cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
First-in-human study of the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 PET tracer [11C]AS2471907

580 Objectives The enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) converts cortisone to cortisol. Inhibition of 11β-HSD1 may be a potential therapy for cognitive deficits in Alzheimer9s disease and chronic pain. The aim of this study is to assess the distribution and test-retest variability of a novel PET tracer [11C]AS2471907, an 11β-HSD1 inhibitor, in the human brain. Methods Six healthy males (33±7 y) participated, with 2 scans per day (5.1 ± 0.8 h apart). The injected dose was 122 ± 79 MBq and the injected mass was 1.26 ± 0.82 µg. A 120-min dynamic acquisition on the HRRT was performed. Time-activity curves (TACs) were generated in 11 regions of interests (ROIs) (amygdala, caudate, cerebellum, centrum semiovale, cingulate cortex, frontal cortex, insula, occipital cortex, putamen, temporal cortex, thalamus) and fitted with 1- and 2-tissue models (1T, 2T) using the arterial input function. Test-retest variability (TRV) in regional volume of distribution (VT) was assessed using average VT values weighted based on the ROI size. Results [11C]AS2471907 metabolized slowly (90% parent fraction at 90 min post-injection). Regional brain uptake of the tracer was high, with appropriate kinetics. Highest SUV (30-90 min) was in occipital cortex (2.59±0.34), medium in frontal cortex (1.69±0.28), and lowest in white matter (0.88±0.17). TACs were well fitted with 1T model. Mean VT across five subjects (one subject excluded due to low activity dose) was 8.0±3.1 mL/cm3 (range: 3.6-12.1 mL/cm3). TRV across subjects for 1T was 11±5%, i.e., there was a mean increase in VT from morning to afternoon, which may represent a true biological effect. Conclusions: The tracer [11C]AS2471907 has good characteristics for PET imaging of 11β-HSD1 in the human brain. Previous blocking studies in nonhuman primates suggest that there is no suitable reference region for this tracer, thus arterial samples are required.
Automatic Aircraft Loss-of-Control Prevention by Bandwidth Adaptation

An automatic aircraft loss-of-control prevention system by bandwidth adaptation is presented in this paper. The adaptation law employs the time-varying parallel differential eigenvalues for a tradeoff between tracking performance and severe wind tolerance capability in real time. It is implemented as an augmentation to a 6-DOF trajectory tracking controller designed with constant gains by the singular perturbation (timescale separation) principle in a multiple-timescale nested-loop architecture. Theoretical analysis is presented to justify the design rationale. It relates the ratio of timescale separation between the inner and outer loop (singular perturbation) to the phase margin of the outer-loop (perturbed) system, which is important in its own right. Simulation studies on tailwind, headwind, crosswind, downdraft, and updraft are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed loss-of-control prevention strategy.
Group Random Call Can Positively Affect Student In-Class Clicker Discussions

Understanding how instructional techniques and classroom norms influence in-class student interactions has the potential to positively impact student learning. Many previous studies have shown that students benefit from discussing their ideas with one another in class. In this study of introductory biology students, we explored how using an in-class accountability system might affect the nature of clicker-question discussions. Clicker-question discussions in which student groups were asked to report their ideas voluntarily (volunteer call) were compared with discussions in which student groups were randomly selected to report their ideas (random call). We hypothesized that the higher-accountability condition (random call) would impress upon students the importance of their discussions and thus positively influence how they interacted. Our results suggest that a higher proportion of discussions in the random call condition contained exchanges of reasoning, some forms of questioning, and both on- and off-topic comments compared with discussion in the volunteer call condition. Although group random call does not impact student performance on clicker questions, the positive impact of this instructional approach on exchanges of reasoning and other features suggests it may encourage some types of student interactions that support learning.
Grating-coupled surface plasmons on InSb: a versatile platform for terahertz plasmonic sensing (Conference Presentation)

Detection and identification of molecular materials based on their THz frequency vibrational resonances remains an open technological challenge. The need for such technology is illustrated by its potential uses in explosives detection (e.g., RDX) or identification of large biomolecules based on their THz-frequency vibrational fingerprints. The prevailing approaches to THz sensing often rely on a form of waveguide spectroscopy, either utilizing geometric waveguides, such as metallic parallel plate, or plasmonic waveguides made of structured metallic surfaces with sub-wavelength corrugation. The sensitivity of waveguide-based sensing devices is derived from the long (1 cm or longer) propagation and interaction distance of the THz wave with the analyte. We have demonstrated that thin InSb layers with metallic gratings can support high quality factor “true” surface plasmon (SP) resonances that can be used for THz plasmonic sensing. We find two strong SP absorption resonances in normal-incidence transmission and investigate their dispersion relations, dependence on InSb thickness, and the spatial distribution of the electric field. The sensitivity of this approach relies on the frequency shift of the SP resonance when the dielectric function changes in the immediate vicinity of the sensor, in the region of deeply sub-wavelength thickness. Our computational modeling indicates that the sensor sensitivity can exceed 0.25 THz per refractive index unit. One of the SP resonances also exhibits a splitting when tuned in resonance with a vibrational mode of an analyte, which could lead to new sensing modalities for the detection of THz vibrational features of the analyte.
Association of prenatal and early childhood stress with reduced lung function in 7-year-olds.

Abstract Background No prior study has examined associations between prenatal and early-life stress on childhood lung function or identified critical windows of exposure. Objective To prospectively examine associations between prenatal and early-life stress and childhood lung function. Methods Stress was indexed by a maternal negative life events (NLEs) score ascertained during pregnancy and between 1 and 2 years post partum. Spirometry was performed when children were a mean (SD) of 6.99 (0.89) years old. Associations of prenatal and early postnatal stress with spirometry z scores were examined in 199 children using linear regression. Effect modification by child sex was explored. Results Most mothers were minorities (65% Hispanic, 21% African American), had 12 years or less of education (67%), and did not smoke prenatally (78%). The highest level of prenatal stress (≥5 NLEs) was associated with lower levels of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) ( z score = −0.53, P = .03), forced vital capacity (FVC) ( z score = −0.49, P = .04), and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% (FEF 25%–75% ) ( z score = −0.68, P = .01) after covariate adjustment; effects were similar for postnatal stress considered separately. In sex-stratified analyses, high postnatal stress (≥5 NLEs) was associated with lower FEV 1 ( z score = −0.76, P = .01), FVC ( z score = −0.77, P = .01), and FEF 25%–75% ( z score = −0.67, P = .02) in boys but not girls, although the interaction term was not significant ( P for interaction >.10). Conclusion These are the first prospective data that link perinatal stress with reduced child lung function. High levels of stress in the prenatal and postnatal periods were associated with symmetric reductions in FEV 1 and FVC consistent with impaired lung growth. Given that lung function growth patterns are established by 7 years of age, these findings have lifelong implications.
Two Types of Correlation between Reinforcement and the Elements of a Compound Stimulus

2 types of correlation between reinforcement and the elements of a compound stimulus are described, as well as an experiment demonstrating their independent effects. Pigeons were trained to peck at compound line (0° vertical) and color (C1 or C2, red or green) stimuli. The Correlated (true discrimination) group was reinforced for responses to 0°C1 but not for responses to 0°C2; the Uncorrelated (pseudodiscrimination) group was reinforced for responses to both compounds; and the Control group was exposed only to 0°C1 with reinforcement. In a subsequent test the frequency of responding to the 0° element presented alone was greatest in the Uncorrelated group, intermediate in the Control group, and lowest in the Correlated group. However, the slopes of the relative line-tilt generalization gradients were not significantly different for the three groups.
Two-Week Visit

Abeba is brought by her mother, Mrs. Owusu, and her grandmother, Mrs. Jalloh, to the clinic for her 2-week visit while Abeba’s father is at work. The grandparents live with the family. Abeba’s birth weight was 2.95 kg (6.5 lb). Upon discharge at 72 h after birth, Abeba weighed 2.7 kg. Her current weight is 2.97 kg. Her length is 46.25 cm (18.5 in.). Her head circumference is 32.2 cm (12.8 in.). Abeba is being breastfed. The grandparents immigrated from Ethiopia; the mother was born in the United States. Abeba is their first child. Mrs. Owusu appears very tired and quiet. The grandmother holds the baby and undresses the child for weighing and the physical exam.
Analysis of Cryogenically Treated Sheet Nylon 6/6

When manufacturing polymer and rubber products, the parts are frequently exposed to cryogenic temperatures after molding or forming in order to improve the ability to remove excess material and flash. However, there has been very little investigation into the effect that cryogenic temperatures may have on polymers. As such, the goal of the research described herein is to examine the effect of this type of treatment on the properties of one such polymer, Nylon 6/6. More specifically, the temperature of the environment surrounding Nylon 6/6 is decreased at two different rates into the cryogenic temperature range, allowed to soak, and then returned to ambient. Whereupon the material properties of the treated Nylon are compared to baseline. This testing demonstrates that the exposure to the cold environment resulted in a decrease in the yield and ultimate tensile strength of the Nylon while leaving the area reduction and strain after necking roughly unchanged. Examination of the surface condition of the treated specimens did not bring to light corresponding cracking from the treatments, thereby indicated that the resultant change in mechanical behavior is likely caused by structural changes within the Nylon. Additional testing of the Nylon, with respect to frequency response, further demonstrated that exposure to cryogenic temperatures resulted in decreases in the Nylon’s natural response at the structure’s dominate mode. These initial findings indicate that the conventional technique of lowering a part’s temperature to enhance the ability to remove flash does, in fact, result in measurable changes in the mechanical behavior of the Nylon product.Copyright © 2017 by ASME
Prehospital Delay in Older Adults with Acute Myocardial Infarction: The ComprehenSIVe Evaluation of Risk Factors in Older Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Study.

Background/Objectives Timely administration of antiischemic therapies improves outcomes in individuals with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Prior literature on delays in AMI care has largely focused on in-hospital delay (“door to balloon” time). Our objective was to identify factors associated with prehospital delay in a contemporary national cohort of older adults with AMI. Design Cross-sectional analysis of data from the ComprehenSIVe Evaluation of Risk Factors in Older Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction (SILVER-AMI) study, an observational study of older adults hospitalized for AMI. Setting U.S. academic and community hospitals (N = 94). Participants Individuals aged 75 and older hospitalized for AMI (N = 2,500). Measurements Prehospital delay was defined as symptom duration of 6 hours or longer before hospital presentation and was obtained according to participant or caregiver report during AMI hospitalization. Potential predictors of delay from demographic, clinical presentation, comorbid conditions, function, and social support domains were obtained through in-person assessment during the index hospitalization and medical record abstraction. Results Nonwhite race (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.54, P = .002), atypical symptoms (aOR = 1.41, P = .001), and heart failure (HF) (aOR = 1.35, P = .006 for HF) were significantly associated with delay. Conclusion In contrast with younger AMI populations, female sex and diabetes mellitus were not associated with delay in this older cohort, but factors from other domains (nonwhite race, atypical symptoms, and HF) were significantly associated with delay. These results can be used to customize future public health efforts to encourage early presentation for older adults with AMI.
Environmental Management in Developing Countries

Environmental management is a relatively new and sophisticated term to describe a very old concept, i.e., an organized way to solve problems relating to the natural environment. There are about as many concepts of environmental management as there are advisors, consultants and other so-called experts in the environmental field. The success of environmental management programs in protecting environmental quality varies considerably, however. A commonly used form of ‘management’, and a very poor concept because it is not really management, is simply response to environmental problems and crises as they arise. Even countries like the USA, with seemingly comprehensive and sophisticated environmental programs, began with the ‘response to crisis’ approach in the 1940’s, 1950’s and early 1960’s, i.e., during its period of rapid industrial development.
“All Fell Not in Pharsalias Field”: Lucy Harington Russell and the Historical Epic

This chapter takes as its subject the historical poems that were dedicated to Lucy Harington Russell, Countess of Bedford in the years between 1594 and 1614: Michael Drayton’s accounts of the barons’ wars of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, and Arthur Gorges’s 1614 translation of Lucan’s Pharsalia, an account of the civil war between Caesar and the forces of the Roman Senate. These “admonitory epics” were not only dedicated to Bedford, but interpellated her name and example at crucial moments in their critiques of monarchical absolutism. I thus argue that these kinds of dedications, based less in material support than in varied practices of invocation, analogy, and allusion, productively expand our understanding of early modern literary collaboration.
The intracellular signaling cascade and stress

Abstract Exposure of stress precipitates a coordinated series of responses which may lead to changes in brain functions. Most of the changes in brain function are mediated by stress-induced activation of neurotransmitter systems in the brain, which include neurotransmitter receptors and these receptors-mediated signal transduction pathways. The signal transduction pathways are ultimately responsible for stress-induced changes in neuronal functions. Some of these changes are beneficial, however, depending upon the nature and duration of stressful stimuli, the changes in neuronal functions may be harmful, which may lead to many disorders. In the present chapter, we describe comprehensively the effects of stress on neurotransmitter receptors and various molecules of signal transduction pathways in brain
Dual Space Topologies

This chapter is intended as a prerequisite for later chapters. In it we introduce a topology on the dual of a topological vector space. We present some of the standard results in the theory of Frechet spaces and some additional results on topological vector spaces in general.
Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori in Gastric Juice Aspirates Using Polymerase Chain Reaction

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a sensitive molecular method that can detect very small amounts of DNA. DNA is a highly stable molecule that can survive in the environment even when the host organism is no longer viable. PCR therefore promises to be a powerful tool for diagnosis of H. pylori infection.
Gardner’s Syndrome: Gastrointestinal Features

Gardner syndrome is genetic disease characterized by adenomatous polyps of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract associated with tumors outside of the colon. Failure to remove the colon results in a very high risk of cancer.
Hemispheric cortical surface map for assessing the rate of changes of regional cortical FDDNP distribution volume versus MMSE score

1749 Objectives: FDDNP PET has been shown to be able to distinguish patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from normal subjects. In this project we use brain cortical surface map to examine the rate of change in FDDNP distribution volume (DVR) in the progression of AD. Cortical surface map of PET images provides a standardized space that allows easy inter-subject comparison and for 3D visualization while retaining the quantitative aspect of PET. In this study, we examined the FDDNP DVR changes versus a common behavior score, MMSE. Effect of partial volume on cortical maps of FDDNP was also examined. Methods: Images from 23 subjects (with 7 AD) were studied. Logan graphical plots were used with the cerebellum as reference region to generate the DVR image of FDDNP. Affine transformation was applied to the MRI to put it into ICBM space. A hemispheric cortical surface model for each subject was extracted from the MRI in ICBM space. The same transformations were applied to the DVR images to put them into the same cortical space. For partial volume correction (PVC), a simulated PET was created from a mask based on the MR derived cortical surface. This image was smoothed to the PET resolution and mapped to the cortical surface to generate a surface map of the simulated PET. The cortical map with PVC was calculated as the ratio of the DVR cortical surface and that of the simulated PET. Linear regression was used to assess the rate of change of DVR vs MMSE for each point on the hemispheric cortical surface. Results: Without PVC, DVR values on the lateral surface were significantly lower than 1.0 and were lower than on the medical surface. After PVC, DVR on the lateral surface was raised to values expected from original 3D DVR image; values on medial side were no longer higher than on the lateral surface. Rate of change vs MMSE was found to be about 0.02 in the frontal and temporal regions especially in the left brain hemisphere. Conclusions: Hemispheric cortical surface mapping is useful for assessing and visualizing the rate of change of DVR vs behavior scores. PVC is important to preserve the quantitative nature of the DVR values on the cortical surface map. Research Support (if any): DOE contract DE-FC03-87-ER60615
Validation of the Lifting Fatigue Failure Tool (LiFFT)

Manual material handling is common in industry and has demonstrated a strong association with the development of low back disorders (LBDs). Several risk assessment tools exist in the literature to assess acceptable lifting limits, and/or the development of improved design of manual lifting tasks. However, recent evidence has strongly suggested that LBDs (and other MSDs) may the result of a process of mechanical fatigue failure. Prior tools have not used fatigue failure methods to assess risk, which may be beneficial is these disorders are indeed the result of such a process. The purpose of this paper is to describe a new risk assessment tool for manual lifting (LiFFT) and to provide validation of this tool using two existing epidemiological databases. Results demonstrate that the LiFFT cumulative damage measure is significantly associated with low back outcomes in both epidemiological studies.
Influence of accuracy constraints on bimanual coordination and gait performance in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy

Abstract Background Children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) have both upper and lower extremities movement impairments of their more affected side. Many daily activities require whole body movement control. However, most studies for children with USCP only evaluated either upper or lower extremity impairments. Research Question The present study aimed to assess the effects of accuracy constraints on walking and bimanual coordination for children with USCP during a whole body task. Methods Ten children with USCP (age: 7–12 years; GMFCS levels: I - II) and ten age-matched typically-developed children (TDC) participated in the study. They were asked to walk and carry a water bottle with and without a cap using a tray at a preferred speed while 3-D kinematic analyses were performed. The two tasks of carrying a water bottle with and without a cap were each performed 5 trials with randomized order between participants. Results TDC significantly decreased their walking speed, stride length, height differences between the two hands (symmetric bimanual coordination), vertical hand movement, and elbow joint excursion under higher accuracy constraints with no water bottle cap. Children with USCP showed significantly decreased walking speed, vertical hand movement, and elbow joint excursion under higher accuracy constraints. Children with USCP also significantly decreased walking deviation of line of progression. Significance It is exciting to see that children with USCP GMFCS levels I and II were able to maintain their bimanual coordination and modify their gait performance under higher accuracy constraints. Therefore, future treatments or assessments could consider manipulating accuracy constraints even during complex whole body tasks for children with USCP.
The Contemporary World in Republican-era Adaptations of Old Themes in Traditional Genres of Performative Literature: The Newest Version of the Complete Song of the Mutual Accusations of the Cat and the Mouse

In her recent monograph on the bannermen tales (zidishu 子弟書) of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Elena Chiu discusses how the title heroine of Pu Songling’s 蒲松齡 (1640–1715) classical tale T...
Comparative schematology

While we may have the intuitive idea of one programming language having greater power than another, or of some subset of a language being an adequate 'core' for that language, we find when we try to formalize this notion that there is a serious theoretical difficulty. This lies in the fact that even quite rudimentary languages are nevertheless 'universal' in the following sense. If the language allows us to program with simple arithmetic or list-processing functions then any effective control structure can be simulated, traditionally by encoding a Turing machine computation in some way. In particular, a simple language with some basic arithmetic can express programs for any partial recursive function. Such an encoding is usually quite unnatural and impossibly inefficient. Thus in order to carry on a practical study of the comparative power of different languages we are led to banish explicit functions and deal instead with abstract, uninterpreted programs, or schemas. What follows is a brief report on some preliminary exploration in this area.
Pattern of muscle involvement in inclusion body myositis: a sonographic study.

Objectives Imaging plays a role in myositis assessment by detecting muscle changes indicative of pathology. This study was conducted to determine the ultrasonographic pattern of muscle involvement in patients with inclusion body myositis (IBM) through an assessment of muscle echointensity. Methods Sixty-two individuals were consecutively studied, 18 with IBM, 16 with polymyositis or dermatomyositis and 28 normal controls. Standardised scans were completed bilaterally for the deltoids, biceps, flexor digitorum profundus (FDP), flexor carpi ulnaris, rectus femoris, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius assessing for muscle echointensity changes. Results Patients with IBM had a markedly increased muscle echointensity when compared with comparator groups for all muscles studied. This was most discriminating at the FDP, gastrocnemius and rectus femoris. Asymmetry between sides and a heterogeneously increased echointensity were also seen. Conclusions Ultrasonography can aid in the assessment of IBM by displaying an increased echointensity in characteristically involved muscles, particularly when combined with assessments for asymmetry and echotexture.
Assessing bivariate tail non-exchangeable dependence

Abstract Non-exchangeable dependence structures exist in the real world. In particular, when dependence patterns in joint distributional tails are important, such as in the fields of engineering, environmetrics and econometrics, one may need to detect the existence, and assess the strength of non-exchangeable dependence patterns in the tails. In this paper, we propose a sensible metric to quantify the degree of tail non-exchangeability of bivariate copulas. Based on the metric, we propose a practical method of assessing tail non-exchangeable dependence with uniform scores of bivariate data. An empirical example is used to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed method.
Statistical considerations for testing an AI algorithm used for prescreening lung CT images.

Abstract Artificial intelligence, as applied to medical images to detect, rule out, diagnose, and stage disease, has seen enormous growth over the last few years. There are multiple use cases of AI algorithms in medical imaging: first-reader (or concurrent) mode, second-reader mode, triage mode, and more recently prescreening mode as when an AI algorithm is applied to the worklist of images to identify obvious negative cases so that human readers do not need to review them and can focus on interpreting the remaining cases. In this paper we describe the statistical considerations for designing a study to test a new AI prescreening algorithm for identifying normal lung cancer screening CTs. We contrast agreement vs. accuracy studies, and retrospective vs. prospective designs. We evaluate various test performance metrics with respect to their sensitivity to changes in the AI algorithm's performance, as well as to shifts in reader behavior to a revised worklist. We consider sample size requirements for testing the AI prescreening algorithm.
Fetal Heart Rate as an Indirect Indicator of Treatment Response in Fetal Hyperthyroidism Secondary to Transplacental Passage of Maternal Thyrotropin Receptor Antibodies

Maternal hyperthyroidism is prevalent in 0.2-0.4% of pregnancies. Graves’ disease accounts for 85% of these cases. Approximately 1-5% of neonates born to these mothers develop hyperthyroidism. Transplacental passage of thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAbs) are considered to be the likely cause of transient fetal and neonatal hyperthyroidism. An 18-year-old G1P0 with a history of Graves’ disease treated by radioactive ablation presented with persistent fetal tachycardia at 23 weeks gestational age. TRAb was elevated and fetal hyperthyroidism secondary to transplacental crossing of maternal TRAb was suspected. There was no evidence of overt fetal hyperthyroidism or goiter on ultrasound examination. Oral methimazole was initiated and the fetal tachycardia resolved. Upon decrease of the methimazole dosage, the fetal tachycardia returned. Methimazole dosing was again increased and stabilized at a higher dose and the fetal tachycardia remained resolved. At birth at 40 weeks gestation, the neonate was tachycardic with elevated TRAb. She was initiated on methimazole. At 1 month of life, the methimazole dose was halved. At 2 months of life, all medication was held. On further testing, the thyroid function test remained normal. In our patient who did not display evidence of fetal hyperthyroidism on ultrasound examination, as there were no abnormal fetal markers on ultrasound to evaluate treatment response, fetal heart rate on non-stress testing was successfully used as an indirect indicator of fetal thyroid status and guided appropriate titration of methimazole. J Clin Gynecol Obstet. 2019;8(3):91-96 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jcgo564
Of the civil magistrate: John Witherspoon’s doubly religious toleration

In 1788, the newly unified Presbyterian churches in America adopted a version of the Westminster Confession which, in contradistinction to the 1647 version, prohibited the magistrate from ‘giving …...
"Coat Hanger" Appearance of the Ribs.

“Coat Hanger” Appearance of the Ribs Respiratory distress developed in a male neonate with a giant omphalocele who had been born at 28 weeks of gestation. A “coat hanger” appearance of the ribs was...
Tackling Homelessness with Tiny Houses: An Inventory of Tiny House Villages in the United States

Across the United States, tiny house villages are increasingly appearing as a method of addressing homelessness. There has been no formal or sustained effort to document tiny house villages for the...
Solar-Powered Server: Designing for a More Energy Positive Internet

User Experience designers, software engineers and computer scientists alike are rarely tasked with thinking about the environmental impact and resource consumption of their design decisions, both when creating online platforms and experiences and when publishing multimedia content. Furthermore, free or low-cost web and hosting services encourage designers and users alike to overlook the substantial energy footprint of their online behaviors and interactions. The Solar-Powered Server is as a system designed to more deeply investigate the power consumption of our online actions and compare different design elements and choices, while experimenting with the intrinsic qualities of renewable energy sources in order to create more resource-efficient content, to make information storage more accessible under low resource conditions and foster more energy positive behaviors.
Eliciting perspectives of the key study population: An effective strategy to inform advertisement, content and usability of an online survey for a national investigation.

This short communication demonstrates how conducting a focus group with members of a proposed study population of interest can help inform the suitability of study interventions and appeal of recruitment strategies prior to study commencement. People living with HIV (PLWH) were recruited to participate in a focus group to elicit feedback on the content and design of an online survey on sweetener knowledge and consumption; and usability of the survey which was ultimately launched nationally. Ten participants (age 55 years, 60% male, 70% non-Caucasian, 60% income < $25,000) attended and rotated through three stations and completed questionnaires to evaluate survey content, advertisement imagery and taglines, and ability to access and navigate the survey platform. Participants also engaged in open dialogue to discuss potential community and web-based recruitment strategies familiar to PLWH. Findings from the focus group helped investigators identify and select advertisement and recruitment strategies that were appealing to PLWH, refine and improve clarity/layout of the survey content, and enhance usability of an online survey intended for PLWH in the United States, age 18 years and older. Prospectively engaging individuals from a key study population in the early phase of study development is an effective strategy to assist in the development of study interventions and recruitment/advertisement materials designed for a specific population.
Patient Contact Time and Prehospital Interventions in Hypotensive Trauma Patients: Should We Reconsider the "ABC" Algorithm When Time Is of the Essence?

IntroductionThere is disagreement in the trauma community concerning the extent to which emergency medical services (EMS) should perform on-scene interventions. Additionally, in recent years the “A...
Safety and Efficacy of Vorinostat Plus Sirolimus or Everolimus in Patients with Relapsed Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma

Purpose: Preclinical and early clinical data suggested that combining histone deacetylase (HDAC) and mTOR inhibitors can synergistically inhibit Hodgkin lymphoma. Patients and Methods: During the dose-escalation study (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT01087554) with the HDAC inhibitor vorinostat and the mTOR inhibitor sirolimus (V+S), a patient with Hodgkin lymphoma refractory to nine prior therapies demonstrated a partial response (PR) lasting for 18.5 months, which promoted additional enrollment of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma as well as exploration of an alternative combination of vorinostat and mTOR inhibitor everolimus (V+E). Results: A total of 40 patients with refractory Hodgkin lymphoma received V+S (n = 22) or V+E (n = 18). Patients received a median of five prior therapies, including brentuximab (n = 39), autologous stem cell transplantation (n = 26), and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (n = 12). The most frequent grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse event was thrombocytopenia in 55% and 67% of patients treated with V+S and V+E, respectively. Complete response was reported in 6 (27%) patients treated with V+S and 2 (11%) patients treated with V+E, and PR was reported in 6 patients (27%) treated with V+S and 4 (22%) patients treated with V+E (objective response rate of 55% and 33%, respectively). In summary, combined HDAC and mTOR inhibition had encouraging activity in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and warrants further investigation. Conclusions: Combined HDAC and mTOR inhibition has salutary activity in patients with relapsed refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and warrants further investigation.
3-IN-1 HYBRID LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

We propose a learning innovation called 3-in-1 Hybrid environment as a solution for educational institutions to meet the challenge of balancing campus reopening against public health risks amid the...
Do Investors Trust or Simply Gamble

We design an experiment to study individual behavior in a strategic information setting where the sender has economic incentives to deceive and the receiver has economic incentives to avoid deception. To ascertain whether subjects in the role of receiver glean information content from the sender’s message, we elicit choices from risky gambles constructed to be mathematically equivalent to the information setting if the sender’s message lacks information content. In the experiment subjects act simultaneously as a sender and receiver in a one-shot interaction. The findings of our experiment indicate that (i) subjects tend to act deceptively as senders but trusting as receivers, and (ii) as receivers, subjects glean information content from the senders’ messages. Thus, we find investors (receivers) trust and investment cannot be rationalized solely by subjects’ attitudes towards risk.
A Statistically Based Surface Evolution Method for Medical Image Segmentation: Presentation and Validation

In this paper we present a new algorithm for 3D medical image segmentation. The algorithm is fast, relatively simple to implement, and semi-automatic. It is based on minimizing a global energy defined from a learned non-parametric estimation of the statistics of the region to be segmented. Implementation details are discussed and source code is freely available as part of the 3D Slicer project. In addition, a new unified set of validation metrics is proposed. Results on artificial and real MRI images show that the algorithm performs well on large brain structures both in terms of accuracy and robustness to noise.
Planar cell polarity in the vertebrate inner ear

Publisher Summary The generation of planar cell polarity (PCP) is a fundamental aspect of embryonic development in all animals. One of the best examples of PCP in vertebrates is the uniform orientation of the stereociliary bundles located on mechanosensory hair cells within the sensory epithelia of the inner ear and lateral line systems. The generation of fields of uniformly oriented stereociliary bundles not only provides an easily assayed phenotype for PCP but the important functional implications of the generation of this polarization suggest a high degree of selective pressure to ensure appropriate development. The results of both in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that the functions of many of the genes that regulate PCP in Drosophila have been conserved in their mammalian orthologs. However, there are intriguing differences in both the collection of genes that are used to regulate polarization and in the cellular mechanisms and targets that are involved. This chapter provides an overview of PCP in the auditory system, describes the recent findings regarding molecular control of PCP in vertebrates, and discusses potential similarities and differences between the mechanisms that generate uniform orientation in vertebrates and invertebrates.
Intercomparison of MAVS with VACM, VMCM, FSI 2-D, and Aanderaa RCM 11 current meters from a mooring

An intercomparison of four current meters at 2000-m depth in the Ultramoor experiment of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution near Bermuda in summer 2000 provided an opportunity to examine characteristics of mechanical, Doppler, and acoustic travel-time current meters in a very low velocity environment. This mooring in 4000 m depth had subsurface buoyancy at 300 m. Typical tidal current of only 4 cm/s added to mean current of only 2 cm/s caused the mechanical VACM sensors to stall intermittently. The two acoustic travel-time current meters, MAVS and FSI 2-D, tracked tidal fluctuations well although there was some offset drift over two months of recording. The Aanderaa RCM 11 acoustic Doppler current meter response to tidal fluctuations fell between that of the acoustic travel-time current meters and the mechanical sensors. Energetic vertical oscillations for 24 hours in two events 50 days apart suggest mooring response to possible hurricane passage. Only MAVS sensed vertical velocity so there is no corroborating evidence that the subsurface buoy responded to internal wave oscillations excited by the hurricane passage. In addition to testing three sensing modalities, the intercomparison displayed benefits from alternative sampling schemes, one being the monitoring of mooring motion with a vertical axis of velocity sensing. An advantage of acoustic travel-time sensing in such low currents is the linearity of the technique through zero velocity but a disadvantage is the uncertainty in the exact zero point. At 2000-m depth, fouling is not an issue but availability of acoustic scatterers for Doppler sensors is a concern. Dropout of scattered signal from the fluid may lead to spurious lock-on to side lobe signals scattered from mooring hardware. This may contaminate estimates of velocity and mimic the effect of stalling from the mechanical sensor of the VACM. Short intervals in time show these effects during the several months of the deployment. Selection of sensors for deep current monitoring is important for observations of global transport of heat, water, trace gases, and dissolved chemicals. Tests of sensor characteristics in actual moored configurations are invaluable.
Page mapping for heterogeneously partitioned caches: Complexity and heuristics

Embedded processors such as the Intel StrongARM SA-1110 and the Intel XScale utilize multiple caches at the same level in the cache hierarchy. The main cache and the mini-cache differ in both the size and the associativity. Furthermore, the processors allow programs to specify the cache mapping policy for each virtual page among three choices, i.e. whether to map the page to the main cache, the mini-cache, or neither. In the latter case, the page is marked as noncacheable. In this paper, we investigate the problem of optimal cache mapping, assuming that we can predict the trace of the memory reference in advance. On the theoretical side, we prove that the problem of finding the optimal cache mapping for an arbitrary memory trace is NP-hard. On the experimental side, we present a mapping heuristic and compare the result with the default policy which maps all pages to the main cache. Our measurement shows that, compared to the default policy, the heuristic can reduce the execution time from 1% to 21% for a set of test programs. As a byproduct of performance enhancement, we also save the energy by 4% to 28%.
Microbial copper-binding siderophores at the host-pathogen interface

Numerous pathogenic microorganisms secrete small molecule chelators called siderophores defined by their ability to bind extracellular ferric iron, making it bioavailable to microbes. Recently, a siderophore produced by uropathogenic Escherichia coli, yersiniabactin, was found to also bind copper ions during human infections. The ability of yersiniabactin to protect E. coli from copper toxicity and redox-based phagocyte defenses distinguishes it from other E. coli siderophores. Here we compare yersiniabactin to other extracellular copper-binding molecules and review how copper-binding siderophores may confer virulence-associated gains of function during infection pathogenesis.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 T-cell tropism is determined by events prior to provirus formation.

Abstract Different strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vary in the ability to replicate in cells that bear the HIV-1 receptor, CD4. The mechanism responsible for these cell tropism differences is unknown. We examined different isolates of HIV-1 with regard to replication in specific tumor-derived CD4-positive T-cell lines and normal peripheral blood lymphocytes. To investigate early events in the virus life cycle at low multiplicities of infection, we used a modification of the polymerase chain reaction method. Use of a molecularly cloned primary HIV-1 isolate, HIV-1 JR-CSF, restricted for replication in T-cell lines, demonstrated that little or no viral DNA or RNA was synthesized in nonpermissive cells after infection. However, transfection of proviral DNA resulted in efficient transient virus production from these cells. Therefore, we conclude that at least one block to infection for HIV-1 strains in nonpermissive T cells occurs at a point in entry or uncoating before provirus formation.
Analysis of K+ channel biosynthesis and assembly in transfected mammalian cells.

Publisher Summary Recent work in several laboratories has determined that K + channels are integral membrane, heterooligomeric glycoprotein complexes composed of four pore-forming a subunits and four cytoplasmic β-subunit polypeptides. Although it is widely appreciated that the co-association of functionally distinct α subunits contributes to the tremendous diversity of K + channels observed in native cells, the discovery and characterization of a family of β subunits indicates that these cytoplasmic polypeptides also make a significant contribution to channel diversity. In particular, the Kvβ3 β subunit, and the multiple isoforms arising from the alternative splicing of Kvβ1 transcripts, have dramatic effects on the inactivation of Shaker-related or Kvl subfamily K + channel a subunits, while the Kvβ2 β subunit does not. All of these β-subunit isoforms may also play a role in promoting the efficient surface expression of Kvl subfamily α subunits. It is clear from these data that the differential biosynthetic association and subsequent assembly of α and β subunits into the resultant α 4 β 4 complex is a key mechanism used to generate diversity of K + channel function and ultimately neuronal excitability. In this chapter, the general methods for analysis of recombinant K + channel α- and β-subunit polypeptides expressed by transient transfection in mammalian cells have been reviewed. These methods have been successfully applied in the laboratory for analysis of the biosynthesis and subunit associations of a number of mammalian K + channel subunit and offer the advantages of a simple and reliable expression system that is amenable to metabolic radiolabeling and subsequent analyses.
What Difference Can the Data Make

The anthropometric data which is readily available to the ergonomic practitioner contains gaps in the statures of individuals covered. This study fills in those gaps by analyzing the data sources available to interpolate the dimensions for those statures not represented. The interpolation method used was linear regression relating a specific dimension to the standing stature of the individual. Additionally, this paper compares several sources of data to demonstrate significant differences. Both these pieces of information are important to the practitioner. By filling in the gaps, the practitioner is provided with initial quantitative reference points for individuals when properly arranging a workstation. Currently, only qualitative information is provided concerning optimum workstation design for individuals not represented in the data sources. By demonstrating the lack of a significant difference between data sources, the practitioner may use whichever source is readily available. The results show a sign...
Scripts as a Training Tool for Hospitality and Tourism Employees: Selecting Topics for Coverage

The objective of this article is to furnish insights on the employment of scripts in assisting hospitality and tourism managers to select the topics which could be encompassed in employee training programs. The discussion covers the necessity for training in the industry and relates how scripts can be useful in choosing beneficial training topics. In addition it presents a depiction of the steps involved in devising and validating scripts and sets forth an example of the application of these processes in planning a training program.
Generation of Cytotoxic Immune Responses against a Rat Glioma by in Vivo Priming and Secondary in Vitro Stimulation with Tumor Cells

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses to most antigens are generated by in vivo priming and secondary stimulation with antigen in vitro. The present studies were designed to determine whether that strategy could be used to stimulate development of CTL against brain tumors. Rats were primed with one of two tumors, RT2, an astrocytoma, or 9L, a gliosarcoma, and Corynebacterium parvum. Spleen cells from primed rats were stimulated with tumor cells and interleukin-2 in vitro to generate CTL. CTL generated against RT2 killed RT2 and 9L, but not allogeneic or histopathologically unrelated tumor cells, suggesting that the killing was brain tumor-specific and major histocompatibility complex gene product-restricted. Similar results were obtained with rats primed and secondarily stimulated with 9L. Specific cytotoxic cells only developed when syngeneic brain tumor cells were used for both priming and secondary stimulation. The cytotoxic cell populations were composed of OX-19+ T cells with a mixed CD4/CD8 phenotype. Controls consisting of spleen cells from unprimed or primed rats tested before culture exhibited low levels of cytotoxicity against brain tumor targets. Culturing unprimed or primed cells with interleukin-2 alone stimulated cell proliferation, but the cells that grew out exhibited only low levels of cytotoxicity for brain tumor cells. Cell populations exhibited consistent cytotoxicity against natural killer cell targets. None of the cell populations killed lymphokine-activated killer cell targets. The results demonstrated that brain tumor-specific CTL could be produced by priming in vivo followed by secondary stimulation with brain tumor cells in vitro. The results further demonstrated that RT2 and 9L share antigens that both induce and serve as target structures for specific cytotoxic cells.