cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Antitumor Efficacy of MUC-16 Targeted T Cells Further Modified to Constitutively Express the IL-12 Cytokine in a Syngeneic Model of Ovarian Cancer,

Abstract Abstract 4176 T cells may be genetically modified to recognize tumor associated antigens (TAAs) through the introduction of genes encoding artificial T cell receptors termed chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). We have constructed SFG retroviral vectors encoding first (4H11mz) and second (4H11m28mz) generation CARs as well as IL-12 modified CAR (4H11m28mzIRESmIL12) targeted to the retained extra-cellular domain of MUC16, termed MUC-CD. This antigen is over-expressed on most ovarian carcinoma tumor cells. IL-12 is a potent inducer of a Th1 CD4+ T cell response and serves as a “signal 3” in concert with TCR activation (signal 1) and CD28 co-stimulation (signal 2) to CD8+ T cells, resulting in optimized clonal expansion and effector function. In order to mimic the clinical setting, we generated a syngeneic tumor model using the C57BL6 (B6) mice intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with ID8(MUC-CD) cells. In our studies treatment of mice bearing established ID8(MUC-CD) ovarian tumor with MUC-CD specific T cells expressing IL-12 gene, in contrast to T cells targeted to MUC-CD alone, fully eradicate advanced intraperitoneal ovarian tumors. The mechanism of IL-12 expressing MUC-CD targeted T cell antitumor efficacy was mediated through enhanced persistence and engraftment of modified T cells, as well as the ability of IL-12 secreting T cells to recruit endogenous T cells to the tumor site. Furthermore, we observed elevated secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-g and TNF-a) in the serum of IL-12 treated mice, compared to 4H11m28mz and control CD19 targeted T cell treated groups. Treatment of B6 mice with MUC-CD targeted T cells expressing IL-12 gene was dependent upon recruitment of the NK and NKT cells to the tumor site. Finally, we demonstrated the ability of IL-12 secreting T cells to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by switching the phenotype of the tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) from a predominately immunosuppressive M2 to an immunostimulatory M1 phenotype. These data, obtained in the context of a clinically relevant syngeneic tumor model supports the application of this approach in the treatment of the patients with relapsed ovarian carcinomas. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Josephson technology special purpose systolic architecture signal processing application

A signal processing application requiring 50 billion multiplies per second was analyzed. A solution is described which exploits both the significant performance potential of Josephson technology and the powerful elegance of systolic linear arrays.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Post-Transition Social Movements in Chile in Comparative Perspective

This chapter analyzes the extent to which Chilean post-transition social movement protest in the early 2010s is comparable to the cycles of anti-neoliberal contestation that shook the emblematic cases of Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, and Venezuela in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It discusses whether social mobilization in Chile can be considered a Polanyian backlash to the consolidation of a neoliberal economic, social, and political model as occurred in other Latin American cases. While there are important similarities there are also significant differences between Chile and the emblematic cases. The chapter concludes that while the protests in Chile are significant, they should be considered as part of normal democratic politics and not as destabilizing events.
Interventions for Abused African-American Women and Their Children

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects millions of women regardless of age, race, and income in the United States; however, low income African-American women are disproportionately affected (Rennison & Planty, 2003). IPV is a major public health issue for African-American women because of the combination of institutional racism and the fact that IPV is more common and violent in this community (Hampton et al., 2003).
Vascular Development in the Zebrafish

The zebrafish has proven to be a powerful model organism for studying how the stereotypic and evolutionarily conserved vascular network is established during vertebrate development. The combination of genetic and experimental tools with high‐resolution imaging has allowed rapid progress in our understanding of both the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the specification of endothelial progenitors as well as the differentiation and patterning of blood vessels into arterial‐venous networks. Continued studies of vascular development in zebrafish promise to yield new insights into the developmental mechanisms regulating lymphangiogenesis and will undoubtedly reveal new information about the role of the endothelium in the patterning of various tissues. In this chapter, we discuss recent advances in vascular biology that have been achieved through use of the zebrafish.
Fibromyalgia as a Predictor of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome After Distal Radius Fracture.

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) can be a devastating complication following extremity injury, but risk factors are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between fibromyalgia and the development of CRPS after distal radius fracture. Methods: The PearlDiver Medicare database was queried using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for diagnoses and treatments of distal radius fractures. Patients were separated into fibromyalgia and control cohorts, and the prevalence of CRPS was measured at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months from the date of injury or procedure. Demographic factors, treatment modality, and comorbid conditions were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression to reduce confounding and identify additional risk factors. Results: Database queries yielded 853 186 patients diagnosed or treated for distal radius fracture, with 6% having previous diagnosis of fibromyalgia. The prevalence of CRPS following distal radius fracture was increased at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months in the fibromyalgia cohort compared with the control c, with a 1-year incidence of 0.51% compared with 0.20% (odds ratio [OR], 2.54, P 65, diabetes, and heart failure were negatively associated. Conclusions: While the basis of the association between fibromyalgia and CRPS is unknown, our data suggest that it could serve as a useful predictor of CRPS risk, promoting increased vigilance for CRPS symptoms and earlier recognition and treatment, thereby improving patient outcomes.
Effects of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls during different periods of development on ethanol consumption by male and female rats.

Abstract In two experiments, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) to assess the effect PCBs, an estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemical (EEDC), would have on the voluntary consumption of alcohol. There are several EEDCs in our food that are known to increase estrogen in adolescent females. Our objective was to assess the effect that increasing estrogen, by adding the EEDC PCBs would have on volitional intake of alcohol. In Experiment 1, pregnant dams were exposed from gestational days 5–19 to a 1:1 mixture of Aroclor 1254/1260. In Experiment 2, lactating females were exposed to the same dose of 1254:1260 from postnatal days 1–21. In both experiments, a fade-in procedure was used to gradually introduce the rats to the taste of alcohol. At the end of the fade-in series all animals were given limited access (1 h/day) to a water/alcohol solution. We found that females exposed to PCBs, at two developmental periods, consumed significantly more alcohol than unexposed females and exposed and unexposed males. Results of the experiments are discussed in terms of how PCB exposure can disrupt endocrine processes (e.g., estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals, EEDC) that increase estrogen in females, thereby leading to increased alcohol consumption. Thus, the present findings suggest that EEDCs, such as PCBs, could contribute to the increase abuse of alcohol in adolescent females.
Changes in School Readiness of America’s Entering Kindergarteners (1998–2010)

This chapter documents changes in school readiness among entering kindergarteners across the years 1998–2010, a period characterized by dramatic changes to the early childhood landscape. I use a broad definition of school readiness that includes not only academic skills such as reading and math knowledge but also social and emotional skills and physical health. The most striking changes over time are large increases in children’s math and literacy proficiency. These gains were even larger among low-income and black children, suggesting that early income and race-based achievement gaps have narrowed over time. However, this chapter also documents some concerning trends over time. Children’s self-control and their approaches toward learning got worse across this period. Children were also more likely to be obese or overweight in 2010 than in 1998. These increases were largest among low-income and minority children, so racial/ethnic and income-based gaps in obesity have gotten larger. Taken together, the evidence suggests that children’s school readiness has improved in some ways and declined in others across the years considered. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
A Finite State Space Model for Representing the Broadband Infinite Series for Acoustic Reverberation between Parallel Reflecting Planes

The acoustic reverberation between two parallel reflecting planes can be represented by an infinite series of the images caused by the planes. To provide a more useful model for analysis and control, the infinite series version of the Green’s function is converted into a finite state space model that retains the high frequency character that enables broadband noise inputs to be examined. The infinite series is first summed into a very accurate, approximate closed form expression in the time domain in terms of a radical function. The radical is then transformed into an expression containing exponentials which have exact Laplace transforms that lead to an overall closed form transfer function for the system. The system transfer function is transformed into a third-order state space model that theoretically contains all of the frequency characteristics of the infinite series representation. The accuracy of the state space model is examined by comparing it to the infinite series solution for three typical types of acoustical inputs: exponential for impulse noise, single frequency sine for harmonic noise, and a multifrequency Schroeder phased harmonic sequence for random noise.
High-Resolution Fluorescence and Phase Microscopy in Conjunction with Micromanipulation for in Situ Study of Metabolism in Living Cells

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the high-resolution fluorescence and phase microscopy in conjunction with micromanipulation for in situ study of metabolism in living cells. In the study of living cells, the most useful microscopic methods have been phase contrast and fluorescence. There are two distinct spectra associated with the phenomenon of fluorescence: excitation and emission. In fluorescence microcopy, the fluorescent light emitted by the specimen is sent through a prism or grating spectrometer. This can either be done sequentially by sweeping the spectrometer, or simultaneously by the use of optical multichannel analyzer. The simultaneous method has the advantage that data is collected at the same time from all the spectral channels, greatly increasing the sensitivity. Moreover, in the study of the changes in metabolic rate of single cells because of the presence of substrates, inhibitors, and xenobiotics, it is desirable to perform injections directly into the living cells being studied. Since there is a reaction often within a few seconds, the injections must be carried out on the microscope stage itself. They are performed using a micropipette mounted on a micromanipulator.
Arrhythmogenic Malignancies in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathies are diseases of the myocardium associated with cardiac dysfunction. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, cardiomyopathies are classified either as primary or secondary cardiomyopathies. Based on morphological and functional criteria, heritable cardiomyopathies are classified into four primary categories including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), and restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM). More recently, left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) syndrome has been added. Secondary cardiomyopathies include, for example, ischemic and hypertensive cardiomyopathy. This chapter focuses solely on HCM, with particular attention to its arrhythmogenic features.
Estrogens, Brain Cell Function, and Behavior

The relationship between the gonads and the brain has long been a matter of some interest, judging from the writings of Aristotle in 330 B.C. concerning the behavioral sequelae of castration of various domestic animals (see Dorfman and Shipley, 1956). In fact, one of the first experiments in the field of endocrinology, performed in 1849, established the humoral influences of the testes on sexual and aggressive behavior and vocalization in the rooster (Berthold, 1849). Recent advances in endocrinology during the past 20 years have made possible major new strides toward understanding how such humoral influences by steroid hormones on brain come about at the cellular and molecular level. And with the recognition of behavior as a feasible endpoint for biological investigations, the analysis of hormone-dependent behaviors has become an increasingly popular and useful parameter in the study of the mechanism of hormone action.
THE VENOUS ULCER AND ARTERIAL INSUFFICIENCY

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the venous ulcer and arterial insufficiency. Venous stasis ulceration (VSU) results from chronic venous disease. VSU in combination with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) represents a morbid condition requiring keen diagnostic and treatment skills of the health care provider. Although somewhat conflicting in its prevalence, the overall ubiquity of leg ulcers requires a methodical approach to identify all factors leading to lack of healing and recalcitrance. Patients with VSU should undergo vascular laboratory testing to confirm diagnosis of CVD and appropriately ascribe the cause of pathophysiologic dysfunction to reflux, obstruction, or both etiologies. Each patient's treatment plan must be tailored to the distribution of arterial and venous insufficiency that exists. Therefore, the health care team should be equipped to offer the full spectrum of treatment techniques in arterial revascularization, venous insufficiency, and venous obstruction. Primary recommendation of amputation should not be considered a failure in selected patients. Freedom from pain, infection, and wounds is often the quickest way to alleviate prolonged suffering.
Pseudo-preexcitation in tricuspid atresia.

Abstract Because we have observed a relatively large number of tricuspid atresia patients with a short P-R interval and slurring of the initial QRS pattern suggesting preexcitation, we conducted a retrospective study to determine the frequency of this electrocardiographic pattern and whether or not this represented the presence of a true atrioventricular bypass tract. Three pediatric cardiologists reviewed the surface electrocardiograms of 183 consecutive tricuspid atresia patients who had been evaluated at the Mayo Clinic between 1980 and 1986. The patients' ages ranged from 4 months to 21 years; the male-to-female ratio was 5:4. The criteria for preexcitation included 1) a P-R segment 0.10 sec, and 3) slurring of the upstroke of the QRS complex (“delta wave”). Of the 183 patients, 22 (12%) had P-R segments <0.10 sec, 9 of whom fulfilled the criteria for preexcitation. Five of these had a history of supraventricular tachycardia, and 4 of the 5 had undergone invasive electrophysiologic studies: 2 had enhanced atrioventricular-nodal conduction and 1 had normal atrioventricular-nodal conduction; only 1 had an accessory pathway. Our results indicate that, although many patients with tricuspid atresia meet the surface electrocardiographic criteria for preexcitation, many of these patients may not have an atrioventricular bypass tract; this state might be termed “pseudo-preexcitation.” In these instances, invasive studies probably would not be necessary; regrettably, it may be difficult to distinguish between the presence and the absence of preexcitation in such patients without invasive electrophysiologic studies. (Texas Heart Institute Journal 1991;18:124-6)
Evaluation of the impacts of BMPs and tailwater recovery system on surface and groundwater using satellite imagery and SWAT reservoir function

Abstract For an agricultural watershed, best management practice (BMP) is a conservational way to prevent non-point source pollution and soil and water loss. Three BMPs, including tail water recovery pond, conservational tillage, and crop rotation, were evaluated in order to demonstrate the impacts of BMPs on water quality and quantity. Satellite imagery was used to estimate potential tailwater recovery ponds in this study. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was applied to evaluate BMPs. Results showed that the use of conservational tillage reduced cumulative sediment, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) yields. In the crop rotation scenario analysis, it was found that sediment and flow were not sensitive to crop rotation management. The corn-soybean rotation scenario had higher TN and lower TP yields than those of the continuous corn scenario. Continuous soybean scenario showed the lowest TN and low TP yields, which may because of the higher nitrogen fertilization demands, greater crop yield, and greater residue of corn than soybean crop. Based on the SWAT model simulation results, the tailwater ponds can reduce sediment yield and improve groundwater storage.
An Enhanced Model Predictive Control Using Virtual Space Vectors for Grid-Connected Three-Level Neutral-Point Clamped Inverters

Reliability of power systems can be improved by the use of voltage source inverters (VSIs) with fast dynamic control, which can handle uncertainties induced by renewable energy resources and nonlinear loads. To ensure fast-dynamic response and simplified controller design, various model predictive control (MPC) methods are investigated in this paper. In the conventional MPC design for three-level VSIs, the cost function requires an additional term to ensure the balance of the neutral-point voltage (NP-V), which however can considerably impact the main goal of the MPC. To address this issue, an enhanced MPC using virtual space vectors is proposed, which allows the use of a significantly reduced weighting factor for the term in the cost function for NP-V balancing, while retaining fast-dynamic response. Additionally, the proposed MPC leads to reduced harmonic distortion in the VSI output voltage and current. Both simulation and controller hardware-in-the-loop studies are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed enhanced MPC in an operating microgrid under both steady-state and fast-transient conditions.
Collision-free Navigation and Efficient Scheduling for Fleet of Multi-Rotor Drones in Smart City

Recently, multi-rotor drones, commonly seen as flying Internet-of-things (IoT) devices, have witnessed a drastic usage in many smart city applications due to their three-dimensional (3D) mobility and flexibility. Collectively, drones can be used to accomplish different short-term and long-term missions requiring low altitude motion. In such a scenario, an effective routing and scheduling of the drone swarms is required to ensure efficient energy management, collision-free navigation, and accurate mission accomplishment. In this paper, we propose a low complexity framework to determine shortest trajectories and time plans for each member of the fleet while taking into account the different constraints. Collision is avoided by forcing some of the drones to statically hover to allow their peers to safely pass the path segment. Selected scenarios are investigated to show the efficiency of the routing and scheduling framework. The impact of some of the system parameters on the fleet behavior is also investigated.
Development and validation of a claims-based measure of abortion services.

RATIONALE Data on abortion services are critical for monitoring trends in access and utilization, evaluating policies, and examining a wide range of research questions. Accurate and timely data, however, can be difficult to obtain for abortion services. Oregon is one of several states that use state funds to finance abortion services in their Medicaid programmes. Oregon's Medicaid programme contracts with managed care plans that receive global budgets to provide care. Abortion services, however, must be billed directly to the state through fee-for-service (FFS) billing to ensure that federal funds are not used. In this study, we identify possible abortions using Medicaid insurance claims data from Oregon and categorize identified abortions as high, medium, or low confidence according to convergent validity analysis of FFS billing. METHODS We used individually linked Medicaid eligibility and claims data from women ages 15 to 44 enrolled in Oregon's Medicaid programme from 2008 to 2013. Abortion-related Medicaid claims were identified and categorized based on diagnosis, procedure, and drug codes. These categories were assessed for convergent validity by examining FFS billing for possible abortions to women enrolled in managed care plans. RESULTS In total, 23 763 possible abortions obtained by 18 518 women were classified with high (n = 21 450), medium (n = 562), and low (n = 1751) confidence. Among managed care abortions, more than 99% of high confidence abortions were billed on an FFS basis compared with 72% of medium confidence and <1% of low confidence abortions. The majority of high confidence abortions were to urban-residing (89%) white (73%) women. CONCLUSIONS Research on abortion services using insurance claims has important implications for women's health care and public health policy. A high-quality claims-based measure can facilitate monitoring the provision of abortion services within health systems and evaluation of initiatives to increase equitable abortion access.
Is There Adequate Perfusion for Healing? What Routine Noninvasive Vascular Studies Are Missing?

Introduction Routine noninvasive vascular study results can be affected by a multitude of factors and do not provide information specific to the location of the wound. Results must be extrapolated and may prompt a false sense of security that adequate perfusion for healing exists. Case report The case of an 80-year-old Caucasian man, who presented with chronic ulceration of the left lateral malleolus and fifth metatarsal base with concurrent metatarsal osteomyelitis, is presented. Initial routine noninvasive vascular studies were consistent with peripheral vascular disease and chronic lower extremity wounds. Baseline near-infrared imaging (NIRI) assessment with a handheld device provided site-specific rapid assessment of tissue oxygen saturation, which revealed local ischemia, chronic inflammation, and infection. Wound deterioration over the next 2 months prompted repeat noninvasive vascular studies consistent with increased perfusion while rearfoot transcutaneous oximetry pressure measurements were inconclusive. The patient underwent formal vascular evaluation and intervention. Repeat NIRI assessment 5 days postoperatively revealed transition from the chronic inflammatory to the proliferative phase of wound healing. Conclusions Serial NIRI assessment in this case highlights its ability to detect factors that led to delayed would healing in the face of unreliable routine noninvasive vascular study results.
The Use of Ripple Effect Mapping to Understand Successes of the SC Pregnancy Assistance Fund: A Participatory Evaluation Approach

The South Carolina Pregnancy Assistance Fund (SCPAF) funded four counties to increase the amount, quality, and awareness of services for young parents; increase educational attainment among expectant and parenting youth; reduce the number of repeat teen pregnancies among youth; and improve parenting skills. The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to describe our application of the Ripple Effect Mapping (REM) technique as an innovative evaluation strategy to gather perspectives from SCPAF stakeholders and (2) to share key findings generated by participants in REM sessions on the perceived success of local SCPAF community collaboratives. REM, an innovative evaluation strategy, was used to gather perspectives from SCPAF stakeholders. Five REM sessions were conducted with 52 participants. REM sessions included partner interviews and collective development of visual maps to illustrate stakeholder perspectives of program successes. Visual maps, as well as transcripts of discussions, were analyzed using an inductive approach. Stakeholders reported that the connections to resources, supports, and services provided through SCPAF had the potential to alter the life trajectories of expectant and parenting teens (EPT). Stakeholders also described that SCPAF fostered growth in collaboration among partners and reduced duplication of services in funded communities This paper describes how an innovative evaluation strategy was used to provide a space for stakeholders to dialogue, synthesize their experiences, and construct a collective narrative of key program successes. This paper also illustrates how such approaches can be applied to complex community initiatives.
Interhemispheric Callosal Projections Sharpen Frequency Tuning and Enforce Response Fidelity in Primary Auditory Cortex.

Abstract Sensory cortical areas receive glutamatergic callosal projections that link information processing between brain hemispheres. In primary auditory cortex (A1), ipsilateral principal cells from a particular tonotopic region project to neurons in matching frequency space of the contralateral cortex. However, the role of interhemispheric projections in shaping cortical responses to sound and frequency tuning in awake animals is unclear. Here, we use translaminar single-unit recordings and optogenetic approaches to probe how callosal inputs modulate spontaneous and tone-evoked activity in A1 of awake mice. Brief activation of callosal inputs drove either short-latency increases or decreases in firing of individual neurons. Across all cortical layers, the majority of responsive regular spiking (RS) cells received short-latency inhibition, whereas fast spiking (FS) cells were almost exclusively excited. Consistent with the callosal-evoked increases in FS cell activity in vivo, brain slice recordings confirmed that parvalbumin (PV)-expressing cells received stronger callosal input than pyramidal cells or other interneuron subtypes. Acute in vivo silencing of the contralateral cortex generally increased spontaneous firing across cortical layers and linearly transformed responses to pure tones via both divisive and additive operations. The net effect was a decrease in signal-to-noise ratio for evoked responses and a broadening of frequency tuning curves. Together, these results suggest that callosal input regulates both the salience and tuning sharpness of tone responses in A1 via PV cell-mediated feedforward inhibition.
Thomas Reid on the Ethical Life

This Element presents the rudiments of Thomas Reid's agency-centered ethical theory. According to this theory, an ethical theory must address three primary questions. What is it to be an agent? What is ethical reality like, such that agents could know it? And how can agents respond to ethical reality, commit themselves to being regulated by it, and act well in doing so? Reid's answers to these questions are wide-ranging, borrowing from the rational intuitionist, sentimentalist, Aristotelian, and Protestant natural law traditions. This Element explores how Reid blends together these influences, how he might respond to concerns raised by rival traditions, and specifies what distinguishes his approach from those of other modern philosophers.
Groundwater Quality of Aquifers Overlying the Oxnard Oil Field, Ventura County, California.

Abstract Groundwater samples collected from irrigation, monitoring, and municipal supply wells near the Oxnard Oil Field were analyzed for chemical and isotopic tracers to evaluate if thermogenic gas or water from hydrocarbon-bearing formations have mixed with surrounding groundwater. New and historical data show no evidence of water from hydrocarbon-bearing formations in groundwater overlying the field. However, thermogenic gas mixed with microbial methane was detected in 5 wells at concentrations ranging from 0.011–9.1 mg/L. The presence of these gases at concentrations
An efficient multi-view design model for real-time interactive synthesis

An efficient multiview design model for real-time interactive synthesis of behavioral descriptions into layout data is described. A hybrid data structure which combines all of the design data needed throughout multiple levels of abstraction, including behavior, structure, and floorplan, into a single unified view is presented. A detailed time and space complexity analysis of the proposed design model is also given, showing that it provides fast updating capabilities for incremental design changes but does not require an exorbitant amount of memory space. These features make this design model ideal for user-controlled synthesis systems that support incremental design and redesign tasks. Furthermore, the simplicity of the data structure allows easy implementation, maintenance, and extensibility. >
Immune dysregulation and autoreactivity correlate with disease severity in SARS-CoV-2-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a life-threatening post-infectious complication occurring unpredictably weeks after mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. We profiled MIS-C, adult COVID-19, and healthy pediatric and adult individuals using single-cell RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, antigen receptor repertoire analysis, and unbiased serum proteomics, which collectively identified a signature in MIS-C patients that correlated with disease severity. Despite having no evidence of active infection, MIS-C patients had elevated S100A-family alarmins and decreased antigen presentation signatures, indicative of myeloid dysfunction. MIS-C patients showed elevated expression of cytotoxicity genes in NK and CD8+ T cells and expansion of specific IgG-expressing plasmablasts. Clinically severe MIS-C patients displayed skewed memory T cell TCR repertoires and autoimmunity characterized by endothelium-reactive IgG. The alarmin, cytotoxicity, TCR repertoire, and plasmablast signatures we defined have potential for application in the clinic to better diagnose and potentially predict disease severity early in the course of MIS-C.
Organizational science and health care

Our article reviews research on “organizational science and health care,” defined broadly as research focusing on topics commonly studied in the organizational and management literatures and conduc...
Entrepreneurship Education as Panacea for Unemployment Reduction

Previous studies have affirmed the importance of entrepreneurship education in developing, motivating, and empowering entrepreneurs especially ex-students cannot be over emphasized, because it has led to the positive increase in the existence of entrepreneurs, which, to a great extent, is responsible for the creation of more job opportunities and the reduction of unemployment. Looking at the increasing rate of unemployment, entrepreneurship education has helped in developing entrepreneurs after the classroom, which greatly culminates into curbing the problem of unemployment in in various economies. This study investigated the extent to which entrepreneurship education and its impact in the reduction of unemployment using ex-students four Universities (two private and two public) as a case for the study. With the aid of questionnaire as a data collection instrument, 150 ex-Students currently running their businesses were randomly selected. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze their responses. Findings revealed that the catastrophic problem of unemployment can to a great extent be reduced through educating, motivating, developing, and empowerment of students as entrepreneurs. It also shows that there is a strong relationship between entrepreneurship education and unemployment reduction as most intentions were translated into actions. The results of this study further revealed that practical entrepreneurship classes have helped in motivating students to become entrepreneurs after graduation. Considering these findings, it is recommended that entrepreneurship education, motivation, development and empowerment should be taken serious by the educational institutions in developing economies. And students at all levels should be encouraged to engage in entrepreneurial activities in order to further reduce the rate of unemployment in developing economies. This will enable them to be employers instead of jobseekers.
Occult traumatic impaled foreign body, a challenging diagnosis of severe chronic lower extremity radicular pain.

Abstract The investigation of embedded soft tissue foreign bodies relies heavily on radiological imaging. The prompt identification of these objects is critical as retained foreign bodies may lead to serious infection or chronic debilitating pain depending on anatomical location. In this report, we present a case of a radiographically occult traumatically implanted foreign body in a 15-year-old female after a high-speed motor vehicle accident. Initial computed tomography (CT) scan was unremarkable and exploration under anesthesia demonstrated no other significant findings, yet the patient continued to suffer severe refractory radicular pain with marked limitation of daily function. It was not until 12 weeks after the accident that a magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the pelvis revealed a deep sinus tract with central low magnetic resonance (MR) signal, raising suspicion for a retained foreign body. A 10-centimeter plastic foreign body extending from the patient's coccyx to the sciatic foramen was identified and surgically removed resulting in immediate symptom relief. This case illustrates that the detection of a retained foreign body is not always straightforward and multiple imaging modalities may be necessary for accurate diagnosis. We also discuss the most appropriate diagnostic imaging algorithm when a foreign body of the musculoskeletal system is suspected.
Time of Concentration of Overland Flow

The component of surface runoff, which flows over the land surface, is generally know as overland flow and in conjunction with other components constitutes the streamflow phase of a hydrologic cycle. In hydrologic engineering studies, one of the frequently encountered problems is to estimate the time of concentration from readily obtainable information. The phase, time of concentration, implies the travel time of water from the most remote segment of the drainage basin to reach the outlet. Consequently, the total travel time includes both the overland phase and the channel phase of water movement. This paper is concerned with the overland flow phase of the runoff process.
Near-field analysis of beam properties of InGaAs ridge lasers

We report mode structure and beam propagation analysis of high power strained (In,Ga)As quantum well lasers using the super-resolution capabilities of near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM). We are able to directly measure the optical beam waist and astigmatism by imaging the output of the laser diode at various heights above the device facet. In the near-field we observe spatial shifts in the position of the optical field between different spectral components of the laser diode emission.
Influence of Case and Physician Characteristics on Perceptions of Decision Support Systems

Objective: This study examines how characteristics of clinical cases and physician users relate to the users' perceptions of the usefulness of the Quick Medical Reference (QMR) and their confidence in their diagnoses when supported by the decision support system. Methods: A national sample ( N = 108) of 67 internists, 35 family physicians, and 6 other U.S. physicians used QMR to assist in the diagnosis of written clinical cases. Three sets of eight cases stratified by diagnostic difficulty and the potential of QMR to produce high-quality information were used. A 2 × 2 repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to test whether these factors were associated with perceived usefulness of QMR and physicians' diagnostic confidence after using QMR. Correlations were computed among physician characteristics, ratings of QMR usefulness, and physicians' confidence in their own diagnoses, and between usefulness or confidence and actual diagnostic performance. Results: The analyses showed that QMR was perceived to be significantly more useful ( P < 0.05) on difficult cases, on cases where QMR could provide high-quality information, by non-board-certified physicians, and when diagnostic confidence was lower. Diagnostic confidence was higher when comfort with using certain QMR functions was higher. The ratings of usefulness or diagnostic confidence were not consistently correlated with diagnostic performance. Conclusions: The results suggest that users' diagnostic confidence and perceptions of QMR usefulness may be associated more with their need for decision support than with their actual diagnostic performance when using the system. Evaluators may fail to find a diagnostic decision support system useful if only easy cases are tested, if correct diagnoses are not in the system's knowledge base, or when only highly trained physicians use the system.
Specificity of lipoxygenases: Thermal isomerisations of linoleate hydroperoxides, a phenomenon affecting the determination of isomeric ratios

Abstract Conjugated diene hydroperoxides obtained from lipoxygenase reactions undergo isomerisations that may affect the determination of the specificities of the enzymes.
A novel adaptive synthetic aperture radar ship detection system

The detection and characterization of vessels from space-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery has many applications, from monitoring fisheries to port security. Ideally, the detection and characterization of ships in SAR imagery should occur in a reliable and automated fashion. Additionally, given the wide variability in SAR imaging systems and imaging modes, it is desirable to have a SAR ship detection system capable of detecting ships independent of the system or mode. There are currently a wide range of SAR ship detection systems, for which many review papers have been written [3–7]. However, most operational SAR ship detection systems to date have been tailored to specific sensors or imaging modes. In addition, most produce significant false alarms, and often operate ideally in a semi-automated fashion.
Providing low-tech assistive equipment through home care services: The Massachusetts Assistive Equipment Demonstration

This research demonstration study investigated the potential for distributing low-cost, low-tech assistive equipment to functionally disabled elders through a state-funded home care program. The project strengthened the capacity of home care coordinating agencies to make assistive devices available to clients and then examined the extent to which devices reached clients and were beneficial to them. Using a quasiexperimental design, clients from one home care agency received the intervention six months prior to another agency to permit evaluation of the program and client outcomes. Case managers participated in training sessions that provided an introduction to assistive equipment and guidelines for assessing clients, then worked with their clients to select and order appropriate equipment. Client outcomes were assessed through preand post-intervention client interviews and client records. Case managers distributed a modest amount of equipment that addressed a range of daily living activities to nearly 200 clients (average of four items at $76 per client). While there was no evidence that the project resulted in favorable implications for clients’ performance of daily activities, there was evidence that equipment was beneficial on a task-specific basis, and clients reported high satisfaction. The demonstration was instructive and led to recommendations for supporting case managers as gatekeepers for disseminating assistive equipment to elder home care clients.
Delayed decision feedback equalization

Decision feedback equalization (DFE) is generalized within the context of linearly modulated data transmission over intersymbol interference (ISI) channels. The main motivation for this new approach is that for channels with severe ISI, linear and decision feedback equalizers have a poor performance while the the Viterbi algorithm has a complexity that is exponential in the length of the ISI channel response. The delayed decision feedback equalizer (DDFE) introduced applies to FIR as well as IIR channel responses.
Response of Cranberry Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to Host Plant Volatiles

The oligophagous cranberry weevil, Anthonomus musculus Say, causes economic losses to blueberry growers in New Jersey because females deposit eggs into developing sower buds and subsequent larval feeding damages buds, which fail to produce fruit. A cost-effective and reliable method is needed for monitoring this pest to correctly time insecticide applications. We studied the behavioral and antennal responses of adult A. musculus to its host plant volatiles to determine their potential for monitoring this pest. We evaluated A. musculus response to intact and damaged host plant parts, such as buds and sowers in Y-tube bioassays. We also collected and identiÞed host plant volatiles from blueberry buds and open sowers and performed electroan- tennograms with identiÞed compounds to determine the speciÞc chemicals eliciting antennal responses. Male weevils were more attracted to blueberry sower buds and were repelled by conspeciÞc-damaged buds compared with clean air. In contrast, females were more attracted to open sowers compared with sower buds. Nineteen volatiles were identiÞed from blueberry buds; 10 of these were also emitted from blueberry sowers. Four of the volatiles emitted from both blueberry buds and sowers (hexanol, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, hexyl acetate, and (Z)-3-hexenyl butyrate) elicited strong antennal responses from A. musculus. Future laboratory and Þeld testing of the identiÞed compounds in combination with various trap designs is planned to develop a reliable monitoring trap for A. musculus.
Protein expression of phospholipase C in pregnant and nonpregnant rat uterine tissue

Abstract Objective: The phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway appears to play a significant role in the intracellular events leading to agonist-stimulated phasic myometrial contractions. The studies described in this report were performed to characterize phospholipase C isoform expression at the protein level and to confirm histologic localization of these proteins within the myometrial smooth muscle layers of the uterus. Methods: For these studies, uterine tissue was obtained from timed- pregnant and spontaneously cycling adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. After isolation of myometrial cell membranes and cytosolic proteins, Western blots were performed by using phospholipase C isoform-specific antibodies. Tissue cross-sections of near-term pregnant rat uterus were used with the phospholipase C isoform-specific antibodies for immunohistochemical studies. Results: The Western blot studies confirmed expression of the phospholipase C-β 3 , -γ 1 , -γ 2 , and -δ 1 proteins in both the membrane and cytosolic fractions of rat myometrium; in contrast, only trace amounts of the phospholipase C-β 1 protein was observed in this tissue. The immunohistochemical studies demonstrated localization of the phospholipase C-β 3 , -γ 1 , -γ 2 , -δ 1 and to a lesser degree phospholipase C-β 1 isoforms within the longitudinal and circular smooth muscle layers of the near-term pregnant rat uterus. Conclusion: These studies have confirmed the simultaneous expression of several phospholipase C proteins within the smooth muscle cells of the pregnant and nonpregnant rat uterus, thereby providing support for the possible redundant role of these signal transduction enzymes during the generation of cytosolic calcium oscillations and phasic myometrial contractions. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:1191-7.)
The relation between the difficulty and the differential validity of a test

Using scores of 1200 students on a long test as a criterion, each of five subtests of different difficulty has maximum correlation with the criterion when the criterion is dichotomized at a value appropriate to the difficulty of the subtest. A 50-item test element is scored on an all-or-none basis with different standards for passing, and the percentage of passes for successive points on the criterion variable is computed. The Constant Method is applied to this relationship. The limen thus computed is a measure of difficulty, the dispersion is a measure of average (or total) validity, and the slope of the curve is a measure of differential validity. The difficulty of a test element is thus directly related to the maximum differential validity.
Effects of relaxin and estrogens on bone remodeling markers, receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by joint inflammation and bone destruction. The receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)-osteoprotegerin (OPG) system is important for maintaining the balance between bone resorption and formation. Both serum RANKL/OPG protein and synovial tissue RANKL/OPG mRNA ratios are elevated in patients with RA. Studies indicate that hormones of pregnancy, estrogens and relaxin, administered in combination, reduce circulating (TNF)-α and joint inflammation in a rat adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) model of RA. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether relaxin (RLX), alone or in combination with estrogens, regulates the bone remodeling markers RANKL and OPG in vivo and in vitro. Results show that in AIA rats, treatment with relaxin, estradiol valerate (EV) or EV in combination with relaxin had no effect on circulating RANKL. However, EV increased systemic OPG and combined treatment with EV and relaxin further increased circulating OPG in comparison to EV alone. Importantly, the RANKL/OPG protein ratio was lower in rats treated with EV or EV+RLX when compared to arthritic controls. Relaxin in combination with EV decreased local RANKL transcripts, increased OPG mRNA and decreased the RANKL/OPG mRNA ratio in joints of arthritic rats when compared to controls. RLX family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) gene expression in joints of AIA rats increased in response to EV and EV+RLX. In parathyroid hormone-pretreated murine UMR 106-01 osteoblast cells, 17-β-estradiol (E) and E+RLX increased RXFP1 transcripts, while RLX reduced RANKL mRNA and protein expression. However, in vitamin D-treated primary rat osteoblast cells E+RLX increased OPG protein and reduced the RANKL/OPG protein ratio. These results suggest that modulation of the RANKL-OPG system by estrogens and RLX may contribute to their antiarthritic effects on bone during pregnancy.
Reverse remodeling and recovery from cachexia in rats with aldosteronism

The congestive heart failure (CHF) syndrome with soft tissue wasting, or cachexia, has its pathophysiologic origins rooted in neurohormonal activation. Mechanical cardiocirculatory assistance revea...