cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Popliteal artery aneurysms: A comparison of outcomes in elective versus emergent repair

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to assess and compare outcomes of elective versus emergent operative repair of popliteal artery aneurysms. Design A retrospective analysis of a prospectively recorded vascular surgery database from June 1992 to December 2002 was performed with chart review. Main outcome measures Patient survival, limb salvage, and graft patency were evaluated. Results Fifty-one popliteal artery aneurysms were repaired in 39 patients, all male and ranging in age from 18 to 87 years (mean 67.1). Mean follow-up was 47.8 months. Repair was elective in 37 (72.5%) and emergent in 14 (27.5%) limbs, 13 with acute ischemia and one with aneurysm rupture. Thrombolytic therapy was utilized in four ischemic limbs with no suitable bypass target vessel identified on initial arteriogram. Outflow vessels included the popliteal artery in 22 (43.1%) and infrapopliteal vessels in 29 (56.9%) limbs. Cardiac morbidity and 30-day mortality rates were 0%. Overall primary patency, secondary patency, limb salvage, and actuarial survival were 95.6%, 100%, 98.0%, and 98.0% at 1 year and 85.1%, 96.9%, 98.0%, and 83.8% at 5 years, respectively. Bypass graft redo or revision was performed for stenosis in one and occlusion in four limbs. Two amputations were performed at 6 days and 63.6 months after initial aneurysm repair. No difference was noted between elective and emergent groups with regard to patency, limb salvage, or survival ( P > .26), and no association between the number of identified target vessels and limb salvage or patency was demonstrated ( P = .12). Conclusion In our experience, the outcome of the popliteal artery aneurysm repair was comparable in the emergent and elective settings. Aggressive tibial reconstruction plays a crucial role in the treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms, especially in those presenting with acute limb ischemia. Thrombolytic therapy is infrequently required in the acute setting, although it may be useful in patients with no identifiable outflow target vessel on initial arteriogram.
Role of CRF receptor 1 in central CRF-induced stimulation of colonic propulsion in rats.

Abstract The CRF receptor subtype mediating the colonic and gastric motor responses to central CRF was investigated in conscious rats. CRF (0.6 μg/rat) injected intracerebroventicularly (i.c.v.) or 1 h water avoidance stress stimulated defecation (pellet/60 min: 4.1±1.0 and 8.7±0.7 respectively vs. 0.3±0.3 in i.c.v. vehicle/no stress). The CRF receptor 1 (CRF-R1) antagonist, NBI-27914 (50–100 μg/rat) injected i.c.v., abolished the colonic response to i.c.v. CRF and dose–dependently reduced that induced by water avoidance stress. NBI-27914 (100 μg/rat) injected peripherally did not influence the defecatory response to stress. The peptide CRF-R1/R2 antagonist, astressin (10 μg/rat, i.c.v.) inhibited the colonic motor response to i.c.v. CRF and stress similarly as NBI-27914 injected i.c.v. at 100 μg/rat. Intracisternal (i.c.) injection of astressin (10 μg/rat) also completely prevented CRF (0.6 g, i.c.)-induced delayed gastric emptying while i.c. NBI-27914 (50 or 100 μg) had no effect. These results indicate a differential role of central CRF receptor subtypes in the colonic stimulatory and gastric inhibitory motor responses to central CRF and that the CRF component of stress-related activation of colonic expulsion is primarily mediated by CRF-R1.
Visible geological effects of the CANNIKIN event

Postshot field investigations indicate that most of the visible geological effects produced by the CANNIKIN event are limited to an area of a 2-km radius from ground zero (GZ). Two stages of fracturing are recognized, one at shot time that induced a maximum of 0.6 m vertical displacement along the Teal Creek Fault located 1,070 m northwest of GZ, and one inferred to have occurred at collapse time (38 hr later). The three principal directions of fractures are east-northeast, northwest, and north and are related to pre-existing faults and lineaments. Major displacement along a fault located 760 m southeast of GZ is inferred to have occurred during collapse. Preliminary surveys indicate that the collapse sink is asymmetric with relation to GZ. The oval subsidence area is 1,270 by 915 m and the surface low, located 366 m southeast of GZ, subsided about 20 m. Several lakes are forming in the sink area. A portion of the intertidal platform along the Bering coast was uplifted about 1 m and major rock slides occurred along the cliffs within this zone of uplift. Elsewhere, minor rockfalls, slides and tundra slumps occurred along cliffs or steep slopes. Lake beds have been fractured and, in some cases, the lakes have drained.
Modelling protection from antimicrobial agents in biofilms through the formation of persister cells

A mathematical model of biofilm dynamics was used to investigate the protection from antimicrobial killing that could be afforded to micro-organisms in biofilms based on a mechanism of 'persister' cell or phenotypic variant formation. The persister state is a hypothetical, highly protected state adopted by a small fraction of the cells in a biofilm. Persisters were assumed to be generated at a fixed rate, independent of the presence of substrate or antimicrobial agent. Cells were assumed to revert from the persister state when exposed to the growth substrate. Persister cells were assumed to be incapable of growth. The model predicted that persister cells increased in numbers in the biofilm, even though they were unable to grow, accumulating in regions of substrate limitation. In these regions, normal cells failed to grow, but did slowly convert to the persister state. Calculations of persister formation in planktonic cultures predicted that persisters would be present in low numbers in growing cultures, but should accumulate under conditions of slow growth, e.g. very low dilution rates in continuous culture or stationary phase in batch culture. When antibiotic treatment was simulated, bacteria near the biofilm surface were killed, but persisters in the depth of the biofilm were poorly killed. After antibiotic treatment ceased, surviving persister cells quickly reverted and allowed the biofilm to regrow. This modelling study provides motivation for further investigation of the hypothetical persister cell state as an explanation for biofilm resistance to antimicrobial agents.
Brucella abortus catalase is a periplasmic protein lacking a standard signal sequence.

Abstract A periplasmic catalase has been purified and cloned from Brucella abortus. The functional enzyme is a tetramer with a subunit molecular weight of 55,000. All evidence indicates that a typical N-terminal signal sequence is not associated with the export of this protein to the periplasm.
Coronal Mass Ejections: Observations

Solar eruptive phenomena embrace a variety of eruptions, including flares, solar energetic particles, and radio bursts. Since the vast majority of these are associated with the eruption, development, and evolution of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), we focus on CME observations in this review. CMEs are a key aspect of coronal and interplanetary dynamics. They inject large quantities of mass and magnetic flux into the heliosphere, causing major transient disturbances. CMEs can drive interplanetary shocks, a key source of solar energetic particles and are known to be the major contributor to severe space weather at the Earth. Studies over the past decade using the data sets from (among others) the SOHO, TRACE, Wind, ACE, STEREO, and SDO spacecraft, along with ground-based instruments, have improved our knowledge of the origins and development of CMEs at the Sun and how they contribute to space weather at Earth. SOHO, launched in 1995, has provided us with almost continuous coverage of the solar corona over more than a complete solar cycle, and the heliospheric imagers SMEI (2003–2011) and the HIs (operating since early 2007) have provided us with the capability to image and track CMEs continually across the inner heliosphere. We review some key coronal properties of CMEs, their source regions and their propagation through the solar wind. The LASCO coronagraphs routinely observe CMEs launched along the Sun-Earth line as halo-like brightenings. STEREO also permits observing Earth-directed CMEs from three different viewpoints of increasing azimuthal separation, thereby enabling the estimation of their three-dimensional properties. These are important not only for space weather prediction purposes, but also for understanding the development and internal structure of CMEs since we view their source regions on the solar disk and can measure their in-situ characteristics along their axes. Included in our discussion of the recent developments in CME-related phenomena are the latest developments from the STEREO and LASCO coronagraphs and the SMEI and HI heliospheric imagers.
Somatic and neuroendocrine changes in response to chronic corticosterone exposure during adolescence in male and female rats.

Prolonged stress and repeated activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis can result in many sex-dependent behavioural and metabolic changes in rats, including alterations in feeding behaviour and reduced body weight. In adults, these effects of stress can be mimicked by corticosterone, a major output of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and recapitulate the stress-induced sex difference, such that corticosterone-treated males show greater weight loss than females. Similar to adults, chronic stress during adolescence leads to reduced weight gain, particularly in males. However, it is currently unknown whether corticosterone mediates this somatic change and whether additional measures of neuroendocrine function are affected by chronic corticosterone exposure during adolescence in a sex-dependent manner. Therefore, we examined the effects of non-invasively administered corticosterone (150 or 300 μg/ml) in the drinking water of male and female rats throughout adolescent development (30-58 days of age). We found that adolescent animals exposed to chronic corticosterone gain significantly less weight than controls, which may be partly mediated by the effects of corticosterone on food consumption, fluid intake and gonadal hormone function. Our data further show that, despite similar circulating corticosterone levels, males demonstrate a greater sensitivity to these changes than females. We also found that Npy1 and Npy5 receptor mRNA expression, genes implicated in appetite regulation, was significantly reduced in the ventral medial hypothalamus of corticosterone-treated males and females compared to controls. Finally, parameters of gonadal function, such as plasma sex steroid concentrations and weight of reproductive tissues, were reduced by adolescent corticosterone treatment, although only in males. The data obtained in the present study indicate that chronic corticosterone exposure throughout adolescent development results in significant and sex-dependent somatic and neuroendocrine changes, and the results also provide an experimental framework for further investigating the impact of corticosterone on metabolic and neuroendocrine function during adolescence.
Expression of interferon regulatory factors one and two in the ovine endometrium: effects of pregnancy and ovine interferon tau.

Available evidence suggests that interferon tau (IFNτ), the signal for pregnancy recognition in ruminants, suppresses transcription of the estrogen receptor (ER) gene in the endometrial lumenal epithelium (LE) and superficial glandular epithelium (sGE) to prevent oxytocin receptor (OTR) expression and pulsatile release of luteolytic prostaglandin F 2α . The IFN regulatory factors one (IRF-1) and two (IRF-2) are transcription factors induced by type I IFNs that activate and silence gene expression, respectively. The objectives of these studies were to determine effects of pregnancy and IFNτ on expression of immunoreactive IRF-1 and IRF-2 proteins in the ovine endometrium. In study one, IRF-1 and IRF-2 were not detected in the LE or sGE of cyclic ewes. In pregnant ewes, IRF-1 expression was detected transiently in the LE and sGE only on Days 11 and 13, and IRF-2 was detected in these same epithelia on Days 13, 15, 17, and 20. In study two, 36 ewes were fitted with uterine catheters on Day 5 of the estrous cycle, and one uterine horn was double-ligated at the base. Uterine horns of each ewe received twice-daily injections of either recombinant ovine IFNτ or control proteins beginning on Day 11 until hysterectomy at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, or 120 h after initial injection. The IRF-1 was detected transiently in the endometrial LE and sGE only at 12 and 24 h in the uterine horn receiving IFNτ but not in those tissues receiving control proteins. The IRF-2 was expressed in the LE and sGE at 24 h and thereafter in the IFNτ-treated, but not control uterine horns. In control uterine horns, ER and OTR were first detected in the LE at 48 h and 72 h, respectively, and remained abundant thereafter. In horns receiving IFNτ, ER and OTR expression was not detected in the endometrial LE and sGE. Results suggest that IFNτ acts directly on the LE and sGE during pregnancy to sequentially induce IRF-1 and then IRF-2 gene expression, which is correlated temporally with an absence of ER and OTR. The ovine ER gene may contain an IFNτ-responsive element(s) that binds negative-acting, IFNτ-inducible transcription factors, such as IRF-2, which silences transcription of the ER gene in the endometrial epithelium during maternal recognition of pregnancy.
Stable Force Balance between Epithelial Cells Arises from F-Actin Turnover

The propagation of force in epithelial tissues requires that the contractile cytoskeletal machinery be stably connected between cells through E-cadherin-containing adherens junctions. In many epithelial tissues, the cells' contractile network is positioned at a distance from the junction. However, the mechanism or mechanisms that connect the contractile networks to the adherens junctions, and thus mechanically connect neighboring cells, are poorly understood. Here, we identified the role for F-actin turnover in regulating the contractile cytoskeletal network's attachment to adherens junctions. Perturbing F-actin turnover via gene depletion or acute drug treatments that slow F-actin turnover destabilized the attachment between the contractile actomyosin network and adherens junctions. Our work identifies a critical role for F-actin turnover in connecting actomyosin to intercellular junctions, defining a dynamic process required for the stability of force balance across intercellular contacts in tissues.
Case Report: The Case of the Disappearing Clefts

CLEFTS ARE RATHER INTERESTING gingival defects. I should like to define what I mean by a gingival cleft. Many writers call any recession localized to the vestibu­ lar or lingual surface of a tooth a cleft. I designate as a cleft a capillary slit running from the gingival margin a variable length in an apical direction across the attached gingiva, and sometimes well into the areolar mucosa. Stillman1 who described clefts in 1937 considered them due to occlusal traumatism. The elder Hirschfeld2 considered some of them to be due to faulty tooth brush­ ing; others, he felt, were caused by periodontal disease. Miller 3 felt they were due to occlusal traumatism or else started as vestibular periodontal pocket that penetrated the attached (detached) gingiva. In other words, three etiologies are given in the litera­ ture. 1. Occlusal traumatism. (No explanation available,
Cometeae, the correct name for the tribe Pterantheae (Caryophyllaceae)

Ruiz, H. & Pav6n, J. 1798. Systema vegetabilium florae peruvianae et chilensis. G. de Sancha, Madrid. Spruce, R. 1871. Equatorial-American palms. J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 11: 175-181. Steele, R. 1982. Flowers for the king: the expedition of Ruiz and Pavon and the flora of Peru. Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina. Wallace, R. 1908. Notes of a botanist on the Amazon & Andes [R. Spruce's diary ed.], 2. Macmillan, London.
Rapid and Sensitive Screening of 17β-Estradiol Estrogenicity Using Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging Spectroscopy (FT-IRIS)

It is important to develop rapid and sensitive screening assays to assess the biological effects of emerging contaminants. In this contribution, the ability to determine the molecular level effects of 17β-estradiol on single MCF-7 cells using Fourier transform infrared imaging spectroscopy (FT-IRIS) was investigated. The use of FT-IRIS enabled subcellular imaging of the cells and determination of a dose dependent response in mucin concentration at 24 and 48 h of incubation. The 48 h increase in mucin was comparable to increases in cellular proliferation (Pearson R = 0.978). The EC50 values for the E-screen and FT-IRIS assays were 2.29 and 2.56 ppt, respectively, indicating that the molecular changes, which are observed at the single cell level using FT-IRIS, are reflective of physiological changes that are observed as the cell population responds to 17s-estradiol. The FT-IRIS method, when combined with principal component analysis, enabled differentiation and grouping of cells exposed to varying concentra...
Intergenerational Programming for Young Children and Older Adults: An Overview of Needs, Approaches, and Outcomes in the United States

According to Generations United, a leading organization focused on improving the lives of children, youth, and older people through intergenerational strategies, intergenerational programs “purposefully bring together people of different generations in ongoing, mutually beneficial, planned activities, designed to achieve specified program goals.” At the heart of these programs is the understanding that society is based on the giving and receiving of resources across the lifespan. Children have developmental and educational needs, and so do older adults. When people of all ages share their talents, support each other, and forge meaningful connections, both individuals and communities benefit. This article reviews how intergenerational programs have been organized in the United States and how they can positively affect the developmental outcomes and well-being of young and old alike.
The problem of predicting the size distribution of sediment supplied by hillslopes to rivers

Abstract Sediments link hillslopes to river channels. The size of sediments entering channels is a key control on river morphodynamics across a range of scales, from channel response to human land use to landscape response to changes in tectonic and climatic forcing. However, very little is known about what controls the size distribution of particles eroded from bedrock on hillslopes, and how particle sizes evolve before sediments are delivered to channels. Here we take the first steps toward building a geomorphic transport law to predict the size distribution of particles produced on hillslopes and supplied to channels. We begin by identifying independent variables that can be used to quantify the influence of five key boundary conditions: lithology, climate, life, erosion rate, and topography, which together determine the suite of geomorphic processes that produce and transport sediments on hillslopes. We then consider the physical and chemical mechanisms that determine the initial size distribution of rock fragments supplied to the hillslope weathering system, and the duration and intensity of weathering experienced by particles on their journey from bedrock to the channel. We propose a simple modeling framework with two components. First, the initial rock fragment sizes are set by the distribution of spacing between fractures in unweathered rock, which is influenced by stresses encountered by rock during exhumation and by rock resistance to fracture propagation. That initial size distribution is then transformed by a weathering function that captures the influence of climate and mineralogy on chemical weathering potential, and the influence of erosion rate and soil depth on residence time and the extent of particle size reduction. Model applications illustrate how spatial variation in weathering regime can lead to bimodal size distributions and downstream fining of channel sediment by down-valley fining of hillslope sediment supply, two examples of hillslope control on river sediment size. Overall, this work highlights the rich opportunities for future research into the controls on the size of sediments produced on hillslopes and delivered to channels.
Loss of tannins and other phenolics from willow leaf litter

A litter bag experiment was conducted to determine the fate of condensed tannins during the initial phase of willow leaf decomposition. Chemical methods and HPLC were used to identify and quantify the phenolics in aqueous acetone extracts of the leaves during the first eight weeks after leaf fall. Extractable phenolics and tannins were lost rapidly from the leaves and had half lives of about 2.4 weeks. Lower molecular weight tannins were lost more rapidly than higher molecular weight tannins, suggesting that the primary route for loss of tannins is leaching. There was no evidence for decomposition of the tannin during the leaf decay process. After leaching, the tannin apparently sorbs tightly to the soil.
Integrating remote sensing with nutrient management plans to calculate nitrogen parameters for swine CAFOs at the sprayfield and sub-watershed scales.

Abstract North Carolina (NC) regulates swine concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) using five-year nutrient management plans (NMPs) requiring the plant available nitrogen sprayed (PANspray) to be less than that utilized by crops (PANcrops), i.e. the PAN balance (defined as PANbal = PANspray − PANcrops) remains negative, which avoids over-spraying liquid effluent onto crops. Objectives of this research are first to characterize Duplin County sprayfields and PANbal by creating the first, open-source sprayfield spatial database created for swine CAFOs in NC (for Duplin County). Second, this paper finds that for two sub-watershed scales 199 additional catchments and 1 additional HUC12 were identified as having permitted lagoon effluent applied compared to using CAFO point locations for a total of 510 catchments and 34 HUC12s with swine CAFO sprayfields. Third, a new method disaggregates annual PANbal from NMPs using remote sensing crop data. And finally, probability that sprayfields have excess PANbal is estimated due to k, a PAN availability coefficient. The remote sensing approach finds that 9–14% of catchments in a given year and 24% of catchments over a five year period have a positive PANbal. An additional 3–4% of catchments have probability of a positive PANbal due to variability in k. This work quantifies the impact of crop rotations on of sprayfields at the catchment spatial scale with respect to PANbal and highlights some of the limitations of NMPs have for estimation of PANbal. We recommend that NMPs be permitted based on the crop rotation scenario utilizing the least PAN and that swine producer compliance to manure management practice be encouraged.
Tuning the discipline of history in the United States: Harmony (and dissonance) in teaching and learning:

Tuning's progress in the discipline of history in the United States since 2009 illustrates the project's continuing capacity to develop “educational structures and programmes on the basis of divers...
Examination of high-antibiotic users in a multi-institutional cohort of chronic rhinosinusitis patients.

BACKGROUND In addition to known concerns regarding antibiotic overuse, recent research indicates that excessive antibiotic use is associated with poorer long-term health. Given that rhinosinusitis is the leading condition accounting for antibiotic prescriptions in the ambulatory setting, we aimed to evaluate characteristics associated with greater antibiotic use in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). METHODS Adult CRS patients enrolled in a prospective, multi-institutional, observational cohort study evaluating treatment outcomes were included in this analysis. Study participants were asked to report the number of days out of the previous 90 days that systemic antibiotics were taken for sinus disease. Patient demographics, disease characteristics, and measures of disease severity were evaluated. RESULTS A total of 561 patients from 4 institutions were included in the analysis, with mean antibiotic use of 17.4 ± 22.4 out of the prior 90 days. No differences between antibiotic-use groups were found for objective measures of disease severity (computed tomography [CT], endoscopy, Brief Smell Identification Test [BSIT] scores), however, increased patient-reported symptom burden (22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test [SNOT-22], Rhinosinusitis Disability Index [RSDI]) was associated with more antibiotic use. Patients reporting the most antibiotic use were older (p = 0.004) but no ethnic or gender differences were seen. Comorbid diagnoses of allergy, asthma, diabetes, depression, or fibromyalgia were not associated with increased antibiotic use. In accordance with literature recommendations, CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) patients were less likely to have used antibiotics. Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) significantly decreased antibiotic use. CONCLUSION Variability in antibiotic use in CRS appears to be driven by symptom burden, independent of objective measures of disease severity, patient demographics, and presence of comorbid disease. Clear guidelines are essential to define appropriate antibiotic use in CRS.
Biological Aging and the Human Gut Microbiota

The human gastrointestinal microbiota plays a key homeostatic role in normal functioning of physiologic processes commonly undermined by aging. We used a previously validated 34-item frailty index (FI34) to identify changes in gut microbiota community structure associated with biological age of community-dwelling adults. Stool 16S rRNA cDNA libraries from 85 subjects ranging in age (43-79) and FI34 score (0-0.365) were deep sequenced, denoised, and clustered using DADA2. Subject biological age but not chronological age correlated with a decrease in stool microbial diversity. Specific microbial genera were differentially abundant in the lower, middle, and upper 33rd percentiles of biological age. Using Sparse Inverse Covariance Estimation for Ecological Association and Statistical Inference (SPIEC-EASI) and Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), we identified modules of coabundant microbial genera that distinguished biological from chronological aging. A biological age-associated module composed of Eggerthella, Ruminococcus, and Coprobacillus genera was robust to correction for subject age, sex, body mass index, antibiotic usage, and other confounders. Subject FI34 score positively correlated with the abundance of this module, which exhibited a distinct inferred metagenome as predicted by Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt). We conclude that increasing biological age in community-dwelling adults is associated with gastrointestinal dysbiosis.
Application of the Thompson schema to the current controversy over Cuba

An example is provided of a method proposed for the measurement of public opinion along Q-method lines, using the current controversy about Cuba as an illustration. Interpretative matters are given special attention. It is suggested that the method is basic to political science, and that, applied to controversial complexes, it could replace a great deal of current effort to measure public opinion by large sampling procedures.
Probing Protein Kinase-ATP Interactions Using a Fluorescent ATP Analog

Eukaryotic protein kinases are an intensely investigated class of enzymes which have garnered attention due to their usefulness as drug targets. Determining the regulation of ATP binding to a protein kinase is not only critical for understanding function in a cellular context but also for designing kinase-specific molecular inhibitors. Here, we provide a general procedure for characterizing ATP binding to eukaryotic protein kinases. The protocol can be adapted to identify the conditions under which a particular kinase is activated. The approach is simple, requiring only a fluorescent ATP analog such as TNP-ATP or MANT-ATP and an instrument to monitor changes in fluorescence. Although the interaction kinetics between a kinase and a given ATP analog may differ from that of native ATP, this disadvantage is offset by the ease of performing and interpreting this assay. Importantly, it can be optimized to probe a large variety of conditions under which the kinase-nucleotide binding might be affected.
Development of the CNS TAP tool for the selection of precision medicine therapies in neuro-oncology.

The number of targeted therapies utilized in precision medicine are rapidly increasing. Neuro-oncology offers a unique challenge due to the varying blood brain barrier (BBB) penetration of each agent. Neuro-oncologists face a difficult task weighing the growing number of potential targeted therapies and their likelihood of BBB penetration. We developed the CNS TAP Working Group and performed an extensive literature review for the evidence-based creation of the CNS TAP tool, which was retrospectively validated by analyzing brain tumor patients who underwent therapy targeted based on genomic results from an academic sequencing study (MiOncoseq, n = 17) or private molecular profiling (Foundation One, n = 7). The CNS TAP tool scores relevant targeted agents by applying multiple variables (i.e., pre-clinical data, clinical data, BBB permeability) to patient specific genomic information and clinical trial availability. In the Michigan cohort, the CNS TAP tool predicted the selected agent 85.7% of the time. The CNS TAP tool predicted the agent independently selected by pediatric neuro-oncologists in the Colorado cohort 50% of the time. Patients with recurrent brain tumors treated with agents predicted by the CNS TAP tool demonstrated a median progression-free survival of 4 months and four patients with recurrent high-grade glioma maintained ongoing partial responses of at least 6 months. The CNS TAP tool is a formalized algorithm to assist clinicians select the optimal targeted therapy for neuro-oncology patients. The CNS TAP tool has relatively high concordance with selected therapies and clinical outcomes in patients receiving targeted therapy in this heterogeneous retrospective cohort were promising.
Validation of mobile phone text messages for nicotine and tobacco risk communication among college students: A content analysis.

Introduction In the United States, young adults have the highest prevalence of tobacco use. The dissemination of mobile phone text messages is a growing strategy for tobacco risk communication among young adults. However, little has been done concerning the design and validation of such text messages. The Texas Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science (Texas-TCORS) has developed a library of messages based on framing (gain- or loss-framed), depth (simple or complex) and appeal (emotional or rational). This study validated the library based on depth and appeal, identified text messages that may need improvement, and explored new themes. Methods The library formed the study sample (N=976 messages). The Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) software of 2015 was used to code for word count, word length and frequency of emotional and cognitive words. Analyses of variance, logistic regression and scatter plots were conducted for validation. Results In all, 874 messages agreed with LIWC-coding. Several messages did not agree with LIWC. Ten messages designed to be complex indicated simplicity, while 51 messages designed to be rational exhibited no cognitive words. New relevant themes were identified, such as health (e.g. 'diagnosis', 'cancer'), death (e.g. 'dead', 'lethal') and social connotations (e.g. 'parents', 'friends'). Conclusions Nicotine and tobacco researchers can safely use, for young adults, messages from the Texas-TCORS library to convey information in the intended style. Future work may expand upon the new themes. Findings will be utilized to develop new campaigns, so that risks of nicotine and tobacco products can be widely disseminated.
What’s the Matter with Antimatter?

Another novel idea in modern physics that fuels our imagination is antimatter. Every material object in our universe, we believe, is made up of atoms, which in turn are a collection of further smaller particles that interact. However, if go by the particle physics dictum that for every particle there is an antiparticle, there must be another form of matter that is made of antimatter particles. Antimatter particles are no more than the dreams and imagination of the physicists, but they are as tangible as normal matter. Can we feel, taste and shape them as we do ordinary matter? Not yet, because they are the most delicate particles to create and stockpile. We have created them in small amounts and there are efforts to generate them massively. Beware! When matter meets with antimatter, they annihilate each other, producing a flash of energy.
Newborn and Infant Sleep

During fetal and postnatal life, maturation of sleep architecture occurs until sleep is ultimately consolidated at night. The infant's maturity and sleep state influence the central control of breathing, which is coordinated by complex interactions of the central nervous system with the respiratory muscles. Periodic breathing, apnea of prematurity, and sudden infant death syndrome are thought to be caused by abnormalities of respiratory control in the infant. Sleep-disordered breathing occurs in infancy, particularly in those with certain congenital anomalies. A common sleep disorder of infancy is behavioral insomnia, which can be managed effectively by a number of behavioral interventions.
Measuring Quality of Life in Latin America: Some Insights from Happiness Economics and the Latinobarometro

This paper addresses the challenges and contributions that come from taking a broader quality-of-life based approach rather than a simpler income-based approach to assessing welfare. It uses the tools provided by the economics of happiness and relies on large-scale surveys as well as more in-depth field research in Latin America. It shows how a quality-of-life approach can help us understand the welfare effects of a number of factors ranging from health, education, and employment status to institutional arrangements such as inequality and opportunity. It also sounds a note of caution about directly inferring policy implications from the results due to – among other factors – norms and expectations based on differences in the way individuals answer surveys (the “happy peasant” versus “frustrated achiever” problem) and due to lack of clarity in the definition of happiness. The latter allows for research comparisons across individuals and cultures, but presents challenges when making policy choices based on the concept.
Using a Large Monolingual Corpus to Improve Translation Accuracy

The existence of a phrase in a large monolingual corpus is very useful information, and so is its frequency. We introduce an alternative approach to automatic translation of phrases/sentences that operationalizes this observation. We use a statistical machine translation system to produce alternative translations and a large monolingual corpus to (re)rank these translations. Our results show that this combination yields better translations, especially when translating out-of-domain phrases/sentences. Our approach can be also used to automatically construct parallel corpora from monolingual resources.
Cobalamin (B 12 )

: Vitamin B12 is an antipernicious anemia factor. Vitamin B12 is generally absent from plant and vegetable foods unless they are contaminated by microbes. Liver is a good source of the three endogenous forms of vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin, 5'-deoxyadenosylcobalamin, and hydroxocobalamin). Ileal absorption of B12 requires intrinsic factor, which is synthesized by gastricparietal cells, as well as by pancreatic ductular cells in dogs and cats. The association of Co+++ with B12 is the primary recognized action of this trace element in mammalian metabolism. Entry of propionate into hepatic gluconeogenesis requires 5'deoxyadenosylcobalamin. The metabolism of vitamin B12 is intimately entwined with that of folic acid. Common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include homocystinuria and methylmalonuria. A secondary intestinal dysfunction may develop from persistent cobalamin deficiency.
Contrasting Fe speciation in two humid forest soils: Insight into organomineral associations in redox-active environments

Abstract While the contribution of iron (Fe)-bearing minerals to organic carbon (C) stabilization in terrestrial systems is well-described, the influence of Fe solid-phase speciation on organomineral associations is unclear in highly dynamic, oxidation-reduction (redox)-active soils. In humid tropic forest soils, fluctuations in redox state accelerate weathering of Fe-bearing mineral phases, producing a spectrum of mineral sizes and bonding environments available for C stabilization, and confounding our understanding of C stability. Characterizing these Fe-bearing phases can improve predictions of the response of redox-active soil systems to climatic changes that may alter Fe mineral crystallinity and solubility, such as precipitation intensity, storm event frequency and temperature. Leveraging inorganic selective dissolution techniques, 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy (MBS), specific surface area (SSA) analyses and X-ray diffraction (XRD), we investigated mineral speciation in surface soils of contrasting lithologies from the Luquillo Critical Zone Observatory (LCZO), Puerto Rico. The LCZO provides a model investigatory framework in which high C inputs to surface horizons by similar vegetation, topography and climatic forcings are intercepted by highly-weathered, volcaniclastic Oxisols or quartz diorite-derived Inceptisols, producing a gradient of Fe content and speciation. Strong correlations observed between Fe concentrations and extraction-induced changes in SSA indicated target Fe phases contribute substantially to SSA of the bulk mineral matrix. MBS analysis of untreated soils reveal both Oxisol and Inceptisol soils are largely composed of FeIII-oxyhydroxides, accompanied by substantial FeII and silicate FeIII contributions in Inceptisol soils. FeIII-oxyhydroxides in the Oxisol soils were largely short-range-ordered (SRO), and notably, a fraction of particularly low-crystallinity FeIII-oxyhydroxide mineral phases in these soils appear protected against harsh reductive dissolution, whereas the overall higher crystallinity Fe phases in the Inceptisol soils do not. These findings suggest that some high-SSA, SRO FeIII phases, which likely also have high C sorption capacities, may be immobilized against reduction in these Oxisol soils. Consequently, C associated with these FeIII phases may be preferentially stabilized in Oxisol soils, potentially driving disparate C mineralization and CO2 production rates across contrasting lithologies.
The Intractable Rivalry: Michael Ruse’s The Evolution-Creation Struggle

In The Evolution-Creation Struggle, Michael Ruse seeks to answer, ‘Why is there so much controversy surrounding evolutionary theory?’ He does so by tracing the historical development of the theory ...
Philip Hieter: 2018 George W. Beadle Award.

The Genetics Society of America’s (GSA) George W. Beadle Award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the community of genetics researchers and who exemplify the qualities of its namesake. For his work fostering communication and collaboration among members of the many subfields of genetics, Philip Hieter of the University of British Columbia has been named 2018’s recipient of the award. Among his contributions are many initiatives that aim to better link human and model organism geneticists, including the Canadian Rare Diseases Models and Mechanisms Network—a consortium that connects investigators who identify rare disease genes in humans to basic scientists who can study the genes in model organisms.
Israelite and Judahite History in Contemporary Theoretical Approaches

This article surveys developments in the study of the histories of ancient Israel and Judah with a focus on the last ten years. Over that period there has been an increased focus on extrabiblical e...
Latent Class Dynamic Mediation Model with Application to Smoking Cessation Data

Traditional mediation analysis assumes that a study population is homogeneous and the mediation effect is constant over time, which may not hold in some applications. Motivated by smoking cessation data, we propose a latent class dynamic mediation model that explicitly accounts for the fact that the study population may consist of different subgroups and the mediation effect may vary over time. We use a proportional odds model to accommodate the subject heterogeneities and identify latent subgroups. Conditional on the subgroups, we employ a Bayesian hierarchical nonparametric time-varying coefficient model to capture the time-varying mediation process, while allowing each subgroup to have its individual dynamic mediation process. A simulation study shows that the proposed method has good performance in estimating the mediation effect. We illustrate the proposed methodology by applying it to analyze smoking cessation data.
Improved Chromatographic Technique for Crude Oil Maltene Fractionation

One common method for describing crude oils according to their composition is by grouping their chemical compounds into four categories: saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes (SARA). SARA a...
Type I interferon dysregulation in Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma, SSc) is a multifaceted disease characterized by autoimmunity, vasculopathy, and fibrosis affecting the skin and internal organs. Despite advances in the understanding and treatment of SSc in recent years, SSc continues to cause reduced quality of life and premature mortality. Type I interferons (IFNs), a family of cytokines with essential roles in the immune response to microbial infection, play a pathogenic role in certain autoimmune diseases (reviewed elsewhere in this edition). Polymorphisms in interferon-regulatory factors confer an increased risk of SSc, and IFN excess is evident in the blood and skin of a large percentage of SSc patients. Here we describe the evidence of Type I IFN dysregulation in SSc, revealed predominately by genetics and gene expression profiling. We also discuss evidence regarding mechanisms by which Type I IFN might contribute to SSc pathogenesis, mechanisms driving excess Type I IFN production in SSc, and the potential roles of Type I IFNs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in SSc.
DEEP LEARNING BASED AUTOMATIC SEGMENTATION OF CARDIAC COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) is routinely performed in clinical practice to visualize cardiac structures and for quantification of functional parameters such as Left Ventricular (LV) and Right Ventricular (RV) volume. These cardiac measurements are mostly obtained using manual,
Adjuvant Strategies for Lactic Acid Bacterial Mucosal Vaccines

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are Gram-positive, acid-tolerant bacteria that have long been used in food fermentation and are generally recognized as safe (GRAS). LAB are a part of a normal microbiome and act as probiotics, improving the gastrointestinal microbiome and health when consumed. An increasing body of research has shown the importance of the microbiome on both mucosal immune heath and immune response to pathogens and oral vaccines. Currently, there are few approved mucosal vaccines, and most are attenuated viruses or bacteria, which necessitates cold chain, carries the risk of reversion to virulence, and can have limited efficacy in individuals with poor mucosal health. On account of these limitations, new types of mucosal vaccine vectors are necessary. There has been increasing interest and success in developing recombinant LAB as next generation mucosal vaccine vectors due to their natural acid and bile resistance, stability at room temperature, endogenous activation of innate and adaptive immune responses, and the development of molecular techniques that allow for manipulation of their genomes. To enhance the immunogenicity of these LAB vaccines, numerous adjuvant strategies have been successfully employed. Here, we review these adjuvant strategies and their mechanisms of action which include: Toll-like receptor ligands, secretion of bacterial toxins, secretion of cytokines, direct delivery to antigen presenting cells, and enterocyte targeting. The ability to increase the immune response to LAB vaccines gives them the potential to be powerful mucosal vaccine vectors against mucosal pathogens.
Community-Based and Participatory Praxis as Decolonizing Archaeological Methods and the Betrayal of New Research

This chapter is about everyday encounters while conducting research in India. It interrogates those moments of feeling like I belonged, like I had a stake, and how that might change through time. It is about intimacy, it is about friendships, and it is about betrayal. Ultimately, it is also about how we do archaeology. There was an everydayness to interactions with my colleagues, research partners, staff members, and people who became friends; this chapter reflects upon how that quotidian interaction became an integral part of the project. It was also that everyday intimacy that allowed for a certain trust to develop that was not one hinged on labor but on living together. In some sense, our social and emotional relationships were constitutive of the community-based and participatory archaeological practice we were engaged within: we were the project and the project was us. Thus, once the project ended, so did our made pathways of relational intimacy. The traces of the project, however, were heavy and long-standing, emerging and revealing feelings of betrayal that now, with over two decades of experiencing such work, I can see as the emotional labor of archaeology.
An Asymptomatic Case of Radiologically Active Neurocysticercosis.

The case describes an 82-year-old right-handed Hispanic male with multiple chronic comorbidities complaining of upper and lower extremity weakness as well as paresthesias that had been worsening over the last two weeks. He had bilateral upper and lower extremity weakness that was worse on the right and he complained of not being able to walk on his own with several falls preceding admission because of this. There were no overt signs of spinal cord compression or cauda equina syndrome. Laboratory work-up was unremarkable with exception to mildly elevated acute phase reactants. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging later showed critical cervical compressive myelopathy at the C3-C4 level and multiple parenchymal and extra-axial enhancing lesions in the frontal lobes with associated calcifications suspicious for neurocysticercosis. Antihelminthic therapy was started and the patient underwent spinal fusion surgery with neurosurgery with an uncomplicated post-operative course - also lacking seizure activity of any kind.
Issues in Developing and Implementing an Active Hazard Framework for Coastal Climate Resiliency Planning: A Case Study of US Policy

Many areas of the world include significant human development in low-lying coastal areas. The United States is no exception. And like many coastal nations, the United States has a long history of public policies that subsidize coastal development. These subsidies, in the aggregate, have created a policy orientation that views coastlines as passive resources. Meanwhile, climate change is increasing the objective risks of many coastal regions, demanding coastlines be viewed as active hazards. This chapter explores this dichotomy between current policy orientations viewing coastlines as passive resources and the need to move towards an active hazard framework. The United States is used as a case study to explore the history of coastal development policy through key national policies, and how that history impacts the need for new, hazard-based, policy directions. The insights identified in this chapter can be applied to any coastal nation where development priorities are impacting proactive coastal climate resiliency planning.