cohort consisted of 9 males, 7 females; 10 generalized, 6 segmental; mean (range) age at implantation, 37.0 (8–67) years; mean follow-up duration after implantation, 10.9 (9–13) years. We employed the Unified Dystonia Rating Scale for motor and Short Form Health Survey for HRQoL assessments to monitor the change longitudinally. We analyzed the changes in motor and HRQoL at 1–2 years (short-term) and ≥9 years (long-term) follow-up as compared to baseline with a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. We assessed the factors that predicted motor and HRQoL improvement with univariate regression analyses. Results Motor (41.6%; p = 0.004) and HRQoL (total score, p = 0.039) improvements remained significant at long-term follow-up and, in the regression analysis, change in HRQoL outcomes correlated significantly with change in motor outcomes (R2 = 0.384, p = 0.010). Additionally, short-term motor and HRQoL improvements predicted the long-term motor (R2 = 0.384, p = 0.010) and HRQoL (total score, R2 = 0.594, p Conclusion Motor and HRQoL improvements with DBS in isolated dystonia remain sustained for nearly a decade and may largely be predictable by the short-term response to DBS.
The Comfort of the Ordinary — On Dying as We’ve Lived

The Comfort of the Ordinary Though the dying process may offer an opportunity for truth telling and atonement, reconciliation and expressions of love, it may also allow a space for life to go on ju...
Distributed Multiagent Convex Optimization Over Random Digraphs

This paper considers an unconstrained collaborative optimization of a sum of convex functions, where agents make decisions using local information in the presence of random interconnection topologies. We recast the problem as minimization of the sum of convex functions over a constraint set defined as the set of fixed-value points of a random operator derived from weighted matrices of random graphs. We show that the derived random operator has nonexpansivity property; therefore, this formulation does not need the distribution of random communication topologies. Hence, it includes random networks with/without asynchronous protocols. As an extension of the problem, we define a novel optimization problem, namely minimization of a convex function over the fixed-value point set of a nonexpansive random operator. We propose a discrete-time algorithm using diminishing step size for converging almost surely and in mean square to the global solution of the optimization problem under suitable assumptions. Consequently, as a special case, it reduces to a totally asynchronous algorithm for the distributed optimization problem. We show that fixed-value point is a bridge from deterministic analysis to random analysis of the algorithm. Finally, a numerical example illustrates the convergence of the proposed algorithm.
Sharing information electronically with other hospitals is associated with increased sharing of patients

Objective One potential benefit of greater electronic health information exchange is a reduction in the effort required for patients to switch between providers. We therefore assessed whether hospital participation in health information organizations (HIOs) led to increased patient sharing. Data sources Secondary data from 2010 to 2016. Study design Using hospital-pair and year fixed effects regression models, we assessed change in patient sharing volume following HIO participation by hospitals and compared the effect by the level of market competition and by hospital size. Data extraction methods We used national data on hospital participation in HIOs from the American Hospital Association Information Technology Supplement and data on the volume of Medicare patients shared between pairs of hospitals from 2010 to 2016. Principal findings The volume of patients shared between hospitals increased by 2.6 percent when both hospitals participated in a health information organization (P = .008, 95% CI: 0.7%-4.5%). This increase was greater in competitive markets (3.1 percent increase, P = .03 95% CI: 0.3%-5.9%) and between large hospitals (4.3 percent increase, P = .007 95% CI: 1.2%-7.3%). Participation by only one hospital in a pair had no effect on patient sharing. Conclusions Our results suggest that an important policy goal motivating the investment in health information exchange has been at least partially achieved. However, our results also support hospital concerns about the competitive implications of engaging in health information exchange. HIO participation appears to facilitate patient movement between hospitals, likely by lowering switching costs and resulting in greater competition.
Pluralism to a Fault: Jewish Political Organizations in Interwar Poland

Jews, unlike Belarusians, Ukrainians, and Germans, did not pose a direct, irredentist threat to interwar Polish territorial integrity. They were not a territorially concentrated group with border r...
New insight in Huanglongbing-associated mature fruit drop in citrus and its link to oxidative stress

Abstract As Huanglongbing (HLB) becomes epidemic throughout Florida, there is a sharp rise in mature fruit drop prior to harvest in affected citrus, leading to a substantial reduction in yield. To investigate how HLB increases mature fruit abscission, this research evaluated the drop rate and compared the global gene expression using RNA sequencing in HLB-susceptible ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) versus HLB-tolerant ‘LB8-9’ mandarin {‘Clementine’ mandarin (C. reticulata) and ‘Minneola’ tangelo [hybrid of ‘Duncan’ grapefruit (C. paradisi) and ‘Dancy’ tangerine (C. reticulata)]}. Consistent with their susceptibility to HLB documented in the literature, the drop rate of mature fruit was significantly higher in ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange than ‘LB8-9’ mandarin. Between the two citrus, there were 368 differentially expressed genes (DEGs); 310 and 58 were upregulated and downregulated, respectively, in the abscission zone (AZ) of ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange compared to ‘LB8-9’ mandarin fruit. Although at the time of collection, fruits of both citrus were still attached to the tree branch (fruit detachment force > 6 kgf), upregulation of the DEGs related to cell wall loosening in ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange indicates that the process of abscission was already initiated in the AZ of this citrus. The pattern of DEGs related to the metabolism and signal transduction of hormones, specifically ethylene, auxin, cytokinin, abscisic acid, and gibberellic acid, also suggests that HLB likely brings about changes in endogenous hormone balance that promote mature fruit abscission. Interestingly, DEGs encoding antioxidants were upregulated, suggesting a demand for detoxification mechanisms against oxidative stress in the AZ of ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange fruit. Additionally, gene ontology (GO) terms for cell death and senescence, two of consequences of oxidative stress, were highly enriched. Together, the results of transcriptome analysis presented herein provide evidence that for HLB-susceptible ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange, oxidative stress caused by the pathogen infection likely results in cell wall modification, leading to cell separation and eventually fruit abscission. The results further suggest that ‘LB8-9’ mandarin may have an advanced antioxidant system to mitigate the pathogen-induced oxidative stress, thereby contributing to its tolerance to HLB.
Limited number of cases may yield generalizable models, a proof of concept in deep learning for colon histology

Background: Little is known about the effect of a minimum number of slides required in generating image datasets used to build generalizable machine-learning (ML) models. In addition, the assumption within deep learning is that the increased number of training images will always enhance accuracy and that the initial validation accuracy of the models correlates well with their generalizability. In this pilot study, we have been able to test the above assumptions to gain a better understanding of such platforms, especially when data resources are limited. Methods: Using 10 colon histology slides (5 carcinoma and 5 benign), we were able to acquire 1000 partially overlapping images (Dataset A) that were then trained and tested on three convolutional neural networks (CNNs), ResNet50, AlexNet, and SqueezeNet, to build a large number of unique models for a simple task of classifying colon histopathology into benign and malignant. Different quantities of images (10–1000) from Dataset A were used to construct >200 unique CNN models whose performances were individually assessed. The performance of these models was initially assessed using 20% of Dataset A's images (not included in the training phase) to acquire their initial validation accuracy (internal accuracy) followed by their generalization accuracy on Dataset B (a very distinct secondary test set acquired from public domain online sources).Results: All CNNs showed similar peak internal accuracies (>97%) from the Dataset A test set. Peak accuracies for the external novel test set (Dataset B), an assessment of the ability to generalize, showed marked variation (ResNet50: 98%; AlexNet: 92%; and SqueezeNet: 80%). The models with the highest accuracy were not generated using the largest training sets. Further, a model's internal accuracy did not always correlate with its generalization accuracy. The results were obtained using an optimized number of cases and controls. Conclusions: Increasing the number of images in a training set does not always improve model accuracy, and significant numbers of cases may not always be needed for generalization, especially for simple tasks. Different CNNs reach peak accuracy with different training set sizes. Further studies are required to evaluate the above findings in more complex ML models prior to using such ancillary tools in clinical settings.
New Rubidium Containing Mixed-Metal Titanium Hollandites

A family of rubidium containing mixed-metal titanates, RbxMyTi8-yO16 (M = Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni, and Cu) was prepared as high quality single crystals employing a molten RbCl-RbF flux at 850 °C. This is th...
Base Editing: The Ever Expanding Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) Tool Kit for Precise Genome Editing in Plants

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9), a newly developed genome-editing tool, has revolutionized animal and plant genetics by facilitating modification of target genes. This simple, convenient base-editing technology was developed to improve the precision of genome editing. Base editors generate precise point mutations by permanent base conversion at a specific point, with very low levels of insertions and deletions. Different plant base editors have been established by fusing various nucleobase deaminases with Cas9, Cas13, or Cas12a (Cpf1), proteins. Adenine base editors can efficiently convert adenine (A) to guanine (G), whereas cytosine base editors can convert cytosine (C) to thymine (T) in the target region. RNA base editors can induce a base substitution of A to inosine (I) or C to uracil (U). In this review, we describe the precision of base editing systems and their revolutionary applications in plant science; we also discuss the limitations and future perspectives of this approach.
3. INTERN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND WELLNESS WEEK: BUILDING LIFE-LONG SKILLS FOR WORK-LIFE INTEGRATION

Introduction The requirements for successful completion of Pediatric Residency is clear, but until recently there was very little guidance regarding physician work-life integration. Given the growing awareness of physician burnout and the increased physician suicide rate compared to the general public (American Journal of Psychiatry.2004. 161(12), 2295-2302), our program deemed it necessary to implement a curriculum focused on wellness early in medical training. Methods Our program implemented a Professional Development and Wellness Week (7 days) during intern year. During this week, interns are required to meet with their adviser, shadow an inpatient nurse, and create a “chalk talk”. Otherwise, they are provided a menu of personal and professional activity suggestions. Interns complete a survey at the end of their week documenting the completed activities. Outcomes Thus far, 13 of 24 (54%) Pediatric residents have completed their PDW week and post-completion survey. The most commonly selected activities included: completing outstanding MedHub evaluations (100%), engaging in a favorite hobby (100%), attending a health-related appointment (92%), and organizing email/EMR (76%). Results The most common optional activities that residents completed during protected personal development time include administrative tasks (email and evaluations) and healthcare-related activities. Conclusions When provided unstructured time for personal development, interns may prioritize completing outstanding administrative tasks and health-related appointments. This suggests that a longitudinal administrative “half-day” experience may be beneficial. Future directions also include collecting data related to administrative tasks and burnout.
Pharmacotherapy in pediatric obesity: current evidence and landscape.

Purpose of review Childhood obesity is escalating globally. Lifestyle and behavioral changes, which are the frequently used interventions in clinical practice, lead to only modest improvements in children with established obesity. Bariatric surgery is currently the most effective obesity treatment but has very limited utilization in pediatric obesity and is preferentially used for children with worsening comorbidities. There exists a massive treatment gap for children suffering with obesity especially after the failure of lifestyle modifications. Pharmacotherapy that is an established management tool in adults is very infrequently used in children. Only two medications, Phentermine and Orlistat are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adolescent obesity. Herein, we discuss the current landscape and available literature on the use of antiobesity pharmacotherapy in children. Recent findings There are emerging pediatric data about the efficacy of the many weight loss medications that are FDA approved in adults. Moreover, more clinical trials are underway on the rarer, intractable forms of obesity such as monogenic, syndromic, and hypothalamic obesity. Summary Weight loss medications in children, like adults, have variable efficacy and similar side effect profiles. Rigorous research and improved education of providers about weight loss medications may address the huge treatment gap in severe pediatric obesity.
Supervised or unsupervised learning? Investigating the role of pattern recognition assumptions in the success of binary predictive prescriptions

Abstract Machine learning (ML) employs classification algorithms such as artificial neural networks to make automated decisions. While the proposed solutions have made significant contributions toward improving decision-making efficiency, their effectiveness to serve our multifaceted and complex society has recently come under question. This paper attempts to theorize an answer to why ML lacks effectiveness by studying the assumptions that are made to facilitate efficient pattern recognition. Specifically, this study recognizes five assumptions and investigates their influence on the effectiveness of decision-making for three well-known case studies. The results suggest including the assumptions needed for metric-optimizing supervised learning can only be justifiable and lead to decision-making effectiveness for cases in which a fair and equitable definition of success can be formulated as an objective function. In contrast, the results show using unsupervised learning or non-metric-optimizing supervised learning leads to a more reasonable balance of effectiveness and efficiency when the formulation of a fair and equitable definition of success is not possible. Moreover, the results demonstrate that the current ML approaches that employ supervised learning can improve their efficacy by rethinking the assumptions made at the stage of pattern recognition.
Evaluating the impacts of transit-oriented developments (TODs) on household transportation expenditures in California

Abstract This study evaluates the impact of transit-oriented development (TOD) on household transportation expenditures in California by comparing TOD households with two groups of control households that are identified by propensity score matching. When controlling for household demographics, TOD households own fewer and more fuel-efficient cars, drive fewer miles, and use transit more. On average, they save $1232 per year on transportation expenditures than non-TOD households with similar demographics, accounting for 18% of their total annual transportation expenditures. When controlling for both demographics and neighborhood environment, TOD households still own slightly fewer and more fuel-efficient cars and use transit more. But they drive similar amount of miles as non-TOD households do. TOD households save $429 per year on transportation expenditures than non-TOD households with similar demographics and neighborhood environment, accounting for about 6% of their total annual transportation expenditures. TOD households save money on transportation costs mainly because they own fewer cars than non-TOD households. About two thirds of the savings can be attributed to transit-friendly neighborhood environment and one third to their access to rail transit, suggesting the importance of integrating a rail transit system with supportive land use planning and neighborhood design.
From training to implementation: Improving contraceptive practices in South Carolina.

Abstract Objective Capacity building and training to improve contraceptive care is essential for patient-centered care and reproductive autonomy. This study assessed the feasibility of translating the knowledge and skills gained from contraception trainings into improvements in practice. Study Design Participants completed surveys following contraceptive care trainings provided to family planning clinic and hospital obstetric providers and staff as a part of the Choose Well contraceptive access initiative in South Carolina. Surveys assessed participants’ intent to change their practice post-training and anticipated barriers to implementing change. A mixed-methods approach was utilized including descriptive analysis of Likert scale responses and thematic content analysis to synthesize open-ended, qualitative responses. Results Data were collected from 160 contraceptive training sessions provided to 4814 clinical and administrative staff between 2017 and 2019. Post-training surveys were completed by 3464 participants (72%), and of these, 2978 answered questions related to the study outcomes. Most respondents (n = 2390; 80.7%) indicated intent to change their practice and 35.5% (n = 1044) anticipated barriers to implementing intended changes. Across all training categories, organizational factors (time constraints, policies and practices, infrastructure/resources) were the most frequently perceived barrier to improving contraceptive services. Structural factors related to cost for patients were also identified as barriers to IUD and implant provision. Conclusion The trainings were successful in influencing family planning staff and providers’ intent to improve their contraceptive practices, yet some anticipated barriers in translating training into practice. Improvements in organizational and structural policies are critical to realizing the benefits of trainings in advancing quality contraceptive care. Implications In addition to training, coordinated efforts to address organizational practices and resources, coupled with system-level policy changes are essential to facilitate the delivery and sustainability of patient-centered contraceptive care.