cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nongenetic Optical Methods for Measuring and Modulating Neuronal Response.

The ability to probe and modulate electrical signals sensitively at cellular length scales is a key challenge in the field of electrophysiology. Electrical signals play integral roles in regulating cellular behavior and in controlling biological function. From cardiac arrhythmias to neurodegenerative disorders, maladaptive phenotypes in electrophysiology can result in serious and potentially deadly medical conditions. Understanding how to monitor and to control these behaviors precisely and noninvasively represents an important step in developing next-generation therapeutic devices. As we develop a deeper understanding of neural network formation, electrophysiology has the potential to offer fundamental insights into the inner working of the brain. In this Perspective, we explore traditional methods for examining neural function, discuss recent genetic advances in electrophysiology, and then focus on the latest innovations in optical sensing and stimulation of action potentials in neurons. We emphasize no...
Impact of Chronic Exercise on Invertebrate Functional Aging

Abstract Chronic endurance exercise has become a major focus of health span research, due to its ability to reduce the incidence of many major age-related diseases and to promote healthy functional aging. The recent development of paradigms for exercise training in classic genetic model organisms, such as Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans, has made it possible to more rapidly identify important genetic components that mediate the conserved response to chronic exercise. Here, we review the methods for conducting exercise experiments in invertebrate genetic models, including the Power Tower and Treadwheel models in flies, as well as multiple swimming-based models in nematodes. We survey findings from each of these models, focusing on novel discoveries. Single-gene exercise mimetics and responses to environmental factors, such as diet and oxidative stress are highlighted.
Dermal Precursors and the Origins of the Wound Fibroblast

Tissue repair demands the efficient restoration of connective tissue integrity and architecture. The brunt of the task falls on the fibroblast, a cell type strongly committed to the production of extracellular matrix. Recent investigation has refined the historical concept that the bone marrow and circulating precursors can make a significant, transient contribution to wound healing during the formation of granulation tissue. In parallel, there is mounting evidence that a subset of dermal mesenchymal cells have pluripotent properties that could contribute to the restoration and even regeneration of wound sites. The interrelationships between mesenchymal stem cells, circulating fibrocytes, and dermal progenitors are still an evolving area of investigation. Nevertheless, the manipulation of these cell types for wound healing and tissue engineering applications is a promising strategy.
Screening for At-Risk Readers in a Response to Intervention Framework

This article examines universal screening, one component in a response to intervention approach for serving struggling learners. In a response to intervention framework, screening is the principal ...
Radiosynthesis and evaluation of a fluorine-18 labeled radioligand targeting vesicular acetylcholine transporter

Abstract Vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) is a reliable biomarker for assessing the loss of cholinergic neurons in the brain that is associated with cognitive impairment of patients. 5-Hydrotetralin compound (±)-5-OH-VAT is potent (Ki = 4.64 ± 0.32 nM) and selective for VAChT (>1800-fold and 398-fold for σ1 and σ2 receptor, respectively) with favorable hydrophilicity (LogD = 1.78), while (−)-5-OH-VAT originally serves as the radiolabeling precursor of (−)-[18F]VAT, a promising VAChT radiotracer with a logD value of 2.56. To evaluate (−)-5-OH-[18F]VAT as a radiotracer for VAChT, we performed in vitro binding assay to determine the potency of the minus enantiomer (−)-5-OH-VAT and plus enantiomer (+)-5-OH-VAT, indicating that (−)-5-OH-VAT is a more potent VAChT enantiomer. Radiosynthesis of (−)-5-OH-[18F]VAT was explored using three strategies. (−)-5-OH-[18F]VAT was achieved with a good yield (24 ± 6%) and high molar activity (∼37 GBq/µmol, at the end of synthesis) using a microwave assisted two-step one-pot procedure that started with di-MOM protected nitro-containing precursor (−)-6. MicroPET studies in the brain of nonhuman primate (NHP) suggest that (−)-5-OH-[18F]VAT readily penetrated the blood brain barrier and specifically accumulated in the VAChT-enriched striatum with improved washout kinetics from striatum compared to [18F]VAT. Nevertheless, the lower target to non-target ratio may limit its use for in vivo measurement of the VAChT level in the brain.
Chicago supermarket data and food access analytics in census tract shapefiles for 2007–2014

Abstract Longitudinal analysis of supermarkets over time is essential to understanding the dynamics of foodscape environments for healthy living. Supermarkets for 2007, 2011, and 2014 for the City of Chicago were curated and further validated. The average distance to all supermarkets along the street network was constructed for each resident-populated census tract. These analytic results were generated with GIS software and stored as spatially enabled data files, facilitating further research and analysis. The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled “Urban foodscape trends: Disparities in healthy food access in Chicago, 2007–2014” (Kolak et al., 2018).
Genetics of Obesity in Diverse Populations

The prevalence of obesity continues to rise, fueling a global public health crisis characterized by dramatic increases in type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and many cancers. In the USA, several minority populations, who bear much of the obesity burden (47% in African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos, compared to 38% in European descent groups), are particularly at risk of downstream chronic disease. Compounding these disparities, most genome-wide association studies (GWAS)—including those of obesity—have largely been conducted in populations of European or East Asian ancestry. In fact, analysis of the GWAS Catalog found that while the proportion of participants of non-European or non-Asian descent had risen from 4% in 2009 to 19% in 2016, African-ancestry participants are still just 3% of GWAS, Hispanic/Latinos are < 0.5%, and other ancestries are < 0.3% or not represented at all. This review summarizes recent developments in obesity genomics in US minority populations, with the goal of reducing obesity health disparities and improving public health programs and access to precision medicine. GWAS of populations with the highest burden of obesity are essential to narrow candidate variants for functional follow-up, to identify additional ancestry-specific variants that contribute to individual genetic susceptibility, and to advance both public health and precision medicine approaches to obesity. Given the global public health burden posed by obesity and downstream chronic conditions which disproportionately affect non-European populations, GWAS of obesity-related traits in diverse populations is essential to (1) locate causal variants in GWAS-identified regions through fine mapping, (2) identify variants which influence obesity across ancestries through generalization, and (3) discover novel ancestry-specific variants which may be low frequency in European populations but common in other groups. Recent efforts to expand obesity genomic studies to understudied and underserved populations, including AAAGC, PAGE, and HISLA, are working to reduce obesity health disparities, improve public health, and bring the promise of precision medicine to all.
Signal Combination Techniques to Improve Long Range Communication with Multinle Relays

This paper documents the results of research into a long-range communications technique involving a single transmitter, multiple redundant relays, and baseband signal-combining at the receiver. In this approach, the transmitter broadcasts to a cluster of inexpensive, airborne relays which rebroadcast the same signal on different frequencies. Distant receivers combine multiple weak signals and time-align them to improve the overall channel bit error rate. There are several advantages of using this multiple relay approach. They include: • Eliminates the single point of failure of traditional approach (satellite, aircraft, large drones, etc.) • Allows for both graceful degradation and enhancement of communications as relays are either lost or added to the area. • Do not have to rely on a single relay being in the optimal location. (Relays may be difficult to place accurately or may have specific airspace they are allowed to occupy.) • Individual relays can reduce transmit levels if multiple weak links can be combined into an adequate composite signal. With lower transmit levels, battery life and range life can be extended. • Reducing transmit levels also allows for lower probability of detection.
Reducing Instructor Workload in an Introductory Robotics Course via Computational Design

Physical computing and building robots has important benefits for novice engineers and computer scientists. However, lab time and hardware debugging comes with a high cost of instructor time and effort. To reduce this workload, we implemented a computational design tool that simplifies printed circuit board (PCB) design and manufacture, assembly, and programming. We pilot tested our computational design tool in a one-unit introductory physical computing course for 196 CS1 students. The students designed, assembled, and programmed a custom robot with minimal instructor assistance. The robots are Arduino-based and each included a student designed PCB. The students assembled the robots from off-the-shelf electronic components according to automatically generated assembly instructions. Students programmed their robots using simple APIs that were automatically generated and customized for each unique robot. A minimum of two quarters after the completion of the course, grade point average (GPA) for the students who completed the course, was found to be 0.15 higher than a comparison group of similar student (n = 498, p
Identification of a novel class of RIP1/RIP3 dual inhibitors that impede cell death and inflammation in mouse abdominal aortic aneurysm models.

Receptor interacting protein kinase-1 and -3 (RIP1 and RIP3) are essential mediators of cell death processes and participate in inflammatory responses. Our group recently demonstrated that gene deletion of Rip3 or pharmacological inhibition of RIP1 attenuated pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a life-threatening degenerative vascular disease characterized by depletion of smooth muscle cells (SMCs), inflammation, negative extracellular matrix remodeling, and progressive expansion of aorta. The goal of this study was to develop drug candidates for AAA and other disease conditions involving cell death and inflammation. We screened 1141 kinase inhibitors for their ability to block necroptosis using the RIP1 inhibitor Necrostatin-1s (Nec-1s) as a selection baseline. Positive compounds were further screened for cytotoxicity and virtual binding to RIP3. A cluster of top hits, represented by GSK2593074A (GSK’074), displayed structural similarity to the established RIP3 inhibitor GSK’843. In multiple cell types including mouse SMCs, fibroblasts (L929), bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM), and human colon epithelial cells (HT29), GSK’074 inhibited necroptosis with an IC50 of ~3 nM. Furthermore, GSK’074, but not Nec-1s, blocked cytokine production by SMCs. Biochemical analyses identified both RIP1 and RIP3 as the biological targets of GSK’074. Unlike GSK’843 which causes profound apoptosis at high doses (>3 µM), GSK’074 showed no detectable cytotoxicity even at 20 µM. Daily intraperitoneal injection of GSK’074 at 0.93 mg/kg significantly attenuated aortic expansion in two mouse models of AAA (calcium phosphate: DMSO 66.06 ± 9.17% vs GSK’074 27.36 ± 8.25%, P < 0.05; Angiotensin II: DMSO 85.39 ± 15.76% vs GSK’074 36.28 ± 5.76%, P < 0.05). Histologically, GSK’074 treatment diminished cell death and macrophage infiltration in aneurysm-prone aortae. Together, our data suggest that GSK’074 represents a new class of necroptosis inhibitors with dual targeting ability to both RIP1 and RIP3. The high potency and minimum cytotoxicity make GSK’074 a desirable drug candidate of pharmacological therapies to attenuate AAA progression and other necroptosis related diseases.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Low Vision Diagnostic Assessment Procedure

A psychometric evaluation was conducted on the Diagnostic Assessment Procedure (DAP), which evaluates the visual efficiency of legally blind persons with low vision. The DAP was administered twice ...
Two-Stage Algorithm to Minimize the Number of Sensors

In the preceding chapters, an algorithm concept was developed which, on the basis of sensors distributed locally in the front end, enables a robust algorithm concept for the timely triggering of the restraint systems and for the classification according to load case groups. The selection of the sensors was optimized to meet all requirements that result from the use of a single-stage algorithm concept. In this chapter, another algorithm is presented which is based on the same principle of action involving local component-specific accelerations.
Recognition and Management of Emergent Spinal Pathology Among First-Line Providers

Spinal emergencies require prompt identification, management, and surgical referral (if needed) from first-line providers. Diagnostic delays from a failure to recognize emergency conditions can lead to adverse patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to understand the proficiency with which first-line providers can recognize and manage spinal conditions, particularly spinal emergencies. This was a cross-sectional analysis of 143 internal medicine, family medicine, emergency care, and neurology questionnaires collected at a single-site academic center. Participants were predominantly physicians (88.1%, n=126), with a smaller percentage of midlevel providers (11.9%, n=17). Only 35.0% (n=50) of respondents felt "very prepared" to handle spinal emergencies. Bivariate analyses revealed interdepartmental differences in clinical knowledge pertaining to the management of lumbar radiculopathy (P<.0001), epidural abscess (P=.0002), and cervical myelopathy (P<.0001). Following pairwise comparisons of interdepartmental differences, emergency medicine statistically outperformed internal medicine (P=.0007) and neurology (P<.0001) on initial management of lumbar radiculopathy, while also having markedly higher success in identifying and managing epidural abscess with respect to family medicine (P<.0001). The likelihood of appropriate initial treatment of cervical myelopathy was significantly higher for neurology than for emergency medicine (P<.0001). A minority of first-line providers reported being very prepared to handle spinal emergencies. Disparities exist between first-line provider specialties regarding clinical knowledge in managing and proficiently identifying emergent and nonemergent spinal conditions. Because appropriate handling of emergent spinal pathologies is essential to patient outcomes and optimal resource use, measures should be taken to further educate first-line providers regarding the spinal conditions they will be treating. [Orthopedics. 2020;43(4):e244-e250.].
Does credit type matter for relationship lending? The special role of bank credit lines

Abstract Theory suggests that a bank's information production about a borrower varies with credit type. In this paper, I show that credit type plays an important role in relationship lending. Specifically, while repeated borrowing from the same bank reduces information asymmetry thus lowers the cost of loan, I find this effect mainly rises from prior borrowings in form of credit lines instead of other loans. This effect is stronger among more opaque borrowers and is robust to tests accounting for potential endogeneity. My paper highlights the importance of credit types in relationship lending and the special informational role of credit lines.
Abstract 4999: Evaluation of anti-Gr1 antibody for depletion of MDSC in preclinical NSG mouse models of pediatric sarcoma

Preclinical in vivo studies of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells often rely on NOD-scid gamma (NSG) mouse models which lack T cells, B cells and NK cells and thereby allow for reliable engraftment of human tumor xenografts. But murine myeloid cells present in the NSG mouse strain can affect the tumor microenvironment as well as the function of adoptively transferred human immune effector cells. Long et al. (Cancer Immunol Res. 2016 Oct;4(10):869-880) reported that pediatric sarcoma xenografts in NSG mice induce in vivo expansion of murine CD11b+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), and that this cell population suppresses human CAR T cell proliferation in vitro. We investigated a strategy to avoid inhibitory effects of murine MDSCs on Ewing sarcoma xenografts in NSG mice by in vivo pretreatment with murine antibody against two cell surface antigens, Ly6C/Ly-6G (granulocyte-differentiation antigen-1, Gr-1), expressed on murine MDSC. Analysis of the CD11b+ myeloid cell populations in NSG mice 17-37 days after subcutaneous transplantation of the Ewing sarcoma cell line TC-71 showed a noticeable increase of CD11b+ cells in the peripheral blood compared to non-tumor bearing NSG mice (median 3.4 × 103, range 0.7-15.5 × 103 cells/ml, n=8 vs median 2.1 × 103, range 1.2-4.0 × 103 cells/ml, n=7). The increase was even more pronounced in the spleens, with a median absolute number of 2.6 × 106 CD11b+ cells (range 0.2-21 × 106 cells) per spleen in sarcoma-bearing mice versus 0.5 × 106 CD11b+ cells (range 0.2-0.8 × 106 cells) per spleen in mice without tumors. The granulocytic MDSC subset coexpressing Ly6Gpos was the most prominent subpopulation in spleen and blood. To eliminate murine MDSCs, we treated sarcoma-bearing mice twice weekly with 200 µg anti-Gr1 antibody RB6-8C5 over a period of 2 weeks, starting at tumor volumes of 100-200 mm3. While the combined percentage of the Ly6Gpos and Ly6Cpos cell populations in the spleens decreased compared to untreated mice (median 55%, range 36-75%, n=9 versus median 74%, range 72-86%, n=8), the total numbers of CD11b+ cells further increased (median 3.1 × 106, range 0.4 × 106-11 × 106 cells/spleen). Our data suggest that anti-Gr1 antibody pretreatment leads to blockade of the Ly6C/Ly6G receptors rather than eliminating MDSC subsets. To optimize preclinical pediatric sarcoma models, other methods for depletion or functional inactivation of mouse MDSCs will need to be evaluated. Citation Format: Sareetha Kailayangiri, Bianca Altvater, Katja Urban, Jutta Meltzer, Lea Greune, Nicole Farwick, Silke Jamitzky, Claudia Rossig. Evaluation of anti-Gr1 antibody for depletion of MDSC in preclinical NSG mouse models of pediatric sarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 4999.
Sex and Gender and Sex

This article challenges some of the prevailing notions pertaining to non-binary sex and fluid gender in modern academia. Beginning with a look at the history of the sex vs. gender debate, it turns to the study of genetics to determine how binary sex is, overturning many current beliefs about the biological bases of multiple sexes. It then considers four case studies of so-called fluid gender in world history—Mesopotamian women as men, Albanian virgjineshē, and Indian devadāsīs and sādhini—which show that these apparently “male women” never lose their feminine gender in spite of provisional male prerogatives. In all cases, it is their sexuality that ties them to their gender. The article ends with a consideration of how unreflective adoption of non-binary sex and fluid gender undermines the goals of feminism.
Electronic structure and optical properties of Si, Ge and diamond in the lonsdaleite phase

Crystalline semiconductors may exist in different polytypic phases with significantly different electronic and optical properties. In this paper, we calculate the electronic structure and optical properties of diamond, Si and Ge in the lonsdaleite (hexagonal diamond) phase using a transferable model empirical pseudopotential method with spin–orbit interactions. We calculate their band structures and extract various relevant parameters. Differences between the cubic and hexagonal phases are highlighted by comparing their densities of states. While diamond and Si remain indirect gap semiconductors in the lonsdaleite phase, Ge transforms into a direct gap semiconductor with a much smaller bandgap. We also calculate complex dielectric functions for different optical polarizations and find strong optical anisotropy. We further provide expansion parameters for the dielectric functions in terms of Lorentz oscillators.
An Exploratory Study of the Impact of Adoption on Adoptive Siblings

There is extensive literature on the effects of early-life trauma in children who are adopted, but limited research on the effects this early-life trauma may have on the other members of the adoptive family system. This qualitative study explored the experience of adoptive siblings, defined as biological children in families who adopt children, and the impact adoption has had on them. A sample of 182 adult adoptive siblings, aged 18–64 years, were surveyed retrospectively about their experience in their families from pre-adoption to post-adoption. Through phenomenological qualitative analysis, responses were categorized based on pre-adoption, the initial adoption transition, and post-adoption. Results of this study indicated that adoptive siblings often felt invisible or resentful. Many adoptive siblings experienced parentification or took on the role of peacemaker in their families. The results also revealed that the impact of adoption for adoptive siblings can lead to personal growth, including empathy, compassion, and maturity, or mental health issues, including an inability to trust others, a jaded worldview, and posttraumatic symptoms. Further, many adoptive siblings decided to foster or adopt as adults or enter the child welfare profession. These results suggest that adoptive siblings are impacted by the experience of adoption in their families, and further, this may lead to long-term effects on their lives. Further research is needed to better understand what factors may be related to more positive or negative experiences with adoption, which could allow for a greater understanding of how to support this population from pre- to post-adoption.
Exploring AlGaN nanostructures fabricated via chemical wet etching

AlGaN is a leading candidate for current and future ultra-wide bandgap electronic and optoelectronic applications. However, 3D etch technologies for AlGaInN remain immature compared to silicon, limiting its full potential for novel devices. Here, we build from the foundation of anisotropic KOH-based wet etchants used to fabricate GaN structures and explore AlGaN alloys etched in acids and bases. We investigate the etch reactivity of AlGaN alloys as a function of Al content in various etchants. We then explore the etch evolution of novel nanostructures observed and discuss possible mechanistic explanations. Lastly, we look at field emission properties of AlGaN alloys.
Intensifying Goal-Setting Interventions for Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders:

Goal setting is a research-informed intervention that has demonstrated improved behavioral outcomes for students with emotional and behavioral disorders. However, not all students will respond to g...
Pre-pregnancy and Prenatal Alcohol use Among American Indian and Alaska Native and Non-Hispanic White Women: Findings from PRAMS in Five States.

Estimates of prenatal alcohol use among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women are limited. This study sought to characterize pre-pregnancy and prenatal alcohol use among AI/AN women in the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) dataset, evaluate variation in alcohol use by state and rural/urban residence, and evaluate associations between potential risk factors and prenatal alcohol use among AI/AN and non-Hispanic white (NHW) women. We pooled PRAMS data from five states (Alaska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Washington) from 2015 to 2017. We estimated the prevalence of pre-pregnancy and pregnancy risk factors, and alcohol use by race and examined alcohol use by state and rural/urban residence among AI/AN women. We conducted bivariate and multivariable logistic regression modelling to estimate the association between each risk factor of interest and the odds of prenatal alcohol use for AI/AN and NHW women. AI/AN women were less likely to report pre-pregnancy alcohol use compared to NHW women (56% vs. 76%, p < 0.0001). Among women who reported drinking pre-pregnancy, AI/AN women were more likely than NHW women to report drinking 1 or more drinks during pregnancy (4.3% vs. 2.4, p = 0.0049). For AI/AN women, older age and experiencing homelessness (aOR = 2.76; 95% CI 1.16–6.55) increased odds of prenatal alcohol use. For NHW women, having a college education (aOR = 4.06; 95% CI 1.19–13.88) and urban residence (aOR = 1.88; 95% CI 1.40–2.53) increased odds of prenatal alcohol use. Factors associated with prenatal alcohol use differ between AI/AN women and NHW women, suggesting the need for tailored interventions.
Crossing Borders with Satyrs, the Irrepressible Genre-Benders of Pastoral Tragicomedy

Although the ancient Athenian satyr-play was the model for Italian Renaissance pastoral tragicomedy, its chorus of singing and dancing satyrs was suppressed, and these same essential characters wer...
Sharing the Cathedral

Sharing is an indispensable part of American property law, often mediating the harsh implications of ownership rights. Yet sharing is also a hidden component of this legal structure. In both theory and doctrinal manifestations, sharing is overshadowed by the iconic property right of exclusion. This Article argues that property law suffers a critical loss from its under-recognition of sharing because it fails to use sharing to correct distributional failures in a world of increasingly scarce resources. Sharing could be the basis for developing a rich range of outcomes in common property disputes. Instead, as described by Calabresi and Melamed in their famed article on remedies, outcomes are tagged to exclusion in the form of blanket property rules and “keep out” signs. As a result, sharing currently functions merely to create very narrow exceptions to broad rights of ownership. To correct this failure, this Article presents a model for sharing as a preferred outcome in property disputes. Sharing as an outcome is a powerful means of addressing property inequalities, limiting harmful externalities, preserving efficiency, and harnessing the extraordinary potential of outcomes in property law.
Supplemental Appendix to Optimal Investment with Transaction Costs and Stochastic Volatility Part II: Finite Horizon

This supplemental appendix accompanies "Optimal Investment with Transaction Costs and Stochastic Volatility Part II: Finite Horizon" by the same authors, available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2659918. In this appendix we prove the verification theorem that the value function is a viscosity solution of the HJB equation.
Kv2.1 Potassium Channels Regulate Repetitive Burst Firing in Extratelencephalic Neocortical Pyramidal Neurons

Coincidence detection and cortical rhythmicity are both greatly influenced by neurons' propensity to fire bursts of action potentials. In the neocortex, repetitive burst firing can also initiate abnormal neocortical rhythmicity (including epilepsy). Bursts are generated by inward currents that underlie a fast afterdepolarization (fADP) but less is known about outward currents that regulate bursting. We tested whether Kv2 channels regulate the fADP and burst firing in labeled layer 5 PNs from motor cortex of the Thy1-h mouse. Kv2 block with guangxitoxin-1E (GTx) converted single spike responses evoked by dendritic stimulation into multispike bursts riding on an enhanced fADP. Immunohistochemistry revealed that Thy1-h PNs expressed Kv2.1 (not Kv2.2) channels perisomatically (not in the dendrites). In somatic macropatches, GTx-sensitive current was the largest component of outward current with biophysical properties well-suited for regulating bursting. GTx drove ~40% of Thy1 PNs stimulated with noisy somatic current steps to repetitive burst firing and shifted the maximal frequency-dependent gain. A network model showed that reduction of Kv2-like conductance in a small subset of neurons resulted in repetitive bursting and entrainment of the circuit to seizure-like rhythmic activity. Kv2 channels play a dominant role in regulating onset bursts and preventing repetitive bursting in Thy1 PNs.
Time-to-enrollment in clinical trials investigating neurological recovery in chronic spinal cord injury: observations from a systematic review and ClinicalTrials.gov database.

Currently, large numbers of clinical trials are performed to investigate different forms of experimental therapy for patients suffering from chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). However, for the enrollment process, there are different views on how the time period between injury and interventions should be determined. Herein, we sought to evaluate the impact of time-to-enrollment in chronic SCI clinical trials. A data set comprising 957 clinical studies from clinicalTrials.gov was downloaded and analyzed focusing on the eligibility criteria for post-injury time-to-enrollment. We also aggregated individual patient data from nine clinical trials of regenerative interventions for chronic SCI selected by a systematic literature search from 1990 to 2018. Characteristics of the studies were assessed and compared by dividing into three groups based on time-to-enrollment (group 1 ≤ 12 months, group 2 = 12–23 months and group 3 ≥ 24 months). In ClinicalTrials.gov registry, 445 trials were identified for chronic SCI where 87% (385) were unrestricted in the maximum post-injury time for trial eligibility. From systematic literature search, nine studies and 156 patients (group 1 = 30, group 2 = 55 and group 3 = 71) were included. The range of time-to-enrollment was 0.5 to 321 months in those studies. We also observed various degrees of motor and sensory improvement in between three time-to-enrollment groups. Our results indicate that enrolling wide ranges of time-to-enrollment in a group may present imprecise outcomes. Clinical trial designs should consider appropriate post-injury time frames to evaluate therapeutic benefit.
Adding new chemistries to the central dogma of molecular biology

Summary The maturation of chemical synthesis during the 20th century has elevated the discipline from a largely empirical to a rational science. This ability to purposefully craft matter at the molecular level has put chemists in a privileged position to contribute to progress in neighboring natural sciences. Recently, we have witnessed another major advance in the field in which chemists use chemical and biological “synthetic” methods together to alter the structures and properties of biological macromolecules in ways heretofore unimagined. This interdisciplinary approach to synthesis has even allowed us to expand upon the defining characteristics of living organisms at the molecular level. In this perspective, we present a case study of the successful addition of new chemistries to the fundamental processes of the central dogma of molecular biology, exemplified by the expansion of the genetic code.
Ethnic Groups in Motion: Economic Competition and Migration in Multiethnic States

this is the definitive economic analysis of ethnic group migration, both domestic and international...highly recommended - Choice
Effects of Phagocytosis by Rabbit Granulocytes on Macromolecular Synthesis and Degradation in Different Species of Bacteria

Phagocytosis and killing of gram-positive Bacillus megaterium and Micrococcus lysodeikticus by granulocytes in vitro is associated with almost immediate cessation of bacterial protein synthesis. By contrast, protein synthesis by Escherichia coli continues after ingestion and killing. After preincubation of E. coli with intact granulocytes for 15 min, when 95% or more of the bacteria can no longer multiply, induction of β-galactosidase proceeds at rates about half of control values. With disrupted granulocytes, which kill E. coli as rapidly as intact cells, the rate of induction of β-galactosidase does not fall until after 30 min of preincubation. We attribute the different effects of phagocytosis on the biochemical apparatus of these microorganisms to the different fates of their envelopes. Specifically labeled protein, ribonucleic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid, and lipid of all three species of bacteria and peptidoglycan of E. coli are apparently incompletely degraded during phagocytosis. However, the cell walls of M. lysodeikticus and B. megaterium undergo rapid and almost complete degradation. The resulting structural disintegration of these gram-positive microorganisms must cause extensive biochemical disorganization as well. Our evidence indicates that the E. coli envelope, on the other hand, retains sufficient structural organization to preserve integrated biochemical function for at least 1 h after the bacteria have lost the ability to multiply.
Comparison of criteria to truncate gastric emptying tests by 2.5 hours

45 Objectives To compare the effects of applying published criteria to truncate gastric emptying (GE) studies performed to detect gastroparesis (GP) by 2.5 hrs instead of completing data collection for the entire recommended time period of 4 hrs. Methods This was a retrospective study of GE data collected using a standardized protocol at 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 hrs for 530 pts (136 men & 394 women; mean age 53±19 yrs) being evaluated for GP. All pts ingested a standardized meal consisting of 4 ounces of egg whites labeled with 37 MBq 99mTc-sulfur colloid, along with 2 pieces of bread and 4 grams of jam. Simultaneous 1-minute anterior and posterior static images were collected with pts erect. Attenuation-corrected conjugate view counts were determined within manually drawn regions over the stomach, and per cent retention values recorded at 1 hr (p1), 2 hrs (p2), 3 hrs (p3) & 4 hrs (p4). GP was defined as p4 >10% (J Nucl Med Technol. 2008;36:44-54). Three criteria were tested: Method 1: + for GP if p2>65%, - for GP if p2 40% (RSNA 2010, p626); Method 3: GR values from 0-2 hours were fit to a monoexponential, from which cases of GR>10% at 4 hrs were predicted by extrapolation. To enable simultaneous comparison of results for Methods 1-3, pts were excluded if they were indeterminate by Method 1. Results Among all pts, 143/530 (27%) pts had GP. The number of pts included by Method 1 for whom p2>65% or p2 0.05). Conclusions Considering that 24-32% of gastroparesis cases were not detected, it is inadvisable to truncate gastric emptying studies as early as 2.5 hours rather than complete the full 4 hour study
Fire hydrant injuries

To the Editor.— I have just finished reading the excellent article on fire hydrant-related injuries by Drs Joffe, Torrey, and Baker.1 As a resident at St. Christopher9s Hospital during the time of this study, I remember well dealing with injuries sustained in this manner. The authors mention the perceived uncleanliness of public swimming pools as one reason that children (and parents) resort to fire hydrants as an alternative for cooling off. In Philadelphia, however, this perception may be a realistic one.
Transcriptome and proteome dynamics in the cardiovascular system

Transcriptome and proteome dynamics in higher eukaryotes are precisely controlled in a cell type-specific manner. Epigenetic regulation of development in mammals is not a new field; however, there have been several advances in the last decade that have profoundly altered our understanding of the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation and the extent to which genome function is differentially modified in the adult during disease. As the leading cause of death in the developed world, cardiovascular disease has been an area where novel findings about transcriptome regulation in lower organisms are rapidly investigated for their relevance to human health. Furthermore, the cardiovascular field has itself been an area of innovation and discovery, with new principles of biological networks arising that have fundamental, as well as translational importance (Barabasi et al. 2010; Chang & Bruneau, 2012; Weiss et al. 2012). To discuss the state-of-the-art in this area, The Physiological Society, at its meeting ‘Physiology 2014’, hosted a symposium entitled ‘Epigenetic regulation of cardiovascular development and disease’ on 1 July 2014 in the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, overlooking Westminster Abbey, in London.
Protein and Nucleic Acid Synthesis in Two Mutants of Escherichia coli with Temperature-Sensitive Aminoacyl Ribonucleic Acid Synthetases

Eidlic, Lia (Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind.), and Frederick C. Neidhardt. Protein and nucleic acid synthesis in two mutants of Escherichia coli with temperature-sensitive aminoacyl ribonucleic acid synthetases. J. Bacteriol. 89:706–711. 1965.—Two temperature-sensitive mutants of Escherichia coli were isolated which grow almost normally at 30 C and fail to grow at 37 C. One (I-9) was derived from a strain with stringent amino acid control of ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis; the other (IV-4) was derived from a strain with relaxed amino acid control of RNA synthesis. When cultures of these mutants growing at 30 C were shifted to 37 C, IV-4 synthesized RNA preferentially to protein but I-9 did not. Cell-free extracts of both mutants and their parent strains were examined for their ability to catalyze adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent attachment of amino acids to soluble RNA (sRNA). These measurements indicated that I-9 possesses a temperature-sensitive valyl sRNA synthetase, and that IV-4 possesses a temperature-sensitive phenylalanyl sRNA synthetase. The behavior of these mutants suggests that amino acids permit RNA synthesis in stringent strains only after activation or attachment to sRNA, that relaxed strains can overproduce RNA without a complete array of fully functioning aminoacyl sRNA synthetases, and that these enzymes are obligatory for the biosynthesis of proteins.
Atropine unmasks bed-rest effect - A spectral analysis of cardiac interbeat intervals

Bed-rest deconditioning is suspected to reduce cardiac reserve, possibly by impairing autonomic function. Heart rate response in normal subjects reveals considerable variability, reflected by a relatively broadband interbeat interval power spectrum. A reduction in this autonomically modulated variability would be predicted to cause a narrowing of the spectrum. We retrospectively analyzed data from 10 aerobically conditioned men (age range 35-49 yr) who had undergone orthostatic tolerance testing with lower body negative pressure pre-bed rest and after 7-10 days of bed rest, while on placebo and after intravenous atropine. Spectra were derived by Fourier analysis of 128 interbeat interval data sets. Spectral power was estimated by computing the root-mean-square (rms) values (mean +/- SD) for the band encompassing the 2nd to 64th harmonics from subjects with a sufficient number of beats: placebo rms is 93 +/- 33 ms for pre-bed rest and 84 +/- 38 ms for bed rest (NS, n = 6); atropine rms is 63 +/- 24 ms for pre-bed rest and 40 +/- 23 ms for bed rest (P less than 0.01; n = 7). These data suggest that atropine "unmasks" a deconditioning effect of bed rest in athletic men, evidenced by a reduction in interbeat interval spectral power not apparent with placebo. Spectral analysis offers a useful means of quantitating the effects of bed-rest deconditioning and autonomic perturbations on cardiac dynamics.
The Anglo-American Intervention at Archangel, 1918–1919: The Role of the 339th Infantry

In the summer of 191 8, the president of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, responding to pressure from the Allies, reluctantly and against his better judgement agreed to participate in the Anglo-American intervention at the Russian port of Archangel. Inspired and led by the British, this ill-conceived venture had as its primary objective the restoration of the eastern front against Germany. In November 191 7, the Bolsheviks had easily seized power from the pro-Western provisional government, and a few months later Lenin and Trotsky betrayed the West by signing a separate peace with Germany and leaving the war. The British idea, therefore, was to invade Russia through its northern ports of Murmansk and Archangel, take possession there of the extensive military supplies sent to the provisional government, and reorganize the eastern front with the assistance of Russian volunteers. Wilson, in his aide-memoire of 17 July 19 18, supposedly limited the use of US troops to guarding military stores and assisting the Czechoslovak Legion an anti-Communist group of former prisoners of war which was fighting its way across Siberia to Vladivostok.1
Measurement of aerosol/gas reaction rates by microparticle Raman spectroscopy

Abstract Chemical reactions between a reactive gas and single solid and liquid aerosol particles have been studied using an electrodynamic balance coupled to a Raman spectrometer. Electrodynamic levitation was used to suspend a single charged microparticle in a polarized laser beam, which was used as the light source for spontaneous Raman emission. The highly exothermic reaction between bromine vapor and an olefin microdroplet, 1-octadecene, and the reaction between a sorbent particle, calcium oxide, and a humid air stream containing sulfur dioxide have been explored by following the formation of a Raman-active chemical bond.
Metastatic breast cancer in males. Assessment of endocrine therapy.

From June 1958 to June 1982, 22 men with metastatic breast cancer were treated with endocrine therapy. All 22 patients were initially treated by bilateral orchiectomy, and objective response was seen in 11 (50%) patients for 15 months. Bilateral adrenalectomy was performed subsequently in 10 patients, and 8 (80%) patients had a mean duration of objective response of 15 months. Five of seven orchiectomy responders and 3 of 3 orchiectomy nonresponders subsequently responded to bilateral adrenalectomy. Tamoxifen was tried in three patients after relapse following adrenalectomy; all three patients responded with a mean duration of 9 months. One patient was successfully treated with aminoglutethimide for 7 months following orchiectomy failure. In this patient bilateral adrenalectomy was performed on disease relapse and again resulted in objective remission. In this review, a sequential endocrine therapy program provided palliation in men. Further study is required to determine the timing of the various endocrine-modalities. Cancer 53:1344-1346, 1984.
Utilization of electron acceptors for anaerobic metabolism by Lactobacillus plantarum. Enzymes and intermediates in the utilization of citrate

Evidence was obtained to demonstrate the operation of a pathway for quantitative conversion of citrate to succinate and ethanol by Lactobacillus plantarum (WSO) during anaerobic growth on mannitol. With the exception of oxaloacetate reductase, the enzymes required for the proposed pathway were constitutive. Enzyme activity changes during the course of citrate utilization and activity changes when acetate, acetyl phosphate, malate, and fumarate were added as electron acceptors were consistent with the proposed pathway. Acetate, malate and fumarate were found to accumulate in the medium during citrate degradation and then disappear as succinate, and ethanol accumulated, demonstrating that they were intermediates in the pathway of citrate utilization.
Comparing Social Skills in Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder According to the DSM-IV-TR and the DSM-5

Criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) changed significantly with the publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) with more symptoms needed to meet criteria for ASD. Several researchers have suggested that this will lead to a significant decrease in prevalence for the disorder. Because social skills have been established as a core symptom since autism was first described, the present study examines differences in social functioning using the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills in Youngsters-II (MESSY-II) among children diagnosed with ASD (ages 3–16 years) using DSM-IV-TR criteria, children diagnosed using the DSM-5, and a control group of typically developing children. In the present study of 205 children and adolescents, significant differences were found between the control group and the ASD groups combined. Differences between the DSM-5 group and the DSM-IV group were not found related to inappropriate social skills, suggesting that those who no longer meet diagnostic criteria for ASD exhibit similar social deficits as those who continue to meet criteria for ASD. Concerning socially appropriate behavior, significantly more impairment was found in the DSM-5 group compared with the DSM-IV group, though both groups evinced severe impairments. The implications of these findings are important. Individuals who no longer meet criteria for ASD have clinically significant social deficits and do not differ significantly from those who continue to meet criteria for ASD. Thus, children no longer meeting ASD criteria continue to need interventions that are effective for treating social deficits in autism.
Direct synthesis of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 from nitrate precursors

Two novel methods for synthesis of the title compound directly from metal nitrates are described. Phase-pure materials are produced when precursors are calcined between 600 and 1000 C, with little to no ion mixing exhibited for products heated to 900 C or above. The electrochemical characteristics of these materials depended upon calcination temperature and synthesis method, with results comparable to a commercial sample for the materials made at high temperatures in a one-step process without combustion. The sample prepared by combustion also exhibited very stable capacity retention upon cycling.
Conformational and oligomeric effects on the cysteine pK(a) of tryparedoxin peroxidase.

Abstract Typical 2-Cys peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are peroxidases which regulate cell signaling pathways, apoptosis, and differentiation. These enzymes are obligate homodimers, and can form decamers in solution. During catalysis, Prxs exhibit cysteine-dependent reactivity which requires the deprotonation of the peroxidatic cysteine (Cp) supported by a lowered pKa in the initial step. We present the results of molecular dynamics simulations combined with pKa calculations on the monomeric, dimeric and decameric forms of one typical 2-Cys Prx, the tryparedoxin peroxidase from Trypanosoma cruzi (PDB id, 1uul). The calculations indicate that Cp (C52) pKa values are highly affected by oligomeric state; an unshifted Cp pKa (∼ 8.3, comparable to the pKa of isolated cysteine) is calculated for the monomer. In the dimers, starting with essentially identical structures, the Cps evolve dynamically asymmetric pKas during the simulations; one subunit's Cp pKa is shifted downward at a time, while the other is unshifted. Howe...
Genomics and homeostasis.

The Cannon lecture this year illustrates how knowledge of DNA sequences of complex living organisms is beginning to shape the landscape of physiology in the 21st century. Enormous challenges and op...
X-Ray Binaries in Nearby Galaxies

In the last few years Chandra observations have revolutionized the study of X-ray binaries by extending observed samples to extragalactic distances and stellar environments of varied star formation history. Here we summarize some of our results related to the interpretation of current observations of young star clusters and of elliptical galaxies.