cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 28: p62-Enriched Inclusion Bodies in Macrophages Play a Protective Role in Atherosclerosis

Polyubiquitinated protein aggregates have been classically associated with human neurodegenerative, liver, and muscle disorders, but not atherosclerosis. Since autophagy-deficient atherosclerotic macrophages have markedly increased levels of p62, a chaperone protein critical for the autophagic turnover of polyubiquitinated proteins, we aimed to evaluate the role of p62 and protein aggregation in atherosclerosis. We first tested the effects of atherogenic lipid loading in peritoneal macrophages. Incubation with either cholesterol crystals or oxidized LDL leads to dramatically increased p62 protein that completely co-localizes with polyubiquitinated proteins as cytoplasmic inclusions or as aggregates partially sequestered by lysosomes. Such accumulation was intensified in autophagy-null (ATG5-/-) macrophages, where massive cytoplasmic ubiquitin-positive p62 aggregates form. Our in vitro observations are recapitulated in vivo. Aortas from atherosclerotic (ApoE-/-) mice have marked elevations in p62 and polyubiquitinated proteins that predominantly co-localize with plaque macrophages, a process that is further exacerbated in the autophagy-deficient setting. Remarkably, we find nearly identical results in human carotid endarterectomy samples, suggesting that p62-enriched protein aggregates are a characteristic feature of atherosclerosis. The homeostasis of cytoplasmic inclusions is dependent on the presence of p62 since lipid-loaded p62-null macrophages accumulate polyubiquitinated proteins in a diffuse and disrupted cytoplasmic pattern. The disruption of these aggregates has functional consequences manifested as increased secretion of IL-1β and enhanced macrophage apoptosis. Consistent with our in vitro observations, p62-deficient mice have increased atherosclerotic plaque formation. Furthermore, p62-deficiency increases plaque burden even in the highly atherosclerosis-prone macrophage-specific ATG5-null mice. Taken together, these data suggest that by sequestering cytotoxic ubiquitinated proteins, p62-enriched inclusion body formation is a protective response during atherogenesis, a setting where the clearance of protein aggregates is disrupted.
PARP inhibitors for chemoprevention--reply.

We thank Brody and colleagues ([1][1]) for their thoughtful letter that raised three major issues about PARP inhibitors for chemoprevention: (i) long-term toxicity, (ii) secondary tumors, and (iii) drug resistance. We appreciate their desire to open a dialogue, as we agree that these important
On the Dates of Publication of Schweinitz's Synopses

The first paper on American fungi, the "Synopsis fungorum Carolinae Superioris secundum observationes Ludovici Davidis de Schweinitz," was published in the first (and only) volume of the Schriften der nacturforschenden Gesellschaft zu Leipzig. That volume bears on its title-page the date 1822, and that year has in consequence usually been taken as the year of publication of Schweinitz's work. By some authors, however (e.g., Pennell, Bartonia 16: 4. 1934 (but see also his footnote 5); Kellerman, Jour. Myc. 2: 31-34. 1886; Johnson, A memoir of the late Lewis David von Schweinitz, P.D. Phila. 1835), the year has been given as 1818-perhaps in part because the manuscript was "laid before the Gesellschaft" on December 7, 1818 (Naturf. Ges. Leipzig Schr. 1: 212. 1822). Furthermore, the possibility has existed that separate copies of Schweinitz's work were issued in advance of the publication of the complete volume, and might therefore have a separate date. If Schweinitz's paper was published before 1821, it of course falls under the deadly obloquy of being pre-Friesian. Furthermore, in 1822 there were published several important mycological works, whose relative dates seem not to have been established. It is therefore a matter of some importance to determine as accurately as possible the date of the "Synopsis," in order that the nomenclatorial status of that important paper may be known. The article immediately preceding Schweinitz's in the complete volume of the Schriften was read March 14, 1820, as a memorial to a man who died February 29, 1820 (p. 12); a footnote (p. 16) refers to an article published March 25, 1820. Now the first page of the introduction to the Schweinitz article (p. 20) occupies the verso of the last page (p. 19) of that obituary notice, and must have been published with it; the two articles are as closely tied together as are Fitzpatrick's and Orton's in the current volume
On an estimation problem in multiple regression

To investigate the effects of the social, biological, and other health care factors on peri-natal mortality, Feldstein (1966) used a multiple regression model Y=X β+e, where Y is an nx 1 random observed vector, e is an nx 1 random error vector, X is an nx p matrix of known and fixed quantities, and β is a px 1 vector of unknown parameters. However, his variables, dependent as well as independent, could assume only binary values, i.e. 0 or 1. Under this condition, the matrix X’X was found to be singular and thus the given system of least-square normal equations X’Xβ=X’Y had no unique solution. But he made his matrix non-singular by deleting certain rows and columns arbitrarily and derived the solution of the equations. The present paper draws attention to certain theoretical objections to the method developed by Feldstein and presents a unified approach to the problem. It has been demonstrated that the linear contrasts considered by him are not uniwuely determinable. The method considered in our paper uses extensively the properties of a generalized inverse of a singular matrix and presents a method which will always give a unique solution if it exists.
Shifting Communities: Demographic Profiles of Early Village Population Growth and Decline in the Central American Bottom

The growth and decline of large village communities is a topic of considerable interest for archaeologists studying the development of complex regional polities. In this article, demographic information is presented for the transitional Mississippian period Washausen mound center located in the American Bottom region of west-central Illinois. Population estimates are calculated based on data for residential architecture collected in 2011 during an extensive geophysical survey and excavations at the site. A magnetometer survey was conducted over 8 ha and produced a relatively complete site map revealing numerous household clusters organized around a central, earthen mound-and-plaza complex. Population estimates and site spatial information for Washausen are compared with similar data for earlier village communities located nearby, as well as other global village sequences, producing a demographic profile demonstrating a pattern of village growth and decline in the area after the onset of sedentism and agricultural intensification. Information from the region and elsewhere suggests that the development of larger communities through time resulted in part through frequent population movements as village segments fissioned and aggregated to form new communities. This research finding has the potential to inform models for the growth of much larger American Bottom centers such as Pulcher and Cahokia.
Susceptibility of Some Insect Pests to Infection by Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner in Laboratory Tests

The spore-forming bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner has demonstrated moderate-to-high pathogen city for several leaf-chewing insect pests in southern California including larvae of the salt-marsh caterpillar, cotton leaf perforator, celery leaf tier, amorbia, boll worm, and larvae and adults of the Egyptian alfalfa weevil. Less susceptible were the cabbage looper, beet army worm and omnivorous leaf roller. Only slightly susceptible were larvae of the alder flea beetle and larvae and adults of the elm leaf beetle. “Extra” mortality thought to be due to a toxic effect induced by the bacillus was noted in infectivity tests against some of the insect species.
Transductal Fluxes of Anions in the Rat Pancreas

Recent studies of the rat pancreas (1) have shown that during stimulation of the gland with exogenous secretin, the primary secretory fluid which was produced in the acini-intercalated ducts was isotonic to plasma. The concentrations of Na and K of this fluid were identical to those of plasma while the concentrations of Cl and HCO3 were higher. Simultaneous measurements of the concentrations of these ions in the primary secretory fluid and in the final pancreatic juice revealed that exchanges of Cl and HCO3 took place across the ducts of the gland while there were no net transductal fluxes of Na and K.The present experiments demonstrate that the transductal fluxes of anions in the rat pancreas during stimulation with exogenous secretin are regulated by this hormone. In the absence of exogenous secretin in the unstimulated gland or during stimulation of secretion with pilocarpine or pancreozymin (CCK-PZ) there are no transductal fluxes of anions both in the whole gland or in segments of the interlobular du...
Topological Structure Analysis for a Hybrid Robot in CT-Guided Minimally Invasive Surgery

The specific requirements of a CT-guided minimally invasive surgery robot are analyzed,and a mechanism combining serial structure with parallel structure is put forward.The design preconditions of serial and parallel robot topological structures are discussed.Several structure types of serial robot arms are compared,and then the final structure is determined.For the deficiency that traditional parallel robots have very low dexterity,a structural frame of the parallel mechanism is provided and explained,and the parallel robot structure is ascertained.The characteristic function of the displacement output of parallel mechanism and its degree of freedom are calculated based on screw theory.The characteristic matrix of the displacement output of serial mechanism is also obtained.The simulation with robot dexterity verifies that this hybrid robot can be used to the locating operation in the minimally invasive surgery with limited CT space.This paper provides a theoretical reference for the structure design of new medical robots.
Shattering and Compressing Networks for Betweenness Centrality.

The betweenness metric has always been intriguing and used in many analyses. Yet, it is one of the most computationally expensive kernels in graph mining. For that reason, making betweenness centrality computations faster is an important and well-studied problem. In this work, we propose the framework, BADIOS, which compresses a network and shatters it into pieces so that the centrality computation can be handled independently for each piece. Although BADIOS is designed and tuned for betweenness centrality, it can easily be adapted for other centrality metrics. Experimental results show that the proposed techniques can be a great arsenal to reduce the centrality computation time for various types and sizes of networks. In particular, it reduces the computation time of a 4.6 million edges graph from more than 5 days to less than 16 hours.
Structural and conformational analogues of L-methionine as inhibitors of the enzymatic synthesis of S-adenosyl-L-methionine. IV. Further mono-, bi- and tricyclic amino acids.

A series of mono-, bi- and tricyclic amino acids was synthesized and examined for their ability to inhibit the enzymatic conversion of L-methionine to S-adenosyl-L-methionine by partially purified preparations of ATP:L-methionine S-adenosyltransferase (EC 2.5.1.6) of bakers’ yeast, Escherichia coli and rat liver. These studies are part of a program to define the topography of the amino acid binding site of these enzymes and to design selective inhibitors of potential chemotherapeutic value. The synthetic amino acids are structurally and conformationally related to 1-aminocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid (cycloleucine), a highly effective inhibitor of S-adenosyl-L-methionine formation. They were designed to provide more precise information about the space-filling and conformational requirements for complementarity at the active sites of the enzymes. Cyclopentaneglycine, although less inhibitory than cycloleucine, has modest activity that is attributed to its conformational relationship to the highly active (1R,2R,4S)-isomer of 2-aminonorbornane-2-carboxylic acid. The (1R,2R,4S)-isomer of 2-amino-5,6-exo-trimethylenenorbornane-2-carboxylic acid appears to be a more potent inhibitor than its 2-aminonorbornane-2-carboxylic acid analogue. It is presumed that the 5,6-exo-trimethylene extension of the norbornane framework increases binding capacity because of positive hydrophobic interactions with the enzyme surface in this region. The most active enzyme inhibitor found in this study was (+)-2-aminobicyclo[2.1.1]hexane-2-carboxylic acid, which was even more potent than its close structural analogue, the active 2-aminonorbornane-2-carboxylic acid isomer. This enhancement of inhibitory activity may be a reflection of the size of the bridgehead angle of the bicyclo[2.1.1]hexane derivative which is almost 7° smaller than the corresponding bridgehead angle of the norbornane derivative, and apparently contributes to a more precise complementarity of the bicyclo[2.1.1]hexane amino acid at the surface of the enzyme. The idea that this internal bridgehead angle must not exceed a critical value if binding is to occur is further supported by the fact that the analogous isomer of 2-aminobicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2-carboxylic acid, which has an internal bridgehead angle 6° larger than the norbornane derivative, is inactive. Other amino acids which have contributed to the elucidation of the conformational requirements of the enzyme active site include 7-aminonorbornane-7-carboxylic acid, 3-aminonortricyclene-3-carboxylic acid, 1-amino-2,5-dimethylcyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid, 1-amino-3,4-dimethylcyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid and 3-aminobicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-3-carboxylic acid; the latter analogue possessed significant inhibitory activity.
66‐1: Invited Paper: Trends in Perception of Displayed 3D Stereoscopic Content

I will discuss a variety of topics related to the perception of displayed digital stereoscopic 3D (S3D) content. An underlying theme of my discussion is the fact that 3D visual signals (stereo pairs and their associated disparity/depth maps) obey lawful statistical behavior that can be reliably modeled. These models supply powerful statistical priors that can be used to understand the perception of displayed 3D visual content. Some of the specific topics include recent work on 3D visual attention, specifically a form of 3D reverse saliency that could be relevant to S3D picture compression, quality modeling, and discomfort assessment; understanding and predicting perceived 3D quality when viewing S3D content; creating 3D content from 2D content in a naturalistic way. Throughout, my discussion will be at a fairly high-level, allowing me to connect a number of related topics.
SU-D-BRA-02: Motion Assessment During Open Face Mask SRS Using CBCT and Surface Monitoring

Purpose: To assess the robustness of immobilization using open-face mask technology for linac-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with multiple non-coplanar arcs via repeated CBCT acquisition, with comparison to contemporaneous optical surface tracking data. Methods: 25 patients were treated in open faced masks with cranial SRS using 3–4 non-coplanar arcs. Repeated CBCT imaging was performed to verify the maintenance of proper patient positioning during treatment. Initial patient positioning was performed based on prescribed shifts and optical surface tracking. Positioning refinements employed rigid 3D-matching of the planning CT and CBCT images and were implemented via automated 6DOF couch control. CBCT imaging was repeated following the treatment of all non-transverse beams with associated couch kicks. Detected patient translations and rotations were recorded and automatically corrected. Optical surface tracking was applied throughout the treatments to monitor motion, and this contemporaneous patient positioning data was recorded to compare against CBCT data and 6DOF couch adjustments. Results: Initial patient positions were refined on average by translations of 3±1mm and rotations of ±0.9-degrees. Optical surface tracking corroborated couch corrections to within 1±1mm and ±0.4-degrees. Following treatment of the transverse and subsequent superior-oblique beam, average translations of 0.6±0.4mm and rotations of ±0.4-degrees were reported via CBCT, with optical surface tracking in agreement to within 1.1±0.6mm and ±0.6-degrees. Following treatment of the third beam, CBCT indicated additional translations of 0.4±0.2mm and rotations of ±0.3-degrees. Cumulative couch corrections resulted in 0.7 ± 0.4mm average magnitude translations and rotations of ±0.4-degrees. Conclusion: Based on CBCT measurements of patients during SRS, the open face mask maintained patient positioning to within 1.5mm and 1-degree with >95% confidence. Patient positioning determined by optical surface tracking agreed with CBCT assessment to within 1±1mm and ±0.6-degree rotations. These data support the use of 1–2mm PTV margins and repeated CBCT to maintain stereotactic positioning tolerances.
Uncertainties of Learning to Teach Elementary Science Methods Using Engineering Design: A Science Teacher Educator’s Self-Study

An important part of recent science education reform in the United States is the integration of engineering practices. For many science teacher educators, this form of instruction warrants relatively new knowledge for what engineering entails and how it is taught. Incorporating engineering into a traditional science teacher preparation program is a daunting and uncertain task. In this chapter, I utilize self-study practices to uncover new understandings of my learning and teaching about engineering design-based science teaching and the uncertainties I encounter along the way. Findings from my analysis of interviews, journaling, field notes, and collective reflections, reveal doubts about my competency as a science teacher educator, my reservations with becoming a reform adopter, and the unexpected benefits of my risk-taking. Implications suggest that self-study practices facilitate a heightened awareness of teacher uncertainty and furthermore, promote an increased willingness to risk-take that can lead to innovation and change.
Update on Treatment of Morbid Obesity with Adjustable Gastric Banding

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is considered the simplest of the bariatric operations. Although studies have confirmed the effectiveness of the LAGB in terms of weight loss and resolution of comorbidities, concerns have developed over its long-term efficacy and safety. Reports have described a high incidence of complications and need for reintervention. These reports and the availability of other effective and well-tolerated procedures have determined a significant decrease in the number of LAGBs performed. This article reviews key historic milestones, fundamental changes in the design and technique, and potential reasons that determined a quick rise and a progressive fall of LAGB's popularity.
Effect of Hypoglycemia on the Incidence of Revision in Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background It is well established that diabetic patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are more susceptible to infection, problematic wound healing, and overall higher complication rates. However, a paucity in current literature exists. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hypoglycemia on TKA revision (rTKA) incidence by analyzing a national private payer database for procedures performed between 2007 and 2015 Q1 Q2. Methods A retrospective review of a national private payer database within the PearlDiver Supercomputer application for patients undergoing TKA with blood glucose levels from 20 to 219 mg/mL, in 10-mg/mL increments, was conducted. Patients who underwent TKA were identified by Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes. Glucose ranges were identified by filtering for Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes within the PearlDiver database. Patients with diagnosed diabetes mellitus type I or II were excluded by using ICD-9 codes 250.00-250.03, 250.10-250.13, and 250.20-250.21. rTKA causes including mechanical loosening, failure/break, periprosthetic fracture, osteolysis, infection, pain, arthrofibrosis, instability, and trauma were identified with CPT and ICD-9 codes. Statistical analysis was primarily descriptive. Results Our query returned 264,824 TKAs, of which 12,852 (4.9%) were revised. Most TKAs were performed with a glucose of 70-99 mg/mL (26.1%), followed by 100-109 mg/mL (18.5%). Patients with TKAs performed with glucose 20-29 mg/mL had the highest rate of revision (17.2%; P P Conclusion Infection remains one of the most common causes of rTKA irrespective of glucose level. Our results suggest that hypoglycemia may increase revision rates among TKA patients. Tight glycemic control before and during surgery may be warranted.
A Model of Decision Making

One approach to understanding the behavior of groups is to sit in sidewalk cafes and watch the way the passing people talk, smile at one another and generally exchange pleasantries; observe the interchange between parents and children during meals in restaurants; and absorb the body language and voice patterns of colleagues having animated business discussions in coffee shops. All these observations are then organized, stripped of detail and synthesized to form a coherent view of how individuals interact with one another to form groups. But how valid are the conclusions drawn? To determine their reproducibility the observations should be repeated sitting in sidewalk cafes, restaurants and coffee shops in San Francisco, New York, Berlin, Moscow and else where in the world. This is how many of us would prefer to do science.
Micro-Extraction and Characterization of Saponins in Peanut Meal and Soybean Flour Using HPLC and FAB Mass Spectrometry

A variety of bioactive components are present in plant foods and feedstuffs. These bioactive components include enzymes, enzyme inhibitors, flavanones, isoflavones, indoles, phospholipids, polysterols, saponins, and others. Many of these biologically active components are multifunctional. They act as antioxidants, provide health and nutritional benefits, and their role in preventing chronic diseases is currently being investigated [1]. Even though many of the chemical properties of saponins are well recognized, there is renewed interest in this class of compounds because recent evidence suggests that these bioactive components possess antitumor activity[2,3], hypocholesterolemic and immune stimulatory activity [4].
Composite lymphoma with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and classical Hodgkin lymphoma components: A case report and review of the literature

Composite lymphoma (CL) is an infrequently diagnosed entity in which two or more distinct types of lymphomas occur synchronously in the same organ or anatomical site. Most commonly, CLs are composed of two non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas. We present a case of a composite lymphoma with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (DLBCL-NOS) and classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) components involving the terminal ileum, colon and pericolic lymph nodes. Immunohistochemical evaluation for determination of cell of origin of the DLBCL-NOS component indicated a germinal center B-cell subtype. Immunoglobulin heavy chain fragment length analysis revealed identical dominant monoclonal peaks on the DH1-6-JH reaction, and also a dominant monoclonal peak observed only in the framework II reaction done on the CHL component, indicating a partial clonal relationship between the two components. Additionally, a review of the available literature reveals a total of 20 previously reported cases of CL with DLBCL-NOS and CHL components, and most of the tested cases showed clonal relationship between the two components. The overall findings indicate that in most cases, the two components of CL with DLBCL-NOS and CHL components are clonally related, and suggest a shared origin from a common B-cell precursor.
Long-Form and Short-Form Prenominal Adjectives Are Not Reduced Relative Clauses In Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian

Cinque (2010) treats prenominal adjectives in languages like Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS) and English either as APs in the specifiers of functional projections in the extended domain of N (direct modification) or as predicates in reduced relative clauses in the specifiers of functional projections (indirect modification), while postnominal adjectives in these languages are treated only as predicates in reduced relative clauses. In this model, the direct-modification source is associated with one set of interpretations and the indirect-modification source with a different set of interpretations. This proposed dual-source analysis raises the question whether there are any languages that mark this distinction with overt morphology. In this respect, Cinque considers languages, among them BCS, where adnominal modification has two distinct morphological shapes. Crucially, BCS adjectives have different morphological forms depending on their distribution: the “long form” and the “short form.” Cinque treats the ...
The Vibrational Analysis of Boron in Vitreous Silica

Glasses containing small amounts of boron in a silicon dioxide matrix are commercially important for their high use temperatures, low thermal expansivity, and resistance to devitrification. This study was undertaken to elucidate the coordination of boron in such glasses by recording and analyzing the infrared (IR) and Raman (R) spectral details that appear as a result of the incorporation of small amounts of boron.
Magnetic resonance elastography of the pancreas: Measurement reproducibility and relationship with age.

Abstract Purpose To determine magnetic resonance elastography (MRE)-derived stiffness of pancreas in healthy volunteers with emphasis on: 1) short term and midterm repeatability; and 2) variance as a function of age. Methods Pancreatic MRE was performed on 22 healthy volunteers (age range:20–64 years) in a 3 T–scanner. For evaluation of reproducibility of stiffness estimates, the scans were repeated per volunteer on the same day (short term) and one month apart (midterm). MRE wave images were analyzed using 3D inversion to estimate the stiffness of overall pancreas and different anatomic regions (i.e., head, neck, body, and tail). Concordance and Spearman correlation tests were performed to determine reproducibility of stiffness measurements and relationship to age. Results A strong concordance correlation (ρ c = 0.99; p -value 0.81; p 45 yrs) had significantly higher stiffness compared to the younger group (≤ 45 yrs) ( p p > 0.05) in stiffness measurements was observed between different anatomical regions of pancreas, except neck stiffness was slightly lower ( p Conclusion MRE-derived pancreatic stiffness measurements are highly reproducible in the short and midterm and increase linearly with age in healthy volunteers. Further studies are needed to examine these effects in patients with various pancreatic diseases to understand potential clinical applications.
Other Oral Agents for Chronic Pelvic Pain

There are numerous medications used to treat the wide range of symptoms associated with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS). Some of these therapies are targeted against the painful pelvic symptoms, while others help alleviate the emotional and cognitive components associated with pelvic pain. The oral medications discussed in this chapter will include bladder anesthetics, alpha-1 receptor antagonists, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, cholinergic antagonists, and pentosan polysulfate sodium. These therapies are typically used as an adjunct in patients with refractory symptoms who are already being treated with a multimodal therapeutic regimen.
Hydrodeoxygenation of Furylmethane Oxygenates to Jet and Diesel Range Fuels: Probing the Reaction Network with Supported Palladium Catalyst and Hafnium Triflate Promoter

Catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of furylmethane oxygenates to high carbon branched chain jet and diesel fuel range alkanes under mild reaction conditions is a promising strategy for energy-efficient production of fuels with minimal C–C cracking to undesired products. Here, we report that a strong Lewis acidic promoter can overcome the energy barrier for furylmethane hydrodeoxygenation at lower temperature. Furan rings of furylmethanes are first hydrogenated to fully saturated cyclic ethers by a hydrogenation catalyst, which then undergo facile ring opening and deoxygenation by the promoter. A cyclic intermediate between ethereal O and the Lewis acidic metal center, assisted by the triflate ligand of the promoter, is formed in the ring-opening step. Probing the reaction pathway with symmetric single furan ring surrogate molecules suggests that the promoter is necessary for the ring opening. Deoxygenation of ring-opened oxygenates takes place more quickly for single furan ring surrogates than for the multiple ...
Building a Community of Sociological Practice: Certifying Practitioners and Accrediting Programs:

Unlike psychology and economics, the discipline of sociology in the United States has not encouraged the training and practice of sociologists outside academia and scientific research enterprises. ...
MALT-a Multi-lingual Adaptive Language Tutor

We describe a “Multi-lingual Adaptive Language Tutor” (MALT) that uses natural language parsing and text generation to create various kinds of grammar exercises for learners of any language. These exercises can be restricted to specific topics by the instructor such as transformation of verb tenses. MALT generates novel exercises focusing on the specific difficulties of language learners as determined from their past mistakes, helping them overcome individual difficulties faster. We also present the first preliminary results from employing MALT in the foreign language classroom at Notre Dame.
Development and validation of a real-time PCR specific for the leukotoxin gene of Bibersteinia trehalosi:

A real-time PCR assay for the leukotoxin gene of Bibersteinia trehalosi was developed and validated to better identify this pathogen, which is a cause of respiratory disease in bighorn sheep. The specificity of the PCR primers was evaluated with DNA from 59 known isolates of the Pasteurellaceae family. For validation, 162 field samples were compared using both the new assay and an indirect method using 2 sets of published protocols. The real-time PCR assay was found to be specific for the leukotoxin gene of B. trehalosi and provides a rapid and direct approach for detecting leukotoxin-producing forms of this organism from samples containing mixed species of leukotoxin-positive Pasteurellaceae.
IPv6 transmission over BLE Using Raspberry PI 3

The increased development regarding Internet of Things (IoT) devices has created various solutions for data transfer, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The release of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or Bluetooth Smart, allows for a major improvement in data transfer using IPv6 over BLE, as proposed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in RFC 7668. IPv6 through BLE is widely used for IoT devices, however, connection to a raspberry pi 3 device, the most used mobile operating system, is widely underdeveloped. In this paper, we attempt to create a link-layer connection, guided by 6LoWPANs (stands for IPv6 over Low power Wireless Personal Area Networks) from RFC 4919, between two raspberry pi 3s to transfer IPv6 packets. BlueZ, the default Linux Bluetooth protocol stack, is used as the foundation of this data transfer in both PIs.
Adipocytes, Lipid Metabolism, and Hematopoiesis

The physiology and pathology of adipogenesis and hematopoiesis are interconnected. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) rely on bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (BMSC) with pre-adipocyte properties for paracrine factors directing their proliferation and differentiation. The lineage commitment of these BMSC along the adipocyte vs. osteoblast pathways modulates the “stem cell niche” within the bone marrow microenvironment, and similar relationships exist within the thymus. These relationships are regulated directly as a function of biological aging since adipose stores in the marrow and thymus increase at the expense of hematopoietic cell proliferation, differentiation, and/or function. Furthermore, the interaction between adipocytes and hematopoietic cells is not limited to medullary adipocytes within the marrow cavity. There is a growing appreciation that adipose stromal/stem cells (ASC) and their differentiated progeny within extramedullary (peripheral) adipose depots direct hematopoietic function through their endocrine production of adipokines and cytokines, such as adiponectin, leptin, and interleukin 6. Indeed, such adipose depots may be underappreciated reservoirs of HSCs. The feedback loops ASC, BMSC, and HSC merit increased attention in light of the comorbidities associated with the looming international obesity and type 2 diabetes epidemic.
Types of Causes

The complexity of actual cause and effect relationships in social life can lead quickly to confused thinking and muddled discussions. Helpful here are distinctions that allow one to speak about some causes as different from others. Our chapter describes several distinctions among causes that we find especially useful for social science. First, taking a broad view of what “causes” are, we discuss some issues concerning whether causes are manipulable or preventable. Then, we consider the distinction between proximal and distal causes, connecting these to concepts of mediation and indirect effects. Next, we propose ways that concepts related to the distinction between necessary and sufficient causes in case-oriented research may be also useful for quantitative research on large samples. Afterward, we discuss criteria for characterizing one cause as more important than another. Finally, we describe ultimate and fundamental causes, which do not concern the relationship between an explanatory variable and outcome so much as the causes of properties of the systems in which more concrete causal relationships exist.
Voucher specimens deposited in the Oregon State Arthropod Collection for Masters of Science Dissertation, forest pollinators (Hymenoptera, Apiformes)

Voucher specimens (109) of bee species associated with MS Thesis: Interactions between wild bee communities and Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae) populations in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziezii) forests of the Intermountain West
The Role of the Family in Psychiatric Rehabilitation

Abstract Attitudes toward the role of the family in psychiatric rehabilitation (PsyR) have gone through many changes. Formerly, family influences were viewed by providers as a contributing cause of mental illnesses; today, the family is seen as an important partner in the rehabilitation process. This chapter will describe how having a member with mental illness affects the family and how families can contribute to the recovery of a person with mental illness. Attitudes towards the role of the family in psychiatric rehabilitation (PsyR) have gone through many changes. Formerly, family influences were viewed by providers as a contributing cause of mental illnesses; today, the family is seen as an important partner in the rehabilitation process. Family interventions focusing on psychoeducation and coping strategies have been proven to be effective and are now an established evidence-based practice. This chapter will describe how having a member with mental illness affects the family and how families can contribute to the recovery of a person with mental illness. It will review the development of family advocacy organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), which help to keep state legislatures, administrative offices, and public policy forums aware of the needs of people with mental illness. This chapter will answer the following questions: 1. What is the effect on the family of having a member with a major mental illness? 2. How does living with the family affect the adjustment and recovery of a person with major mental illness? 3. What kinds of family interventions have been shown to be effective for family members with mental illness? 4. How does the family fit into the concept of recovery? 5. What is the role of NAMI in supporting people with mental illness?
Chemobrain: A Pilot Study Exploring the Severity and Onset of Chemotherapy-Related Cognitive Impairment.

BACKGROUND Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment refers to a cluster of symptoms commonly referred to as "chemobrain". To date, nursing literature on the progression of and tools used to evaluate chemobrain is limited. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the onset of chemobrain in patients who recently began chemotherapy treatment, as well as those who have been receiving chemotherapy for an extended period of time. METHODS This prospective, nonrandomized, observational pilot feasibility study used the General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition and the Trail Making Test Parts A and B to examine chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment symptoms in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. FINDINGS Paired t tests showed a significant difference in scores on the Trail Making Test Part A from baseline to eight months (p < 0.05) and in scores on the Trail Making Test Part B from four to eight months (p < 0.05). The mixed results suggest that the Trail Making Test Parts A and B may not be effective for testing chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment in patients.
Food Insecurity and Health Care Use

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fifteen percent of US children live in households with inadequate food. Children who are food insecure often experience worse physical, emotional, and developmental health outcomes. Authors of previous studies have not examined the quality and cost implications of food insecurity in children. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 7959 nationally representative US children (aged 1–17 years) in the 2016 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Households with food insecurity were identified by ≥3 positive responses to the 30-day, 10-item US Food Security Survey. Main outcomes were annual health expenditures and quality of care indicators: emergency department (ED) and inpatient use, primary care and specialist visits, routine medical and dental care, patient experience measures, and school absenteeism. Logistic and 2-part regression models were constructed to estimate outcomes conditional on sociodemographic and medical covariates. RESULTS: Children in households with food insecurity were more often publicly insured and had special needs compared with all other children. In multivariable logistic regression, household food insecurity was associated with significantly higher adjusted odds of an ED (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.37) or primary care treatment visit (aOR = 1.24) during the year. Household food insecurity was associated with significantly higher school absenteeism (aOR = 1.74) and lower access to care for routine (aOR = 0.55) or illness (aOR = 0.57) care. There were no differences in annual health expenditures, hospitalizations, or receipt of routine medical or dental care. CONCLUSIONS: Household food insecurity is associated with higher ED use and school absenteeism and lower access to care; however, it was not associated with higher annual health expenditures in children.
Comparison of Vancomycin Area-Under-the-Curve Dosing Versus Trough Target–Based Dosing in Obese and Nonobese Patients With Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia:

Background: A vancomycin target of area under the curve to minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC:MIC) ratio ≥400 is recommended for treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia. Objective: To evaluate vancomycin total daily dose (TDD) achieving trough targets versus a calculated strategy achieving AUC targets based on body mass index (BMI). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed within a large hospital network. Patients with MRSA bacteremia were eligible if they received vancomycin with a steady-state trough (15-20 mg/L). Cockcroft-Gault was used to estimate creatinine clearance, calculating vancomycin clearance and AUC. Patients were stratified by BMI (less than/greater than 30 kg/m2). The primary outcome was vancomycin TDD for the trough-based strategy compared with an AUC-dosing strategy. Results: A total of 119 patients were included, including 51 (42.9%) and 68 (57.1%) patients with high- and low-BMI, respectively. The TDD for trough-based dosing (2390.76 ± 1224.59 mg) differed significantly from AUC-based dosing (1985.07 ± 616.18 mg) across the cohort (P = 0.0014). For patients with high BMI, there was a significant difference (P < 0.0001) in TDD between trough (2637.25 ± 1327.89 mg) versus AUC (1918.71 ± 625.89 mg) strategies. No difference in TDD between dosing strategies was observed among low-BMI patients. Across all patients, 46 (38.7%) experienced acute kidney injury (AKI); high-BMI patients experienced higher rates of AKI compared with low-BMI patients (54.9 vs 26.5%; P = 0.002). Conclusions and Relevance: An AUC-based dosing strategy may reduce vancomycin TDD required for MRSA bacteremia compared with trough-based dosing, particularly for patients with higher BMI.
Mothers, Fathers, Daughters, and Sons: Gender Differences in Adults’ Intergenerational Ties:

Women are more involved in family ties than men, but these differences may vary across generations as gender roles have shifted. We know little about gender patterns across generations in the same ...
Hydrostatic implosion of composite cylinders in an open-ended confining structure

Abstract The results, findings, and analytical investigation of an experimental study conducted on the hydrostatic implosion of filament wound carbon fiber epoxy composite tubes within partial confinement are presented. Implosion in geometries varying in length and diameter is initiated within a tubular confining structure with one end closed and one end open to a free-field, hydrostatic environment. Structural deformation behavior is captured and quantified using high speed cameras in conjunction with 3D digital image correlation (DIC). Water hammer pulses resulting from implosion are measured at various locations in the confining chamber and are shown to behave as a damped harmonic oscillator. Water hammer behavior is thus experimentally characterized for each geometry by determining average values of amplitude Δ P m a x , frequency of oscillation f , and damping ratio ξ . It is shown that f decreases with increasing implodable volume to confinement volume ratio V i / V c , and is theoretically determined with excellent correlation to experimental results. Finally, amplitude of oscillation Δ P m a x is theoretically determined and used in conjunction with theoretically determined f and experimentally determined ξ to fully define the hammer wave oscillations resulting from partially-confined implosion.
Chapter 7 – Applied Ecology

This chapter addresses the biological processes by an array of organisms that can be put to work to treat wastes. It begins with a discussion of microbial bioremediation, but also addresses phytoremediation. Co-metabolism is described. Various methods of waste treatment are described, including bioprocessing, adsorption, bioventing, and biosorption.
Kemetic Principles in African American Public Address: An Interrogation of the Rhetoric of Joseph C. Price and the Kemetic Tradition:

The purpose of this essay is to promote the utilization of Kemetic principles in approaching African American public address. Although there have been recent studies on African American public addr...
Collective effects of age, sex, genotype, and cognitive status on fitness outcomes

Introduction Individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) broadly exhibit lower cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) compared to cognitively healthy older adults. Other factors, such as increasing age and female sex, are also known to track with lower CRF levels. However, it is unclear how these factors together with AD diagnosis and genetic risk (apolipoprotein e4 ; APOE4) collectively affect CRF. Methods Our primary objective was to characterize the collective relationship of age, sex, APOE4 carrier status , and cognitive status (nondemented or AD) with two commonly reported CRF outcomes, VO2 max and oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES). To interrogate the unique and combined effect of age, sex, APOE4, and cognitive status on CRF, we pooled multiple datasets and tested several statistical models allowing all possible interactions. Results AD diagnosis was consistently associated with lower maximal CRF, which declined with increasing age. APOE4 was also associated with lower maximal CRF (VO2max), but only in male subjects. Submaximal CRF (OUES) was lower in APOE4 carriers of both sexes, although this difference converged in male subjects with advancing age. Discussion This multi-cohort analysis (n = 304) suggests that APOE4 carrier status and sex are important considerations for studies that evaluate maximal and submaximal CRF.
Structure–Energy–Photochemical Activity Relationships in Fluorophoric Water-Extracted Organic Matter from (Un)charred Plant Materials

Photobleaching experiments with water-extracted dissolved organic matter (wDOM) from uncharred or charred grass (SG25 and SG400), softwood (EC25, AJ25, EC400, and AJ400), and hardwood (HM25 and HM4...
Assessing the Epidemiologic Impact of Vaccination for Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus

Currently, to validate efficacy of BVDV vaccines, clinical trials commonly involve challenge of vaccinates with a single intranasal inoculation of a BVDV field strain. Licensed vaccines provide nearly complete protection (91 to 100%) of dams and developing fetuses after this artificial challenge. However, exposure to animals persistently infected (PI) with BVDV may better represent viral challenge under field conditions. The objective of this research is to assess the efficacy of vaccination for control of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV).
A Decade of Jakinibs: what have we learned and what may be the future.

The discovery of cytokines and their role in immune and inflammatory disease led to the development a plethora of targeted biologic therapies. Later, efforts to understand mechanisms of cytokine signal transduction led to the discovery of Janus kinases (JAKs), which themselves were quickly identified as therapeutic targets. It has been a decade since the first JAK inhibitors (jakinibs) were approved and now there are nine jakinibs approved for treatment of rheumatologic, dermatologic, hematologic, and gastrointestinal indications along with emergency authorization for Covid-19. In this review, we will summarize relevant discoveries that led to first generation jakinibs and review their efficacy and safety demonstrated in pivotal clinical studies. We will discuss the next generation of more selective jakinibs, along with agents that target kinase families beyond JAKs. Finally, we will reflect on both the opportunities and challenges ahead as we enter the second decade of the clinical use of jakinibs.