cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antisense strategies and therapeutic applications

The concepts underlying the antisense approach to disease therapy are discussed, and potential applications are examined. Antisense therapeutic agents bind to DNA or RNA sequences, blocking the synthesis of cellular proteins with unparalleled specificity. Transcription and translation are the two processes with which the agents interfere. There are three major classes of antisense agents: antisense sequences, commonly called antisense oligonucleotides; antigene sequences; and ribozymes. Antisense sequences are derivatives of nucleic acids that hybridize cytosolic messenger RNA (mRNA) sense strands through hydrogen bonding to complementary nucleic acid bases. Antigene sequences hybridize double-stranded DNA in the nucleus, forming triple helixes. Ribozymes, rather than inhibiting protein synthesis simply by binding to a single targeted mRNA, combine enzymatic processes with the specificity of antisense base pairing, creating a molecule that can incapacitate multiple targeted mRNAs. Antisense therapeutic agents are being investigated in vitro and in vivo for use in treating human immunodeficiency virus infection, hepatitis B virus infection, herpes simplex virus infection, papillomavirus infection, cancer, restenosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and allergic disorders. Although many results are preliminary, some are promising and have led to clinical trials. A major goal in developing methods of delivering antisense agents is to reduce their susceptibility to nucleases while retaining their ability to bind to targeted sites. Modification of the phosphodiester linkages in oligonucleotides can lend the sequences enzymatic stability without affecting their binding capacities. Carrier systems designed to protect the antisense structure and improve passage through the cell membrane include liposomes, water-soluble polymers, and nanoparticles. The pharmacokinetics of antisense agents are under investigation. Antisense therapeutic agents have the potential to become an integral part of medicinal regimens.
Accelerating Strain-Promoted Azide–Alkyne Cycloaddition Using Micellar Catalysis

Bioorthogonal conjugation reactions such as strain-promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they enable site-specific labeling of complex biomolecules. However, despite a number of improvements to cyclooctyne design, reaction rates for SPAAC remain significantly lower than those of the related copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. Here we explore micellar catalysis as a means to increase reaction rate between a cyclooctyne and hydrophobic azide. We find that anionic and cationic surfactants provide the most efficient catalysis, with rate enhancements of up to 179-fold for reaction of benzyl azide with DIBAC cyclooctyne. Additionally, we find that the presence of surfactant can provide up to 51-fold selectivity for reaction with a hydrophobic over hydrophilic azide. A more modest, but still substantial, 11-fold rate enhancement is observed for micellar catalysis of the reaction between benzyl azide and a DIBAC-functionalized DN...
Variation in life-history traits of the corallivorous gastropod Coralliophila abbreviata on three coral hosts

Coralliophila abbreviata (Lamarck) is a corallivorous gastropod that lives and feeds on several species of scleractinian coral in the Western Atlantic and Caribbean. Previous studies of C. abbreviata have revealed that snails on branching acroporid corals are larger and consume more tissue than those on massive and plating corals. To ascertain whether snail life-history and fitness are differentially affected by the coral host, an analysis of the age structure and female reproductive output of snail populations on three coral host taxa (Acropora palmata, Diploria spp., and Montastraea spp.) was conducted at four shallow (2–7 m depth) reef sites off Key Largo, Florida in June through August, 2004. Snails were, on average, almost twice as large on A. palmata than on Diploria spp. and Montastraea spp., averaging 30.3 mm shell length, compared to 17.2 and 17.6 mm, respectively. Brood size increased as a power function with female shell length. Females on A. palmata were significantly larger than females on the other two hosts and, therefore, produced more offspring per female. The number of growth striae on the inner surface of the operculum was used to estimate snail age. Estimates of growth rate were obtained by fitting the Gompertz growth function to size-at-age plots and mortality was estimated using growth parameters and size-frequency data. The data suggest that C. abbreviata inhabiting A. palmata are larger than on alternative hosts due to a combination of a faster growth rate and longer life-span. The species is believed to be a protandrous hermaphrodite. The timing of sex change varied among hosts; snails on A. palmata changed sex later at larger sizes relative to those on the other two hosts. Based on these results, it seems probable that C. abbreviata has developed reaction norms for life-history traits, allowing snails to adjust and maximize fitness in the different environments associated with various coral hosts.
Right Atrium and Right Ventricle

Uptake of SPECT MPI radiopharmaceuticals within the thin-walled right atrium itself, and more focally within the right auricular appendage, is normal. Avid uptake within the right ventricular free wall, particularly when associated with a flattened septum and D-shaped left ventricle, is consistent with pulmonary hypertension and RV hypertrophy. Prominent uptake within the right ventricular myocardium after exercise stress could signify RV strain and left heart failure due to severe multivessel CAD.
Evolutionary innovation and diversification of carotenoid‐based pigmentation in finches

The ornaments used by animals to mediate social interactions are diverse, and by reconstructing their evolutionary pathways we can gain new insights into the mechanisms underlying ornamental innovation and variability. Here, we examine variation in plumage carotenoids among the true finches (Aves: Fringillidae) using biochemical and comparative phylogenetic analyses to reconstruct the evolutionary history of carotenoid states and evaluate competing models of carotenoid evolution. Our comparative analyses reveal that the most likely ancestor of finches used dietary carotenoids as yellow plumage colorants, and that the ability to metabolically modify dietary carotenoids into more complex pigments arose secondarily once finches began to use modified carotenoids to create red plumage. Following the evolutionary “innovation” that enabled modified red carotenoid pigments to be deposited as plumage colorants, many finch species subsequently modified carotenoid biochemical pathways to create yellow plumage. However, no reversions to dietary carotenoids were observed. The finding that ornaments and their underlying mechanisms may be operating under different selection regimes—where ornamental trait colors undergo frequent reversions (e.g., between red and yellow plumage) while carotenoid metabolization mechanisms are more conserved—supports a growing empirical framework suggesting different evolutionary patterns for ornaments and the mechanistic innovations that facilitate their diversification.
Sex and Cancer

An estimated 14 million new cases of cancer occur each year worldwide. Over 15 million people in the United States are cancer survivors. Reintegrating sexuality and intimacy is a challenge for many survivors and is the focus of this chapter. The two most common cancers in the US, breast and prostate cancers, directly affect sexual organs, and many other common cancers have direct or indirect effects on sexuality and sexual function. Treatment providers at all levels of oncology care have a role in assessing and addressing concerns related to sex and intimacy. Recent studies in oncology settings indicate a discrepancy between patients’ interest in addressing sexual concerns with their providers, and actually receiving care for such concerns. This chapter addresses (a) barriers to health care providers’ addressing sexual concerns as well as language, resources, treatment options, and referrals that will allow providers to feel more comfortable in discussing sexual topics; (b) common sexual concerns for men and women surviving cancer; and (c) risk factors, assessment, and physical/medical and psychosocial intervention strategies for common concerns.
Xenotransplantation and Kidney Regenerative Technology

Abstract The disparity between available donor organs and an increasing recipient waitlist has prompted significant research into alternative avenues to meet this growing demand. Potential options include renal regenerative medicine through the use of various cell-based therapies as well as de-novo organ generation via bioengineered scaffolds. Conversely, xenotransplantation, utilizing pigs as source for potential donor organs, remains a more promising option once specific xenogeneic related immunologic, physiologic, and infectious barriers can be resolved. Reviews of the most recent advances that are available for both renal regeneration as well as renal xenotransplantation are provided in this chapter.
Scalable Structural Modal Identification Using Dynamic Sensor Network Data with STRIDEX

This article uses the formulation of the structural identification using expectation maximization STRIDE algorithm for compatibility with the truncated physical model TPM to enable scalable, output...
Ureter, Bladder, Penis, and Urethra

Evidence-based clinical medicine has been proven to produce the best outcomes. Unfortunately, many tumor sites do not have adequate randomized clinical trials to provide the necessary data to reach treatment and diagnostic consensus. The ureter, bladder, penis, and urethra fall into this category. There are several reasons for a lack of randomized clinical trials in these sites, but the primary reason is the relatively low incidence of each tumor. Of these tumors, bladder cancer has the highest incidence (16 per 100,000 people), followed by ureteral cancer (10 per 100,000) and subsequently penis and urethra (less than 2 per 100,000)2; this is in contrast to prostate cancer, which has an incidence of 75 per 100,000 men.2 Despite the limited randomized clinical trials in these sites, there are excellent Phase II clinical and historical trials that can shed light on management of these rare tumors.
Urban politics and the study of urban poverty: Promising developments and future directions

The study of urban poverty is alive and well in sociology. The study of urban politics, by contrast, has stagnated. Though scholars agree that politics shapes the creation and durability of urban poverty, analytical connections between the two subfields are rarely made explicit. In this article, I make the case for a more integrated body of research. I first illustrate how urban poverty scholars implicitly discuss politics, and conversely, how urban politics scholars implicitly discuss poverty. I then highlight recent developments in the literature and propose two paths forward—by no means the only paths forward, but two ways to jumpstart greater conversation across both subfields. For the urban poverty literature, a focus on organizations can help scholars analyze political dynamics more directly. And for the urban politics literature, an emphasis on political mechanisms rather than overarching perspectives can disrupt the current theoretical malaise. These two moves can advance both literatures while drawing them closer together.
Dirac cone dispersion of lamb waves in plates

Propagating waves with infinite phase velocity and non-zero group velocity exist in simple homogenous isotropic plates. These waves have conical dispersion at zero wavenumber and occur for discrete values of Poisson's ratio. This anomalous dispersion is a result of degeneracies between longitudinal and transverse thickness resonances, of like symmetry. Here we demonstrate these so called Dirac point or conical point waves by cooling an aluminum plate in order to tune Poisson's ratio to a degenerate case. Linear dispersion is measured for forward and backward propagating waves proximate to zero wavenumber. In addition, we show that conical point waves exhibit angle independent mode conversion from the free edge of a plate. We propose that simple elastic plates can be used to study Dirac cone dispersion in other systems and that the unusual behavior of such waves in plates may find use in acoustic devices or nondestructive testing.
AMETHYST: A System for Mining and Exploring Topical Hierarchies in Information Networks

In this demo we present AMETHYST, a system for exploring and analyzing a topical hierarchy constructed from a heterogeneous information network (HIN). HINs, composed of multiple types of entities and links are very common in the real world. Many have a text component, and thus can benefit from a high quality hierarchical organization of the topics in the network dataset. By organizing the topics into a hierarchy, AMETHYST helps understand search results in the context of an ontology, and explain entity relatedness at different granularities. The automatically constructed topical hierarchy reflects a domain-specific ontology, interacts with multiple types of linked entities, and can be tailored for both free text and OLAP queries.
Regulation of Human Lymphoblast Ecto-5′-Nucleotidase by Zinc

Ecto-5′-nucleotidase (5′NT) catalyzes the degradation of purine nucleotide-5′-monophosphates to nucleosides and inorganic phosphate; it is an integral plasma membrane enzyme of most mammalian cells and widely used as a membrane marker. Although the physiological role of 5′NT is still mostly obscure, decreased 5′NT activity was found to be associated with a variety of immunological disorders and lymphoproliferative diseases (1–6). 5′NT was suggested to provide a marker for B- and T-lymphocyte maturation (5,7).
Industry Standards in Computing Litigation

Abstract It is unlikely that a forensic engineer or an attorney will use what is in this chapter in their work. Why do we then include in this monograph a discussion of the monopoly case against Microsoft by the United States Department of Justice? The answer is that this chapter is included to demonstrate that an industry standard (a common practice, a de facto engineering standard) can emerge naturally in the market place through aggressive activities of one or more companies in a technology. In the case of the computing industry, the Windows operating system is a de facto industry standard. We can learn a great deal about studying such a de facto standard, the principal result being that we realize that once a de facto industry standard exists we will rarely see any innovations in the technology it represents; to try to improve on an industry standard that is well entrenched is an uphill battle with no committee to speak with in a standards-setting organization. Indeed, to speak with anyone would threaten the business base of the company that controls the standard.
Calpain‐mediated cleavage of p53 in human cytomegalovirus‐infected lung fibroblasts

Endogenous fragments of p53 protein were identified in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-infected human lung fibroblasts, particularly a 44-kDa N-terminal fragment [hereafter referred to as p53(ΔCp44)], generated via calpain cleavage. The fragment abundance increased in a biphasic manner, peaking at 6-9 hours and 48 hours post infection. Treatment of LU cells with calpain inhibitors eliminated most detectable p53 fragments. In cell-free experiments, exogenous m-calpain cleavage generated p53(ΔCp44). Attempts to preserve p53 proteins by treating cells with the calpain inhibitor E64d for 6 hours before harvesting increased the sensitivity of p53 to calpain cleavage. p53 in mock-infected cell lysates was much more sensitive to cleavage and degradation by exogenous calpain than that in HCMV-infected cells. The proteasome inhibitor MG132 stabilized p53(ΔCp44), particularly in mock-infected cells. p53(ΔCp44) appeared to be tightly associated with a chromatin-rich fraction. The abundance of p53β was unchanged over a 96-h time course and very similar in mock- and HCMV-infected cells, making it unlikely that p53(ΔCp44) was p53β. The biological activities of this and other fragments lacking C-terminal sequences are unknown, but deserve further investigation, given the association of p53(ΔCp44) with the chromatin-rich (or buffer C insoluble) fraction in HCMV-infected cells.
Skeletal morbidities in the prostate cancer (PC) patient.

e16106 Background: Individuals with PC are at risk for skeletal complications and functional impairments secondary to metastatic disease and treatments. Underappreciated is the impact of age relate...
Progressive Diagnosis of Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: A Case Study

Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms are hematologic diseases characterized by the clonal proliferation of peripheral blood components. A series of laboratory tests are required for diagnosis. This patient is a 74-year-old male incidentally noted to have a leukocytosis, monocytosis, and rare blasts in his peripheral blood. He presented with a CBC showing 6.6 g/dL Hgb, 114fL MCV, 15.3x10(9)/L, WBC, 304.10(9)/L Platelet. WBC differential consisting of 21% neutrophils, 21% lymphocytes, 45% monocytes, 6% eosinophils, 4% basophils and 3% blasts. The peripheral blood smear showed hypochromic microcytic red cells with marked macrocytosis and slight polychromasia. In addition, atypical hypogranular neutrophils, and hypogranular platelets were revealed. A pathology consultation reported a bone marrow aspirate of 22% neutrophils, 6% metamyelocytes, 11% myelocytes, 1% promyelocytes, 12% eosinophils, 8% blasts, 18% normoblasts, 15% monocytes, and 7% lymphocytes. The M:E ratio was increased, 4:1, with 90% hypercellularity. There was a decreased quantity of erythroid precursors and an increased quantity of myeloid precursors. Blasts contained intermediate-sized nuclei, reticulated chromatin and variably granulated cytoplasm and megakaryocytes were markedly increased. Ancillary tests included both iron and reticulin staining of the bone marrow. Storage iron was decreased and reticulin fibers increased with a myelofibrosis grade 1 of 3. Flow cytometry immunophenotyping of the bone marrow revealed mildly increased myeloid blasts, increased mature monocytes, increased monoblasts/promonocytes with other abnormal findings consistent with a myeloid neoplasm with high grade features. In summary, the pertinent and unusual findings were the rare blasts, increased monocytes and basophils, and dysplastic neutrophils, and leukocytosis seen in the peripheral blood along with slightly increased blasts in the marrow. Along with additional cytogenetic and molecular testing results, the above laboratory finds were essential to the diagnosis of an unusual myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm, Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML). The sequence of testing lead to the proper diagnosis and will aid in treatment options.
An economic analysis of the corn production efficiency of Iowa farm firms

Disequilibria in product and factor markets force firms to adjust production and reallocate resources. In a dynamic economic environment, production efficiency will depend upon the technical and allocative abilities of farm operators. The human capital approach hypothesizes that technical and allocative abilities are learned as opposed to innate skills;Agriculture is a logical industry to choose for investigating sources of differential firm efficiency. Modern agriculture is characterized by dynamic product and factor markets, rapid technological advances and a relatively uncomplicated management structure. Conceptual models of agricultural production efficiency are formulated. A model of technical efficiency is constructed for analyzing differential rates of adoption and utilization of a single production technology. A model of allocative efficiency is developed for analyzing relative cost efficiency;The corn production efficiency of Iowa farm firms is investigated in the empirical specification and estimation of the models. The data set is the 1976 Iowa Family Farm Survey. The cross-sectional survey of 933 Iowa farm families was designed and conducted by the Statistical Laboratory of Iowa State University;Technical efficiency is analyzed for the type of tillage practice used in corn production. A regression model including variables for profitability and human capital is specified for analyzing differential rates of adoption and utilization of reduced tillage practices. Empirical results indicate that operators of farms with larger corn enterprises, relatively large soybean enterprises, and light, sandy soils will more likely adopt and more fully utilize reduced tillage practices. In addition, the estimates indicate that operators who have completed more years of formal schooling and who frequently utilize information from agricultural extension programs more likely adopt and more fully utilize reduced tillage practices;Allocative efficiency is analyzed for relative cost efficiency in corn production. A measure of relative cost efficiency, the percentage by which actual variables cost differs from a theoretical minimum cost, is derived. A regression model including variables for scale and human capital is specified for analyzing differential cost efficiency. Although there exists considerable noise in the model, empirical results indicate that operators with greater years of farm management experience are more cost efficient relative to operators with fewer years of experience.
Food insecurity during pregnancy and gestational weight gain.

Abstract Background Limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food, known as food insecurity, has been associated with obesity and other adverse health outcomes, but has been rarely studied in pregnancy. Food insecurity may negatively affect behavioral and physiological changes during pregnancy and may be associated with poor perinatal outcomes including gestational weight gain. Objective Given the lack of information on the role of food insecurity in pregnancy and the possible relationship with perinatal outcomes such as gestational weight gain, the objective of this study was to examine the association between food insecurity and gestational weight gain in a diverse cohort of pregnant women. Study Design This was an observational study of 299 English-speaking women who delivered live-born singleton gestations at ≥24 weeks at a single tertiary care center. During their postpartum hospitalizations, enrolled women completed a survey of food security status during pregnancy using the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module. Scores were analyzed as inadequate (marginal, low, or very low) vs. adequate (high) food security. Women without pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain data were excluded. The primary outcome was gestational weight gain categorized as inadequate, adequate, or excessive based on 2009 National Academy of Medicine guidelines, which account for body mass index. Secondary outcomes included total gestational weight gain and other maternal and neonatal outcomes. Multivariable linear and multinomial logistic regressions were performed to assess the independent associations of food insecurity with gestational weight gain after controlling for potential confounding factors. Results Of the 299 women enrolled in the study, 11.0% (n=33) reported inadequate food security during pregnancy. Women with inadequate food security were younger (p=0.007), had a greater mean body mass index (p Conclusions In this diverse, urban population, more than 1 in 10 women experienced food insecurity during pregnancy. Inadequate food security was associated with lower median total gestational weight gain, but not with excessive gestational weight gain as determined by 2009 National Academy of Medicine categories.
Teaching and Taking: A Seminar on Cultural Theory.

The proposal and syllabus that follow are primarily concerned with the content of a seminar on cultural theory. I would like to preface these materials by saying a bit about teaching. Because of the vast confusion surrounding the concept of culture, a seminar is an ideal place to work on clarification. The version of cultural theory being discussed departs from ordinary modes of thought and raises many questions, albeit in a more political direction: What sort of people, organized into which cultures, would act in certain ways (accept or reject blame, tax and spend high or low, participate a little or a lot, etc.) in order to do what matters most to them—support their way of life and discomfort their opponents? Hence time for questions in the seminar is essential. Hours and hours of discussion do more to straighten out thought than any amount of reading. Application of this cultural theory is also essential. Doing is different than thinking. I have found that 1,000-word essays on such subjects as the Comanche Indians (competitive individualists to the core) or the Khmer Rouge (radical egalitarians) enable seminar members to come to grips with the theories they are trying out. Immersion in this material, bolstered by continuous discussion, sharpened by several short applications, greatly facilitates writing a research paper. The idea is to take a paper already written, or about to be written, derive a problem from it, and see how one cultural theory compares to others.
Pulmonary Complications Secondary to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Background. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have changed the landscape in the treatment of a number of cancers. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have emerged as a serious clinical problem with the use of ICI. Methods. All oncology patients diagnosed with pulmonary complications secondary to ICI at Mayo Clinic Rochester from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2018 were reviewed. Demographics, comorbidities, smoking, and oncologic history were analyzed. Results. A total of 10 patients developed pulmonary complications secondary to ICI. Seven patients were men (70%), and the median age at diagnosis was 61.5 (IQR 55.8-69.3) years. All patients had stage IV disease. Melanoma was the most common malignancy. Seven (70%) patients had a positive smoking history, and 6 (60%) were obese ( ). Most cases were grade 2 pneumonitis (70%). One patient with grade 4 pneumonitis required endotracheal intubation and a prolonged course of systemic corticosteroids (>30 days). Eight (80%) patients received prior radiation therapy. The median time from initiation of ICI to pneumonitis diagnosis was 3.5 months. Conclusion. Melanoma was the most common malignancy, the majority of patients had grade 2 pneumonitis and required treatment with steroids, and all patients affected by ICI-related pneumonitis had stage IV malignancy. Potential risk factors included smoking history, prior radiotherapy, obesity, and advance stage at the time of ICI initiation. Extrapulmonary irAEs are common in patients with pneumonitis.
Active Preservation of Osteochondral Graft under Cyclic Hydrostatic Pressure for Maintaining Cartilage Integrity and Subchondral Bone Quality

Objectives:Osteochondral allografts (OCA) are currently stored at 4˚C for an average of 24 days after procurement. However, chondrocyte viability, the major determinant of graft performance in-vivo...
Neurotoxicity of HIV-1 Tat is attributed to its penetrating property.

We have recently engineered an exosomal Tat (Exo-Tat) which can activate latent HIV-1 in resting CD4+ T lymphocytes from antiretroviral treated HIV-1 infected patients. HIV-1 Tat protein can penetrate cell membrane freely and secrete into extracellular medium. Exo-Tat loses this penetrating property. HIV-1 Tat protein can damage the synaptic membranes contributing to the development of dementia in HIV-1 infected patients. To investigate whether the penetrating property attributes to synaptic damage in vivo, we have generated adeno-associated viruses AAV-Tat and AAV-Exo-Tat viruses. Vehicle control or AAV viruses (1 × 1012 GC/mouse in 200 μl PBS) were injected into Balb/cj mice via tail veins. The mRNA and protein expression levels in blood, brain, heart, intestine, kidney, liver, lung, muscle and spleen were determined on day 21. Intravenously injected AAV-Tat or AAV-Exo-Tat mainly infects liver and heart. Short-term expression of Tat or Exo-Tat doesn’t change the expression levels of neuronal cytoskeletal marker β3-tubulin and synaptic marker postsynaptic density 95 protein (PSD-95). Wild-type Tat, but not Exo-Tat, reduces the expression level of synaptic marker synaptophysin significantly in mice, indicating that penetrating property of HIV-1 Tat protein attributes to synaptic damage.
Effects of Female Group Size on the Number of Males in Blue Monkey ( Cercopithecus mitis ) Groups

The number of males per group varies substantially in group-living primates, both between and within species. In blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis), males may temporarily join groups during annual mating seasons when sexually receptive females are present. A likely determinant of the number of males per group is female group size (the number of adult females in a group). To clarify the role of female group size in driving variation in the number of males per group, we expanded on earlier observations of a wild population in the Kakamega Forest, Kenya with a larger sample of groups that varied fivefold in female group size. We found considerable flexibility in social organization, with groups experiencing multimale episodes both during and outside mating seasons, some persisting over multiyear periods. The dichotomy between single- and multimale mating seasons was less distinct than previously reported, suggesting greater variation in multimale states. Across 65 group-specific conception periods, female group size strongly influenced how often multiple sexually active females and multiple males were present in a group. The number of sexually active females present on a given day related closely to the number of males in the group that same day, especially during conception periods. Results suggest that males join and remain in larger groups where mating opportunities are greater and costs of joining or staying may be lower than in smaller groups. This longitudinal study highlights intraspecific social variation within and across groups while confirming that female group size influences the number of males.
Real-time measurement of isometric peak torque and rate of torque development using a novel strength testing device: a validity and reliability study.

OBJECTIVE Isometric peak torque (PT) and rate of torque development (RTD) are important characteristics relevant to athletic performance. A novel device called the Dynamo Torque Analyzer calculates and displays real-time measurements of isometric PT and RTD. However, the ability of the Dynamo to provide valid and reliable isometric PT and RTD measurements similar to those of an isokinetic dynamometer remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the reliability and magnitude of isometric leg extension and flexion PT and RTD measurements between an isokinetic dynamometer and the Dynamo Torque Analyzer. APPROACH Twenty healthy, recreationally-active adults (age = 22 ± 3 years; height = 169 ± 10 cm; mass = 71 ± 18 kg) performed three isometric leg extension and flexion maximal voluntary contractions on two different occasions, from which isometric PT and early (RTD100), late (RTD200), and maximum (Peak RTD) RTD characteristics were measured by an isokinetic dynamometer and the Dynamo. MAIN RESULTS Isometric leg extension and flexion PT and RTD characteristics were highly consistent across sessions for both the isokinetic dynamometer and Dynamo devices, with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.935-0.984 and standard errors of measurement expressed as a percentage of the mean of 4.93-14.46%. There were significant positive relationships between the isokinetic dynamometer and Dynamo for all PT and RTD characteristics (r ≥ 0.994; P < 0.001). Moreover, no significant differences between devices were observed for these variables (P = 0.107-0.555). SIGNIFICANCE These findings suggest that the Dynamo Torque Analyzer may be a valid and reliable device for measuring isometric PT and RTD of the lower-body musculature.
Transitions in risk-behavior profiles among first-year college students.

The current study utilized a longitudinal person-centered approach (latent transition analysis [LTA]) to assess transitions into and out of risk-behavior profiles during the transition into and thr...
Discovery of fungal-specific targets and inhibitors using chemical phenotyping of pathogenic spore germination

Abstract There is a critical need for new antifungal drugs; however, the lack of available fungal-specific targets is a major hurdle in the development of antifungal therapeutics. Spore germination is a differentiation process absent in humans that could harbor uncharacterized fungal-specific targets. To capitalize on this possibility, we developed novel phenotypic assays to identify and characterize inhibitors of spore germination of the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus. Using these assays, we carried out a high throughput screen of ~75,000 drug-like small molecules and identified and characterized 191 novel inhibitors of spore germination, many of which also inhibited yeast replication and demonstrated low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. Using an automated, microscopy-based, quantitative germination assay (QGA), we discovered that germinating spore populations can exhibit unique phenotypes in response to chemical inhibitors. Through the characterization of these spore population dynamics in the presence of the newly identified inhibitors, we classified 6 distinct phenotypes based on differences in germination synchronicity, germination rates, and overall population behavior. Similar chemical phenotypes were induced by inhibitors that targeted the same cellular function or had shared substructures. Leveraging these features, we used QGAs to identify outliers among compounds that fell into similar structural groups and thus refined relevant structural moieties, facilitating target identification. This approach led to the identification of complex II of the electron transport chain as the putative target of a promising structural cluster of germination inhibitory compounds. These inhibitors showed high potency against Cryptococcus spore germination, while maintaining low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells, making them prime candidates for development into novel antifungal therapeutics.
A goodness-of-fit test based on neural network sieve estimators

Abstract Neural networks have become increasingly popular in the field of machine learning and have been successfully used in many applied fields (e.g., imaging recognition). With more and more research has been conducted on neural networks, we have a better understanding of the statistical proprieties of neural networks. While many studies focus on bounding the prediction error of neural network estimators, limited research has been done on the statistical inference of neural networks. From a statistical point of view, it is of great interest to investigate the statistical inference of neural networks as it could facilitate hypothesis testing in many fields (e.g., genetics, epidemiology, and medical science). In this paper, we propose a goodness-of-fit test statistic based on neural network sieve estimators. The test statistic follows an asymptotic distribution, which makes it easy to use in practice. We have also verified the theoretical asymptotic results via simulation studies and a real data application.
Central retinal artery occlusion associated with patent foramen ovale: a case report and literature review

Patent foramen ovale might cause cryptogenic strokes, including retinal artery occlusion. Herein, we describe a previously healthy young man who presented with central retinal artery occlusion in the setting of patent foramen ovale and explore the need for transesophageal echocardiogram for its diagnosis. Cardiovascular workup and neuroimaging were unremarkable. Transthoracic echocardiogram bubble study revealed a right to left atrial shunt and subsequent transesophageal echocardiogram disclosed patent foramen ovale. This congenital cardiac anomaly was the likely conduit for a thrombo-embolic central retinal artery occlusion. We identified seven patients with patent foramen ovale associated with central retinal artery occlusion in the literature. Transthoracic echocardiogram was diagnostic in only one patient (14.3%), whereas transesophageal echocardiogram was required to reveal patent foramen ovale in the remaining six (85.7%). Our case and the previous reports support the link between central retinal artery occlusion and patent foramen ovale. Therefore, providers should consider the more sensitive transesophageal echocardiogram during the initial evaluation of young patients without immediately identifiable causes of retinal artery occlusion.
The Obligation of White Women: Dismantling White Supremacy Culture in Social Work Education

On Memorial Day 2020, a white woman, Amy Cooper, was walking her unleashed dog in New York City. After being apprised of the leash law in that state by a man bird watching, Ms. Cooper proceeded to call the police stating an “African American man” was “threatening her life and that of her dog” (Ransom, 2020). While this event may seem unconnected to the field of social work, it is a modern example of the way white women, including those in social work, use emotionality, bureaucracy, and the law to control Black bodies. Social work has been and continues to be, responsible for policies and practices that maintain white supremacy culture and criminalize Black people.
Leadership Research Part #1

No matter how strong a person is machines can be made with the technology to be stronger. The strength and technology of machines, such as the hydraulic systems, allow people to guide the larger ships, planes, and trains then they ever could using only their individual vigor.
Abstract 11968: Nocturnal Blood Pressure in Young Adults and Cognitive Function in Midlife: The CARDIA Study

Nocturnal blood pressure (BP) is associated with risk for cardiovascular events. However, the effect of nocturnal BP in young adults on cognitive function in midlife remains unclear. We used data from the ambulatory BP monitoring substudy of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study, including 224 participants (mean age 30 years, 45% men, 63% African Americans) followed for 20 years (6 visits). At the 20-year follow-up, the Stroop test (higher score indicates worse executive function), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST, lower score indicates worse psychomotor speed), and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT, lower score indicates worse verbal memory) were assessed. Baseline mean office, daytime, and nocturnal BP were 109/73mmHg, 120/74mmHg, and 107/59mmHg, respectively. Nocturnal BP dipping, calculated as (nocturnal systolic BP [SBP]-daytime SBP)х100/daytime SBP, was divided into quartiles (Q1;-39.3% to -16.9%, Q2;-16.8% to -13.2%, Q3 [reference];-13.1% to -7.8%, and Q4;-7...
Molecular mechanisms responsible for the dynamic modulation of macrophage responses to varying dosages of LPS (INM9P.453)

Monocytes and macrophages can be dynamically programmed into distinct states depending upon the strength of external stimulants. Innate programming may bear significant relevance to the pathogenesis and resolution of human inflammatory diseases. However, systems analyses of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the dynamic programming of innate leukocytes are lacking. In this study, we focused on the macrophage responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a ubiquitous bacterial endotoxin recognized by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). We employed both immortalized human monocytic THP-1 cells and primary murine bone-marrow derived macrophages (BMDM). We observed that varying doses of LPS induce distinct expression profiles of selected pro- and anti- inflammatory cytokines. Lower doses of LPS preferentially suppressed anti-inflammatory mediators, and selectively induced pro-inflammatory mediators. Rising LPS dosages caused a shift in expression profiles, giving rise to double-positive cells. Higher LPS dosages shifted the landscape to anti-inflammatory mediators and drove down the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. By utilizing BMDM from IRAK-M knockout mice, we identified IRAK-M as a key player in this process, as IRAK-M deletion skews the dynamic responses to varying dosages of LPS. Our study provides a systems view of macrophage programming, and may shed light on our understanding of the dynamic balance between pathogenesis and resolution of inflammatory diseases.
Attitudes of Physically Handicapped Children toward Physical Education

Abstract An attitude scale was devised to sample attitudes of orthopedically and neurologically handicapped secondary school children toward physical education. Two additional instruments, a self-rating scale and personal questionnaire, were used as criteria by which the validity of the attitude inventory could be checked. The three instruments were administered to two groups of orthopedically and neurologically handicapped children, one of which participated in a regular physical education program, while the other took part in an adapted physical education program. It was discovered that there was a significant difference in attitudes between means of the two groups. Children in the regular physical education program had a more favorable attitude toward physical education than those in the adapted physical education program. It was also found that the attitude scale was a highly reliable instrument when used with these children. There was a significant relationship between the attitude inventory score an...
Spatial-temporal semantic grouping of instructional video content

This paper presents a new approach for content analysis and semantic summarization of instructional videos of blackboard presentations. We first use low-level image processing techniques to segment frames into board content regions, regions occluded by instructors, and irrelevant areas, then measure the number of chalk pixels in the content areas of each frame. Using the number of chalk pixels as heuristic measurement of video content, we derive a content figure which describes the actual rather than apparent fluctuation of video content. By searching for local maxima in the content figure, and by detecting camera motions and tracking movements of instructors, we can then define and retrieve key frames. Since some video content may not be contained in any one of the key frames due to occlusion by instructors or camera motion, we use an image registration method to make "board content images" that are free of occlusions and not bound by frame boundaries. Extracted key frames and board content images are combined together to summarize and index the video. We further introduce the concept of "semantic teaching unit", which is defined as a more natural semantic temporalspatial unit of teaching content. We propose a model to detect semantic teaching units, based on the recognition of actions of instructors, and on the measurement of temporal duration and spatial location of board content. We demonstrate experiments on instructional videos which are taken in non-instrumented classrooms, and show examples of the construction of board content images and the detection of semantic teaching units within them.
Something Warm, Something New

The Discovery of Global Warming. by Spencer R. Weart. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 2003. 240 pp. $24.95, £16.95, €23.10. ISBN 0-674-01157-0. Writing for a general audience, Weart offers a narrative account of the century of research that has led to the conclusion that the buildup of greenhouse gases from human activity is warming Earth9s climate.
Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children Referred for Diagnostic Autism Evaluation

Increased public awareness of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and routine screening in primary care have contributed to increased requests for diagnostic ASD evaluations. However, given the scarcity of subspecialty autism diagnostic resources, overreferral of children suspected of having ASD may be contributing to long waiting lists at tertiary care autism centers and delaying diagnosis for those children who truly have ASD. To determine whether children are being excessively referred to ASD-specific diagnostic clinics, our objective was to determine the prevalence of true ASD diagnoses in children referred for diagnostic ASD evaluation. Charts of all patients referred to a regional autism center between April 2011 and August 2012 for suspicion of a possible ASD were retrospectively reviewed and demographic and clinical diagnoses abstracted. Only 214 of 348 patients evaluated (61%) received an ASD diagnosis. Thus, concerns about autism are not confirmed by an ASD diagnosis in a significant number of children.
System resource management for network servers

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is currently in the process of overhauling the architecture of the Internet to meet new challenges and support new applications. One of the most important components of that venture is the enhancement of the Internet service model from a class-less best-effort service architecture to an integrated services architecture supporting a multitude of classes and types of services. In this paper we present an overview of the different services being defined and their intended target applications. We also explore some of the challenges in designing network servers for this environment and present an architecture for system resource management that enables applications to exploit the new services offered by the emerging Internet.
A Classification of Trust Computation Models for Service-Oriented Internet of Things Systems

Future Internet of Things (IoT) systems will connect the physical world into cyberspace everywhere and everything via billions of smart objects and are expected to have a high economic impact. To date there is little work on trust computation in IoT environments for security enhancement, especially for dealing with misbehaving owners of IoT devices that provide services to other IoT devices in the system. In this paper we classify trust computation models to-date for IoT systems. Our approach is to classify existing trust computation models based on five design dimensions: trust composition, trust propagation, trust aggregation, trust update, and trust formation. We summarize advantages and drawbacks of each dimension's options, and highlight the effectiveness of defense mechanisms against malicious attacks. We also summarize the most and least studied trust computation techniques in the literature and provide insight on the effectiveness of trust computation techniques as applying to IoT systems. Finally, we identify gaps in IoT trust computation research and suggest future research directions.
Dimensions of Culture (Shalom H. Schwartz) – Egalitarianism

Egalitarianism is a philosophical doctrine that describes a belief in human equality. Specifically, egalitarianism is a cultural orientation requiring individuals to see each other as moral equals. Egalitarianism, commonly contextualized in political, social, and economic affairs, advocates the reduction of inequalities among individuals in social realms such as work, legal systems, gender issues, and wealth. Justice and fairness are commonly associated with egalitarianism stemming from multiple studies in political philosophy. Keywords: cross-cultural psychology; Shalom H. Schwartz